The Watchtower — August 15, 1950

“The Increase of His Government”

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom.”—Isa. 9:7.

1. What is Jehovah’s purpose, and his right and responsibility?

JEHOVAH God is now crowning his glorious purpose with success. At the very time that mankind came into need because of the invasion of selfishness, error and death, Jehovah made it his purpose to set up a righteous government over the whole earth for mankind’s deliverance. The setting up of such a government is his right. It is, in fact, his responsibility, and he has not failed that responsibility. “For there is no authority except from God.” (Rom. 13:1, Rev. Stan. Ver.) Because it is a government from him and is his means for ruling his creatures on earth it is called a “Theocracy”, for that name means God’s dominion or rule. His government in the heavens is now born and is ready to take over earth’s rule, regardless of the combined opposition of men who fight against God. Earth and the people’s way of existence are soon due for a wonderful transformation. This denotes a new world of God’s creation.

2. Why is Jehovah glad for this time, and who else with him?

² Jehovah’s heart is glad for this time. Yes, the heart of everyone is glad if he is acquainted with Jehovah’s grand purpose and sees where we are in its successful development. Nineteen centuries have now passed since his dear Son Jesus Christ died sacrificially, was raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven, there to sit at his Father’s right hand until the time should come for all his enemies in heaven and in earth to be made his footstool, laid low in defeat. Meantime his enemies were let rule the earth without interruption from heaven, and that period Jesus called the “times of the Gentiles”. (Luke 21:24) Thirty-six years ago, in 1914, the terminus of that long period of time was reached. All the calamities and disturbances that have befallen the Gentiles or nations since 1914, all the woes in concentrated measure that have come upon the groaning peoples, all the fruitless attempts of politics, commerce and organized religion to better or remedy conditions, the worsening of conditions and the rising fears of rulers and peoples, all these are a sign. Of its meaning we need not be in doubt. Jesus Christ explained it for us in his final days on earth. The sign shows that the Gentile times ended in 1914, with World War I as a marker. The beginning of sorrows which came in that year gave painful notification to this old world that it had now entered its “time of the end”. It was the beginning of the end for it. (Matt. 24:7, 8; Dan. 11:40; 12:4) Yes, but it also notified us that the Theocratic government of a new and upright world, the promised kingdom of God by his Son Jesus Christ, had been born in the heavens. Why should not God and Christ be glad? Why should not all lovers of God and of a New World government bringing righteousness, peace and life be glad? We are!

3. Why mainly did his Son come to earth? Fulfilling what prophecy?

³ Over nineteen centuries ago God’s Ruler for this government was born as a human child, as the Messianic “Son of David”. He had come to earth to prove his right to the Government. Now after this long period of waiting for God’s due time, the Theocratic government has been born, and the authority and responsibility for carrying it on has been laid upon the shoulder of the installed King, Jesus Christ. Eight centuries before Christ’s birth Isaiah’s prophecy foretold it and told of his taking up the Government, in these cheering words: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.”—Isa. 9:6, 7, Am. Stan. Ver.

4. What must birth of the Kingdom have? Why? Who are they?

⁴ The birth of the royal Son of God had its witnesses: Not only God’s angels, who rejoiced over it with the words, “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will,” but also hard-working men, the shepherds who heard the angel’s announcement and went to Bethlehem, King David’s city, to verify it. (Luke 2:8-20, Douay) But none of the tradition-bound priests and Levites at the temple in Jerusalem were witnesses, although they showed the evil-designing King Herod the prophecy of where the child was to be born. (Matt. 2:1-16) Important as was the Son’s birth, the birth of God’s kingdom by his Son is of far greater importance. Hence it, too, deserves to have its witnesses on earth. More than that, it must have its witnesses on earth, in order to fulfill Jesus’ own prophecy concerning the end of this world: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) Whom has God raised up to be his witnesses concerning the Kingdom, The Theocracy established in 1914? The lowly followers of Jesus Christ for whom he spoke those words of prophetic command. They correspond with the honest men and women at the time Jesus was born, the God-fearing shepherds, the aged Simeon, the prophetess Anna, and faithful Elizabeth.

5. Are worldly rulers pleased at the birth? What can they not prevent?

⁵ The political rulers of earth today are not pleased over the birth of God’s kingdom, no more than murderous Herod was pleased over Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem. So the rulers and their hangers-on and supporters try to suppress the witness of the establishment of the Kingdom. But by Jesus Christ, Almighty God foretold that a Kingdom witness had to be given, and no opposing power in heaven or on earth can prevent the witness in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to all nations. Highly favored are all those men and women today whom God raises up and uses to have a part in fulfilling the prophecy concerning the witness to the established Kingdom! Jehovah’s witnesses of today are happy to bear the hatred and persecution from all peoples and nations in order to be his Kingdom witnesses.

EXTENDING ITS SWAY DESPITE OPPOSITION

6. Why must the Kingdom continue increasing its sway?

⁶ The witness given since 1914 has steadily increased the sway of the Kingdom in the lives of men of good will. It could not have been otherwise. Over God’s own name the prophecy long ago declared: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,” and this must come true, though now the King rules in the midst of multitudinous enemies. The irresistible zeal of Jehovah of hosts will never let his prophetic Word be shoved back unperformed into his face and the increase of the government of his Son be blocked successfully. The Kingdom witness since 1914 must go on increasing. It must be made known more and more throughout the earth that the Supreme Governing Power, Jehovah, has taken his great power and has begun to reign over earth by putting his Son on the throne as his anointed King. (Rev. 11:15-18) Through this knowledge spread abroad by his witnesses the people of good will everywhere can have the opportunity to know of the only Righteous Government and can gather around it as the only hope of mankind. They can give it their unqualified allegiance before Jehovah’s King destroys all his foes and opposers in the coming “battle of that great day of God Almighty”.

7. With what must its increase today correspond? By means of what?

⁷ The increase of the sympathizers and supporters of Jehovah’s reigning King must correspond with the increase of his followers in the first century after he ascended to God’s right hand after having proved his right to the Kingdom by his loving obedience to death. This increase will be, not by might of armies using fire and sword, not by power, but by Jehovah’s spirit, his invincible active force. The love in men and women devoted to his King and kingdom is something stronger than any devilish or human power can overcome; and it draws and holds them to his King and kingdom regardless of all the hostility that their stand for God and his kingdom arouses.—Zech. 4:6.

8. How was Caesar implicated with the King in the first century?

⁸ In the first century believing men and women had to vow their allegiance to Jesus Christ as God’s King in the face of the dominant world power, the Roman empire, whose Caesars were deified for worship. It was actually a representative of that Roman empire, Governor Pontius Pilate, who gave the order for Jesus Christ to be nailed to the torture stake. Because Jesus preached God’s kingdom to which he had been called and anointed, his religious enemies, the priests, scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees, accused him of sedition to the Roman governor. The inspired Record says: “They began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” And when Pilate made efforts to release Jesus, “the Jews cried out saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” It was this Jesus who two days before had said to his religious opposers: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”—Luke 23:1, 2; John 19:12; Matt. 22:21.

9, 10. (a) Despite misrepresentation and opposition what increase is recorded? (b) By what was the Kingdom proclamation spread?

⁹ Because his religious enemies did not want Jesus as God’s Messiah and King, they used his preaching of God’s kingdom for an excuse to accuse him of being seditious against Caesar and a menace to the state. This willful misrepresentation and this combined opposition of Caesar and religious forces brought Jesus’ death, but did it prevent the adherents of God’s risen King from increasing? Did it silence the preaching of the kingdom of heaven? No! The next month, on the day of Pentecost, God’s spirit was poured out upon the King’s loyal followers, and the Kingdom proclamation was revived and carried on with greater force than during Jesus’ time and in many languages. That same day of Pentecost those who declared themselves in favor of God’s kingdom as administered by his King Christ Jesus increased to 3,000. Religious opposition mounted and arrests of the Kingdom preachers followed, and yet the number of the King’s adherents rose to 5,000. (Acts 2:41; 4:4) Later the martyrdom of Stephen set off one of the worst persecutions there at that center of religion, Jerusalem. The apostles were driven underground, but thousands of the King’s followers were scattered.

¹⁰ Jehovah and his anointed King in heaven had reason to laugh at these efforts of the religious opposers to silence the Kingdom proclamation. Why? Because, as the account tells us, “they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” “Those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.” (Acts 8:4; 11:19, Rev. Stan. Ver.) In the throes of this religious inquisition the great pusher of persecution, Saul of Tarsus himself, was miraculously won over to allegiance to Christ the King and became one of the apostolic Kingdom publishers.

11. Is the Kingdom nationalistic? What does God’s promise show?

¹¹ But Jehovah’s kingdom by Christ is nothing nationalistic. It is not Jewish or to be confined to the Jews only. The patriarch Abraham was not a Jew, and when Jehovah told that faithful man about the blessing that was to come to men through the Theocratic government of his King, he said: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3; 22:17, 18) The Seed of Abraham is primarily Jesus Christ. The blessing through him is, first of all, that of bringing believers into a righteous standing with God where they may enjoy his favor and have the prospect of eternal life in his righteous new world. On this matter the apostle Paul reasons in these words: “And Scripture, foreseeing that God would pronounce the Gentiles righteous as the result of faith, foretold the Good News to Abraham in the words—‘Through thee all the Gentiles shall be blessed.’”—Gal. 3:8, 16, 20th Cent. N. T.

12. What course did the extending of the blessing take? Why?

¹² The life-giving blessing through Abraham’s Seed, Jesus Christ, must therefore be spread to all nations, Jew and Gentile alike. Properly the blessing went first to the Jewish descendants of Abraham. But when that nation followed their religious leaders and turned down the blessing because it came through the Christ who had been nailed to a torture stake, Jehovah God acted upon his words to Abraham. He extended the blessing through Jesus Christ to the Gentile or non-Jewish nations. God is no respecter of persons as based on earthly nationality. Our possessing faith like that of Abraham is what counts with God and wins his blessing through Christ.—Gal. 3:9, 26-29.

