The Watchtower, October 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
OCTOBER 15, 1954
Semimonthly
“THIS GOOD NEWS OF
THE KINGDOM”
WHY PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED
WHO IS JEHOVAH?
A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
AND VALUE
MAKING KNOWN THE GOOD NEWS
IN A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE
©WTB&TS
“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,” SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
<tr><th>CONTENTS
A Message of Encouragement and Value 611
Who Is Jehovah? 613
Making Known the Good News in a Jewish Synagogue 617
Truth About Jehovah Brings Joy to Montreal Family 620
Do You Say, “Send Me”? 620
Why Prayers Go Unanswered 621
“This Good News of the Kingdom” 625
No 100-Yard Dash! 637
Questions from Readers 638
Religious Leaders Marry? 639
Announcements 640
Check Your Memory 640
Abbreviations used in “The Watchtower” for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version
LXX - The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation
Mo - James Moffatt’s version
Da - J. N. Darby’s version
NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version
Ro - J. B. Rotherham’s version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott
RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser’s version
Yg - Robert Young’s version
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A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND VALUE
THERE are many different views concerning religion and about the Bible. Many think that just as long as they do what is right, do not harm anyone, and are good people, that is all that is required of them. But the Bible, the real guide regarding religion, does not agree with that viewpoint. Note what it says in Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee."
Thus, more than just being a good person is required. One who does not wish to be rejected by God must have knowledge, must know about God's Word, about his purposes and about the things that God requires of man and the provisions he has made for us. That is why Jesus said, as recorded in John 17:3 (NW): "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." Thus we see that much more than just being a good person is required of one who wishes to receive God's blessings. It takes right knowledge of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. And that is something that very few people have today.
The Bible is the most widely circulated of all books. In some lands almost every home has a copy. Possibly your home does; in fact, it may have several Bibles. But the Bible is not widely read today. Frequently this is because the people have
found their Bibles very difficult, hard to understand. They are like the man the evangelist Philip met. This man, riding by in his chariot, was reading the book of Isaiah; and note how the Bible tells us of this in Acts 8:30, 31 (NW): "Philip ran alongside and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: 'Do you really know what you are reading aloud?' He said: 'Really how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?"
Many people have that very thought when they try to read their Bibles: 'If only someone would help me to understand what this is all about!' Well, that is the purpose of the Watch Tower Society's activity, to encourage you to study your Bible, to help you to learn what is in this most amazing guide, and to help you to understand what it is all about. You need such knowledge, for God's Word says so.
It is amazing, the things that you can learn from the Bible once you look into its pages! Many people are terribly wrought up over present world conditions, over the fear of war and the dread of their children's being left to run the mess of an atom-threatened world. Yet did you know that these very conditions were long ago foretold in the Bible? In Matthew 24:3 (NW) we read that 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?"
Jesus told them not to be deceived, for there would be many false reports about this. Then he said in verse six: "You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the accomplished end is not yet." But the next two verses show that the time would come when something different would happen: "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."
When first did "nation . . . rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom" in total war-something different from the wars of the past? Why, the first time the world went to total war was in 1914-a marked year in Bible prophecy. And the following verses in this twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew further describe the conditions we have witnessed since 1914.
What does the fact that the Bible predicted earth's present troubles mean to us? The joyful thing about it is that the Bible not only predicted these conditions, but also showed what their outcome would be! Jesus was here stating the conditions that we could see that would indicate that drastically changed conditions were at hand.
The present badness throughout the earth is not God's doing, but is at the instigation of Satan the Devil. Revelation 12:12 foretold the time when Satan's wicked rule would be about to expire and said prophetically of that time: "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." We should be very pleased to know that the present evil conditions on earth have only "a short period of time" remaining, should we not? Well, we can be assured of that very thing! Back in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, where Jesus was showing the sign of the end of this old Satanruled system, he said, verse 34: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." What a consoling fact that is! All these things would happen in one generation! The sudden worsening of world conditions since World War I, which broke out forty years ago, was here foretold to end within one generation, within the lifetime of people who are now at least 40 years old!
Certainly we can trust these prophecies. They are much surer than the political predictions that continue to fail. They have already proved true in foretelling earth's present conditions, and if the inspiration behind the Bible had the power to foretell 1,900 years in advance the very conditions earth now sees, it also has the power to go a few decades farther and foretell the outcome. Astounding as these facts may seem, they are true! You can learn them by getting the right kind of knowledge. Your Bible is a storehouse of knowledge that leads to life. It shows why Satan was permitted to exercise such a wicked influence over the earth, how God purposes to end it, and what it means to you and your life.
The reason that Jehovah's witnesses call at your door is to help you to learn this vital information from the Bible, to have the right knowledge that God shows one must have in order to receive his blessings. Further information regarding such accurate knowledge and the sure hope that God's Word sets forth for today is contained in this publication and in the other literature that is distributed as a noncommercial public service by the Watch Tower Society. These further evidences of the importance of the time in which we are living and of God's purposes to bring righteous conditions to this earth will prove to be of great encouragement and value to you.
who is JEHOVAH?
Can you imagine millions of people not knowing the name of the ruler of their country? Yet, strangely there are millions who do not know the name of the Ruler of the universe! Since it is a life
or death matter to know the supreme Sovereign, the following article is of vital importance to you.
