The Watchtower, July 1, 1943
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“THE ONLY LIGHT” TESTIMONY PERIOD
Through the darkness now covering the earth the divine command comes to all those enlightened with the truth to “arise and shine” and reflect the rays of “The Only Light” upon the ignorant and blinded. The month of August has been designated as “The Only Light” Testimony Period. Jehovah’s witnesses and all persons of good-will will then specially exert themselves in compliance with the heavenly command. During this midsummer month the ‘arising and shining’ will be done mainly by renewed efforts with the book The New World and the booklet Fighting for Liberty on the Home Front, on a contribution of 25c. Many can arrange their vacations to spend all their time or more of it than usual in this grand work of enlightenment. Will you join in letting your light shine? Your participation will be welcomed, and we shall be glad to furnish references to any wanting to associate with the nearest company of Jehovah’s witnesses in action. When the month’s testimony is over, send in your report of work accomplished and the results.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of August 1: “Supreme Court Interprets,” 1-13 inclusive, The Watchtower July 1, 1943.
Week of August 8: “Supreme Court interprets,” 14-26 inclusive, The Watchtower July 1, 1943.
Week of August 15: “Supreme Court Interprets,” 27-39 inclusive, The Watchtower July 1, 1943.
“CONSOLATION”
Do you find enlightenment and joy in reading The Watchtower? Then you are certain to find enjoyment and profit in reading its companion magazine, Consolation, put out by the same publishers. With many, thousands Consolation serves a vital and important need in building them up m faith, hope and courage in these days of spreading infidelity, hopelessness and fear, and thus brings its readers solid comfort. It does not, of course, take the place of The Watchtower, which is devoted exclusively to Bible study and instruction. Consolation actually complements this magazine by publishing true-to-fact, uncensored news concerning world conditions and happenings which the commercial publications fear and refuse to print but which the trusting public should learn so as to be warned of the operations and purposes of deadly enemies, and so be able to free themselves from these enemies’ power and influence and thus avoid disaster. Consolation further publishes in each issue several pages of unusual reports on the strange work and experiences of those throughout the world who are announcing to men of good-will the ideal government which the great “God of all comfort" is now setting up for the relief and blessing of all faithful and obedient humankind. Consolation is a 32-page magazine, published every other Wednesday. A year's subscription, of 26 issues, is just $1.00 in the United States, or $1.25 abroad. Forward your subscription to Watchtower, 117 Adams St., Brooklyn 1, N.Y.
Vol. LXIV
July 1, 1943
No. 13
SUPREME COURT INTERPRETS
"Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth’’—Ps. 133:2, 4.
JEHOVAH is the Supreme Judge or Justice. “For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; he will save us.” (Isa. 33: 22, Am. Rev. Ver.) Not by virtue of any constitution drawn up by creatures to organize a national or world government is Jehovah the Most High Judge, nor is He limited or held in check by what is written down in any state-making document on earth. He is the First and Most High Judge in his own right, by his own power and wisdom, and according to his own ever-existent being and his creatorhood. He is the source of the supreme law, which law is perfect and hence righteous. “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Ps. 19:7, A.R.V.) He is the Creator of the written Constitution which governs his visible organization on earth. “From his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.”—Deut. 33: 2, 3.
2 Jehovah needs no associate judge or justices with whom to consult or to qualify or overrule his own rulings, judgments and decisions. “Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord [Jehovah], or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” (Isa. 40:13, 14) The answer to this challenging question is, No one. He is therefore the Supreme Court in Himself.
3 In human or worldly processes of law the nation’s supreme court is the tribunal of last appeal in most cases; it is the court of last resort. Decisions of such court may appear to have infallibility and to be beyond recall, yet such human supreme court is not infallible. It makes mistakes, and at times reverses itself. Heaven's Supreme Court is infallible; its decisions are unchangeable. Rightly, it is the court of first appeal. To go aright and to be guided in the way of divine approval and of life in peace and prosperity all creatures should appeal first to Its decisions and abide by them. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”—Eccl. 12:13, 14.
1 By virtue of what is Jehovah the Supreme Judge, and, as such, of what is be the source and creator?
2 . Why does Jehovah need no associate in judgeship, and what la he in himself?
3. Why should Heaven's Supreme Court be man's court of first appeal?
4 Jehovah God created and took into association with himself another judge, but not of equal power and authority with himself. That Associate Judge is a just and perfect one, God’s beloved and only begotten Son. Such action was only after God s supreme law had been put in issue throughout the universe. The appointment of such Associate Judge was only after the Son of God had proved himself inflexibly loyal and obedient to the law and judgments of the universal Supreme Judge. The Great Judge sent his Son to earth as a man nineteen centuries ago. He sent him to this earth where the supreme law is ignored, held in contempt and continually violated by imperfect, sinful humankind. With few exceptions, the whole race lies under the power of the wicked first violator of divine law, namely, Satan the Devil. In the midst of this world of lawbreakers the One whom Jehovah would appoint to be his Associate Justice and to execute his judgments toward law violators must be tested as to perfect keeping of God's commandments. He must put God’s law first and must obey it rather than laws and practices which are popular among sinful men. To prove his unbreakable devotion to God’s righteous standard and judgments the Son must never turn aside from doing his Father’s will, even under the hate, reproach, and violent oppositions of those who despise God’s law and word.
