The Watchtower — October 1, 1950

“The Wisdom from Above”

GRASSHOPPERS are not very smart. Their thoughts are not men’s thoughts. If a man could give just a small part of his mental power to a grasshopper, that favored grasshopper would be far wiser than all the other grasshoppers combined. How high above grasshoppers are men!

But before any swell with pride, read what Isaiah says about Jehovah God: “He sits over the round earth, so high that its inhabitants look like grasshoppers.” (Isa. 40:22, Mo) How high above men is God! “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8, 9) If a man could get some of God’s wisdom in him, that favored man would be wiser than all other men that lack divine wisdom.

While it is not possible for feeble man to project any of his mental power to a grasshopper, it is possible for Jehovah to impart his wisdom to men. Through his Word the Bible “the LORD giveth wisdom”, “he layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous.” (Prov. 2:6, 7) For those who gain proper understanding along with the wisdom from the Scriptures, the eyes of their understanding are enlightened. They discern more than other men.—Prov. 4:7; Eph. 1:18.

For instance, many men note the wars, famines, pestilences and other numerous woes that have afflicted and still afflict this generation, since 1914. But they blindly say it is only history repeating itself. Whereas the eyes of understanding enlightened by God’s Word see in these things not repeating history, but the foretold signs of Messiah’s presence. By studying the Bible such persons have the mind of the Lord on these momentous happenings, and hence they draw on a wisdom far superior to the pooled wisdom of all the finest human brains in the world, a wisdom higher above man’s than man’s is above a grasshopper’s. Note things written centuries ago that mark the time of the end of this present wicked system of things.

Jesus said: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages . . . and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”—Luke 21:10, 11, 25, 26, NW.

The apostle Paul said: “Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. . . . Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.”—2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13, NW.

The apostle Peter said: “In the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.’”—2 Pet. 3:3, 4, NW.

Men who shut eyes and stop ears and close minds to such wisdom from above that enlightens us concerning these “critical times hard to deal with” will remain as stupid as grasshoppers in God’s sight. If they ridicule the divine wisdom that informs that present events and woes are signs of the last days, if they brush off such happenings as history repeating itself, as cycles “continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning”, then their very presence as ridiculers is but an added sign.

But relative to these woes now afflicting mankind, some men do worse than merely ridicule. Some blaspheme God, and cause others to blaspheme. The clergy, who claim to serve God, often say He brings these woes upon men to punish them for evil, and frequently say punishment comes because men today do not support the organized churches of Christendom. Typical is this from a leaflet circulated by Catholics in Timmins, Ontario: “Did you know that the 2nd World War was a punishment from heaven for sins?” Such falsehoods turn men away from God. It is of such wisdom that Jehovah says: “The wisdom of their wise men shall perish.” It perishes, when we listen to divine wisdom that tells who is really behind present woes: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”—Rev. 12:12, NW.

“The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Cor. 3:19) Do not be dazzled by foolishness. True, some men are smarter than others, viewed in a worldly way. Isn’t it also true some grasshoppers may have more instinctive wisdom than others? Even so, to a man all grasshoppers are so low down mentally that it makes little difference. Similarly, to God all men are so far below him in wisdom that none are of consequence mentally. In fact, he generally favors those of less worldly wisdom. “For you behold his calling of you, brothers, that not many wise in a fleshly way were called, not many powerful, not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put the wise men to shame, and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put the strong things to shame; and God chose the ignoble things of the world and the things looked down upon, the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are, in order that no flesh might boast in the sight of God.”—1 Cor. 1:26-29, NW; Matt. 11:25; Acts 4:13.

Hence men who would be truly wise will seek “the wisdom that comes down from above”, which is peaceable, reasonable, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and not hypocritical. That wisdom is a defense in these critical times; fools will die for lack of it. Search the Bible for it, as for something more valuable than gold and silver. Studiously dig for it, as you would seek out hidden treasures. “If anyone of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously.”—Prov. 2:1-5; 10:21; Eccl. 7:12; Jas. 1:5; 3:15-18, NW.

The Way of Success

Delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at the graduation exercises of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 1950, at the Yankee Stadium, New York city, as the opening feature of the 8-day international assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses

“Then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”—Josh. 1:8.

1. What has Jehovah been conducting? And how is success measured?

JEHOVAH is conducting a Government school of success. There is nothing else on earth like it. Since it graduated a Master Instructor it has been in operation for nineteen hundred years. The wonderful course that it offers through him is an education and training for life through all eternity to come. You will not graduate from this school until you have proved yourself worthy of the right to everlasting life. Gaining this right is the measure of a person’s real success, and it is a credit to the School Instructors and a lasting joy and blessing to the successful graduate. Success is really to be measured in terms of living, and not in the fleeting superficial things of this world. The One who gained the highest type of life, immortality in the heavens, said: “What benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26, NW) To what greater success could any man or woman attain than to gain endless life in happiness, that with it he might serve the God who bestows this prize? Next to that, what sweeter privilege could we have than to help someone else to gain such life with us? None. Then how to make such a success is the question, and Jehovah’s theocratic school of success supplies the answer.

2. How do we enter this school? How have worldly schools failed?

² To enter this school we have to turn ourselves over fully to the great Conductor of the school, Jehovah God. We have to submit ourselves fully to his course of instruction and be willing to learn according to his way. That means we have to choose to serve God and to enter into an agreement with him to do his will, desiring his will to be done in everything. We want him to make out of us what he wants, and not what this world thinks we ought to be. After more than four thousand years of existence this world has proved itself a dismal failure, showing that it has no life of freedom, of tranquillity and of joy to offer. All the schools it has established till now have failed to teach its students how to gain such a life. And so the glowing plans that this world wants to map out for us according to its idea of success are doomed to end up in bitter disillusionment for us, in this modern electronic age the same as in all previous ages. The days of this world are numbered, and all those who are studying and aiming for success in this world will pass out with it in destruction.

3. What is Jehovah’s desire for those entering his school?

³ But Jehovah God wants his students to find a permanent place in the free new world which he creates and which will never pass away. That is his desire for us who enter his school. His beloved Son Jesus said: “Likewise it is not a desirable thing with my Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.” (Matt. 18:14, NW) He wants to have us attain to eternal life in the world to come, and he knows just the course of study, training and activity that we need for us to succeed. It is, therefore, essential that we obey his will as Teacher.

4. How was this rule of success emphasized in Joshua’s case?

⁴ This rule for success he emphasized long ago. The prophet Moses was soon to climb Mount Nebo for a look at the Promised Land of milk and honey and die and, before parting, he led the Israelites into a covenant of faithfulness toward Jehovah God and said: “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.” (Deut. 29:1-9) Through Moses Jehovah God gave the Book of the Law to the Israelites. He appointed Moses’ faithful servant Joshua to be his successor to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua’s success as the one taking Moses’ place would be measured by his leading the people of God’s covenant triumphantly across the Jordan river and subduing and clearing out the enemies that then occupied the land. When Joshua comes back in the resurrection from the dead and you ask him what worked for his success, he will tell you it was obedience to these words of Jehovah God to him: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”—Josh. 1:7, 8.

5. According to those words to Joshua, in what does the way to success lie?

⁵ That settles it for us: The way to good success lies in loyal obedience to our divine Teacher, Jehovah. But to obey we have to familiarize ourselves with his will. He has given us his written Word, but we have to meditate on it day and night that we may make out what his will is for us, what work he wants us to do. That Word must not depart from our mouths, but we must keep it on our tongue and discuss it with others and must declare it to others for their guidance to success. Our loving Teacher is ever ready to help us to learn his will and know the truth. He watches our line of action in trying to do his will and is always there to guide us. Assuringly he says to us: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, else they will not come near unto thee.” (Ps. 32:8, 9, AS) If we have better sense than a horse and a mule we will come willingly to our great Master Jehovah God and will look to him for instruction and teaching, and will always try to carry these out, knowing that his eye is upon us to watch how we do and correct us when we make mistakes. So he keeps us from going the wrong way, which ends up in failure. We could not have a more devoted teacher than he is, one who is sincerely and lovingly interested in the lasting welfare of his pupils and concerned for their ultimate success.

6. Copying what pupil’s example leads to sure success? Why so?

⁶ Jehovah’s beloved Son Jesus Christ was his greatest pupil, and if we copy his example we shall be certain to succeed as he did. Jesus was completely resigned to doing what his Father and Teacher showed to be his will and speaking what He taught him to say in this world. For doing his Father’s will to the limit, he was lifted up with his hands and feet nailed to a torture stake. Not a success in this world’s eyes, of course. But it proved the Devil a liar in saying no man could be completely faithful to God in this world, and it showed Jesus’ perfect integrity and obedience to God as Sovereign Ruler over all. Therefore Jesus said to the Jews: “When once you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of my own initiative, but just as the Father taught me I speak these things.” (John 8:28, NW) Jesus admitted to being taught by his God and Father, and for us to follow in his footsteps we must have the same Teacher as he had. Persons of this world pride themselves on having gone to a certain school or college and having had certain renowned ones as instructors. But we could not have a teacher grander and more competent than Jehovah God, nor any schooling higher than what he gives, for this leads to sure success.

7. Through whom must we enter this school, and why? After being taught, what must we do?

⁷ Because of Jesus’ faithfulness Jehovah sent him forth into this world to teach us. Hence we must become Jesus’ disciples or learners. We cannot gain entrance into Jehovah’s school of success unless through Jesus, for he said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NW) And so Jehovah’s entire school system has been organized with Jesus Christ as the main Teacher under Jehovah God himself. And as Jehovah taught Jesus that he might teach others, so we too, after ourselves being taught, must teach others. God’s bringing us into his school is for an unselfish purpose. It is not a school where mere theory is taught, but it is a most practical school. The purpose of our attending there is that we might learn to do what is in harmony with our Creator and may teach others for them also to win life from God through Jesus Christ.

