1939 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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1939 YEAR BOOK
THE CONTROVERSY
THE MONSTROSITY VS THE KINGDOM
THE THEOCRACY
THE KINGDOM
THE MONSTROSITY
CONVENTIONS
ENLARGED CONVENTION
CORPORATIONS
PREACH THIS KINGDOM GOSPEL
AMERICA (UNITED STATES OF)
ORGANIZATION
PRODUCTION
NEW MACHINERY
SHIPMENTS
SHIPMENTS OF SOUND EQUIPMENT
RECORDINGS
PUBLICATION
BETHEL HOME
RADIO
PERSONAL VISITS
USE OF RECORDS
SPECIAL PIONEERS
BOOKS
SEATTLE CONVENTION
WORLD-WIDE CONVENTION
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
REPORTS OF SPECIAL TESTIMONY PERIODS
REGIONAL SERVANTS
“ORDAINED” MINISTERS
OPPOSITION
Arrests and Convictions
Comparison and Comment
Integrity of Publishers
U. S. Supreme Court Upholds Freedom of the Press
Connecticut New Style of Prosecution
Catholic Opposition in the Open
Flag Salute
“THE WATCHTOWER”
“CONSOLATION”
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
BRITAIN
SOUTH AFRICA
AFRICA (West)
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
FIJI
BRAZIL
BRITISH GUIANA
CANADA
CENTRAL EUROPE
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
BULGARIA
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
DANZIG
FRANCE
GERMANY
HUNGARY
ITALY
LUXEMBURG
THE NETHERLANDS
POLAND
RUMANIA
SWITZERLAND
YUGOSLAVIA
CHINA
GREECE (Including Albania)
HAWAII
INDIA
JAMAICA
JAPAN
MEXICO
NORTHERN EUROPE
DENMARK
ESTONIA
FINLAND
ICELAND
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
NORWAY
SWEDEN
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
PORTUGAL
TRINIDAD
CONCLUSION
ELECTION
YEAR BOOK
of JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
containing report for the fiscal year of 1938
Also daily texts and comments
Corporate Publishers
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Peoples Pulpit Association
International Bible Students Association
124 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, N. Y., U, S. A.
Branch offices appear on last page
Copyright, 1938, by
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Made in the United States of America
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD President
C. A. WISE Vice-President
W. E. VAN AMBURGH Secretary and Treasurer
PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD President
N. H. KNORR Vice-President
W. E. VAN AMBURGH Secretary and Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD
President
JESSE HEMERY Vice-President
E. C. CHITTY Secretary
W. E. VAN AMBURGH Ass’t Secretary and Treasurer
1939 YEAR BOOK
of Jehovah’s witnesses
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 1938
JEHOVAH’S KINGDOM is marching majestically onward, and the day of complete triumph to his glory is near at hand. The year last past has seen a marked increased activity of Jehovah’s faithful people and much opposition to the work and divers and numerous blessings upon his witnesses, all of which have been attended with joy. Never before have those faithful men and women so fully realized that “the joy of the Lord is [our] strength”. Armed in the holy cause of righteousness, and working under the command and leadership of Christ Jesus the King, Jehovah’s witnesses have experienced and appreciated that the bitter opposition toward the witness work manifested by the enemy, instead of dismaying God’s faithful people, has sharpened their wits, increased their zeal for the Kingdom, and widened their vision of glories that soon shall be made manifest to all who desire life. During the year the opponents to the kingdom of God have shown their malicious wickedness in a more emphasized degree than was ever before made manifest. God’s people expected this because the Lord so instructed them. Being forewarned that the opposition would increase, the faithful followers of Christ Jesus have met that opposition courageously and continue to battle against the same in the strength of the Lord. At the close of the fiscal year it can be and is truthfully stated that Jehovah’s witnesses are in a more joyful and prosperous condition than ever before. They visualize the Kingdom more fully than in times past and have a keener appreciation of God’s favors manifested toward them.
THE CONTROVERSY
Compared with the population of the nations, Jehovah’s witnesses are extremely few in number. In themselves they have no strength. Their strength comes from the Lord, and they delight to do his will. They have no political ambitions and no desire for commercial gain. They require the necessities of this life, but their deep concern is for God’s kingdom. But they always heed the words and admonition of Jesus, to wit: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) They know that their daily bread is sure, and after they have made provision for such they joyfully contribute their material substance to further the Kingdom interests. They have in mind the precious words recorded by Jehovah God’s prophet, to wit: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Ps. 37:25) Knowing that they are held in the hollow of Jehovah’s hand, they faithfully push on with the battle. They do not seek or even desire anything that others have. They are not in competition with any class of people under the sun. They pursue the even tenor of their way determined to do what God has commanded them to do, always rendering themselves in obedience to his will. Associated with the anointed are the “other sheep” of the Lord, otherwise known as “Jonadabs” and which will ultimately compose the “great multitude”. (Rev. 7:9-17) Against Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, the “other sheep” of the Lord, are pitted the combined forces of all religious organizations on the earth, and such religious organizations are supported by many professional politicians and commercial giants or traffickers, all of whom desire to rid the earth of this little company of faithful Christians. To many persons this may seem incredible; but if one can calmly and without passion or prejudice give consideration to the facts herein set forth, he will see the reason for the controversy existing and why Jehovah’s witnesses are determined to serve God regardless of all opposition.
