The Watchtower, June 15, 1951
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WATCHTOWER
JUNE 15,1951 Semimonthly THE PLACE OF GOD'S WORD IN OUR LIVES
FREE MORAL AGENCY AND THE WORD
Announcing JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
THE SPIRIT, THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WORD
COMMUNISTS PUT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ON TRIAL
ON SERVICE TOUR IN NEW ZEALAND
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 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. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
Conquer Your Fears! 355
Communists Put Jehovah's Witnesses On Trial 357
On Service Tour in New Zealand 361
The Place of God's Word in Our Lives 365
Free Moral Agency and the Word 370
The Spirit, the Organization, and the Word 373
Religious Respectability and Decay 381
Questions from Readers 382
'Spoiling Their Pastures' 384
Announcements 384
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 Trans. (2nd Ed.)
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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CONQUER YOUR FEARS!
THIS is a frightening age. Terror and calamity rule with a high hand. Fear seems as common as evil and pain, as inescapable as sorrow and death. From childhood to the grave the black shadows of fear and worry, in one grotesque shape or another, pursue earth's inhabitants. Some fear the darkness and all its real or imaginary evils. The East fears the West, the West the East. The rich fear a financial crash and poverty. The poor fear unemployment and starvation. So it goes.
The problems of living from one day to the next, also the memories and experiences of the past, cause fear of the future. The homeless, the orphans and widows of bombed and battle-scarred Europe are living testimony of a past reign of fear. The memory of Hitler and Mussolini is vividly and inerasably engraved in the minds of millions, the horrors and stench of concentration camps are branded in their flesh and linger in their nostrils. Is it any wonder that freedom-loving people fear that totalitarianism will overtake them?
Such names as White Sands, N. Mex., Bikini Island, Hiroshima and Nagasaki have raised up new fears to plague the minds of men. Look at the future, the plans and preparations for even greater sacrifices to the god of slaughter. What a horrible sight, all-out atomic warfare! Little wonder politicians and statesmen are trembling and are terrified with fear. The military leaders are fearful; the financiers are fearful; the priests and ministers of
organized religion are fearful. Listen to their warnings, their outcries of terror, their wails and howling over what they see coming! It is just as the Scripture says it would be: 'Men becoming faint out of fear and expectation of the things they see coming upon the inhabitants of the earth.' —Luke 21:26, NW.
Fear has carved cruel furrows in the faces of men, has turned heads gray, bleached others white, caused much premature baldness. Fear makes the knees to shake, the hands to tremble, the confident step to slow down and falter. Fear brings mental fatigue, misery, pain and sorrow. Fear often kills. It is therefore not natural for men to live in constant fear. By nature man was not made to be shackled in chains of fear. He was not created to live in a pressure box of propaganda, there to have his nerves constantly bombarded in a cold war. Neither was he created to be torn to pieces in a hot war of atomic bombs and bloodshed. Intelligent, thinking people want to live, not die. More than that, they want to live in peace, mentally and physically, far away from bomb shelters, ammunition dumps, machine-gun nests and barbed-wire enclosures. And so it is only natural for man to put up a hard fight to conquer the causes of his fears.
The last two global wars were fought presumably to remedy the basic cause for fears. But alas! Instead of conquering these fears the great wars gave birth to new ones. Likewise, the conferences, treaties, peace pacts and alliances since 1945 have all failed to establish genuine freedom from fear.
Notwithstanding the dramatic efforts of the United Nations to blot out fear and make the world a cozy family, the world is sicker with the jitters than ever.
Science also has attempted to conquer fear. But what a miserable failure it has been! Credit for the modern tanks, warships, guided missiles, flame throwers, atomic bombs and biological weapons goes to science. Around the neck of science hangs the laurels for reducing London, Berlin, Hamburg and hundreds of other cities to piles of rubble. To science goes the glory for the gutted cities, the maimed soldiers, the tortured women and children, the death of millions. Certainly it will take science a long, long time to save as many lives as it has destroyed and may yet destroy in this present generation. Science is by no means the conqueror, but rather the creator, of fear. How true the saying, the scientific, social, political, commercial, military and religious leaders of this world promise the people freedom from fear, while at the same time they themselves are slaves of corruption and fear!-2 Pet. 2:19,NW.
Now, is there no remedy? No escape from these killing and fearful conditions? Indeed there is, but not in the schemes of men. The great Teacher, Christ Jesus, extends the invitation: "Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you." (Matt. 11:28, NW) All who will sincerely accept this extension of mercy will have great peace of mind. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isa. 26:3) Such ones take up the song and jubilantly sing: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear." "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even
Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation."—Ps. 46:1,2; Isa. 12:2, AS.
If you put full trust and confidence in Jehovah God, and refuse to rely on princely leaders of men or their armored chariots of war, you will not worry over world conditions or the threat of another global war. These are faithful sayings: "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe." "In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; what can man do unto me?" (Ps. 146:3; Isa. 31:1; Prov. 29:25; Ps. 56:11, AS) By exercising faith in Jehovah and exhibiting love for his kingdom, you can conquer all worldly fears. "This is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith." "There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love."—1 John 5:4; 4:18, NW.