THE name Jehovah is the grandest name in all the universe. It is the self-given name of the Creator. It is the name of the only true and living God. The time is soon coming when every creature that lives must know and worship Jehovah.
vah: "The earth belongs to Jehovah, and so does its fullness." Jehovah, the supreme Sovereign, is one. He is not a triune God, for that would deny his supremacy. Jehovah himself declares: "I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give
How strange, then, that myriads of people, when they hear the name Jehovah, ask: "Who is Jehovah?" Some bellow out the question like Pharaoh of old in a defiant tone of voice, one reflecting arrogance, disbelief and ridicule. Others ask the question out of an honest heart, sincerely seeking enlightenment. Another mass of people has yet to hear the name Jehovah. Yet every person who desires happiness, every person who desires security and every person who desires life must now learn who Jehovah is. Important, too, is to know what his
to another." That Jehovah truly is one God, we have the words of Moses: "Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." Acts 4:24; 1 Cor. 10:26, NW; Isa. 42:8 AS; Deut. 6:4, NW.
Worthy of praise forevermore, Jehovah is the "King of eternity" because he is "from everlasting to everlasting." Jehovah is known as "God" because he is the Creator of all things good. Jehovah is known as the "Most High" because he is above all. Jehovah is known as "Father" because he is the Source of life. Jehovah is known as
purposes are and what the penalty is for not knowing Jehovah.
Jehovah is the Owner of the universe. Of him the disciples and apostles of Christ said: "Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them." The very ground we walk upon belongs to Jehothe "Almighty" because his power is unlimited. Jehovah is known as "the God of hosts" because he commands heavenly armies invincible to foes. Nothing, then, is too great for Jehovah, as he himself declares: "Is anything too extraordinary for Jehovah?"—1 Tim. 1:17, NW; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 18:14, NW.
THE DIVINE NAME
Seeing, then, that Jehovah is the greatest personality in the universe, how is it that his name is so little known? Because a malicious enemy, Satan the Devil, has misled all nations away from the true God. The Bible identifies the culprit: "Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Rev. 12:9, NW) The Devil does not want men to know Jehovah; so he has induced them falsely to believe that Jehovah is just the name of some tribal god. Not only that, but the Devil has so thoroughly misled mankind that false religions abound. These have succeeded in removing the name Jehovah from many translations of the Bible itself!
In the ancient Hebrew Scriptures Jehovah's name is represented by four letters called the "tetragrammaton," for which the English characters are JHVH (or YHWH). How many times does the divine name, represented by the tetragrammaton, occur in the Hebrew Scriptures? It occurs 6,823 times! Just how the name is pronounced is not exactly known, but the most popular way of rendering it is "Jehovah." To translate the tetragrammaton as "the LORD" is to obscure the divine name. Yet what have most of Christendom's Bible translators done? Like the Jewish clergy in Jesus' day and today, they refuse to know and use the divine name. Thus out of the 6,823 times that the four-letter name or tetragrammaton occurs, the translators of the King James Version Bible used the name Jehovah only four times! The Roman Catholic Douay Version and Jewish versions entirely eliminate the name Jehovah. When the much-advertised Revised Standard Version recently came out, what happened to the divine name? The translators completely removed it! In the preface the translators explained that they were using the term "the Lord," thus returning "to the procedure of the King James Version,
which follows the precedent of the ancient Greek and Latin translators and the long established practice in the reading of the Hebrew scriptures in the synagogue." Thus the translators of this popular Bible follow a course like the Jewish clergy, who rejected Christ Jesus. No wonder the words of Jesus are especially apt today: "Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you"!—John 17:25, NW.
WHAT JEHOVAH'S PURPOSE IS
The name "Jehovah" means "He causes to be," that is, "He causes to be" for a purpose. What is Jehovah's prime purpose? It is the theme of the entire Bible: the establishment of a kingdom to vindicate his holy name. All this means that mankind has the hope of a new world, one that must supplant this present evil world that has been misled by the Devil. But before Jehovah demonstrates his wrath against the Devil and his evil world, he purposes that a warning be given mankind that all those disposed toward righteousness may not have to die with a devilish world. This very warning work makes known the name of Jehovah. The very reason that Satan the Devil, the antitypical Pharaoh, has been allowed to live as long as he has is that the divine name may be known and vindicated: "For this very purpose I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may demonstrate my power and that my name may be published throughout all the earth."—Rom. 9:17, NW.
Note that the witness to Jehovah's name and purpose must be given "throughout all the earth." This fact was also foretold by the prophet Malachi: "From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles [nations]; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering." So the good news of Jehovah's kingdom must be proclaimed far and wide!
This is a work not to be done in a corner, but "in every place." The "incense" that is offered is, of course, not literal, but is "the odor of the knowledge" of Jehovah, which, the apostle said, must be diffused "in every place." This great witness work was also foretold by Christ Jesus as being part of the sign of the "last days" of Satan's world rule: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come."—Mal. 1:11, AS; 2 Cor. 2:14-16; Matt. 24:14, NW.
