The Watchtower, December 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
DECEMBER 15, 1954
Semimonthly
PROSPECTS OF FEARERS
OF JEHOVAH FOR 1955
FREEDOM FROM FEAR IN 1955
WHAT IS THIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS AND ITS SPIRIT
QUESTIONS FROM READERS
©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. KNORE, President GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
What Is This Christmas Spirit?
Origin of Christmas and Its Spirit
Dedication and Annual Meeting
Prospects of Fearers of Jehovah for 1955
Freedom from Fear in 1955
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
Scripture Index for Texts Explained, 1954
Subject Index for The Watchtower, 1954
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
ES-Revised Standard Version
Le-Isaac Leeser's version
Yg-Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated,the Bible used is the King James Version
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WHAT IS THIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
WHAT is it that men call "the beautiful spirit of Christmas"? Is it a crowded department store, charged with emotion, packed with excitement, loaded with gadgets and glimmering with inflated "cut-rate" prices? Is it the electrified commotion of mobs surging through the streets, the frenzy to board overcrowded buses, the dash to squeeze in crammed subways or the honks of automobiles snarled in endless traffic jams? Is it haggard-looking women with their arms full of gaily wrapped bundles and their hands full of children? Or is it the resigned husband who condescends but wishes it were not so?
What is this spirit of Christmas? Is it the carillon at Sts. Peter and Paul, filling the gray morning air with the timeless chimes of tradition? Is it the choral concerts and organ music and the tinkling of noisy bells? Or is it the blaring of a thousand jukeboxes ringing out the cynical sentiments of "Santa, Baby"?
What is this Christmas spirit? Is it the Salvation Army musicians marching from corner to corner reminding passersby that it is more blessed to give? Is it a legless man in front of Hotel Ritz selling pencils on a cold sidewalk waving a "merry Christmas" to prospective customers as they step out of their long shiny limousines? Is it the wreath at the entrance of Pearl Street flophouse, with a sign on it that says, "Please do not steal this"?
Is this the Christmas spirit? An exhausted elevator operator at Mixie's dress shop hoping for a generous bonus that she will never get? A huge diamond ring or a pearl necklace being fondled by Mabel with cold, avaricious lust? A loud necktie that Dad will never wear?
What is this Christmas spirit? Is it a week's vacation, a respite from work, an escape from school, a breath of country air, a moment with family, a word with friends, a retreat to quiet solitude? Is it a table covered with candy and nuts, gingerbread and mince pie, a roast pig or fried chicken? Is it a cocktail party with loud music, the making up of a big batch of eggnog for uninvited guests, or becoming "good and drunk" or licentious, or that of being "a jolly good fellow"?
What is this spirit of Christmas? Is it junior staring transfixed at an electric train as it spins in crazy circles, or sister cuddling her tiny doll that says "Mommie"? Is it the feverish search for the right gift that cannot be found, the evergrowing anticipation in the eyes of the young that want toys but cannot read price tags? Is it the endless chain of Christmas cards that flutter across the desk on their way to the wastebasket? Is it the Christmas tree covered with artificial snow and laden with colored bulbs that tell of pagan star gods? Is it the candles that chase away the evil spirits, the mistletoe that commemorates superstitious legends, or the yule log that repeats a pagan lie?
Just what is this spirit of Christmas? Is it the spirit of God and Christ? Is it the spirit that proclaims "peace on earth, good will toward men"? Is it the spirit that magnifies the great God of the universe? Or does this spirit defame and abominate the pure worship of God? "Beloved ones," said the apostle John, "do not believe every inspired expression ["spirit," footnote],
but test the inspired expressions [spirits] to see whether they originate with God." "Make sure of all things," urged Paul, "hold fast to what is right. Keep yourselves free from every form of wickedness." What is this Christmas spirit, its origin, and what does it have to do with God and Christ? In the following article let history and the Word of God answer for us.—1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21, 22, NW.
THE Christmas spirit is not Christian, because it did not originate with Christ. It predated the Christian era by many centuries. Shortly after the Flood the spirit and the whole celebration of Christmas had its beginning. It began with Nimrod, grandson of Ham the son of Noah, a wicked, ruthless dictator, responsible for the great organized worldly apostasy
from God that continues to this day. In contempt for God and all decency Nimrod married his own mother, Semiramis. After his untimely death, his mother-wife, Semiramis, taught the lie that her husband-son was a spirit god. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth to new life of the dead Nimrod. She taught that on the anniversary of his birth, which was December 25, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. The historian, Professor Hislop, says: "Now the Yule Log is the dead stock of Nimrod, deified as the sun-god, but cut down by his
Did your parents celebrate your birthday before you were born? Would they think of celebrating it on another day, other than the day you were born? As Christians would they think of honoring it by transferring the day to a pagan festival, by drinking ale out of skulls of enemies, or by offering live human babies to demon gods? If not, why, then, do professing Christians so commemorate the birth of Christ? This article answers.
enemies; the Christmas-tree is Nimrod redivivus—the slain god come to life again."—The Two Babylons, pages 97, 98.
This is the beginning of Christmas with its spirit. This is also the origin of the yule log, the Christmas tree, the celebrating of birthdays, the spirit of exchanging gifts, the spirit of feasting and merrymaking, visits and salutations, jocularity, revelry and drunkenness. All of this is an outgrowth of the first lie, nurtured by the spirit of Satan the Devil, who told it. In Eden to Eve he said: "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."
Like Eve, Semiramis believed Satan's lie and proclaimed Nimrod as a spirit god. With this proclamation a wild celebration began on his birthday that has stuck down through the centuries to our day. In the Western world it is called Christmas. Gen. 3:4,5,NW.
