The Watchtower, February 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
FEBRUARY 15, 1954
Semimonthly
THE MEMORY OF GOD
JEHOVAH'S "BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE"
OBSERVE THE COMMANDMENT IN A
SPOTLESS WAY
RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
—PARABLE OR NARRATIVE?
FREEDOM FROM FEAR
©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
<tr><th>CONTENTS
Spiritual Apathy Torments Clergy
“Observe the Commandment in a Spotless and Irreprehensible Way”
Threats Fail to Shake Converted Sikh
Freedom from Fear—It Can Be Attained!
Burner of Bible Literature Burns Idols
The Rich Man and Lazarus —Parable or Narrative?
The Memory of God
Jehovah’s “Book of Remembrance”
Priest Apologizes for Lies
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
Abbreviations used in “The Watchtower” for the following Bible versions
AS – American Standard Version
LXX – The Septuagint Version
AT – An American Translation
Mo – James Moffatt’s version
Da – J. N. Darby’s version
NW – New World Translation
Dy – Catholic Douay version
Ro – J. B. Rotherham’s version
ED – The Emphatic Diaglott
RS – Revised Standard Version
Le – Isaac Leeser’s version
Yg – Robert Young’s version
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Act of March 3,1879. Printed in U.S.A.
SPIRITUAL APATHY TORMENTS CLERGY
HY are the clergy alarmed? It is not just because the specter of communism hovers over Christendom, threatening to claim professed Christians. No, there is something else. It is the colossus of spiritual apathy that stalks Christendom. The lukewarm, even icy indifference of the clergy's flock is tormenting the shepherds. Really, the clergy's complaints should prove to be not only electrifying but also enlightening to anyone who seeks to know the truth.
Just how much do people today believe their religion? Enough to preach their faith to others? Enough to "preach the word" as all true Christians are commanded to do? (2 Tim. 4:2) Recently, John O'Brien, priest and Notre Dame philosopher, conducted a poll among a representative cross section of the American church public. It revealed that the Catholics who had never made any kind of attempt to preach their faith to others were 72 per cent of the flock! (Catholic Digest, June, 1953) Not only that, but a different survey showed "that as much as one-half the Catholics in many places are non-practicing, if Easter duty and regular Sunday Mass attendance are taken as the norm." (Catholic Information magazine, August, 1953) Since all true Christians must never forsake the assembling of themselves together and must be preachers of the word, how obvious that there is spiritual apathy and anemia afflicting the Catholic fold!—Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 9:16; 4:16.
What of the Protestants? Let the clergy make the sweeping complaint. Declared the pastor of New York's Riverside Church, Robert J. McCracken, as reported in the New York Times of July 13, 1953: " [Christendom] must 'face the fact' that a large proportion of the 680,000,000 Christians in the world are little more than 'nominal Christians, ignorant of what Christianity stands for in some cases, apathetic and indifferent in many more, their religion a second-hand affair.'"
It should not have to take a clergyman's sermon to awaken any observing person to the fact that Christendom's "Christians" are Christians in name only! Is it not obvious that most churchgoers devote more time to newspapers, amusements and other interests than they do to their faith? Preacher McCracken's words, "It is extraordinary how little people know of what Christianity really is," should torment the clergy! Are regular churchgoers any better off spiritually than the irregular? Admits preacher McCracken: "Even among church members essential Christian belief is widely unknown and in consequence feebly held."—New York Times, October 5, 1953.
Intensely alarmed are the clergy in England. London's News Chronicle (April 18, 1953) reported: "The Gallup Poll discovered some time ago that on two Sundays in August and September not more than 12 per cent of the men in Britain and not more than 18 per cent of the women had gone to church."
The News Chronicle also reported the words of two Catholic bishops: "England is not a Catholic country, said Bishop Heenan, yet on Sunday mornings more people attend Catholic services than those of all other denominations." And the bishop of Leeds declared: "The overwhelming majority of Englishmen have no religion at all."
That this spiritual apathy is tormenting the English clergy is manifest from The Christian Century for May 27,1953: "Clergy of several denominations attest the almost pagan conditions of 'spiritual vacuum' under which they are compelled to labor. In February the Archbishop of York declared that missionary work was needed in England as much as overseas. .Anglican doctrines and creeds are becoming meaningless to the majority and unacceptable to the educated minority. Services of worship based on the Prayer Book, litany and creeds are couched in a language that seems archaic to many."
In Europe the Roman Catholic clergy have long been tormented by the apathy of the workers toward the church. Now from South America bemoanings of spiritual apathy are heard. By whom? By a Catholic priest himself! In the book Chilean Catholicism priest Humberto Muñoz writes of the Catholics' "shameful ignorance" of the Bible. He explains: "I am convinced that the Latin language is a wall separating priest from people. If we Catholics were to promote a spiritual revival that led to Bible-reading and made our worship understandable, our people would not need to go to Protestants to beg for spiritual food."
called on during 1953 to "stop pussyfooting and being timid." A Brooklyn Baptist pastor called Protestantism a "weak and divided voice," and "a middle class solarium where tired old spiritual limbs are warmed a bit from week to week." The very magazine designed to defend Protestantism, The American Protest, October, 1953, said: "Unless the world finds it again, Protestantism will shrivel and die. . . . What reason can there be for the closing of so many Protestant churches? Whom can we blame it on? The blame rests squarely on Protestant Christians themselves."