Here is another secret for successfully overcoming worry: "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom." (Ps. 111:10, AS) If you fear this Most High and Lofty One you will study his precious Word the Bible and you will obey his righteous commandments. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32, NW) In turn, this not only will give you peace of mind now, but will lead you toward the new system of things which will shortly replace the present, where boundless freedom from every sort of fear will be yours forever and ever.
Just think of it! No more sighing, no more crying, no more dying. No fear of cold and hot wars. No fear of inflations or depressions. A beautiful paradise full of peace, goodness, love and joy. A new world over which Jehovah God will reign supreme! Hope placed in such removes all fear over the collapse and destruction of the present satanic system.
Communists Put Jehovah's Witnesses On Trial
SINCE September, 1950, sentences of Soviet Zone courts [Eastern Germany] have condemned the Sect of Jehovah's witnesses to 1,679 years in the penitentiary, by which 222 members have been affected!" This is the shocking report published by the Wiesbadener Kurier in its edition of February 23, 1951. However, these figures reveal very little of the gruesome details connected with these convictions, nor do they show the utter disregard for justice and righteousness displayed by the courts under Communist domination.
First a wave of arrests by the Communist "Volkspolizei" swept hundreds of Jehovah's witnesses into prison. Then came the ill-famed "public trials". These were patterned after Soviet court procedure, which means that the judges and lawyers are all under the absolute control of the Soviet "State Security Service" (SSD), the dreaded secret organization of Russia that controls every department of the Eastern Zone government. Under this system judges and state attorneys do not have to be professional lawyers. In fact, most of them are nothing more than fanatical members of the Communist party. Even the few professional lawyers who are still practicing are under such rigid control by the SSD that their licenses may be taken away any time they fail to follow the dictates of the party.
The charges brought against Jehovah's witnesses by the SSD always contain the same impossible lies that the witnesses are American spies and instigators against peace and democracy. The defendants are usually represented by what are called
"deputy counsels for defense" who dare not produce the facts for fear they themselves will be arrested. Outside witnesses cannot take the stand in defense of Jehovah's witnesses without running a great risk of being immediately arrested. The defendants too are at a great disadvantage, having very limited freedom to defend themselves.
Before being brought to trial, Jehovah's witnesses are prepared and conditioned for a long time by torture, hunger, cold and the severest threats, in order to force them, when brought into court, to confess they are guilty of the charges made. For example, Witness L said that he had been kept in a dark cell and saw daylight for the first time in many months when brought out for trial. Others told how they were subjected to the ordeal of standing as long as eight hours in the glare of spotlights, during which time they were constantly questioned. All the time these witnesses are in prison awaiting trial they receive very little food, their daily starvation ration consisting of 150 grams of bread and a little thin, watery soup. Conditions in these Communist prisons, it is reported, are worse than the worst of the Nazi concentration camps. So this explains why the witnesses appear in such frightful physical condition, often nearly as thin as skeletons, when placed on trial.
Headlines in a German newspaper read: "In Standing-Cells and Dark-Imprisonment," "Bible-Students Stand in Cold Water," "Fourteen Receive Prison Terms for Life." Under a Berlin date line of March, 1951, the dispatch says: "Since the beginning of the persecution of 'Jehovah's witnesses' last August, the Soviet-Zone's Justice Department has rendered in fourteen cases the penalty of imprisonment for life. More than 1,300 members have been arrested. Of that number about 250 received heavy prison sentences.
"About two-thirds are still under arrest. In many cases the prisoners were kept for four months, without interruption, in 'Dark-Imprisonment'. Others were locked up, for 16 days, in 'Standing-Cells', or, being tied to posts in cellars, had to stand for hours in water up to the chest."
FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESSES
The instigators of these trials are experiencing one disappointment after another. Usually when one of these mock trials begins there is a lot of scoffing and mocking, but this soon quiets down. Those present, even the judges, become interested in the testimony of the defendants and pay close attention as Jehovah's witnesses joyfully and vigorously take their stand for Jehovah's kingdom and for freedom of worship. Their logical arguments put the truth so clear that the judges often have a hard time finding reasons for upholding the sentences, which are usually fixed before the trials begin. One is reminded of that ancient witness for Jehovah, the apostle Paul, who spoke with such sincere and forceful conviction when on trial that the judge in the case, King Agrippa, cried out in accusation: "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian!"—Acts 26:28, NW.
With only a few exceptions all of Jehovah's witnesses have displayed frank and
fearless conduct, following closely the Biblical examples of faithful witnesses in the past. As then so now, they climax their testimony as Peter did: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men."-Acts 5:29,NW.
In their final words, after being sentenced, Jehovah's witnesses often express implicit confidence and trust that their righteous course will be vindicated by the Supreme Judge over all, Jehovah God. Confidently one shouted: "We will outlive you the same as we outlived the Nazis!" Another defendant warned: "You have sentenced me to twelve years but Jehovah will sentence you to life!" Under enthusiastic applause by the courtroom audience another witness pointed to the title of one of the public talks given by the witnesses, and said: "The kingdom of God is established and the just vengeance of Armageddon is near—Mrs. State Attorney, it is nearer than you think!"
Though it was a great encouragement to the defendants when fellow witnesses attended these trials, it was not always easy or possible. Sometimes the public was excluded altogether, and at other trials only a restricted and controlled "public" was permitted, individuals such as reporters for Communist newspapers, party members, etc. These were admitted on special tickets which they had received from the Communist organization. Sometimes the back of the courtroom was filled with a mob that continually sneered at the mention of Jehovah God or His witnesses, in an attempt to mentally oppress and confuse the defendants.