5 By thus keeping integrity under test the Son would prove himself trustworthy and reliable, both to God and to all other creatures. To him God would confidently entrust the heavenly judgeship with Himself, with its obligation to execute to the letter the divine judgments and sentences toward men and angels. All lovers and doers of righteousness on earth who are denied justice by this evil world could and can look to Jehovah's tried and tested Judge for a fair trial and a righteous decision. Jehovah’s Judge Designate, Christ Jesus, did prove himself faultlessly faithful and submissive to the law and rulings of the Supreme Court, the Most High Judge and Lawgiver. Therefore Almighty God has seated him in the judgeship. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. . . . And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” (John 5: 22, 23, 27) “He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”—Acts 17: 31.
4 . Whom did Jehovah take Into association with himself as judge, and after meeting what requirements and qualifications?
5 . By keeping integrity under test, what did the Son of God prove respecting himself as to judgeship, and bow did God reward him?
6 Jehovah is Supreme Judge, and Jesus is Superior Judge. Together they make up or compose “The Higher Powers”, to whom all living souls must be subject in righteousness. (Rom. 13:1) The Superior Judge said: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) In his days in the flesh the religious Pharisees followed the traditions of men and thereby transgressed and made void God’s commandments, and Jesus said to them: “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”—John 8:15-18.
7 This Associate Judge of proved integrity spoke often of the righteous new world, during which he will judge redeemed humankind. He said: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”—John 12:46-50.
6 In their association thus, what respective positions do Jehovah and Jesus occupy, and how did Jesus' testimony show this?
7 What did this Associate Judge have to say respecting the new world and judgment?
8 The word of Christ Jesus the Judge is therefore the word of God. It expresses the commandment of God for those who seek life abundant. His commandment is unto life everlasting, and obedience to his commandments results in the gift of endless life to the obedient one. It is in the time of judgment that God’s word and commandment are specially made known, clear and understandable, because it is according to such word and commandment that the creatures on trial are judged. This denotes a wide publication of God’s word and law in the “last day”, the day of judgment. So it is written, at Isaiah 2:2-4: “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people.”
9 The “last days” began in A.D. 1914. That year the Gentile Times, or 2,520 years of uninterrupted Gentile rule over earth, ended, and “war in heaven” to oust Satan and his demons began. Also World War I on earth began, it being one of the visible proofs or signs which Christ Jesus foretold as due to mark the beginning of “the time of the end” for all Gentile nations of the world. That great Prophet then foretold that after the close of World War I “this gospel of the kingdom” would be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all nations. Such Kingdom-gospel preaching would serve as a means of judging those nations. After the delivery of such witness to the nations concerning God’s kingdom the final end would come upon the nations in a time of indescribable tribulation, the like of which has never yet occurred. This proves that the judgment would go against the nations.—Matt. 24:14-22; 25:31,32.
10 As to who gives and who publishes the judgment word at the end of the world Psalm 68:11,12 says: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace.” Those kings lead armies in opposition to God’s established kingdom. They reject the word, hence are judged adversely by it. From and after the end of World War I in 1918 there has been such a world-wide publishing of the word which God has given. It has struck terror to the kings or rulers of the earth, and they have constantly tried to suppress that word, with some seeming success. They are finding that the word of Jehovah, the Supreme Judge, is indestructible. It is “the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”. (1 Pet. 1:23,25) The invisible and visible parts of the Devil’s organization will perish rather than that God’s written Word should fail and be destroyed. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away,” said Jesus.—Matt. 24:35.
8 . (a) What does Christ’s word therefore express, and in what does obedience to it result? (b) When must that word be made known, why so. and what does that fact denote therefore?
9 . When did the last days” begin, and what did Christ Jesus foretell as due to mark those days, particularly as to God's word?
10 . Who gives and who publishes that judgment-word at the end of the world? and what experience are the rulers of the nations having with that word?
TO WHOM DOES THE BIBLE BELONG?
11 Today the written Word of God is complete. It has been complete since the death of the last or oldest of Christ’s apostles, namely, John, at the end of the first century A.D. The sixty-six inspired books of God's Word, The Holy Bible, were brought together as one Book during the second century. This was done under the supervision of the Bible's great Author and by men who were wholly devoted to him through a full consecration of themselves to Him. It is altogether out of line with the truth, not to say presumptuous and blasphemous, for any religious organization to claim to have made the Bible and to have exclusive right to it. On a Sunday this past February a religious priest of Toledo, Ohio, is reported by a local newspaper to have said the following in the sermon to his congregation:
“The Bible belongs exclusively to the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church made the Bible; she has preserved it; and she interprets it. Others may read the Holy Scriptures—and they are urged to do so—but beyond this they have no right whatsoever in regard to it. Almighty God has placed this precious heritage exclusively in the hands of his Catholic Church. . . . The Catholic Church was able to do this only because of the aid of the Holy Ghost, of the Holy Ghost actively fulfilling the promise of infallibility that our Lord had made to his church. No other institution possessed this gift; no other could have done the task. If the Catholic Church had not thus compiled the Bible, we today would not have the Bible. Therefore, it is perfectly true to say that the Catholic Church made the Bible. The Catholic Church not only made the Bible; she also preserved it.” —Toledo Blade, March 1, 1943.