But can Protestantism spiritually nourish its own adherents? It is not doing it in England. Episcopalians in America were
The clergy, tormented by spiritual apathy and looking for a scapegoat, now pin the blame on their flock. But think! Who really bears the blame for the fact that "Christians" succumb to godless communism, that vast numbers lack zeal to preach their belief, that they are "ignorant of what Christianity stands for," that the "overwhelming majority" in England have no religion at all, that Christendom is a "spiritual vacuum," that the clergy's doctrines and creeds are "meaningless" to common people, "unacceptable" to the learned, that the rule is a "shameful ignorance" of the Bible, that Protestantism is shriveling and dying and that Catholics need "to beg for spiritual food"? Who is to blame? None other than the clergy themselves! The ones responsible for feeding the flock! "By your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 12:37, NW) Self-condemned stand the clergy! Their own mouths admit their flock is apathetic, starved, hungry. The clergy's cupboard is filled with stupefying traditions and creeds but empty of spiritual food. As foretold, a famine is here, "not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah."—Amos 8:11, AS.
Because the clergy have no spiritual food they have resorted to ritualism, processions, imposing cathedrals, choirs, archaic language and dead tongues.
This hides their bare cupboard, but does not hide the effects of the famine-spiritual apathy! Jesus preached a clear, inspiring message, the Kingdom the hope of the world. Today Jehovah's witnesses are bringing to the hungry people the good news of God's kingdom. Soon Armageddon's war will wipe out heathendom and Christendom.
(Jer. 25:29,33) God's new world will be ushered in. So now is the time to stop 'spending money for that which is not bread.' Now is the time to flee from Christendom's famine-stricken churches! Now is the time to feed upon solid spiritual food. Yes, now is the time to awake to the hope that never-ending life in Jehovah's paradise new world can be yours.—Isa. 55:2; Rev. 18:4; 21:1,4; 22:17.
"Observe the Commandment in a Spotless and Irreprehensible Way"
SEVERAL years ago a heavyweight boxing champion knocked out his opponent, but he lost the title because he struck a foul blow. In the last Olympic games one of the runners in a race was disqualified because he got out of his lane. The apostle Paul likened a Christian to one competing in an athletic contest, a fight or a race, saying: "Do you not know that the runners in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may attain it. Moreover, every man taking part in a contest exercises self-control in all things. Now they, of course, do it that they may get a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one. Therefore, the way I am running is not uncertainly; the way I am directing my blows is so as not to be striking the air; but I browbeat my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow."—1 Cor. 9:24-27, NW.
An athlete in training refrains from certain foods and activities, and at the same
time makes sure that other foods are
on his menu and certain exercises are faithfully performed. He adheres to a rigid selfcontrol that amounts to a browbeating of his body so that he can run or fight at peak efficiency and effectiveness. If he slacks off, his athletic performance will suffer and he will not gain the approval that comes to the victor. Similarly, one who runs the Christian course must stay in the narrow and cramped lane that leads to life. He must not get out of line, must not waver or wobble or run uncertainly, because if he does get off the course marked out in the Bible he is disqualified, regardless of any burst of speed he might show in field service. The Christian engaging in godly warfare does not swing wide of the target and hit only empty air, nor does he become guilty of striking low or foul blows that would result in his being disqualified and disfellowshiped. He runs straight and true to the Christian course and his blows land clean and hard on the Scriptural targets.
THE TRAINING RULES
Jehovah God teaches and trains and disciplines those who run for him and fight for his cause. He sets forth the rules in the Bible and applies them through his organization. We must conform to them to win. He commands us to study, to make our minds over, to oust the bad and fill them with the good, to meditate on his teachings day and night. Do you? He tells us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, that he is in the midst of his assembled people. Through his visible organization he provides training sessions, such as book studies, Watchtower studies, ministry school sessions and service meetings. He commands us to attend and be trained for preaching activity. Do you? If we do not train according to his rules, our spiritual muscles will be soft and flabby, and when we get out into the field of competition of religious ideas we shall not be properly conditioned. We may waver and be uncertain in our words. When we encounter false doctrine our verbal blows against it may miss the point or may be landed in an unfair and tactless way, instead of with clean but crushing force on the key issue. We may return from the service with our untrained spiritual muscles battered by Satan and bruised by the persecutions we encounter, and the enemy may knock us out of effective victories that are the lot of the well-trained theocratic witness of Jehovah.—2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:8; Ps. 1:2; Heb. 10:25.
Just as there are rules commanding certain things, so there are regulations prohibiting other things. The Christian is forbidden to gossip, to strive, to murmur, to complain, to be always finding fault with his brothers, or his congregation, or his servants, or the visible organization and the spiritual provisions coming through it. He is forbidden to fear men, for that would entangle him in the snare of
fear and hamper him in running the race. He must not fear persecution, for that would scare him out of the fight. To become heady or conceited or go off on the tangent of seeking worldly riches or fame is not for those in training for Christian warfare. As in the case of athletes, Christians must watch their eating and drinking, not going to the point of gluttony or drunkenness. Deeper and deeper this old world is sinking into the mire of immorality, but those training for life in Jehovah's new world of righteousness must side-step such quagmires and never become bogged down in them. Such uncleannesses would cause Christians to become disqualified; such wavering off the true course and such low and foul actions would eliminate them from the Christian contest of faith and right works.—1 Tim. 5:13; Rom. 16:17; Jude 16; Prov. 29:25; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:10; 1 Pet. 4:3, 4.
The training rules forbid the works of the flesh, but there is no law curtailing the fruitage of the spirit: "The works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, hatreds, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning you, the same way as I did forewarn you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom. On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impale the flesh together with its passions and desires." (Gal. 5:19-24, NW) We cannot give fallen flesh the floor; if we do it will floor us and we shall be counted out of the New World society. If we start catering to the whims of the flesh we are finished, because the flesh has a dangerous appetite that is insatiable.
