The Watchtower — August 1, 1954

Man’s Best Hope for Peace

WHAT do you think is man’s best hope for peace? Recently the American public was asked that question. The results of the poll showed that “73 per cent of the people in the United States feel their best hopes for peace rest in the United Nations.” (New York Times, December 15, 1953) Now if we are willing to be plainly frank about the matter, we must admit that under the supervision of “man’s best hope” the war talk grows louder, the cold war grows hotter and the atomic weapons grow deadlier than ever. True, there is also much talk of peace, many promises of peace and conferences for peace. But the trouble is that all this is only talk. In reality there is no peace. Why, since the United Nations’ sixty nations agreed to outlaw war in 1945, there have been hot wars in Greece, Malaya, Korea and Indo-China. Since actions speak louder than words, man’s best hope for peace, if it has to be the United Nations, is not a very bright hope, is it?

But did you ever stop to think that the present race to build deadly weapons is exactly as foretold by Almighty God? Through his prophet he said at Joel 3:9, 10 (AS): “Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” That is exactly what the “mighty men” of the earth are doing, preparing for war. So nations today spend fantastic amounts of money and use the cream of scientific brain power to turn out weapons, in effect, “beating plowshares into swords.” For were it not for war, the steel and other raw material and money could be used for agricultural purposes, feeding mankind, clothing mankind, housing mankind.

Now we see the greatest arms race in all history. So the future would be horrible for mankind if it were not for the fact that all this “beating plowshares into swords” is going to be completely halted during this generation, and peace will be enforced thereafter for a thousand years. It is certainly heart-cheering to know that permanent peace will soon come to this earth and that mankind will not even learn war any more. Now God did not say that the United Nations would bring about this peaceful condition. You may wonder how it will be accomplished then. Jehovah God tells us at Revelation 11:18 (NW) that he will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”

Are not even tests of atomic weapons “ruining the earth” for the Japanese people? Japan’s fear of atomic weapons is not imaginary; they had firsthand experience. They can well imagine how frightful an H-bomb, one 500 to 700 times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and which killed 60,000 people, would be in a full-fledged war! And scientists admit that it is now possible to wipe out all life on earth. Four hundred cobalt bombs, they say, could do just that. So it is fortunate for us that Almighty God is going to step in and “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” Just what does this mean? That the end of all kingdoms on this earth, as we know them today, is at hand. Not that these governments will be destroyed by man, for Daniel 2:44 (AS) tells us: “And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

So, then, when we pray the Lord’s prayer “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” we are actually praying for God’s kingdom by Christ to smash all these kingdoms and set up a world-wide, righteous government. At Armageddon God will crush out of existence Satan and his evil world. After Armageddon and throughout all eternity, this earth will be a paradise, forever free from war as Psalm 46:9 (AS) shows: “He [Jehovah, not the United Nations] maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariots in the fire.”

All this means that not only 73 per cent of the American people but the vast majority of people must be wrong in their belief regarding man’s best hope for peace. If you desire to live in perfect health on a paradise earth where there will be no more bullets, no more bombs, no more tanks, no more cannons and no more fear of war, you will want to learn more about Jehovah’s new world of righteousness—man’s best hope, really, his only hope for peace.

The Conquering Power of Faith

What is faith? Philosophers and clergymen have often defined it, but their definitions have been far from helpful to the average person. The following article gives not only a clear-cut meaning of faith but the answer to that disputed question: Is faith dying in Christendom?

FAITH is powerful. It is so powerful that an apostle of Christ Jesus could say: “This is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.” (1 John 5:4, NW) Yet today throughout Christendom, the professed stronghold of this faith mentioned by the apostle, there is little evidence of any conquering power. For one thing, Christendom’s faith is not conquering atheism. Indeed Gallup Polls have found atheism growing. And is it not a sobering fact that after 600 years of Christian mission work China today is almost 100 per cent pagan, having less than one per cent professing Christians? Within Christendom itself, especially in such fortresses of “faith” as Italy, the colossus of communism, instead of being conquered by faith, threatens to overwhelm the very ones professing faith in Christianity. How, then, can the Bible say that faith is a conquering power?

Before answering that question we need to know a vital fact that will give us insight into the perplexing situation existing in Christendom: that “faith is not a possession of all people,” even though they claim with their lips that they are Christians. (2 Thess. 3:2, NW) So just because 95 per cent of the American people say they have faith in God, as one survey indicated, it does not necessarily mean they are practicing the principles of true faith as set forth in the inspired Scriptures.

Not even the increase in the number of church buildings indicates that true faith is flourishing. In a United States coast-to-coast survey people were asked the main reason why they attended church. The largest block of answers, or 32 per cent of the people, said in effect that they went to church solely because of the “need for some kind of uplift.” Another large group, or 18 per cent of the people, said they were churchgoers out of “duty.” Others in significant numbers gave these reasons for going to church: “habit,” “to hear a sermon,” “to see people” and “to hear music.” Obviously, church attendance is no criterion for measuring true faith.

But does not the success of books and movies with religious themes indicate an upsurge of real faith? No, because Hollywood spectacles take many liberties that distort and conflict with the Bible account, while best-selling religious books are generally more concerned with psychology than with the Bible.

Further, do not be deceived by that motto appearing on coins and stamps—”In God we trust.” A sober look at the world reveals that there is no genuine trust in God. Christendom’s trust is in money, men and might. Thus Canada’s popular Maclean’s Magazine, December 15, 1953, stated: “Many are beginning to doubt how Christian Christendom really is. Not too long ago German pastors were blessing Nazi submarines, British padres prayed over RAF bombers and a U. S. chaplain manned an antiaircraft gun against Japanese bombers and coined history’s most ridiculous blasphemy—’Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.’”

Surely if there were a genuine trust in God by the millions of professing Christians, then they would demonstrate that faith by living according to the righteous principles of God’s Word. Yet what do we see? The world’s worst moral breakdown. If the apostle Paul were on earth today he could not have described Christendom’s hideous condition any better than he did at Galatians 5:19-21 (NW): “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, hatreds, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these.” Could the masses of so-called Christians who practice these things have true faith? The apostle answers: “Those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.” “They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works.”—Titus 1:16, NW.

What, then, is the shape of faith in Christendom? Declared James Cardinal McGuigan, Canada’s senior Roman Catholic cardinal: “God is dead as far as the consciousness of masses of men and women today is concerned. Even to those who still pay Him lip service He enjoys little or no part in the formation of human life.” The same magazine that quotes the cardinal’s words (Maclean’s Magazine for December 15, 1953) then draws its own conclusion: “The Christian Church, considered in its world-encircling entirety, is declining—in membership, in the devoutness and obedience it commands from its members, and as a major influence on public thought and action.” Other observers agree. Thus Dr. Henry P. Van Dusen in his recent book World Christianity writes: “Despite all the statistics of Church growth and prosperity, in the larger view, we are not gaining ground—we are not even holding our own.”

WHY THEIR “FAITH” LACKS POWER

So instead of displaying any conquering power faith in Christendom is “not even holding its own.” Why? There are three big reasons: (1) lack of Bible study, (2) a spiritual famine and (3) worldliness of Christendom’s religions.

As to Bible reading in the United States, a land with probably more Bibles than any other country, a 1954 survey revealed that about 40 per cent of the people virtually never read the Bible. Of the three major religious groups, 65 per cent of the Jews never or practically never read the Bible; 32 per cent of the Protestants fell into the same class, and 56 per cent of the Catholics never or practically never read the Bible. According to another survey what Bible study is done is on a “Sunday school” level.

Not only is the Bible grossly neglected but the spiritual food purveyed by the clergy is woefully deficient in vital Christian truths. So a spiritual famine stalks Christendom, “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah.” (Amos 8:11, AS) Who is responsible? The clergy themselves! In a nationwide religious survey conducted by the Ladies’ Home Journal, issue of November, 1948, this conclusion was reached: “While the mind that enters a university may be ready for adult fare in the secular field all it gets in the religious field is infant food.” “Infant food”—the diet of millions of professed Christians. Is it any wonder that thousands succumb to the Communist threat? Eating spiritual baby food can only lead to a loss of strength and faith. Declared the president of Harvard University, Dr. Nathan M. Pusey: “We have not been well taught about religion and there is as a consequence a very widespread religious illiteracy and correspondingly little religious practice.” It is not only knowledge that is lacking, he added. “It is rather, I think, faith.”—New York Times, October 1, 1953.

The third reason that faith ebbs while communism grows is that organized religion has not kept itself “without spot from the world,” as the Bible commands. (Jas. 1:27, NW) Instead the clergy mix commercialism with religion, using such means as bingo, bazaars, carnivals, lotteries and entertainments not only to lure worshipers to worship but to fleece them. Then, too, an editorial in U. S. News and World Report for April 2, 1954, should provoke thought: “Lately some of the national church organizations have begun to meddle in politics. If the trend is not arrested, it can only lead to a loss of faith in churches and in clergymen who profess to teach Christianity. . . . How much faith, how much confidence can there be in any clergy which allows itself to become an integral part of the factional strife of the political world?”

WHAT FAITH REALLY IS

Now the eye-opening question: Is the faith claimed by countless persons really “faith”? The truth is that much of what is called “faith” is really credulity. What is credulity? It is a too great readiness to believe. Thus a credulous person is uncritical with regard to beliefs and is easily deceived. Eve was credulous. She believed the serpent, though there were no grounds, no evidence that the serpent had spoken truth. The outcome for Eve: “The woman was thoroughly deceived.” In like manner millions of people today are deceived. They accept many articles of religious faith as truth when in reality the teachings are not even based on the Bible. Credulity leads to disappointment and death. So do not do as the masses, but rather do as the early Christians who “received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”—1 Tim. 2:14; Acts 17:11, NW.

Faith has been defined by philosophers and clergymen. But their definitions, wrapped up in a high-sounding jargon, have only confused people as to what faith really is. So the wise thing to do is to go to God’s Word for the definition. “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” Certainly it is clear now that faith is a well-grounded conviction of that for which we hope. True faith can never be a conviction held without reference to any ground or authority.—Heb. 11:1, NW.

