The Watchtower, October 15, 1944
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“PRODIGAL SON” TESTIMONY PERIOD
The month of October comes in the 1944 Service Calendar under the above title. All familiar with the parable remember that the prophetic story of the prodigal son was given by Jesus in connection with his nation-wide announcement of the Kingdom of God. Most appropriate is it therefore that, during this October Testimony Period, which is world-wide, when the “prodigal son” class are being aided to return to the heavenly Father, the two new publications to be distributed to this class should be entitled, the book “The Kingdom Is at Hand’’ and the booklet “The Kingdom of God Is Nigh". The two will be offered in combination by all Kingdom announcers on a contribution of 25c. The circumstances surrounding the Testimony Period are thrilling, and all desiring to have part in this treasure of service will joyfully start at the earliest. Many of our newly interested readers are wanting to share in this Kingdom announcement in company with others, and we invite such to send their inquiries on the work promptly to this office.
“WATCHTOWER" STUDIES
Week of November 19: "Organized for Final Work,” 1-18 inclusive, The Watchtower October 15, 1944.
Week of November 26: “Organized for Final Work," 19-39 inclusive, The Watchtower October 15, 1944.
“THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND”
This 384-page book was released by the Society’s president at the recent United Announcers’ Theocratic Assembly and was given a royal reception. “The Kingdom Ie at Hand" brings together all the important scriptures and events bearing upon God’s kingdom and weaves them together into an interesting but most enlightening story of truth. The book is bound in a deep shade of red cloth, and the cover design is stamped in gold, conveying the idea of announcing the joyous fact of the Kingdom as at hand. The colored pictures which illustrate the theme are of fine artistic value; and the text matter is supplemented by both a subject index and a scripture text index. As long as the special Publishers’ edition lasts we will mail it to contributors postpaid on a contribution of but 25c. Release of “The Kingdom Ie at Hand" in general edition for public distribution is announced elsewhere.
“THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND” QUESTION BOOKLET
This 64-page booklet serves as an invaluable companion to the new book “The Kingdom Is at Hand". All serious readers of this important book will realize the need of studying it carefully, both privately and in class. The Study Questions booklet was specially prepared to meet the need of questions to focus thought and dis cussion upon the gist of each paragraph. In addition to the questions covering every paragraph of the book, the Study Question
(Continued on page 320)
Vol. LXV
October 15, 1944
No. 20
ORGANIZED FOR FINAL WORK
"They will indeed turn away from the hearing of the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But be thou sober in all things; suffer bad treatment [as a good soldier of Christ Jesus]; perform an evangelist’s work; fully accomplish thy service."–2 Tim. 4:4, 5, The Emphatic Diaglott.
JEHOVAH GOD is approaching the grand climax of his “strange work”, which work precedes the J battle of Armageddon. The not distant future, into which the postwar road of mutilated humanity leads, will witness the end of a work that he will never repeat. Its end will also spell the end of man’s global organization which fails to favor the “strange work” of God. Such disaster upon man’s boasted self-rule of the globe will come by the direct action of Almighty God. In ancient time Mount Perazim and the valley of Gibeon were sites of his strange or spectacular doings. Armageddon, to which all the nations are now gathered, will shortly mark his strangest of acts, of which his former acts at Gibeon were mere typical samples. Of this future history he gives us his own promise: “For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim, he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds [of judgment and doom] be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.” (Isa. 28: 21, 22, Am. Stan. Ver.) First his “strange work”; then his “strange act”!
2 Because the “strange act” bespeaks destruction at Armageddon to man’s global or earthly organization, the “strange work” that precedes it is so crucially important to the present generation of men. Except for the faithful doing of that “strange work” no creatures on earth would outlive the “strange act” of the wrath of God against the wickedness and corruptions of this world. Ever since the warning concerning the near approach of the battle of Armageddon began to be given in our lifetime the religious- minded men of this world have scoffed at such a thing as too strange to occur, particularly to “Christendom”. In the same measure that they have viewed the coming act of Jehovah God as outlandish and foreign to reason, they have looked upon his work preliminary to his act as equally strange. Today it can be said to these scoffers as it was said to like ones long ago: “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”–Acts 13:40, 41.
1. What will the end of Jehovah’s ‘‘strange work” spell? and how was this foreshadowed and foretold?
2. Why is the “strange work” so crucially important? and what ancient warning can be repeated now to those who think it strange?
3 Those to whom these words of warning were directed were the religious leaders among those who claimed to be God’s chosen nation. Nowadays the self-confident religious leaders of “Christendom” claim to know God’s work when they see it. Yet they view His work now going on as something foreign and alien to God and too strange to accept. For this reason they do not acknowledge it as His work; they condemn and oppose it, and try to set all people within their sphere of influence against it. To these religious clergymen who claim to be the link between God and their religious flocks, why should His work seem “strange”? Was not the work foretold? and is it not plainly described in the Holy Scriptures where these learned clergymen can read it? Did not Christ Jesus make it unmistakably clear that this work would immediately precede the divine act that brings the calamitous end to this world at Armageddon? Yes; for he prophesied: “And this gospel [evangel] of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.”–Matt. 24: 14, Am. Stan. Ver., margin.
