Face The Facts And Learn The Only One Way Of Escape (1938)
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WHAT ARE THE FACTS1 These were not uncovered by some fact-fnd.ing body of prejudiced and partial men, but by Almighty God himself, and " ‘ it is impossible for God to lie". Judge Rutherford here brings you face to face with them.
Of such importance are the facts that Judge Rutherford 'f; speech at Royal Albert Hall, London, Englund, was transmitted by radio beam and direct line wires to other auditoriums in more than 50 eities in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, where, all together, more than 150.000 assembled in convention. Sirnnliaii€ously it was broadcast by a transcontinental chain of 1.18 United States radio stations.
It ;a now published that milliuus more may read, rightly face the facts, ant! be bstingJy lwHpjituil_
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FIRST PRINTING 10,000,000 copies
Copyright, I9.38
AND PUBLISHED BY
WATCH 'l'OWER
Bible and Tract Society
International Bible Students Association Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.
Branch Offices:
London, Buenos Aires, Paris, Toronto, Str[l.thficld, Cape Town, Berne, Shanghai, and other cities. Made ill the United States of Ammica
F--4ACrl'S fully stated are neve}' open to suceess-fill contradiction, and therefore they stand admitted.
The body that assembles the fa-d-,,;> sho'.llcl do so honestly, withontprejudice or partiality and free from fear of any creature. Vvhen assemLled, the facts should be presented to the people nn-censored.
Because the full statement of facts tends to shock the susceptibilities of some persons furnishes nu excuse or justification to withhold from the public any part thereof, particularly when the public welfare is involved. When presented to the people, those hearing should face the facts with calmness and so]niety and then sincerely take the course which is fot their best interest. Previous belief or opinion should never be permitted to hinder one in receiving a:od con-sideI'ing a statement of facts.
A fact is a statement of truth. T'he great primary fact that stands out before all creation, and which is not subject to successful contradiction, is this;. to wit: '['hat many centuries ago the _Almighty God, who alone is called Jehovah, declared his purpose to set up a righteous government, which shaH rule the world in righteousness, in which there is no unrighteousness, and before whieh ruling power aU human creatures shall stand equal and be given a fair
opportunity to gain everlasting life* in peace and prosperity.
Another indisputable faet, and that wliieit stands ovpr against God's righteous government, is a hideous monstrosity, which has recently appeared in the earth and which in utter disregard of dIe inalienable rights of human creatures is moving with rapidity to seize control of and rule the world, tOi regiment the people and make them serfs. The people dread that monstrosity and are yielding to it only beeause of fear.
Today there is no righteous government on the earth, and it will be freely admitted that in every nation there is great distress and perplexity among the people and men’s hearts are failing tlwln for fear. Only onc(> before in world history have eonditions been anything like those of the present time. The canse then was the same as the cause now, which has brought about present distressing conditions . Judging the future by the past, and judging it with even great" er certainty from the Word of Almighty Goel, we knO\y what is upon the wodd and what shall be the result in the near future.
All nations of the earth face the same condition. No Olic, therefore, should be moved by prejudice or partiality against another because of race, nationality or color. God made of oiiq: blood all nations of men that dwell on the earth, and aJ I men art: entitled to 1 he same fair consideration ,
There cannot be the slightest doubt that all nations are facing death, and the people of all nations who desire life will soberly hear the farts, candidly consider them and act with wisdom.
Where can be found the safe guide in this hour of distress and perplexity ? The answer is, In the Bible, \v hich is God's vVord of truth and which is given to man for his instruction in the way of righteousness. (2 Timothy 3: 16) I speak now to the people of the British Commonwealth of l\' ations, and to the people of America, which nations form the major part of "Christpndom", and which people have for centuries acknowledged the Bible as God's unchangeable Word of truth, and which people therefore are in an implied covenant to take the Bible as their guide. The people of those nations profess to be Christians, and Christ Jesus always obeys the commandments written in the Bible, and no one can be a Christian without doing the same thing; therefore let us follow his perfect lead.
F'acing the. facts which we know to exist, and viewing such in the light of the Bible, we are certain to see the right way that leads out of the darkness that has corne upon the world.
Thousands of years ago God declared and had recorded ill his Bible prophecy foretelling: the distressing conditions on the earth Olaf aU the natiOlw now experience. He set forth therein the cause of such conditions, foretold tIl(; facts that would come to pass whieh constitute the fulfillment of prophecy, plainly stated what would be the final result, and pointed out the only possible way of escape and safety. 1-'he question now is, Shall we face these facts and follow the unfailing guide, or shall we refuse to give heed thereto und suffer the consequences? That question every person must now determine for hilm;e1f.
HIE PROMISE
The Almighty God gave his word of promise that he would make his Messiah, the Christ, the Head of his righteous government, who shall rule the world in righteousness and adnlinister life everlasting to all men who obey him, and men named at Hebrews eleven shall I’ule the earth. ( Genesis 12: 3; Isaiah H: 6, 7; Psalm. 45: 16) That government of necessity must be a theocracy, and every member thereof mnst be in exact harmony with Jehovah God and move according to his conunandments. Why did God make that promlse?
The Scriptures answer: Hod made Lucifer the overlord or god of the world and placed tlw perfect man 111lcler his lonh'hip. Lucifer rebeHed against God. His name God then changed to that of Satan, that old SerpeHt, the Devil and Dragon, and the sentence of dflath was entered against him. (Uevelation 12: 9; 20: 2) Because .Adam had joined the Devil in rebellion }Je was senteneed to death, and as a result thereof and by inheritance all men have been born in sin and therefore imperfect and unrighteous. Then Satan declared that God could not put on the earth men who would be faithful and true to Jehovah and who would maintain their integrity to,nlrd him. (.r oh 1: £J-11; 2: 4, 5) That challenge was a defamation of G of[s name and raised the ques^ tion of hi,' supremacy. Therefore God delayed the exeeuti011 of Satan in order to give him the opportunity to make proof of his wicked challenge, which God knew Satan could not do. His failure would he a vllldirntion of Jehovah's name. Therefore Ged said to Satan: "For this cause have I allowed tIee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they [my witnesses] may proclaim, my name throughout all the earth."-—Exodus 9: 16, Leeser.