The name “Jehovah’s witnesses” is a name taken from God’s Word, the Bible, and which name the Almighty God gives to those persons who have devoted themselves wholly and unreservedly to his cause and service. Jehovah’s witnesses do not constitute a sect, as many attempt to make it appear. A “sect”, as defined by lexicographers, consists of “those following a particular leader, or attached to a certain opinion; those who propagate their opinion or belief”. Jehovah’s witnesses do not follow any earthly leader. They follow Christ Jesus. They are not attached to any certain opinion, but they are entirely devoted to God and his Word as set forth in the Bible. They are Christians, which name means that they insist that it is their duty and obligation to obey the law of God even as Christ Jesus is always obedient to the law of Jehovah God. They carefully study and consider the Word of God that they may ascertain his will and, doing his will, may have God’s approval, and they are not at all ashamed of the work in which they are privileged to engage. (2 Tim. 2:15) They do not seek the approval of men. They diligently endeavor always to please the Almighty God. Those who go to make up the witnesses of Jehovah and their companions may at some time in the past have been associated with either the Jews or Catholics or other religious organization. They have no political ambition or aspirations, and hence do not support any worldly organization, but, following the admonition of the Scripture, keep themselves “unspotted from the world”. Why, then, are Jehovah’s witnesses so vigorously opposed by others? The Scriptures give the complete answer, to which reference is made.
THE MONSTROSITY VS THE KINGDOM
Those who believe and study the Bible clearly discern that Satan the Devil attempts to mimic Jehovah God and to produce various counterfeits of God’s creation. This Satan the wicked one does to mock God, to reproach his name and to turn the people away from God and bring about their destruction which he long ago threatened to do.
A monstrosity is that which is monstrous, strange, ugly, vicious, extremely wicked, hateful, horrible and dreadful. Only Satan the Devil could produce such a thing; God could not produce such a thing; and this we know because it is authoritatively written concerning Jehovah God that all of “his work is perfect”. (Deut. 32:4) A monstrosity is against God, and hence is unrighteous.
“The last days,” as used in the Scriptures, refers to the closing days of Satan’s operations on the earth, and which time is called a “perilous” time. God, foreknowing the end from the beginning, caused to be recorded in his prophetic Word that a monstrosity would arise in these last days that would mentally blind the people and bring great woe upon the earth. We are now in “the last days”, and the monstrosity is to be expected to appear and has appeared. God pictured that monstrosity by an unusual creature called Goliath the giant. Satan, the enemy of God, is also called “that old Serpent”, and the name “old Serpent” means “arch deceiver”. He is also called by the name “Dragon”, meaning “destroyer”. That which Satan produces is hateful and horrible. Satan has produced and brought forth in these days a great monstrosity which is a means of great deception to the people and leads multitudes into destruction. It is written of Satan that he 'hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious good news of Christ Jesus, who is the image of God, should shine unto the people’. (2 Cor. 4:4) The monstrosity that has appeared in these last days produces blindness, that is to say, a lack of understanding by those who do not believe God and Christ Jesus. Jehovah described that monstrosity that has appeared in the earth and deceived the people as “the abomination that maketh desolate”. (Dan. 11: 31, R.V.; Dan. 12:11) That name means that the monstrosity is a horrible and wicked thing and that its determination is to make desolate everything that is for the good of mankind. Jesus Christ further emphasizes the wickedness of that monstrosity and sounds the warning against it by using these words: “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Mark 13:14) Those words of the Lord Jesus, as shown by the context, apply specifically to the present time, that is to say, particularly from the year 1918 onward.
That which is of greatest importance to humankind, and which will work to the greatest good to and blessing of man, is the kingdom of God, under the immediate rule of Christ Jesus the King. Its importance is further emphasized in this, that the Kingdom will be a complete vindication of Jehovah’s name and prove to all creation that Jehovah is supreme, the source of life and the giver of every good and perfect gift. The monstrosity mentioned is the worst foe of God, is against his kingdom, and is man’s greatest enemy. In order that we may understand and appreciate the many perils that now are upon the world, it is necessary to know why Jehovah God promised the Kingdom, why he sets up the Kingdom under Christ, and also to know why that monstrosity has appeared at the present time in bitter opposition to the Kingdom. This information will clearly disclose the purpose of Jehovah’s witnesses and the work in which they are now engaged, and will make clear why Jehovah’s witnesses are so bitterly opposed and persecuted by certain organizations in the earth. Such information at this time is vitally necessary for all persons who desire life, peace and prosperity. A brief statement of facts explaining the matter is now here made in order that the reader of this report may more keenly appreciate the work accomplished in the year just past that has been done by those who love God and his King, and the bitter persecution of those who have done that work.
God in the beginning made his creature Lucifer the overlord of the earth, including perfect man. Lucifer rebelled against God, and in that rebellion he was joined by a host of angelic creatures and also the perfect man Adam. God then gave Lucifer four names which names indicate the kind of creature he is. That rebel has since been known as Dragon, that old Serpent, the Devil and Satan. (Rev. 20: 2) The rebellion of the Devil resulted in the death of Adam, the perfect man; hence Satan is called “a murderer from the beginning”. (John 8:44) The sin committed by the perfect man Adam not only led to his death but has resulted in bringing suffering and death upon all mankind. The greatest of all crimes committed by the Devil was and is this, to wit: He challenged God to put on the earth men that would remain true and faithful to 'God when put to the test, the Devil claiming that he could cause all men to curse Jehovah God to his face and bring about their destruction. (Job 1:11; 2:5) That challenge raised the question of Jehovah’s supremacy. For that great crime committed by Satan God sentenced him to destruction, but God deferred the execution of that sentence until a later time in order to give Satan full opportunity to prove his wicked challenge, and when Satan’s failure is clearly shown God carries out the execution of that wicked one by exercising His supreme power against him. Therefore Jehovah said to the Devil: “For this cause have I [permitted] thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) For centuries the Devil has attempted to make good his challenge. He has failed, and now his destruction draws near.
