The Watchtower, June 1, 1954
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The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
JUNE 1, 1954
Semimonthly
1926 USHERS IN A TIME
OF GREAT HAPPINESS
MAN CREATED WITH URGE TO WORSHIP
PRIDE DESTROYS, MEEKNESS SAVES
"YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL"
THE MIND OF THE AFRICAN
©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
Man Created with Urge to Worship
Pride Destroys, Meekness Saves
“Your Adversary, the Devil”
Sobering News
Uruguay
1926 Ushers In a Time of Great Happiness
Work Without Loitering or Complaining
The Mind of the African
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
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ED - The Emphatic Diaglott
RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version
Yg - Robert Young's version
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MAN CREATED WITH URGE TO WORSHIP
BETWEEN man and the lower animals a great gulf exists. There is no reliable material even to begin to construct an evolutionary bridge to span the tremendous gap. The Bible in its account of creation indicates man's position was to be outstanding, recording these words by man's Maker, Jehovah God: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every creeping animal that is creeping upon the earth."—Gen. 1:26, NW.
Jehovah gave man responsibility. It could be measured up to only by a creature of intelligence, by one possessing wisdom to do the task, justice to do it in fairness, love to do it unselfishly and for the good of his charges, and power to carry out the assignment. These are attributes belonging to Jehovah God, not to any previous earthly creatures he had made, and that is why the record shows man as being made in God's image. Man, unlike the other earthly creatures, had ability to reason, determine right and wrong, manifest conscience, show love, and exercise intelligent dominion over the other earthly creations, and thereby he was able to reflect Jehovah's attributes and represent Him on earth. Appreciating these blessings and having the quality of loving gratitude, man would intelligently worship his Creator. He
was created with the desire to do so. He would have an urge to express his love toward his Creator. This need to worship is also felt by man alone of all earthly creation, supplying still another factor to the gap between man and any other animal.
Men use this faculty to this day. Many use it wrongly, but it is used. They may feel too sophisticated to worship God. They may even feel that to acknowledge a belief in God is beneath their intellect. Yet they have this urge within them, and if it is not satisfied in the right way it is exercised in a wrong way. They worship something. Many times these persons worship themselves, their own will, their own brain, their science or art, their music or literature, or even their philosophy of atheism becomes their religion. None of these things are satisfactory substitutes for God and they represent a deterioration rather than an advancement. Some scientists and doctors are beginning to see the folly of the modern's studious banishment of God.
In the Woman's Home Companion magazine for April, 1954, there was an article entitled "We Are Born to Believe." It was written by Dr. Kline of the University of Vienna and about Dr. Viktor Frankl of that university's teaching staff and also president of the Austrian Society of Medical Psychotherapy. The article's subtitle said: "We all feel an urge for God as powerful as our instincts for sex and hunger, says a daring new school of psychiatric thought."
Extracts from the article follow.
"In the view of this school, modern suppression of our need for religion creates much of the frustration and tension in this atom-endangered world. It kills our chance of leading happy, purposeful lives.
"Today when most men and women have conquered their bashfulness about sexual emotions, they are increasingly troubled by their suppression of religious feelings. They are replacing sex-shyness with God-shyness.
"If men and women will recognize their need for a belief in God and in a meaning to life beyond their personal pleasures, this new school says, they can find peace of mind and happiness. . .
"Dr. Frankl's belief is simple: Men and women are driven not only by sex and ambition but also by an overriding need for God. They must overcome the modern-day notion that religion and God are not real needs and that it is unsophisticated to search for a spiritual side to life.
"Religion, like lovemaking, Dr. Frankl says, is an intimate thing. We can hide our innermost feelings about God from other people but if we conceal them from our own conscious minds we arouse conflicts in ourselves more deadly than those of the spinster of 50 years ago who denied to herself that she found men attractive.
"To deny the spiritual side of one's nature does it great violence,' says Dr. Frankl. I have known many cases where patients who were willing to expose every detail of their sexual histories without shame became tongue-tied when I inquired about their spiritual lives.' . .
"He estimates that three quarters of the people of Europe suffer from this repression in some form. He calls the repression of the spiritual 'the real pathology of our age.' . . .
"Ours is an age of intellectual confusion, with a topsy-turvy sense of values.
Materialism rides high; indifferentism is in the saddle. But our time is also a period of deep tragedy and acute political crisis To take the shocks of wars and threats of war with no religious beliefs to support us is a task too great for men,' asserts Dr. Frankl.
"In easy comfortable centuries people may imagine that they can endure life without a higher meaning; in our age it is impossible. Man must have a moral task. He must see his own life as meaningful.
"The atheist philosophy of recent decades has discouraged our generation by telling us that we are the more or less helpless victims of our feelings, our impulses and our sex drives on the one hand and on the other, the mere product of heredity and environment. Human dignity has been destroyed.
"Man is freer than he thinks. So long as we do not underrate our human capacities nor cripple them by low limited ideals, we shall find it possible to be serene in whatever circumstances life places us. Men of today are generally quite aware of the fact that they have instincts and unconscious sex drives; but many moderns have forgotten that they are also spiritual beings.' . .
"Speaking of the concepts of his school, Dr. Frankl says, 'We recognize that man is often more religious than he thinks. More men have laid down their lives for spiritual ideals than for sexual love: how, then, can psychiatrists, in logic, place all their stress on sexual motivations and ignore other interests which are proven to be quite as strong?"