To make good his challenge the Devil must turn men away from God and cause them to oppose Jehovah. His chief means of accomplishing that purpose is fraud oj' deceit His name 8erpent means deceiver. .He has deceived all men except those who have strictly adhered to and oheved God's commandments written in Hi" Bible, Knowing that men by nature look to some higher power, Satan brought in religion as a foj:m of worship and hxl men to deify creatures rather than to worship Jehovah God the Creator iTJ spirit and in truth. 'Until reeently aU of us believed that religion and Christianity are tilt, same. The legislative bodies of theland and tlw CGnrts also have used, and continue to nse, the words religion and Christianity as synonymous terms. Now Hod has made it clearly to be seen by those who diligently seek the truth that religion is a form of worship but Wl1ich denies the power of God and turns men 3vmy from God,
whereas Christianity means the strict obedience to God's commandments. Religion and Christianity are therefore exactly opposite to each other.
By means of deception Satan has hHllded practically the entire human race, the exception being those faithful mpn who at all times have diligently obeyed God and maiI!tained tlwir integrity toward him and by so doing have proved Satan to be a liar and that God can put men on the earth who wil remain true and faithful to Jehovah, Since the first coming of Christ Jesus until now there have been on the earth a few creatures who have truly followed in the footsteps of Christ Jesus and have been witnesses to the name and majesty of .Jehovah God. All of these the Devil has bitterly opposed and persecuted.
TIME liMn
God fixed the time limit during which he would not interfere with the Devil's efforts to prove his wicked challenge. That time limit must end, and then Satan's rule must cease. When on the earth .Jesus emphasized the fact that the Devil is the invisible ruler of the wicked world and that in GodJs due time Satan's world would come to an end. Jesus specified the physical facts that would come to pass showing when the end of that 'NOrId anlves. According to the prophecy of Jesus, what arc the things to be expected when the world eomes to an end' The answer is, world war, famine, pestilence, dis-
tress of nations, and, amongst other things mentioned, the appearing of a monstrosity on the earth. (Matthew 24; Luke 21) The World War came in 1914 in fulfillment of that prophecy, marking the time when God sent forth ,Tesus Christ to rule while the Devil is still operating.—Psalm 110: 1,2.
Famine and pestilence quickly followed tIw "World War. World distress is now upon all the nations, and fear has seized hold upon all of them, and such is in fulfillment of the prophecy. (Matthew 24: a-12; Luke 21: 20-26) These are the indisputable physical facts which have come to pass proving that Satan's world has come to an end, and which facts eannot be ignored. What then is to be expected ? The Scriptures answer: God's "strange work", that is, his witness work, quickly thereafter to be followed by his "strange act", which is Armageddon, the battle of the great day of God Almighty, the worst tribulation that ever came upon the world, and which shall be the last.-Matthew 24; 14, 21, 22.
CLIMAX
The time limit is up. God's kingdorn is here, and Armageddon is impending. Mark this, that Jehovah said that just preceding Armageddon he would cause his name to be testified in all the earth. (Exodus 9: 16) For that very purpose God has taken out from amongst the nations "a people for his name", (Acts 15: 14) All of those 11ms taken out must be witnesses to the name of Jehovah God, because he so declared
and he has given them that name. (Isaiah 43: 9-12; 62: 2) God is now using those witnesses to carry on his "strange work", which work con-si sts of these witnesses' going about amongst the people and telling them the truth of and concerning Jehovah's purpose and of his king.. dom, and particularly pointing out to them that religion is opposed to God's kingdom and is the means the Devil uses to deceive the people and turn them away from God and lead them into destruction. That appears to be a very "strange” kind of work to an of those who are not Christians, beeause they have been led to believe that relig:ion Hnd Christianity are the same and that both proceed from God. The Lord definitely points out that such "strange work" of wi tness-ing must be done before the final end; as it is Vvl'itten: 'This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to aU nations as a witness, and then shall the end come:’ (Matthew 24: 14) Such wit-ness work is now in progress and mnst he .tin-islwd before Armageddon.
OPPONENTS
J esus Christ taught his followers to always pray for the coming of God's kingdom) and accordingly all professed Christians for centuries have prayed, 'Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven: Religionists; while littering that prayer, act exactly contrary thereto, They do not desire God's kingdom on earth, but desire to continue their own schemes to rule the world.
j Jesus and his apostles emphasized the great
i truth of the second coming of Christ and his
kingdom, which would appear at the end of the world. Now Christ has come and his rule has
i . begun. He has cast Satan out of heaven, and
1 now Satan's operations are confined to the earth,
| and for this reason, as the Scriptures declare,
j the great woes have come upon the nations of.
( the earth. (Revelation 12: 12) The final show
down is near, and the Devil knows that his time is short; and in order to deceive the people and plunge them into destruction, by which he expects to defeat God and sustain his own challenge, the Devil brings forth in opposition to , God's kingdom under Christ, and as a substitute therefor, a hideous monstrosity, by which the people are being further deceived.
HIDEOUS MONSTROSITY
J ehovah God is supreme, but the Devil denies that fact. God's righteous government is a theocracy, because Christ .1 esus, the Head thereof, does everything according to Jehovah's win. In mockery of Jehovah Satan sets up a counter ■' government, in which he puts himself in a place
| similar to that of Jehovah God, and his religious
representatives on the earth he assigns to the place similar to that occupied by Christ Jesus; and his cruel dictators he substitutes in the i place of the faithful men whom the Lord de
clares he will "make princes in all the earth", and who shall rule in righteousness. (Psalm 45: IG; Isaiah 32: 1) That monstrosity is an
i
i
abomination in the sight ofGod, and such monstrosity, God foretold by his prophets, would appear at this time.-Matthew 24: 15; Daniel 11 : 31; 12: 11. .
The kingdom ofGod under Christ is the means of vindicating Jehovah's name and providing salvation for humankind. Satan's monstrosity in opposition to God's kingdom claims to he the means of saving the world in this hour of great distress. Satan is thereby deceiving or fooling many people. Heligionists support the monstrosity as against Jehovah's kingdom. Christians fully support Jehovah's kingdom under Christ. The monstrosity andGod's kingdom are deadly foes. One must lose; the other must win. The League of Nations was brought forth as a substitute for God's kingdom, and that has failed, as God by his prophets foretold. Now the great monstrosity appears in another form, and blasphemously assumes to rule the world and to destroy everyone who supports God's kingdom.
