The Watchtower — November 15, 1953

Modern Knowledge Vindicates the Bible

THE Bible claims to be the word of the one true God, Jehovah. “All scripture is inspired of God.” (2 Tim. 3:16, NW) Obviously that claim presupposes the existence of the Bible’s Author. Does modern knowledge vindicate faith that God really exists? It does.

As reasoning creatures we know that every effect has a competent cause. So as we note the immensity, order and design of the starry heavens as viewed through the eye of Mount Palomar’s lens, as we note the marvels and beauties of nature visible to our naked eye, and as we consider the world made visible by means of the electronic microscope, we cannot escape the conclusion that all this effect must indeed have a cause in which resides infinite power and wisdom.

As man learns more and more about his own body, how its various systems function and co-operate with one another, how it produces enzymes and hormones, how its brain works, etc., he has ever stronger reason for the conclusion that this most wonderful machine of all simply could not be the product of chance or of a blind force lacking intelligence, such as “nature.”

And as we consider the many co-ordinations imperative for man to exist on the earth, the earth’s distance from the sun, the rate at which the earth revolves around the sun and rotates on its own axis, the composition of earth’s atmosphere, the distance the moon is from the earth, the way the vegetable and the animal realms complement each other in the production and use of oxygen and carbon dioxide, we ask, How could all of these factors, and many others, have chanced to occur on one planet? They could not, and therefore they give ample proof that, to use the words of A. Cressy Morrison, past president of New York Academy of Sciences, Man does not stand alone. Truly, in the light of all this evidence, to say there is no God constitutes one a fool.—Ps. 14:1.

Does modern knowledge as completely vindicate faith in the authenticity of the Bible as it does faith in the existence of the Supreme Being, Jehovah God? It does.

God’s Word, the Bible, does not give the age of the universe; modern knowledge only recently doubled its estimate, from 1.8 billion years to 3.5 billion years. In the preparation of the earth for man, modern knowledge has verified the order given in the Bible, beginning with the appearance of light, then land, then vegetation, and then sea creatures, fowl and land animals and finally man. The evidence of geology does not confirm the theory of evolution, but, to quote the late French scientist Lecomte du Nouy, has “all the unsatisfactory characteristics of absolute creation.” (Human Destiny, pages 72, 75, 79) Paleontology supports the Bible’s statement that God caused the earth to bring forth the various animals ‘each after his kind.’ (Gen. 1:21, 24, 25) The late Lucien Cuenot, one of France’s outstanding biologists, wrote that “the evolutionary sap no longer circulates,” thereby admitting that at present there is no evidence of evolution; and shortly before his death he discarded the evolution theory altogether, to the great consternation of his scientific colleagues. Since, according to Sir Arthur Keith and Professor D. M. S. Watson, the only alternative to the evolution theory is “special creation,” as recorded in the Bible, Lucien Cuenot was thereby throwing his weight in favor of the Bible.

The Bible states that with Jehovah God is the fountain of life. (Ps. 36:9) Man at one time thought that life began by “spontaneous generation,” but now he knows that all life comes from precedent life, termed the “law of biogenesis.”

Men of science in times past held that the flood of Noah’s day was merely local in scope, but modern knowledge, particularly as represented in geology and archaeology, gives evidence that the world of the mammoths and other like monsters had a cataclysmic end, and scientists have found in Italy, Switzerland, England and the United States, “even on the tops of high mountains, whole trees sunk deep under ground, as also teeth and bones of animals, fishes entire, seashells, ears of corn, etc., petrified”; which could never have come there but by a world-wide deluge.—Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge.

Modern knowledge also vindicates the wisdom of many of the features of the law of Moses. Among the animals that were forbidden as food was the pig, which is subject to trichinosis; the rabbit, which is subject to tularemia; certain fish, which are subject to tapeworms, etc. Meats were inspected, and could not be eaten if over two days old. No animal that died of itself was to be eaten; victims of certain diseases were quarantined; sanitation was made compulsory.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries many critics of the Bible arose and attacked its many historical features, but modern knowledge has confounded the Bible’s critics and vindicates it. Says J. G. Duncan in Accuracy of Old Testament in Light of Recent Palestinian Archaeology: “I do not think it will be long possible, even if it is now possible, for us to deny the remarkable accuracy of detail in the narratives of the Old Testament. Incidents hitherto regarded as legend have been proved historical by recent discovery. . . . There is actual history at the back of all of the narratives.” And says the late Sir Frederic Kenyon, in his The Bible and Archaeology: “Archaeology has not yet said its last word; but the results already achieved confirm what faith would suggest, that the Bible can do nothing but gain from an increase of knowledge.”

Because the original manuscripts of the Bible are not extant many have challenged the authenticity of the extant copies. But in recent years papyrus manuscripts of the Christian Greek Scriptures have been discovered that go back so close to the date of the originals that, as Sir Kenyon expresses it, “the authenticity and the general integrity of the Books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.” Striking proof of authenticity of the “Old Testament” was discovered in 1947, in the Dead Sea Scroll of Isaiah, which, save for a few minor variations, was found to be identical with the best Masoretic text, although written a thousand years earlier. A thousand years of copying with no appreciable difference in text!

Truly, modern knowledge vindicates the Bible.

Can Christians Learn from Hinduism?

IS Christianity merely another religion? Can well-informed Christian ministers learn as much from Hinduism as could the Hindus from Christianity? According to certain religious leaders of the United States, the answers to those questions should be Yes. For example, Sheldon Shepard, minister of the Hollywood Wilshire Universalist Church, writing on the subject “Start with Yourself”a begins by quoting from Jesus’ sermon on the mount regarding not judging others and then in support thereof gives quotations from Taoism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism. Representative of the Hindu wisdom he quotes is the expression: “Each one ought to raise himself by himself.”

Of the same mind is Floyd Rose, professor of World Religions and Church History, School of Religion, University of California. In his article “Beyond Tribalism”b he expresses the opinion that the holding of Christianity as superior to other religions is a form of tribalism and that it is as realistic to send Christian missionaries to Japan as it would be to send Hindu missionaries to America. He then quotes with approval from the Roman Catholic priest Gathier, who says (In Cross Currents, Winter 1953): “The Hindus could ask us . . . whether we too have not something to learn from the millennial wisdom of India. Without hesitation I would answer we have much to learn. . . . Hinduism invites us before all to interiorization, to the welcoming of thought on the Self. It hopes to find the final truth not in books, but in ourselves. . . . Properly understood the contact with Hindu thought can be a seed of life.”

Is the truth in ourselves rather than in books? Can we raise ourselves by ourselves? Has the Christian much to learn from Hinduism? Since Christ Jesus well said, “By their fruits you will recognize them,” let us see just what fruits this millennial wisdom of Hinduism brought forth prior to the twentieth century.

HINDUISM AND MORALITY

We quote from an address given by Dr. Pentecost at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, Illinois, 1893, which he was aroused to make because of the attacks of delegates from the Orient upon the status of Christendom. After noting that their Oriental temples “are the authorized and appointed cloisters of a system of immorality and debauchery the parallel of which is not known in any Western country,” Dr. Pentecost went on to say: “I could take you to ten thousand temples, more or less—more rather than less—in every part of India, to which are attached some two to four hundred priestesses, whose lives are not all they should be.

“I have seen this with my own eyes, and nobody denies it in India. If you talk to the Brahmans about it, they will say it is part of their system for the common people. Bear in mind this system is the authorized institution of the Hindoo religion. One needs only to look at the abominable carvings upon the temples, both of the Hindoos and Buddhists, the hideous symbols of the ancient Phallic systems, which are the most popular objects worshiped in India, to be impressed with the corruption of the religions. Bear in mind, these are not only tolerated, but instituted, directed and controlled by the priests of religion. Only the shameless paintings and portraiture of ancient Pompeii equal in obscenity the things that are openly seen in and about the entrances to the temples of India.”

After observing that, consistent with India’s caste system, he has never been able to find “a single text in any of the Hindoo sacred literature that justifies or even suggests the doctrine of the ‘fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.’” Dr. Pentecost went on to say: “If there is any brotherhood of man in India the most careless observer need not hesitate to say there is no sisterhood recognized by them. Let the nameless horrors of which the Hindoo women of India are the subjects answer to this statement.

“Until the English government put down with a strong hand the ancient religious Hindoo institution of Suttee, hundreds of Hindoo widows every year gladly flew to the funeral pyres of their dead husbands, thus embracing the flames that burned their bodies rather than to deliver themselves to the nameless horrors and living hell of Hindoo widowhood. Let our Hindoo friends tell us what their religion has done for the Hindoo widow, and especially the child widow, with her head shaved like a criminal, stripped of her ornaments, clothed in rags, reduced to a position of slavery worse than we can conceive, made the common drudge and scavenger of the family, and not infrequently put to even worse and nameless uses. To this state and condition the poor widow is reduced under the sanction of Hindooism. Only two years ago [in 1891] the British government was appealed to to pass a new and stringent law ‘raising the age of consent’ to twelve years, at which it was lawful for the Hindoo to consummate the marriage relation with his child wife. The Christian hospitals, filled with abused little girls barely out of their babyhood, became so outrageous a fact that the government had to step in and stop these crimes, which were perpetrated in the name of religion. So great was the excitement in India over this that it was feared that a religious revolution which would almost lead to a new mutiny was imminent.”—The Battle of Armageddon, C. T. Russell, pages 207-209.

In view of such fruits what can Christians learn from the millennial wisdom of Hinduism? How much of bettering of oneself by oneself does this represent? Concentration upon Self rather than the wisdom contained in books may be the philosophy of Hinduism, but the fact remains that the important improvements that have taken place in India, particularly since the above speech was given, were not the result of Hinduism’s “interiorization” but of the influence of the Bible.

HINDUISM AN ECONOMIC CURSE

Not only morally but also economically Hinduism has been a blight to the people of India and still is. Until the new Indian government put a bounty on monkey heads, monkeys were eating $2 million of foodstuffs a day and destroying another three billion tons of grain each year. Monkeys are considered sacred, and so they were fat and sleek while people starved to death. Peacocks, which consume much precious grain, are also considered sacred. Snakes also are held to be sacred and even to think of killing them is considered a sin, although they cause the deaths of 50,000 Indians annually.

