The Watchtower, August 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
AUGUST 15, 1954
Semimonthly
THE POWER OF HOPE
ENDURANCE THROUGH HOPE
WHAT HOPE FOR PERMANENT
WORLD PEACE?
MEANING OF THE WORLD'S WOES
BEARING FRUIT IN OLD AGE
©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".
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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
Meaning of the World's Woes
What Hope for Permanent World Peace?
Bearing Fruit in Old Age
Jehovah's Witnesses Increase in Korea
The Power of Hope
Endurance Through Hope
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
<tr><th>Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
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AT - An American Translation
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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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MEANING OF THE WORLD'S WOES
THINGS are really bad in the world today. Probably you have wondered why. Well, there is a good reason for all the increasing world woes. And there is vital meaning in them too. The Bible sheds light on this meaning at Matthew 24:3 (NW); here the disciples asked Jesus: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the consummation of the system of things?" Now the answer that Jesus gave at verse seven is eye-opening: "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another."
So the unusual number of earthquakes we have been having since 1914 truly means something. So do the food shortages and the world wars. Even all the fear in the world and the confused condition of all the nations mean something, for at Luke 21:25, 26 (NW) Jesus foretold that during the "last days" of this evil world this would occur: "On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth." Here Jesus foretold that the time would come when nations would be perplexed as they never had been before. And they would not be able to find the way out of their confusion. As we look
about today we see how the nations fear the future. There is the threat of the H-bomb. Still the brainy statesmen, even with all their conferences, are doing little about easing the world's woes. They do not know which way to turn.
Well now, do true Christians have to fear the future as the whole world is doing? No, they do not; for at Luke 21:28 (NW) Jesus explains: "But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." How near? Christ Jesus goes on to tell us in verses 29 to 32: "Note the fig tree and all the other trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near. In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur."
All this means that we are living at a time when there will be a complete change in the system of things. An old world must go out and a new world must come in. No wonder Jesus said to lift up your heads and rejoice when you see a flood of woes upon the earth, for the end of the Devil's rule over mankind is here! It is Satan the Devil who is bringing these woes upon mankind. He does not want people to know that he is really the ruler of this evil world and that he is misleading the nations.
The Devil wants people to believe that God is responsible for the woes. But as we learn from Revelation 12:7-9, 12 (NW), the Devil is the real culprit: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! 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."
When that war was fought, between 1914 and 1918, the Devil lost the day. He was tumbled down to the earth. And greatly enraged, he brings woe after woe upon mankind. But we can rejoice, because when we see these woes it means that the Devil has only a short period of time left before Armageddon. At that war Christ will smite the nations with a rod of iron and also put the Devil out of the way. This abyssing of the Devil is found at Revelation 20:1-3 (NW): "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations any more." So Christ Jesus merely seizes the Devil and hurls him into the abyss. With the Devil no longer active to interfere in the affairs of mankind, the woes for the earth come to an end.
Also at Armageddon the nations of this world will suffer destruction. The prophet
Daniel foretold this nation-smashing work at Daniel 2:44 (AS): "In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." After this smiting of the nations Christ's thousand-year reign begins. A righteous new world will have displaced a wicked old world. Things will be different then. No world troubles, no sickness, not even death will afflict mankind. All the animals will become friends of man. God's prophet tells us about this happy time at Isaiah 11:3-9 (AS):
"He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea."
So instead of being full of woes the earth will soon be full of the knowledge of Jehovah. The wicked will be destroyed. Nothing will cause trouble in God's new world. So really we are living in a most blessed time, for the world's woes mean that the "last days" of Satan's rule are at hand.
WHAT HOPE FOR PERMANENT WORLD PEACE?
Since Almighty God made man to live on a peaceful, paradise earth, why is our home-town planet today a global battlefield, with the smoke of war never clearing? The answer to this question, contained in the article below, will also enlighten you as to the one sure hope for permanent world peace.
STRANGE world, this! The civilized people today know more about killing than living, more about war than peace. Yet the inborn desire of man is for life, not death; for peace, not war. How can we explain this topsy-turvy condition? Yes, and how can we explain the fact that man's many avenues of hope for peace all lead to the dead end of war? These questions demand a logical answer. But first the heartcheering, irrepressible news: there is a sure hope for permanent world peace. It is not a pipe dream. It is a reality. This generation can experience its blessings.
Just what is this sure hope? A third all-out war? Hardly! For history shows that no war has ever ushered in permanent peace. Look, for example, at the war record of the twentieth century. In the book A Study of War Professor Wright observes that in the first thirty years of this century the European powers alone fought seventy-four wars. These lasted an average of four years, a record not approached by man since the twelfth century. According to the professor's calculations, this "enlightened generation" has a war-casualty rate far worse than the grand total of the previous 800 years! Still this blood-curdling concentration of wars within one generation has not brought permanent peace.
Nor is it reasonable to believe that a colossal build-up of military might will permanently scare nations out of war. Fear
does not tend to evoke peaceful reaction in men. Rather, people react to fear by preparing for defense and
attack. "Those who seek peace in terms of military strength alone," said President Eisenhower, "are doomed to end up in the agony of the battlefield."—New York Times, November 20, 1953.
