The Watchtower, March 1, 1944

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“FREEDOM OF WORSHIP” TESTIMONY PERIOD

April is the month of the Testimony Period so named. This period concludes the three-month campaign for increasing the subscription list of The Watchtower. Hence those jealously guarding as well as faithfully exercising the freedom of worship will continue their earnest efforts to secure new subscriptions for this journal of God-given freedom. A new feature of the campaign is added by the release this month of the booklet The Coming World Regeneration, and this, together with the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free”, will be offered as a premium to everyone giving a year’s subscription, at no more than the regular rate of $1.00. Efforts to reach the goal of 100,000 new subscriptions in America by April 30 are having God’s blessing, and co-operation by all our regular subscribers and all other believers in freedom of worship will be welcomed during the remainder of this campaign. Requests by all such for instructions will be gladly received and given prompt attention.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of April 9: “World Regeneration,” 1-20 inclusive, The Watchtower March 1, 1944.

Week of April 16: “World Regeneration,” 21-42 inclusive, The Watchtower March 1, 1944.

“THE COMING WORLD REGENERATION”

It is gratifying to announce the production of a new booklet of the above title. Its thirty-two pages set out the public address delivered by the Society’s president to large audiences at various assemblies in the United States and Cuba. The speech gives for the first time, by the Lord’s grace, the full scope of the glorious regeneration promised in His Word, and the front-cover design artistically suggests this great event. Copies of The Coming World Regeneration are now available, at 5c a copy Read it and prepare for the coming distribution thereof, as detailed later.

ANSWERING YOUR INQUIRIES

Some of the brethren are writing the Society inquiring, “When should I arrange my vacation so as to be able to attend the 1944 convention?” The answer is, Include the dates August 9 to 13, 1944.

“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 in 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. LXV

March 1, 1944

No. 5

WORLD REGENERATION

“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” — Matt. 19:28.

JEHOVAH, The Creator and Life-giver, has brought near the time of world regeneration. The regeneration begins with the setting up of the Kingdom, God’s Government in the hands of his glorified Son. This Theocratic Government has already been established, all the facts since A.D. 1914 going to show that he took to himself his great power in that year and set the beloved Son as King “in the throne of his glory” in the heavens. The regeneration there begun will not halt until a new world has been born in which obedient humankind will live on earth in the bloom of perpetual health and in plenty amid peaceful and safe conditions and righteous surroundings. This will take place both after and in spite of the fact that all efforts toward the so- called “moral regeneration” of mankind by religious organization and by politicians and worldly educators in the postwar era will have failed. Where religion and its political backers, frantically trying to avoid the ditch of world destruction, will fail to reform mankind in heart and mind, there God Almighty by his power and truth will succeed through his beloved Son and King, in behalf of all "men of good-will”.

2 The word regeneration occurs but twice in the Sacred Scriptures, once in the text above quoted (Matthew 19:28), and once at Titus 3:5, which reads: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy [spirit].” Even this Scripture text shows that it is foolish for the planners of the postwar peace to talk of bringing about the “moral regeneration” of the Nazified Germans, not to speak of Fascists and all the rest of humankind. Regeneration will not be accomplished by any self-righteous works of men. The great regeneration foretold by Jehovah’s Chief Prophet and Son will be brought to pass by the power and work of Jehovah God, whom all the nations of the world have rejected.

1. How has God brought near the time of world regeneration? and what effect will human postwar efforts at mankind's "moral regeneration" have as to the completed regeneration?

2. How often does regeneration occur in the Scriptures, and what do such texts show as to the accomplishment of regeneration?

3 The word regeneration translates the Greek word used by the apostle Matthew and by the apostle Paul to Titus, namely, palingenesia. This word, made up of two parts, palin meaning again, and genesia meaning a being born or birth, literally means a being born again, a new birth. (Titus 3:5, Syriac) Here we are concerned with Jesus’ use of the word palingenesia in speaking to his apostles. It is plain that he was not speaking of any “washing of regeneration” as mentioned in Paul’s letter to Titus. Those Christians, however, who undergo the “washing of regeneration” and “renovation of the holy spirit” do share in the regeneration spoken of by Jesus. The subject of the “washing of regeneration” we shall reserve for a later article to discuss.

4 That of which the Lord Jesus spoke takes in a world, and refers to world regeneration. The circumstances under which he mentioned the subject help us to determine this. The “kingdom of heaven” was under discussion at the time. He had just blessed the little children, saying, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14) Then a wealthy young Jew, a ruler, approached Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said he must keep God’s commandments, and then recited several of the Ten Commandments. The young man replied that he had kept all these things from his youth up, but was not satisfied and now asked to be informed what yet he lacked. Then the Son of man, Jesus, who laid claim to no earthly riches, not even a bed for a night’s sleep, said: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.” Had Jesus been wealthy in earthly goods he could not consistently have given such instruction and invitation. The giving up of the material treasures of this present life in order to gain eternal life in the future was too great a price for the young man, and he let go the privilege of following the Captain of life and salvation and went away sad. — Matt. 19:16-22.

3 What are the root meanings of the word regeneration, and how does Jesus’ use of the term compare with that of the apostle Paul?

4. What is the scope or comprehensiveness of the term as used by Jesus, and wbat were the developments leading up to his mention of the subject?