According to one of the foremost members of India’s largest political party, “cow protection is a part of Indian culture and as such . . . the cow should be afforded full protection even if it leads to the collapse of the country’s economy.” It is considered a sin to kill a cow, regardless of how old, how sick, how unprofitable it might be to keep it. India boasts of some 215 million cattle, but it starves because beef is repugnant to its people because of their religion.

Karma or fatalism keeps the Hindu doing the same thing his father did regardless of how impractical it is. Because of karma ten lawyers will practice where but one is needed; because of karma Europeans or well-to-do Indians will have from six to ten house servants instead of two: the one who cooks may not set the table; the one who sets the table may not sweep the floor; the one who sweeps the floor may not wash the clothes; the one who washes the clothes may not wash the car, etc. Why not? To do so would be to break caste, the social crime of India. Incidentally, India also has ten million religious beggars that do not produce a thing.

That it is the Hindu mental attitude that is responsible for India’s plight is apparent from what Maurice Zinkin wrote in the April-June, 1952, issue of the India Quarterly. According to him many underdeveloped countries would like to have material prosperity but they are unwilling to change their mental attitude to make this possible. After telling that the Indian considers a lawyer or minor civil servant as more honorable than a sales manager or a production engineer, he goes on to say:

“The attitude toward work also needs to be changed. Contemplating under a coconut tree is a better way of developing the soul [?] than carrying the stones for a new railway embankment, but societies where all the emphasis is on leisure, where work is merely an unpleasant necessity to be done as quickly as possible, may be high-souled—they will never be rich. If what the underdeveloped countries now want is to get richer, then it is upon getting richer they must concentrate; if, in the process, they lose some of the graciousness and attractiveness of their lives, that is a sacrifice which must be accepted. It is reasonable to pay some price that two thirds of their people who have always been left ignorant and hungry may at last be fed.

“It is not that the Asian peasant or African tribesman is ignorant, though he is usually illiterate. It is rather that his education, based on traditional lore, is inappropriate to modern society.” Note that the term “traditional lore” actually means Hinduism as far as the Indian is concerned.

Mr. Zinkin argues for literacy, but according to Prime Minister Nehru of India that makes matters only worse. The New York Times, May 28, 1953, telling of his plea for honest labor, reported: “In a country where 80 per cent of the population is dependent upon crops nurtured painstakingly in inhospitable ground by [ancient] methods, there is an anomalous revolt against common labor that Mr. Nehru finds exasperating. He considers it a most dismaying aspect of present-day India that almost every peasant who gets a little education wants to leave the farm and become a babu or white-collar worker.” He pleaded for “honest labor” and condemned the concept that implied that “the highest were those who did nothing at all.”

That not mere literacy but a change in the Hinduistic mental attitude is needed is apparent from Mr. Zinkin’s further observations: “The West owes more of its advance than is commonly realized to the Puritan doctrine which made thrift and quiet living a moral virtue pleasing to God. There is no corresponding belief in any underdeveloped society.” Where did the Puritans get that doctrine? From the Bible.

The United States Congress voted two million tons of wheat for starving India in 1951, which provided temporary relief. In view of the foregoing might not the question be asked, Was India starving because of its bad weather and insect scourges or because of its bad religion? And therefore may not two million Bibles have done more toward permanently remedying the situation than two million tons of wheat?

BIBLE’S SUPERIOR WISDOM

Let Universalist minister, Roman Catholic priest and university professor of world religion and church history keep looking to Hinduism for its “millennial wisdom.” The Christian who has faith in the Bible as God’s Word and understands it will make no such mistake. He knows that Jehovah God is the fountain of life, that life is his choicest possession, a blessing and not a curse. (Ps. 36:9; 118:17; Rom. 6:23) He knows that by taking a wise course he makes Jehovah’s heart glad.—Prov. 27:11.

He knows that true wisdom or truth is not innate or original with himself, that it ‘is not in man that walks to direct his steps,’ but that all this can be found in books, the sixty-six books of the Bible. (Jer. 10:23; John 17:17) He knows that the Bible is a light for his path. (Ps. 119:105) From it he learns that God has made from one man all nations and that God does not recognize caste distinctions. (Acts 10:34; 17:26, NW) He knows that far from considering any of the lower animals as superior to man, God gave man dominion over the lower animals to serve man’s purposes, for joy of association, for beasts of burden, and for food and clothing. (Gen. 1:26; 3:21; 9:3) He knows that a husband should treat his wife with consideration, loving her as himself. (Eph. 5:28; 1 Pet. 3:7) And he knows that diligence and thrift are pleasing to God and that he condemns indolence and wastefulness.—Prov. 6:6; 18:9; 22:29.

He also knows that to make over his personality requires, not “interiorization,” but the making over of his mind with God’s thoughts, with an accurate knowledge of the truth. (Matt. 16:23; Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:9, 10, NW) And the prospect that thrills him is not total extinction or nirvana, but the hope of everlasting life in God’s new world of righteousness.—John 17:3; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:4.

[Footnotes]

Taking the Popular Side?

Meddling in politics can embarrass a religion. Take, for example, the instance 143 years ago when Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was leading Mexico’s war for independence. Spain, from which Mexico wanted freedom, was especially Catholic, and the Hierarchy sided with it. Four bishops blasted Hidalgo with the top excommunication in the canon, Si quis suadente diabolo, and the archbishop backed them up.

Now, however, Hidalgo is a national hero and Mexico is celebrating the second centennial of his birth this year. Catholic authorities have been challenged to make an official statement on whether the ban still stands, and Catholic writers are trying to explain that since the bishops overlooked certain technicalities, their action was invalid and the excommunication was never really in force.

Mercy for the Merciful

MERCY is for the merciful. It is granted according to right principles and for a definite purpose. That purpose is to develop integrity in men and to prove that integrity to be unbreakable. Mercy is for those who try to prove their love of God by keeping his commandments. The unmerciful, ungrateful, wicked man, the man that invents and practices evil, does not receive of God’s mercy. The wise man asks: “Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.”—Prov. 14:22.

Jehovah is the “Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3, NW) He expresses his absolute right to bestow his mercy upon whomsoever he wills. To Moses he said: “I will have mercy upon whomever I do have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I do show compassion.” (Rom. 9:15, NW) It is this quality of mercy that differentiates him from all demon gods of the pagans.

Jehovah’s mercy makes him adorable to us. It makes us want to cling to him and to love him. Because of his mercy we feel free to approach him in our weakness and imperfectness with an assurance of being heard and understood. The way Jehovah expresses his mercy proves to us that he is love. (1 John 4:16) His mercy is no sign of weakness or sentimental softness; rather it is an outflow of love to his creatures. It is written of him: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning iniquity and transgression and sin.”—Ex. 34:6, 7, NW; Mic. 7:18.

Jehovah’s mercy is specially for those who seek mercy from him. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Ps. 86:5) “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” (Ps. 103:11) “And for generations after generations his mercy is upon those who fear him.” (Luke 1:50, NW) His mercy is also for those who trust in him (Ps. 32:10); who love him for what he is (Neh. 1:5); who sow to themselves righteousness (Hos. 10:12); who are led by his spirit (Gal. 6:16); and who themselves are forgiving (Mark 11:25). God’s mercy is an incentive to righteousness, a spur to an honest endeavor to live above the law of sin.—Rom. 7:21-25, NW.

No one is beyond the reach of Jehovah’s mercy, if such one desires it. His mercy can lift us up and help us attain eternal life. But we must be honest with ourselves. We are at a disadvantage because of our imperfection. We must believe that only by the mercy of God shall we ever gain life. To receive of Jehovah’s mercy we must be merciful to others. To deny mercy brings denial of it for oneself. “Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: . . . Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man.” (Ps. 109:12, 16) And when showing mercy to others it is to be done “with cheerfulness” and with “good fruits.” (Rom. 12:8; Jas. 3:17) Imitate “the Father of tender mercies” when expressing mercy to others. “Jehovah is gracious, and merciful; slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.”—Ps. 145:8, 9, AS.

DELIGHT IN MERCY

A truly gracious heart will be merciful. It manifests itself in doing good. The merciful know their brothers are imperfect even as they are. They know their brothers make mistakes even as they do; that all are “brought forth in iniquity” and conceived in sin; that “there is not a righteous man, not even one.” (Ps. 51:5, AS; Rom. 3:10, NW) The merciful know that God remembers these in his mercy. “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14) Should we not be as forgiving to one another? “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful.” (2 Sam. 22:26) “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.” (Matt. 5:7, NW) To Christians Peter says: “Supply to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, to your knowledge self-control, to your self-control endurance, to your endurance godly devotion, to your godly devotion brotherly affection, to your brotherly affection love.” (2 Pet. 1:5-7, NW) How can we do this if we do not show love and mercy toward one another?

None of us are perfect. Each has his own peculiar weakness and imperfection, quirks and disposition. Because of these differences mercy must be exercised by each and every one of us. In our own eyes we may appear right, good, and without fault. But to others our shortcomings are many and obvious. We have hidden or secret faults. So, if we have been offended or wronged by some brother, let us not make the mistake of brooding over it, and make matters still worse by advertising our brother’s weakness, by gossiping about it. Do not be immature, childlike, by nursing a grudge. Rather, follow the Scriptural rule of going to the offender at some opportune moment, when you are in a right frame of mind, and then kindly, calmly and tactfully bring the matter to his attention. Do not condemn him. Jehovah may be holding him guiltless. “Stop judging, that you may not be judged; for with what judgment you are judging, you will be judged.” (Matt. 7:1, 2, NW) Do not make the serious mistake of rebuking him before others. You not only embarrass him but you do an injury to yourself as well by not following the Scriptural rule laid down at Matthew 18:15-17. Privately and in good, cheerful atmosphere air your differences. You will not only keep friends but win friends this way.

We want Jehovah to forgive our “secret faults,” do we not? Let us, then, be very merciful, overlooking and forgiving one another’s shortcomings. “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Ps. 19:12, 13) We can count on Jehovah’s forgiving our secret faults, if we forgive one another’s.

