The Watchtower, November 15, 1955
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The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
NOVEMBER 15, 1955
Semimonthly
"JEHOVAH IS IN
HIS HOLY TEMPLE"
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH
UNIVERSAL SALVATION?
PREACHING TO THE MARONITES
IN LEBANON
REPORT ON "THE NEW WORLD SOCIETY
IN ACTION" IN ASIA AND AFRICA
©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
Does the Bible Teach Universal Salvation? 675
Preaching to the Maronites in Lebanon 679
Report on “The New World Society in Action” in Asia and Africa 680
Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Part 22: Gilead and Congregational Ministry Schools 684
“Jehovah Is in His Holy Temple” 688
Questions from Readers 702
Opposition Awakens Interest 703
Announcements 704
Check Your Memory 704
<tr><th>Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version
LXX - The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation
Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version
NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version
Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott
RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version
Yg - Robert Young's version
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Act of March 3,1879. Printed in U.S.A.
Does the Bible teach Universal Salvation?
WHILE what is known today as the "Universalist Church" goes back not quite two centuries, the teaching of universal salvation sprang up shortly after the last of the apostles had fallen asleep in death, certain sects teaching it as early as A.D. 130. In 195 one Clement of Alexandria taught it and one of his pupils, none other than Origen, strongly advocated it. It seemed incredible to him that God would torture his creatures in a burning hell for all eternity, and that without any results, and so he held that all hellish torment was remedial and would end as soon as it had accomplished its purpose: "All souls, all intelligent beings that have gone astray, shall, therefore, be restored sooner or later to God's friendship. The evolution will be long, incalculably long in some cases, but a time will come when God shall be all in all."
While Catholic theologians, especially Augustine, thundered against Origenism, as it was called, universal salvation continued to have its advocates in their church as well as in other religious organizations that claimed to be Christian. It was taught by the Albigenses of the eleventh century, the Lollards of the fourteenth, and in the fifteenth century by many of "the Reformers before the Reformation." Many were the clergy excommunicated, exiled or dismissed from their positions by religious organizations because of teaching universal salvation, in both Catholic and Protestant organizations.
In England, for a time during the seventeenth century, universal salvation was among the heresies punishable with imprisonment, other "heresies" being punished with death. About the same time in the United States, in the very religious colony of Massachusetts, one John Gatchell was sentenced "to the pillory and to have his tongue drawn forth and pierced with a hot iron" for teaching universal salvation.
It appears that for the most part those who held to universal salvation had their hearts in the right place.
Said one: "Endless punishment [torment] for the wicked would argue, not the justice, but the injustice of God." Believing the Bible to teach the torments of hell for the wicked and that the human soul was immortal, they questioned that hell's torments would continue forever. One speculated that all such torment would end with the grand jubilee at the end of 50,000 years.
Among the texts of the Bible used by Origen to support universal salvation was First Corinthians 15:25, 28 (NW): "For he must rule as king until God has put all
enemies under his feet. . then the Son himself will also subject himself to the one who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone." For God eventually to be all things to everyone, Origen reasoned, all intelligent creatures must eventually be reconciled to God.
Another text used to support universal salvation is Philippians 2:10,11 (NW) : "So that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under
the ground, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." It is claimed that if every knee is to bend and every tongue to confess it must follow that all that live will eventually be reconciled to God.
Then there is Romans 5:18. "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Regarding this text a Universalist publication of 1930 states: "The parallel here is perfect. Adam's one offense is counteracted by Christ's one just award. The act of Adam eventually affects all mankind. So Christ's work, eventually, must also actually justify all mankind. . . If Adam's offense only gave each one an opportunity to sin, so that some become sinners and others not, then we might say that Christ's work brings justification to all subject to their acceptance. But we must acknowledge that man has no choice in becoming a sinner, thus also will it be through the work of Christ. Both are actual and universal."
THE BIBLE'S POSITION
That some will not gain salvation is made clear in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. In sentencing Adam God said: "For dust you are and to dust you will return." That means annihilation, not salvation. Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah we are told that they "are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing" judicial everlasting punishment. At Revelation 21:8 (NW) we read that all the wicked will
have their portion "in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death." Nothing is said about a redemption or a resurrection from this second death.—Gen. 3:19; Jude 7, NW.
Yes, Christ will "destroy the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil." The wicked are as "vessels of wrath made fit for destruction." Their name shall rot." The "goats" are told to depart "into everlasting cutting-off." According to the dictionary, to destroy means to bring to nought, to put out of existence and destruction means extinction, extirpation, annihilation.—Heb. 2:14; Rom. 9:22, NW; Prov.
10:7; Matt. 25:46, NW.
Those believing in universal salvation stress God's mercy. But in showing mercy God does not ignore justice, but is selective. "I will show mercy to the one to whom I may show mercy." He "is angry with the wicked every day." To the willfully wicked who spurn his reproof, he says that he "will laugh at your calamity." Ex. 33:19, NW; Ps. 7:11; Prov. 1:24-32.
It seems that the chief difficulty with those holding universal salvation is that they made a mistake in building on false doctrine in their efforts to harmonize their beliefs with the God of love. Unable to reconcile a God of love with eternal punishment in the form of torment, they made the punishment of limited duration. They should have eliminated the torment, but allowed the duration of the punishment to be eternal. Annihilation, destruction, extirpation, extinction are eternal punishment, but they do not involve conscious eternal suffering and are therefore compatible with a God of love.