4 In the order of events as foretold by Jesus to mark the time of his coming into his kingdom, the preaching of “this gospel of the kingdom” was due to be done after the first world war of human experience. (Matt. 24:7,8) The gospel or good news is of the Kingdom no more as being on the way but as being here and as having begun. This is because in 1914, the year of outbreak of World War I, Jehovah God by his Christ took to himself his great power and began reigning, to make an end of this terrible situation at this earth. The proof of 1914 as marking that important event has been set forth in earlier issues of this magazine and in other WATCHTOWER publications and circulated world-wide. But such proof the religious element declines to believe, and for selfish causes. What wonder that the preaching of the glad tidings of the Kingdom’s coming they should regard as freakishly “strange”! And that men and women should consecrate their lives to Jehovah God through Christ and should then devote themselves to preaching such gospel at risk of world hostility, persecution, sufferings, and death itself, this has struck the religious clergy as “strange”. They themselves are unwilling to risk such things to preach present truths. To add to the afflictions of such gospel preachers, the Catholic and Protestant clergy have joined with the political governments, in fact, have stirred up such political governments, unto misconstruing, condemning, forbidding and suppressing the Kingdom proclamation and unto hating, hounding, arresting, bringing to trial, imprisoning and also killing the consecrated ones engaged in the proclamation. This was all as Jesus foretold. It marks the religious world as doomed and as near its end. – Matt. 24: 9-13.
3. What attitude do the religious leaders take toward the “strange work”? and why is there no excuse for it to appear strange to them?
4. (a) What is “this gospel of the kingdom”, and why do the religions element regard it as strange to preach it? (b) In this connection, what action of theirs marks the religious world as doomed and near its end?
5 The work of gospel-preaching continues to go on in spite of all such afflictions, because the faithful ones are determined to endure to the end of the work and to the end of this world. They have nothing to do with religion and refuse to take any part in this world’s affairs and its popular schemes for world recovery, peace and security. Instead, they apply themselves wholly to proclaiming and advocating God’s kingdom as man’s only hope and salvation. These facts add to the strangeness of the work in worldly eyes. When the world situation is so pressing, this “strange work” of testifying to the Kingdom seems to be foolishness in the extreme. This is not the first time that the preaching of the pure message of God has been classed as senseless folly and stupidity by so-called realists and practical men of the world. As long ago as the first century of this era the apostle Paul stated these facts of his own experience, namely: “The preaching of [Christ’s tree] is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”–1 Cor. 1:18, 21.
5 What further facts add to the strangeness of the work? and why does it seem to be foolishness In the extreme?
6 The fact of the Kingdom’s coming in 1914 is all the more reason for us to disdain the world’s cry of “Foolishness!” and to increase the preaching as never before. During World War I the nations used base and un-Christlike tactics to try to silence for ever this preaching; but in vain! The seeming success then of such gospel enemies met with a sharp reverse in 1919, when, by God’s grace, the work was revived among Jehovah’s witnesses. Why so? Because their preaching of the Kingdom gospel is the “strange work” of Jehovah. It is done at His command, in fulfillment of prophecy; and he caused it to be foretold by his Christ. It was therefore bound to be done, and nobody could or has been able to stop it. The only uncertain part was, By whom on earth was the work to be done? The realities which, by the power of God, appear in answer to this question have contributed to the strange nature of the work.
7 Every honest person must admit that the preaching of Jehovah’s Theocratic rule or kingdom by his Christ is not being done by the hundreds of thousands of religious clergymen of “Christendom”. Persons not intimately acquainted with the Bible would expect that such clergy would be the chief ones to preach such a glorious message, pointing all men to the Kingdom as Jehovah’s means for vindicating his name, destroying all doers of wickedness in heaven and earth, and bringing life and peace eternal to “men of good-will”. The clergy claim to be ordained of God and to be representatives of God’s kingdom. They insist they are the only ones educated enough and officially authorized to interpret the Bible to the people. Look at the world-wide systems- of religion they have built up, rich and mighty organizations for propagating and carrying forward the teachings and practices of their sects and cults. Upon the membership rolls of these denominational organizations they have hundreds of millions of persons written. Due to these very facts the clergy cannot escape their responsibility to be preachers of “this gospel of the kingdom” at the time of the Kingdom’s establishment. But the known conduct of such religionists from and after the decisive date of 1914 testifies against them as to their disgraceful failure to shoulder and discharge their responsibility.
8 Such failure on the part of the religious clergy has not caused the prophecy to fail, that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations”. God simply gets it done by others than the clergy of “Christendom”, although these, in Haman fashion, think it strange that He does not need or use them in this most important work but gets along without them and in spite of them. In fact, God’s slighting of them infuriates them against those true Christians whom Jehovah God favors with the high privilege of a part in his "strange work”, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions of good-will.
6. Why should we increase the preaching as never before? and how and why did the religionists meet with a sharp reverse in 1919?
7. As to the doing of the preaching, what must all honest persons admit? but due to what fact was it reasonable to expect it to be contrariwise?
8. What effect has this had upon the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning gospel-preaching? but how has God’s action in this regard affected the clergy?
THE FINAL TIME FOR GOOD NEWS
9 As this calendar year 1944 nears its close, those who are commissioned by Jehovah God and entrusted by him with the service of preaching this Kingdom evangel to all the habitable earth stand on the brink of a grand opportunity. It brings with it a great responsibility; and therefore let them not fail of the opportunity. It is a grave responsibility, but not the less a great privilege, to be living at this stage in the development of God’s “strange work”. The most colossal war of all man’s history leaves in its wake many millions bereaved, homeless, crippled, diseased and undernourished, and poverty-stricken. It leaves such in need of true comfort and guidance. Everywhere are multitudes whose sorrows, bereavements, and disillusionment may turn them to bitterness against God their only Savior by Christ Jesus, unless they are reached with the gospel. Great masses are exposed to the deceits of religion and to the crafty operations of the religionists, who are the principal ones on earth responsible for this global war and who now skillfully seek to cover their tracks and to ingratiate themselves upon the suffering peoples as their best friends.