THE ENEMY’S FAVORITE TRICK

13. What service did Peter and Paul render toward belief by Gentiles?

¹³ The apostle Peter was the one God used to take the key of knowledge and unlock the door of Kingdom opportunities to the Gentile nations, but it was the apostle Paul who became the foremost apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is the only apostle who the Holy Scriptures tell us got to Rome. (Acts 10; Rom. 11:13; Gal. 3:7-9) By a divine vision Paul was called to bear the witness into Europe. It was in what is today called Greece, the cradle of democracy, that Paul was accused as a seditionist for preaching God’s kingdom by Christ.

14. Where, how and by whom was Paul accused of sedition?

¹⁴ After Paul had cast out a demon from a spirit-medium, the demons caused their religious dupes to drag Paul and Silas before the political rulers with this charge: “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.” A miracle of God released Paul and Silas from the dungeon. That was at Philippi. But at Thessalonica the religious opposers stirred up a mob which cried out against Paul and Silas to the political rulers: “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; . . . and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” Back again in Palestine, when before Caesar’s court in Caesarea, prisoner Paul was accused by his religious persecutors in these words of their spokesman: “We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.” But the apostle Paul would not submit to having them judge him according to their religious canon law. In full accord with his rights as a Roman citizen he reminded the court that he stood before Caesar’s judgment seat, and not before a religious judicial court. So in the interests of preaching the gospel he appealed to Caesar.—Acts 16:20, 21; 17:6, 7; 24:5, 6; 25:9-12.

15. Did such persecution curtail preaching the good news? Why?

¹⁵ For two years before and for two years after Paul got to Rome he was detained in custody. But did the proclamation of the good news suffer curtailment because of such persecution against him and his fellow witnesses? No; for Paul used these circumstances to give a witness to rulers, to his custodians and to all whom he could invite. He accomplished a far-reaching witness, so that he wrote from his house of detention at Rome: “Brothers, I want you to realize that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the Good News. It has even become evident, not only to all the Imperial Guard, but to everyone else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains.” “The Good News to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Paul followed his own instruction: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.”—Phil. 1:12, 13 and Col. 1:23, 20th Cent. N.T.; 2 Tim. 4:2.

16. What parting command of Jesus applies now? Who will obey it?

¹⁶ The followers of the King Jesus Christ obeyed his parting orders: “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” No man-made government of any nation can countermand that authoritative command or successfully impede its execution by the King’s followers. His command applies to us now at the end of this world and its nations, and we will obey it for the increase of the interests of his government.—Matt. 28:18-20, Am. Stan. Ver.

17. How was the enemy’s same trick tried in Esther’s day? Results?

¹⁷ Even before Christ’s day it was the favorite trick of the enemies of Jehovah God to accuse his faithful people of political crimes so as to implicate them with worldly governments and bring the power of the state down on them. In the days of Queen Esther this wicked device was used by the false worshiper Haman to accomplish the complete destruction of Jehovah’s chosen people from all parts of the Persian empire. Said Haman to Emperor Xerxes: “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from every other people; neither do they observe the king’s laws; therefore it is not fitting to leave them alone. If it please the king, let it be prescribed that they be destroyed.” (Esther 3:7-9, An Amer. Trans.) Haman’s malicious scheme failed to wipe out or even diminish Jehovah’s people. It resulted in himself being exposed as against the emperor’s interests and getting hanged. Thus those who now try to hinder the increase of God’s kingdom work out their own ruin.

18. Why do the nations now stand faced with destruction?

¹⁸ Today the faithful announcers of God’s kingdom by Christ face political movements and organizations on a hemispheric or global scale. That it should be proclaimed by his witnesses that Jehovah took up again the reins of earth’s government in 1914 and brought the kingdom of his Son to birth does not please the political rulers. They have other plans for dominating earth’s peoples. Under the religious guidance of the clergy of Christendom the political element may pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”; but their wars for world domination and their plans for future control of the earth belie their prayers and prove they do not want God’s kingdom by his Son to supplant them and give the people a righteous, Theocratic government. The nations stand in fear and mutual distrust of one another. Anxieties are expressed that they will exterminate one another in further global war with secretly invented weapons of mass destruction. The nations do stand faced with destruction, but it is for refusing God’s kingdom by Christ, the only rightful government for our globe. Their destruction will come shortly by an act of God which was foreshadowed in the global flood of Noah’s day. By Jehovah’s witnesses he is now giving all peoples and nations fair and ample warning of it.

19, 20. Who show themselves friends of this world? How? With what fate?

¹⁹ The religious organizations of Christendom have linked their fate with the political powers of earth and will be wiped out with them by God’s act as His enemies. It is written: “You renegades! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wishes to be the world’s friend declares himself God’s enemy.”—Jas. 4:4, An Amer. Trans.

²⁰ The religious friends of this world are enemies of God’s kingdom by Christ. They show whose friends they are by working for the further miserable existence of this old world and by trying to hinder the increase of Jehovah’s Theocracy by Christ. Since the birth of his kingdom in 1914 new political factors have come to positions of world prominence and power. Those which have survived till now as dominant figures are the United Nations, the successor to the short-lived League of Nations, and atheistic Communism.

21. How is the world divided? What position do Jehovah’s witnesses take, and with what result certain?

²¹ To date the United Nations has failed to cement the old world. It is split into two blocs, with the Big Three championing the Western bloc and Communist Russia dictating for the Eastern bloc. The fires of World War II have died down, but a “cold war” is raging between both blocs and there is feverish maneuvering for power. In the midst of this world situation stand Jehovah’s witnesses, pointing neither east nor west, but heavenward, heralding His kingdom by Christ as the divinely authorized government, the only government with adequate ability to introduce a righteous, peaceful, healthful new world, the only government with power to save the people from annihilation in the world catastrophe of Armageddon. For this neutral position toward the deadly conflicts of this old world and for their Christian devotion and allegiance to God’s New World government by his Son Jehovah’s witnesses are hated by all nations and suffer persecution at the hands of the religious friends of the old world. Yet, despite this, their cause is bound to increase and win.

Answering the Foes of His Government

1. What proves Christendom has failed? Where does she flee?

CHRISTENDOM is being steadily encroached upon by the aggressions of godless Communism. This is condemning evidence that Christendom has failed. She can definitely trace her existence from the days of Roman Emperor Constantine of the fourth century, and so has had sixteen centuries of opportunity. If Christendom had really lived up to what her name means and had practiced the Christianity or Jesus and his apostles, would godless Communism have had grounds for coming into existence or for taking its birth right within the realm of Christendom herself? Hardly. True Christianity does not pave the way for the rise and growth of atheistic Communism; hypocritical Christianity does! Not remarkable, then, that vast Russia, the one-time domain of the Russian Orthodox Church, is now the formidable stronghold of the Communist power. For help Christendom flees, not to Jehovah God and his government, but to this old world, and she takes her stand with the Western powers and their democratic adherents. With them she shares the dread of the totalitarian Communist menace.

2. How do religionists take advantage of conditions against us?

² No one will deny that the religious systems of Christendom have no sympathy with Jehovah’s witnesses and put no faith in their proclamation that God’s kingdom is now established in the heavens for complete domination of the universe, including our sin-wracked earth. They make efforts to stamp out Jehovah’s witnesses and to misrepresent their Christian work and to prejudice the people’s minds against their Kingdom proclamation. So the religious leaders of Christendom take advantage of the fears and hatreds of the Western democratic bloc. Resorting to the age-old method of involving God’s people with the political powers of this world, they accuse Jehovah’s witnesses who reside in the Western bloc of nations of being communist. They inflame the nationalistic feelings of the people and poison the minds of their religious congregations against Jehovah’s witnesses. Hence, when these carry the Kingdom message from door to door or when they offer Bible literature on the street pavements they are abusively called “Communists!” and their message is refused as dangerous propaganda.

3. How have they misrepresented us as respects Poland?

³ To cite examples of these prejudicial accusations: The Catholic Chronicle, of Toledo, Ohio, on February 27, 1948, published an article headed “Pole Reds Finance ‘Jehovah’ Agents” and which read: “Warsaw—The atheist government of Poland is financing sects like the Jehovah’s witnesses in an effort to destroy the Catholicity of the people. ‘Watchtower’ salesmen are making the rounds of homes with pamphlets reviling the Church. Sunday lectures also are organized, denouncing Catholicism and glorifying communism.” This report was repeated by Father Baker’s Victorian Magazine of June, 1948. The following October 16, 1948, at 6:45 p.m., the religious monsignor who edits the Columbus Register read over radio station WHKC a Catholic report from Warsaw. Besides misrepresenting our relief work to our Polish brethren, it said: “The Soviet satellite government encourages and financially aids the Witnesses, whose free literature bears clear traces of Communist propaganda.” The falsity of such blasphemous lies against witnesses of the Most High God was certainly bound to be exposed in due time by the transpiring of the actual situation to the knowledge of the whole world. The sources of those several religious reports against us knew they were lying when they started them rolling through the news. And now those Catholic news agencies who were so eager to grab and publish untruths and misrepresentations in order to put Jehovah’s witnesses in a false light before the anti-Communist nations ought to feel great embarrassment. Jehovah’s witnesses have now over 18,000 active Kingdom publishers in Poland, and does the arrest of 80 percent or 14,400 of them mean that the Communist Polish Government is encouraging and financing them? Listen to this special dispatch published in the New York Times of June 30, 1950, beginning on its front page, which published in bold type, “Poles Arrest Jehovah’s Witnesses as Spies Directed from Brooklyn”, and which said, in part:

WARSAW, June 29—The complete liquidation of an alleged United States spy ring, with headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y., was announced today by Poland’s Ministry of Public Security. Approximately 80 percent of the members of the alleged ring have been arrested, the Ministry said.

The ring, which supposedly operated through the religious sect called Jehovah’s Witnesses, was charged with having gathered information on military and commercial objectives and Polish Government institutions.

According to the last official census in 1948 this religious sect, which has a fifty-year-old history in Poland, had 10,000 members in Poland. . . .

Searches carried on in the sect’s offices and members’ homes resulted in the confiscation of a large amount of evidence, the report declared. . . .