Could the sure hope for peace, then, lie within the sphere of diplomacy, with its conferences, peace pacts and leagues of nations? Well, many people do feel that these methods offer the best hope for peace. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 73 per cent of the American people are in harmony with Dag Hammarskjold, who said that the United Nations "remains the principal source of hope of a world without fear." (New York Times, May 18, 1954) Since so many pin their hope on diplomacy, these words of Roman Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, reported in the New York Times of April 20, 1953, should be thoughtprovoking: "Those who put too much trust in words alone should keep in mind that 4,500 treaties of peace were signed under League of Nations auspices between the first and second world wars. In the eleven months preceding the second World War, 211 treaties of peace were signed." Still inclined to trust in diplomacy? Eye-opening, then, are the results of the most celebrated twentieth-century peace pacts.
(1) League of Nations Covenant of 1920: fifty-four nations promised "not to resort to war." In the 1930's Japan attacked China, Italy attacked Ethiopia and Russia attacked Finland.
(2) Russo-Polish nonaggression pact of 1920. In 1939 Russia took over half of Poland. (3) Locarno Treaties of 1925. Germany signed nonaggression pacts with Belgium, France, Poland and Czechoslovakia. In 1938, Germany took over Czechoslovakia. Later, all went to war. (4) Italo-Ethiopian 20-year pact of 1928. In 1935 Italy attacked. (5) Kellogg-Briand pact of 1929. Sixty-two nations renounced war. Almost all were at war within 15 years. (6) Russo-Finnish pact of 1932. Russia attacked Finland in 1939. (7) Russian and Baltic States nonaggression pacts of 1939 with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Within a year all three were annexed by Russia. (8) Stalin-Hitler pact of 1939. Peace was to last for ten years, but Germany attacked Russia in 1941. (9) Russo-Chinese nonaggression pact of 1945. To last for 30 years, but in 5 years, with Soviet help, Chinese Communists conquered China. (10) Russo-Yugoslav pact of 1945. Russia denounced it a month after signature. (11) United Nations Charter, 1945. Sixty nations agreed to outlaw war. But full-scale fighting broke out in Palestine, Greece, Malaya, Korea and Indo-China. United Nations attempts to secure formal peace treaties fail. Indeed, President Eisenhower had good reason for declaring: "I am convinced there is no peace alone in edicts and treaties, no matter how solemnly signed."—New York Times, November 20, 1953.
IDENTIFYING THE GOD OF THIS WORLD
Since many statesmen have been sincere in their efforts, why have all man's hopes for peace turned into bitter failures? The reason is twofold: (1) Man, as a result of Adam's sin, is imperfect and sinful; thus no peace pact can guarantee that greedy, selfish rulers will not crop up; (2) the superhuman ruler of this world is Satan the Devil. "The whole world is lying in the
power of the wicked one," explained Christ's apostle. This means that all nations of the earth are under Satan's control. No peace pacts, bullets or atom bombs can nullify the peace-wrecking efforts of the Devil, "the god of this system of things."—1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:4, NW.
Do not be deceived. The Devil is not some abstract quality of evil. That is what he would like you to think. To show that Satan is a real person and that he has power over earthly kingdoms, let us turn to the inspired Word of God, where we learn of Satan's attempt to induce the Son of God to rebel against his Father. "The Devil took him [Jesus] along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 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!'" Would this have been a temptation to Jesus if the Devil did not really control the nations of the world? Of course not! So the Devil's power of the nations is real. That is why the apostle Paul called the Devil and his demons "the worldrulers of this darkness."—Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:12, NW.
Jesus rejected the offer of this world's ruler. He knew that in his Father's due time he would be given Kingdom power and the command to shepherd the nations with "a rod of iron." (Rev. 19:15) When Christ wields the "rod of iron," which he will do very soon now, it means that all the kingdoms of this world will be smashed out of existence. This nation-destroying action was foretold at Daniel 2:44 (AS): "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
IDENTIFYING THE SURE HOPE
Now it becomes clear that the sure hope for world peace must be a kingdom, a kingdom that will rule over this planet earthwide and forever. This means a new world for mankind, a world the apostle Peter called "new heavens and a new earth" in which righteousness is to dwell. The King of the new world already reigns! In 1914 Jehovah enthroned Christ as King. Foretelling this enthronement, Psalm 110:2 (AS) says: "Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." Thus Christ rules although the Devil's world, Christ's enemies, is still a going concern. But not for long! For following his enthronement, the Jehovah-empowered King initiated offensive warfare against the Devil's invisible forces: "War broke out in heaven. . . Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. . . 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."—2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 12:7, 9, 12, NW.
"A short period of time" before what? Before the war of Armageddon, called in the Bible "the war of the great day of God the Almighty." This war will not be fought by man, but by superhuman forces under the direction of Christ Jesus. It is upon this generation that Armageddon will come, because the sign of the "last days" is now visible. A few features of that sign, mentioned by Jesus at Matthew 24 and Luke 21, are world wars, widespread famines, an unusual number of earthquakes, increased lawlessness, earth-wide tribulation, perplexity of nations and men stricken by fear. "When you see all these things," Jesus said, "truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur," including Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14; Matt. 24:33-35, NW.
