The Watchtower — October 1, 1959

Misplaced Confidence

“HARDLY a meeting of a church body in the past 10 years has failed to adopt a resolution indorsing the U.N. as the principal hope for world peace and justice,” declared the Chicago Daily Tribune. And Roman Catholic Archbishop Robert E. Lucey of San Antonio, Texas, called the United Nations “our last hope for peace in the world.” Many sincere churchgoers, looking to the clergy for guidance, have joined in putting their confidence in the United Nations. How like the people in the first century!

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that fact came to be known by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. “Astrologers from eastern parts came to Jerusalem, saying: ‘Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when we were in the east and we have come to do him obeisance.’ At hearing this King Herod was agitated and all Jerusalem along with him, and on assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him: ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is how it has been written through the prophet.’” (Matt. 2:1-6) They knew the prophecies. When Jesus grew to manhood they heard him preach about God’s kingdom. They saw with their own eyes as he did the things the prophets had foretold about him. But did they believe? No, they showed that they had placed their confidence, not in God and his kingdom by Christ, but in human alliances, for they rejected Jesus, cried out for his impalement, and said: “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15) The people followed their lead. They chose the Roman government, the sixth world power, in preference to God’s kingdom.

In our day, in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, the heavenly kingdom of God has come to birth, and its establishment has been proclaimed in all parts of the world. Yet the leaders of Christendom have turned their backs on Christ as the ruling Prince of Peace, persecuted his witnesses, and declared their confidence in the United Nations, saying: It is “our last hope for peace in the world.” The people follow their lead. They choose the United Nations in preference to God’s kingdom.

The confidence of those religious leaders who look to men to bring world peace is misplaced, and the confidence of persons who accept the guidance of clergymen who fail to teach God’s Word is betrayed. “It is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in earthling man,” says the psalmist. Jehovah God, who cannot lie, has given his promise that his kingdom through Christ will bring abiding peace to God-fearing mankind. Confidence in his promise will not be disappointed.—Ps. 118:8.

Have You Been Baptized for Life?

Would you like to live forever in God’s beautiful New World paradise? If so, then you must get baptized for life and that before it is too late!

THE Divine Will International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses, held in the summer of 1958, attracted world-wide attention by reason of both its size and its unique features. One feature that was widely publicized was its baptism of 7,136 Christians. To the four corners of the globe newspapers and magazines, newsreel and television cameras carried pictures of it.

Why did that baptism attract so much attention? Quite likely because it was a baptism by total immersion. And why do the witnesses of Jehovah insist on total immersion? Because their baptism is commanded by God’s Word; and in its original Greek tongue the words rendered “Baptist,” “baptism” and “baptize” have the meaning, not of sprinkling, but of Immerser, immersion and immerse, or Dipper, dipping and dip. Literal Bible translations, such as those of Rotherham and Benjamin Wilson, bear this out.—Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:3, 16; Ro, ED (interlinear).

John the Baptist baptized by immersion in the Jordan and Jesus’ disciples did the same. That is why John baptized “in Aenon near Salim, because there was a great quantity of water there.” Early religious history shows that in the first centuries of our common era Christians invariably baptized by immersion. Sprinkling was resorted to later on only because of convenience.—John 3:23.

Represented among those 7,136 immersion candidates at the Divine Will assembly were all races, many nationalities as well as a wide range of ages, from barely in their teens to long past the proverbial threescore years and ten. Among them, however, were no infants. Why not? Because of Jesus’ commission regarding baptism, which states: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” A disciple is “one who receives instruction from another.” An infant cannot receive Scriptural instruction. As with baptism by sprinkling, baptism of infants was not practiced by the early Christian congregation.—Matt. 28:19, 20.

What is the meaning and value of Christian baptism in water? Does it wash away original sin, as claimed by some? That could not be, for Jesus himself set the pattern for Christians in baptism as in everything else, and he was without sin. Rather, baptism is a symbol of one’s having dedicated himself to do God’s will and therefore associates itself with one’s ordination as a minister of Jehovah’s Word. Thus the apostle Paul shows that when Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized he said: “Look! I am come to do your will.”—Heb. 10:9.

By going under the water in his baptism Jesus was, in symbol, dying to his past course of action, that of helping to support his mother and her family by carpentering, and embarking on the specific mission for which his Father had sent him to earth. What was that special mission? “For this purpose I have been born and for this purpose I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37) His being submerged completely under water also pictured his willingness to go to the point of death and burial in doing his heavenly Father’s will.

Before we can make an acceptable dedication of ourselves to do God’s will, however, we must first gain knowledge of Jehovah God and exercise faith in him, as we read: “Moreover, without faith it is impossible to win his good pleasure, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” Secondly, we must recognize ourselves as sinners, due to Adam’s transgression, ‘and repent and turn around and get our sins covered by exercising faith in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.’ Only then are we in a position to come to God, as Jesus did, and dedicate ourselves to him and his service. That dedication obligates us to get immersed in water at the very first opportunity.—Heb. 11:6; Rom. 5:12; Acts 3:19; Rev. 7:14.

WITH HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE

John the Baptist, who pioneered in baptizing persons and who baptized Jesus, said: “I, on the one hand, baptize you with water because of your repentance; but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize you people with holy spirit and with fire.” When and how did “that one,” Jesus Christ, perform these baptisms?—Matt. 3:11.

Just before his ascension into heaven Jesus said to his followers: “Do not withdraw from Jerusalem; but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; because John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.” That baptism by holy spirit came at Pentecost, even as Peter showed in applying the words of Joel’s prophecy to that event. That baptism marked the beginning of the Christian congregation, the body of Christ, and is limited to those who will become a part of it.—Acts 1:4, 5; 2:16-18.

When did Jesus baptize with fire? Was this also at Pentecost, when flames of fire rested upon his 120 followers assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem? That could not be correct. Why not? Because, remember, baptism means immersion, and those 120 were not immersed in those flames. Then when, how and whom did Jesus baptize with fire? Fire is a symbol of destruction. Baptism by fire therefore calls to mind the time when Sodom and Gomorrah received a baptism by fire, completely destroying them and their people. John the Baptist indicated the same when he said that Jesus “will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.” That baptism by fire took place A.D. 70, when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans and more than a million Jews lost their lives and 97,000 of them were taken captive. No Christians were involved in that terrible slaughter, because they had heeded Jesus’ words to flee Jerusalem when they saw it surrounded by armies.—Matt. 3:12; Luke 21:20, 21.

PATTERNS OF BAPTISM FOR LIFE

Thus we see that in the first century all those Jews who exercised faith in Jesus, dedicated themselves and were baptized experienced a baptism that was for life, whereas others, like chaff, were baptized by fire and to destruction. The same is true today. Just how this applies at our time can be seen from two prophetic patterns that Jehovah caused to be made long ago. One of these took place in the days of Noah, as called to our attention by Peter. After telling that because of God’s patience eight souls back there “were carried safely through the water,” he goes on to say: “That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism.”—1 Pet. 3:20, 21.

For anyone back there to experience salvation he had to be baptized into Noah. That is, he had to exercise faith and confidence in God’s prophet. He had to become inseparably attached to Noah, fully submitting himself to Noah’s direction, coming under his headship. It was not the water baptism back there that saved Noah’s family; it destroyed the wicked. Rather, it was uniting with Noah that meant salvation.

A like prophetic pattern was made later, in the time of Moses. This was when the nation of Israel followed Moses through the Red Sea. Here again, what saved them was being baptized into Moses by recognizing Moses as their head, submitting to him and following his instructions. By casting their lot in with him, as it were, they were baptized into Moses, even as the apostle Paul shows: “Our forefathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea and all got baptized into Moses by means of the cloud and of the sea.”—1 Cor. 10:1, 2.

BAPTISM FOR LIFE TODAY

In particular is the prophetic pattern of Noah’s family in being baptized into him for their salvation and life full of meaning for us today. Fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that we are living in the last days of this wicked old world, when again only a few will avail themselves of the baptism for life, while the vast majority will undergo a baptism of destruction. This is borne out by the prophecy of Jesus: “Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. . . . they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.”—Matt. 24:37-39.

Even as Noah was the one with whom salvation and deliverance from the expression of God’s wrath were to be found back there, so today Jesus Christ is the one with whom these are to be found at the coming expression of God’s wrath, Armageddon. Yes, “there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved”; and that applies both to salvation from impending destruction and salvation to eternal life.—Acts 4:12.

Would it then be correct to say that water baptism today is the baptism for life? No, because unless it is performed as an evidence of one’s dedication it is meaningless. Is it the baptism of the holy spirit? No, because the Scriptures show that that baptism is limited to the body of Christ, whereas a “great crowd” of “other sheep,” those represented by Noah’s sons and daughters-in-law, today also have received the baptism for life to which Peter refers. Then is it one’s dedication to Jehovah God that is this baptism for life? No, but it involves this dedication. Our dedication to God in imitation of Jesus is the throwing in of our lot with the Greater Noah, even as Noah’s family threw in their lot with him and the Israelites threw in their lot with Moses. It is God who then baptizes us into the Greater Noah by bringing us under protection of the new system of things pictured by Noah’s ark. Baptism for life highlights our relationship to Jesus Christ as the Greater Noah and the part he plays in our being spared at Armageddon. To throw in our lot with him we must take our stand for Jehovah and his kingdom by dedication to do His will and then symbolizing that dedication at the first opportunity, and we must submit ourselves to Jesus Christ as the “leader and commander” designated by Jehovah.—Isa. 55:4.