At one trial several of the women witnesses who tried to attend were refused entrance because they did not have the special Communist tickets. In the course of conversation that followed they told the guard they were witnesses. "Now that is different," the guard replied, "if you are witnesses come on in." Later, when more of the witnesses came, it finally dawned on the court official that they meant they were Jehovah's witnesses when they said they were "witnesses".
SPECTACLE BEFORE MEN AND ANGELS
was invaded en masse by Jehovah's witnesses who desired to be with their captive brothers during their trialsome hours. The trial was very unusual in that it lasted two days, due to the fact the defense lawyer was one of the few who still had the courage to fight every one of the false charges made by the Communists. During this trial it was possible for the defendants to give a thorough and detailed witness about the Kingdom activity of Jehovah's witnesses. At times, long discussions went on respecting the conduct of the theocratic ministry school. As a result the fellow witnesses in the courtroom developed so much enthusiasm that even political party members were caught by it. In the hallways and in the courtroom, when the court took its recesses, officials and others stood around in groups with the witnesses, asking questions and receiving a mighty witness about God's wonderful kingdom. Finally, at the conclusion of the trial, when the defendants were led away after receiving their sentences, which ranged from many years to life imprisonment, the witnesses among the spectators formed a corridor at the exit and sang theocratic songs of farewell. "It was just like a circuit assembly," was
In all of these trials the demand of punishment made by the prosecution is for many long years of imprisonment, even for life in many cases. This is why at only 25 of these mock trials, during a two-month period, 200 of Jehovah's witnesses, both men and women, received sentences totaling nearly 1,700 years! And this does not include the many lifetime sentences
handed down. There is actually no just or true appeal in these cases either, for only a formal review by another politically controlled and demon-inspired court is allowed. But what else is one to expect in the way of justice under godless totalitarian rule?
The following translation of a portion of a letter received from an eyewitness at one of these kangaroo trials proves interesting. "When the mock trial was in E——, and all the brothers had been sentenced to many years in the penitentiary, they were told they could appeal. The first brother then got up, and later the others followed his example. He said: 'We renounce this appeal, we need no mercy from man, we await mercy from the Highest Judge, and this day we are already looking forward to His judgment!' In the meantime brothers from E—— and vicinity that were in front of the courthouse on the stairs, in the halls and in the courtroom, shouted in chorus—there were several hundred brothers who had stuck through the two days of the trial—they shouted: 'We want to say good-by to our brothers! We want to see our brothers!' There was nothing else for the court to do, because the police had already gone into action and had even beaten some of the brothers. But the brothers stood like a wall and did not budge. Not even if they would have arrested them all would they move. So the brothers that had been on trial were escorted to the front of the courthouse, where they all took one another in their arms, shook hands, admonishing one another to endure on the side of the Great King to the final victory, because the time is nearer than we think. All this took place before the eyes of the police, the population of E——, and the judges and officials of the court, who were watching from their windows. Truly a mighty theatrical spectacle before angels and men! (1 Cor. 4:9,NW) We cannot thank Jehovah enough that we belong to this people!"
WHAT A POWERFUL BOND IS LOVE!
Another very interesting letter reads: "As I was at the court prison discussing the case of my husband a policeman who sympathized with us came up to me and said: 'Today there is a trial of Jehovah's
called "tried and proved methods", which have worked so successfully in causing others to present a broken, self-confessing and repentant attitude when brought to trial, have proved vain when applied against Jehovah's witnesses. The truth of the matter is, the opposers of Jehovah God and His witnesses know nothing about the power of God's spirit or active force.
witnesses; maybe your husband is among them.' He brought me into the courtroom from the rear, because only those having a court pass issued by the state attorney came in through the front door, and these passes were given only to those of the opposition, not to Jehovah's witnesses, and yet this is what they call a 'public trial'.
"There were seven brothers on trial from the Watchtower Bethel home who received penitentiary sentences ranging from eight to ten years. When they were led into the court I received an awful shock, in spite of the fact I can take a lot. They were all tied together, and escorted by dogs as if
for them to be forearmed. Both the warning and the arming counsel are found in the Bible, a study of which gives God's servants great comfort and hope and peace of mind during such ordeals. Warned Jesus the great Prophet: "Be on your guard against men; for they will deliver you up to local courts and they will scourge you in their synagogues. Why, you will be haled before governors and kings for my sake for the purpose of a witness to them and the nations. However, when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak: for what
they were terrible criminals. They were in an awful state, physically; but out of their skinny, pale faces beamed forth a peculiar light. Their shining eyes literally sparkled. But a look at their bodies showed they had suffered a great deal of torture. The trial lasted ten hours. The determination and loyalty of the brothers which was manifest throughout their testimony was simply wonderful! And how disgraceful were the lies and how unjust the dealings of the enemy! The world in general has not yet seen the like.
"When the brothers were led out I stood
you are to speak will be given you in that hour; for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you."—Matt. 10:17-20, NW.
If the apostle Paul were on earth today, and read these reports from the Soviet zone of Germany, surely he would exalt and praise Jehovah God that His witnesses are standing firm and faithful for Theocracy, fully determined not to bend or break under the pressure of totalitarian persecution. Again Paul would exclaim: "We ourselves take pride in you among the congregations of God because of your endur
in the hallway in order to see them once more. One of them said: 'Be courageous, and may you be guided by the Lord.'"