Paul gives us another reason for being merciful toward our brothers. “Brothers,” said Paul, “even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to restore such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself, for fear you also may be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1, NW) We never know when we may find ourselves in a position begging for mercy. The safe course is to be always forgiving. Forgive your brother “seventy-seven times” if necessary.—Matt. 18:22, NW.

THESE OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER

Some professed Christians are oh so kind and forgiving toward persons outside the Christian congregation who commit some trespass. But let their Christian brother become guilty of the same misdeed against them, and, instead of showing the same mercy, these become cold as ice and as hard as stone. To justify their hardheartedness, they will often say these ought to know better, whereas we have to make allowances for people outside because they do not know any better. So they show no love to their brother. Jesus classed these unforgiving ones with the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites, saying, You “have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, judgment and mercy and faithfulness.” (Matt. 23:23, NW) Instead of saying he should have known better, perhaps it would be better to say, He is still weak and imperfect in the flesh, as we all are. Paul shows that could be quite possible.—Rom. 7:15-25.

If we show a hardhearted attitude we bar out God from showing us mercy. “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.” (Ps. 18:25) Do we have grounds for refusing mercy to fellow brothers because, in our view, these should have known better? Let us apply the same rule to ourselves and reason that God will henceforth not forgive us or be patient with us because we, too, should know better, now that we have come into the truth.

There is an opposite side to this too. If we withhold mercy it will be withheld from us. To add mercy to others is to have it added to us. To multiply mercy toward others means that it will be multiplied in an even greater abundance to us. “With the measure that you are measuring out they will measure out to you.” (Matt. 7:2, NW) To withhold mercy is to be cruel.

Wicked men are without mercy. “But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (Prov. 12:10) In the illustration of the unforgiving slave, the one who withheld mercy from his fellow slave had it withheld from himself in turn. The unmerciful slave the master called wicked. “Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you, when you entreated me. Ought you not, in turn, to have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?” Jesus added: “In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.” (Matt. 18:32-35, NW) “For the one that does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy.”—Jas. 2:13, NW.

EXAMPLES IN MERCY

Mature Christians are admonished to be examples in mercy. Paul said the reason why he received mercy was so that he might be a “sample of those who are going to rest their faith on him [Christ Jesus] for everlasting life.” (1 Tim. 1:16, NW) Jude urges the mature ones to “continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; save them by snatching them out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear.”—Jude 22, 23, NW.

The rewards for being merciful are many. The merciful need never fear Jehovah’s judgment. He is assured of merciful consideration. Mercy makes for peace of mind of the one whom we forgive. It relieves him of the burden of worry and needless regrets. It creates harmony within the Christian congregation. It blesses the giver, the one showing mercy, for is it not more blessed to give than to receive? Yes, when we express mercy we share the comfort and joy that results from it. On the other hand, if we withhold mercy we trouble our own flesh. “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”—Prov. 11:17.

So take to heart the wise man’s advice: “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”—Prov. 3:3, 4.

“God’s Will Shall Prevail in Our Lives”

AN Edmonton, Canada, publisher while attending the New York convention had an interesting experience while traveling on the bus to Plainfield. She was boarding the bus and had difficulty with her luggage and a gentleman of around sixty assisted her with the luggage. When they were seated in the bus they started to converse with each other and she learned that he was a Methodist who was a reader of the Bible and who had charge or supervision over a number of Sunday-school teachers. This is the letter she received when she got back from New York.

Dear Miss Johnson:

At this time I am reminded of a couple of lines from a hymn that we Methodists sing once in a while. It starts like this: ‘God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.’

Because I helped a young lady on the bus with her heavy suitcase and because on the ride from New York to Plainfield I engaged in conversation with her, and others of her faith, there seemed to come over me a rather uncomfortable unrest. As I told you, I was very much impressed by the wonderful outpouring of Witnesses from the four corners of the earth that I was convinced that there was something in your faith and belief that was real and vital. I do not say that I am yet ready to become one of you, but, believe me, some of the truths that you expounded, and the literature with which you provided me, have certainly opened up new vistas of thought for me.

I was very much impressed by your belief that the only thing we should pray for is that God’s will shall prevail in our lives. Strangely enough I never in my life prayed that way before, but this week that is all I have been praying for, that He will show me the way that He wants me to go. I told you I have had a personal problem, perplexing me for over two years. Well, now, that particular problem does not seem so great; I have never prayed so much as I have since the bus ride from New York, and I have so far come to the place where I feel that my position can best be expressed by the words of another hymn:

‘Have thine own way, Lord,

Have thine own way;

Thou art the Potter,

I am the clay.

Make me and mold me

After thy will,

While I am waiting

Yielding and still.’

So, Miss Johnson, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for your kindness to me. I am writing this letter because I want you to know that at least some of the seed that you sowed has fallen on fertile ground. I shall go to the Kingdom Hall here in Plainfield and learn more of your beliefs.

In closing may I say that I pray that God’s richest blessing may rest upon you in all that you do. Without being presumptuous, I would like to hear from you again.

Sincerely, [signed]

P.S. When I got on the bus, I had quite another kind of literature with me, but when I got off the bus in Plainfield I threw it in the trash can. Last night after a solo prayer, I threw away all my pipes and tobacco. God has taken from me the desire to smoke.

No Money!

Gonzalez Valencia, archbishop of Durango, recently called on all Catholics in his Mexican diocese to defend “the holy church of God” against “Protestant propaganda” that “is becoming more and more active in our archdiocese.” However, he bemoans: “We do not have the inexhaustible funds that heresy has at its disposal.” Why not? Roman Catholicism claims to have far more than twice as many members as all “Protestantism,” claiming that four out of every seven so-called “Christians” in the world are Catholics. If the archbishop’s financial worries are right, then his people must have little interest in supporting their religion.

Sarah, Comely Woman of Faith

GOD’S Word, the Bible, is not an old-fashioned book. At no time will the human race reach a point where it will not or can not benefit from perusing the marvelous things recorded therein. However, particularly for us at the present time was it written, that through our endurance and its comfort we might have hope. (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11, NW) And the examples furnished by faithful men and women not only give us encouragement but often are found to be of prophetic significance. A case in point is Sarah, the wife of Abraham, outstanding for her comeliness, faith and submissiveness.

Sarah, according to Genesis 20:12, was a half sister of Abraham as well as his wife, having the same father but a different mother. As a young woman she must have been exceedingly beautiful, for even at the age of sixty-six the princes of Pharaoh so praised her to him that he, upon hearing that she was Abraham’s sister, took her into his household. Still more remarkable, twenty-five years later, when she was about ninety years of age, Abimelech, king of Gerar, took her.

But Sarah had far more to recommend her than just her beauty. In fact, beauty alone is not well spoken of in God’s Word. In itself, “Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:30, AS) Sarah not only had grace and beauty but she feared Jehovah.

We always think of Abraham as one who had such great faith that he was able to have a son in his old age, but do we ever take note of the fact that had it not been for Sarah’s having a like faith the faith of Abraham would not of itself have enabled him to have a son by Sarah? That Sarah’s faith played a vital role in this is apparent from Paul’s words at Hebrews 11:11 (NW): “By faith also Sarah herself received power to conceive seed, even when she was past the age limit, since she esteemed him faithful who had promised.” Faith enabled Sarah to have a son when she was ninety years old.

True, we read that when Sarah first heard that she was to have a son in her old age she laughed, saying: “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Gen. 18:12) But this was no different from the way Abraham himself felt about it when Jehovah first assured him that he would have a son in spite of his old age.—Gen. 17:17.

Yes, Sarah was a woman of faith, a worthy wife of that man of faith, Abraham. That is why Jehovah changed not only Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude,” but also Sarai’s name to Sarah, meaning “princess”; it being the feminine form of the Hebrew word sar, prince.—Gen. 17:5, 15.

A SUBMISSIVE WIFE

Not only is Sarah cited to Christians as an example of faith, but, particularly to Christian wives, Sarah is held up as an example of wifely submissiveness. The apostle Peter, a married man, in his first letter, after counseling Christians to be submissive to one another, continues: “In like manner, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, . . . And do not let your adornment be that of the external braiding of the hair and of the putting on of gold ornaments or the wearing of outer garments, but let it be the secret person of the heart in the incorruptible apparel of the quiet and mild spirit, which is of great value in the eyes of God. For so, too, formerly the holy women who were hoping in God used to adorn themselves, subjecting themselves to their own husbands, as Sarah used to obey Abraham, calling him ‘lord’.”—1 Pet. 3:1, 3-6, NW.

In checking the Hebrew Scriptures we do not find any specific instance where Sarah addressed her husband as “lord.” But we do read that Sarah “laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Gen. 18:12) Most likely she did address him as “lord,” not to flatter his ego, but because she really thought of him as being such to her.

That she really felt this way in her heart is apparent from her obedient course of action. When God commanded Abraham to leave his native land Sarah did not put any obstacles in his way but showed the same obedience to the divine command as did Abraham. And we can appreciate that this was no insignificant matter for her, as wandering from place to place, pulling up stakes and getting established time and time again must have been far more of a burden to a woman than to a man.

Her submissiveness was shown in a particularly remarkable way in the two incidents already referred to, when two pagan kings desired her for her beauty. To avoid jeopardy to his life, Abraham in each case represented himself as Sarah’s brother. This certainly was no small test for Sarah, but she willingly submitted. She could have insisted that Abraham plainly state the facts and fight for her, but doubtless she did not. While the record is silent on this point, we may be certain that had Sarah made an issue of it, that fact would have been noted. Instead of censuring her husband, she put her faith in Jehovah and Jehovah rewarded her faith by seeing to it that neither of the kings touched her.—Gen. 12:17-19; 20:3-18.

When the angelic messengers visited Abraham, Sarah showed her willingness to co-operate, even as we read, “And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” She did not complain about being ordered and hurried but went right to work while Abraham got a tender young calf and gave it to one of his servants to butcher and dress. As a result, in the minimum time Abraham was able to spread a feast for his guests.—Gen. 18:1-8.