Immediately following the wicked rebellion God gave his unchangeable word of promise that he would in his own due time raise up a “Seed”, by and through which, the obedient ones of the human race should receive the blessings of life. That promised seed is Christ Jesus, the Redeemer of the human race. (Gal. 3:16) God also promised that he would cause a righteous government to be set up and that such government or kingdom of God is to be ruled over by Christ Jesus and that the peace and prosperity and joy and blessings of that government shall never end. (Isa. 9: 6, 7) God also gave his word that his kingdom under Christ would bring about the complete destruction of Satan and all of his supporters. (Ezek. 28:14-19; Isa. 14:12-15) The challenge of the Devil and God’s emphatic declaration to set up a righteous government draw the issue sharply. Knowing this fact the Devil has used all the power at his command to reproach the name of the Almighty God. That great monstrosity, described in the Scriptures as “the abomination of desolation”, is the final effort of Satan to accomplish his wicked purpose, which is to reproach Jehovah’s name, deceive the people and bring about their destruction. These times of peril therefore make two companies into which the people of the earth are formed: one, in the organization ruled by Satan; the other, in the kingdom of God under Christ Jesus. Satan’s crowd and followers are headed to complete destruction. Those who take refuge in God’s kingdom have the promise of life everlasting in endless joy.
THE THEOCRACY
A pure theocracy must and shall rule the world. The supreme Ruler is Jehovah God, the great Theocrat. His government under Christ Jesus the King, therefore, is a theocracy. Such government must be conducted exactly in harmony with the law of Jehovah God. His will must be done at all times. That government must be wholly righteous, and in it there shall be nothing unrighteous permitted to exist. It is written that all the laws of God are right. (Ps. 19: 7-9) “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” (Ps. 119:142) Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, always strictly obeys the law of Jehovah the Almighty, and Christ Jesus always proclaims the truth. He is the first Christian, his name “Christ” meaning the “Anointed One” of Jehovah, clothed with authority to act for Jehovah. All Christians, therefore, must likewise obey the law of God and always tell and proclaim the truth.—John 5:30-36; 18:37.
The theocratic government of righteousness shall be upon the shoulder of Christ Jesus because God has appointed him to that high position. (Isa. 9: 6,7) That government shall be forever a righteous government. (Isa. 32:1) Such theocratic government is the means by which blessings are extended to all creatures obedient thereto, and, above all, it will completely vindicate the name of Jehovah as the only true and almighty God and prove to all creation that he is the supreme One, entitled to all praise and joyful service.
Jehovah has never been disturbed by the rebellion of Satan or the wickedness of men, because he well knew from the beginning that in his own due time he would convince all who love that which is right that he, Jehovah, is the right and righteous One. Over a period of many centuries God caused to be made many prophetic pictures, and these were recorded in his Word, and they foretell the development of the theocracy and what it will accomplish. All of those prophetic pictures were made for the instruction, aid and encouragement, comfort and hope of those people on the earth in these last days who love God and serve him and who follow in the footsteps of Jesus in obeying God’s law. Because of the great wickedness now in the earth the lovers of righteousness need such encouragement, and God provides that very thing for them. A few centuries after the rebellion, and when many human creatures had been born, almost all of them became desperately wicked, and the only exception was Noah, and his immediate family. Noah and his sons believed and loved God. God provided for their protection and then brought a great deluge upon the earth, which destroyed all flesh except Noah and his family. That great deluge or flood was a prophetic picture of the final destruction that shall come upon the world, including all nations, and which takes place at the battle of the great day of God Almighty, which is called Armageddon and which battle is now near at hand, and concerning which a warning must be given to the people.
Within a few years after the flood there was a man on the earth whose name was Nimrod and who because of his extreme wickedness was made the chief earthly representative of the Devil. With Nimrod the Devil organized religion, by which means he caused the people to worship creatures instead of the Creator. Thereafter all the nations of the earth adopted and practiced some kind of religion, and the invisible object of their worship was the Devil and his wicked angels, which by the Scriptures are described as “other gods”
Abraham’s descendant Jacob, who was also called Israel, God chose for his specific service, and his descendants are called Israelites. Thereafter Jehovah God used the Israelites and those associated with them to make prophetic pictures foretelling what should come to pass in the future, and particularly in these last days where we now are. That at least some of those Israelites might be uncontaminated by the Devil religion and might be found true to Almighty God when he should send his beloved Son Jesus to earth, God gave to the Israelites his law. (Gal. 3:16-24) Moses was a faithful servant of Jehovah God, and Jehovah chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, where they were domiciled, and later, when that people were assembled together to receive instructions from God through Moses, the admonition was given to them concerning religion in these words, to wit: “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”—Ex. 20:1-4.
Furthermore, God specifically instructed his people that religion constitutes a snare into which the Devil leads them, to turn them away from Jehovah. “And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them; neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.” “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.” (Deut. 7:16, 25) Thus Jehovah shows to his people that the practice of religion ensnares them, because religion is the invention of the Devil employed to mock and reproach God and to entrap the people and lead them to destruction. By prophetic pictures and express declarations God foretold that "Christendom” would become extremely religious and would fall into the Devil’s snare. By “Christendom” is meant those nations of the earth which claim to be Christian nations, but which nations are devoted to selfishness. The Israelites were ensnared by the Devil religion and suffered the consequences. (Judg. 2:1-3) Religion brought about the downfall of the nation of Israel. Within a short time it will cause the complete downfall and destruction of “Christendom”.