Nimrod became worshiped as the "divine son of heaven," "the Messiah, son of Baal the sun-god." Devil-worshiping pagans believed that life and immortality proceeded from Nimrod, and so they worshiped the never-dying sun in the heavens as the personification and representation of Nimrod's "divinity." Mother and child, Semiramis and Nimrod, became chief objects of worship. The pagan world idolized this combination. In Egypt they were worshiped as Isis and Osiris, in Asia as Cybele and Doius, in pagan Rome as Fortuna and Jupiter-puer. Even in China, Japan, Tibet and in other non-Christian lands is to be found the counterpart of the Madonna, held sacred in Christendom. Pagans adored these symbols long before the birth of Christ, yet Christendom hails these as Christian and adoringly speaks of them as "the beautiful spirit of Christmas."
Jehovah God, on the other hand, commanded his people Israel: "Learn not the way of the heathen, . . . For the customs of the people are vain." "You must not bow down to their gods or be induced to
serve them, and you must not make anything like their works, but you will without fail throw them down and you will without fail break down their sacred pillars." "You must not serve their gods, because that will be a snare to you." Jehovah's declaration against pagan gods has not changed, nor has his attitude toward pagan worship, because, says he: "For I, Jehovah,
change not."—Jer. 10:1-3; Ex. 23:24; Deut. 7:16, NW; Mal. 3:6, AS.
The Bible studiously avoids the recording of the date of anyone's birthday, nor is there any record of birthday celebrations by Jehovah's servants, either before or after Christ. The conspicuous silence of the Bible regarding birthdays is powerful testimony that the same were not kept, that they were frowned upon as pagan. Origen of Alexandria (A.D. 185-254) wisely discerned: "In the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday." The only birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible are that of Pharaoh, when a man was hung, and that of the adulterous King Herod, whose step-daughter Salome danced to make the celebration "merry," yes, merry by having the head of John the Baptist chopped off.
FROM PAGAN SATURNALIA TO "CHRISTIAN" CHRISTMAS
How, then, did these pagan customs become a part of the greatest "Christian" holiday, Christmas? That first-century Christians did not celebrate Christmas is borne out by early "Christian" writers. The Catholic Encyclopedia makes the following admission: "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their list of feasts." When apostate Christians began to fall away to pagan practices, Tertullian complained: "By us, who are
strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons and festivals, once acceptable to God, the Saturnalia [and other pagan feasts] are now frequented, gifts are carried to and fro, .
. . and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar."—Gal. 4:10, 11; Col. 2:8.
In an effort to gain pagan converts the Roman Catholic clergy in the fourth century after Christ took in this pagan Saturnalia on December 25 and sponsored it as the "mass of Christ" or "Christ-mass." Christmas, therefore, is nothing more than a carbon copy of the pagan Saturnalia. This is generally admitted by historical and religious scholars. Says a world history, On the Road to Civilization, page 164: "The feast of Saturn, the Saturnalia, was a winter festival which lasted a week beginning on the twenty-fifth day of December, and was celebrated with dancing, the exchanging of gifts, and the burning of candles. The Saturnalia was later taken over by the Christians as their Christmas, and given a new significance."
Elaborating on the customs of the Saturnalia, the New Americanized Encyclopedia Britannica, 1900, Vol. IX, page 5236, says: "Saturnalia . . . celebrated on the 19th . . . lasted seven days. The time was one of general joy and mirth. The woolen fetters were taken from the feet of the Image of Saturn, and each man offered a pig. During the festival schools were closed. . . Gambling with dice, at other times illegal, was practiced. All classes exchanged gifts, the commonest being tapers and clay dolls. These dolls were especially given to children. Varro thought that these dolls represented original sacrifices of human beings (children to the 'Infernal God')."—Jer. 32:34, 35.
Last December, "Rev." A. E. Palmer of Holy Trinity Church was reported by the Examiner to have said: "Why choose December 25 as the date of the sacred festival? Wouldn't any other public holiday
do just as well for this jollification?' There was no evidence, he said, that Jesus was born on December 25 but the Church took over a great many of the ancient pagan festivals and gave them Christian meaning. On December 25 was celebrated the return of the sun, with the days becoming longer, and the Church chose this as being symbolic of the light that shone through the darkness. Christmas without Christ, he said, was nothing but a pagan festival."
James M. Gillis, C. S. P., editor of the Catholic World (December 2, 1945), makes this candid confession: "It is a well-known fact that the popes and councils in the early Church deliberately placed a Christian festival on or near the day of a previously existing pagan carnival, with the purpose of ousting the heathenish and generally licentious celebration." Like Haman of old, the Catholic Church became ensnared with her own scheme.—Esther 7:10.
Behind its newly, loosely fitted "Christian" mask Christmas was and is nothing more than the ancient pagan Saturnalia. And it is the spirit of this pagan holiday that is hailed as "the beautiful spirit of Christmas." What is so beautiful about a pagan holiday that dishonors God? What is so beautiful about a festival that is kept in defiance of God's commands? What is so beautiful about a celebration that has perpetuated a lie? That makes hypocrites out of its participants? That has blinded men to truth and righteousness? What is beautiful about a "disgusting" thing?
IDENTIFYING THE "SPIRITS"
The spirit of God that produces fruits of "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, selfcontrol" is not identified in the Saturnalia borrowed from the pagans. As the wellknown Biblical and historical authority, James Murdock, reports in a footnote in his translation of Mosheim's Institutes of Ecclesiastical History: "From the first institution of this [Christmas] festival the Western nations seem to have transferred to it many of the follies and censurable practices which prevailed in the pagan festivals of the same season, such as adorning the churches fantastically, mingling puppet shows and dramas with worship, universal feasting and merry-making, visits and salutations, presents and jocularity, revelry and drunkenness."—Gal. 5:22-25, NW.