Today many are delaying to dedicate themselves to Jehovah God and to symbolize that dedication by water immersion. Thus they hesitate to throw their lot in with the Greater Noah. Such is a great mistake! Jesus showed that this generation would see Armageddon and he stressed the urgency of the situation. Those on the housetop or in the field were to flee at once, for no one knows on what day Armageddon will strike.—Matt. 24:15-18, 34.

Although today the Greater Noah, Jesus Christ, is not visibly present, God’s people are not left without visible direction. The facts show that Christ has a composite “faithful and discreet slave,” the remaining ones of the body of Christ, to represent him. This slave serves as God’s channel of communication. To act consistently with our baptism for life and into the Greater Noah we must submit to and cooperate with that slave and its legal instrument, the Watch Tower Society. It publishes Bibles and Bible-study aids, arranges for various kinds of meetings for Bible instruction and operates a training program designed to aid all sincere Christians to become qualified to preach “this good news of the kingdom.”—Matt. 24:14, 45-47.

A NEW SYSTEM OF THINGS

All dedicated Christians now serving under the direction of the faithful and discreet slave are part of the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses. Referring now to one of the prophetic patterns, could it properly be said that the ark that Noah and his family built foreshadowed this new society? No, because its members are pictured rather by the family of Noah. As Noah pictured Jesus Christ, so Noah’s wife pictured the Christian congregation, the bride of Christ, consisting of but 144,000 members, of whom there remains but a remnant. What about Noah’s sons and daughters-in-law? These picture, quite fittingly, the “great crowd” of “other sheep,” who as children of Jesus Christ, the “Father for eternity,” will live in the earthly Paradise. All who have been baptized for life today belong to one of these two classes.—Isa. 9:6; John 10:16; Rev. 7:9; 14:1.

Then what does the ark picture? The new system of things built by the Greater Noah to take the place of the old Mosaic system of things that came to its legal end after Jesus was nailed to the torture stake A.D. 33. (Col. 2:14; Heb. 1:2) This new system of things includes the new Christian system of pure worship of Jehovah, with its standard of Christian conduct and Christian ministry, and serves as a safeguard to all those serving within its confines. As Noah’s family co-operated with him in building the ark, so the members of the New World society co-operate with the Greater Noah in building up the new system of things by helping to expand the true form of worship.

Have you been baptized for life? If not, then no longer delay, for Armageddon is coming on apace. Take in right knowledge, throw in your lot with Jesus Christ and follow his example. Make an unreserved dedication to do Jehovah’s will and make public confession of it by water baptism. Then continue faithful in the modern ark, the new system of God’s pure worship, by exercising a clean conscience as regards both your Christian ministry and daily conduct. Doing so, you may hope to survive God’s expression of wrath and enter into his beautiful New World paradise in which righteousness will dwell and death will be no more.

Finding the Truth That Makes Men Free

1. To make man free what did God give him, and just what does it do for men of all kinds?

MEN and women who love what is right do not like being slaves to selfish, wicked men. They want to be free to do all the good that they can. The Creator of man in righteousness wanted man to remain free to do good and to glorify his Creator. For thousands of years since man’s appearance on earth ignorance and religious lies have been used to make men slaves to greedy, oppressive men and organizations. The Creator’s time has come to set men free. He is sending out his truth to lift men out of ignorance and to free them from the lies that keep men in slavery. His truth is now out to make all lovers of righteousness free. No power on earth can now prevent its triumph. Freedom-giving truth is universal. Truth, like the facts of proved science, is for all mankind. Truth does not belong exclusively to Americans, to Russians or to peoples of any other national group. Truth is progressive, it enlightens and it results in blessings for all. Truth brings its lovers together, it unites. To the contrary, hiding the truth or refusing to learn the truth holds back true advancement. Misunderstandings then arise and wars are caused. All peoples living on earth have the moral right to hear the truth. To the seekers of truth it is promised: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:32.

2. What is God’s will for man, and what has happened to truth?

² According to the will of earth’s Creator the earth and its abundance of good things are destined to be the happy heritage of all earth’s inhabitants. Earth’s dwellers are to live together in peace in one world community of helpful neighbors. Men are longing to enjoy the fruits of their works. An undreamed-of high state of prosperity lies ahead. No more will earth’s population be plagued and made poor by wars, disease and death. Nor are they to be dominated and exploited by any so-called master racial group or bloc of nations. No longer will scientific and spiritual truth be monopolized by the few to the hurt of the many. To this end the floodgates of truth have been opened and its waters are flowing to all corners of the earth. Persons everywhere may therefore ask: Where can one get this universal truth? Is it understandable? Are its sources reliable? What will getting this truth mean for me and my family? Does this truth indicate a happy future for man here on this earth, or is there to be migration from this earth somewhere into outer space? For answers to these questions we must all consider certain plain, undeniable facts.

3, 4. What is one great source of universal truth, and what do its revelations demonstrate?

³ Truth conforms to fact. Truth is in harmony with the actual state of things. Two great sources of universal truth are available to man today, and they are in harmony with each other. The first source is what is called nature, where a vast storehouse of fact is found. Many truths from nature have been known by man for ages. But in these last fifty years more secrets of nature have been unlocked than in all of man’s previous history. These discoveries are known as true science. This truthful knowledge belongs to all mankind and is to be made available to everyone. This earthly globe with its treasure of nature is itself a teacher of truth. Likewise earth’s stellar neighbors in space have many things to teach man as facts, truth. All nature’s revelations of truth are consistent. They demonstrate the existence of order and harmony.

⁴ In every part of this globe nature is operating to teach the same truths. Everything is bound up together into a complete whole. All things on earth travel along with the one undivided planet as it spins on its axis, making one complete rotation every single day. For this reason a period of daylight is enjoyed in which much activity is undertaken, followed by a period of nightfall for rest and recuperation. Inanimate sunlight bathes the earth with a mighty continuous surge of heat and energy. Inanimate bodies of land and water comprise the surface of the globe. Yet these in themselves, being inanimate, are not living. The hand that made all these inanimate wonders must be truly great. Just as the man who makes a material chair or table is greater than the furniture he makes, so nature teaches the truth that the Maker of earth and all its material parts must be greater than that which is made.

5. What does nature teach as to living matter and the Creator of such?

⁵ Nature further teaches that living matter was produced from inanimate dust of the earth in the form of vegetation. Living vegetation in many of its distinct forms is found in every part of the planet’s surface. According to a uniform system of operation, seeds are planted, the soil is watered and the sunlight makes them sprout and grow to maturity. Earth’s landscape has become filled with greenery and flowery colors to delight man’s eye. Each family kind of flower, plant and tree has its day, produces its seed for the next round of life and then fades away to die, having made its contribution to earth’s wealth. Actually by means of bringing forth living vegetation the earth has become a vast factory faithfully producing a variety of supplies for food, shelter and clothing. Now, from human experience we know that man-made factories for the producing of machines do not come about by mere chance. No; such humming factories are built as a result of much human ingenuity. These factories require a master mind to plan out all their many operations. Nature teaches the same truth. Only a Master Intelligence could work out and develop earth’s factory system of living vegetation. This was not a chance arrangement; it calls for a Creator, a Maker.

6. What illustration proves the divine intelligence behind creation?

⁶ For a moment we next consider the animal creatures around us. Nature teaches that they too are made from the dust elements of the ground. Again from experience let us use an illustration. Though watches and clocks used for telling time are made of inanimate metal, no such timepiece is found by chance in the ground already made. No, a watchmaker is needed to make the parts out of minerals taken from the ground. Man, the watchmaker, then fits the parts together according to certain mechanical laws for the operation of its many wheels, which move the hands to indicate time. When others use the watch, the watchmaker is not visible, but his work remains visible. So it is with the making of the wondrous sea, air and land creatures that share man’s habitation upon this globe. They are the visible proof of an unseen Maker. They each have a created purpose and make their contribution to earth’s growing economy. Each living creature is equipped with instinct and a measure of intelligence. All these operate according to designed sets of implanted laws.

7. How did the great Lawgiver arrange for the continued existence of these creatures in the forms he had created?

⁷ Since no law makes itself, every law requires an intelligent lawgiver to make the law. Hence a lawgiver far greater than a human watchmaker was needed to bring forth from earth’s dust this multitude of different bodily forms of living creatures and then to set them living according to nature’s amazing laws. By still further laws this invisible Lawgiver arranged for them to reproduce, each one, copies of its own likeness. No family kinds can interbreed to establish a new kind, although varieties within a family kind are many. No, not one created kind came into existence by chance. An invisible Lawgiver, a mighty Creator, was at work.

8. (a) What four attributes do men basically have no matter where they live? (b) What do these basic attributes teach?

⁸ Human nature is basically the same whether man lives in Asia, Africa, Europe or the Americas. The superiority of man over the animals is everywhere demonstrated in man’s basic attributes. By nature man loves not only himself but his mate and his children. For this reason he feeds, protects and educates his family. By nature man has a deep sense of justice of what is right and wrong. By nature man not only has physical power but also has powers of mind and reason to gain knowledge. By nature man tries to use such acquired knowledge in a practical way to further his interests. This is a way of wisdom. Well, then, what do these basic facts teach? They plainly teach that man’s nature shows the same attributes inherent in man’s Creator. Thus in addition to nature’s teaching that there is a Mighty Maker, a Master Intelligence and an invisible Lawgiver, man’s nature shows such Maker to be a personage of love, justice, power and wisdom. Surely such a First Cause of the heavens and the earth and its fullness must be the Creator. Wise men call such Creator, The True God. “For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are understood by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.” (Rom. 1:20) So observed a lawyer of the first century of our Common Era.