In his due time Jehovah God sent his beloved Son Jesus to the earth to proclaim the truth and to instruct the Jews, or Israelites, in the right way, and that Jesus might gather unto himself those Jews, or Israelites, who continued to be faithful to the Almighty God. The Devil had been busily at work amongst the Jews, and their leaders constituted the clergymen, which men had adopted religion based upon the traditions of men brought into operation by the Devil, and by which the Word of God is made of no value. Jesus severely denounced those religious leaders and their religion and told them that they had become the children of the Devil because they had turned away from God’s law and adopted and practiced religion. (Matt. 15:1-9; 23:13-34; John 8: 42-44) By obeying the law that God had given to Israel a few of the Israelites remained true and faithful to the Almighty. It is such faithful ones that Jesus gathered unto himself, and they were made witnesses for Jehovah, and at the Lord’s command they went about bearing testimony to the name and kingdom of Almighty God. Jesus and all his faithful disciples were bitterly persecuted by the religionists of that day. Why such persecution? Because Jesus and his disciples were telling the people about God’s kingdom, the great theocratic government, and the blessings it would bring to the people. The religionists viciously persecuted Jesus and caused him to be put to a violent death. After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead his faithful disciples were informed that the purpose of Jehovah was to “take out ... a people for his name” from amongst the nations of the earth and to use those people to bear witness to the name of Jehovah God, and hence such must become Jehovah’s witnesses. It is the obligation laid upon all such witnesses to make known the name of Jehovah God, his supremacy, his kingdom, and to declare to the people God’s purpose and to give them warning of the impending destruction of all who are in opposition to the great theocratic government.
THE KINGDOM
When on the earth that which Jesus emphasized at all times was the kingdom of God. Jehovah God had anointed Jesus to be the head of the Kingdom, that is, the King of the theocratic government. Continuing to stress the great importance of the Kingdom, Jesus taught his disciples to always pray to Jehovah God: ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as in heaven.’ Ever since that time Christians have continued to utter that prayer. It is the government of Jehovah they desire, knowing that his will shall be done therein on earth as in heaven. Jesus, when on the earth as a man, specifically instructed his followers that he must go away and receive the kingdom authority and that he would come again and set up that kingdom in Jehovah’s name. In harmony therewith the apostle Peter, standing among the Israelites who had brought about the death of Jesus, declared these words: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. . . . Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." — Acts 2:32, 36.
For a period of 1800 years and more after Pentecost the faithful Christians in the earth have preached Christ Jesus, “and him crucified,” the Redeemer and Savior and King of the world, and at all times have called attention to the promise that Christ Jesus would come again and gather unto himself his faithful followers and set up the theocratic government. In 1914 the time limit set by Jehovah God in which the Devil should operate without hindrance came to an end. God then sent forth Christ. Jesus the King, enthroned him and directed him to begin his rule while Satan and his organization are still in the earth. (Ps. 110:1, 2; Rev. 11:17, 18) Immediately there followed a war in heaven in which Jesus Christ and his angels fought against the Devil and his angels, and the Devil and his angels were cast out of heaven and down to the earth. (Rev. 12:7-9) The King, Christ Jesus, had begun his reign, the first part of which was to oust the Devil from heaven and confine him and his operations to the earth until the battle of the great day of God Almighty. That battle in heaven brought to the mind of the Devil that his time is now short and that the final showdown is near at hand, and for this reason it is written: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”—Rev. 12:12.
The World War, in which the nations of earth, particularly “Christendom”, engaged from 1914 to 1918, was further evidence, according to prophecy, that the reign of Christ Jesus the King had begun and that Satan’s world had come to an end. (Matt. 24:3-13) At that time religion, improperly bearing the name “Christian religion”, had almost entirely superseded true worship of Almighty God and the leading nations had become known as “Christendom”, and which religious organization deceived millions of people, causing them to believe that “Christendom” supports the kingdom of Jehovah under Christ. The time of great crisis had arrived. What, then, must be done by the true followers of Christ Jesus? The answer is found in the command of Jesus given to his faithful followers, that they must go forth and bear testimony before the people, which testimony constitutes good news or “gospel”, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and this must be done as a witness to the people that they may be warned of the impending disaster upon Satan and all worldly organizations. Jesus’ command to such is: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”—Matt. 24:14, 21.
The preaching of the gospel continued, but was practically stopped during the World War from 1918 to 1919. At the end of that time there were a few Christians on the earth who, in obedience to the Lord’s command, were bearing testimony to the name of Jehovah God and his theocratic government under Christ. Prior to that time they had been known as “Bible Students”, which they were, of course. Thereafter the Lord made it clearly to appear to them, by giving them an understanding of the Scriptures, that such faithful Christians constitute the people ‘taken out for his name’, and which people must be his witnesses in the earth to give testimony and warning to others. Then he made it clearly to appear from the Scriptures that they should no longer be called “Bible Students”, but that they should have “another name”. To such, as it is written, he says: “Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” (Isa. 62:2) That new name is “Jehovah’s witnesses”: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he; before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” (Isa. 43:10-12) Therefore Jehovah’s witnesses are not a sect organization amongst men, following an earthly leader and propagating an opinion, but they are the servants of Jehovah God acting under his command to be his witnesses, to declare his name throughout the earth immediately before the great battle of Armageddon takes place. Christ had come, and the time for the judgment of the nations of the earth had arrived. (Matt. 25:31-40) The true followers of Christ Jesus, whom Jehovah has made his witnesses, must now declare to the people that Jehovah is God, that Christ is his anointed King, that the Kingdom is here, and that there is no place of safety save under the King, Christ Jesus. Therefore Jehovah says to such true servants of his: “Let all the nations, be gathered together, and let the people be assembled; who among them can declare this, and shew us former things ? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.” (Isa. 43:9) Thus it appears that Jehovah’s witnesses are true Christians, acting wholly in obedience to the command of the Almighty God. This they must do regardless of opposition that comes from any and all sources.