Instead of converting pagans to "Christianity" the apostate Christians fell victim to their own passions and desires and were swept out to sea by pagan practices. This God foretold: "You must not serve their gods, because that will be a snare to you." Deut. 7:16, NW.
The campaign that is now being waged to "put Jesus Christ back in Christmas" is an open admission that Christ is not in its celebration. And, as "Rev." Palmer stated, "Christmas without Christ is nothing but a pagan festival." So it is. Christ was never in Christmas, nor was Christmas ever in Christ. More apropos and in line with Christian principle would be the slogan: "Away from Christmas and back to Christ." Simply to label the pagan Saturnalia as Christian does not make it so. A wolf does not become a lamb simply because we call it such. No, nor does Christmas become Christian because professing Christians take part in its celebration. Its celebration by certain religious organizations does not make it Christian, any more than bingo games, lotteries or card parties in religious parish houses or parish schools are for that reason Christian.
Is the spirit of God to be found in the practice of exchange handed down by demon-worshiping pagans? Is the spirit of God found in the annual $50-million Christmas-tree business that commemorates the lie of human immortality? Is it
found in the glittering balls of gold that pay homage to Balder, god of the evermystical sun? Is the spirit of God found in the millions of toy soldiers and tanks, guns and planes that glorify war and not "peace on earth, good will toward men"? Is it found in the gluttony, the drunkenness, lasciviousness and murder committed on this day called "Christmas"?
Hardly. "Do not be misled," says the inspired Paul. "God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap; because he who is sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit." The Christmas spirit is well described for us by apostles Paul and Peter at Galatians 5:19-21 and 1 Peter 4:1-4. By these fruits we know her.—Gal. 6:7, 8, NW.
IDENTIFYING FRUITS OF "CHRISTMAS TREE"
The Christmas spirit is supposed to be one of good will toward men. After fifteen hundred years of Christmas celebrating, how much good will is there in the world today? How much good will is practiced during the holiday season itself? How Christlike are the people during this "most sacred festival"? Read and decide for yourself what spirit predominates.
According to a report by Gerhard J. Falf, University of Pennsylvania sociologist, "more murders are committed on Christmas day than on any other one day of the year." Is this the Christian spirit? A chief detective of a department store declares: shoplifters and pickpockets "increase in numbers" when Christmas arrives. Is this spirit Christian? Last year, in Detroit, Michigan, Carl Ross tried to defend his truckload of trees from a crowd. An unidentified man "grabbed a stake from the truck and beat him unconscious with it. As he lay there while the crowd looted his trees, someone stole $400, his day's receipts, from his pocket.
His father finally got the truck in motion and fled for his life with about a third of his load." Another man complained that a dealer had beaten him when he offered him fifty cents for his last tree. "An unusual number of persons reported that their front lawn evergreens had been cut down during the night," the Detroit News announced. Is this the spirit of Christianity?
In the spirit of Christmas "a Santa Claus bandit who said 'my kid is going to have a real Christmas,' robbed a Brooklyn toy store of $900." As "jolly good fellows" during this carnival of self-indulgence 1,200 drunks were gathered off the streets of Los Angeles alone. "I've never seen anything like it!" exclaimed a bewildered policeman. "They're stacked up here like cordwood." A tabloid headline noted breezily, "Los Angeles Staggering into Christmas."
As Jesus accurately said: "This people honors me with their lips, yet their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep paying respect to me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines." This was true in Jesus' day, and it is true regarding Christendom today. It is true regarding all her feasts and practices, Christmas not excluded.-Matt. 15:8,9 NW.
ABOMINATION IN GOD'S SIGHT
The Christmas festival is held high among men of the world. But, as Jesus stated: "You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; because what is lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God's sight." While church bells ring out and men make a pretense at prayer on this day, yet God views their festivities as a disgusting pagan celebration. To Christians that fell away to similar practices Paul said:
"You are scrupulously observing days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that somehow I have toiled to no purpose respecting you." From these things men were made free by Christ, but Christendom has returned to them. She has become as disgusting to God as a dog that "has turned back to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire."—Luke 16:15; Gal. 4:10, 11; 2 Pet. 2:22, NW.
What, then, is the spirit of Christmas? It is "earthly, animal, demonic." It is the spirit of paganism parading in Christian garb. It is the spirit of the Devil that has intoxicated the whole world. The keeping of Christmas cannot pass as innocent fun for children, because the name and worship of God are involved. The festivities and decorations are demonic, because they glorify paganism, which is demonism. The associating of God's name and Word with pagan customs is desecrating that name, taking it in a worthless way. One of the Ten Commandments is: "You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way."—Jas. 3:15; Ex. 20:7, NW.
Cannot Christians celebrate Christmas out of a pure heart to the honor of Jehovah God? God himself answers through his Word: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God's temple have with idols? . . . 'Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,' says Jehovah, 'and quit touching the unclean thing,' 'and I will take you in.'
'And I shall be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,' says Jehovah the Almighty." So it is a choice of accepting Christmas with its spirit and
losing God, or accepting God and receiving his spirit and favor and losing Christmas. The right choice should not be hard to make.2 Cor. 6:14-18,NW.
