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    The Watchtower, October 15, 1942

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    The Watchtower—1942

    “THE WISE” TESTIMONY PERIOD

    The month of October is known by Jehovah’s witnesses as “The Wise” Testimony Period During this month the servants of Jehovah are putting forth an extraoidinary effort to magnify the Lord’s name and to advertise his kingdom in the earth. It is good to serve the Lord and to aid others, and those persons who are wise will put forth every effort to aid those who love righteousness to seek the truth In Proverbs, chapter 8, verse 31 onward, this thought is brought to our attention, "Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, . . . for whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” During “The Wise” Testimony Period Jehovah's witnesses are offering the new book The New World and the booklet Peace - Can It Last! on a contribution of 25c, so that the people of good-will may receive instruction and be wise. All persons who love righteousness and want to help others find the way to life may share in the witness work during this period. If you are not already associated with a company of Jehovah’s witnesses and would like to be, write to Watchtower, 117 Adams St., Brooklyn, N. Y., and we will get you in touch with the nearest company, so you may share with these servants of the Lord in the proclamation of the Kingdom. In these perplexing times the wise man will seek the Lord and share his knowledge with others, so “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”.

    “PEACE - CAN IT LAST’”

    This new booklet contains the full text of the public address on this subject as heard round the world simultaneously m eighty cities at the New World Theocratic Assembly It presents the Scriptural, factual and hence authoritative answers to the questions. Can religion guarantee a lasting peace! What is the strange creature or beast that was and is not and shall again be present to the wonderment of the world! (Revelation 17) and, Who will establish over earth an enduring peace with righteousness! Peace - Can It Last? is paper-bound, but with a striking front-cover illustration, and may be had on contribution of 5c a copy.

    “WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

    Week of November 15: “Fighter for the New World” (Part 1), 1-15 inclusive, Th- Watchtower October 15, 1942.

    Week of November 22: “Fighter for the New World” (Part 1), 16-32 inclusive, The Watchtower October 15,1942.

    Week of November 29: “Fighter for the New World” (Part 1), 33-46 inclusive, The Watchtower October 15,1942.

    No. LXIII October 15, 1942 № 20

    FIGHTER FOR THE NEW WORLD

    PART 1

    "Jesus answered, My 'kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.” — John 18:36.

    JEHOVAH is the mightiest fighter for the new world. His victory for it he long ago foreshadowed by his destruction of the forces of the old world as represented by ancient Egypt under Pharaoh. In the victory song those who were delivered from that 'old world’ power sang: “I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name.” - Ex. 15:1,3, Am. Rev. Ver.

    2 The prophet Moses led the Israelites in singing that song at the Red sea. He also was a fighter for a world of which Egypt was and is no part. He chose the people of Jehovah rather than the royal honors of Egypt, and his fight for the defense and deliverance of his Israelite brethren from Egypt caused him to be outlawed from that dark religious land of oppression. The first thing, in the land of his exile, he stood up and fought for the weak against the strong. Thereafter he became a shepherd among such weak ones, in a wild country, an occupation then attended with great danger. (Ex. 2:11-22; 3:1) In due time Jehovah sent him back to Egypt, where Moses took up anew the fight for the weak and oppressed. The fight finished in Jehovah’s glorious triumph over the then foremost power of the old world. Later, Moses under Jehovah’s inspiration declared himself to be a prophetic figure, foreshadowing a mighty Fighter to come, like Moses, only greater. The combined testimony of the inspired Scriptures is that such Fighter for Jehovah’s new world is God’s only begotten Son. By this mighty Judge and Warrior is the new world established, and he becomes Jehovah’s King of the world of righteousness that shall never have end. - Deut. 18:15-18; Acts 3: 22, 23; 7: 35-37; Heb. 1:1,2.

    3 For more than forty-three centuries since the great flood of Noah’s day the invisible and visible powers which go to make up “this present evil world” have stood. (Gal. 1:4) That deluge of waters pictured Jehovah’s “strange act” in his fight for the new world. The fact that the conditions and happenings in our day are like but worse than those of Noah’s day is therefore of awful significance, if we believe the warning given us by Jesus Christ. (Matt. 24:37-39) We stand indeed at the portals of Jehovah’s new world, but we must first witness and experience his “strange act” surpassing even the Flood. Then it will be, not a question of “sink or swim”, but, Who is in the great Ark of safety and survival?

    1 Who is the mightiest fighter for the new world, and bow was this called to attention in the song sung when be foreshadowed his victory for that new world?

    2 (a) How did Moses prove he also was a fighter, down in Egypt, and during his exile, and then on his return to Egypt? (b) As such, of whom did Moses declare himself to be a prophetic figure, and what is the relation of such One to the new world?

    3 What was pictured by the flood of Noah's day, what is signified in that conditions today are like those in his day, and what will then become the question determining one's survival?

    4 How, then, may anyone enter that ark? Is it by turning to religion, or by “more Religion”, as the politicians and clergy propose for their planned “new order” after this total war? No! Looking at the constant course of religion throughout all centuries, every honest person must admit that religion is of this world and takes part in this world’s organization. Therefore religion shall perish for ever with this old world, by Jehovah's “strange act”, which is the primary reason why his act is “strange” to religionists. Survey now what religion did to God’s chosen people of old, Israel, and the conclusion reached must be that the only way to survive is this: to immediately forsake religion and its confusion and take up the pure and undefiled worship of the great God Almighty of the new world, Jehovah. “Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah.”—Ps. 3:8, Am. Rev. Ver.