5 Jesus then commented that it is with great difficulty that a materially rich man could enter the kingdom of heaven, because he can not buy his way into it with any or all of his wealth. (Ps. 49:6-11) Said Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” How many religious clergymen today, who pretend to follow Jesus’ example, dare to tell this saying of the Master to their wealthy organization-members? None! They tell the common people that it is God’s will that the ultrarich should be loaded down with earthly treasure and that the masses of common people should be in poor circumstances; and then the clergymen make the wealthy ones to be the “principal of the flock” and make them their favored associates and adorn them with medals, knighthoods and other religious honors. However, the Lord Jesus did not make any of such moneyed class to be the principal ones of his flock, that is, to be apostles. One of his apostles was Peter; and as to whether Peter housed himself in a palace and piled up treasures of money, art, houses, lands, and concordats with dictatorial rulers, the Record goes on to show.

6 Jesus’ disciples were amazed at his saying, and said: “Who then can be saved?” Therefore, to show that it is not riches that paves the way to salvation, but the work of God, Jesus answered: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Peter, not in any spirit of selfishness, but for his own information, then asked the Master: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Peter knew that neither he nor any of his fellow apostles had abandoned as much material property as the rich young ruler owned, but at least they had left all they had and had followed after Jesus, who was likewise propertyless as to this world. Quite evidently, then, Peter was not following him for some present earthly reward. The Master had spoken of treasure in heaven; and what could this mean?

7 Jesus’ reply to Peter revealed the reward not only to the twelve apostles, but also to all those taking a like course of self-denial in order to follow in Jesus’ steps and to suffer great reproaches for such reason. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.” (Matt. 19:2S, 29, Am. Stan. Ver.) Immediately after such words Jesus related the parable concerning the “kingdom of heaven” as being “like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard”. — Matt. 20:1-16, Am. Stan. Ver.

5. What was Jesus' comment respecting the possibilities for the rich? and how does the course of the religious clergy agree or disagree therewith?

6. What did Jesus answer to the question of His disciples? and what question did Peter then put, and why?

7. What was Jesus' reply, what did It reveal, and what parable did he relate immediately thereafter?

8 The Master ties in the kingdom of God, which is the “kingdom of heaven”, with the regeneration. In the regeneration, said Jesus, the Son of man will sit upon his glorious heavenly throne judging, and the twelve faithful apostles will be judging with him. But of what is it the regeneration? Regeneration could not mean something that has been going on during the many centuries since his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. When he ascended on high he did not at once begin reigning and hence interfere with the Gentile rule of the earth, for, over thirty-six years after his entry into the presence of God, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Gentile Roman hosts took place, in A.D. 70. The beginning of his reign from the heavenly throne must wait until the end of the Gentile times, at which time also the uninterrupted rule of Satan the Devil ends. Therefore it is written, at Hebrews 10: 12, 13: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” The prophecy at Psalm 110:1, 2 had foretold this: “Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Am. Stan. Ver.) The exalted Jesus would not execute the judgments of Jehovah God against the enemies until God gives him the order to rule among them at the end of this “present evil world”. Manifestly, then, the regeneration in which his disciples will sit on thrones with him judging could not mean any “washing of regeneration” which has been taking place during the so-called “Christian era”.

9 Some religionists are inclined to think that the regeneration when the Son of man reigns in glory with his disciples refers to the resurrection of the dead. But the word resurrection was not foreign to Jesus’ speeches, and when he meant such a thing he used the plain, unmistakable word, anastasis in the Greek tongue. (John 5:29; Luke 14:14; Matt. 22:30,31; John 11:25) Hence “regeneration” here could not be narrowed down to mean the resurrection. The regeneration, during which he reigns and his disciples with him, must refer to something far grander and taking in not only earth but also heaven. A comparison of the apostle Matthew’s record of the Lord’s words with the records by Mark and Luke points us in the direction of the right understanding. Mark records that, in reply to Peter, Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel’s sake, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10: 29, 30, Am. Stan. Ver.) The record at Luke 18: 29, 30 reads: "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.” — Am. Stan. Ver.

8. What did Jesus’ reply associate together with the regeneration? and why could not this refer to any “washing of regeneration'' in process during this "Christian era”?

9 Why may not the regeneration In question be understood to mean the resurrection? and what other accounts help us in the direction of the right understanding?

10 You will note that Matthew’s record does not include the phrase, “in the world to come,” to point forward to the time or occasion of the reward. He does designate the time and occasion by saying, “in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory.” The several parallel accounts by Matthew, Mark and Luke thus throw regeneration and world together. It is interesting, therefore, how the modern translations put into English our Lord’s words at Matthew 19:28. The Weymouth translation reads: “ 'I tell you in truth,’ replied Jesus, ‘that in the New Creation, when the Son of man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.’ ” The Weymouth footnote on this verse reads: "In the New Creation" Or ‘in the again-birth,’ Greek palingenesia, in which there will be a new Genesis ...” Dr. Ginsburg’s Hebrew translation also reads: “In creation's renewing itself.” Most interesting, however, is the English translation of the Peshitto Syriac Version of the text, which version was made from very early Greek manuscripts. As translated by the well-known Dr. James Murdock, the Syriac Version reads: “Jesus said to them: Verily I say to you, that, as for you who have followed me, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory in the new world, ye also shall sit on twelve seats, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