What is the basis for faith? Only that which is absolute truth can serve as grounds for faith. Such absolute truth is the Bible. The fulfillment of the Bible’s prophecies, many of which are being fulfilled today, stamps it as being of divine origin, reliable and true. The Son of God himself confirmed this: “Your word is truth.” In the grander sense Jehovah God is the basis for true faith. He is “the faithful God.” So “it is impossible for God to lie.” Clearly, then, true faith is much more than just belief in God; it also means an acceptance of God’s Word, obtaining an intellectual understanding of that Word and then manifesting a heartfelt reliance upon it.—John 17:17; Deut. 7:9; Heb. 6:18, NW.

WHY FAITH IS NEEDED

This kind of faith is essential. Why? Because “without faith it is impossible to win his [Jehovah’s] good pleasure, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” Faith is also needed because we must “keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen,” and because faith is the power enabling one to triumph over the demon-controlled world.—Heb. 11:6; 2 Cor. 4:18, NW.

How can faith conquer a world? Not through any flesh-and-blood conflicts, but by giving one the strength to worship Jehovah when “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” the Devil. Not only that, but faith provides the triumph in that at Armageddon, when Jehovah God destroys this present evil world, those with true faith will survive into a new world of righteousness. For an encouragement to his followers, Jesus declared: “In the world you will have tribulation, but cheer up! I have conquered the world.” Hence, his followers through faith can conquer this wicked world and come off, as the apostle put it, “completely victorious.”—1 John 5:19; John 16:33; Rom. 8:37, NW.

Today faith is more vital than ever. Satan and his demons, now hurled down to the vicinity of the earth, violently oppose God’s true servants who are announcing Jehovah’s purpose to displace this present evil world with a righteous new world. The demon hordes hate anyone who comes to know the true God, Jehovah. That is why Christians have a fight “against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.” “On this account,” Paul warns, “take up the complete suit of armor from God, that you may be able to resist in the wicked day.” This is the “wicked day” and Jehovah has provided the truth of his Word for our protection. But the suit of armor consists of even more than truth: “Stand firm, therefore, with your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and with your feet shod with the equipment of the good news of peace. Above all things, take up the large shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the wicked one’s burning missiles.”—Eph. 6:11-17, NW.

In this allusion to the equipment of the ancient soldier, Paul mentions a shield, evidently referring to the great oblong shield used by soldiers to shelter their whole frame. It consisted of two layers of wood covered with canvas and then with hide. Now, missiles or arrows tipped with pitch and then set ablaze were used not only to burn up engines of war but they were intended also to stick in wooden shields and set them afire, obliging soldiers under enemy attack to throw away their shields. Now a shield covered with hide would not catch fire. It deflected the burning arrows. So when Satan lets fly his “burning missiles” at the true Christian, his faith is not some wooden shield that catches fire, burns up and leaves him defenseless. No, a well-grounded faith deflects the burning missiles and prevents their inflicting a mortal spiritual wound. Those “burning missiles” may be opposition from the world, even persecution from one’s own family, any device of Satan to cause you to give up the fight for true worship. How vital then is faith! Are we not commanded to take up the shield of faith “above all things”? Why “above all things”? Because Jehovah himself “is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” When you make Jehovah your shield by virtue of absolute trust in his name and Word, “no weapon that is forged against you shall succeed.”—Prov. 30:5; Isa. 54:17, AT.

DEVELOPING AND DEMONSTRATING FAITH

How does one develop true faith? Not by feeding on “infant food” dispensed by the clergy. Break away from starvation meals. Obtain solid spiritual food. The purpose of this magazine and other Watch Tower publications is to give you this vital spiritual nourishment. Jehovah’s witnesses the world over are interested in diffusing this much-needed knowledge. For without knowledge there can be no faith. This the apostle explains: “Faith follows the report,” meaning the report of knowledge contained in God’s Word. To develop faith cast off religious prejudices. Start obtaining knowledge with an open mind. Do as God advises: “Come now, and let us reason together.”—Rom. 10:17, NW; Isa. 1:18.

Since the Bible declares that “faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself,” mere knowledge is not enough. True faith activates the mind, the heart and the mouth. “With the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” That is why Jehovah’s witnesses are so energetic in bringing the good news of God’s kingdom to all people despite the fact that millions profess to have a “faith.” We already know that this faith displayed by the masses is not true faith. These people need to know what true faith actually is. They need to know that not even “golden rule” living is enough. They need to know the good news as Jesus foretold: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.”—Jas. 2:17; Rom. 10:10; Matt. 24:14, NW.

Who are giving this warning of the impending end of this evil world and the tidings of God’s kingdom? Not the clergy nor the churchgoers! But Jehovah’s witnesses are. They know that when one has true faith he feels impelled to tell the good news to others. Those with true faith cannot be like Christendom’s millions who render mere lip service, pew-sitting worship, and are very poor at even that! So acquire knowledge. Demonstrate true faith by using your mouth to make “public declaration for salvation.” Doing this you will be in line to survive Armageddon, to enjoy happiness and life. Indeed, “this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.”

Is Veneration of Mary Idolatry?

BECAUSE religion has so much sentiment associated with it many persons shrink from discussing it. But such is a mistake, for how can we be certain we have the truth if we refuse to make comparisons? Rather, we should be willing to do as the apostle Paul counsels: “Test all things; hold fast that which is good.”—1 Thess. 5:21, CB.

Of course, if religious discussion is to be profitable and enlightening, it must be done in a calm, dispassionate, objective manner. We must be willing to reason on the subject in the light of the Scriptures. And especially is this the case when discussing such a controversial subject as, Is veneration of Mary a form of idolatry?—Isa. 1:18.

Catholic theologians emphatically deny that the veneration of Mary is a form of idolatry, insisting that the veneration they accord Mary is not the particular kind of worship they render to God; their “devotion to the Blessed Virgin” is only a “relative” form of worship. Is that position Scriptural?

As Christians we are concerned with pleasing Jehovah God, and in view of his repeated warnings to the effect that he is a God “exacting exclusive devotion,” a “jealous God,” we must be careful lest we give any creature the devotion due only to the Creator. (Deut. 6:15, NW; Rom. 1:25) That it is easy to fall into the snare of idolatry is seen from the fact that Samuel charged King Saul with idolatry because he failed to obey Jehovah’s command. Both Paul and John warned Christians to avoid idolatry; not that these were deliberately giving another the worship due Jehovah, but that inasmuch as they attached undue importance to other persons or things they made for themselves idols.—Col. 3:5; 1 John 5:21.

The veneration of Mary is based on sentiment rather than on the Bible. It is, no doubt, due to man’s tendency to be sentimental regarding his mother and to idealize the virgin state. To the extent that Mary is given devotion and undue importance, to that extent veneration of her becomes idolatry. And Catholic theologians must be taxed with giving Mary undue importance. For example, in the Greek Scriptures we find but some fifty references to Mary, the mother of Jesus, but 1,750 references to Jesus Christ the Son, and 1,850 to God the Father. In fact, there is but a single reference to her in all the Acts of the apostles and she is ignored entirely in all the letters by Paul, James, Peter, Jude and John.

In striking contrast with all this we find in the Catholic Encyclopedia 22 pages devoted to Virgin Mary, but only 14 to God and only 11 to Jesus Christ. In other words, this Catholic authority gives Mary a relative importance 55 times as great as does the Bible in regard to God and 70 times as great in regard to Jesus Christ.

The veneration of Mary is based on the teaching of intercession by saints, regarding which there is nothing in the Scriptures. It developed gradually and was not extensively taught until the early part of the Middle Ages, from the fifth to the eighth century after Christ, nor fully developed until the later part of the Middle Ages, from the eleventh to the fifteenth century.

First in 1854 was “the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary” made a dogma, and that in direct contradiction of the plain Scriptural teaching that all have sinned, that all are sinners, that none are righteous. (Rom. 3:10-12; 5:12) Nothing is said about Mary’s being an exception. Had she been sinless she could not have died a “natural” death.

And it was as late as 1950 that the pope called a secret consistory to vote on making the tradition that Mary had ascended into heaven in her human body a dogma of the church, the “Assumption”; also in direct contradiction of the Scriptures that plainly state: “Flesh and blood can obtain no part in the kingdom of God, neither shall corruption have any part in incorruption.” (1 Cor. 15:50, CB) The fact that some of the princes of the church voted “No” on this matter would seem to indicate that they are not thoroughly convinced that the pope is infallible in doctrine!

Indicating the trend to give Mary ever more importance are the words of John A. Flynn, president of Catholic St. John’s University in Brooklyn, New York. According to him it is not unlikely that Mary will be “proclaimed in a definition of doctrine as Co-Redemptrix of the human race, that next the dogma of Mediatrix of all graces may be promulgated, and that finally the definition of her queenship, as participation with her Son in the power of ruling the World, may be proclaimed. . . . It is likely that all three of these may come to realization before another century passes because the importance of Mary in the universe has come more and more to the fore.”—Time magazine, March 22, 1954.

CO-REDEMPTRIX, MEDEATRIX AND QUEEN?

Again we ask, what do the Scriptures say? Do they support Flynn’s position or do they indicate that such is a form of idolatry?

In introducing Jesus as “the Lamb of of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” John the Baptist said nothing about Jesus’ having a co-redemptrix. Nor did Jesus himself when he referred to his redemptive work: “The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—John 1:29; Matt. 20:28, CB.

Note also Peter’s unequivocal words in this matter. Referring to Christ Jesus he stated: “Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, CB) Those words do not allow for a co-redemptrix. Nor do Paul’s words at Romans 5:17-19 (CB). “For if by reason of the one man’s offense death reigned through the one man, much more will they who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of justice reign in life through one Jesus Christ. Therefore as from the offense of the one man the result was unto condemnation to all men, so from the justice of the one the result is unto justification of life to all men. For just as by the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of one the many will be constituted just.” In fact, Paul’s entire argument regarding the redemptive work of Christ Jesus falls flat if we include Mary as a co-redemptrix. And further note that the great crowd which John saw in the Apocalyptic vision were saying: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb.” Again, not a word about salvation as also being due to Mary.—Rev. 7:10, CB.

