The Watchtower, June 15, 1955
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WATCHTOWER
JUNE 15,1955 Semimonthly
DEDICATION TO JEHOVAH
THE REASSURING HISTORY OF DEDICATION
Announcing JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
REPORT ON "THE NEW WORLD SOCIETY IN ACTION" IN EUROPE AND AMERICA
IDENTIFYING THE ANTICHRIST
ITALIAN COMMUNISTS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
© 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
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ITALIAN COMMUNISTS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
By Watch Tower missionary in Italy
THE tug of war between the East and the West is being keenly felt in Italy, the land that has the strongest Communist party outside the Soviet bloc. The theory of Marx is capturing the Italian mind as well as its vote, despite the priestly denunciations and papal excommunications. In this propaganda war a losing side cowardly seeks to "save face" by blaming others for her plight. This the Italian episcopacy did on February 1, 1954, when it told the world that "Protestant propaganda . . . goes to the evident advantage . . . of atheistic communism."
But is that not begging the question? Anticlericalism existed in Italy long before the communistic ideology was ever heard of, and long before non-Catholic religions began to spread their teachings in Italy following World War II. And as to who takes the course that aids communism, La voce repubblicana of Rome says that it is the religious persecutors, not the persecuted, who really give the Communists material for their propaganda. It pointed out that by expelling people of minority religions (in this particular instance, Jehovah's witnesses), "freedom of religion is put away in the attic, to the deep satisfaction of the communists and the Fascists."
Religious officials have argued that the Communist exponents and press "do not
hide their sympathy and support for this disuniting Protestant propaganda." But is this the case? Great strides toward freedom of worship have been made in Italy, but this has not been without difficulty. And when procommunist newspapers report in their columns the abuses and unfair treatment of religious minorities, their concern is not with right doctrine, nor with sympathizing with or supporting other religions, but with making political capital out of the fact that undemocratic and unconstitutional actions have been taken against these minority groups. The facts show that the Communists are not seriously interested in spiritual matters, either Catholic or non-Catholic. Their main interest lies in the material things of this earth. The Communists ridicule those who believe in the promises of God's kingdom under Christ, calling them cowards and parasites.
The Communist press ridicules the Bible and smears the Christian ministers who are teaching God's Word. As an example, note the following report from the Communist newspaper La Verita of Brescia, Italy. Calling Jehovah's witnesses "American spies disguised as 'missionaries,'" it said: "They go from house to house and with the 'Holy Scriptures' preach submission to war prepared by the Americans," and it further falsely charged that these missionaries were paid agents of New York and Chicago bankers and were endeavoring to "gather information of every kind regarding the men and the activities of the [Communist] organizations."
The writer concluded that "the duty of the workers, who know how to defend their country well . . . is therefore to slam the door in the faces of these vulgar spies disguised as pastors."
Many Italian Communists do not object to having their wives and children attend the Catholic church. They feel that since some kind of religion is desired by the women and children it might as well be the same old religion that their fathers taught them. Their argument is that there is no harm in the religious teachings of the Catholic Church, but it is the wealth of the church that irritates them and the church's siding with the capitalistic countries. Yet the Catholic religion is Italy's largest—a fact that the vote-seeking Communists well recognize. As their repeated public statements prove, the Communists would much prefer the Catholic Church as a partner rather than some other religion in Italy.
is not favoring any other religious faith. The Communists are very much interested in the votes of the Catholic peasants, the class that has been tied to Catholic tradition for centuries, and in the words of Italy's Communist leader they "do not ask the Catholic world to cease to be a Catholic world," but "tend towards a mutual understanding."
The Communists are determined to get control of Italy, and this they can do only by winning over to their side a greater number of Catholics, not non-Catholics Above all, this means convincing such nominal Catholics that communism certainly
The Catholic Hierarchy may say what she wishes about the "damaging" effects of non-Catholic propaganda within the borders of Catholic Italy, but when she accuses religious minorities of aiding Italy's communism, and of being favored, sympathized with and supported by the Communists, then she is leaving herself wide open for criticism and her charge boomerangs. The religion that for more than fifteen centuries did not provide the people the strength of sound knowledge is now reaping her harvest of materialism, anticlericalism and godless communism. She cannot pass the blame on to others, or try to save face by endeavoring to pull into her warfare those true Christians who pointedly remain separate from it and who now are really providing many earnest Italians with the knowledge of God's Word, the strength of the apostles, and the power to resist the false claims that communism makes.
Discharging Their Responsibility
The printed program of the Calvary (Episcopal) Church in Memphis, Tennessee, said last December 12 that, while statistics are supposed to be dull, these might be of interest: "With a membership of 520,000, Jehovah's witnesses had adult baptisms at their district assemblies alone amounting to 14,509 in the summer of 1954. This does not include weekly baptisms in Kingdom Halls. Our Church, with a membership of 1,777,631 (confirmed) had 14,952 adult baptisms in 1953. Why the difference, do you suppose? Could it be that we are not taking seriously our responsibility to witness for God and his Church?" It could be. There are less than a third as many of Jehovah's witnesses as there are members in the religion that made the comparison, but this smaller group performed nearly four times as many baptisms (a total of 57,369 during the year).
IDENTIFYING
Who or what is the antichrist-a person an organization or merely an evil principle? When did the antichrist first appear, what are the characteristics of antichrist, and what will mark the end of antichrist?