It has a taste for sin from inheritance, and it will get us into sinful habits if we let it. The more we heed it the greater its control over us will become, until it crowds out of our lives the fruitage of the spirit. So for our protection we must impale its passions. We must not break training.
IRREPREHENSIBLE SERVICE
The apostle Paul said: "I give you orders that you observe the commandment in a spotless and irreprehensible way." (1 Tim. 6:13, 14, NW) This commandment that was to be spotlessly observed embraced the whole Christian course, as shown by the context. It was not merely commanding a work of public preaching. It involved godly devotion, faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper, the shunning of riches and the pursuit of righteousness. It is not just the way we preach for a few or many hours a month, but the way we live, all the time. One might put in many hours preaching in the field service, revisit interested persons, conduct home Bible studies, bring sheeplike persons to the meetings and even train them to become ministers by taking them out in field service; and yet he might fall short. Remember Paul's words quoted earlier: "I browbeat my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow." If he did not beat down his bodily fleshly weaknesses, all the preaching activity possible would not prevent his disapproval. It is not just observing the commandment, but observing it "in a spotless and irreprehensible way."
As the Bible states at 2 Timothy 2:5 (NW): "Moreover, if anyone contends even in the games, he is not crowned unless he has contended according to the rules." So all the rules, whether they are the rules for training or for preaching or for daily living, must be observed to the
best of our ability if we are to gain life in the new world. Where we fall short, even after sincere and earnest efforts on our part, we can ask for and receive Jehovah's mercy and forgiveness. We show we are willing to obey, want to obey, and try to obediently conform to the theocratic rules. When we miss the mark because of inherited weaknesses Jehovah is not harsh and void of understanding and mercy. But he wants to see a good and honest effort now, to demonstrate that we will put forth every effort in the new world. If we refuse to try now, we shall not be miraculously reformed by Armageddon. Now is the time for our testing, to see what our course of conduct would be in the new world. If we have an uncontrollable urge now to gossip, or quarrel, or complain, or be heady or arrogant or selfish, or to let the lusts of the flesh take over—if we give in to such sins now it is likely that we would lean toward them then, in the new world. But if we fight against them now, we shall gain a complete victory over them in the new world. So we must try to live now as we hope to live then, observing all the divine rules.
There is a time for every purpose under the sun, and now is the time for clean worship. Now is the time for us to fight for Jehovah and his organization and our brothers, submerging the personal desires and passions of the flesh. Give everything to Jehovah now, and he will give everything to us then, in his new world. Talking about it is easy, living it is hard. The best sermons are seen, not heard; are lived, not spoken. If we do not take the time to practice them, we should not waste the time to preach them. The best prayers are sometimes not said on our knees, but in the conduct of our daily lives. If we will not make room for their fulfillment in our lives, we should not take time saying them on our knees. We should not pray one way, and act another.
We should not pray for unity, and then gossip; or for peace, and then strive; or for spiritual food, and then privately speculate; or for organizational prosperity and increase, and then not preach; or for a clean organization, and then slip into immorality. What we pray we should mean, and be willing to browbeat our body into conformity with our prayers.
Hence, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the leader and perfecter of our faith, Jesus." Christians are instructed: "To this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." We must adhere to the rules as we contend for the faith. Runners must not break
stride by looking back; neither should Christians look back instead of ahead. Paul said: "Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead, I am pursuing down toward the goal for the prize of the calling above." As we run we must not look back to the old world, or wobble or waver uncertainly out of course. As we fight we must not foul out because of dirty conduct, but land blows that are clean and hard. To do this we must study and assemble and work together, spotlessly observe the commandment together, and then by Jehovah's undeserved kindness we will all win together. May he help us to that victory.—Heb. 12:1, 2; 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 3:13, 14; Luke 9:62; 17:32, NW.
Threats Fail to Shake Converted Sikh
CHRISTIAN missionaries in Moslem lands find many men of good will who would gladly accept Christianity with its worship of the true God, Jehovah, except for the fear of persecution of one kind or another, ranging from social ostracism to threat of death. However, the Sikh who accepts true Christianity has even more determined opposition and pressure brought upon him. In view of this fact the following experience of a Sikh's being converted will be of particular interest.
In Bangkok, Siam, a Watchtower missionary was calling at the home of one who had previously manifested interest in the Bible. That particular person was not at home, but on the premises was another Indian sitting in a little shop selling spices and who smilingly asked the missionary what his purpose was. Of course, the missionary gave him a witness, which very much appealed to this Indian, who happened to be a Hindu. Shortly a Bible study was started, and after several months this Hindu joined the witnesses in telling others what he had learned. He also preached among his close friends and, as a result, one of them, a Sikh, took his stand for Jehovah and Christianity.
This Sikh, because of his zeal to read the Bible and to preach to others what he learned, has suffered much persecution from his fellow Indians living in his community. He was even threatened with bodily harm by his father-in-law, but neither did this deter him in any way. A deputation of fifteen Indians called upon him and appealed to him not to abandon his old religion and to stop bringing shame and reproach upon their Indian community. However, he told them that he was surprised that only fifteen came to try to change his mind, adding: "If a whole army tried to make me surrender the truth, I would never do it, because it is the truth!"
Both these Indian witnesses, the former Hindu and the former Sikh, are now zealously and persistently publishing the good news to everyone they meet, rich and poor, and have been very successful in bringing persons to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witnesses to hear and see for themselves. The wife of one of them has also taken her stand for the truth. Truly it is God's will "that all kinds of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth."—1 Tim. 2:4, NW. FREEDOM FROM FEAR
IT CAN BE ATTAINED!
ARE you afraid?