And the reason that they made this mistake is their holding to the erroneous teaching of the immortality of all souls. Believing that all intelligent creatures, once coming into existence, must continue to live forever, they concluded that, since it is unthinkable that God would uselessly torment them forever, eventually all such will be reconciled to God.
But the Bible nowhere says that immortality is an inherent quality of all intelligent souls. On the contrary it tells us that "the soul that sins shall die," that no man "can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol," or gravedom, and that Christ "poured out his soul to death." And also that Christians are now seeking incorruptibleness and in the resurrection will be clothed with immortality.—Ezek. 18:4; Ps. 89:48; Isa. 53:12, RS; Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:53, 54, NW.
"The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23, NW) If all were to receive life regardless, it would not be a gift. A gift implies a choice. God's Word shows the alternatives for his creatures to be, not life in happiness or life in torment, but life or death. "I have put life and death before you." (Deut. 30:19, NW) If man does not appreciate life sufficiently to live it in harmony with God's righteous laws, then he loses it. Such is wise, just and loving on God's part. Just as Adam and Eve did not appreciate life and so were returned to the dust, likewise all intelligent creatures who do not appreciate life will have extinction as their destiny.
With all the wicked destroyed in God's due time, it must follow that then all that live will be submitting themselves to God and Christ Jesus so that God will be all things to all that live. And then, too, every knee will bend and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord, for the knees and the tongues of the wicked will have been destroyed.
But what about the argument that such texts as Romans 5:18 show that just as man had no choice in inheriting sin he will have no choice in inheriting life, each being automatic, as it were? Such a conclusion is in conflict with God's Word from Genesis to Revelation, for his Word shows repeatedly that life depends upon the right course of action. Everlasting life was not forced upon Adam; it was made conditional. It was offered as a gift. Neither will everlasting life be forced upon his offspring. Besides, nowhere do we read that death is a gift. It is a penalty, inescapable once it is merited.—Ezek. 18:31, 32.
As for Romans 5:18, its meaning is made clear by the New World Translation: "So, then, as through one trespass the result to men of all kinds was condemnation, likewise also through one act of justification the result to men of all kinds is a declaring of them righteous for life." Time and again when the term "all" is used in the Greek Scriptures, "all kinds" is meant, not literally "all." A case in point is Acts 2:17. According to most translations God there states: "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." Now we know that at Pentecost God's spirit was not poured out literally upon all flesh, but only on a comparative few. But God did pour it out on 'sons and daughters, young men and old men, on men slaves and women slaves.' And so the New World Translation reads: "I shall pour some of my spirit out upon every kind of flesh." The same is true regarding 1 Timothy 2:3,4 (NW); it is God's will "that all kinds of men should be saved."
HARM OF THE TEACHING
through temptations or persecution? Why should Jehovah have directed Satan's attention to Job's integrity-keeping course if all mankind and even Satan himself eventually will become reconciled to God and gain everlasting life?
Can there be harm to the teaching that eventually all intelligent creatures that ever lived will be reconciled to God? Yes, because first of all it robs God of his glory as one worthy to be worshiped by free moral agents. Further, it makes void the very issue for which God has permitted mankind to remain and in which he takes the greatest delight, namely, Can intelligent creatures keep integrity in spite of all that Satan can do to turn them aside
Universal salvation is a snare of the Devil to throw Christians off guard by promising them salvation regardless of what they do or do not do. It is frequently embraced by those who once appreciated the light of truth that God is letting shine upon his Word today but who for one reason or another became offended and separated to form their own little movement. By subscribing to universal salvation these, apparently unconsciously, make room for themselves in spite of loss of integrity. But for such there is no more a hope for salvation than there was for Judas whom Jesus termed "the son of destruction." As both Peter and Paul show, concerning these once having been enlightened and then fallen away, 'it is impossible for them to be revived again to repentance.'—John 17:12; Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:4-22, NW.
Although many well-meaning professed Christians from the second to the twentieth century of our common era have taught universal salvation, the Bible does not teach it. God is love, but he is also just. In love he offers everlasting life to those who meet his conditions, and in justice he has decreed that those who spurn his gift merit everlasting death.
Churches Compromise with World
The early Christians never compromised with the ancient pagan world. But from the time of Constantine in particular professed Christians were quick to sanction or adopt pagan practices for whatever advantage might be derived from the compromise. Thus Henry Dwight Sedgwick, writing in In Praise of Gentlemen, makes the comment: "Christianity, as we have it, did not overcome the world, but compromised by letting the world continue as it had been, on condition that the world should call itself Christian, turn temples into churches, put saints in the niches in place of the demigods, and don a cassock over the pagan tunic."
Preaching to the Maronites in Lebanon
By Watch Tower missionary in Lebanon
EBANON at once calls to mind the cedars of Lebanon used by King Solomon in his construction of the temple of Jehovah. Among the mountains where these cedars are still to be found are many villages. The majority of their inhabitants are Maronites, a sect within the church of Rome and founded, it is claimed, by one John Maron in the seventh century (A.D.). As a result of the Crusades of the twelfth century the Maronites recognized Rome's claim to supremacy. However, they still have their own patriarch who is elected by their bishops. Among the distinguishing features of the Maronites have been their permitting priests to marry, serving the people both bread and wine at the mass, the wafer being dipped in wine and offered on a spoon, and certain religious holidays of their own.