THE term antichrist has been applied to various persons, organizations and teachings. Some called the dissolute and murderous Roman emperor Nero, who so cruelly persecuted Christians and is believed to have caused the death of the apostle Paul, antichrist. Others applied the term to Domitian, who banished the apostle John to the isle of Patmos. Some termed Mohammed the antichrist, while many of the reformers, such as the Waldenses, the Hussites and the Lollards, applied the term to the papacy.
Higher criticism today discredits the reality God's Word gives to the antichrist. Thus Harper's Bible Dictionary (1952), under the heading "Antichrist," states: "The concept of a conflict between the forces of good and evil appeared in a very early Babylonian myth, became a dominant part of Persian thought, and made its way into Jewish beliefs and Christian doctrine concerning the Second Advent." However, those having faith in the Bible as God's Word do not trace the antichrist to a Babylonian myth but to the garden of Eden where God said that he would put enmity between the seed of his organization, "the woman," and that of the serpent, Satan the Devil.—Gen. 3:15.
The term "antichrist(s)" is found but five times in the Bible and only in the writings of the apostle John. Identifying the antichrist of his day, John wrote:
"Many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." And also further identifying the antichrist: "Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist." 2 John 7;1 John 2:22,18,NW.
Jesus foretold the coming of antichrist: "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones." And so did the apostle Paul: "Let no one seduce you in any manner, because [the day of Jehovah] will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction." Like John, Paul showed that "the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work," in his day, and that it was "according to the operation of Satan." Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:3, 7, 9, NW.
ANTICHRIST IN A TWOFOLD SENSE
Before we can properly identify the antichrist, however, it is necessary that we first properly identify Christ. Just who was Christ? Christ, like its Hebrew equivalent, Messiah, means "anointed one." It calls to mind the high priests and kings of the nation of Israel who were anointed with a specially prepared oil to serve in their official capacities as representatives of Jehovah God.
The prophet Daniel had foretold the coming of the Anointed One, and the apostle Peter identified him as Jesus, saying to him: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."—Matt. 16:16, NW; Dan. 9:25.
It appears that "antichrist" has a twofold meaning. As its name indicates, it is anti or opposed to Christ. And it also has the thought of false or pseudo Christ, in the place or stead of Christ. While, as we have seen, some have attempted to apply the term to a certain individual, or organization, the foregoing scriptures, together with the physical facts, indicate that all persons, organizations or groups that falsely claim to represent Christ, that arrogate to themselves the Messianic role or that oppose Christ and his followers can properly be termed antichrists, even as Jesus said: "He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters." (Matt. 12:30, NW) Interesting in this connection is the observation made by McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia that "the just conclusion seems to be that Antichrist is not to be confined to any single person or power, but is essentially a great principle or system of falsehood having various manifestations, forms of working and degrees."
Incidentally, let it be noted that the truth regarding the antichrist is not mere milk but is solid spiritual food; strong meat that can be assimilated fully only by those who have advanced to maturity, only by "those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong."—Heb. 5:13, 14, NW.
RELIGIOUS ANTICHRISTS
Christ Jesus claimed to be the Son of God in a unique way, distinctive from all other humans. Said he: "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been." "No
man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man." "I am God's Son." And God himself repeatedly bore testimony to the same, as at the Jordan when Jesus was baptized, and when Jesus and three of his apostles were on the mount of transfiguration.—John 8:58; 3:13; 10:36, NW; Matt. 3:17; 17:5.
It follows that all who deny this claim of Christ Jesus, be they devotees of Oriental religions, atheists, deists or agnostics, are antichrists. Regarding all such, Christians are warned that they "cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons," and that there is no harmony between Christ and Belial. (1 Cor. 10:21; 2 Cor. 6:15, NW) Included also would be all professed Christian clergymen who say, as did one Boston, Massachusetts, Congregational minister: "I make bold to say that Jesus claims nothing for himself that is not universally true of the ideal or divine nature inherent in all of us," and that Jesus was no more a son of God than were such pagan philosophers as Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.
Further, since all those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh are antichrists, it follows that all who claim that Jesus was incarnated, merely clothed with flesh, are antichrists, for such deny that Jesus actually came in the flesh. Plainly we are told that "the Word became flesh," and that he was "produced out of a woman." Had he been merely incarnated he could have dispensed with a human mother. And had he been both human and divine upon the earth he would not have hungered after fasting, nor would he have needed rest after a journey or after a strenuous day; neither could he have died as man's ransomer, for what is divine is immortal. John 1:14; Gal. 4:4, NW.
Others identify themselves as antichrists by their denying Jesus' office as Ransomer and High Priest. John the Baptist termed Jesus "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!"
Jesus himself said that he came "to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many." John tells us that "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." Peter states that Christians were ransomed "with precious blood," "even Christ's." And Paul's letters are replete with references to Christ's sacrificial merit, such as, "God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, therefore, since we have been declared righteous now by his blood, shall we be saved." Yes, even the Hebrew prophets foretold that Jesus would bear the sins of many.—John 1:29; Matt. 20:28; 1 John 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rom. 5:8, 9, NW; Isa. 53:12.
Yet in spite of the fact that God's Word so magnifies the atoning work of Christ, many professed clergymen of Christendom deny that the blood of Christ has any saving power. Thus one Denver, Colorado, Baptist clergyman said, at the turn of the century, that the teaching of the atonement is "repugnant to the moral sense," that "strictly speaking, the death of Christ was not necessary to human salvation," and that "the Bible nowhere says that Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believers." Certainly all who subscribe to such theories are antichrists, even though they may claim to be Christian ministers.