Many people are today. Sometimes it gets to the point where just reading the newspaper can make fear grip at one's heart. Listening to the radio, talking to friends, or just thinking about the muddled world situation can bring up the fear of war and the horror of the atomic bomb. The world has war nervousness, not over just the big issues between East and West, but also over other differences between France and Germany, Italy and Yugoslavia, Israel and the Arabs, India and Pakistan. The world is fearful because of the peace failure, because of increasing delinquency. The scientists are frightened and the clergy are fearful.
Britain's Archbishop of Canterbury said: "We must not for a moment allow ourselves to regard war as inevitable; but the fear of it broods over the face of the earth." A president of Harvard University said that somehow "youth must be taught to walk with confidence in spite of monstrous weapons . . . inflation . . depression." The editor of London's New Statesman and Nation wrote: "Nothing more astonishes the European visitor [to the United States] than evidence of fear—the directions to public underground shelters in New York, the periodic air-raid practices."
Man is afraid, not only of atomic war, but of crime and corruption, of inflated bureaucracy, of disease that could maim
and cripple him and his family, of loss of wealth and financial failure, and, not the least, of appearing inferior to other men. He is afraid of storms and natural catastrophes, of the unknown, of what "might happen," of accidents and violent death. Jesus' prediction has proved true: "On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."—Luke 21:25, 26, NW.
Has man fought this fear? Yes, he has even gone to war to overcome it. Before Christ was born the Roman orator Cicero said: "Wars are to be undertaken in order that it may be possible to live in peace without molestation." Two thousand years later wars are still being undertaken, but man does not yet live in peace! World War I did not abolish democracy's fears; World War II did not establish the four freedoms. Fear continues.
All human attempts to banish it have failed, because the world is still in the dark as to the one behind the increasing causes of fear. Without some light on the matter all man's efforts against this adversary are just so much beating of the air. Yet, there is no need for this darkness. A bright beacon light points squarely at the one responsible; a light spurned by most men because it is not of their making. It is the light of God's Word, the Bible. It is a guide to overcoming fear, but modern man in this conceited atomic age often considers God's Word impractical. Man's failure is obvious.
His fear drives him to spend thousands of millions of dollars on atomic bombs, which add to his dread, but in his stubbornness he will rarely spend a few hours to learn the hope that the atom's Maker gives for man today.
Communism, crooked politicians, an unequal economic system, disease, and even death, these are causes of fear; but the instigator is the actual wicked spirit creature, Satan the Devil, who challenged the supremacy of the Almighty God, was condemned to death, but has been allowed to remain temporarily to have his challenge against God fail, proving once and for all eternity that Jehovah, the Almighty Creator, is the supreme sovereign.—Job 1:9-11; 2:3-5; Ex. 9:16.
Satan's existence is not just legendary, is not just the imagination of some men, nor merely a personification of evil. That Satan is an actual living creature was shown by Paul, who said: "The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers." And by Peter: "Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone." And by the account of Jesus' temptation: "The Tempter came and said to him . . . Then the Devil took him along into the holy city . . . Again the Devil took him along into an unusually high mountain, . . . and he said to him: 'All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.' Then Jesus said to him: 'Go away, Satan!'" It is because of Satan's wicked rule over earth that Jesus said: "My kingdom is no part of this world." Thus, Satan is an actual creature, and in his efforts to turn men from God he is prompting the wickedness of earth today. 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Pet. 5:8; Matt. 4:1-11; John 18:36, NW.
However, Satan's rule is not permanent. The Bible promises it will end. Jesus showed that, just before it would end, fear and perplexity would increase and that all these things would be "a beginning of pangs of distress." Their increase is at Satan's instigation: "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." Should this add to one's fear? No: "As these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." Deliverance? Yes, for just as the fig tree's putting forth leaves indicates summer is near, so the fearful conditions Jesus described in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 indicate Satan's destruction is at hand, and that "this generation [that sees the present woes] will by no means pass away until all these things [including the end of Satan's system] occur."—Matt. 24:8; Rev. 12:12; Luke 21:28; Matt. 24:3, 34, NW.
Obviously, Satan cannot be defeated by man's weapons, for there is no evidence that even man's prized atomic or hydrogen bombs would affect a spirit creature. But, while man cannot remove Satan from his wicked overlordship and imprison and execute him, God can. He does not quibble over whether this is possible; the instigator of wickedness must go! Jehovah's Word promises: "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be." And again: "All the wicked will he destroy." It further definitely states that Jehovah will do what man cannot—have Satan seized, bound, abyssed, and have the abyss shut and sealed over him. (Ps. 37:10; 145:20; Rev. 20:1-3) Satan's wicked rule will then be replaced by a righteous one, the "new heaven and a new earth" of Revelation 21:1-4.
That new rule will bring earth freedom from fear, for it will completely fulfill the Christian's prayer for God's will to be done throughout the earth as it is in heaven.
There will then be no fear of war, nor of animals, nor of disease, nor even of death.
FEARLESS NOW!
But even now, before Satan is destroyed, fear can be overcome. When the New York Post asked people on the street, "What frightens you most?" one person said, "The atom bomb"; another, "The thought that a great plague may at some time hit our country." But one of Jehovah's witnesses said: "There is nothing that frightens me. The Bible indicates that there will be a new world with perfect conditions. . . And regardless of what happens, I will live in perfect harmony and contentment." Was he blind to world conditions? No, but with the aid of the penetrating truth of God's Word he saw through the present darkness and understood the extent of the protection he has as a servant of Jehovah.
To have such confidence an accurate knowledge of God's Word is necessary. It is that Word, the Bible, the highest source of information, that shows how Satan works, the dangers he sets before man, and how to withstand his onslaughts. A knowledge of it removes the fear of wars, for Matthew 24 shows that though they would suddenly get worse their getting worse indicates their end is at hand and marks Satan's last desperate effort to keep man from taking the time to side with Christ. Jesus was not speaking empty words when he uttered the oft-quoted statement: "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31, 32, NW) That truth does provide freedom from fear!