Today the witness is being given "in all the inhabited earth." Those who are doing this work are known as "Jehovah's witnesses." An unusual name? No, for Jehovah himself declares: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen." In 150 lands these witnesses of Jehovah are now making known the purposes of the Most High. This is a strange work. Why? Because, like the preaching of Noah, it warns the inhabited earth of the end of a whole system of things. The preflood people scoffed at Noah. But when the Jehovah-decreed deluge enveloped the earth their mouths filled up with water and their scoffing ceased. It is dangerous to scoff at Jehovah's strange work. Jehovah advises against it.—Isa. 43:10, AS; Matt. 24:38, 39.
Destruction will come upon the whole earth when Jehovah brings to pass his "strange act." It will be an act similar to those he performed in times of old. The Flood was an act of Jehovah. The destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea was an act of Jehovah. The obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah was an act of Jehovah. The annihilation of 185,000 soldiers of Sennacherib's army before Jerusalem was an act of Jehovah. But the greatest act of all, the one that results in the complete vindication of his name, is Jehovah's
"strange act," also called "the war of the great day of God the Almighty."—Rev. 16:14, NW.
JEHOVAH FIGHTS FOR HIS NAME
"Jehovah is a manly person of war," says the Bible. It is righteous warfare that he wages. More than 230 times in Bible prophecy he is called "Jehovah of hosts." This means that Jehovah is Commander-in-Chief of heavenly armies that will be used to express his anger against this world. Christ Jesus leads Jehovah's armies to battle: "The armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen." Do we have any idea as to the strength and number of Jehovah's armies? Yes! Remembering that it took only two angels to blot out Sodom and Gomorrah, we get some idea from Revelation 9:16 (NW, footnote) why Armageddon will be the greatest tribulation that has ever come upon this world: "'The number of the armies of the horsemen was twenty thousand times ten thousand,' that is, 200,000,-000"'!—Ex. 15:3; Rev. 19:14, NW.
When Jehovah gives the command the armies in heaven will fight for the vindication of his name. This will be "the great and terrible day of Jehovah" foretold by Malachi, "the day of Jehovah's wrath" foretold by Zephaniah. This time can be called "Jehovah's day" because it is the day when he fights for his name. Already forty years of this generation that is doomed to feel the wrath of Jehovah's day have passed. Only a few years remain. In the most urgent sense, then, "the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations." When that day breaks, it will be a time of heart-paralyzing fear: "The day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Therefore shall all hands be feeble, and every heart of man shall melt: and they shall be dismayed; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail: they shall look in amazement one at another; their faces shall be faces of flame."
Mal. 4:5; Zeph. 1:18; Obadiah 15; Isa. 13:6-8, AS; Matt. 24:34.
With faces pallid with soul-chilling terror, mankind who have not come to know Jehovah will realize that their destruction
difference, what will be the penalty? The Bible answers: "These very ones will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction." 2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 1:7-9, NW.
Since the penalty for not knowing Jehovah is everlasting death and since Jehovah's day will catch the world napping, it is high time to awake. It is far later than
proceeds from Jehovah. Hailstones, flash floods, upheavals on the earth, lightning, darkness, fire from heaven, and other phenomena, are all forecast for Jehovah's day. All not on Jehovah's side, hence on Satan's side, will be forced to know Jehovah: "I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah." More than sixty times this
By a diligent study of God's Word. The various Bible study aids distributed by Jehovah's witnesses are designed to help you know Jehovah and his purposes. Remember, knowing Jehovah means more than just an acquaintance with his name. It means living your life in harmony with Jehovah's purposes. It means a continual taking in of knowledge. Those who refuse to take in this knowledge can never come to know Jehovah. Christ Jesus showed that this imbibing of knowledge is essential to attain everlasting life: "This means ever-
phrase "know that I am Jehovah" appears in Ezekiel's prophecy. This means that all men will know that the smiting comes from Jehovah, not from man. No one will have reason to doubt that it is God's expression of anger.—Ezek. 38:22, 23, AS.
VITAL TO KNOW JEHOVAH NOW
How will this "great and terrible day of Jehovah" come? With glorious fanfare so that the whole world can be converted and know Jehovah? Just the opposite! Wrote the apostle Peter: "Jehovah's day will come as a thief." Explained the apostle
lasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."—John 17:3, NW.
Without life man can enjoy nothing and man cannot have life without knowing Jehovah God. So the choice facing every person on this earth is clear: to refuse to know Jehovah and die or to come to know Jehovah in obedient service and live. Heed the warning witness now being sounded by Jehovah's witnesses. Bestir yourself to investigate the message they bring. It is not a joke. The Bible testifies to that. There
Paul: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night." So when Christ Jesus leads Jehovah's armies "from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings due punishment upon those who do not know God," the world will not in the least expect it. For refusing to know Jehovah, either by willful choice, by a too-busy attitude or by sleepy inis no need for you to pay the penalty for not knowing Jehovah. Acquire that vital knowledge now. Do not wait until Jehovah's day breaks thieflike in all its fury upon this generation. No, do not wait until flaming fire from heaven and a flesheating plague compel men everywhere to know Jehovah in a way they will not like. Because then it will be too late.
MAKING KNOWN THE GOOD NEWS in a JEWISH SYNAGOGUE
An experience by one of the staff of workers at the Watch Tower Society headquarters
WHILE serving the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) congregation this year, the assistant congregation servant, his wife and I were invited to attend a Jewish synagogue for the purpose of answering questions about Jehovah's witnesses in one of their classes that is studying different religions.