Animals can live without worshiping Jehovah, for they are made without that urge. They can do without it and not be frustrated. But since men are created to worship their Maker, disastrous frustrations result when they ignore the urge. They frustratingly degrade themselves to become "like unreasoning animals born naturally to be caught and destroyed."
Rejecting the spiritual, viewing themselves as
only biological animals, they eventually partake of the destiny of animals.2 Pet. 2:12,NW.
PRIDE DESTROYS MEEKNESS SAVES
HAUGHTINESS is hated by
Jehovah and pride is an offense against God. Proud ones rely on self rather than Jehovah, lacking humility, not appreciating their dependence on their Creator. They proudly feel they possess superior wisdom, and may have natural abilities above the average. But what is the source of true wisdom? Where did they get their natural abilities? Is not man indebted to the Creator for all good things? Is not Jehovah the Giver of all good gifts? What does a man have that he did not receive? Why should a man be proud in himself? The earth he stands on, the food he eats, the air he breathes—were not these things provided by the Creator of the universe? Man depends on these provisions to maintain existence, and his very existence depends on Jehovah. With lucid logic Paul inquires: "You may not be puffed up individually in favor of the one against the other. For who makes you to differ from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive? If, now, you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" Haughty pride and aloofness in a spirit of self-sufficiency is an
offense against Jehovah God.—1 Cor. 4:6,7,NW.
Many persons are proud but few will admit it. They will make the general admission that they make mistakes, knowing how conceived they would appear if they claimed infallibility. But to make them acknowledge a specific wrong is far more difficult. The broad, general admission they will make for it pins nothing definite on them, but they are loath to admit a specific error, as that would be a direct blow to their pride. Even when they know they cannot defend their position pride makes them angrily cling to it. The longer they cling to the position the more difficult it becomes to abandon it gracefully. The proud one's mental state then fits the description: "His mind hardened in pride." (Dan. 5:20) In this hardened state his reasoning faculties are frozen. He does not claim infallibility but he acts as though he had it.
RELIGIOUS PRIDE
Pride is specially prone to flourish in the field of religion. Few choose their own religion on the basis of searching Bible study They inherit it from their parents, or acquire it from their neighbors, or absorb it from their friends, or adopt it for business advantage. Once having committed themselves they are balky about changing. Pride is quick to protest any admission of error To change would be to say their parents were wrong, or their neighbors, or their circle of friends, or their business associates.
So they cling to their religion, too prejudiced to examine its teachings in the light of the Bible, too proud to acknowledge the possibility of wrong, too hardened in pride to consider a change, and many times too indifferent to care. They think that to change would make them lose face. They forget that refusal will make them lose life.
Many will argue politics or debate economics, but it is their policy never to discuss religion. Why? They say the subject is too charged with emotion. But are not the political discussions they indulge in explosive, loaded with emotional dynamite? They have their opinions, based on study and experience, and those opinions they are determined to air, though it generates emotional heat and controversy. Then why do they balk at airing their religious views? Often because they are uninformed. Some do not even know clearly what their religion teaches, and those who do have no knowledge of Bible texts to prove these teachings. Not knowing the Bible that is supposedly the basis of their belief, not knowing scriptures to prove their creed, and knowing none to refute opposing creeds, they are woefully vulnerable in religious discussions. Their pride would be an open target for many wounds, so they protect it behind a barricade of silence, with their policy not to discuss religion. Without knowledge they could only argue emotionally, with feelings of frustration. Be assured that if they knew their religion's doctrines and could support them Scripturally they would not remain mute to spare emotions. Intelligent religious discussion, based on Jehovah's Word, is vital. If the mind is open, not sealed off by prejudice; if reason has full play, not killed by foolish pride; if the Bible is taken as the authority, not nullified by human creedal traditions, then emotion remains subordinate to logic and correct conclusions based on the Bible will be the result.
The religious leaders in Jesus' day were willing to discuss religion as long as they thought they could win an argument. When they learned they always lost they decided not to discuss religion. This was shown after the Pharisees experienced a losing encounter with Jesus: "And nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day on to question him any further." Many questioned him in meekness to learn, but the proud ones stopped their antagonistic questioning after learning it backfired on them, to the injury of their pride. They were not interested in learning the truth; they only wanted to win an argument. If they could not defend their belief they would not discuss their belief. When one of Jehovah's servants proved religious enemies wrong they "cried out at the top of the voice and put their hands over their ears and rushed upon him with one accord." (Matt. 22:46; Acts 7:57, NW) They could not hear the truth and refute it, they refused to hear it and accept it, so they stopped their ears against it and killed the one preaching it. So it is now. The proud argue with open mouth and closed mind.
PRIDE BRINGS CONTENTION AND DISGRACE
Because of this contention continues: "By pride cometh only contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom." The proud refuse to be advised and corrected and let a quarrel end against them. They reject the truth: "In an abundance of counselors there is safety." Also, "Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed." If one is not wise enough to heed good counsel, not meek enough to take good advice, sound conclusions are not reached and strife continues because of proud resistance to logic. There is no safety in such pride or success in such haughtiness, but only disastrous downfall: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Where pride goes destruction follows. Where haughtiness leads a fall is not far behind.—Prov. 13:10, AS; 11:14; 15:22; 16:18, RS.