STAYING BY THESE THINGS

8. Why do we all, including graduates of Gilead, have to stay in this school now and carry on our studies?

⁸ This world and its invisible ruler the Devil are opposed to God’s will. It is in the midst of this world that we must live just now, but, thank God, it is now only a “short period of time” before the Devil and his world-rulers of this darkness are bound and put out of the way. But during this remaining “short period of time” in which this world stands we have to live in it, and for this special reason we must pursue our studies and learning in the divine school. We cannot afford to drop out or play hooky. We cannot afford to be dismissed from it for improper conduct, rebelliousness against our Teachers, and unfaithfulness. In order to be crowned with success we must keep on with our studies of God’s Word and with our efforts to teach others also. Some of us may have been privileged as full-time ministers of God to attend the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and graduate from it and receive a diploma of merit. That has been a great blessing to all such graduates, and it has put them far ahead in understanding God’s will and in being able to study his Word and to teach others. But that is not the end of study and schooling for even such graduates. No; it is the beginning of living under a greater responsibility before God. Graduates of Gilead as well as all the rest of us must continue on in the greater school of Jehovah God by Christ Jesus, which is open to all of us. In this divine institution we must all carry on our studies as long as we are in this wicked enemy world, that we may not be destroyed with it.

9. When will success be attributed to us, as Paul showed?

⁹ Success, which leads to everlasting life in the new world, will never be attributed to us until we have finished our career in this old world and have kept the divine approval upon us down to the finish. It was only at the finish that the apostle Paul could say for himself: “The due time for my releasing is imminent. I have fought the right fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. As for the rest, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day.”—2 Tim. 4:6-8, NW.

10. Why, too, must diplomaed Gilead graduates press on with their studies afterward? Besides in personal study, how must we study?

¹⁰ Hence Gilead graduates must press on with their studies, and thus put to practical use the training they so graciously received through Jehovah’s organization. They must now push their personal studies, no longer under the pressure of the Gilead School schedule or because of facing examinations or for the sake of winning passing grades; no, but for the sake of meeting the demands made on them by the great teaching work which they have to carry on after leaving school. Graduating from such a school and being able to exhibit a diploma is not the final goal. Your succeeding in finally saving your own soul and helping in the salvation of others is the great objective of all the schooling Jehovah gives through Jesus Christ. All this plays its part in vindicating Jehovah as a Father who gives life to obedient children who are devotedly attached to him and who are a credit to him. To such he says: “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.” (Prov. 27:11) It is not only by our personal study of the Bible and the publications of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at our abodes that we carry forward our study in the heavenly Father’s Word, but by “not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together” but “encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near”. (Heb. 10:25, NW) Our attending a public or private school with other pupils has its instructive benefits. So our gathering together with fellow Christians for study, prayer and field-service instruction has its invaluable benefits. If we get the largehearted spirit of our great Teachers, we just love to be together with persons who are studying and training with us in the same divine school.

11. What is it necessary for us to do after our study hours?

¹¹ But as with Gilead graduates, we cannot just drop our studies as soon as we leave school or classroom. When we close our Bibles and our Bible-study books after a personal study, or when we leave a meeting-place and part from fellow Christians, we cannot forget the things we have learned. That would be a waste of time, money and mental effort. We must meditate on those things and apply them as we meet life’s daily problems and also tell these things out to others. We must put our acquired knowledge to work; as it is written: “Become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning.” (Jas. 1:22, NW) Keep always in view the sublime purpose of your schooling under the tutelage of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. That purpose is that, after our study hours, we may do God’s work to his glory and for the salvation of ourselves and of others. And this we are obliged to do in the midst of an unfriendly world. Remember, a great part of our own schooling comes through trying to teach others.

NOT FORSAKING MOTHER’S LAW

12, 13. Why do we need to be courageous, like Joshua? Whose backing is promised us, and under what conditions?

¹² When Joshua marched across the Jordan river into hostile territory he needed great courage and unswerving devotion to Jehovah’s purpose. So with us now. We today march forward to the work for which our great Teacher has schooled us under Jesus Christ, and we do so in a world filled with foes. We know what we have been instructed to do, but we cannot successfully do it in our own strength and according to our natural understanding of things. We need the guidance, help and backing of the One who sends us out from his Theocratic school. He does not send us out and forget about us. He is keenly interested in how his pupils use the precious knowledge he has given them through his Theocratic organization under Christ. He has promised to be with them, but only if they carry out his commandments and act according to the way they have been taught. Naturally he would not be with those who prove disobedient and are not doers of his Word. The enemy world tries to compel us to act and live contrary to divine teaching, so that all our schooling may go for nothing, wasting God’s goodness. For that reason we need all the more to be fearless and to adhere strictly to what God has commanded and taught us. He does not guarantee us prosperity and good success in his service if we do otherwise.

¹³ But be sure of this one thing: He has not sent us forth on a vain mission, but he will grant us prosperity and good success if we carry out his Word; for his word never returns void and unfulfilled to him.—Isa. 55:11.

14. Through what does God give us instruction? Like him, why will it be with us as we go forth, and on what conditions?

¹⁴ To be successful for life eternal we have to listen to God’s instruction through his Theocratic organization and to abide by it even under circumstances of great stress. Speaking to his pupils as children, God says: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law [or, teaching] of thy mother.” The heavenly Father here likens his organization for teaching his children to a woman, a mother who is very devoted to her husband and to their children. (Prov. 1:8, AS, margin) The heavenly Father wants us to have respect for his educational organization, and so he says: “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” (Prov. 6:20, 23) If we keep our Father’s instruction and commandment, not only will he be with us, but his “woman”, our “mother”, will also be with us. Every normal woman is attached to her children. Jehovah, who made woman, asks: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” (Isa. 49:15) God’s woman, or Theocratic organization, is like him. She never forgets her children, those whom she teaches and brings forth as witnesses and representatives of her husband, the Most High God. We should show our love for her by not forsaking the law of our mother. It would be foolish to give up her law and treat it with contempt. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.”—Prov. 15:20.

15. Why is one who thinks he can get along without the organization foolish? Of what disrespect and transgression is he guilty?

¹⁵ A person who thinks he can get along without God’s organization and can study the Bible on his own and can do God’s work independently as he thinks best apart from all organization is very foolish. He lacks all understanding of how God has dealt with his servants in times past. We must not forget that God instructs us through his organization, his woman, our mother. He respects his woman and appreciates the work that she does in behalf of His sons and daughters. So he does not like it when any professed Christian disrespects the “mother” organization. To disrespect her means to disrespect Jesus Christ, for God has made this beloved Son the head of the Theocratic organization. He who robs the organization of the respect due this symbolic mother is working to destroy the organization, not build it up. He is guilty of transgressing against her divine husband, Jehovah our heavenly Father. What you do against her you do against him. “Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.” And the great destroyer is Satan the Devil. (Prov. 28:24) Let us, then, not rob and destroy, but show love and respect for our mother by never forsaking her law and teaching as the Devil did. Let us ever be obedient to her, doing so as to Jehovah, her Husband and Head.

16. In what way is she a woman worthy to be our mother?

¹⁶ She is a worthy woman. She is no adulteress or fornicator with the Devil, and we are not illegitimate children when we confess her motherhood. She is Theocratically subject to her Husband, the Most High God. We can therefore trust her to lead us in ways pleasing to Jehovah the Giver of everlasting life. Her loving concern is for His children, and she looks well to that, using all her organizational means and powers for their welfare. The thirty-first chapter of Proverbs likens her to a virtuous woman. The description it gives of such a woman inspires confidence in the organization and helps us to love and appreciate it.

17. To whom was the description of her given? In general what does it show?

¹⁷ The description was given to King Lemuel, whose name means “belonging to God” or “sacred to God”. The virtuous woman was described to him by his own mother. As mother to a king, she occupies the relation of a queen to her great Husband, Jehovah the King of eternity, the Father of the “kings of the earth”. So she can rear and instruct kings sacred to God. By her description she shows what we ought to look for in His Theocratic woman or organization. “A prudent wife is from Jehovah,” and the Theocratic woman or organization is His creation and was made for our motherhood.—Prov. 19:14, AS.

18. Against what does she warn them? And how does she feed them?

¹⁸ Showing loyalty to her Husband, she warns her children against overindulging in intoxicants or drinks which stupefy and benumb our powers and senses. Why? Lest her children be overcome and deprived of a sound mind and forget the law of God. (Lev. 10:8-11) She builds up the stature and strength of her sons and daughters by feeding them with food. It does not matter that she at times has to import the food from afar, like merchants’ ships coming from distant ports. So, to feed her children in outlying territories or distant lands, the Watch Tower Society imitates her by bringing workers from distant points to the Bible School of Gilead and sends these missionaries back or sends them to other distant points that by these she may feed spiritual nourishment to all her children. All those who serve her, whether they be directly her children or not, she feeds and strengthens for service, for, it is written, she gives “a portion to her maidens”. (Prov. 31:15) She rises early while it is yet dark in order to have food ready on time for all her household.

19. How does she clothe them?

¹⁹ Besides feeding, she also sees to the clothing of her children. She works up materials with which to clothe them, that they may be presentable with a godly, Christian identification of which they need never be ashamed. She clothes them with the identity of witnesses of her Husband, Jehovah. So “she is not afraid of the snow for her household”, for she knows God’s children by her are well clothed to bear the cold hatred of this world. She is always providing for their well-being in the future, looking ahead to what they will need in time to come, that she may “rejoice in time to come” at having met the needs.

20. How does she look to the ways of her household?

²⁰ She “looketh well to the ways of her household”. Hence it is an orderly, well-conducted, industrious and godly household, of which it is a blessing to be a member. In this behalf it may be necessary sometimes for her to use the rod and administer a reproof to one or all her children. But by letting us go our own way it would never work to our eventual success or bring honor to her organizational methods. She knows that “the rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame”. (Prov. 29:15) She does not want to be ashamed of how she brought up God’s children and she does not want us to be a grief and reproach to him. At the same time “she openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness”. (Prov. 31:26) Thus by reproof and by kindly counsel she gives wise teaching and maintains God’s law.