DEDICATION AND ANNUAL MEETING
EVER since Abel's day Jehovah has had witnesses on earth who worshiped him with spirit and truth. (Heb. 12:1) However, their worship has not always been before the public eye with the same degree of prominence. Thus, after Nehemiah's day, Jehovah's pure worship was almost lost sight of in a maze of Jewish tradition and formalism. (Matt. 15:1-9) Likewise, after the apostles fell asleep in death the professed followers of Christ departed from the pure worship even as Paul warned. (Acts 20:29-31) And just as John the Baptist, Christ Jesus and his apostles and disciples were used to restore pure worship in their day, so Jehovah has directed the restoration of pure worship in modern times.-Mal. 4:5,6.
This modern restoration of pure worship actually began in the 1870's with the coming together, in Allegheny, a suburb of Pittsburgh, of a group of sincere Christians and open-minded students of the Bible. As a result of their studies they began to understand Jehovah's Word more clearly in keeping with his promise that the path of the righteous would shine ever brighter until the perfect day. (Prov.4:18) To expedite the work of making known to others the good things they were learning, in various languages as well as in various ways, these Christians organized the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1884. In 1909 the Society's headquarters were moved to Brooklyn, New York, and today it has branches in seventy-five different lands and directs the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in 159 countries and islands of the sea.
In the seventy years of its existence this Society has published scores of bound books and booklets in some hundred different languages and to the extent of hundreds of millions of copies. Since 1884 it has been publishing The Watchtower (first published in 1879) and since 1919 what is now the Awake! magazine. Appearing semimonthly and in many different languages, these two journals have a combined circulation well over three million copies.
In accordance with the law the Society has had a registered office and has held its annual meetings in Pittsburgh. Demolition proceedings making it necessary to find new quarters, a beautiful building was constructed at 4100 Bigelow Boulevard and Parkman Avenue. The building is modern, very attractive, spacious, light, clean, providing excellent Kingdom Hall facilities for two local congregations in addition to office facilities for the Society. It is a place that is fitly representative of New World interests and one that Jehovah's witnesses in passing through Pittsburgh will rejoice to see and where they are most welcome.
On the evening of September 4,1954,a dedication program was presented,the principal speaker at which was T.J.Sullivan,a member of the Society's board of directors. He showed what it meant to dedicate this building to Jehovah and stressed the obligations of all those who would be using it as their Kingdom Hall both as regards their ministry and their daily conduct.
At the conclusion of this address the chairman read a resolution that called upon all in attendance to live up to the high principles of Christianity and that pledged the support of all those associated with the two congregations using the building for their Kingdom Halls to the pure worship of Jehovah and to faithful co-operation under the direction of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
About four weeks later, the Society marked its seventieth year at its annual meeting on Friday, October 1, by meeting for the first time in its new registered office. This meeting of the members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was truly a joyful occasion, striking a note of confidence from the outset. It was called to order at the appointed hour, 10 a.m., by the Society's president, N. H. Knorr, who presided, and who called on one of the members present to offer prayer. Of the 484 members 482 were present either in person or by proxy. All together an audience of 820 overflowed the main auditorium, which comfortably seats 500.
After adopting a resolution to change the registered address of the corporation to its new location and directing the filing of notice of this change as required by law, a unanimous vote approved the action of the board of directors in designating the new address as the location for the annual meetings from now on. There were vacancies in the board of directors to be filled by the members at this annual meeting; three in fact, the terms of Nathan H. Knorr, Milton G. Henschel and Lyman A. Swingle expiring. By unanimous vote the members re-elected these three brothers to serve in the capacity of directors of
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society for the ensuing term of three years. There are seven members of the corporation's board of directors and at the time of each annual meeting two or three vacancies occur.
The corporate membership is truly representative of the world-wide New World society. Twenty-nine different nationalities are represented, serving in all forty-eight states of the United States and the District of Columbia and in a total of sixty-nine different countries. They are mature and two thirds of them are of the remnant. Their average age is nearly sixty years and all but twelve have been in Kingdom service prior to 1940, and the majority for more than twenty-five years. Of course, being so widely scattered, most of them voted by proxy.
Following the business of the annual meeting the Society's president spoke on Psalm 112, about the man who fears Jehovah and the blessedness of this man of God, this anointed class. He pointed out that this 112th Psalm contains the yeartext chosen for 1955. It was a reassuring and confidence-inspiring talk gratefully received and it sharpened the appetite of all the assembly for the material eventually to reach them as part of the 1955 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The officers of the Society are elected by the board of directors, and so following the annual meeting the board of directors met on October 5 at the executive offices of the Society in Brooklyn and re-elected all of the Society's officers to serve a term of one year until the next annual meeting of the directors in October, 1955. So the corporate structure is complete and properly functioning to Jehovah's praise. The officers continuing: N. H. Knorr, president; F. W. Franz, vice-president; Grant Suiter, secretary-treasurer; and H. H. Riemer, assistant secretary-treasurer.
The new modern registered office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Prospects of Fearers of Jehovah
AS YOU face 1955 and the years beyond, do you feel like shouting "Hallelujah"? There is every reason for you to do so if you are a fearer of the One most high over all the earth, the God who alone has the name Jehovah. By practicing the fear of him you can entertain the best of prospects for 1955 and for all the years ahead, prospects of prosperity with happi-
"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah."
—Ps. 112:7, AS.
ness. That means a prosperity that will benefit you in heart as well as body and mind, for it is a spiritual prosperity that gives happiness now and leads to endless happy life in the righteous new world, the foundation for which God has now laid. When we come to know and appreciate that real prosperity with happiness comes from Jehovah God and is guaranteed to those who fear him, we cannot hold back from exclaiming "Hallelujah!" for that cry means "Praise Jehovah!"
