The Watchtower, October 15, 1952
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
OCTOBER 15, 1952
Semimonthly
GOD'S WAY IS LOVE
"NOT THE KIND THAT SHRINK BACK"
JEHOVAH'S MERCIFUL PROVISION
GILEAD'S NINETEENTH CLASS
GRADUATES
PURIFYING WORSHIP IN NIGERIA
©WTB&TS
"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
“The Word of God Is Alive”
“Not the Kind That Shrink Back”
Jehovah’s Merciful Provision
Purifying Worship in Nigeria
God’s Way Is Love
“He Done It”
Gilead’s Nineteenth Class Graduates
New “Bible” Omits God
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
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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 WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE"
DOES the Bible live for you? From the benefit you have personally derived from it can you join with Paul in saying, as he told the Hebrews: "The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and their marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart"?—Heb. 4:12, NW.
Pointing to a prominent obstacle that has erected unnecessary barriers between honest seekers of truth and their understanding of the Bible, The Churchman of April 15, 1952, quoted these words of the "Rev. Dr." Roy L. Smith, which he voiced at a meeting of the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ: "The Bible is the least understood and the most grossly misrepresented piece of literature ever produced among men. Its flesh and blood characters have been so misrepresented that they appear to be little plaster of paris saints or nameless devils. Now, thanks to the historian and the archaeologist, we are beginning to catch glimpses of them as they stand revealed in modern light involved in desperate struggles in behalf of a decent and righteous world. The book of life fortifies the souls of all those, even today, who labor toward these same ends."
Fortunately the modern Bible-reader is blessed with access to numerous modern translations which have done much to
keep the word of life from gathering dust on the mantel. Only those who have superstitious reverence for black covers or the peculiar phraseology of the traditional King James Version will hold back. The above-mentioned article said further: "It is hard to get rid of the notion that there is something very holy and religious in the language of the Authorized Version, and we forget that it was originally condemned because it was too modern, too much in the language of the common people. We love the old version because we are so familiar with its musical phrases, and like music, they touch our emotions rather than challenge the will. The folks who always used the thee's and thou's which we use only in prayers never can seem fully human to us. And it is perhaps more necessary that we should know precisely what the writers of the Bible said, and not be misled by words that have completely altered their meaning."
The King James Version performed a truly wonderful work in becoming a household book and equipping families everywhere with the Word of God. But it achieved its merit because it was in the language of the people of its day. Now, with another day, other people and another language, there is no reason why the Bible should not be made as understandable as it was in the seventeenth century. So we get the greatest good by reading the Bible in modern-day speech.
THE atoms and molecules that go to make up matter are in constant motion. The faster they go the hotter they get; the slower they go the lower their temperature becomes. And the general rule is that as a substance heats up it expands, and as it cools off it contracts. Also, a hot body can share its heat with a cold one, the faster-moving molecules of the hot one imparting more speed to the molecules of the cold substance with which it comes in contact, which increased motion causes the cold one to heat up. All of which finds some analogy with Christians and Christian activity. Jesus referred to those claiming to follow him in terms of temperature: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or else hot. So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth."—Rev. 3:15, 16, NW.
Those Christians who are hot are zealously moving and bestirring themselves in Kingdom service, and are expanding their ministry. The cold ones have lost their motion and cooled off and shrunk back. They have no heat or zeal for themselves, and none to share with others. Those who are active and hot for God's service can contact the less-active ones and impart warmth and zeal to them, bestirring them to activity and heating them up to accomplish an
expansion of their ministry. The rendering of this assistance may be a drain on the energy of the one who helps and may cut down on his preaching time, but it does make for an over-all increase of activity by getting the cooled-off one warmed up and active again. Moreover, it is not a permanent loss to the helper, as might be the case with inanimate substances. Why not? Because Christians have a way of constantly replenishing their heat supplies. "Is not my word
like as a fire?" inquires Jehovah. (Jer. 23:29) So by continual refueling from the inexhaustible Word of God the Christian's zeal and energy for service can be maintained at a high level.
Some start out zealously in service. They study and soak up a supply of heat from God's Word and progress rapidly for a time. But later they fall into a bad practice. They neglect their study of the Bible. They quit refueling, lose heat as knowledge slips from mind, and cool off as they mix in old-world surroundings that are cold to God. Losing their Christian heat and not replenishing it by study, they cool off and shrink back to their former smallness and inactivity, just as they were before ever hearing the truth. Paul warns against just such a shrinking back on the part of those who had started out using their freeness of speech to preach and who had endured suffering with God's people: "However, keep on remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great contest under sufferings, sometimes while you were being exposed as in a theater both to reproaches and tribulations, and sometimes while you became sharers with those who were having such an experience. For you both expressed sympathy for those in prison and joyfully took the plundering of your belongings, knowing you yourselves have a better and an abiding possession.
Do not, therefore throw away your freeness of speech, which has a great reward to be paid it. For you have need of endurance, . Now we are not the kind that shrink back to destruction, but the kind that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul."—Heb. 10:32- 39, NW.
