The Watchtower, October 15, 1941
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“LIGHTNING-WAR” TESTIMONY PERIOD
October as the “Lightning-War” Testimony Period is notable in three ways: it begins the new 1941-1942 service year, it is a Period of like united activity world-wide, and this year it also marks the opening of a general campaign with a most potent weapon of truth, recently released at the Theocratic Assembly at St. Louis. “Lightning" not only suggests enlightenment for humankind, but also speed in enlightening them and in exposing the dark deeds of enemies of truth and righteousness. The people’s crying need of the hour and also the enthusiasm over the feature offer for this Period, to wit, the new book Children, should speed up the activity of all Kingdom publishers as never before, in further fulfillment of the prophetic drama of Deborah and Barak, whose name means “lightning”. Children, together with a unique Home Study Course by mail, and the new booklet Comfort All That Mourn, are offered on a mere contribution of 25c. The swift approach of the real lightning-war of Armageddon behooves all persons of good-will to join in this round-the-world educational campaign before it closes. Apply either to this office or to the foreign branch supervising your territory, for references to the local organized service company. Promptly at the close of the month’s work turn in your field report to aid in compiling a world report on “Lightning-War”.
“CHILDREN”
Announced and released Sunday morning, August 10, at the Theocratic Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses in St. Louis, Mo., and at the conclusion of the climax speech on “Children of The King”, the new book Children won instant acclaim from the thousands assembled. Written by Judge Rutherford, Children bids fair, as shown by its initial reception at St. Louis, to be his most popular book, and with good reason. It is written in narrative and conversational style, presenting interestingly and simply the latest Bible truths concerning the glorious hope early to be realized by the persons of good-will today living. Children is bound in sky-blue cloth, with an embossed, gold-stamped cover design that is unusual. The text within is adorned with frequent color illustrations, and is supplemented with an index of subjects. You will prize the author’s edition, as it contains the facsimile of a special letter in the author’s own hand and addressed “To the Children of the King”. You may obtain it on a contribution of 50c a copy, mailed prepaid to yon. This edition is limited.
“COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN”
This new booklet was released at the conclusion of the public address by Judge Rutherford at the recent Theocratic Assembly at St. Louis, on the subject “Comfort All That Mourn”, and con- (Continued on page 319)
Vol. LXII
October 15,1941
No. 20
DEMON RULE ENDING
PART 3
"But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains.” —Mark 13:14.
JEHOVAH caused Daniel his prophet to write a prophetic description of the “abomination that maketh desolate”, and later the Lord Jesus shows that such prophecy would have its fulfillment at the end of the world, when he, as King of The Theocracy, would take his power and reign. The Lord Jesus not only corroborates the prophecy of Daniel as authentic, but he gives warning, telling all persons of good-will what course they must take to find safety after that abominable thing is set up. (Matt. 24:15) The facts and the prophecy further show that the present is the time of fulfillment and the time to heed the warning. Now the prophecy is in course of fulfillment and the Lord reveals to those who will understand that the ‘desolating abomination’ is Satan’s substitute for The Theocracy, which abominable thing is set up by Satan’s religious agent, particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allies, which claim the right to rule the world. At this point Christ Jesus says to all persons of good-will: “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” (Matt. 24:15) Who shall understand? The Lord God, by his prophet, answers: “None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10) Those who are of good-will toward God and his King will now be diligent to read intelligently the prophecy, together with the statement of the physical facts showing a fulfillment of the prophecy. Such will take the wise course by immediately fleeing from Satanic or demon rule and “flee to the mountains”, which mountains symbolically refer to The Theocratic Government of Jehovah by his anointed King, Christ Jesus.
‘DESOLATING ABOMINATION’
2 Returning now to the examination of Daniel 11:31: “And they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” Further physical facts are here submitted, which show the steps taken to place “the abomination that maketh desolate” “where it ought not” to be; to wit:
At Berlin, November 25,1936, Germany and Japan signed an agreement, which is technically directed against Communism, but the real purpose of which has a far wider scope. The Papacy for several years has held up Communism as a great scarecrow to induce others to support Catholic Action and to draw the people into Satan’s trap, and, without doubt, the smooth and subtle hand of the present pope did much toward the formation of that agreement between Germany and Japan last above mentioned. On November 6, 1937, Italy joined in that pact, supposed to be against Communism, but in fact a furtherance of the scheme or conspiracy for world dominion. Then in the same year, and almost immediately thereafter, Italy announced withdrawal from the League of Nations, which League “the king of the south” had brought forward.
Then on March 12, 1938, Hitler proclaimed the union of Austria with Germany, and Cardinal Innitzer, authoritative representative of the pope, gave public assurance to Hitler that Austrian Catholics fully and loyally supported Hitler; and Hitler becomes the creator of the so-called “Holy Germanic Reich of the Teutonic Nationality”. Hitler has announced that the Holy Roman Catholic-German Empire must be re-established.
On May 7, 1939, Germany and Italy announced that they would sign an open political and military alliance as a result of a conference between their foreign ministers at Rome. Whether the pope sat in on that conference is not disclosed.
On August 24, 1939, Hitler diplomatically outwitted “the king of the south” by entering into and signing with Russia a ten-year non-aggression pact, which both governments ratified. Hitler, in keeping with his demon father, did not live up to that nonaggression pact, but broke it and attacked Russia, and the Papacy approves Hitler’s putsch against Russia, Communism being given as an excuse for such approval.