10 Hence it is no exaggeration to say that never was the need greater for humankind to hear the gospel preached directing all obedient hearers into the way of salvation. The failure of the first League of Nations is now a thing of past history. The framing of a new association of nations with religion as an integral part is under way. It has back of it the most mighty means for enforcing it upon the people. It has back of it the mightiest propaganda agencies, including the religious clergy, for persuading the masses to put their trust in it and support it. Not only is the world’s most ambitious attempt at human government just before us, but also Satan as “the god of this world” is about to deceive all mankind by his greatest scheme for blinding them to God’s kingdom and putting the misinformed ones in direct opposition to it. Satan the Devil knows that the battle of Armageddon is unavoidably ahead of his world. So his purpose is that when it is destroyed by Jehovah’s “strange act”, then as many as possible, if not all, of earth’s population shall be destroyed with it and him. That would leave God’s kingdom to take over few subjects, if any at all, alive into the righteous New World. It is the last time of Satan’s world organization. And since “this gospel of the kingdom” must be preached until the end of that organization, it is evident that the gospel preaching yet to be done, and which sets in with the postwar era, is the final work of witness, the final part of Jehovah’s “strange work”. After it, comes his “strange act” at Armageddon.
9 Why do the commissioned gospel-preachers stand on the brink of a grand opportunity? and why should they not fail of it?
10 (a) Why is the greatest deception ahead of mankind, and what is Satan’s deadly purpose? (b) Why is the witnessing yet ahead the final work?
11 Through his apostle God gives command to His organization. The pressing circumstances of these times, therefore, add force to it as being due to be obeyed now with the liveliest zeal and earnestness, namely: “I adjure thee before that God and Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and by his kingdom, proclaim the word, be urgent seasonably, unseasonably, confute, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For there will be a time when they will not endure wholesome instruction, but will accumulate teachers for themselves, according to their own inordinate desires, tickling their ear, and they will indeed turn away from the hearing of the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But be thou sober in all things; suffer bad treatment; perform an evangelist’s work; fully accomplish thy service.” (2 Tim. 4:1-5, The Emphatic Diaglott) This admonition of Paul to Timothy was given in order to counteract the turning away of many from hearing the truth. Paul’s very next words show he was expecting shortly to die off the earthly scene of action. Hence the Lord God was using Paul to train and instruct Timothy to act as assistant to the visible governing body under Christ and to serve thus among God’s consecrated people after Paul’s death.
12 Now, at the opening of a new postwar epoch, we are about to be spectators of the greatest mass movement away from hearing the truth and to turning their ears unto fables. The last stand of Satan the Devil and his demons is about to take place, and he now pulls off the biggest fraud in the history of his world organization. It will be the biggest, because it is put over upon the people in the very presence of God’s established kingdom and when the message is going forth in powerful tones, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This message is the truth; but the ears of selfish men itch for something else. In order to further blind and deceive them, Satan must invent and devise the super-scheme, the masterscheme, of all his iniquitous career and fairly hypnotize the people with it. Now practically attaining to the summit of his ambition for totalitarian domination of all this globe, Satan the Devil raises up fear and suspicion and drives the nations to unite in a scheme for a joint holding down of the earth and its people. He starts the fable a-roiling, and uses all possible channels of propaganda and publicity to make it popular, that the after-war association of nations is man's last and only hope for a peaceful earth with security, prosperity and justice to all races, nations, minorities, and languages. A blasphemous fable this is. Against it God's Word sets forth Jehovah’s kingdom by his Son Jesus Christ as the only successful and permanent means for the bringing in of a new world of righteousness, peace, safety, health, prosperity and life forever for faithful men on the earth.
11. (a) Through the apostle Paul what command did God give to Timothy, and what force do present circumstances give it? (b) Why did Paul give this admonition to Timothy back there?
12. In accord with Paul’s warning, what great mass movement are we about to witness, and why?
THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE WORK
13 In the teeth of the world-wide propaganda of Satan and his demons for support of a man-made organization for global rule, the words of our Commander Christ Jesus must be and will be fulfilled: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” Your decision must be made now on the question, Who will defy the world and its global organization and obediently advocate for Jehovah’s kingdom by Christ and everywhere preach the good news about it? Do not look to the religious clergy for aid in making your decision on this issue. Already their proposals and declarations show that they have decided for political government of this earth by the same old crowd, namely, imperfect, sinful, selfish men of this world. Never is it to be expected that the religious clergy, big and little, will turn down the scheme of international politicians and reject Caesar as their king or put the Most High God Jehovah above the world state. Not only is consistency with their religious course of action till now against such a thing, but Bible prophecy shows they will religiously hop on the back of the postwar creature and try to ride it with the prod of “more religion”. To deceive themselves and their religious flocks and all the rest of mankind, they will argue that the worldly setup is the “higher powers” and is God’s will toward mankind expressed in a political way, and hence all men must submit to it and support it, lest it fail. All the religious clergy will be good friends of the world state and will give it their blessing and religious advice for its success.–Rev. 17:1-15; 13:14-16; Jas. 4: 4.