And what about Mary’s being the “Mediatrix of all graces”? We are told that “there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6, CB) Jesus himself stated that “no one comes to the Father but through me.” John tells of only Jesus’ being “an advocate with the Father.” The law covenant between God and the nation of Israel did not need a mediatrix, neither does the new covenant which replaced it. Time and again Jesus is termed the mediator of the new covenant but nowhere do we read of a mediatrix of that covenant.—John 14:6; 1 John 2:1.

And finally we ask, Do the Scriptures support the claim Mary will participate “with her Son in the power of ruling the World”? After his resurrection Jesus stated that “all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt. 28:18, CB) He said nothing about his mother’s ruling with him. David, Isaiah, Daniel and others foretold Christ’s glorious reign but nowhere did they indicate that he will have his mother as a co-queen. Paul states that Christ will reign until all things are made subject to his feet, and that this “all things” includes all except Jehovah God. Included therefore is his mother Mary; she will also be subject to him, not reigning as co-queen. Sharing Christ’s rule will be his bride, his church, not his mother.—Rev. 19:7, 8.

Nor can the Apocalyptic vision of a woman clothed with the sun be used to prove that Mary will be co-queen. (Rev. 12:1-6) That woman could not be Mary, for John’s vision applied to the future, and was given a hundred years after Mary had given birth to Jesus. (Rev. 1:1-3) That woman is God’s woman, his organization: “Jerusalem which is above” and “which is our mother.”—Gal. 4:26, CB.

Clearly in view of all the foregoing, the devotion and ever-increasing prominence accorded to Mary is in contradiction of the Scriptures and indicates that veneration of Mary is a form of idolatry.

“An Eminent Christian of a Rare Kind”?

Dr. W. R. Matthews, present dean of St. Paul’s cathedral in London, in commenting on the decease of his predecessor, Sir W. R. Inge, the “gloomy dean,” referred to Inge as “an eminent Christian of a rare kind. He shocked a good many people but he made them think.”

Among the statements by which Inge shocked a great many people was that he believed in neither heaven, hell nor the British socialists. Of course, one who claims to be a Christian cannot put his faith in the British socialists, nor, for that matter, in the liberals or the tories, but must put his faith in Christ’s kingdom. And (giving Inge the benefit of the doubt) in stating that he did not believe in hell he may have meant, not in a fiery hell. But how can a man pose before the people of the world as a Christian minister and state that he does not believe in heaven? Heaven was very real to Christ Jesus. He said he came down from heaven and that he was going to return to it, that his Father resided in heaven, that his kingdom was from heaven, that the reward of his footstep followers was in heaven and that they were to lay up treasures in heaven.

When Dr. Matthews states that Dr. Inge made people think, what does he mean? Made them wonder if there really was a God, if the Bible was worth the paper it was written on? His remarks certainly were not such as to encourage the right kind of thinking on God and the Bible. Can such a one be properly termed “an eminent Christian of a rare kind”? Obviously there is something radically wrong with Dr. Matthews’ concept of what constitutes a Christian. When leading clergymen subscribe to such a philosophy as that of Inge, is it any wonder that there is so much religious illiteracy, apathy and hypocrisy in the world, that there are so many who are “lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power”?—2 Tim. 3:4, 5, NW.

Last Stop—British Guiana

MUCH like Surinam, British Guiana is rather sparsely populated and its population is a mixture of East and West. There you see the original inhabitants called Amerindians. Then there are East Indians (or British Indians), Syrians, Europeans, Chinese and Creole all living together in a land of plantations and sugar mills and mining. Both Surinam and British Guiana are producers of bauxite, which is used in the manufacture of aluminum. Other mineral riches are available which have not been exploited to any great extent.

Just a few months ago this densely forested colony of Britain hit the newspaper headlines around the world. Warships and troops were hurriedly sent in to maintain order. This was because a recently elected government had been dissolved and a possible Communist uprising was feared. The controversial problems precipitating this crisis and suspension of constitution are still being hotly contended, resulting in various restrictions in public life being imposed. In view of all this, would the scheduled New World Society Assembly be held?

Since June of last year the brothers had looked forward to the visit of the Society’s president and his secretary. In fact, ever since the previous visit in 1949 they had been looking forward to it. Often in house-to-house work the question would be met: “When will Mr. Knorr be here again?” Now that the question could be answered the matter of advertising became of first importance because the majority of people here are interested in religious questions. Although the range of religious views includes Islam, Hindu, Catholic and Protestant with the former freely criticizing the hypocrisy of Christendom, yet thousands of open-minded people of all religions have respect for those who genuinely follow true Bible teaching. Irrespective of religion most people will readily accept literature if they can afford to do so and when it comes to The Watchtower and Awake! many are the expressions of appreciation for these magazines. In house-to-house work one may consume an entire morning on only eight or ten calls, due to so many opportunities to discuss Bible truth. Pioneers have the problem of eliminating studies rather than starting them. Especially when witnessing in rural parts you may be entertained at the home of a Hindu or a Moslem and the message will be well received. In fact, Guianese of all classes are very hospitable, and especially so to strangers. Cool drinks are ever on hand to welcome even the uninvited visitor. To keep one talking on the doorstep is considered the height of rudeness. For that matter, to stand talking in the broiling sun is also very uncomfortable. To be told “I’m not interested” or some other positive refusal is a very rare occurrence in house-to-house witnessing. You are more likely to hear, as a brother did after the convention from a new Bible study interest: “I understand that in your organization they call you Brother H——, so may I call you Brother H——?”

Well, now that you have been introduced to this land and its half a million population you will understand why no effort was spared to invite all interested persons to the New World Society Assembly January 21-24. Co-operation of the public presented no difficulty, though current restrictions prevented any outdoor public meeting and, for that matter, so did the heavy rainy weather. However, Georgetown’s newest theater, The Globe, seating 1,400 persons, was offered free by its Moslem owner for Brother Knorr’s public talk, “After Armageddon—God’s New World.” At any rate it would accommodate more people than attended the previous lecture given by the president in 1949. Other sessions were conducted in the Town Hall, which has been used for meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses since 1911.

Not only the brothers, but also good-will people made considerable effort to attend the assembly. Some made arrangements to leave their coconut or banana farms for others to care for in their absence. They paddled down river for miles in tiny canoes to reach the only road in that section of the country. Here a bus took them to the next river, where a steamer conveyed them across the island-dotted mouth for twenty miles to Demerara county. A train ride brought them to another river and another boat before the convention city of Georgetown was reached. Those who had not been to the capital for three years saw many new and modern concrete stores and offices, although the majority of the business section is still of wood. But the fresh sea breeze still fans the city for most of the year, making its tropical heat more tolerable to bear.

Much advance preparation is required for people of the old world to stop, look and listen to the voice of the new. The early replacement of the old by a new system of things is a vital message, and the delivering of it demands thorough organization. More than a month in advance 2,000 teasers were posted throughout the city asking the intriguing question: “After Armageddon—What?” That really had people guessing, and all kinds of answers were projected. Storekeepers who displayed them were asked by customers for the answer. They in turn asked the next publisher who came by, only to be told, “Await further announcement.” While all the speculating was becoming a byword and even shouted across the street, a small team of brothers was busy producing a beautiful two-color poster containing the answer. It was a duplication of that used in New York and was produced by cutting two stencils and by spray painting. A thousand of these were posted in city and country, which gave rise to a new question: “What is the new world?”

Two weeks before the assembly opened special meetings were arranged to inaugurate other features of advertising. A duplication was made of the badge worn at Yankee Stadium and publishers wore them at business and in everyday activity for two weeks before the assembly. This provided for many discussions about the New World society, and, as one party said: “After Armageddon—why the things you learn from these Jehovah’s witnesses! I’d like to be one too.” Sales clerks asked questions and at secular and parochial schools where some of Jehovah’s witnesses are teachers it was the pupils that wanted to know. Everyone there rides a cycle; so, in lieu of a ‘bumper sign,’ an attractive aluminum sign was fixed to the handlebars so that everywhere the cycles went the signs were sure to go. In fact, outsiders came and requested signs for their cycles too.

But the most original idea was the large four-wheel float slowly drawn through town by a patient donkey. This carried two 12-by 5-foot signs with an 8-foot tower in the center, the entire float being designed to represent The Watchtower. At night the addition of lights to the blue-edged white letters set on a red background brought young and old to a halt and to their windows. Some described it as Noah’s ark and various other terms but all added up to what one envious preacher expressed: “It’s a pity we don’t see more of this sort of thing.” And as another observed: “You all did a lot of advertising.” Daily cycle parades were organized whereby a procession of cyclists wearing placards fore and aft toured the city while pedestrian witnesses did placard work on the sidewalks. Predictions that the capacity of the Globe theater was inadequate for such an event grew more numerous. The day dawned bright but with prospect of showers and, sure enough, by noon the streets were wet. As time for the lecture at 5:30 p.m. drew near, so did the black clouds and so did the crowds. The recorded musical program had hardly begun and all seats were occupied. First, a request was made for children to share seats; later, gentlemen were asked to give their seats to the ladies. Soon all available standing room was occupied and a loud-speaker was placed outside for those who could not get inside. From the balcony, the platform presented a colorful picture. In large white letters “Jehovah’s witnesses” was spelled out across the stage before a background of rich-green tropical plants, and behind the speaker loomed the white theater screen. The talk had only just commenced when the long-threatened rain came with all its fury, causing the crowd outside to disappear very quickly. However, of those inside, a conservative count showed at least 2,122 persons present. Since the lecture many encores have been heard, such as “When will Mr. Knorr be coming back?” “No indoor religious meeting ever had so many people,” etc. Some ask: “How can I become one of Jehovah’s witnesses?”

But what of the other sessions held at the Town Hall? The first night saw 445 in attendance, but for Brother Knorr’s closing remarks 615 had literally jammed the hall and balcony as well as the platform itself. The program generally followed that of Yankee Stadium, with demonstrations adapted to local problems. Notable was the demonstration in Creolese illustrating the necessity of speaking such where circumstances demand. In former years very few East Indians had accepted the truth, but at this assembly the large number of good-looking young men and women of this race was very noticeable. Some of these have come directly from the Hindu religion and not only are very zealous and enthusiastic ministers of Jehovah but also display a very loyal and lovable disposition among their brothers.