Further, all professed Christians who have apostatized, who exalt themselves, who manifest the spirit of rebellion or who show hatred to their Christian brothers are properly termed antichrists. Regarding such Paul said: "Oppressive wolves will enter in among you . . . and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." He also referred to such as "the man of lawlessness," "the son of destruction," who "is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called
'god' or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god." Jesus foretold that in our day some of his professed followers would beat their fellow slaves and eat and drink with the drunken, and called such the "evil slave." The facts show that all such antichrists have manifested themselves, for much false doctrine is being taught in the name of Christianity, there is much self-exaltation and creature worship and there is much ill will manifested toward sincere followers of Christ by some who profess to be their brothers.—Acts 20:29,30; 2 Thess. 2:3,4; Matt. 24:48-51, NW.
POLITICAL ANTICHRISTS
Just as there are religious antichrists there also are political antichrists. Among such is godless communism. It also is one of the "false Christs" that Jesus foretold would come and deceive many. How so?
Communism is an antichrist in that it seeks to supplant Christ and his kingdom as earth's rightful Ruler and mankind's only Hope. Thus we are told that "it is the Messianic character of Communism that gives it dynamic power to command allegiance." Its leaders such as Lenin and Stalin have been not only idolized but deified, termed saviors and the ones chosen by God to lead their people.
Then, too, Jesus, in his illustration of the sheep and the goats stated that whatever had been done to his followers had been done to him, which fact he also called to the attention of Saul of Tarsus when that one was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Since all Communist lands bitterly persecute Christ's true followers, they are in fact persecuting Christ and therefore are antichrists.-Matt. 25:40; Acts 9:5.
Not that the spirit of antichrist is limited to Communist lands, for, even as Jesus foretold, his followers today are being hated by all nations.
In fact, what is true of communism's being the antichrist is also true of the United Nations. It also, even as was its predecessor, the League of Nations, is being given a Messianic role to play by the clergy of Christendom, as the world's savior, its only hope and the only light, whereas the Bible plainly shows that in Christ shall the nations hope and that he is mankind's Savior and the Light of the world. The United Nations therefore also is an antichrist.
Jesus referred to this scheme of modern man in his great prophecy as "the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place." It is disgusting in God's sight because all that is "lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God's sight." In that it presumes to stand in the place that should be occupied by God's kingdom it stands in a holy place where it ought not to stand. Truly it also is an antichrist.—Matt. 24:15, 16, NW.
The apostle John had a prophetic vision of the final form of this antichrist: "And I caught sight of a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored wild beast that was full of blasphemous names and that had seven heads and ten horns. The wild beast that you saw was, but is not, and yet is destined to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction."—Rev. 17:3, 8, NW.
In this vision we see Babylonish religion pictured as a wicked woman, even as the true Christian congregation is represented in the Scriptures as a chaste virgin. The numbers seven and ten, denoting completeness, indicate that this beast represents all the nations of the world that are united for
the purpose of accomplishing what only God's kingdom can accomplish. As the League of Nations, this beast "was" from 1920 to 1939; it was not during World War II, from 1939 to 1945; after which time it ascended out of the abyss as the United Nations organization. At Armageddon, "the war of the great day of God the Almighty," it is destined to go off to destruction.
And in that religious leaders in the United States hail their land as one with a Messianic mission, it also becomes a manifestation of the antichrist. And concerning the end of all modern-day manifestations of the antichrist the apostle John wrote: "And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur."—Rev. 19:20, NW.
Thus we see, in summing up, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of Jehovah God, God's High Priest and earth's rightful Ruler, and that all who set themselves in opposition to him or who presume to take his place as the ruler of the world and the one to bring lasting peace, are antichrists. Since the destiny of all who comprise the antichrist is destruction at Armageddon, it follows that all who would escape that end must separate themselves from antichrist. The way to do that is to heed the prophetic command: "Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger."—Zeph. 2:3, AS.
Report on
"The New World Society in Action"
in Europe and the Americas
ON April 3,1954,the first copy of the Watch Tower's
moving-picture film "The New World Society in Action" was shown to 1,110 persons at a New York city circuit assembly. More than forty times during that first showing the excited audience interrupted with applause-a foretaste of the enthusiasm with which this film has been received.
It conveys a true picture of the theocratic organization, showing that the New World society is not a small, insignificant denomination, but rather a world-embracing preaching organization proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom earth-wide. Thus far 177 copies of this film have been produced. These have been shown to audiences in more than 75 lands, totaling over 1,290,745 persons.
From France the Watch Tower's branch servant writes: "Even many of the brothers did not realize the magnitude of Jehovah's visible organization, nor how it operates with brothers assigned to care for the very smallest detail-caring for the various machines in the printery, the radio station WBBR, the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, etc. As for the persons of good will, they are astounded at the vision of Jehovah's organization and of its
purposes, and all this works for the building up of their faith and to draw them closer to the New World society."
The Netherlands branch reports: "The showing of the film has enriched the understanding of the organization on the part of the brothers, and has spurred many of our brothers who had faded away into inactivity to action, and has helped many interested ones to take a firmer stand for the truth. Many strangers who have seen this film returned home with an entirely different view of the New World society."
From Italy comes the report: "This medium being used by Jehovah's organization world-wide is causing the Shepherd's voice to be heard by many more of his 'other sheep.' Its good effect is already telling. Those who have seen the film recognize that the people and organization shown therein are guided by the commandments and principles of Jehovah."
FRENCH EXPERIENCES
Yes, the film has a good effect upon those who see it. In France one brother whose family and friends had ridiculed the truth succeeded in bringing his wife and brother-in-law to see it. They did not come because they were interested, but out of curiosity.