Those who shrink back are the ones Peter said fit the true proverb: "The dog has turned back to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire." (2 Pet. 2:22, NW) They had been a part of the old world system of things, then came into association with the new world society and fed upon the clean spiritual food on Jehovah's table, "a feast of fat things," and thereafter turned back to Satan's world, where "all tables are full of filthy vomit, no place is clean". (Isa. 25:6; 28:8, AT) The Christian's food is not just the nourishing truths in the Bible, but also the doing of God's will, as Jesus said: "My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34, NW) It is not just a matter of hearing God's words, but a matter of doing them also. (Jas. 1:22) When one quits studying and doing God's will, he returns to the hearing and practicing of the world's wordy propagandas, rolling in its mire like the washed sow returning to her muddy wallow.
But perhaps the ones once hot do not turn cold, but only lukewarm. Then what? Jesus answered, "I am going to vomit you out of my mouth." They may give the truth enough listless attention to keep from completely shrinking back, but not enough to expand into zealous service.
Going neither one way nor the other, they drift. "That is why it is necessary for us to pay more than the usual attention to the things heard by us, that we may never drift away." (Heb. 2:1, NW) If we allow ourselves to lazily drift with the current of humanity we gravitate toward the Dead sea of Armageddon. We must not drift with this babbling flow of humanity, being swept along with it unresistingly, but we must swim against it, which calls for strong effort. So we must not only refuse to shrink back but refuse to be idle and motionless, for such objects become like driftwood that moves with every changing wind and wave, unable to guide itself and without power to govern its destination. Some of the currents of Satan's waters run deceptively smooth, seemingly still but running deep. In subtle ways he will make us drifters, moving slowly and apparently harmlessly at first, but as the current takes hold its grip on us strengthens and becomes harder and harder to break away from, until eventually we cannot swim against the increasing current that moves us ever swifter toward the Niagaralike plunge into the abyss. But we can avoid this peril by hearing and doing God's words, which will strengthen our hope in the new world, and which hope will in turn serve as an anchor for our soul to keep it from drifting into destruction. (Heb. 6:19) Failing to do this, we shall become so sickening and obnoxious to Jehovah and Christ and God's organization that we shall eventually be vomited from their midst, forcibly expelled as nauseating and polluting.
EXAMPLES, GOOD AND BAD
Moses shrank back from a special service assignment from Jehovah because it
called for speaking and Moses found that difficult. Jehovah provided a mouthpiece for Moses in the form of his brother Aaron, and together they served faithfully, Moses even doing some speaking himself.
Whether he had a speech impediment of some kind, and whether he ever overcame it, are not disclosed by the record. The point is that his shrinking back was only momentary and due to what he considered an insurmountable obstacle, that later he did speak, whether flawlessly and eloquently or otherwise.—Ex. 4:10-16.
After the exodus from Egypt and while in the wilderness, the Israelites listened to the report given to Moses by the men who had spied out the land of Canaan: "We reached the land to which you sent us, and it surely does flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. The people, however, who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and besides, we saw the Anakim [giants] there." Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, were for entering the land, the latter saying, "We ought to go up and seize it; for we are quite able to do so." But the ten defeatist spies remonstrated in terror: "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us. The land through which we passed in spying it out is a land that destroys its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. We saw the Nephilim [titans] there (the Anakim belong to the Nephilim); to ourselves we looked like grasshoppers, and we must have looked the same to them." (Num. 13:27, 28, 30-33, AT) In fright the Israelites shrank back to destruction in the wilderness, refusing to enter the Promised Land. The giants in the land scared them, but when Israel did enter the land some forty years later the giants were still there. (2 Sam. 21:15-22) So it is today. Shrinking back does not remove obstacles. They will still be there next week, next month or next year, to be faced eventually when we do press forward in service.
When the prophet Urijah declared an unpopular message against Jerusalem and Judah, King Jehoiakim sought to put him to death. Urijah shrank back, quit Jehovah's service, and fled into Egypt. But Jehoiakim dispatched men to Egypt, who brought Urijah back, and the faithless prophet was slain. (Jer. 26:20-23) How different the course of Jeremiah! When a scroll written by Baruch at Jeremiah's dictation and containing Jehovah's judgments was read to King Jehoiakim, the king burned it and ordered the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah. But Jeremiah did not flee the country as Urijah had done. Instead, he gave another scroll to Baruch, "who wrote on it at Jeremiah's dictation all the words of the book which Jehoiakim, king of Judah, had burned in the fire; and many words of like nature were added to them." (Jer. 36:32, AT) On another occasion the unpopular message of destruction from Jehovah brought so much suffering upon Jeremiah that he decided to speak no more in God's name. But the prophet could not become cool to Jehovah's work and shrink back in inactivity. Why not? Jeremiah himself gave the answer: "It is in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones; I am worn out with holding it in—I cannot endure it." (Jer. 20:9, AT) God's Word, like fire, kept the prophet hot and active in Jehovah's service.
At the start of Jeremiah's ministry, when Jehovah called him to be a prophet, Jeremiah's first impulse was to shrink back: "I cannot speak; for I am only a youth." But Jehovah countered with, "I put my words in your mouth." (Jer.1:4-10, AT) Those words Jeremiah thereafter faithfully spoke. We must likewise speak God's words today, fearlessly. He puts them in our mouths, through our study of his Word the Bible and provisions he makes through his visible organization. If we are to get these words in our mouths and be able to fit them to our tongues in preaching, we must let them sink into our hearts and allow them to bend our minds, making over our minds so that they are filled with God's thoughts and not man's.