What is that hideous monstrosity'? It is the totalitarian government or ruling power, which makes the State supreme, regiments all the peo-pIe, rules them by arbitrary dictators, compels all to render complete obedience thereto, and which monstrosity tlierefoH) is a fraudulent mimic of God's righteous government. Now mark the indisputable facts.
Fulfilled prophecy shows that in 1914 Jehovah enthroned Christ .Tf3SUS and sent him forth to rule, while Satan still exercises his power in the world. (Psalm 110: 1, 2) In 1917 Satan brought
forth in Russia a Communist or Bolshevik gov-ermnent, which was the first appearance of a totalitarian rule, and which opposes God and his kingdom. , It declares that the State is the supreme power, and it persecutes those who serve God and Christ Jesus.
'! In 1 !322 Italy heeame a totalitarian govern
ment, which rule defies God and his kingdom, declares the State is the highest power, and vigor-1 ously opposes the proclamation of God's king' dom within Italian territory.
In 1933 Germany was seized by the Nazis, and is now ruled by an arbitrary dictator, which government also declares that the State is supreme, defieR Jehovah God and his kingdom, and cruelly persecutes a11 who even name the name of Jehovah and who have in possession puhliea-Hons telling of Jehovah and his Word, the Bible, and of his righteous government under Christ .Jesus.
Religion has always been the tie that binds together parthly powers and which through fem' keeps the people in SUbjection. The noman Catholic religious organization has always claimed to be the representative of Christ on earth, bnt । the indisputable facts show exactly to the con' trary. Jesus Christ made it clearly to appeu[' that his kingdom has nothing in common with this world over which Satan exercises power, and he emphatically warned his followers to keep themselves separate and apart from Hie ' polities of the world and commands them to
: strictly obey God's commandments. (John
18: 36; .J ames 1 : 27) Contrary to the commandments of the Lord the Papacy assumes temporal pmver and becomes a part of worldly governments and puts its ambassadors in practically all the natiOIltl aDd exurciBes political power throughout the earth. Hegal'dless of what good intentions may have existed when formed; the Catholic Orgmitzation of Authority has become entirely political. It eontinues to operate under a religions name, is agaiust God and his king.. dom under Christ, and hence violently opposef3 the proclamation of truth concerning God's kingdom. The Papacy is willing to make an alliance with any political power that will recognize the Roman Catholic Hierarchy as the spiritual part of world powers. The Hierarchy has nmde such alliance in order that thc Papacy may ocenpy the place as a super-government, and therefore the Vatican became a part of the pm\‘-er that governs this world. That religious organization therefore is a part of the monstrosity now appearing in and claiming the right to rule the earth. Here mark more facts which cannot he disputed.
When Mussolini marched to Home to take possession thereof he was an avowed atheist, opposed to God and his kingdom, and would not tolerate anyone ivho supports God's kingdom oi‘ advertises the same. He was then opposed to an religious organizations. But in 1929 Mussolini and the pope, the head of that mighty religious organization, entered into an alliance by which temporal power ]n Italy was l'm;torl3d to th",
pope, and Mussolini became a devoted Catholic, and therefore a supporter of religion.
Likewise the dictator of the totalitarian rule of Germany has entered into an alliance with the pope, alld he is an avowed Catholic and supports the Catholic religion, and protects it within that arhitrary government.
Hecclltly Mr. Forbes, executive secretary of the Communist party, proposed mutual co-operation between Commmiism and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in state affairs. In answer thereto the pope, acting through his cardinal and authoritative representative (Verdier), at Paris, made reply to the Communist party in these words: "If this gesture of the outstretched hand from your side expTesses the wish to become better acquainted with your Catholic brothers in order to give better respect to the religion which inspires them to their convictions, their feelings, their works, then the church will not refuse to carry ont the::; work of enlightenment and you will recognize that this can contribute greatly to the happiness of all."’ To such generous offer from the pope the Communist party responded in these words: "The outstretched hand of the Communist party to the Catholic people remains outstretched." (New York Times, .July 2G, 1938) True, the Catholic Press of America, since the Hierarchy's connection with the Fascists was exposed in Australia, in Seattle, •Washington, and in other places, has had much to say about a possible
break between the pope and the Fascists. Such publication is merely a political trick to keep the people deceived and in the dark while the 'l'otalitarians march on and seize control of America and England.
1'he indisputable facts are that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy has stooped wholly to political methods to gain control of tlle world, and concerning such an honest Catholic of New York has written a book entitled "Bome Stoops to Conquer", and therein submits the proof that Vatican City's chief ohjective is to rule the world in conjunction with radical powers. The Hierarchy has placed its trusted men in the key positions of political office in praetically every nation of the world, which men are first Catholic and, regardless of the just rights of the people, always earry out the will of tIle Hierarchy in political governmental affairs, These facts, which cannot be disputed, disclose the Roman Catholie Hierarchy's determination to act as a kind of sPlritual supeT-government over the dictators of the world, forming a part of the monstrosity, and which violently opposes Jehovah and his kingdom under Christ Jesus. The monstrosity moves onward!
Between 1521 and 1531 came the break of the German states and Great Britain with the Papacy. Now Germany is in all alliance with the Papacy, and Great Britain is rapidly moving in that direction. 'rhe United States of America, once the bulwark of democracy, is all set to become 11 part of the totalitarian rule. Most of the
American people are totally ignorant of the fact that Congress has recently enacted a law by which the president can become a dictator in one hour and can absolutely control every part of the nation, eveJl as Germany is now misruled.
Thus the indisputable facts are, that there is nowin Hle earth Satan's dictatorial monstrosity, which defies and . opposes Jehovah's kingdom under Christ, and that such totalitarian, arbitrary rule is fully supported by the Hierarchy, which admittedly is the leading religious organization in existence. These facts the people must face, and learn the meaning thereof, in order to safeguard their own interests. Jehovah and Christ Jesus are the real friends of the ppople, alld the followers of Christ .Jesus, who are jehovah's witnesses, are the only ones who visit the people to comfort those in distress, and this they do in obedience to God's eommand-.
ments.