WHY NEEDED

11 Without relying merely upon various translations, but by studying in the increasing light upon the Scriptures, we can grasp this truth concerning the word regeneration: As applying to the time of his reign with his disciples Christ Jesus used the word to mean the re-creation of the world of righteousness, the new world of “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”. (2 Pet. 3:13) The new world will not mean the universal organization of Jehovah God; for that organization includes seraphim, cherubim and angels and has always existed since God created his first and only begotten Son, called “The Word” or “Logos”. Never has it broken down or ceased, and hence it does not need renewing or re-creation. Of course, the righteous new world will include creatures who are of or who become members of Jehovah’s universal organization; yet the new world is something that has a separate standing and hence a special treatment. Why so? Because the new world is made up of two parts: the new heavens (pointing to something different or distinguished from the already-existing invisible organization of God which is universal) and a new earth (referring specifically to the arrangement on our earthly globe or planet and not to other planets in the skies). Hence the new world is a “new” world with relation to our earth, and not as to the entire universe.

10 . What key words do the parallel accounts throw together? and how do modern translators render the key expression in Matthew's account?

11 By study in the Scriptures, what truth concerning regeneration do we now grasp? and why does not such regeneration apply to God's universal organisation?

12 Our planet may be of great interest to all the mighty spirit creatures inhabiting the invisible universe, especially as the beloved Son of God came in the flesh to this earth and here also the name of Jehovah God will shortly be vindicated. Yet not all the spirit creatures of the boundless universe are engaged in taking care of our earth. Not all did so at the beginning of man’s history, nor will all do so in the regeneration. As to this, mark now these facts: Jehovah God created his universal organization. It being his work, it is perfect. “His work is perfect.” “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 111:7, 8) When God created the first man, Adam, this human creature was perfect, sinless, upright, and macle according to Jehovah’s commandment. Hence the Creator took the perfect man into his universal organization as a working member of it, whose duties and field of operation should be upon the earth. The loving heavenly Father did not leave man alone in Eden, but gave the man a suitable companion and help meet, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. Through them the earthly membership of God’s universal organization was to be multiplied to fill the whole earth, all of its members to be the offspring of Adam and Eve and to be righteous, unfading in beauty, constant in perfection, and living forever off the plenty of an earth-wide paradise. Continual righteousness of humankind would guarantee the eternal peace.

12. Why will not all the living universe be engaged in the work of regeneration? and originally how was the earthly part of God’s universal organization brought into operation?

13 The spirit sons of God sang together and shouted for joy at the creation of man’s everlasting home, the earth. (Job 38:4-7) From among them the great Organizer and Supreme Head of the universal organization took some sons whose special charge was to be this earth and its human occupants. Jehovah God anointed the glorious cherub, Lucifer, to be the invisible overlord toward perfect man and woman, and gave Lucifer an organization of holy angels subject to his command for the work at this earth. Humanldnd being lower than angels and being unable to see them, this spirit organization formed a righteous heavens over the righteous inhabitants of the earth. The heavenly organization and the earthly organization were united in the one God-honoring purpose, namely, the filling of the earth with righteous humans and the subduing of the earth by human cultivation and the exercising of dominion over all the lower animal creation. This unity of purpose for the pleasing of the Most High God made this heavens and earth one world, having a distinct setting and yet being at the same time a part of God’s universal organization. Such original world was righteous, because it was God’s creation.

14 Gone now is that righteous world! The record of it is preserved in truthful detail only in God’s Word, the Bible. That world degenerated, but not because of any imperfection or corruption from the Creator. Concerning degenerate humankind Jehovah God’s prophet testifies: “They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” (Deut. 32:5) “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” (Eccl. 7: 29) And concerning the earth’s invisible overlord and his organization of angels God’s prophet says: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Ezek. 28:14,15) Lucifer’s position in God’s universal organization was honorable and glorious, but he sinned in yielding to the selfish ambition to exalt himself higher than according to God’s appointment. He aimed at being like God himself so as to dominate the universal organization and not merely the organization at the earth.

15 Lucifer tempted the woman Eve into disobedience of the divine organization instructions and subjected the man to pressure from his insubordinate wife. By selfish passion he drew man into sin against the organization’s Supreme Head, the Most High God. Then he corrupted the angels in the heavenly organization under him and transformed himself into “the prince of the demons”. Both the visible and the invisible parts having gone disorderly and corrupt, the righteous world ceased to exist. An unregenerate world now came into operation. The inspired testimony to this effect is found at Romans 5:12,15: “Therefore as through one man sin entered into the world [kosmos], and through sin death, and so death passed to all mankind, in that all sinned— . . . through the transgression of one single man the mass of mankind have died.” ­ Weymouth translation.

13 How djd God establish a special heaven over this earthly arrangement, and why did such together constitute one world, and righteous?

14 Due to what causes is that righteous world now gone?

15 By what course of Lucifer toward humankind and angels did an unregenerate world come to exist?

16 You will note that the word the writer to the Romans used and which word is translated world is the Greek word kosmos. The Bible writers used the term world (or kosmos) to include both heaven and earth, an invisible and a visible part of the world organization. They used the term under the inspiring power of the spirit or invisible energy of Almighty God.

