The Watchtower, October 1, 1950
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WATCHTOWER
OCTOBER 1,1950 Semimonthly
THE WAY OF SUCCESS
"DROOP NOT YOUR HANDS"
Announcing JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
THEOCRACY'S EXPANSION IN SOUTH KOREA
REPORT OF THEOCRACY'S INCREASE ASSEMBLY
"THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE" THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNOER, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
"The Wisdom from Above" 339
The Way of Success 341
"Droop Not Your Hands" 349
Theocracy's Expansion in South Korea 357
Joseph of Arimathea 360
Report of Theocracy's Increase Assembly 361
It Is Nearer than They Think 366
Questions from Readers 367
Announcements 368
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version LXX- The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version Yg - Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible used is the King James Version
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"THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE"
GRASSHOPPERS are not very smart. Their thoughts are not men's thoughts. If a man could give just a small part of his mental power to a grasshopper, that favored grasshopper would be far wiser than all the other grasshoppers combined. How high above grasshoppers are men!
But before any swell with pride, read what Isaiah says about Jehovah God: "He sits over the round earth, so high that its inhabitants look like grasshoppers." (Isa. 40:22, Mo) How high above men is God! "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8,9) If a man could get some of God's wisdom in him, that favored man would be wiser than all other men that lack divine wisdom.
While it is not possible for feeble man to project any of his mental power to a grasshopper, it is possible for Jehovah to impart his wisdom to men. Through his Word the Bible "the LORD giveth wisdom", "he layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous." (Prov. 2:6,7) For those who gain proper understanding along with the wisdom from the Scriptures, the eyes of their understanding are enlightened. They discern more than other men.—Prov. 4:7; Eph. 1:18.
For instance, many men note the wars, famines, pestilences and other numerous
woes that have afflicted and still afflict this generation, since 1914. But they blindly say it is only history repeating itself. Whereas the eyes of understanding enlightened by God's Word see in these things not repeating history, but the foretold signs of Messiah's presence. By studying the Bible such persons have the mind of the Lord on these momentous happenings, and hence they draw on a wisdom far superior to the pooled wisdom of all the finest human brains in the world, a wisdom higher above man's than man's is above a grasshopper's. Note things written centuries ago that mark the time of the end of this present wicked system of things.
Jesus said: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages . . . and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth."—Luke 21:10, 11, 25, 26, NW.
The apostle Paul said: "Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no lovingkindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.
. . . Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13, NW.
The apostle Peter said: "In the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: 'Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning.' "—2 Pet. 3:3, 4, NW.
Men who shut eyes and stop ears and close minds to such wisdom from above that enlightens us concerning these "critical times hard to deal with" will remain as stupid as grasshoppers in God's sight. If they ridicule the divine wisdom that informs that present events and woes are signs of the last days, if they brush off such happenings as history repeating itself, as cycles "continuing exactly as from creation's beginning", then their very presence as ridiculers is but an added sign.
But relative to these woes now afflicting mankind, some men do worse than merely ridicule. Some blaspheme God, and cause others to blaspheme. The clergy, who claim to serve God, often say He brings these woes upon men to punish them for evil, and frequently say punishment comes because men today do not support the organized churches of Christendom. Typical is this from a leaflet circulated by Catholics in Timmins, Ontario: "Did you know that the 2nd World War was a punishment from heaven for sins?" Such falsehoods turn men away from God. It is of such wisdom that Jehovah says: "The wisdom of their wise men shall perish." It perishes, when we listen to divine wisdom that tells who is really behind present woes: "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." Rev. 12:12, NW.
"The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." (1 Cor. 3:19) Do not be dazzled by foolishness. True, some men are smarter than others, viewed in a worldly way. Isn't it also true some grasshoppers may have more instinctive wisdom than others? Even so, to a man all grasshoppers are so low down mentally that it makes little difference. Similarly, to God all men are so far below him in wisdom that none are of consequence mentally. In fact, he generally favors those of less worldly wisdom. "For you behold his calling of you, brothers, that not many wise in a fleshly way were called, not many powerful, not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put the wise men to shame, and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put the strong things to shame; and God chose the ignoble things of the world and the things looked down upon, the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are, in order that no flesh might boast in the sight of God."—1 Cor. 1:26-29, NW; Matt. 11:25; Acts 4:13.
Hence men who would be truly wise will seek "the wisdom that comes down from above", which is peaceable, reasonable, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and not hypocritical. That wisdom is a defense in these critical times; fools will die for lack of it. Search the Bible for it, as for something more valuable than gold and silver. Studiously dig for it, as you would seek out hidden treasures. "If anyone of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously."—Prov. 2:1-5; 10:21; Eccl. 7:12; Jas. 1:5; 3:15-18, NW. The Way of Success
"Then thou shalt make thy way prosperus, and then thou shalt have good success."—Josh. 1:8.
Delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at the graduation exercises of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 30,1950, at the Yankee Stadium, New York city, as the opening feature of the 8-day international assembly of Jehovah's witnesses
EHOVAH is conducting a Government school of success. There is nothing else on earth like it. Since it graduated a Master Instructor it has been in operation for nineteen hundred years. The wonderful course that it offers through him is an education and training for life through all eternity to come. You will not graduate from this school until you have proved yourself worthy of the right to everlasting life. Gaining this right is the measure of a person's real success, and it is a credit to the School Instructors and a lasting joy and blessing to the successful graduate. Success is really to be measured in terms of living, and not in the fleeting superficial things of this world. The One who gained the highest type of life, immortality in the heavens, said: "What benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26, NW) To what greater success could any man or woman attain than to gain endless life in happiness, that with it he might serve the God who bestows this prize? Next to that, what sweeter privilege could we have than to help someone else to gain such life with us? None. Then how to make such a success is the question, and Jehovah's theocratic school of success supplies the answer.
2 To enter this school we have to turn ourselves over fully to the great Conductor
of the school, Jehovah God. We have to submit ourselves fully to his course of instruction and be willing to learn according to his way. That means we have to choose to serve God and to enter into an agreement with him to do his will, desiring his will to be done in everything. We want him to make out of us what he wants, and not what this world thinks we ought to be. After more than four thousand years of existence this world has proved itself a dismal failure, showing that it has no life of freedom, of tranquillity and of joy to offer. All the schools it has established till now have failed to teach its students how to gain such a life. And so the glowing plans that this world wants to map out for us according to its idea of success are doomed to end up in bitter disillusionment for us, in this modern electronic age the same as in all previous ages. The days of this world are numbered, and all those who are studying and aiming for success in this world will pass out with it in destruction.
3 But Jehovah God wants his students to find a permanent place in the free new world which he creates and which will never pass away. That is his desire for us who enter his school. His beloved Son Jesus said: "Likewise it is not a desirable thing with my Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish." (Matt. 18:14, NW) He wants to have us attain to eternal life in the world to come, and he knows
What has Jehovah been conducting? And how is success measured?
How do we enter this school? How have worldly schools failed?
What is Jehovah's desire for those entering his school?
just the course of study, training and activity that we need for us to succeed. It is therefore, essential that we obey his will as Teacher.
4 This rule for success he emphasized long ago. The prophet Moses was soon to climb Mount Nebo for a look at the Promised Land of milk and honey and die and, before parting, he led the Israelites into a covenant of faithfulness toward Jehovah God and said: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." (Deut. 29:1-9) Through Moses Jehovah God gave the Book of the Law to the Israelites. He appointed Moses' faithful servant Joshua to be his successor to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua's success as the one taking Moses' place would be measured by his leading the people of God's covenant triumphantly across the Jordan river and subduing and clearing out the enemies that then occupied the land. When Joshua comes back in the resurrection from the dead and you ask him what worked for his success, he will tell you it was obedience to these words of Jehovah God to him: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."—Josh. 1:7,8.
5 That settles it for us: The way to good success lies in loyal obedience to our divine Teacher, Jehovah. But to obey we have to
familiarize ourselves with his will. He has given us his written Word, but we have to meditate on it day and night that we may make out what his will is for us, what work he wants us to do. That Word must not depart from our mouths, but we must keep it on our tongue and discuss it with others and must declare it to others for their guidance to success. Our loving Teacher is ever ready to help us to learn his will and know the truth. He watches our line of action in trying to do his will and is always there to guide us. Assuringly he says to us: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, else they will not come near unto thee." (Ps. 32:8,9, AS) If we have better sense than a horse and a mule we will come willingly to our great Master Jehovah God and will look to him for instruction and teaching, and will always try to carry these out, knowing that his eye is upon us to watch how we do and correct us when we make mistakes. So he keeps us from going the wrong way, which ends up in failure. We could not have a more devoted teacher than he is, one who is sincerely and lovingly interested in the lasting welfare of his pupils and concerned for their ultimate success.
6 Jehovah's beloved Son Jesus Christ was his greatest pupil, and if we copy his example we shall be certain to succeed as he did. Jesus was completely resigned to doing what his Father and Teacher showed to be his will and speaking what He taught him to say in this world. For doing his Father's will to the limit, he was lifted up with his hands and feet nailed to a torture stake. Not a success in this world's eyes, of course. But it proved the Devil a liar in saying no
How was this rule of success emphasized in Joshua's case?
According to those words to Joshua, in what does the way to success lie?
Copying what pupil's example leads to sure success? Why so?
man could be completely faithful to God in this world, and it showed Jesus' perfect integrity and obedience to God as Sovereign Ruler over all. Therefore Jesus said to the Jews: "When once you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing of my own initiative, but just as the Father taught me I speak these things." (John 8:28, NW) Jesus admitted to being taught by his God and Father, and for us to follow in his footsteps we must have the same Teacher as he had. Persons of this world pride themselves on having gone to a certain school or college and having had certain renowned ones as instructors. But we could not have a teacher grander and more competent than Jehovah God, nor any schooling higher than what he gives, for this leads to sure success.