    JUDGES

    5 From the Red sea Moses led the twelve tribes of Israel to the eastern bank of the Jordan river, opposite the Promised Land. En route Jehovah God by Moses as mediator between Him and Israel established by law the worship of the only true and living God among that people. He warned them against the snare of religion as practiced by the inhabitants of the Promised Land, which religious inhabitants must be destroyed as enemies of Jehovah and his Theocracy, in order to root out religion from that land of promise. (See Deuteronomy 7:16,25; Exodus 23:31-33.) The religious nations east of Jordan under Og and Sihon attacked Moses and Israel, and therefore Jehovah God destroyed those nations and gave their land to the Israelites, namely, the regions of Bashan and Gilead east of Jordan. Being cattle-raisers, half of the tribe of Manasseh was given the land of Bashan and part of Gilead, and the tribes of Reuben and Gad were given the remaining southern section of Gilead.

    4. Is it by religion that anyone may enter that ark? and, after surveying religion's effect on Israel, what conclusion must be reached as to the only way to survive?

    5. En route to the Promised Land, what safeguard and warning did God give to Israel, and whose lands did he give to Israel east of Jordan river, and why?

    6 After Moses’ death Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land, and the remaining tribes were settled there in their assigned territories, after dispossessing the demon-worshipers in the land occupied. Not all such were driven out, and these with their religion proved a continual besetment and snare to the Israelites, who were under covenant obligations to worship and serve Jehovah. What next followed is important for those seeking life eternal to consider inasmuch as it provides a reliable prophetic picture of what has happened in the postwar period from and after A. D. 1918, where we are living. It shows the destiny of the nations of "Christendom” and heathendom, and discloses the destiny of those persons who as individuals take their stand on the side of Jehovah and his Righteous Government by Christ Jesus.

    7 It is the day of judgment for the nations. The course of the nations, both those called “Christian” and those called “heathen”, shows they are headed for destruction at the hand of Jehovah’s Fighter for the world of righteousness, Christ Jesus. (Matt. 25:31,32) Of this One it is written: “In righteousness he doth judge and make war.” (Rev. 19:11) The fight of Armageddon comes after his judging of the nations is ended. The fight is in execution of the judicial decision rendered. To Christ Jesus Jehovah has committed all judgment and the power to execute judgment. (John 5:22,27) He was foreshadowed by the faithful judges whom Jehovah raised up in Israel.

    8 The term “judge” as used in the record of Judges does not mean a mere judicial officer drawing a salary from the government and being appointed by a politician or by popular vote. The term means one whom Jehovah God raised up in time of crisis and whom He appointed to lead the fight on religion, overthrow the power of the religious oppressors over his people, and thereafter uphold God’s law and Theocratic organization among them and render judicial decisions in harmony therewith. This was for no selfish personal gain on his part. One such judge, the prophetic meaning of whose life the Lord God now makes clear, was Jephthah. The events of today fulfill the acts and scenes of the great prophetic drama in which Jephthah was the principal actor and show it to be God’s due time to study the role God had Jephthah play. The understanding thereof will gladden the heart of every lover of righteousness. It will stir up his zeal for the new world, enabling him to carry on in God’s service till the final victory is won and the new world established that it can never be moved. The next several issues of The Watchtower will, by God’s grace, carry forward the study of Jephthah. Those desiring to be and remain on the right side of the issue that has divided the living universe will follow these timely expositions carefully. The setting for the drama of Jephthah is laid in the tenth chapter of the book of Judges, and with that chapter our study now begins.

    6 After settling in the Promised Land, what proved a continual besetment and snare to Jehovah's covenant people Israel, and why is it important for seekers of life to consider what followed thereafter?

    7. Whither are the worldly nations headed, by whom will the judgment upon them be executed, and by whom was this Judge foreshadowed In Israel?

    8. (a) What does the term “judge” as used In the record of Judges mean? (b) What shows it to be God's due time to study the prophetic drama of Jephthah, and of what benefit and effect will it be to lovers of righteousness to understand the drama?

    BACKSLIDERS INTO RELIGION

    9 Israel was a typical Theocracy, because it was a nation administered and directed by God, and not by the people as in a democracy originating in the heathen land of ancient Greece several centuries before Christ. Instead of Jehovah deriving his powers from the consent of the governed and being servant to the people, the people worshiped and served Jehovah as the great Theocrat, and he appointed his own judge as his visible representative to the people. Judge Tola, who had served for twenty- three years, had just died. “And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair [meaning, The villages of Jair] unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.”—Judg. 10:3-5.

    10 Judge Jair was likely the descendant of the original Gileadite named Jair, a fighter, and mentioned at Numbers 32:39-41: “And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havoth-jair.” The death of Judge Jair left the nation of Israel without a visible judge. It put the Israelites under a great test as to faithfulness toward their covenant with Jehovah God and as to obedience to his commandments and as to their resistance to the religion of the enemies within and round about. The time that Israel was without a judge corresponds with the period when the spiritual Israelites, Jehovah’s covenant people of the present, were without their great Judge, because he had not come to the temple to begin judgment. His coming as Jehovah’s Messenger to the temple had been foretold and must take place. His presence at the great spiritual temple, though unseen by human eyes, was to be revealed by the events that followed his coming. - Mal. 3:1-3; 1 Pet. 4:17; Rom. 14:10; Matt. 25:31-46.

    9. (a) Wbat differences between Theocracy and democracy prove which one was the form of Israel's government? (b) With what part of the land of Israel was Judge Jair identified?

    10. (a) From whom was Judge Jair descended, end In what testing condition did his death leave the nation of Israel? (b) That period corresponds with what time in the experience of the spiritual Israelites?

    11 The physical facts, both immediately preceding 1918 and especially those that have followed since, prove that Christ Jesus came to the temple in the spring of 1918 and that since then the judgment day of the nations of the world has been under way. The climax, the execution of the judgment or judicial decision rendered, is near and all nations now face annihilation at Armageddon. The religious clergy of “Christendom” have failed to note this and to call it to the attention of the nations’ rulers, but Jehovah’s faithful witnesses have done so, as a warning to the nations.