The Christian's love casts out fear, for it includes sincerity of action, helping others to learn, an unselfish devotion to truth. Jehovah's witnesses, filled with zeal for this, have little time to worry about things
that might happen, but rarely do. Their minds are filled with joyful things,with God's Word and his purposes,with the growth of new persons in the Christian organization,with the promises of a new world and the joyful privilege of helping others to see that new world's blessings and to live for its righteousness.
Inflation, depression or other economic difficulties do not strike them with dread. They have confidence that they will not starve, and while money's dwindling value may inconvenience them, they are not distressed to death. Money is not their god. Their treasures are real, stored in heaven "where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break in and steal." So loss of material wealth, or having less than the next man, is not a gnawing fear to them as it is to so many today. Matthew 6:20, NW.
They do not fear loss of worldly position, or appearing inferior to other men, for they do not consider themselves gods to be worshiped. Rather than taking themselves too seriously, they know that "it is Jehovah your God you must worship," that he is the one to be pleased. Their interest is in what he thinks of them, not what men think of them.-Matt. 4:10, NW.
They do not fear government corruption, for they know that while Satan rules corruption is inevitable, but that this will soon end. They know that under Christ's righteous rule disease will be cured, that both literally and spiritually God will fulfill the promise: "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." Even death, though a grief to loved ones, provides no fear, because, like the apostles, they believe in a resurrection. After Revelation tells of Satan's binding, it prophetically says: "And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds."—Jer.
33:6; Rev. 20:13, NW.
Jehovah's witnesses really have such confidence! Under direct threat of death thousands of them have held firm to their faith, uncowering. When, as in the face of Hitler's Nazis, the determination to hold their faith brought execution, they were still unflinching. Listen to samples of what they wrote to loved ones: "I have a radiant goal before my eyes, and in order to reach this I will count my life as dross, and place myself in those Hands, and commend my spirit to His keeping. I shall fight for the honor of Jehovah and the glory of His name. I will fight for Him with the courage and boldness of a roaring lion." Does that sound like fear? Or this: "Be strong, for I am not lost, but I can say with Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.'" Why did these witnesses not quake and compromise, as did those of other religions, whose clergymen and priests aligned with the Nazis? Why do they stand firm and fearless today in lands where Communist rulers attack their faith? Because they have partaken of the sound, strengthening, faith-building spiritual food of Jehovah's Word. They have obtained knowledge that is strengthening to faith. It is because of their spiritual strength and because of their confidence that the Power behind them is greater than all the enemies before them that Jehovah's witnesses have a freedom from fear that today's old world just cannot comprehend!
You wish for such faith? Then get knowledge. Theirs is not a blind faith, but an informed one, based on fact. If you get the knowledge and follow God's commands, you too can grow strong in the informed faith that brings such freedom. When one has God's protection, knows Jehovah's definite promises, has an understanding of the reason for today's troubles, knows their outcome, has his mind active in the most important of all works, trusts in the One who has infinite power, and when faced with death has confidence in the promise of a resurrection into the new world, then what is there left for him to fear?
BURNER OF BIBLE LITERATURE BURNS IDOLS
A few years ago a policeman in the Quebec village of Bourlamaque was sent by the priest to gather some literature that had been left at certain homes by Jehovah's witnesses. Some of the literature he brought to the priest but some of it he kept to examine for himself. When his wife saw the literature she threw it in the stove. The policeman kept getting more literature from those who had shown interest, and his wife, a very devout Catholic, continued to burn it. This went on for about two years. Then one day his wife found one of the Society's magazines in her husband's coat pocket. She read it and then burned it so that her husband would not know that she was beginning to take an interest after having been such an ardent Catholic. The next time one of the witnesses came to the door she invited him in. Previously she had thrown them out, literally. This time she obtained a copy of The Watchtower. Her husband, the policeman, discovered her reading it and so they read the magazine together. Shortly thereafter the husband quit his job as a policeman and took a "more honorable job," as he put it. They have since subscribed for both The Watchtower and Awake! and procured all other available literature. A Bible study has been started in their home and they have removed all their religious statues and other paraphernalia and burned them. They are very thankful to Jehovah for the truth and have already shown their appreciation to the extent of sharing in the field service, making it known to others. They being very well known and much respected, their taking their stand for the truth has resulted in giving a good witness.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
—Parable or Narrative?
THE great majority of the religious sects of Christendom hold that
eternal torment in a burning hell is the destiny of the wicked. The words of Jesus recorded at Luke 16:19-31 regarding the rich man and Lazarus are among the proofs offered in support of this teaching. It is argued that these words tell of an incident, are a narration of what actually took place. A tract published by one who holds to this view asks: "Do you not think all who heard the Lord Jesus relate the story of the rich man and Lazarus, would naturally suppose He meant to teach conscious existence after death in happiness or woe?"
Granting, for the sake of argument, that his listeners did think it was an actual incident, that, far from proving that it was, proves just the opposite. How so? Because we are explicitly told that the reason Jesus spoke in parables or illustrations was—that people might understand?—no, but that they might NOT understand. Note his words: "To you [his disciples] it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of God, but for the rest it is in illustrations, in order that, though looking, they may look in vain and, though hearing, they may not get the meaning." (Luke 8:10, NW) Obviously, whatever meaning his listeners got from the illustration was bound to be the wrong one.
