The Watchtower, March 1, 1941
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“GOD AND THE STATE”
A new booklet, by Judge Rutherford! The urgency of the rapidly tightening world situation has hastened the issuance of this timely booklet. Parents, children, and all lovers of righteousness will be grateful for the clearness, completeness and helpfulness of the author’s treatment of the supreme issue today, as presented in its 32 pages. A neat cover design makes it very presentable. Due to the growing need for just such information, a large circulation of this latest booklet is bound to follow. Get your copy now, at a contribution of 5c the copy.
MEMORIAL
The Scripturally assigned date for the memorial celebration to both Jehovah’s name and the sacrifice of His provided Lamb, Christ Jesus, is Friday, April 11,1941, after six p.m. Each Christian company should therefore assemble after six p.m. of April 11, and the anointed ones celebrate the Memorial, and their companions, the Jonadabs, be present as observers. If there is no competent person present to deliver a brief discourse just before the partaking of the emblems, the short article “Memorial” as published in the Watchtower issue of March 15,1939, should be read instead. Since the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine both picture the death of Jesus, it follows that both emblems should be served together at partaking, and not separately. The emblems should be unleavened bread and real red wine, to follow the example of Jesus and his apostles, who used real red wine in symbol of his blood. A report of the celebration should be promptly made to the Society, showing total attendance and number of partakers. In preparation for this 1941 celebration the article “Memorial" suggested above will be studied with profit.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of April 6: “Victory Song” (Part 1), 1-19 inclusive, The Watchtower March 1, 1941.
Week of April 13: “Victory Song” (Part 1), 20-40 inclusive, The Watchtower March 1, 1941.
"THEOCRACY”
This new booklet by Judge Rutherford, in 64 pages, offers the clearest and best description yet of the world’s leading issue today, “The Theocracy.” The visible operations of its representatives on earth are plainly set forth, together with the vicious opposition which they are encountering world-wide. A specially fine cover (Continued on page 79)
Vol. LXII
Маrch 1, 1941
No. 5
VICTORY SONG
PART 1
“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."—Ps. 40:3.JEHOVAH is the Author of the song of victory. It is a song of praise. Songs of which Jehovah is the composer are always of praise, telling of deliverance of his devoted servants and glory to his own name. They are prophetic of the time when Jehovah manifests himself for the honor of his name. The faithful servants of Jehovah have always been oppressed by the enemy Satan and his agents; and when Jehovah’s servants wait upon the Most High and put their trust fully in him, then he in due time delivers them. The song of praise tells of such coming victory in a great conflict led by Christ Jesus, to the honor of his Father.
2 Proof of this rule is shown in the song of David recorded at Psalm Forty, embracing the foregoing text. David had suffered much at the hand of his enemies. He had waited patiently for Jehovah to manifest himself and to deliver David from his enemies. Jehovah did deliver David in his own due time. To wait patiently means to fully trust in God and to confidently move forward in performance of assigned duty, well knowing that one is on the right way and backed up by the King of Eternity. Such ones never try to run ahead of Jehovah, but follow explicitly the instructions given. One who is patient is anxious in his mind, watching with great care that he may not miss an opportunity to honor Almighty God. To be patient, therefore, means a trial of faith and a refusal to be turned aside from steadfast devotion to God, regardless of what persecution the enemy may bring upon the servants of the Most High. When Jehovah’s due time arrives for him to avenge his servants he will do so, his primary purpose being to vindicate his holy name.
3 David, whose name means “Beloved”, was a man of whom God said: ‘He is a man after my own heart.’ He was a type of Jehovah’s beloved Son, Christ Jesus. In the Davidic picture are also shown all the members of “the body of Christ”, that is to say, the 144,000, all of whom must suffer tribulation before entering into the Kingdom. This is shown by many prophetic pictures recorded in the Bible. Quite appropriate to the victory song of Barak and Deborah, which we are about to examine, is the Psalm or song of David above quoted. God’s faithful servants, and particularly the class known as “the remnant” of his organization on earth, have suffered much at the hands of the enemy and continue to suffer, but Jehovah has given them such a clear vision of his purpose that now they clearly see that the Lord has set their feet upon the solid rock, that is, upon Jehovah and his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus, and that the victory is assured to them if they remain faithful to the end. By faith now they see the day of deliverance is near, and they are all filled with the song of praise to the Most High. And what results from their singing of the victory song and continuing faithfully in the service in these dark days that are now upon the world? They see people of goodwill who are being awakened, hurriedly taking their place on the side of The Theocracy and wending their way to refuge and life. As the Psalm of David says: “Many shall see it [The Theocracy, and the deliverance and blessings that righteous government brings], and fear [Jehovah God], and shall trust in the [King Christ Jesus and in the King of Eternity, Jehovah].” It is timely and appropriate that they join in the song. Therefore those who will compose the “great multitude” are putting their trust in the Lord and are finding refuge under his organization, and they too join in the song.
4 In the preceding issues of The Watchtower consideration has been given to the drama of vengeance, in which Barak and Deborah and Jael played prominent parts. That drama, plainly a prophetic one, foretells of God’s purpose to avenge his faithful people and to completely vindicate his own great name. Quite appropriate, therefore, is the prophetic song of victory that follows and which is now considered in The Watchtower. “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying.”—Judg. 5:1.