Another charge was that the sect counteracted the campaign for gathering signatures for the so-called Stockholm peace appeal urging that the atomic bomb be outlawed.

4. What charges did a British Jesuit make in 1939 and 1942?

⁴ Still earlier, in its issue of August 8, 1939, The Catholic Mind published an article called “Rutherford’s Witnesses of Jehovah: Are They Apostles of Anarchy?” by Herbert Thurston, Society of Jesus, and which was reprinted by the America Press. The psychological effect intended by that title is very apparent, even if all the article were not read. In November, 1942, the booklet entitled “‘Judge’ Rutherford”, written by that same Jesuit, “Rev.” H. Thurston, was published by The Catholic Truth Society in London, England, and on page 14 it says: “Whatever may be the professions of Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is no room for doubt that the practical effect of the Watch Tower activities is to stimulate Communism, not to say anarchy, and to undermine all feeling of reverence for authority.”

5. Against what public declaration is he challenged to harmonize his charges?

⁵ We challenge that British Jesuit to harmonize, if he can, his accusation with the public declaration by J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, from London’s Royal Albert Hall, Sunday, September 11, 1938. Delivering his speech “Face the Facts”, which was beamed by radio and carried by direct wire to more than 50 cities in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, and also broadcast by a transcontinental chain of 118 U. S. radio stations, Mr. Rutherford said: “Fulfilled prophecy shows that in 1914 Jehovah enthroned Christ Jesus and sent him forth to rule, while Satan still exercises his power in the world. (Psalm 110:1, 2) In 1917 SATAN BROUGHT FORTH IN RUSSIA A COMMUNIST OR BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT, which was the first appearance of a totalitarian rule, and which opposes God and his kingdom. It declares that the State is the supreme power, and it persecutes those who serve God and Christ Jesus.”a

6. What charges have Irish religionists recently made?

⁶ But to continue: On April 17, 1948, the bishop of Cork, Ireland, addressed a letter to clergy in charge of parishes in Cork and vicinity, and which was published in the Cork Examiner that day. After referring to activities of Jehovah’s witnesses, the bishop’s letter concluded: “Some call these activities Communism. Anyhow, all weakening of religion is welcomed by Communism as a preparation for itself.” The Irish Times, Dublin, reprinted that statement two days later. In an article headed “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sligo”, the Sligo Champion (Ireland) of June 25, 1949, published the letter of the CATHOLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION BUREAU, which said: “The menace of Communism is belittled by the Witnesses who have called it a bogey-man created by the Catholic Church with an ulterior motive. . . . Russian atheism is defended by the Witnesses.” The Dublin Evening Mail of June 22, 1949, also printed that same statement. The Sunday Independent of April 15, 1950, reports the breaking up of a public meeting of Jehovah’s witnesses at The Fountain, Dun Laoghaire [dŭn lâʹrĭ], Ireland, by local townsmen with shouts of “Communists!” “Get out of here!” and, “Go back to where you came from!”

7. Due to clergy slanders how do witnesses fare in Greece?

⁷ In Greece, as a result of slanders by the clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church the witnesses of Jehovah are called traitors, unpatriotic, anarchists, and Communists; and on November 17, 1949, it became necessary for us to write the minister of foreign affairs of Greece, at New York city, to answer the question whether Jehovah’s witnesses are a secret or communistic organization.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION PROVES CHARGES FALSE

8. (a) Why is investigation of witnesses in America decisive for the world? (b) What did the Justice Department report in 1941?

⁸ The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, with main offices in Brooklyn, New York, acts advisorily as the governing body and servant of Jehovah’s witnesses in all lands. So what is true of Jehovah’s witnesses in America must be true of them throughout the earth. Active witnesses are found in their greatest numbers in the United States, with more than 108,000 reporting in April this year. Ever since World War I closed, in 1918, the American government has been alerted to the threat of Communism to American democracy. The Communists are reported operating in America since September, 1919. But in all the years since then official investigation has failed to find the slightest link between the Watch Tower Society or Jehovah’s witnesses and godless communism. In 1941 Senator David of Pennsylvania, the state where the Society was incorporated in 1884, wrote to the United States Department of Justice at Washington, D.C. In response the Department reported that Jehovah’s witnesses were not communistic and had no communist tendencies.

9. What did the Loyalty Review Board’s list in 1948 show?

⁹ Further, in 1948, the United States government, acting through its attorney general, listed all organizations that were totalitarian, fascist, communist, and subversive and which advocate the overthrow of the government by violence or by unconstitutional means. The attorney general supplied this list of organizations to the chairman of the Loyalty Review Board of the United States Civil Service Commission. By letter dated September 21, 1948, (Memorandum No. 19) the chairman of the Loyalty Review Board forwarded a list of such organizations to all executive departments and agencies of the United States government. An examination of that official list of subversive and illegal organizations discloses that the names of Jehovah’s witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society nowhere appear.

10, 11. What error in its Memorandum did the U. S. Marine Corps correct? How?

¹⁰ The misinformation about Jehovah’s witnesses penetrated even into a published Memorandum of the United States Marine Corps. As a result the Marine Corps Memorandum No. 55-49, released on June 6, 1949, stated that Jehovah’s witnesses were associated with communism. This error was called to the attention of the Headquarters of the U. S. Marine Corps at Washington, D. C. In reply to our legal attorney the commandant of the Marine Corps at Washington sent a letter dated December 15, 1949, in which he expressed the conviction that the statement about Jehovah’s witnesses is totally without foundation. His letter says: I have ordered the discussion ‘Communism in the United States’ (Enclosure [B] to Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49), revised so as to eliminate all reference to Jehovah’s Witnesses and I shall direct that all copies presently existing which contain such reference be destroyed. In addition, I am causing a memorandum to be prepared which will be issued by this Headquarters and will receive the same distribution given Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49. This memorandum will state that the reference made to Jehovah’s witnesses in Enclosure (B) of Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49 was completely unfounded, that it was made without proper information, under an entire misapprehension as to the facts, and that this Headquarters regrets that this unfortunate statement was published. . . . Please convey to your clients, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and Jehovah’s Witnesses, my sincere regret for the publication of the lamentable reference to them. If there is any other action which may be taken by this Headquarters, please do not hesitate to inform me.”b

¹¹ Under date of December 23, 1949, Marine Corps Memorandum No. 131-49 was released and posted up, and it fully carried out all that the commandant had promised in the foregoing letter.c Needless to say, we highly appreciate this honorable course taken by the Headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps.

PUBLISHED RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

12. What work and publications show up the charges? To what effect?

¹² The charges that Jehovah’s witnesses are Communists, “apostles of Stalin,” a “fifth column” of communism, and “strive to bring about conditions favourable to the spread of Marxism”, are absolutely without basis and are blasphemous lies against the servants of the Most High God. Their Christian educational work in all lands and their official publications prove that. Throughout the earth the witnesses use the corporation Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society as their legal and publishing servant. They use the publications of said Society in their work of educating the people on the Holy Bible. From earliest times the Watch Tower publications have exposed communism as a world menace and have shown it to be impractical, doomed to failure, and contrary to God’s kingdom by Christ. As early as its third issue, The Watchtower of September, 1879, in its leading article entitled “The Day of the Lord” (paragraphs 7 and 14), said the following, and as you read this we want you to remember this was published, not in 1950, but away back seventy-one years ago:

13. What did The Watchtower of September, 1879, say on Communism?

¹³ “Very many Scriptures seem to teach that the kingdoms of earth will be overthrown by a rising of the people: goaded to desperation from lack of employment and seeking relief from the oppression of bloodthirsty governments. Such a rising and overturning, Socialists, COMMUNISTS, and Nihilists of today would gladly bring about if they could. Now the Scripture recognizes wrong and oppression as existing in the nations and foretells this as the way in which they will be overthrown, and says: ‘Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.’ Jas. v. 1. Yet it does not recognize this Communism as right but the contrary rather instructing believers . . . saying to us—‘Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.’ . . . And it is astonishing how very rapidly these things once looked at as absurd and impossible are becoming realities. When we with a few others declared these things only a short time since, and called attention to the fact that trouble was taught to be occasioned by a rising of the people and the overthrow of governments—Communism—we were laughed at; there was truly little sign then of Communism; but today every civilized nation is in dread, and Nihilism, Communism and Socialism, are household words, and we see ‘men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven (governments) shall be shaken.’ Luke xxi. 26.”

14. What did its issue of June, 1883, say on it?

¹⁴ In its issue of June, 1883, The Watchtower (page 8) said: “In other words, remove the element which advises prudence, morality, and right-doing, from the counsels of the restless masses—from the Labor leagues and other associations, and let the lower element control itself, and the result would quickly be the destruction of life, property, laws, and peace—a grand reign of anarchy in the name of communism.”

15. What did its issue of January, 1884, say on it?

¹⁵ In its issue of January, 1884, The Watchtower (page 5) published the article “Light in Darkness” and quoted, in paragraph 5, the statement of Blackwood’s Magazine: “How humiliating, too, is the thought that . . . the dangerous classes, and ‘dissolving forces’ are becoming more formidable than ever, and that the ‘social revolution’—Atheistic Communism and Nihilism—may yet shake to its foundations the entire system of civilization which modern Europe has been so slowly perfecting as the highest product of the Aryan Community of nations.”

16. What did its issue of September 1, 1895, say on it?

¹⁶ Now note these further statements: In its issue of September 1, 1895, The Watchtower, under the heading “They Had All Things in Common”, said this: “Experience proves the failure of communistic methods in the present time. . . . The Bible does not teach communism, but does teach loving considerate individualism, except in the sense of family communism—each family acting as a unit, . . . Moreover, the forming of a commune of believers is opposed to the purpose and methods of the Gospel age. The object to this age is to witness Christ to the world, and thus to ‘take out a people for his name;’ and to this end each believer is exhorted to be a burning and a shining light before men—the world in general—and not before and to each other merely. . . . It is still the work of God’s people to shine as lights in the midst of the world, and not to shut themselves up in convents and cloisters or as communities. The promises of Paradise will not be realized by joining such communes.”