Armageddon will be the final war, for it will end all wars. No need will there be for this war to be fought again: "He [Jehovah] is about to execute complete destruction; he will not take vengeance twice upon his enemies." Never will anyone debate whether Armageddon was a worthwhile war, as people do with wars fought by men! It will be a righteous war. Thus of the "King of kings," Christ Jesus, it is written: "He judges and carries on war in righteousness. . . . Out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may smite the nations with it."—Nah. 1:9, AT; Rev. 17:14; 19:11, 15, NW.
This smiting of the nations is necessary because they do not want the real, living Christ to rule over them. Nor will they relinquish their rule. Yet even the smiting of the nations will not be sufficient to bring in permanent peace unless "the worldrulers of this darkness," the Devil and his demons, are also destroyed. Since Christ is the "Prince of peace," he will see to it that that devilish obstructor of peace, together with the demons, is put out of the way at Armageddon: "He seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him."—Isa. 9:6; Rev. 20:1-4; Matt. 8:29, NW.
BLESSINGS OF THE NEW WORLD HOPE
Armageddon's war will sweep the earth clean of all wickedness, all unrighteousness, all corruption. Never again will nationalistic barriers divide earth's inhabitants. Never again will there be different governments on earth at the same time, each claiming to be the right kind for the people. Never again will there be armies, navies, war planes, cannons, tanks, machine guns and atom bombs.
And never again will there be bomb shelters, bomb craters, radio-active "death dust," no man's lands, fox holes, monuments to known and unknown soldiers, statues of bayonetwielding soldiers or even military academies. For nothing, absolutely nothing, will spoil the peace or mar the beauty of God's new world. This Jehovah guarantees: "Come near, and see God's acts, his marvellous acts done on earth; how he puts an end to wars all over the world, the bow shivered, the weapons shattered, the shields burnt to ashes!" "I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Ps. 45:9,10, Knox; Isa. 65:17, AS.
Clearly, then, Jehovah's new world is man's only hope for permanent world peace. Indeed it is a hope for much more! Because even if man could bring in a measure of peace, he would still need doctors, undertakers, grave diggers and tombstone makers. Yes, man would still have his life filled with tears, deep mourning, pain and outcries over keen suffering and heartaches. So man needs more than peace. He needs life. He needs health. But no kingdom of this evil world can put an end to the medicinal needs and the graveyards. Jehovah's new world will! "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, . . . And he [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more."—Rev. 21:1, 4, NW.
WHAT TO DO
To enjoy the blessings of permanent world peace, perfect health and everlasting life on a paradise earth after Armageddon, what must you do? The Bible answers: "Put on the complete suit of armor from God." Why? "That you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the
Devil." To fight such a spiritual warfare you also need the "sword of the spirit, that is, God's word." All this means that you must obtain a knowledge and understanding of Jehovah's written Word. Really, this in itself is a fight because people tend to think themselves too busy for Bible study. This too-busy outlook was foretold for our day by Jesus: "Just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man: they were eating, they were drinking, men were marrying." Nothing wrong with eating, drinking and marrying. Then what was wrong? This: the people engrossed themselves so deeply in the pursuits of life, all the while thinking that everything was going to continue as it always had, that they were unwilling to listen to and heed Noah's warning of that world's end. The result: "The flood arrived and destroyed them all." Eph. 6:11, 17; Luke 17:26, 27, NW.
So take time to investigate the message of the peaceful new world that Jehovah's witnesses are bringing you. Already a New World society of Christian men and women, who are living for the new world, is formed. Ally yourself with them. They are the sure victors, the survivors of Armageddon's war. Forsake the man-made, doomed-to-failure peace plans of this Devil-controlled world. Take a positive stand for the new world, its government and King. Remember, there will be no neutrality at Armageddon. All who fail to decide for God's kingdom are passive resisters of it. The King of the new world, Christ himself, laid down this strict, unbending rule: "He that is not on my side is against me." (Matt. 12:30, NW) So the time for indecision is past. Decide now. Act now. For soon, at Armageddon, a too-busy world, too busy to heed the warning of its own end, will be crushed out of existence. But there is no need for you to die.
BEARING FRUIT IN OLD AGE
THE righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: . . . They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and green: to show that Jehovah is upright." While those words have particular application to those 'planted as cedars in the house of Jehovah,' the "little flock," they undoubtedly enunciate a principle that applies to all Jehovah's faithful servants, including the other sheep being gathered to the Right Shepherd today. Ps. 92:12, 14, 15, AS.
Among the faithful servants of Jehovah in times past of whom those words were true was Moses, whose active service to Jehovah began when he was eighty years old. Then for forty years he was used by Jehovah to bring honor to his name and miraculously to deliver, guide, instruct, protect and provide for God's people, and we are told that at the age of 120 years, when he rehearsed Jehovah's righteous acts and his requirements for his people before the Israelites on the plains of Moab, "his eye had not grown dim and his vital strength had not fled." (Deut. 34:7, NW) Yes, in a most literal sense the psalmist's words proved true in Moses' case. That Moses was indeed "old" at the age of eighty is apparent from the words of his psalm:
"The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore." Ps. 90:10. RS.