We arrived promptly at ten o'clock at the synagogue, a newly constructed building of modern design which happens to be within three blocks of the Kingdom Hall and on the same street. We were warmly received by the instructor of the class, who in turn introduced us to the rabbi in charge of the synagogue. The pleasant reception made us feel at home at once. After exchanging a few words we were ushered into the classroom where the discussion was to be held. The room was large in size. To one side of the room was a library of selected books and Bibles. In the center of the room was a rectangular-shaped table with the July 28,1953, issue of Look magazine on it. We took our seats at the far end of the table. Since the students were not yet present, the instructor took a few minutes to tell us what they were doing in his class. He said that on the previous week they talked about Jehovah's witnesses, using what Look magazine had to say about them as the basis for their discussion. Since there were many questions that came up that no one present could answer authoritatively, they thought it best to invite one of Jehovah's witnesses down to the
synagogue and in this way get their questions answered directly.
About this time in came the class. A lively, energetic and intelligent group of youngsters, whose ages were anywhere from fifteen to nineteen years. After they all got seated around the table-there were some seventeen of them—the instructor briefly made known our purpose there and turned the remaining time over to us. In his words: "The class is all yours."
We told the class that we understood that they had many questions and that we would do our best to try to answer them. No one seemed to want to be the first to start. The class instructor quickly spoke up and said: "Perhaps you [speaking to us] might have a question that you would like to ask us." The class thought that would be a good idea to get things rolling. We said that we did have a question and that we have tried to find the answer to it for some time but were not entirely successful. They were anxious to know the question. So we asked: "Could you tell us the origin of the 'star of David' or the 'shield of David'?" The class quickly exchanged glances at one another questioningly. It was quite obvious that none of them knew the answer.
The instructor spoke up and said: "You didn't expect to get the answer to that question here, did you?" We answered: "What more appropriate place could we go to than a Jewish synagogue for our answer, especially since the synagogue uses the symbol?" The instructor collected his thoughts and said that he did not know exactly what its origin was, but that he thought it originated with mythology and he wondered if we in our search found the same thing.
We said that we did. But we found it hard to understand why the Jews would accept this pagan symbol, especially since they were strictly forbidden by Jehovah to have anything to do with pagan practices and their symbols. To this the instructor replied that he did not think that David was acquainted with the "star of David." We agreed with him. We did not think so either. In fact, we were quite positive that David had nothing to do with it or knew anything about the symbol.
After this brief exchange the class seemed to have retreated into even greater silence. So we thought of a way of putting them at ease. We would tell them about Jehovah's witnesses, what they believe, who they are and what they preach, etc., after which they no doubt would have questions. They nodded and smiled approvingly.
We began our impromptu speech by showing them that Jehovah's witnesses are people from all walks of life, that what they teach and believe is very much like what the prophets of old taught and believed. The prophets of old believed that Jehovah was the one and only true God; so do Jehovah's witnesses. As the prophets of Jehovah believed Jehovah to be the great Purposer with a purpose for his people, so do Jehovah's witnesses. As the Jewish prophets believed and proclaimed a new heavens and a new earth as God's purpose, so do Jehovah's witnesses believe and proclaim. Quoting almost exclusively from the Hebrew Scriptures, we showed the class that it is Jehovah's purpose to make this earth of ours a glorious footstool for Jehovah's feet. Jehovah stating this to be his purpose, his word
would not return to him void.—Isa. 46:11; 55:9-11; 60:13; 65:17; 66:1.
The purpose of Jehovah was traced from the garden of Eden to our day, showing the reason for sin, sickness, sorrow and death. The entire group appeared to be hanging on to every word, including the instructor. It was pointed out that the glorious earth that Jehovah promised and that the prophets wrote about is due to arrive in our day, and the only ones proclaiming this good news to mankind are Jehovah's witnesses. People today, they were told, are actually choosing life or death by their attitude toward the Kingdom message; that this is a message of hope, a happy message, a message of life to all who would hear; that this message means everything to the young about to face life, because it gives them logical reasons for conditions in the world and it offers to them the brightest possible hope that mankind could possibly conceive—the hope of living forever under a perfect government, in perfect conditions, in everlasting peace, prosperity and happiness. This was the hope for those gathered there. It was available to them if only they would choose it.
After this thirty-five-minute discussion on the purposes of Jehovah the meeting was reopened to questions. This time there were many hands that sprung up from all sides. The first question was: "How can we prove that Christ came and began his rule in the year 1914?" To follow in quick succession were such as these: Why do Jehovah's witnesses object to saluting the flag? What do they have against blood transfusion? Do Jehovah's witnesses baptize? How? How old does one have to be before he can be baptized? Before he can become one of Jehovah's witnesses? How does the organization of Jehovah's witnesses operate? How was it possible for them to conduct a huge international assembly like the one at Yankee Stadium July 19-26,1953?
Do Jehovah's witnesses believe in a trinity? A purgatory? What do they believe about heaven, hell and resurrection? Do they celebrate Christmas? Birthdays?
At first the students would raise their hands and wait to be called on to speak, but the discussion became so lively that they felt free to speak without hesitation. Their comments, expressions and enthusiasm were something simply wonderful to behold. They asked intelligent questions and not once throughout the entire session did they show any signs of antagonism or prejudice. Their eagerness to participate in the discussion was something commendable and outstanding. And the answers that were given to their questions they accepted without any display of resentment or dissatisfaction.