12 The above religious boast is on a level with certain Jewish religionists who likewise claim to be the “creators” of the Bible. All such boasts and claims are egotistical and a reproach to God’s name. Jehovah is the Creator, Compiler and Giver of the Bible. No man or group of men can truthfully and rightfully claim such relationship to that holy Book. If religious men or organizations were the creators, makers and compilers of the Bible, it would not be an inspired and infallible book; it would be full of religious errors and traditions of men and demonism. Under the devilish efforts made during the centuries till now to destroy the Bible it would have perished long ago. “For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38,39) Would-be destroyers of the Bible have failed to bring it to nought, because God is its preserver and creator. He is its inspirer. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17) “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the holv spirit.” (2 Pet. 1:21, A.R.V.) (See also Luke 1:68-70; 2 Samuel 23:1, 2.)
11. (a) Since when has the Bible been complete, and how and when was it brought together? (b) Who claims to own and to have made the Bible, and why?
12 Who is the creator, compiler and giver of the Bible? and what would be the case with the Bible if religious men or organizations were such?
13 Being inspired, the writers of the various books of the Bible did not know the full meaning or prophetic value of what they wrote, nor the complete interpretation of the prophecies they were inspired by the great Bible-Maker to write and utter. Hence the apostle Peter said: “The prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the holy [spirit] sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”—1 Pet. 1:10-12.
14 “Christendom’s" greatest religious organization, which claims to be exclusively the church of Christ, teaches that “the church of Christ is independent of the Bible, that it existed before the Bible, and would continue to exist unchanged without the Bible”. This poses the question, Which is more important, the Word of God written in the Bible, or an organization of creatures on earth? and can the true church set aside and ignore the Bible and proceed under divine inspiration and guidance without the written Word of God? The answer, and the facts supporting such answer, cannot be drawn from the traditions of the organization having its headquarters at Vatican City in Fascist Italy. The answer must be drawn from an inspired source, namely, the Holy Bible. Certain members of the true church were inspired to write twenty-seven books of that sacred Word, and Jesus, the Head of the true church, said in prayer to Jehovah God: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:14,17) In that prayer (verse 12) Jesus quoted from the book of Psalms, which book also declares: “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Pss. 119:160; 12: 6) God’s written Word needs no addition of oral traditions, because such oral traditions of men prove to be lies that make the written Word of God of none effect. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov. 30: 5, 6) God’s Word gives the answer of truth.
13 Why would the writers of the Bible books not know the full meaning or prophetic value of what they wrote? and what did Peter say regarding the prophets as to this matter?
14 (a) What does “Christendom's” greatest religious organization say concerning the Christian church in relation to the Bible? and what question does this raise? (b) From what source must the answer to such question be drawn, and why is no addition of the traditions of men needed?
15 Before the church of Christ came into existence, the Bible existed, that is, the Hebrew part thereof. With the prophet Moses the line of writing prophets began, so far as the Bible’s own account shows. Moses was one of Jehovah’s witnesses, for the Lord God sent Moses to specifically testify in His name and to declare Jehovah’s purpose. (Ex. 3:15-18, A.R.V.; 6:3) Moses was inspired to write the first five books of the Bible. Concerning him the Record says: “And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord.” —Ex. 24: 4.
16 Prior to Moses, the record of God’s dealings with men was handed down by tradition from generation to generation, so far as we can ascertain. Hence such tradition was admitted and accepted by men and women consecrated to God prior to the beginning of the writing of the Bible. (Gen. 18:17-19) According to what Moses’ written record shows, and also according to the apostle Paul’s record in the book of Hebrews, chapters eleven and twelve, Abel was the first witness of Jehovah. He was such before the Bible began to be written. Nevertheless, the word of God existed prior to even the birth of Abel. Abel received the word, believed it, and acted upon it, devoting himself to Jehovah and worshiping him and bearing witness to his purpose. That word of God had been given orally in the garden of Eden, when Jehovah God foretold the doom of that Old Serpent the Devil and the triumph of Christ Jesus, the Seed of God. God said to the serpent: “Upon thy belly shaft thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:14,15) Such statement of God’s purpose, and all his later promises to men of faith, were handed down by tradition until Amram, the father of Moses. When Moses wrote, he embodied all such tradition in the record. The spirit of inspiration of God caused Moses to discard all traditions of men which were at variance with God’s declared purpose, and to set down in writing the truthful record. Such would be to the glory of God and for the instruction and safe guidance of Jehovah God’s covenant people.
15. In this respect, when did the Bible already have existence, and how did its existence begin?
16. (a) Before Moses, how was the record of God’s dealings transmitted, and which was ahead, Jehovah’s first witness or His word? (b) When did God's prophetic word begin to be given, and how were all traditions of men kept out of the written Record when made?
17 Under the power of Jehovah’s spirit Moses both declared and wrote this promise to God’s visible organization of his covenant people: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deut. 18:15-19) Christ Jesus was and is that Prophet, and, like Moses, he is a witness for Jehovah, being, in fact, Jehovah’s Chief Witness. (Isa. 55:4) Jesus said to the religious Jews who persecuted him: “Search the scriptures, for you think in them to have life everlasting; and the same are they that give testimony of me. For if you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe me also; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”—John 5:16, 39, 46,47, Douay Version.