17. What did its issue of January 1, 1902, say on it?

¹⁷ In its issue of January 1, 1902, The Watchtower published the article entitled “The Early Church”, and under the subheading “Communism at Present Impractical” it said: “The early church did not practice what is now known as communism; . . . So far as the record shows there was no compulsory division of wealth, such as communism purposes. On the contrary, everything was voluntary; and everything of the same kind is just as free, just as voluntary, and just as proper, now as then—no more so, no less so. . . . It is noteworthy that the apostles neither commanded nor advised communism; nor do their writings intimate that it prevailed in the early church.”

18. What did The Plan of the Ages (1886) say on it?

¹⁸ In 1886 the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society published the book The Plan of the Ages, and this book continued to be published and circulated by the millions of copies in many languages until 1929, when it was let go out of stock. In chapter 15, entitled “The Day of Jehovah”, page 312 ¶2, this Watch Tower publication said: “Hence, the wealthy are drawn closer to the governments; and the wage-working masses, beginning to think that laws and governments are designed to aid the wealthy and to restrain the poor, are drawn toward Communism and Anarchy, thinking that their interests would best be served thereby, and not realizing that the worst government, and the most expensive, is vastly better than no government at all.”d All the foregoing published record speaks for itself.

PERSECUTION PROVES CHARGE FALSE

19. What persecution in Russia proves the charges false?

¹⁹ Jesus Christ said to his followers: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:19, 20) The persecution that Jehovah’s witnesses have undergone till now proves they are no part of this world and have no connection with or support from political communism or any other political movement. In Russia Jehovah’s witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society are not registered or recognized as legal. They have been outlawed and banned there. Because of their Bible way of worshiping the Most High God they have been cruelly persecuted and exiled to Siberia by the Communists. This is not because they are Titoists, for in 1947 Titoist Yugoslavia seized all the officials representing the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and Jehovah’s witnesses in Zagreb and banned both the Society and the witnesses. Eleven of such officials were prosecuted and were imprisoned for long sentences ranging from three to twenty years.

20. What persecutions in Russian satellite lands disprove them?

²⁰ The government of Albania has likewise imprisoned Jehovah’s witnesses and banned their organization. Czechoslovakia has put all the officials of the Watch Tower Society and Jehovah’s witnesses carrying on the work there in labor camps, after denying them trials. Romania has placed the officials of the Watch Tower Society in prison, confiscated the Society’s property and banned Jehovah’s witnesses. Bulgaria, too, has banned them and placed representatives of the Society and Jehovah’s witnesses in prison. Persecution is also carried on against them in Hungary and Poland. In Eastern Germany, now dominated by communist Russia, the same persecution goes on against them. More so since July 30, 1949, when 18,000 of Jehovah’s witnesses, while assembled in convention in the Waldbühne (Forest Stage) of Berlin, adopted a resolution exposing the persecution by the Communist powers in Eastern Germany and raised a vigorous protest against it.

21. What about Watchtower publications there? So what do we ask?

²¹ In the above countries the Communist governments have made it illegal to print or distribute the publications of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, though these have free circulation in the United States and other lands of the Western bloc. We ask, therefore, If Jehovah’s witnesses are communistic, as our religious enemies in Christendom declare, then why have the Communist powers proscribed these witnesses who bear the name of Jehovah God and confiscated their property and hounded them with fanatical persecution?

EFFORTS AGAINST EXPANSION DOOMED TO FAIL

22. To whom do we look to vindicate us? Where and how?

²² We look to no government agencies to vindicate us of the false charges which the foes of God’s kingdom raise against us, to blind the people to the facts and the Kingdom truths. Almighty God has promised to vindicate his faithful witnesses, and he will do so at the battle of Armageddon, in which he will totally destroy godless communism and all other elements of the old world. In Daniel’s prophecy concerning the Devil’s world organization at this crucial time where it tries to hold the worldly elements together like clay mixed with iron, it is written: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people [neither to Communist people nor to any other political group], but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” The prophecy likens God’s kingdom by Christ to a stone which strikes and grinds the Devil’s governmental image to powder, and says: “The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Dan. 2:44, 35) Neither the United Nations nor any totalitarian power will be able to stand up against the fulfillment of that prophecy. Jehovah’s Theocratic government under his Christ will survive the battle of Armageddon as winner and will bring faithful people of good will through as survivors and will thereafter dominate all the earth without any rival powers.

23. What do persecution, misrepresentation and conspiracy now fail to halt? Why?

²³ That government will rule supreme from heaven. It is the Kingdom which Jehovah’s witnesses announce to all nations, and to it they declare their unqualified allegiance before all the world. His kingdom by Christ is bound to increase. The King Jesus Christ has already begun the gathering together of his earthly subjects of good will, and his mighty unseen angels are taking part with him in the gathering work. (Matt. 24:31; 25:31-33) No persecution, no base misrepresentation, no conspiracy by worldly powers can halt the increase of that kingdom and prevent a numberless multitude of devoted subjects from flocking to it as mankind’s rightful ruler and only hope.

24. As shown in April, 1950, what may we expect as we work on?

²⁴ For this reason Jehovah’s witnesses today are preaching the gospel of the Kingdom in greater numbers now than at the time of the Kingdom’s establishment in 1914. For example, in April of this year the world-wide report compiled by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society shows 357,889 active witnesses in 106 lands and in association with 65 Branch organizations. This 1950 international convention, this “Theocracy’s Increase” Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses here at Yankee Stadium, New York City, is overwhelming testimony of the Kingdom’s increase on earth. We are assured that of the Kingdom’s increase there will be no end. So, as we push ahead with the work Jehovah commissions us to do in these “last days” of this world, the number of ministers of the good news of the Kingdom may be expected to increase in fulfillment of divine prophecy.

25. Our work being peaceful, what course will we take? Why?

²⁵ Ours is a peaceful work. We will keep on obeying Jesus’ command to ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s’. Hence we will be orderly, resorting to no violence or subversion against the political powers of this world, but letting them continue to carry on their political experiments as long as God allows them. We will fulfill our obligation to warn all nations of the coming “act of God” against this world at Armageddon. This course alone can have his approval and assure us of survival at the battle of Armageddon. His Word commands us: “Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3, Am. Stan. Ver.) We urge all to this course of godliness with contentment.

26. What position on worship do we take, and despite what ahead?

²⁶ We mark the growing tendency to totalitarian regimentation of the peoples as a desperate final measure to preserve the worldly powers in control. People are being swept into the movement to idolize the state and to exalt it above God, who is the only Supreme Power. The Bible has foretold this. (Rev. 13:16, 17) But we cannot be divided in our worship. Confronted with further encroachments upon our worship of the Supreme Ruler and our devotion to his kingdom by Christ, we are determined to obey our King’s command to “render . . . unto God the things that are God’s”. Mindful of the apostle Peter’s words to the court at Jerusalem, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” we will keep obedience to God’s commands first, together with unbreakable devotion to his kingdom now established. (Acts 5:29) We are bound to suffer more international persecution for this godly course of action, but we warn our persecutors with Jehovah God’s words to his Theocratic organization: “The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” (Isa. 60:12) Obedience to the great Life-giver spells eternal life for us in the new world, and the old world’s persecution of us will continue failing to halt the Kingdom’s increase.

27. What activity will we keep at, and assured of what increase?

²⁷ We will keep our integrity to God in vindication of his universal sovereignty and his right to rule his creation, this earth and all people permitted to live on it. In Theocratic obedience and faithfulness we will march on toward the New World, rejoicing in all further expansion of his kingdom, for there will be no end to its increase even this side of Armageddon. If we keep on sowing his Kingdom message, we shall reap returns for eternity, for God will give his promised increase. Let Christendom go on sowing to the wind by pursuing the futile course of this old world; she will reap the whirlwind at Armageddon. We who have sown to the interests of Jehovah’s Theocracy by Christ will reap the increase of thousands of other Kingdom adherents, the “other sheep” whom the Good Shepherd will yet gather into the “one fold” of everlasting safety.—John 10:16.

28. How will we recommend God’s kingdom to all men of good will?

²⁸ God’s Word and purpose have never failed so far and will not fail us in the most crucial world period ahead. So on with his work of witnessing to the Kingdom among all nations before the end comes. In faith and obedience, endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Carry out your part as advance publicity agents of the New World government. Fear not the foe, but God only. By godly lives and ceaseless proclamation of the Bible truth, keep on recommending Jehovah’s Theocracy by Christ to all men of good will, confidently looking to him for the rewarding increase.—2 Cor. 4:2.

[Footnotes]

“2. The publication of this statement has reacted unfavorably against the Marine Corps, in that it was published without proper information and has been shown to be completely unfounded in fact.

“3. Commanding officers will take immediate steps to bring the foregoing to the attention of all personnel to whom the original statement contained in reference (a) may have been communicated.”—Dated 23 December 1949.