    12 What were the developments taking place among the spiritual Israelites just preceding the Judge’s coming to the templet The conditions which developed in natural Israel of old give a true picture thereof. It is written: “And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Jehovah, and served him not.” (Judg. 10:6, Am. Rev. Ver.) The natural Israelites turned to religion. It was demonism, because the gods of those non-Israelite nations were demons worshiped under the symbol of idols, the Baalim statues representing Satan the Devil. The female Ashtaroth statues represented the so-called “queen of heaven”, Satan’s “woman”, that is, his organization of which he is husband and lordly head. The Philistines worshiped the Devil under the form of Baal-zebub, “the prince of the demons,” and also the fish-god Dagon, whose priests wore the tall hats split like an open fish-mouth and which hats were adopted by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and are worn by their popes and bishops to this day. The Ammonites worshiped the Devil under the name “Molech”, meaning “king”, or “Milcom”, meaning “their king”, denoting a political religion, the worship of the state.

    11 (a) What year Is proved to be the year of the coming of the Judge? (b) What, therefore, is now under way toward the worldly nations, and who is it that have failed as to this information?

    12 Before the coming of the next judge, to what did Israel turn, and whom did they worship as named in the record?

    13 It needs no proof here that “Christendom”, which loudly claims to be spiritual Israel, has since her very beginning in the fourth century been given over to religion, or demonism, with politics as a close ally and supporter. Much has been published in previous issues of The Watchtower to show also that the Dagon-worshiping Philistines pictured the religious element of “Christendom”, in particular the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and its Catholic Action organizations. The Ammonites, as worshipers of the “king-god”, pictured the political element attached to and glorifying and serving the state, regardless of what its political form. The Moabites, a brother nation of the Ammonites, and worshipers of “Chemosh”, pictured the ally of religion and politics, namely, the commercial element.

    14 Our concern, however, is chiefly with the true spiritual Israelites. These are in the midst of “Christendom”, but are no part of it. As long as forty years before 1918, so the historic facts show, the spiritual Israelites began to break away from “Christendom” and its religion, politics and commerce. They began to emerge to the light of the truth of God’s Word, the Bible, but down to 1918 they had not fully recovered from contact and association with such things in “Christendom". They still had many soils of religion on their garments, and the influence thereof prevented their full and proper worship of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus his King. While they had forsaken all politics of the world, yet in their desire to avoid all priestcraft and hierarchy they still carried on the democratic way of electing elders and other officers of their Christian congregations. Not yet had their eyes been opened to the Theocratic way as set forth in the Bible. It was even thought that when Christ Jesus should end his reign of one thousand years and deliver up all things to God the great Theocrat and be subject to Him, the form of government on earth would become democratic. (1 Cor. 15:24-28) Note some of the statements published before Jehovah’s King and Judge came to the temple:

    “Thenceforth man shall again be king of the earth, subject to the Great King, Jehovah, in whose ‘everlasting kingdom’ Christ and the church will thereafter be associated. We may reasonably suppose that even perfect men will require some form of government, and that it will be a representative government, since every member of that human family will be perfect, and therefore equally a king with each other member. Such a government would be nothing more nor less than a republic, in which each individual is a sovereign, and one of their number is chosen as their servant or President.”—The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, May 1, 1898, page 143.

    “No one will dispute that a republic is the highest type of government. In a republic each citizen is a sovereign; and these sovereigns, by their votes, appoint some of their number to be their representatives and servants. . . . Had no fall occurred, undoubtedly this highest form of human government would have prevailed. . . . After Messiah’s kingdom shall have thoroughly subjugated sin, thoroughly uplifted humanity, absolutely destroyed all the wilfully wicked, and shall have completely brought the remainder of the race up to absolute perfection, then, at the close of Messiah’s reign, the earth to all eternity will be a republic, each member of the race a sovereign.”—The Watchtower February 15,1915, page 57.

    13 How was this picture fulfilled in "Christendom”, and who In “Christendom” are pictured by the Philistines, the Ammonites and the Moabites whose gods Israel worshiped?

    14 (a) When did the spiritual Israelites begin to break away from the three elements of “Christendom”, and had they fully recovered therefrom by 1918? (b) What was their way of setting up officers in the congregations, and why, and what was their thought as to earth’s form of government at the end of Christ’s thousand-year reign?

    15 Not then seeing that the Righteous Government over redeemed humankind on earth will forever be Jehovah’s Theocracy by Christ Jesus, the spiritual Israelites still accepted religion’s teaching, namely, that “the higher powers” to whom all souls should be subject are the political rulers of this world, the modern-day Ammonites. Now, in the light of the revealed Word of God, the faithful remnant of his covenant people see that Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are the only “Higher Powers”, and that they must obey These rather than men of the world. — Rom. 13:1-4; Acts 5:29; 4:19.

    EIGHTEEN YEARS OPPRESSION

    16 Does a Christian's conforming to the way of this world result to his good? Note the typical answer in the Record: “And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.” (Judg. 10:7, Am. Rev. Ver.) This shows that Jehovah God does not force or coerce creatures to serve him, and that those who make a covenant to do his will and then turn to religion Jehovah abandons to their course of action and its consequences, due to not heeding His warning. Religion proved to be a snare to the Israelites and led to their enslavement by the religious-political combine.

    17 In A. D. 1914 the “times of the Gentiles”, of 2,520 years’ duration, came to an end. That marked the time for Jehovah’s Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus to begin operating for the vindication of Jehovah’s name and the establishment of the Righteous Rule over the earth. Jehovah’s covenant people on earth called attention to this fact at the time. “Christendom’s” clergy, both Catholic and Protestant, refused to believe and notify their political allies of it, and, of course, the bloody World War broke out, exactly as Jesus foretold.

    15. At that time what religious teaching concerning powers of control were the spiritual Israelites still accepting, but what do they now see in that regard?