PERSECUTION
Since the time of Abel religionists have persecuted those who obey God's commandments, and this appears to mean t.hat religion is of the Devil. Heligionists persecuted J'esus even unto death, and he plainly told them that they were and are the sons of the Devil and that their political-religious organization is a product of Satan and is au abomination in the sight of God. —Matthew 23: 2-35; John 8: 42-44.
Jehovah's witnesses and their companions, the Lord's "other sheep", which are caned
«,Jonadahs", are wholly devoted to God and his kingdom under Christ. They suffer persecution continuously at the handsoof the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in every nation on earth, and in such persecution the totalitarian government works with the Papacy. In Germany thousands of true fo]]owers of Christ Jesus now linger in pTison because they told the truth, and for no other reason. In many parts of the British Empire and in the United States, Jehovah's witnesses suffer great opposition and much persecution, and such is always at the instigation Of religionists, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Why do religionists bitterly oppose and persecute the true followers of Christ? .Jesus answered that question in these words addressed to his true followers: "[Because] I have ehosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth yon ....If they have persecuted me,
they [the religionists] will also persecute you." (J o11n 15: 19, 20) These faithful witnesses of the Lord are persecuted hecause they tell the truth of God concerning his righteow; government .
. In Northern and Southern Rhodesia, as ,veIl as in W est Africa, in Australia, the Fiji Islands, Port of Spain, and other crown colonies, in Quebec, and in other parts of the British Empire, not only are .Jehovah's witnesses and their . companions opposed, but their Bible literature is confiscated and destroyed and these true Christians are viciously persecuted, and all such oppmiition is at the instance of the Roman Catholic Hie:rarchy, who always have their men on the job. If the Hierarchy represented God, as claimed, why is it necessary to oppose and persecute others because they ten the people about God's kingdom under Christ as the only means of salvation? In many nations 1a,vs are enacted which, it is claimed, are directed against Com-muuists, but which lavvs, in faet, are directed against true Christians, the purpose being to prevent tllem from bearing witness to God's kingdom. God foretold that this would he done, in these words: 'I!'hey [opponents] frame mischief by law; they gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.' (Psalm 94: 20.21) Being Scripturally unequipped to defend tbemselv()g and their position, the religionists resort to per-seeution by law. Astnte, lawyers, representing the Hierarchy, write such laws and subtly induce the lav{-making body to enact the same on the plea tlmi such laws are in the public inte1'e::;t to protect the people from Communism, while at the same time Communists and the Hierarchy hold out their hands to each other in mutual co-operation.
Mark now the language of the Blasphemy Act recently passed to the first reading in the British Parliament: "If any alien-(a) participates in the organization of any assembly for the purpose of propagating beliefs of an atheistic: nature, or delivers speeches calculated to bring the Christian or any other form of religion in contempt, or (b) sells, distributes, makes, publishes, or has in his. possession for sale or dis-
tribution, any document containing blasphemous matter, he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and to deportation." A jury trial is denied, and a Catholic court may fIx the punishment. Nothing appears in this proposed law prohibiting the blasphemy of the name of Jeho-vah God and Christ .Tesus. Only religious practitioners seek legal protection from exposure, and those religionists constantly blaspheme God’s name by claiming what belongs only to God.
If that bill becomes a law, :never again would I be permitted to can the attention of the British people to tho subtle scheme of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy to seize control of t11is nation to rule it by a cruel dictator) and to deprive the people of their liberties. It would be contended that the telling of such facts of and concerning a religious organization would tend to bring the so-called "Christian religion into contempt", whereas my sale purpose is to warn the people of the great enemy that seeks their destruction and to tell the people of God’s kingdom, which is their only hope, Do real men and women desire such law to be enacted in thes land ? It will be euacted if the totalitarian combine can deceive a sufficient number of the members of Parliament to pass it
-When the totalitarian Catholic combine gains control of the British Isles, whieh it is certain to do, then all liberties of the people will be at un fmd. For many eenblries this and the other
nations have claimed to be Christian and have openly endorsed the fundamental principle as stated by Blackstone, the well-known law writer of England, in these words; "Laws of the state derive their validity from their conformity to the law of God. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to God's law." What will be the condition when all nations become totalitarian ? '1'hat will prove beyond all doubt that such nations have become wicked and have entirely forgotten God, and oppose his righteous government; and the end of those nations is stated by the Lord in these ,vords: "'The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9: 17) That means the complete destruction at Armageddon of the nations; and the ones who lead th.) nations to so forget God and bring about their destruction are the leaders of religion, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, whieh now by law attempts to keep the people from hearing the truth concerning the only hope of the world.
WORK
Shall the work of proclaiming the truth throughout the earth to the name of Jehovah and his kingdom cease because of opposition by the Hierarehy totalitarian combine'? From the throne of heaven comes in thundering tones the answer, "No!'<' Such is ,Jehovah's "strange work", which he eommands must be done by his witnesses immediately preceding Armageddon, and nothing can stop it until God says, "It is done." Amidst like persecution Jesus continued the work assigned to him until it was :finished. The faithful apostles followed his lead and did likewise until their work was completed. It is the expressed 'v ill of Jehovah that every true Christian today shall continue to proclaim the name of Jehovah and his kingdom until Anna-geddon. God will shield and deliver his people while they obey his commandments, and they need not fear man or Devil, and thus they are going on.
Jj-'or the encouragement of his people Jehovah made many prophetic pictures in times of old, which he is now causing to be fulfiled and understood by those who love him. Among those prophetic pictures is. that of Jehoshaphat and the enemies acting against the Israelites. Jehoshaphat and the faithful Israelites pictured Christ an.d his faithful followers. Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir conspired to destroy the Israelites, and they pictured the totalitarian combine. lJ.'heil' united armies marched on .J erusalem to destroy it. Jehovah gave command that his people should not fice from the enemy, but should boldly march out to meet the enemy, singing the praises of Jehovah as they went, and to his people Jehovah said : 'Be not afraid of the enemy ; the battle is God's.' Then God brought about the complete destruction of the combined enemy, thus showing what shall come to pass upon the totalitarian crowd at Armageddon.