Yes, the State Security Service and the court officials in the Soviet zone of Germany have gazed in perplexity at this attitude of Jehovah's witnesses. Never had this happened to them before. All their soance and faith in all your persecutions and the tribulations which you are bearing." Why would he do this? Paul explains: "This is a proof of the righteous judgment of God, leading to your being deemed worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are indeed suffering."—2 Thess. 1:4, 5,NW. On Service Tour in New Zealand
This article continues the account of the travels of the Watchtower Society's president, N. H. Knorr, and his secretary, M. G. Henschel. The previous article brought us up to their departure from Fiji.
WE MANAGED to sleep about 31/2 hours on the trip to Auckland that Saturday morning and then we took our breakfast. After breakfast it seemed no time at all until we could see land below us, the tip of New Zealand's North Island. It was cloudy below us and there was not much to see, and when we landed at the Whenuapai airport at 10:15 we caught only a glimpse of Auckland. The Wellington convention was on and we did not know if there would be any publishers at the airport, but almost at once we noticed some people holding up a copy of The Watchtower, and we realized that a few had been unable to take the special train to Wellington, about ten of them. We had to go through customs and immigration formalities, and a Pan-American passenger representative checked with us on the onward passage to Wellington via the New Zealand National Airways. He arranged that we depart on the 10:55 plane, and thus we were able to spend only a few minutes with the brothers at the airport, but even that was a pleasure.
So we boarded the Airliner Piere (which in New Zealand, we were told, means "Robin") and were soon flying above the clouds at 183 m.p.h., in company with 18 other passengers. The clouds were so thick that all we could see besides them was the blue sky and the peaks of Mt. Egmont and Mt.
Ruapehu that showed themselves at our 7,000-foot altitude, until we finally sighted land and sea while passing over Wanganui. The sun was shining brightly when we landed shortly thereafter at Paraparaumu airport, about 35 miles from Wellington None of the brothers expected us on that flight, so we had to wait about 45 minutes until the branch servant, a brother from Bethel and one of the
Gilead graduates arrived at about 2 p.m. Then we drove into Wellington, passing along the coast for a few miles and then through narrow valleys. The steep hills along the way were very green and some were covered with yellow gorse, which we were told is a prickly pest in New Zealand. It looked beautiful from the highway. It was drawing near the end of summer and there were still many flowers in the yards of the homes we passed.
When we reached the branch office we had lunch and then went on to the Town Hall where the convention was in session. Brother Henschel and I were not scheduled to speak on Saturday night, but due to the fact that we were there early it seemed best to change the program and switch the Saturday night program with the Monday morning session. Actually, it was on account of the fact that we could not arrive earlier that a Monday program was planned.
Before the evening session started we were told how the March 8-11 national convention had aroused the publishers when they learned that visitors from America would attend. Gilead graduates Crosswhite, Betley and Benesch were called in from circuit work to help organize the preconvention activities. Accommodations had to be provided for more than a thousand visitors, so rooming work was a big job for the fairly small Wellington company.
A camping ground for caravans and tents was set up too. Advertising was emphasized. About 1,000 window placards were used, signs appeared on the trams, miniature billboards appeared along the highways and many publishers were busy walking the streets with signs, so everyone in the city knew that there would be a speech on "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land" at the Town Hall on March 11.
WELLINGTON CONVENTION
The branch servant, Brother R. Lazenby, opened the convention on March 8. Acting as chairman he delivered the address of welcome and thus opened the way for discourses, demonstrations, experiences and general features of interest to the delegates. Early attendance surpassed 1,000 and all wondered what the number would be for the public talk. The enthusiasm of the conventioners ran high right from the start and they were in very good spirits when we arrived.
After a few songs were sung by the conventioners, Brother Henschel spoke and showed how courageous witnessing brought the Lord's approval, protection and blessing, and that contrariwise those who fled from their responsibilities would meet with disaster. He encouraged the publishers to show fearlessness today as the faithful men in Bible times did, even in the face of growing opposition and persecution.
My first subject was concerning marriage and proper living. From the Scriptures it was shown that it is proper for Christians to marry and the purpose of marriage is the rearing of children. The dangers of adultery, loose conduct and fornication, which Satan would like to bring into Jehovah's organization from the outside world, were discussed. Strong admonition was given for proper conduct and maintaining a clean organization that Jehovah would bless. The audience of 1,111 gave rapt attention. It was good information for them to know and I had found it appreciated in Hawaii and Fiji too.
Brother Henschel spoke on three other occasions during the convention, showing the importance of seeking godly devotion instead of material wealth or things of this world. He made clear that the time of judgment is now here and how imperative it is now to serve the theocratic government and be content with such service, and pointed out the real joy that godly devotion brings. He also told of the experiences and problems of publishers throughout the earth and how they should all make wise use of their time and overcome their problems.
It was my privilege to speak three times on Sunday and Monday, in addition to the public talk, and I used the time to good advantage, making it clear that every trouble or accident encountered was not from the Devil, just as it is a mistake to imagine that an angel of the Lord stands at one's side at all times protecting the Christian from natural diseases and accidents. Divine healing was explained and it was shown that the apostles did not heal themselves or those who were consecrated, but it was a gift that was used to spread the truth and that the gift passed away with the death of the apostles. What is to be looked forward to is the healing that was foretold and that which will be brought in through the new world. These general subjects I planned to cover wherever I went on the trip, and the New Zealand publishers in convention surely appreciated the information.