Jehovah's witnesses at Tripoli preached the good news of God's kingdom to these people each Sunday from April to December, 1954. A bus was rented and some thirty ministers met at six in the morning and spent the entire day preaching from house to house, returning in the evening. Although the people are very religious the witnesses of Jehovah met little opposition. They had quite a few opportunities to give public talks to groups of interested persons in the open-air cafés and public squares. It was very apparent that many hearts of sheeplike ones were made glad by the good news of the Kingdom and many rejoiced at seeing a Bible for the first time. Indicative of the kindly spirit of these people is that manifested by one old lady who offered the ministers of Jehovah the only thing she had to give, some yogurt made of sheep's milk. She was told that Jesus had said that one giving a cup of cold water would not lose his reward and that she had given more than
that. She replied: "You deserve more. We owe you our lives for this good news about the Kingdom that we received from you."
In another village a priest happened to enter a home where two ministers were giving the witness to some fifteen eager listeners. The priest tried to break up the gathering, stating: "How dare you come here! Don't you know this place belongs to me? I'm the only one supposed to teach religion here! Get out!" But the householder was of a different opinion and refused to put out the witnesses of Jehovah. The priest said he was going to the church to ring its bell to gather all the villagers so that they could throw the witnesses out of the village and he called on those present to come with him. Some followed and those who refused he threatened to report to the bishop.
With the ringing of the bell the villagers began to arrive, and as the witnesses had been gathered by their bus they at once engaged the villagers in conversation, explaining their work to them. Soon the crowd was in a quite receptive mood and so one of the witnesses gave them an impromptu Bible lecture. Among other things he told them how the clergy had opposed those entering the Kingdom in Jesus' day and that the Roman Catholic clergy were doing the same thing today, but that the sheeplike ones were manifesting themselves nevertheless. Afterward many were heard to say that 'Jehovah's witnesses are the true Christians while we, and especially our priests, are not.' So the priest, instead of driving out the witnesses of Jehovah, had aided them to preach to greater numbers.
All in all, some 4,500 hours were spent in this work and sixty-five villages were given the witness, resulting in the placement of much Bible literature and the starting of a number of Bible studies in the homes of the people.
Why People Go Astray
Have you ever wondered why people go astray when they have the Bible to guide them? It is more than inherited sin. It is because Satan the Devil has been hurled down to the earth and is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." Under his wicked influence the masses are being led astray: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."—Rev. 12:9; 1 John 5:19, NW.
WHAT is the value of 1,997 feet of moving-picture film? Is its value just its purchase price? or the cost of taking the pictures that are on it? or the amount of money it will draw in commercial movie houses? The value of the hourand-twenty-minute moving picture "The New World Society in Action" that Jehovah's witnesses are showing free of charge around the world is determined by a far more important factor. Its value must be determined by the tremendous effect that it has upon the lives of a vast number of its viewers. Previously we reported on excellent experiences had with this movingpicture film in both large cities and small towns in Europe and the Americas. But what about its use in such parts of the world as Asia and Africa, where there still are many people who have never even seen a moving picture, and who have no real knowledge of the earth-wide activity Jehovah's witnesses are carrying on in the proclamation of the Kingdom good news?
Regarding the value of this film in his land, the Watch Tower's Nigerian branch servant reports: "The film has made a tremendous impact here in Nigeria, not only on the brothers and people of good will, but also on total strangers." Due to lack of suitable buildings in which to show the picture, especially out in the "bush," most of the showings in that West African land have been out-of-doors. There never is any difficulty in getting a good attendance, and the effect that the picture has had is excellent. Thus it was reported from Nigeria that, having long believed us to be a small local religion, the people are "amazed to see the evidence that
we are a large organization on a worldwide basis." The local brothers now find many doors opening to them and many listening ears. Following one circuit assembly at which the film was shown, it was reported: "So many interested people are coming along that they almost outnumber the brothers at the meetings."
During the first four months that "The New World Society in Action" was available in Nigeria, it was shown twenty-eight times to audiences totaling 45,979, and its value is certainly being seen in that land.
The new handbills advertising the film were used in Monrovia, Liberia, where five hundred people came to see this account of New World action that was presented at the largest hall in the city. This showing stimulated both the brothers and the good-will persons. As one brother put it after seeing the film: "It's time for us now to get busy!" When the picture was shown for the brothers and persons of good will at the Firestone Rubber Plantation, a huge throng of over 2,000 noisy rubber tappers attended.
Many expressed their surprise at the extent of the good work the organization is doing. Certainly this meeting played its part in the 25 per cent increase that the local congregation has experienced.
For some time the people of Greenville, Liberia, had known that the picture would be shown there, but many thought it would be like most religious films. However, the 400 who came on a Thursday evening to see it were so impressed that some of them begged the brothers to show it again. Owning no projector, the missionaries made no further arrangements to show the picture. On Friday and Saturday as they contacted the people the question kept coming up: "Aren't you going to show the film tonight?" On Saturday evening, after the missionaries had concluded their day's activity and settled down to their private study, a knock sounded at the door. "You must come and show the film, the people are all there waiting. We've arranged everything. Please come!" Arriving, the missionaries found the place crowded with 517 persons—more than a hundred more people than had been present at the first showing. The audience's appreciation grew. "These people don't play, they work!" was repeated many times. At least one family took it very seriously. They are now attending the congregation meetings, the man has started to publish, and he desires to be baptized.
In Northern Rhodesia hall managers where the film has been shown have been favorably impressed by the marked difference in conduct between those attending "The New World Society in Action" and their regular crowds. The picture has been punctuated again and again with loud applause and every showing has been followed by intense interest. It took seven showings to accommodate the attendance in Kitwe alone. Though there has been difficulty in obtaining halls in some places in Northern Rhodesia, there has been excellent co-operation from the authorities in Kitwe, who well remember the impressive assembly that was held there some time ago, which is shown in the film.