5 This was actually sung before King Jabin’s death and after the destruction of his army under Sisera and after Sisera had been slain. The killing of Sisera
by Jael pictures the Jael class, that is to say, the people of good-will, slaying religion, which Sisera represented, and making religion dead so far as the people of good-will are concerned. Thus putting religion out of their lives, they devote themselves to the Almighty God. Those people of good-will now look upon religion as no longer having any influence or power over them, but that it is dead and putrid; and therefore they shun religion. The “other sheep” of the Lord, which are the modern-day Jael class, are taking that action today against religion, counting it a dead thing. The persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, that is, “the remnant,” is calling out the “great multitude” from amidst the people, and that in a time of great tribulation upon the world; and these people of good-will are ‘washing their robes in the blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus’, by exercising and showing their full faith in the ransom sacrifice, the blood of Christ, which is the redemptive price of all who hear and obey the Lord.—Rev. 7:14.
6 Deborah and Barak sung that song under divine inspiration. It was a song which Jehovah had composed and put in the mouth of his servants, Deborah and Barak. Jehovah is the author of that song, which is a prophecy of God’s “strange work” and telling of his “strange act” of complete victory. The song expresses the joy of Jehovah’s organization at the early vindication of his name. It is the “joy of the Lord”, that is, the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ and which joy he invites his faithful servants to enter into when they are approved. (Matt. 25:21) The faithful servants of Christ Jesus have now entered into that joy and are now singing the praises of the Most High and of his kingdom. Their “companions” hear the song of praise and hasten to join therein.
7 Deborah pictured God’s “woman”, that is to say, his organization, now fully united in devotion to the Most High, the great Theocrat. Through that organization Jehovah now brings to his people the revelation of his holy purpose, which is testified to in the prophetic song. Barak (whose name means lightning) pictures Christ Jesus, the Head of the capital organization of God. The “remnant of her seed” (Rev. 12:17), that is, the last members of the body of Christ now on earth, are made a part of Jehovah’s organization, and they participate now in the song from the viewpoint of its certain fulfillment in the near future.
8 In the picture the song was sung “on that day”: “So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.” (Judg. 4: 23) “That day” means the foretelling of “the day of Jehovah”, which began in 1914, when the Almighty God sent forth his beloved Son the King, Christ Jesus, to rule in the midst of his enemies. (Ps. 110:2) Then followed the “war in heaven” and the World War on earth, which the Lord had foretold. (Rev. 12:7-9; Matt. 24:7) The day of Jehovah began there and continues until Armageddon, when “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” will be fought, with full and complete victory to Jehovah and his King, the Greater Barak. We are now in that “day of Jehovah”, and it is appropriate in the light of very recent developments that all of God’s faithful people now join in the song of appreciation and joy, looking confidently to the hour of early deliverance. Note that the song opens not with felicitation to creatures, but the opening words are to the praise of the Most High. “Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.”—Judg. 5: 2.
9 The American Revised Version renders this part of the text: “Bless ye Jehovah.” Unto whom shall the song of praise to Jehovah be sung? Another prophet of Almighty God answers the question: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps. 22:22) The application of this song cannot be left in doubt. Christ Jesus, the Greater Barak, uses the same words, which are repeated by the apostle at Hebrews 2:12: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” For centuries Christ Jesus has sung this song, well knowing the day of complete victory he will gain, when all the survivors of the great battle of that day shall praise the name of the Most High. Now the time has come when all members of “the body of Christ”, both in heaven and on earth, join in the song and all those of good-will toward God are invited to participate in the song. The angels in heaven sing because they all see that the day of the vindication of Jehovah’s name and the complete victory of Christ Jesus, the Greater Barak, is at hand. (Rev. 7:9-12) So today Jehovah’s witnesses must “bless” or speak words of praise to Jehovah’s name and to his kingdom, and do so amongst all people who have a hearing ear and who desire to see the triumph of righteousness in the earth. All those who are of the “other sheep” of the Lord must likewise take the same course that Jael took.
10 For what did they praise and bless Jehovah in that song, and to what does it look forward? “For the avenging of Israel” and, now, for the avenging of spiritual Israel. It was the time “when the people willingly offered themselves”, as the song states. The faithful people of God now on the earth by faith see that for a certainty soon Jehovah will fully vindicate his name; and, having this full assurance, they raise the song of praise before the battle is fought and won. When the battle of that great day of God Almighty is fought and won every surviving creature will join in that song of praise to his holy name: “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."—Ps. 150: 6.
11 Jehovah’s witnesses must now declare “the day of vengeance of our God”, which vengeance will vindicate Jehovah’s name and will avenge all oppressed of Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, upon whom oppressions and persecutions have been heaped by the modern-day Sisera, the religious leaders and others of Satan’s organization.
12 While the Authorized Version of this text is comforting, the matter is made much clearer by other renderings of the text, to wit: “In the leading on of the leaders in Israel, in that a people willingly offered themselves.” (Literal rendering) "For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, for that the people offered themselves willingly, bless ye Jehovah.” (American Revised Version) “For freeing free men in Israel, for a people willingly offering themselves, bless ye Jehovah.” (Young) “For the leadership of leaders in Israel, for the volunteering of the people, bless ye Jehovah!”—Rotherham.
13 The time of the fulfillment of this prophetic song is definitely located and fixed beyond any question of doubt by the words recorded at Psalm 110:2, 3: “The Lord [Jehovah] shall send the rod [His King] of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou [Jesus Christ] in the midst of thine enemies. 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."