But some further object because Jesus did not indicate in so many words that this was an illustration. But is it necessary that Jesus do this every time, when we have the plain statement that "without an illustration he would not speak to
them"? (Matt. 13:34, NW) The mere fact that names are given cannot be used as an
argument against its being an illustration, in view of all the evidence that proves that to take it literally is to outrage reason and common sense and to contradict the rest of God's Word.
ABSURDITIES
Briefly, in this illustration we first read of a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen who lived in magnificence and of a beggar named Lazarus who sat at his gate, full of ulcers, and who craved the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Each in course of time died. Lazarus was taken by angels to recline upon Abraham's bosom whereas the rich man was buried, and in Hades suffered torment and from which place he saw Lazarus.-Luke 16:19-23,NW.
Note here that not one word is said about Lazarus' having been a good man, about his having had faith and proving it by works; both of which are indispensable to gaining everlasting life. (Heb. 11:6; Jas. 2:14-26) When are mere wretchedness, poverty and disease a guarantee of salvation?
Neither is there a word about the rich man's having been wicked. By what kind of reasoning and by what principles of justice can it be maintained that simply because a man enjoyed the good things of this life to the full for threescore years and ten he must suffer the agonies of a burning hell for billions times billions of years, yes, for eternity? Even fallen, imperfect man appreciates that justice requires that "the punishment fit the crime," and certainly God is more just than man.
Abraham, David, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, all had great wealth; does that fact doom them to eternal torment?
Further, Jesus in his arguments with the Jewish clergy evinced a fine sense of logic, second to none. Would he give such a dire warning on the wages of sin and not even mention sin, or tell of the rewards of faith and obedience and not even mention them? Had Jesus meant to warn his listeners about eternal torment he certainly would have stressed these points; but he did nothing of the kind.
Not only that, but we read that Lazarus was carried off to Abraham's bosom. Are all those gaining salvation reclining on Abraham's bosom? If we grant that this expression is a figure of speech, why insist that what befell the rich man be taken literally? It simply does not make sense to take one part of the account literally and another parallel part figuratively.
Further note that this is the only place in the Scriptures where consciousness and suffering are associated with Hades. Nor will it do to claim that before Jesus' death Hades had two compartments, one for the good and the other for the wicked, and that after he died for man's sin then the good went to heaven, for at the time Jesus spoke this illustration he had not yet died. That Hades is used figuratively is apparent from Revelation 6:8,9,where Hades is shown as riding horseback, and also at Revelation 20:14,where Hades is shown—not as being the lake of fire—but as being itself cast into the lake of fire.
UNSCRIPTURAL
Making Jesus' words regarding the rich man and Lazarus literal becomes even more untenable when compared with what the rest of God's Word has to say regarding the penalty of sin and the condition of the dead. Adam was not warned of eternal
torment, and upon sinning was simply and plainly told: "Dust you are and to dust you will return." (Gen. 3:19; 2:17, NW) Nor did Jehovah God say, "Your body will return to the dust"; no, but you, Adam, will do so. There is no mistaking the plain testimony of the Scriptures: "The wages sin pays is death."—Rom. 6:23, NW.
And what is death, the state or condition of the dead-conscious suffering or conscious bliss? No! Man dies as the beast; the dead know not anything; there is no consciousness in Sheol (Hebrew equivalent for Hades). Man's "breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." David prayed for God to spare his life lest "I go hence, and be [yes, exist] no more." Peter likened the wicked to brute beasts that perish. Brute beasts are not tormented after death.—Ps. 146:4; 39:13; Eccl. 3:19-21; 9:5, 10; 2 Pet. 2:12, NW.
Besides, are we not assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust? Why a resurrection if at death man receives his eternal reward? (Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29, NW) When the brother of Mary and Martha, Jesus' friend Lazarus, died, did Jesus comfort those women by assuring them that Lazarus was not dead? No, but with the assurance that he would rise from the dead. His sisters knew that he would "rise in the resurrection on the last day." And when Jesus called him forth, did he call Lazarus down from Abraham's bosom, from limbo or from a burning hell? No, but from the grave. Incidentally, had Lazarus been conscious in any such place we may be certain he would have told all his friends about the remarkable experience he had, for he had been dead four days. His very silence on this point is strong circumstantial evidence that he was unconscious.—John 11:22-44, NW. Besides, how could we account for Abraham's being in heaven in view of Jesus' words: "No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man"?
And did not Peter on the day of Pentecost point out to his listeners that David "both deceased and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day. Actually David did not ascend to the heavens"? (John 3:13; Acts 2:29, 34, NW) None of God's servants had a heavenly reward held out to them before the coming of Christ Jesus; that is why his apostles even after his resurrection were looking to an earthly kingdom.—Ps. 45:16; Acts 1:6-8.
Returning to the illustration: it next tells us of the rich man's calling "Father Abraham" to send Lazarus to give him relief by a drop of water on the tip of his finger, upon which Abraham reminds him of the good things he enjoyed in his lifetime as compared with what Lazarus had; besides, there is a great chasm between, which makes it impossible for anyone to cross from one place to the other. The rich man then requests that Lazarus be sent to warn his five brothers, but he is told that they have Moses and the Prophets and that if they would not listen to these they would not listen to one raised from the dead. Luke 16:24-31, NW.
According to the Scriptures heaven and Hades (Sheol) are at opposite extremes. (Ps. 139:8; Luke 10:15) Could we imagine those in one place seeing those in the other and carrying on a conversation? And were the rich man in a burning hell would he ask for just a drop of water to cool his tongue? How much relief would that bring? Would it last to reach him? Could anyone get anywhere near a burning hell with just a drop of water? Obviously this is a figure of speech even as is Abraham's bosom, yes, and as are all the rest of Jesus' words on that occasion.