The pictures of the Watch Tower's Brooklyn Bethel home and factory, and how the brothers work in unity and willingness, have greatly impressed the Northern Rhodesian crowds. One letter said: "People of good will expected to see a capitao [foreman], one to just point and tell others what to do, but the film showed all working willingly together to the honor of Jehovah God."
PAKISTAN AND INDONESIA
In non-Christian lands like Pakistan, Watch Tower missionaries are often regarded as just another sect of Christendom. Of course, the more discerning individuals very soon realize that there is a difference, that these Watch Tower missionaries do not act the way the others do, nor say the same things, and consequently there is a higher regard for them. But still, even to those who become more acquainted with their message, they are for some time regarded as just another sect, and perhaps an insignificant one too.
However, the showing of the film "The New World Society in Action" has changed all this. All who saw it in Pakistan were surprised; many were amazed. They were impressed with the vast number of persons participating in the work, the phenomenal growth of the Society, the large and efficient publishing plant, the universal nature and appeal of the message, the rapid expansion that has been enjoyed, the absence of national and color barriers, the number of persons being immersed, and, above all of these, the totally different spirit that prevails everywhere within the New World society. Hardly a person who has seen the film in Pakistan has failed to express himself favorably along these lines.
Many of the less educated people, who had never even seen a moving picture, or at best only a poorly produced local effort, were transferred into a wonderland of new places, peoples, customs, and a totally new outlook. Hearing the running comments in their native Urdu, and actually seeing the New World activity pictured, they have had an impression made upon them that would take months to accomplish through any other method.
One person of good will expressed his amazement this way: "Do you mean that the same spirit that prevailed here at our Lahore assembly can also permeate the thousands of people we saw there?" Assured that the same spirit that prevails at smaller local assemblies can and does permeate the huge throngs at mighty international gatherings, and that the spirit of Jehovah's people is the same throughout the whole earth, this person abandoned his previous course of indecision and has gotten down to serious study.
The account of New World society activity has brought divided families to agreement. In one case, only the wife was showing merely casual interest in the message, but, since the assembly at Quetta and the showing of the film, she has become a regular supporter of all the congregation meetings and is a prospective publisher, while her husband and children now join in the studies both at home and at the Kingdom Hall. In another case a Muslim husband and his nominally Christian wife were having studies. Out of deference to his religious views no prayer was being said. Since seeing the film, however, she has become active in Jehovah's service and now he, too, bows his head in prayers offered in the name of Jesus Christ.
In Indonesia the operator at the film's premier showing was so favorably impressed that he requested literature and asked for a Bible study to be conducted with him. Within a few months he dedicated his life to Jehovah and was baptized.
Imagine this complex situation: In Sumatra arrangements were made by a Protestant army chaplain, using a projector and operator provided by a Chinese newspaperman, who is the chairman of the Catholic Youth Movement, to show the film in a Protestant church located in a strong Islamic community. By special messengers the chaplain succeeded in bringing the attendance up to 160. The secretary of the church sent a letter of appreciation to the Society for the showing of the film and requested literature and further information. Also, use of a hall in the private Khalsa English school in Medan, Sumatra, was graciously granted by the Indian schoolmaster. Probably a dozen different religious groups were here represented, Theosophic, Christian and Islamic. The schoolmaster said he felt honored to have such a fine educational film shown there.
Distorted pictures that have been framed by those who were ignorant of the truth, or who were prejudiced against it, will not erase from "seeing eyes" and "hearing ears" the information conveyed by this film. The people have seen, have heard and have experienced a change of feeling as a result of seeing and hearing that there are people who really are living for Jehovah's new world. With further assistance many will certainly act upon the message.
JAPAN, TAIWAN AND OKINAWA
Japan appreciates color, and it certainly has responded to this colorful movie that has now been shown at least twice in most of the Japanese congregations. Naturally the people here are thrilled to see Japan represented in the Yankee Stadium scenes, and when the Japanese-language Watchtower shows up there is always a hearty applause.
In 1954 the Japanese brothers would have been very happy to maintain their April peak of 407 publishers, a forty two per cent increase over the previous year. However, as the movie showings got under way they had repeated new peaks, reaching 410 publishers in July, 452 in October and 457 in November.
On the island of Taiwan, or Formosa, the movie was shown seven times to a total of 2,864 persons. For eighteen years a series of bans under first the Japanese government, then the Chinese Nationalist government, had prevented Jehovah's witnesses from holding any kind of assembly at all. How thrilling it was for them to gain official approval for the showing of the film, and even to have the police assist in obtaining halls! Though forbidden to gather in groups of even three persons for Bible study, they were permitted to assemble to view the film.* Indeed, government officials who were granted a preview stated that it was one of the finest educational films they had seen.
To Jehovah's witnesses in Taiwan, seeing this film was the greatest experience yet in their Kingdom activity. Most of the time one could have heard a pin drop whenever the commentator paused. This commentary was in a hitherto unwritten language, that of the Ami tribe of southeastern Taiwan. But the organization of these movie showings would outstrip anything that civilization could offer. Cooperation among the servants and the audience was nothing short of marvelous. For an hour and a half these humble people from the backwoods walked right into New World society action world-wide. Their retentive minds will long treasure what they saw as they keep patterning their lives according to New World standards.