14 It was in 1914 that Christ Jesus was enthroned King and sent forth to rule, and immediately there began a “war in heaven", resulting in the ousting of the Devil and his angels and the casting of them down to the earth. (Rev. 11:18; 12:1-12) God’s faithful people thereafter willingly have offered themselves unto the Lord in his service. Christ Jesus took the lead, and whithersoever he leads the faithful servants on earth follow. In the prophetic drama the “leaders” were Barak and Deborah, picturing Christ Jesus and God’s organization; and “the governors of Israel" willingly offered themselves. (Judg. 5:9) In the fulfillment of the prophetic drama Christ Jesus, the King, and his heavenly army take the lead and all those on earth who are Jehovah’s witnesses voluntarily offer themselves, entering the service of the King and joyfully performing that service. The fulfillment of this part was specifically marked from 1937, when at a convention of God’s faithful people assembled at Columbus, Ohio, they arose as one and marched out into the service, singing the praises of the Most High, and they have been at it since. At that great assembly of God’s devoted people the keynote was the slogan taken from the Scriptures: “Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle." (Obadiah 1) That was the yeartext for 1937; another strong circumstantial proof that the Lord selects the appropriate text each year for his own people.
15 Note here the evidence in proof of the fulfillment of this prophecy: Up until 1937 the average number of publishers in the field service in the United States alone was 21,454. There was a great increase in 1938, and from then onward the number has continued to increase; and in the year 1940, there were 50,000 publishers in the field in the United States alone, and that amidst the greatest persecution that has been heaped upon them by the enemy in this land. In the countries of Europe, including Great Britain, and in other parts of the earth, the number of publishers has greatly increased since 1937. For this manifestation of the Lord’s blessing all who love The Theocracy sing: “Bless ye Jehovah." “Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord ; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel."— Judg. 5: 3.
16 In the prophecy the song was sung before the death of King Jabin, and this is significant and is here noticed. The kings and princes of Canaan, who had not been cleared out up to that time, were demonworshipers, and included in that number was Jabin. This shows that in the fulfillment the song of victory is begun even before Armageddon clears out all parts of the Devil’s organization. The “strange work" of Jehovah is observed by all the servants of Satan, and that greatly angers them. They behold Jehovah’s people volunteering and willingly going forward in his “strange work” and doing so with great joy, and this they do in the face of all manner of persecution heaped upon them. The kings and rulers of the earth see this, and at the instance of religious leaders, particularly those of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, they redouble their efforts put forth to destroy the faithful servants of the Almighty God. Thus notice and warning is given by the Most High, who commands that the earthly rulers shall give heed for their own good or benefit. Jehovah does not take advantage of their ignorance, but sees to it that they have opportunity to hear. Jehovah has sent forth his King, Christ Jesus, to rule, and He announces his purpose to break up completely the organization of Satan; and therefore Jehovah gives warning and advises the earthly rulers of the nations to heed, when he says to them: “Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."—Ps. 2:10-12.
17 If the worldly rulers and judges possessed and used the slightest bit of wisdom they would soberly give heed to the warning given them from Jehovah’s Word and, doing so, they would cease oppressing the servants of Almighty God and thus save themselves from grief. Instead, they give heed to a vicious company of religious leaders; and so now there are among the political rulers those who indict and try Jehovah’s witnesses upon the false charges of sedition and conspiracy to provoke to riot, such false charges being based solely on the fact that Jehovah’s witnesses proclaim the message of the kingdom of the Most High as God has commanded them to do. The action on the part of these rulers is in defiance of Almighty God. Will such cruel, fanatical and demoniacal persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses stop the “strange work” of Jehovah God? Certainly not. That work of Almighty God will continue until the due time to have it end, and that end will immediately be followed by His “strange act”.
18 Mark this, in the prophecy, as it is written: “I, even I, will sing unto the Lord.” This means Barak and Deborah in the picture; the Greater Barak, Christ Jesus, and Jehovah’s organization, in the fulfillment, both of which continue to sing the song. That means that Christ Jesus and his organization, invisible and visible, will continue to sing the song of praise and victory to Jehovah, regardless of whether the “kings” and the “princes”, the judges and the sheriffs, and other officers of “Christendom” like it or not. The name and kingdom of Jehovah must be and is proclaimed throughout the earth, and that work must continue until Armageddon. As God plainly declared this must be done, therefore he said to the Devil and all who support him: ‘For this cause have I permitted thee to remain, that I might show thee my power, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.’ (Ex. 9:16) The proclamation of his name must continue, therefore, until his time to exhibit his supreme power against Satan and his organization. Knowing Jehovah’s purpose to have his name and kingdom declared, and knowing that no power can successfully resist Jehovah and his King, the faithful servants of the Most High on earth will continue to worship and sing God’s praises and the praises of the great Theocratic Government, and this will continue regardless of what may come to pass amongst men. These faithful servants of Jehovah God count not their earthly lives dear unto them, having in mind one thing, that is, faithfulness to Almighty God that they might prove and maintain their integrity toward him and his King, and receive everlasting blessings at the hand of the Most High, and life that shall continue forever. Jehovah’s witnesses and companions will find some way to continue their testimony, whether they be in prison or out of prison, or whether in this earthly existence and body or elsewhere. If they seal their testimony with their own lifeblood, that will constitute a witness to the name and supremacy of Jehovah God. The words “martyr” and “witness” are derived from the same Greek root. Every faithful servant of God, in life and in death, is a witness to his name and to his kingdom. They are martyrs to the cause of righteousness. From Abel to John the Baptist there was a “cloud of witnesses” to the name of Jehovah and to his kingdom. In this Christ Jesus took the lead and continues to lead, and this is the commandment given to the faithful followers of Christ Jesus when the princes of old and Christ Jesus are cited as examples to be followed: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Heb. 12:1, 2.