Another prophetic picture is that of Saul, the Philistines, and David. Saul pictured the Ull-
faithful religionists, who claim to serve God but who submit to the opponents of God. The giant Goliath, who led the Philistines, pictured the totalitarian Hier'[trchy combine that is now bluffing an nations with the determination of forcing' them to yield to dictatorial rule. David, the anointed of God) pictured Christ Jesus and his faithful followers now on the earth. David engaged the giant in combat and slew him, thus disclosing wllat is now in progress and what God through Christ Jesus, the antitypical David, will do to the t.otalitarian combine at Armageddon.
liet the Hierarchy, including the pope, together with all others that form the totalitarian, dictatorial rule, the representatives of which are now listening to this speech, thereby hoping to find some occasion against God's people, now take notice. To such opponents we now say: “Today you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, the great Judge of the world. According to the undisputed facts you are convieted out of yonI' own monU), and the Lord's final judgment has been entered against you and you are going to die. You have willingly yielded to Satan, abandoned God and his King, and have permitted the Devil to gather you to Armageddon, that battle of the great day of God Almighty, as Jesus foretold. (Revelation HI: 13-16) The final showdown has come. Your high-sounding titles, your garments, your exalted positions, yonr money, and your boasted power, shall now completely fail you. Christ Jesus, the anti-
typical David, has called your bluff. Jehovah's witnesses do not fear you, but they do fear and serve God and Christ. '
"For the purpose of preventing your exposure you now seek the destruction of Jehovah's witnesses. You come to us with your laws subtly enacted and wrongfully enforced. You come to us with your strong-arm squad, with your armies and navies, all armed to the teeth, with sword and cannon. -We meet you upon the battlefield with songs of praise to Jehovah's name upon our lips. We come to you in the name and strength of Jehovah God and his King, whom you have defied. At the battle of Armageddon Christ J eSTIs, leading his invincible army, will slay you and give your dead carcasses to the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, and all creation shall know that Jehovah is the Almig'hty God, that Christ Jesus is the rightful Ruler of the world and the Vindicator of God's word and name, and that Jehovah can put men on earth who will remain true to him."
Only once before in world history were conditions similar to those of today. That was at the time of the flood, which Jesus declared was a type foretelling the present-day conditions. (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26,27) Then the earth was filled with a wicked crowd that defied Jehovah God. Jehovah sent Noah to warn the people of impending disaster. At God's command the ark was built, which was a type of God's organization under Christ. Refusing to give heed to the warning, God then destroyed all flesh on the earth, and only those who joined Noah in the ark were saved. Those survivors pietured the Lord's "other sheep", who now take refuge in God's organization under Christ, the antitypical ark.
. ‘ fLEE NOW
Every purpose of Jehovah shall be performed. (Isaiah 46 : 11) His kingdom of righteousness is here. Let all take warning. Ambitious men have set up in the place and stead of Jehovah's kingdom that monstrosity, the totalitarian government, which boastfully claims it shall save the world. That monstrosity is a "desolating abomination" in the sight of God and brings only suffering and deatIl to the people. By his prophet Daniel Jehovah foretold its coming and its end. The indisputable facts show that the totalitarian government blasphemously claims that which belongs only to God. To all who see these facts and who candidly face them Christ Jesus gives these words of warning: "When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, ...then let them that be in Judma flee to the mountains." (Mark 13: 14) Mountains symbolically represent God's ldngdom, particularly the capital organization under Christ, the Chief thereof. Such is the antitypical city of refuge (Numbers 35: 6-32), and only those who flee from Satan's rule and take their stand on the side of God and Christ will find protection and safety at Armagfiddon. After Armageddon hegins will be too late to flee, and therefore God coHnnnnds that the warning be given now, and that is why .T. ehovah's witnesses are giving it.
OTHERS TAKE WARNING
The English-speaking people have had freer access to the Bible than any other people on earth ; therefore their greater responsibility before the Lora. Centuries ago men who sincerely believed in God and Christ formed themselves into an association called "Protestant", which they did in protest against the works of the Catholic Hie:ral'chy. Alas, hl these days of great peril and when all should be declaring the name of ,Jehovah and his kingdom under Christ as the ouly means of salvation, the "Protestant" organization remains silent and iheTcfore tacitly supports the "abomination of desolation", which hlasphemol1s1y stands in the place of Gou's kingdom, \vhere it ougM not to stand. Let "Protestants" and all persons of good will toward God awake and turn quickly to the Bible and there, in the light of present-day events, learn that GoC's kingdom is the only hope of humankind. Learning such fact, then quickly take your stand firmly on the side of God and his kingdom; otherwise you shall vorish at Armageddon.
Jerusalem, where' God put his Harne, was typical of: "Christendom"'. “Christendom," like J enumlem, has ranen avvay from God. Before JCl'l1SalCln fen .}PllOvah sent ,Jeremiah his prophet to give warning to tlle people that all those of good will might awake and fiee to safety, ,Jeho-vall caused to he enacted a IH'ophctic drama in
which he used Nebl1chadnezzar, king of Babylon, to play the part picturing Christ Jesus at the present time. As Jehovah warned the people of Jermmlem, so today he warns the people of good will in "Christendom" in these words: 'lie that abideth in this city [organization of "Christendom"] shall die, but he that goeth out and fleeth to Christ shall live.' (.Teremiah 21 :9; 88 :2) "vVhy will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon 1"—J ere-miah 27: 13.
The totaEtarian combine is going to get COll-trol of England and America. You cannot prevent it. Do not try. Your safety is on the Lord's side; hut there really will be hut a short time that the combine will hold sway, because it is written in the Lord's vVord, at 1 Thessalonians 5:3, that when this crowd says, 'vVe are now at peace and safety,' the Lord sends sudden destruction upon them, and they are at their wits' eud, and they shall find no way of escape.
ISSUE
If the name of Jehovah God is vindicated by and through his kingdom, the totalitarian combine and all rule under Satan must perish. The issue shall be settled soon at Armageddon. rrlwt issue is not between Catholics and Protestants, Jews or Gentiles; the issue is not between Fascism, the Hierarchy and Communism, be- <■ cause all of them are on the same side. The
great issue is Jehovah God and his kingdom under Christ, the world's rightful Ruler, against the rule of Satan by and through his politicalreligious totalitarian combine. Let all take warning! Every. human creature on earth must decide whom he will serve. 'rhose who remain under the rule of Satan's makeshift shall die. Those \vho take their stancUirmly on the side of Jehovah and his kingdom under Christ, and who sincerely and diligently serve that kingdom) shall live. Choose whicli side yon will take.