They wanted to know if Jehovah's witnesses wear anything to distinguish them from the rest of the world. They were told that the zeal of Jehovah's witnesses for truth, for their religion, their eagerness to praise Jehovah and make known his name, distinguishes them from the rest of the world. They wanted to know whether we use images, how the draft boards treat Jehovah's witnesses, if we celebrate the Passover and what we thought of the sabbath.
Every now and then a comment would bring a wave of surprise from the class. For example: They were amazed that we celebrated Memorial on Nisan 14 and how we keep the date. Most of them were swept with amazement when they learned that we do not celebrate Christmas, do not believe in a trinity and that we do not believe in a hell-fire. They wanted to know why
there were only a 144,000 chosen to be joint heirs with Christ in the heavens, if this did not prove God to be partial. Another would ask if in the resurrection man will have conveniences such as we have today, radio, television, etc. From across the table would come another question: "Do Jehovah's witnesses think that they are the only ones of all religions that are right?" How do we explain the virgin birth mentioned at Isaiah 7:14? Many, many more questions were asked.
The discussion was to last only an hour to my understanding, but after the first hour the questions were still coming in heavily. After an hour and a half and two hours, the class still showed no signs of slowing up or wanting to discontinue the discussion. Hands kept popping up from all sides of the table. It is doubtful if there were any present that did not ask more than one question. Most of them asked five or six. Their eyes sparkled. They appeared to be thoroughly enjoying this experience with us. After almost two and a half hours the session was brought to a close. A tract, "Who Are Jehovah's Witnesses?" was passed around. The group expressed how much they enjoyed our being there. Some of the girls gathered around the sister and asked her further questions. We literally had to pull ourselves away. Waving goodby we left the synagogue.
As we walked up the street we could not help but feel exhilarated. We had such a wonderful time. We thought, too, that this experience should teach us to be "always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect."-1 Pet. 3:15,NW. Truth About Jehovah Brings Joy to Montreal Family
IN THAT day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isa. 29:18, 19, AS) Giving a striking example of the fulfillment of this prophecy in our day is the experience of a French Catholic family in Montreal, Canada, as related to certain of Jehovah's witnesses residing at Trois Rivieres, by the head of the family, after he had known of Jehovah only four weeks.
It was during the five and a half years that he served in the Canadian army overseas, at a time when bombs were falling all around, that the subject of prayer came up and the question was asked as to what is God's name. Going to the Catholic chaplain for information our friend was told: "Don't be foolish. God's name is Jesus." This, however, failed to satisfy him and so for years he kept wondering.
Then one day, while visiting his sister, the question came up and she assured him that she knew God's name and that it is Jehovah. "How do you know?" he asked her. "Why, it's in the Bible," she replied. "I've seen it. Would you like to know more?" Of course he would; and so, learning that two of Jehovah's witnesses were calling on his sister the next evening, he returned then. After the witnesses had satisfactorily answered all his questions he arranged to have a Bible study in his home, and after the first study he, together with his family, his sister and her family, began to attend the Kingdom Hall meetings of Jehovah's witnesses. After just one week of study he asked if he could accompany others as they engaged in the preaching activity. Regarding his family's interest he said: "My wife studies all day long and at night she tells me all about
the things she learns, and I let my three children take turns each evening in praying."
Shortly he received a letter from one of his best friends, a monk in Trois Rivieres, telling him to 'stop this foolishness.' It made him so angry that he at once went to visit this monk. Usually he would have knelt in his presence and asked the monk for a blessing, but not this time. In fact, when the monk extended his hand, he refused to take it, saying, "I could not shake hands with you now when I know what you are." Surprised, the monk put his hand on his shoulder and asked, "Why, what's wrong, Maurice?" Maurice replied, "Don't put your hand on my shoulder, you are too heavy to bear. You told my mother I was a Communist, did you not?" The monk tried to evade the question but eventually had to admit that he had.
After further discussion he left the monk, telling him that his attitude had only served further to convince him that he now had the truth. A few days later one of his boys, only seven years old, took his stand at school, refusing to say the prayers or repeat the catechism, for which he was severely strapped and made to kneel until five in the afternoon. Hearing of this his father telephoned the priest that his son had acted according to his wishes and if another such incident occurred the priest would be haled into court. Since then the children are being let alone. Assuring his seven-year-old son that it had been a case of suffering for Jehovah, the lad replied, "Yes, papa, I know that and I wouldn't mind doing it for another day for Jehovah." As the father related these experiences his eyes beamed with joy.
Truly those meek ones who have been kept deaf, blind and poor spiritually by organized religion are rejoicing as they see and hear the truth regarding the Holy One of Israel, Jehovah God.
Do You Say, "Send Me"?
What is your attitude toward the preaching activity of Jehovah's witnesses? Do you enjoy The Watchtower and like the message and still draw back from telling others? Do you admire those who do the work, perhaps who brought the message to you, and yet hesitate to participate in it yourself? Or is yours the right and zealous course that Isaiah took when he willingly said: "Here am I; send me"? —Isa. 6:8.