The poet-king David was another who kept bearing fruit in his old age, supervising the gathering of material
for the temple, working out its details of construction and its extensive and elaborate form of worship, and singing Jehovah's praise and giving instructions to his people. "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Truly Jehovah's goodness and loving-kindness did follow David all the days of his life.-Ps.37:25, AS.
Bearing fruit in old age was true also of Daniel. He, no doubt, was in his nineties when he fearlessly stood before Belshazzar and his wanton revelers and interpreted the ominous handwriting on the wall; and when, later, he defied the law of the Medes and the Persians to worship his God Jehovah and was delivered from the den of lions, at about which time he also wrote the book bearing his name.
Nor are such examples of fruit-bearing in old age limited to the Hebrew Scripture record. Does not Luke tell us about the faithful priest Zechariah, who in his old age was blessed not only with a son, John the Baptist, but also with the gift of prophecy? And what about the apostle Paul? Although "an aged man" and a prisoner, did he not keep on writing letter after letter, eight of them, of instructions to his
brothers on the outside, at the same time making use of every opportunity to preach by word of mouth, thereby proving that the Word of God was not bound, making his last contribution to the Christian Greek
Scripture canon, 2 Timothy, just shortly before his death?—Philem.
9, NW; Luke 1:5-7; Acts 28:31; 2 Tim. 4:6.
And what an example the apostle John left for us! He must have been in his nineties when, banished to the isle of Patmos because of his faithful witnessing, he was privileged to see and to record the stupendous apocalyptic vision; still later writing, under inspiration, three letters and his account of the life of Christ. No question about Jehovah's goodness' continuing with these faithful servants, and their bearing fruit in old age, is there?
KEEP ON GROWING
This matter of bearing fruit in old age might be said to be of more pertinency to Jehovah's servants today than for those in times past, because more of them proportionately live to reach old age. Thus today in the United States there are twice as many persons, in proportion to the population, living to be 65 years as there were fifty years ago. Incidentally, let it here be noted that in spite of man's vaunted "scientific progress," Moses' words, uttered some 3,500 years ago, about man's life span as being generally 70 to 80 years are still true. In fact, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the expectation for life at the age of 68 for Egyptians living at the time of Christ was longer than is that of modern man of the same age.
To acquire the right mental attitude toward the matter of aging it is well to remember that it is in fact an expression of God's mercy. Adam, by reason of his transgression, merited instant death, but God mercifully let Adam die gradually, over a period of some nine centuries. Now according to those who make a study of the aging process our bodies keep growing until the age of thirty and then the various organ systems, heart, kidneys, etc., begin to function ever less and less efficiently until death
ensues. It is as though, until the age of thirty, we take in more than we give out, and after that, for the next forty years (nearly seventy years being the average life span in such lands as the United States) we give out more than we take in. And while heredity may be the most important single factor in determining our individual life span, we can increase our individual potential by exercising selfcontrol in work, in food and drink and in pleasures.
It is also encouraging to note that although we stop growing physically at the age of thirty there is no age limit to mental and emotional growth, no reason why we should not continue to keep on growing in these respects indefinitely. In fact, we are soberly told that "the 'old' person is the fellow who doesn't have anything to look forward to." And certainly, Jehovah's servants, more than any others in the earth today, have much to look forward to, being right on the threshold of the new world.
Obviously, then, to keep young in spite of our years we must keep on growing mentally and emotionally, yes, keep growing spiritually. How? By taking in accurate knowledge; by renewing our minds by means of the truths contained in God's Word and the understanding of them as revealed through God's channel; by associating with others who are thus keeping young, not overlooking those also young in years, at congregational meetings and at various assemblies; and by endeavoring to put into practice the things we keep learning.
BEARING FRUIT IN OLD AGE
It is only by keeping on growing thus that we can keep on bearing fruit in spite of our years. And remember, there is more than one kind of fruit. There is "the frui tage of the spirit [namely] love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith mildness, self-control."
We may not compare favorably with those young in years as regards physical beauty of form and feature, but a possession of the fruitage of the spirit does make us appear beautiful in the sight of Jehovah and in the eyes of all those having his spirit.—Gal. 5:22, NW; Prov. 31:30.
And we can also bear the Kingdom fruits of the Christian ministry in spite of advancing years. At one of the Society's "Bethel homes" some fifteen brothers, between the ages of 70 and 88, serve day in and day out, from morning till night alongside their younger brothers. Not contenting themselves with that, these go out evenings, Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings to preach on the streets, in the homes and from house to house. One of these, whose crippled feet permit little walking and no climbing of stairs, watches obituary columns for addresses of bereaved ones to whom he sends a letter of comfort together with a booklet containing a message of like import. At hand is also a report of a sister well along in years, who, although blind and bedridden, bears much Kingdom fruit by means of the telephone.
Nor need we feel sorry for ourselves because we cannot bear as much fruit as we once did. If our time and strength are limited because of old age, let us remember the lesson of the widow's mite. It is the motive, the heart appreciation, the sincerity that goes with the giving that counts; so let us give cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver. He judges each one by what
he has, and not by what he does not have; and He, and not another, judges.—Luke 21:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7.
And rather than begrudging youth its more active and more prominent role in Kingdom preaching, let us give it a helping hand and full co-operation, drawing freely on our Scriptural knowledge accumulated over the years and our tested integrity because of having weathered many storms. If we have truly profited by our years of experience we shall not envy but rather rejoice in our younger brothers' exaltation.