    16 What facts concerning God’s dealing with creatures are shown by bis anger against the Israelites due to religion and his selling them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites?

    17. The end of the Gentile Times, in 1914. marked the time for what action in heaven, and how was it marked on earth, and why?

    18 Like the Ammonites of Israel’s day, the political element came to the fore and set up war rule with its martial laws and prohibitions. The modern-day Philistines, the clergy under the lead of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, brought pressure upon their Ammonite allies, and these politicians used the wartime measures and hysteria to put Jehovah’s covenant people under bonds and restraints. They banned and seized their literature, and stopped the public witness being given concerning the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of God’s Kingdom under Christ. Under the religious idea that the present-day Ammonites, or political rulers, were the “higher powers”, Jehovah’s people conscientiously subjected their souls to political-religious conspirators and refrained from the bold and continuous proclamation of the established Kingdom. Thus doing, they obeyed men rather than God’s supreme commands to be his witnesses having no fear of men. Those actually in bonds behind prison bars in Germany, Canada, and the United States, and elsewhere throughout “Christendom”, could do nothing. Their brethren, although outside, were likewise in a condition of restraint due to religious mischief framed by law. Let it not be overlooked that so-called “democratic” lands yielded to the totalitarian Roman Catholic Hierarchy and joined in the conspiracy against the worship of Jehovah by his servants.

    19 “And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side [the eastern side of] Jordan, in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.” (Judg. 10:8) The “other side” was the same side of the Jordan river as the Ammonites occupied. It was territory which they claimed belonged to them originally and was theirs by right, and they justified their aggressions against Jehovah’s covenant people on that false claim. In the spring of A. D. 1918 the world-wide oppression of the spiritual Israelites by the religious-political coconspirators reached its high point. That was when Jehovah’s servants were denied their constitutional rights in America and great religious persecution and mob violence were committed against them under the guise of patriotism. The Watch Tower Society’s officers were railroaded off to penitentiary on unproved charges, the Society was cut off also from its foreign branches, and its publications were proscribed and much Bible literature was seized and destroyed.

    18. How did the modern-day Ammonites and Philistines use the circumstances of the World War against Jehovah’s covenant people and into what condition did these come as to their service to God?

    19. How did the Ammonites Justify their aggressions against the land of the Israelites, and how did the modern-day Ammonites commit like aggressions against spiritual Israelites in 1918?

    20 Jehovah’s people, who are in a covenant to serve him according to his will and commandments, are his witnesses. The name “Gilead” means “heap of testimony” or “heap of witness”. It refers to the testimony or memorial of witness that was set up in that land to mark the nonaggression pact or agreement made between Jacob (later called “Israel”) and the father of Jacob's two wives. The pact guaranteed lasting peaceful relations between Jacob (Israel) and his father-in-law. It called upon Jehovah to watch between the two as to mutual performance by each party of the terms of their agreement for peace.

    21 Today Christians who are Jehovah's covenant people should have witness of their peaceful relations with him and his organization. They enjoy “peace with God” through the Lord Jesus Christ as long as they keep their covenant with Jehovah God and do not fight against his Theocratic organization. (Rom. 5:1; 8:16,17) However, their enemies would have it otherwise. In their opposition to Jehovah’s Theocratic rule the political element of this world, together with the religious leaders, try to destroy this peaceful relationship of Jehovah’s people with him. They try to take away the witness which Christians enjoy of such relationship with the Father. This they do by efforts to coerce them to violate their conscience and their covenant with Jehovah. They also interfere in their field of activity and service unto God and by force and by mischievous laws and judicial decisions prevent them from carrying out God’s commandments freely and publicly. Thereby they endeavor to cause his covenant people to fail of obeying God’s laws and to thus prove disobedient to him. The modern-day Ammonites and Philistines did so during and after the World War period of 1914-1918, and their tactics today are a malicious repetition of those of the past which then worked with such success.

    22 The "king-god” devotees extended their aggressions to other tribes of Israel. “Moreover, the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.” (Judg. 10:9) According to God’s decree at Deuteronomy 2:19-21 and 32: 8, 9, the Ammonites had no right on the west side of Jordan river. The crossing over and assaulting the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim was simply an act of aggression against the typical Theocracy which Jehovah had set up over the Israelites in their God-given territory. Hence the Ammonites’ move pictured a like move of the religious-political schemers for world domination against Jehovah’s Theocratic Government. That heavenly government under Christ began operations toward this earth in 1914. Not strange that then the World War was let loose and the servants of Jehovah and his Government were hated in all nations, in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy setting forth the proofs of the end of the Devil’s uninterrupted rule. That same Jesus declared that what was done to his followers was done to him, and hence that the hating of his faithful followers who were announcing his Kingdom was also hatred expressed against Christ Jesus, who had begun his active rule in 1914. The sore distress that thus came upon spiritual Israel was long ago foretold by the prophet Jeremiah and was called “Jacob’s trouble”. (Jer. 30:5-9) Mark now how Jehovah wrought deliverance for his people.

    20 What does the name “Gilead” mean, and to what does it refer as between Jacob and his father-in-law?

    21 What witness to their relationship with Jehovah God should Christians have today, and how do the political and religious elements try to take away and destroy that witness and relationship?

    22 What did the Ammonites crossing Jordan and attacking other tribes of Israel picture, and bow did this fulfill the prophecy of Jesus concerning bis followers at the end of the world?