The talks by Brothers Knorr and Henschel were highly appreciated and have been recorded for further reproduction. Each evening as the sessions closed no one was ready to go home but lingered in the cafeteria to take refreshments and to enjoy a favorite pastime of the Guianese—talking. The discourse had certainly been taken to heart. Remarks were plentiful such as: “Brother Knorr was really talking to me; he looked right at me.” “How did he know we needed that counsel?” Encouragement was given for more young publishers to become pioneers and go to places where little witnessing has been done.

The last item on the program was “Closing Remarks by the President” and there were a few surprises in store. Until now there had been only one circuit, but over the past four years the number of publishers had about doubled, and due to the expansion work by both pioneers and publishers there are now groups of publishers spread over all the three counties that are in need of more regular attention by the circuit servant. So now three circuits are organized and will be served by two circuit servants at least three times a year. Local brothers will now take the place of missionaries as servants in congregations. These and other suggestions were enthusiastically received and as the brothers prepared for their homeward journey they really felt that a new era of expansion was before them.

Before closing it was announced that a four-day intensified training course would be available, following the assembly, for all pioneers who wished to attend. Almost all the 45 pioneers attended and experienced a miniature Gilead ‘Missionary Service and Bible Truth’ course. Impromptu field settings were arranged and counsel given on the use of tact, argumentation and refutation. Doctrinal subjects were analyzed in the light of our new publications and organization problems also were handled. Each afternoon counsel was given in actual field service and at night written tests taken as homework. The pioneers really appreciated this and returned to their assignments determined to ‘bear more fruit.’

Though most of their first three days was occupied in going over branch matters and making some excellent recommendations for the more efficient care of the work and for future expansion, Brothers Knorr and Henschel, nevertheless, found time to attend the immersion. Like the public talk and the cafeteria, it too was the biggest yet. A bus transported persons to the sea wall where a considerable crowd witnessed the fifty-five candidates wade out to where the sea was deep enough for them to symbolize their dedication as members of the New World society to serve Jehovah God forever.

With the convention over, the last day of the visit was mainly spent with the twelve Gilead missionaries now assigned in various parts of the colony. There were some problems to be discussed and experiences to relate. Inquiries were made of fellow schoolmates, now graduates in other parts of South America whom the traveling brothers had met during the past few weeks. No time had been available for this until now, so the visit was brought to a very happy conclusion with all enjoying a meal together. That evening two carloads of pioneers risked getting stuck in the muddy road as they traveled the twenty-eight miles out to the airport to see the brothers off for New York city.

It was nearly midnight when the plane took off from Atkinson field for the first stop in Trinidad. In the early hours of the morning some of the Watch Tower missionaries had traveled from Port of Spain and were waiting for the arrival of their friends whom they had seen just the week before. They were glad to have information concerning the progress of the work in the nearby Guianas, and then bade farewell to their fellow ministers who were off again on the air liner toward New York city. The plane landed at other islands. Brothers were at the airport in Guadeloupe, St. Croix, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico, and all expressed hope that they would have conventions soon in their territories. They were promised that arrangements would be made in their behalf, in the few minutes that were spent with them at the airports.

The last leg of the journey was a long over-the-water flight from Puerto Rico to New York city, and then on the evening of January 26, 1954, the two travelers returned to the Society’s headquarters in Brooklyn, the Bethel home.

And so the tour of the president of the Watch Tower Society and his traveling companion had come to its end. South America had been visited and spurred to more theocratic activity. It was a source of great joy to look back. Looking back is sometimes an interesting occupation, at least when one is looking back to see the progress made in recent years in the growth of the New World society. In South America in 1942 there were only 807 publishers of the Kingdom preaching in eight different countries, but by 1953 the work had increased to twelve countries with 13,174 ministers preaching the good news of God’s kingdom throughout the continent. This is a remarkable expansion, and this, in great degree, is due to the work started at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, a school that produces missionaries who carry the work of Jehovah’s witnesses into distant countries. Throughout the world people have given generous support to the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and the missionary expansion program that is being carried on throughout the world, and so it is possible that one can see expansion in every continent. The travelers were busy with South America and thinking in terms of South America, and they were happy to know that such a great forward movement had occurred in just a little more than ten years in South America.

Take Flight to the Mountains for Safety

THE Israelites in Jesus’ day thought that the magnificent temple of Herod would serve as a charm to protect them from harm. But Jesus not only foretold that not one stone would be left upon another of its glorious buildings but also gave a sign as to when this would occur and told his followers what to do when they saw this sign: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then understand that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw.”—Luke 21:20, 21, NW.a

True to Jesus’ words the Roman armies did surround Jerusalem, A.D. 66. Then for no apparent reason they withdrew. Christians fled to refuge beyond the Jordan in the mountainous region of Gilead. A.D. 70 the Romans returned and destroyed the city, together with 1,100,000 inhabitants.

Like the Jews of Jesus’ time Christendom today considers herself heaven’s favorite because of her antiquity and reputed sacredness, but she will no more escape what Jesus foretold would come upon her than did her prototype Jerusalem. And just as the nation of Israel back there deserved destruction at the hands of Rome for having rejected the Messiah and having boasted, “We have no king but Caesar,” so Christendom will be destroyed because of preferring man-made substitutes to God’s kingdom.—John 19:15; Ps. 2:1-9.

Today we see the armies of godless communism surrounding Christendom and we also see the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing as a substitute for God’s kingdom, namely, the United Nations backed by organized religion. Seeing these things, we must flee to the mountains. (Matt. 24:15, 16) What are the mountains? They are the theocratic new “land,” which was born in 1919 with the return of Jehovah’s remnant to his organization and service.—Isa. 51:11-16; 66:7-9.

We cannot flee from the realm of Christendom, but we can separate ourselves from its system of things by taking in knowledge of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus and exercising faith in them, by dedicating ourselves to Jehovah and by associating with the New World society found in God’s new system of things.

[Footnotes]

A People with a Purpose

“You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”—1 Pet. 2:9, NW.

1. What outstanding characteristic distinguishes Jehovah from all other so-called gods?

JEHOVAH, unlike all others called gods, proves to be the great Purposer. As the almighty Creator he not only purposes something to be, he also causes it to be. Why, the very name of this Being, this pre-eminent First Cause, is drawn from a Hebrew word meaning ‘the one who causes to be.’ To Moses he said: “I shall prove to be what I shall prove to be.” His majestic creative works as well as his intimate dealings with creatures give ample evidence of this eternal truth. As a builder of a house from the outset has a definite aim or purpose, a particular design in mind, a final goal or objective that he strives to achieve, even more so the supreme Master Builder of the universe. Not only does he aforehand determine what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, but he also follows through and successfully accomplishes it. “Let light come to be” was his will and command, and “there came to be light.” Let the earth take shape, and it did. Let the waters be set in bounds, and they were. Let living creatures be formed—fish for the sea, fowl for the air, cattle, creeping things and beasts of every sort to live upon the land—all this Jehovah purposed and it came to be. “I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.”—Ex. 3:14; Gen. 1:3, NW; Isa. 46:9-11, AS.

2. Why can creatures put complete confidence and trust in the Word of Jehovah God?

² Jehovah is also an unchangeable God, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, inflexible in his holy will and purpose. “I, Jehovah, change not” is an everlasting statement of fact, an unalterable truth. (Mal. 3:6, AS) The high and lofty One is not a mere man that he needs to change his mind about a matter. He is not like whimsical creatures that are unstable and fickle in decision, shifting in opinion and unpredictable in purpose. “For thus saith Jehovah, . . . I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.” (Jer. 4:27, 28, AS) No, Jehovah never makes a mistake, and so he never has to reverse his predetermined course of action. He never has to change his declared purpose to accommodate an unforeseen situation or make room for an unexpected emergency. The great Jehovah is therefore one in whom creatures can place their complete confidence and implicit trust, for he is predictable, dependable and true to his word. He says a thing and he does it. “Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.”—Isa. 14:24, AS.

3. What was Jehovah’s original purpose toward this earth, and how did Satan attempt to thwart it?

³ Among the many things originally purposed by Jehovah was to have the earth filled with intelligent creatures who would be perfect in body, righteous in mind and thought, and fully obedient to their Creator in their activity. To that end Jehovah created a perfect human pair, male and female, and commanded that they “be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28, NW) In the theocratic arrangement of things a glorious heavenly cherub was given oversight of human affairs in the garden of Eden to see that the Creator’s will and purposes were carried out. But alas! what happened? Early in man’s history sedition broke out. Impressed with his dazzling glory and exceptional beauty the covering cherub coveted a position in the universe like that of the Most High. (Ezek. 28:13-15) He thereupon rebelled against the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, persuaded Eve and then Adam to break their integrity to Jehovah and in the course of time caused a great host of angelic creatures to join the rebellion. As a result the ringleader of this treasonous gang was expelled from his honored position in Jehovah’s organization and was placed under the sentence of death as a despicable criminal. He has since been identified by the loathsome and contemptible label “Satan the Devil.” From that time until the present, under satanic rule of wickedness the earth has been filled with crime and violence as generation after generation of imperfect creatures, born in sin and shaped in lawlessness, has continued in their open opposition to God.

4, 5. (a) What erroneous conclusion must we avoid? (b) What twofold purpose does Jehovah have in allowing Satan to remain until now?

⁴ Is it not, therefore, reasonable to conclude, in the face of these woeful events, that Jehovah’s original purpose to have the earth filled with righteousness has been completely frustrated and brought to nought? No, not at all! Do not hastily jump to such a false conclusion. To do so betrays either gross ignorance of or willful indifference to other important facts, facts which give overwhelming proof that such rebellion in no way altered or changed or even delayed in the least Jehovah’s prime purpose to have a global paradise filled with obedient creatures. At the very inception of disobedience in the garden of Eden Jehovah declared that in his due time all wicked rebels would be exterminated and obedient mankind would be blessed with everlasting life. In substance Jehovah said to Satan, as later recorded by the inspired writers of the Bible: “For this cause I have kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and in order to have my name declared in all the earth,” “that my name may be published throughout all the earth.”—Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17, NW.