21. What makes her wise and praiseworthy? How does she teach love?

²¹ In organizational operation and structure the world may not think she is beautiful of feature or graceful and it makes fun of her primitive simplicity characteristic of apostolic days. Ah, but she fears Jehovah, and that is what makes her wise and virtuous and wins her lasting praise from Him. She has a big love, stretching out her hand to the poor and reaching forth her hand to the needy; and so she instills in her children generosity and neighbor love. She wants them to share with others the spiritual blessings from their heavenly Father, imparting to the poor and needy the food of his Kingdom truth and clothing them with garments to identify them with his King.—Prov. 31:30, 20.

VISIBLE REPRESENTATIVES LIKE HER

22. Who is our spiritual mother, Gilead, the Watch Tower Society? Why? And in what children is she interested?

²² In this world it is customary to speak of a high school, college or university from which a person graduates by the heathen expression “alma mater” (fostering mother). But the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is not the great mother organization of the Gilead graduates. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is not the great mother organization of Jehovah’s witnesses who have received the Kingdom truth through it and who cooperate with it world-wide, using it as their legal and business servant and advisory governing body. No; as Jehovah’s witnesses we represent something greater than these minor visible organizations. The great “mother” is Jehovah’s universal organization, which he created and of which he is the faithful Husband. (Isa. 54:5; Gal. 4:26) By her he brings forth his beloved children for his purpose. By her he gives us law and instruction, provides for us, guides us and looks out for our welfare with a view to our everlasting life. In her we find fulfilled all the traits of a virtuous woman so lovelily described to King Lemuel. Just now, when God’s kingdom is the paramount issue, his “woman” is chiefly concerned with bringing forth successfully to kingship with Jesus Christ in heaven the remnant of his royal “little flock”. Yet she is interested also in the many, many “other sheep” who will eventually become her earthly children in God’s image and likeness. Her heart is big enough to hold a love now for them all and to gather all these “other sheep” to her warm, loving bosom.—Luke 12:32; John 10:16.

23. Yet what organizations on earth manifest her traits? Why?

²³ However, what we see exemplified in God’s woman, his heavenly universal organization, we should look to see in his visible organization. Why? Because his higher, greater universal organization uses it as her earthly instrument. That is why we do see those motherly traits, those traits and acts of a virtuous woman, in the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, because these profess to represent and serve God’s woman. We thank God for providing and using them. So we stand up respectfully and bless his faithful organization, his queenly “woman” in heaven which makes all these loving provisions for us as children of God.—Prov. 31:28.

24. Hence what is the way of success? So keep in touch with what?

²⁴ If we have an appreciation of all these truths, what shall we say is the way of success? All the examples and the teachings of the Word of God agree that it is the way marked by faithful, loving obedience to God and to the commandments he issues through his Theocratic organization. Hence keep in touch with the central organization, God’s Theocratic “woman”. Keep in tune with it by accepting the Theocratic organization rules and instructions which God issues to us through it. Never forsake these, but be teachable, as trustful children. Hold fast to the Bible.

25. Where should we serve God? For what length of time, and how?

²⁵ Serve God where he places you. Remember that the great Director of the organization knows his tools or instruments. He knows which to use and where and how to use it. So lend yourself to his use when he chooses you. His choice of you is never accidental and unpremeditated. Go to the territory or position to which he designates you. Show your fitness for the place to which you are thus assigned. Work in unity with the organization as a whole. Draw all the good out of whatever reproofs are administered to you for your proper conduct. Carry out instructions with all respect for the great “mother” organization. And never quit your assigned work of your own accord. Build up your ability and competence for the work by staying with it and familiarizing yourself with it more and more. Take to heart the apostle’s organizational instruction to the young overseer Timothy: “Ponder over these things, be absorbed in them, that your advancement may be manifest to all persons. Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”—1 Tim. 4:15, 16, NW.

26. What will you thus prove yourself, and in what will you have a part?

²⁶ In this way you will prove yourself a worthy child of God by his “woman”. You will show what he can make of you by his instruction through his “woman”. Thus you will have a part with Jesus Christ in vindicating Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty over all intelligent creatures who live in the universe. That is what spells the highest success for you for all life to come.

[Picture on page 344]

Main Gilead Building

[Picture on page 345]

Gilead Library

“Droop Not Your Hands”

Delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at 5:45 p.m., Sunday, August 6, 1950, as the closing feature of the 8-day Theocracy’s Increase Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses at the Yankee Stadium, New York city.

1. How has it been demonstrated God has a people on earth called by his name? Who do they prove to be?

THROUGH years of world-wide publicity efforts since A.D. 1914, through years of hard work pushed to the ends of the earth, through years of international reproach and persecution, and through years of divine protection, preservation and increase, it has been definitely established before all mankind that Jehovah God has a people in the earth who are called by his name. This has startled and alarmed all Christendom. For sixteen centuries she has professed to be the favored organization of God. Yet it has not been Christendom that has brought God’s name to the fore. She has not made plain what his marvelous works in this critical time are nor what his blessed purpose for the immediate future of mankind is. She has not stood up for his side of the controversy that must now be settled: The rule of the universe by Jehovah God or world domination by Satan, which? It has been a despised and persecuted people that has been used by divine providence to do these things, Jehovah’s witnesses! And their work is not yet done. It takes on greater importance as the world situation grows more critical, and it will be blessed with yet larger results by God’s favor.

2. What active force is today at work on earth? and how? Whence does it spring?

² Who can deny that the invincible spirit of Jehovah God is now at work in the earth as it was in ancient times? It has enveloped the people who bear his name and clothed them like a garment to identify them before all the world. That spirit is the active force issuing forth from the Kingdom which the Most High God established in the heavens in 1914 in the hands of Jesus Christ his Son, and that spirit must now be reckoned with by all the nations. The activity and onward-sweeping movement of the witnesses who exalt the name of Jehovah God spring from him. It is according to his will and therefore has his blessing. It could not have come about otherwise. By establishing his kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ in 1914 he raised the Signal of hope for all peoples. All of these can now turn to it, just as the faces of all the Israelites in the wilderness who had been bitten by deadly serpents turned to the brazen serpent which Moses raised on a pole that they might be healed from the venom of death.—Num. 21:4-9; John 3:14, 15; 8:28.

3. To oppose the Kingdom what did Satan stir up, and yet how did God turn a message of hope to the peoples?

³ In opposition to God’s newly established kingdom Satan the Devil stirred up the wrath of the nations of earth in the first total war for world domination. Taking advantage of that war of 1914-1918 he subjected God’s witnesses to oppressive measures. Yet from 1919 forward Jehovah delivered, revived and regathered his consecrated people that they might publish the Kingdom message to all nations before the world’s destruction at Armageddon. In this way he has turned to the peoples of all nations the new message of hope. As the prophecy of Zephaniah 3:9 foretold, he has ‘turned to the peoples a pure language’.

4. What age-long prayer has God answered? Whom has he thus drawn together?

⁴ Our heavenly Father has answered the age-long prayer for his kingdom. He has set up the Kingdom separate and distinct from religious Christendom and higher than all earthly governments, yes, higher than the “tower of Babel” skyscrapers of the United Nations capital in New York city. This potent fact has influenced the speech of God’s people and acted as a corrective. It has been the basis of the purifying of their language as his witnesses. It has drawn them to the heavenly Signal, the Kingdom, and has unified them all over the earth, in utter contempt of the racial, color, social, language, political, national, and religious differences and divisions of this world.

5. To what have the dispersed ones come? How as suppliants?

⁵ No matter how far off they have been dispersed over the earth, the pure language of the Kingdom message has sounded out like a trumpet blast at a king’s coronation and has reached their ears and turned these dispersed ones to the Kingdom. So from all places they have assembled to it as one people by uniting their hearts to the Kingdom. They have come as “suppliants”, making supplication for the favor of Jehovah God and his reigning King Jesus Christ, and their supplications have risen like an incense that is sweet-smelling to God. Speaking of this very time in which the worldly nations and kingdoms have been gathered together to be consumed by God’s fury and indignation, he gave the prophecy that has now come to pass: “Then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed [ones], shall bring mine offering.”—Zeph. 3:9, 10, AS.

6. What do we have that demonstrates such coming of His dispersed ones?

⁶ In proof of this we could speak of the united activities of Jehovah’s witnesses today in 106 nations under 64 Branch offices of the Watch Tower Society, and with 357,889 active Kingdom publishers reporting in the month of April, 1950, not including those uncounted ones in Russia and Yugoslavia. However, no more stupendous demonstration of this united coming of God’s dispersed ones could have been given, all concentrated in one small locality, than the Theocracy’s Increase Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York city, for the eight days of July 30 to August 6, 1950. For among the 89,451 delegates attending it there were representatives not only from “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia” but also from seventy other nations. The offerings of praise and of devotion to God’s kingdom which they brought were only a token of the larger offerings made by their fellow witnesses in all the lands they represented.

THEIR REFUGE AND THEIR KIND OF SPEECH

7. What kind of people are Jehovah’s witnesses, just as foretold by the prophecy?

⁷ It was to be expected that Christendom and the rest of the world would look down upon them. But Jehovah’s witnesses never did claim to be religiously prominent or socially high or politically powerful in this world. The Most High God of glory does not need such kind of persons to contribute any glory, money or influence to him. What is more, he did not promise to gather such kind of persons and blend them into one people by means of his “pure language”. Jehovah’s witnesses are persons who were once transgressors like the rest of the world, but their transgressions have now had divine forgiveness through Christ. Comparatively, they are a “little people”, an afflicted, poor and humble people in the midst of an alien world. But that just fits the description of those whom the God of glory promised to assemble round his Kingdom Signal on the heavenly Mount Zion. Pointing to this “day of Jehovah”, he said: “In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.”—Zeph. 3:11, 12, AS.