On Okinawa the movie was used in connection with that island's first circuit assembly, January 14-16. Before the assembly began there were ten publishers there. During the assembly eight more started in the service, and two more pioneers enrolled. This small group gathered 290 persons to the Saturday evening Japanese-language viewing, and 80 to the Sunday evening English-language viewing, thus making a total attendance of 370—an amazing figure considering the number of publishers there. Among those attending was a former deputy governor who came the first night and then returned the second night to see the picture over again.
The first thirty-nine showings of the film in Japan, Taiwan and Okinawa served a total of nearly 5,000 people, holding the organization and the activity of Jehovah's witnesses prominently before the attention of publishers and good-will persons alike. The Japanese branch servant expressed the view of all of Jehovah's witnesses who have seen "The New World Society in Action" when he wrote: "We thank Jehovah from the bottom of our hearts for this wonderful means of bearing testimony to his name."
This moving-picture film in no way replaces the activity of the Kingdom publisher, but it is a help, an instrument, he can use for his own strengthening and as a further aid for those with whom he has discussed the message of the New World. A study of the Bible shows doctrinally that the New World society has the truth, while this film shows the world-wide activity of this Christian congregation and the good effect that the message has upon the lives of those who hear and accept it. This is an outstanding accomplishment to be made by just under two thousand feet of well-edited moving-picture film!
MODERN HISTORY of Jehovah's Witnesses
Part 22
GILEAD AND CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY SCHOOLS
THE first one hundred students who met the qualifications were called to come to the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead by January 31, 1943. The qualifications for entry into the new school were at least two years of full-time service as a pioneer and also a basic education equal to about high school training. Inasmuch as then the second world war was still being waged, only American pioneers were extended the call to join the first class. The next day, February 1, 1943, the school was dedicated with a plain but impressive program.a It was dedicated as a New World school of highest learning, with God's sacred Word, the Bible, as the school's basic textbook. N. H. Knorr, the school's president, and several members of the Watch Tower Society's board of directors gave addresses on this historic occasion. Later that day the school schedule of classes commenced. Five and a half hours of schooling are scheduled each of the five days of the week from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. with one hour off for lunch at noon. Each day four classroom sessions and a lecture session are held. In the afternoon, from 2:40 until 5:40, three hours of domestic duties about the school and farm are assigned for diversion from school routine. Week ends are spent in doing research work and sharing in field service.
The school's curriculum of studies is a
full program offering 26 weeks of higher, college-level training equivalent to one year in secular colleges or universities. After ten years, in January, 1953, the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead was finally officially recognized by the United States Office of Education in Washington, D.C., as offering higher education comparable to professional colleges and educational institutions. b This has enabled the United States Department of Justice and its Immigration and Naturalization Service since January 15, 1953, together with the United States Department of State (functioning through its consuls in foreign countries), to grant foreign students of Jehovah's witnesses visas to enter the United States to enroll at the Watchtower School under the nonimmigrant student visa arrangement.
Most of the subjects offered at this New World Bible school are Biblical ones comprising the one complete advanced course in the theocratic ministry and missionary service. In the five and a half months of intensified schooling, studies are offered in theocratic records, missionary service, theocratic ministry, Bible truth, public speaking, Bible research, Scriptural facts, history of worship, Kingdom prophecies, Supreme Law, Bible themes and a foreign language.c In the past Spanish, French, Italian, Urdu, Malayalam, Arabic, Portuguese, and Japanese have been taught, depending on what foreign assignment that particular term's missionaries were to be prepared for.
In addition to the Society's published versions of the Bible as the principal textbooks, almost all of the Society's other recent Biblical publications well serve as textbooks, including the Watchtower magazine. An excellent up-to-date library is maintained, of nearly nine thousand vol-
American nationals. Of the 2,631 graduates 833 were single men,796 single women and 1,002 married persons.In view of the fact that the Watch Tower Society pays the transportation of the students to and from their pioneer assignment in this country or abroad and also finances their education at the school, additionally giving them a small expense allowance each
umes specializing in the fields of religion and Bible works. A modern combination library building and classroom was completed for occupancy in 1947. Other construction was done and equipment added to bring the school plant up to modern requirements for efficient higher-education purposes. There was a recent installation of an observatory equipped with a 16-inch telescope for viewing the starry wonders of Jehovah's universe. A delightful school campus has been developed through the years, which has been inspected by thoumonth during their schooling, the total expense has amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, covered by voluntary "Your Contribution Prospects" donations made to the Brooklyn headquarters. Upward of fifteen hundred of these graduated ministers are today on active missionary duty in more than a hundred lands in all the five continents and major islands of the seas. Truly a formidable, trained preaching army is this, which Jehovah has blessed in spear-heading the expansion of the New World society to the four corners of this terrestrial globe.
sands of visiting witnesses from all over the world.
Following are some interesting statistics for the first twelve and a half years of operation of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead (1943 to the summer of 1955), during which time twenty-five semiannual student groups have taken up residence for study. In these twelve and a half years 2,721 students have enrolled for study from 59 countries. Of this number, 2,631 completed the prescribed course of study, 90 having
The Watchtower Bible School of Gilead having been successfully launched in February,1943,the Society was ready to commence the third and most sweeping step in its new educational program. Now the time had come to organize further the congrega-
dropped out because of poor health, poor grades or for other reasons. Diplomas were awarded for meritorious study to 2,487 graduates, while the other 144 did not receive diplomas, as their scholastic marks were below the minimum standard for such an award. Of the graduates, 1,136 were ministers from 58 countries outside the United States, and 1,495 were
tions of Jehovah's witnesses to undertake a local educational program to train each and every one of the witnesses to become a more efficient minister.