MEANING OF THE ILLUSTRATION
Since we cannot escape the conclusion that Jesus' words regarding the rich man and Lazarus are an illustration, what do they illustrate, what is their meaning? In brief they tell of the change in the relative positions of two classes of people due to the preaching of the truth, both in Jesus' day and in ours.
The rich man well pictures the Jewish clergy who were well provided for with spiritual provision; who considered themselves children of the kingdom, clothed in purple; who were very self-righteous, wearing fine linen; and who were proud of being Abraham's offspring.—Rom. 3:1,2; Matt. 8:12; 23:27, 28; Rev. 19:8; Matt. 3:9, NW.
The beggar Lazarus, whose name means "God is helper," well pictures the Jewish common people, who were despised by the clergy, who because of neglect were spiritually sick and were hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and who appreciated their need of the Great Physician, Christ Jesus.—John 7:49; Matt. 5:6; Mark 2:17, NW.
The death of the rich man and of Lazarus pictured a change taking place in the relative positions of these two classes. That this should be so should not surprise us, for time and again the Scriptures speak of persons as dying or having died though still alive, meaning thereby that a change has taken place in their lives. (See 1 Corinthians 11:30; Colossians 3:3; 1 Timothy 5:6; Jude 12.) The preaching by Jesus that exposed the hypocrisy, greed and false teaching of the Jewish clergy caused a change to take place in their lives. (Matt. 23; Luke 16:14; Matt. 15:1-9) From a state of selfsatisfied and luxurious ease they were brought into a state of torment; such torment that they had no peace until they had put the Son of God to death.—Matt. 21:45, 46.
Those pictured by Lazarus, the Jewish common people of faith toward God, likewise experienced a change in their condition due to the preaching of Jesus, to become the spiritual remnant of Jewry. Even as their name "Lazarus" indicates, they were helped, comforted of God and given the hope of God's heavenly kingdom. Yes, the poor and spiritually sick harlots and tax collectors were entering the kingdom of God and were receiving God's favor, as pictured by reclining upon Abraham's bosom. The heavy burdens the Pharisees had placed upon them were being removed, and they became themselves part of the "seed of Abraham" in whom all the families of the earth are to bless themselves. Matt. 11:6; 21:31; Gal. 3:7, 26; Matt. 23:4; 11:28-30, NW.
And the great chasm between the two classes? This pictures Jehovah's righteous judgments, which cannot be changed. The religious leaders as a class had fixed their destiny by sinning against the holy spirit, for which there is no forgiveness; and their plea to have their torment eased, even in the slightest, by diminishing the preaching of the truth, was not to be complied with. Mark 3:29; Acts 5:27-32, NW.
The five brothers of the rich man well picture the associates of the Jewish clergy who manifested the same spirit as the Pharisees. These, refusing to believe in Jesus, showed thereby that they actually were not taking heed to what Moses and the Prophets had said. And that they would not believe even if one rose from the dead was borne out when Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, did actually rise from the dead.John 7:47,48;5:46, 47;12:10,11.
All these facts in fulfillment of this illustration find a striking parallel in our day. For a long time the hypocritical, greedy, tradition-following clergy of Christendom had things all their own way in exploiting their flocks and neglecting their spiritual interests, whereas the remnant of anointed spiritual Israelites were viewed and treated as a diseased beggar fit only for association with dogs of the street. But with the preaching of the good news of Jehovah's kingdom a change has taken place in these two classes, and since 1919 this once-despised, outcast spiritual remnant of anointed Christians have been lifted high in the favor of the Greater Abraham, Jehovah God, and have been given Kingdom interests, especially to preach the good news of God's now-established Government for mankind's blessing. Thus others not of the remnant may share in their comfort, and they now do.—Ezek. 34:1-16, AS; Matt. 24:14.
Today the clergy are being tormented by the great witness since being given by the Christian witnesses of Jehovah whereas the "laity" of good will are being comforted and are being brought into a position of favor with the Greater Abraham, Jehovah God; a case in point being the joy these experienced at the international assembly of Jehovah's witnesses in 1953 Again there will be no soothing of the torment of the clergy by a letup in the preaching work; neither will any special sign be given now to convince the commercial and political allies of the clergy that this message is of Jehovah God.
Only if viewed thus do the words of Jesus recorded at Luke 16:19-31 make sense, have value and pertinency for our day, and harmonize with the rest of the Scriptures.
The Memory of God
"Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."—John 5:28, 29, NW.
PERFECT man is a perfect reflection of his glorious Creator. That is how it was in the beginning of human life on earth, and that is how it will be once again when, under the administration of "the holy city, New Jerusalem," God renews his residence with humankind. Then, when all things are made new and the life pattern of every individual is ultimately cured of every imperfection, then again everyone living upon this renewed earth will perfectly mirror the likeness of his Maker, as a clear still pool of water beautifully reflects the evening sky and every detail of the surrounding rocks and foliage. That is a time well worth while visualizing and looking forward to, but it all depends, among other things, on the memory of God.—Rev. 21:2-5; 22:1-3, NW.
2 Do not say to yourself, 'Ah yes, but that day is a long way off, and meanwhile I feel very much enslaved to the present wicked system of things and its corrupting influence.' The purpose of this article is to help you to appreciate that this is a day of judgment, and that it is possible and urgently necessary right now to bring your pattern of life into conformity with the new heavens and the new earth as a member of the New World society. This is a day of decision, either for or against God's righteous, holy will and purpose. As John was told immediately after the glorious
vision mentioned above: "The appointed time is near. He that is doing unrighteousness, let him do unrighteousness still; and let the filthy one be made filthy still; but let the righteous one do righteousness still, and let the holy one be made holy still." Rev. 22:10, 11, NW.