In 1940 the German Blitzkrieg is carried on against Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Holland, all with the sanction of the Papacy. In June the same year Paris falls; and a life-long representative of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is made the arbitrary ruler of unoccupied France. Then in July, 1940, France ceased to be a republic in name even, and Marshal Petain, the Catholic friend and ally of the pope, became the “Chief of State”, both as premier and president, to collaborate with Nazi Germany. The very next month following, that is to say, August 22,1940, at Fulda, Germany, the Catholic bishops voted to pledge allegiance to Hitler, giving effusive thanks at the same time to his armies.
3 In Japan Jehovah’s witnesses are all behind prison bars because they told the truth about The Theocratic Government, and their imprisonment is the result of Roman Catholic Hierarchy action. September 17,1940, Japan announced itself a Fascist State. Ten days later Germany, Italy and Japan signed a mutual assistance pact, pledging co-operation with each other for ten years. November 20,1940, the construction of the New League of Nations, the rule of earth by dictators, proceeding according to “the king of the north”, was signed at Vienna, Austria. That was a formal alliance between Hungary and Germany, Italy and Japan, and in which alliance Rumania, a few days thereafter, joined. In line with that further movement of “the king of the north” to set up or place the “abomination of desolation”, or “New Order”, in Europe, note the following utterances of the Papacy, to wit:
November 24,1940, Pope Pius XII by radio broadcast from Vatican City prays that “there be set up an order of [nations] more just and more harmonious ... an order that would tend to give to every people in tranquillity, in liberty, and in security, that portion of the earthly source of prosperity and power which belongs to each, so as to make possible the fulfillment of the words of the Creator, ‘Increase and multiply, and fill the earth.’ ” Regarding this the responsible Italian authority says that ‘the pope understands the Axis powers’ [Germans’ and Italians’] aspirations, and that he echoes the aims of the Axis powers’.
4 As touching the duplicity and hypocrisy of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and further showing their direct connection with the Axis powers, and hence their forming a part of “the king of the north”, which is bent on world dominion, and which is “the abomination that maketh desolate”, note the following written by an English writer under the nom de plume of David Wilkie, to wit:
“Hitler became chancellor, thanks to the papist von Papen; and he became the ‘constitutional’ dictator of Germany, thanks to the papist Centre Party.
“The Murders of June 30, 1934
“Hitler’s next task was to remove from office in the party every sincere Nazi who could by his position or prestige influence policy, and who was not prepared to sell Germany, or betray it, to the general of the Jesuits. This was accomplished on June 30, when about 100 Brownshirt officers were massacred (by Blackshirts), and also a number of non-Nazi patriots were dealt with, such as General Duesterberg and General von Schleicher.
“The Pope Behind the Scenes
“Broadcasting to Britishers on July 3, a Mr. Crossman, an eyewitness of the scenes during the Hitler murders, said that whenever he had spoken to the German people, from Munich to Berlin, all, without exception, told him the same thing, i.e., that ‘the pope was behind the whole of the trouble’.
“To bear witness that the Nazi party was on the wane when the conspiracy which made Hitler chancellor took place, listen to the following accounts of eyewitnesses, a Russian social democrat, a biographer of Nazism, and a French Marxian Communist. . . .
“Germany ‘Saved’ for the Jesuits
“The Jesuits saw Germany, and their vision of the ‘Holy Roman (Catholic) Empire, slipping from their claws. ‘Down with Democracy! Down with Tolerance ! Up Murder! Up Dictatorship!’ Von Papen and Hitler ‘saved’ Germany for the Jesuits, just as Mussolini ‘saved’ Italy for ‘the Holy Church’.
“‘Fascism’ (meaning ‘Nazism’ too), wrote Ludendorff in his book The Coming War, ‘is a fighting instrument of the pope.’ ‘Fascism is the offspring of the Jesuits.’ ‘The ways of the Church of Rome and Fascism are identical.’ ‘The Papacy and Fascism are inseparably united: together they constitute what is called “Rome”. . . . ’ ‘What astonishes me is that the fact should have been overlooked that national socialism of the Fascist type merely means collectivism of the Romish brand.’ ”
Flatteries
5 “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Dan. 11: 32) It is the political element of “the king of the north” that is here named as influencing others by flatteries, wickedly doing what is possible against the covenant, that is to say, The Theocratic Government. The political element of “the king of the north” flatters the religious element, that is to say, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, by promising to fulfill the dream of the Papacy to revive and set up again the so-called “Holy Roman Empire”. In this the political element of the composite “king of the north” serves as the active ruling power, and thus serves as the pope’s implement to bring about the desired result. To be sure, the Axis political powers do not love the Papacy, but join forces with the Papacy, moved by selfish desire and hope or expectation of ruling the world. The political element expects and relies upon the religious element, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, to keep the Catholic population submissive while the scheme of world dominion is carried forward to completion. The Papacy willingly joins in the conspiracy or scheme for world domination and lends large sums of money and ecclesiastical backing and employs Catholic Action in co-operating with the political element to bring about the desired end. Supporting this conclusion, take note of the following facts, to wit:
When Mussolini became dictator of Italy he was against the pope. Catholic Action was put forward by Pope Pius XI, and shortly thereafter Mussolini became a devout Catholic and made regular trips to the Vatican to have his conscience oiled. Hitler and Mussolini, the two leading parts of the political element of “the king of the north”, had an understanding with the pope, who had dealt with Hitler through his agents and Secretary Cardinal Pacelli and Monsignor Kaas. Fritz Thyssen, German steel magnate who helped finance Hitler to his position of political power, throws some light on the result of the flattery to which the pope yielded. Thyssen wrote a letter, which was widely published, concerning the deal between the pope and the dictators, from which the following is quoted: “The idea was to have a sort of Christian Corporate State organized according to the classes, which should be supported by the church—in the west by the Catholic, and in the east by the Protestant church—and by the army. . . . Hitler then promised what to me was the most important thing: not to touch the rights of the Catholic church. He repeated this promise in a long conversation with Monsignor Kaas, who paid him a visit, following an order of the then papal nuncio to Germany, Pacelli, now Pius XII, and this without knowledge of the leader of the Zentrum party [the Catholic party of Germany at that time], Chancellor Bruening. This conference led to the overthrow of the last legal German government, that of Bruening, and marked the beginning of the epoch of German and European policies which led to the second world war, of today.” The foregoing statement by Thyssen was published in the Arbeiter Zeitung of Basel, Switzerland. (See Consolation August 21,1940.)