⁵ As here set forth, this pronouncement of Jehovah reveals a twofold purpose. In the first place, the statement declares that Jehovah’s irresistible and omnipotent power will be displayed in all its terrible majesty when the Devil and his entire company of rebels are utterly destroyed. Furthermore, it is made certain that Jehovah’s name, word and purposes will be proclaimed, declared, published and witnessed about throughout the earth in order that people who love God may have the opportunity to escape destruction and become a part of a New World society which will fill the earth with righteousness. It is therefore quite clear that from the very beginning of man’s deflection from the truth Jehovah purposed to have a people in the earth who would be faithful to his cause, a people who would be his witnesses, a people for his name, a people even called by his noble name, that is, Jehovah’s witnesses.

A PEOPLE FOR JEHOVAH’S PURPOSE

6. What evidence is there in the Bible to prove that Jehovah’s witnesses have been on earth for nearly 6,000 years?

⁶ Did such divine purpose fail, or was it long delayed, delayed perhaps until this day and age before anything was done about it? History answers No! Among the very sons of Adam there arose a righteously disposed individual, Abel by name, who publicly witnessed before others concerning his confidence and hope in God’s promise recorded at Genesis 3:15. Abel demonstrated such implicit trust in that prophecy that he offered animal sacrifices pictorial of the great Lamb of God whose shed blood takes away sin. “By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain, through which faith he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness respecting his gifts.” Nor was Abel the sole witness for Jehovah prior to the Flood. Enoch, “the seventh man in line from Adam,” similarly “had the witness that he had pleased God well,” for he “kept walking with the God.”—Heb. 11:4, 5; Jude 14, 15; Gen. 5:24, NW.

7. What strange work did Noah engage in, and with what success?

⁷ Then there were Noah and his household. “Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the God.” He was a “preacher of righteousness,” one that “found favor in the eyes of Jehovah.” (Gen. 6:9, 8; 2 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 11:7, NW) But walking in obedience and finding favor in Jehovah’s eyes required Noah to do a work that seemed very strange in the eyes of that generation. There the faithful old man was, building a huge boat at Jehovah’s command, and at the same time preaching to his friends and neighbors that unless they repented of their wickedness and took refuge in this provision Jehovah was making they would soon be destroyed. “After that Jehovah said to Noah: ‘Go, you and all your household, into the ark, because you are the one I have seen to be righteous before me among this generation.’” (Gen. 7:1, NW) Scoffers and ridiculers that generation proved to be for the most part, for only eight, including Noah, entered the ark, passed through the annihilation of the first world, and stepped out into a clean earth as a typical New World society!

8. Why was Abraham called “Jehovah’s friend”?

⁸ So there were plenty of faithful witnesses of Jehovah (at least ten in number, symbolic of earthly completeness) that lived in the antediluvian world. Following the Flood, “‘Abraham exercised faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,’ and he came to be called ‘Jehovah’s friend’.” (Jas. 2:23, NW) Here was a man who, together with his devoted wife Sarah, put faith in Jehovah’s promised Deliverer, even though 2,000 years had elapsed since such promise was made in Eden and still no deliverer had appeared on the horizon. It was not mere lip service either on Abraham’s part, for he gave open testimony to the whole world of his hope and belief by separating himself completely from that system of things, and that at great cost in discomfort and inconvenience. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out into a place which he was going to receive as an inheritance, and he went out although not knowing where he was going. By faith he resided temporarily in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, and dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the very same promise. For he was awaiting the city having real foundations and the builder and creator of which is God. . . . Hence God is not ashamed of them, to be called upon as their God, for he has made a city ready for them.”—Heb. 11:8-10, 16, NW.

9. To whom did Lot witness, and with what results?

⁹ Abraham’s nephew, “righteous Lot,” also demonstrated that he was no part of the Devil’s system of things. Lot “was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct” in that infamous city of Sodom, yet as Jehovah’s servant he remained among those people long enough to give the final witness. “He kept on saying: ‘Get up! Get out of this place, because Jehovah is destroying the city!’” But even as the people of Noah’s day scoffed and ridiculed that faithful witness of Jehovah, so too they laughed at righteousness-loving Lot. To them Lot “seemed like a man who was joking.” Nevertheless, as in Noah’s case so also in Lot’s: “Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off.”—2 Pet. 2:7-9; Gen. 19:14, NW.

10. Describe how Job proved the Devil a liar.

¹⁰ Another outstanding example among those ancient witnesses of Jehovah was Job, a mighty man of integrity, famed for remaining true and steadfast to Jehovah under the most severe satanic pressure. True to the meaning of his name, Job was hated, harassed and persecuted by the Devil, the demons and their disciples. And yet for all the sadistic cruelty and prolonged torture of his body and mind Job’s fidelity and devotion to Jehovah remained unbroken. ‘Though I am slain, yet will I trust Jehovah,’ was his attitude. Thus by such unswerving and continued faithfulness under trial and testing Job made Jehovah’s heart glad, for he furnished the Most High with an answer to give the taunting adversary. To Satan Jehovah was able to say: “Have you noticed my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man perfect and upright, who fears God and shuns wickedness?”—Job 1:8; 2:3, AT; Job 13:15; Prov. 27:11.

11. Why was Moses sent back to Egypt, and what were the final results?

¹¹ About a hundred years later Egypt reached its zenith. In military might it was the first world power; in profane arrogance and impudent audacity it was the slaveholder of Jehovah’s chosen people, the descendants of His friend Abraham. Jehovah therefore determined to humiliate and destroy that presumptuous nation and deliver his chosen people, all of which would serve as an illustration of what Jehovah has determined to do at Armageddon to the entire empire of the greater Pharaoh, Satan the Devil. But first, before drowning Pharaoh’s proud and haughty armies like rats in the Red Sea, Jehovah purposed to have a thorough witness of warning delivered to all the Egyptians, the rulers and the ruled alike. To that end Jehovah chose his faithful servant Moses to be his spokesman and testimony-bearer. “Go in to Pharaoh, and you must say to him, ‘This is what Jehovah has said.’” (Ex. 8:1; 9:1, 13, NW) Repeatedly Moses obeyed these instructions. But the hardhearted and obstinate only became more hardhearted and obstinate. Yet Jehovah in his greatness was long-suffering and merciful. And with what results? By the time the seventh plague occurred there was a division even among the Egyptians, so much so that everyone “who feared Jehovah’s word among Pharaoh’s servants caused his own servants and his livestock to flee into the houses, but whoever did not set his heart to have any regard for Jehovah’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field.” (Ex. 9:20, 21, NW) When the final warning was completed Jehovah with a strong and mighty arm brought his people out, together with “a vast mixed company” of non-Israelites, but the presumably invincible armies of Egypt that followed in hot pursuit Jehovah caused to be engulfed by the sea, where “they sank like lead.”—Ex. 12:38; 15:1, 5, 10, NW.

12. Name other outstanding individuals that distinguished themselves as Jehovah’s witnesses in ancient times.

¹² Passing mention, too, can be made of women like Rahab, Deborah and Jael, as well as men like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel, David and a host of others who distinguished themselves as Jehovah’s faithful witnesses. In fact, there were a ‘great cloud’ of Jehovah’s witnesses from Abel’s day down to the time of Christ, including such outstanding personalities as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, prophets and witnesses extraordinary, who made known the name and fame of the great Jehovah God.—Heb. 11:31, 32; 12:1.

13, 14. What kind of treatment have Jehovah’s witnesses in the past experienced, and why?

¹³ Many of those ancient witnesses suffered terrible things, hardships and persecutions equaling anything modern dictators have inflicted on Jehovah’s servants. And why? Why were they forced to wander about in the deserts and mountains and live in dens and caves of the earth? Why were they hunted down, beaten, stoned, thrown to the lions, roasted in furnaces, put to the sword and sawed asunder? Why were they forced to go about “in sheep skins, in goat skins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment”? The apostle Paul tells us it was because they were no part of this old wicked world under Satan’s rule, but rather they were seeking after that promised new world whose Maker and Builder is Jehovah.—Heb. 11:10, 33-38, NW.

¹⁴ As faithful witnesses of Jehovah they certainly displayed the same commendable qualities possessed by their God and Father. Their minds were set on doing his will. In their hearts the issue of who is the Supreme Sovereign of the universe was settled. They knew they were right. So with fortitude and confidence they followed through. Forward they moved, steady, resolute, unswerving in their devotion, steadfast in their integrity, inflexible in their faith. Truly they were a people with a fixed purpose, namely, to live a life in accordance with their Creator’s perfect will and purpose, and they were determined that by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness they would do that very thing, come what may. It was for these solid reasons that they endured what they did at the hands of the Devil and his outlawed bandits, while at the same time they gave testimony to others that their hope and confidence were in God’s promised theocratic government, his heavenly kingdom under Messiah’s administration. Primarily such a course on the part of those men and women served for the vindication of Jehovah’s word and name, and secondarily it meant their own salvation and deliverance as well as eternal life for all who heeded their warning message.

EARLY CHRISTIANS ALSO MEN WITH PURPOSE

15. In what respects was Jesus of Nazareth like witnesses of Jehovah prior to his time?

¹⁵ Greater than Abel, greater than Moses, yes, greater than any witness of Jehovah before or since was Jesus of Nazareth. There was no question as to his purpose in life, for he declared: “For this purpose I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37, NW) He came, not in his own name, but in the name of his Father, Jehovah. He, therefore, bore truthful testimony concerning the name, word and purposes of Jehovah. Christ Jesus was really the one chosen to be the King of Jehovah’s new-world government; so that promised kingdom was the great theme of his ministry. Naturally such an outspoken witness for Jehovah’s cause in the earth would be violently opposed by the Devil and his ministers; but by enduring such vicious persecution without complaining Jesus won the honored title of “the Faithful Witness,” “the faithful and true witness.”—Rev. 1:5; 3:14, NW.

16, 17. (a) Who gave heed to the message preached by Jesus? (b) In turn, what did the followers of Christ become?