After seeing the picture, however, they observed: "It is more serious and far more powerful than we thought. We must reconsider our position."
Even those long within the theocratic organization have been powerfully strengthened by actually seeing the scope of its activity. A 75-year-old French brother who had been in the truth for fifty years expressed his joy this way: "My ears have heard people talk of Jehovah's power, of the splendor of his organization and of the fruitfulness of Zion, and my soul has desired to see all these things. Feeling that I am approaching the end of my course, I doubted whether I should see my wish fulfilled. But now my eyes have seen more than I ever hoped to see. Now I can go with the heart glad and with peace of mind. Nothing can stop the victorious march of the New World society toward the new life the other side of Armageddon."
Seeing the theocratic order of things also helps Christians to develop a more mature appreciation of their position in the organization. Thus a young French publisher confessed: "I used to think I was useful to the organization because of my studies, and I was somewhat proud of the fact, but now I can see that the organization can do without me. But I cannot do without the organization, and that has humbled me."
It is good, too, for everyone actually to see that the work of the Christian organization is carried on by dedicated persons. After seeing pictures of the Watch Tower's Brooklyn publishing plant where Jehovah's witnesses' literature is produced, an interested technician commented: "You certainly are the only organization to have all workers who have the same ideology. I work in a printery that puts out a newspaper of Catholic tendency, but among the employees you will find good Catholics and
also Protestants and even Communists. It is the same in other printeries, but your organization is different."
ITALY AND THE NETHERLANDS
"But you should show this movie in the largest theater in Turin," one Italian woman said. "I'll be glad to contribute toward the expenses. Everyone should see this picture, then they will certainly appreciate how Christians should live and comport themselves." A well-educated elderly man had been reading the Society's publications, but would never take a firm hold of the truth. After seeing the film he said: "I've been looking for an organization all my life that lifts the people morally and spiritually and at last I've found it. I've found something good and I'm certainly going to hang onto it."
Even opposers have seen the importance of New World society activity. A Watch Tower missionary had been conducting a Bible study with an Italian woman for about eight months. Her husband was definitely opposed to her studying and preaching. However, to the missionary's surprise he accepted the invitation to come to see the film. He was so impressed by what he saw and by the way the organization functions that he has been attending the congregational meetings ever since. He even offered his home for an area Bible study.
Another man came up to the district servant to say that from now on when the witnesses study with his wife he certainly wants to study too, for he now realizes that he has a lot to learn. His previous course of action? He had so scoffed at the message and at the hope of the New World that his wife was becoming discouraged and was thinking of dropping the study.
The impression such a Christian film makes upon its viewers might well be illustrated by the view of a little three-year-old Italian who had seen "The New World Society in Action."
When later invited to go to the movies he replied: "No, mommy, let's go to the Kingdom Hall where you see those nice people, and not those who kill all the time."
In just over seven months the copy of "The New World Society in Action" that was sent to the Watch Tower's branch in the Netherlands was shown 106 times to 24,306 persons, and it continues to be in regular use there. One unusual showing was to the personnel and inmates of that country's camp for conscientious objectors. Usually about 45 of the 75 persons in the camp show up for a film or cultural program, but this time all but three of them were present. The camp boss and others spoke very well of the film, and much opportunity for witnessing was provided.
In the town of Doorn the congregation servant brought his next-door neighbor to see the film. After seeing it, this 75-yearold lady, who several times had had Bible studies but had never seen the importance of joining in the work, said: "One can see that this is the true church of God; there is so much love and unity that it must be God's organization." She resumed her study, attended the circuit assembly, has participated in service and plans to be baptized this summer.
Another woman had been contacted ten years ago but had not seen the importance of becoming active in Kingdom service. After seeing the film she took the initiative in asking a mature publisher to take her out in the service. With great joy she told the people at the doors that she had known for ten years that this was the truth, but never before was she so determined to live up to it as since she had seen the film. She told them how people from all parts of the earth, colored and white, work together in harmony in the interests of pure worship. And she said: "I am firmly determined never again to give up the truth."
In Cuba, as elsewhere, this moving picture impresses its viewers with the firm Christian background of the activity of Jehovah's witnesses. On leaving the hall in Havana one good-will person was heard to say: "This picture is proof that this is the true organization of God." A young man, after seeing the film, said: "I want to be a part of that New World society." New ones have been strengthened to go out in the door-to-door service for the first time. One woman told the district servant: "I know now that I am going to be a genuine witness for Jehovah." And many of Jehovah's witnesses have expressed themselves as desiring to do much more in Kingdom service since they have seen how their brothers serve so diligently in the factory and at Gilead.
At one circuit assembly in Cuba there was a Friday night attendance of 400. But on Saturday night, in this town of no more than 5,000 people (Cumanayagua, Las Villas), a total of 1,600 came to see the pictureindeed a considerable percentage of the population! The townspeople enjoyed it so much that all in the community knew what had happened, and the film was a popular subject of discussion. Some of the people even came back the next day hoping that they would see it. The public talk attendance on Sunday was 769.
From Cuba the film was taken over to the nearby Isle of Pines where a new congregation of just five publishers was recently organized. A theater was rented for $5, and with not too much advertising 420 people filled this assembly place----412 more persons than the number of Jehovah's witnesses who were present! From mid-May to mid-December there were 79 showings of the film in Cuba with a total of 25,233 different persons present.
CHILE, URUGUAY AND BRAZIL
In Chile the Watch Tower's branch servant took the film to La Serena for the benefit of the four missionaries who are assigned there. This has been considered difficult witnessing territory, yet the film was shown on five different nights. The total attendance? It amounted to 762 persons! For one showing, a half-day's house-to-house advertising by five publishers, plus some handbills put up in local stores and a sign on the building where the picture was to be shown, brought 300 people out to see the picture and to learn of the activity of the New World society!