Because of Jesus' faithfulness Jehovah sent him forth into this world to teach us. Hence we must become Jesus' disciples or learners. We cannot gain entrance into Jehovah's school of success unless through Jesus, for he said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NW) And so Jehovah's entire school system has been organized with Jesus Christ as the main Teacher under Jehovah God himself. And as Jehovah taught Jesus that he might teach others, so we too, after ourselves being taught, must teach others. God's bringing us into his school is for an unselfish purpose. It is not a school where mere theory is taught, but it is a most practical school. The purpose of our attending there is that we might learn to do what is in harmony with our Creator and may teach others for them also to win life from God through Jesus Christ.
STAYING BY THESE THINGS
This world and its invisible ruler the Devil are opposed to God's will. It is in the midst of this world that we must live just now, but, thank God, it is now only a "short period of time" before the Devil and his world-rulers of this darkness are bound and put out of the way. But during this remaining "short period of time" in which this world stands we have to live in it, and for this special reason we must pursue our studies and learning in the divine school. We cannot afford to drop out or play hooky. We cannot afford to be dismissed from it for improper conduct, rebelliousness against our Teachers, and unfaithfulness. In order to be crowned with success we must keep on with our studies of God's Word and with our efforts to teach others also. Some of us may have been privileged as full-time ministers of God to attend the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and graduate from it and receive a diploma of merit. That has been a great blessing to all such graduates, and it has put them far ahead in understanding God's will and in being able to study his Word and to teach others. But that is not the end of study and schooling for even such graduates. No; it is the beginning of living under a greater responsibility before God. Graduates of Gilead as well as all the rest of us must continue on in the greater school of Jehovah God by Christ Jesus, which is open to all of us. In this divine institution we must all carry on our studies as long as we are in this wicked enemy world, that we may not be destroyed with it.
Success, which leads to everlasting life in the new world, will never be attributed to us until we have finished our career in this old world and have kept the divine approval upon us down to the finish. It was
Through whom must we enter this school, and why? After being taught, what must we do?
Why do we all, including graduates of Gilead, have to stay in this school now and carry on our studies?
When will success be attributed to us, as Paul showed?
only at the finish that the apostle Paul could say for himself: "The due time for my releasing is imminent. I have fought the right fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. As for the rest, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day."—2 Tim. 4:6-8, NW.
10 Hence Gilead graduates must press on with their studies, and thus put to practical use the training they so graciously received through Jehovah's organization. They must now push their personal studies, no longer under the pressure of the Gilead School schedule or because of facing examinations or for the sake of winning passing grades; no, but for the sake of meeting the demands made on them by the great teaching work which they have to carry on after leaving school. Graduating from such a school and being able to exhibit a diploma is not the final goal. Your succeeding in finally saving your own soul and helping in the salvation of others is the great objective of all
the schooling Jehovah gives through Jesus Christ. All this plays its part in vindicating Jehovah as a Father who gives life to obedient
gathering of ourselves together" but "encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near". (Heb. 10:25, NW) Our attending a public or private school with other pupils has its instructive benefits. So our gathering together with fellow Christians for study, prayer and field-service instruction has its invaluable benefits. If we get the largehearted spirit of our great Teachers, we just love to be together with persons who are studying and training with us in the same divine school.
11 But as with Gilead graduates, we cannot just drop our studies as soon as we leave school or classroom. When we close our Bibles and our Bible-study books after a personal study, or when we leave a meeting-place and part from fellow Christians, we cannot forget the things we have learned. That would be a waste of time, money and mental effort. We must meditate on those things and apply them as we meet life's daily problems and also tell these things out to others. We must put our
MAIN GILEAD BUILDING
children who are devotedly attached to him and who are a credit to him. To such he says: "My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me." (Prov. 27:11) It is not only by our personal study of the Bible and the publications of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at our abodes that we carry forward our study in the heavenly Father's Word, but by "not forsaking the
acquired knowledge to work; as it is written: "Become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning."(Jas.
1:22, NW) Keep always in view the sublime purpose of your schooling under the tutelage of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. That purpose is that, after our study hours, we may do God's work to his glory and for the salvation of ourselves and of others. And this we are obliged to do in the midst of an unfriendly world. Remember, a great part of our own schooling comes through trying to teach others.
Why, too, must diplomaed Gilead graduates press on with their studies afterward? Besides in personal study, how must we study?
What is it necessary for us to do after our study hours?
NOT FORSAKING MOTHER'S LAW
12 When Joshua marched across the Jordan river into hostile territory he needed great courage and unswerving devotion to Jehovah's purpose. So with us now. We today march forward to the work for which our great Teacher has schooled us under Jesus Christ, and we do so in a world filled
with foes. We know what we have been instructed to do, but we cannot successfully do it in our own strength and according to
never returns void and unfulfilled to him. Isa. 55:11.
14 To be successful for life eternal we have to listen to God's instruction through his Theocratic organization and to abide by it even under circumstances of great stress. Speaking to his pupils as children, God says: "My son, hear the instruction of
our natural understanding of things. We need the guidance, help and backing of the One who sends us out from his Theocratic school. He does not send us out and forget about us. He is keenly interested in how his pupils use the precious knowledge he has given them through his Theocratic organization under Christ. He has promised to be with them, but only if they carry out his commandments and act according to the way they have been taught. Naturally he would not be with those who prove disobedient and are not doers of his Word. The enemy world tries to compel us to act and live contrary to divine teaching, so that all our schooling may go for nothing, wasting God's goodness. For that reason we need all the more to be fearless and to adhere strictly to what God has commanded and taught us. He does not guarantee us prosperity and good success in his service if we do otherwise.