2 "Hallelujah. Happy is the man that feareth the LORD, that greatly delighteth in his commandments." That is the way the inspired song, Psalm 112, opens, according to the translation by a Jewish scholar of the last century.* "Hallelujah. Happy the man who reverences the Eternal, who finds rich joy in his commands!" is the way a translator of the present century renders the words from the original Hebrew language. † This opening exclamation makes Psalm 112 one of the many Hallelujah psalms of the Holy Bible. Another thing that marks this psalm as unusual is that it is an alphabetic psalm or acrostic psalm, in which each of its lines begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet of twenty-two characters in their regular order. Thus there are twenty-two lines to the psalm. Two letters of the
Hebrew alphabet serve as initial letters to each of the first eight verses and three as initials to each of the last two verses. In this respect it is like the preceding psalm and it is its twin in structure.
But what makes Psalm 112 important for us to consider now is not merely that it describes the truly happy person on earth but especially that it is prophetic. It points forward and identifies the happy man or class of men in our own time. That is, it foretells not merely one individual, but a man in a collective sense, a composite man made up of many members who are alike happy for a common reason. Are you a member of this happy collective "man"? Or are you keeping company with this "man" in the most pleasant of companionships? To know, consider the psalm.
4 The inspired writer of the psalm, an Israelite or Jew, may have had a Jehovahfearing Israelite or Jew in his own mind, not understanding the full prophetic value of what he wrote. (Dan. 12:8; 1 Pet. 1:10- 12) Well, then, does Psalm 112 apply to the natural Jews or Israelites over in Palestine or elsewhere on earth today?
How could the psalm thus apply? Will any unprejudiced person claim that the natural Jews or Israelites are a happy people, an outstandingly happy people, because some of them in various lands do enjoy a material prosperity and prominence? Are they even happy religiously? The true-to-fact answer must be No! There is a vital, critical reason why they do not fulfill the description of Psalm 112: it is because they neither fear Jehovah nor keep his commandments but persist in hiding his very name and trust in human traditions and follow the commandments of men in place of the Word and the commandments of the one living and true God. (Matt. 15: 1-9; Isa. 29:13, 14) Who, then, is the class of people, the collective "man" of our day, to whom Psalm 112 points prophetically? We are not left to ourselves to make an answer that might call forth the indignant cry of partiality, racial prejudice or national pride! The divine Inspirer of the psalm himself supplies the unerring answer, using one of his writers of the Bible to quote from this psalm and apply it to the class of people whom God himself had in mind. It is the spiritual Israelites, those who are Jews inwardly, of whom there is a remnant of some thousands yet on earth. (Rom. 2:28, 29) In 1931, that they might be correctly identified before all the world, they embraced the name marked out in the Holy Bible and that has since become notable throughout the earth, Jehovah's witnesses.—2 Cor. 9:9; Ps. 112:9; Isa. 43: 10, 12, AS.
5 Were the psalmist to behold this people who bear God's name today he would again exclaim: "Praise ye Jah! O the happiness of one fearing Jehovah, in His commands he hath delighted greatly." (Ps. 112:1, Yg) According to this, Jehovah's
witnesses should be the happiest people on earth in 1955 and ever after. And is their happiness really such as to excite comment like that of the psalmist? Yes. Never was the world more unhappy, for it is in its "time of the end" and it looks forward in dread of what it sees coming. Never have Jehovah's witnesses been happier, for they know from the prophecies of God's Word that they are living in the "time of the end" of this joyless world, now that God's kingdom for which they have long prayed has been set up in the hands of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God in the heavens.—Luke 21:28.
Their happiness is not of a frivolous kind; it has a solid foundation. It is associated with the highest wisdom, the wisdom that is from above. It is because they fear Jehovah that they have this heavenly wisdom. The psalm preceding the one we are considering closes with the words: "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Ps. 111:10, AS) Some understand the expression "beginning of wisdom" to mean the principal thing, the crowning feature, of all true wisdom. Fearing Jehovah begins real wisdom; we must have that fear of our Creator at the very start and we must retain that fear of him uppermost always.
Having that fear makes it impossible that we fear man, for the fear of both at the same time cannot exist. The fear of the One makes a person wise for gaining everlasting life in the endless new world; the fear of the other is a foolishness that ends with the fool's everlasting destruction in Gehenna. The most fearless man ever on earth said to his disciples: "Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."
(Matt. 10:28, NW) So fear of Jehovah counteracts and removes the fear of man and devil or of what these can do to us by God's permission. Jehovah's witnesses recognize Him as reverend, that is, as the one to be feared, and they bear and utter his name in a reverent manner. As the psalm preceding the one now under examination says: "Holy and reverend is his name." Or, "Holy and to be revered is his name." (Ps. 111:9, AS; Ro; RoPss) His is a "glorious and fear-inspiring name," and it is because so-called "Christendom" as well as Jewry does not fear his name and carry out his law that it suffers the way it does. (Deut. 28:58, 59, NW) Jehovah has assigned great achievements and fear-inspiring things to his name. All peoples ought to praise it, but his holy name is respected as reverend and fear-inspiring only by men of good will among all the peoples and nations,—1 Chron. 17:21; Ps. 99:3; Mal. 1:14, Yg;Ro.
8 Fear of Jehovah and the wisdom from above show themselves in an obedience to His commandments, and this results in a happiness that cannot be taken away. In the face of general lawlessness, not only toward all constituted earthly authority, but primarily toward the authority of God the Creator, the witnesses of Jehovah like to be lawful, especially toward Him. Keeping his commandments is not grievous to them, even when there is a collision between his divine commandments and those of God-defying men. They consider themselves happy if obliged to suffer for sticking to the apostolic principle: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Acts
5:29, NW) Always this works out to the best results and hence the happiest results.