18 Jesus did not condemn or reprove those Jews for searching the Scriptures, but for refusing to believe the Scriptures and to see their fulfillment in Him. At the synagogue in Nazareth Jesus read out of the prophecy of Isaiah and notified the congregation that the prophecy was fulfilled in Him. (Luke 4:16-21) It is true there is no record to show that Jesus and his disciples carried the books or volumes of the Bible around with them on their preaching tours. That fact, however, does not mean that they laid aside God's written Word as unnecessary and considered themselves as more important than the Bible. They did not require the people to accept their preaching without consideration of the proof from the Bible. To the direct contrary! After Jesus was baptized and was driven by God’s spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil, Jesus met all the onslaughts of the Devil by quoting from the Bible and by following the lead of that written Word of God. He did not quote any oral tradition of men, but resisted each temptation of the adversary, saying, “It is written,” and then putting the right interpretation upon God’s Word. The Devil, realizing the binding power of the Scriptures upon God’s covenant people, of whom Jesus was a member, also quoted some scriptures, but he put the wrong, misleading interpretation upon such quoted texts. (Matt.4:1-11) By abiding unshakably upon the written Bible Jesus overcame the tempter and maintained his integrity toward Jehovah God. He proved himself worthy to be the Vindicator, not only of Jehovah's name, but also of Jehovah’s written Word, inasmuch as His name is inseparably attached to that Word.
17. What divine promise of a coming prophet did Moses write, and concerning whom did Moses thus write?
18. (a) Did Jesus condemn or reprove those Jews for searching the Scriptures, and is it an argument against the written Bible that he and his disciples did not carry it about? (b) How did Jesus meet the tempter’s attacks and keep integrity?
18 Continually thereafter, throughout all his preaching, Jesus referred to God's written Word and quoted from it. This is what caused Jesus’ word to be “with power”, producing astonishment: “for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Luke 4:32; Matt. 7:29) On the day of his resurrection from the dead, when walking with two of his disciples, he said: “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Later, that same day, he appeared to his faithful apostles, and “he said unto them. These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:26,27, 44, 45) Never did he admit of any traditions of men, but he placed God's written Word above religious traditions. He termed such traditions leaven and instructed his disciples to beware of such.—Matt. 15:1-9; 16:6-12.
20 In considering the above facts, bear in mind that Jesus was the beginning of Jehovah’s church; for Jesus Christ is the Head of it and also its RockFoundation. He pointed out to all his apostles that he is the Rock and Stone foretold in the inspired prophecies, and then he said to them: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) In harmony with those prophecies the apostle Peter agreed that Christ Jesus is such Rock and Stone. (Acts 4: 12; 1 Pet. 2:3-9) Additionally, the apostle Paul testified concerning Jesus: “He is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have pre-eminence.” (Col. 1:17,18) In the clear light of the above facts, can it be Scripturally maintained that “the church of Christ is independent of the Bible, that it existed before the Bible”? Absolutely no! Centuries before Christ the Hebrew canon or catalog of inspired books was completed and brought together. Jesus had many disputes with the scribes or Bible copyists, but the fact that those scribes had made some copies of the Hebrew canon of the Scriptures does not argue that they made the Bible or were its creators, or that they preserved the Bible. Those very scribes opposed Jesus and were the Devil’s instruments to make null and void the commandments of God by the traditions of men, which traditions also those scribes copied and wrote. By such they hid from the people the true meaning of the inspired Scriptures. (Mark 7:1-13) The same thing is true of the copyist monks in religious systems down to the fifteenth century A. D.
19. How did Jesus thereafter further show the importance of the written Word of God in contrast with traditions of men?
20 (a) In view of Jesus’ relation to the church, what about the claim that the church is independent of the Bible and existed before it9 (b) What does the fact that scribes and monks made copies of the Bible argue as to its creation and preserration?
21 Of course, the present-day Bible of sixty-six inspired books was not complete in Jesus’ day. The twenty-seven books thereof written originally in Greek by Jesus’ disciples were added later. Until such books were written and added, those hearing the apostles preach could receive only the oral tradition from them concerning Jesus as the Christ of God. Concerning such apostolic tradition Paul writes to the congregation at Thessalonica, Greece, saying: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”—2 Thess. 2:15; 3: 6,14.
22 The traditions the apostle conveyed to the church were not traditions of men. The apostle had discarded all such when he became a Christian and quit persecuting the church of God. He so states, at Galatians 1:11-16. The traditions he imparted were “not after man” and not from “flesh and blood”. The apostle Paul wrote more information to the church than any other apostle, but he did not consider the church to be “independent of the Bible”. In all his apostolic letters he continually quoted from the Hebrew canon of the Bible. He pointed to the fulfillment and application thereof upon Christ Jesus and the “body of Christ”, the church. Paul’s fellow disciples, who also wrote under inspiration to the church, likewise made copious quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures. In preaching “publicly, and from house to house”, Paul faithfully relied upon and quoted from those written Scriptures: “for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:28) When Paul delivered to listeners of good-will the oral traditions concerning Christ he did not do so independently of the Bible. He did not preach contrary to it or to what he himself had previously written under inspiration of God. (Gal. 1:6-9) Neither did the true believers accept his oral tradition without proof from God’s recorded Word. For example, the religionists at Thessalonica, who swallowed without Scripture proof the traditions of their religious fathers, rejected the message Paul spoke, whereas the persons of good-will at Berea accepted Paul’s message. Why? Because they did not consider themselves “independent of the Bible”. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”—Acts 17:11; see Romans 1:1, 2.