(Isa. 55:8; Matt. 16:23; Rom. 12:2, NW) In short, we must study. Study not just the first principles of the truth, but the deeper things of God also, that we may press on to maturity to become teachers of God's Word. "Solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong."—Heb. 5:12-14; 6:1, NW.
Are we among those "who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong"? It is through use that our mental capacities are expanded and trained. Are we training ours for idle chatter, for trivialities, for gossip, for complaining or murmuring? We are if that is how we use our lives. On the other hand, if we are using our minds to search out and digest all we possibly can from God's Word and from provided Bible helps, if we are using that newly gained knowledge by commenting at congregational meetings, if we put it to further use in preaching in field service, then such use and practice will train our perceptive powers so that our mental capacities will increase. This world has coined the slogan that practice makes perfect. Slogans are easy to coin, but analysis often shows them counterfeit. Practice does not make perfect—only God makes things perfect. Practice does make better, either better at being good or better at being bad, depending upon what we are practicing. Practice gossip, and you will get better at that sin. Practice godliness, and you will improve with Jehovah's help. Proper use of our perceptive powers will make us better students and ministers of God's Word, will keep us hot and active for him.
The apostle Paul, who counseled against shrinking back, is a good example of one who avoided this pitfall. No territory was tough enough to make him shrink back from it. On one occasion the Jews "stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining he was dead". Soon thereafter he entered this same city again for the purpose of preaching. (Acts 14:19-22, NW) He did not shrink away from the door-to-door work: "I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house." (Acts 20:20, NW) Persecutions did not daunt him: "Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a mad man, I am more outstandingly one: in labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in stripes to an excess, in near-deaths often. By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in travels often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness." 2 Cor. 11:23-27, NW.
Christ Jesus resisted all endeavors to make him shrink back. At the outset of his ministry the Devil tempted him in various subtle ways, but Jesus never wavered and finally voiced this abrupt dismissal to the tempter: "Go away, Satan!" (Matt. 4:10, NW) Later on one of his own apostles sought to turn him aside from the course of suffering that lay ahead: "Peter took him aside and commenced raising strong objections to him, saying: 'Be kind to yourself, Master; you will not have this destiny at all.'
But, turning his back, he said to Peter: 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumblingblock to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men.'" (Matt. 16:22, 23, NW) And even when his own flesh willed that the cup of ignominious death pass away, his zeal for the divine will took first place with him. Just before his betrayal and death on the torture stake he prayed three times, in substance: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will."—Matt. 26:39-44, NW.
GOOD EXAMPLES OUR MODELS
We are surrounded by a cloud of exemplary witnesses who lived before the time of Christ Jesus. "They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn asunder, they died by slaughter with the sword, they went about in sheep skins, in goat skins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment; and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth." But they did not shrink back. We have read of the trialsome experiences that befell Paul. Yet he did not shrink back. He advised: "Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ." And of the foremost model of integrity it is written: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." 1 Cor. 11:1; Heb. 11:37, 38; 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:21, NW.
We know when we are shrinking back, and so does God. We know when we do something because we want to, and when we do something because God wants us to. We know when we follow our own will, and when we follow God's will. That is, we can tell if we want to, but we seldom want to tell on ourselves. Many prefer to fool themselves, and think they fool others, and hope they fool God. But he is not mocked.
He knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees us as we are, whether we do or not. We must try to see ourselves as God sees us. We can raise questions in a self-examination. We have dedicated our body to him, but do we give it over to his will, or ours? Do we serve ourselves, or him? Do we measure up to our dedication, or do we draw back or shrink from keeping it? Do we let him use us his way, or do we insist he use us our way? What do we give up? What do we forego? What do we say no to ourselves about, in order to expand our ministry? Or do we pamper ourselves first, then excuse the pampering? Do we cater to the flesh and grieve the spirit or rejoice the spirit and browbeat the flesh? We cannot please both. (Rom. 8:7-13) Rather than enslave the spirit, Paul enslaved the flesh, that the spirit might be free. (1 Cor. 9:27) Many other searching questions we can confront ourselves with.
So the conclusion of the matter is that we should study God's Word and let it fire us to Kingdom activity, expand us to meet the ever-increasing demands that the field of witnessing makes upon us. Once started, we should keep up our warmth for God's cause by refueling from the inexhaustible source of Christian zeal, the Bible. An unfed fire dies out. An unreplenished leaky vessel runs dry. So we must keep fired by God's Word, filled with the waters of truth, use it to help others get active, use it at congregational meetings, use it in field service, use it in all possible ways and never allow it to cool off or shrink out of our lives. We must never freeze into a motionless state, but keep moving in service, expanding our ministry, hot for Jehovah and his cause. Then we can confidently take up the words: "We are not the kind that shrink back to destruction, but the kind that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul."