In Uruguay excellent results have been obtained when the film was shown outside. It has been shown in patios, parks, and even on the sidewalks and in the streets. When the Kingdom Hall is too small for the crowd, the equipment is set up on the sidewalk out front and the neighborhood moves in to see what is happening—and to see the film. On one Saturday the picture was shown in the Central Town Square in San José to more than 300 people. When the baptism of 4,640 persons at the Yankee Stadium assembly was shown, one man in the crowd shouted out loud: "It is too bad that Padre Fernando [the local priest] wasn't at that assembly; he would have gotten rich collecting $5 each from those getting baptized." Everyone laughed, because this "padre" has a reputation in the whole town.
Twenty thousand Brazilians have seen the film, and have made such comments as: "I lived really an hour and a half in God's new world." A congregation servant in the interior said enthusiastically: "That film woke up more interest in the work than all the talks given by visiting servants. Now our hall is full." A soldier in the city of Sorocaba said: "If you folks aren't God's people, then there aren't any in the world." The Watch Tower's Brazilian office writes that the thing that has really surprised them is to see how the film produced by the Society has done more for the enthusiasm, zeal and maturity of some publishers than years and years of counsel given by servants and public speakers. "With only an hour and a half of projection," the report said, "many have decided to take their position and to fortify their forces, and many who reluctantly listened to discourses even resolved to make dedication vows, submitting to baptism."
In a good-sized congregation in one city in the interior of Brazil there was some disorganization because of internal disunity. It is reported that as a result of seeing the activity of the organization earth-wide the brothers reorganized their activity and show renewed spirit and vigor in Jehovah's service. The film was shown in one of the capital cities at a congregation where the brothers were having difficulty in moving to another hall. The enthusiasm grew so that they immediately subscribed to providing quite a large sum of money for the purpose. Now they have one of the nicest halls in the country.
"The New World Society in Action" continues to be used throughout the earth to explain the purpose and the scope of the activity of Jehovah's witnesses. As this short report indicates, it is being used under widely varying circumstances, and with excellent results. This will be even more evident when a later report discusses the use of the film in Asia and Africa. Have you seen this film? If not, by all means take advantage of the first opportunity to do so. And when it is shown again in your area encourage everyone that you know to see it, so that they too may learn of the amazing accomplishments that have been made in preaching earth-wide the glorious message of Jehovah's new world.
MODERN HISTORY of
AN ERA OF PROPHESIED HAPPINESS BEGINS
FROM 1926 forward Jehovah's witnesses entered an era of great spiritual happiness, blessedness and organizational prosperity. (Dan. 12:12, Ro) Unaware at the time that any of the series of seven international conventions that began in 1922 at Cedar Point, Ohio, had any significance as to the fulfilling of Bible prophecies, the Society made arrangements for the fifth assembly in London, England, May 25 to 31, 1926, at the Alexandra Palace. However, the large Royal Albert Hall was engaged for the Sunday public meeting. This was filled eleven minutes after the doors were opened.a The Society's president addressed the huge audience on the subject "Why World Powers Are Tottering—The Remedy." This entire lecture was published the next day in The Daily News of London, which at that time had a regular circulation of 800,000. At its conclusion this lecture carried a resolution entitled "A Testimony," later published in tract form for world distribution to the number of fifty million copies.b The disintegration and fall of the British Empire was forewarned and the doom of the League of Nations was declared as well. This indictment caused a howl not only in Britain but everywhere. To this day men remind Jehovah's witnesses that they are the ones who in 1926 said London was the "seat of the beast." (Rev. 16:10) In that year also
a building program to expand the Brooklyn Bethel home and factory quarters was set in motion. c
The sixth great convention in this judgment-proclamation period was held at Toronto, Canada, July 18 to 25, 1927. Eight thousand attended the daily sessions and at the culminating public meeting on the last Sunday 15,000 were in the visible audience. To that audience there was tied in for the first time at a Watch Tower assembly
a vast invisible international radio audience, by means of the largest (up to that time) chain of broadcasting stations----fifty-three in number-specially operated for that occasion by the National Broadcasting Company of the United States. The subject of the lecture was "Freedom for the Peoples." d At the same time the convention adopted a resolution addressed "To the Peoples of 'Christendom,'" which later was published in a booklet entitled "Freedom for the Peoples" and
distributed for five cents during a special campaign conducted the following October.
e To serve the peoples of Christendom with this vital notice 1,898,796 booklets were distributed. f For this year of 1927 the number in attendance at the spring Memorial internationally was 88,544, yet of these only some 18,602 were active as house-to-house Kingdom announcers. g
Detroit, Michigan, was the scene for the seventh and final in the series of international conventions, from July 30 to August 6,1928. Twelve thousand attended this assembly. The high light of the convention was Judge Rutherford's Sunday public lecture, globally broadcast by a Watchtower telephone hookup of 106 radio stations, on the subject "Ruler for the People." At the conclusion the audience enthusiastically adopted a resounding resolution, "Declaration Against Satan and for Jehovah." h This lecture together with the resolution appeared in the booklet The Peoples Friend, distributed subsequently to more than 5,400,000 in the United States and abroad. i At this assembly the book Government was released, which championed Jehovah's theocratic form of government and exposed the fallacies and doom of the governments of this old world. Phenomenal was the witness in this year of 1928 and great was the reaction on the part of apostate religionists.