19 In this text “weight” consists of anything that hinders or retards the servants of Jehovah in giving the witness; while the besetting or close-girdling sin is religion and its baneful influence upon those who hold to any part of religion; and this shows that God’s people in this hour of crisis must remove every possible weight and must shun religion as a deadly thing. The faithful cast such things aside and go forward with a song of praise upon their lips. “Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.” —Judg. 5: 4.
20 Jehovah has recorded many prophetic examples for the comfort of his people now on the earth, and these prophetic pictures he is now revealing to them. The Almighty God, by the hand of Moses, who pictured Christ Jesus, led the Israelites on a long and perilous journey from Egypt to the land of promise, thus picturing the long and perilous journey of God’s people from the world into the Kingdom. Verse four, above quoted from the song of Deborah and Barak, refers to the march of the Israelites, led by Moses on the way to the land of promise. Moses there described the course of Edom and Mount Seir. (Deut. 2:1-8) Edom, to whom Mount Seir belonged or was held in possession, refused to give aid to the marching Israelites and, on the contrary, showed themselves to be “goats” by ill-treating the Israelites: “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us; how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers: and when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt; and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border; let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country; we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way; and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it; I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; wherefore Israel turned away from him.”—Num. 20:14-21.
21 Today that prophetic picture of Edom and Mount Seir is in course of fulfillment, in this, that back there Edom and Mount Seir pictured the religionists, including all their allies, and all of which are opponents of The Theocracy, and these are all violently opposing the people who are advertising The Theocratic Government under Christ Jesus. The Lord sends his witnesses to the modern-day Edomites with a message, and the religionists and allies show the wicked “goat” spirit toward the witnesses of the Lord, and hence Christ Jesus, the great Judge and King, puts those goats on his left hand and marks them for destruction at Armageddon. (Matt. 25 : 31-46) At Armageddon Jehovah visits them and, by his King, sends all the “goats” into everlasting destruction. (See also Obadiah 1-21; Ezek. 35:1-15; Jer. 49:7-22.) When the Lord marches forth from modern-day Edom and Mount Seir, the religionists and their allies, he will there march forth as the mighty Conqueror and behind him he will leave all opponents of The Theocracy in utter destruction.
22 The prophetic song describes what shall be the result upon modern-day Edom and Mount Seir when the Lord shall have executed the “vengeance of our God” at Armageddon. Concerning this it is written: “The earth trembled.” Back there that “earth” was territory held by the enemy of God’s people. The earth trembled because of the presence of Jehovah God representatively by Moses, and that pictured the shaking which the Lord will give Satan’s religious and combined organization on earth at his presence representatively by the Greater Moses, Christ Jesus. That shaking will cause that wicked organization to suffer complete destruction. The earthquake was for the destruction of the dwellers of that “earth”, and in fulfillment the final shaking and destruction will be upon the earth now ruled in unrighteousness.— Hag. 2:6,7; Heb. 12:26, 27.
23 Also the power of Almighty God will be exhibited from the heavens; as it is written: “And the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.” The description given in the song of Deborah and Barak foretells the destruction that shall be upon the world and all the organizations of Satan at Armageddon, and is further supported by other prophecies relating to the same thing, to wit: “The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven; the lightnings lightened the world; the earth trembled and shook. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”—Ps. 77:17, 18, 20.
24 Regardless of the opposition, Moses and Aaron led the people right on; and so now the Greater Moses, Christ Jesus, who is also pictured by Aaron, leads his people on. These events are recorded in the Scriptures for the benefit of God’s people, and to increase their comfort and hope, who are now being wickedly persecuted by the enemy without a cause. Furthermore God’s prophet describes what Jehovah did to his enemies back there, and thus shows what is coming upon the enemy within a very short time: “Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by; the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.” (Hab. 3:9-13) Thus is foretold that the Lord’s army, invisible to human eye, will completely overwhelm the enemy. The clouds denote the Lord’s presence for judgment, and the execution of his judgment by destroying all his enemies. Further describing the effect upon the enemy the prophetic song continues: “The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.”—Judg. 5: 5.
25 The melting of the mountains here pictures terrific heat of such intensity as to melt the rocks or entire mass of solid rock into a liquid and cause the same to flow down like liquid fire. That would be far worse than lava from an active volcano. Such must be the effect upon religion and like organizations when Jehovah performs his “strange act” at Armageddon. In this connection note that Jehovah puts a prayer in the mouth of his people, which of itself shows the prayer to be a prophecy, which God in his own due time will hear, answer, and completely fulfill.
26 The prayer of Isaiah pictures God’s people just preceding Armageddon, to wit: “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou earnest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.”—Isa. 64:1-3.
27 The earth is symbolic of those who rule in the earth contrary to the law of Almighty God, while the hills picture the highest part of that earthly-ruled organization; and concerning which the prophecy says: “He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.” (Ps. 104: 32) “What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye little hills, like lambs? Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.”— Pss. 114:5-7; 144:5,6.