Jehovah's Merciful Provision
THE laws that Jehovah gave to the nation of Israel truly reflected his attributes of wisdom, justice and love. Particularly highlighting his justice was the statute that required that the malicious bearer of false witness be punished with the injury he sought to bring upon another: "The judges shall investigate the matter carefully, and if it turns out that the witness is malicious and that he has given false witness against his fellow, you must treat him as he meant his fellow to be treated; so shall you eradicate evil from your midst. The others shall hear and fear and never again be guilty of such a sin. You must have no mercy upon him; life for life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot."—Deut. 19:18-21, Mo.
On the other hand note the most merciful provision Jehovah made for the man who accidentally killed another; so that his life would not become the prey of the vengeance of the dead man's relatives: "When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that
the manslayer that killeth any person through error may flee thither. Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge." In view of the fact that there were neither bridges nor ferries spanning the Jordan, this provision for cities on each side was vital.—Num. 35:10, 11, 14, AS, margin.
"And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live; whoso killeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past; as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, so that he dieth; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live: lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past." Deut. 19:4-6, AS.
The six cities of refuge were among the forty-eight that were given to the Levites
because they had no inheritance in the land. Upon the arrival of a manslayer to the city of refuge there was a trial by the elders of the city to determine whether the slaying was truly accidental or not. If it was not accidental then the manslayer was turned over to the slain man's close-relative avenger to be put to death; if it was accidental then the manslayer, while having his life spared, was obliged to remain in this city of refuge until the death of the high priest serving at the time.
Failure to remain in the city could cost him his life. Num. 35:26-28.
Note that this merciful provision was available only if such a one "hated him not in time past". Thus even here God's law carried the implication that to hate one's
tions, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter." Concerning Satan's Babylonish organization it states: "In one day her plagues will come death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God who judged her is strong. 'Be glad over her, heaven, also you
neighbor was as murder. (1 John 3:15) How wise God's laws! How they uphold the majesty of his justice, while at the same time exalting his merciful kindness!
This merciful provision of God's law for Israel, being among 'all the things that were written aforetime for our instruction', has the greatest interest for us today. (Rom. 15:4, NW) How so? Let us see.
THE NOACHIAN COVENANT
Shortly after Noah and his family emerged from the ark Jehovah God made a solemn agreement with them. Among its
holy ones and you apostles and you prophets, because God has judicially exacted punishment for you from her!"—Isa. 24:5, AT; 34:2; Rev. 18:8, 20, NW.
Although this destruction at the hand of Jehovah is coming upon the rulers of the nations, they are not the only ones that are guilty in the sight of God. All those who have shed blood at the bidding of commercial, political and religious leaders are likewise guilty. And not only that, but to the extent that the people have given their support to such rulers, to that extent they also share in blame for the violation of the
terms were: "I will hold men accountable for one another's lives; whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image. I put my rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a symbol of the covenant between myself and the world. . . . the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it, and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature."—Gen. 9:5, 6, 13, 15, 16, AT.
The nations themselves have flagrantly
covenant concerning the sanctity of life. However, just as with the Israelites back there, Jehovah today has made provision that those who have been unwittingly involved in such bloodshed and persecution, that is, without willfulness and malice, may escape the death penalty by fleeing to modern "cities of refuge".
FINDING REFUGE TODAY
The Hebrew word translated "refuge" is used and applied only to these cities, and has the thought of an asylum or place of protection and safekeeping. What is this
violated this covenant by waging many wars and by willfully and maliciously persecuting Jehovah's servants. Regarding such violation of his covenant Jehovah says: "The earth is polluted through the touch of its inhabitants, because they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, broken the everlasting covenant." "For the indignation of the LORD is upon all na-
asylum? What are these modern cities of refuge? Since these cities of refuge were Levite cities and therefore composed of inhabitants who were specially dedicated to and engaged in Jehovah's service, they would well picture the organization of dedicated anointed Christians today, the new world society that they are forming, the new system of things under which they operate.
And since when has this place of refuge been made available to such unwitting manslayers, men of good will? Particularly since 1918, when the hope of surviving Jehovah's vengeance at Armageddon was strikingly advertised in the lecture "The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living Will Never Die".
Who is the avenger of blood? According to God's law the official executioner was to be a close relative, a near kin. In fact, the Hebrew word for avenger indicates that he was the close relative. The near kinsman or close relative of the human race who has been appointed as God's official executioner and avenger of all the blood unrighteously shed and for the persecution of his servants is Christ Jesus. By being born as a man he became the close relative of humankind.—Gal. 4:4, 5.
That Jehovah God has appointed him as judge and executioner is clearly to be seen from the Scriptures. "For the Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son. And he has given him authority to do judging, because Son of man he is." (John 5:22, 27, NW) "He judges and carries on war in righteousness. And he is arrayed with an outer garment sprinkled with blood, and the name he is called is The Word of God." The place where he will execute his judgments against all violators of the Noachian covenant "is called in Hebrew HarMagedon".—Rev. 19:11, 13; 16:16, NW.