21 . Why and how was the Bible completed? and till then bow must hearers of the testimony concerning Jesus get the Information?
22. (a) What were the traditions the apostle conveyed to the church, and how did be show whether it was independent of the Bible? (b) How did the early believers show whether they considered the church independent of the Bible?
23 The indispensable part performed by God’s Word toward the very life and existence of the Christian church is declared by Jesus and his apostles. Said Jesus: “Except a man be born of water [the water of God’s word] and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) Says Paul: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 5:25,26) Says James: “Of his own will begat he [God] us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”—Jas. 1:18,22.
24 Jehovah God provided the Bible as spiritual food for the church, because they need it continually. He did not say in any part of his Word that the church could or “would continue to exist unchanged without the Bible”. True, the Roman Catholic organization has, by God’s permission, existed till now “without the Bible”, but not so as to the true church, which is built upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. It sticks to the Bible and refuses to be changed by the traditions of religious men. To those composing the true church of God the apostle Paul writes: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 1:7; 15:4) To the young man Timothy he wrote: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them: and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 2:15,16; 3:14, 15) The apostle Peter showed he was in agreement with what Paul wrote, because Peter wrote approvingly of the letters of Paul. Like that apostle, Peter also quoted freely from the holy scriptures written aforetime, and he sought diligently to divide rightly God’s word of truth. — 2 Pet. 3:15, 16.
23 In what words did Jesus and his apostles declare the necessary part played by God's Word toward the life of his church?
24 Why did God provide the Bible, and what do the apostles Paul and Peter write as regards the church’s ‘existing unchanged without the Bible'?
25 Completely contrary to discouraging Bible study, the faithful apostles strongly urged for the faithful and continual study of the holy Word of God. That Word now includes the inspired books and letters written by the apostles and their associates. It is the Devil and his demons that would take away from the people the recorded Word of Jehovah God. Religion is the Devil’s most subtle way of taking away that Word and substituting for it the human traditions of demon worship. The far-sighted Jehovah God lovingly and wisely provided his written Word as an unchanging guiding light that his faithful servants and witnesses might not be misled by the traditions of false guides under demon control, but might be unerringly led in the way that conducts one to divine approval and life eternal. Says Peter: “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, . . . We have also a more sure word of prophecy, where- unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (2 Pet. 1:16-19) Thus Peter does not agree with the religious organization which teaches that 'the church is independent of the Bible, existed before the Bible, and will keep on existing unchanged without it’, and which religious organization therefore commands its parishioners to believe and obey what it says rather than what God’s written Word says.
26 Such religious organization is governed by men who have changed from the Bible and who want to hold or sidetrack the people from the Bible so as to keep them ignorant of the change made. Such men are the modern counterparts of the religious scribes, Pharisees and lawyers to whom Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”—Matt. 23:13; Luke 11: 52.
25 Why was the Bible provided as regards study, guidance and enlightenment? and who would take it away, and how?
26 Why does that religious organization want to keep the people from the Bible? and of whom are such religionists the modern counter parts?
HIGHEST TRIBUNAL OF INTERPRETATION
27 Since the invention of printing from movable type in the fifteenth century, and since the rise of Bible publishing and distributing societies from and after the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Bible has been circulated in more than a thousand popular languages all over the earth by the hundreds of millions of copies. Particularly from and after A.D. 1918 Jehovah’s witnesses, by the use of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society as their publishing agency, have spread the printed explanations of the Bible throughout the earth in over eighty different languages by the hundreds of millions of copies of books, booklets, magazines and tracts, and by use of scores of radio transmitters and also phonographically recorded Bible lectures. The religious hierarchy of the Vatican, being unable to prevent the proclamation of God’s Word, further belittles Bible study by the common people by ascribing to itself infallibility and by claiming that it is the only organization authorized and qualified to interpret the Bible. In support of such religious assumption the late Cardinal Gibbons, in his widely circulated book The Faith of Our Fathers, writes, in Chapter XI, entitled “Infallibility of the Popes’’, the following:
"In a word, the Sovereign Pontiff is to the Church, though in a more eminent degree, what the Supreme Court is to the United States. We have an instrument called the Constitution of the United States, which is the charter of our civil rights and liberties. If a controversy arise regarding a constitutional clause, the question is referred in the last resort, to the Supreme Court at Washington. The Chief Justice, with his associate judges, examines into the case and then pronounces judgment upon it; and this decision is final, irrevocable and practically infallible. If there were no such court to settle constitutional questions, the Constitution itself would soon become a dead letter. Every litigant would conscientiously decide the dispute in his own favor and anarchy, separation and civil war would soon follow. But by means of this Supreme Court disputes are ended, and the political union of the States is perpetuated. . . . The revealed Word of God is the constitution of the Church. This is the Magna Charta of our Christian liberties. The Pope is the official guardian of our religious constitution, as the Chief Justice is the guardian of our civil constitution.”—Pages 124, 125, Eighty-third Edition.