¹⁶ The whole nation of Israel knew of Jesus and the message he was preaching and yet not many gave heed to what he said. In fact, only those ‘on the side of the truth listen to my voice,’ said Jesus. (John 18:37, NW) “I told you and yet you do not believe. . . . But you do not believe, because you are none of my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:25-27, NW) Now those that listened to Jesus and became his disciples also became witnesses for Jehovah. To such Jesus said: “You, in turn, are to bear witness, because you have been with me from when I began.” (John 15:27, NW) Again Jesus told his disciples before leaving them: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” “Starting out from Jerusalem, you are to be witnesses of these things.” “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47, 48; Matt. 28:19, NW.

¹⁷ The subsequent impression made on history by those early followers of Christ proves beyond question that they carried out their Master’s instructions. “With great power the apostles continued giving forth the witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4:33, NW) Boldly the apostle Peter declared before the Sanʹhedrin: “We are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy spirit which God has given to those obeying him as ruler.” (Acts 5:32, NW) Stephen was most outspoken in his testimony, so much so that his enraged opponents took him out and stoned him to death. (Acts 7:1-60; 22:20) To the apostle Paul the Lord himself reassuringly said: “Be of good courage! For as you have been giving a thorough witness on the things about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”—Acts 23:11, NW.

18. In what respects were the followers of Christ different from others of their day?

¹⁸ Now what driving force enabled those first-century followers of Christ to give such a thorough witness? What were their aim and purpose in life, their motives for doing such an unpopular work? What made them risk their lives (many even lost their lives) to be Jehovah’s witnesses? Was it due to some selfish ambition, some personal gain, or was it because they were mentally unbalanced or because they had some kind of personality complex that drove them to die as martyrs? As a tool of the Devil the provincial governor Festus falsely charged that Paul was a madman when he spoke so eloquently before King Agrippa, but there was not a particle of truth in the hateful charge. (Acts 26:24) Read the whole account of the early Christians and you will see that they were different from the rest of the corrupt world, not, however, because they were queer lunatics or freakishly off balance in their senses. They were different in that they were devoted to truth and righteousness and the service of the Most High God. Actually, those early Christians were very intelligent men and women, far smarter than their opponents who were so dull of hearing and perception they could not recognize the way that leads to life.

19. (a) What is the acknowledged source of the Christian’s zeal, determination and endurance? (b) What aim and purpose in life did first-century Christians have?

¹⁹ Christians of the first century had zeal, enthusiasm, determination, power and endurance in far greater measure than devotees of other religions. Such driving forces were supplied by Jehovah God, and those early Christians acknowledged this source of their strength. When standing before King Agrippa, faithful Paul declared in all humility: “Because I have obtained the help that is from God I continue to this day bearing witness to both small and great.” (Acts 26:22, NW) So it was Jehovah’s active force, his holy spirit upon them, that enabled faithful followers of Christ to push ahead amid such violent and fiendish opposition. They were not interested in selfish pursuits, nor did they engage in the work just to make a name for themselves. As part of the “chosen race,” the “royal priesthood” and the “holy nation” their purpose was to declare abroad the excellencies of him who had called them out of darkness into his wonderful light. Hence their primary interest and concern were Jehovah’s name, word and purposes. His name had been defamed by those pretending to serve him. His sacred Word had been hidden under the rubble of orthodox tradition. His immutable purposes were obscured from the people in general. Hence, footstep followers of Christ who had been informed on these very important matters considered it a great honor and privilege to tell their fellow creatures, whether small or great, about the marvelous provisions Jehovah had made for their salvation and deliverance from impending destruction. Notwithstanding all the false accusations, the preaching work of the early Christians was a good work. It was one of love; first of all, love for their Creator Jehovah God, and, too, love for their neighbors and fellow creatures.

20. What are some of the questions that still remain unanswered?

²⁰ Is true Christianity any different today than at the outset? Has this modern age altered conditions and circumstances and made gospel-preaching out of date and impractical? Can we say that the purpose of Jehovah’s witnesses today is the same as that of the early Christians 1,900 years ago? These are some of the important questions that will be considered in the article beginning on the next page.

“Most Spectacular in Modern History”

ADDRESSING 10,000 delegates of the 51st session of the National Catholic Educational Association, John A. O’Brien, of the University of Notre Dame, criticized “the lack of zeal in winning converts” among Catholics, observing that “the overwhelming majority (72 per cent) of Catholic men and women have never so much as lifted a finger to win a convert for Christ. Protestants are twice as zealous as Catholics to win converts.” He pointed to the missionary zeal of such as Jehovah’s witnesses, although “one need not approve all their methods,” and then stated that the progress of Jehovah’s witnesses “is the most spectacular in modern history.”

Regarding Catholics’ leaving their church he said that “it must be admitted that our leakage is disturbingly large; larger than we have generally realized. The greatest loss that the [Catholic] church in America is suffering is from the failure to harness the latent missionary zeal of our devoted laity.”—Chicago Daily Tribune, April 23, 1954.

Is there such a thing as “latent zeal”? If the “laity” were truly devoted could they be said to have “latent zeal,” if there is such a thing? Can it be that the spectacular progress of Jehovah’s witnesses is due to their zeal’s not being of the “latent” kind?

The Purpose of Your Witnessing

1, 2. What pertinent questions are sometimes asked Jehovah’s witnesses, and from whom may honest inquirers obtain correct answers?

ARE you one of Jehovah’s witnesses? If so, why do you go from house to house offering Bible literature to the people? Why do you stand on street corners with the magazines? Or why do you conduct so many Bible studies in the homes of the people? Do you go from house to house for a selfish reason, for instance, to make a lot of money, or gain a prominent position in the local congregation? Do you stand on street corners because you like to make a spectacle of yourself, or because you have a so-called “persecution complex” that feeds on unkind things people say when passing by? Really, what are you trying to accomplish? What are the motives, the aims and purposes, the hopes and ambitions, that give Jehovah’s witnesses all their fiery zeal, persistence and sustained determination over the years, through two world wars, inside and outside totalitarian countries, against every form of opposition and distraction? And another question, Who is back of this work?

² These are pertinent questions people the world over are asking and arguing about among themselves. But if honest inquirers really desire correct answers then they should address their questions to Jehovah’s witnesses, for they know why they engage in this witness work. They know why they go from house to house in spite of many hardships, why they stand on street corners in all kinds of weather, and why they conduct home Bible studies at great personal expense and inconvenience. Furthermore, they know from where come their power and strength and resources. And more important, not only do they know what is back of this work, they know definitely who is back of it!

3. Who is the responsible one back of this witness work?

³ Jehovah God is the one backing up his witnesses in the earth today. And who is Jehovah? There is only one Jehovah. He is the self-existing One, the high and lofty Creator of the universe. He is the faithful covenant-keeping God of Abel and Abraham, of Noah and Lot, of Job and Moses and all the other patriarchs of antiquity. He is the One whom Jesus Christ called “My Father,” the Life-giver whom disciples of Christ were taught to address as “Our Father.” Today, as true and faithful Christians, Jehovah’s witnesses likewise worship and serve this same magnificent and eternal God. In turn, Jehovah assumes full responsibility for his witnesses and their important work, thus proving himself to be the same as he proved to be in the past, a God of purpose, a God of wonderful and unchangeable purposes.

4. What great truth have the directors of world affairs overlooked, and how do their boastful claims prove it?

⁴ That is right, Jehovah’s purposes are unchangeable, and nothing that puny men of this twentieth century do can alter, cancel out, or reverse Jehovah’s will and determination in the least. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth” but “the word spoken by Jehovah endures forever.” “I will work,” He declares. “And who can hinder it?” he asks. (Isa. 40:8; 1 Pet. 1:24, 25, NW; Isa. 43:13, AS) This, however, is something not appreciated by the directors of world affairs. These men, the philosophers and psychiatrists, the writers and analysts, the empire builders and political architects, the giants of finance, the judges, educators, religious leaders, military strategists and the scientists of renown, even all this world’s high and mighty, completely and deliberately ignore Jehovah God and altogether leave his purposes out of their schemes and calculations. As profane braggarts they boastfully hail the present time in which we live as a superscientific age, an ultramodern era, a highly educated and civilized period of great advancements and high achievements. They seem to think that through some process of evolution they have attained to a level of culture far beyond that in which first-century Christians lived, and hence the teachings, precepts and practices of the humble Nazarene and his disciples nearly two thousand years ago are no longer practical, necessary or even adaptable to this day and age.

5. What lofty point of view are seekers of the truth urged to take, and why?

⁵ But you honest seekers of truth, do not let yourself be deceived by such fallacious and childish chatter. It is nothing more than low human sophistry, the fanciful opinion and imagination of mere men made of the dust. Rather, consider how the Creator who made the dust from which the man was taken in the first place views these matters. From His profound and lofty point of view the big issues confronting humankind, the issues of life and death, health and happiness, peace and prosperity, have changed very little during the past millenniums. The same old world under Satan’s tyrannical and treasonous rule continues in the earth. Earthly potentates under Satan’s influence, the kings, queens, dictators, prime ministers and presidents of the various nations, not only refuse to accept Christ Jesus as Jehovah’s anointed King and earth’s rightful Ruler now installed in heavenly office, but also go farther in their opposition and take crafty counsel together against him and his kingdom, even as it was prophesied they would do. “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against his anointed [king].”—Ps. 2:1, 2, AS; Ps 83:2, 3.

6. Why is it altogether unreasonable to think that current human affairs disturb the purposes of Jehovah God?

⁶ It is therefore not surprising to find this world’s leaders engaged in an all-out and feverish armaments race as if they could withstand even the Almighty God when it comes to a showdown at Armageddon. Speed enthusiasts of this fast-moving, supersonic-jet age seem to think they can outstrip Jehovah, outmaneuver, outfly and outrun his scheduled timetable for the accomplishment of his divine purposes. Alas! How foolish their wisdom! How shallow their good sense! How utterly futile their stockpile of material supplies and lethal weapons! Man’s mightiest explosions equal only a small fraction of the power exerted by an average earthquake. It is an admitted fact that the greatest “A” and “H” bombs yet devised cannot even affect the weather. How much less the possibility that such adventures in nuclear fission can rock the earth on its axis! Why, even the noise of these giant “firecrackers” is heard but a comparatively few miles away. How idiotic, then, to think such explosions disturb the immeasurable expanse of the heavens above when they are never heard outside our immediate atmosphere! Obviously the foaming and agitation caused by the social strife, racial riots, labor strikes and political revolutions that continually plague mankind are even less significant in the eyes of the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. Of a truth, none of man’s novel experiments, none of his passing fancies and none of this century’s social upheavals disturb the serenity and eternity of the great Jehovah God. Gnats in the air may be annoying to be around, but they are most insignificant to the proper, divinely ordained rotation of the earth. A few buzzing grasshoppers a thousand miles away never disturb your peace or cause you to take them into account in your daily affairs. How much less do you suppose the crowing and croaking of today’s boasting, bragging propagandists upset the purposes of the Almighty, who resides far above the confines of this mundane sphere? Remember, in his estimation the nations and all of earth’s inhabitants “are as grasshoppers.”—Isa. 40:22.