Pride brings not only contention but disgrace: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom." The proud are cocksure, convinced they are right, unwilling to consider contrary views. Refusing to think they might be wrong, they direct all their thinking toward justifying themselves rather than examining themselves. What supports their side they gullibly grab, what opposes their position they arbitrarily reject. Disgrace comes when they are proved wrong, though even then pride may harden them till they refuse to face the disgrace and change. And when this pride is exercised relative to choosing the right religion, and erring proud ones refuse to reason, destruction follows. Their pride brings blindness, blindness to reason. Refusing to acknowledge wrong, they are not amenable to corrective reproof: "The commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life." Undisciplined, the proud continue in the way of destruction and miss the way to life. Hence it is written: "A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." Prov. 11:2; 6:23; 29:23, RS.
Not only do the proud resist Jehovah, but Jehovah resists the proud, while lifting up the lowly: "All of you gird yourselves with humility of mind toward one another, because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones. Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Jesus announced the same divine rule, after exposing religious leaders who assumed exalting titles: "Whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." At Armageddon selfexalted proud ones will be brought low, even down to dust in destruction. On the other hand, the lowly will be raised up and preserved because of their meekness. Hence the divine counsel is: "Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger."—1 Pet. 5:5, 6; Matt. 23:12, NW; Zeph. 2:3, AS.
MEEKNESS MEANS SALVATION
Just as with pride come contention and quarrelsomeness, so with meekness come peace and reasonableness. Meek ones value the wisdom from above rather than the wisdom of this proud world. Since they are receptive to divine guidance, Jehovah does not hold back: "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." Again, "He will beautify the meek with salvation." It is Jehovah's purpose to "preach good tidings unto the meek." You are counseled to be meek, so that you can "accept with mildness the implanting of the word which is able to save your souls." Pride is unreceptive to the seed of truth, but meekness is like the good soil that receives it and produces more.—Ps. 25:9; 149:4; Isa. 61:1; Jas. 1:21, NW.
Note why Jehovah chooses to favor the meek over the proud: "For you behold his calling of you, brothers, that not many wise in a fleshly way were called, not many powerful, not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put the wise men to shame, and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put the strong things to shame; and God chose the ignoble things of the world and the things looked down upon, the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are, in order that no flesh might boast in the sight of God."
(1 Cor. 1:26-29, NW) The proud are so busy reflecting their own supposed glory they have no time to reflect Jehovah's. But the meek ones despised by the proud are fit for Jehovah's use and exalted by receiving a share in his service. This reversal of matters constitutes a rebuke to the worldly-wise.
Those hardened in their pride would not be pliable to Jehovah's purposes in the new world of righteousness, any more than they are now. They would be misfits, troublemakers, causing affliction to rise again, whereas Jehovah will not permit such a rise of affliction to mar the peace of newworld living. (Nah. 1:9) To prove we shall be meek then we must show meekness now. We must listen to Jehovah's truth, be corrected by it, and dutifully declare it. It is not a matter of proving yourself right and another wrong, but of letting God's Word stand as true, even if it makes your former beliefs false. (Rom. 3:4) Though the proud may, the meek must not spurn the invitation to be reasonable: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Now is the time to reason with Jehovah by meekly studying his Word. To refuse in pride will mean to die in disgrace.—Isa. 1:18, AS.
NO CAUSE FOR HURT PRIDE
It is better for pride to be injured than for life to be ended. It may hurt pride to change your religion. It may wound it to have to admit to another that you are wrong. Actually, there should be no injured feeling at all. It is not a case of acknowledging another person as more intelligent, for it is not another person's thoughts you are accepting to replace your own. If by reasoning on Jehovah's Word you learn your beliefs are false, they were
proved so, not by the thoughts of other men, but by the recorded, inspired thoughts of Jehovah God. Will you not readily admit that the divine mind of Jehovah, the one who created the entire universe, is immeasurably higher than yours? Is it a reflection on yours to be corrected by his? Need any pride be injured when we allow Jehovah's wisdom to replace human folly? Rather than pout in childish pride, should we not rejoice in meek gratitude that we can find him, call upon him, return to him, be pardoned by him? Listen: "Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."—Isa. 55:6-9, AS.
Now is the time to seek Jehovah, while he may yet be found. Now he is near to accept us. At Armageddon he will draw near to destroy those that refuse to reason on his Word now. The wicked should forsake their ways, the proud should abandon their thoughts. All should turn to Jehovah, to his ways, to his thoughts, that they may be pardoned and live forever. It should not hurt human pride to turn to ways admittedly higher than man's ways and to thoughts admittedly higher than man's thoughts. If any has such a hardened pride that it prevents acceptance of Jehovah's wisdom in order to retain human thoughts, that one is foolish indeed! Rightly so, the pride of the proud will lead them to destruction at Armageddon. And the meekness of the meek will save them to life in Jehovah's new world.
BOOK on Devil Banned for Catholics in Rome." Thus read the heading of a Rome news dispatch in the New York World-Telegram and Sun, January 4, 1954. The book Il Diavolo, by Papini, was banned by the Vatican because it expounded the thesis that eventually Satan himself may win God's forgiveness and that man could help the Devil to return to his original standing among the angels.
Papini's book is in striking contrast with the one entitled Satan, which was published early in 1952 (in English), presenting the views of thirty Roman Catholic theologians, and which holds that the Devil and his demons are doomed to live eternally apart from God. This work contains many illustrations of the hideous conceptions of Satan as entertained by various religions from the distant past to recent times.