Sunday morning, March 11, dawned rather cold and cloudy and before long the rain was falling. But that did not stop those who had made a consecration from being baptized. There were 51 persons who underwent immersion that morning, and that brought great joy to everyone.
The rains did not interfere with the public meeting either, for when 3 p.m. came around the Town Hall was almost filled. There were 1,645, and they listened attentively as I spoke for an hour and twenty minutes. That was the largest public meeting Jehovah's witnesses ever held in New Zealand.
I was glad that the convention held over
ed in the fact that the Town Hall had been used as a restaurant as well as meeting hall for five days and that over 800 meals had been served to conventioners three times daily. This they took special note of and published a good report and two photos.
Before the British took charge of New Zealand it was occupied solely by the Maori people. They are Polynesians and they have
until Monday. Most of the publishers were able to stay and they enjoyed the sessions very much. At 9 a.m. the pioneers came together in the balcony and I talked to them about Gilead and missionary service and complimented them on the splendid work they are doing in New Zealand and showed them that if more publishers took up the service in New Zealand we could take some of the pioneers and send them to other lands, as was done with 13 other New Zealand pioneers who graduated in the past and are now in distant lands. Nineteen volunteered to go to Gilead, if they
a language of their own. Many of the younger generation know only English, but the language is still widely used in New Zealand. Many of them have taken to the truth and over a hundred are now active publishers. One of their number is now a graduate of Gilead and he is being sent to a distant land. An American Gilead graduate who is serving as a circuit servant in New Zealand has learned to speak the Maori tongue and he gives public talks in many towns, which is helping the increase. There were about 80 of the Maori brothers at the convention and they were rejoicing.
met the requirements. A number also expressed a desire to go out into the islands of the South Pacific, if the Society cared to send them, and some may be able to take the good news out to new territories in that way.
That morning there was a review of the New York assembly. Here again a fine program was presented. A good number of the New Zealand publishers had gone to America to attend the assembly, so they had a few minutes apiece on the program to tell of their impressions and experiences. In between, Brother Clayton announced vari-
They have broken from the traditions of their people and this has brought them some problems too. They have refused to indulge in the heathen rites of the Maoris that are practiced at the time of a funeral. They do not believe that they must wash themselves with water and rub themselves all over with bread to keep away the evil spirits, and because they do not do this they are not permitted by the Maori people to bury the dead in Maori cemeteries. This demonstration of their belief in God's Word has been a means of giving a great witness.
The convention ended with Monday af-
ous recorded features from the convention, such as a few sentences spoken by various ones on the New York program, some of the music that preceded the public meeting in Yankee Stadium, and some of the songs that were sung by the Bethel family.
Though the public meeting had been a very large meeting for any organization in New Zealand, the press were more interest-
ternoon, and that night the special train with more than 350 left for Auckland. They were all rejoicing in the blessings of Jehovah and the increase of the work. It was truly a great privilege for me to be back in New Zealand and see so many of them, because in 1947, when I was there before, the publishers were 678, on the average, and now there are 1,213 as a new peak.
There is theocratic expansion in New Zealand too.
The Society has a very fine Bethel home in Wellington to house the staff. That is where we stayed during our visit to New Zealand. Also, there are offices in the central part of the city where business is taken care of and shipping and printing done. The stock of literature is very low at the mocompany came by and then we all drove away to Evans bay where the Solent flying boat was moored. The Tasman Airways representatives informed us that the plane had arrived late and was not going to be ready for departure until about noon, but they did not want us to leave the vicinity of the terminal. We had a very enjoyable time visiting with the brothers at the bay-
ment because of the dock strike. The 1951 Yearbook and other literature has been in the port for some time, but there has been no solution of the strike and the books remain unavailable to the publishers. The strike has brought about many shortages in New Zealand, which so depends upon shipping because it is one of the most isolated countries of the world, and it is another proof that the world of Satan is so divided that its members cannot get together regardless of all the peace and harmony they talk about. Yes, every government on earth wants to tell another how
side, and gradually the numbers increased until over 20 of the local publishers were on hand. The call for passengers to board the launch was made at about 11 o'clock, but after we had cleared customs and boarded the launch we were politely told that the captain was still in the city and would be late. So we stepped ashore and enjoyed practicing increasing our volume while speaking at a distance with some of the publishers who were behind the barrier set up by the customs officials. When the captain did arrive the passengers were tempted
to run affairs, but it seems they cannot run their own to the satisfaction of all the people. The only hope of the world is the government that Jehovah has established, which he says will sweep away all other rule and stand forever.
March 20 to 22 were spent in the Wellington office. It was a pleasure to talk with the circuit servants and learn of the obstacles that the publishers have overcome in making the theocratic advances. Arrangements were made for more expansion
ed to cheer, but he was reputed to be a rather stern fellow and advice was given against the act. All boarded the launch and we were transported across the calm blue waters to the side of the flying boat. We waved good-by to those on the shore and climbed into the side of the big ship. Forty other passengers were with us. The breeze was from the north, so the big boat proceeded to the south end of Evans bay and then with a roar of her four engines she threw up a great spray of water before finally taking off for the west and Australin New Zealand.
ia. Once again we
was a clear day, but it was quite cool. Summer was coming to an end. So was our visit to NewZealand.After breakfastafew of the Wellington
through the clouds anticipating a meeting with other old friends and a view of theocratic expansion in another part of the earth.