6 Hitler became dictator of Germany and on July 20, 1933, signed a formal concordat with the pope. Shortly thereafter the faithful servants of Jehovah, who announced The Theocracy within the land of Germany, were set upon by the Nazis, their property was seized, they were harshly ill-treated, and thousands of them imprisoned. Hitler’s Gestapo performed this act in carrying out Catholic Action.
7 The Papacy yielded to the flattery of the Nazis for the selfish purpose of gratifying a political aspiration, and entered into an agreement with the Nazis and made common cause with the dictators. Then the clergy or ecclesiastical element took a positive position against the covenant, that is, The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. Thus the ecclesiastical element, the Hierarchy, became corrupt, as the prophecy states, in like manner that the Protestant religionists were corrupted and perverted respecting the League of Nations brought forth by “the king of the south” by the Versailles Treaty. The Papal clergy, by joining forces with the dictators, became a party to all the cruel and bloody crimes of the totalitarians, just as the Lord foretold by another of his prophets: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isa. 24:5) “Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.” —Jer. 2: 33, 34.
8 The Lord will cleanse the defiled land with the blood of the ones responsible for the present world disaster. (See Numbers 35:33.) The Roman Catholic Hierarchy had for many centuries claimed to be for the Covenant Government, The Theocracy, and had deceived millions of people and still deceives them; but when the time arrived to dissemble, that religious or demon institution chose “Caesar”, the State, instead of Christ the King.
9 Note the marginal reading of Daniel 11:32: “Cause to dissemble [that is, act hypocritically].” As to hypocritical action on the part of the flattering Roman Catholic Hierarchy, note the following: The public press of Germany on February 10, 1939, commented on the death of Pope Pius XI, who organized and started Catholic Action, and, amongst other things, said: “Although he [the pope] inveighed against Bolshevism, he also tried to come to terms with it in the hope of taking over the Russian Orthodox Church.”
10 For some time prior to the assault of the Germans upon the Russians in the present war of 1941 the Vatican had Jesuit priests in Russia carrying on a systematic training work to gain control over the Russian Orthodox Church whenever Germany conquers Russia. This is further proof of the hypocrisy of the Vatican and of its co-operation with the Axis powers. The public press published these facts throughout the country, among which was that by the New York Journal-American June 23, 1941, in which this statement concerning the Papacy says: “The Holy See has been training priests for duty in Russia for some time in the event of a religious change there.”
11 Further evidence of the hypocrisy of the Vatican is shown in the following; Der Angriff, German newspaper, says: “As late as 1936 the pope issued permission to Catholics in Japan to participate in the cult of the Emperor and of the heroes, ‘leaving Weltanschauung to the State and religion to the church.’ ” In all the political operations of “the king of the north” in recent years the Vatican has dissembled or acted hypocritically before the Catholic population in order to hide the facts, which facts show that the Papacy is fully co-operating with the Axis powers in carrying forward a campaign for world domination.
12 The Vatican is now especially acting hypocritically in England and with her allies, which are at war with “the king of the north”; and in that so-called “democratic” nation the Vatican representatives claim to be democratic and to be strongly supporting democracies and that the Vatican is being persecuted by the totalitarians, which claim, of course, is exactly contrary to the facts and is put forth for the express purpose of deceiving the common people and keeping them blind as to the real duplicity of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. God foreknew and foretold of such dissembling or hypocrisy in these appropriate words: “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour.” (Prov. 11:9) The Vatican has played and continues to play the hypocritical game with reference to Belgium, Holland and other countries, where it carries on “fifth column” action. It follows the same tactics in the United States, claiming to be for America, yet dead against all democracies and scheming to grab control of the United States government.
13 The Hierarchy resort to flattery of the democracies, telling the officials thereof that they are the “higher powers” named in the Scriptures at Romans 13:1, and thus throw the democracy-deluded ones off their guard and blind them to the facts. The above scripture means that only Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are “the Higher Powers” and that in no sense whatsoever are political office-holders the higher powers. The political elements have also flattered the religious element by high compliments and by refraining from criticising the Hierarchy and its methods of duplicity; and these political powers have seen to it that the public press does not criticize the Hierarchy nor even mention its glaring and crooked action.
14 The demon trap of flattery has been working steadily, and into it the so-called “democracies” have been successfully caught. As an example: When the Papacy announced 1933 the “Holy Year”, Protestants and Jewish religionists and politicians joined with the Hierarchy in ceremonies celebrating the year and felicitating the pope and other members of the Hierarchy and expressing the hope that ‘a golden stream of prosperity would flow to the people by reason of the actions of the Papacy’.
15 A few examples of the foregoing follow:
On October 8,1936, the presidential campaign was on, and Pacelli, the present pope, suddenly turned up in the United States and had a private visit with the then candidate for re-election, Mr. Roosevelt. When the votes were counted, Mr. Roosevelt had gotten most of the Catholic vote.
Mr. Roosevelt had stated that the United States would enter into diplomatic relationship with the Vatican as soon as the American people could be brought around to it. Becoming impatient in waiting for the American people to come around to that state of mind, Mr. Roosevelt, on December 23, 1939, appointed Myron C. Taylor as his personal envoy to the pope, and Mr. Taylor proceeded to Vatican City to felicitate the Papal head.