A still different theory regarding the Devil was expounded by a Jewish rabbi, Bernard J. Bamberger of New York city, who stated that according to the Hebrew Scriptures "Satan is not a rebel, but a servant of God with an unpleasant duty" to perform: a combined district attorney, detective and hangman, a bit overanxious perhaps, but never on the side of wrong.
in charge of the lake of fire to torment the wicked and he wore a red union suit and was equipped with horns, a tail and a pitchfork. However, in modern times most of those living in Christendom seem to have divested the Devil not only of his red union suit, horns, tail and
In centuries past most professed Christians have had very vivid ideas about who Satan is and what he looks like. He was an evil angel, they said, whom God had put
pitchfork, but even of his very existence. They are inclined to agree with one James Douglas, who once wrote in the Scottish Daily Express that "the devil is simply our personification of the wickedness we find in our own hearts and in the hearts of men from age to age. Man is the devil and the devil is man."
What is the truth about the Devil? In view of the absence of any scientific evidence as to his existence, is there any way by which we can learn the facts about him? Yes, there is, for as Christians we follow the example of Christ Jesus, who always appealed to the Scriptures to settle any controversial point regarding teaching. He stated to his God, "Your word is truth," and his formula was "It is written."—John 17:17; Mark 7:6-8, NW.
What does the Bible reveal regarding Satan the Devil? Briefly it tells us that he is an entity, an invisible spirit person; a wicked creature who, in the final analysis, is responsible for all the suffering and wickedness the human race has ever experienced; that he made himself a devil; that God has had good reasons for allowing him to live until now, and that in God's due time the Devil will be destroyed.
It should not be difficult for us to accept the Bible's teaching regarding a personal invisible Devil. We know that God exists, even though we have not seen him; he always has existed and always will exist.
(Ex. 33:20; Ps. 14:1; 90:2) And does not the Bible tell us that he has invisible creatures who serve him? Certainly it does. Jehovah himself told Job that these "morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" at the time earth's foundation was laid, and so before ever man was created. (Job 38:5-7) Daniel spoke of seeing thousands of thousands ministering to Jehovah and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him. (Dan. 7:9, 10) At God's command spirit creatures materialized and appeared to Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Samson's parents, Peter, John, Cornelius and others. Additionally, in this our day God's servants have repeatedly had evidence that "the angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."—Ps. 34:7, AS.
PERSONALITY OF THE DEVIL
Since the testimony of the Scriptures is unequivocal as to the existence of invisible creatures who co-operate with Jehovah God, it should not prove difficult for us to accept the Bible's teaching that some of these invisible creatures rebelled and became wicked, should it? And that is just what the Bible tells.
In the Hebrew Scriptures the earliest mention of Satan is in the first two chapters of the book of Job, where he is shown holding a conversation with Jehovah God and admits having gone to and fro upon the earth and having observed God's friend Job. Surely Jehovah was not here holding a conversation with an imaginary person, a mere principle, nor could a mere principle have afflicted Job the way the account shows that Satan did. Incidentally, that Job was a historical and not an allegorical figure is apparent from his being linked with Noah and Daniel, both of whom Jesus referred to as having existed. (Ezek.
14:14) Also James 5:11 points him out as an example of endurance. Had Job never existed the example would be meaningless.
Satan is also mentioned at 1 Chronicles 21:1 as the one who influenced David to number the children of Israel, for which Jehovah sent a plague upon the nation; and at Zechariah 3:2 (AS) he is further shown to be a person, in the following words: "And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee."
Regarding Satan Jesus said that he saw him "already fallen like lightning from heaven." He saw falling an idea, or an evil principle? Plainly indicating the Devil's personality are the remarks Jesus addressed to the clergy of his day: "You are from your father the Devil and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him." Was the principle of error at one time the same as the principle of truth? Luke 10:18; John 8:44, NW.
Those religious leaders in Jesus' day knew there was a Devil and so they accused Jesus of doing his work by the power of the prince of devils, to which Jesus replied, not by denying the existence of a Devil, but by showing he had personality: "If Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?" (Matt. 12:26, NW) And further, regarding Jesus' being tempted in the wilderness, is it reasonable to conclude that the perfect, loyal and ever-obedient Son of God would have been so tempted by thoughts originating in his own mind? And if the Devil were merely an evil principle or the personification of wickedness in ourselves, how could he have said to Jesus, "All these things [the kingdoms of the world and their glory] I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me"?
Do an act of worship to a principle? No, it simply does not make sense to rob the Devil, Satan, of his personality. Matt. 4:9,10,NW.
Besides, Paul tells us that Satan has the power of death and that Christ Jesus will destroy him; Peter tells us that "Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone." Jude tells us that Satan had a disagreement with Michael regarding the body of Moses; and John tells us that Satan has misled all the nations, that he and his angels warred against Michael and his angels, that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven, that they will be sealed in an abyss for a thousand years and that they will be loosed for a short period of time and finally destroyed in the lake of fire, the second death.—1 Pet. 5:8; Heb. 2:14; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-9; 20:2, 3, 7-10, NW.
PERSONALITY OF THE DEMONS
Not only is the Scriptural testimony so clear and convincing as to the existence of Satan the Devil, but it is likewise unequivocal regarding the existence of demons, or lesser devils. From Genesis 6:1-4 we learn that certain angels, "sons of God," joined Satan in his rebellion by coming to earth and cohabiting with the daughters of men, whose offspring were hybrids, human but of angelic fatherhood, and giants. Peter refers to these as "the angels that sinned," and they, together with their giant offspring, were, no doubt, largely to blame for the fact that the earth was filled with wickedness and violence.—2 Pet. 2:4; Gen. 6:5, 11, NW.