9. How did Einstein feel about nature’s testimony to an invisible, intelligent Creator?

⁹ The world-famous scientist Einstein, whose theory of relativity played an important part toward the invention of the atomic bomb, had this to say about nature’s testimony as to an invisible intelligent Creator: “It is enough for me to contemplate the mystery of conscience life perpetuating itself through all eternity; to reflect upon the marvelous structure of the universe, which we can dimly perceive, and to try humbly to comprehend even an infinitesimal part of the INTELLIGENCE MANIFEST IN NATURE.”—What Has Religion Done for Mankind?, p. 23.

10. On what vital questions is nature silent, and where can we get answers to such questions?

¹⁰ Though nature testifies eloquently of the existence of such a mighty intelligent Creator and has disclosed an abundance of material facts, yet it is silent on many vital questions. From where did we come? Why are we here? Where do we go? What is the mystery of life, how did it get started and what keeps it going? How did this wonderful natural world with all its variety in earth, sea and sky come into existence? Where did this thing called “sin,” together with imperfection and error, come from? Why is it that the human organism, which shows every possibility of being kept in operation for eternity, dies? Why is there all this world confusion and strife? What is the destiny of the earth? Nature cannot answer these questions. Nor can man answer these out of his human experiences. How, then, can he get the truth in answer to these vital problems? The only way is for man to get such truth from a reliable source higher than himself.

11. As an earthly father provides for his offspring, how has the True God done so for mankind?

¹¹ Is it not reasonable to expect the Supreme Intelligence of the universe himself to communicate such higher guidance to his intelligent handiwork? Yes! Does not an earthly father take the time and interest in his offspring to supply all the needed information that the child otherwise would not be able to learn from his immature experiences? Certainly! The astounding facts are that the True God of the universe in his love and wisdom has condescended to make available a vast source of truth that supplies man with superhuman guidance.

THE SOURCE OF TRUTH

12. What different names have been applied to the source of truth?

¹² Where is that source of truth to be found? This written source is called variously by many the Book of Freedom, the Book of Truth, the Divine Library, the Book of Life, the Holy Scriptures, the Sacred Writings, or, by way of eminence, The Book. Since it is a collection of sixty-six inspired books, the Greeks gave it the name Biblia, meaning “little books,” from which comes the common term, Bible.

13. Is the Bible a production of modern times, and how wide is its circulation in comparison with other so-called sacred books?

¹³ What are the facts about this book? By far, the Bible is the oldest book on earth. It is likewise the most universal book. How so? Well, it has been distributed into the hundreds of millions of copies in every part of the earth. Of the 2,796 languages spoken in the earth the Bible or its parts have been translated into 1,125 of the leading living tongues. This means that today the Bible is available in languages understood by 95.6 percent of earth’s inhabitants. (Compare The World Almanac, 1958, pp. 265 and 727 with The Book of a Thousand Tongues, 1938, by The American Bible Society, pp. 23 to 35.) The Bible was not left hidden in dead languages of the past like other so-called sacred books with their limited circulations. Even the sacred book of the Moslems, the Quran, translated into a few tongues, recommends the Bible, saying that the Quran is “confirming that which was revealed before it; for [God] had formerly sent down the law, and the gospel [the Bible] . . . God shall teach [them] the scripture, and wisdom, and the law, and the gospel.” (The Koran, translation by G. Sale, pp. 86, 89) No book begins to reach the greatness of the Bible for its ability to speak currently to men of all ages and periods of time. It is truly an ever-living book, made possible by its vast field of prophecies that progressively are fulfilled down to our day.

14. (a) Why should one not think the Bible is the cause of the evil and hypocrisy in Christendom? (b) Why should one not reject the Bible’s teaching because of the crimes of religious hypocrites who say they believe and follow it?

¹⁴ The Bible has had a fight to live. Its enemies that have sought its destruction and tried to prevent its circulation have been the very men in Christendom who claim to be its teachers. No one should be deceived into thinking that the Bible is the cause of the evils and hypocrisy found in Christendom today. The Bible is too plain-speaking and truthful for the leaders of Christendom to teach, let alone follow. Its uncompromising stand for truth and righteousness exposes these false teachers. People of so-called heathendom should not reject the Bible because of the crimes of those religious hypocrites who render mere lip service to the Holy Scriptures. Would one blame the publishers of a dictionary or a newspaper for a crime done by a man who may have had a copy in his possession at the time of committing the crime? Of course not. So why blame the God of the Bible or the Bible itself for Christendom’s wrongdoing and delinquent acts? Actually the Bible is God’s freedom-giving gift to men of all the earth. It should be read and examined without prejudice. The knowledge it contains means life. It brings freedom. It tells for sure what will happen to this world of confusion. It alone holds out hope of happiness and a future of prosperity.

15. What ancient records were used to compile the Bible?

¹⁵ Do you know that you can hear your forefather, the first man, Adam, speak to you in your own language? You may say this is impossible. No, it is not. When our first mother, Eve, was created and presented to him, Adam was moved with great delight, uttering the following poetic expression: “This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one will be called Woman, because from man this one was taken.” (Gen. 2:23) What other book can take us back to these early beginnings to supply us with the simple, eyewitness accounts? None. But how were we able to get these words of Adam? In this way: Actually the Bible is so old that it has three documents written before the flood of Noah’s day four thousand years ago. The first document contains God’s dictation to Adam of the basic facts about earth’s creation. The second document, called the “book of Adam’s history” (Gen. 5:1), was written by Adam himself and was carried in the Ark through the flood by faithful Noah and eventually given to Moses, who incorporated the document as part of the book of Genesis in the Bible. The third document was written by our common forefather Noah, the flood survivor. Noah’s three sons wrote the fourth document, the remarkable “log” or account of the Ark’s trip during the lunar year and ten days of the global inundation. (Gen. 10:1) All this is incredible, you will say. You may think that, because you have never examined the Bible for the amazing collection of reliable documents that it is. Nevertheless, precious information is hidden away in the Bible for your investigation.

16. (a) How do we know transmission of the Bible record is accurate? (b) What brilliance of writing testifies to the greatness of the author?

¹⁶ But you will probably next say, How do we know there has been a fairly accurate transmission of these ancient records in the Bible? Perhaps many mistakes that greatly distort the records have been made during the ages. The remarkable thing is that the Bible has experienced comparatively little corruption of text in spite of the imperfect copyists. Furthermore, the way the Bible is written, using plain language, everyday illustrations and prophetic symbols that are common in ordinary life, has made possible translations into many languages without distorting the dynamic power of the original messages. This could not be accomplished with any other book, whether philosophic or religious, because such books lose a large percentage of their original force in the first translations. This ability of the Bible to retain a high degree of the force of its original messages further testifies to the brilliance of the master mind behind it, its one Author, the True God. Note the conclusion of the outstanding Biblical scholar, Sir Frederic Kenyon, on the correctness of the text of the Bible: “The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity . . . may be regarded as finally established.”—The Bible and Archaeology, 1940, by F. Kenyon, pp. 288, 289.

17. Show how the Bible is historically true and scientifically sound.

¹⁷ In addition to the Bible’s containing the doctrines of one true religion and being a book of prophecy, the Bible is also an eminent book of divine law and righteous principles. Furthermore, it is the most reliable ancient history book on earth. Archaeology confirms many of its legal and historic accounts. For example, the Bible was the first reporter of the Tower of Babel fiasco in Mesopotamia in the Middle East. Archaeology has found what may be this Tower’s ruins. Geology, which is a scientific study of the earth and its life, likewise confirms the Bible’s order of creation and its record of the deluge of Noah’s time. No inaccuracy of Biblical data in a historical or scientific way has been proved. For example, over three thousand years ago the Bible mentioned that the earth is suspended in space. Just hear its account of this: “He [God] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) Then more than two thousand year before Columbus sailed to America from Spain to prove the earth to be round, the Bible had already stated it to be round. This ancient Book of Freedom says: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers.” (Isa. 40:22) The chemical product of glass is mentioned as being used more than three thousand five hundred years ago, because the Bible said in Job’s day: “Gold and glass cannot be compared to it [wisdom].” (Job 28:17) True chemical knowledge was also known in King Solomon’s time three thousand years ago. The Book of Truth says: “He that is removing a garment on a cold day is as vinegar upon alkali.” (Prov. 25:20) So without prejudice let us give the Bible a chance to be heard on many more basic matters of truth and freedom. Let us keep our minds open to take in treasures of truth.

PUTTING THE BOOK OF TRUTH TO THE TEST

18, 19. What world conditions now call for the great book to be put to what test?

¹⁸ It is becoming more clear that, no matter where one lives on the earth, men are living in a time of reaping of consequences. All nations today have a history of crime, war, hypocrisy and wrong religion. Not one righteous fleshly nation exists on earth. While many individuals have honestly tried to do good and much goodness has been done, yet badness with increasing lawlessness outweighs the goodness. The facts show that all mankind has come into a time of world-wide judgment with a society bloodguilt, piled up for generations, hanging over us. Therefore this is a time to get the facts of early beginnings and reliable history of the past generations to see why wickedness has become so great today. The Bible is the only record available to get such a background from the distant past. These Sacred Writings not only make known the why and wherefore of such great wickedness but also make clear the way of legal escape open today to the minority, the honest-hearted people.