14 There is one class of persons on earth whose decision is to “perform an evangelist’s work” on through the postwar epoch and clear through to its end, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses. Their record testifies to their having preached the Kingdom evangel without letup from 1918 onward till now. On the fourth day of their United Announcers’ Theocratic Assembly last August in 60 cities throughout the earth (Australian assemblies in September), and with a total attendance of more than 90,000 at the time, they adopted a Resolution having these words as its closing resolve: “That we, as those who are fully consecrated to God to do His will in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, recognize our obligation as ministers of the Kingdom gospel; and that, therefore, down to the final end of Satan’s organization and its postwar creation for dominating humankind, we will keep integrity by continuing to advocate the kingdom of God and never slacking in preaching to all nations that ‘The kingdom is at hand’.” Immediately after the enthusiastic adoption of this Resolution, there was released as an instrument for use in the postwar era the new book "The Kingdom Is at Hand".
13. What question it now up for decision, and what do the religious clergy's course of action and the Bible prophecies show their decision to be?
14. Who, however, are decided to "perform an evangelist’s work ? and what facts attest that they will do so to the end of the postwar period?
15 The Holy Scriptures give good promise that, as certainly as Almighty God and his King Christ Jesus have helped Jehovah’s witnesses to endure Nazi- Fascist-religious persecution and to keep aloft the banner of the Kingdom gospel until this present time, they will continue to sustain them through the postwar years in preaching “this gospel of the kingdom” till the end comes upon Satan’s world organization. What though the vast majority of the common people of all the nations fall for the Devil's cunning deceit and turn away their ears from favorably hearing the truth, Jehovah’s witnesses must persist in preaching without discouragement. They will thus perfect their obedience to God and keep their integrity toward Him. Never will they take up the world’s propaganda and preach its fables. They will not seek to please men with ears itching to hear things that satisfy man’s selfish vanity and self- righteous sentiments. They are committed to obeying God rather than obeying men in conflict with Him, and will ‘stand fast in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free’.–Gal. 5:1, Diaglott.
16 According to all indications of Bible prophecy, a tremendous earth-wide work confronts these consecrated people of Jehovah God, and that in the face of the greatest difficulties and antagonism. The possibilities for evangelism that loom up before them, especially as such possibilities pertain to the scattered multitudes of persons of good-will in danger of sudden destruction at Armageddon unless reached, present a challenge to Jehovah’s covenant people. These are a “small people” as to numbers. Are they fully equipped unto the great task? Are they properly and adequately organized for the vast final work with all its heavy demands? Among them there are found no pompous titles of “bishop”, “archbishop,” “deacon,” “cardinal deacon,” “presbyter,” “elder,” “priest,” and “father”, such as embellish the religious institutions. They are organized in a manner utterly different from that of the religious systems. But are they organized according to the Scriptures and hence according to God’s expressed will? That is the question for determination.
15. (a) How do we know they will be enabled to do so? (b) In spite of the majority’s turning away their ears from hearing the truth what must they do?
16 (a) In the light of Bible prophecy, what possibilities present a challenge to Jehovah’s covenant people now? (b) Hence, what pertinent questions arise for determination as to His people?
THEOCRATIC STRUCTURE
17 For any organization on earth to be approved of the Most High God and to be usable for him to do his work of preaching “this gospel of the kingdom” that organization must be Theocratic. That is to say, it must be built according to the Bible truth that Jehovah God is the Supreme Ruler and that, under Him, Christ Jesus is his appointed Head of the congregation of His people; and, further, that His organization must operate according to the Supreme One and not according to the democratic will of the people. The people are not the sovereign rulers, and their officers are not the mere servants of the people, to receive their appointments from such people. In the visible part of the Theocratic organization on earth all its members are the servants of the Most High God, to do His will as they have covenanted to do. Any brethren among them who have appointments and responsibilities to render special work are not the people’s servants subject to their dictates, but are the servants of the Lord God The Theocrat. They are responsible to him and either stand or fall to him. Thus his consecrated people are a great servant-body, engaged in serving God and his Christ.
18 Jehovah’s witnesses are therefore members of his Theocratic organization, but they are not The Theocracy and are not trying to set up a Theocracy. The Theocracy is Jehovah’s kingdom by Christ Jesus; and they are simply announcers of it as its visible representatives and ambassadors. (2 Cor. 5:20) They yet have to “make their calling and election sure in order that an entrance may be ministered to them after death into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’. (2 Pet. 1:10, 11) Speaking to them as his servant-body, the Most High God said prophetically: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; ... I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (Isa. 43:10-12,15, Am. Stan. Ver.) Christ Jesus is no exception to the Theocratic rule that Jehovah is supreme and runs his organization absolutely according to his will. Christ Jesus is Jehovah’s Chief Servant and is the Head Servant of Jehovah’s company of witnesses on earth. Therefore the apostle Matthew applies to Christ Jesus the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4, and says that in Jesus Jehovah’s words were fulfilled, namely: “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. . . . And in his name shall the [nations] trust.”–Matt. 12:15-21.
17. Why mint the organisation be "Theocratic”, and what does that mean respecting the organisation?
18. (a) Why are Jehovah's witnesses not The Theocracy or builders of It? (b) What does Jehovah designate his witnesses to be, and how do we know Christ Jesus is no exception to this Theocratic rule?
19 At this end of the world, when Christ Jesus comes to the temple for judgment of his followers, there would be the final remnant of his church or body-members upon the earth. These faithful ones he would constitute into a servant-body under himself as Head. This very action concerning the remnant Christ Jesus foretold, saying: “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) For the foregoing reasons the term servant is consistently used among the ranks of the remnant of consecrated, spirit-begotten and anointed witnesses of Jehovah. The term designates them as servants of God, and not of men. It is written to them: "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”–1 Cor. 7: 23.