And finally, should we reach the point or time when it seems we can do nothing at all, we can still bear fruit by maintaining integrity, by keeping loyal and faithful at heart to our great Benefactor and thus have the privilege of making his heart glad. (Prov. 27:11) We can fill our minds with memories of past Kingdom joys, we can rejoice in the present prosperity of the New World society, even though our part in it is small, and we can look forward to boundless and endless blessings in the new world so near at hand. And though never having neglected prayer, we can gain much comfort, strength and joy from more frequent communion with our heavenly Father, remembering also that "a righteous man's supplication when it is at work has much force."—Jas. 5:16, NW.
Yes, in spite of our years, we can keep on growing, we can keep on bearing fruit. Truly, "the hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Prov. 16:31.
Jehovah's Witnesses Increase in KOREA
By a Watch Tower missionary in Korea
TRUCE has come to Korea, but not peace. Nor does peace
look possible in the future. The United Nations organization, which came to the rescue of South Korea in the summer of 1950, is finding that arranging a peace conference with the Communists is no less frustrating than the long months of truce talks. And even if a peace should be effected, who could trust the terms agreed to in view of past records of breach of faith? Such is the attitude of many people in Korea. They take a very dark view of the future, indeed.
The violence of the war has shifted now from the front lines to deep within South Korea's mountainous terrain. The guerrilla activity has increased considerably, showing signs of extensive organization by the Communists. While this writer was in Chonju a few days ago he observed the moving of a division of the ROK army through the streets. They were going south to flush out the guerrillas from the Chiri Mountain area.
But among the 22,000,000 people of South Korea are many persons who look above the stalemate of human efforts and turn to the only One who can offer real hope for the future. Those who look to Jehovah and his promises for a new world of righteousness grasp at his truth with a vigor and determination that is marvelous to behold. It is difficult to get many really to look into the Bible for God's promise at
first. They have been let down too many times in the past.Many had experienced the Communist rule of
North Korea or during the occupation of South Korea in the early days of the war. They learned that the loudly propagandized promises the Reds gave to the laboring class resulted only in more terrible oppression. And again the promises of the United Nations organization to rehabilitate their destroyed country have been undermined by the United Nations organization's concessions during the truce and further possible concessions in the peace conference. Little wonder, then, that the Korean just sits silently, not bothering to comment when further promises are made to him.
But, then, when he hears that Jehovah, the Creator of the universe, has promised to destroy all the wickedness from earth and to make all things new he pricks up his ears. Strangely enough, it is not the promise of the Kingdom or the new earth that takes his attention at first, but the Bible teaching of Armageddon. A new world based on past things does not interest him. But if God is going to destroy the wicked things first, then bring in the thousand-year reign of Christ, that sounds more reasonable.
Once his interest is aroused in the truth, the person of good will in Korea studies his Bible day and night. As soon as he sees the difference between Satan's old world and Jehovah's new world the Korean is capable of very strong faith. Hardships, difficulties, persecutions, are overcome even when his faith is quite young.
The general lot of the Korean has changed but little since the truce. Many organizations are operating in Korea now, trying to bring some relief to the people. It is a monumental task for any and all. Much sincere effort is being made. The United States is trying to arrange a way for the Koreans to build their own fertilizer plants and cement factories, etc., in an effort to aid in rebuilding and at the same time enable Korea's principal occupation, agriculture, to produce enough to keep the people from starving until the country gets on its feet economically. It has set up a Combined Economic Board to combat inflation. Being completely dependent on outside help, particularly the United States of America, Korea naturally has to accept unwelcome conditions on the help it receives. Much has been done by the United States and others. Much more will be done, but even if this help is continued until Armageddon there will be no real peace or hope for the people. Man cannot rise above his own power, and the cure for Korea's troubles is beyond human ability. Many are turning from men's schemes and looking to God.
The winters in Korea are bitterly cold as the winds blow down across the peninsula from Siberia. The army refers to it as "arctic weather," as the American soldiers shiver in their fur-lined parkas. But despite the cold and lack of necessities the Korean witnesses of Jehovah do not permit the winter weather to lessen their zeal for Kingdom service and attending the congregation meetings.
the experiences and joys they have had in their service work.
They love to associate together with those of like precious faith and eagerly look forward to Sunday each week, as Sunday is "meeting day," when they can get together and study and tell each other of
Until recently the early military curfew has made it difficult to attend evening meetings and get back home in time. So in most congregations the usual weekly meetings of the congregation are all held on Sunday instead of during the week. One unit in Seoul meets at the missionary home. Each Sunday the living room, dining room and lobby are packed out with around 170 in attendance. Perhaps you are wondering how so many can squeeze in. The answer is that the Korean people do not sit on chairs, but they sit on the floor, and in that way many can crowd into a small space. They leave their shoes at the door as they enter, because according to Korean custom they never wear their shoes inside the house.
On Sundays the brothers begin arriving at the Kingdom Hall about 10:30 in the morning, and it is usually around 2:00 before they leave; and all this time they are sitting on the cold floor in their stocking feet and with the temperature below the freezing mark.