8. Why do they take refuge in Jehovah’s name?

⁸ Their refuge is an outstanding feature about them. The name of Jehovah has been practically a lost name in this world, even in Christendom. Today the tendency of religious clergy who seek worldly recognition and respect is to get away from that name as being the cognomen of a tribal god of a despised people. No other name has borne more reproach and vilification, from Christendom in particular, than the name of Jehovah since his witnesses publicly chose in 1931 to be marked by it. But his witnesses know from the Holy Bible what that name stands for. They know all the glorious history connected with it. They know all the divine promises, covenants and prophecies that have been given and fulfilled over that name. They know, too, that every last one of the nations of this world will yet be made to know that name as belonging to the Supreme and Omnipotent God of the universe. Therefore they have enough faith, enough Christian respect, and enough childlike confidence to “take refuge in the name of Jehovah”. To them it stands for the only Rightful Government, for God’s Fatherhood of Jesus Christ the King, for our eternal deliverance from Satan’s world, and for our everlasting life in the unbroken peace, health and happiness of an enduring new world. Therefore we consider it a privilege to bear the reproaches which the Devil casts upon that name. We count it an honor to call upon that name, sounding it forth in praiseworthy language to all who long for knowledge of the true God.

9. Why do the remnant of Israel no longer work unrighteousness?

⁹ At this time there is only a small remnant of spiritual Israelites. (Gal. 6:16) These anointed followers of Jesus Christ form the core of the visible Theocratic organization of Jehovah God on earth today. To show the results which prove that this remnant had the pure language turned to them from 1919 onward, the prophecy says: “The remnant of Israel shall not work unrighteousness, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: but they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Zeph. 3:13, Da) Unrighteousness, lies, deceit, and molestation and disturbance of peace and security will be no part of the coming new world. They have no place now in the Theocratic organization which has had its speech purified and which is the only visible organization that will survive this world’s end into the clean new world. The remnant of spiritual Israelites can no longer follow the lawlessness, nor the self-willed irregularity, such as marked the time when there was no king in Israel and when everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes. We now recognize that the Kingdom has been set up and that now we have a reigning King. This certainly makes a difference, and so we take orders from our King. We are Theocratic.—Judg. 18:1; 19:1; 21:25

10. Why is no deceitful tongue found in their mouths, and how do they feed and lie down?

¹⁰ Our speech has been cleansed of the traditional religious lies which we picked up and became tainted with during our captivity in Babylonish Christendom, and we have chosen to “let God be true”, though it makes every religious instructor in Christendom a liar. The remnant of spiritual Israel are now out to preach the truth which is in God’s Word. And so we are proclaiming the good news of his Government, and we have renounced a deceitful tongue. We are not peddlers of God’s Word who misrepresent their product in order to deceive their customers and make sales for self-enrichment at the people’s expense. We boldly declare the truth and let its simple purity recommend the truth to every honest seeker of truth and right. We fear God, to whom we are responsible, and hence we trust in his protection and, like sheep under his Right Shepherd Jesus Christ, we feed in green spiritual pastures and lie down without fear of being molested by disturbers within the organization. The spiritual Israelites today may be only a remnant, but now the Right Shepherd of Jehovah gathers to our side a great flock of “other sheep” to enjoy the blessings of Theocratic organization with us.—John 10:11, 14, 16, NW.

THE ROYAL PRESENCE BARS EVIL

11, 12. Who should sing, shout, be glad and rejoice, and why?

¹¹ What if the world does not love us, but oppresses and persecutes us? With conditions so marvelously changed to a flourishing Paradise state among God’s devoted people this is no time to be sad and mourn and lose all ambition. From millenniums past the inspired prophecy comes booming down to us: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.”—Zeph. 3:14, 15, AS.

¹² Yes, from the capital city on down to the lowest limits of the Theocratic organization; from the heavenly Mount Zion, where Jesus thrones as King, on down to the remnant of spiritual Israel and all the international “strangers” who have been gathered to us, it is a time to sing, aye, shout and be glad and rejoice with the whole heart. Just think of it: Jehovah God is in our midst. He, the Supreme Ruler of the universe, is our King! In 1914 he took his great power and began ruling as King toward our earth, where we spiritual Israelites and persons of good will are located. The kingdom of God, prayed for so many centuries, has at last been established; and in convincing demonstration of that fact Jehovah God has seated his anointed Son Jesus Christ on the royal throne to rule now and until the battle of Armageddon in the midst of his enemies. And in overwhelming proof that Jehovah now reigns on the heavens which are his throne, he has by his King Jesus Christ routed our great enemy from the heavens and cast Satan the Devil and all his demons down to his footstool the earth, to await destruction after a short period of time. (Rev. 12:1-13) So sing, rejoice!

13, 14. (a) Who is our King, and why? (b) How has he taken away our judgments, cast out our enemy, and freed us from fear?

¹³ We belong to Jehovah God by individually dedicating ourselves to him. His Son the Right Shepherd surrendered his human soul for us that he might purchase us; and we have acknowledged his rightful ownership of us. God has therefore every right to be our King and to establish himself as our King. With joy unspeakable we rejoice that to us he has revealed his Kingship since 1914. Him we will obey as Ruler rather than man, and his enthroned Son Jesus Christ we will have as our Leader rather than any totalitarian dictator.—Acts 5:29 and Matt. 23:10, NW.

¹⁴ Jehovah has accepted us as his worthy subjects. To that end he has taken away all his judgments which he held against us because of our having once been soiled, misguided and mistaught by the Babylonish world to which we had fallen captive. He has cleansed us from these worldly soils. He has put a pure speech in our mouths. He has clothed us with the garments of identification as his subjects and witnesses. He has rid the organization of his people of all untheocratic features and individuals. He has therefore lifted his curse from us; for we read: “And no more will there be any curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his slaves will render him sacred service, and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Rev. 22:3, 4, NW) And so he says: “Thou shalt not fear [or, see] evil any more.” (Zeph. 3:15, AS, margin) That means that Jehovah will manage his Theocratic organization from the top down, as he has been managing it from 1919 onward; and he will direct it in the ways of right-doing, so that never again will his displeasure be upon his organized people. Never again will evil and trouble be allowed to come upon them as a rebuke and punishment from him.

15. (a) Does that mean individuals will not come under adverse judgment? (b) So why should we stick to the organization, and how?

¹⁵ What a comfort this is, to know that Jehovah’s adverse judgment will no more be upon his organized people, now that he has turned them Theocratic! Oh, individuals from among us may become insubordinate and unruly and may stray away and come under His adverse judgment, resulting in their personal destruction. Jehovah has promised to clear out those who become haughty in their self-assumed importance and in their self-willed independent spirit: “for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.” (Zeph. 3:11, AS) Let those who think they can get along without the organization go their way. Let those who feel they have direct personal connections with God and are not bound by any Theocratic regulations pursue their course, thereby being gathered out of the organization by God’s angels, even though they do not appreciate that fact. On the other hand, let us show mature understanding of our relationship with our Creator in this time of the Kingdom. Let us be that poor humble people which the prophecy speaks about, and so may we stay in harmony and unity with the Theocratic organization Jehovah has built up. Let us loyally work with it and enjoy its blessings, help, protection and guidance in common with all those who faithfully stick to it. We want Jehovah to be our King, for he is the All-highest of the universe. We want God-rule, Theocracy, and we pray for its increase. And in accord with His rule we gladly follow the Leader he has anointed for us. “The King of kings and Lord of lords,” Jesus Christ. We invite others to follow with us.

FEARLESS ACTION!

16. What does the prophecy next call on us to do? Why should we obey?

¹⁶ Now at this late period of the world’s “time of the end” the united cry of all the Bible prophecies is for ACTION, fearless action, on the part of Jehovah’s Theocratic organization. “On that day,” says the prophecy, “shall Jerusalem be told, ‘Fear not, droop not your hands, O Sion.’” (Zeph. 3:16, Mo) Our Leader, Jesus Christ, who rules in heavenly Jerusalem, is not afraid of the Devil’s entire organization. He is a Lion for boldness and fearlessness. On the heavenly Mount Zion, where he has stood up in his authority, he does not droop his hands. He wields the royal scepter, the rod of his strength, the iron rod, and makes its significance felt out from Zion. It is for us, his subjects, to be willing in this day which we recognize to be that of his regal power. With Jehovah at last as Supreme King in our midst, and with such an undaunted Leader as He has given us in his Son Jesus Christ, why should we be afraid even faced with a world turning totalitarian? Let us not, then, be paralyzed with fear so that our hands droop helplessly in inaction. “Droop not your hands,” is the divine command in this day to Jehovah’s anointed remnant and their companions of good will. And why not?

17. Why should we not fear? How can we foil the purpose of persecution?

¹⁷ The prophecy inspires us to fearlessness and activity with our hands, by the words: “Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17, AS) Since we have our God in our midst as for us, who can be against us and succeed? No one! By our faithfulness to him we can foil the malicious purpose of the persecution directed against us. The enemy may forcibly take us into his power and hold us bound or restricted physically, but if we fearlessly continue to speak the pure language to all with whom we come in touch under even the most unfavorable circumstances, then God’s word or message of the Kingdom will not be bound. (2 Tim. 2:8, 9, NW) But our God is mighty to come to our rescue and to deliver us in his own time and manner. He now has great joy, and “the joy of Jehovah is your strength”.—Neh. 8:10, AS.

18. Why does he rejoice over his people? How does he rest in his love?

¹⁸ Remember that he will save his Theocratic organization whom he here addresses, and so let our desire for safety and deliverance spur us to adhere tightly to the organization. With all the loving joy of a devoted Husband Jehovah is rejoicing over his beloved “woman”, his Theocratic organization, because of its godly submission and obedience to him in the midst of an enemy world. And in loving his organized people he finds rest. He is not excited, disturbed, irritable, and suspicious, for joyfully he observes the unmistakable proofs of our love for him. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine self-righteous ones of Christendom who feel no need of repenting and returning to Jehovah God. (Luke 15:7, NW) He has restored his organized people to his love and has renewed her in his love. He is so happy that he is singing over them, shouting joyfully over them.