NOT WEAK-WILLED

That Sarah’s submissiveness was because she recognized the proper theocratic rule, and not because she was an introverted abject female with an inferiority complex, is apparent from other recorded incidents. When Abraham and Sarah kept getting older and older without having an offspring, it was Sarah who suggested to Abraham that he take her maid Hagar as a substitute wife, so that he could have a son. However, when this maid became pregnant and despised her old mistress, Sarah dealt severely with her. That we may not attribute any spite or jealousy to Sarah is apparent from the fact that the angel of Jehovah did not rebuke Sarah for it, but, on the contrary, ordered Hagar, who had run away because of this treatment, to return to her mistress.—Gen. 16:1-9.

Ishmael was born, and years later Sarah conceived and bore a son, Isaac, meaning “laughter.” At the time of his weaning, Abraham prepared a great feast at which Sarah noticed Ishmael, her maid’s son, mocking her son Isaac. Becoming concerned for the welfare of her son she asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. It took no little courage on the part of Sarah to make this suggestion to her “lord,” especially as she could not help knowing how reluctant Abraham would be to carry out such a suggestion.

But here again Sarah received support from Jehovah, for in spite of the fact that Abraham was very loath to follow Sarah’s suggestion in this, he was told to listen to Sarah and send Hagar and Ishmael out of his household. While some worldly-wise critics condemn Sarah in this, even as they do in her previous course toward her maid, yet in view of Jehovah’s confirmation of Sarah’s suggestion and the prophetic application made of it in the Christian Greek Scriptures, we cannot properly censure her. It was her son Isaac, not Hagar’s Ishmael, that was the seed of promise; his interests were paramount and had to be safeguarded.—Gen. 21:8-12.

Sarah died at the age of 127 years, having seen her son grow to almost forty years. She being mentioned by the apostle Paul at Hebrews chapter 11, we may confidently expect her to be favored with an early resurrection.—Heb. 11:11, 39, 40; Rev. 11:15-18, NW.

Sarah was a comely woman of faith who appreciated the proper relationship of a wife to her husband, and who bore a son to her husband in her old age. In all this she was a very fitting picture of Jehovah God’s “woman,” his universal organization, and whom he considers very beautiful. That “woman” also was barren for a long time before giving birth to the promised Seed, Christ Jesus, and to the Kingdom. And all those who will ever comprise God’s organization, as well as those who now come under it, and receive its blessings, must, like Sarah, exercise real faith in Jehovah’s promises and be submissive to the Greater Abraham, Jehovah God.—Isa. 54:1; 66:7, 8; Gal. 4:22-31.

A Christian Holiday?

“Pope Backs May Day as Christian Holiday” was the title of an article in the New York Times of May 3, 1953. The article said: “In a May Day speech he delivered to 4,000 workers gathered in the Vatican from many parts of Italy, the Pope endorsed the celebration of the day as a Christian holiday for labor.” The Times then quotes the pope as asking concerning May Day: “Who better than the true Christian can give to it a profound significance?” Do true Christians celebrate May Day as a Christian holiday? You are invited to be the judge.

May Day’s origin? The New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia says on page 8294: “May Day festivals probably stem from the rites practiced in honor of a Roman goddess, Maia, who was worshiped as the source of human and natural fertility.” A conspicuous feature of this celebration has been (and still is, especially among school children) the dancing around the Maypole. The same encyclopedia states: “This Maypole is believed by most scholars to be a survival of a phallic symbol formerly used in the spring rites for the goddess Maia.”

Did early Christians celebrate pagan festivals as Christian holidays? No! “To keep themselves free from idolatry they refused to associate with others in social and public festivities.” (A History of Rome, by George Willis Botsford, page 263) Another authority speaks of “the absolute refusal of the Christians to join in any religious festival.”—Christianity and the Roman Government, by E. G. Hardy, page 36.

In view of the above-mentioned facts, Do true Christians give May Day “a profound significance” by celebrating it as a Christian holiday? You be the judge.

The Ami Tribe of Southeast Formosa

By a Watchtower Society missionary in Japan

THEY are called “uncivilized.” Which makes us wonder how “civilization” should be defined. True, they live on a primitive diet of rice, with some meats, eggs and tropical fruits thrown in for flavoring. Big families of several generations are crowded in thatch-roofed houses. They do not have the educational or medical benefits of the Western world, but they are a far, far happier people than those of the West. One of their own number, a minister of Jehovah God, describes them as follows:

“In place of knowledge of letters, the primitive Ami tribe have keen perception, thoughtfulness and reasoning power. Once you tell them anything, they never forget. They are born that way. It is natural with them. In their depth of feeling they are a special people. Compared with other people they are simple and honest. Newly hearing of God’s kingdom and the hope of everlasting life, they take a special interest in it.

“Being uncivilized, they are different from this complicated modern world. Their field of worldly knowledge is limited, but they are a satisfied, cool-headed group that live close to nature.

“In preaching the Bible from house to house, mature, literate ministers take along the illiterate. Many who listen, too, are illiterate, so that Taiwan’s good-will people do not gain their understanding in the same way as those who can read and write, and turn up Bible quotations. The general procedure with those who do not understand the Japanese characters of the literature is to talk to them, and keep on talking. They listen well without interrupting, the words connecting in their hearts, and their minds quietly reflecting. Even though they have never heard the message before, they understand well. After listening they do not try to argue, but ask questions concerning what they have heard. The minister then opens his Bible and explains further. Even those who can read and write like at first to hear a discourse from the minister. Then they ask their questions, and the answers are given from the Bible.

“Our experience is that those who can read and write get some appreciation. But the percentage of those who accept the truth through hearing rather than reading is far greater.

“Our house-to-house work leads to home Bible studies. In conducting a Bible study in a house, the family is divided into two groups, the literate and the illiterate. The literate good-will people are instructed by the usual study method. In the study with the illiterate, the minister uses the Japanese ‘Let God Be True’ or The Watchtower. At first the minister reads out the material in Japanese. Then he translates and explains it in the Ami dialect. He follows this explanation by asking the question, and then letting them answer it. In this way they will study hard for hours of an evening. But the results of this oral explanation are good, and fit the circumstances in Taiwan. While continually preaching the good news the way we do, the good-will people are increasing everywhere, beyond what we realize.”

Uncivilized? Maybe selfish worldlings would say so. But the Ami tribe are not a people to get their minds cluttered up with the ambitions and philosophies of this corrupt and violent world. They are taking in the simple, eternal truths of God’s Word, and doing this so zealously that their number of active ministers increased during 1953 to 1,205, to compare with an average of little more than 300 last year.

The Day for Salvation

“For he says: ‘In an acceptable season I heard you, and in the day for salvation I came to your help.’ Look! Now is the especially acceptable season. Look! Now is the day for salvation.”—2 Cor. 6:2, NW.

1. What and when is the day for salvation?

THE great day of Jehovah is the day for salvation. Its completion is the time looked for and hoped for in Christian hearts for centuries. This day in complete fulfillment had its beginning in the autumn of 1914 (A.D.), when Christ began to rule in the midst of his enemies, and it continues until the destruction of Satan and his wicked organization is completed. The start of this rule marks the beginning of sorrows upon Satan’s organization, and it is also a time of trouble for the inhabitants of the earth. Revelation 12 shows how it began with war in the heavens, resulting in the casting of Satan and his wicked spirit forces out of heaven, giving complete control of the heavens to the righteous rule of Christ.—Ps. 110:1, 2.

2. Why has Satan been allowed to live, now that Christ reigns?

² Seeing that the kingdom of God was set up in 1914, some have wondered why Jehovah God has permitted wickedness to continue for these many years thereafter. Why have the wicked ones been allowed to dominate the earth if Christ reigns? Jehovah shows us his way of dealing with wicked Satan through his dealings with wicked Pharaoh of Egypt: “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘For this very purpose I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may demonstrate my power and that my name may be published throughout all the earth.’” (Rom. 9:17, NW) Yes, especially in this day or period of time set aside by Jehovah following 1914 this principle of action has been followed.

3. What did Jesus say would happen in this “day”?

³ The things foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24 must occur in the day of Jehovah. There must be the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness. Followers of Jesus in the ministry must be persecuted and hated by all nations. There was to be much violence among Satan’s cohorts in the earth before the demonstration of Jehovah’s great power. In fact, Jesus prophesied that the war against Satan and his world would be held up for a time: “Unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved.” (Matt. 24:22, NW) The “flesh” here mentioned are those who worship Jehovah. It was a time set aside in which many would receive the help of Jehovah and go in the way to salvation. Jehovah’s purpose was to preserve a people for his name, who would bear witness throughout the world and give warning to people of all nations to flee from modern “Babylon” before the destruction comes. Jehovah shows his kindness, patience and endurance of reproach by allowing this day for salvation. And out of this day with all its troubles for Satan’s system of things a great crowd of praisers has already come forth for their salvation, as foretold in Revelation 7:14 (NW): “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation.”

4. How does Jehovah help people to salvation in this day, and why must action be taken by people now?

⁴ That this is a fact is shown in the record. In 1918 there were 3,868 preaching Jehovah’s message from door to door in a few countries and sharing in the pure worship. In the short time that has elapsed since 1918 the numbers have risen to the peak of 510,228 reporting time in preaching in 1953 and hundreds more are being baptized every month in symbol of their dedication to Jehovah’s service of praise. This has come about because of the increased light on God’s Word—Jehovah’s help. This is the “time of the end” and it is the time for which the Scriptures were especially written. (1 Cor. 10:11) By making known his purposes, especially now, Jehovah opens the way to salvation. He provides help for lovers of righteousness who want to serve him. He shows them the right path to follow. They must join in calling upon Jehovah’s name in order to be saved. (Rom. 10:10-15) Now is the time for it, before the great storm of Jehovah’s day breaks at Armageddon. When Armageddon breaks in all its fury, the acceptable season for taking up the worship of Jehovah will be ended. The decision must be made before the especially acceptable season concludes. Now is the time to take up Jehovah’s service. Now is the time to keep doing it. “For he says: ‘In an acceptable season I heard you, and in the day for salvation I came to your help.’ Look! Now is the especially acceptable season. Look! Now is the day for salvation.”—2 Cor. 6:2, NW.