GREAT FACTS
The great and indisputable facts, which all must now face, are these:
Jehovah God's kingdom has begun. The end of Satan's world has come. God is now carrying on his "strange work’-’, which consists of his witnesses under the command of the Lord giving testimony of the kingdom to the peoples of earth. After that work is finished, then immediately follows Armageddon, which will completely wreck every institution and every part thereof that stands in opposition to the kingdom under Christ.
Only the Lord's "other sheep", the .Jonadabs, who compose the "great multitude", will survive that great tribulation. (Revelation 7 :9-17) Those faithful ones remaining true and steadfast to God and his King have the Lord's promise that they shall be carried through Armageddon, even as Noall and his family were carried over the flood. Now we see the .J onadahs hurrying to the Lord and forming the "great multitude", and they must all be gathered before Armageddon begins, even as Noah's family had to be taken into the ark before the deluge began. According to the words of the Lord those of the "great multitude" come from all nations of the earth and now engage actively in the service and praise of .Jehovah and his King.—Revelation 7: 9-15.
. At the beginning Jehovah gave command to perfect man to "multiply and fill the earth". That command has never been fulfilled, because the perfect man fell away. God's command shall be completely fulfilled. Ffhe "great multitude" will be the only onE)S left on the earth after Anna-geddon. rt'hey will be righteous in the sight of the Lord because of their faith and obedienc('. They will carry out the divinE) mandate to nml-tiply and fill the earth. Therefore the "great multitude" 'will be privileged, according to the Scriptures, to marry and bring forth children in righteousness and fin the earth with a joyful and righteous race that will forever praise the name of Jehovah God.
\V e have no in will toward and no controversy with any person because of his religious belief, nationality or tolor, but we are against every part of Satan's organization. We must tell the truth and give the warning, because God has commanded that to be done. (E7.ekie1 33 : 7 and 5) I propose the following Declaration and I urge upon all persons who desire to live to make that Declaration their own. 1.'1Iose who so declare should vote Aye ; those opposed, No!
'Ve declare that the Almighty God is Jehovah
and that there is ll one other; that Christ Jesus is the King of the world, the Vindieator of Jeho-yah's name, and the Savior of meno
Vve recognize the totalitarian goveI'nl11ent, in which politics and religions join tog()ther to rule the world, as the product of Satan brought forth as the substitute for Goel's kingdom and that the same is the ‘"desolating abomination" foretold by God's prophets ; that it holds no hope for man-ldnd, but .,v-ill hring &uffering and death to the human race, and we therefore dedare ourselves unalterably opposed to that satanic monstrosity.
\Ve recognize that Jehovah's kingdom with Christ as King is God's means provided for our salvation and for the vindication of his great nameo \Ve therefore declare ourselves wholly for Jehovah God and his King and kingdom, and by His grace we will serve and faithfully support his kingdom henceforth and forever, having fun confidence that by so doing we may receive from Jehovah his favor and life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord, a11(l to God's eternal glory.
[The great visible audience and also the invisible adopted the declaration by a tremendous shout l:kYK rIhe speaker continued :]
vVhy do the great nevyspapers ignore these vital facts ? The democraeies of earth, and par-tieularly Great Britain a:nd America, are in great danger of totalitariau rule. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy of Authority,, the Fascists and the Nazis am conspiring together to gain control and rule all the nations by dictators . .lHthongh the newspapers know this fact tIley
refuse to publish the truth concerning the same, and so far as the press is concerned the people are kept in ignorance. The newspapers therefore indirectly support the conspiracy and are unfaithful to the p eople.
Centuries ago the Almighty God gave his word that in his due time and amidst great dis-tress and perplexity in the world, exactly what we now sec, he would set up l1i:,; righteous gov-ermnent -witt) Christ as King, and which will rulp the nations in rlp;hteol1sness. 'rhat kingdom is now at hand and is the only hope of the nations and the people. It is of greatest importance to the people that they know about it, but the newspapers refuse to publish anything abont the kingdorn for fear of shocking the religious sns-ceptihilities of the Roman Catholic Hierarehy and their allies. Such publication would interfere ,vith the religious racket. For centuries hoth Christians and religionists have prayed as JesHS t au ght, for the eorning of God’s kingdom on earth, but only the Christians have desired that kingdom. Religionists have an ambitious desire to rule the world in the place and stead of God and Christ. Religion is therefore 1:1 snare and a. racket, and the Lord’s kingdom, will do away with religion and aU fraudulent schemes. The religio-politieal combine is against the kingdom of God.
It is the business of Jehovah’s witnesses to make1 known to the people1 God’s kingdom under Christ as their only hope. Because they do so those Christians aTe opposed and cruelly persecuted by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and
the F as ci st and Nazi allies. The metropolitan press has become at least a silent tool of the religious combine afore-mentioned. All are against God and against Christ and his kingdorn, and therefOl'c against the interests of the people who desire to live. Having been warn,ed, they have taken their stand against the Lord's kingdom, and must bear the consequences.
In Germany and other countries, at the instance of religionists, Jehovah's witnesses are cruelly punished and some of them killed because they tell of God's kingdom. All over the earth today the Roman Catholic Hierarchy arc desperately trying to prevent the people from hea ring this message of truth. Wholly una ble to answer the facts, they resort to bludgeon lllcth-ods, causing the police to lock thQ people out of they I' halls and seizing their literature tell ing of the Kingdom. rEo the Hierarchy I say, that for centuries you have bluffed and frightenpd the people into submission to your nefarious racket and oppressive schemes and now your day has come and the Lord adjudges you opposers of his kingdom and deelares that he will destroy you.