19. What big evidence did he give of this recently? How should we respond?

¹⁹ What an evidence of this there was in the blessed Theocracy’s Increase Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York, in 1950! There he imparted to his witnesses a song, not merely in their singing from a new songbook, but in filling their mouths more fully than ever before with the sublime “new song” of the Kingdom. One printed release followed after another: the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures; the enlarged Watchtower magazine, the new bound book “This Means Everlasting Life” both in English and in Spanish; the new booklets in English Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? Evolution versus the New World, and Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News, besides the 25 other printed releases in 16 different languages. This rapid succession of spiritual gifts raised repeated shouts among his assembled people, and they are shouting forth the Kingdom message since then as at no time in the past. So, seeing that he rejoices thus over his organization, and since he rests in his love for it, let us individually give him no cause for uneasiness about us, but let us keep ourselves in God’s love.—Jude 21.

20, 21. For what did we once sorrow? In what respect can we no longer be reproached?

²⁰ Time was, not only during the captive period of His witnesses during World War I, but also in the individual experiences of each one of us before we got the truth, when we longed sorrowfully for the one true God to gather us to his people, about whom there could be no mistake that they were His. And now in this “time of the end”, when we are at the threshold of the new world, he has gathered us to his organization in fulfillment of his promise: “I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which was lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.”—Zeph. 3:18, 19, AS.

²¹ Our past sins under God’s disfavor held us from his organization. Also for our sins we were handed over to the enemy’s power. The enemy’s action held us captive and tried to prevent us from assembling to Jehovah’s exalted Signal on Mount Zion, where we could associate together and serve the Most High God at his temple in company with all his consecrated servants and subjects. But now Jehovah has proved himself our King and Savior by delivering us from the enemies’ power and bringing us together in solemn assembly, a most serious and high occasion indeed. The reproach of being a scattered and disorganized people, subject to the bossism and whims of this world, he has removed from us who represent his Theocratic organization. We can no longer be reproached as a man-made organization, following a human leader. Now we are Theocratically assembled and organized and have a Rightful Ruler over us, the King of eternity.

22. What holds us together as an indivisible people?

²² So, let the enemy, now robbed of his prey, continue to persecute. Our King gives us his word that in due time he will deal with those who smite us, reproach us and oppress us. For his own name’s sake he will do this. Never mind, then. The enemy will never again be able to break up our world-wide unity. Spread though we may be over all the earth among the many yet-existing nations, Jehovah is King over all the earth and he can be our common Supreme Ruler no matter where we are on this globe. His Kingship over us is what unites us. By turning to us his one “pure language”, and by his setting our hands to work in his united service, and by assembling us together in conventions and other gatherings, the God of peace and unity has welded us together more tightly. Through the common worship and faith which he has given us out of his One Book, the Bible, and through his one Theocratic organization, he has cemented us together in the unity of a new world people. He has deepened in us beyond erasure the consciousness that we are a people separate from this world and are Jehovah’s indivisible people. The love which he has instilled into us acts as a “perfect bond of union”, which the enemy can never break.—Col. 3:14, NW.

MADE TO BE A NAME AND A PRAISE

23. What reasons have we now for putting our hands to work?

²³ You are engaged in a constructive work for the new world, which is now at the portals. This upbuilding work is the service to which the new world’s Creator has assigned us. You are pioneers of the New World! Always let ring in your ears the divine encouragement, “Fear not!” and, “Droop not your hands!” And oh! what constructive implements the heavenly Father has put into our hands, especially since the 1950 Theocratic assembly at New York! These implements were meant for work, for our use to the full. The field of action to which we go forth, and the future stretching ahead of us till Armageddon, are not the place and time for us to slack our hands, either through laziness or through fear. Know for certain: the time is short! Lift up your hands and put them to work with a will. Only if we fulfill the work for which God has gathered us will he grant us a share in the fulfillment of his precious promise: “At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.”—Zeph. 3:20, AS.

24. How has he made us a name and praise among all the peoples?

²⁴ Because we have not cowardly drooped our hands since he turned us from a captive state in 1919, he has vindicated this promise to us in a wondrous way. For the shame that we once bore, he has made Jehovah’s witnesses a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth. Not among the hardened worldlings who ridicule and who goatishly refuse the Kingdom message; but among the godly inclined peoples of all lands who sigh and cry for the religious, political, commercial and social abominations carried on in the land and who long for a heart-satisfying relationship with the one true God. To these Jehovah has sent his witnesses, speaking a pure language, a message which the sighing peoples have recognized as not from this unclean old world but from the God of Christianity, the Creator of the new heavens and the new earth. Eagerly and appreciatively they take up the message, the pure language, and they give praise to the name which his witnesses bear. They do good to these who represent Jehovah’s King Jesus. They seek meekness and righteousness and Jehovah’s favor, that they may be safely hid in the day of his expression of anger.—Zeph. 2:3.

25. So what course shall we pursue henceforth?

²⁵ With hundreds of thousands this has already occurred. Who knows how many other hundreds of thousands are yet to have this occur with them before the battle of Armageddon? So never let the name of Jehovah suffer reproach because of anything vile that you personally do. Never let his praise be lessened or silenced because of laziness, fear or treachery on your part. Let your lives as well as your purged lips speak the pure language. The name of the wicked enemies who belong to this world will rot, but the name and praise of Jehovah’s witnesses will live forever on the luminous pages of eternity to God’s vindication. To the final work, then! “Let us not give up in doing what is right, for in due season we shall reap by not giving out.” (Gal. 6:9, NW) Till we reap the full share in the vindication of Jehovah’s name at his victory on Armageddon’s battlefield, “droop not your hands,” but raise them always in praise to him and his King.

Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array.—Ps. 110:1-3, AS.

Theocracy’s Expansion in South Korea

THE first of Jehovah’s Christian missionaries, graduates of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, located at South Lansing, New York, arrived in Seoul in August, 1949. Others were sent later. In the few months they were there they greatly helped those poverty-stricken people to gain a knowledge of man’s only hope, God’s righteous kingdom, and as a result there has been a tremendous expansion in the number of those in that country who are singing the praises of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. The report on these results which follows was made by the Watchtower representative, Don L. Steele, and was written and mailed at Seoul on May 23, 1950, one month before the Communist armies invaded South Korea on June 25.

“Since liberation by the allies in 1945 the Korean people have tasted only bitterness, and much of this extends from the Yalta agreement between Roosevelt and Stalin that divided the country in two. The North has been sponsored by Russia; the South by the United States. Now, of course, the big political issue is the 38th parallel that separates the two. The struggling South Korean Republic is seemingly kept going only by United States aid. Fighting occurs daily over the border and tension is great. When will full-scale war begin? [This is interesting, for it shows that even though the rest of the world was shocked by the outbreak of war, it came as no surprise to Koreans.]

“To really appreciate the expansion here in the ranks of Jehovah’s witnesses you should know something about the religious, social and economic conditions of the Koreans. Religiously, about 800,000 profess to be Christians, out of the 22,000,000 population. Ten million others are Buddhists, Confucianists, etc. This leaves at least half the people professing no faith, which is a good way to describe their general outlook of hopelessness.

“In many ways Koreans are primitive. They are great followers of tradition and worshipers of creatures. Many business and professional men realize that Korea is far behind in education and economic advancement and they are trying to catch up with the times. But it seems the working class of people would rather wash clothes by beating them with a paddle, plow with oxen, and haul great loads on their heads and backs, rather than graduate to anything as modern as a washboard. They are set in their traditional ways and do not want to change, no matter how much time and energy they could save.

“Economic conditions, as poor as they were, are now made much worse by the division of Korea on the 38th parallel. South Korea has the agricultural area, while in the northern sector are located the natural resources and what little industry there is. The high cost of maintaining defense, the south against the north and vice versa, has almost bankrupted the country. The average wage is about 6,000 won a month which, at the legal exchange rate, is about $3.33. The water system here in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is inadequate, and electricity is turned on one or two hours in the evening—sometimes!

“Seoul is now swelled to twice its normal population by the flood of refugees from the Communist-controlled northern part and living conditions here are very bad. Many of these refugees are children whose parents were killed by the Communists. In downtown Seoul it is a common sight to see these poor children huddled up against the buildings trying to sleep on the sidewalks. They wear pieces of old sacks, paper or anything they find for clothing and their skin is crusty with dirt. They ‘live’ on what they get from begging.

“Food is scarce. Rice is the principal diet and usually there is no meat to go with it. Many families even have difficulty getting enough rice. Clothing is very hard to obtain. For shoes they often wear little upturned rubber slippers. Housing is wholly inadequate. Only the rich own or rent an entire house for themselves. All families are large families and it is the general practice for four or five families to live in one small house. Usually the entire family sleeps in a room about ten feet square.

“Despite their economic poverty and their slavery to tradition, the people of Korea have a great deal of respect for knowledge and an educated man is very highly regarded. Often a family of many members will all work to support one of the family while he spends his life studying. The most astounding thing is, the individual who is studying usually has no objective in life and never puts to use what he learns.

THRILLS AND JOYS OF GOSPEL-PREACHING

“Because of these frightful conditions many honest-hearted Koreans are now looking for the answer to their many problems. It is indeed a real joy to engage in preaching the good news of the Kingdom here and to show these meek ones that their only hope lies in Jehovah’s righteous new world. To see their wonderful response to the Kingdom message is a real thrill. In August, 1949, when the first two missionaries came, there were only eight persons here who were active in the Kingdom service. In April of this year, there were forty-one company publishers for the Kingdom, averaging 33.5 hours of service per publisher, seven full-time pioneer publishers and eight Gilead missionaries. At the Watchtower study the peak attendance during April was 107.