5, 6. (a) What is the relationship between Jehovah’s Word and salvation? (b) How can we equip ourselves and be of aid to other Christians?

⁵ Salvation is in Jehovah’s power. He is the God of salvation. The word here used means more than merely gaining life. It means deliverance to life and safety. It connotes giving health. It therefore shows that Jehovah’s salvation comes in more than one way in this day of Jehovah. Jehovah sustains his servants. He provides the spiritual food to keep them strong. It is Jehovah who delivers his servant body on earth through many trials. Though Christ Jesus has begun his invisible rule, nevertheless Jehovah’s servants have passed through many trying experiences since 1914. This is no surprise to informed, genuine Christians, for Jesus predicted it clearly in the Bible record. But it has been difficult sometimes. Jehovah foretold these experiences in the prophecies of the Bible, preserving the record for our use in this day of salvation. It is good for us to examine what God’s Word says and to thereby be strengthened, to know what we may expect just ahead as we approach the climax of this day of Jehovah.

⁶ Knowing accurately what Jehovah has said gives us strength, builds up our endurance and bolsters our faith. If we are wise, we study Jehovah’s Word and grow spiritually strong. Then, especially in times of difficulty or persecution, we shall be able to endure in our faith and we shall be able to serve others. “We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor in what is good for his upbuilding. For even Christ did not please himself; but just as it is written: ‘The reproaches of those who were reproaching you have fallen upon me.’ For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:1-4, NW) We must constantly take in knowledge and use it for the upbuilding of ourselves and our fellow Christians. This will be our course of life in this day of Jehovah, if we are to gain his salvation.

PROPHECIES UNFOLD A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE

7, 8. (a) What prophecy will now have our special consideration? (b) Who were some of the prominent persons in the prophecy, and what did that foreshadow?

⁷ Among the prophecies written aforetime for our instruction is the unusual happening in the life of Daniel, as told in Da chapter 6, which please read. It is full of meaning in this day for salvation, for it shows what befalls Jehovah’s “slave” class on earth. In the prophetic drama Jehovah has used Daniel to picture his “slave,” his organized body of witnesses on earth. Darius pictured regal power or authority and law. The lions represent true justice, which is of God. Yes, this is the record of Daniel in the lions’ den.

⁸ Daniel is the only one mentioned in the prophecy who was a worshiper of Jehovah, the living God. None of the other men were servants of Jehovah. That is why Daniel as one of the Jewish remnant is such a good picture of Jehovah’s “slave” class on earth today. (Matt. 24:45-47) No one else adheres to pure worship. Daniel occupied a high position in the kingdom of the Medes and Persians. What did that show? It pointed out how Jehovah’s anointed witnesses in this day for salvation would have a prominent position and be known throughout the world. They have a high position in the sight of Jehovah, as his ambassadors and representatives, bearing his name.

9, 10. (a) Of whom were the princes prophetic? (b) Why were the princes against Daniel, and what did they do against him?

⁹ Others are included in the prophecy, other rulers or princes. They were not worshipers of Jehovah God. They did not respect the God of Daniel and did not work to uphold God’s righteous principles as Daniel did. They took a course in opposition to pure worship. How well they picture the corrupt visible representatives of Satan on earth! They are the ones who crave complete domination over the peoples of the earth for their own gain, which is contrary to Jehovah’s will. Evidently the wicked princes or satraps and the two evil presidents in the kingdom did not wish to give proper account of the tribute or tax collected, but Daniel stood in their way, a righteous man who kept God’s law. Daniel did not want the king to suffer any loss.

¹⁰ Daniel’s truthfulness, honesty and integrity were too much for the princes. They hated him. He must be put out of the way, they concluded. “Then the presidents and satraps sought to find some ground of complaint against Daniel in connection with his administration of the kingdom; but they could find no ground of complaint or fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was to be found in him. So these men said, ‘We shall find no ground of complaint against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’” (Dan. 6:4, 5, AT) Daniel had done nothing wrong; he obeyed the law in every way.

11, 12. (a) What conspiracy did Jehovah here foretell? (b) Why did Daniel’s life course well portray that of Jehovah’s “slave” class today on earth?

¹¹ A wicked conspiracy was formed against Daniel, conceived in malice and hatred. The iniquitous princes were jealous of Daniel and his favored position with the regal authority. Nothing was more important to the satraps than to get rid of Daniel. So Jehovah foretold how the enemies of his kingdom and his “slave” class on earth would act in the day of Jehovah, conspiring against those who do righteously. In another prophecy we read: “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They take crafty counsel against thy people, and consult together against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent.”—Ps. 83:2-5, AS.

¹² How accurately Jehovah foretold the conspiracy against his “slave” class! The upright life Daniel led was one form of testimony in favor of Jehovah, and, likewise, Jehovah requires his witnesses in modern days to live in purity as part of their preaching. Jehovah’s witnesses stand out in the whole world as a people who put Jehovah first in their lives. They are like Daniel, faithful to their God and true to whatever trust may be put in them. They are not willing to join in with the corrupt practices of Satan’s world, but are people of decency, honesty and integrity the world around. Jehovah’s witnesses do not fill the prisons with murderers, thieves and rioters. They are the most law-abiding group of people in the whole world, barring none. Obedience to Jehovah’s written Word has made them such.

13. Why are Jehovah’s witnesses hated in all nations of the world?

¹³ Then why is it that they are so hated in every nation of the world by most clergymen, politicians and others of influence? Jesus gives the answer: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you. Bear in mind the word I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; . . . But they will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know him that sent me. Men will expel you from the congregation. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God.” (John 15:17-21; 16:2, NW) Many clergymen and politicians cannot stand hearing the preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom. They want to silence those who worship according to God’s commandments. They look for a way, a so-called “legal way,” that will be useful to them in justifying their acts against Jehovah’s witnesses in the eyes of the world. How is it done?

14. What so-called legal action did the wicked princes take against Daniel?

¹⁴ See what Jehovah foretold at Daniel 6:5-8. Knowing the sincerity and the fear of Jehovah that Daniel possessed, the conspirators chose to make an attack against Daniel because of his worship of Jehovah. They were certain Daniel would put God first in his life; so this would be their way of making him appear to be a wrongdoer. They approached the king and proposed a statute to prohibit anyone in the kingdom from praying to someone other than the king for a period of thirty days. Violators were to be thrown into the den of lions. The king signed it and it became the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians. Note that the wicked confederates were from all parts of the far-flung Medo-Persian empire and Daniel was the target of their movement. The plan to “legally” execute or destroy Daniel was based on an attack against pure worship of God. Freedom of worship had to be stamped out in order to effect success for their plan. Daniel would not be allowed to pray to Jehovah God as was his custom according to God’s command.

15. What measures are taken against Jehovah’s witnesses today?

¹⁵ Likewise, Jehovah’s witnesses are today found under attack by men of wicked intent in all parts of the world. Jehovah foretold: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” “Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by statute? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.” (Ps. 2:2, 3; 94:20, 21, AS) In harmony therewith the world adopts drastic measures against Jehovah’s witnesses in hope of ending the announcement of the rule of God’s King. They cloak these overt acts in “legal attire” and thus fool many unsuspecting people in their nations.

16. How did the Nazis mistreat Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany?

¹⁶ Here is how it happened in Nazi Germany. Fanatical politicians found a “legal” way. They put a ban on the preaching work of Jehovah’s witnesses in 1933. It became a “crime” to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses. Many were arrested and imprisoned. The Nazis maintained that the activities of Jehovah’s witnesses (Earnest Bible Students) were inimical and ‘disturbed the National Socialistic construction.’ When Jehovah’s witnesses went into the courts to fight for their rights and some were set free, the Reich’s Ministry of Justice prepared a lengthy opinion to ensure that Jehovah’s witnesses could not be freed, saying, in conclusion: “The courts must not fail on account of merely apparent legal formalities; but must seek and find ways in spite of the formal difficulties, to fulfill their high duties.” This meant that true justice could not be had. Ten thousand suffered in the concentration camps. They did not try to take the law into their own hands and rise up against the government. Patiently they waited upon Jehovah for deliverance, never breaking faith with their God. Not capitulating, they were freed again at the end of World War II and their numbers have multiplied.

17. What are the Communists doing against Jehovah’s witnesses, and what do Jehovah’s witnesses do in spite of it?

¹⁷ In communistic countries Jehovah’s witnesses have been banned in a so-called “legal” way. In all such countries Jehovah’s witnesses find no justice. Judges are instructed what the verdict is to be before trials are called. Thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses are now unjustly imprisoned in eastern Europe. But Jehovah’s witnesses cannot break faith with Jehovah; so they continue to worship and preach as they are able, waiting upon Jehovah for salvation and taking strength from his precious promises in the Bible. They conduct Bible studies secretly outside of or in the prisons. Other prisoners join them in the ministry, often being baptized right in the prisons. So Jehovah’s witnesses continue to increase in numbers in all communistic lands. And the communistic persecution reveals clearly that Jehovah’s witnesses are not following men, but following the true “higher powers,” Jehovah and Christ Jesus, for many times those considered “leaders” by the Communists have been arrested and put away and almost immediately others with the spirit of Jehovah are raised up to continue with the witness work, and expansion goes on.

18. What is another source of persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses?

¹⁸ The Dominican Republic has a legal decree making it a crime to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses. The source of the trouble is not communistic, but Catholic. Jehovah’s witnesses there have not broken integrity and, though they cannot get justice in the courts, they have stood up boldly to give fine testimonies to the honor of the name of Jehovah.