20 But are not bishops, deacons, and elders a rightful part of God’s visible organization? Are they not mentioned in our English Bibles, and are not instructions given concerning their appointment? Those asking such questions will cite to us 1 Timothy 3:1-13, reading: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, . . . Likewise must the deacons be grave, . . . For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree.” Also Titus 1: 5-9: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, . . . For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; . . . holding fast the faithful word ..." Roman Catholics with copies of the approved Douay Version Bible will point to Acts 20: 28, reading: “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
19 (a) What did Jesus foretell be would constitute the final remnant of his body-members to be? (b) What term is therefore need among their ranks, and in what special sense?
20. What questions arise concerning bishops, elders and deacons? and what scriptures are cited in connection therewith?
21 In studying this question, remember that both the King James Version and the Douay Version quoted above were translated from Hebrew and Greek texts by religious men who were members of organizations having so-called “bishops”, “deacons,” “presbyters” or “elders”, who occupied so-called “bishoprics”, “diaconates” or “deaconships”, and “elderships”. Naturally such translators inserted such words into the English translation of the Bible in order to give seeming support to their ecclesiastical system of offices. Thereby they have made titles to be put as honors upon religious clergymen, to cause others to exercise fear of men toward such titlebearers. This has led the religious flocks into a snare and brought them into bondage to clergymen who selfishly oppress and exploit the flocks. “The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.” (Prov. 29:25, Am. Stan. Ver.) Said the young man Elihu, whom God used as His prophet: “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” (Job 32:21,22) It is not surprising, therefore, that the betitled religious clergy speak with offense against this Elihu.
OVERSEERS. SUPERINTENDENTS
22 The word which the apostles Paul and Peter used and which the English translators, Catholic and Protestant, rendered “bishop” is episkopos (έπίσκοπος). And episkope (έπισκοπή) they rendered “bishopric” or “office of a bishop”. Both words were in use centuries before Paul and Peter, and are used in the first Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures known as “the Septuagint”. This translation Paul and Peter used in their Bible studies. For example, the Septuagint uses the words episkopos and episkope at Numbers 4:16, reading: “Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is overseer–the oil for the light, and the incense of composition, and the daily meat-offering, and the anointing oil, are his charge; even the oversight of the whole tabernacle,” etc. The Septuagint uses the word episkopos for captain at Numbers 31:14, reading: “And Moses was angry with the captains of the host, the heads of thousands, and the heads of hundreds, who came from the battle-array.” In Psalm 109:8, which Peter quoted at Acts 1: 20, the Septuagint uses episkope for “office of overseer". Psalm 109: 8 (LXX) reads: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office of overseer.” Acts 1: 20 reads: “For it is written in the book of Psalms,. . . and his bishopric [episkope] let another take.” Also the Septuagint uses episkopos for overseer at Isaiah 60:17, where Jehovah speaks of his Theocratic organization, saying: “For brass I will bring thee gold, and ... I will make thy princes peaceable, and thine overseers righteous.”–LXX.
21. (a) In studying this question, what must we remember concerning our English Bibles, and to what result has this led? (b) How has God's word warned against this?
22 What are the Greek words which the English translators rendered “bishop” and “bishopric"? and where and how were these words in use long before the apostles' day?
23 The words episkopos and episkope were not intended to be honorary titles. They were used to designate a service within God’s organization, which, of course, it was a privilege as well as a responsibility to render. The original word episkopos simply had the meaning of overseer. Correspondingly, episkope had the meaning of oversight or duty of overseer. As an overseer has to visit and inspect, episkope is also rendered as visitation. Mark Jesus’ use of the word, at Luke 19:44, regarding God’s inspection of the nation of Israel by Christ Jesus: “Thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Mark Peter’s use of the word at 1 Peter 2:12, saying to Christians: “Whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” The root of this Greek word is the Greek verb episkopein; and you will see that its basic idea is that of oversight as of a shepherd over his sheep, by noting Peter’s use of the verb, saying: “Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” (1 Pet. 5: 2) And the Douay Version reads: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it,” etc. The King James Version translation gives the right meaning of episkopos at Acts 20: 28, where Paul says to the elder brethren of the church at Ephesus: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the holy [spirit] hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God.”
24 The emphatic translation by Rotherham does not favor any manufacturing of titles such as “bishop”. It renders 1 Timothy 3: 1, 2 in the following plain, understandable way: "If anyone for oversight [episkope] is eager, a noble work doth he covet:–It is needful then for the overseer [episkopos] to be irreproachable,” etc.
25 Because selfish men have gone over to religion and have sought to create titles and powerful offices with authority over others, they have lost sight of the simple meaning of the original Bible words and the way they are to be applied. In the great religious systems of the day the so-called “bishops” are looked upon as successors to the apostles of Jesus Christ and each bishop has charge of a large area or population in which there are a number of religious congregations under lesser or lower clergymen than the bishop. Only one bishop is assigned to each such area or “diocese”, and in such area only one clergyman holds the office of the bishopric. Going still farther in their quest for high and influential offices, the religionists invented the office of archbishop, who is alone in office in his so-called “arch-diocese”, and who holds direct control over a number of mere bishops and their mere dioceses. After this fashion they have built up a pyramid of religious offices, which reaches its peak in the so-styled papa or pope, who is declared to be the “bishop of Rome”.
23. (a) What are the simple meanings of those Greek words, and also of the root from which they are drawn? (b) What are some Scriptural examples of such meanings?
24. What does the Rotherham translation show by its rendering of 1 Timothy 3:1, 2?
25. Through what selfish desire and practice hare the great religious systems lost sight of the simple meanings of such Bible words, and with what result?