28 The above comparison of the religious hierarchy with the Supreme Court of the American democracy does not hold true. Also the Hierarchy’s reference to itself as the “divinely-established supreme tribunal” in the matter of interpretation of the Bible is unscriptural. On this issue be these points observed: (1) The Supreme Court is a creature of the Constitution of the United States, by the Article III, Section I, thereof. In contrast with that, the religious hierarchy of Vatican City is not a creature of God’s revealed Word, the Bible; for the Bible condemns religion and is the foe of any hierarchy of religious leaders. (1 Pet. 5:1-4) The Bible existed before Christ’s church, and existed still longer before the religious hierarchy, whereas the Hierarchy claims it existed before the Bible. (2) The Supreme Court does not take larger powers than the Constitution allows it. The Hierarchy, however, assumes to itself powers in heaven, earth and hell, including a so- called “Purgatory”, which powers are unscriptural, being based on the wresting of some scriptures and upon the unfounded traditions of religious fathers of the Hierarchy. (3) The Supreme Court magnifies the Constitution, contends for its preservation, clarifies its meaning, and encourages a study of it by all the citizenry of the nation. The Hierarchy, though, weakens the authority and unique position of the Bible. It declares that the Bible is not sufficient and contains only the partial truth, and that it must be filled out by ecclesiastical traditions, and that hence Scripture and tradition jointly constitute the rule of faith; also that the decisions of the pope from his seat of authority in matters of faith and morals are of equal authority with the Bible and are infallible.
27 (a) From and after the Invention of printing from type, what work has been accomplished with God a message in print? (b) In view of the foregoing, how does the Hierarchy try to belittle private Bible study, and what comparison with Itself does the Hierarchy make in this behalf?
28 What are three important points on which the Hierarchy’s comparison does not bold true?
29 No religious or other organization has tried harder than the Hierarchy to keep the Bible from the people and to prevent or discourage Bible study. Countless burnings both of Bibles and of students of the Bible are listed in the criminal record of the Hierarchy. As late as A.D. 1940 the Nazi-Fascist- religious dictator of Spain did, with the Hierarchy’s approval, cause 110,000 copies of the Bible, which were sent to Spain for distribution, to be destroyed and ground to pulp. (N.Y. Times, October 6, 1940)
30 Finally, (4) the Supreme Court is obligated to abide by the Constitution and to rule against any and all violations of it; and it cannot abrogate, annul, abolish or repeal that document. On the other hand, the Hierarchy does not abide by the Bible, but makes it null and void by adopting traditions of man and also the rites, ceremonies and paraphernalia of demonism. It opposes and seeks to destroy ail those who faithfully obey and publish the truths and commandments of the Bible. Certainly, then, no such religious system could reasonably be infallible like the Bible, nor could it be the divinely guided interpreter of that inspired Word.
29. What record, even till as late as 1940, shows up the effort of the Hierarchy to keep out the Bible and its study?
30 On what fourth point does comparison of the Hierarchy with the Supreme Court not hold true?
31 The claim of any individual or religious organization to be the interpreter of God’s sacred Word is false and misleading. No creature or organization on earth can truly presume to sit as the supreme tribunal of interpretation of the Holy Bible. Jehovah God, the Supreme Judge, has set up no such supreme court of interpretation upon our planet. His Associate Judge, Christ Jesus, has appointed no so-called “vicar"’ or “vicegerent"’ to act for him as interpreter to His church. In ancient time the faithful Hebrew Joseph said: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” When called before Pharaoh of Egypt to give an interpretation he said: “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Gen. 40:8; 41:16) Centuries thereafter the apostle Peter related how God caused the fulfillment of prophecy to take place respecting Christ Jesus and how thereby God gave the interpretation of the prophecy. Then the apostle Peter added: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy [spirit].”—2 Pet. 1:19-21. (See also Acts 15:5-18.)
32 Jehovah God is therefore the only Supreme Court of interpretation of His inspired Word. Regarding God's exclusive place Christ Jesus his Son said in the prophecy concerning the end of the world and the time of the final war of Armageddon: “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” (Mark 13:31,32) The heavenly Father chose to call into his service his beloved Son as his divinely inspired Interpreter of the whole Word of God. He foretold his Son acting in such capacity. In the prophetic drama of Job God used Job to portray how the faithful remnant today of the Christian church would suffer great affliction, reproach and persecution at the hands of the Devil and his religious dupes on earth. In the drama God then raised up the young man Elihu. God inspired Elihu to utter a prophecy concerning the end of the world, the time when Jehovah’s witnesses would be hated of all nations and would be in great affliction and in need of enlightenment on the Bible. “Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: then he is gracious unto him. and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” (Job 33:22-24) That messenger and interpreter and ransom is Christ Jesus, Jehovah’s Judge at the temple.
31 What Scriptural facts show that the claim of any individual or religious organization to be the Bible interpreter is false?
32 (a) What did Jesus Bay as to Jehovah's exclusive place respecting interpretation?
(b) Whom did Jehovah take into the interpreter service, and now did God foretell such in the prophetic drama of Job?