9 Concerning the happy fearer of Jehovah the psalmist says: "In His commands he hath delighted greatly." (Ps. 112:1, Yg) He studies and determines which of the commands in Jehovah's prophecies apply to this "time of the end" and then he delightfully carries these out. For that reason all the nations of the world today see Jehovah's witnesses obeying Jehovah's commandment through his Son Christ Jesus: "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." (Matt. 24:14, NW) The remnant of the Jehovah-fearing spiritual Israelites know they are shortly to be members of the heavenly "bride" of Christ. So they catch the spirit of Jehovah's prophecies and now delightedly carry out the Revelation picture: "The spirit and the bride keep on saying, 'Come!' And let anyone hearing say, 'Come!' And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life's water free." (Rev. 22:17, NW) They invite and assist every thirsty person of good will that wishes to the life-giving water of Kingdom truth and then encourage and help them to say to still others. "Come!"
10 In happy obedience the Jehovahfearing spiritual Israelites act as a watchman and warn all mankind of the coming of Jehovah's sword of execution at the battle of Armageddon to destroy all haters, despisers and ignorers of Jehovah. They keep in mind God's commission and command to them: "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me." (Ezek. 33:1-7; 3:16-21, AS) Zealously they inform themselves on God's will, running to and fro through the pages of his Word that their knowledge may be increased.
Also they do not forsake gathering themselves together at all arranged meetings, but they come together in study groups and in congregations and in large conventions that they may encourage one another, and all the more so as they behold the great day of God's victorious fight drawing near. (Dan. 12:4; Heb. 10:25, NW) So they draw continual delight out of lovingly keeping God's commands.
PERMANENCE OF HIS GENERATION
11 The haters of Jehovah cannot wipe out the Jehovah-fearing man. What is more, his household will continue on the earth. "His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed." (Ps. 112:2, AS) If we view the Jehovah-fearing man of the psalm as a collective person made up of all members of Christ's spiritual congregation or "body," then the man's seed or offspring are the sheeplike persons of good will, the "other sheep." The Right Shepherd has been using this collective "man" to gather these into one flock. Their everlasting destiny is in this earth cleansed and everywhere made a "garden of Eden" or "paradise of delight." They will remain in it for all time. They become mighty in it, but not just automatically. No, but because the Jehovah-fearing spiritual remnant have 'become their father through the good news.' This remnant have preached to them the good news concerning the Kingdom and now they obey Jehovah's command to inculcate his words in this seed of theirs. (1 Cor. 4:15; Deut. 6:4-6, NW) In their turn, the "seed" obey like children the inspired command at Ephesians 6:1-4 to be obedient and co-operative toward the Jehovah-fearing "man" who has fathered
them by the power of "this good news of the kingdom."
12 As the two lines of Psalm 112:2 are parallel in thought, the "generation of the upright [ones]" in line 2 is the same as "his seed" in line 1. Hence the upright ones are those spiritual Christians who form the Jehovah-fearing "man." The remnant still on earth of this "man" are part of the "seed of Abraham" in whom all the families of the earth are to bless themselves. Already the remnant have become a means of blessing to this rising generation of "other sheep." (Ps. 71:18; 145:4) As they are an "upright" class, the seed or generation that they father stand in direct line for a blessing. "All the day he is gracious and lending, and his seed is for a blessing." (Ps. 37:26, Yg) But remember, too, that the seed or generation of the upright ones are prospective children of the "Everlasting Father," Jesus Christ, who is primarily the Abrahamic seed of blessing. (Isa. 9:6, AS) The blessing that his "other sheep" are already receiving consists in their being turned away from their sins and being taken into the true worship and service of Jehovah God.—Acts 3:25, 26.
13 Since they are in a figurative sense the seed or generation of the Jehovahfearing man of Psalm 112, they themselves become fearers of Jehovah, and this leads to wisdom and might. Due to the great number of them now within the New World society, into which they have flocked in their hundreds of thousands, they already occupy a strong position in the earth. Under the spiritual remnant of Christ's body they are doing a mighty work of witnessing to God's kingdom and expanding the New World society, but this they do, not by sheer force of numbers, but by the help of Jehovah's spirit. (Zech.
4:6) Surviving the "war of the great day of God the Almighty," they will continue to be mighty in the "new earth" of the new world for the post-Armageddon work. Their position in the cleansed earth will never be shaken, even during the "little while" that Satan and his demons are loosed from the abyss at the close of Christ's millennial reign. Maintaining their Jehovah-fearing integrity during that trialsome "little while," they will be blessed with receiving at Jehovah's hand the grant of the right to everlasting happiness in the earthly paradise.—Matt. 25: 40; Rev. 20:1-3, 7-15, NW.
14 Especially since the year 1919 God's wrath has been upon all the nations belonging to Satan's organization and it will reach its breaking point at the war of His great day. In that war the material wealth and riches will not profit the nations, for they do not have the righteousness of God. The only thing that will work for deliverance from death and destruction by Jehovah's executional forces then will be his righteousness. (Prov. 11:4) The Jehovah-fearing "man" has this, he being 'justified by his faith in God through Jesus Christ' and also 'engaging in righteous acts in God's sight.' (Rom. 5:1, 9; Rev. 19:8, NW) He has more than that. Psalm 112:3 (Yg) goes on to say: "Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness is standing for ever."
rable wealth and righteousness." (Prov. 8:18, AS) He has an heirship in God's heavenly kingdom with Christ; and what could be more precious than that? He has the treasure of the ministry or service of God's Word; and what on earth could be more honorable than that? He stores up treasures in heaven by living and working to gain God's approval and blessing and a worthiness to receive the fulfillment of God's promises. He lays up a foundation for what are riches in the new world. He is "safely treasuring up for [himself] a right foundation for the future, in order that [he] may get a firm hold on the real life."—1 Tim. 6:17-19, NW; Matt. 6:20, 21; Rom. 8:15-17; 2 Cor. 4:1-8.