¹⁹ Let us now put to test this ancient Book of Freedom. Let us see whether it ranks along with nature as the other great source of truth and fact. Let us ask the Bible questions that nature is silent on, to see whether higher guidance of truth is forthcoming.

20, 21. Who made the heavens? What is his unique name, and what Scriptural support is there for it?

²⁰ Who made the heavens and the earth? The very opening words of the Bible answer that emphatically: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”—Gen. 1:1.

²¹ Who is this creative God? Does he have a distinctive personal name? The concluding words of the very first document in the Bible disclose his name and connect it to his creative activity. They say: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.” (Gen. 2:4) Later in the Bible the prophet Moses speaks to God, saying: “‘Suppose I am now come to the sons of Israel and I do say to them, “The God of your forefathers has sent me to you,” and they do say to me, “What is his name?” What shall I say to them?’ Then God said once more to Moses: ‘This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel: “Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name to eternity.’” (Ex. 3:13, 15) JEHOVAH, therefore, is the unique name that distinguishes him as the True God from all other so-called gods mentioned in the Bible.

22. Why did Jehovah create the earth?

²² What was Jehovah God’s purpose in creating the earth? In answer we hear the evidence given by the Living God himself speaking to us out of the pages of the Bible. “This is what Jehovah has said, the Holy One of Israel and the Former of him: ‘Ask me even about the things that are coming concerning my sons; and concerning the activity of my hands you people should command me. I myself have made the earth and have created even man upon it. I—my own hands have stretched out the heavens, and all the army of them I have commanded.’ For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He The true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. In a place of concealment I spoke not.’” (Isa. 45:11, 12, 18, 19) That settles it; God formed this earth to be inhabited for all time, regardless of man’s feeble attempts today to ruin it with his atomic bombs and other nuclear devices.

23. According to Scripture what is man, and does science agree?

²³ How was man made by God the Creator? The Bible clearly says: “Then Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) Again in another place it says: “‘The first man Adam became a living soul.’ . . . The first man is out of the earth and made of dust.” (1 Cor. 15:45, 47) Plainly, then, man is a soul. He does not possess a separate soul that is supposed to be immortal and to transmigrate, as falsely claimed by religious clergy. Scientists have confirmed the Bible account by proving that over ninety elements of the earth are found in the human body of flesh. So man is truly out of the dust. Fittingly, when God sentenced the disobedient Adam to death, he said to Adam: “In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”—Gen. 3:19.

24. How did Jehovah show his purpose in creating man and woman, and how was communication with the first human pair possible?

²⁴ What did God tell man and woman his purpose was in creating them? The Scriptures answer: “God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is creeping upon the earth.’” (Gen. 1:28) Because man had been created in God’s image and likeness God could tell man and woman exactly what his purpose was regarding them. No such communication of purpose and work could have been made to the lower animals with their limited intelligence. Thus from the first human pair it was God’s will to populate the whole 196,940,000 square miles of this earth with perfect humans, and then the need to multiply would stop.

25, 26. (a) To what extent was man to “subdue the earth,” and does the Bible indicate he was to subdue other planets? (b) Was man made to inhabit heaven?

²⁵ What did God mean by his command to Adam and Eve to ‘subdue the earth’? The Bible logically indicates what he meant: “Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it.” (Gen. 2:8, 15) With the expansion of the human family from Adam and Eve the limited paradise of Eden would have to be enlarged until it encompassed the whole earth, thus being subdued to paradisaic conditions and beauty. Incidentally, there is no mention made by God that it is his purpose for man to “subdue” the moon or any other object in space. Humans are earth-men, made to live on earth in comfort and security. No artificial living in space suits was set before man, to conquer and populate other planets.

²⁶ Was it God’s will for men to be transferred by death to some heaven or afterworld and thus depopulate the paradise earth? The Bible has the answer in these words to his chosen people: “Jehovah will give increase to you, to you and to your sons. You are the ones blessed by Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth. As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men.” (Ps. 115:14-16) Without doubt, then, the heavens are for God and the angels, but the earth is the place destined for mankind by their Creator. There is conclusive evidence that man has received no assignment involving migrations to other planets in the future.

WHY DEATH?

27, 28. Why did Adam die? Why do all men to this day die?

²⁷ What is the Bible’s biography of Adam? Why did Adam die? The Holy Scriptures definitely indicate that God wisely put a curb on man’s Edenic freedom by law. This legal curb was to remind Adam as a son of God that he was a dependent creature with a purpose to perform, the divine will, the will of his heavenly Father. This guidance of man’s life would bring man greatest happiness. God said to his son Adam: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Gen. 2:16, 17) Eve and Adam defiantly rebelled against the Sovereign Power of heaven and thus disobeyed and sinned, and brought upon themselves this penalty of death, against which they had been warned. The Bible continues to say: “With that Jehovah God put him [Adam] out of the garden of Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. And so he drove the man out . . . Now Adam had intercourse with Eve his wife and she became pregnant. In time she gave birth to Cain and said: ‘I have acquired a man with the aid of Jehovah.’ Later she again gave birth, to his brother Abel. . . . And Adam lived on for a hundred and thirty years. Then he became father to a son in his likeness, in his image, and called his name Seth. And the days of Adam after his producing Seth came to be eight hundred years. Meanwhile he became father to sons and daughters. So all the days of Adam that he lived amounted to nine hundred and thirty years and he died.”—Gen. 3:23, 24; 4:1, 2; 5:3-5.

²⁸ Few men and women today live past even one hundred years of age. Down to this day why do men die? Under the divine law of natural inheritance this sin of Adam and its condemnation have passed on to all his offspring and, in turn, their offspring down through the generations. The Bible says: “That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.”—Rom. 5:12.

29. Is there hope of a future everlasting life, and how does Jehovah’s Word speak about it in connection with Abraham?

²⁹ From the Bible it is now understandable why people of all nations find themselves handicapped by a curse of sin and death. But does God extend any hope to them of a future life? Yes, indeed. That is why many people call the Bible also the Book of Life. The Bible is the only document that sets forth God’s terms for everlasting life for peoples of all nations, Jews and non-Jews. About three hundred years after the flood of Noah’s time there lived a man of great faith in the true religion of the Bible; his name was Abraham. Jehovah God gave him an oath-bound promise of the coming of a righteous kingdom of heaven whose builder is God. It is pictured as being like a glorious city, where happiness and purity reign. Under this citylike kingdom Abraham and his descendants and righteous persons of all nations would live forever on this earth. Let the Bible tell the story briefly in these words: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out [from the city of Ur of the Chaldeans] into a place which he was going to receive as an inheritance, and he went out although not knowing where he was going. For he was awaiting the city having real foundations and the builder and creator of which is God. In faith all these [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] died, although they did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off and hailed them and publicly declared that they were strangers . . . But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. 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, 13, 16.

THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO ALL NATIONS

30. What three important terms are outlined by Jehovah’s oath to bless all nations through Abraham?

³⁰ Exactly what was that promise God made to Abraham and was it to be limited only to the ancient Jews? That is a good question. Actually Abraham was not only the founding father of the Jewish nation of Israel but he was also the forefather of many Gentile nations such as the Ishmaelites and the Midianites, and even today Abraham is recognized as the father of many of the Arabic nations in the Middle East. The Bible records the precise words spoken by Jehovah as to his oath-bound promise of future blessing for people of all nations: “By myself I do swear, is the utterance of Jehovah, that by reason of the fact that you have done this thing and you have not withheld your son, your only one, I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed [offspring] like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore, and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice.” (Gen. 22:16-18) Note the three important terms of this promise. First, that a seed or offspring of indefinite number is to come from Abraham. Second, that this seed group under its leader will destroy the great enemies of God and man. And third, that peoples from all nations will bless themselves by means of this chosen seed group; hence hope of life on this earth is extended internationally to all mankind.

31. (a) Who is the seed-ruler promised to come by descent through Abraham? (b) How did the angel of Jehovah in speaking to Jesus’ earthly mother show the fulfillment of Genesis 49:10?

³¹ Does the Bible reveal who this primary seed-ruler descended from Abraham is? Definitely! Just before the death of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob under inspiration of God uttered the following prophecy over his son Judah: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him the obedience of the people will belong.” (Gen. 49:10) Seventeen hundred years later that prophecy and three hundred other prophecies began to be fulfilled as to Shiloh, that is, Jesus Christ, and his activities in Palestine. When foretelling his birth at Bethlehem of Judea, an angel of Jehovah God said to his future mother: “You are to call his name Jesus. 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 [of the tribe of Judah], and he will be king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:31-33) Following his birth in Bethlehem shepherds heard the angels sing: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of good-will.” (Luke 2:14) After Jesus Christ’s eventful ministry on earth proclaiming his future kingdom of heaven, and after his death, his resurrection and his return to heaven, the Bible says of him: “Look! the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered.” (Rev. 5:5) Thus Jesus Christ came to earth to qualify as the commander to lead not only the believing Jews but the righteous persons from all nations to life on this earth under the Kingdom city promised to Abraham in accord with the true religion. He is yet to complete his victories by conquering man’s great enemy death and also Satan the Devil.