7. What immutable purposes of Jehovah still stand unchanged by modern circumstances?

⁷ Yes, indeed, Jehovah’s purposes still stand in spite of what senseless critics of this synthetic civilization say or do. “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: his seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as the faithful witness in the sky.” (Ps. 89:34-37, AS) It is concerning the Greater David, of whom it was said, “You are to call his name Jesus,” that Jehovah is here speaking, as later disclosed by the angel Gabriel: “This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will be king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:31-33, NW) In carrying out this covenant Jehovah also accomplishes other purposes, for his determination is to show Satan “my power” by replacing that one’s Egyptianlike system of things with a new world filled with righteousness. And before this becomes a full reality Jehovah purposes to have his word, name and fame published throughout all the earth as a final warning to both small and great, and this purpose too stands unaltered by modern circumstances or the present trend of world events. “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.”—Matt. 24:14, NW.

8. How has Jehovah made the wisdom of this world foolish and ridiculous?

⁸ So what if the over-smart and conceited of this world think the preaching work of Jehovah’s witnesses is impractical and foolish in the extreme? The all-wise Jehovah declares that he will accomplish his purposes and put to shame the wise ones of this age by and through a means that to them seems most ridiculous. “For the speech about the torture stake is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power. For it is written: ‘I will make the wisdom of the wise men perish, and I will shove the intelligence of the intellectual aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not get to know God, God saw good through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing.” (1 Cor. 1:18-21, NW; Isa. 29:14; Jer. 8:9) To engage in such a wonderful preaching work is therefore a great honor and those so privileged have the same mental attitude as their Leader and Commander, Christ Jesus, who exclaimed: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.”—Matt. 11:25, NW; Ps. 8:2.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS NO SECRET

9. Who is the Chief Witness in behalf of Jehovah’s witnesses?

⁹ That these witnesses today who are actively engaged in the “foolishness of preaching” are approved by Jehovah and authorized to bear his sacred name there is not the slightest doubt. Jehovah himself bears witness, saying: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; . . . before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; . . . therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God.” “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.” (Isa. 43:10-12; 44:8, AS) The whole world knows these people by their beautiful name, by their name taken from Jehovah’s Word; therefore let the whole world be informed concerning the purpose of their witnessing.

10. When questioned about our work why should we answer truthfully?

¹⁰ When people ask you as one of Jehovah’s witnesses what you are trying to do, what the purpose of your witnessing is, tell them the truth. “There are six things which Jehovah hateth; yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: . . . [one of which is] a false witness that uttereth lies.” “A false witness will not go unpunished; he who utters lies will not escape. . . . he who utters lies will perish.” So do not hesitate or evade speaking the truth when asked the purpose of your witnessing.—Prov. 6:16-19, AS; Pr 19:5, 9, AT.

11, 12. Do we engage in this work for commercial or competitive reasons?

¹¹ When people ask if Jehovah’s witnesses go from house to house to make money, tell them the simple truth of the matter. Tell them what Jesus says to his followers: “You received free, give free.” (Matt. 10:8, NW) Tell them how the apostle Peter urges his brothers to “shepherd the flock of God . . . willingly, neither for love of dishonest gain.” (1 Pet. 5:2, NW) Tell them how Paul likewise declares that a faithful servant of God must be “irreprehensible, . . . not a lover of money, . . . not greedy of dishonest gain.” (1 Tim. 3:2, 3, 8, NW; Titus 1:7) Tell them what Jehovah God himself says: “Ho! everyone that is thirsty, come to the waters, and he that has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy grain without money, and wine and milk without price!” Jehovah’s witnesses certainly have refreshing and lifegiving spiritual food for the drought-stricken and undernourished people of the world if they will only accept it. And such priceless provisions from God’s storehouse are offered without measure and “without price.” “Why should you spend money for what is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy?” Frankly, Jehovah is here asking, Why spend your hard-earned money for the sickening stuff dished out for a stiff price by Christendom’s sorry lot of leaders when you can get a superabundance of rich, life-giving delicacies at His table? “You cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and [at the same time eat off] the table of demons.”—Isa. 55:1, 2, AT; 1 Cor. 10:21, NW.

¹² When it is asked if other selfish promotion schemes provide the incentive or driving force behind the activity of Jehovah’s witnesses, again the truth should be told. Competition is very much a part of the Devil’s system of things, but it has no place in God’s organization. To compete against one another, to make a name for oneself, to gain fame, prestige or prominence in the congregation are not the motives behind the witnessing activity at all. Unfaithful Christendom stresses outward show and spectacular works as the big thing, saying: “Master, Master, did we not . . . perform many powerful works in your name?” To which the Master Christ Jesus answers: “I never knew you at all. Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matt. 7:22, 23, NW) No, works alone do not meet the requirements. Faith comes first, then works follow as a result and as a manifestation of faith, for “faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” (Jas. 2:17, NW) So putting the emphasis where it properly belongs, not on the human individual or his personal efforts or accomplishments, but on God, the apostle Paul writes: “He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not by reason of our works, but by reason of his own purpose and undeserved kindness.”—2 Tim. 1:9, NW.

13. Why do we display the Kingdom message along busy streets and in the market places?

¹³ When Jehovah’s witnesses stand along the thoroughfares and at busy intersections publicly displaying the Kingdom message, what is their purpose and motive? Certainly they do not do what hypocrites of Christendom do who “like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men.” (Matt. 6:5, NW) Jehovah’s witnesses are as their name implies, “witnesses,” and as such they are forced to appear before those that hear their testimony, like a witness in a courtroom. Consequently, Jehovah’s witnesses “become a theatrical spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men” and are “exposed as in a theater both to reproaches and tribulations.” (1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 10:33, NW) Their public activity is not done because these witnesses have an inflated ego that demands public recognition and attention, or because they have a fanatical desire to be mobbed as martyrs or burned at the stake in the public square. Nehemiah and his associates long ago did not undertake the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s fallen-down walls because they had a craving to hear their enemies ‘laugh them to scorn and despise them.’ In Nehemiah’s case it was his supreme love for Jehovah and an intense, burning desire to see pure worship once again protected in the land that enabled him to move ahead with the work in spite of scoffer Sanballat and his cronies. (Neh. 2:17-20) Today the same devotion to Jehovah and his righteous worship moves Jehovah’s witnesses to action, notwithstanding the fact that “all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.”—2 Tim. 3:12, NW.

14, 15. Why do government officials of all nations have no reason to fear Jehovah’s witnesses or their God-ordained activity?

¹⁴ When colonial governments and other officials in positions of responsibility want to know if the work of Jehovah’s witnesses is seditious or subversive, tell them the honest truth. Tell them that Christ Jesus was not the least seditious in teaching his disciples to pray to Jehovah God, “Let your kingdom come,” and neither are his true footsteps followers today seditious in telling the whole world that that kingdom is now at hand. (Matt. 6:10, NW) Speaking the truth contained in God’s Holy Word, the Bible, as a warning to this generation of impending destruction at Armageddon is not subversive in any sense. It is a lifesaving message delivered out of love and mercy. “A truthful witness saves lives; but he who utters lies destroys them.” (Prov. 14:25, AT) Noah diligently worked in a similar way, preaching a similar message of warning to his generation, and which resulted in “the saving of his household.” (Heb. 11:7, NW) Now Noah’s proclamation was not subversive. It was not his message that overthrew and washed that wicked system of things out of existence. Rather, it was Jehovah’s terrible manifestation of supreme power following the completing of the warning that wrought such havoc to the opposers. So, too, in modern times, the message delivered by Jehovah’s witnesses, although most appreciated by all lovers of God, may be hot enough on the ears of the wicked, nevertheless, its heat is nothing to compare with the fire to follow, the ‘fire of Jehovah’s jealousy and anger,’ which will consume this world at Armageddon.—Zeph. 3:8; 2 Pet. 3:7.

¹⁵ Jehovah does not propose to reform the irreformable, and neither do his witnesses. Jehovah is not attempting to straighten out this crooked and perverse generation, and neither are his witnesses. This old system is condemned by God and doomed to complete destruction. The charge that the early Christians “turned the world upside down” was, of course, entirely false. (Acts 17:6) So also is the same charge today when leveled against Jehovah’s witnesses and their gospel activity. The assignment Jehovah’s witnesses have from the Lord God is merely to warn all, the rulers and the ruled, of the impending cataclysm of Armageddon, in order that all who will may now take advantage of Jehovah’s provision for safety.—Jer. 1:17-19; Ezek. 3:10, 11; 33:7-9.

WHAT IS ACCOMPLISHED?

16. (a) What blessings and benefits do Jehovah’s witnesses bring to good-will people the world over? (b) Yet what separating takes place as a result?

¹⁶ Instead of seditiously disturbing the peace within nations, or agitating revolt among the people, the work of Jehovah’s witnesses has an exactly opposite effect. The momentous announcement concerning God’s theocratic government now being made by his witnesses gives real contentment and tranquillity with peace of mind. This happy message calms and quiets distressed people who sigh and cry because of the present abominable conditions. It steadies and strengthens the faltering, the feeble and the weak. It brings perception and sight to the mentally blind. It opens the ears of the spiritually deaf. It restores health to the spiritually sick. It gives hope to the hopeless. And life to the spiritually lifeless it gives. Of course the proclamation of such a wonderful message like this will not be acceptable to all, for those with the Devil’s spirit and the spirit of this old world detest and reject it the same as did those who perished in the Flood, in Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the Red Sea disaster. Hence, the present publication and distribution of the Kingdom message causes a dividing of the people in their standing before the Lord, a separating of lovers of what is right from workers of lawlessness, a dividing of the sheep from the goats, all “according to the purpose of him who operates all things according to the way his will counsels.”—Eph. 1:11, NW; Matt. 25:31-33.