28 When at Armageddon the Almighty God threshes and cuts to pieces the modern-day Mount Seir, with her religious organizations, together with all other organizations allied thereto, such as the totalitarian, iniquitous and wicked earthly rulers, then the heat of divine judgment there expressed by and through Christ Jesus will completely melt down all such oppressive systems and destroy them for ever. This indicates the manner in which Jehovah will avenge his elect or select ones and how he will vindicate his name.
29 A literal example of what shall come to pass at Armageddon was given by the Lord at Mount Sinai, concerning which it is written: “Even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.” Jehovah God there demonstrated to all that He is the Almighty, the Most High, when he came down in fire upon the mountain. Thus he indicates how his vengeance will be expressed at Armageddon, when he showed that he is the Almighty God: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”—Ex. 19:18.
30 Mount Sinai was not there literally melted down on that occasion, but it was there used as a type or prophetic picture of Mount Zion, that is, God’s capital organization of which Christ Jesus is the Head, and which organization will completely destroy everything in opposition thereto, executing the enemies of Jehovah and putting them out for ever. Representatively God there appears by Christ Jesus, and concerning which it is written in his Word: “For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.”—Mic. 1: 3,4.
31 In the day of King Jabin the Israelites, God’s typical people, were greatly oppressed and all their freedom denied. That also appears to be prophetic, which corresponds with the oppression now upon the antitypical Israelites, the faithful people of God on earth. In every nation of the earth Jehovah’s witnesses and companions are hated solely because they advertise the name of Jehovah, his Theocratic Government, and the King thereof, Christ Jesus. This is exactly as Jesus said it would be: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matt. 24:9) Describing the oppressive conditions that obtained in that day of Israel the prophetic song says: “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.”—Judg. 5: 6.
32 Such was the fear of the oppressed Israelites, and so fully were they cowed and their freedom denied and their movements harassed and their worship of Almighty God interfered with, that they walked not in the roads or highways; they would go from place to place in the by-passes to avoid the ill- treatment heaped upon them at the hands of Jabin’s secret police. A like condition today exists in other countries ruled by the totalitarian dictators, all of whom are instruments of Satan, and all are against The Theocracy and those who tell about that gracious government of Almighty God. The Israelites could not with safety leave their homes and go up to the tabernacle of the Lord at Shiloh to there celebrate the feast as required by the law of God. (Josh. 18:1) It was in that time that the Lord raised up Shamgar as a deliverer; which was following the time of Ehud: “And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.” (Judg. 3:31) Doubtless Jael’s life overlapped that of Shamgar, and these are both mentioned in the prophecy, which further shows that they were both pleasing to the Lord, and their course foretells what others must do to receive the blessing of the Lord.
33 A like condition of oppression of spiritual Israelites, the people of Almighty God, began about the year 1918, when the enemy took advantage of the World War conditions and abused and oppressed the servants of Jehovah God. In that persecution the religionists took the lead and by means of lies induced the political authorities to inflict great punishment upon Jehovah’s servants. It was then that many of God’s people used the byways or secret ways to serve God and his kingdom, rather than to face the danger of coming out in the open and boldly proclaiming Jehovah’s name and his kingdom, as the Lord had commanded. That condition of fear continued for some time after the World War had ended, and even after the antitypical Jael class, that is, the people of good-will, began to come out and declare themselves on the side of Jehovah and his King. The persecution of Jehovah’s servants grows in severity in the present day, and even now some take to the byways, but these are few compared to those who boldly declare themselves for Jehovah and his kingdom. To be sure, it is always wise to use discretion and sagacity and not to unnecessarily provoke anyone to wrath, but, when necessary, the servant of God should not hesitate to declare himself for Jehovah God and his King, Christ Jesus. There can be no compromise.
FEAR
34 The prophetic song now shows what results from fear of men. One who has made a covenant to do the will of God, and who then because of fear of men fails or refuses to faithfully carry out that covenant, is certain to be ensnared by the enemy. Without criticism of the Israelites, who were merely men and not spiritually minded, mention is made of the course they took. It should be kept in mind that the Israelites were being used to make a prophetic picture foretelling what would come to pass upon the consecrated people at the end of the world, where we are now. While, of course, the acts of the Israelites resulting from fear could not be approved, yet if that people were acting out their part then without knowledge of the meaning thereof, they are not subject to criticism. Those who are in a covenant to do the will of God, however, should weigh well the results that come from fear of men. “The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.”—Judg. 5: 7.
35 Other renderings of this text illuminate the subject matter: “The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased.” (A.R.V.) “There was a failure of rulers in Israel, a failure.” (Rotherham) The leaders among the Israelites failed to faithfully represent the Lord God. That foretold that the time would come when among the covenant people of God, the antitypical Israelites, that fear would lead some into a snare; and the facts show it was even so. The persecution that resulted from the World War caused almost all, if not all, of the consecrated then to fear man, because it was believed that the “higher powers” were the worldly rulers over nations. Many of God’s servants desired to lead off in the active service of the Kingdom, but were arrested and imprisoned and thus prevented from doing so, while others were forcibly restrained ; and still others who had been leaders went into inactivity, that is, remained silent; while still others became unfaithful and betrayed their brethren to the enemy at the price of their own freedom, and such became a part of the “evil servant” as the Lord had foretold.—Matt. 24: 9-12,48-51.