The Scriptures speak of the avenger's blood being hot. The heart of Christ Jesus is indeed hot with righteous indignation against those who have willfully violated God's covenant. Like Jehu, he will proceed furiously against his enemies. (2 Ki. 9:20) This indicates that there is an urgency about fleeing to the city of refuge, God's organization, now. As Jehovah through Jeremiah warned: "Flee from the midst of Babylon, save everyone his life; perish
not through her guilt, for this is the LORD's time of vengeance—due recompense is he repaying to her."—Jer. 51:6, AT.
Upon arriving at the city of refuge the judges or elders of the city passed on the manslayer's right to remain in it. These elders or judges would well picture the mature dedicated anointed Christians today who are a part of the new system of things. They pass on the worthiness of manslayers to remain in the city in that they point out to such the Scriptural requirements for being spared at Armageddon, and in that they warn the willfully wicked of their impending execution by the avenger of blood, Christ Jesus.
Even as the Israelites were forbidden to take a ransom for a murderer or for one who had fled to a city of refuge so that he could return to his home, so today no one can buy his safety with worldly goods. "Wealth is of no avail on the day of wrath; but righteousness saves from death." (Num. 35:31, 32; Prov. 11:4, AT) They must become residents of the city of refuge by exercising faith in Jehovah God and in his Son, Christ Jesus, as their Savior and Redeemer and must dedicate themselves to Jehovah God. To such the command is given: "Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who do his will; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD."—Zeph. 2:3, AT.
How long must these remain in the city of refuge? Until the death of the high priest, or until after Armageddon, when the last of the priestly members of Christ's body die to join their Lord in the heavenly realm. Until that time let all dedicated servants of Jehovah make known his merciful provision for sparing unwitting manslayers, and let all men of good will, lovers of righteousness, take advantage of the merciful provision of Jehovah by fleeing to these cities of refuge, God's organization.
Purifying Worship in Nigeria
Breaking Down the Idols
NIGERIAN district servant writes as follows: "We traveled to our next assembly by bush trail, passing through many small villages. Not many villages in the Western world could boast of being so religious. At the entrance to every village hangs the juju, to keep evil away; but this is only the beginning. Do you see that pole with a chain round it? That is Awosi, the god of life. What's that at the entrance to that hut? A mound of earth with a pot on top. That is Umumogo, the family juju. That clay bird is Ugo, the juju of prediction. The life-size image of a man and wife is Ovugure, and the little wood carving of a man from waist up is Obo, the god of prosperity. And there is no missing Oghene, a forty-foot pole with a piece of white cloth atop. And there are the small houses of sacrifice on stilts. Inside can be seen shells, bones, bananas, yams, coconuts, bottles, etc.
"After we had finished the assembly a young man ran up and said, 'My father has just died and left me his compound. There are many jujus there. Will you come and destroy them?' The work was efficiently carried out."
Another district servant writes: "By 9 p.m. the public meeting had dispersed, and while false religion had been severely attacked by the sword of the spirit, soon it was to feel the literal ax and fire. A certain man formerly steeped in demon worship desired to be free. Fearing to destroy his idol gods, he came to the witnesses late in the evening, requesting them to do the job. An army of 100 witnesses set off in the night on a destructive mission. Death came to the idol gods at midnight! A mighty juju house was set on fire and into the crackling flames were thrown countless idols, charms, cowries, drums, vessels, pots, special garments, 'holy' feathers, and the like. Many of the neighbors joined the witnesses and cheered as the work went on. The demon gods succumbed to the fierce crackling flames and went up in smoke. As the fire roared the witnesses danced around singing Kingdom songs. The juju tree and its fence were hewed down and burned. Even the charms in the hair of the man's wife were cut out and burned.
These jujus through oracles were constantly forbidding them to eat this or that, to refrain from doing this or that, and were always making demands for the sacrifice of chickens and goats. The man had spent all his money satisfying his idol gods, with no benefit."
An Assembly Among Thieves
Imo River is a well-known place, not for its good, honest qualities, but as a center for rogues. Here is the headquarters of the most noted robbers and thieves in the whole province. It was at this place that Jehovah's witnesses began arriving for their circuit assembly. The chief of the robbers approached the circuit servant and offered his compound for some of the witnesses to stay in. Was he sincere or just seeking an opportunity to ply his trade? Noticing the hesitation on the part of the circuit servant he said, "I want Jehovah's witnesses to stay in my home. It may help me to see the truth. I can assure you that not even one small pin will be missing from your people. I mean it. You know we have our union, and all must abide by the rules." Seventeen witnesses stayed in his compound. In this town of notorious thieves, through which no one will ever dare to pass at night, not one conventioner lost even the smallest article. The people said they were happy to be with a clean people. Jesus said that publicans and harlots would enter the Kingdom before the self-righteous clergy. We are reminded of another thief that died alongside Jesus and secured the promise of a resurrection. It remains to be seen how many from this town of thieves will abandon the old world.
Mohammedan Impressed by Christian Conduct At Oshogbo a new cinema was engaged for the circuit assembly. The owner, a Mohammedan, charged £2 ($5.60). After the assembly this man approached us and said that he thought we were like the general run of the people and would break a few chairs, deface the premises and continue into the small hours of the morning. But, oh, what a difference! Would we be offended if he returned the money? 'Let me know any time you want the cinema again. I will fix it up for you specially. It will be an honor.'
GOD'S WAY IS LOVE
"God is love."—1 John 4:16, Knox.