17 By the incoming of sin, and by God’s dismissal of rebellious Lucifer and disobedient man and woman from His universal organization, a transformation of the local world of which man was a part took place. Lucifer, having now become Satan, or opposer of God, formed an organization with all the sinful creatures as its members, and himself as organizer and director thereof. It included an invisible or demon part and a visible or human part; and together both parts of the organization made up a sinful, rebellious world. In it Satan assumed the world domination, and he proposed to make it as wide as the earth by the spread of sinful humankind to the ends of the earth. At Eden, immediately after the start of the rebellion, God served advance notice on the wicked organization, in these words: “And enmity will I put between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, but thou shalt crush his heel.” (Gen. 3:15, Rotherham) This divine judgment not only bespoke the destruction of any world organization that Satan the Devil might set up; it did more. It gave promise of the rebirth of a righteous world, to displace that wicked world which Satan would extend over the earth. The Lord God fitly used the figure of human birth, by speaking of a seed of “the woman”, to picture the bringing forth of the means or agency that He would use to crush the Devil’s world organization, head and all.

16 What Greek word did the apostle use for “world"? and what do the Bible writers use that Greek word to include?

17 (a) How was the sinful, rebellious world organized or constituted? (b) What advance notice did Jehovah God serve on that organization, and why were his expressions or language so fitting?

18 God’s decree was that sin, and the organization of sin, shall not forever inhabit the living creation. In due time He would bring forth out of his “woman”, his holy organization of faithful creatures, His servant to destroy all willful sinners and the effects of sin. But first it must be proved that Satan the Devil and his seed could not get all creatures to come out from under God’s universal domination and join up with Satan’s organization and serve it. Hence Jehovah God permitted Satan and his associate sinners to remain till the time for the Seed of God’s “woman” to take violent destructive action against the wicked organization and its members.

19 To demonstrate His invincible power over any structure that the wicked adversary could build up, and to serve as a warning to all the living universe, Jehovah God washed out of existence that original organization of the Devil. It happened at the end of 1,656 years of human history. Only a few individuals on earth refused to join up. They kept themselves from that unregenerate world by walking humbly with God in faith and devotion. Such persons included Abel, Enoch, and Noah, men who kept the integrity of their consecration toward God. They served as types of those who in our days refuse to have anything to do with the Devil’s world organization and who keep themselves unspotted from it. They stood out as witnesses for Jehovah God and his universal sovereignty and his purpose to destroy the worldly organization of sin by the Seed that should come forth from God’s “woman”. They looked forward to the removal of sin and sinners and to reinstatement of righteousness in the earth.

20 That first organization of God’s enemy became called “the world of the ungodly”, because the whole organization was out of harmony with God and polluted. Because it had worn itself out and was due to pass away, it was called “the old world”. (2 Pet. 2:5) Although its destruction was the mightiest demonstration of divine power up till then in human experience, yet humankind quickly chose to ignore that testimony and to turn again to the course that led to the need of the flood of destruction. Speaking of that world calamity and of how men are blinding themselves to the approach of a like but still more stupendous world destruction, the inspired apostle Peter wrote: “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Pet. 3:5-7) Before the great overflow of water the spirit demons, materializing as “giants” in the earth, had intervened in man’s affairs. (Gen. 6:1-4) Hence the flood, though engulfing only the globe and destroying the visible arrangement among men, also had an effect on the invisible demon part of the world. Hence the expression “the world that then was . . . perished” applies to the unseen as well as the seen arrangement. On earth none of the ungodly survived, and the demon giants were obliged to divest themselves of fleshly bodies and withdraw to the spirit realm of invisibility.

18 What, in effect, was God’s decree? and why did he permit Satan and bis associate sinners to remain?

19 For what purposes did Jehovah wash that devilish organization out of existence? and of whom did the faithful men prior thereto serve as types ?

20 What do the Scriptures call that devilish world? and what parts of the arrangement were affected by the flood, and how?

“THIS WORLD”

21 The effacement of the old world was not followed by world regeneration. On earth, indeed, the ungodly had been drowned and only righteous Noah and his family, eight persons in all, came forth from the ark of survival and took up life on dry land again. But the destruction of merely the ungodly humans still left the ones that had been most powerful in the old world still alive and able to erect a new arrangement both among their disorganized ranks and also in the earth. In other words, the earthly flood still left the demons and their prince, Satan the Devil, alive, even if beaten and confused. This shows the all-importance of one special thing to any world regeneration, a thing which the whole lot of religious clergymen, politicians, financiers, judges, police force and social reformers can never supply. What? The removal of the demon powers and the creation of righteous heavenly powers in charge of this earth. Only God’s “woman”, his faithful universal organization which is above, can produce such righteous “heavens” over mankind. It is thus seen that the very foundation of a new world or a regenerated world of righteousness is a righteous, incorruptible government, mightier than Satan and all his demons and able to destroy all wicked creatures and to wipe out all the effects of the thousands of years of sin’s operation. In the purpose of God the time for the birth of such a spiritual Theocratic government had not arrived at the flood; and hence world regeneration did not follow the overthrow of the sinful old world. But now the Government is at hand!