This meant the setting up of a theocratic ministry school in every congregation. At first it was decided to establish these ministry schools in the English-speaking countries and afterward encourage congregations in other lands to take up this new program as soon as they could get textbook material translated. To inaugurate this extensive educational program in 1943 the Society prepared its first textbook entitled "Course in Theocratic Ministry," comprising fifty-two lessons, one to be covered each week. The 96-page book contained full instructions on how to operate the newly recommended theocratic school in each congregation.d
To set this new program into operation the Society arranged for the "Call to Action" Assembly April 17 and 18, 1943, held uniformly in 300 cities. At this mass assembly the surprise release was that of the new textbook Course in Theocratic Ministry. This new proposal to operate local ministry schools was enthusiastically adopted by the witnesses. Suggestions were made for all those congregations that wished to organize such a school immediately to send in their recommendations for a local school instructor or servant. e As soon as the Society returned an official appointment, schools commenced to get started in the Kingdom Halls for an hour each week following one of their other weekly congregational meetings such as the service meeting. In a matter of several weeks almost all the large congregations in the English-speaking world were operating theocratic ministry schools. Brothers young and old enrolled for speech training. Sisters faithfully attended the lectures and participated in the oral reviews and, later, in the written reviews, to take advantage of the practical and helpful education to be used in their house-to-house preaching service. To augment this course other excellent textbooks were released later by the Society, such as Theocratic Aid to Kingdom Publishers in 1945, and "Equipped for Every Good Work" in 1946. During the 1955 summer conventions a fourth ministry-school textbook was released entitled "Qualified to Be Ministers." In 1944 the congregational ministry schools were encouraged to establish a theocratic ministry library in their Kingdom Halls. This would enable the students to have access to a full collection of the Society's publications and other Biblical aids to help them to work up their student and instruction talks. f
During the twelve years of operating these congregational ministry schools, scores of thousands of male speakers of excellent training have been prepared for the public Christian ministry. In this continuous ministerial schooling the general field of correct public speaking has been covered, a reading and subject study has been made of the entire King James Version of the Bible (Society's No. 10 Bible), and likewise of the American Standard Version Society's No. 11 Bible) and then of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures and of Volume I of the New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and Biblical lectures on Bible themes have been presented.
Altogether it has been a rich course of practical ministerial training. Religious ministers of Christendom spend three or four years studying in a theological seminary and then graduate, seeming to know everything and not needing to pursue any further studies. Not so Jehovah's witnesses, who continue their ministerial schooling indefinitely to keep bright and up to the minute their education for the true Christian ministry.
This remarkable educational program has been a tremendous success. What other religious organization in these modern times has devoted such prodigious efforts in educating its associates of 608,000 ministers? Not one. The present preaching of the witnesses to congregations and in their house-to-house field service is on a higher level than ever before. This is now commonly recognized by the public, who accord the witnesses a superiority in speaking tactfully and making convincing effective appeals to Mr. and Mrs. Average Man. Jehovah's witnesses are trained in the conversational style of public speaking, which is the rising style of speech communication, rather than the antiquated oratorical style held onto by the clergy. After 1944 the ten-year preaching campaign by means of phonograph recordings began to be replaced by personally presented sermons at the doors, which the ministers were now well trained to deliver.
After two years of education for the ministry a fairly large male staff of welltrained Bible speakers became available. For this reason the Watch Tower Society decided to inaugurate a world-wide public speaking campaign commencing January, 1945. It was also well planned to maintain a uniform world-wide public appeal by means of a series of eight timely, striking subjects for talks. Furthermore, a uniformity of platform presentation was assured by the Society's designing one-page outlines for each of these hour lectures. This enabled all speakers to present and emphasize uniformly certain major Biblical points of argument and information to convey to the world public. "Will Man Succeed as a World-Builder?" was the catching subject of the first public lecture in this opening series. It took time for the congregations to get into gear for this new public work that required special meetings in various public places, also to co-operate in advertising these by means of handbills in house-to-house work and on street corners. In the United States for this first year 18,646 public meetings were held, with a total attendance of 917,352. However, these meetings were conducted by only 1,558 of the 2,871 congregations in the States at that time.g In 1946 the number of public meetings rose to 28,703 for the American field, thus indicating a rolling along with this new preaching feature.h Each year since 1945 the Society has regularly released outlines for a new series of eight public talks, which have stimulated the powerful, world-wide public platform now operated by Jehovah's people.
Thousands of newly interested ones have been given spiritual nourishment through this important preaching service. The trained theocratic speakers have put forth great effort to make these lectures a continuing success.
(To be continued)
g 1946 Yearbook, p. 43.
h 1947 Yearbook, p. 46.
WRITTEN NONSENSE
Never before has so much been written that is nonsensical. In Roman times Paul told Christians not to act like the people of the nations, who "walk in the unprofitableness of their minds." (Eph. 4:17, NW) Just how sadly unprofitable some of the writings of those minds must have been we can imagine from a discovery at Pompeii. It was the custom back then to write on the walls of buildings. Some shrewd reader and commentator of the writings of others had written on a wall in Pompeii the following in Latin: "It is a wonder, O wall, that thou hast not yet crumbled under the weight of so much written nonsense."