Why Prayers Go Unanswered
PRAYER has become popular. There are now prayer hours, prayer days, prayer weeks, prayer months and prayer
years. Widely acclaimed are the so-called "Holy Years," when a whole year, as in 1950, is set aside for "special devotions and prayers, especially for world peace." Also receiving wide acclaim is the World Day of Prayer, when people in over a hundred lands unite in prayer for peace. Prayers for the world and its rulers are heard at inaugurations, coronations, sessions of lawmaking bodies and political conventions. Clergymen, politicians, presidents and pope not only urge others to pray but pray themselves for the United Nations and the world. So much praying goes on for the world. Yet the grim fact is clear: the world is in worse shape than ever before. Thus prayers for the world go unanswered and even seem to backfire. What are we to think of such a confusing situation?
One of the first things that thinking people realize is that, instead of there being something wrong with God, there must be something wrong with the prayers. Indeed, one defect is glaring. This is the prayers' inconsistency. Yes, prayers uttered by preachers of a religious faith often conflict with prayers uttered by other preachers of that same faith. Thus during the two world wars Protestant and Catholic clergymen, in both Germany and
America, prayed for victory for their respective sides. Here were clergymen of the same faith presumably praying to the same God, yet their prayers were not of the same mind! They were horribly inconsistent. In effect the clergymen prayed for the destruction of their spiritual brothers. Yet Christ's apostle declared: "I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." So when the wars ended, what were the people on the defeated side, those who had hoped in their clergy's prayers, to think? Would not their faith in both prayer and God be shattered? Or at the very least would they not think that God was partial? Yet the apostle Peter said: "For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial." So then there must be something wrong, not with God, but with the prayers.—1 Cor. 1:10; Acts 10:34, NW.
To understand just what is wrong and why prayers go unanswered we must turn to God's Word, the Bible. There we find three reasons: (1) Failure to pray to the right One, (2) failure to pray in the right manner and (3) failure to pray on the right matters.
If prayer is to be answered it must be directed to the right One. That right One is the God of heaven and earth. His name is Jehovah: "I am Jehovah, that is my name." Of Jehovah it is written in the Psalms: "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come."
Only he can hear prayers, and all flesh that desire their prayers answered must direct them to Jehovah.—Isa. 42:8; Ps. 65:2, AS.
Many professed Christians direct their prayers to some "saint" or to Mary, the mother of Jesus. There is no Bible support for such a practice. It is praying to the wrong one. When the Son of God gave instructions on praying, only prayer addressed to Jehovah was approved: "You must pray, then, this way: 'Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.'" Clearly, then, praying to statues or images is no part of true Christianity. Says the Bible: "Idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have ears, but they hear not." People "have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save." So prayer directed to any other than Jehovah is futile: "For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but Jehovah made the heavens." Matt. 6:9, NW; Ps. 115:4, 6; Isa. 45:20; Ps. 96:5, AS.
Not only must prayer be made to the right One but the one praying must be right, that is, he must be righteous, living in harmony with Jehovah's written Word. At 1 Peter 3:12 (NW) the apostle explains: "Jehovah's eyes are upon the righteous and his ears are toward their supplication, but Jehovah's face is against those doing injurious things." The rulers of this world, together with the clergy who have blessed their wars, have stained their hands with blood. Yet with outstretched arms they continue to pray to God for his blessing on their armies and navies. Says Jehovah: "So, when you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many a prayer, I will not listen. Your hands are full of bloodshed."—Isa. 1:15, AT.
THE RIGHT MANNER
Now what does it mean to pray in the right manner? First of all it means to approach Jehovah in the name of Christ Jesus, who the Bible says is the "one mediator between God and men." So can one expect an answer to his prayer if he does not ask it in Jesus' name? Said the Son of God himself: "No one comes to the Father except through me." Since Christ is the only mediator, the "one mediator," there can be no more mediators between God and men. Hence, praying to Jehovah in the name of some "saint" or the mother of Jesus is unscriptural. It is praying in the wrong manner. The right manner is explained by Jesus: "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."—1 Tim. 2:5; John 14:6, 14, NW.
To pray in the right manner also means to pray with faith. There are the so-called "enlightened" clergymen of today who do not believe God's Word to be inspired. Prayer, these preachers imply, is a psychological tonic; it enables one to maintain an inner calm and confidence. Such persons are totally devoid of faith. Their prayers receive no answer from God: "Without faith it is impossible to win his good pleasure, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." And many are the churchgoers who call themselves "Christian" but who deep down in their heart lack faith in God and his Word, the Bible. Of such persons the scripture says: "Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from Jehovah." So faith is truly vital. "All the things you ask in prayer, having faith," said Jesus, "you will receive."—Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:7; Matt. 21:22, NW.
A prayer made in the right manner is one that stems from sincerity. "Out of sincerity," said the apostle Paul, "we are speaking." (2 Cor. 2:17, NW) But are the high-sounding prayers that are frequently heard really "out of sincerity"?
An item in the St. Petersburg Times, July 27, 1952, under the title "The Rambler," gives a revealing answer: "Often ministers and others who pray before an audience talk to the people in the assembly room rather than to God. This was especially true at the big political conventions that were held in Chicago. At the Republican convention one minister made a good political speech under the guise of a prayer. At the Democratic convention another minister made a speech rather than a prayer." Yes, how often the minister who delivers the grandiloquent prayer in church is talking to gain the praise of men! The words do not come from the heart; they come from a manuscript. This praying for praise was also popular in Jesus' day. His condemnation of the practice was sharp: "When you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full." Matt. 6:5, NW.