22 Satan the Devil is opposed to all regeneration. This unregenerate one was still bent on making good his challenge to God, and by God’s permission he therefore turned his attention to the flood survivors. Being a mimic god, he reorganized his invisible hosts, the demons, in imitation of Jehovah’s organization which had defeated him thus far, so as henceforth to meet like with like and to create still greater confusion and deception among creatures. His invisible organization is no mere childish imagination, but is a powerful foe to all godliness and righteousness upon this earth. The apostle Paul, who by reason of divine inspiration wrote with more than materialistic human wisdom, warns all Christians against the real foe, saying: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.” — Eph. 6:11,12, marginal readings.

21. Why was the effacement of that old world not followed by world regeneration? and what does this show as to the fundamental thing absolutely necessary to a new world of righteousness?

22. Toward making good his challenge to God, to what did Satan then apply himself? and how does the apostle Paul show bis organization is no mere childish fancy?

23 Those same demon principalities, powers, rulers of world darkness, and wicked spirits make up the “heavens . . . which are now”, which the apostle Peter says are left in existence reserved for fiery perdition, or destruction. The earth, that is likewise reserved for fiery destruction with the demon heavens, is not our earthly globe, for this is not of Satan’s organization or creation, but is God’s property. He will preserve it and cleanse it for the original purpose unto which he created it, namely, to be inhabited forever by perfect human creatures in His image and likeness. Hence the earth doomed to firelike consumption is the visible organization built up by Satan and his demons since the flood.

24 Satan the Devil seized upon backsliding descendants of Noah to build up a visible organization of wickedness, symbolically called “the earth”. Babel, or Babylon, was the foundation or beginning of that earthly organization. All the structure thereafter being built according to Babylon’s lines, the whole visible organization and its unseen overshadowing powers are called by the all-inclusive name “Babylon”. Earthly Babylon’s founder was Nimrod, the first man to regiment human creatures away from God and into Satan’s visible organization. The tie by which he bound the organization members and subjects to him was religion, a political religion or state religion. The state was the political expression of the rule of Satan, the mimic god over the earth. Nimrod was not a mighty hunter in the sight of Jehovah God, nor in Noah’s sight, nor in Shem’s sight. He was such only in the sight of the regimented people, who paid man-worship to him and hence put him “before the Lord”. They deified the state ruler above God, and so worshiped the creature rather than the Creator. All religious and political rule and organization since then and to this day have stemmed from that original Babylon, and the god of them all is Babylon’s god, Satan. The Babylonish organization has overspread the face of this globe. Hence, with both the wicked spirits and also the earthly organization under Satanic control, it is truthfully said, at 1 John 5:19: “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”—Weymouth; Moffatt.

23 What, then, are the “heavens and the earth which are now", and which are reserved for fiery perdition?

24 How did Satan begin his organizing of the "earth", what has his whole organization therefore come to be called, and in whose power does this world lie?

OTHER FOREGLEAMS

25 The purpose of Jehovah God still stands, and its vindication is now very near. He has not forgotten or backed down from his Edenic forecast of the future. Majestically, without the least excitement or hurry at what this world and its prince do, God Jehovah moves forward unhalted to the supreme event, the vindication of his name and the complete world regeneration. The first requirement in that behalf, as based on his promise, is the establishment of the heavenly Government of the Seed of his “woman”. It is the “kingdom of heaven”, with persons on the throne of uncorruptible integrity toward God. Their integrity must be tested and proved; and that could be done only in the midst of the world of which Satan the Devil is the god. While placed in this world, they must never yield to becoming part of it. They cannot be of the wicked old world and likewise be for the righteous new world. For the very purpose of such a test, and in order to prove the Devil to be what his name means, a slanderer or liar, Jehovah God sent forth his beloved only begotten Son. God took him from the midst of the heavenly organization and placed him as a man in the midst of “this world”.

26 To mark his progress toward the glorious goal, and to revive the hope and confidence of faithful men, Jehovah God enlarged upon his promise regarding the Seed as written in the first book of the Bible. (Gen. 3:15) To Abraham, “the friend of God,” Jehovah revealed that the beloved Son of God, when becoming a perfect man, would come through the offspring of Abraham and hence could be called “the seed of Abraham”. (Gal. 3:8,16) Thus Abraham, whose name means “father of a multitude”, would serve as a type or representation of the heavenly Father of the promised Seed. When God had tested Abraham’s faith even to the point of sacrificing his beloved son Isaac upon the altar at God’s command, Jehovah God in effect restored Isaac back to Abraham by a resurrection, and then said: “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Gen. 22:17,18; Heb. 11:17-19) More than a century later God caused Abraham’s grandson Jacob to refer to the same coming Governor and Blesser of the nations. When giving a farewell blessing to Judah his son, Jacob said: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”—Gen. 49: 10.

25. How has Jehovah God moved forward to the meeting of the first requirement of world regeneration? and how must the test of integrity be made, and why?

26. To Abraham, how did God enlarge upon his first promise concerning the woman’s seed? and how, still later, by Jacob on his deathbed?

27 The twelve tribes of Israel sprang from Jacob, and by God’s decree the glorious King of peace, who should wave the scepter over the people who submitted to him as Lawgiver, was to come through the tribe of Judah. Judah being likened to a “lion’s whelp”, the great King must be the “Lion of the tribe of Juda”.—Rev. 5: 5.