26 Such religious practices are far from the meaning and usage of episkopos (or overseer) and his episkope (or oversight), in the Theocratic Christian church in the days of Christ’s apostles. In those days of correct organization, instead of applying the term episkopos to one “bishop” over a number of congregations scattered over such bishop’s territory, God’s Word proves there were a number of overseers (episkopos) in each congregation. For example, the apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Philippi in Greece, opens up his epistle, saying: “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” The Emphatic Diaglott reads: “With the overseers and assistants." Rotherham’s emphasized translation reads: “With overseers and ministers.” The Goodspeed translation reads: “With the superintendents and assistants.” –Phil. 1:1.
27 In giving the plain meaning of the term episkopos these translations do away with the imposing, awe-inspiring title of “bishop” and bring common sense and understandableness into the English rendition of the Bible. Moreover, the apostle Paul’s words above show there were several such overseers or superintendents (mistranslated “bishops”) in the local company or church at Philippi. This very fact explodes the conceited claim that the religious bishops are the successors of the apostles and that therefore the religious systems showing off such “bishops” are apostolical and hence are part of “the true church” or make up “the only church”. Religion by its “bishops” has perverted the meaning of episkopos.
28 The same fact, that a number of overseers mistranslated “bishops”) were present and active in each congregation of any size, appears also at Ephesus, capital of the Roman province of Asia. On Paul’s final journey up to Jerusalem his ship put in at the harbor of Miletus. Paul went ashore and sent word to the older brethren at Ephesus to come down and see him. In final warning to these servants of the church at Ephesus he said to them: “Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock among whom the holy spirit made you overseers [mistranslated “bishops”], to feed the church of God, which he acquired by the blood of his own.” (Acts 20:16-28, Diaglott) Paul recognized no one of such overseers as the bishop of Ephesus and as alone in the office of bishop over Ephesus and other cities or congregations of a diocese. No; but all those several servants of the one congregation of Ephesus Paul recognized as the overseers (episkopos) of that company. He said they were put into this service, not by democratic voting of the congregation, but by the operation of God’s holy spirit or active force. Such holy spirit is always Theocratic in its operation, because always it fulfills or works out the will of the great Theocrat, Jehovah God.
26 Why is such practice respecting bishops far from the intent of the Greek words, as shown at Philippians 1:1?
27 (a) What is the effect of such plain English translations? (b) What digious claims do Paul's words above explode?
28 How does thia same fact appear from what was said to the phesian elders by Paul en route to Jerusalem?
“ELDERS”
29 Because the service of the overseers was one of caring for and watching over the spiritual welfare, order and activity of the flock of God, such overseers were properly elders or elder brethren. They were elders, not by a democratic voting or election system of appointment. It is not such an election or appointment that makes an elder, any more than dubbing an infant an “elder” and then assigning him to tasks which only elder persons can perform makes such infant an elder in fact. In the church of God the term elder does not denote an office. Therefore there is no such thing as an “elective elder”. No man attains to being an elder in a congregation by being elected or voted in to be such. He becomes an elder by growing up as a Christian, that is, spiritually. Such spiritual growth does not necessarily require one to reach an advanced age physically, but requires one to make diligent study of God’s Word, which is the spiritual guide. After that he must increase in the knowledge and understanding of it. Then he must apply this to his life and course of action and must also preach and pass along the teachings of God’s Word to others. This, of course, takes time; but some, because of zeal and earnest effort, advance more quickly than others do. Hence they attain spiritually to an elder state faster than others do and so come to spiritual maturity. Not alone by their own endeavors do they thus arrive at being elders, but primarily by the operation of God’s spirit toward them. Also the help of their brethren aids and induces them to Christian growth.
29 (a) Why are such overseers properly elders? (b) How does a Christian become an elder?
30 The Greek word translated “elder” is presby- teros. Literally it means “older one” or “more aged one”. It is the comparative form of the word presby- tes, which word Paul uses concerning himself, when he writes to Philemon, saying: “Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged." (Philem. 9) Here Paul was not applying a title to himself, but was referring to the aged state of his body. There had been a flight of many years since when he, as a young man, stood and witnessed the stoning of Stephen. (Acts 7: 58) Also the apostle John refers to himself as “elder”, but not in the sense of a title, when he writes: “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth”; and, “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” (2 John 1; 3 John 1) These letters of John were written when he was a very aged man, and toward the close of his earthly life. At that time also John was of a very ripe spiritual growth or age. The expression “elder” concerning himself was quite proper.
31 But does not Acts 14:23 prove that being an elder was an office in the church and that the one holding such office was elected or appointed to it! The verse reads concerning Paul and Barnabas: “When they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” With this verse may be studied Paul’s instruction to Titus, namely: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”–Titus 1: 5.
32 These verses cannot Scripturally be taken to mean betitling or denominating men in the congregations as “elders” to hold the office of “eldership”. The term “eldership”, as meaning an office in itself, does not occur in the Scriptures. At Acts 22: 5 Paul addressed a Jewish mob and said: “The high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders.” The expression “estate of the elders” translates just one word in the original Greek, namely, presbyterion, which means company, group or body of elders. (1 Tim. 4:14) Hence modern translators render the word presbyterion otherwise, as follows: “The high priest and the whole council will bear me witness.” (Goodspeed) “To that the High Priest himself and all the Council can testify.” (20th Century New Testament) “The High Priest also and all the Elders can bear me witness.” (Weymouth) The Emphatic Diaglott and Rotherham do use the word eldership, but not as meaning an individual office. What, then, does the Bible mean by the expression “appoint elders”? – Titus 1:5, Diaglott.