Thus Jehovah's witnesses were vigorous, bold and energetic in their restoration of true worship. Not only did they clean themselves up spiritually and adjust their Biblical thinking to Jehovah's way of thinking, but also new organization arrangements were in process of development under the leadership of the invisible King Christ Jesus. Early in 1927 they began in
America the work of distributing the bound books and booklets on a contribution from house to house on Sundays. (See The Watch Tower, February 15, 1927, page 63, and August 1, 1927, page 233.) While the clergy were somewhat annoyed by energetic activities of Watch Tower Society workers in the period of the early 1900's, yet now after 1922, with the global distributions of the judgment pronouncements of Jehovah, the clergy were being taken by a storm and a flood that swept on by day and by night in a public and private exposure of their false teachings and gross apostasy. Now Christendom was being adjudged as wanting, cast off by Jehovah and awaiting her destruction. Lovingly Jehovah upheld his little band of loyal witnesses as they passed through the turbulent seas of mankind to fulfill their commission in declaring Jehovah's written judgments. Valiantly they went on to restore true worship in the earth in the theocratic, apostolic way.
While Jehovah's people energetically exerted themselves from 1922 to 1928 in performing their God-given commission to declare the "vengeance of our God" and to publish his written judgments against apostate Christendom, in this time Satan and his invisible associates were generating forces that were aimed ultimately to make war on those who 'keep Jehovah's commandments' and, after 1928, if possible, to crush them again. An all-out struggle ensued in which Jehovah's fighting witnesses emerged as unquestioned champions of freedom of worship. Following the buildup period of the witnesses (during the 1,290 days from 1919 to 1922) Revelation continues to prophesy: "And the serpent [Satan] disgorged water [the Fascists, Nazis and Catholic Action groups such as the American "Christian Front"] like a river from its mouth after the woman [represented by the organized anointed witnesses on earth], to cause her to be carried to her death by the river.
But the earth [righteously disposed rulers of the democratic powers] came to the woman's help [granted protection and legal victories to the witnesses in their way of worship], and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up [in total defeat by the end of World War II at the hand of the democratic powers] the river [Fascism, Nazism and the "Christian Front"] that the dragon disgorged from its mouth."—Rev. 12:15, 16, NW.
Right on time Satan, accompanied by great propaganda, produced these new forces that rapidly gained power to threaten the democratic world, Christendom. In 1919 Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist party, which grew swiftly to the point where he was able to lead the march on Rome in 1922 to establish his Fascist dictatorship over all Italy. In 1929 the Lateran Treaty was signed between the Roman Catholic Church and Mussolini's regime, which completed the co-operative program of action for the Vatican and the new totalitarian government. j Also in 1919 Adolf Hitler founded his National Socialist Party in Germany, making an unsuccessful attempt to gain political power in his "Beer-Hall Putsch" of 1923 at Munich. However, by means of German Catholic intrigue and maneuvering, Hitler finally became Germany's chancellor January 30, 1933. Immediately in that same year a concordat was negotiated by Cardinal Pacelli (who six years later was crowned as Pope Pius XII) and was promptly signed for Hitler's government and for the Vatican. k
Back in the early 1920's, too, Catholic Action movements, comprising numerous semireligious groups, were boldly organized and pushed in various countries to influence with Roman Catholic ideas the social and political trends. Several of such movements became active in the United States after 1921. One, a Fascist-like movement known as the "Christian Front," in the 1930's was led by a Detroit (Michigan) priest, "Father" Coughlin, developing a following of some 15,000,000. 1 All those world-scattered Vatican-inspired movements framed mischief by law, mobbing and imprisoning Jehovah's witnesses because the witnesses, immovable like Daniel of old, refused to compromise on their freedom to worship the living God in obedience to his written commands.—Dan. 6:16-18.
Now by 1928 the congregational service organizations of Jehovah's people had developed to the point where they accepted Sunday as the most suitable day to participate in the house-to-house preaching of Jehovah's kingdom. In years past Sunday volunteer service had been regularly undertaken for free delivery of "Bible Students tracts" Sunday mornings under doors of homes and in front of church entrances. But regular Sunday preaching verbally at the doors of the people had not been a practice. Immediately legal opposition was raised to this enlarged Sunday work when, in 1928, the first arrests were made in South Amboy, New Jersey, of preachingon-Sunday witnesses of Jehovah. That opened the decade-long 'battle of New Jersey,' which soon spread to Connecticut, Pennsylvania and other states where Catholic Action groups tried to frame mischief by every legal means possible to put a stop to the growing public witness work of the Watch Tower Society. Timely was the new light of truth on the subject of the "higher powers" published in The Watch Tower for June 1 and June 15, 1929, showing clearly that Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are the true "superior authorities" that must be obeyed.
n (Rom.13:1,NW) This new understanding put fire into the witnesses to stand their ground against the onslaught of court battles involving their freedom of worship.
In the fight that was brewing for the 1930's the Society's extensive use of radio broadcasting figured in prominently. Modern radio communication had appeared in 1920. Like the early Christian witnesses of the first century, who quickly embraced the invention of the codex style of bookmaking to spread Jehovah's written word, so the modern witnesses soon saw in radio a marvelous means to spread oral proclamation of Jehovah's written judgments in all the earth. The Society's first broadcast from a public platform was headline news and was so reported in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Record of April 17, 1922: Radio Tells the World Millennium Is Coming. Judge Rutherford's Lecture Broadcasted from Metropolitan Opera House. Talks into Transmitter. Message Is Carried Over Miles of
Bell Telephone Wires to Howlett's Station [WGL].o
n W 1943, p.298; W 1946, p.40.