15 In his house, or where he dwells within Jehovah's theocratic organization, he has riches and wealth, but not the kind that takes wings and flies swiftly away like eagles toward heaven and out of reach. (Prov. 23:5) He has the riches and wealth that wisdom imparts, for divine wisdom says: "Riches and honor are with me; yea, du-
16 But what is more important than riches and wealth in the house is this: "His righteousness is standing for ever." That means his preservation in 1955 and forever, that he may continue on in his righteous course. It means that the results of his righteous acts will be permanent, not being wiped out at Armageddon, whereas the works of this wicked world will be burned up in that war and their effects be completely obliterated. By sticking to righteousness he keeps his integrity toward Jehovah, whom he fears, and by his being preserved for life in the New World righteousness is preserved in the earth, where we pray that God's will may be done the same as it is up in heaven. The earth as God's creation is properly the place for righteousness. The way of the defiers of Jehovah will vanish and their wickedness will vanish from the earth. (Prov. 2:21, 22) The seed or generation of the upright, Jehovah-fearing "man" will carry on like him in righteousness in the earth forever.
17 The class that is today the Jehovahfearing "man" once needed enlightenment and a brightening of their earthly situation.
Many translators of Psalm 112 would bring out that thought in their rendering of verse 4. For instance, the American Standard Version renders it: "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and merciful, and righteous." Historically, this was true of the spiritual remnant in 1919. At that time they were lying in the darkness of bondage and oppression under the great organization of darkness, mystic Babylon. They had been taken into captivity to the nations of this world during the years of World War I and deprived of their right of freely and fearlessly worshiping God according to his Word. The darkness of religious misunderstanding and of this captive condition was dispelled in 1919, when Jehovah God rose as a light to them and sent his Son Jesus Christ to free them from this spiritually killing bondage in Babylon and to put them back in their proper place and freedom inside God's organization as his fearless witnesses. The prophet Micah had been used to foretell this: "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy [Babylon]: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness." (Mic. 7:8, 9, AS) Other prophecies had also announced in advance this brightening of the remnant's earthly situation, such as Isaiah 60:1, 2; Psalm 18:8; Job 33:28; and Psalm 107:10-14.
18 However, as Psalm 112 is describing the life and action of the Jehovah-fearing spiritual "man," this verse may properly be translated from the Hebrew another way, to show the obligation that now rests upon
the spiritual remnant. Thus various other renderings of verse 4 by other competent translators read as follows: "He hath arisen in darkness a light to the upright." (RoPss) "Unto the upright he shineth as a light in the darkness." (Soncino) "For the upright ones he arises [as] a light in the darkness." (C. Kautzsch, German) "In the midst of the darkness he arises like a light for the upright hearts." (Maredsous, French) "As a light in darkness he shines for the good." (Bover-Cantera, Spanish) "In the darkness he beams as the light for the upright ones." (Nacar-Colunga, Spanish) The "man" that meets this description is under obligation to do as Jesus said: "You are the light of the world. . . Likewise let your light shine before mankind, that they may see your right works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens." (Matt. 5:14-16, NW) Being enlightened by the heavenly Father, he must reflect the heavenly illumination to others by his right works, that the darkness-blinded ones may see and learn to know and fear Jehovah and glorify him. What a blessed privilege it is to enlighten others and thus drive back the forces of darkness!
19 This links up with another commandment that the Jehovah-fearing class now delight to obey, addressed to His great "servant" class: "Saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture." (Isa. 49:9, AS) This prophetic command must now be performed by Jehovah's "servant" class, the "faithful and discreet slave" class, toward the "other sheep" that are still bound in Satan's organization and held in the darkness of religious ignorance and hopelessness. Revelation 7:9-17 shows that this is how the prophecy of Isaiah must be applied in this era of deepening world darkness.
By this action the "servant" class heed the command that applies to Zion, their heavenly mother, and hence to themselves as her spiritual children: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." (Isa. 60:1,2,AS) Yes, "seen upon thee" only if Zion's spiritual children rise as a light in the darkness. Only in that way can the upright ones of all nations come out of the world darkness to the brightshining organization of light. The forces of darkness hate the light and try to escape its exposures by suppressing the light bearers. But the lovers of the light of Kingdom truth show their sheeplikeness by coming to the light and doing good to even the least one of Christ's spiritual brothers.
20 This courageous work of enlightening the "other sheep" blindly stumbling about in the world's gloom agrees well with the remainder of Psalm 112:4: "He is gracious, and merciful, and righteous." In this how like Jehovah he is! For verse 4 of the preceding psalm says: "Jehovah is gracious and merciful." (AS) And Jehovah, when declaring his name to Moses at Mount Sinai in Arabia, himself said: "Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious." (Ex. 34:6, NW) The man that fears him copies him in these qualities by exercising them toward others. We need to exercise these qualities toward others, even as the heavenly Father did to us: "You must accordingly be complete, as your heavenly Father is complete." "Continue becoming compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." (Matt. 5:48; Luke 6:36, NW) The fearer of Jehovah can copy him and
display these qualities closely by endeavoring to enlighten the bedarkened "other sheep" and bringing them to the theocratic organization of light. However, he must also be gracious and merciful to his own brothers within the New World society, that all there may get along together in peace, harmony, purity and mutual helpfulness.Eph. 4:1-3.