Resolution

1. Where were the foregoing articles programed for delivery as a speech, and under what circumstances?

THE two foregoing articles were programed to be delivered together as the keynote speech by N. H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 1950, to the many thousands expected to pack the Yankee Stadium, New York city, in attendance at the international convention or “Theocracy’s Increase” Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The material was kindly handed us in advance for publishing in this issue of our magazine, that the printed speech appearing in our columns might be released to the conventioners right after Mr. Knorr delivered the speech and followed it up with his presentation of the Resolution below for adoption:

RESOLUTION

2. What made it opportune for such a Resolution?

² ON THIS momentous occasion, when we are gathered in a representative body of tens of thousands from more than 50 lands here at Yankee Stadium, New York city, to carry on the international “Theocracy’s Increase” Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, we find it most opportune this 1st day of August, 1950, to make this Declaration:

3. Who is the source of authority? What is his purpose?

³ WHEREAS the God of heaven and earth, whose name is Jehovah, is the Source of all rightful authority and power and has recorded on the pages of the Holy Bible his purpose to restore his righteous Theocratic government to this earth (Psalm 62:11; Matthew 6:9, 10); and

4. What events bearing on world domination marked A.D. 1914?

⁴ WHEREAS the “seven times” of uninterrupted domination of the earth by Gentile nations expired A.D. 1914 and now the Bible prophecy and its fulfillment prove together that then Jehovah God again took up his power to reign over the earth and to this end he enthroned in the heavens his Son Jesus Christ, who had proved his integrity to God even to death on a torture stake at Calvary and who had thereby established his right to rule as King in his Father’s name (Daniel 4:25, 32; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:15 to 12:10); and

5. In what period is the old world now, and what draws near?

⁵ WHEREAS Almighty God has decreed the end of this world and has promised us “new heavens and a new earth” to form a righteous new world in which his enthroned Son will be King, and hence this old world has been in its “time of the end” since A.D. 1914 and the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” draws near for removing the old and installing the new world (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 16:14-16; 21:1-5); and

6. How do nations oppose God’s purpose? Exposing themselves to what?

⁶ WHEREAS the nations of this world refuse the warning which is set forth in God’s Word and verified by all the perilous conditions on earth, and they show opposition to God’s purpose by extending their own world rule with which they seek to align all peoples, and they ignore, hinder and persecute the faithful minority that preaches the good news of God’s established kingdom; and thereby they put themselves in the way of destruction by the “act of God” which will mark the close of this “time of the end”;

7, 8. What do we therefore declare, and what confess?

⁷ THEREFORE we here, before God and man, declare our unqualified support of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty and our allegiance to his kingdom now established in the hands of his Son Jesus Christ.

⁸ WE CONFESS that originally by his Son God created this earth and man upon it and that after mankind rebelled against divine government God sent his Son to prove his right to govern a new world and also to die sacrificially that all who become his subjects might live forever in the new world; and so we gladly confess that God by his Son’s sacrifice has bought us and we owe our lives and our complete devotion to God and his King and hence our obedience to God and his reigning Son comes first.—1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23.

9. What do we acknowledge, what denounce, and what protest?

⁹ WE ACKNOWLEDGE that Jehovah God has according to his Word made us his witnesses, and we are obligated to carry out this commission as Jehovah’s witnesses to the end of this world (Isaiah 43:10-12, Am. Stan. Ver.); and, being for God and his kingdom by Christ, we could never be communistic. We denounce the false accusation by our enemies that we are communists. We disavow all connection with or support of communism or any other political element of this old world. Moreover, we make united protest against the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses by the communist powers and by other governmental powers; and we declare the persecution of any religious minority by political governments and by powerful religious hierarchies to be wrong and unchristian and we will have no part in it.

10. What will we render, so keeping unspotted from the world?

¹⁰ While rendering first to God what is God’s, we will as long as this world lasts render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, leading peaceable, well-ordered lives as Christians, not engaging in the conflict of opposite political and social ideologies, not intermeddling in worldly politics, and not engaging in any subversion even under persecution, that we may ‘keep ourselves unspotted from this world’ till its end.—Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19-21; James 1:27.

11. What will we unitedly continue to do?

¹¹ IN OBEDIENCE to the divine command we will unitedly continue to preach “this gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations”, warning both rulers and peoples of the consequences of their opposition to God’s increasing kingdom, and educating and encouraging all lovers of righteousness, truth and life to take refuge under God’s kingdom by Christ and to wait confidently for it soon to rid the earth of Satanic rule and all wickedness and to usher in the everlasting New World of Theocratic rule, justice, peace and prosperity.

12. How was the Resolution to be handled for benefit of conventioners knowing only foreign tongues?

¹² The full report of the assembly’s action upon the above Resolution we hope to publish as early as possible in The Watchtower. We may add that the Resolution was slated for translation into French, Spanish, German, Russian, Hollandish, Greek, Hungarian, Danish, Ukrainian, Slovak, Italian, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Armenian, and Polish, to be presented at the foreign-language meetings of the assembly on the mornings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, for the benefit of all those attending who spoke those languages but could not understand the English. The Society hopes these truths will reach to the ends of the earth.

[Picture on page 257]

YANKEE STADIUM, NEW YORK CITY

Name and Purpose of The Watchtower

WHY is this magazine called “The Watchtower”? Does the name have Bible background and significance? What is the purpose of the magazine? Does it fill a need not met by any of the hundreds of other magazines that continually flood onto the public newsstands? The Watchtower stands alone in its field, its value unmeasurable in money. What are the facts that prove it so?

The Bible frequently mentions towers. They were lofty structures, much higher than wide, and erected in a variety of places to form a prominent feature of architecture in ancient Israel. Often they were in vineyards, as shown by Jesus in his parable of the husbandmen. (Isa. 5:2; Matt. 21:33; Mark 12:1) Towers as lookout stations were built beyond the walls of fortified cities, as well as atop the walls to serve as observation posts and fortified strong points. (2 Ki. 17:9; 18:8; 2 Chron. 20:24; 26:9, 10, 15; Neh. 3:1; Ps. 48:12) Because of the use of literal towers as places of refuge, figurative language speaks of Jehovah God as a strong tower to those trusting in him.—Judg. 9:51, 52; Ps. 18:2; 61:3; 144:2; Prov. 18:10.

Watchmen were stationed on the towers to serve as lookouts, to forestall any surprise attacks by enemies, or to herald forth any news of consequence that they could glean from their observations, whether that news be good or bad. (2 Ki. 9:17) Their duty was to stay awake, and watch, and warn. However, in that typical Theocracy it was true that, “unless the LORD keep the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.”—Ps. 127:1, An Amer. Trans.

This connection between Jehovah God and the watchmen in the watchtowers was even more vital in the case of those men appointed to be on the lookout for messages from the Lord and to warn of dangers that threatened the spiritual welfare of the nation of Israel. Appreciation of the duties of the watchmen posted in literal towers helps us to grasp the service responsibilities of those assigned as watchmen on the more vital spiritual front. Habakkuk was one of such, and he said: “On my watch-tower I will stand, at my post upon the turret, watching to see what he will say to me, what answer he will offer to my plea.”—Hab. 2:1, Moffatt.

THE WATCHMAN’S COMMISSION

The commission of such watchmen is more sharply defined for us in the case of Ezekiel. Though he stood upon no literal watchtower atop some city wall, he was addressed by Jehovah as follows: “O mortal man, I appoint you a watchman to the house of Israel; and whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you fail to warn him—if you say nothing to warn the wicked man from his wicked way, in order to save his life—he being wicked shall die for his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand. If, however, you warn the wicked man, and he turn not from his wicked conduct and his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself. Or if a righteous man turn from his righteousness, and do what is wrong, and I make that the occasion for bringing about his downfall, he shall die; because you did not warn him, he shall die for his sin, and the righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood will I require at your hand. If, however, you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he do not sin, he shall live, because he took warning; and you will have saved yourself.”—Ezek. 3:17-21, An Amer. Trans.

Not only is the watchman’s salvation assured by faithful performance of his duties, but also opportunity for life opens up to wicked ones who heed the watchman’s warning. Jehovah’s merciful promise is: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather in this, that the wicked man turn from his way and live. Turn, O turn, from your evil ways! Why should you die, O house of Israel? And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You shall surely die,’ and he turn from his sin, and do what is lawful and right—if the wicked man restore the pledge, repay what he has taken by robbery, follow the statutes that lead to life, and do no wrong, he shall surely live, and not die.”—Ezek. 33:11, 14-16, An Amer. Trans.

After Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon and her lying desolate like a female captive for seventy years, she spies the messenger speeding over the mountain tops who comes to publish salvation and declare to liberated Zion that her God reigns. In joyous faith she sees, as it were, her walls and towers rebuilt and her watchmen stationed at their posts beholding with her the welcome sight of the coming deliverer: “Hark! your watchmen lift up the voice, together they sing; for eye to eye they shall see, when the LORD restores Zion.” It is on the occasion of this same glorious restoration that watchmen are again mentioned as zealously singing Jehovah’s praise: “Over your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen, who never keep silent by day or by night. You who are the LORD’S remembrancers, take no rest for yourselves, and give him no rest, until he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth!”—Isa. 52:1-10; 62:1-12, An Amer. Trans.

Having in mind that it meant restoration for Jerusalem, the tidings of Babylon’s fall came as good news from the watchman’s throat: “Thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth. And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights; and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.”—Isa. 21:6, 8, 9, Am. Stan. Ver.

Does not all the foregoing impress upon us that watchmen occupied a key position, whether as observers on literal watchtowers or as servants of God alert to receive messages from Jehovah and relay such counsel and warning on to the people? In either case, the watchman had to occupy a position or vantage point that enabled him to see and hear what was essential for the performance of his duties.

MODERN WATCHMEN

Today the clergy of Christendom’s orthodox religions assume a position of watchmen over the spiritual welfare of the nations. Because of their training they should be in a position above the greeds and prejudices of our time, as though on the heights of a watchtower that lifts them above the worldly wranglings and affords them a clear view of matters, unobstructed by the many blinding biases of these days. They should be able to view happenings in terms of Bible prophecies, noting significant events that warn of approaching danger, or that appear as heart-cheering signs of better times to come. They should be receptive to God’s direction, awake to his precepts, quick to declare his Word.

But do they measure up to the high responsibilities of watchmen? When they speak of the present woes of war or collapsed morality, do not their proposed remedies make them sound more like politicians or social workers than like ministers of God? Are they not blind to the signs of the times? Silent when it comes to proclaiming an unpopular message of warning? asleep to the practical Bible truth that Christ’s kingdom is man’s only hope? Yet how alert they are to forward their own ends, advance their own church, enhance their own reputation, boost their popularity, or increase their financial income! Say what you will, honest examination fits them into the description of the unfaithful watchmen of ancient times: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”—Isa. 56:10, 11.

On the other hand, honest examination matches another group with the faithful watchman Ezekiel, who fulfilled his commission: “Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them from me.” What modern group stands as a faithful watchman that does not hesitate to boldly speak God’s message, though it be an unpopular warning? The anointed footstep followers of Christ Jesus now remaining on earth, and who are Scripturally known as Jehovah’s witnesses. (Matt. 24:45-47; Isa. 43:10-12, Am. Stan. Ver.) Heeding the divine order to be no part of this world, they are neutral to its squabbles. (2 Tim. 2:4; Jas. 4:4) They speak God’s Word, not man’s. They see God’s way, not man’s.