Many prayers are aimed not only for praise but at the purse as well! Using prayer as a means to fleece the flock was not uncommon in Jesus' day either: "They are the ones devouring the houses of the widows and for a pretext making long prayers; these will receive a heavier judgment." (Mark 12:40, NW) So all who pray with an ulterior motive are praying, not "out of sincerity," but in an improper manner.
Does the right manner of prayer allow for "aids" such as prayer books and rosaries? Prayer with the use of prayer books and rosaries is mechanical, routine, repetitious. This tends to destroy sincerity Not only that but nowhere in the Bible do we read of God's servants using prayer aids. Certainly they have never used beads!
On the contrary, history shows it was pagan religion that used rosaries. To this day the Tibetans employ prayer wheels and beads. They think that because of their huge volume of prayers they will be heard. So it is with many professed Christians today; they use the rosary and even devices for counting the prayers. One special device, which has eight patents on it, was recently invented by a man named Doherty. He developed the device because he found it difficult to say the rosary while working or driving his car, when he would be interrupted and lose his place on the circle of beads. How does the device work? As the user finishes each prayer he pushes a plunger near the top of the recorder and a pointer on a revolving disc points to the next bead. Inventor Doherty could have saved himself much trouble and learned how to pray in the right manner if he had only read the Bible, especially Jesus' command at Matthew 6:7,8,(NW):
"When praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. So, do not make yourselves like them."
THE RIGHT MATTERS
Though one prays to the right One and even in the right manner, his prayer may not be answered! Why so? Because one must also pray on the right matters. To be answered, prayer must be in harmony with the divine will. All prayer not in harmony with Jehovah's purposes, as revealed in his Word the Bible, will go unanswered. Take, for example, a subject people often pray for, the world. During the 1950 "Holy Year" some 3,000,000 pilgrims at Rome prayed for peace. Millions of others prayed along with the pope. But the "Holy Year" brought instead the Korean War and some ten other uprisings. Since these prayers fail so miserably, even when uttered by such dignitaries as the pope and President Eisenhower, there must be something wrong with praying for the world.
Such prayers are clearly out of harmony with Jehovah's purpose. That is why Jesus in a very unpopelike manner said to his Father: "I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those you have given me."—John 17:9, NW.
The reason that Jesus did not pray for this world is that it is controlled by "the god of this system of things," Satan the Devil, and it is doomed to destruction. Chapter after chapter in the Bible foretells a day of Jehovah's vengeance, when he executes judgment against this wicked world. Time and time again the book of Isaiah tells of the destruction of this world. Isaiah 28:22 (AS) is an example: "A decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth." How futile, then, to pray for this world when Jehovah, the Almighty God, has decreed its utter destruction! Jehovah is not going to patch up this world. It is rotten to the core. It is hypocritical. It does not obey God's commands. So God's way to world peace is not through any kingdom or league of kingdoms of this world but is through a new world: "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth."—2 Cor. 4:4, NW; Isa. 65:17, AS.
Instead of sobbing about the present anguish of nations and praying for its abatement, true Christians see that these turbulent times, indeed such calamities as famines, earthquakes and wars, are fulfillment of Bible prophecy pertaining to the sign of the "last days," hence they rejoice, as Jesus said they should. (Luke 21:28) They rejoice because they know deliverance to a new world is at hand, that this present evil world must end in that "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor
will occur again," namely, the war of Armageddon. This is Jehovah's decree. When Jehovah decreed the fall of Jerusalem because of the Israelites' unfaithfulness, he told Jeremiah not to pray for the people: "Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee." So likewise praying for this destruction-bound world is useless. It would be contrary to this explicit command of Christ's beloved apostle: "Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world."—Matt. 24:21, NW; Jer. 7:16, AS; 1 John 2:15, NW.
Still people continue to pray for "things in the world"; then they wonder why their prayers are not answered. Prayers for politicians, governments, victory at sports, armies and navies and the United Nations are prayers for "things in the world." There are those who pray for great wealth, prosperity and power. These persons ask amiss. Their motives are all wrong: "You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong purpose, that you may expend it upon your cravings for sensual pleasure."—Jas. 4:3, NW.
Those who want their prayers answered must now be diligent to learn proper prayer. How? Study and heed God's Word. Show love for Jehovah by obeying his commands. Voice petitions that are in harmony with his purpose of a peaceful new world. Pray on matters authorized by Jehovah himself. Some of these matters that God's Word authorizes are for food, for forgiveness, against temptation, to know Jehovah's will, for knowledge, for family and for the destruction of the wicked. So pray to the right One, pray in the right manner and pray on the right matters, and you will find that God does indeed answer prayers and that he can "do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive."—Eph. 3:20, NW. "This Good News of the Kingdom"
WHAT is your hope for the future? Is it just to live out some few years on earth with the hope of gaining some pleasure and happiness in the short time before death brings an end to it? What hope have you of life beyond death? What does the future hold for mankind in general upon earth? Will some disaster finally destroy the earth and all life on it?