It is really a joy to attend the meetings and notice with what rapt attention the brothers listen to every word, and when the conductor refers to a scripture the pages of their Bibles begin to fly as they hurry to locate the text in their own Bibles. The Watch Tower literature translated into Korean has been very limited, so the brothers always take notes, that the new thoughts may be used by them later as they are teaching others.
After the meetings many of them engage in group witnessing work before returning to their homes. So Sunday is a busy day for Jehovah's servants in Korea.
When the American missionaries engage in the house-to-house preaching work they are rarely invited inside, because of the present economic conditions. Often the whole family is forced to live in only one room and they are hesitant for you to come in.
But even if you are invited inside, you will find that the houses are not warmed in the style of the Western home, as no space heat is used. The floors are warmed by channeling the smoke from the kitchen fire under the floor. But this floor is warm only if there is a pallet on top of the floor to keep the heat in the floor. Then one gets warm by putting his hands and feet under the pallet. Sometimes little charcoal braziers are used to warm the hands and to keep the water warm for tea. So one must dress warm inside the house as well as outside. The circuit servant, an American, sometimes sleeps on a Korean floor in his overcoat. He finds the floor warm usually in one spot and his lanky frame extends beyond. The fuel problem in Korea is great. What little wood and charcoal are available are very high, and wages are low; hence in most homes fuel is used only for cooking purposes.
It has been very gratifying in recent months to see an increasing number of those having no previous affiliation with any professed Christian organization come into a knowledge of the truth and exhibit real faith in the Bible. A recent case in Chonju is typical. A provincial government official was recently baptized. He presented many difficult questions before he would accept the Bible as true. His patience to hear and study the matter out enabled Jehovah's witnesses to clear away his doubts one by one, and now he is quite enthusiastic about the truth. Through his efforts we were able to use a public school auditorium for the public lecture given by the circuit servant in Chonju this month. One hundred and seventy persons attended the lecture. The Chonju congregation rejoiced, as their usual attendance at meetings in their Kingdom Hall is around 60. Many Buddhists, ancestor worshipers, Confucianists and even atheists are coming into the truth. It is estimated that fifty per cent of those being baptized now have had no previous "Christian" affiliation.
In Seoul there are now two thriving congregations with a combined attendance at the Watchtower study regularly approaching 300 persons. One of the congregations uses the second floor of a former hospital. The doctor who owns the building is providing the four rooms free for the Kingdom Hall. The doctor herself is very active in the service.
This doctor's husband was formerly a high official in the national government. At that time his wife received the truth, but he was so busy with official matters he could not take the time to look into the details of the doctrines taught by Jehovah's witnesses. Now that he is again in private business he is taking the time. He stays up late at night reading the Bible and the Society's publications and is now introducing them to other persons. He still is close to the government and has been able to assist in the Society's problems many times. Through him and his wife the truth has been brought to the attention of many prominent people.
Seoul is still the war-battered city of last winter; but now with most of its population returned, temporary shacks are going up where homes and offices used to be. The city is once more a bustling metropolis. The streetcars are overcrowded and the sidewalks jammed with people. A city has come to life again since the truce began. Jehovah's witnesses are happy to be back in their homes again and are not slacking the hand toward the witness work, which many of them learned while refugees down south. Before the war there was a small congregation in Seoul, but now the two larger and more active congregations are a testimony that life and hope and praise are still present in Korea. In November of 1951 there were about 35 publishers of the Kingdom message reporting in Korea.
In May 1954 there were 855 in thirteen congregations and several isolated groups in the southern part of the peninsula.
From high and low stations in Korean life these newly dedicated servants have come. Among them is the wife of the then prime minister, whose meekness and humility toward the commands of Jehovah are a good example for all. She studies her Bible constantly and is anxious and willing to go at any time in the Kingdom service. It has caused quite a change in her life, bringing some difficult problems for her. She looks confidently toward Jehovah and his organization to provide the strength for her to continue in His work. Recently she went with the brothers from Seoul who gave a public lecture for a smaller congregation in a village about fifteen miles from Seoul. Because she attended the meeting all the village officials and dignitaries attended also. The school principal lined up the school children in front of her to bow to her, but she refused this gesture, instead calling upon them to give honor to Jehovah and not to his creatures.
Some time ago at a meeting in the Kingdom Hall at the missionary home in Seoul several American soldiers were present. A young witness was overheard to observe, "Look, the Americans have finally begun to come into the truth." Quite a number of GI's are associating with Jehovah's witnesses here. Some are making good use of their time here by producing good works in Kingdom service. One sergeant, especially, has set a good example of zeal for the brothers. He has earned the love and respect of his Korean brothers. Many GI's have taken their stand for the truth in difficult circumstances. Some had never heard of Jehovah's witnesses before they came to Korea. Truly the message is reaching all kinds of men.