32. Who and how many are brought into association with Jesus as part of the seed?

³² Who besides Jesus Christ make up this seed group mentioned to Abraham, and what is their number? It was God’s gracious will for Shiloh, the King-Commander Jesus Christ, to have associates with him in forming the citylike Kingdom in which Abraham hoped. During Jesus’ ministry on earth nineteen hundred years ago he began to give his dedicated disciples an invitation to join him in the kingdom of heaven. He spoke of them as a “little flock.” He said to them: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Later the Bible says to the disciples in this little flock: “Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.” (Gal. 3:29) This confirms the fact that the little flock become a secondary part along with Christ Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” as the complete “seed of Abraham.” But how large is their number? From Abraham’s time onward this was kept hidden for ages until the last book of the Bible was written. There the number of the ones with Jesus in the heavenly Zion is finally disclosed. The writer of that last book says: “And I saw, and look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. . . . These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were purchased from among mankind as a firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”—Rev. 14:1, 4.

33, 34. (a) What scripture shows that more than 144,000 benefit from Christ’s ransom provision? (b) How many more receive the blessing of life? Where? And how any nations are involved in this blessing?

³³ If only 144,000 dedicated, baptized Christians are purchased from among mankind to go to heaven to be with Christ, what is the hope for others? As we have noticed, the scripture just quoted speaks of the firstfruits of mankind going to heaven. However, the Scriptures also indicate final fruits from among mankind as being gathered for everlasting life on earth. Jesus spoke of these other fruits as “other sheep.” He said: “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [of the little flock]; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) Thus Jesus Christ as King and Commander must gather together these other sheep into a flocklike society, not in heaven but on earth.

THE BLESSINGS FOR EARTHLY SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM

³⁴ Is there any set number of these others, and where do they come from? The Bible answers by means of the apostle John’s prophetic vision: “I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ . . . ‘These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?’ . . . And he said to me: ‘These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.’” (Rev. 7:9, 10, 13, 14) Here we see that the number of these survivors of tribulation is great, left indefinite, and that these have to put on their robes of identification as advocates of the True God Jehovah and as accepting the leadership of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this great numberless crowd of believers come out on God’s side during the great tribulation of the last days upon Satan’s old world. And notice, they come out from all countries of the earth. So we see the one true religion of the Bible is actually the only universal religion in the earth.

35. What is the “blood of the Lamb,” and by whose terms is life offered?

³⁵ What is this “blood of the Lamb” that is mentioned? Jehovah God provided his Son from heaven to become man’s ransomer, to give his human lifeblood to recover from sin and death all the multitudes who put faith in Jesus’ atonement sacrifice made nineteen centuries ago. At that time the prophet John the Baptist introduced Jesus, saying: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The Bible further says: “For God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) So we see that if anyone and his family desire to qualify as part of this great crowd of earthly survivors they must study God’s Book of Freedom, the Bible. They must get the full truth of God’s legal provision for their protection, which is tied to faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Those are God’s terms for life. We, as dying, fallen men, cannot set the terms. We are given a choice to accept or reject this loving, reasonable provision. We want to show appreciation by accepting it, that we may live forever in happiness.

36, 37. Is there a hope for the dead, and when will such hope be realized?

³⁶ But what about our dead loved ones? Is there any hope of their living on earth as part of the “other sheep” under Jesus Christ’s leadership? Yes, the resurrection from the dead is the great hope for the reformable dead ones in the memory of God, and this too is made possible through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures plainly speak on this matter: “Now Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:20-22) “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.”—John 5:28, 29.

³⁷ When can the resurrection of those to live on earth be expected to begin? The apostle John says in his vision of the new world: “And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne.” (Rev. 20:11, 12) There is the answer. Not until the old heaven and the old earth systems have “fled away” or have been destroyed as part of the enemies conquered by the Commander Christ Jesus, not until then will standing up again of the earthly dead by resurrection take place.

“NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH”

38. Which heavens and earth will be destroyed, and is such destruction near?

³⁸ What are these heavens and earth that are to be destroyed? Peter the apostle explains them to be the symbolic heavens and earth. The symbolic heavens are those making up Satan’s invisible organization of demons; the symbolic earth is his earthly visible arrangement of men and their rulers that keep mankind in darkness and in confusion. Peter says, when telling of the scoffing unbelievers of our time: “This fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens in ancient times and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God, and by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2 Pet. 3:5-7) Today the fulfillment of other Bible prophecies indicates that this time of destruction of the old heavens and earth is now imminent in God’s great battle of Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14, 16.

39. What did the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Peter show takes the place of the old heavens and earth?

³⁹ If the old heavens and earth systems are to pass away in Armageddon’s universal battle, what will take their place? Again Peter answers in the Bible: “But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Pet. 3:13) The prophet Isaiah captures the solemn assurance by Jehovah as to his creating the new heavens and a new earth, and says: “This is what the Lord Jehovah has said: . . . ‘For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come into the heart. But exult, you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating.’” (Isa. 65:13, 17, 18) This calls for great rejoicing by all people. As guaranteed by the God of the universe, this new world will last forever.

40. Who will constitute the citizens of the new earth and how do we know this?

⁴⁰ Who will make up the new earth that is to stand forever? Why, all people of good will, all meek and teachable ones from all nations who now learn the truth and take their stand for holy freedom. You meek ones should now seek to make peace with the great impartial God who holds open a way of salvation to peoples of every national origin. Hear the Bible’s words as to this time for freedom and as to the possibility of living on earth forever through the angry storm of Armageddon just ahead: “Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3) Again the Bible assuringly says: “Just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more, and you will certainly give attention to his place and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Ps. 37:10, 11, 29) Then the grand Jubilee era of release and of freedom will be ushered in to bathe this earth with peace forever. The Bible says concerning this Jubilee that was foreshadowed so long ago: “Proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants.”—Lev. 25:10.

41. Who constitute the new heavens? Why is this new city called New Jerusalem, and what marvelous things will God perform through it?

⁴¹ There are yet the new heavens to consider. What are they? They are the new heavenly ruling group of 144,000 with Christ Jesus the King, who has been enthroned in heaven since 1914, as indicated by many prophecies and the physical facts of our time fulfilling the prophecies. They make up the city, the kingdom of heaven, that ancient Abraham was looking for. In the Bible this new city is called by the name New Jerusalem, taken from old Jerusalem, which long ago served as the capital city for ancient King David, who pictured the greater Davidic king, Christ Jesus. In prophetic vision the Bible describes the New Jerusalem’s control over the earth, bringing to the earth a paradisaic restoration, beauty and health. The apostle John says: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away . . . I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! the tent of God is with humankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.’ And the one seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’”—Rev. 21:1-5.

42, 43. What should everyone loving life now do, and what benefits will result now and in the future?

⁴² What a grand vision of paradise regained! Such vision is part of the closing theme of the Book of Freedom, the Bible. It is the full answer to the great prayer taught by Jesus: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matt. 6:10) However, here we have only begun to get a glimpse of the vast field of truth contained in the Bible and, oh, how grand it is! All this information it is impossible to get from nature. The time is now here for every lover of life and freedom to get a copy of the Bible and begin to make a study of its life-giving message. The Bible says plainly: “This means everlasting, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—John 17:3.

⁴³ Do you already have a Bible? Do you read it regularly? If not, take it down off your shelf of seclusion. Dust it off. Begin to use it daily to guide your life. It will help your family in the way of living now for the new world. See what happiness and unity have come to the New World Society of Jehovah’s witnesses in every part of the earth. You too can have that same joy, satisfaction and spiritual health. No other book or treasure you possess will produce such lasting joy of heart or give such freedom. Why deny yourself its help and profitableness? Take your stand for the true religion of the Bible. Get the truth. Follow it and be set free. Assure yourself of a happy future, everlasting life on this beautiful paradise earth under God’s kingdom.

Part 23—“Your Will Be Done on Earth”

Before World War I ended on November 11, 1918, American President Wilson proposed a League of Nations. Before the Paris Peace Conference opened in 1919 the executive committee of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America adopted a Declaration stating that the proposed League was “the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.” The executive committee also appointed a Special Commission to present officially the Declaration to the Peace Conference then soon to convene at Paris.

32. What record do we have that the Special Commission presented the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference?

³² Did this Special Commission present the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference after it opened on January 18, 1919? In the annual report of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America for the calendar year of 1919 there appeared on page 11 this sentence:

At the Peace Conference in Paris a representative committee of the Federal Council was received by officials of the government and presented the actions of the executive committee which they were instructed to convey to the Peace Conference.

33. What further action was taken by the Federal Council of the Churches toward idolizing the League of Nations?

³³ More action than the above was taken. The Peace Treaty was signed on June 28, 1919. The Federal Council Bulletin as of June, 1919, on page 94, said the following in an article entitled “Resolutions Adopted by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in Special Session at Cleveland, Ohio, May 6-8, 1919”:

I. Social Justice . . .

II. National and International Affairs

RESOLVED: That we express our gratitude for the establishment of the League of Nations as agreed upon by the Paris Peace Conference and pledge our support in securing its ratification by the Senate of the United States and our devotion to make it a success.

34. How did the Council’s efforts prove vain?

³⁴ Vain were their efforts. The U. S. Senate never did adopt the Paris Peace Treaty, with its League of Nations charter. The devotion of the Federal Council of the Churches never did make the League of Nations a success. Neither did the devotion of the religious organizations in the British realm of the seventh world power. The League of Nations failed to prevent World War II and the introduction of the atomic bomb. It was formally dissolved on January 10, 1946.

35. As respects God’s Kingdom, what was that Declaration as presented to the Paris Peace Conference? and what action did the churches of Christendom thus take toward the nominal temple of God?