30. (a) What ta the Greek word the apostle uses, and what is its meaning? (b) How do Paul and John use the word to show it is not a title?
31. What scriptures are generally quoted to prove that being an elder is an elective office?
32 Is there an “eldership" meaning an Individual elective office? and how is this shown by various translations of Acts 22:5?
33 It means to appoint those who are recognized as being elders spiritually to certain essential services within the congregation. It does not mean creating elders by vote or appointment. It shows that those whose mature fruits of word, doctrine and conduct prove them to be elders or mature ones in a spiritual way are the ones qualified to be clothed upon with responsibilities of service. Hence these elders are the ones whom the apostle says to appoint to places of service in the Christian congregation. The rule was that those who were to be appointed to be overseers (episkopos) over the flock of God were required to be elders, and this appointment must be made with or under the spirit of God. This fact is sharply manifest from the Bible account. For example: The record is that when Paul stopped off at Miletus on the coast of Asia Minor, “from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. And when they [these elders] were come to him, he said unto them, . . . Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the holy spirit hath made you bishops [(marginal reading) overseers], to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.”–Acts 20:17-28, Am. Stan. Ver.
34 The Scriptural or Theocratic requirement that one must be an elder spiritually to be fit for appointment as an overseer is also shown at Titus 1: 5-7, where Paul writes: “For this purpose I left thee behind in Crete, that thou mightest regulate things which are deficient, and mightest appoint elders in each city, as I directed thee; if any one is irreproachable, a husband of one wife, having believing children, not under an accusation of profligacy, or of insubordination. For it is necessary that the overseer [episkopos] be irreproachable, as God’s steward.”–Diaglott.
35 Additionally, the apostle Peter makes clear that it is elders who are appointed to the overseership of the church, God’s heritage. Peter emphasizes this when he writes: “The elders, therefore, who are among you I exhort, who am a co-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Anointed one, and a partaker of that glory which is going to be revealed; tend the flock of God which is with you, overseeing [epis- kopein] not by constraint, but voluntarily; neither for base gain, but readily.” (1 Pet. 5:1, 2, Diaglott; Am. Stan. Ver.) This shows that the appointed overseers in the flock of God’s sheep were elders. They were appointed, not to be elders, but because of being elders. That to which they were appointed was not eldership, but was the work of oversight which only those who are already elders spiritually can safely be entrusted with and discharge.
33. (a) What, then, does the Bible expression “appoint elders” mean and show? (b) What part does the holy spirit play in the matter, as indicated at Acts 20:28?
34. How is this same spiritual requirement shown at Titus 1:5-7?
35. How does Peter make clear that the elders are the ones to be appointed to be overseers?
36 The brethren who are spiritually elder are the ones to whom the things which have to do with the spiritual progress of the church are to be assigned. They have matured in knowledge and understanding and have developed spiritually by being active in God’s service and by holding fast their integrity toward God under trial and temptation. Hence, when the great famine of the days of Emperor Claudius Caesar was foretold to the church at Antioch in Syria, what did the disciples do about it, and what persons did they charge with responsibility in the matter! Note the record: “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief [diakonia; contribution] unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: which also they did, and sent it”–to whom! “To the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:29,30) Both Barnabas and Saul (or Paul) were elders, and were the ones entrusted with the carrying of the contribution. The ones in the churches in Judea to whom they were to deliver the contribution were the elders or elder brethren, that these might oversee the proper distribution of the relief with wisdom and righteousness. The apostle Peter was evidently one of these latter elders.
37 While Peter stated he was an elder, there were other elders in the church at Jerusalem who were not apostles like him. This fact appears in the record of the church at Jerusalem, when the troublesome question arose of whether non-Jewish Christians should be required to be circumcised like the Jews. The record reads:
“When therefore Paul and Barnabas [at Antioch] had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. . . . And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. . . . And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” After thoroughly discussing the matter which was made clear with the help of the spirit of God working toward them, they decided to draft and send out a letter. “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:” etc. (Acts 15:2-23) That Paul and Silas, for their part, faithfully carried out the work entrusted to them as elders, the record shows: “And as they went through the cities, .they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”–Acts 16: 4, 5.
36. (a) To whom should the things baring to do with spiritual progress be assigned, and why? (b) How is this shown in the handling of relief measures against famine in the days of Claudius Caesar?
37. (a) Were there other elders besides the apostles in the church at Jerusalem? (b) How is this disclosed in the record concerning the handling of the question concerning circumcision and Gentiles?
38 It is plain from the above action that the “apostles and elders” at Jerusalem, who were consulted and who under the spirit’s guidance decided and drew up the decrees to be kept by Gentile Christians, served as the governing body to the church or visible Theocratic organization throughout the earth. This did not mean the individuals thereof were infallible, but they looked to God for guidance by his spirit. Aside from the apostles, just what were the names or designations of the various kinds of service those other elders were appointed to render is not recorded. (Acts 21:17,18) But to be well organized for the work as a congregation in the territory under their care, the various elder brethren, whether apostles or not, were assigned to certain service; for there was a variety of things to look after and needing certain ones to be appointed to look after such as their special responsibility. It is, of course, to be understood that the manifestation of the inworking of God’s holy spirit as described at Ephesians 4:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31, 4-11, was also in evidence in that church at Jerusalem. That was the first church or congregation to be established. The governing body of all the later Christian churches in all the earth was located with the church at Jerusalem, as long as that city continued in existence or the apostles stayed there.