The Kingdom message is now making some progress in the rural sections among the lesser educated ones. Many illiterate persons too are beginning to understand. Recently a small rural group of isolated publishers began making periodic trips to another village some distance away. They had worked all the territory near their own area many times. These periodic visits bore fruit, as last month this new village suddenly appeared on the Theocratic map by reporting for the first time. They reported en masse too, as their first report showed 17 publishers. It takes great courage to become active in the preaching work in a rural place in Korea. The old traditions are so strictly adhered to that those who break the traditions are shunned and, many times, even harmed bodily. In Korea, as elsewhere in the Orient, the old rule the young. In their family life the daughter-in-law is controlled completely by the mother-in-law and even the son cannot interfere. The grandson is often dominated by either grandparent. For these people to defy this traditional authority when these elders resent their Christian activity is a great step that must be considered very carefully. Sometimes the prejudice of the elders is very violent, as they consider Christianity a reflection on their form of ancestor worship. Watching these brothers turn from these strong traditions helps us to understand the meaning of Jesus' words, "Let the dead bury the dead." It is necessary counsel to those bound by such traditions.
Here in this war-ravaged land there exists a segment of that nation, prophesied about at Ezekiel 38, that is at peace and dwells in unwalled villages. The description given by Ezekiel of those in Jehovah's organization living in security is
Here in this war-ravaged land there exists a segment of that nation, prophesied about at Ezekiel 38, that is at peace and dwells in unwalled villages. The description given by Ezekiel of those in Jehovah's organization living in security is shared by Jehovah's witnesses in Korea despite their proximity to one of the most explosive political situations in history. Jehovah is their trust!
THE POWER OF HOPE
HOPE could never exist in the universe without Jehovah, the great Source of everlasting life, "the God who gives hope." (Rom. 15:13, NW)
"We were saved in this hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing does he hope for it?" Rom.8:24, who NW. Jeho
In the darkest hour of mankind's history, when Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator, bringing sin and death to their offspring, Jehovah saw the need of a hope and in his loving-kindness provided it. That sublime hope, first disclosed almost 6,000 years ago, is filled today with dynamic and protecting power for those loving and searching after righteousness. Its power, activated by an understanding of God's written Word, impels a Christian to godly action, sustains him when under trial and directs him safely along the narrow path that leads to never-ending life in Jehovah's new world.
2 But why does the world's outlook appear so desperately hopeless today if Jehovah has given mankind a valid hope? Because a wicked one, Satan the Devil, has blinded the great mass of humanity to the true hope. This crafty one has devised counterfeit hopes, foisting them upon the peoples of all the earth. Cunningly, the Devil has deluded the nations by transforming himself into "an angel of light" so that now "the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (2 Cor. 11:14; 1 John 5:19, NW; 2 Cor. 4:4) The result? A world full of people entertaining barren, famished and hazy hopes. Ask the average person what his hope is. The answer almost invariably will reveal uncertainty or a hope that is vague. There are persons
who will admit that their hope is in acquiring money, but they are not possessors of the hope Jehovah gives, because such ones are criminals in the eyes of the supreme Judge: "If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much; this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above."—Job 31:24, 25, 28, RS.
Those who pin their hope on the promises of men or even on an organization of nations cannot with assurance say, "we were saved in this hope." Indeed, how could they have a saving hope? For man's lofty promises for a safe world of tomorrow have failed miserably. And by ignoring the hope that Jehovah has given, the people have made the object of their trust a spider's house: if they lean upon it, it will not stand. How could even an organization of the brainiest men be the sponsors of a saving hope when "surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity"? (Ps. 39:5, AS; Job 8:14, 15) Thus the best house or organization that man could build would be, as a foundation for a saving hope, only a spider's house. "And thou dost wipe out his desire like a cobweb. Verily, all men are but a breath." (Ps. 39:11, AT) Though the clergy have extolled President Eisenhower as "the architect of a new hope," as he was called at his inauguration, and though the clergy, together with the politicians, have extolled the United Nations as man's only hope, the bleak fact remains that the nations are not filled with "all joy and peace."
And why? Because they do not know the "God who gives hope." Hear the words of Christ Jesus: "Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you." (John 17:25, NW) Not having come to know Jehovah, the only Source of genuine hope, the world's hopes, based on riches and promises of men, fade and wither.
4 Jehovah's promise of an enduring new world of righteousness will never wither. (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 66:22) This is an uplifting, liberating hope in spite of the fact that to this very hour "in Adam all are dying." (1 Cor. 15:22, NW) How a liberating hope? Because a new world means "that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption." (Rom. 8:21, NW) Men often sweepingly condemn God for the present world's enslavement to corruption. The trouble is that they do not examine the Scriptures to get the proper perspective. It was only because of Jehovah's undeserved kindness that Adam and Eve, before their death sentence was carried out, were allowed to have children. Otherwise we would not be here today! But the human creation, as a result of Adam's sin, was born into imperfection and death. (Rom. 5:12) Of course, we did not wish it that way, but the human creation had no choice in the matter. This the apostle explains at Romans 8:20 (NW): "The creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope." This does not mean that, in hope that he could do something for them, Almighty God subjected the human creation to futility. No! God never hopes! He knows! "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18) Jehovah's perfect knowledge
of his works allows no room for hope. 5 But, then, how did Jehovah subject mankind to futility "on the basis of hope"? By saying what he did in the garden of Eden just before he sentenced Adam and Eve to death. As Judge, Jehovah God addressed himself to the unfaithful covering cherub, the spirit creature that became known as Satan the Devil: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." (Gen. 3:15, NW) Here was summed up the supreme hope for all mankind! A promise from the Most High God that the fiendish introducer of wickedness, the "one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil," would be crushed out of existence by a deliverer. (Heb. 2:14, NW) Here was the promise of a new world wherein the human creation would be delivered from the futile bondage of corruption into glorious freedom and life!—Isa. 65:17.