³⁵ Even apart from the prophetic Word of God, the telltale facts of history disclose that the League of Nations was not an earthly image of the Kingdom of God rooted in the Gospel but was a blasphemous man-made counterfeit for the Kingdom of God. It was an idolatrous “image of the wild beast,” to which political beast the great dragon Satan the Devil had given “its power and its throne and great authority.” (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7-9, 13-17; 13:1, 2) The Declaration that the Church Council’s executive committee adopted in Atlantic City and presented by its Special Commission to the Paris Peace Conference in the last part of January, 1919, was a foul blasphemy against the true Kingdom of God. It was a false prophecy that deceived the world and was a disgusting act of idolatry to a beastly “image.” By this action in January, 1919, the religious leaders of Christendom and the politicians of the seventh world power and its allies set an abomination before Jehovah God, a thing disgusting to him. Since the churches of Christendom claimed to be the temple of God, they in effect brought an abominable idol into the religious temple.

36. Whom did Christendom’s churches thus imitate, and what was the seventh world power the instrument in setting up?

³⁶ By setting up this “abomination that makes desolate” the religious clergy of Christendom imitated those who rejected Jesus Christ in 33 (A.D.) and who cried out to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate: “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15) Here the seventh world power became the instrument of the “god of this system of things” in setting up the “abomination that makes desolate,” “the disgusting thing that causes desolation.” (Matt. 24:15) This marks an important point in the count of prophetic time.

“THE TRANSGRESSION THAT MAKES DESOLATE”

37. What is there connected with this desolating abomination, and what did Daniel learn about it from the angel?

³⁷ However, there is a “transgression” that is connected with the “abomination that makes desolate.” Daniel says that an angel asked a question about it: “Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spoke: ‘How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that causeth appalment [the transgression that makes desolate, RS], to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?’ And he said unto me: ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be victorious [be restored to its rightful state, RS].’”—Dan. 8:13, 14, JP.

38. What questions arise concerning the “transgression that makes desolate,” and why are the answers needed?

³⁸ The “continual burnt-offering” was taken away at the culmination of the “time, two times, and half a time” on May 7, 1918.a It was toward the end of January, 1919, that the “abomination that makes desolate” was set up for adoration. But at that time the “transgression that makes desolate” had not been committed, so as to begin counting the two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings. What, then, was this “transgression”? When was it committed, and by whom? Jehovah’s witnesses present these facts:

39. How did the postwar witness work open up following World War I, and what revelation and action concerning the League of Nations occurred?

³⁹ On March 26, 1919, the officers and writers of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society were released on bail from their detention in the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.b The following day the Society’s officials began to formulate plans for organizing and carrying on the postwar witness work by the sanctuary class of Jehovah God. This resulted in a great reviving of Jehovah’s sanctified people. He poured his energizing spirit out upon them that they might discern his work for them and brace up their minds for performing it. On September 1-8 of that year they held a general convention at Cedar Point, Ohio. There the erstwhile imprisoned president of the Society laid out the fearless witness work to be performed from then on until the universal battle of Armageddon. Prophecy became clearer, and on page 12 of its issue of January 1, 1921, the Society’s official magazine The Watch Tower pointed out that the League of Nations was the “abomination that makes desolate” as foretold by Jehovah’s prophet Daniel. (Matt. 24:15) The following year a still larger international convention was held, again at Cedar Point, Ohio. By a Resolution adopted there on Sunday, September 10, 1922, the nations of the earth that adhered to the abominable League of Nations were challenged and notified of the League’s failure decreed by God.c

40. What did the second Cedar Point convention begin, leading up to what in London, England?

⁴⁰ This second Cedar Point convention began a series of yearly conventions of world-wide importance. The fifth one was held in London, England, the capital of the globe-girdling British Empire. In attendance were delegates from Britain’s partner in the Anglo-American dual world power and from other foreign lands.

41. What was adopted by that convention on Friday afternoon, and what did the fifth clause have to say to the world rulers?

⁴¹ The convention opened on Tuesday, May 25, 1926, and continued through the following Monday, May 31. Friday afternoon, at the close of his address on Isaiah, chapter 49, the Society’s president submitted to the convention a Resolution entitled “A Testimony to the Rulers of the World.” It called attention to the responsibility that was placed upon all rulers because all the evidences of the times bore testimony to the establishment of God’s kingdom in the heavens in 1914. The fifth clause of the Resolution then said that, despite this conclusive proof, “contrary to the Word of God the commercial, political and ecclesiastical rulers attempted to stabilize the world and keep the peoples under control by adopting that makeshift which is called the League of Nations and which was wrongfully and blasphemously hailed as the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth; that the real author and father of the League of Nations compact is Satan the Devil, the god of this evil world, [it] was put forward by him as his last desperate effort to deceive the peoples, turn them away from the true God, and hold them under his wicked control; that now after seven years of laborious effort on the part of the proponents of that compact to establish peace and prosperity, it is practically conceded that the League of Nations is a complete failure and that its utter collapse is a matter of only a brief space of time; . . . ”

42. How was this Resolution submitted to a public audience, and with what reception?

⁴² Not only was this Resolution enthusiastically adopted by the convention of Jehovah’s saintly people that Friday, but the following Sunday night it was submitted to a public audience that packed out the Royal Albert Hall. Then the Society’s president gave a masterly address in support of and in enlargement upon the Resolution. The League of Nations was exposed to all, not alone as the “abomination that makes desolate,” but also as the “eighth” king of Revelation 17:11, the British Empire being the seventh “king” and being the main support of the League of Nations. “Let Britain withdraw from it tomorrow, and it will go down immediately,” declared Joseph F. Rutherford, to a round of applause. After the close of the address, which described the blessings of mankind under God’s kingdom, the vast audience rose solidly in expressing itself in favor of God’s government just described.

43. Upon whom was this Testimony then served, and how was the “transgression that makes desolate” thus committed?

⁴³ Next day, except for the full page devoted by the Daily News to reporting the Resolution and the public address, the London newspapers hushed up the biggest, most important news of the times.d Still reprints of the full page of the Daily News of May 31, 1926, were widely circulated, and the Resolution was published around the earth. The Testimony was served upon the nations of the earth, the League of Nations was exposed for what it was, and the responsibility fell where it belonged. But the seventh world power and the other political powers of the earth did not heed the Testimony. They did not turn from the “abomination that makes desolate” to the support of God’s proclaimed kingdom. Their continued worship of this “image of the wild beast” was dramatized on September 8, 1926, by the readmission of Germany into the family of nations in good standing and this by the admission of Germany into the League of Nations. What did such spurning of Jehovah’s message concerning the League of Nations as the Devil-schemed, man-made makeshift for God’s kingdom under Christ constitute? A “transgression” against God, a “transgression that makes desolate,” that appalls and astonishes all who long and pray for God’s promised kingdom of his Christ. What disgusting conduct on the part of the worldly nations!

44. From when, therefore, may we count the 2,300 evenings and mornings, and when do they end?

⁴⁴ If we accept this as fulfilling the prophecy of the “transgression that causeth appalment” or “that makes desolate,” when is it that the sanctuary should be “victorious” (JP), “vindicated” (Ro), “justified” (Le), “cleansed” (AS, AV, LXX), or “be restored to its rightful state” (RS)? It should be “two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings” after that transgression so appalling and so certain to result in a desolation. If the Bible rule for counting prophetic time is applied as already set out,e a prophetic year of 360 days being taken as the basic unit, 2,300 evenings and mornings would amount to six years four months and twenty days, each day being composed of an evening and a morning. (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) Count now from the beginning of this International Convention of London on May 25, 1926, and we shall find that the 2,300 days of evenings and mornings bring us to October 15, 1932.

45. As of that date, what did the Watch Tower Society’s official Journal point out?

⁴⁵ How was Jehovah’s “sanctuary” cleansed, vindicated or restored to its rightful state by that date? Examine the official journal of Jehovah’s witnesses, The Watchtower, as of that date. Note page 319. That page sets out the Resolution adopted by the New York company of Jehovah’s witnesses on October 5, 1932. It called for a cleansing of the congregational organization, a restoring of it to the rightful state of Jehovah’s sanctuary class. How? By the ridding of the organization of “elective elders,” or elders that had been elected to the office of eldership by the stretching out of the hands of the members of the congregation in a popular or democratic election, after the political style of the ancient Greek states and the democratic Anglo-American dual world power.

46, 47. (a) How had the congregations been proceeding in the matter of putting elders into office, and in what had this resulted? (b) What Resolution did the Watchtower magazine submit for adoption?

⁴⁶ For decades the congregations of Jehovah’s sanctuary class had been locally electing men to eldership by local congregational hand-voting. This, of course, was due to misunderstanding the apostolic procedure of the first century as described in the Christian Greek Scriptures.f Now at God’s chosen time the article entitled “Jehovah’s Organization” appeared in The Watchtower, Part 1 in the issue of August 15, 1932, and Part 2 in the following issue of September 1. This exposed the system of “elective elders” as conforming to the democratic part of this world and hence as being unclean and not theocratic, not submissive to the great Theocrat who rules his sanctuary from the top down. This democratic electing of elders had resulted in many being appointed to this office who were not really mature or spiritually grown up, who felt independent of superior control, who felt self-important in their local congregation as having the assignment to run the local congregation, being responsible primarily to the congregation to which they had looked for votes. This had resulted in much obstruction by such type of “elders” to the world-wide witness work that the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society was encouraging by its service representative in each congregation. The article on “Jehovah’s Organization” closed, submitting for adoption by all congregations a Resolution, which said, in part:

⁴⁷ “Therefore be it resolved that there is no Scriptural authority for the existence of the elective office of elders in the church and that henceforth we will not elect any person to the office of elder; that all of the anointed of God are elders, as that term is defined by the Scriptures, and all are servants of the Most High. . . . A service director who shall be nominated by us and confirmed by the Society’s executive or manager, and which service director shall be a member of the service committee of this company.”