“Our first public meeting, held May 14, intended as an experiment, turned out to be an experience! No handbills or placards were used to advertise it. Only announcements at the regular company meetings and a single poster put up near the house several days before the lecture was to be given. But when time came for the lecture eager people began crowding in, filling all the rooms of the house, the hallway, the sun-porch and the stairs leading to the second floor, until the count showed there were 167 in attendance!

“One month ago we started our Theocratic ministry school. Because the textbooks are not in Korean we have the instruction talk from ‘Equipped for Every Good Work’ given in English and interpreted in Korean. If someone did not understand he asked his neighbor, and if he did not know the interpreter was asked to repeat or explain. Our hearts were full of joy as we watched their eager faces as each point new to them was brought out. They nodded to each other and marveled. ‘Moses began to write the Bible in 1513 B.C.! It has only one Author but over thirty writers! There are about 15,000 ancient manuscripts to the Bible in existence today!’ The questions on the oral review were well answered from the notes they had taken. Attendance increased from 60 at first to 96, and an hour for the school seemed too short.

“The Bible-study work here is our greatest joy. We study with doctors, lawyers, teachers, professors, soldiers, housewives, businessmen, college students (including seminary students), and many others. They are not the people to believe everything you tell them until you prove it to them. Daily we must call upon various translations, concordances, Bible dictionaries and other reference books, and we find ourselves often referring to notes made at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, as we discuss their many questions. But what a blessed privilege! And what a wonderful thrill to see many of these people in turn teaching others what they learn in these Bible studies.

“An example of their rapid progress is in the case of a young college girl. A Korean publisher called on her mother and told her about the New World. The next day the girl called on the publisher and asked many questions. Satisfied with the answers, she arranged to have a regular Bible study. She had been interested in going to school and learning languages (she speaks very good English), and other subjects, but now she came to the conclusion that all of that was a waste of time. If she was going to learn the Bible, she saw that much time would be needed and so she quit college the day after her first Bible study. Studying now for about a month, she will probably make pioneer hours in field service, going with us and helping at any studies she can. She has a keen mind and learns very rapidly and her willingness in Kingdom service will bring her many blessed privileges in the future from the hand of Jehovah.

“A professor of music in a women’s college here has been studying now with us for six months. In addition to his teaching he does concert work and has a radio program, but in spite of his busy life he finds time to translate for us, to act as interpreter at our public lectures and in the Theocratic ministry school, to engage in field service, as well as find the time for his regular Bible study. He is another of the many in Korea who are seizing hold of Theocratic privileges given them.

“Among our unique experiences are our Bible studies conducted in the public schools. All together we have eight studies each week at several high schools and in each group there are from 60 to 70 students as well as the teachers. We study an English booklet with them and have them bring Bibles and look up scriptures. Many of the students are of heathen parents and have never before come in contact with the Bible. The teachers express their appreciation for our efforts to teach them the Bible. They are impressed that we do not ride around in automobiles like other missionaries. They recognize that we really want to help the Korean people. So perhaps good seed is being sown here that some day will bring forth much fruit.”

Five weeks after making the above report Mr. Steele sent another, postmarked Kobe, Japan, in which he says:

“As I finished my public lecture in a school auditorium in Seoul, June 25, the police notified us that South Korea had been attacked and a curfew was imposed. Incidentally, interest in the Theocracy had so increased there were 336 attending this last public lecture! The following night (Monday) the South Korean defenses collapsed and Seoul was brought under siege. Tuesday morning, with Communist troops entering the city, all Americans were ordered to evacuate. In the emergency we called a hurried meeting and, after asking Jehovah’s guidance, we prayerfully discussed the situation. To remain meant capture, imprisonment and the stopping of our preaching. All missionaries, including Methodist and Catholic, are imprisoned in North Korea. Developments that followed proved it was the Lord’s will that we move.

“We had only 30 minutes to catch the last convoy leaving the city. Personal and household belongings were turned over to the local company servant, Lee Shi Chong. The city at the moment was under bombardment, and in the wild dash to the airport at Kimpo our busses were strafed. Flown to Japan, all eight of us, including six women, are at present working with Jehovah’s witnesses here in Kobe.”

Joseph of Arimathea

IT IS early in the spring of the year A.D. 33 (Nisan 14 according to the Jewish calendar) as we look in on the home of the high priest Caiaphas in Jerusalem. What a gathering of distinguished men we see! Some threescore and ten, consisting of the older men of influence of the nation, the chief priests and the scribes, are present there, many of whom belong to the sect of the Pharisees. And how excited they are! Why? Because they have a prisoner before them who is none other than the miracle-worker, Jesus of Nazareth.

As we note the proceedings one thing becomes very obvious: the lofty principles of this Sanhedrin court, that every man is presumed innocent until proved guilty and that its purpose “is to save, not to destroy life”, have been pushed aside. It seems as though the entire body (with one or two exceptions) is actuated by malice and the one presiding seems determined to prove the accused one guilty and so worthy of death. Evidently a conspiracy is afoot, for many false witnesses have testified.

The high priest is losing control of himself, the trial is not at all going the way he would like to have it go. So, addressing the prisoner, he shouts: “I charge you, on your oath, by the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the son of God.” The defendant, Jesus, answers: “It is true. Why, I tell you you will soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming upon the clouds of the sky!” Feigning extreme righteous indignation, the high priest tears his clothing and exclaims: “He has uttered blasphemy! What do we want of witnesses now? Here you have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” The council, with a pompous sanctimoniousness to cover up its malice, answers: “He deserves death.”—Matt. 26:63-66, AT.

But the verdict was not altogether unanimous. No, a few, but very few, did not give their consent nor approve of the action taken. Among these was a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. In fact, he was a disciple of the accused, of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus? Yes, according to the three Gospel-writers Matthew, Mark and Luke, he was a disciple of Jesus, a rich man, a highly respected member of the council, who was himself living in expectation of the reign of God.—Matt. 27:57, 58; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50, 51, AT.

Why should Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, be associated with that great religious body, the Sanhedrin, which was so violently opposed to Christ Jesus? The apostle John gives us the answer. He describes Joseph of Arimathea as “being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews”.—John 19:38.

But with the conviction and execution of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea gained courage. He boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. “Accordingly he bought fine linen and took him down, wrapped him in the fine linen and laid him in a tomb which was quarried out of a rock-mass.”—Mark 15:43-46, NW.

Whether or not Joseph of Arimathea followed through and became a fearless footstep follower of Christ Jesus the Scriptures do not reveal. However, from what is recorded regarding him we can appreciate why the Scriptures state “how difficult a thing it will be for those with money to make their way into the kingdom of God!”—Luke 18:24, NW.

Report of Theocracy’s Increase Assembly

THE 1950 international convention of Jehovah’s witnesses in New York city, July 30 to August 6, was beyond all question of doubt the largest and most important assembly of Christians ever held until now. Record-shattering crowds packed out and overflowed the mammoth Yankee Stadium. Hotels, taxed to the limit, could accommodate only about a third; multitudes slept in private homes; more than 13,000 others were provided for in a 90-acre trailer and tent city 40 miles from the stadium. Reasons enough why the newspapers, radio, television and newsreel cameras gave this epoch-making convention a good deal of free publicity.

Tens of thousands of delegates, at great personal expense, came thousands of miles, from 67 countries, to attend the meetings held in 20 different languages. The attendance figure of 79,247 the first day swelled until it reached the staggering total of 123,707 on the great and final day. From start to finish this vast multitude were made happy by a deluge of spiritual blessings in the form of 40 new publications released, in 17 different languages. All history now, yet it will long be remembered and talked about as a never-to-be-forgotten milestone marking “the increase of his government and peace” which shall have no end. (Isa. 9:6, 7) And how significant that this great Theocratic convention of new world supporters should convene near the very capital of the doomed old world’s United Nations!

The convention’s theme, imbedded in its name, “Theocracy’s Increase Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” repeatedly emphasized the increase and expansion of Jehovah’s new world society. To start off with, the first release, Songs to Jehovah’s Praise, struck a delightful note in harmony with this theme.

Anyone sharing in Theocracy’s expansion must have faith in Jehovah and his Word and purposes, and faith in his organization, for ‘without faith it is impossible to please God’. It was on this vital subject that A. H. Macmillan counseled his brethren at the morning session of the first day.

GILEAD GRADUATION DAY

Following Macmillan on the program, Grant Suiter, as secretary and treasurer of the Watch Tower Society and serving as the convention’s chairman, officially opened the assembly with an address of welcome. To speak of the tremendous expansion in the ranks of Jehovah’s witnesses is boasting in the Lord, not in ourselves, Suiter declared, because “the new strength of numbers is dedicated to Jehovah’s honor”. The same is true of the material equipment with which the Lord has blessed his organization. So, when the chairman released 500,000 post cards, color photographs of the Society’s institutions, conventioners quickly began mailing them off to show others how the Lord God has blessed and improved the publishing facilities of his people.

Since the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead was opened in 1943 it has played a great part in the 300-percent expansion in the number of Kingdom publishers throughout the world. The graduating of 120 more of its missionary students in Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon was therefore a thrilling event. The president of Gilead, N. H. Knorr, looked to the future and further increases as he addressed these graduates and their friends and relatives on the subject “The Way of Success”. (Josh. 1:8) That evening the graduates themselves had the opportunity to express their thanks and gratitude for their special privileges.

It was all wonderful, that first day of the convention, and everyone thanked Jehovah for this 15th class of Gilead who have now joined the ever-increasing missionary family now numbering over 800 with hundreds of others assigned to other fields, and who will work for the expansion of pure worship in distant parts of the earth.