MANNER OF INTERPRETATION
33 The Scriptures prophesied that Jehovah’s Messenger, Interpreter and Judge would come to the spiritual temple of God. Many facts in fulfillment of prophecy prove that he came thither in A.D. 1918, spring. (See Malachi 3:1-4; Revelation 11:18,19.) Malachi’s prophecy shows that Christ Jesus would sit as a refiner of silver, that is, of the Word of God. Not that the written Word of God is impure, but that those seeking to understand God’s Word had unwittingly commingled so many impurities of religion with their beliefs. Therefore those fully consecrated to God and dedicated to his service needed purification from all soils and taints of religion. Such defiling had attached to them from the great religious confusion that set in shortly after the death of the apostles and their faithful associates. (Acts 20: 28-31; 2 Thess. 2: 2-12) At Christ's coming to the temple in 1918 he gathered before him for judgment all professing Christians, because “judgment must begin at the house of God”. (1 Pet. 4:17) He foretold that he would judge them by his word, which is the Word of God. This Christ Jesus does by acting as Interpreter of God's Word and making clear the meaning and message of the Bible, to magnify Jehovah’s name and purpose and His Theocratic Government or Kingdom.—Isa. 42:19-21.
34 The time of Christ’s coming into his kingdom and then coming to the temple is a time for the grand fulfillment of the prophecies telling of the establishment of The Theocracy and the end of Satan's world organization. It is accordingly the time of revealing and publishing the truth, and hence the time of interpreting the prophecies. (Dan. 12:1-4) In ancient days Jehovah God used some visible channel for making known his truth and interpretations to his consecrated people. Jehovah God does not change his rule of action, and he uses a like channel at this end of the world. What is that channel or visible agency! Christ Jesus described it when giving his prophecy on the visible evidences that would mark the end of Satan’s uninterrupted rule and the setting up of the Theocratic Government. Our inspired Master and Interpreter said: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matt. 24:45-47; see also Luke 12:42-44) Whom do the facts of our day prove to be that “faithful and wise servant”?
33. When did Jehovah’s Messenger and Interpreter come to the temple, and how has he sat and acted as a refiner of silver?
34. (a) The time of Christ's coming to the temple is the time for what treatment of the truth, and what does God use for that purpose? (b) Under what prophetic expression did Jesus describe that visible agency?
35 Aside from Christ Jesus, divine prophecy foretells no individual man. In times past prophetic figures such as Elijah, Elisha, and others, were used to foreshadow a company or society of faithful, devoted servants of God, who should be Jehovah’s witnesses at the end of the world, where we are at present. Likewise, the expression “faithful and wise servant” does not picture any man or individual on earth now, but means the faithful remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses who are begotten of His spirit and gathered into a unity unto Him and His service. They are part of his Theocratic organization and are subject to Theocratic rule, which means, the divine will as to organization and work. They act as a unit or society, together doing Jehovah’s “strange work” as he reveals it to them. (Isa. 54:13; Ps. 25:14) Such “society” is not a legal society or corporation, chartered according to the laws of some state or nation, but is a society or association formed by the Creator, Jehovah God, and composed of his spiritual remnant approved by Christ Jesus at the temple judgment. Such society, however, may use as their earthly instrumentality or servant a legal corporation, such as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; and they do so, since A.D. 1884. Christ Jesus is the Chief Servant of Jehovah God, and he is the invisible or heavenly Head of the “faithful and wise servant” class.—Isa. 42:1; Matt. 12:15-21.
36 To such remnant of faithful servants of Jehovah God Christ Jesus has entrusted all “his goods”, or earthly interests of the Kingdom. This does not signify that the faithful remnant or society of Jehovah's anointed witnesses are an earthly tribunal of interpretation, delegated to interpret the Scriptures and its prophecies. No; Christ Jesus the King has not entrusted that office to them. The Supreme Court still interprets, thank God; and Christ Jesus, the Court's official mouthpiece of interpretation, reserves to himself that office as Head of Jehovah’s “faithful and wise servant” class. He merely uses the “servant” class to publish the interpretation after the Supreme Court by Christ Jesus reveals it. How does the Lord God make known the interpretation? By causing the facts to come to pass visibly which are in fulfillment of the prophecy or dark saying or misunderstood scripture. Thereafter “in due season” he calls such fulfillment or clarification of prophecy and scripture to the attention of his “faithful and wise servant” class. Thereby he makes them responsible to make known the meaning of such scriptures to all members of the household of faith and to all persons of goodwill. This constitutes giving them the “meat in due season”.
35 (a) Whom does that “faithful and wise servant" picture? (b) Is a legal corporation meant, or what part does a legal corporation play therein?
36 (a) The Lord’s entrusting “all his goods" to the “servant” class has what connection with interpretation of the Scriptures? (b) How does the Lord God make known the interpretation, and what responsibility thereafter falls upon the “servant" class?
37 In bygone days those now composing the “faithful and wise servant” class or remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses have believed many things which were not strictly correct according to the Scriptures. They continued to hold on to such beliefs even for some time after A.D. 1918, when Christ Jesus arrived at the temple. Today they see and understand differently, with Scripture backing. Does this mean that God is the Author of confusion or that they are not of His Theocratic organization? No; Jehovah God is not the author of confusion, but is the remover of confusion from his devoted people who both pray and seek to know his truth. Although the understanding of his “servant” class has cleared up and has been corrected, yet the text of God’s infallible Word has not changed and its information has been there all the time from days of old.
38 After Jehovah’s royal Associate Judge came to the temple for judgment and the purification of his people, Jehovah God used his Messenger and Interpreter to cleanse away, little by little and point by point, any misunderstanding, which misunderstanding was due to their having been in contact with religion in the past or due to not having the fulfilled facts at hand because it was not yet God’s due time. Thus Jehovah by Christ Jesus continues to this day to lead them in the path of truth, and they follow the revealed decisions of the Supreme Court of Interpretation and walk on in the light. Such increase of light is in fulfillment of God’s promise: “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Prov. 4:18) The light continues to grow brighter, and the perfect day is at hand, as we walk on where our Guide and Interpreter leads us.—Ps. 25: 9.