13 But be sure of this one thing: He has not sent us forth on a vain mission, but he will grant us prosperity and good success if we carry out his Word; for his word
thy father, and forsake not the law [or, teaching] of thy mother." The heavenly Father here likens his organization for teaching his children to a woman, a mother who is very devoted to her husband and to their children. (Prov. 1:8, AS, margin) The heavenly Father wants us to have respect for his educational organization, and so he says: "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Prov. 6:20, 23) If we keep our Father's instruction and commandment, not only will he be with us, but his "woman", our "mother", will also be with us. Every normal woman is attached to her children. Jehovah, who made woman, asks: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isa. 49:15) God's woman, or Theocratic organization, is like him. She never forgets her children, those whom she teaches and brings forth as witnesses and representatives of her husband, the Most High God.
13. Why do we need to be courageous, like Joshua? Whose backing is promised us, and under what conditions?
Through what does God give us instruction? Like him, why will it be with us as we go forth, and on what conditions?
We should show our love for her by not forsaking the law of our mother. It would be foolish to give up her law and treat it with contempt. "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother."—Prov. 15:20.
15 A person who thinks he can get along without God's organization and can study the Bible on his own and can do God's work independently as he thinks best apart from all organization is very foolish. He lacks all understanding of how God has dealt with his servants in times past. We must not forget that God instructs us through his organization, his woman, our mother. He respects his woman and appreciates the work that she does in behalf of His sons and daughters. So he does not like it when any professed Christian disrespects the "mother" organization. To disrespect her means to disrespect Jesus Christ, for God has made this beloved Son the head of the Theocratic organization. He who robs the organization of the respect due this symbolic mother is working to destroy the organization, not build it up. He is guilty of transgressing against her divine husband, Jehovah our heavenly Father. What you do against her you do against him. "Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer." And the great destroyer is Satan the Devil. (Prov. 28:24) Let us, then, not rob and destroy, but show love and respect for our mother by never forsaking her law and teaching as the Devil did. Let us ever be obedient to her, doing so as to Jehovah, her Husband and Head.
16 She is a worthy woman. She is no adulteress or fornicator with the Devil, and we are not illegitimate children when we
confess her motherhood. She is Theocratically subject to her Husband, the Most High God. We can therefore trust her to lead us in ways pleasing to Jehovah the Giver of everlasting life. Her loving concern is for His children, and she looks well to that, using all her organizational means and powers for their welfare. The thirty-first chapter of Proverbs likens her to a virtuous woman. The description it gives of such a woman inspires confidence in the organization and helps us to love and appreciate it.
17 The description was given to King Lemuel, whose name means "belonging to God" or "sacred to God". The virtuous woman was described to him by his own mother. As mother to a king, she occupies the relation of a queen to her great Husband, Jehovah the King of eternity, the Father of the "kings of the earth". So she can rear and instruct kings sacred to God. By her description she shows what we ought to look for in His Theocratic woman or organization. "A prudent wife is from Jehovah," and the Theocratic woman or organization is His creation and was made for our motherhood.—Prov. 19:14, AS.
18 Showing loyalty to her Husband, she warns her children against overindulging in intoxicants or drinks which stupefy and benumb our powers and senses. Why? Lest her children be overcome and deprived of a sound mind and forget the law of God. (Lev. 10:8-11) She builds up the stature and strength of her sons and daughters by feeding them with food. It does not matter that she at times has to import the food from afar, like merchants' ships coming from distant ports. So, to feed her children in outlying territories or distant lands, the Watch Tower Society imitates her by bringing workers from distant points to the Bible School of Gilead and sends these missionaries back or sends them to other distant points that by these she may feed spiritual nourishment to all her children.
All those who serve her, whether they be directly her children or not, she feeds and strengthens for service, for, it is written, she gives "a portion to her maidens". (Prov. 31:15) She rises early while it is yet dark in order to have food ready on time for all her household.
19 Besides feeding, she also sees to the clothing of her children. She works up materials with which to clothe them, that they may be presentable with a godly, Christian identification of which they need never be ashamed. She clothes them with the identity of witnesses of her Husband, Jehovah. So "she is not afraid of the snow for her household", for she knows God's children by her are well clothed to bear the cold hatred of this world. She is always providing for their well-being in the future, looking ahead to what they will need in time to come, that she may "rejoice in time to come" at having met the needs.
20 She "looketh well to the ways of her household". Hence it is an orderly, wellconducted, industrious and godly household, of which it is a blessing to be a member. In this behalf it may be necessary sometimes for her to use the rod and administer a reproof to one or all her children. But by letting us go our own way it would never work to our eventual success or bring honor to her organizational methods. She knows that "the rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame". (Prov. 29:15) She does not want to be ashamed of how she brought up God's children and she does not want us to be a grief and reproach to him. At the same time "she openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness". (Prov. 31:26) Thus by reproof and by kindly counsel she gives wise teaching and maintains God's law.