36 Referring now to the typical condition and oppression that obtained as described in the prophetic song of Deborah and Barak, which says: “Until that I Deborah . . . arose a mother in Israel.” That was not boasting on the part of Deborah, but was a mere statement of the facts, as stated in the prophecy, that she judged Israel at that time. She was making a prophetic picture. In the fulfillment conditions of fear persisted amongst God’s people during the World War and until the Lord came to his temple and began judgment and the purging of the remnant by removing from them their fear due to religion, together with fear of creatures, and everything due to subservience to human organizations in opposition to the will of God. The time had come for the Lord to build up Zion, his capital organization, which organization was pictured by Deborah; and therefore it is written: “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.”—Ps. 102:16.
37 The Lord Jesus Christ began the building up of Zion by gathering unto himself those of his own and gathering them into one organized body, that is to say, all who had proved their integrity and been faithful. First he gathered those who had died in faith and faithful by awakening them out of death, and then he gathered “the remnant”, that is, the faithful on the earth still in the flesh, who were “caught up ... to meet the Lord in the air”; and all were gathered into unity into the organized “body of Christ”. (1 Thess. 4:15-17) The time had come for God’s “woman”, his organization, to bring forth her children and to rejoice: “Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”—Isa. 54:4,5,6,13.
38 To these children of God by his organization, and who are yet on the earth, Jehovah says: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” “That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”—Isa. 66: 8,11.
39 It was thereafter that the remnant began to see by faith the victory of Jehovah that he would give through Christ Jesus his King. It was then that they recognized that Jehovah’s anger had been turned away from those who had feared men and who had now fully turned to the Lord, and so they began to raise a song of praise to his holy name; and concerning that song it is written: “And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”—Isa. 12:1-3.
40 It should be expected that the faithful servants of Jehovah God on the earth would from that time forward make progress and that their joy would increase, and that they would go forth with confidence and with singing; and the Scriptures and the facts show that it is even so.
(To be continued)
FROG PLAGUE ON "CHRISTENDOM”
THE plagues upon ancient Egypt Jehovah God speaks of as “wonders” and “signs”: “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 7:3; also Ex. 3: 20; 8: 23; 10:1) “He . . . wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.” (Ps. 78: 43) It now appears to those devoted to the Lord that the ten plagues upon Egypt were prophetic, and have a modern-day fulfillment.
Pharaoh the king of Egypt served the Devil, Satan, and represented him on earth. Why Jehovah the Almighty God has permitted Satan to remain and continue his nefarious work in all the centuries past is stated by Jehovah thus: “To show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Am. Rev. Ver.) The declaring of Jehovah’s name throughout the earth takes place at the end of the world, hence now. Jehovah has taken out from the nations a “people for his name”, and he uses them in connection with the declaring of his name, just as he used Moses and Aaron in Egypt. “He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen. They showed his signs among [the Egyptians], and wonders in the land of Ham.” (Ps. 105:26,27) Moses pictured Jehovah’s great Prophet, Christ Jesus; whereas Aaron, the brother of Moses, pictured the members of the “body of Christ”, over which Christ Jesus is the Head, and of which there is a small remnant on earth today. They are the anointed witnesses of Jehovah.
The plagues from one to nine were in effect pointed declarations and notices of Jehovah’s supremacy over the oppressors of his people, and thereby both Jehovah’s organization and Satan’s organization are made to appear prominently. The tenth plague brought the release of Jehovah’s people from Satan’s organization and their deliverance out from Egypt. Such plagues were performed before Pharaoh, and hence constituted notice to him. The modernday, antitypical fulfillment of the plagues must be before Satan and his organization, and they constitute notice and warning to Satan and his organization. Economic depression, woes and misfortunes have come upon the peoples of the world, but we know that Jehovah is not responsible for such, because it is expressly stated, at Revelation 12:12, that Satan has brought these woes. Therefore the nine preliminary plagues upon ancient Egypt could not properly foreshadow and apply to such woes, but must have some symbolic significance, such as the seven last plagues described in Revelation, sixteenth chapter. Each plague is a specific message of misfortune from the Lord, and these messages delivered in modern times against Satan’s organization irk, disturb, plague and forebode the downfall of Satan and his organization. As the plagues upon Egypt constituted notice and warning, antitypically fulfilled today the plagues must be notice and warning.
Jehovah commanded Moses to perform certain signs in Egypt, first before his own brethren, the Israelites, and then before the ruler of Egypt, Pharaoh, the purpose of which signs was to supply convincing proof that Jehovah is God and that Moses was sent to Egypt as God’s representative. The third of those signs when performed by Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh constituted the first plague upon Egypt. That sign or wonder was the turning of the waters of the river Nile into blood; Jehovah “turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink”. “He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.” (Pss. 78: 43, 44; 105: 29) Jehovah’s commandment to Moses concerning the first plague is recorded at Exodus 7:14-25 Moses there appearing before Pharaoh was a type of Christ Jesus, the Vindicator of Jehovah’s name. The rod which Moses lifted up represented the divine authority conferred by Jehovah upon him. Antitypically it represents the divine authority conferred by Jehovah upon Jesus, the authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ to oust the enemy and deliver his people. Aaron acting with Moses pictured in the antitypical fulfillment today the remnant on earth performing the duties of Jehovah’s witnesses to whom is committed the “testimony of Jesus Christ”. Aaron in using Moses’ rod shows that these witnesses are acting under divine command.