48. What therefore, did the announcement in the October 15, 1932, issue of The Watchtower constitute, and how did this harmonize with the meaning of the “twenty-four elders” and the “seven stars”?

⁴⁸ This Resolution was adopted by congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth. The announcement in the Watchtower magazine of October 15, 1932, at the end of 2,300 evenings and mornings was the official notification made by Jehovah through his visible channel of communication that his sanctuary of anointed “living stones” had been cleansed, vindicated and justified. It had been restored to its rightful state as regards the elimination of democratically elected “elders” and as regards the theocratic appointing of the congregational overseer. Certainly the twenty-four elderly persons whom the apostle John saw in his heavenly vision crowned and seated on thrones around the throne of the Most High God were not “elders” democratically elected by the congregations on earth below. They were “elders” chosen by the Sovereign of the universe because of their full Christian growth and proved integrity. Certainly, too, the “seven stars” whom John saw upon the right hand of the glorified Jesus Christ and who pictured the “angels” or overseers of the congregations of Jehovah’s anointed sanctuary class were full-grown “elders” chosen and controlled, not by the congregations after the democratic procedure of the seventh world power, but by the Supreme Head of the theocratic organization through Jesus Christ. (Rev. 1:16, 20; 2:1; 4:4, 10, 11) Rightly the remnant of the sanctuary class on earth was brought into accord with this theocratic rule in Jehovah’s due time.

(To be continued)

[Footnotes]

Who Preach an Unreasonable God?

IN THE January, 1957, issue of The Diocesan magazine, official organ of the Church of England in Newfoundland, appears an article by cleric R. F. Palmer. Under the subject “What to Say to Jehovah’s Witnesses at the Door,” this clergyman writes: “I admire your zeal in trying to forward your beliefs. I am sure you are a sincere person. But I cannot accept your literature. You preach a cruel and unreasonable god who is going to sweep most of his children away in a horrible battle of Armageddon while you witnesses stand aside and look on. . . . I want nothing to do with such a god.”

But who really is it that preaches a cruel and unreasonable god? Who is it that preaches a god that punishes persons in a literal torment of unquenchable fire forever? Who is it that has always been ready to read a christening service over a warship? Who is it that has always been ready to pray to God for destruction of national enemies, even though those enemies profess the same religious belief as those praying for their destruction? Yes, who is it that has supported the unrighteous wars of this world—wars that have failed to settle anything permanently—and then at the same time deny God the right to fight a righteous war to wipe out wickedness for all time? It is the clergy of Christendom themselves!

Jehovah’s witnesses, on the other hand, are preaching the God who has purposed a righteous new world, the God who has determined to destroy this wicked system of things, putting the wicked, not in a literal hell of eternal torment, but out of existence forever, at Armageddon, “at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings due punishment upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. These very ones will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from before the Lord.”—2 Thess. 1:7-9.

Announcing the Rulership of God’s Kingdom

“GOD’S kingdom rules!” That stirring announcement is being made today by some 800,000 ministers in 175 lands and islands of the sea. Thereby the prophetic words of David are having fulfillment: “About the glory of your kingship they will talk, and about your mightiness they will speak.”—Ps. 145:11.a

Mankind is deserving of the best government. However, in spite of all the efforts and prayers of men and nations for the past nineteen centuries men have not succeeded in providing that government. Nor has the United Nations with its eighty-one members succeeded in uniting mankind in a loving peaceful brotherhood of all nations. These failures have proved the rightness of the counsel long ago given: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground, in that day his thoughts do perish.”—Ps. 146:3, 4.

Although Jehovah God has ever been “the King of eternity,” he has not always projected his rule to the earth. Otherwise it would not have been necessary for Jesus to teach us to pray: “Let your kingdom come.” Also, there would not have been such misery and woe as this earth has seen for the greater part of the past six thousand years.—Matt. 6:10.

To look to God for the best government may seem impractical to some, but is it? Have not all human efforts failed, even those by the nation of Israel, which had kings sitting on the throne of Jehovah for some five hundred years? After more than fifteen centuries of professedly Christian rulers Christendom is proving itself helpless against both the inroads of immorality and ungodly communism.

Fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that in 1914 God’s kingdom began to rule. (Rev. 11:15-18) Hundreds of thousands of persons earth-wide are already its obedient subjects. This is the best possible good news for all men of good will. For long such persons have yearned for a government of righteousness, life, peace and prosperity. All these blessings are certain to be realized as God’s kingdom projects its rule to the earth.

Think what this will mean for the earth! ‘God’s will done upon it even as it is in heaven!’ Jesus Christ will rule until he has put all his enemies under his feet, including even the enemy death. This means also that all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come forth to a resurrection. All earth will be made a delightful paradise and all those who meet the final test and thus prove themselves worthy will enjoy its blessings forever.—1 Cor. 15:25, 26.

Do we really appreciate the fact that God’s kingdom rules? Do we have faith that these conditions will soon prevail upon this earth? If so, then we will be zealous, yes, have the consuming zeal that Jesus had, to tell the good news to all we meet, from house to house, on the streets, and in the homes of the people. We will tell it to old and young, rich and poor, infirm and robust, and that regardless of race, nationality or social level.

Then too, we will buy out the opportune time, realizing that the days are wicked. We will avoid the snare of materialism, appreciating that we have brought nothing into the world and cannot take anything out of it. And we will bear in mind that “the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever,” to enjoy the blessings of God’s new world to time indefinite!—1 John 2:17.

[Footnotes]

Graduation Features Art of Witnessing

ON Sunday, August 2, 1959, some 4,406 persons gathered on the beautiful lawn in front of the library at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, South Lansing, New York, for the graduation of the thirty-third class. The president of the Watchtower Society, N. H. Knorr, spoke on “Instructions in the Art of Witnessing.”

In his opening remarks, Brother Knorr pointed out that this was Gilead’s smallest graduating class because the Society is now operating two schools at Kingdom Farm, one for those being trained as missionaries, and the other for overseers. Since the thirty-third class began in February the Society has trained seventy-five persons in the second school, known as the Kingdom Ministry School.

Prior to the main discourse, the students and friends assembled heard encouraging words from John Markus, Kingdom Farm servant, and the four members of the faculty, Robert Porter, Jack Redford, Maxwell Friend and A. D. Schroeder. Telegrams were then read from friends of the graduates in many lands. Following these much-appreciated messages, Brother Knorr proceeded with his discourse.

Near the beginning of his talk, he read from the Bible at Matthew chapter 10 the instructions Jesus gave his disciples when they were sent out to preach. He pointed out that there were two outstanding things to remember about Jesus’ instructions on the art of witnessing: (1) not to worry about food and money, and (2) to discern who is worthy to receive the message.

“All of Jehovah’s witnesses are full-time ministers,” he explained. “However, not all are full-time preachers, and it is to these full-time preachers that Jesus’ instruction at Matthew 10 really applies.” He pointed out that “God takes care of those doing full-time preaching work.” He urged them to have faith in Jehovah and not to worry themselves about anything except the preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom.

After his discourse, the eighty-two members of the graduating class filed across the platform to receive an envelope from the Society containing, for many, a diploma indicating meritorious work at School and, for all, a message and a gift. These students, who had come from fourteen lands, were now being sent out to twenty-seven countries for missionary service.

Following this, one of the students from Australia read a letter from the graduating class to the Society’s president. This fine expression of appreciation said in part: “Here at Gilead we have learned how to be busy and to enjoy it. We have been shown how much can be done in just one day when one is well organized. We have learned how to study and make good use of our time, and it will now be our earnest endeavor to continue in the good habits we have been taught and keep up with the advancing light of truth. The course of study has impressed us with its wonderful harmony and excellent arrangement, in that the different truths learned in each classroom have blended harmoniously into one united pattern. This has convinced us that Jehovah is the director and invisible instructor here, for only by his spirit could this be possible.”

In the afternoon for about two hours the students gave their own personal expressions about Gilead School and their prospective assignments, where they will continue to practice the art of witnessing.

After the singing of a song, Brother Knorr offered a concluding prayer for Jehovah’s rich blessing to be upon all who are doing the divine will.

Eusebius Pamphili—Compromising Bishop of Caesarea

MENTION of the Nicene Council of A.D. 325 at once calls to mind such names as Emperor Constantine, Arius and Athanasius. It should also cause us to think of Eusebiusa Pamphili, the bishop of Caesarea, for he also played a leading role at that Council, although for him it was a personal tragedy. The facts about him help to underscore the Scriptural and logical weakness of the Nicene Creed, produced at that Council, as well as serving as a warning to all Christians as to the penalty for compromising.

Eusebius was born between A.D. 260 and 270, some authorities disagreeing, others being uncertain; and he died in A.D. 339 or 340. He thus appears to have seen the light of day several years before Emperor Constantine, whose favorite he became, and to have survived the emperor by several years. His birthplace most likely was Palestine, where he spent his youth. Apparently his parents were able to give him a good education.