September, 1940, there was celebrated throughout the world the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Jesuits, and the United States joined in that celebration. All fair-minded people know that the Jesuits are the most hypocritical and crooked Order that the Devil has ever placed on the earth.
GOD’S PEOPLE
16 In this 32nd verse of the eleventh chapter of Daniel’s prophecy Jehovah by his prophet draws a striking contrast between the enemies of The Theocracy, that yield to flattery and do wickedly against The Theocracy, and those who faithfully support The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. The latter, the faithful ones, are designated in the prophecy as God’s people; that is to say: “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” That means the faithful servants of Jehovah who engage, by his grace, in God’s “strange work”. These do know their God and rejoice in serving him. Such are Jehovah’s witnesses, to whom Jehovah has been pleased in recent years to reveal himself and his purposes in order that they might serve him as his witnesses by bearing testimony to his name and to his kingdom. In 1919 Jehovah brought his faithful people back from captivity and the dead state or condition, where they had been held by modern Babylon. He revived them and put them to work in his service. He has made known to them that he is the Supreme One, the Almighty God, who alone bears the name Jehovah. (Ezek. 37:13,14) He has made them to know that Christ Jesus is the King of The Theocracy, who shall rule the world in righteousness, and that his government is the most important of all matters. He has set them free from religion and has shown them that human salvation is not of greatest importance, but that the vindication of Jehovah’s name is of paramount importance; and thus has made known to them what is the joy of the Lord. These faithful ones have entered into the joy of the Lord at the invitation of Christ Jesus. God has made known to these faithful servants the meaning of the ‘two great wonders’ in the heavens (Rev. 12:1-3), that is to say, Jehovah’s organization, which is supreme, and that organization which is operated by the Devil in opposition to The Theocracy. God has shown his people what constitutes the “beast” and the “image of the beast”, that is, the totalitarian monstrosity. (Rev. 15:2) Jehovah has revealed to his people the meaning of his prophecies and has made them “strong in the Lord and in the power of his might”. He has made them strong in faith and in works and to stand up against the totalitarian forces of the demons, and to refuse to have anything in common with the covenant-breaking religionists. God has made them strong to stick to and to proclaim The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus his King.
17 Therefore Jehovah’s witnesses, as the prophecy states, “do exploits.” They have, by the grace of God and his King, been active in declaring Jehovah’s name and his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus and in declaring Jehovah’s judgments written against every element of Satan’s organization. Thus they have done a work and accomplished something in God’s name. This they have done particularly since the outpouring of the holy spirit in A.D. 1922. By the Lord’s grace these faithful servants of his “do know their God” and have gone forth in the strength of the Lord and have carried his message to practically all nations of the earth. They have printed and published the Kingdom message, world-wide, in eighty-eight different languages and dialects, which publications in those languages they have placed in the hands of the people to the number of more than 340 million books and booklets, and in addition thereto many millions of free tracts, besides magazines, The Watchtower, The Golden Age, Consolation; they have also broadcast over hundreds of radio transmitters to countless numbers of radio audiences, proclaiming the good news of The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus, which is the bright and glorious hope of humankind.
18 Jehovah’s witnesses within that time have held the greatest assemblies or conventions of God’s people that have ever been held within the history of the church. As an example, in London in 1938 there was a large convention assembled, with forty-six other assemblies throughout the earth tied together by land wires with the main convention, together with 117 radio stations, which simultaneously broadcast the Kingdom message from London.
19 In June, 1939, thirty different assemblies were likewise held, united with New York by land wires, together with 75 radio stations, proclaiming the kingdom message; in which multitudes of people heard.
20 In Detroit in July, 1940, there was a main assembly of the convention, with seventeen other American cities connected together by land wires, and by radio, who participated in the proclamation of the Kingdom message. In addition thereto numerous petitions concerning the kingdom of Jehovah God have been circulated and signed by millions of people, calling upon the nations to hear and to support the freedom of speech and freedom of worship of Almighty God. In the courts of the nations thousands of cases have been tried, in which public testimony has been given to the name of Jehovah and his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. Many of Jehovah’s faithful witnesses have been haled into the courts at the instance of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their dupes, exactly in fulfillment of the prophetic warning uttered by Christ Jesus, and thus a further witness has been given to the name of Jehovah and to his kingdom: “But take heed to yourselves; for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” (Mark 13: 9,10) Mark the facts showing fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel, which are here corroborated by the words prophetically uttered by Christ Jesus; and mark well also in this connection the physical facts that follow.
The wise
21 “And they that understand [they that be wise (Rev. Ver.)] among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.”—Dan. 11: 33.
22 Thus the Lord God and Christ Jesus caused the light to shine into the hearts of his faithful people, giving them an understanding of their own relationship to Jehovah and to his King, and those who really love The Theocratic Government have rejoiced to receive this light and have taken the wise course: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments ; his praise endureth for ever.”—Ps. Ill: 10.
23 The wise one is he who hears and obeys the admonition of the Lord. From and after A.D. 1922 the knowledge and understanding and wisdom of these faithful servants of Jehovah increased. Since then the wise have devoted themselves to the interest of The Theocratic Government and the Lord has made them a part of his “faithful and wise servant” of which Christ Jesus is the Head. (Matt. 24:45-47) Daniel’s prophecy concerning the awakening from the dust and much running to and fro, which for a long while was grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted, began to be properly understood by the wise ones after the coming of the Lord to his temple: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.”—Dan. 12: 2,3.