    CRY FOR FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

    23 “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” (Judg. 10:10) This was evidently toward the end of their eighteen years’ oppression by the Ammonites and their coconspirators, the Philistines. We are now more than eighteen years removed from that critical year of 1918, and can therefore scrutinize the eighteen years that followed down till 1936, years marked by continuous persecution and oppression upon those publishing Jehovah’s name and kingdom. This persecution has been particularly marked since the new name, “Jehovah’s witnesses,” was discerned and adopted as their proper name in 1931. This fulfilled the ancient prophecy: “Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.” (Isa. 62:2, Am. Rev. Ver.) What name? “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God.” (Isa. 43:12, A. R. V.) After twelve years of strenuous witnessing from 1919 forward amid the heat of persecution the revelation of the “new name” was made to them in 1931 as a reward. (Matt. 20: 1-16) During those twelve years many sincere seekers for God got their eyes open to the frauds and oppressions of religion and its allies. They repented and turned to Jehovah, and the Lord God brought them into his “vineyard” to serve with his older members of the faithful remnant, and these all shared in the “new name”.

    24 The years of affliction, from 1918 onward, did not turn the remnant of Jehovah’s covenant people away from him, but caused them to repent and seek his face. It stirred them to put away all things of this world, everything tainted with religion, which is demonism. This was accompanied by constantly increasing their efforts in the service as witnesses to Jehovah’s name and his Government for the new world. To this end there was a steady reorganization among them to bring the organization more and more in line with the Lord’s will and to make it more efficient in doing his “strange work”. In 1932, or eighteen years after 1914, the religious “elective elders” who were an obstacle to the Lord’s work were removed as being contrary to Scripture. Still later, in 1936, or eighteen years after 1918, the Lord God enlightened the eyes of his witnesses to see that all religion is a snare, and that Christianity is distinct therefrom. They saw that the true worship of God (or “Christianity”) is the doing of God’s commandments as Christ Jesus does them, and that God’s law was given as a protection against religion’s snare. Thereafter the faithful remnant of Christians shocked the self-righteous feelings of “Christendom” by outrightly declaring that “religion is a snare and a racket”. This brought fiercer persecution upon such Christians.

    23 When did the Israelites repent and cry to the Lord, and in the fulfillment of the drama, what facts down to 1931 show repentance and turning to God on the part of the spiritual Israelites?

    24 What effect did the eighteen years of affliction, from 1918 onward, have on Jehovah's people, and what were they stirred to do respecting service, organisation and worship?

    TEST OF SINCERITY

    25 When the Israelites cried to Jehovah he did not immediately deliver them, but tested their sincerity by delay. “And the Lord said unto the children of Israel. Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.” (Judg. 10:11,12) The Watchtower, as an instrument in Jehovah’s hand, has since 1919 reminded his covenant people of like things. It has referred them to the inspired statements at 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15: 4, and has emphasized that those deliverances of ancient Israel were all typical or prophetic of grander acts to come; and that they were recorded in the Scriptures for the admonition, guidance and comfort of persons seeking to serve the only true and living God today at the end of the world. Such recorded deliverances call their attention to Jehovah who has saved and who can still save in fulfillment of his promise to do so. Hence the oppressed covenant people of God should turn to the one and only Savior and Deliverer and wait upon him for liberation, in the meantime faithfully serving as his witnesses to others concerning these vital truths.—Isa. 43:9-13.

    26 It would be out of pure mercy and only for the vindication of his name if Jehovah God rescued the people upon whom his name was called after he had given them fair warning after previous exhibitions of deliverance. Said He: “Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods; wherefore I will deliver you no more.” (Judg. 10:13) This meant that God would delay to deliver them, in order that they might be chastened and thus purified. The delay would prove whether their cries were solely to escape the physical oppression and hardships laid upon them by the demon-worshipers, or whether they really wanted to serve Jehovah fully, abundantly, and without restrictions by the oppressors. (Heb. 12:5-11) He would deliver them no more unless their repentance was deep-seated, from their heart, because of the reproach they had brought upon his name and because of displeasing him. Also they must harbor no desire to commit folly and return again to religion. (Ps. 85:8,9) Jehovah was warning that they could not endlessly trifle with him, because his time of dealing with them as a typical nation was limited, and his time might come when he would never again deliver them as a “nation”. (John 11: 48; Acts 24:17 ; 26: 4) Such time did finally come when the nation of Israel rejected the King Christ Jesus and his apostles. Thereafter only a “remnant” were saved out of that nation. — Rom. 11:5, 7.

    25. How did Jehovah test out the sincerity of the Israelites who cried unto him, and how has The Watchtower called attention to things like those God brought to Israel's remembrance?

    26. What was God's purpose in delaying to deliver the people called by his name, and in what sense would he deliver such Israelites no more?

    27 Likewise, after the Lord’s coming to the temple, which was in 1918, God will not save “Christendom” as an organization, due to her rebellious conduct toward Him and his Theocracy under Christ. Jehovah, according to his promise, saves only a “remnant” of true spiritual Israelites who become his official witnesses and servant upon earth. Besides these he saves the persons of good-will who heed the witness given and join themselves to the remnant as companions in service. (Isa. 1:9; 10:20-22; Rom. 9:27-29) Hence Jehovah’s judicial announcement now by his Judge at the temple to the organizations of professed Christians is: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holv, let him be holy still.” — Rev. 22:11.

    28 God’s primary purpose is not to save mere human creatures who have no rightful claim upon him, but is to vindicate his name. Therefore he says to those who reject him and turn to other gods for protection and salvation: “Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.” (Judg. 10:14) Regardless of what choice creatures make, Jehovah will vindicate his own name and prove He is the only God and Deliverer, and that Christ Jesus is his appointed King, Judge and Savior for those who seek the new world. In the present distress of nations and with a black future ahead “Christendom” turns to religion, which is demonism, and not to Jehovah God and his Theocracy for deliverance. She uses the name of God on her lips, but idolizes and deifies heroes, men of affairs, and systems of human government. To such she looks for deliverance from the impending disaster. By such exaltation and adoration of creatures of this world men commit the worship of the “god of this world”, who is the enemy of Jehovah the Creator of the righteous new world. The Lord God did not act on the pope’s “Holy Year” of 1933 for peace and prosperity, and when “Christendom” with all religious formality cries further to God in her great extremity’ he will not answer. “And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted; which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help vou, and be your protection.” (Deut. 32: 37, 38; Jer. 2: 28-30; Prov. 1: 24, 31) The “god of this world” will be unable to save “Christendom”.