2 People in different parts of the world will answer these questions
somewhat differently. There are many different religions and many different ideas about what the future holds for mankind. Others have come to their own conclusions as to what their future will be. Surely the sensible thing to do, if we want to have a sure hope for the future, is to find out what the supreme and almighty God has purposed for man and for this earth which is man's home. Since He created man, then He is the one to decide our destiny, and this He has done. For those who please the Creator there is a happy future, and this happy future was announced to man on earth through a special representative of the Creator, Jesus Christ. His message he called "this good news of the kingdom." Matt. 24:14, NW.
What is "this good news"? To understand what it is, and what "the kingdom" is that is here spoken of, and how it will bring blessings to mankind, it is necessary to know something of the purposes of the Most High God and of his dealings with mankind. This information we find in a book, the Bible. One who can create the sun, moon and stars, this earth and all the wonderful things on it, the fish, birds, animals, trees and flowers, and man, that One could
also create a book. Since it is the Creator's purpose to make this information available world-wide in such a way that each one would be able to check the information for himself, there would have to be a written record that one could turn to for proof. The only written record of the Creator's purpose for man and the earth is the Bible, that sacred Book which God has preserved down through the ages and which has been translated into hundreds of languages. In this Book we shall find the answers to all the important questions about our life here on earth and our hopes for the future.
4 Who is God? How and why did he make man? Why are there wickedness and suffering on the earth? When will they end? What is the future of the earth and man, and what does one have to do to gain life from God?
All these and many other questions are answered for us in the Bible. The Bible is God's Word in which he reveals himself and his purposes to us. (John 17:17;2 Tim.3:15-17) Let us then look into this Book and learn some of its contents.
THE TRUE GOD
There is only one true God who is almighty and supreme and who is the Creator that has "made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is." (Acts 4:24) Everyone who wants life, including his chief Son, Christ Jesus, must recognize His supremacy and be subject to him. (1 Cor. 15:28) God is invisible to human eyes, and "no man hath seen God at any time." (1 John 4:12) So then it is wrong for man to try to make an image of God to worship. He is beyond compare. He has no equal. Of him the prophet Isaiah wrote, chapter 40, verses 18 and 25: "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" He is the source of all life and therefore it is to him we must look in hope for everlasting life in the future.
To differentiate himself from the many false gods that are worshiped the Almighty God has a personal name. That name is Jehovah. Psalm 83:18 says about him: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." Therefore, to become a true worshiper of him one must come to know him by his name Jehovah.
CHRIST JESUS
the name Jesus. The Bible shows that this One had lived as a spirit creature in heaven before coming to the earth. At that time he was called the Word; that is, he was Jehovah's spokesman to all other creatures that were brought into existence.John 1:1; Col. 1:16; Rev. 19:13.
7 The chief one of God's creatures under Him is his son who came to earth and took
8 Jesus and Jehovah God are not the same person, nor is Jesus equal to God. Jehovah alone is supreme. Therefore, Jesus said about Jehovah: "My Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) He always has been and is obedient to his Father in heaven and has always been united or at one with him in God's works of righteousness. Because they were in harmony together Jesus could say: "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30) But he did not mean that they were one person. It would be foolish to say that, since later we find Jesus praying to his Father in these words: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."—Matt. 26:39; compare John 17:20-22.
9 Jesus is God's chief Son and most beloved One and he has become the King of God's kingdom, through which righteousness and peace will be brought about in a new world. While he was on the earth he taught his followers to pray for that kingdom and to direct that prayer to Jehovah, their heavenly Father. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:9, 10) But before we go on to discuss why Jesus came to earth as a man and died, and why his preaching about the Kingdom was such good news, let us go back to the time when God created the first man in the garden of Eden.
SIN, DEATH, AND THE DEVIL
10 Originally God created a first man and woman, named Adam and Eve. They were perfect, and God placed them in a paradise garden in the part of the earth called Eden. He commanded them: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and [fill] the earth, and subdue it"; and they were to have dominion over all other creatures on the earth—Gen. 1:27-31.
11 If they were faithful and obedient to the Creator they would live forever on the earth in peace with all the things that their hearts would desire. But, although they were perfect in body and mind, they were as yet untried, and God gave them the opportunity of proving their obedience to him under test. He gave Adam the command, saying: "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16, 17) Did they prove faithful under this test? The Bible record shows they did not. In Genesis chapter 3 there is described the failure of first the woman and then the man to keep God's commandment, and they ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree. Who was it that deceived them? The record speaks of a serpent, but there must have been some invisible superhuman power behind the serpent's actions. We shall see in a moment who that invisible power was.
12 In God's command about the fruit of this tree he had said to Adam: "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:17) And so now God put this sentence into effect. First, he drove out Adam and Eve from the paradise garden, and from that day on they
began to die, and in due time they did die and returned to the dust from where they were taken. Their act of disobedience to God, their rebellion against God's commandment, brought death to them; and, since all their children were born after they sinned, then they passed on sin and death to their offspring and so down to us. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Rom. 5:12) The invisible power behind the serpent who led them into rebellion against God was therefore responsible for their death and he was a murderer. Jesus identified that murderer for us when he said to other followers of that evil one: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44) So, then, it is Satan the Devil who was the invisible power behind the serpent in Eden and who is the great rebel against God and his purposes.
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