JEHOVAH’S UNDESERVED KINDNESS DAY

Monday afternoon field reports from North, Central and South America, Africa and the Philippines, told how people in those countries, as starved sheep, are flocking to the green pastures of Jehovah’s Theocracy. T. J. Sullivan then spoke on Psalm 107:23-31, the substance of his talk being that if one really appreciates God’s goodness he will break away from Satan’s old world organization and will not put his hope and trust in the Devil’s ships or instruments that ply the commercial and political “seas”. And since the call continues to be sounded, “Come out of her, my people,” thousands more will yet respond, will come out of Satan’s world, show their appreciation for God’s undeserved kindness, and will thus share in the new world’s increased blessings.

Monday evening provided conventioners with a full program of admonition and counsel. In the first talk, “Blessed Are the Merciful,” L. A. Swingle cited past and present examples showing that only those who extend loving-kindness toward others will in turn enjoy the happiness that comes through God’s mercy. L. E. Reusch then fervently spoke on the subject “Laying Aside Every Weight”. Every religious, political and commercial weight must be avoided in order to move ahead with Theocracy’s advance. “Strip down to bare necessities and run the race,” Reusch urged, and “run as though your life depended upon it. It does!”

Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News was the surprise release that climaxed Monday’s program, and in this connection H. C. Covington gave a very vivid description of the world-wide fight Christians have had during the past decade. Under their Leader and Commander, Christ Jesus, the enemy has been driven back and Theocracy has moved ahead. But beware! Covington warned, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Make no mistake about it—our fights in the courts are not over.”

THEOCRATIC DEVOTION DAY

In this crucial hour of open warfare between the East and the West, August 1 was a very eventful and memorable day, one on which a positive, uncompromising stand was taken by Jehovah’s witnesses. The afternoon session began with firsthand reports on the wonderful expansion of The Theocracy in postwar Germany and in countries behind the Iron Curtain of Eastern Europe. This was followed by a very important and fiery talk delivered by N. H. Knorr, entitled “The Increase of His Government”.

Time and again the audience of nearly 85,000 demonstrated their approval of what was said, and at the conclusion they unanimously adopted a resolution and declaration against communism, disavowing “all connection with or support of communism or any other political element of this old world”. Fearlessly and boldly Jehovah’s witnesses thus declared that their allegiance and devotion is to God’s Theocratic kingdom under the administration and rule of Christ the King. Never in the history of Christianity has such a vast multitude made their position so clear before God Almighty and the “Caesars” of this world.

Thunderous applause shook Yankee Stadium when Knorr released the first issue of the new, enlarged 32-page Watchtower magazine containing this talk and resolution. From now on The Watchtower is to be dressed in its new cover design, and its new size and shape will allow for greater variety in contents sparkling with colorful illustrations. Published in 32 languages with a circulation of over 1,200,000 copies of each issue, this improved instrument will serve a vital part in Theocracy’s forward surge to the glory of God.

All of this, it seems, was plenty of excitement for one day; yet more was in store. The two-hour evening program was loaded with other information that will also increase the number of those praising Jehovah. The Service Meeting was built around the convention’s theme, increase. Then followed four practical demonstrations in overcoming objections at the door through refutation. Climaxing the evening, C. D. Quackenbush attacked the “educated” myth of evolution with a hard-hitting argument, consisting of scientific data, factual logic, intelligent ridicule, and divine truth.

“Evolution versus The New World” was the title of Quackenbush’s masterful talk, and at the conclusion he released a new 64-page colored-cover booklet by the same title. Though higher critics belonging to the evolution cult may scoff at this scientific piece of work, the booklet will undoubtedly be the means of helping many honest though deceived persons to get a knowledge of Jehovah God and his provisions for life.

“PREACH THE WORD” DAY

Not since the inspired apostles and disciples originally wrote the Christian Greek Scriptures has anything happened in the Biblical field to equal the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, released August 2 at Yankee Stadium. Not since the days of the early church have the common people been able to read the words of Jesus in language that so accurately expresses the original thought and meaning. Without doubt this new version is destined to have a tremendous impact on society as its compelling weight of authority turns multitudes of people out of the way of darkness and death into the way of light and life.

Wednesday afternoon, after reports from the British Isles and from Cuba had been received, N. H. Knorr introduced this new Bible translation with a talk entitled “Turning to the Peoples a Pure Language”. If the people are to understand what Christ and the disciples said, they must have a faithful and pure translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Consequently, great excitement and enthusiasm hailed Knorr’s announcement that the Watch Tower Society had secured and published a literal version in modern speech which is so pure and accurate it puts the name of Jehovah in the text 237 times (and “Jah” 4 times), where it properly belongs.

For the rest of Wednesday this history-making release was the convention’s general conversation. That evening F. W. Franz, vice-president of the Watch Tower Society, in a scholarly discussion of the ancient Greek language, showed by many practical examples this new version’s superiority in accuracy and language.

MISSIONARY DAY

One’s first obligation in serving God is to make a consecration and symbolize it by baptism in water. Hence the number of those immersed is a good measuring scale of Theocracy’s increase. Thursday at this assembly there were 3,381 baptized in an outdoor pool, notwithstanding a heavy downpour of rain at the time.

Though the afternoon and evening were physically wet and soggy, the hearts and minds of the conventioners were made very bright and happy by the 95 missionaries from around the world who related many thrilling experiences they have had in reaching and feeding lost and isolated “sheep” of the Lord. These missionaries had gone through Gilead, had gone to their foreign fields, had stuck to their assignments, and had returned, not to retire and quit preaching, but to attend this great international convention. They were anxious to get back to their assignments and help multitudes of others in those countries to learn the way to life.

BRANCH DAY

Friday’s program—morning, afternoon and evening—was packed full of reports from the Branch servants, 67 of them, who had come in from every corner of the globe. As they told of the great expansion in the number of prospective Armageddon survivors in their respective territories, it was plainly to be seen that this is indeed a true Theocratic organization with its world-wide work directed by Christ Jesus. Adding to the joys of the day the program was frequently punctuated with new releases, 25 all together, in 16 languages other than English which will be used to spread a knowledge of the pure language in fifty different countries.

Breaking into the afternoon session N.H. Knorr delivered a blazing denunciation entitled “Regret and Protest by American Convention Hosts over Religious Discrimination Against Visiting Witnesses of Jehovah”. Aimed at certain blundering bigoted bosses in the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, this militant, fiery protest flatly denied the false charge that Jehovah’s witnesses are “extreme pacifists”. As one of Jehovah’s Christian warriors, Knorr was in the best fighting form, and he minced no words in denouncing the nasty piece of religious discrimination and mistreatment of 10,000 devout Christians upon their arrival at the borders of this country. Cheering and shouting, more than 70,000 American witnesses of Jehovah at Yankee Stadium unanimously approved this Regret and Protest, grabbed up a million copies of it that were fresh off the printing press, and soon distributed them throughout New York city.

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD DAY

The institutions of the Watchtower Society, together with their equipment and facilities, are maintained and used as servants of the Lord’s people to spread knowledge of Jehovah’s Word and purpose. Saturday afternoon and evening conventioners had the opportunity of hearing how radio station WBBR, the printing plant and office, the Brooklyn Bethel, and the Bible School of Gilead are being used for the preaching work that is spreading knowledge of The Theocracy to the ends of the earth.

“Taking In Life-giving Knowledge” was also listed on the Saturday program. Delivered by N. H. Knorr, it proved to be another occasion when a bountiful meal of rich spiritual food was served the Lord’s people. And for dessert a double surprise was prepared—the new bound book “This Means Everlasting Life”—in both English and Spanish!

After receiving such generous gifts as these from the hand of the Lord in the afternoon no one expected what was in store for those attending the evening session when F. W. Franz spoke about “New Systems of Things”. What Franz said in his introduction certainly proved true before the session was over, that Jehovah has arranged matters so that one set of good things leads to better and grander things, which in the end reaches a height of goodness that leaves nothing more to be desired.

Before the hour was finished Yankee Stadium was quaking with the loudest and most prolonged applause of the whole eight days. The due time had arrived for the Lord to reveal that some of the “children” whom he will “make princes in all the earth” after Armageddon are of the “other sheep”. ‘Here, tonight, in our midst, there are a number of prospective princes of the new earth!’ Franz announced, and with that a sustained ovation went up, followed by profound silence as Franz brought forth the proof from the Bible.

NEW WORLD LIVING DAY

Like the first Christian pioneer Jesus, and like his disciples who followed the same pioneer trail, there are today thousands of faithful pioneers the world over engaged in the same full-time work. Ten brethren from as many parts of the earth, during the last day’s morning session, told how these pioneers are living and working for the new world and are sharing in its increase. But this great increase, R. L. Anderson pointed out, calls for more pioneers. The harvest is great. The full-time reapers are comparatively few. It was therefore very gratifying to see 1,730 answer the call by requesting pioneer application forms, and 281 of these were filled out and enrolled as pioneers during the assembly.

The climax of the whole assembly was approaching. Soon now the highly advertised question “Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth?” would be answered. Would the people of New York come to hear this vital lecture? Threatening rain clouds darkened the sky. Three o’clock came, not a seat was empty. Outside this largest stadium in New York, in the cafeteria tents, on the surrounding sidewalks and streets, more than 25,000 additional persons were waiting to hear the answer over the loudspeakers. An additional 11,000 were at the trailer camp. All together, by actual count, 123,707 were present, in addition to WBBR’s vast radio audience! All were thrilled to hear N. H. Knorr prove his answer, “You can live forever in happiness on earth!” It is up to you. Abandon your course that leads to death. Choose life, that you may live! To add to their joy at the conclusion, all present were given a free booklet containing this all-important talk, a quarter of a million copies!

A short intermission, then J. O. Groh, the convention servant, and his assistant, Clarence Newcomb, gave behind-the-scene reports on the working organization of this, the greatest convention of Christians ever held on earth. Then the finale, a heart-to-heart talk by Knorr in which he urged his brethren, “Droop Not Your Hands.” Now is no time to slow down, grow lazy or quit. Return to your home territories, oh faithful servants of the Lord, for there are yet many thousands more you must help to become members of Jehovah’s growing new world society.