17. What is the chief concern, aim and purpose of Jehovah’s witnesses, and, hence, what are all people called upon to do?

¹⁷ While the above-mentioned results may seem most important to mankind, yet additional results are accomplished by Jehovah’s witnesses that are of universal and hence of far greater importance. Primarily Jehovah’s witnesses are concerned with the settling of the universal issue of supremacy, with the vindication of Jehovah, with the clearing of his holy Word and sacred name, which have been smeared and reproached for so long by the Devil and his hordes. Jehovah is the only true and living God. He alone is the Source of life and blessings, a God unequaled in every respect. Jehovah is wise beyond complete comprehension or understanding. Jehovah is just beyond dispute or contradiction. Jehovah is powerful beyond resistance or containment. Jehovah is love beyond full measure or appreciation. Yes, Jehovah is the supreme universal Sovereign! These facts must be published to the ends of the earth. “Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king. Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give him the glory.” (Rev. 19:6, 7, NW) Jehovah has placed his anointed King upon his glorious throne in the heavens and people of all languages and races are commanded to bow in subjection to him. After so many thousands of years under Satan’s oppressive and killing rule all these facts are certainly good news. Therefore let all who love righteousness and hate wickedness join this chorus of witnesses in shouting praise to Jehovah!

18. Why is it really later than most people think?

¹⁸ There is no time to lose. This is a most urgent message. Time is fast running out for Satan and his system of things, for they refuse to recognize that the “Gentile times” ended in 1914 and Christ Jesus was then enthroned as earth’s rightful Ruler. We are now forty years within “this generation,” the generation that witnessed the eventful year 1914, the generation doomed to experience Armageddon. (Matt. 23:36; 24:34) Make no mistake about it, that final war is a fixed date on the divine calendar, just as sure to occur on time as all the other purposes of Jehovah have. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” “For to every purpose there is a time and judgment.” (Eccl. 3:1, 17; 8:6, AS) Really, it is much later than most people think!

19. Prove that the rebellion in Eden did not spoil, change or delay Jehovah’s purpose to populate a paradise earth with perfect creatures.

¹⁹ With the passing of Armageddon’s destructive storm Jehovah’s original purpose to have the earth filled with faithful and obedient creatures will begin to take place. The completion of that purpose will not be delayed but will be accomplished within the time limit originally set by the Creator. By the end of the sixth creative day Jehovah had issued to Adam and Eve the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth with perfect creatures like themselves. Jehovah then “proceeded to rest on the seventh day from all his work that he had made.” (Gen. 2:2, 3, NW; Ge 1:28) So the end of Jehovah’s 7,000-year sabbath will see his purpose accomplished by the 1,000-year reign of Christ Jesus.a By that time the paradise earth in all its beauty and perfection will be fully populated by a New World society that is expanded to the limits. Thus Christ during his reign will accomplish what the rebel cherub in Eden failed to do. No, not even the 6,000-year rebellion that broke out in Eden has spoiled, changed or delayed Jehovah’s original purposes one iota!

20. So, in the face of these facts, what are we urged to do?

²⁰ In view of the momentous period in which we live, this is no time for you faithful witnesses of Jehovah to slack your hands. You have your divine commission, you have your assignment of territory, you know your purpose, and you have the backing of the Most High God. ‘A purpose sustained Jehovah will guard, saying, Prosper! Prosper!’ (Isa. 26:3, Ro) Therefore, Go! advertise the established kingdom of God as man’s only hope for eternal peace! Go, disciple all nations with implicit trust in the one that is “with you all the days until the consummation of the system of things.” (Matt. 28:20, NW) Go, “preach good tidings unto the meek”; go, “bind up the broken-hearted”; go, “proclaim liberty to the captives”; go, “comfort all that mourn”; and as you do, never hedge or show fear in proclaiming “the day of vengeance of our God.” Continue to go, and continue to preach this joyful and happy news from door to door, on the streets, and in the homes of the people until the Devil’s organization is wasted and emptied without inhabitant. “Thoroughly accomplish your ministry.” And, never forget it, Jehovah’s spirit, favor, blessing and prosperity will continue upon you and your work!—Isa. 61:1, 2, AS; 2 Tim. 4:5, NW; Isa. 6:11, 12; Luke 4:18.

[Footnotes]

Questions From Readers

● A footnote on page 138 of “New Heavens and a New Earth” refers to certain numbers as perfect numbers. One of them is the number “3.” In what sense is it a perfect number?—R. I., United States.

The number “3” is a number of perfect or complete emphasis. At different places in the Bible things were stated three times for the purpose of emphasis. For example, before the Jews were overthrown and taken captive by Babylon they were warned: “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.” The backsliding Jews had defiled the temple, yet came to it to be forgiven their abominations. Jehovah showed he would not preserve that defiled temple, any more than he preserved the tabernacle at Shiloh when it was defiled, and that to call it “the temple of Jehovah” was a lie. These lying words were stated three times for emphasis. Also by a threefold repetition Jehovah emphasized the overturning of the unfaithful kingdom: “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it.”—Jer. 7:4-14; Ezek. 21:27, AS.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was grieved and sorely troubled, and three times he prayed that if possible the cup he was to drink be taken away, yet Jehovah’s will was to be done. This gave complete emphasis to the prayer, just as after his death and resurrection his thrice-stated instruction to Peter to feed the sheep made the command perfectly emphatic. On another occasion Peter had a matter made emphatic to him by a threefold repetition of it, namely, when he was on the housetop and in a trance he saw animals considered unclean, but his objections to eating for that reason were overcome by the divine command to eat, and which command was perfectly emphasized by being stated three times. Emphasis and intensity of the superlative height of Paul’s rapture are indicated by his being caught away “to the third heaven.” Another illustration of perfection of emphasis by stating something three times is that of the four living creatures that say: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.”—2 Cor. 12:2; Rev. 4:8; Matt. 26:39-44; John 21:15-17; Acts 10:9-16, NW.

Additional information on perfect numbers can be found on pages 249 and 250 of the April 15, 1952, Watchtower.

Announcements

WILL YOU BE ONE OF THE THOUSANDS THAT HEAR?

August 1 marks the day that the timely discourse “God’s Love to the Rescue in Man’s Crisis” will be given simultaneously in ten cities of the United States, which will be attended by an aggregate attendance of over 50,000. This is the big assembly week end of 1954! Will you be among this great throng if you have not attended one of the earlier assemblies? If you have not planned to attend so far, why not arrange NOW to be at any of the ten cities listed for this week end, earlier in The Watchtower? You will not regret placing other things secondary to being present with true Christians for this important life-giving message of truth. Rooming accommodations may still be obtained. If not received by mail ahead of time, you may pick up accommodations at the rooming department at the assembly when you arrive. The addresses are given in the May 1 Watchtower. The important thing is to be there.

TAKE FLIGHT TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR SAFETY

“A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.” (Prov. 27:12, RS) Where can the wise and prudent person flee and hide from the destruction impending this present evil system of things? The only place of refuge is Jehovah’s theocratic arrangement as all of Jehovah’s witnesses know and appreciate. (Matt. 24:15, 16; Luke 21:20, 21) Neighborly love will be shown by all of Jehovah’s witnesses during August by calling at the homes of people in congregation territory and special unassigned territory to point out the way to safety. As an aid to help them understand what God’s Word, the Bible, says concerning these times three bound books together with three booklets, constituting a mine of valuable information, will be offered for a contribution of only $1.50. Do you know of and have understanding concerning the place of safety? Use the information well by helping others to take flight to the mountains.

BIBLE READING MADE EASIER

The original writings of Moses and the prophets were made in the language of the day. They did not use obscure or obsolete terms or words. Likewise the disciples of apostolic times wrote in the language of their day. The reason being, of course, that Bible writing was meant to be understood by the reader. Do you understand the many archaic expressions, terms and words found in older translations of the Bible such as the King James Version? Seeing the great need for an accurate translation of the Bible in the common speech of this twentieth century, the New World Bible Translation Committee has completed thus far from the Hebrew the Bible books Genesis to Ruth and from the Greek, Matthew to Revelation. This translation makes Bible reading easier and enables the reader to have greater understanding. The New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Volume I, and the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures are available for a contribution of only $1.50 each. De luxe leather-bound editions may be had for $5.00 apiece. For easier and more enjoyable Bible reading obtain your copies now.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of August 29: A People with a Purpose.

Week of September 5: The Purpose of Your Witnessing.

Check Your Memory

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

✔ What proves the weakness of man’s hopes for peace? P. 451, ¶1.

✔ What proves Christendom’s faith has not “conquered the world”? P. 452, ¶3.

✔ Why church attendance does not prove one’s faith? P. 453, ¶1.

✔ What percentage of the members of the various religions actually do not read the Bible? P. 454, ¶2.

✔ What the real basis for faith is? P. 455, ¶2.

✔ How the Christian’s faith is like a hide-covered shield? P. 456, ¶1.

✔ Whether the Scriptures support the veneration of Mary? P. 457, ¶5.

✔ Whether the Scriptures agree that Mary is the “Mediatrix of all graces”? P. 458, ¶7.

✔ What growth Jehovah’s witnesses have had in South America since 1942? P. 463, ¶6.

✔ How to ‘flee to the mountains’ of safety today? P. 464, ¶5.

✔ Why Jehovah’s servants have endured the severe opposition brought upon them? P. 469, ¶14.

✔ From where the Christian’s driving zeal does come? P. 470, ¶19.

✔ What is back of the work of Jehovah’s witnesses? P. 472, ¶3.

✔ Why true Christian activity must never be commercialized? P. 475, ¶11.

✔ Why true worship must steer clear of politics? P. 477, ¶15.

✔ Why it is really later than most people think? P. 478, ¶18.

✔ What makes the number “3” a perfect number? P. 479, ¶2.