39 To be organized for the final work in these latter days there must likewise be a governing body under Christ. But “elective elders” and men with other high-sounding ecclesiastical titles as “bishop”, etc., are out of the question. Those in the religious organizations who bear such titles act as hindrances and opposers to the final work being done by Jehovah’s Theocratic organization. For further discussion of this subject for the sake of what light it throws upon the right organization of God’s consecrated people for work in these final days requiring decisive action, we must refer our readers to the next succeeding issue.
38. (a) As what did those apostles and elders together serve? (b) Why were all those elders assigned to various special services aside from those mentioned at Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12?
39. (a) What must there Likewise be today? (b) Why are "elective elders" and betitled men out of the question?
BACKGROUND OF WITCHCRAFT
THE practice of witchcraft has been carried on for ages, and is practiced to this very day. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries a great wave of it swept over Europe and America. Many persons were tormented by the witches, these witches acting for and representing unseen intelligent powers of wickedness. In England and Scotland particularly there were many hideous scenes of witches being tortured and exterminated. In the British colonies in America strenuous laws were enacted against the practice of witchcraft. Every American familiar with history knows of the Salem (Mass.) witchcraft. The witches, under the influence of spiritistic forces, claimed they were able to ride through thin air on broomsticks, on pokers or on animals, which, of course, is a physical impossibility. Deluded persons, yielding themselves to the hidden influences and forces, did, no doubt, convince themselves that they could do such freakish things, to terrorize others.
Witches are human creatures that have yielded themselves as instruments for man’s unseen enemies, Satan the Devil and his unholy angels; and they permit themselves to be employed as mediums for communication between wicked spirits and men on the earth. Witchcraft is of the Devil and is the fruit of his rebellion against Jehovah God. Satan the rebel invented witchcraft, and he and his wicked spiritual allies employ and foster witchcraft to deceive human creatures. The background of witchcraft is found in the new conditions that followed as a result of the great flood that swept our entire planet in the days of Noah. Let us peer into them.
At most 120 years before the flood God’s judgment of human conditions was as expressed in this record: “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, . . . And the Lord said, I will destroy man . . . The end of all flesh is come.” “Both man, and beast, . . . behold, I will destroy them.” (Gen. 6:5 7, 13) Till then all flesh creatures, except Abel, Enoch and Noah, had brought reproach upon Jehovah’s name. Sons of God disobediently came down from heaven and materialized in flesh, and their offspring as a result of marriage union with the daughters of men were a hybrid abomination to God and grossly wicked. They were called “mighty men” and “men of renown”, and were mighty or powerful beyond other human creatures, but not before Almighty God, to whom they were abominable. (Gen. 6:1-4, Am. Stan. Ver., margin) His judgment was against them, and when the flood came they were destroyed. There would be no reason why they should be kept alive; because it is written: “The wicked shall perish.” (Ps. 37:20) The mighty flood of waters came; “and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”–Gen. 7: 23.
As for the fathers of those “men of renown”, they, of course, lost their wives in the flood. They, as angelic “sons of God”, were originally a part of God’s organization, and it was their duty to be faithful to God and serve him continuously. They permitted themselves to be led, evidently through the wiles or influence of the Devil and his wicked associates, into a course entirely out of harmony with God. They were therefore no longer shielded and did not have his protection, but became subject to what the Devil might do to them. Compare this with Hosea 11:8; Jeremiah 12:7; Isaiah 47:6.
What, if anything, did the Devil do with those “sons of God”! He imprisoned them. Where! Satan and his bullies, “the Nephilim” (translated “giants” at Genesis 6:4), imprisoned them in the place symbolized by “Magog”. (Ezek. 38:2; 39:6) Later Jesus preached to those imprisoned spirits concerning God’s purpose; “by which also he [Jesus] went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long- suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”–1 Pet. 3:19, 20.
Those imprisoned “spirits”, however, are not the ones responsible for witchcraft; but for the explanation we must consider the wicked demon associates of Satan the Devil, which include the Nephilim, the willfully wicked angels that appeared on earth prior to the flood and bullied humankind and filled the earth with violence. What became of these Nephilim or “giants”? Those wicked angels had joined Satan shortly after his rebellion in Eden, and sometime prior to the flood they materialized as giants among men. They were not included in God’s judgment concerning those who should be destroyed in the flood; for the reason that they, together with Satan, had previously been sentenced to death, but their execution was deferred to a later date, namely, at the battle of Armageddon. The judgment of complete destruction was long ago entered against Satan and those other willfully wicked creatures. (Gen. 3:15) When that judgment is executed against Satan, then, as Ezekiel 28:19 says, “never shalt thou be any more ” Those demons with him are spirit creatures that willingly joined him in the rebellion, and are likewise maliciously wicked, and are held under divine surveillance for everlasting destruction, together with Satan. Their destruction is pictured as in “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”.–Matt. 25:41.
Furthermore, at 2 Peter 2:4, it is written concerning those willfully wicked angels: “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment ” According to The Emphatic Diaglott this verse reads: “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but having confined them in Tartarus with chains of thick darkness, delivered them over into custody for judgment.” The Scripture record shows that those angels were sentenced to death long before the flood. In the above text the word hell is translated from the Greek tartarus, and means or signifies a position or condition of great debasement or degradation. It is the same debasement to which the cherub Lucifer was reduced when he rebelled and became the Devil. Those wicked angels were therefore a part of Satan’s original or pre-flood organization when he was Lucifer, the invisible overlord over perfect man in Eden; and when Lucifer rebelled, these angels under him joined in his rebellion.–Ezek. 28:13-15.
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