To illustrate, when Jehovah’s witnesses observe present conditions, see the bumper crop of selfish boasters and blasphemers, note the rise of delinquency and lack of natural affection, consider the persecutors and breakers of agreements, and realize that this pleasure-mad world hypocritically dons an outward form of godliness but has no real love for God, then these faithful witnesses recognize that such things are the foretold signs of the “last days”. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Jas. 5:1-6) When they see the concentrated doses of war, famine, pestilence, earthquake, cruel persecution of Christians and blundersome political attempts to rule the world through international combines, they do not thoughtlessly parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Having their eyes open to Bible prophecies, they see these things as fulfillments thereof. (Matt. 24:3-21; Luke 21:25, 26) They have eyes that see, ears that hear, minds that perceive, and tongues zealous to speak. (Matt. 13:14-17; Eph. 1:18) Moreover, they are enlightened to see that present woes will soon give way to an incoming new world of righteousness.—Luke 21:28-32.

“WATCHTOWER” MAGAZINE

But what has all this to do with the Watchtower magazine? Very much, for The Watchtower is the official voice of the watchman class today. Just as literal towers were located on vantage points affording broad views, so The Watchtower is founded on the very pinnacle of reliable wisdom, namely, God’s Word the Bible. That elevates it above party squabbles, prejudices, greeds, propagandas, biases of race or nation, and frees from influences that might sway or warp viewpoint. Its vision is not narrow or shortsighted, but takes an over-all view and is farsighted enough to peer into the future, by use of recorded inspired prophecy. It views modern conditions and events in the light of God’s Word, being receptive to Jehovah’s message, and quick to declare his truths and judgments. Jehovah commands the watchman class to “call aloud, hold not back, lift up your voice like a trumpet; show my people their transgression”. (Isa. 58:1, An Amer. Trans.) As a voice for the watchman class, The Watchtower has trumpeted forth the sins of those professing to serve God, and at present lifts up its voice in thirty languages and is heard throughout the nations of earth.

Viewed in this light it may be said that The Watchtower stands as a watchman on a lookout post, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs that warn of danger, quick to point the way to life in a new world. It heralds the news of Jehovah’s kingdom established by Christ’s enthronement in heaven, warns that we live in the last days of this old world, cries out that Jehovah’s battle of Armageddon comes on apace, feeds the kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, and comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead. All this it does with confident ring in its voice, because its words find their foundation in God’s Word. It is not a blind or dumb watchman, but tries to keep in tune with God by searching his Word and being receptive to his guidance, with eyes always open to prophecy so that it knows what to look for in world events, so that it understands the significance of what it sees. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy.—2 Pet. 1:20, 21.

Hence the purpose of this magazine is to keep sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, on world happenings that may fulfill prophecies, and on religious news generally. Sometimes it will tear down religious falsehoods, that Bible truth may be built up in their stead. Such two-way work is Scripturally commanded, and is beneficial for all persons of right heart condition. (Jer. 1:10; Heb. 12:5-13) However, The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic. It invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. Its purpose is to aid others to know Jehovah and his purposes toward mankind, and to announce Christ’s established kingdom as our only hope.

Jehovah God is the Teacher of his people, but we must “be on the watch” to catch his instruction. We must “not sleep like the rest of men, but be wakeful and sober”. To those who do slumber the wakeful ones must cry, “It is high time to awake!” (Isa. 54:13; Rom. 13:11; 1 Cor. 16:13, An Amer. Trans.; 1 Thess. 5:6, Moffatt) If you have been asleep to the signs of the times, not watching world developments in the light of Bible prophecies, then you must obey the command to wake up and watch. Let The Watchtower help you heed such admonition that leads to life, for that is its purpose.

Faithfully living up to its name and purpose, The Watchtower does stand alone in its field, and its value is unmeasurable in money. It declares God’s wisdom, which is “better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it”. Such wisdom “is a tree of life”. The Watchtower beckons you to lay hold upon that wisdom, and gain life in a new world without end.—Prov. 3:13-18; 8:10, 11; Eph. 3:21.

Best-Seller Least Read?

THE Bible, now in its third billion edition has a greater circulation than any other book in the world. In whole or in part it has been translated into more than 1,090 languages and dialects. With a continual distribution of 1,500,000 copies every month, it is still far ahead of all other books as the world’s best-seller. But in spite of all this the general ignorance about its contents, even the simple things in this important book, is really appalling.

A recent survey conducted by the Gallup Poll, and published on the front page of Britain’s News Chronicle, showed that only 3 persons out of 5, that is only 60 percent, could give the names of the four Gospels which are the first books of the so-called New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. One person in every four, or 25 percent, could not name even one of these Gospel books!

Now this survey was not conducted behind the Iron Curtain in atheistic Russia, or in the pagan jungles of Africa, or among the non-Christian Mohammedans, Buddhists and Hindus of greater Asia, nor was it made in a notorious Bible-burning country. Instead, this amazing sample of ignorance was taken from a churchy country that loudly boasts of being a Bible-loving land, namely the British Isles.

Broken down, the figures show that among the four leading sects—the Church of England, the Nonconformist, the Church of Scotland, and the Roman Catholic—the greatest ignorance showed up among Catholics. Only 51 percent of the church-going Catholics surveyed could name all the Gospels, and well over a third, 36 percent, to be exact, failed completely, not being able to name even one of the Gospels.

“Why?” the News Chronicle asked. Why such ignorance about a book that is found in the majority of British homes? Among the various answers sent in and published was this one: “This rotten condition of affairs,” wrote Mr. H. Mills, “is chargeable to pseudoscience, modernism and false doctrine persistently held and taught by the Churches both Protestant and Roman Catholic. The latter call the Bible a dead book and the former are becoming more and more disposed to accept the false idea that it is a book of legends and folklore not to be taken seriously.” The bishop of Rochester, Dr. C. M. Chavasse, wrote, “The chief cause of all for the Bible being an unknown book is, of course, non-Christian homes.”

The Rev. Dr. H. Townsend, Principal Emeritus, Manchester Baptist College, was honest enough to admit that even the clergy are grossly ignorant when it comes to the Bible. Backing up his admission he quoted the Anglican Commission as saying: “The ignorance of the Bible today amongst many of the younger clergy is really horrifying.” Others thought that the clergy should be only partly blamed. Wrote Mrs. H. M. Fenn, “The clergy are not the only ones responsible for interpreting the scriptures. Even when being taught by Christ’s own apostles the early Christians were commended for ‘searching the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.’ (Acts 17:11)”

The truth of the matter is, these are all contributing factors—evolution, modern atheism, pagan doctrines taught by both the Catholics and the Protestants, the hiding of the Bible under the creeds and traditions of men, the rejection of the Bible as God’s inspired Word of Truth, the gross blindness of the clergy, and the woeful indifference of the people themselves toward reading and studying the Bible—all these elements combined have produced a wild generation of hypocrites! They draw near to God with their lips in prayer, but their hearts are far from Him and their minds are so far removed they know not even the simplest things about the Bible. In vain they do worship, teaching and believing the commandments of men and the philosophies of the pagans.—Matt. 15:1-9.

But you, dear reader, do not be like those who have the best-seller in their homes and yet open it so seldom they cannot tell the Gospel books containing the life of Christ. Do not be an imitation Christian. Instead of following the blind clergy of Christendom and falling into their miry ditch of confusion, better it will be if you study the Bible for yourself, as Christ and the apostles did. It too can be a lamp for your feet. It can lead you out of the darkness and death of this present devil-ruled world into the glorious brightness and life of the new world of righteousness. Gain such lifegiving knowledge and wisdom and you will not exchange it for silver or gold or precious rubies.—Ps. 119:105; Prov. 8:8-12.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

“HAIL, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” With this arresting salutation the angel Gabriel addressed the humble daughter of Heli in the city of Nazareth some 1,952 years ago. She was a young virgin of poor circumstances, this girl, and her father called her Mary, meaning “bitter”. She was engaged to be married, not to a noble prince, but to Joseph the carpenter, a man of humble station in life, like herself. Then why would an angelic messenger from the Most High God hail her as a “favored one”? Or why did her cousin Elizabeth, under power of the holy spirit, exclaim to Mary, “Blessed are you among women”?—Luke 1:28, 41, 42, Rev. Stan. Ver.

Dismiss from your mind at once any thought that Mary was blessed by a so-called “immaculate conception” to free her from the stains of Adamic sin. She was born like all other girls. When it came to inherited imperfections due to Adam’s original sin she was no different from King David, who declared: “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps. 51:5) Whereas there is not the finest thread of Scriptural support for the theory of theologians that Mary was born immaculately perfect, there is much proof in the Bible to the contrary. Then how and in what way was this woman favorably blessed above others of Eve’s daughters?

According to Jewish law and custom, Mary was considered as the espoused wife of Joseph, though she was still living with her parents. (Matt. 1:18) During this engagement period prior to the actual marriage the Lord’s messenger appeared to her with startling news. “Do not be afraid, Mary,” the angel said, “for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”—Luke 1:30-33, Rev. Stan. Ver.

Well, at such a stupendous announcement as this, you can just visualize the surprise, wonderment and doubt mixed with heated emotions, all crowding the mind and countenance of this modest girl. Not knowing what to say first, reason came to her rescue. “How can this be, since I have no husband?” she queried. “The holy spirit will come upon you,” explained the angel, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” To help her remove any doubts about the matter the angel then declared: “Behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”—Luke 1:34-37, Rev. Stan. Ver.

Mary immediately accepted the privilege of service, willingly and joyfully, yet in all meekness and humility. “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And with that she hastened to the hilly country of Judah, to the home of Elizabeth, where she found conditions exactly as the angel had described. What joy and gladness filled Mary’s heart and mind! Overwhelmed, her lips bubbled forth in beautiful words of praise.—Luke 1:38-55, Rev. Stan. Ver.