Satan, as foreshadowed by Pharaoh of Egypt, is totally depraved, and many of his visible agents on earth give evidence of their total depravity. God continues to give them notice and warning, as he did of old to Pharaoh. The second plague upon Egypt was that of frogs. “He sent . . . frogs, which destroyed them.” “Their land brought forth frogs in abundance.” (Pss. 78:45; 105: 30) The full record of the second plague appears at Exodus 8:1-15. Jehovah commanded Moses (the type of Christ Jesus) to say unto Aaron (the type of the earthly mouthpiece of Christ Jesus, Jehovah’s witnesses) to proceed with the work of carrying out the second plague: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.”—Ex. 8: 5, 6.
The hand stretched out holding the rod, which manifestly was Moses’ rod, represented and pictured the power and authority of Jehovah God conferred upon Christ, the Greater Moses, and by him upon the earthly members of his organization, the servant class, who bear the message or testimony of Jehovah before the rulers and before the people, particularly of “Christendom”. The rivers and ponds and other waters pictured the peoples of the world, but particularly of “Christendom”. According to the Hebrew text frogs are “marsh leapers” and inhabit shallow waters or marshes. They give the appearance of great wisdom and importance and make a loud and discordant noise, and these particularly represent the modern agitators amongst the common people who suggest divers and numerous remedies for the salvation of the world; for example, the socialists, communists, Christian Scientists, and the various elements of organized religion. According to the Bible frogs are unclean; and their coming out of the waters of Egypt, that is, the world, shows that whatever they represent today is from Satan’s organization, because Egypt was a part of Satan’s visible organization. Frogs are mentioned in the Bible only in connection with the plagues upon Egypt, and nowhere else aside from Revelation 16:13, which reads: “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”
It was the exercise of divine power and authority that caused the frogs to come up and to be exposed and to harass the Egyptians. Antitypically, it is the authoritative exercise by Jehovah’s servants (including those on earth) of the power and commission from Him in delivering the message of notice and warning to the enemy organization and which exposes the many so-called “remedies” for the human race. According to the physical facts of modern times it appears that the second plague, that of frogs, as antitypically fulfilled had its beginning upon Satan’s organization from the year 1927 and onward and corresponds to the sixth vial of God’s wrath, at the pouring out of which there appeared the “three unclean spirits like frogs” (Rev. 16: 12-16), also to the sixth trumpet and its effects as described at Revelation 9:13-21. The facts which relate to the antitypical fulfillment of this plague are these:
The Lord Jehovah caused his people to assemble in general convention at Toronto, Canada, in July, 1927. The Lord had so arranged conditions that the broadcasting combine was put in a position that its radio facilities must be used to the glory of the Lord on that occasion. Before a visible audience of 15,000 people, and within the hearing of an unseen audience of millions, an address entitled “Freedom for the Peoples” was delivered at this Toronto assembly, and the resolution entitled “To the Peoples of Christendom” was read, and the visible and invisible audience by vote adopted the resolution. Fifty-three radio stations were linked together in the greatest radio network up to that time, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, and these, together with short-wave broadcasting apparatus, heralded the truth through the United States and Canada and to the lands across the sea. The spirit and substance of that message was: ‘Loose those who are bound in Satan’s organization and let them go free.’—Rev. 9:14.
The message broadcast on that occasion was afterwards printed and distributed by the millions of copies to the peoples of earth and in many languages. Amongst other things that message said was in substance this: ‘The blessings so much desired by the people can never come through any unrighteous system of “Christendom” or any organization of so-called “Christianity”, because the same forms a part of Satan’s organization, and there is no reason for the people to give support to that hypocritical and oppressive system that blinds them, misleads them, and turns them away from God. Further, in this hour of perplexity Jehovah God bids the people to abandon and for ever forsake “Christendom” and all of her misleading systems and organizations, because all of these are of the Devil’s organization.’—See Light, Book One, page 163.
At the time of the delivery of that message (two years before the world depression began in 1929) commerce was at its zenith in operating fraudulent and oppressive schemes to get rich, and which schemes were oppressive to the people. About the time of the delivery of that message men and women through the public press and by other means began a great croaking noise in the way of palaver and talk and agitation, and wind-puffing, assuming great wisdom and making much noise about the ability of their various systems to bring about the desire of the people, the falsity of which talk and agitation the message of Jehovah’s witnesses “To the Peoples of Christendom” exposed as being from Satan. Amongst these croakers were included the religious clergy and their newspapers, as well as the secular press. All of these things were the expression of human or man-made wisdom and were all opposed to God’s kingdom under Christ, The Theocratic Government. Included also amongst these croakers is the class of consecrated persons who, because of unfaithfully turning against the Lord’s organization, became “that evil seiwant” foretold by Christ Jesus at Matthew 24:48-51. Such “evil servant” class join with the public press and the clergy and other agitators to speak against Jehovah’s witnesses and against the message of truth delivered by these. Many who thought they were amongst God’s people were misled by these croakings and became offended at Jehovah and Christ and fell away, joining Satan’s organization openly. Some of these offended ones said in substance: “Had the radio speech at Toronto been tempered with moderation the National Broadcasting Company would have permitted the continued use of its radio facilities to the Watchtower Society.”