Shortly thereafter, toward the end of 1922, the Society purchased a tract of land on New York city's Staten Island, where construction of its first radio station was begun. It being finally completed and licensed by the government as station WBBR with a power of 500 watts, the first official broadcast was made Sunday evening, February 24, 1924, Judge Rutherford delivering the inaugural address, "Radio and Divine Prophecy." For now more than three decades this noncommercial, educational station has continuously kept on broadcasting the Kingdom message, reaching multitudes of appreciative listeners. Its present studios are in the Bethel building at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York. Its modern steel-tower directional antenna and 5,000watt transmitter are at the station's original site on Staten Island, at "Watchtower."
(To be continued)
o W 1922, p. 180.
p W 1924, pp. 82, 358; W 1950, p. 268.
q W 1948, pp. 204-208.
Steadfastness Bears Fruit
How steadfastness defeats the purpose of persecution is to be seen from the following experience. In Eastern Germany, in the town of Y are to be found many Methodists. One of these, no longer satisfied with Methodist teaching and particularly disgusted with the way those of his congregation compromised with the Communists, came in touch with Jehovah's witnesses. Soon he took his stand, was baptized and zealously proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom. Three months after being baptized, one morning on his way to work he was pounced upon by the SSD, the State Security Service, who spirited him away in a waiting truck.
For weeks his family did not know what had happened, as he was not allowed to communicate with them. This caused them to
think things over and the next time one of Jehovah's witnesses came to the door they invited him in and arranged for a home Bible study. Before long the whole family was taking part in the study and another was started in the home of some friends.
Six months later the witness, who had in the meantime been tried and sentenced to several years' imprisonment, was allowed to receive callers. Imagine his keen delight as his daughter greeted him with, "My dad—and now, my brother also!" Yes, by this time eight members of his family had taken their stand and were immersed as witnesses of Jehovah, the oldest being 84 and the youngest 15. In those six months the local congregation of the witnesses grew from 12 to 22! Truly steadfastness defeats persecution.
Dedication to Jehovah "I AM COME . . . TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD." —Heb. 10:7, NW.
OU are one of approximately two million readers of The Watchtower and are doubtless aware of the fact that in every issue this publication upholds the worship of Jehovah God. What does his worship mean to you as an individual? To you, is religion a casual matter, or does it occupy an important and perhaps essential place in your life? If you are familiar with Bible truth you have been greatly blessed spiritually, and along with hundreds of thousands of other persons like yourself in all parts of the earth you have the blessed opportunity to progress in knowledge and understanding concerning the great God of the universe. Is this important to you? Has the truth engendered a worshipful attitude in your mind and heart? Perhaps it has. Perhaps it has not. The fact that you are taking the time to read these words, and, we hope, to look up the scriptures and carefully study this and following articles, is commendable, because it indicates that you have the courage to look into the Bible and have the desire to know the truth and that you are not taking the course of laziness, indifference or cowardice respecting God's Word.
2 It may surprise you to know the reason many people give for not heeding the Kingdom message. Upon having their attention directed to the plain and beautiful doctrines of the Bible, the evidences of prophecies
now being fulfilled, the great sign proving the Kingdom presence of Christ Jesus and the thrilling work of the New World society now in action, many say, 'That's your interpretation of the Bible, another man has his interpretation, I could have my interpretation; so, I'm not interested.' Such people are not interested because they do not want to be. But of this we may be certain: from now on, for the rest of their lives, although they do continue in the attitude of deliberate lack of interest toward Jehovah God and his Word, they will be constantly confronted with the issue of determining their course of action based upon principle or based upon expediency in their affairs of life. This is true for the reason that our day is one of judgment. See The Watchtower of June 1, 1952.
3 Such a response to Bible information as here set out may be a lazy one, made because the individual lacks enterprise and initiative to use his mind to acquire the thoughts of God, or it may be a reply of merely indifference. In either case such is holding the Word of God in low esteem, saying in effect that because different men have different ideas, the ideas of the Almighty God are considered to be of no consequence. However, this reply may oftentimes be a cowardly one. It is cowardly if made because the individual is afraid of the truth, afraid of the responsibility that knowing the truth brings, afraid of having his own ungodly works revealed to him for what they are, unrighteous, out of harmony with the principles of uprightness and decency contained in the Word of the only true God, who is himself altogether upright and holy.
What are your reactions toward Jehovah's Word?
4 We must realize that an understanding and acceptance of Bible truth is not a matter of one man's interpretation against another man's interpretation. It is a matter of accepting or rejecting what Jehovah God himself has placed in his Word for the instruction of men in righteousness and in his worship. Many hundreds of thousands of persons have had their lives made joyful, their hearts gladdened and their reverence for God increased by the wonderful truths contained in the Bible, which are constantly upheld and respected by the Watchtower magazine. In your own individual case, what is your response to your study of the Bible?
WORSHIP
About us we see things that praise and honor Jehovah, the Creator, in their own way, but which things do not have the abilities of worshiping Jehovah that we have. The inanimate creation referred to pictorially in the 19th Psalm "sings" Jehovah's praise. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." (Ps. 19:1, AS) The inhabitants of the heavens of God's dwelling place and the new heavens of his new world sing Jehovah's praises and worship him, but do the literal stars and sun and rocks worship God? No, of course not. A beautiful gem reflects the glory of the one whose handiwork it is but it cannot carry on pure religion, because it is inanimate. We know the beauties of nature that decorate our earth. The untoiling lilies of the field in beauty honor their Maker, but do they join
in worship of him? No, of course not. The interesting and lovely animal creatures live their life spans and serve their purpose, evidence of the admirable attributes of Jehovah. However, can the lioness or the young lions, the young ravens, the wild goats, the ass, wild ox, ostrich, horse, locust, hawk, eagle or any of the other living animal things of the air, land or sea worship God? (Job 38:39 to 39:30) We know that not one of them can worship Jehovah God. Why not? Because they are not intelligent. One purpose of this and related articles is to show from the standpoint of clean worship the difference between man on one hand and animals, plants and inorganic material on the other, and the possibilities that this difference brings to you.