24 It is those who take the wise course that increase in understanding and rejoice in the Lord. (Dan. 12:10) Many who were spiritually asleep prior to 1931 and were in the “dust” of Babylon until the Lord awakened them, when awakened, began to realize the importance of the hour and, becoming alive to that importance, they went to work, joyfully going forth to have a part, and having a part, in God’s “strange work”. The number of the pioneers rapidly increased; and those in the many companies that have been spiritually asleep, yet who had love for God, awakened and seized the opportunity of going from house to house to bring the testimony to the people concerning the name of the Most High and his kingdom. Such have become faithful witnesses of the Lord and have carried his message to those who have been hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
25 “Shall instruct many,” says the prophecy concerning Jehovah’s faithful witnesses. These faithful servants of the Lord heard and understood the command of Christ Jesus: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness” before the final end. (Matt. 24:14) In obedience to the Lord’s commandment here given the faithful diligently went about telling the people of and concerning The Theocratic Government. They have become instructors of many by visiting them at their homes and by holding study meetings and aiding them in studying God’s Word. Such has been and is a tremendous witness work and carried on in divers ways, to wit, by the use of books, booklets, magazines, radio, phonographs, and by traveling from place to place and from house to house and speaking to those who are willing to hear. As these faithful witnesses have gone among the people they have met with many who have had a hearing ear, and these the witnesses have instructed in the way of the Scriptures. Their journey and their work as Jehovah’s servants are along the rough and rugged way, viewed from the human viewpoint, but always the way of joy of heart to those who willingly engage in the field witness work. It is not expected it would be easy on the human organism. It has not been too hard for all, and it has been too hard for some. Therefore says the prophecy:
“YET THEY SHALL FALL.”
26 According to the Hebrew this part of the text reads: "They shall totter in their knees”; (Leeser) “yet they will stumble.” But mark this, that they do not fall down helplessly. They have not stopped pushing forward in Jehovah’s service. The pioneers and company workers have had many difficulties, but on they have gone. They know that they are backed up by almighty power, Jehovah and his King, and therefore, when hindered by the enemy and caused to stumble, they rise up again and go forward: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”—Prov. 24 :16.
“YET THEY SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD”
27 In the totalitarian land this part of the prophecy has been literally fulfilled, as the faithful servants of Jehovah have experienced. There some of the faithful have refused to compromise with the demon organization, and these have been put to death, symbolized by “the sword”; some of them literally being beheaded. The word “sword” is also a symbol of violent opposition and persecution waged against the faithful ones by mobs controlled by demons. This has also been the result in many parts of the earth, particularly in the United States, where these have been led by Jesuit priests, deluded members of the American Legion, and other demonized fanatics. The Lord foreknew that these things would come to pass, and caused it to be written down for the comfort of his people who experience them.
“BY FLAME”
28 The flame here symbolizes hot persecution and public roasting by newspapers, by radio addresses, by public misrepresentation and by false testimony in the courts. From these sources flames of malicious persecution have flared forth against Jehovah’s witnesses. (Lam. 2:3) Against such scorching flames the faithful have stood firm, refusing to yield to any part of the demonized organization. These faithful ones are deeply rooted in the truth and in their devotion to God and his King, and are not like the seed that was sown on stony ground, that “when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away”.—Matt. 13: 5, 6, 20, 21.
“BY CAPTIVITY”
29 Thus are described other things that have been used by the demon-controlled to hinder the servants of Jehovah, that is, his faithful witnesses. These witnesses have been taken into captivity, physically, in the totalitarian-ruled countries, where they have been physically dragged and thrown into prison. In Germany more than 6,000 of such faithful witnesses of Jehovah have been placed at one time in prison, and many still linger in such prisons. Many have been arrested and thrown into prisons throughout the United States, in the land long boasted of as “the land of the free, and the home of the brave”, which land and its religionist-controlled officers in recent years have yielded to the totalitarian, demon spirit made manifest by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. All of such related wickedness, leveled against Jehovah’s witnesses, is in fulfillment of the prophecy ; and knowing that Jehovah permits the same for a purpose, his faithful servants joyfully endure such suffering and persecution for his name’s sake, knowing that in due time he will avenge them.- Luke 18:7,8.
“AND BY SPOIL”
30 From the time that the dictator Hitler came into power in Germany that land has been a place of spoiling of God’s faithful people. The dictator agents, and agents of the Hierarchy, have invaded private homes of Jehovah’s witnesses and there, without any just cause or excuse, have seized the inmates of those homes and carried them away to prison, have seized Bibles and Bible literature, and have burned the same. On one occasion 50,000 books of Jehovah’s witnesses were destroyed in flames by the Nazis. A similar course has been followed by the dictatorial rulers in other countries that form a part of “the king of the north”, to wit, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Danzig, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Rumania, France, Spain, and other places, all of which has been wickedly done with the connivance and at the instance of the Hierarchy, directed from Vatican City.
31 In Canada the spoiling goes on. There Jehovah’s witnesses, the servants of the Most High, have been declared by the Catholic Vatican-controlled dictator to be an “illegal organization”, and their work and their property spoiled, and many arrests made because faithful servants of God meet together to talk over God’s gracious goodness provided for them. A like policy of spoiling is now carried on in many other countries, which form a part of “the king of the south”, to wit, Australia, West Africa, Island provinces, and other places.
32 In the United States, to the shame of the nation that for 150 years has held dear freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship of Almighty God, such spoiling work has run wild in recent years. It began particularly in the United States, as early as 1932; and in 1940, on the same day that the dictator Mussolini, with the connivance of the Vatican, stabbed the republic of France in the back, the spoiling broke out in Texas and in other places, where Catholic, demonized persons predominated, and there mobs were led by Roman Catholic priests and other Catholic fanatics, who entered private Bible student classes, and their homes were seized, and their Bibles and other Bible literature, and destroyed. Also they maliciously beat and violently ill-treated many Jehovah’s witnesses, destroying their property and driving them from place to place like wild beasts.