Thus we read at Daniel 10:12-21 that an angel whom Jehovah had sent with a message to Daniel was held up for three weeks by an evil angel, until Michael, one of the chief princes, came and rescued him, permitting this messenger to proceed to
Daniel with his message. That angel brought to Daniel a prophetic message Certainly all this was not just so much imagination! The Israelites who offered their sacrifices to false gods were said to have been sacrificing to the demons and the apostle Paul makes the same point regarding sacrifices offered to idols. Jesus recognized the existence of Beelzebub, the ruler of devils, thus indicating that there were other demons.—Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; 1 Cor. 10:20, 21; Matt. 12:27.
As regards Jesus' contact with these demons, while many books have been written endeavoring to explain demon obsession as being merely psychiatric cases, insanity, epilepsy or fits, yet a careful Biblical examination allows for no such construction.
If demon-possession was merely lunacy or insanity (Matt. 4:24, NW), then one insane person after another could not have testified to Jesus' Messiahship, as was done by these demon-possessed individuals; neither can we conclude that Jesus himself did not know any better or that he deliberately perpetrated a fraud and fostered a delusion for the sake of effect. The demons within those persons were themselves personalities, even as we read: "He expelled many demons, but he would not let the demons speak, because they knew him to be Christ."—Mark 1:34, NW.
Consider the account of the demonpossessed man who lived among the rocks and whom no chains could restrain, who, in reply to Jesus' question, said: "My name is Legion, because there are many of us." The record then goes on to say: "Now a great herd of swine was there on the mountain feeding. So they entreated him, saying: 'Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.' And he permitted them. With that the unclean spirits came out and entered into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the sea, about two thousand of them, and they drowned one after another in the sea."—Mark 5:6-13, NW.
How can this account be explained without admitting that demons exist? Were Mark, Matthew and Luke, all of whom recorded this, all deceived? Was it all a mere coincidence and did Jesus perpetrate a fraud? Or can we imagine the insanity of one person entering into two thousand swine and causing them to rush into the sea and drown? No, to deny the plain testimony of the Scriptures in regard to the existence of the Devil and the demons is not only to impugn the authenticity of the Scriptures but to raise more problems than the denial would seem to solve.
Where did Satan come from? Surely God did not create him as Satan, for all His work is perfect. (Deut. 32:3,4) Satan was at one time a perfect angel and served as a guardian of the first human pair in Eden. Concerning him we read: "Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God;... Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth: and I set thee, so that thou wast upon the holy mountain of God;... Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast
created, till unrighteousness was found in thee. . . Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty."—Ezek. 28:13-18, AS.
And what caused him to corrupt his wisdom? His ambition to be like the Most High, Jehovah God, which was betrayed thousands of years later in these words of his: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isa. 14:13, 14, AS) By taking the foregoing scriptures with the well-known account of what took place in Eden, we have the picture of an angel appointed as guardian over the first human pair, who let his appointment go to his head and became ambitious to be like Jehovah God and began by estranging the first human pair from their Maker. He made himself into a deceiving, opposing, devouring Devil.—Gen. 3:1-19.
Thus, it is no myth that "Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone."—1 Pet. 5:8, NW.
SOBERING NEWS
A pioneer couple went to Marilia, a prosperous city in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil. There was no congregation at the time, but many became interested through a series of open-air lectures that the pioneer delivered. At one of these talks a drunk listened in and then offered to pay the speaker to come to his home and give the same talk to his family that consisted of 22 members and relatives. The majority of them were Presbyterians, and the drunk never could sober up enough to join their church. But now he busied himself with studying the truth, cutting out all drink, and straightening out his moral affairs. This impressed all his acquaintances and relatives, because if Jehovah's witnesses could sober him up and get him interested in the Bible, they had something. So they gladly listened to parlor lectures (given free, of course), and one after another began coming along in the truth. The ex-drunk by now was such a zealous publisher that in a few months' time he entered the pioneer service and later was appointed congregation servant with the formation of the new Marilia congregation. By also working outlying territories this new pioneer helped to organize several congregations in neighboring cities. Now the Marilia congregation is up to 112 publishers and with a very fine, centrally located Kingdom Hall. If harlots and publicans can get into the New World society before self-righteous Pharisee clergy, so can the drunks if they love the truth enough and put forth the necessary effort to win their battle with the intemperate thirst for liquor.
NEW Year's Day is looked forward to by many people all over the world as a day of celebration, but to Jehovah's
witnesses in Uruguay January 1, 1954 was anticipated with special expectations They knew that it would be the opening day of their national assembly in Montevideo and that, as announced in July, 1953 at Yankee Stadium in New York, the president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, N. H. Knorr, would be there.
They wanted this to be their best assembly ever held. About three months before the assembly the local organization began to take shape. A hall was rented and the program was made up with the high point being the public talk "After Armageddon God's New World."
Publicity received special attention. About a month before the assembly a form of publicity never before realized in Uruguay began to break. This was the result of persistent and extensive efforts on the part of the missionary brothers in visiting all the many newspapers in Montevideo, the capital, with close to a million population, showing them the 'newsworthiness' and public interest involved in the event. Clippings from newspapers in New York at the time of the international convention there were shown and special write-ups were submitted. At first the editors were polite but not excited, and in one instance the brothers had to wait all day to see the right editor; but the result: he published the article. One newspaper broke out with headlines noting that the general assembly of Jehovah's witnesses was going to take place in Montevideo. From then on
every newspaper, except that run by the Catholic Church, 16 in all, published articles of interest, and all alerted their readers
to the public talk Sunday, January 3. One newspaper published six separate articles in a period of three weeks before the convention. Radio was also extensively used and five separate interviews, as well as many news announcements, were obtained. All this publicity was free. Uruguay is famous for its freedoms, and Jehovah's witnesses use these freedoms well.