As John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ Jesus, was, so are Jehovah’s witnesses, 'a voice in the wilderness crying out unto those who have an ear to hear.’ As Jeremiah the prophet of Jehovah was commanded to bear testimony and warning to Jerusalem, the type of “Christendom”, even so Jehovah’s witnesses are now commanded to bear testimony and warning to the antitype, that is to say, the peoples and nations that have adopted and follow religion and that constitute what is generally known as “Christendom”. As the Lord commanded Jeremiah, so he commands his true witnesses of the present day: ‘Speak unto all the people all the words that I command thee to speak unto them, and diminish [omit] not a word; . . . And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord, If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, . . . then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’ (Jer. 26:1-6) “Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live; wherefore should this city be laid waste ?”—Jer. 27:17.
Even so now Jehovah’s witnesses are commanded to warn the people of “Christendom” of the impending disaster of Armageddon and to tell them that their only means of safety is to escape from religious organizations and flee to God’s organization under Christ the King.—Ezek. 33: 6-8.
In obedience to these commandments of the Lord the true Christians constituting Jehovah’s witnesses go forth and engage in the work of telling the truth concerning the theocratic government under Christ and of God’s purpose to destroy religious institutions and all of Satan’s organization, and this constitutes what the Scriptures designate as Jehovah’s “strange work”, which strange work he declares must be done immediately preceding his “strange act”, and which strange act is the great destruction that befalls the nations of the earth at the battle of Armageddon. (Isa. 28:21) During the fiscal year just past Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions have been diligent in going about the land proclaiming this message of warning and have thus engaged in the “strange work”. Religious leaders and their supporters look upon such work as very strange because it exposes religion to the view of the people. For a long time the people have been induced to believe that religion and Christianity are one and the same and that therefore anything said against religion is likewise said against Christianity; but such is entirely a wrong view. Religion has been and is the great snare of the enemy that has ensnared multitudes of people. The leaders have forgotten God, entirely substituted the precepts or teachings of men for God’s Word, followed tradition and not the Scriptures, and thus rendered the Scriptures of no effect, and consequently religion has become a snare and a racket. The leaders are greatly angered by hearing anything that exposes religion, and not only are they angry at the message, but they indulge in the cruel and wicked persecution of those men and women who bring these truths to the attention of the people, calling them to witness the fact that only God’s kingdom under Christ can bring them salvation and everlasting blessings. Thus it is seen that Satan himself is the real one that causes the persecution to come upon Jehovah’s witnesses. And now in these final days he brings forth a great and hateful thing, excessively cruel and wicked, to oppose the theocratic government of Jehovah under Christ Jesus.
THE MONSTROSITY
That monstrosity now appears in the earth, claims the right to rule the world, and to regiment the people, and it is called the “Corporate State” or “totalitarian rule”. The ruling power is centered in a dictator, and all the people are commanded to be subject to that dictator. Such totalitarian rule is against God and against his kingdom and is brought forth as a counterfeit of Jehovah’s kingdom. It is the Devil’s attempt to mimic Jehovah’s government and to bring reproach upon Jehovah’s name and to turn the people away from God and into destruction, in order that he, the Devil, may succeed in carrying out his original wicked challenge to the Almighty God. That monstrosity is made up of extremely selfish rulers, such as Fascists, Nazis, Communists and the leading religionists, of which the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is chief. Note now the apparent similarity between the monstrosity and the kingdom of God, which the monstrosity attempts to counterfeit.
Jehovah is the great Theocrat, in whom reside all power and authority. Christ Jesus the King is Jehovah’s officer, the administrator of his theocratic government. On the earth the visible representatives of Christ Jesus during his reign following Armageddon will be the faithful men of old, such as Abel, Abraham, and others specifically named in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. To that theocratic government under Christ Jesus all the people must be fully obedient if they would live, and none will be permitted to live except those who do render themselves in obedience to that government. The theocratic government will be wholly and entirely righteous and will establish lasting peace, prosperity, joy and happiness and give life everlasting to all obedient ones on the earth.
The monstrosity, the counterfeit and product of the Devil, is, as viewed from the earth: Government or governments ruled by an arbitrary dictator to whom all the people are required to give allegiance and full obedience; all the people are regimented and directed as to what they may or may not do, and the dictator’s word is law; the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the great religious institution of the earth, claims the right and authority to rule the earth as the vicegerent or representative of Christ, to occupy the place over the dictatorial government as a spiritual overlord; and back of all of this is the Devil himself, who claims to be equal to or superior to Jehovah God. The monstrosity is entirely unrighteous, extremely wicked, and brings upon the people strife, war, suffering and ultimately everlasting death. The monstrosity claims to have authority to bring about peace and prosperity and induces the people to believe that fact. Thus it is seen that the monstrosity, or mimic government, is this: The Devil assumes the place of Jehovah God; the Roman Catholic Hierarchy assumes the place of Christ Jesus the King, and the dictators of earth assume the place of the faithful men who shall be the princes in the earth. The monstrosity, therefore, is a counterfeit of God’s kingdom and a mockery of God and the means of working great deception upon the people. There is a deadly conflict, therefore, between the theocratic government of Jehovah under Christ and the monstrosity or dictatorial government brought forth by the Devil.