Because the Lord declares that the clergy of the JIierarchy and their Fascist allies are mod-ern-da.y eounterparts of the Pharisees and their allies, I l1ere quote the words of Jesus at J\lat-thew twenty-three, which are properly applied to the Hierarchy, the oppOsel'S of God's kingdom. The clergy of the Hierarchy demand to be called "fathel''', while Jesus says : 'Call no man father on the earth.' Fmthel: the Lord says :
'\Voe unto you, Hierarchy clergy, hypocrites ! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against mcn ; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; theretore ye shall receive the | greater damnation. Woe unto you, Hierarchy
C clergy, hypocrites! for ye make ckan the outside
of the cup and of tllP platter, but within they are full of extortion and exeesses. \Voe unto you, Hierarchy •el erp;y, Iiypoerihes! for ye are like whited sepnkhres, whieh .indeed appei r heantiful outwardly, but are within full oi' dead men's bones and of all iindeanness. Even sn ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are fnll of hypocrisy and iniquity. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers ! how can ye escape the damnation of hell 1 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you my witnesses, and some of them ye kill, and some of them ye scourge in concentration camps and in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.' 'Howl, ye Hierarchy clergy, and cry, and wallow your -selves in the a she s, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are at hand, and ye shall fan like a pleasant vessel, and ye shall find no way of escape: ---J ereminh 25 : 34, 35. ‘
I ask all who are on the Lord's side and who approve what is here said about. the Hierarchy and their allies, W}IO oppose God's kingdom, to now say, AMEN !
['Approved' voiced by unanimous Ames.]
"FILL THE EARTH"
Broadcast in many countries
"Be /ruit/ul and multiply and fill the earth." —Genesis 1:28, Rotherham.
To HAVJD a part in the vindication of .J eho-:mh's name ]sman's greatest privllcl?e. God IS now revealm. g to those who love hun how this great privilege may he enjoyed, and it behooves everyone to eagerly grasp the truth as it is revealed. '
God created the earth for man, and he created man to inhabit the earth. His creation is not in vain. To tlle peTfed man God gave the command: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.'" Adam and his wife Eve were then righteous, therefore God's eommandment means that it is his purpose to fill the earth with righteous human creatures. That mandate to be fruitful and multiply is unto life for the creatures brought into the earth. The earth has not yet been filled with righteous people. That must yet be accomplished.
If God does not fill the earth with righteous humans that will abide forever, then the creation of the earth and of man is in vain. ,Ve know that nothing is ill vain with God. He says : 'My eounsel shall stand, and I will do my pleasure. I have purposed it, and I will do it.' (Isaiah 46 : 10, 11) Adam did not perform that divine mandate, becanse he sinned before his children were born.
WilJ God's commandment to multiply and fill the earth ever be fully performed in righteousness and under righteous conditions on the earth? The mere bringing back to life of the dead who have received the benefit of the ransom sacrifice, or '''' ho may thereafter receive the same, could not be a fnHillment of that mandate. If all the dead were awakened and restored, that would not constitute a fulfillment of God's mandate, for the reason -that suell would be accomplished by God's power through Christ .T esus and not by man's obeying and luHiUmg God's conmiandment. That mandate must be carried out. But how 1 Do the Scriptures reveal to man the manner of its fuHillmenU
PICTURE
It hns pleased God to make prophetic dramas by which he reveals to those who love him his means of carrying out his pm'pose. Before the divine mandate to fill the earth could be cllTl'ied out all the wicked must be removed tmd a righteous overlord installed in office. N o12h and the attending cirenmstanecs and tlle Hood constitute a prophetic dramg by means of which God lnakes known his purpose concerning the fiWllg of the earth. ,Ve have the authoritative words of .Jesus that the flood and the ark were typical.
The father of N ouli was named Lamech, which name means "powerful", and the part played by Lamech in the drama of the flood pictured Jehovah, the Almighty God, whose power is without limitation and who is the :B'ather of ;Je8118 CIH'ist.
Noah played the part representing Christ Jesus. After Noah's birth his father uttered a prophecy which doubtless was spoken at the direction of Jehovah and is a part of the prophetic drama. The prophecy is contained in this text: "And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son; and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which 'the Lord ha th cursed."—Genesis 5:28, 29. ,
The name N oali means "rest" or "comfort", and in this he foreshadowed Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, who is the comfort and rest of Jehovah. In harmony with this it is wri Uen that, when Noah left the ark at the conclwdon of the flood, he built an altar unto God and offered sacrifiees, "and the Lord smelled a sweet savour [(margin) savour of rest] : and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake."’—8: 20, 21.
The earth was fUleri with violence, and God sent Noah to give warning of the impending deluge by whieh he would destroy all flesh 01' human creatures on the earth except those who found safety in the ark. '1'he flood came, with this result: The nephilim of Satan's invisible organjzation were removed from the earth ; the disobedient angels, "the sons of God" who had matel'lali,wd and formed unions with human women and produeed "mighty men", were removed by being imprisoned. and the offspring of that improper union were destro-yed, The only survivors were Noah and the members of his household, eight in alL—Genesis 6:1-20, American Revised Version. .
PURPOSE Of THE FLOOD
frhe Devil had set himself up as equal to Jeho-vah. He evolved schemes to reproach ,J ehovah;s name. He knew that Jehovah had commanded Adam to multiply and fin the earth. The Devil decided to prevent that from being done. He set about to debauch the human race and to fill the earth with a wicked peopk whom God would have to destroy. The Devil's scheme appeared to be making real progress. If he succeeded, the Devil concluded, he would prove his own supremacy and .Jehovah's inferiority. The result of the flood in destroying all except Noah's family would prevent Satan from carrying out his purpose and would be a vindication of Jehovah's name. It therefore appears that the primary purpose of the flood was the vindication of God's name and word, and closely connected therew’ith were matters concerning the human race relating to the filling of the earth.
Becanse of Noah's faith and obedience he was righteous in the sight of God. He is mentioned in the Scriptures as "a preacher of righteousness". (2 Peter 2: 5) God commanded Noah to build an ark, which he did, and which ark was a picture of God's organization under Christ as the Head thereof, which organization includes the members of the body of Christ. The family of Noah received and gave heed to the warning and believed on God, and because of their faith and obedience they were counted righteous, taken into the ark, and carried over the flood and saved. God declares that his purpose in having the ark built was to keep alive'the righteous ones of the human race.
The command of Jehovah given to Adam to "n'lUltiply and fill the earth" eould be carried out only by righteous creatures, and that must be done after all the wicked are removed from the earth. The flood and the devastation it wrought, therefore, was a picture of Armageddon, the great day of God Almighty, and the destructive work it will do.