The creation of Jehovah God with which we are acquainted and which is lower than man never fails in its purpose, testifying to the power of God. But integrity, love, uprightness, these and other related qualities, do not apply below man. They apply to man and on up in the scale of God's creation. They are qualities of worship. Worship, pure religion, is exclusively possible for that part of God's creation that is intelligent.
7 The worship of Jehovah is the proof of real intelligence. (Prov. 1:7; 9:10, AS) A refusal by a so-called "intelligent" creature to worship Jehovah God is a failure on the creature's part. Back to the earth such useless human creature will go. That is good, because it is better that there be a beast or flower or rock than a human deficient in intelligence. (Ps. 14:1) "There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding." (Job 32:8, AS) The "understanding" here shown to have been given to man means intelligence, discernment, perception, prudence, wisdom to take the proper course of action.
How does one of Jehovah's intelligent creatures worship him? One may ask, How can I worship God? One should ask this question. It would be stupid to avoid the question and be unconcerned over it. It is our wish to point to God's answer found in his own Word, the Bible, and we hope and trust and pray that the vital Scriptural truths respecting this matter will be appreciated and acted upon by many of our readers, because such is essential for their eternal welfare. It is necessary that each one who would worship God first of all make a personal dedication to Jehovah.
9 It is in dedication to Jehovah God that a human creature comes into his own proper estate as distinguished from that of all God's creation below man. Such is the highest and noblest of human ambitions and aspirations, and such is the course that must be followed by all who will gain life from among mankind. (John 17:2, 3; Ps. 119:1, 2) When a person comes to an understanding of Jehovah as revealed in the Bible, only selfishness will prevent him from making a dedication of himself to Jehovah God. How can this be? Are there not people of many religions who are not dedicated to Jehovah God? Yes, there are many such. In fact, the number of dedicated servants of Jehovah upon earth are in the minority, but among them are persons from all walks and classifications of men. It may be properly said that everyone is dedicated to one thing or another. Wherein do the dedications of people in general fall short? In that they are dedications, not to the Almighty God of the universe whose name alone is Jehovah, but to self-interest
or some other cause or some other god, and therefore they do not lead the dedicated ones to lasting life to Jehovah's praise.
10 "Dedication" is from an origin meaning to declare, to affirm, to state solemnly, to devote. It refers to the act of setting apart or devoting something to a certain use, or an act by which a person or thing is initiated into some way or course or use. To a Christian, dedication is the exclusive devotion to the service or worship of Jehovah God. It is the act of a person in setting himself apart by an agreement, unreservedly and unconditionally to do the will of Jehovah God through Christ Jesus. How is that will expressed? Through sects and denominations? Through schemes of men or organizations of men? No. The will of God is expressed in the Bible, being made plain by God's holy spirit, and so dedication means that henceforth one must live a holy life, separate from the corrupt world, and must serve Jehovah God.
11 "I cannot do that," many a person will say. "I cannot put God first in my life. I will put my own interests, the interests of those things and persons that are mine first and God second. Oh, I will serve God, giving him some recognition from time to time when convenient, but dedicate myself to Jehovah? How can I do that?" Yes, such is a common reaction. Many of the readers of this publication have not made a dedication of themselves to serve Jehovah. As before stated, that which prevents a person from dedication to Jehovah is self-interest, selfishness. You will never be freed from this issue. It cannot be side-stepped. It must be met. Dedication requires a decision. You must decide whether you are going to worship and serve the God who gave you life or whether you are going to disregard his Word and his will in your personal life.
If you will dedicate yourself to serve him in honesty and sincerity and out of love for him in appreciation of his goodness to you, you are a wise and a blessed person indeed.
Why should one make a dedication to do Jehovah's will, a solemn agreement to be guided by God's Word, to act in accordance with his purposes and endeavor to conform to the high standard that he sets down in the Bible? Why should one do this? Rather it should be asked, Why should not one do so? Devotion and dedication to Jehovah God should be made because he is worthy. His own merit justifies the devotion of those who love him. (1 Pet. 1:15, 16) He is deserving of our praise, service or worship. He is the center of true religion. His worthiness defies expression in our inadequate tongue, and surely, if there is sincere appreciation in the hearts of men, dedication to the Supplier of all that is good will be the result. To appreciate Jehovah means to set a just value upon his worth, to esteem it to the full, to feel a warmth of satisfaction and approval in regard to our God, to be grateful for what he does. Have you appreciation of life, of its blessings, of the truth, of the revealed Word of God, of what he has done in behalf of mankind through his Son, Christ Jesus, of his kingdom now established in the heavens, of his work that is going forward in the earth, and of the New World society now active? Have you a high regard for these things? You will either spurn them or you will accept them with appreciation. If you appreciate them, if you appreciate the God who provided them, you will dedicate yourself to serve that God. Full appreciation leads to dedication. Dedication to Jehovah is dedication to the great Source of life. It is the course of action that must be followed by all who will receive life and so it is
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