28 Giving foregleams of what world regeneration will mean to “men of good-will”, and showing that it will bring a Government of liberation to them, Jehovah God delivered the twelve tribes of Israel from hard bondage in Egypt and settled them in the Promised Land, Palestine. In the law which he gave them through Moses he made provision for a priesthood, that atonement for their sins might be made regularly. Thereby they might continue in relationship with God. Sin-atonement for the twelve tribes of Israel was made through animal sacrifices each year by the priesthood. This pictured the cleansing from sin that would be made by Jehovah’s great High Priest for all men of faith that turn to Jehovah God and accept the divinely provided sacrifice of his beloved Son, the Greater Isaac. In the law Jehovah God also made provision for a king. (Deut. 17:14-20) At the request of the Israelites in Palestine God gave them a visible king. After the first king’s failure, the Lord God chose a “man after his own heart”, the shepherd-king, David.

29 During David’s forty-year reign Jerusalem with its citadel on Mount Zion became the capital city of the nation. There David arranged for the sacred ark of God’s testimony to be placed, and then planned upon building a glorious temple worthy to house this symbol of God’s presence with his people. Jehovah therefore made a covenant with David for an everlasting kingdom in his house. Thus David’s family became the royal house. For such reason David’s beloved son, Solomon, was chosen to succeed David in the throne, and early in his reign Solomon built the magnificent temple at Jerusalem. Both David and his wise son Solomon were prototypes or figures prophetic of the wonderful King to come, the Seed of God’s “woman”.

30 During the time of Solomon’s reign when he was faithful and wise toward Jehovah God, whom he represented on the throne, there was freedom from fear and want in that Theocratic nation. Especially was this so because there was freedom of worship of Jehovah God by all twelve tribes of Israel. The historian of the times writes: “Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” (1 Ki. 4: 20, 25, 34) Inasmuch as Solomon prefigured the promised Ruler, Jehovah’s Theocratic King who will undo all of Satan’s work, that joyous period of the twelve tribes of Israel under King Solomon prefigured the blessed condition of the faithful and obedient people of earth under Jehovah’s heavenly King, and all as a result of world regeneration.

27 Through whom, then, must the King of peace come, and what would bis symbolic title be?

28 How did God thereafter deal with the twelve tribes of Israel to give foregleams of deliverance, sin-atonement, and kingdom?

29 What course of David toward God's worship led to a kingdom covenant, and what did David's successor early proceed to do?

30 What was the condition of the twelve tribes while Solomon was a faithful king? and what did that period prefigure?

KINGDOM DEGENERATION

31 After King Solomon had made a true typical picture of the New World’s King, Satan the Devil attacked the nation with religion. Even Solomon the ruler fell victim thereto. He turned from the worship of Jehovah God to the worship of false gods, demons. From then on the kingdom in his royal house began to decline, and the nation was divided. Only two tribes and the priesthood remained loyal to Solomon’s house. The independence of the nation and its capital city Jerusalem was continually threatened from the nations of Satan’s organization. The corruption of the royal family became such that the Lord God fixed the time for the overthrow of the unfaithful kingdom of Solomon’s house, and that time was 606 B.C. To the last successor of Solomon Jehovah directed these words of doom and of hope: “Thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God, Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”—Ezek. 21:25-27.

32 At the overthrow of the house of Solomon and the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple the times of complete Gentile domination of all the earth set in, and Satan the Devil in the largest sense became the “god of this world”. But those times were certainly not to keep on forever; because God’s very words said that there was yet to come one who would have right to rule and to whom God would give the crown, the diadem and the throne. The question arises, Could such coming one be corrupted like the other royal descendants of David? If he could be, he would fail to establish his permanent right to the everlasting kingdom. To test his worthiness, and to demonstrate and prove it before all the Devil’s organization, the Lord God must subject him to the temptations and assaults of this world. Therefore God sent his beloved Son into the world, causing him to be born of a faithful descendant of King David, the Jewish maiden Mary, of the tribe of Judah.—Luke 1: 26-35.

31 Why and how did the kingdom in Solomon's house decline? and what message of doom as well as of hope did God finally send the king?

32 What question did that message raise? and, to have it answered, what step did God take respecting the one promised?

33 The typical kingdom of Israel was still in an overturned state when the Son of God, Christ Jesus, reached the age of manhood and consecrated his life to his Father, Jehovah God, and was baptized in Jordan river. Then God anointed Jesus with His spirit of power and thereby gave this beloved Son from heaven the right to the everlasting kingdom over all humankind. Satan the Devil tried to corrupt this future King, just as he had corrupted many kings of Israel. In a lone battle away from the spectatorship of men Jesus fought off the temptations of the Devil. The tempter boasted of his ownership of all the political governments of this world and offered to give them to Jesus as the price of Jesus’ worship of Satan. Jesus spurned the base offer and said: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:1-13) Jesus knew he had the right to the kingdom of the New World from his Father and God, Jehovah; and he refused to let it go at any price. He was still holding that immovable position when he said to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, just before dying on the tree: “My kingdom is not of this world [kosmos]; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my seiwants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.”—John 18:36.