21 Jehovah God is the only one really good within himself, he being goodness personified. The goodness of any of his creatures, including Jesus Christ himself, must all be borrowed from Jehovah God. Jesus himself said so, when he rejected the title "Good Teacher" by saying: "Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God." (Luke 18:18, 19, NW; AS) To the extent that the fearer of Jehovah copies him in kindness and generosity, he becomes good like him. "Good is the man—gracious and lending." (Ps. 112:5, Yg) "The good man is gentle and gives." (Fenton) Jehovah himself is gracious, gentle in dealing, undeservedly kind, and thus he gives to earth's inhabitants, to wicked people and good, to righteous people and unrighteous. He is the Befriender of the poor and needy. The "man" that fears him makes it his aim to imitate him in these regards. He gives generously of his spiritual gifts, not expecting a material reward; and he does so gently, not trying to embarrass anyone, not threatening or reproaching or addressing in abusive terms even the ones that refuse the good news of the Kingdom unselfishly preached to them. He gives generously of the best thing he has to offer, the lifesaving Kingdom message. This course of action cannot help but mean blessing for his seed or generation, for it is by means of this very "good news" that he fathers this seed, even in his old age, so to speak. Long ago the psalmist stated the fact: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." (Ps. 37:25, 26, AS) What a happy family they all are within the New World society!
22 The New World society of the Jehovah-fearing "man" and of his seed or generation must be a well-conducted organization. We should expect it to be, for Psalm 112:5 says of him: "He will guide his affairs with justice." (Le) "He shall guide his affairs with discretion." (Kirkpatrick) "Who conducts his business with justice." (AT; Mo) "He shall sustain his affairs with justice." (Ro) That is, he uses good judgment in conducting the affairs and safeguarding the interests of the New World society. He uses discretion in his choices of things; and in the appointing of overseers and of ministerial servants with the congregation of Jehovah's sheep he tries to determine the divine will and select and empower men who have the spirit of God, men of Scriptural viewpoint, men with a sense of justice, and men who are progressive and concerned with making the organization prosper and increase to Jehovah's glory. He is alert to the spiritual needs of the New World society and is always busy in making provision for these, that the members of the Society may all be kept in good spiritual condition, equipped to "contend for victory in the right contest of the faith" and strong and zealous to carry out Jehovah's commandments with delight and do unitedly the work He lays upon the organization. Without partiality the "man" endeavors to help, educate and fit every member alike to be an active witness of Jehovah, a preacher of the good news of God's established kingdom from door to door.—1 Tim. 6:12, NW. 23 In the case of a society thus guided, maintained and regulated what should we expect for 1955 and for the years following? Our reply comes from Psalm 112:6 (AS): "For he shall never be moved; the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." In 1955 or at any time before the end of the battle of Armageddon the righteous fearer of Jehovah God cannot expect to escape the assaults and persecutions of this world; "in fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted." (2 Tim. 3:12, NW) The wicked of this world will try to make him totter, trying to involve him in conflicts with the political governments and bringing him into courts and passing laws making it illegal for him and his seed to exist, all this in order to move him out of the way and have his righteous, charitable activities suppressed and so bring about his spiritual death and destruction. But till now the enemy have been unable to move him off the earth or out of the field of witnessing, and they will be unable to do so in 1955 or at any later time. This spiritual Israelite "man" practices the fear of Jehovah, for which reason he will not be allowed to totter in his integrity.
24 As it was prophetically stated for Jesus Christ so it is stated for his follower: "I have set Jehovah always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Ps. 16:8, AS) Jehovah, in whom he takes refuge, is his high tower and defense. His hope and citizenship are in Mount Zion above, where the King Jesus Christ reigns. Jehovah and his Mount Zion can never be moved. Most certainly, then, neither can Jehovah's worshipers. He will shake all Devil-engineered, manmade things, the human kingdoms and the corrupt earth and the wicked seas of humanity, to their complete removal; but never will he let those who fear him be removed from the earth.
The way he proceeds means destruction to his haters but life in the new world to his lovers. "The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed; but the wicked shall not dwell in the land."—Prov. 10:29, 30, AS.
25 Behold the good thoughts of Jehovah toward the righteous and upright ones! These are never out of his mind. He will never forget them. They will always live to him, even if it means he has to resurrect them from the dead. It is no wonder that Psalm 112:6 adds: "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." (AS) Or, more literally expressed: "An ageabiding remembrance shall the righteous man become." (RoPss) The Jehovah-
In what way will the righteous one be had in everlasting remembrance, and why is this important?
fearing, righteous man will always be something to remember on earth. To all eternity the inhabitants of earth will remember Jesus Christ, the most righteous man ever on earth, whose righteousness on earth even amidst Satan's world worked for the salvation of humankind. Likewise men will always remember his righteous followers, including his remnant now. But more important by far than the remembrance by mankind in the new world is the remembrance by Jehovah God, for that means life eternal for the righteous class. The former wicked things of this world will be destroyed and be forgotten and never come to mind with any attractiveness, but righteousness will never be forgotten. Jehovah will always keep the righteous in remembrance and see that they enjoy life to the full, forever. What precious Scriptural thoughts these are! They offer us grounds for the brightest prospects for all fearers of Jehovah during 1955 and afterward.
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