19. What is the position of Jehovah’s witnesses in Canada?

¹⁹ In Quebec, Canada, the Roman Catholic religionists laid false charges against Jehovah’s witnesses. They charged Jehovah’s witnesses with sedition. But in Canada Jehovah’s witnesses have rights; they are able to fight in the courts. Jehovah’s witnesses take advantage of their legal rights. It was a long, hard fight, but in December, 1950, these false charges of sedition were overruled by the Supreme Court of Canada. Here is another instance where those who are fighting against God and his kingdom have tried to smear Jehovah’s servants and make them appear to be lawbreakers. Jehovah’s witnesses in Canada have shown great interest in the people of Canada and in the freedom of the people. In 1947 Jehovah’s witnesses circulated a petition for a bill of rights guaranteeing the freedoms, freedom of worship and freedom of speech, of the Canadian people. They got over 500,000 signers, the largest petition ever compiled in Canada. This petition was submitted to the Parliament in Ottawa, but up until this time no action has been taken by that lawmaking body.

20. How was mischief framed against Jehovah’s witnesses in Australia?

²⁰ In the Commonwealth of Australia in the year 1941 the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was banned without a hearing. The charge raised was that Jehovah’s witnesses were against the government. Here, too, Jehovah’s witnesses were able to go into court and exercise their legal rights. And so it was that on June 14, 1943, after a strong fight in the high court of Australia victory was gained for Jehovah’s witnesses when the court ruled that the ban against them was not legal and they were not subversive.

21. What record of legal battles in defense of freedom have Jehovah’s witnesses built up in the United States?

²¹ In the United States of America many false charges have been brought against Jehovah’s witnesses. Many cases have been raised against them to try to deny them their rights of freedom of worship and freedom of speech. Outstanding cases have been fought by Jehovah’s witnesses in the courts of the United States. They have been given a hearing according to the laws of the land, and so they have taken 46 cases to the United States Supreme Court since 1938. By their victories in many court decisions, freedoms of worship and speech have been secured for Jehovah’s witnesses, yes, and for the benefit of all the people of the United States. Yet the enemy continues to raise false charges and the fight goes on in the courts of the land.

22. What tactics do attackers of Jehovah’s witnesses use?

²² In almost every case when the politicians and clergy spring an attack against Jehovah’s witnesses it involves their way of worship. The rulers studiously avoid a discussion of the Bible, for they know they cannot win on Scriptural grounds. They rather resort to throwing smears against Jehovah’s witnesses. They cannot successfully attack the truth in God’s Word; so they try to distract the minds of the people by making accusations of subversion or attacking individuals with false charges.

23. What position does the Bible show Christians must take when they are persecuted?

²³ Jehovah’s witnesses fight! Yes, they fight against mischief framed through legal channels. If a fair hearing can be had, Jehovah’s witnesses will always be shown to be blameless. They will be shown to be right. They will not be shown to be breakers of proper law. They will be found adhering closely to the high principles and teachings of the Bible. But where justice cannot be had, then God’s people must endure faithfully. They do not take the law into their own hands. That would be wrong. They do not engage in subversive activities against the established governments. That too would be wrong. Regardless of the outcome of their fights to preserve freedom of worship for themselves, they keep right on preaching God’s Kingdom hope. They know that Peter and John did that when they were commanded by human authorities not to go on preaching Christ Jesus. In that case God’s law was supreme. Man’s law was secondary. Peter and John had God’s approval, and we as Christians today are bound by God’s commands to do as Peter and John did, to continue living as Christians, to keep on exercising our right of worship. It may take a fight. Jehovah’s witnesses will fight according to what God has shown by continuing to do what God has commanded. In Acts the eighth chapter we find a record of how persecution can be defeated. Here we see how the Christians in the early days were scattered by those who falsely accused them and who sought to break down true worship, and yet the enemies did not succeed. They did scatter God’s servants, but wherever God’s servants went they kept on preaching the good news of the Kingdom and as they went and preached many new ones heard the truth. So the enemy in his effort to stop the proclamation of the truth merely caused it to spread, and in that way the persecution was defeated.—Acts 5.

24. What did Daniel do when he heard about the new law?

²⁴ Turning back to the prophecy, we see Daniel as a target of a movement of men from all parts of the far-flung empire. They would not allow Daniel to pray to Jehovah God. Daniel knew the rules in his government. Once a law was made in that land, it would stand, it must be carried out. So, therefore, Daniel would immediately and automatically become a violator. Naturally he could not quit worshiping God because some men wanted him to stop. He would not risk displeasing the life-giving God. So we read in Da 6 verses 10 and 11: “And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.”—Dan. 6:10, 11, AS.

25. (a) What lesson for Jehovah’s witnesses is found in this part of the prophecy? (b) How was Christ Jesus falsely accused?

²⁵ This was prophetic. It foretold how Jehovah’s witnesses today continue to worship God in spite of decrees made by Communist dictators or any others against worship of Jehovah. They remember the words that Jesus spoke: “And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matt. 10:28, NW) Jehovah’s witnesses show proper godly fear by putting Jehovah’s worship first in their lives. This will ensure them everlasting life, even if they should be murdered by evil dictators. Never for one minute do they lose faith in Jehovah’s power. They know that to be hated is nothing new, because the Master was hated and brought before the rulers. The opposers then brought along their so-called “legal” arguments as to why Jesus should be put out of the way. Note the account in Luke 23:2, 5 (NW): “Then they started to accuse him, saying: ‘This man we found subverting our nation and forbidding the paying of taxes to Caesar and saying he himself is Christ a king.’ But they began to be insistent, saying: ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, even starting out from Galilee to here.’” They were out to get Jesus. A few lies did not matter to them. Jesus had done no wrong whatsoever, but there he stood falsely accused. We know what happened to Jesus.

26. How was “patriotism” used against the early followers of Christ?

²⁶ The followers of Jesus were likewise falsely accused. We read at Acts 16:20, 21 (NW) how Paul and Silas were treated by wicked leaders in the world: “Leading them up to the civil magistrates, they said: ‘These men are disturbing our city very much, they being Jews, and they are publishing customs which it is not lawful for us to take up or practice, seeing we are Romans.’” Another record of mistreatment of God’s servants is found in Acts 17:6, 7 (NW): “When they did not find them they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the city rulers, crying out: ‘These men that have upset the inhabited earth are present here also, and Jason has received them with hospitality. And all these men act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus.’” They tried to injure Jehovah’s servants by their patriotic talk, but by violating the law and by lying they themselves were anything but patriotic. So we see it is nothing new for Christians, true worshipers of God, to have mischief framed against them by talk of patriotism and by accusations of subversion and disloyalty.

27. What does Daniel 6:16 indicate for modern-day servants of Jehovah?

²⁷ In the prophecy of Daniel the regal or ruling authority was used against Daniel. The enemies of the worship of God had framed mischief by law. Under their long beards, those wicked princes were gloating, thinking Daniel was doomed. They knew the laws could not be altered. This time Daniel would not escape. The record tells us at Daniel 6:16: “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.” At this point the wicked conspirators were certain that they were delivered of Daniel and his superior way of living, his pure worship of God. They would not hear the prayers to Jehovah any more. They were certain Daniel could not escape from the hungry lions. But showing their wickedness and malice and just to make sure that Daniel would not escape, they had the den of the lions officially sealed. And what does this part of the prophecy foretell? The world in general views Jehovah’s witnesses as an insignificant group. They are small in comparison with the vast organizations of Christendom and heathendom. They could not gain the upper hand in any contest of force with the men of this world. Evidently, according to this prophecy, Jehovah’s “slave” class throughout the earth are destined to come very close to being overcome as man views matters. The Scriptures show clearly that Satan and his organization are not going to give up without a fight, for Revelation 12:17 (NW) says of our days: “And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.” They will assault and seek the destruction of Jehovah’s anointed witnesses as well as their good-will companions just before the end comes, possibly in all nations, in all parts of the world. And should this make Jehovah’s witnesses afraid?

28. (a) Why is there no reason for fear on the part of Jehovah’s servants? (b) Give scriptures to show what we should keep on doing.

²⁸ There is nothing in the record to indicate that Daniel was afraid. He retained full faith in his God, Jehovah. Daniel knew that he was actually before the true justice, which was pictured by the lions, and that when true justice was meted out he would not be hurt. He was blameless, a pure worshiper of God. The judgment, the true justice, was in the hands of Almighty God Jehovah. And so when Daniel went into the lions’ den he was confident in Jehovah’s supreme power. As with Daniel, so with Jehovah’s witnesses on the earth today. They are not afraid. They keep on praising Jehovah. (Isa. 44:8; Ezek. 2:6, 7; Acts 18:9, 10; 1 Pet. 3:14, 15) They will keep full trust in the supreme power of Jehovah; though at times it may seem that their organization is doomed as men view matters, it will never be found to be so. Some people in the communistic countries may think so now. They may think that Jehovah’s witnesses have been wiped out, but that is just what they read in their propaganda newspapers. Jehovah God will always bring his servants through all of their trials. Just as the Nazis were unable to destroy Jehovah’s witnesses, so no other segments of Satan’s world system of things can do it. Now the Communists of eastern Europe are trying. They too will fail!

29. How do the instructive prophecies of Jehovah’s Word give us the right viewpoint?

²⁹ In these evil days Jehovah’s witnesses must maintain indomitable faith. This they have in the day of salvation, because of their knowledge of his Word, because of the things he tells them in the prophecies. He tells us what to expect and then shows us what the outcome will be. Jehovah’s witnesses take great comfort and strength from what is written in God’s Word. (Prov. 2:6, 8, 21, 22; 24:5; Rom. 15:4) We can look back to the days of Moses and Israel, when they were pursued by the Egyptians. From the human viewpoint they had no way out. There was the Red Sea ahead of them; behind them the pursuing Egyptian army. What could they do? Which way could they turn? From the human viewpoint they were doomed. But those with faith in Jehovah, the Israelites, saw things differently. They went on, and Jehovah rewarded their faith. Jehovah opened up the sea, carried them through to the other side, and it was Jehovah who destroyed the pursuers. The eye of faith is a marvelous blessing.—Exodus 14.

30-34. Describe five prophetic pictures that show the value of having strong faith in Jehovah and having the theocratic viewpoint of our true situation.

³⁰ Turning to Judges 4 we read of how Sisera and his mighty heathen army with vastly superior armament attacked Israel. From man’s viewpoint Israel was doomed to defeat, slavery and death. But God’s servants had full faith in what God would do, and God delivered them in the time of battle by his miraculous power.