"Jehovah Is in His Holy Temple"
"But Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
—Hab. 2:20, AS.
HAVE you ever wondered why it is that religion has had such a hard time of it since World War I closed in 1918? It is because "Jehovah is in his holy temple" and all the earth has not kept silence before him. In the face of his presence at his temple the most sweeping religious purge is on and religion cannot carry on as before without swift, disastrous consequences. (Ps. 11:4-6, AS) Where, then, is Jehovah's temple and how may we see his presence there, that we may respectfully keep silence before him?
2 Jehovah God has only one temple in the universe. Once he had his one temple on earth, and for hundreds of years this was at the holy city of Jerusalem in the land of Judah. There all the Israelites brought their personal sacrifices to be offered on the one altar at the hands of God's ordained priesthood, consisting of a high priest and his many underpriests, all these being of the family of Aaron, the son of Levi. The priests had their temple assistants, the Levites, all of whom were of the tribe of Levi. The priests and Levites were under the obligation to keep the worship of Jehovah God pure and undefiled. They were under command not only to serve at
the temple in connection with the sacrifices and the festivals but also to teach the people God's law and inform the tribes of Israel concerning his will.
God made a covenant or expression of his will toward the tribe of Levi, that the temple service should be their exclusive privilege and that he should be their inheritance, since they remained landless in Israel. This covenant with Levi received pointed expression in Jehovah's words of approval toward Phinehas, the grandson of high priest Aaron, because he took bold action against the infiltration of idolatry and moral looseness into Israel: "Phin'ehas the son of E.le.a'zar the son of Aaron the priest has turned back my wrath from upon the sons of Israel by his tolerating no rivalry at all toward me in the midst of them, so that I have not exterminated the sons of Israel in my insistence on exclusive devotion. For that reason say, 'Here I am giving him my covenant of peace. And it must serve as the covenant of a priesthood to time indefinite for him and his offspring after him, due to the fact that he tolerated no rivalry toward his God and proceeded to make atonement for the sons of Israel.'" Num. 25:10-13, NW.
4 In further describing the covenant of Levi, Jehovah said to priests neglectful of their duty: "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave [life and peace] to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth,
into the tent of meeting, because the cloud tented over it and Jehovah's glory filled the tabernacle." (Ex. 40:33-35, NW;1 Sam. 1:9; 3:3; 2 Sam. 22:7) That miracle symbolized that the Lord Jehovah had come to his temple and was now in his holy temple. Eight days later, or the first day after the full consecration of high priest Aaron and
and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger [or, angel] of Jehovah of hosts. But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts."—Mal. 2:1, 4-8, AS; Da, margin.
5 The first builder of a temple for Jehovah was the Levite prophet Moses, the
formed their first sacrifices for themselves and for the nation of Israel. At the climax another sign from heaven occurred: "Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them and came down from rendering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the communion offerings. Finally Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and came out and blessed the people. Then Jehovah's glory appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before Jehovah and began consuming the burnt offering and the fatty pieces upon
brother of Aaron. When Moses completed the construction of the temple or taberthe altar. When all the people got to see it, they broke out into shouting and went fall-
ing upon their faces." That divine acceptance of the sacrifices offered by Aaron and his sons was a proof that Jehovah had accepted their consecration to the priesthood according to his covenant with Levi. The cloud that rested above the tabernacle served as a sign that Jehovah was in his holy temple. —Lev. 9:22-24,1,NW; Ex. 40:1, 12-17,31,32,36,38.
nacle and set it up in the wilderness in 1512 B.C., a meaningful event took place. The record says: "So Moses finished the work. And the cloud began to cover the tent of meeting and Jehovah's glory filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to go
when the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River and took up residence in the Promised Land, it was no longer necessary for the tabernacle to be moved about with a wandering people, and the pillar of cloud disappeared from over the tabernacle. However, Jehovah's presence in his holy temple was symbolized by the ark of his covenant, the sacred chest that had two golden cherubs on top and that contained holy articles inside.
This ark was put in the innermost room or Most Holy of the tabernacle, and above the cover of the chest there appeared a miraculous light. "In a cloud I shall appear over the cover," said Jehovah. (Lev. 16:2, NW) Hence "whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he would hear the voice conversing with him from above the cover which was upon the Ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs [upon the cover]." (Num. 7:89, NW) Every year on Atonement Day the high priest would go in and sprinkle atonement blood before the Ark, thus appearing before Jehovah's presence in the Most Holy. Heb. 9:7.
After 446 years of service in the Promised Land, the tabernacle or tent of meeting was replaced by a temple of wood, stone and precious metals and gems upon Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. King Solomon, the son of David, took over seven years to build it. On the day of inaugurating the glorious new temple, the time came to bring the symbol of Jehovah's presence into the innermost room of this gorgeous building. Of this we read: "Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to its place, to the innermost room of the house, the Most Holy." Then what happened? "And it came about that when the priests came out from the holy place the cloud itself filled the house of Jehovah. And the priests were unable to stand to do their ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah." More so than the depositing of the ark of the covenant in the innermost room, that miraculous cloud betokened that Jehovah had come and was in his holy temple. Still, by both tokens, by the Ark in the innermost room and by the
glory cloud that filled the sacred palace, Jehovah's presence was visibly symbolized. 1 Ki.8:6,7,9-11,NW.