The Lord Jesus foretold that the monstrosity would come forward and rear its hideous and abominable head at the time of the second coming of Christ Jesus and his kingdom, and the indisputable facts show that exactly that thing has come to pass. It was in 1918 that Christ Jesus came to the temple of Jehovah and gathered unto himself those men and women who at that time had proved faithful to God. It was about the same time that the League of Nations was formed, the announced purpose of which was to rule the world and establish lasting peace and prosperity, and which League of Nations the clergy of the earth declared must rule as the representative of Christ. The League of Nations was in fact brought forth to blind the people and for a time was used by the Devil to pave the way for his dictatorial, totalitarian, monstrous rule. God had declared through his prophet that the League of Nations would be formed and would fail, and, of course, the Devil knew that fact. (Isa. 8: 9,10) The Devil then saw to it that the totalitarian monstrosity arose in Italy under the name of Fascism, and later in Germany under the name of Nazism; in Russia it appears under the name of Communism; and now it practically dominates Europe. The dictators perform the political duties, and in this they are supported by the traffickers, and the great religious institution, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, acts as a spiritual superpower or overlord; and thus Fascism, Nazism, Communism and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, political and religious powers, operate together, and together constitute the great monstrosity, which is anti-God and anti-God’s kingdom under Christ. Thus it is seen that religion is the tie that binds together the political and other elements; and that religion, as well as his entire monstrosity, is the invention of the Devil is clearly proved by the Scriptures.
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy leads in the religious organizations of the earth; and the other religious organizations, because of fear, succumb to the dictates of the Hierarchy. The political dictators, together with the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, claim the right to rule the world, and all are against God and against his kingdom under Christ. None of the religious institutions nor their allies advocate or support the kingdom of God under Christ, and therefore they are dead against it; as Jesus puts it: “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”—Matt. 12: 30.
As further evidence that the afore-mentioned monstrosity is against God and Christ and his kingdom, the Hierarchy and their allies, the Fascists and Nazis, join together in a wicked persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, because Jehovah’s witnesses proclaim the truth of and concerning the great theocracy or government of Jehovah under Christ Jesus. The combination aforementioned forming the monstrosity exactly fits the description given to it by Jesus as “the abomination of desolation”, and which abomination was foretold by Daniel the prophet (11:31; 12:11). The kingdom of God under Christ is here, and that kingdom is the only rightful rule of the world, and anything that is against or in opposition to that theocratic government is an abomination in the sight of the Almighty God. The fact that the monstrosity claims the right to rule the world in the place and stead of Christ Jesus is conclusive proof that it ‘stands in the holy place, where it ought not to stand’, and where it has no right to stand. Therefore the present "perilous times” is the time when the people must be warned as the Lord Jesus Christ commands, and his warning is give in these words: "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains; . . . For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”—Mark 13:14,19.
This warning Jesus gives specifically that the people on earth who are of good will toward God and his kingdom of righteousness may have an opportunity to flee from the monstrosity afore-mentioned and find refuge and safety and complete protection under Christ Jesus the King. There are millions of people held in bondage to religious organizations, and because of fear planted in them by the religious leaders they know not what to do to find safety. To them the warning must be sounded, that they may flee from such organizations to the Lord’s kingdom. Also the warning must be sounded in the hearing of the religious leaders, that they may know that Jehovah is the only true God and that they may have no excuse whatsoever to oppose his kingdom, which is now here.
Every Christian wholly devoted to God and his kingdom must be a witness to Jehovah, using his every effort to inform the people of God’s commandments, and if he fails to give such warning he shall suffer destruction.
Jehovah’s witnesses are accused by the enemy of engaging in a campaign of hate; and that charge is entirely untrue. Jehovah’s witnesses are not engaged in a campaign of hate, but in a campaign of making known to the people that the kingdom of heaven under Christ Jesus is at hand, which kingdom Jesus admonished the people to pray for; and this work they are doing in obedience to the commandment of the Lord. It is the time when the name of Jehovah shall be completely vindicated, and this witness concerning Jehovah’s name must be given before he exercises his power to destroy Satan and his organization. Jehovah’s witnesses do not hate any creatures, but, like the Lord Jesus, they hate wickedness and love righteousness. (Ps. 45:7) As Jesus always tells the truth, so true Christians must tell the truth. They cannot ask permission of worldly authority to proclaim the message of God’s kingdom, because the supreme power rests in Jehovah and he has commanded that they must proclaim this message, and no creature has any authority to grant a permit to do the work that God commands must be done. Jehovah’s witnesses know that they will suffer much opposition and persecution at the hands of religionists and others of the monstrosity because they tell the truth, but with full confidence and rejoicing they go on doing the work which the Lord has commanded them to do. This they do because they are commanded by the Lord to do the work, and through his Word they know exactly what will be the result.
Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions the Jonadabs are few in number and with little or no strength in themselves, but behind them and backing them up is all the power in the universe. They are the servants of the Almighty God, doing his work as commanded, and their heart devotion is entirely to him and to his King. Therefore they see and fully appreciate the words of the Lord as written: “For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chron. 16: 9, Am. Rev. Ver.) Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions know that they must suffer for a time at the hands of their persecutors, and they also know that in due time the Lord will completely deliver them and shower upon them his everlasting blessings.
Among the prophetic pictures made and recorded in the Bible is that of Goliath the giant and of the shepherd boy David and of the conflict between the two, and the result. Goliath bullied all the armies of Israel and boasted of what he would do. Young David appeared upon the scene and inquired, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” With his shepherd’s sling and a few small stones David went forth to the assault of the giant and slew him. In that picture David represented the Lord Jesus Christ, while the giant pictured the dictatorial rule or great monstrosity that now appears and opposes God and his kingdom. The picture discloses that the Lord Jesus will completely destroy the totalitarian, dictatorial-religious-political rule at the battle of Armageddon. (1 Sam. 17:23-40) This part of the prophetic picture relates to the beginning of Armageddon.