³¹ In 2 Chronicles 20 we have the prophetic account of how Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir, three nations, formed a conspiracy against the people of Judah who worshiped Jehovah. Jehovah God gave counsel to his people of Judah. He told them to go out and put the singers in the lead, and Judah went forth with the singers leading. How foolish from man’s viewpoint! But Judah had complete trust in Jehovah’s victory. They had the eye of faith, and they saw things from Jehovah’s point of view. No fighting men were required. Almighty God caused confusion in the enemy ranks, so that they fought one another and each one helped to kill the other. Jehovah was able once again to deliver those who worshiped him.

³² Gideon had only 300 men against all the hosts of Midian. How could he possibly hope to defeat that vast army? Men would say it was foolishness to go to the attack, but the history in Judges 7 shows that the servants of Jehovah had faith and trust in Jehovah, and because of this Jehovah gave the victory.

³³ At 2 Kings 18 it tells how the great army of Assyria, then the world’s leading power, 185,000 men, came against Jerusalem’s realm. They threatened the city. Apparently there was no way out for God’s people. Sennacherib sent his spokesman to reproach the name of Jehovah God, taunting the people, telling them there was no escape. King Hezekiah had faith in Jehovah, he prayed to Jehovah, he kept close to God. From a human standpoint deliverance from that mighty army was impossible. But the eye of faith viewed things in a different light. God destroyed the mighty army of Assyria in one night. God proved himself to be the salvation of his people.

³⁴ In the third chapter of Daniel we find the account of the three faithful Hebrews, who kept clinging to the pure worship of God. They would not compromise by engaging in other forms of worship. These men were thrown bodily into a hot, fiery furnace. As men view matters, they would say there was no hope of survival; but God’s servants had trust and confidence in him. They knew who their God was, and how much power Jehovah God had, and Jehovah gave them salvation. Jehovah delivered them without injury from that hot, fiery furnace. These are but a few examples of the value full faith in Jehovah has to his servants.

35. What is the true position of Jehovah’s organized servants in this day for salvation?

³⁵ The prophecies indicate that the enemy will assault Jehovah’s witnesses now in these last days. From the human viewpoint our position will be completely unrealistic, impractical and hopeless. The people of the world, those who are blinded by Satan and his organization, will think there is no hope for us. (2 Cor. 4:4) But we must keep the eye of faith, view our position from God’s standpoint, recognize that Jehovah God has his multitudes of heavenly hosts poised, ready for the attack, for the defense of his people. To comfort us, Jehovah in Revelation 9:16 (NW) gives us a small picture of how great and powerful his armies really are: “And the number of the armies of cavalry was two myriads of myriads: I heard the number of them.” This shows that God has more than 200,000,000 invisible fighters who are ready for the defense of Jehovah’s servants. Let men try if they will, but no one can prove that God has ever failed his people once. He is true to his Word, true to his promises and true to his people who worship him in spirit and in truth. No matter how overwhelming the odds appear to be, Jehovah’s victory is sure. (2 Ki. 6:17) This is truly brought out by the prophetic drama of Daniel 6.

36. (a) Why was Daniel unhurt? (b) What does that mean in the fulfillment?

³⁶ After Daniel had been confined overnight in the den of lions, he heard the voice of the king crying out to him. Daniel answered: “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.” (Dan. 6:22, 23, AS) This was a matter of the vindication of Jehovah’s name. Vindication is shown in deliverance. Jehovah preserved Daniel because he had trusted in his God, because he had faith and confidence in Jehovah, because he had showed by his course of action that he was not afraid to worship Jehovah. And so it will be with the servant class at Armageddon. Pure worship will give them strength. Their faith will give them strength. Their unity in worship of Jehovah will give them strength. Jehovah God will give them strength. Jehovah’s great power will preserve his servant class. Then true justice will be satisfied.

JUSTICE SATISFIED

37. How was true justice satisfied?

³⁷ How will true justice be satisfied? Listen to the record in Da 6 verse 24: “And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.” (Dan. 6:24, AS) Yes, there was a sudden turning of the tables on the conspirators. They had been certain that Daniel was finished. They had been confident that they were safe from his influence and his good example of worshiping and respecting God. But God’s righteousness demands justice. The lions represented God’s justice in this prophecy, and they finished off the evil ones.

38. What words of Paul fit in well with this part of the prophecy and indicate Jehovah’s execution of true justice in the day for salvation?

³⁸ Now it will be just as the apostle Paul stated it would be in Jehovah’s day for the wicked men. Just when they think they have everything organized to break up the organization of Jehovah’s witnesses on earth and they will never be bothered again by any more preaching of the righteous kingdom of Jehovah, then they will meet with sudden death. This is what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NW): “Whenever it is that they are saying, ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape.” Jehovah has shown us just how this will come about, and he has done it for our comfort and instruction, to give us hope. It is absolutely certain that all those who abuse and persecute Jehovah’s servants are going to receive just retribution. The evil men have no belief that God exists. They are fools. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Ps. 14:1) But Jehovah God is watching all that is done and he assures us of deliverance. We should not be troubled in mind. Remember the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 (NW): “It is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation,to those who make tribulation for you, but, to you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings due punishment upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. These very ones will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength.” Jehovah is not going to withdraw his judgment and the execution of it. Jehovah will send his Son Christ Jesus with his powerful angels, and then there will be retribution. Then God will repay those who have brought tribulation against his servants and tried to interfere with the pure worship. They will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from before Jehovah.

39. Will Jehovah make a truce or compromise with the wicked?

³⁹ Jehovah says through his prophet Isaiah: ‘There is no peace for the wicked.’ (Isa. 48:22) God’s enemies are doomed. God will not make any bargains or deals with them. Jehovah does not compromise. It is not necessary to compromise when one has almighty power. Jehovah does stand for righteousness and he therefore enforces it. Jehovah will see that his will is done no matter what the wicked men and the Devil and all of his organization say or try to do about it. This day of salvation has a climax. Revelation 16:14 tells us it is the war of the great day of God the Almighty, Armageddon. Armageddon means salvation to Jehovah’s servants.

40. Why is spiritual maturity essential in these crucial times?

⁴⁰ These are crucial days for Satan’s old world. Troubles are on the increase everywhere, and they will continue in Satan’s divided house. In this period of trouble, much persecution comes upon Jehovah’s servants. But as long as we trust in Jehovah’s deliverance, we are going to be safe. What must we do? What must we have in order to endure? We must grow in spiritual maturity. We must look at things in a spiritual way. We must not view matters as men of the world do, for if we look at things only as they do we shall think as they, that Jehovah’s servants are going to be doomed, that pure worship will be wiped off the face of the earth. Remember the words of the apostle in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NW): “A physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines indeed all things, . . . we do have the mind of Christ.” With the mind of Christ, as spiritual men, we see beyond what the people of the world view. We see from God’s Word of truth what Jehovah is doing now, that his King reigns, and that the time for the execution of his judgment is at hand. We see the New World society in operation. We must have this strong faith to endure. We must keep on in this faith. Then we will go on without fear, just as Daniel went on facing the future without fear, but with full confidence in Jehovah.

41. How can we share in giving the answer to the question of Jesus at Luke 18:8?

⁴¹ Christians have this admonition in Hebrews 10:38, 39 (NW): “‘But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,’ and, ‘if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ Now we are not the kind that shrink back to destruction, but the kind that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” And what kind of faith do we have? Jesus mentioned this in Luke 18:8 (NW), saying that God “will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find this faith on the earth?” Justice is certain. Jehovah God is in charge of everything, and Jehovah God will see that the evil ones, the wicked ones, receive justice. He will also see that his servants are treated justly by giving them everlasting life. But how many people are there who firmly believe that God will cause justice to be done speedily? Jesus asks: “When the Son of man arrives, will he really find this faith on the earth?” Jehovah’s witnesses are sure that the arriving Son of man did find this faith on the earth and we are determined to keep this kind of faith to the end.

42. Standing firmly in the face of persecution means what?

⁴² We know for a certainty that Jehovah God will have justice done speedily. Therefore we are fearless, and this is a real blessing to us. This is something that the enemy cannot understand. They do not know why Jehovah’s servants in the face of the worldwide persecution and trouble that are brought against them, with all the reproaches and sneering and mocking laughter, still keep on in their worship of Jehovah. We are following the advice of the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:27, 28 (NW): “Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ, . . . standing firm in one spirit, with one soul fighting side by side for the faith of the good news, and in no respect being frightened by your opponents. This very thing is a proof of destruction for them, but of salvation for you; and this indication is from God.” Indeed this is exactly what Jehovah’s witnesses do now. We stand firm in the faith, looking to Jehovah for salvation. And we have this indication of salvation from God, because Jehovah gives us strength, and our enemies see in this fearless stand the token of destruction for them, an indication from God.

43. How does love of Jehovah lead to fearlessness and salvation?

⁴³ How is it that Jehovah’s servants are able to take this fearless position? It is because they love Jehovah God with all their hearts, as it says at 1 John 4:18 (NW): “There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.” Jehovah’s servants do not allow fear to restrain them from continuing in their worship. They are as fearless and faithful as Daniel. They go on regardless of what mischief men may frame by their decrees and laws, and this keeping on with the proclamation and keeping on in love of Jehovah means their salvation. Out of love for Jehovah we call on Jehovah continually, making public declaration of his name. Jehovah foretold the words of his faithful servant class in this day of salvation. These we find in Psalm 18:1-3 (AS): “I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength. Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” We must join together in this song and continue to praise the name of Jehovah, for by this we shall be saved from our enemies. Yes, this means salvation.

SALVATION

44. What does Daniel 6 show follows the execution of true justice by Jehovah?

⁴⁴ After the destruction of the wicked conspirators, as mentioned in the prophecy of Daniel 6, a decree of peace was issued throughout all the kingdom. Jehovah’s name, as the only true God, was magnified before the eyes of all the people who remained alive. He was proclaimed as the God of salvation. Also, under that righteous rule Daniel prospered in the kingdom. And what does this show in the prophecy? The prophecy points forward to the everlasting peace of God’s new world. There Jehovah’s position will be respected by all men of good will who live. There Jehovah’s name will be in its proper place and everything that breathes will praise Jehovah. And Jehovah’s anointed witnesses foreshadowed by Daniel will prosper under the righteous reign of Christ Jesus. There they will enjoy Jehovah’s salvation to eternal life.