Our God-fearing readers will be interested to note that all the scriptures used in this article are taken from Catholic editions of the Holy Scriptures. The best-known English Catholic edition is the Douay-Rheims Version, which was revised by Bishop R. Challoner and published with the approval of the Catholic Church. Another version now growing in popularity and written in modern English is the translation by Monsignor Ronald A. Knox. These are the two recognized Catholic versions of the Holy Bible quoted herein.
You will be pleased at observing how, from these two translations of the Divine Word, the wonderful works of God are shown, which prove that "God's way is love", and you will see what blessings are in store for faithful mankind through God's arrangement. With the Holy Scriptures at hand, if you have a copy, read the lecture herein printed as given by the president of the Watch Tower Society at an advertised public meeting and at the same time broadcast over a well-known New York radio station.
THE Most High God, who created mankind, gave us his written Word, the Holy Scriptures, and set forth many promises therein. These prophecies foretold that in time a holy One would be brought forth to bless all the families of the earth. That promised One was Jesus Christ. Today mankind, conceived in iniquities, conceived in sins, wonders why there is so much difficulty, why so much pain, sickness and sorrow among men, why so much selfishness and discontent in this world, so long after this promised One, Jesus Christ, was brought forth. Mankind wants and seeks blessings. So they ask: "If Jesus Christ is the promised Seed of God and he is to bring blessings that will affect men of all nations, why is not something done about it now?" Will you continue reading and understand why from the Holy Scriptures?
2 Over nineteen centuries ago Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. He was born of a woman highly favored of God, the
virgin Mary. One of the most wonderful things that ever occurred on earth was this miracle, a man-child born of a virgin. It was Almighty God in heaven who, through his holy spirit, transferred the life of his heavenly Son to the virgin's womb and in due time brought forth the promised Seed. God's prophet Isaias had foretold this: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son: and his name shall be called Emmanuel." (Isa. 7:14, Dy) Jesus' mother was of the line of King David and so could bring forth his royal heir. She was the virgin chosen to bring forth the Seed of promise. She knew of this because the Lord's angel, Gabriel, came and spoke to her, as the record in the Holy Bible says:
"Then the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; thou hast found favour in the sight of God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him Jesus. He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; his kingdom shall never have an end.
(a) Who was God's promised One? (b) Since he was brought forth so long ago, what question do men ask today?
2, 3. (a) Where and how was this promised One born? (b) How did the virgin Mary know he would be born by her?
But Mary said to the angel, How can that be, since I have no knowledge of man? And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the most High will overshadow thee. Thus that holy thing which is to be born of thee shall be known for the Son of God."—Luke 1:30-35, Knox.
4 This marvelous miracle was performed in fulfillment of God's promise, a virgin bringing forth the Son of God, and His further promise will also have fulfillment, "His kingdom shall never have an end." Why, then, was God's Son brought forth in this manner? Primarily to make known the name, the Word and the kingdom of the Most High God, his Father in heaven. In his ministry Jesus himself told us that very thing: "No man has ever seen God; but now his only-begotten Son, who abides in the bosom of the Father, has himself brought us a clear message." (John 1:18, Knox) Yes, this Son, who had resided with his Father in his prehuman existence, was transferred from heaven to earth and made a "little less than the angels" to give us a clear message from his Father. He knew his Father, and we come to know the Father because the Son was with the Father. For the Son said in prayer to the Father: "I have exalted thy glory on earth, by achieving the task which thou gavest me to do; now, Father do thou exalt me at thy own side, in that glory which I had with thee before the world began. I have made thy name known to the men whom thou hast entrusted to me, chosen out of the world." (John 17:4-6, Knox) Thus Jesus' primary purpose on this earth was to make known his Father's name, Word and kingdom. His secondary purpose was to provide the ransom sacrifice for mankind. These two purposes accomplished by
Jesus are great blessings that affect us all. So this gift of God, this sending of his Son into the world for these purposes, shows the great love that God has for us and proves that God's way is love. Time and again he has manifested his love toward mankind, and he is constantly arranging for blessing them, even though man today thinks that God is slow in doing it. But are we patient enough to find out further what God has done, is doing and will yet do for us? Let us read on, then.
6 From his walking with Jesus Christ, the apostle John tells us that "God is love", which means that His way is love in guiding and dealing with mankind. "How can the man who has no love have any knowledge of God, since God is love? What has revealed the love of God, where we are concerned, is that he has sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. That love resides, not in our shewing any love for God, but in his shewing love for us first, when he sent out his Son to be an atonement for our sins. Beloved, if God has shewn such love to us, we too must love one another. No man has ever seen God; but if we love one another, then we have God dwelling in us, and the love of God has reached its full growth in our lives."-1 John 4:8-13, Knox.
Seeing what God has done in fulfilling his own prophecies in the Scriptures, by sending his only-begotten Son into the world to help man to understand and become acquainted with his Creator, certainly we must say that God is love. From the way Jesus taught us and the way the inspired Holy Scriptures teach us we can realize that God is LOVE. But what a difference there is when it comes to the things that men teach us today about God! In
For what two purposes was Jesus born in this manner?
What, then, is God's way, and how do we show we know God?