33 “Catholic Action,” organized and directed by and from Vatican City, is the chief instrument of Satan and associated demons in carrying on the spoiling of Jehovah’s servants in different parts of the earth. Referring to this matter, the prophecy says it is carried on for “many days”, and those days are almost certain to continue with increased venom and violence, manifested by the religionists against Jehovah’s servants until the Lord takes a hand in that battle of the great day of God Almighty called “Armageddon”.
34 By these wicked means named in the prophecy, sword, flames, captivity and spoiling, Catholic Action, which is a part of “the king of the north”, hopes to bring about a condition in the world when the religionists, their leaders and allies may say to one another: “We are at peace and safety.” That will be the sign when the Lord will move into action and clear up the demon agents.
35 Through all the cruel persecution suffered by Jehovah’s witnesses at the hands of demon-controlled ruling elements these faithful servants of the Lord have managed to stumble along. Weary in body, yet rejoicing in spirit, they have gone forward singing the praises of The Theocracy and its King. Thus they continue to have part in the “strange work” of Jehovah. Onward they march like an irresistible swarm of locusts, fully determined that in the strength of the Lord they will perform their part of the covenant. Long ago Jehovah, by his prophet, foretold this onward march of his servants in these words: “They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks; neither shall one thrust another, they shall walk every one in his path; and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded [though in among the weapons they fall, they shall not stop (Rotherham)].”—Joel 2:7,8.
HELP
36 “Now when they shall fall [And when they stumble (Young)], they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” —Dan. 11: 34.
37 The Lord here brings to view his “other sheep”, who sympathize with the “remnant” and show their goodness of heart by rendering assistance to the remnant. These “other sheep” are very small in number when compared with the host of the wicked persecutors, called “goats”. The “other sheep” are likened to those who became companions of David when he was outlawed and hunted by Saul. (1 Chron. 12:22-24) So David wrote: “The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.”—Ps. 118:7.
38 They render aid as Rahab rendered aid to the spies. So these “other sheep” of the Lord have shown their goodness of heart towards God’s remnant. (Josh. 2:1,2) Likewise as Jael rendered help to Barak and Deborah at the battle of Megiddo. (Judg. 4:17-22; 5:24-27) The Lord has further pictured such help rendered by the Jonadabs, as shown in the relationship of Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 19,20,23); also as that shown by Ebed-melech in helping Jeremiah when he was in the pit. (Jer. 38:7-13) As the “other sheep” render help to the faithful remnant, so they render it unto Christ Jesus, of which He takes notice and administers to them a great blessing.—Matt. 25: 32-40.
39 Some help is also rendered by reasonable and sensible judges of the courts who have rendered honest and sincere decisions upholding the rights of Jehovah’s witnesses in proclaiming the Kingdom message, and which decisions have had something to do with keeping the “back door” open for the remainder of the modern-Ehud class. (Judg. 3: 23-26) The attitude of the British government and many of its war draft boards has shown their kindness toward Jehovah’s witnesses, and it is here noteworthy. The Lord never overlooks kindness that is ministered to those who love and serve him. No doubt the judges referred to, who have rendered favorable and righteous decisions concerning Jehovah’s witnesses, and the officials of the British government who have shown kindness to Jehovah’s servants, will receive some just recompense from the Lord in due time.
40 “But many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” There was an earlier representative of “the king of the north” in power when Jesus was on the earth in the flesh and who yielded to flatteries. (See Daniel 11: 21, 22.) Verse 32 of this eleventh chapter shows a later representative of “the king of the north” who is corrupted and who corrupts the so-called “clergy” by flatteries. The demons try their flattering schemes upon Jehovah’s witnesses. “The king of the north” and its agents and representatives thereby hope to corrupt Jehovah’s witnesses by inducing them to compromise with the Devil, such as Satan attempted to do to corrupt Christ Jesus at the mount of temptation. Some officials of “the king of the north”, particularly the diplomatic ones, try to induce Jehovah’s servants by flattery and flattering words to compromise by having part in creature worship and paying homage to creatures. The faithful refuse to yield, and pray as they are taught in God’s Word: “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels ; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.”— Ps. 5:8-10.
41 There are flatterers amongst the “elective elder” class, who indulge in flattery themselves and who believe in flattering Satan’s organization by putting on the soft pedal when it comes to the Kingdom message and by recognizing political officials as the “higher powers” and yielding to their demands. The result is that such decline to have any part in proclaiming The Theocracy and the deadly conflict of Satan’s organization with God’s Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. The evidence is therefore cumulative showing beyond all doubt that the composite “king of the north”, made up chiefly of political-religious elements, and demon-controlled, has boldly and blasphemously placed itself “in the holy place” and there it arrogantly stands in the place “where it ought not” to stand, in the place and stead of The Theocracy by Christ Jesus, and stands there in defiance of Almighty God. It is the present-day 'desolating abomination’, the instrument of Satan, the chief of demons, by which he would desolate the entire earth. Those who see and understand these truths will now give heed to the warning uttered by Christ Jesus the King and quickly flee to The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus, symbolized by “the mountains”.—Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14.
42 At the same time those who have taken the wise course are being subjected to the severe test, and all who will come off victorious must continue to hold fast their integrity. Who of such will now appear blameless before the Lord in this hour of final testing ?
(To be continued)
The works of Jehovah are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honor and majesty; and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered . . . The works of his hands are truth and justice; all his precepts are sure. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endureth for ever.
—Psalm 111: 2-4, 7,10, A.R.V.
CHARACTER OR INTEGRITY-WHICH?