When the beloved Son of God came to earth, the One chosen by Jehovah to be that great Deliverer, it became clear that the hope of a new world meant not only the bruising of the serpent but also that obedient mankind could be "saved in this hope" for everlasting life. Said Jesus: "I have come that they might have life and might have it in abundance." (John 10:10, NW) It was for the perfect new world that God gave his only-begotten Son and allowed him to die on the torture stake. (John 3:16) When the resurrected Christ Jesus presented the merit of his ransom sacrifice to his Father in heaven, it being accepted by Jehovah, the foundation was laid for the new world. Today those who place their wholehearted trust in the saving hope of Jehovah's new heavens and new earth are a New World society. Their hope, based on the promise of God, who cannot lie, is a source of sustaining, impelling power in their lives.
Let us now see why hope is a power.
HOPE'S POWER ANALYZED
7 Hope is defined by Webster's unabridged New International Dictionary as "desire accompanied with expectation of obtaining what is desired." Hope is thus comprised of two elements: (1) a desire and (2) a feeling that the desire will be realized or fulfilled. Hence one may have keen desire but lack hope. For desire accompanied by the background realization that there is little or no possibility of ever having that desire fulfilled is not hope. True, desire may attract, but hope does much more: hope impels, hope pushes one, hope urges to effort.
To believe in things we hope for there must be firm and irremovable grounds, a basis or foundation for confidence and reliance. Why so? Because what we hope for we do not see. "Hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he hope for it?" (Rom. 8:24, NW) Here the word "see" conveys the thought of having one's hope fulfilled, for then one's eyes will behold realization. At Job 7:7 we read: "Mine eye shall no more see good," the marginal reference adding "to see, that is, to enjoy."
Since hope is that which we do not see, it can lead to success or failure, depending upon what we have based that hope on. To show that hope's actuating power does not always lead to success we shall take the example of the covering cherub who turned himself into Satan the Devil. This mighty spirit creature surrendered himself to a life-ruling ambition. That ambition became
his hope, because he believed there was a possibility of succeeding. It was really hope's power that moved the covering cherub into carrying out his ambitious plan of action. He rebelled against Jehovah's universal sovereignty, turned traitor and then subtly induced Eve also to become a renegade.
10 But that satanic mastermind who perpetrated rebellion and who engineered a breakaway from Jehovah's holy organization will never realize his fondest hope, that of making himself like the Most High. For there was something wrong with his hope. First, it was made up of a criminal desire; second, the feeling that the desire would be realized was inspired by a blinding pride that corrupted the cherub's wisdom. (Ezek. 28:17; 1 Tim. 3:6) Such a pride-inspired hope could lead only to disaster. (Prov. 16:18) Already Satan has been tumbled from the heavenly heights down to the earth together with his pawns, the demons. Soon now that invisible ruler of this world will be checkmated at Armageddon, when the King Christ Jesus hurls him into the abyss of deathlike inactivity. (John 12:31; 14:30; Rev. 12:7-9, 12; 20:1-3) The case of the covering cherub illustrates how hope, without a sound basis, can never lead to success and how powerful a desire for something together with the feeling of obtaining it really is.
EVE'S HOPE, WHY DEFECTIVE?
11 Through the serpent Satan invited Eve to eat of the forbidden tree, tantalizing her with this desire: "You positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad." (Gen. 3:4,5, NW) Did Eve actually believe in this promise of godlike wisdom to the extent that she had hope? Yes, Eve had all the elements that go to make up hope: she had the desire for added wisdom and she wholeheartedly expected to obtain it.
So her desire had become fertile; it had led to hope and its power pushed Eve on, not to success, but to disaster. (Jas. 1:14, 15) That Eve had fertilized her desire to produce sin with the expectation of obtaining wisdom is evident from the Scriptures: "Adam was not deceived, but the woman was then
tion, that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on. Thus Weymouth's translation (third edition) defines faith as "a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope." Now what is "assurance"? Is it conviction, a firm belief? Even more! Under the heading "faith," Funk and Wagnall's New Standard Dictionary tells us: "Conviction is a belief established by argument or evidence; assurance is be
not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and came to be in transgression." (1 Tim. 2:14, NW) Eve herself admitted that she had implicitly believed the serpent: "The serpent deceived me and so I ate."—Gen. 3:13, NW.
12 Why did Eve's hope lead to her death? Because her hope had no sound foundation; if she sinned she could hope to gain the thing desired. Sin was the grounds for hope. Eve had no basis for believing that sin could produce what the serpent promised. There was no evidence of any kind to prove that the serpent was reliable and
by argument of evidence, assurance is belief beyond the reach of argument." Surely, then, we can understand the rich meaning of the rendering from the New World Translation: "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for." Eve never had a "well-grounded assurance" or "assured expectation" of that for which she hoped. Thus her hope based on sin ended in death. But though Eve's hope was defective it still had impelling power. Then how much more powerful must be hope founded on faith!
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