PLAYERS
The players in that prophetic drama were, to , wit, Lamech, who pictured Jehovah God ; Noah, who pictured Christ Jesus and the members of his body ; and the ark, which pictured the organization Zion, of which Christ Jesus is thfl Head and Builder at God's command ; the deluge pietnring Armageddon. 'N e have the positive statement of the Scriptures that such drama was performed and recorded long ago for the comfort and hope of God's people on the earth at the end of the lJlorld, where we now are. (Romans 15: 4) With confidence we may exped to receive from the Lord an understanding of that prophetic drama, and the understanding of it will increase our zeal "'and hope.
The members of Noah's family were carried over the flood, finding safety in the ark; and the question is, Whom do they picture or represent in the prophetic drama'1 The Scriptural proof is that they pictured the "other sheep" of the Lord (J'ohn 10: 16), that is, those whom we now caD ".J onadabs" and who wil form the "great multitude"7.—2 Kings 10: 15-23; Revelation 7: 9-17.
N oah's three sons were born after Noah was 500 years old, and a short time before the flood. Likewise a short time before . Armageddon Christ Jesus, the antitypical Noali, begins the gathering unto himself of his "other sheep”, who fonn the "great multitude". A. long period of time elapsed from the birth of Noah until the birth of his three sons. Likewise a long IWl'iod of time elapsed from the bixth of ,T esus until the bringing forth of the Jonadabs, his "other sheep" o Now the kingdom is here and the <Tona-dabs are coming forth and appreciating the fact that it is their great privilege to learn about. and fully support the kingdOIl1 of God under Christ as the only means of salvation and vindication.
DELAY '
It has been argued that God delayed the setting tip of his Idngdom for six thousand years in order to permit a sufficient number of persons to be born and then die, so that at the resurrection there would be. enough to fill the earth. That argument is not supported by reason nor by any scriptures. There has been no delay, but God has permitted the Devil this period of time in order to have Iun opportunity to make good his challenge before the destruction of his 01'-ganization, and in that period of time God has taken out "a people for his name", which people must be witnesses of .Jehovah to bear testimony in the earth in fulfillment of God'1; prophetic utterance to the Devil recorded at Exodus 9: 16.
SELECTING THE GREAT MULTITUDE
The fiTst .essentiaI for one to be gathered unto the Lord is to hear the message of truth. That person then must exercise faith in God as the source of life, and in Christ Jesus as his Redeemer, whose precious blood bought the human race, and that Christ is the Administrator of Jehovah to give life. (Homans 10: 9-15) The Lord .Jesus came to the temple of Jehovah in 1918, gathered unto himself the faithful consecrated ones, judged and approved them, brought them into the temple, and instructed them, and then sent them forth to declare his message in order that his "other sheep" might be permitted to hear and flee to him for refuge. Thereafter the "other sheep" began to hear, but it was not un-ti1 1935 that the Lord disclosed to his people that his "other sheep" constitute an earthly class that shall live on the earth forever. What further steps must the "other sheep" take in order to receive God's approval and protection?
All .persons who receive the benefit of thH ransom sacl'ificf! must make a consecration Lv agreeing to do the will of God, and must openl;, confess this agreement to others. This must be done by the ,Jonadabs, and hence they must join with the remnant io become witnesses for the Lord. r:L'hey must find protection in God's organization, which shows that they must be immersed, baptized or hidden in that organization. The ark, which Noah built at God's command, pictured God's organization, and those who entered the ark and found refuge there from the deluge were thus hidden, and that was a picture of baptism, as stated by the apostle, to wit, "The ark ... wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by watf^r. 'The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us," (1 Peter 3: 20, 21) In fulfillment of that part of the picture Christ J eslU; has built God's capital organization, unto or under which the ,J onadabs must be immersed, baptized or submerged out of sight and completely separated and hidden from Satan's organization. Under the protection of the Lord's organization they may be safely carried over Armageddon. (Zephaniah 2: 1-4) Therefore the "great multitude" must find refuge and protection in the anti-typieal ark, being there hidden from the world.
A like picture was made when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, and concerning which it is written : "For I wish you not to be ignorant, brethren, that our fathers "vere aU under the cloud, and all passed through the sea ; and that all were immerse(l into Moses hI the cloud and in the Sea; and that all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink ; for they drank [water] from a spiritual Roek which followed them ; (but the Hoek was the Anoint-ed)."-l Corinthians 10: lA, D'ia,glott.
V:Phe Israelites were thus "baptized unto Moses", rrhose in the ark were baptized unto Noah. Both Noah and Moses pictured Christ ,JeS1J,S and his organization, therefore shmving Hlat all the ,lonadahs must come under the protection of the organization of which Chdst is the Chief. That is t11(Oi1' antitypical "city of refuge" (Numbm's 35: 6-:32), and there they must remain until the end of Armageddon. Being carried over Armageddon vvill prove that God counts them righteous. The ohedient Israelites found protection and safety from the waters of the J:ted Sea; those in the ark found protection al1d safety, while all others suif'C)I'ed destruction ; and both of those pietures foretold Armageddon, at which time those under Christ will find protection and safety, vvhile all the world will suffer destruction in the :fiery tribulation sue}} as never before was known. John the Baptist must have referred to that baptism unto Noah and unto Moses as typical of the baptisrn unto Christ when he said: "He [Christ] shall baptize you with the holy [spll'itJ and with fire." (Matthew 3: 11, 12) The "nre" manifestly refei-s to Armageddon, from the destructive effects 'of which those under Christ and in Christ will he protected. This is further proof that universal protection and "universal salvation" find absolutely no support in the Scriptures, but are a triek of the Devil to turn the minds of men away from Jehovah.
Those who as .J onadabs flee to Christ and there find protection must continue to seek righteousness and meekness as the Lord eom-mands. (Zephaniah 2: 1-3) They must study to know God's will and must be diligent to obey his commandments. 'fhey must be faithful ; they must be entirely devoted to God's kingdom, and must keep themselves separate from the world, refusing to participate in any worldly sehemes. Thus doing they have God's promise to be carried over Armageddon.
THE MANDATE
The fact that the divine mandate to "multiply and fill the earth" was given to righteous Adam before he sinned is conclusive proof that the mandate can be carried out only by righteous human creatures who live and bring forth children in righteousness and under righteous eon-ditions. Who, then, can fulfill that mandate ? Not the remnant (Homans 11 : ;)), of course, because they aTe spiritual and their abiding place is in heaven. ■
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