The Place of God's Word in Our Lives
"How can a young man keep his path pure? By heeding thy word. I find joy in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word." Ps. 119:9, 16, AT.
EHOVAH God has given us his Word in writing. More than four thousand years in producing that Word, he finished the last of its sixty-six books in the first century A.D. Certainly he did not spend all that time to produce something that would be of no value for all mankind, especially today in this highly critical period. He meant it to accomplish a worthy purpose of his. In this it cannot fail. (Isa. 55:10,11) The big question is, Is his Word accomplishing its purpose with each one of us?
God's written Word, the Holy Bible, has had a telling effect on mankind. Powerful religious hierarchies that have influence with the political authorities have had hundreds of thousands of copies of the Holy Bible burned, ground into paper pulp, or otherwise destroyed and made unreadable and inaccessible. Such action is an indirect confession that this Word does have an effect on its hearers and readers. There must be some compelling power issuing from that sacred Book when it causes those who love it to print and circulate it to the number of hundreds of millions of copies in over eleven hundred languages and in all parts of the earth. The distribution of it is, of course, greatest within the
realm of Christendom. From this men might conclude that Christendom today is what the Bible has produced. The actual fact is, Christendom is what her ignoring of the Bible or her failure to heed it has produced. Her possession of the Bible has not made Christendom Christian. Christendom has only a form of godliness but is not Christian. The reason is that she has proved false to the Bible which she claims to follow; she has proved false to the real power of the Bible. Hence Christendom has not kept her path pure, but is spotted all over with the uncleanness of this corrupt world. Being Christian in name only, she is guilty of religious hypocrisy. For all the reproach she has brought upon true Christianity she will shortly be destroyed by the true God of Christianity, Jehovah.
We have reached the development in world conditions foretold by the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ. He said: "Also there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation." (Luke 21:25, NW) The nations of Christendom are feeling this anguish most keenly. What her religious clergy palm off as God's will does not turn out to have his blessing. She misrepresents the will of God, and the people are left in the dark as to what his will is. In this dark day it is very important to know God's will, for his Word says: "The world is passing
How and why has God given us his Word, and so what question arises regarding us and it?
How is the telling effect the Bible has on mankind shown, and why does Christendom's condition not disprove this?
4. To determine what must we examine the Bible, and how is the importance of doing this shown?
away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever." (1 John 2:17,NW) It is only by examining what is written in his Word that we can arrive at what his will is. That this is the way to determine God's will Jesus Christ his Son indicated, for we read: "Hence when he comes into the world he says: . . . 'Then I said, "Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God.'"' (Heb. 10:5-7,NW; Ps. 40:6-8) When he was fasting from material food for forty days in the wilderness, he was feasting upon the written Word of God. This fact is made plain in that when Satan the adversary came to tempt him into going contrary to God's will Jesus repelled each wrong suggestion of the Tempter, saying, "It is written," and then quoting what was written concerning God's will for him.—Matt. 4:1-11.
4 To become a true Christian you cannot follow what Christendom teaches. You must learn direct from the Bible itself and heed its instructions. You must read what Jesus himself said and what his inspired disciples wrote. A Christian approaches God through Christ and devotes himself to do God's will as Jesus set him the example. Sincerely the Christian prays in the words of the psalmist David: "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me in the land of uprightness."—Ps. 143:10, AS.
Many problems enter a Christian's life in this world, especially as he now finds that the world is hostile to him and yet he must do what God wants him to do. Many personal matters give him trouble and he gets perplexed as to what the divine will is for him. The difficulty oftentimes is this: Heavenly wisdom marks out for him a certain path which assures him blessings and privileges, but he has some selfish considerations in his heart and he wants to take another course that is not for the best. The question for him might be, Shall I get married or stay single? Shall I quit my secular employment and enter into field work as a full-time publisher of the good news of God's kingdom or shall I continue to give the greater part of my time and the best part of my strength to earning a comfortable living? Or, even, Shall I quit one branch of service in God's organization and leave its opportunities and privileges and take up another branch of the work? The Bible was not written to him personally to mark out each step he takes, and so how is he to determine what God's will is for him?
The inquiring person may take his problem to God in prayer. How, now, will he get his answer? By just opening the Bible after prayer to wherever it happens to open and putting his finger blindly on a text, and then taking that text to be the answer indicating God's will for him? No; that is leaving the matter to chance, not handling God's Word rightly; whereas Second Timothy 2:15 (NW) says: "Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright." Well, then, should he listen for some voice to whisper from the unseen world into his ear and tell him the way to go or the choice to make? No; that would be clairaudience, a form of spiritualism. It would subject him to the deceptions of the demons, the angels of Satan the Devil. Ah, then, he is to look for some angel from heaven to appear and give him direct advice to keep him from making a mistake. Did not angels appear to faithful men of old and convey messages to them, and intervene in the lives of Christ's disciples in the first century? So why not now?
Why do problems enter a Christian's life, and what questions may present themselves?