BECOMES JOSEPH’S WIFE

It was necessary for a virgin to supply the human body of Jesus, for this was one of the signs foretold by the prophet. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22, 23) But why was a betrothed rather than a disengaged virgin required? In order to provide a foster-father, a natural descendant of David, who could pass along to the child the legal right to the throne of David. Joseph was such a descendant through Solomon, as the historian Matthew shows. Luke records that the mother Mary was likewise of the tribe of Judah and was also a descendant of David, through his son Nathan. (See The Kingdom Is at Hand, pages 39 to 43.) Hence the heirship rights of Jesus were doubly established. (Matt. 1:2-16; Luke 3:23-34) This is why the angel assured Joseph that he should not hesitate to take Mary for his legal wife, even though she was with child.—Matt. 1:19-25.

Forced by a taxation decree of Caesar Augustus, Joseph and Mary had to go up to Bethlehem to register. While there, and under those crowded conditions, Mary was delivered of her first-born son. Shepherds from the fields came to pay honor to the new-born Jesus and give praise to his lifegiving Father Jehovah. After forty days of purification according to the law of Moses, Mary went up to the temple in Jerusalem to make atonement for her sins. (Luke 2:22-24; Lev. 12) This proves she was no “Immaculate mother of God”. Her natural imperfections had to be covered by atoning sacrifices. While there in Jerusalem Simeon the man of God, and the aged prophetess Anna, blessed and worshiped this Son of God. These events further emphasize that the mother Mary was not the center of attraction and worship. (Luke 2:25-38) Later Magi from the East came to render homage to her son.—Matt. 2:1-12.

After fleeing to Egypt and abiding there until wicked Herod died, Jesus’ parents returned and settled in the little village of Nazareth. (Matt. 2:13-23; Luke 2:39) It was there that Mary reared Jesus under godly family conditions. She provided Jesus with natural brothers and sisters.

MARY HAD OTHER CHILDREN

You did not know this? It is plainly recorded in the Bible. In the course of his traveling from village to village Jesus came to his own home town in Galilee where all his childhood acquaintances recognized him. “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” they asked. “Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?” (Matt. 13:55, 56, Rev. Stan. Ver.) The Nazarenes referred to the natural, physical family that lived in their village, Joseph the carpenter, his wife Mary and her sons and daughters whom they knew to be the natural brothers and sisters of this man Jesus.

No student of the Bible need be deceived into thinking these brothers and sisters were “cousins”. Neither were they his spiritual brethren, his disciples, for John 2:12 makes the clear distinction between the two groups, to wit: “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples.” (Rev. Stan. Ver.) “But other of the apostles I saw none,” Paul writes, “saving James the brother of the Lord.” (Gal. 1:19, Douay) Since the account says that Joseph “knew” Mary not “until” Jesus was born, it goes without saying that he “knew” her afterwards, and that he fathered her other children. (Matt. 1:25, Rev. Stan. Ver.) Not without meaning Luke 2:7 calls Jesus her “first-born son”.

As a good mother Mary diligently taught and instructed her children in righteousness. The proverb she knew: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) Studiously she schooled herself in the inspired Scriptures, as shown in her spontaneous expression when greeted by Elizabeth. (Luke 1:46-55) On that occasion she repeated the sentiments of Hannah’s song, and displayed a good knowledge of the psalms, historic and prophetic writings, and books of Moses. (1 Sam. 2:1-10; Gen. 30:13; Prov. 31:28; Mal. 3:12) Prophetic events and sayings she committed to memory, treasured them up in her heart, pondered over them in her mind, and was thus equipped to give parental instruction to the lad Jesus.—Luke 2:19, 33.

When only a mere boy of 12, Jesus astonished the learned doctors of the temple with his home training in the Scriptures. However, the circumstances under which Jesus separated himself from his parents at that passover season brought reproof from his mother. “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” The lad Jesus defended his preaching activity, and these words Mary also stored in her memory. However, Jesus did learn and exercise obedience to his parents, for “he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them”.—Luke 2:42-52.

MARY AS JESUS’ DISCIPLE

The meekness and purity of Mary’s heart and mind, her sincere love and devotion to God, the absence of any selfish ambition to shine because of her unique assignment of service, are all manifest in her becoming Jesus’ devoted disciple. Search the Scriptures and you will not find her with a halo, seated on a throne as “mother-queen” or “madonna”, bathing herself in reflected glory of Christ. Rather you will see her far in the background out of the public’s spotlight.—John 2:12; Matt. 13:53-56.

Jesus nipped in the bud any such thing as pagan “mariolatry” among his followers. “It happened while he was saying this, that a certain woman out of the crowd shouted to him, saying, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you have sucked.’ ‘No, rather,’ he answered, ‘blessed are those who listen to the word of God, and keep it.’” (Luke 11:27, 28, Centenary Trans.; Weymouth; Cath. Confraternity) Again, at the wedding feast Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” (John 2:4) Today we might say, ‘What business is it of yours?’ Modern translations read: “Leave the matter in my hands.” (Weymouth) “Do not try to direct me.”—An Amer. Trans.

When one of Jesus’ listeners interrupted his preaching to say his mother and brothers were outside desiring to speak to him, Christ simply gestured toward his disciples and said: “Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt. 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21) Of a truth, Jesus would never make a comparison like this unless he actually had natural brothers and sisters, children of his mother!

So the singular privilege and blessedness that Mary enjoyed was first giving birth to the human body of Jesus, then mothering and training the young child, and finally, through relation with God by faith, becoming Christ’s disciple and spiritual sister. Our last glimpse of Mary in the Bible does not show her being bowed down to and worshiped as “Our Lady”, the “Blessed Virgin”, but rather we see her in an upper room together with other faithful women and the apostles and with her other sons, there worshiping God and his Son Christ Jesus. (Acts 1:13, 14) In course of time she died, her body returned to the dust, and, like the other early Christians, she waited till God’s due time to raise her as a spirit creature for life in heaven.—1 Cor. 15:44, 50; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 11:15-18.

Radio Station WBBR Preaches the Word

Jehovah’s witnesses now declare “the day of vengeance of our God” and at the same time “comfort all that mourn”. (Isa. 61:2) This message of judgment upon the nations and of comfort to the mourners is being published in all the world unto all nations by God’s faithful Kingdom publishers who are ministers of the gospel, by the printed page, by word of mouth, by correspondence and by radio. Outstanding in the field of radio is the Watchtower station WBBR, in New York City.

Many have been the attempts by the misguided servants of darkness to still the voice of this, the only radio station on earth dedicated wholly to the service of Almighty God; but after twenty-six years of uninterrupted proclamation of the Kingdom message giving unstinted praise to Jehovah, WBBR goes confidently on sharing with all other Theocratic instruments the protection Jehovah has promised to his people.—Isa. 54:17, Am. Stan. Ver.

This station being confined to a building, and its voice not being strong enough to reach into all lands, it is unable to fulfill the divine command to preach this gospel of the Kingdom to all nations. The overspreading of the earth with the gospel message is done by the entire body of gospel preachers, Jehovah’s witnesses, as they actively publish the truth in all nations. However, WBBR does have a rare opportunity of preaching to many persons from many nations.

WBBR’s voice may reach some or many of the official representatives of nations, because of its location in New York city. How so? Why, because the focal point of the largest gathering of national representatives ever to exist on earth is New York city. The nations gather there representatively in a United Nations organization. And WBBR has a message that should vitally concern the United Nations, because God’s Word speaks of such international attempts to rule the world, and WBBR preaches that Word.

Over nineteen centuries ago Jesus gave warning of the coming of this great council of nations with its religious backing and said it would presume to stand in the holy place, claiming to be divinely authorized, but in actuality it would be a dreadful desecration under the guise of the political expression of the kingdom of God on earth. “‘So when you see the dreadful desecration, of which the prophet Daniel spoke, set up in the Holy Place’—the reader must take note of this.”—Matt. 24:15, An Amer. Trans.; Ps. 2:1-9.

At the time this great kingdom counterfeit come into prominent view there is to be a mighty world-wide proclamation regarding the true kingdom: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) The desecrating counterfeit has come into view; God’s people are taking note of this. And WBBR is preaching it, at the very doorstep of the U.N.

Not only are the official representatives of many nations within reach of WBBR’s radio signal, but also there are millions of individuals speaking the languages of the various nations, many thousands of them being foreign-born. The iron curtain may be down between the good news of the Kingdom and those nations behind that iron curtain, and may hinder though not stop gospel-preaching in those lands; but there are still in the great metropolitan center of New York city, WBBR’s primary area, according to the last census, 926,516 Russians; 412,543 Poles; 322,586 Austrians; 123,188 Hungarians; 57,624 Czechoslovakians; 84,675 Rumanians, and 11,355 Yugoslavians.

We might look to Palestine, with its 1,912,000 inhabitants, when we think of the good news of the Kingdom going to the Jews of the fleshly house of Israel, and yet incline to ignore the fact that there are “2,035,000 Jews in New York city alone. We think of Rome as being the city where most Italians would be found in one place; there are 1,500,000 inhabitants in Rome, yet in New York city there are 1,095,000 persons, Italian-speaking or Italian-born. There are 506,635 people in Dublin, Ireland, where the kingdom message is greatly opposed by the Catholic clergy, yet there are 518,466 Irishmen in New York city alone, where the Kingdom message is freely broadcast by WBBR. And while in Greece Jehovah’s witnesses receive diabolical persecution at the hands of false religionists, from WBBR the good news of the Kingdom is within easy reach of 53,253 Greeks residing in the city of New York.

WBBR is indeed a powerful instrument in the hands of the Most High God, privileged to preach not to all nations, but to many individuals from many nations.

COMFORTING MOURNERS WITH BIBLE STUDIES

While it is true that WBBR counts it an honor and a privilege to declare the purpose of Jehovah and his coming judgments upon the nations, it takes particular delight in comforting those within its great audience that mourn, and there are many such. Today we are living in the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Amos 8:11: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah.” (Am. Stan. Ver.) Throughout the land of Christendom there is a dearth of truth, a spiritual famine. Many of the Lord’s sheep are hungrily seeking the green pasture where food convenient can be found. WBBR is playing an important role in cooperation with the Lord’s people in seeking out those hungry ones.