Another apt prophetic picture recorded in the Scriptures shows the end of the totalitarian combine, and which is this, to wit: The armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, all of whom practiced the Devil religion, agreed and conspired together to destroy God’s covenant people at Jerusalem. Their combined forces marched against Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat was then king of Jerusalem, and God commanded him to lead the Israelites out and march to meet the approaching enemy, and as they went to meet the enemy they were not to indulge in fighting but to sing the praises of Jehovah God. The Israelites obeyed that command, and Jehovah so maneuvered the enemy that the Ammonites and Moabites, picturing the political and commercial element of the monstrosity, first slew the Mount Seirites, picturing particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy religious combine, and then the Ammonites and the Moabites fought each other and destroyed each other. There the Israelites under Jehoshaphat pictured the people of God now on the earth under the command of Christ Jesus. At the battle of Armageddon the Greater-than-Jehoshaphat, namely, Christ Jesus, will completely destroy first the religious element, and then their allies, including the enemy; and Satan will be compelled to view it all.
In another prophetic picture of this monstrosity, the religious element, represented particularly in the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, is pictured as riding on the back of the other elements of the totalitarian government, the Hierarchy acting as a super-overlord. Then the Lord’s prophecy shows that the political and commercial element will join in the destruction of the religious Hierarchy combine; and this picture exactly fits the one at Jerusalem above described, when Jehoshaphat was king.—Rev. 17:16,17.
The totalitarian combine, including the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, have put fear into all the people on earth except those who fully trust in the Lord. Those who trust in and love and serve Jehovah God and Christ his King do not fear the conspirators forming the monstrosity. It is written in the Scriptures: "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” (Prov. 29:25) Thus Jehovah gives full assurance that the only ones who will find safety are those who have no fear of the Devil’s crowd but who put their trust wholly in Jehovah and Christ his King. It is well known that the fear of the monstrosity, and particularly the religious element thereof, has induced men in all political offices of the earth to violate their oath to protect the people’s interest, and to act according to the dictates of the monstrosity.
Seeing this great crisis, those who really love Jehovah God and serve him are eager to inform the people of the facts, to the end that all who have a desire for righteousness may escape from the domination of the monstrosity and flee to the kingdom of God under Christ and there find safety. God has commanded that all such must gather themselves together and seek righteousness and meekness in order that they may be hid in the time of his wrath, and he has laid the obligation upon his witnesses to so inform the people. (Zeph. 2:1-3) By the grace of Jehovah his faithful servants engage in his witness work, prompted entirely by an unselfish desire to do good in obedience to God’s commandment. They do harm to no one, but they do good unto all as they have opportunity. As the people of good will toward God come to understand the truth, they welcome Jehovah’s witnesses and they praise the name of Jehovah God for sending such witnesses to them to inform them. It is only the monstrosity, made up of the elements that oppose God and his kingdom, that hate and persecute Jehovah’s witnesses, and this they do because the kingdom of God is his instrument that will bring about the destruction of the monstrosity.
Religious institutions try to increase their power and influence by drawing men into their organization, and this they do without regard to how wicked the men are that become members of their organization. Exactly contrary to that course, Jehovah’s witnesses are not trying to build up an organization in which to draw men. Their duty is to tell the people about Jehovah and his King and kingdom, that those who desire life may flee to the Lord and find refuge and safety. The religious organizations claim that they are “saving souls”; which claim is utterly false, because it is written, “Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah.” (Ps. 3:8, A.R.V.) No religious institution can provide salvation for mankind, and the claim to that effect is a fraud and snare. The lifeblood of Christ Jesus poured out in death provides the price for the purchase of all who will believe on and serve the Lord, and such is the means that God has provided for their salvation, and there is no other way of salvation. (Acts 4:11,12) Now is the time when Jehovah God declares his purpose to destroy all opposition to his kingdom and sends forth his witnesses to inform the people of this fact and of his means of salvation before the destruction takes place.
Seeing, then, that the afore-mentioned monstrosity is the Devil’s creation, made up of political, commercial and religious elements, which are combined together in opposing Jehovah and his kingdom under Christ, we should expect that that monstrosity, and particularly the religious element thereof, would persecute Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, the Jonadabs. Why should we expect this? Because Jesus specifically warned his followers against that very persecuting element, when he said: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”—John 15:19, 20.
This explains why the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in every part of the earth persecute Jehovah’s witnesses, and why their allies, the dictators and their officers under them, indulge in the arrest, imprisonment and other means of ill-treating Jehovah’s witnesses. It is well known that those who serve God and Christ his King and who desire his kingdom are hated of all nations that now rule; and this is exactly as Jesus foretold it would be: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matt. 24:9) Such is a brief description of the “perilous times” that are now here and of the reasons why Jehovah’s witnesses are hated and persecuted. When Armageddon is ended, the survivors will greatly rejoice that they have given their full and complete allegiance to Jehovah God and his kingdom. The enemy will then be completely gone, and the Jonadabs, forming the “great multitude”, will then busy themselves in carrying out Jehovah’s mandate to multiply and replenish the earth with righteous creatures. (Gen. 1:28; 9:1) Having this vision of Jehovah’s purpose the consecrated people of God, meaning the “remnant” and the Jonadabs, have, during the year past, pushed forward with all their energy and zeal to serve God and to advance his Kingdom interests. This report sets out a brief resume of the work that has been done during the past year, and which report it is hoped will be to the aid and encouragement of those who love Jehovah and his kingdom.