34 Coming forth victorious from the fiery ordeal, Jesus left the wilderness of temptation and went up and down the land of Palestine, preaching: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Israelites who believed God’s Word and hoped for the restitution or restoration of the typical Theocratic kingdom hoped that this was he who would deliver the nation of Israel, that he would restore the independent kingdom and then bring blessings to all other nations that should turn to Jehovah God. Such believers became his disciples, leaving all behind to follow him. To such ones he promised that, in the regeneration, when he should reign, then they should reign with him.

35 Although the Kingdom right reposed now in the One who had title to it, yet the Government was not established during Jesus’ days in the flesh on earth. After giving a faithful witness to Jehovah’s name and kingdom, he died, but thereby proved to the death his right to and worthiness of the “kingdom of heaven”. Because such right persisted after his faithful death, he was raised by Almighty God from the dead. Just before he left the earth to ascend up where he was before, his disciples asked their risen Lord and Master: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel!” He indicated to them No; and after the day of Pentecost and the outpouring of God’s spirit upon them they began to understand that Christ Jesus must sit at the right hand of God until the end of this world under Satan. At the end of the Gentile times of power then he must begin ruling in the midst of his enemies, because at that time he would come into the Kingdom. As it was written aforetime: “Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110:1,2, Am. Stan. Ver.; Heb. 10:12,13) Such coming into his kingdom would be his second coming. Then first would he exercise his right.

33. When and how did Satan try to corrupt Jesus as King? and what did Jesus' words regarding, the Kingdom show to Pontius Pilate?

34. After temptation, what message did Jesus proclaim, what did faithful Jews then do, and what did Jesus promise them?

35. Why was the Kingdom not established during Jesus' days in the flesh, nor immediately after bis death and resurrection?

36 Pointing forward to the time of restoring Theocratic Government as foretold by all God’s holy prophets, the apostle Peter said: “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord [Jehovah God]; and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old.” (Acts 3:19-21, Am. Stan. Ver.) There is no room for any doubt whatsoever that the momentous year of A.D. 1914 marked the time of the restoration of the Theocratic Rule which had been typified during the reigns of David and Solomon, and which typical kingdom had passed away. In Jesus’ remarkable prophecies concerning the end of the world he foretold the visible evidences that should mark the restoration of the Kingdom, that is, the establishment of the kingdom of God in Jesus’ hands. (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) These signs began appearing in 1914 and have continued in unbroken succession till now, accentuated by “distress of nations, with perplexity; . . . men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken”.—Luke 21: 24-26.

36 After Pentecost, what did Peter say as to the restoration of Theocratic Government? and how do we know the year that the Kingdom was established?

37 Christ Jesus, “the Son of man,” is primarily the seed of God's “woman”, that is to say, of God’s holy organization which is above. The restoration or establishment of the Kingdom in Christ’s hands was long ago foretold in symbols, as described at Revelation 12:1-5: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.’’

38 The symbolic record then reveals that war in heaven ensued, and that Satan and his demons of the dragon organization were cast out of heaven and down to the earth, where thenceforth they bring great woe upon all humankind under their domination. World-wide conditions today bear witness that they are deluging the earth with such woes; but their time is short, and such woes will soon cease when the demons are destroyed. But in heaven the cry has gone forth: “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev. 12:7-12) With the birth of the kingdom of God’s Son the time of regeneration began, and the most important and primary part of it, namely, the creation of the new heavens for the righteous new world.

39 World regeneration is not yet complete, and will not be until the new earth has been created and all creatures that have constituted the “heavens and the earth which are now” have been destroyed in the battle of Armageddon, toward which all nations of earth are now blindly marching. At the destruction of this present wicked world, and at the creation of the “new earth” under the new heavens, the regeneration will be completed, for then the new world will have come. As it is written respecting the great Creator, Jehovah God, upon his throne of universal domination: “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” —Rev. 21:1-5.

37 How was the establishment of the Kingdom in Christ's hands symbol zed in The Revelation?

38 What then ensued, what cry has gone forth in heaven, and when did world regeneration begin?

39 Is world regeneration now complete, and why? and with what words does Goo on his throne give assurance of it?

40 World regeneration is in progress. That being so, Christ Jesus must now be seated on the throne of his glory and to his devoted followers must be fulfilled in this eventful period his promise: “Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” That means the resurrection to life of Peter and all disciples who faithfully followed Christ Jesus until death and who slept in the grave awaiting his coming into his kingdom and his coming to the temple for judgment of the house of God. The Government is the kingdom “of heaven” and is spiritual, heavenly. Hence their resurrection is spiritual, unseen to the eyes of mortal man. As spirit creatures, clothed with immortality and glorious in the likeness of the King Christ Jesus as he is above, they sit with him upon the throne. (Rev. 3:21) There is a remnant of Christ's spiritual followers yet on earth, who have forsaken all to follow him and preach the Kingdom gospel. These, on faithfully finishing their earthly course with integrity toward God, will die, as did all other members of Christ’s body of followers. However, they will not sleep in the grave, but will be changed in a moment, being raised in Christ’s heavenly likeness, and will sit on the throne and reign with him. For so is God’s promise, at 1 Corinthians 15: 50-57. — Rev. 14:13; 20: 4-6.