What great attribute has God thus been manifesting to mankind?
In view of what men teach about God in contrast with what his Word teaches, what questions are we led to ask?
view of such teachings of men and seeing that God has done so much with our eternal blessing in mind, we are led to ask: If God is love, how could there be a place of eternal torment, called hell, where billions of human creatures in God's image are said to go after death of the body? There fire and brimstone are said to be burning for eternity and condemned souls are said to remain there without release, in conscious torment. How could there be even such a place as "purgatory", where souls are said to endure excruciating pains while they await their release to be taken to heaven? Why should it be God's will that the vast majority of people should live and suffer in such poverty and distress, so that many people say man has his hell right here on earth? How can God's being love harmonize with such ideas and teachings of men? When the God-fearing people at Berea were taught certain things even by the apostle Paul, they went "daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so". (Acts 17:11, Dy) We can be just as noble as those Bereans were by doing the same thing.
8 In their present condition those of mankind are miserable. What man is not sorrowful? He lives a few years and then goes into death. After that, according to certain teachings in this world, if he has not been a good man he must go to eternal torment in the fires of hell. Patient Job, a man who loved and served God, said this: "Man, born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries." (Job 14:1, Dy) Does it not appear that man has enough trouble on earth without having to go to a place of eternal torment after he dies in order to experience more and worse misery? So we listen with interest to what Job has to say further: "A tree hath hope. If it
be cut, it groweth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout. If its root be old in the earth, and its stock be dead in the dust: at the scent of water, it shall spring, and bring forth leaves, as when it was first planted. But man when he shall be dead, and stripped, and consumed, I pray you where is he?" (Job 14:7-10, Dy) A tree is beautiful; it is God's creation, but it is not intelligent.
9 Man is intelligent, in God's image, and are we to believe that God loves a tree more than man, that a tree after it is cut down will sprout and grow again, but man—no; even though he has lived in his miseries here, God torments him more after death? None of us like death. We should like to sprout again as a green tree does, and we should like to live in pleasant surroundings, if only we knew how. But after death where is man? Job asked. Did Job believe he was in a burning hell, a fiery purgatory, or even a limbo?
10 What did Job know about this subject of "hell"? At the time Job was covered with boils due to a sickness brought upon him by Satan the Devil. He was really a man in misery on earth. So in view of popular teachings about "hell", is it not strange that Job should say this to God: "Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell, and hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a time when thou wilt remember me"? (Job 14:13, Dy) Here Job, in his misery, prays to God in heaven to hide him in hell. Can you imagine his wanting to go there if hell is a place of terrible conscious torment? Certainly Job had enough trouble and was not wanting to hop out of a frying pan into a fire. No, he did not. But to avoid this seeming contradiction some have imagined that there must be a part of hell that is blissful and another part for torment. On the contrary, Job prayed as he did because he knew God's arrangements and knew what "hell" in the Holy Scriptures means.
He knew that sometime in the future God would remember all those that had gone to this Scriptural "hell", and would give them an opportunity in a new world, "in which justice dwelleth." (2 Pet. 3:13, Dy) So what is that "hell"?
11 One writer of the Psalms had this to say about it: "Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and poor together. They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning: and their help shall decay in hell from their glory." (Ps. 48:2,3,15,Dy) Sheep are not in hell, but sheep are slaughtered by the millions. In such great numbers, too, men die and go to the Scriptural "hell". There the psalmist says that death feeds upon them and their help decays, but he adds: "But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me." Ps. 48:16, Dy.
12 Another writer of Psalms says: "Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell?" (Ps. 88:49, Dy) By no human means of his own or of another man can any person living on earth today escape the Scriptural "hell". Why man has been obliged to see death is that he has been born a sinner due to the sin of our first
parents Adam and Eve in the "paradise of pleasure". "The wages of sin is
death. But the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23, Dy) Since all have been obliged to go to the Scriptural "hell", was it in order to have their souls tortured in any way? How could that happen to sinful souls, when God says, at Ezechiel 18:4 (Dy), this: "Bchold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die"? So, from the Holy Scriptures, man goes out of existence when he goes to "hell", for his soul dies, making it impossible for his soul to be tormented for a time or for eternity.
13 If anyone wants to argue that hell is a place of conscious fiery torment, then he must argue, too, that Christ Jesus, the Son of God, this one born of the virgin Mary, also went to a place of soul torment to take the place of sinful mankind. Speaking of Jesus' resurrection, the apostle Peter said: "For David saith concerning him: . . . Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. . . . he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell: neither did his flesh see corruption." (Acts 2:25-31, Dy) The Scriptural hell in which Jesus was for parts of three days is mankind's common grave, and it was from this grave that his heavenly Father raised him on the third day. In proof of this Mgr. Knox's translation of Acts 2:27, 31 does not use the word "hell" as the Douay Version does, but reads: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in the place of death, or allow thy
Who are laid like sheep in hell, and what hope is there for them?
(a) Why have men been obliged to see death? (b) Why could their going to hell not be to have their souls tormented?
(a) If hell means torment, then what must we argue about Jesus? (b) How does comparing the Douay and the Knox translations show what hell is?
faithful servant to see corruption. It was of the Christ he said, foreseeing his resurrection, that he was not left in the place of death, and that his body did not see corruption."