Enthusiasm among the publishers and persons of good will was greater than at any previous time, and so all were invited to participate in the preconvention work. Three hundred placards for sandwich walkers were soon ready. Eighty thousand handbills were printed and distributed to the friendly Uruguayans milling in great numbers on the streets during this warm end-of-the-year fiesta season. The word Armagedon not being so well known in Uruguay, many were those who inquired about its meaning and many were the opportunities of witnessing. There below the equator they have a way of advertising not so widely used in the United States. On available walls and buildings on practically every street in the city are plastered "murals" or printed posters giving information on almost everything—matters political, social, religious, commercial, etc. A thousand posters advertising the public talks were prepared, and crews of brothers with brushes and pails of paste went out on night shifts plastering up the walls. The work was so well done that priests, who never bother the many false propaganda posters put up by the Communists, were noticed leading groups of small boys around to tear off the signs.
But they soon gave up, because this gave only more publicity. The Uruguayans read these posters while traveling on buses and streetcars as New Yorkers read their headlines on the subways.
Brothers Knorr and Henschel were due in Montevideo Tuesday afternoon, the 29th of December, and the congregations in Montevideo wanted to be at the airport to see them in. How many wanted to go? They had to hire four buses. As the brothers emptied out of the buses at the airport and filled completely the expansive balcony overlooking the landing strip, airport personnel and onlookers, startled at this turnout of people, began asking questions and got answers that made them even more amazed. The New World society was growing fast in Uruguay. The 170, including the missionaries, who had come out to the airport were watching each passenger stepping out of the plane, looking for their brothers. Later roars of applause greeted the anticipated visitors as first Brother Henschel and then Brother Knorr appeared in the doorway smiling and then waving. One hundred and seventy smiles beamed back: "Welcome to Uruguay." The enthusiasm sweeping through the crowd made one thing very evident: the assembly had already begun for the brothers in Uruguay.
After immigration, customs and photographers the visitors were conducted by this large welcoming committee into a waiting taxi and were soon in the familiar surroundings of the branch missionary home in Montevideo. An hour later a representative from a local radio station dropped in to record an interview with Brother Knorr, concerning the purpose of the assembly, which was broadcast later that same night. At sunrise the next morning Brother Henschel left with the circuit servant for a run up into the interior as far as Rivera on the Brazilian border. They stopped for three
hours in Melo to see the missionary headquarters, and while they were there a recording of a 15-minute interview was made to be broadcast that same day. In Rivera two service talks were given besides a public talk in Hotel Casino, which seventy attended. Eight local publishers, besides two Gilead graduate missionaries, then came on down for the Montevideo assembly.
Thursday morning Brother Knorr and the branch servant were off by plane into the interior to the second-largest city in Uruguay, Salto. After visiting the missionary home another radio interview was had during a popular radio program and then dinner with the missionaries. At 4 p.m. Brother Knorr gave a talk on service and with timely counsel, with the branch servant interpreting. Then the public talk "After Armageddon—God's New World," with seventy in attendance. It was time now for the Salto delegates to the big assembly in Montevideo to be ready for the return trip. The bus rented especially for the trip and return rolled up about 10 p.m. and everybody, including Brother Knorr, got in. Every seat was taken and some sat in the aisle for the all-night run to the capital. After three flats it pulled into Montevideo limping on only three of its usual four rear tires.
Friday morning dawned warm and clear New Year's Day, January 1, 1954, midsummer in Uruguay. And this, the big day, had finally come. It was the best way in the world to start out a new year. A word about this may be of interest here. New Year's Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in Uruguay. Everybody knew that it would require extraspecial effort to get out a good gathering for this holiday week end, what with the many detractions and its being also the season for the beach-loving Uruguayans. Also the 31st of December was the day of the big end-of-the year lottery with 2,000,000,1,000,000 and $500,000 (pesos) being the first, second and third prize drawings.
The evening before the assembly (New Year's Eve) the papers were full of pictures of the jubilant winners and the whole population was keyed up to the glitter of gold, most of which was going out of rather than into their pockets. In the same edition with all this publicity one of the largest papers published the picture of Brothers Knorr and Henschel taken at the airport, noting that: "The distinguished spiritual leaders have arrived in our capital to take part in the general assembly of the Watch Tower Society." So here in the midst of the worship of the materialistic, Jehovah had prepared a great feast of spiritual things and an occasion for clean worship as yet unparalleled in Uruguay.
Willing volunteers had been working at the hall since 5:30 a.m. to prepare it after the previous night's new-year affair, and Friday morning found a transformed "El Hogár Hungaro" filled with Jehovah's witnesses, who had come to enjoy the day.
The convention opened on the international theme, indicating that this was going to be a miniature New York assembly. All of the ample stage was set up to depict "Happenings at the Yankee Stadium." Hanging overhead was a duplicate of the very same illustrated banner which had identified Uruguay at Yankee Stadium. The audience was taken as it were to New York city to enjoy in person the assembly there. Preconvention activity was shown, the welcoming and guiding of the visiting conventioners, and various departments. Twenty-five different persons in colorful native costumes, representing the various countries, moved in and about "New York city and Yankee Stadium" and then each gave a brief report of the work in his respective country. This was followed by a talk on the international assembly by the only local publisher who had attended the
convention in person and who had just arrived a week before by boat. Talks on filling the house with glory and gathering men of good will from all nations finished off the morning.