The Watchtower Society, the owner and operator of WBBR, has found that these dear sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, can be fed most conveniently in small home Bible-study groups. As the Good Shepherd promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20, Am. Stan. Ver.) WBBR enjoys the happy privilege of being able to serve more than 5,000 such home Bible-study groups.

In addition there are countless homes into which the heart-cheering message of the Kingdom is sent by radio signal. Uniformed attendants, unsympathetic doorkeepers or grumpy householders cannot stop a radio message from reaching the receiver of some hungry sheep casually turning the dial if haply he might find something upon which to feed his hungry soul. In the huge apartment houses of metropolitan New York this is particularly true. The tenant in the back room or a member in the family, neither of whom ever goes to the door, still may be reached and served with the mere turning on of his receiving set and his tuning to 1330 kilocycles. From among the apartment houses of Manhattan comes this note of gratitude:

“The West Manhattan Unit of Jehovah’s witnesses wishes to express appreciation to WBBR for the good work that is being done for the people of good will in our territory. The West Manhattan territory is such that much of it is inaccessible, but we are comforted in the knowledge that the powerful radio waves of WBBR can go beyond those doors and reach in where we cannot.”

One would expect to find in the Lord’s work perfect coordination between all its branches. A faithful witness standing patiently at the street corner, holding in view of the passers-by the message of life as contained in The Watchtower and inviting others to partake of the message, could hardly know that WBBR had already paved the way and stirred up a hungry sheep to seek the green pasture of truth. But such was the case. From a Kingdom publisher comes this happy testimony:

“When we were in street work I handed a lady an invitation to the public Bible lecture. She smiled and thanked me. She said she had been listening to WBBR for about four months and found it very interesting and ‘the gentleman on the radio told me someone would call and help me study the Bible. You know, two are better than one. Do you do that work?’ I have had three studies with her in ‘Let God Be True’. That is the first time anyone ever came up and asked me for a study. Thanks for the wonderful help we are receiving in the field from the broadcasts of WBBR.”

But WBBR’s service is not confined to metropolitan New York, as large and extensive as it is. From the eastern reaches of New Brunswick, Canada, came this note of interest: “I called on a family who are all old and crippled in some way. They are isolated and love the truth dearly. They get the evening programs of WBBR . . . The radio is really a blessing to this isolated family and they are happy beyond description.”

And then those unfortunate shut-ins: “Just a note of appreciation to our heavenly Father for the programs we hear each day. My mother is 95 years of age and almost blind, and but for the radio would indeed be lonely.”

Expressions from our Jewish friends should not be overlooked:

“I have been a constant listener to your evening broadcasts. If there be any solution to the world’s ills, it shall be only one: the abandonment of materialism displaced by spiritual belief and love for one another and for God. I would like to know more about the Watchtower. My upbringing, being nearly empty of religious instruction (of the Hebrew faith), lacking knowledge of the truth, has caused me to be in confusion. Now, however, the truth is seeping in. Awaiting your reply.”

This dear sheep got his reply! From another sincere Jew came this heartfelt praise:

“Among your many well-wishers, I too should like to extend to you my heartfelt wishes in behalf of your splendid work. It is perhaps needless for me to tell you that among all the major and minor broadcasting stations yours indeed excels them all, for your services are of priceless value, sound and inspiring. Your humble organization of Jehovah’s witnesses, in the devotion towards spiritual light and truth, is a sublime consolation and effort in this unbearable tragic day and age of spiritual and moral darkness and desecration.”

And so with boldness in this day, giving all praise to Jehovah, WBBR gives warning, declaring “the day of vengeance of our God”, and with humble gratitude to the Great Shepherd, Jehovah, and the Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus, continually feeds the sheep, comforts those that mourn, and faithfully preaches the Word.—2 Tim. 4:2.

Questions From Readers

● After his resurrection, why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to touch him but commanded Thomas to touch him?—A New York reader.

The widely used King James Version gives Jesus’ words to Mary as follows: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” Then he told her to go tell the disciples about his resurrection and coming ascension. (John 20:17) Modern speech clarifies Jesus’ meaning, as we see by An American Translation’s rendering: “You must not cling to me, for I have not yet gone up to my Father.” It was not a question of her touching Jesus; she had not only touched him but was clinging to him, doubtless fearful that he would vanish and ascend into heaven. Jesus assured her that he was not going yet, and that she should stop clinging to him but go tell his disciples what had happened. That same day Jesus appeared to other disciples, but Thomas was not present and later said he would not believe it till he saw the nail wounds on Jesus and had thrust his hand into Jesus’ speared side. A few days later Jesus did appear to the disciples when Thomas was present, and he invited Thomas to touch the wounds. (John 20:25-27) In both instances Jesus had good reasons for speaking as he did, and there is no contradiction or inconsistency between the two cases.

● Why did the Mosaic Law permit the Israelites to give to the stranger anything that died of itself, though they might not eat it themselves?—Reader in California.

The question refers to Deuteronomy 14:21, which reads: “Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou mayest give it unto the sojourner that is within thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto a foreigner: for thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God.” (Am. Stan. Ver.) In giving or selling such a carcass to a stranger or foreigner the Israelites were not to misrepresent the matter. The receiver or buyer of such wares would be acting voluntarily. He was under no obligation to buy it or accept it as a gift. There was no injustice involved; it was simply a restriction placed on the Israelites, one which other nations then did not observe. The reason why the Israelites must view the matter differently from other nations is shown by the words, “For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God.”

● What is meant by the foot-washing mentioned at John 13:4-16? Does it mean that this should be performed as a ceremony by Christians?—Reader in Virginia.

In the time of Christ the people wore sandals and the feet of travelers became soiled, so that upon arriving at their destination it was necessary to wash the feet. The traveler being weary from his journey would often be shown the courtesy of having his feet washed by a servant under the direction of the host. (Luke 7:44) Servants not being usual among Christians, most of them being poor, the service was performed by the host or hostess. (1 Tim. 5:10) It was a service having much practical value in Jesus’ time. When Jesus did it he was not establishing any religious ceremony, but was setting an example. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14, 15) He was demonstrating humility and love by performing a menial service for the comfort of his brethren; by example he made his disciples see the need of being servants in God’s organization, waiting on one another with the water of truth to aid them to walk in the clean way. (Eph. 5:25, 26) Hence Christians today should copy his example by being humble and ready to serve their brethren in practical ways, just as in Jesus’ day foot-washing was practical. Changed conditions have removed the practical benefits from foot-washing under those same circumstances, and it should not be done merely ceremonially.

● How can it be said Jesus was born 2 B.C. if the Christian era began to count from his birth?—A New Jersey reader.

When Christendom began to count the years since Jesus’ birth an error was made in the calculation. This is generally recognized, but the degree of error is disputed, some saying the era starts from four to eight years late. However, the Scriptures show Jesus’ birth as 2 B.C. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, John the Baptist began his ministry, at which time John was thirty (about April 1). Six months later Jesus was thirty. (Num. 4:3; Luke 3:1-3, 23; 1:36) That would be about October 1, in the sixteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. Tiberius’ first year began August 19, A.D. 14; his fifteenth would end August 18, A.D. 29. Hence if Jesus was thirty at about October 1, 29, that means that his birth thirty years earlier must have been about October 1, 2 B.C.

Experiences in Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom

“SHEEP” IN FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA

Brother Bernard Gaouranga, one of the new and zealous publishers of the Bangui company, came to visit here at Dekoa for two months. It is his native land. We go out witnessing together, and, as this district is, so to speak, solidly people of good will, we are followed by big crowds to whom we witness. Protestant assemblies, encouraged principally by Jacques Samba, a native pastor of that region, invite us constantly, in spite of the interdiction of the European pastors. In one place it happened that we were preaching to an assembly of 988 eager listeners. Many more persons of good will hesitate to participate in the “strange work” of Jehovah because they have not seen in our land a white leader in charge of the work. The colored Africans would not hurl themselves to an organization without fear unless they see a European in charge. Therefore we rejoiced so much in reading in one of the issues of The Watchtower that the Society will send some brethren.—Dekoa publisher.

LOOK IN YOUR BIBLE!

A publisher from Florida reports this rather amusing experience: “One outstanding event was with a man who had lost two dollars ten years ago in his home, and had fired his maid for theft. When he asked me whether his Bible was like mine and contained the same information, I asked to see his copy. After some searching it was found, and I opened his Bible and there the long-lost two dollars. He spent one of the dollars for an Awake! subscription, and commented, ‘If I ever find the maid I’ll send her a subscription with the other one.’”

Announcements

“STICK TO YOUR WORK”

For the month of September, Jehovah’s witnesses have selected their service theme from 1 Timothy 4:16, Moffatt, “Stick to your work.” Their sticking to the work of gospel-preaching has enabled you and thousands of others to better understand God’s purposes. Are you not grateful for their perseverance? Your appreciation can best be shown by calling these truths to the attention of others. So doing, you, too, share in a work that leads both the workers and those who hear them onto the path of life. To this end, three booklets, one colored-cover and two self-covered, are to be offered during September, on a contribution of 10c. If you would like to obtain a supply to furnish to your acquaintances you may obtain some from the local company of Jehovah’s witnesses or write to us for them. We shall be pleased at the same time to furnish report slips and such instructions as you require so that your share in the preaching work may be added to that of the thousands of others who are sticking to this work of the ministry throughout the world.

“REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES”

A complete report describing all eight days of the International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, held July 30 through August 6, 1950, at the Yankee Stadium, New York, will be available about August 14, 1950. This 96-page brochure, which includes all five convention issues, is printed on white paper with pages the same in dimensions as this magazine. It is bound in a durable cover and will be mailed anywhere, postpaid, on a contribution of 25c. It provides a lasting record of this memorable event.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of September 17: “The Increase of His Government,” ¶1-21.

Week of September 24: Answering the Foes of His Government, ¶1-18.

Week of October 1: Answering the Foes of His Government, ¶19-28; Resolution, ¶1-12.