IN THIS trying world crisis “character development” and its claimed importance and necessity are repeatedly stressed from the public platform and the pulpit and over the radio. Said a Toronto, Canada, clergyman recently in New York: “Fighting and beating Hitler may involve the danger of becoming [totalitarian] like Hitler. We must return to the idea that the character of God determines our moral order.” (N. Y. Times, July 21, 1941) Expressions also are frequent, such as: “We must in this life become a perfect character or else we cannot eternally dwell with God.” “Fitness of character to meet God’s approval must be accomplished while in the flesh. Death and resurrection will make no change in our character.”
What, then, is “character”? The word in the Greek text of the Bible from which the English word “character” is taken appears but once in the Scriptures. The Greek word is there rendered “express image”, as follows: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb. 1:3) This description of Christ Jesus relates to the time when he was resurrected and exalted to divine glory. The express image of the Father, which Jesus Christ now enjoys, is not something that he developed during his three and one-half years of suffering down on earth. The apostle, at Hebrews 1: 3, plainly says that Christ Jesus enjoyed this “express image” from the time when he “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. This glory he did not acquire by his own efforts, but it came to him as a reward from God because of his absolute obedience and faithfulness and maintaining of his integrity toward Jehovah while on earth.
This “express image”, or “character” (Greek), is not something that the glorified Jesus possesses separate and apart from his person. The Emphatic Diaglott translation renders Hebrews 1:3 in this manner: “Who, being an effulgence of his glory, and an exact impress of his substance, and making manifest all things by the word of his power, having made a purification for sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty in high places.” From this it must be concluded that when Jesus was exalted on high he then became the “express image” of Jehovah his Father and that life divine or immortality has to do with that express image That being true, it was an absolute impossibility for Jesus to develop it while in the mortal flesh. The Greek word “character” means “the figure stamped in; an exact copy; express image”. (Strong's Concordance)
“Character is that which a person or thing really is.” (Webster’s Dictionary) This definition is in harmony with the inspired Scriptures. It is true that in English usage the word “character” has many shades of meaning given to it by lexicographers, but usage by men can in no wise change the Scriptural meaning of a word or term. If the Lord through the inspired scribes plainly shows the meaning of a word used, then no man has authority to give that word a different meaning and then apply that meaning to the Scriptures.
Frequently in religious circles these expressions are used, to wit, “God’s righteous character”; “Jesus’ character”; “the Christian’s character”; etc. Observe that in each of these expressions the possessive case of the person is employed, meaning ownership or possession of something as separate and distinct from the person or creature. Does God possess a character separate and distinct from himself ? Does Jesus own and possess a character which is separate and distinct from himself and which he has developed? Has a Christian a character which he owns and possesses and which he develops by his own effort?
Webster further defines the Greek word rendered “character” in harmony with the Scriptures, thus “The peculiar quality or the sum of qualities by which a person or thing is distinguished from others, that which a person or thing really is.” What distinguishes God from all others? The answer must be that at all times, without beginning and without ending, the four primary attributes, wisdom and justice and love and power, are expressed by and in him in exact harmony. Such cannot be said of any other. Jehovah, therefore, is The Character. That being true, the expressions “God’s character” or “God’s righteous character” are unscriptural. These attributes are a part of Jehovah. He is The Character. He does not possess or own a character.
From the time of the creation of God’s only begotten Son, The Logos or Word, afterward called “Jesus”, he was always a character and he was always perfect. When God raised Jesus up out of death and clothed him with immortality and with all power in heaven and in earth and exalted him to the highest place in the heavens, he made Jesus Christ exactly like Himself, his “express image”. Therefore and from that time he is a character like Jehovah. This does not indicate that he possesses something which he developed and which is called “character”, but that he is a character and he is like his Father.
Man is a creature, an entity, a soul; as shown by the account of his creation, at Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” There are many people on the earth who believe themselves to be Christian and who use the expression, “I have a soul to save,” thereby meaning that they possess something called “a soul” and which is separate and distinct from the body. This is not Scriptural. No man possesses a soul separate and distinct from his body. Every man is a soul. Likewise no man possesses a character. Every man is a character. “Character is that which a man really is” Hence the expressions “Jacob’s character” and “Esau’s character” are not properly Scriptural terms. The patriarch Jacob was a good man and therefore a good character, whereas his twin brother, Esau, was a bad man and therefore a bad character.
Is it a proper expression, therefore, to say that a Christian must develop a character pleasing to God before he can be received into God’s kingdom? Such is not a correct expression, because it implies that the Christian must develop something to a point where God will approve him, that he must do this by his own efforts, and that the thing developed is something separate and distinct from himself. No wonder, then, that many Christians have become discouraged. The improper view of the matter is discouraging, whereas the proper understanding of it gives courage to the Christian. It should be our purpose always to encourage and help one another.
To illustrate: A printer’s type is made from metal. The letter A is a character. This letter may be cut out of a rough piece of steel. As soon as it is formed into the letter A it is a character, but it is rough and unsightly. The roughness is taken off and it is subjected to a high polish until it becomes very beautiful. The polishing process is not the developing of a character; it is the change of the identical character from one degree of unsightliness to a degree of beauty.
At the time that a man consecrates himself to God by a covenant to do God’s will as Christ Jesus does that will, that man becomes a Christian. He is then a character. He is a Christian. He does not possess a Christian nor does he possess a character. He is now in the rough. Must this Christian, this character, undergo a change, or must he “develop a character to perfection” before God can receive him? This question must be answered by the Word of the Lord. Man’s theory is unsatisfactory.