None of such frog-croaking, of course, came from Jehovah’s witnesses, but came from those that opposed the Kingdom; and the fact that Jehovah’s witnesses called attention to and exposed these croakings as being from the Devil, and cited the Scriptures in support of that fact and showed that none of such schemes were from God, made the croakers very angry.—See Jeremiah 23:16-21, 31, 32.
The message above mentioned exposing the frog-croaking was distributed to the official element of Satan’s visible organization pictured by Egypt as well as to the people. Satan induced his wiseacres to try to offset it by bringing forth some “frogs” of their own, just as Pharaoh of old had his magicians do. “And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 8:7) These latter frog-messages did not proceed from the croakers amongst the common people, but, as Revelation 16:13 declares, they “come out of the mouth of the dragon, and . . . the beast, and . . . the false prophet”, the official element of the Devil and his organization. This latter scripture gives the clue to the meaning of the frogs of the second plague upon Egypt: “for they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Rev. 16:14) In the above text in Revelation and in connection with the Egyptian plagues are the only places in the Bible where frogs are mentioned, and both references show they represent the beastly and fraudulent claims made by Satan and his organization which the Lord by his power has exposed.—See Light, Book Two, pages 42-51.
The plague of frogs does not in any manner refer to Jehovah’s witnesses as being suchlike, nor to the message delivered by them, but that plague does show what resulted by reason of the delivery of the divinely given message, because the message resulted in exposing these various croakings or false claims.
The record, at Exodus 8:8-15, reads: “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, ... Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord [Jehovah] our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. . . . And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.”
The dying of the frogs does not mean that Jehovah’s witnesses as the exposers of the “frogs” stopped proclaiming the message of truth, because Jehovah commands them to continue their work; but it does seem to say that the reasonable people on earth begin to see that these croakers have no real means of bringing blessings of life to the people, and such persons of good-will cease giving heed to them. By the croaking of these antitypical “frogs” the official part of Satan’s organization was greatly disturbed, and hence, fearing that the same might interfere with their schemes, they, like Pharaoh, lied in order to have themselves released from these frog annoyances and continued to oppress Jehovah’s people. (Ex. 8: 8) The frogs of Egypt did not all die, but only those that were on the dry land and in the houses of Pharaoh and his official family. All the other frogs remained in the rivers. (Ex. 8:11) Correspondingly, in 1928 the Watchtower Society published a new book Government, and that message of God’s kingdom specially pointed out that all attempts of government by agitation and agitators, such as hereinbefore described, must fail or die because only God’s kingdom under Christ can bring what is the desire of the people. (See Government, pages 242-247.) That message was put in the hands of practically all the official visible part of Satan’s organization in “Christendom”. Satan and his official crowd probably have taken some satisfaction in believing that they will not be overthrown by such agitators, but that their own schemes, namely, the false, unclean messages that come from the mouth of the Devil, his beast, and his false prophet, bespeak the remedy for the controlling of humankind.
The message contained in the book Government further exposes the many false systems and attempt of government by imperfect human creatures and points out that the only possible means for the blessing of the people of good-will is through The Theocracy, God’s kingdom under Christ. The message of truth therefore angers Satan’s organization, the antitypical Egypt, the members of which harden their hearts, like Pharaoh. Hence further testimony of notice and warning must continue, which will plague Satan’s organization, and which will be to the honor of Jehovah’s name.
THE FIRST RESURRECTION
THE FIRST ONE to be resurrected from death, and who is therefore “the firstborn from the dead”, said: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”—Revelation 20:6.
The use of the word the emphatically in connection with the resurrection means the chief resurrection or that resurrection which is of greatest importance. The phrase "the first resurrection” means that it is first in importance and also first in time. The inference to be drawn from this, of course, is that there is a resurrection subsequent to and to some degree less in importance than the first.
When Jesus was on earth as a man no one had been resurrected. He stated that at that time no one had ascended into heaven. (John 3:13) Later the apostle Paul, as God’s witness, gave testimony to the same effect: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”—1 Cor. 15: 20.
“Christ” means the “Anointed” of God. “The Christ” is composed of Jesus, “The Head,” and the anointed members of “his body”, which are the church. (See Colossians 1:18, 24; Ephesians 1: 22, 23.) The Scriptures prove that Christ Jesus is the beginning of the resurrection, that his resurrection precedes all others and is first in importance as well as in point of time. It is manifest therefore that all who have a part in “the first resurrection” must be in Christ and therefore be a part of “The Christ”. To be “in Christ” means that one must be begotten to spiritual life and anointed by the spirit of Jehovah, and thereby adopted into the “body of Christ”.
The Scriptures are explicit as to the conditions that must be met and performed by all who will ever participate in the first resurrection. To merely profess to be a Christian will not suffice. One must make a full consecration of himself to Jehovah God. That consecration must be accepted, followed by one’s justification by Jehovah. The one justified must be accepted by Jehovah as a sacrifice through God’s great High Priest, Christ Jesus, and then be begotten to spiritual life, and called to the heavenly calling, and from that time on enter upon his trial or test. He must be “baptized into his [Christ’s] death” by the sacrifice of his right to live everlastingly on earth as a human creature, which right to life resulted to him by reason of his being justified. He must become “dead with him” in order to live with Christ Jesus in the spirit. Only those who are baptized into Christ’s death can possibly partake of the first resurrection.—Rom. 6:3-8; Luke 12: 50 ; Matt. 20: 22, 23.
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