Do you still say that things are too much against you, and are you puzzled by the statement that it all depends on the memory of God? In reply, and in order to gain the proper perspective of this lesson and the subject matter involved, let us approach it from the viewpoint of the apostle in his argument in Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter will be familiar to many of our readers as a grand definition and record of faith. And so it is, of course; but interwoven therein is the very essence of our subject concerning the memory of God, also concerning the aspect of our life pattern. Perhaps we should explain right away that by the expression "life pattern" we simply mean the kind of person you are and the kind of life you live, according as you are governed by certain guiding principles, or, as is true of many today, by a total lack of principle, just drifting downstream with the prevailing current.
4 You will notice that in Hebrews chapter 11 the apostle introduces each individual named with the expression: "By faith . . ." Then he follows that up in each instance with recorded evidence testifying to that one's strong faith.
Yes, but faith in whom and in what? That is the question that concerns us at the moment, and Paul answers it by saying that "he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Heb. 11:6, NW) This means acknowledging not only the fact that there is a God, but that he ever is, or ever exists, the self-existing One. (Ps. 90:2) Coupled with that, one must also believe in the promise of a reward to those who sincerely seek him. And, since God exists eternally, then it logically follows that the enjoyment of the reward will continue forever to the one who retains God's favor. What, then, is the reward? The writer enlarges on this a little later on in the same chapter when he tells how all those persons of faith were "reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven," and that God "has made a city ready for them." Still later in the same letter he plainly identifies that city as "a city of the living [self-existing] God, heavenly Jerusalem." (Heb. 11:16; 12:22, NW; see also Revelation 21:2, NW.) This carries our minds right forward to the final outworking of the divine pattern. At the same time we are linked with the remote past, for Paul lists Abel as the first of those who manifested true faith. This linking together of the remote past with the distant future is where memory and pattern come in. These two words are closely related and we purpose to briefly discuss them at this point.
MEMORY
5 What is memory? Memory is the mental faculty whereby we retain and recall previous ideas and impressions. We need not concern ourselves as to how memory
operates in the human brain; indeed we doubt if a scientific answer can be given with any degree of certainty. While most of us sigh and moan over the shortness and imperfection of our memory, as when we meet someone well known but cannot recall the name, or give the wrong one, yet we cannot but marvel at the tremendous scope and possibilities of this particular faculty. It is really staggering when we stop to think of what the human mind is capable of in this respect, even though so imperfect. For instance, a gifted musician who applies his mind, together with other abilities, can sit down at a piano and play for hours, remembering and reproducing accurately the most complicated music in all its harmonies. On reflection, it seems that when man is restored to perfection he will enjoy without limit the ability to remember perfectly everything that he wishes and decides to remember. Contrariwise, he will be able to deliberately forget everything he desires to put out of his mind. Perfect man will never need to say either 'Oh, I wish I could remember' or 'I wish I could forget.' And may that day soon come is the wish of us all.
Besides being a wonderful gift, memory is also a very precious one, provided, of course, we have precious things to remember. Even under present conditions, we derive the keenest pleasure and delight as, by the aid of memory, we recall and live over again some particularly happy experience. Perhaps it is a memory of long ago when we found someone with whom we first experienced all the deep-seated joy that true friendship can bring. Many of our readers, too, will have a keen memory of what it meant to them when they first realized they had come to a correct understanding of Jehovah's wonderful purpose and gracious provision. Yes, such memories are both strong and tender, stirring us to the very depth of heart and mind in their extraordinary appeal, bringing a happy smile to our lips or perhaps an unbidden tear to our eyes.
Let us by all means fully appreciate and wisely use this loving gift of a gracious Creator.
But what of God's memory? It would be presumptuous for human creatures to discuss the mind of the Creator, how it operates and what its functions and abilities are, except as the Creator himself is pleased to give such information to man. Has he done so? He has indeed. Even the visible works of creation eloquently testify to a creative mind of infinite ability and wisdom, for, says the apostle, "his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are understood by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship." (Rom. 1:20, NW) But it is in and through his written Word that God has been pleased to give a much fuller revelation of his purpose respecting the human family, and, incidentally, to give us an insight as to how his mind operates. First, in the account of man's creation we read that God said: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." (Gen. 1:26, NW) That certainly includes a likeness in mental abilities and processes of reasoning and memory. In fact, the first piece of recorded conversation in the Bible involved a memory test. The serpent said to Eve: "Is it really so that God said . . .?" And Eve showed by her reply that she remembered and understood and was able to repeat perfectly what God had said.—Gen. 3:1-3, NW.
Now let us approach this question regarding God's memory from the viewpoint of those things discussed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. There, we remember, in submitting the long list of men and women of faith, Paul speaks of the reward
in which they all exercised faith in common. This reward centered in a city of heavenly origin. But was anything said to Abel, the first man of faith, about a city? No, but in Abel's day God had already given his initial promise, not of a city, but of a seed to the woman who would eventually crush the serpent's head. (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 16:20, NW) From a study of this theme in the Scriptures nothing stands out plainer than the fact that God ever keeps that original promise in mind. Not only that, but he knew and determined exactly how that promise would finally be worked out, for he himself declares: "I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, ... [and] saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." (Isa. 46:9, 10, AS) That grand statement shows that the memory of God never operates in a haphazard way, as is often so in our case, when something happens to quicken our memory only because of some closely associated thing coming to our notice. In contrast, when it says that God knew and determined the end from the beginning, it means he is ever mindful of it and exercises a continual and deliberate remembrance concerning the same. It also means something else. It means he is a purposeful and designing God. This is where our other word in which we are interested comes in, namely, "pattern."
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