45. To gain salvation, for what must we now wait?

⁴⁵ Knowing that these things are sure, we must always have complete trust in Jehovah. No matter how great the persecution might become, no matter how isolated we might become from our brothers for a short time, we can endure it patiently. We shall wait upon Jehovah to act. We shall not take the law into our own hands, and try to throw off our oppressors by any means of force; but we remember the words of Jehovah at Zephaniah 3:8 (AS): “Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Satan’s visible system of things and all the wicked ones will be consumed by the fire of God’s jealousy in the day of his fierce anger. And we are glad to wait for Jehovah to bring this about, knowing he permits persecution now for the same reason that he did in the days of Daniel and Moses—the vindication of his great name.

46, 47. Why should sincere men in the world today take care how they act in dealing with Jehovah’s servants?

⁴⁶ We read in Zephaniah 1:14, 17, 18 (AS): “The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. . . . I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land.” Today the worldly persecutors of Jehovah’s witnesses think they have everything their own way. They believe they have all the might and power on their side. They would do well, however, to heed the words of Gamaliel to the early persecutors of Jehovah’s witnesses as found in Acts 5:38-40 (NW): “Do not meddle with these men, but let them alone; (because, if this scheme and this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them;) otherwise, you may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.”

⁴⁷ So Jehovah’s witnesses say to all men of sincerity who may now be among the persecutors of Jehovah’s witnesses: ‘Turn away from that course of action before it is too late, because Jehovah is a living God. Worship Jehovah. Jehovah is with his people, and Jehovah will execute his judgments speedily in this day of salvation.’ In this day of salvation of Jehovah, persecutors of Jehovah’s witnesses are going to find out that they cannot overthrow Jehovah’s servants. Gamaliel’s words are right; this work is of God. Even though they may come in like a flood against Jehovah’s servants, the enemy cannot outmaneuver Jehovah. At the height of their power, the Bible says, they will be destroyed. (Ps. 37:35-39) So no one should be deceived by seeing a great number fighting against God’s people on earth. Those who want to do right should abandon the side of the persecutors and come over on the side of the Almighty Jehovah and his theocratic organization and do good to his servants now, if they want to live in God’s new world of righteousness. There are some officials who show kindness and fairness to Jehovah’s witnesses now. These men are showing kindness to the brothers of Christ Jesus, and they can take much comfort from the statement made in Jesus’ parable about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. Here Jesus showed that those who do kindness toward His brothers can expect to have the favor of the King when the judgment is finally dealt out.

48. What should we Christians be found doing in this day for salvation?

⁴⁸ As for us, Jehovah’s servants, during the years that will yet pass before Armageddon begins, we may expect much opposition to the carrying on of pure worship, but with complete calmness, inward serenity and joy, whether we are persecuted or are not persecuted, let us stand firm. We are certainly not fair-weather Christians. We are serving God in favorable season and in troublesome season. (2 Tim. 4:2, NW) Let us, then, keep on living up to the name, be Jehovah’s witnesses right down to the end—the end of the persecutors, the end of the men who reproach the name of Jehovah God, the end of the great adversary of Jehovah, Satan. Our hope is to see retributive justice executed, and it is near now because this is the day of our salvation.—Amos 9:1-4, 14, 15.

Questions From Readers

● What is meant by ‘binding the sweet influences of the Pleiades’ or ‘loosing the bands of Orion’ or ‘bringing forth Mazzaroth in his seasons’ or ‘guiding Arcturus with his sons,’ as mentioned at Job 38:31, 32?—W. S., New York.

Some attribute striking qualities to these constellations or star groups and on the basis of such they then offer private interpretations of Job 38:31, 32 that amaze their hearers. Their views are not always sound from the standpoint of astronomy, and when viewed Scripturally they are completely without foundation. Why? Because we do not know which stars or groups of stars are being referred to in these Job 38 verses 31, 32. The names Pleiades, Orion and Arcturus are not the names given in the Bible. Some translations make Mazzaroth refer to the signs of the Zodiac. English translators have merely adopted these pagan names given to constellations or star groups and have inserted them in their translations in the place of the original names that appear in the Hebrew Scriptures, namely, Kimah, K^esil, Mazzaroth and ‘Ayish. To just what stars or star groups these names refer we do not know today. Hence it is useless to indulge in unprofitable speculations. Incidentally, Pleiades can no longer be considered the center of the universe and it would be unwise for us to try to fix God’s throne as being at a particular spot in the universe. Were we to think of the Pleiades as his throne we might improperly view with special veneration that cluster of stars.—Deut. 4:19; 2 Chron. 2:6; 6:18.

It is not necessary for us to know the particular star groups that the original words of Job 38:31, 32 refer to in order to grasp the point of instruction being given. Jehovah is here raising a number of questions to show the inferiority of the man Job when compared with his Creator. Can Job control the heavens? Can he govern the visible celestial bodies? Can he bind together in a cluster this group of stars so that they comprise a permanent constellation? Or can he loose the bands of that group of stars so that they fly apart and no longer appear as a fixed constellation? Or can he bring forth this group at its proper season, or guide that constellation in its prescribed heavenly course? No, of course he cannot do so, and he would have to admit it and at the same time acknowledge the supremacy of the great Jehovah God, recognizing that Jehovah rules all creatures in the universe and can dispose of all animate and inanimate creations according to His pleasure and no intelligent creation in heaven or earth has any right to question any of his actions. That is the point of Job 38:31, 32.

It has particular application to Jehovah’s people now. In the prophetic drama of Job he represents the faithful followers of Christ on earth at the end of this system of things, specially from 1918 onward. He represents the anointed remnant of the body of Christ, how at that time they were afflicted, in captivity to Satan’s organization, Babylonish Christendom in particular. They could not understand why Jehovah permitted this affliction from the world, and particularly from Christendom. They did not appreciate just what Jehovah’s purposes were concerning them, and so it was appropriate for God to specially reveal himself to them as the Supreme One of the universe and that the big issue was his universal domination over all creation, animate and inanimate. From and after 1918 Jehovah has made these points stand out. He has restored his people to a beautiful condition, theocratically speaking, where their flesh has been restored to the days of their youth, and he has opened their eyes to see his supreme position, the issue before all creation, his universal sovereignty. They appreciate that he has all power in heaven and earth, that he can dispose of anyone just as he pleases, and none has a right to complain or question him, even if the creature does not understand at the time why God permits certain afflictions to come. But thank God that Jehovah’s people now appreciate the issue and understand why they are permitted to suffer in this system of things!

Announcements

HOLY WORSHIP OF JEHOVAH

Those who have now come to know the true God of the universe and his name Jehovah are delighted to honor his name. They want to express to others their knowledge of Jehovah. That is why you find Jehovah’s witnesses actively serving Jehovah in holy array. They say, “I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.” (Ps. 104:33; 1 Chron. 16:29, AS) A result of this holy worship is the gathering into association with Jehovah’s people a “great crowd” of persons out of all nations. They swell the ranks of those who regularly praise Jehovah by telling the good news about his incoming New World society to all who will hear. During the month of December Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions will offer to the people the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures or of the Hebrew Scriptures, and a bound book, on a contribution of $2. Where persons have the Greek Scriptures, Volume I of the Hebrew Scriptures will be presented. Let all worship Jehovah in holy array.

AFTER ARMAGEDDON—GOD’S NEW WORLD

An audience of 165,829 persons from ninety-six nations and islands of the sea heard the stirring discourse “After Armageddon—God’s New World” at the New World Society Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Yankee Stadium, New York, July 26, 1953. Of this number 117,000 were within and about the stadium, while some 49,000 heard the talk at the assembly’s Trailer City in New Jersey by direct telephone line. All world conditions point to the near-at-hand battle of Armageddon, this lecture revealed, and those who heard it rejoiced to know of the grand hope for surviving into a perfect and righteous earth under a “new heavens.” You may obtain this splendid and heart-cheering message in booklet form with attractive cover design for only 5 cents a copy, or seven copies for 25 cents. Not only will you enjoy reading After Armageddon—God’s New World, but all your friends who like good news will enjoy it too. So why not send today for seven or more copies and help your friends and neighbors to gain hope for a new world?

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of December 20: The Day for Salvation, ¶1-26.

Week of December 27: The Day for Salvation, ¶27-48.

Check Your Memory

After reading this issue of “The Watchtower,” do you remember—

✔ What scientists have found on the tops of high mountains that support the Bible’s account of a global flood? P. 676, ¶2.

✔ Why the European in India who has house servants must have from six to ten instead of two? P. 679, ¶2.

✔ What rewards are assured those who are merciful? P. 683, ¶5.

✔ How, during. a bus ride, a Methodist in charge of Sunday-school teachers learned to pray? P. 684, ¶4.

✔ From what unclean symbol the Maypole comes? P. 687, ¶5.

✔ How much Jehovah’s witnesses increased from 1918 to 1953? P. 690, ¶4.

✔ How opposers of Daniel plotted a “legal way” to get rid of him? P. 692, ¶14.

✔ How Communist countries “legally” stop the work of Jehovah’s witnesses? P. 693, ¶17.

✔ What was the largest petition ever compiled in Canada? P. 694, ¶19.

✔ How many cases Jehovah’s witnesses have taken to the United States Supreme Court since 1938? P. 694, ¶21.

✔ What the human view of the position of Jehovah’s witnesses will be just before Jehovah’s heavenly forces strike? P. 698, ¶35.

✔ What course Jehovah’s witnesses take that is a sure token of the enemy’s destruction? P. 700, ¶42.

✔ What Jehovah’s witnesses say to sincere persecutors? P. 702, ¶47.

✔ Why speculations about the star groups of Job 38:31, 32 are unsound? P. 703, ¶2.