Then King Solomon acknowledged Jehovah's faithfulness and blessed all the people present there at the temple. Standing now before the great altar upon which were laid animal sacrifices to God, Solomon offered a long prayer, making petitions in behalf of Jehovah's chosen people and also future worshipers from foreign lands. Jehovah then gave evidence that he had heard Solomon's prayer. "Now as soon as Sol'o-mon finished praying, the fire itself came down from the heavens and proceeded to consume the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and Jehovah's glory itself filled the house. And the priests were unable to enter into the house of Jehovah because Jehovah's glory had filled the house of Jehovah. And all the sons of Israel were spectators when the fire came down and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house, and they immediately bowed low with their faces to the earth upon the pavement and prostrated themselves and thanked Jehovah, 'for he is good, for his loving-kindness is forever.'" (2 Chron. 7:1-3, NW) The fire from heaven that kindled the wood in the new altar and that consumed the sacrifices on it showed that Jehovah had accepted the temple and its altar. It showed he approved of the transfer of his worship from the old tabernacle to this sacred palace on Mount Moriah. He was now present in this temple as he had been in the tabernacle.
9 Not that Jehovah was literally present in that material temple, any more than he was bodily present in the less pretentious tabernacle built by Moses. Neither that temple nor that tabernacle could contain the great God of the universe. Solomon himself confessed that fact at the temple's inauguration, saying in his prayer: "But will God truly dwell with mankind upon the earth?
Look! heaven, yes, the heaven of the heavens themselves, cannot contain you; how much less, then, this house that I have built?" (2 Chron. 6:18, NW) Jehovah was present in that holy temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem only by sending forth his power from his heavenly throne and making its operation visible at the temple by the glory cloud and by the fire from the sky. He was also present in that temple by keeping his attention fixed upon it and by answering prayers that were offered there or that were directed there by believers who prayed with their faces toward it. As Solomon himself said in his inauguration prayer: "You must turn toward the prayer of your servant and to his request for favor, O Jehovah my God, by listening to the cry of joy and to the prayer with which your servant is praying before you, that your eyes may prove to be opened toward this house day and night, toward the place where you said you would put your name, by listening to the prayer with which your servant prays toward this place." (2 Chron. 6:19, 20, NW) And as Jehovah himself said to Solomon later at Gibeon: "I have sanctified this house that you have built by putting my name there to time indefinite, and my eyes and my heart will certainly prove to be there always."—1 Ki. 9:3, NW.
THE LORD (HA-A.DON') COMES TO HIS TEMPLE
10 The time came when Jehovah withdrew his presence from that temple of Solomon because the priests and Levites willfully kept on polluting the "covenant of Levi" and the nation of Israel broke all the laws of Jehovah's covenant with them. With his presence gone that temple became subject to destruction by the Babylonian
armies in 607 B.C. and some survivors of the temple-polluting nation were carried off captive to Babylon. Seventy years later, because a faithful remnant prayed toward the location of the former temple at Jerusalem and showed a heartfelt desire to renew the pure worship there, Jehovah delivered them from captivity to Babylon. He brought them back to Judah and Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and restore divine worship there in its purity. Under governor Zerubbabel and high priest Jeshua the temple and its altar were rebuilt and Jehovah's worship was renewed on its old site. That temple built by the repentant and restored remnant proved to be not nearly so glorious outwardly as Solomon's temple. Nevertheless, it was in connection with this rebuilt temple of the restored remnant that Jehovah God caused the last prophecy before the Christian era to be uttered by Malachi, including this remarkable statement: "Behold, I send my messenger [or, angel], and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the Angel of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts."—Mal. 3:1, Da.
11 That temple rebuilt by the remnant under governor Zerubbabel did not have in its innermost room or Most Holy the ark of Jehovah's covenant. At its inauguration in 516 B.C. no glory cloud had filled it; no fire came down from heaven and devoured the sacrifices on the altar. Yet God's presence had been resumed at that temple and his pure worship had been restored as in Moses' days.
12 Why, then, did Malachi, about seventy years later, say that "the Lord [ha-A.don'] whom ye seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the Angel of the covenant, whom ye delight in"?
It was because in the meantime the temple priesthood had become disrespectful of Jehovah's altar and service and had polluted his covenant with Levi. Moreover, because the priests failed in their God-given duties, the people had grown materialistic. They questioned whether it was worthwhile to worship and serve Jehovah and whether he was really present at his temple paying attention to what was going on under the cloak of religious hypocrisy. They were making God feel tired at their saying over and over again: "Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?" (Mal. 2:17, Da) If he got tired of hearing such disrespectful, defiant talk, ought he not at last to do something about it, acting with suddenness? Yes. Were they asking: "Where is the God of judgment?" Well, then, let them know where he is when he suddenly comes to his temple for judgment work.
13 The Lord, whom they pretended to seek and who suddenly comes to his temple, is Jehovah God himself. He is The A.don' (Hebrew) or the Master to whom the temple belongs and whose name is on it and who comes to the place where he is supposed to be worshiped. But when he comes this time he comes, not alone, but accompanied by "the Angel of the covenant." Because of the severity of the judgment that would take place after he came with his Angel of the covenant, Jehovah promised that he would mercifully send his messenger and this one would prepare the way before him. If conditions were not prepared among his temple worshipers before his arrival at the temple, then the entire nation would be in danger of being wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah, baptized by fire from heaven.
covenant was not fulfilled upon Zerubbabel's temple. However, Zerubbabel's temple was replaced by a grander temple built by the Edomite Herod the Great when he became king over Judah and Jerusalem by Rome's decree. Upon this temple a fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy did come, and that with a special foreshadowing of events of our own day in this twentieth century.
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