Greatly influencing Eusebius were the writings of Origen, peer of post-apostolic “fathers,” and his friendship with Pamphilus, so that Eusebius gave himself the surname Pamphili, that is, “the friend of Pamphilus.” Pamphilus was outstanding, even as Origen before him had been, because of the emphasis he placed on study of God’s Word at a time when more and more were turning to tradition and Greek philosophy.

In the first half of his life Eusebius witnessed the persecution and martyrdom of Christians at the instance of Diocletian; Pamphilus, his best friend, being among these martyrs. Why Eusebius escaped unscathed is not clear. Did he compromise or did influential connections spare him? One thing is certain, he kept visiting his brothers in prison, urging them to faithful endurance. Then in A.D. 315, two years after the death of Emperor Diocletian, Eusebius was made bishop of Caesarea, a post which he held for the rest of his life, some twenty-five years.

Eusebius wrote a number of works. For his Ecclesiastical History he is recognized as the pioneer of church historians. However, compared with eminent church historians since his day, not to say anything of Luke’s masterpiece, The Acts of the Apostles, Eusebius leaves much to be desired, both as regards accuracy and method of writing. His main value as historian is that he made use of material that otherwise would have been entirely lost. His history covers some 350 years, from about 30 B.C. to A.D. 324. Among his other writings are some very effective treatises refuting the arguments of pagans and a Life of Constantine; in which latter Eusebius cannot seem to say enough flattering things about the butcher that plowed through seas of blood to establish himself as the Roman emperor.

EUSEBIUS AND THE TRINITARIAN ISSUE

What interests us most, however, is the position Eusebius took in the trinitarian dispute that so rocked the church during the first quarter of the fourth century. At the Council of Nicea he occupied the place at the right hand of Emperor Constantine, who presided over the Council, and he made the opening oration on behalf of the 318 bishops assembled and in praise of the emperor who had convened the assembly.b Eusebius was fully in sympathy with Constantine’s purpose: to restore among professed Christians the unity that they manifested while being persecuted but that was now so sadly deteriorating under the sunny climate of Constantine’s protection. Eusebius proposed his own creed, which actually ignored all the issues involved. While the majority were in favor of it, they not seriously caring one way or the other, the extremists would not yield and in the end the trinitarians won out.

Toward which faction did Eusebius lean? Very obviously toward the Arians; his very compromise creed was a slap in the face of the trinitarians. In fact, he had taken the side of Arius years before on that very issue. Besides, the bone of contention was the Greek term homoousios, meaning “that the Son of God is of the same essence or substance with the Father,” a term which Eusebius studiously avoided. How he felt about the subject can be seen from the following quotations as recorded by his biographer Valesius:

“As not inquiring into truths which admit of investigation is indolence, so prying into others, where the scrutiny is inexpedient, is audacity. Into what truths ought we then to search? Those which we find recorded in the Scriptures. But what we do not find recorded there, let us not search after. For had knowledge of them been incumbent upon us, the Holy Spirit would doubtless have placed them there . . . Let not anything that is written be blotted out . . . Speak what is written and the strife will be abandoned.” Other quotations could be given of similar import.

Yet in spite of such convictions, what did Eusebius do at the Council of Nicea? He eventually subscribed to the Nicene Creed that featured the very homoousios to which he was so opposed. Did he do so because Athanasius had convinced him? or to please Constantine? or to escape the banishment and persecution that came upon Arius and the two bishops that refused to compromise?

While only God can read the heart, the subsequent facts all indicate that Eusebius subscribed to the Nicene Creed because of policy, not principle. As Valesius well observes, Eusebius remained the ardent friend of Arius and the bitter foe of Athanasius. Signing that creed obviously changed neither his heart nor his course of action—an act of expediency seldom, if ever, does.

Revealing also is the fact that Eusebius, in his Life of Constantine, while taking note of the Council of Nicea, entirely ignores the trinitarian controversy that raged in it. Why did he ignore the very heart and soul of that event? Why did he not even record any of his own speeches at the assembly regarding the nature of Christ? He pronounced it a success on the basis of its having agreed on when Easter should be celebrated! Was he thereby resorting to irony to show his contempt for the entire trinitarian business?

Perhaps, but it appears that more was involved, for in his Ecclesiastical History he entirely ignores that Council; which he could only do by stopping his history with the year A.D. 324. Why stop a history of the (professed) Christian religion just prior to the most important event of the history’s last two hundred years? Only one reason can be adduced: he was not proud of the part he played at that Council. So he left it to other historians to record its proceedings, including his own speeches and lengthy explanation as to why he subscribed to the Nicene Creed. While because of that fact trinitarians like to claim Eusebius Pamphili as their own, at heart he had not changed; Jerome was right in terming him an avowed champion of Arianism.

Eusebius was so highly esteemed by Constantine that he declared that Eusebius could be bishop of well-nigh the whole world. And the one who at last baptized Constantine, just before his death, was an intimate friend of Eusebius Pamphili, namely, Eusebius of Nicomedia, who had even stronger Arian sympathies and who only at the very end subscribed to the Nicene Creed. It is not inconceivable therefore that had Eusebius Pamphili been as ardent a champion for the Scriptural position as was Arius, had he had the courage of his convictions, the Council of Nicea might have decided against instead of for the trinity, especially since so many of the bishops present did not feel strongly on the subject.

But Eusebius Pamphili was more concerned with policy than with principle, with gaining the approval of Constantine than with gaining the approval of Jehovah God. He sacrificed truth for the sake of expediency. He must therefore take his place among such as Nicodemus, who dared to come to Jesus only under the cover of night, and with Joseph of Arimathea, “who was a disciple of Jesus but a secret one out of his fear of the Jews.”—John 3:1, 2; 19:38.

Truly the facts regarding Eusebius underscore the Scriptural and logical weakness of the Nicene Creed. And they leave no doubt that Eusebius secretly often regretted his compromise at the Council of Nicea, in which he serves as a warning to all Christians: The punishment of having to live with a guilty conscience should make us ever sensitive and alert to the danger of compromising.

[Footnotes]

Questions From Readers

● Who are the writers of the publications of the Watch Tower Society, and what are their educational qualifications?—M.D., U.S.A.

The literature published by the Watch Tower Society is published in the name of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Regardless of who may write certain articles, they are checked carefully by members of the governing body before they are published; so they are properly viewed as coming from the Society. Our publishing work is not done to glorify any men or to give them a name of prominence before this world, depending upon the name of men in order to induce a study of God’s Word with the aid of the Watch Tower Society’s publications. We avoid all kinds of creature worship and anything that would stimulate to creature worship. In harmony with this endeavor the Society does not identify the writers of the various books, booklets, magazines, or articles that it publishes. They prefer to remain anonymous, not because of their educational background but in order that the students of the literature may concentrate on the truths and the facts presented instead of upon the identity of the writer and being influenced by who he is. They prefer that the Society and not the individual contributor to its publications should be the thing to recommend the Watch Tower publications to all readers and that the attention of readers should be directed to the organization that is being used by Jehovah God as his instrument rather than to any individual.—Matt. 24:45-47.

So we let the literature speak for itself. The scholarliness of it, the logical presentation of the Scriptures that it sets forth and its faithful adherence to the Bible are the things that should impress the reader and that should convince him that this is the Bible truth. Worldly scholarship is not the thing to be required. It was not the thing required in the production of the Christian Greek Scriptures from Matthew to Revelation. The writers of those twenty-seven Bible books were obscure men according to worldly standards. Peter and John were ordinary fishermen, Matthew a tax collector, Mark a resident of Jerusalem of no scholastic fame, James was a half-brother of Jesus who was a carpenter in the city of Nazareth. Only the apostle Paul lays claim to some education. And yet in Philippians the third chapter he says that all the worldly advantages that he had he considered as mere refuse in comparison with the knowledge of Jesus Christ that he gained after he became a follower of the Savior.

The Bible shows that it was possession of the holy spirit that was the important factor in the writing of the books of the Bible and that it moved men of faith to record God’s Word. (2 Pet. 1:21; Acts 28:25) It is also possession of that spirit that is necessary to understand the Scriptures. “Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words. But a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are examined spiritually.” (1 Cor. 2:12-14) Thus it is that the world, with its wisdom, has not come to know God and understand his purposes, because it does not have the wisdom that comes from above.

With these things in mind, we encourage all who seek the Bible truth to see the prime necessity of the possession of the holy spirit on the part of those who are responsible for the material that goes into the publications of our Society. The evidence of the holy spirit in the quality and content of the writings published by the Watch Tower Society should be the thing that satisfies, that convinces, together with a comparison of these things with the inspired Word of God, the Holy Scriptures.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

“I am awake!” people will often say, and no doubt they are awake to many things. Yet how easy it is to overlook matters vital to one’s well being! To aid people to be awake to matters of greatest importance, during October Jehovah’s witnesses will offer a year’s subscription for the magazine Awake! for $1. New subscribers will receive free three enlightening Bible booklets.

NOTICE TO READERS!

Have you seen Awake!, the companion magazine to this one you hold in your hand? Awake! does not deal primarily with Bible doctrine, but it is awake spiritually because it is governed by true Bible principles, not philosophy or expediency. It is a magazine of facts, news, everyday problems, practical sciences, human interests, natural wonders. It is instructive, wholesome reading for every member of the family. Over 2,800,000 copies are printed each issue in nineteen languages. Send only $1 for a year’s subscription and receive three booklets on timely Bible subjects free.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

November 8: Finding the Truth That Makes Men Free, ¶1-21. Page 584.

November 15: Finding the Truth That Makes Men Free, ¶22-43. Page 590.