14 The Holy Scriptures speak of the dead as being asleep, not as consciously suffering torment. The dead could not be tormented by going to the Scriptural "hell", because that word is translated into English from the Hebrew word she.ol' in the Old Scriptures and from the Greek word ha'des in the New Scriptures. Out of 65 times that the Hebrew word she.ol' occurs, the Douay Version translates it 63 times "hell" and once "pit" and once "death". (Job 17:16; Osee 13:14, Dy) But at Job 14:13, quoted above (10), Mgr. Knox translates she.ol' "grave" instead of "hell", and he translates it "grave" instead of "hell" at other places also. (Gen. 37:35; 42:38, Knox) Thus Catholic scholarship recognizes that the Scriptural "hell" is the common grave of mankind.
15 So when anyone dies and goes to hell, does he have any feeling there? Does he have any senses that would make him subject to any torment? God's Word, not man's word, answers: "For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing more. Neither have they a reward any more: for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge, shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening." (Eccl. 9:5, 10, Dy) In this scripture, instead of "hell", Mgr. Knox translates she ol' as "grave". Certainly if a person were alive in purgatory or in hell, he must have some reason, some knowledge, some senses, in order to feel the torture and pain that some teachers tell us a person suffers
there after death. To the contrary, we are told definitely, at Psalm 145:4 (Dy) : "His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish." And at Psalm 6:6 (Dy) : "For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who shall confess to thee in hell?" According to the Holy Scriptures, when a man dies he stops thinking and feeling; he goes to "hell", the Scriptural hell, which is the common grave, and there he is asleep until the resurrection. He does not enjoy any conscious rest there.
16 Jesus' friend Lazarus was dead in the grave for four days. Jesus, talking to his disciples about Lazarus' death, said he was asleep. His disciples thought Jesus meant he was not yet dead but merely resting. John 11:11-15 (Knox) tells us: "He told them, Our friend Lazarus is at rest now; I am going there to awake him. But, Lord, the disciples said to him, if he is rested, his life will be saved. Jesus had been telling them of his death; but they supposed he meant the rest which comes with sleep. So now Jesus told them openly, Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I am glad I was not there; it will help you to believe. But come, let us make our way to him." Jesus had a wonderful opportunity here of showing what the resurrection would be in the new world, by bringing forth Lazarus who was actually dead and in the grave. On his arrival Lazarus' sister Martha said to Jesus: "If thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died." Later Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb, but there is nothing in the Holy Scriptures to show that Lazarus said anything about being in a hell of fiery torment or in purgatory for four days or in a limbo, or of being in heaven with the holy angels. Certainly if Lazarus had been any place else than in the grave
How does Catholic authority show "hell" is the common grave?
Does anyone have any feeling in hell? What do the Scriptures show?
What did the experience of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, show about those in hell?
and if his soul had gone off alive into space somewhere, he would have known it when he returned to Bethany his home town. He would have told the apostle John and then the apostle John would have reported it in his Holy Gospel. But he did not do so. So Lazarus experienced just what Ecclesiastes 9:10 said, that there is no wisdom, knowledge, sense, activity in the hell or grave to which man goes at death.
God never could have contemplated anything like purgatory or eternal torment in hell. That would be the farthest thing from his mind. Proof that God never thought of such a thing is set forth in his Holy Bible, where he objects to such a thing, saying: "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Ennom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire: which I commanded not nor thought on in my heart." God never had such an idea for his creatures, and yet his apostate people took their sons and daughters and burned them in the fire to idols and images of false gods. At this God said: "Here the gods of the countryside must have their hill-shrines, and children must be burnt as a sacrifice in their honour; a rite not of my prescribing, or enjoining, or imagining." (Jer. 7:31, Dy; and 19:5, Knox) No, a loving God never could imagine tormenting creatures made in his image, putting humans alive in fire as a sacrifice. Much less could his love let him think of a doctrine of eternal torment or purgatorial torment in fire for human souls after death.
18 When fire is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures it indicates complete destruction, not eternal torment; as, for instance, in this text at 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (Dy) : "And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven with the angels of his power: in a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his power." Here "destruction" does not mean spoiling or damaging. When God destroys or burns something, he puts it completely out of existence.
19 Now those who hate God he will not bless. Psalm 144:20 (Dy) states: "The Lord keepeth all them that love him: but all the wicked he will destroy." His expression of love will not go out to those who are his haters; but to those who love him God does exercise mercy: "I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Ex. 20:5, 6, Dy) You note that God shows his anger only toward those who hate him. He does not show hatred against people just because they are born of certain fathers in a sinful condition. Every grown-up person is a free moral agent. He can decide for himself whom he will serve. Those who hate God and reject him he will not love. His mercy he shows to thousands of them that love him. It pays to be God-fearing and show love toward God. It preserves us from God's fiery destruction of the wicked.
EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE
20 Everything God has done and will do in the future is prompted by love. It could not be otherwise, since "God is love". Our very existence is an expression of his love. He created us, giving us life. "For with thee is the fountain of life." (Ps. 35:10,
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