21 In organizational operation and structure the world may not think she is beautiful of feature or graceful and it makes fun of her primitive simplicity characteristic of apostolic days. Ah, but she fears Jehovah, and that is what makes her wise and virtuous and wins her lasting praise from Him. She has a big love, stretching out her hand to the poor and reaching forth her hand to the needy; and so she instills in her children generosity and neighbor love. She wants them to share with others the spiritual blessings from their heavenly Father, imparting to the poor and needy the food of his Kingdom truth and clothing them with garments to identify them with his King.—Prov. 31:30, 20.
VISIBLE REPRESENTATIVES LIKE HER
22 In this world it is customary to speak of a high school, college or university from which a person graduates by the heathen expression "alma mater" (fostering mother). But the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is not the great mother organization of the Gilead graduates. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is not the great mother organization of Jehovah's witnesses who have received the Kingdom truth through it and who cooperate with it world-wide, using it as their legal and business servant and advisory governing body. No; as Jehovah's witnesses we represent something greater than these minor visible organizations. The great "mother" is Jehovah's universal organization, which he created and of which he is the faithful Husband. (Isa. 54:5; Gal. 4:26) By her he brings forth his beloved children for his purpose. By her he gives us law and instruc-
How does she clothe them?
What makes her wise and praiseworthy? How does she teach love?
How does she look to the ways of her household?
Who is our spiritual mother, Gilead, the Watch Tower Society? Why? And in what children is she interested?
tion, provides for us, guides us and looks out for our welfare with a view to our everlasting life. In her we find fulfilled all the traits of a virtuous woman so lovelily described to King Lemuel. Just now, when God's kingdom is the paramount issue, his "woman" is chiefly concerned with bringing forth successfully to kingship with Jesus Christ in heaven the remnant of his royal "little flock". Yet she is interested also in the many, many "other sheep" who will eventually become her earthly children in God's image and likeness. Her heart is big enough to hold a love now for them all and to gather all these "other sheep" to her warm, loving bosom.—Luke 12:32; John 10:16.
23 However, what we see exemplified in God's woman, his heavenly universal organization, we should look to see in his visible organization. Why? Because his higher, greater universal organization uses it as her earthly instrument. That is why we do see those motherly traits, those traits and acts of a virtuous woman, in the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, because these profess to represent and serve God's woman. We thank God for providing and using them. So we stand up respectfully and bless his faithful organization, his queenly "woman" in heaven which makes all these loving provisions for us as children of God.—Prov. 31:28.
24 If we have an appreciation of all these truths, what shall we say is the way of success? All the examples and the teachings of the Word of God agree that it is the way marked by faithful, loving obedience to God and to the commandments he issues through his Theocratic organization. Hence keep in touch with the central organization, God's Theocratic "woman".
Keep in tune with it by accepting the Theocratic organization rules and instructions which God issues to us through it. Never forsake these, but be teachable, as trustful children.Hold fast to the Bible.
25 Serve God where he places you. Remember that the great Director of the organization knows his tools or instruments. He knows which to use and where and how to use it. So lend yourself to his use when he chooses you. His choice of you is never accidental and unpremeditated. Go to the territory or position to which he designates you. Show your fitness for the place to which you are thus assigned. Work in unity with the organization as a whole. Draw all the good out of whatever reproofs are administered to you for your proper conduct. Carry out instructions with all respect for the great "mother" organization. And never quit your assigned work of your own accord. Build up your ability and competence for the work by staying with it and familiarizing yourself with it more and more. Take to heart the apostle's organizational instruction to the young overseer Timothy: "Ponder over these things, be absorbed in them, that your advancement may be manifest to all persons. Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you." 1 Tim. 4:15, 16, NW.
26 In this way you will prove yourself a worthy child of God by his "woman". You will show what he can make of you by his instruction through his "woman". Thus you will have a part with Jesus Christ in vindicating Jehovah's rightful sovereignty over all intelligent creatures who live in the universe. That is what spells the highest success for you for all life to come.
Yet what organizations on earth manifest her traits? Why?
Hence what is the way of success? So keep in touch with what?
Where should we serve God? For what length of time, and how?
What will you thus prove yourself, and in what will you have a part?
Delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society at 5:45 p.m., Sunday, August 6,1950, as the closing feature of the 8-day Theocracy's Increase Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses at the Yankee Stadium, New York city.