    27 What organisation like unfaithful Israel will Jehovah not save, but whom will he save at this time, and what is his judicial announcement concerning fixed destinies?

    28 As concerning vindication and salvation, what is shown in that God bade the Israelites to go and cry to the gods of their choice, and what does be bid "Christendom" to do, and why?

    29 The Divine Record marks out the way of obtaining mercy and deliverance. “And the children of Israel said unto Jehovah, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” (Judg. 10:15,16, Am. Rev. Ver.) It was particularly in 1936, toward the close of the eighteen years after 1918, that the spiritual Israelites, Jehovah’s witnesses, and their companions came to realize that they had aforetime been spotted and deceived by religion, and that due to it they had sinned against Jehovah God and failed to keep his commandments to be his faithful and true witnesses. They had given way to fear and reverence of creatures, which is religion. From and after the Lord's coming to the temple they repented and mended their ways. Specially from 1922 on, when the presence of the Lord at the temple was revealed to them as in the temple picture recorded at Isaiah 6:1-11, they made confession of having sinned. They confessed to having come short during the faith-testing World War period due to their failure to keep on obeying God as his public witnesses testifying to his Kingdom now set up.

    30 It was before the eighteen years’ oppression was up that the Israelites of old repented, confessed, and put aside the demon gods and their emblems. This proved that they did not permit the oppression to embitter them against God, who permitted it for their chastening, but would serve Jehovah God because it was right and was in keeping with their covenant with him, and because idolatry of creatures, animate or inanimate, was an insult to sane human intelligence. Their prayer for deliverance was that they might be an honor to his name and be a “holy nation” unto him and thereby be proper witnesses before all the nations of the world. Such, too, was the prayer of Jehovah’s faithful remnant at the time that the World War was stopped, in November, 1918, leaving them still alive on earth, but under restraints and oppression by the modern-day Ammonites.

    29 What confession did Israel then make to God, and what like confession did the spiritual Israelites make after 1918, and particularly toward the close of the eighteen years thereafter?

    30. What course did Israel then take toward religion or demonism, and what was the motive behind their prayer for deliverance?

    31 Jehovah’s “Messenger” was then at the temple, and the prophecy had foretold that he would judge and purge and cleanse those sincerely dedicated to his service and would set them in the way of the pure and acceptable worship of the Lord God. (Mal. 3:1-4) This cleansing work, by means of the spirit of the Lord and the purifying power of the truths revealed, Jehovah’s Messenger and Judge did. The faithful remnant responded and carefully and anxiously put away all traces of religion, laying it aside as “the sin which doth so easily beset us”. They underwent training for His service and were anointed and sent forth as Jehovah’s witnesses. For this they have been severely criticized, condemned, opposed, and persecuted, and the Ammonites and Philistines of today in their alarm have raised the counter-cry of “Give us more religion. The world needs more religion to save it from disaster.” In response, in an astonishing decision on June 8, 1942, the majority of the Supreme Court ruled that a license-tax may be imposed upon faithful Christians who in obedience to Jehovah God’s command distribute his message of hope and comfort from house to house. This decision favors the worldly desire for the establishment of religion in America in the postwar “new order”.

    32 The political-religious conspirators need not think that Jehovah is unaware of the ill-treatment which he permits upon his witnesses. When Israel of old, under Ammonitish-Philistine oppression, forsook religion and turned to his worship and cried to him, then, it is written, “his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” He took action to avenge his name and punish the oppressors and deliver his people. Doubtless Jesus had this in mind when he gave the parable of the judge who finally yielded to the persistent pleadings of the widow. Jesus applied the parable to this time just before the day of God’s vengeance, saying: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth!” (Luke 18:7,8) Certainly, since his coming to the temple, he has not found this faith or belief in “Christendom” ; for she keeps up and increases her persecution and oppression of Jehovah’s elect servants on earth.

    31. Who did the cleansing work toward Jehovah's faithful remnant, how did these respond, and what countermovement have the Ammonites and Philistines of today carried on?

    32 Being grieved for the misery of repentant Israel, for what purpose did Jehovah then take action, and how did Jesus confirm the like action as being due since his coming to the temple?

    GATHERING AGAINST THEOCRACY

    33 Totalitarian rule is the avowed handmaid of religion and enemy of the Lord’s Theocratic Government. That fact is attested by the six thousand faithful Jehovah’s witnesses whose organization was broken up on Hitler's seizure of the dictatorship and who linger in German concentration camps to this day. Concerning the totalitarian-religious combine of which Hitler and the Vatican are symbols the prophecy of Daniel, chapter eleven, speaks. It describes their aggressions in the “time of the end”, where we now are, and says: “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” (Dan. 11:41) Why Ammon! The prophetic drama of the judges shows it is because the Ammonites commit the same type of acts against the earthly condition or “land” of the representatives of the glorious Theocratic Government. Judges 10:17 reads: “Then the children of Ammon were gathered together [were cried together (margin)], and encamped in Gilead.” The Ammonitish political element of “Christendom” were cried together by the deceiving slogans and all the religious-Nazi-Fascist propaganda, over a stretch of years, even in such democratic lands as America and Britain. The modern-day Ammonite forces are gathered together in various religious and patriotic organizations, such as Catholic Action, whose real purposes are political. Such organizations the Hierarchy of Vatican City schemes to use to fight the Hierarchy’s battles and to protect it from exposure by the light of the truth.