Friday afternoon saw 520 in attendance to hear the welcoming talk by the branch servant. Following this came the theocratic ministry school. It was interesting to note that some of the young students who at the time of the Society's president's last visit were just out of knee pants were now mature, capable speakers. Then came the service meeting with the theme being the Watchtower magazine, its value and how to use it better.
In the evening Brother Henschel delivered a talk in Spanish on "The Day of Salvation," which was well received, and then Brother Knorr gave his talk with interpreter, which was counsel and exhortation with apt examples, which was particularly well appreciated, as could be seen by the intent faces of the 525 listeners and their spontaneous, powerful applause.
When it was seen how many indicated their desire to symbolize their dedication to Jehovah by water baptism it was decided to have a truck ready besides the bus already arranged for transporting to the nearby ocean. Saturday morning both were needed and were filled to capacity. Upon arriving at the beach it was noted that because of the brisk wind and rough surf the red flag was out, which meant no swimming. But would this mean no baptism? As the happy crowd of prospective candidates for immersion swarmed into the dressing tents and then began to emerge toward the water to be submerged, the guard's whistle shrilled out. "What's all this about?" A minute's conversation with the four brothers assigned to do the baptizing and all was well: "Go right ahead." A satisfying picture this was: The blue-green expanse of the open sea, white-capped breakers foaming onto the gold-sanded beach and seventy-five witnesses of Jehovah expressing their dedication to do the will of the Most High by baptism in water, as commanded by Christ Jesus, the greatest witness of them all.
Among them were a young couple, parents of two children. Just a year ago they obtained a Bible from a witness, the first they had read, but did not desire further literature at that time. A month or so later their desire to understand the Bible better led to the placement of a "Let God Be True" book and then a home Bible study. Two weeks more saw all 'holy' pictures and images disappear from the house. Then followed a month-by-month progressive growth in understanding and a working knowledge of "Let God Be True". This was followed by successively regular attendance at congregational meetings and active service two months before baptism. They missed not a minute of the three-day assembly, which most certainly marked a milestone in their lives. Thus one enters the true Christian ministry as early Christians did.
Saturday afternoon brought an increase in attendance to 560 and then Saturday evening with Brothers Knorr and Henschel again on the program there were 715 eager listeners.
Saturday night the main hall was packed out and the side patio onto which it opened was well filled. Although the advertised public talk was to be given Sunday morning due to the necessity of Brothers Knorr and Henschel having to leave to catch the only available plane that day to Brazil, arrangements would have to be made for even more to hear should they come. That meant more sound equipment and extra speakers to be put in the hallway entrance and the back patio where standees could hear. All business places were closed but a newly baptized brother was able to persuade his brother (not a witness) to bring his equipment and set it up.
Already at 8:30 on Sunday the hall was filling up. By the time the preliminary talks on "The Living Word" and "The New World Society Attacked from the Far North" were concluded, half an hour before the feature talk, every seat was taken and by 10:30 a.m. the main hall was ringed with standees, the patios were occupied and the entrance hall was filling up. One thousand and thirty-two persons had made a special effort to get out to hear about God's new world after Armageddon, almost twice as many as the last time the president of the Society spoke in Montevideo. They were obviously not disappointed in what they heard and the direct, personal appeal to learn more about Jehovah's new world and to avail themselves of the assistance of Jehovah's witnesses toward that end was not lost. As a young man who approached and gave his name and address to one of the attendants expressed it: "I feel that I must learn more about this remarkable religion."
After expressing his pleasure on having been able to visit Montevideo again, Brother Knorr and his secretary left for the airport. However, the momentum of the enthusiasm generated at the assembly in the morning carried over into the afternoon. An audience of 715 stayed on to draw the last benefits from this very interesting convention. They were looking forward to greater growth in Uruguay under the guidance of a newly appointed branch servant.
Although Yankee Stadium was thousands of miles away and the convention there had been long over, Jehovah's witnesses in Uruguay had relived and shared in the spirit of that great event and were anticipating more of Jehovah's blessings in the future. The high point of assemblies there had reached a new high. It was the best thing yet for Uruguay.
1926 Ushers in a Time of Great Happiness "Happy is he who waits till he reaches the thousand
"Happy is he who waits till he reaches the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!"-Dan. 12:12, AT.
UNDERSTANDING and appreciation of Jehovah's ways are deepened in his dedicated servants who thoughtfully compare present and past tests from him, mighty deeds of his, and revelations of his purposes and of his majesty. To sense the force of the great happiness that began among the theocratic people of Jehovah in 1926 (A.D.) we must contrast their condition at that time with their former condition. Then we must compare such conditions with the blessings promised by Jehovah to his people who successfully meet tests he applies and who uncompromisingly continue following in his appointed ways, faithfully forging ahead regardless of consequences. In Jehovah's great time schedule such tests have a definite purpose. He applies the tests in the working out of his perfect purposes. With these thoughts let us first consider the things endured by Jehovah's willing servants between the time of his commencing to rule as King (A.D.1914) and the year 1926, tracing Jehovah's purpose in permitting such things.
Christ Jesus. In fact, we must come to realize this
2 With Jehovah there is no confusion. He leaves nothing to chance or haphazardness. "We know that God makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God, those who are the ones called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28, NW) If we always try to realize this fact, it will be of invaluable help to us in our God-given assignment as followers of and diligent workers with his enthroned King,
fully in order to withstand the onslaughts of the enemy.
3 Jehovah foreknew and made record of his purpose to bring his organized people before kings and judges of this old world to testify before them concerning his kingdom when that perfect government is being erected to displace theirs permanently. Neither the invisible nor the visible rulers of Satan's world took kindly to that idea, and they determined to fight it with everything in their power.—Matt. 24:14; Dan. 2:44; Ps. 2:2, 3; Rev. 12:17.