41 But who are the “twelve tribes of Israel” whom those enthroned with Christ judge? The faithful and believing ones of humankind who accept the priesthood and kingdom of Christ Jesus. They were foreshadowed by the ancient nation of Israel on the day that the atonement sacrifices were offered up for the sins of the whole nation that they might enjoy relationship with God as his purchased people. The atonement-day sacrifices there pictured the same One who is the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”. — John 1: 29.

42 Israel’s faithful kings acted as judges. To judge means to execute justice and to deliver from sin and oppression and from those who practice such. Hence the twelve tribes of Israel while rejoicing in the peace, plenty and security during the reign of wise King Solomon pictured the obedient ones of humankind who gather to the King greater than Solomon and who are delivered from all oppressors at the battle of Armageddon. As visible representatives of God’s kingdom among such “twelve tribes” after Armageddon, and as God’s appointed “princes in all the earth”, will be the faithful men of old, from Abel to John the baptist. These Jehovah God by his reigning King will resurrect from the dead to perfect life on earth to constitute the visible ruling organization, the symbolic “new earth”, under the Theocratic Government of heaven. The “twelve tribes” of redeemed humankind have their beginning with the “people of good-will” who now accept Jehovah as God and Christ Jesus as his King. Such ones are promised protection by the Higher Powers and will be carried alive through the battle of Armageddon into the regenerated world of righteousness.

40. Since the regeneration is in progress, what fact must also be true and how must the promise to bis disciples be fulfilled?

41 Who are the “twelve tribes of Israel” whom the enthroned ones must judge? and how so?

42 (a) What will Judging them mean, and who will be the visible representatives of the Judges? (b) With whom do such "twelve tribes" have their beginning, and how so?

“EYE HATH NOT SEEN” — WHAT?

GOD has prepared some special blessings for certain ones. “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:9,10) Whoever participates in such blessings must be greatly favored at the hands of Jehovah God. It seems entirely reasonable that the recipients of such favors would have some knowledge thereof at the time of receiving the blessings.

The above quotation from 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10 may be divided into two parts, to wit: (1) things which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man”. The apostle quotes those expressions from the prophecy at Isaiah 64: 4, which reads: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (2) Things which “God hath revealed . . . unto us by his spirit”, which words are the apostle’s comment on Isaiah 64:4.

Generally it has been understood by Christians that “the things which God hath prepared” has reference to those blessings which those who are faithful members of the “body of Christ” will receive at the time that they have their resurrection from the dead and are granted ‘glory, honor and immortality' in heaven. The Scriptures do make it plain that when those having the heavenly calling do partake of the resurrection with Christ they will be rewarded with honor and incorruptibleness and will be like their Lord Christ Jesus and see him as he is. (Rom. 2: 7; 1 John 3:2) However, the above words of the apostle Paul, and the quotation he makes from the prophet Isaiah, do not have any reference to a realization of things of heavenly glory. The purpose of the apostle was not that of showing the difference between the reward of the heavenward-bound ones and the things that the obedient ones of humankind will shortly receive on earth. On the contrary, “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” clearly has reference to something that would be received by faithful Christians while in the flesh.

Paul was addressing his words to followers of Christ, directing his letter “unto the church . . . them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus”. He says: “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Fellowship means partnership; and the apostle’s words therefore mean that those he thus addresses have been called to partnership with Christ Jesus in a certain work to be done in obedience to God’s command. Some members in the congregation at Corinth were putting forth an effort to display their individual learning and wisdom, and division had resulted among the brethren by reason thereof. Some of them claimed to be followers of Paul, some of Apollos, and some of Cephas, or Peter. The apostle Paul told them that although they were his brethren in Christ he could not speak to them about spiritual things for them to understand, because they were babes in Christ according to their conduct. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) He emphasized the fact that the message of salvation is not the result of any man’s wisdom and is not spoken in the wisdom of man. He adds: “But we speak the wisdom of God.” He impressed upon his brethren that human salvation is God’s purpose and that by the death and resurrection of His beloved Son God has provided salvation for believers and that there is no other way to be saved. Furthermore he would have them understand that regardless of how much knowledge one possessed, or how much wisdom apparently one displayed, or how eloquently one spoke, such things avail a man nothing permanently.

In support of his position he said: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”—1 Cor. 2:2-5.

Paul emphasized the fact that he was not speaking the wisdom of men and that the ‘things that God had prepared’ were not for those faithful witnesses of Jehovah God who had preceded Christ. Then Paul quoted Isaiah’s words, but he did not give the setting of the prophet’s words. The expressed purpose of the apostle was to teach his brethren that only those who have the spirit of the Lord God and who love God can understand His purposes and share with Christ Jesus in the work that God had given him to do. God first used Isaiah his prophet to write the words which Paul quoted Under God’s direction Isaiah would give the proper setting to the text, and the prophet did give the setting thereto. When a prophecy is in course of fulfillment and those who are spiritually minded can plainly see the physical facts that exactly fit the words of the prophecy, then such may be reasonably certain that they have the proper understanding of the prophecy. There are many scriptures to show that Isaiah, a witness of Jehovah, was used to picture Jehovah’s “servant” class. Christ Jesus is the Head of that class, and it includes the faithful remnant of members of his “body” yet on earth in the flesh. These prove that they love God, by obeying his commandment to be His witnesses

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