For many, the leaving of Yankee Stadium Sunday evening, August 6, was not the end of their happy visit in New York. For several days thereafter conventioners by the thousands streamed through the Brooklyn Bethel and printing plant. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 29,460 visited Bethel and 35,081 went through the factory, and what they saw on every hand was evidence of Theocracy’s increase.

It Is Nearer than They Think

WHAT is this that is so near?a Why, if you have not heard, it is the day of Jehovah’s vindication. The day when mankind’s enemies and oppressors will be destroyed at Armageddon. The day when all of God’s howling foes will bite the dust in bitter anguish in the battle of God Almighty. A triumphant day indeed! The time when lovers of righteousness will see not only the day of doom come upon the wicked workers of iniquity, but also God’s majestic Kingdom rule extended over the entire earth in all its glory.

Today every effort is being made by the Devil’s organization to bolster its forces and hold on to its domination of the earth. Under the banner of the United Nations the powers of this old world are engaged in a strenuous propaganda and military struggle in an effort to strengthen its entrenched position. Political, commercial and religious leaders boast of this array of strength and in haughty self-confidence they put their trust in human schemes and institutions as if such were impregnable fortresses. But just as the ancient city of Babylon came tumbling down from its lofty height in one fateful night in 539 B.C., so modern Babylon will collapse, suddenly.

Look at this modern counterpart of ancient Babylon. She is an immoral mistress committing fornication with earth’s rulers. Her beauty and splendor are so artificial and thin, a veneer on the surface, beneath which is found gross corruption and all uncleanness. (Rev. 17:1-6, 15, 18; 1 John 2:16, 17) No wonder, then, Jehovah determines to pour out upon her his pitiless wrath and blazing anger in this great and terrible day which is so near. Hence, the alarm and warning to all the inhabitants of the earth: “Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”—Isa. 13:9, 11, AS.

Like Isaiah, the prophet of old who sounded this warning, so today Jehovah’s faithful witnesses hasten throughout the world declaring that the “day of vengeance of our God” is near at hand. (Isa. 61:2) To be sure, this proclamation raises a great howl among the Devil’s crowd. “Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” (Isa. 13:6, AS; Jas. 5:1) Nevertheless, the warning must be sounded for the benefit of good-will people who receive this message of doom as good news. From house to house Jehovah’s messengers hasten in order that none be overlooked. Interested persons, once located, are called back on and further Bible proof is given them that Babylon’s destruction “is near” and “her days shall not be prolonged”.—Isa. 13:22.

Now is no time for one to be captivated by this world’s glitter or be fooled by its “all is well” gush of propaganda. Now is no time to scramble for all that one can seize of this world’s possessions for protection. Neither is it a time to postpone Armageddon in one’s mind. (1 Thess. 5:2-4) Now, as never before, is the time to bestir oneself and take life-saving action while there is yet time. “Now it is high time to awake!” the apostle Paul says. (Rom. 13:11) Destruction of modern Babylon will clear the ground for the extension of God’s blessed Theocratic rule to the limits of the earth. Praise be to God that such momentous events are nearer than most people think!

[Footnotes]

Questions From Readers

● Does not the expression “in Christ shall all be made alive” include Adam?—P. E., Maryland.

Evidently Adam stood in a different position as regards redemption from that occupied by his descendants. He had the right to life, but did not value it or appreciate it enough to hold on to it; whereas his descendants never had the right to life and needed redemption from the beginning. It should be observed that in the statement “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” Adam is excluded from the comparison. (1 Cor. 15:22) We could not say that Adam died in Adam. Adam was personally sentenced to death for his own willful wrongdoing, but not his offspring. Nor does the Bible anywhere say that Adam was the one ransomed to thereby automatically release all his descendants. The ransom is not given for one, but “for many” or “for all”. (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6) However, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, the apostle is discussing the resurrection of Christ’s body members. The statement that “in Christ shall all be made alive” applies to all those “which are fallen asleep in Christ” (1Co 15 verses 6, 18), and not to mankind in general. (See The Watchtower, April 1, 1944, ¶¶22-25.) Hence those to be thus made alive must come into relationship to Christ as Life-giver and are made members of his body. Not all men receive the benefits of Christ’s ransom, but only “all them that obey him”. The condemnation inherited from Adam is lifted from those who believe and obey Christ Jesus; it remains upon those who do not believe and obey.—John 3:18, 36; Heb. 5:9.

● How can we harmonize Matthew’s account that both thieves railed at Jesus with Luke’s that tells of one scoffing and the other defending Jesus?—M. Q., California.

A possible explanation would be that at the start both taunted Jesus, but that as time passed one of the thieves noted what was happening and observed how Jesus patiently endured injustice and cruelty. During these passing hours this thief might easily have changed his mind about Jesus, and, though scoffing at first, as Matthew notes, later championed Jesus, as Luke relates.

However, another explanation may be the answer. There may have been four others impaled with Jesus, two on each side. Matthew uses a Greek word translated “thieves”, whereas Luke uses a different Greek word, which is translated “malefactors”. From Matthew’s account it appears that Jesus had already been impaled, and lots had been cast for his garment, and a sign posted over his head, by the time the two thieves were brought up and impaled with him. Then these two newcomers joined with the priests and people in railing at Jesus. (Matt. 27:35-44) But from Luke’s account it appears that the two malefactors were “led with him to be put to death” and that when this trio arrived at Calvary “there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left”. One of these malefactors scoffed at Jesus, the other believed in Jesus and the kingdom. (Luke 23:32-43; see New World translation) Hence this explanation would say that two malefactors were impaled at the same time as Jesus, one of whom scoffed and one who believed Jesus, and that later two thieves were brought and impaled, both of whom taunted Jesus. This would mean there were two staked on each side of Jesus, or a total of five staked in a row.

● If the faithful men before Jesus’ time are not resurrected as perfect men, in what way is their resurrection “better”?—Texas reader.

The questioner refers to Hebrews 11:35: “Women received their dead by resurrection; but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection.” (NW) We let the new book “This Means Everlasting Life” answer by our quoting from it, page 295: “By the faith of God’s prophets of old a number of persons were resurrected from the dead, but because they were inheritors of death from Adam and the Kingdom was not yet established, they returned to death. All those faithful ones of old, down to John the Baptist, died in faithfulness to Jehovah God, and for this they will have a resurrection better than what those had who were resurrected to a life still under the regime of sin and death. It will be a ‘better resurrection’ because it will be performed by Jehovah’s greatest prophet, the King Jesus Christ, and it will be performed under God’s kingdom in his hands. It will be without the unavoidable need to die again, because it will be under the rulership of the Son of God, whose ransom secures their release forever from death. The opportunity to gain life on earth eternally will then be set before them; and with Satan and his demons abyssed and his wicked world gone there will be no forces to hinder their efforts to gain the latest knowledge on God’s kingdom and to walk the paths of enlightened righteousness toward everlasting life in this Paradise. And since they exercised faith as far as they had knowledge and they died in their unbreakable integrity toward God, they have inclined toward righteousness, and this will be to their advantage at the resurrection under His kingdom by Christ.”

Announcements

USE THE REMAINING TIME WISELY

Not forever will the Creator allow present distress and wickedness to continue on the earth. He has foreordained a definite time to bring the last vestiges of Satan’s world to a violent end; and the remaining time is very short. Don’t you desire to use that remaining time wisely? (Eph. 5:15, 16, RS) If so, we invite you to join with Jehovah’s witnesses in the activity they have arranged for November. During this month they will be offering the new book “This Means Everlasting Life”, on a contribution of 35c. Throughout its 320 pages this attractive and enlightening book alerts its readers to how everlasting life may be gained and the nearness of the time when it will be the cherished possession of righteous humankind. Life-seekers need to quickly and intelligently seek God and his kingdom. Can you think of a wiser use of your time than to aid another to learn of the way to life? Jehovah’s witnesses in your community will be glad to assist you to share in this activity. Or, if you prefer, write to us and we will furnish you with helpful instructions and report forms.

“THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE”

What can compare with everlasting life? Wealth? Fame? Or personal accomplishment? No, as desirable as may be the attainment of even our fondest imaginations, their brilliance fades as life-forces ebb. Without life, no other pleasure can be enjoyed; when life ceases, ownership, happiness and pleasures end. So, if you would prolong the cherished good things you now know, you must not seek them first; but rather, you must first seek everlasting life. A new 320-page book “This Means Everlasting Life” presents information of vital import to life-seekers. Clearly and logically it unfolds to its readers the sureness of the promise of life and Scriptural instruction on how to attain to it. A scripture index enhances its value. Your personal copy will be sent to you, postpaid, for a contribution of 35c.

CAN YOU LIVE FOREVER IN HAPPINESS ON EARTH?

Humanitarians have long hoped for and worked toward lengthening the span of life. But with all their work and even in their fondest dreams they do not envisage more than a few short years to be added, and those replete with present troubles. But what if those cares could be taken away and the span of life lengthened into eternity? Think of the possibilities! Hopes spiral upward as the mind dwells upon the prospects. And it will cheer you to know that this hope is not a mere figment of the imagination. Scriptural evidence which indisputably proves that soon lasting life on earth will be a reality is now available to you in a 32-page booklet Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? It contains the text of a speech delivered by N. H. Knorr, president of the Watchtower Society, to a visible audience of 123,707 as the climax event of an 8-day International Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses in New York city, July 30 through August 6, 1950. You will be sent a copy of this booklet, postpaid, on a contribution of 5c.

CORRECTION

In the first copies of the first edition of “This Means Everlasting Life” an error appears on page 206, paragraph 2, line 8. The date A.D. 607 should be 607 B.C. This is not true of the Spanish edition.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of Nov. 5: The Way of Success, ¶1-15.

Week of Nov. 12: The Way of Success, ¶16-26; and “Droop Not Your Hands”, ¶1-8.

Week of Nov. 19: “Droop Not Your Hands,” ¶9-25.