    34 The Ammonites pitched tent in Gilead, part of the territory of the typical Theocracy. The reason for their invasion was evidently that the Israelites put away the gods of the Ammonites and allies and came out wholly and unequivocally for Jehovah God as the Most High and the only true God, the Supreme Power whose laws and commandments must be obeyed, regardless of the conflicting laws of the oppressor totalitarian dictators. The demon gods stirred up the Ammonites to resent this as a slur on their political position in Satan’s world. It also exposed to ridicule the religion which their hearts cherished. Theirs was a political religion, glorifying the demon-god whose name means “their king”. Their patriotism for the state sprang forth from their religion and caused them to put the state up above Jehovah, Israel’s God, and to fight against his covenant people. The Ammonite military forces encamping in Gilead, which name means “heap of witness”, got out of their bounds and onto holy ground, where they ought not to stand. (Matt. 24:15,16; Mark 13:14) In modern fulfillment, it appears that the political march into “Gilead” and encamping there began particularly in 1933, when the pope's “sword of the church” for restoring in Europe the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation” was put into power as totalitarian ruler of Germany. Without delay he made his concordat with Pius XI and took action against Jehovah’s witnesses in that land.

    33 (a) What relation do the facts show totalitarian rule has with religion and with The Theocracy, and why is it that Ammon escapes out of the hand of “the king of the north"? (b) How are the Ammonites of "Christendom” cried together and gathered together, and tor what purpose?

    34 (a) What was the reason for the Ammonite invasion of Gilead, and how did patriotism come to be involved? (b) In fulfillment of the drama, when did the political march into "Gilead” begin and with what political maneuvers?

    35 The Lord’s covenant nation, now cleansed of religion, rose up to meet the aggressor. “And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.” (Judg. 10:17) “Mizpeh” (or “Mizpah”) means “watchtower”. Here it refers to “Mizpeh of Gilead”. (Judg. 11:29) Just how the city or town of that name came to be so called is explained at Genesis 31:48, 49 regarding the covenant made between Jacob (surnamed Israel) and Laban his father-in-law. “And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed [Heap of witness]; and Mizpah [Watchtower]; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.” Hence the watching means carefulness as to fulfilling one’s covenant with Jehovah and lest one violate the covenant and earn Jehovah’s disapproval.

    36 Since the watch-place at the stone-heap bearing witness to the covenant was situated in Gilead, the watching must apply to carrying out one’s covenant with Jehovah to be his witness and to be at peace, harmony and unity with his Theocratic organization. This is shown by the further words of Jacob’s father- in-law concerning his two daughters, Jacob’s wives, who pictured God’s “woman” or organization: “If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives [picturing organizations other than that of Jehovah] beside my daughters, no man is with us”; that is, to make a checkup and call the offender to account. But, “see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; this heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over .this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of [thy grandfather] Abraham, and the God of [my grandfather] Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.” — Gen. 31:50-53.

    35. Where did the Israelites then encamp, what does the name of the place mean, and how did it come to be so called?

    36. What Is Indicated by the fact that the watch place was In Gilead, and also by Laban’s further words at and concerning the watch-place?

    37 From the above historical circumstances the rally of the Israelites to Mizpah in Gilead pictured how Jehovah’s faithful remnant rallied together to fulfill their covenant obligation to be his witnesses on earth to all nations, particularly from and after learning their “new name” in 1931 and adopting it. In 1937 the battle-cry stated in Obadiah’s prophecy, verse one, was raised, to go into action against demonism, which is religion. Shortly after the mass assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses at Columbus, Ohio, that year, with an attendance enlarged by a network of over 130 radio stations tied in with the convention, Jehovah God revealed to his witnesses that the Theocratic rule is the correct one for his organized servants. In the Watchtower editions of June, 1938, the Theocratic organization was Scripturally discussed and explained, and, beginning with October 1 thereafter, the Theocratic rule was established and set in operation in Jehovah’s visible organization on earth. This was long ago foreshadowed by Israel’s action at the Ammonitish invasion peril.

    POPULAR RULE OR THEOCRACY, WHICH?

    38 “And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” (Judg. 10:18) The people doubtless included many “strangers” or non-Israelites who had taken up their sojourn with Jehovah’s Theocratic nation and had submitted themselves to His laws. This harmonizes with the actual facts of today. There is a multitude of persons of good-will who have heeded the warning message sounded by Jehovah’s witnesses, and these have associated themselves with such in the war of truth against religion. Side by side they resist the totalitarian invasion of the worship of Jehovah. The inquiry by the people and princes of Gilead foreshadowed that Jehovah’s witnesses would search the inspired Scriptures, and also study his latter-day dealings with them and his work of witnessing for them to do. With what purpose in mind! This, namely, to determine authoritatively the manner of organization approved and ordained by Jehovah God to do that work. It was a time of extreme danger, and a time for united, hard-hitting action, and the democratic, individual rule of procedure had not worked nor stood the test as being Scriptural. Due to Vatican City and its subtle scheme of Roman Catholic control of the world, totalitarian rule or a world federation with a seat of centralized religious-political control and with religion on top had appeared as a menace to all nations and as the arch foe on earth of God’s Righteous Government for the new world. The big question raised in Christian minds was, Who can and will fight the monstrosity and stop once and for ever its aggressions on earth? Of themselves the little band of Jehovah’s witnesses could not do so.

    37. What, then, did the rally of the Israelites to Mizpah picture, when was the battle-cry raised, and what rule of organization was shortly thereafter established?

    38 (a) At the camp in Mizpah, whom did the “people" doubtless include as confirmed by the facts of today? (b) What was foreshadowed by the inquiring of the people and princes of Gilead concerning a man to begin the fighting against Ammon, and why was this needful?