THROUGH years of world-wide publicity efforts since A.D. 1914, through years of hard work pushed to the ends of the earth, through years of international reproach and persecution, and through years of divine protection, preservation and increase, it has been definitely established before all mankind that Jehovah God has a people in the earth who are called by his name. This has startled and alarmed all Christendom. For sixteen centuries she has professed to be the favored organization of God. Yet it has not been Christendom that has brought God's name to the fore. She has not made plain what his marvelous works in this critical time are nor what his blessed purpose for the immediate future of mankind is. She has not stood up for his side of the controversy that must now be settled: The rule of the universe by Jehovah God or world domination by Satan, which? It has been a despised and persecuted people that has been used by divine providence to do these things, Jehovah's witnesses! And their work is not yet done. It takes on greater importance as the world situation grows more critical, and it will be blessed with yet larger results by God's favor.
of Jehovah God is now at work in the earth as it was in ancient times? It has enveloped the people who bear his name and clothed them like a garment to identify them before all the world. That spirit is the active force issuing forth from the Kingdom which the Most High God established in the heavens in 1914 in the hands of Jesus Christ his Son, and that spirit must now be reckoned with by all the nations. The activity and onward-sweeping movement of the witnesses who exalt the name of Jehovah God spring from him. It is according to his will and therefore has his blessing. It could not have come about otherwise. By establishing his kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ in 1914 he raised the Signal of hope for all peoples. All of these can now turn to it, just as the faces of all the Israelites in the wilderness who had been bitten by deadly serpents turned to the brazen serpent which Moses raised on a pole that they might be healed from the venom of death.—Num. 21:4-9; John 3:14, 15; 8:28.
2 Who can deny that the invincible spirit
3 In opposition to God's newly established kingdom Satan the Devil stirred up the wrath of the nations of earth in the first total war for world domination. Taking advantage of that war of 1914-1918 he subjected God's witnesses to oppressive measures. Yet from 1919 forward Jehovah delivered, revived and regathered his consecrated people that they might publish the Kingdom message to all nations before the world's destruction at Armageddon. In this way he has turned to the peoples of all nations the new message of hope.
As the prophecy of Zephaniah 3:9 foretold, he has 'turned to the peoples a pure language'.
4 Our heavenly Father has answered the age-long prayer for his kingdom. He has set up the Kingdom separate and distinct from religious Christendom and higher than all earthly governments, yes, higher than the "tower of Babel" skyscrapers of the United Nations capital in New York city. This potent fact has influenced the speech of God's people and acted as a corrective. It has been the basis of the purifying of their language as his witnesses. It has drawn them to the heavenly Signal, the Kingdom, and has unified them all over the earth, in utter contempt of the racial, color, social, language, political, national, and religious differences and divisions of this world.
No matter how far off they have been dispersed over the earth, the pure language of the Kingdom message has sounded out like a trumpet blast at a king's coronation and has reached their ears and turned these dispersed ones to the Kingdom. So from all places they have assembled to it as one people by uniting their hearts to the Kingdom. They have come as "suppliants", making supplication for the favor of Jehovah God and his reigning King Jesus Christ, and their supplications have risen like an incense that is sweet-smelling to God. Speaking of this very time in which the worldly nations and kingdoms have been gathered together to be consumed by God's fury and indignation, he gave the prophecy that has now come to pass: "Then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent. From
beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed [ones], shall bring mine offering."—Zeph. 3:9,10,AS.
In proof of this we could speak of the united activities of Jehovah's witnesses today in 106 nations under 64 Branch offices of the Watch Tower Society, and with 357,889 active Kingdom publishers reporting in the month of April, 1950, not including those uncounted ones in Russia and Yugoslavia. However, no more stupendous demonstration of this united coming of God's dispersed ones could have been given, all concentrated in one small locality, than the Theocracy's Increase Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York city, for the eight days of July 30 to August 6, 1950. For among the 89,451 delegates attending it there were representatives not only from "beyond the rivers of Ethiopia" but also from seventy other nations. The offerings of praise and of devotion to God's kingdom which they brought were only a token of the larger offerings made by their fellow witnesses in all the lands they represented.
THEIR REFUGE AND THEIR KIND OF SPEECH
7 It was to be expected that Christendom and the rest of the world would look down upon them. But Jehovah's witnesses never did claim to be religiously prominent or socially high or politically powerful in this world. The Most High God of glory does not need such kind of persons to contribute any glory, money or influence to him. What is more, he did not promise to gather such kind of persons and blend them into one people by means of his "pure language". Jehovah's witnesses are persons who were once transgressors like the rest of the world, but their transgressions have now
What age-long prayer has God answered? Whom has he thus drawn together?
To what have the dispersed ones come? How as suppliants?
What do we have that demonstrates such coming of His dispersed ones?
What kind of people are Jehovah's witnesses, just as foretold by the prophecy?
had divine forgiveness through Christ. Comparatively, they are a "little people", an afflicted, poor and humble people in the midst of an alien world. But that just fits the description of those whom the God of glory promised to assemble round his Kingdom Signal on the heavenly Mount Zion. Pointing to this "day of Jehovah", he said: "In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah."—Zeph. 3:11, 12, AS.