The apostle Peter, in both of his epistles, addresses Christians that have been begotten of the spirit of God as his spiritual children. To these the apostle says: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Pet. 2: 21) Now the question is: Was Jesus required to develop a character before he could be received into the Kingdom, and did he develop such character while on the earth? The proper answer to this question furnishes the criterion by which the followers of Jesus must be guided, and the answer to the question must be emphatically No; because Jesus was a perfect character when on the earth. He did not have a character to develop; he was a character, and he was perfect; otherwise he could not have been acceptable as the great ransom sacrifice to redeem believing and faithful humankind.
But from the time he consecrated himself to Jehovah God and was baptized in water to symbolize that consecration and was thereafter begotten of God’s holy spirit, from that time until his resurrection from the dead did not Jesus have to develop a perfect character as a “new creature”? He did not. Had he developed such a character as a new creature while in the flesh, then Jesus would have had that likeness spoken of by the apostle before he died and was raised from the dead. He did not raise himself from the dead, but God raised him up.
At Hebrews 5: 8, 9 it is written: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Does not this mean that he was made perfect in his character? The answer is, No. Jesus entered into a covenant with his Father to do his Father’s will. He was put to the most severe tests of his integrity toward Jehovah God, and under these tests he maintained his integrity and proved his unswerving loyalty, devotion and faithfulness to God. The purpose of the things which he suffered was to prove his faithfulness under the most adverse circumstances. He met all these tests and thereby completely learned obedience. “For it became him [Jehovah God], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation [Christ Jesus] perfect through sufferings.”—Heb. 2:10.
The word “perfect” used by the apostle Paul in the foregoing texts means to complete, to consummate, to accomplish. Note that the texts do not say that Jesus perfected his character by the things which he suffered. What is said is this: He learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and having completed or consummated his covenant with God he became the author of eternal salvation. “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2: 8) Otherwise stated, when Jesus finished his covenant of sacrifice God gave him the reward by making him the author of the eternal salvation of obedient humankind. At the same time God gave to him immortality and a glory like unto His own, and thereby Jesus became “an exact impress of [God’s] substance”.
What Jesus did his followers must likewise do, because they are called to follow in his footsteps. All such as will ultimately be made perfect, glorious characters and “be like him” must be so made by Jehovah God in the “first resurrection”.—1 John 3:2; Rev. 20: 6.
The true Christian has, like Jesus, entered into a covenant to do Jehovah’s will. The word “covenant” is the solemn form of expressing the word “contract”. Two are required to make a covenant, and the minds of both parties thereto must agree. “Christian” is the name applied to a man who makes a full consecration whereby he agrees to do God’s will, trusting in the merit of Christ Jesus as his Redeemer. In substance, his part of the contract may be stated thus: “I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I promise and agree to do thy will, O God, whatsoever it may be.” If God takes a man into covenant with him, that is called a “bilateral” or two-sided covenant. The obligation rests upon both parties to the covenant to carry that covenant into complete operation according to its terms. Jehovah God binds himself to perform all his covenants. Almighty God makes it impossible for his side of the covenant to fail. Can a man who has been taken into a covenant with God treat his obligations under that covenant lightly and violate or break them without punishment ? Romans 1:31, 32 answers: “Covenant breakers . . . are worthy of death.” God is faithful in all things he has promised, and he requires faithfulness of all those who undertake to perform an agreement or covenant with him.
Today the worldly powers endeavor to force God’s covenant people to repudiate their covenant and to break the terms thereof by conforming themselves to the things of this world, which things are contrary to Jehovah’s commandment and will. The facts show that God’s faithful covenant people remain steadfast to Jehovah, faithful to the terms of their covenant and to The Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus, regardless of all threats or acts leveled against them. The faithful covenant people of God will not fear man or what man can do. They do fear Almighty God and obey and serve him. As for wicked men, their power ends with death, but the power of Almighty God is eternal. If one in a covenant dies unfaithful to God, that is the end of him everlastingly. If he dies at the hands of wicked men because he is faithful to Jehovah and to the obligations of his covenant, Jehovah will resurrect that faithful one to life eternal. Why should a man hesitate to faithfully keep covenant with Jehovah in the face of all human opposition or punishment, either threatened or applied! The man who is in a covenant with Jehovah and has partaken of the knowledge of the good things to be given by the Lord God does not permit himself even to debate in mind as to whether or not he should obey man and thereby break his covenant. He who maintains his integrity toward God is determined to keep his covenant obligations faithfully to the end, regardless of what may be done against him by any human power.
At 2 Peter 1:5-8 the apostle says: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance [self-control] ; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The apostle Peter is not here telling Christians how to develop character, but is telling them how to perform their covenant, and then, for the encouragement of Christians, he adds (vs. 10) : “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
Why read into the inspired words of the apostle that which is not there? Where in the Scriptures do we find warrant for the statement made by religionists: “Your part and my part in the eternal purpose of God depends upon our character development, and we must get busy and develop this character, a perfect character, while in this life”? Every Christian knows he cannot do anything perfectly, but he does know he can do his best to perform that which he has agreed with the Lord to do. The apostle Peter states what he must do ; and to do means to work, and that work must be done with joy.
The Christian may put forth his very best endeavors to do the things mentioned by Peter and yet he is always mindful of his many weaknesses and imperfections. He knows he is not perfect. With the wrong understanding of “character development” he would certainly become discouraged, but with a proper understanding of integrity and of his covenant with God he with joy can say: “My Father is the righteous God. He knows my heart and that I love him and am striving to be his true and faithful witness.” To such Christians the message of the apostle joyfully rings in their ears: 'Be not discouraged; if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.’ This means that if you faithfully put forth your best efforts to perform your part of the covenant you are absolutely certain to win and to gain God’s approval and the blessings he has reserved for those who maintain their integrity toward him and thus prove the Devil’s false charge a lie.—Job 2: 5.
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