    39 Turning back to the prophetic drama staged in Gilead: Why were the repentant Israelites who had turned to Jehovah perplexed! Why did not those Gileadites go forward, trusting in the Lord God? In asking and seeking for a man to lead the fight, were they relying on the arm of flesh instead of on Jehovah God? Were they committing the same mistake as the Israelites did many years later in asking for a visible king to be ruler over them? No, not that. The Gileadites were eager to fight, for they had raised an army and put it in the field and it was bivouacking at “Watchtower” (Mizpah) of Gilead. What they waited for and wanted was an organizer and director of field operations, in order that they might attack the Ammonites in organized manner with telling blows and so accomplish the victory to Jehovah's honor and glory. They wanted field-service reorganization. The field maneuvers must be done orderly, with proper organization instructions from the right source subject to God’s guidance. Instead of each pushing himself forward like office-seekers in a political fight in a democratic country and settling the issue by the people’s votes at the polls, those princes and the people of Gilead looked for the chosen one of the great Theocratic Ruler, the God of Israel.

    40 To that one indicated of God they would yield their personal or sovereign rights and privileges in subjection to him. Said they: “He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” In the crisis they did not want a number of heads with divided opinions and conflicting campaign plans of action; no, but unified, central command! They wanted to conform to Jehovah’s former ways of dealing with his people to give them the victory, as, for example, when He raised up his visible Theocratic representative to act the part of judge, such as Ehud, Barak, Gideon, and others. This time they did not want to dash ahead and overlook the Lord God’s provisions, but again they desired to have a Theocratic representative to be at the head and to issue God’s instructions. The Theocratic organization is the only way to meet the total state with its despotic, dictatorial head under demon control. Back there, the organization of Israel without a visible king was in fact a Theocratic organization. If everybody was faithful to God’s covenant and kept his Theocratic laws given to Israel, then all would be well with the nation. Such willing submission to Jehovah God and his commandments and arrangement for worship would be the national expression that allowed the most freedom to the individuals for right-doing. It is so stated in the very last verse of the book of Judges: ‘In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” — Judg. 21: 25.

    39 What was the real desire behind tbe waiting and looking for a man to begin the fight, and did they proceed in a democratic fashion toward settling the issue?

    40 (a) Why at that time did they decide that such man should be bead over them, and what kind of command would such arrangement mean? (b) What is the only way to meet the aggression of the total state under demon control?

    41 However, in a war against a regimented, authoritarian heathen nation engaged in a “total war” which made every individual in the state a part of the war machine, the Israelites could not afford to have any looseness of organization according to which “every man did that which was right in his own eyes”. They needed then a Theocratic “head”, the same as in the case of earlier deliverances of Israel by Almighty God. To such head these Gileadites promised to yield obedience. They would hold fast to him as the Lord’s choice and be subject to organization instructions through him and carry them out.

    42 Notably after the assault upon Jehovah’s covenant people by the totalitarian modern Ammonites under Hitler together with his “fifth column” agents planted in all outside lands, including the United States and other democratic countries, the like problem confronted spiritual Israel. Prior to this the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses had shown some looseness, with the authority considerably divided, resulting in confusion, friction, and self-obstruction. An overhauling was needed. A beginning of this had been made with the dropping of the Society’s traveling-speaker representatives, mere lecturers, and the replacing of such by “regional service” representatives, who were sent out on “sendee appointments”. (See the last page of The Watchtower of February 1,1928, in contrast with that of previous issues.) The decision to do this was made at a special meeting at the international convention of Jehovah’s witnesses at Toronto, July 18-26, 1927, the sixth of a series of seven annual assemblies. (See Revelation 9:13-21 and 16:12-16.) In the course of a speech to that vast gathering the Society’s president said:

    “There are those today in the church occupying the responsible position of elder who insist on holding to many of the foolish things brought from Babylon [organized religion]; who refuse to encourage their brethren to have part in the service and who refuse to participate in the service themselves. They object to the truth that appears in The Watchtower and discourage the brethren in the study thereof. They scoff at the suggestion of going from door to door to carry the message of the kingdom to the people. By their course of action they cause discouragement and division amongst the brethren. The time has come for the faithful to mark such and to avoid them, and to say to them that no longer will we entrust such men with the office of eldership. They should be invited to take a back seat until they learn to co-operate in the Lord’s service. I would like to ascertain the sentiment of this convention in regard to this statement. Those who believe that this statement is correct and that the elders should encourage the brethren in the service and encourage them in studying The Watchtower and themselves take the lead in the house-to-house service work, and that if the elders refuse to do this they should be invited to take a back seat, signify their approval by standing up.”—The Watchtower October 1, 1927, page 293, paragraph 6.

    41. Although Israel was then under a Theocratic arrangement, what specially did they need in that time of war and what must they render? 42. What like problem confronted spiritual Israel after the totalitarian assault began, and bow had an overhauling of the organization been begun in 1927-1928?

    43 Under the great Theocrat’s leadings, in 1932 an investigation was made into the question of such “elective elders”, that is, so-called “elders” elected to position by the democratic vote of the congregations of Christians. The findings were published in the Watchtower issues of August 15 and September 1, 1932, in the article “Jehovah’s Organization”, to this effect, that “elective elders” are unscriptural. On pages 265 and 266 of such issue of The Watchtower a resolution was proposed for companies of Jehovah’s witnesses to adopt, setting up a service committee with a “service director” in place of having a board of elective elders and deacons. This resolution was adopted and put into effect by the organized companies all the world round.

    44 Even with the above reorganization for battle against demonism the proper principle of headship and leadership was not discerned according to which Jehovah’s witnesses could determine the one who “shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead”. The locating of the proper “head” required still more searching, prayer and study. In Jehovah’s due time the true, rightful and divinely ordained “bead” was found. This was when Jehovah revealed that his organization in heaven and in earth is Theocratic. It is ruled, not from the bottom up, but from the top down, and Christ Jesus, under Jehovah God, is the Theocratic Head of Zion, God’s capital organization.

    …