How might some wrongly expect to get an answer for their problem?
ANGELIC INTERVENTION
We cannot deny it. There are many instances of where angels appeared to the early Christians and informed them of what God's will was for them then and there. While we have no case of where an angel appeared to Jesus to tell him what to do, we do read that, immediately after Jesus was baptized in water and God's spirit came upon him, "then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil." He told his disciples: "You will see heaven opened up and the angels of God ascending and descending to the Son of man." This was that these angels might serve him, rather than make God's will known to him. (Matt. 4:1, 11, and John 1:51, NW) But when Jesus' apostles were arrested for carrying on their Christian work in Jerusalem and were imprisoned, Jehovah's angel brought them out and said: "Be on your way and take a position in the temple and keep on speaking to the people all the sayings about this life." Later an angel directed the disciple Philip to where the chariot of the Ethiopian government officer would pass, and said: "Approach and join yourself to this chariot." After Philip had preached and baptized this Ethiopian, "Jehovah's spirit quickly led Philip away," and Philip was next found in Ashdod. Then an angel directed the Gentile centurion Cornelius to send to Joppa for Peter, and God sent a vision to Peter to go with Cornelius' messengers and preach to the uncircumcised non-Jews or Gentiles. Besides these cases, the apostle Paul had visions to direct him, and the holy spirit operated to guide him in his preaching and to assure him he had God's backing.*
But we ask, In the interval between such visions or appearances of angels to them what did those same early disciples of Christ do to make certain of God's will in their day-to-day affairs? Those cases of sending visions or angels were special, because the general interests of God's people were then concerned. The course that the proclamation of God's message was to take was involved, and those men were representative men who were to be used in connection with these momentous matters. But in strictly personal matters and in everyday matters they had to determine God's will just the same as we have to do now. The time for these open angelic appearances and these audible directions of God's holy spirit is past, just as the time for the miraculous gifts of the spirit has passed. (1 Cor. 13:1,2,8-11) Happily, though, we still have God's holy spirit or active force with us, and we still have the ministrations of his holy angels to depend on though they do not become visible.
We are not to expect the unseen angels of God to be constantly hovering at the side of each one of us and directing us in every step we take lest we go the wrong way or meet an accident. Yet we have the comforting assurance that God's angels are rendering an important service in our behalf. We can still draw individual comfort from Jesus' words: "Keep watching that you men do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always have access to my Father who is in heaven." These angels are now subject to the glorified Jesus and we know he uses them to help and serve his faithful followers on earth, that they may gain salvation in the coming new world. "Are they not all spirits for public service,
Acts 5:19,20; 8:26-29,39; 9:3-6,10-16; 10:3- 33; 13:2; 16:6-10; 18:9-11; 22:17-21; 27:21-24,NW.
In between such visions and angelic appearances how did they determine God's will concerning their ordinary affairs?
What instances are given of where God's servants in the first century enjoyed the intervention of angels and visions?
What are we not to expect from these angels, and yet what assurances have we of their services now?
sent forth to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?" The answer to that question of the apostle is Yes. (Matt. 18:10 and Heb. 1:14, NW) We are living at the time of the presence of Christ Jesus in his glorious kingdom, and one of the visible evidences of this is his separating of the people of all nations into two classes, sheep and goats, symbolically speaking. Mighty angels attend this separation work, for Jesus predicted respecting this time: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne." Those angels are not just ornaments, but are with Jesus for some service in the work to be done.—Matt. 25:31, NW.
10 We are living in the consummation of this system of things. So the angels are concerned not alone with gathering the sheep to the King's right hand of approval but also with keeping the organization of true Christians clean from all frauds. With the immediate participation of his angels the King has been gathering out of God's visible organization all who fraudulently pose as being heirs of God's heavenly kingdom but who are in reality sons of the wicked one the Devil and who have no proper place among the Kingdom heirs. Illustrating how these are cleared out like weeds plucked out from the field of wheat before harvesting, Jesus said:
11 "The harvest is a consummation of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the consummation of the system of things. The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and
the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:39-43, NW) If, now, we are active in letting the light of the good news of God's kingdom shine out and have its separating effect between lovers of light and lovers of darkness, the angels under command of the King Jesus Christ will co-operate with us.
12 Ours is a time of great peril, particularly so since the war in heaven dislodged Satan and his demons from their position up there and they have been confined to this earth. Infuriated at his abasement and knowing that the short time left to him till the battle of Armageddon forces him into the abyss for a thousand years is continually dwindling, Satan the Devil is bent on destroying those who give their allegiance to God and the kingdom of his Christ.
13 If you are observing the commandments of God and carrying on the work of bearing witness to Jesus, you can be certain that the dragon Satan the Devil is waging a war of attrition upon you and is maneuvering to change you from being a true Christian or to wipe you out. Take Revelation 12:17 as the absolute truth for it. What a consolation and encouragement it is to realize that we have still mightier angelic protection! Mighty forces of destruction are held in restraint by angels until the last of the spiritual Israelites, the slaves of God, are sealed with his final approval and also until the "great crowd" of fellow worshipers of God are gathered out and brought under the care of the Right Shepherd Jesus Christ. As John foresaw it: "After this I saw four angels standing upon the four extremities of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the
10, 11. How are we assured of angelic co-operation at this time of harvest of wheat and tares"
13. Why is ours a time of particular peril, and how is it pictured that we have suitable superhuman care?
earth or upon the sea or upon any tree." Till when? "Until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads." (Rev. 7:1-4,9-17,NW) So the remnant of these sealed slaves of God and the great crowd of their fellow witnesses out of all nations are an object of high concern to the angels. We get the benefit of their care.