Their refuge is an outstanding feature about them. The name of Jehovah has been practically a lost name in this world, even in Christendom. Today the tendency of religious clergy who seek worldly recognition and respect is to get away from that name as being the cognomen of a tribal god of a despised people. No other name has borne more reproach and vilification, from Christendom in particular, than the name of Jehovah since his witnesses publicly chose in 1931 to be marked by it. But his witnesses know from the Holy Bible what that name stands for. They know all the glorious history connected with it. They know all the divine promises, covenants and prophecies that have been given and fulfilled over that name. They know, too, that every last one of the nations of this world will yet be made to know that name as belonging to the Supreme and Omnipotent God of the universe. Therefore they have enough faith, enough Christian respect, and enough childlike confidence to "take refuge in the name of Jehovah". To them it stands for the only Rightful Government, for God's Fatherhood of Jesus Christ the King, for our eternal deliverance from Satan's
world, and for our everlasting life in the unbroken peace, health and happiness of an enduring new world. Therefore we consider it a privilege to bear the reproaches which the Devil casts upon that name. We count it an honor to call upon that name, sounding it forth in praiseworthy language to all who long for knowledge of the true God.
At this time there is only a small remnant of spiritual Israelites. (Gal. 6:16) These anointed followers of Jesus Christ form the core of the visible Theocratic organization of Jehovah God on earth today. To show the results which prove that this remnant had the pure language turned to them from 1919 onward, the prophecy says: "The remnant of Israel shall not work unrighteousness, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: but they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." (Zeph. 3:13, Da) Unrighteousness, lies, deceit, and molestation and disturbance of peace and security will be no part of the coming new world. They have no place now in the Theocratic organization which has had its speech purified and which is the only visible organization that will survive this world's end into the clean new world. The remnant of spiritual Israelites can no longer follow the lawlessness, nor the self-willed irregularity, such as marked the time when there was no king in Israel and when everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes. We now recognize that the Kingdom has been set up and that now we have a reigning King. This certainly makes a difference, and so we take orders from our King. We are Theocratic.—Judg. 18:1; 19:1; 21:25.
10 Our speech has been cleansed of the traditional religious lies which we picked
Why do they take refuge in Jehovah's name?
Why do the remnant of Israel no longer work unrighteousness?
Why is no deceitful tongue found in their mouths, and how do they feed and lie down?
up and became tainted with during our captivity in Babylonish Christendom, and we have chosen to "let God be true", though it makes every religious instructor in Christendom a liar. The remnant of spiritual Israel are now out to preach the truth which is in God's Word. And so we are proclaiming the good news of his Government, and we have renounced a deceitful tongue. We are not peddlers of God's Word who misrepresent their product in order to deceive their customers and make sales for self-enrichment at the people's expense. We boldly declare the truth and let its simple purity recommend the truth to every honest seeker of truth and right. We fear God, to whom we are responsible, and hence we trust in his protection and, like sheep under his Right Shepherd Jesus Christ, we feed in green spiritual pastures and lie down without fear of being molested by disturbers within the organization. The spiritual Israelites today may be only a remnant, but now the Right Shepherd of Jehovah gathers to our side a great flock of "other sheep" to enjoy the blessings of Theocratic organization with us.—John 10:11, 14, 16, NW.
THE ROYAL PRESENCE BARS EVIL
11 What if the world does not love us, but oppresses and persecutes us? With conditions so marvelously changed to a flourishing Paradise state among God's devoted people this is no time to be sad and mourn and lose all ambition. From millenniums past the inspired prophecy comes booming down to us: "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of
thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more." —Zeph. 3:14, 15, AS.
12 Yes, from the capital city on down to the lowest limits of the Theocratic organization; from the heavenly Mount Zion, where Jesus thrones as King, on down to the remnant of spiritual Israel and all the international "strangers" who have been gathered to us, it is a time to sing, aye, shout and be glad and rejoice with the whole heart. Just think of it: Jehovah God is in our midst. He, the Supreme Ruler of the universe, is our King! In 1914 he took his great power and began ruling as King toward our earth, where we spiritual Israelites and persons of good will are located. The kingdom of God, prayed for so many centuries, has at last been established; and in convincing demonstration of that fact Jehovah God has seated his anointed Son Jesus Christ on the royal throne to rule now and until the battle of Armageddon in the midst of his enemies. And in overwhelming proof that Jehovah now reigns on the heavens which are his throne, he has by his King Jesus Christ routed our great enemy from the heavens and cast Satan the Devil and all his demons down to his footstool the earth, to await destruction after a short period of time. (Rev. 12:1-13) So sing, rejoice!
13 We belong to Jehovah God by individually dedicating ourselves to him. His Son the Right Shepherd surrendered his human soul for us that he might purchase us; and we have acknowledged his rightful ownership of us. God has therefore every right to be our King and to establish himself as our King. With joy unspeakable we rejoice that to us he has revealed his Kingship since 1914. Him we will obey as Ruler rather than man, and his enthroned Son Jesus Christ we will have as our Leader
11, 12. Who should sing, shout, be glad and rejoice, and why?
13, 14. (a) Who is our King, and why? (b) How has he taken away our judgments, cast out our enemy, and freed us from fear?
rather than any totalitarian dictator.—Acts 5:29 and Matt. 23:10, NW.