4 It required great courage, faith and confidence in Jehovah to stand up and declare fearlessly the judgments of Jehovah against the Devil's visible organizations which had held sway during the 2,520 years. This degree of faith and courage Jehovah's people as a whole did not have at that time. The organization was not wholly clean. Many were there to serve their own selfish purposes and draw followers after themselves. (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29,30; 2 Pet. 2:1-3) Such conditions could not be tolerated by Jehovah. Once he had set his King upon his throne, these people must be cleaned out. Obstructionists could not be permitted in any degree to interfere with the high and lofty purposes of our God. To try, test and prove his servants Jehovah decreed that his servants must do a mighty witness work; this they were required to do and at the same time the life and actions of the witnesses must be on the same lofty plane as the message they were bearing.
They must never lose sight of the fact that they were being called to reflect the glory of Jehovah. Isa. 60:1,2, AS;1 Pet. 2:9.
5 Did Jehovah realize all that was involved when he issued that decree? Did he
foreknow the vicious attacks the Devil and his agents, visible and invisible, would make against the people of the living God, who were called upon to give the witness? Yes, he foreknew these facts in every minute detail and recorded them in the Bible for our enlightenment and comfort: "Look! the Devil will keep on throwing some of
you into prison that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation ten days." (Rev. 2:10; Rom. 8:28, NW) But his people were unmindful of such predictions. They did not realize either their own unclean condition or all that was required in order to cleanse them and equip them for the glorious service Jehovah had in store for them.
"DAYS" TO BE ENDURED TILL HAPPINESS
In verse 7 he tells of the 1,260 days during which the power of these "holy people" would be destroyed. Following this, in verse 11, he describes a period of 1,290 days that would follow from the time of the taking away of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the "abomination that maketh desolate." A third period, described as a 1,335-day period, would follow,
6 In Daniel the twelfth chapter, verses 1, 2 and 3, Jehovah foretold centuries ago just what his people would have to experience in carrying out this commission. He tells us of Michael's standing up. He then tells of a great time of trouble and of the ultimate deliverance of his servants from it. It would then occur that their great privilege of theocratic service would be extended.
after which an era of happiness would be ushered in. The meaning and understanding of all these periods were locked up and sealed until the "time of the end." Now we are at that very time and, true to his promise, Jehovah has unlocked his prophecies and made them plain.
8 The 1,260-day period, with its destructive effect on
the power of Jehovah's people, found its fulfillment from October, 1914, to April, 1918. The 1,290-day period ran from January, 1919, to September, 1922, and the 1,335-day period extended from September, 1922, to May, 1926. A full Scriptural treatise of these dates and their application will be found in the Watchtower issues of July 1 and 15, 1951.
Here our purpose is not to go into a consideration of the correctness and the understanding of these dates and to prove them. That has already been done in our aforementioned issues. Rather, we purpose now to establish the fact that Jehovah did foreknow the vicious opposition his people would encounter and this, as well as its effect upon his people, he clearly outlined in detail, in order that they might be strengthened to meet such emergencies.
He likewise outlined their subsequent period of blessedness, happiness, after this period of test.
10 Looking back from this time, we do not have much difficulty in appreciating the cleansing work that had to be done among the professed people of Jehovah in those days; but back there they did not see the need as we do today. It was a great trial upon the faithful. But were they forsaken by Jehovah? What did it all mean? The effect of these tests was to drive the unfaithful and ungodly out of the organization and into the Devil's camp, where they belonged all the time, and to reveal to all discerning, intelligent observers just who were the faithful servants of the Most High.
11 Jehovah was fully aware of the power and influence of the Devil's organization, visible and invisible. Just as he was fully aware of the desperate fight put up by the invisible demon prince of the kingdom of Persia to stop its visible ruler, Cyrus, from restoring the Jewish remnant in 537 B.C. (Dan. 10:1, 13, 20), so Jehovah knew that this same Devil and his demon princes would viciously fight a thousandfold harder to oppose the deliverance of the Israelites indeed, the Christian congregation, to prevent their proclaiming the Kingdom's establishment and its blessings for mankind of good will toward God. Nevertheless, he permitted it, being always master of any situation, always ready to accomplish his good pleasure.
12 This foreknowledge of the demon efforts that would be put forth by Satan and his hordes did not in any way disturb Jehovah and his chief prince Michael, who then
was standing for the children of his people. Things would go according to the predetermined purposes of Jehovah, whereby he would cleanse his organization and expose the enemy. That same Michael, who came to the aid of Jehovah's angel and directed the deliverance of Jehovah's typical people in 537 B.C., is he who now stands for the children of Jehovah's people. By Jehovah he, Michael, now has been sent forth to 'rule in the midst of his enemies' and for our deliverance. (Ps. 110:1,2, AS; Rev. 12:7,8) He can be relied upon. Jehovah has implicit confidence in him, and so can we have. He now is clothed with authority as King and Judge to execute Jehovah's judgments upon his enemies. (Rev. 19:11- 16) He knows all the machinations of the Devil and his invisible princes. He defeated them on earth while standing as the deliverer of Jehovah's angel and the nation of Israel, and he already has defeated them in heaven, just lately having hurled them out of heaven and down to our earth. These great truths we now know. But the delivered remnant did not know them then. This lack of accurate knowledge constituted a real trial of their faith, but those who endured under that test were greatly blessed, happified.
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