14 Now the dragon Satan the Devil is concentrating his bitter warfare upon the remnant and their fellow witnesses. For this time the blessed assurance was written and preserved: "This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Ps. 34:6,7,AS) True, there is a great encampment of visible enemies round about us, backed by the invisible dragon and his demons. But we have faith to believe we have encamped about us invisibly the angel of Jehovah who defeated the dragon and his demons in the war in heaven and who now holds them underfoot here at the earth before he crushes them at Armageddon. Were it not for this superior angelic protection, the remnant of spiritual Israelites and their faithful fellow worshipers would have been overwhelmed and wiped out before now, in order to halt their bearing witness to Jehovah and his King Jesus Christ.
15 We have approached God's kingdom now established on the heavenly Mount Zion, and also "myriads of angels, in general assembly". We have the satisfying evidence of their help and protection. In what way? In that the visible organization of Jehovah's servants is preserved amid an embattled world and our Kingdom witness prospers. (Heb. 12:22, 23, NW) This angelic guardianship, however, does not
relieve us of being just as careful as we can, to guard against accidents. We cannot expect the angels to protect us against our own carelessness, rashness and fool-hardiness. In the midst of wolves, we are instructed to be as cautious as serpents and to beware of men. We must not test God too far with what is unreasonable. The Devil quoted a Scriptural truth, when he said to Jesus at the temptation in the wilderness: "He will give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." But this was no basis for the Devil to suggest that Jesus defy the known laws of gravity and hurl himself from the high temple battlement and force God to save his Son by means of the angels. That was unreasonable and contrary to other scriptures. It was a tempting of God or putting him to the test beyond what he had really promised. (Ps. 91:11, 12, AS; Matt. 4:5-7, NW) So with us today, who are God's children, but not nearly as important as Jesus. While we have angelic protection for the sake of God's work and cause, yet we dare not put God to the test with irrational actions and carelessness and expect his angels to keep us from harm and accident in spite of it.
A BOOK FOR CONSULTATION AND ADVICE
16 We are therefore not to look for miraculous intervention by these innumerable holy angels to help us decide what is God's will in personal matters and problems. God has given us his written Word, and he provided it for us to consult. If we do not consult it, it will not serve us as a guide. In his Word he reveals himself to us. He opens up his mind and heart to us, telling us what he thinks, what he has already done and is now doing and will yet do, and informing us what he would like us to do in order to gain his favor and the gift of eternal life in his new world.
We need his Word, because in our flesh it is impossible for us to see him. He makes known to us that his name is Jehovah, meaning the One who causes to be; and he shows us his attributes of wisdom, justice, power and love and how all four attributes work together without clash. So the only way we definitely know about him is by his written Word. Getting to know him through the Word we learn to develop confidence in Him and to respect his advice and to see that his commands are authoritative. We build up faith that his Word is right and without mistake or misdirection. This makes us consult it in our problems and take its advice.
17 The question with us is, then, What 17. What, then, is the question with us as to God's Word? And what may we expect if we heed it, and what if we do not?
place does God's Word occupy in our lives? Do we place it above the word of everybody else, above human philosophies and man-made religious traditions and the commands of men which run contrary to God's will? If we follow God's Word and keep his commands through it and pay attention to its advice, we shall have God's approval and blessing. It will work for our spiritual good, keeping us always in the relationship of children to Him and under his protection by his angels, and guaranteeing to us the gift of everlasting life for our faithfulness. God assures us, as he did the Israelites of old, that if we take heed to his Word we shall avoid much trouble and grief. But if we do not consult and keep familiar with his Word and do what it says, we shall run into personal, private trouble and difficulty and we shall miss the divine approval and blessing.
FREE MORAL AGENCY AND THE WORD
GOD recognizes us as free moral agents and lets us choose to take his Word or leave it. If we keep his Word and meet up with great blessings for this, then we can ascribe those blessings to God. "Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the celestial lights, and with him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow." (Jas. 1:17,NW) But if we take no heed to his Word and follow our selfish desire or some creature's word because it agrees with our selfish desire and then we get into trouble, we may incline to say,
"The Devil did that!" Yes, the Devil did that, but remember that he did it through you, through your yielding to him. You played into his hands. It did not necessarily have to be that way.
2 Our difficulty in determining God's will in our personal matters arises often because his Word was not written for each of us individually, but was written for the organization of his people. The advice and instructions in his Word apply, therefore, to all individuals in the organization or associated with it. It does not say one thing to one person and another thing to another person so as to please each one according to his individual likes.
God does not bend or alter his law just to suit the selfish desires or inclinations of some individual. His law is theocratic and according to his will and rule of action. It is not determined by the selfish will of any individual creature. So the advice and instructions given are often general, setting out the principle to follow but leaving each individual a free moral agent to choose to follow the faithful principle set forth or to follow his selfish desire. In that way God allows each individual the opportunity to prove how much love and confidence he has toward God the Giver of the Word, and how eager he is to do the divine will. God does not force his will upon any creature. He wants loving obedience.
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