CONVENTIONS
In April, 1938, a convention of Jehovah’s witnesses was held in Australia. Learning of that approaching convention the Fascists and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy combine put forth their most strenuous efforts to prevent God’s people from assembling in convention and worshiping Jehovah in spirit and in truth. Public officials of Australia prevented the use of a public hall for the people there to assemble and worship God. Radio stations were forbidden by the government officials to broadcast the Kingdom message. The newspapers were used to publish divers and numerous false statements that would interfere with the convention. Every possible means was put forth by the Fascists and the Hierarchy crowd to prevent the people from learning about God’s kingdom under Christ. Concerning such overt acts of the wicked conspirators Jehovah speaks, at Psalm 2:4, as follows: “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.” No doubt the Lord held in derision that combined opposition that raised its hideous head at Sydney, Australia. All their efforts failed to prevent many people from hearing. The largest hall there available would accommodate only about four thousand persons. Because the use of that hall was denied Christian people, they were forced to engage an open park; and at the public meeting there assembled 25,000 persons, who heard the Kingdom message and who also learned that the Fascist-Hierarchy combine are operating a racket by which the people are ensnared and fleeced and their liberties destroyed and the way to the Kingdom blocked, so far as it is possible for such wicked agencies to block it.
Then in a few days thereafter at Auckland, New Zealand, a one-day convention of God’s consecrated people was held. There the Hierarchy-Fascist combine and their newspapers put forth their best endeavors to prevent the people from hearing the Kingdom message, and again they failed. Although the public address was delivered at the noon hour on Monday and during a downpour of rain, four thousand people crowded into the hall to hear the good news of the Kingdom and to learn of the nefarious work of the totalitarian monstrosity combine which attempts to destroy all the liberties of the people. Both at Sydney and in New Zealand the public assembly unanimously adopted resolutions disapproving the action of the Hierarchy and the Fascists and emphasizing the importance of the people’s placing themselves under the protection of God’s kingdom.
On the return to America a brief stop was made at Suva, Fiji Islands, which is a crown colony of the British Empire. There a hall had been taken by contract and a public meeting advertised. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allies succeeded in closing the hall and preventing the people from meeting there. The acting governor of the Fiji Islands, himself a Roman Catholic and a tool of the Papacy, in the absence of the regular governor, had issued an order forbidding the importation of literature and phonograph records, or any publications of the Watch Tower, and thus an effort was made to keep the people of the Fiji Islands from learning the truth. The public lecture delivered at Sydney, Australia, had been recorded. A few days after the afore-mentioned public meeting was prohibited the recorded speech was reproduced by phonograph to the public at Suva, and, by the Lord’s grace, they did hear the Kingdom message and learned something of the nefarious conduct of the Hierarchy.
Early in June a convention of God’s people was arranged for at Seattle, Washington. The enemy, learning of the approaching convention, did everything possible to prevent the people from hearing at that place. Led by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and ably supported by the Fascists, and the newspapers, a vigorous campaign was staged against God’s kingdom and his witnesses. The public press was furnished with the facts but, because of fear of the Hierarchy and Fascists, or because of being a part of the combine, refused to give publication to the facts. Such opposition did not deter Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions in carrying forward their work. By means of handbills and signs carried by the various witnesses the meeting for the public was advertised, and on Sunday the great public hall was filled to overflowing and many heard by means of loud-speakers on the outside, and again the monstrosity was exposed and God’s kingdom advertised, and the result was that many persons were made free from religious bondage and earnestly thereafter sought the kingdom of God under Christ.
ENLARGED CONVENTION
September 9-11 was set apart for a convention of Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions in various parts of the earth. At Royal Albert Hall, London, England, was the key convention, from which point the message was carried by means of land wires and radio to fifty other public halls in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Into those various halls thousands of people crowded to hear. The total audience in these halls was, to wit, 150,000 persons. In the United States alone 118 radio stations broadcast the Kingdom message, and that invisible audience, while not known, of course, exactly, must have numbered several million. On the 10th of September the subject of the lecture was “Fill the Earth”, the same being an exposition and explanation of God’s commandment originally given to Adam and restated to Noah and his sons, and which is shown by the Scriptures to apply specifically to the “great multitude” who will be permitted to carry out that divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth with a righteous race of people, and this they will do during the thousand-year reign of Christ. That message was of great encouragement and comfort to the Jonadabs. On Sunday the 11th the subject of the lecture was “Face the Facts”. In this lecture the evidence was brought forth completely proving the conspiracy formed and now in operation between the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the Fascists, the Nazis, and the Communists, which together form the hideous monstrosity, pictured by Goliath. That message opened the eyes of a multitude of people, disclosing to them the wickedness of that combine forming the monstrosity, and thousands of people have so expressed themselves by letter and telegram and otherwise, and made known their desire to find refuge and safety under Christ and his kingdom.
Overt acts of wickedness committed by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allies on the occasion of those conventions completely prove the conspiracy against Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ. In every land to which the Kingdom message was carried from London the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allies fought desperately to prevent the people from hearing. Their newspapers published all manner of lies against God’s consecrated people in their endeavor to prevent others from attending. In many places the Hierarchy tried to induce the owners of halls to refuse the use of such halls for conventions of Jehovah’s witnesses, and in some places, such as New Orleans, Louisiana, they succeeded. Thereafter other halls were engaged and one after another contracts for such were canceled and the halls closed; when the people assembled in an open-air lot or field in New Orleans to worship God in spirit and in truth and to hear the message of the Kingdom, police officers, under the direction of the Roman Catholic bishop, prevented the people from hearing the London speech, which officers, with their guns ready, threatened to kill anyone who interfered with them in their unlawful conduct of cutting the wires that transmitted the message.
At Rochester, New York, it was necessary for Jehovah’s witnesses to obtain an order of court before they could open a rented hall, where the Lord’s people assembled to hear the truth. It was the Roman Catholic bishop who caused that hall to be closed.
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