39 Thus the great Supreme Interpreter magnifies now his infallible Word. Shortly, at the battle of Armageddon, Jehovah by his Associate Judge and Executioner will vindicate that Word. He will also magnify his holy name and destroy all opposing kings of this world. For that reason his faithful remnant, who are in line to be “kings and priests” with Christ Jesus, bow toward Jehovah God, who is representatively in his holy temple by Christ Jesus. Their beloved earthly companions bow with them, and all together they say: "I will worship toward thy kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving- thy word above all thy name.”—Ps. 138:2.
37. Why does difference of understanding today from that held previously not prove God the author of confusion or prove that the remnant of Jehovah's witnesses are not of His organization?
38. How, then, do we explain Scripturally the change of understanding since the Lord's coming to the temple?
39. What is the Supreme Interpreter thereby doing respecting his Word? and for that cause what do the remnant and their faithful companions do respecting Jehovah God?
RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS
THE kingdom of God is the highest government any creature can serve. All kingdom service to be acceptable must find its motive in love for the Lord. The intelligent creature desiring to be pleasing to God must always have this fact foremost in his mind. The call to action going forth to the Lord’s people throughout the earth at this time is a righteous call, and action is a righteous requirement. This call to action the Lord’s people have received particularly since October, 1938. In 1938 the Lord through The Watchtower presented indisputable Scriptural proof establishing the fact that Jehovah is the great Theocrat, that Christ Jesus is his anointed King, and that in 1918 the King came to his temple class composed of the consecrated, spirit-begotten and anointed members of his body. These he has judged, cleansed and commissioned to act as his “faithful and wise servant”. —Matt. 24.45-47.
This servant he has placed over his earthly household and has given him charge over all his goods with specific instructions to bring forth “meat in due season” for the household of faith. The servant was also anointed “to preach good tidings unto the meek; ... to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn”.—Isa. 61:1-3.
The Scriptures and the facts clearly establish that the commission given to the “faithful and wise servant” is grounded in the Word of the Lord. There is only one organization on earth today fulfilling the righteous requirements outlined in this commission from the Lord. The Society, represented by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is the only one Preaching good tidings unto the meek, Binding up the brokenhearted, Proclaiming liberty to the captives, Proclaiming the opening of the prison to those that are bound, Proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord, Proclaiming the day of vengeance of our God, and Comforting all that mourn.
The “Society” is composed of the Lord’s consecrated, spirit-begotten and anointed servants, and is the “faithful and wise servant” class, who, under the leadership of Jehovah’s commissioned King Christ Jesus, are fulfilling this commission. We should not expect more than one organization doing this work, and the fact that there is no other proves clearly who is the “faithful and wise servant” whom the Lord places over his household. The Lord did not commission a number of servants to act for him, nor did he scatter his work and goods over a great many organizations. No! There could be only one “servant”; and as Jephthah demonstrated that he was the Lord’s choice by doing the Lord’s work in the spirit and power of the Lord, so the Society today clearly demonstrates to all who have the mind of the Lord and are interested in the vindication of Jehovah’s name that it is the Lord’s choice and is his “faithful and wise servant” doing the work of the Lord in the power and spirit of Jehovah.
This Society was authorized by the Lord to bring forth things new and old for the household of faith and do the work for which the Lord had organized it. Therefore it is fully qualified and duly authorized to issue a “call to action” to all who claim to be on the Lord’s side to busy themselves in doing the work of the Lord.
This “call to action” sent out by the Lord through the Society is based on the fulfilled prophecies of his Word clearly revealed to those who have the mind of the Lord, by such Watchtower articles as the prophecy of Daniel 11:27-45, “Micah,” “Song-Call to Action,” “Defeat of Persecution,” “The Only Light,” “Fighter for the New World,” etc. These thrilling prophecies were called to our attention during the past year and clearly reveal the Lord's requirements for those who are under the leadership of his King, These are, therefore, right and righteous requirements to every consecrated servant of the Lord.
How does the Lord issue the call to his people? Does it come in the form of a harsh ultimatum: You do thus and so, or else—? No! Such ultimatums are not necessary The Lord never adopts that attitude toward his servants, and no one else has a right to. Much trouble in company organizations would be avoided if all of the Lord’s people could appreciate this point. Those who really love the Lord do not require any such treatment. Of them it is written, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” (Ps. 73:24) Those who do not low the Lord and are opposed to his kingdom, the Lord does not want in his service. Of such the Lord says, “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?”—Ps. 50:16
This call is therefore for those who love the Lord and rejoice in his righteous requirements and who wish to live in and accept the responsibilities of the New World. Such show their faith and faithfulness by their response to the call to action. When this class sees the issue and hears the call, that is all that is necessary. Jesus says of them, Tor they know the good shepherd’s voice, and a stranger will they not follow.’ (John 10:4,5) The Lord always issues his call to action in an organized, systematic manner. This is emphasized throughout the Bible, from the opening chapters of Genesis to the concluding chapters of Revelation. Let us consider one or two by way of illustration.
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