14 Jehovah has accepted us as his worthy subjects. To that end he has taken away all his judgments which he held against us because of our having once been soiled, misguided and mistaught by the Babylonish world to which we had fallen captive. He has cleansed us from these worldly soils. He has put a pure speech in our mouths. He has clothed us with the garments of identification as his subjects and witnesses. He has rid the organization of his people of all untheocratic features and individuals. He has therefore lifted his curse from us; for we read: "And no more will there be any curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his slaves will render him sacred service, and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." (Rev. 22:3, 4, NW) And so he says: "Thou shalt not fear [or, see] evil any more." (Zeph. 3:15, AS, margin) That means that Jehovah will manage his Theocratic organization from the top down, as he has been managing it from 1919 onward; and he will direct it in the ways of rightdoing, so that never again will his displeasure be upon his organized people. Never again will evil and trouble be allowed to come upon them as a rebuke and punishment from him.
15 What a comfort this is, to know that Jehovah's adverse judgment will no more be upon his organized people, now that he has turned them Theocratic! Oh, individuals from among us may become insubordinate and unruly and may stray away and come under His adverse judgment, resulting in their personal destruction. Jehovah has promised to clear out those who become haughty in their self-assumed importance and in their self-willed independent spirit: "for then I will take away out
of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain." (Zeph. 3:11, AS) Let those who think they can get along without the organization go their way. Let those who feel they have direct personal connections with God and are not bound by any Theocratic regulations pursue their course, thereby being gathered out of the organization by God's angels, even though they do not appreciate that fact. On the other hand, let us show mature understanding of our relationship with our Creator in this time of the Kingdom. Let us be that poor humble people which the prophecy speaks about, and so may we stay in harmony and unity with the Theocratic organization Jehovah has built up. Let us loyally work with it and enjoy its blessings, help, protection and guidance in common with all those who faithfully stick to it. We want Jehovah to be our King, for he is the All-highest of the universe. We want God rule, Theocracy, and we pray for its increase. And in accord with His rule we gladly follow the Leader he has anointed for us. "The King of kings and Lord of lords," Jesus Christ. We invite others to follow with us.
FEARLESS ACTION!
16 Now at this late period of the world's "time of the end" the united cry of all the Bible prophecies is for ACTION, fearless action, on the part of Jehovah's Theocratic organization. "On that day," says the prophecy, "shall Jerusalem be told, 'Fear not, droop not your hands, O Sion.'" (Zeph. 3:16, Mo) Our Leader, Jesus Christ, who rules in heavenly Jerusalem, is not afraid of the Devil's entire organization. He is a Lion for boldness and fearlessness. On the heavenly Mount Zion, where he has stood up in his authority, he does not droop his
(a) Does that mean individuals will not come under adverse judgment? (b) So why should we stick to the organization, and how?
What does the prophecy next call on us to do? Why should we obey?
hands. He wields the royal scepter, the rod of his strength, the iron rod, and makes its significance felt out from Zion. It is for us, his subjects, to be willing in this day which we recognize to be that of his regal power. With Jehovah at last as Supreme King in our midst, and with such an undaunted Leader as He has given us in his Son Jesus Christ, why should we be afraid even faced with a world turning totalitarian? Let us not, then, be paralyzed with fear so that our hands droop helplessly in inaction. "Droop not your hands," is the divine command in this day to Jehovah's anointed remnant and their companions of good will. And why not?
17 The prophecy inspires us to fearlessness and activity with our hands, by the words: "Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing." (Zeph. 3:17, AS) Since we have our God in our midst as for us, who can be against us and succeed? No one! By our faithfulness to him we can foil the malicious purpose of the persecution directed against us. The enemy may forcibly take us into his power and hold us bound or restricted physically, but if we fearlessly continue to speak the pure language to all with whom we come in touch under even the most unfavorable circumstances, then God's word or message of the Kingdom will not be bound. (2 Tim. 2:8,9,NW) But our God is mighty to come to our rescue and to deliver us in his own time and manner. He now has great joy, and "the joy of Jehovah is your strength".—Neh. 8:10,AS.
18 Remember that he will save his Theocratic organization whom he here addresses, and so let our desire for safety and
deliverance spur us to adhere tightly to the organization. With all the loving joy of a devoted Husband Jehovah is rejoicing over his beloved "woman", his Theocratic organization, because of its godly submission and obedience to him in the midst of an enemy world. And in loving his organized people he finds rest. He is not excited, disturbed, irritable, and suspicious, for joyfully he observes the unmistakable proofs of our love for him. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine self-righteous ones of Christendom who feel no need of repenting and returning to Jehovah God. (Luke 15:7, NW) He has restored his organized people to his love and has renewed her in his love. He is so happy that he is singing over them, shouting joyfully over them.
19 What an evidence of this there was in the blessed Theocracy's Increase Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses at Yankee Stadium, New York, in 1950! There he imparted to his witnesses a song, not merely in their singing from a new songbook, but in filling their mouths more fully than ever before with the sublime "new song" of the Kingdom. One printed release followed after another: the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures; the enlarged Watchtower magazine, the new bound book "This Means Everlasting Life" both in English and in Spanish; the new booklets in English Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? Evolution versus the New World, and Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News, besides the 25 other printed releases in 16 different languages. This rapid succession of spiritual gifts raised repeated shouts among his assembled people, and they are shouting forth the Kingdom message since then as at no time in the past. So, seeing that he rejoices thus over his organization, and since he
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