1936 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Download: PDF — 1936 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Report of Activities for 1935
THE WITNESSES
ORGANIZATION
GOOD WILL
OPPOSING ORGANIZATION
SALUTING A FLAG
FATE
AMERICA
MONEY STATEMENT
FACTORY
PRODUCTION
PREACHING BY MACHINERY
SHIPMENTS
PUBLICATION
RADIO HEARING
PUBLISHERS
DIVISIONAL CAMPAIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
SPECIAL SERVICE PERIODS
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
ORDAINED REPRESENTATIVES
CONVENTIONS
THE WATCHTOWER
THE GOLDEN AGE
ENEMY ACTIVITIES
RETROSPECTIVE
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
AFRICA (South, Central and East)
AFRICA (West)
ALSACE
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
BRAZIL
BRITAIN
BRITISH GUIANA
CANADA
CENTRAL EUROPEAN BRANCH
CHINA
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
DANZIG
DENMARK
ESTONIA
FINLAND
FRANCE
GREECE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
HOLLAND (THE NETHERLANDS)
HUNGARY
ICELAND
INDIA
ITALY
JAMAICA
JAPAN
KOREA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBURG
MEXICO
NORTHERN EUROPEAN OFFICE
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
POLAND
RUMANIA
SAAR BASIN
SPAIN
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
SYRIA
TRINIDAD
YUGOSLAVIA
CONCLUSION
YEAR TEXT
Year BooK of Jehovah’s witnesses for 1936
CONTAINING REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 1935, TOGETHER WITH DAILY TEXTS AND COMMENTS FOR 1936
Corporate Publishers:
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Peoples Pulpit Association
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.
Branch offices appear on last page
Copyright 1935
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
A. R. Goux
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
YEAR BOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses for 1936
Report of Activities for 1935
JEHOVAH GOD is the King of Eternity, the true and living God. Everything with him is orderly and done in order. Being diligent to do the will of the Most High, his witnesses earnestly endeavor to work in harmony and in complete unity. Being of God’s organization, they keep their accounts accurately and report annually, that each one may be advised of the forward movement of the witness work committed into the hands of those who love and serve God. Because the fiscal year is made to end with September 30, the annual report is made at that time. As each one studies the year’s report he will rejoice and give thanks to God that he has been permitted to have a part therein, and will earnestly and prayerfully consider how he may increase his efficiency for the service of the King.
When Christ Jesus ascended to heaven and there appeared in the presence of God he received his instructions from Jehovah, which he faithfully carries out. He was then the rightful Ruler of the world, but Jehovah’s time had not then arrived for him to begin his reign and therefore the instructions he received from Jehovah were: “Jehovah saith unto my Lord [Christ Jesus], Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Ps. 110:1, A.R.V.) The enemies consist of Satan the Devil and all his willing agents and supporters. Since Adam was expelled from Eden the Devil has held sway over wicked angels and wicked men. Since the dethronement of Zedekiah, Israel’s last king, which occurred in the year 606 B.C., Satan the chief enemy has been the god or invisible ruler of the whole world, occupying that position because Jehovah has permitted or suffered Satan to remain and to put forth his best endeavors to make good his boastful challenge to turn away men from Jehovah God. (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) In his own due time Jehovah would, as he declared, cause his name to be made known to the nations and peoples of the earth and would exercise his power against the enemy to the vindication of God’s holy name. Christ Jesus the Lord is the one appointed and commissioned to carry out Jehovah’s purpose. It is the will of God that must be done, and for that reason Jesus could not begin his reign until the due time appointed had arrived. He must wait until the time appointed for Satan and for full opportunity to carry out his boastful challenge, and then His reign should begin, and that when the enemy was still active. Because Satan the Devil has been in control for so many centuries crime and gross wickedness hold sway. “The end of the world” means the end of Satan’s rule without interruption. That end must come in due time, and the time is when God sends forth his beloved Son to reign. Until then, of course, Jesus Christ, the rightful Ruler, must wait. When that time of waiting ends Jehovah sends forth his anointed King to rule; as it is written: “Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion [saying] : Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. ’’ - Ps. 110: 2, A.R.V.
That long period of waiting came to an end in the autumn of 1914, and then were fulfilled the words of Jehovah: “I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2: 6, R.V.) Zion is the name of Jehovah’s organization. The “hill” represents the highest part; and the prophecy therefore means that Jehovah placed at the highest part, or capital, of his organization Christ Jesus the King of the world. It was in 1914 that Jehovah sent forth out of Zion Christ Jesus to rule and installed him as the Head and Ruler of his capital organization and his rule began. That marks the fulfillment of the prophecy as written: “Thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign, and the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came.” (Rev. 11:17,18, R.V.) The wicked and rebellious Satan refused to vacate, and war in heaven immediately followed, in which war Christ Jesus and his angels, expressing Jehovah’s wrath, fought against the Devil and his angels and the Devil and his angels were defeated and cast out of heaven and down to the earth, as stated in the Divine Record at Revelation 12:7-9. Long prior thereto it was authoritatively written in God’s Word that the proof to all watchful persons on earth that the end of Satan’s world had come would be the World War, in which nation would rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Matt. 24:7,8) That war came in due time, in 1914. The Devil caused that war among the nations for the purpose of destroying all mankind and to thus prevent men from having the benefit of the blessings of the Almighty God. Jehovah stopped the war and held back the expression of his own wrath for a season in order that the witnesses of Jehovah might carry the message concerning him and his kingdom to the people and nations of earth, informing them that the kingdom of Christ is here and that the Kingdom is the only hope of mankind, and that all salvation proceeds from Jehovah the Almighty God. It is then that Jehovah’s witnesses must begin to carry out the commandment written, to wit: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) Clearly this means that for a season immediately following the end of the World War, and until a fixed period of time, the Lord would cause the testimony concerning the Most High and the Kingdom to be given far and wide among the peoples and nations of the earth, and when that testimony work is done, says the Lord, ‘‘then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21) That great tribulation is the battle of the great day of God Almighty, otherwise called “Armageddon”.—Rev. 16:14,16.
It was in the year 1918 that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messenger of Jehovah, in obedience to the will of God, came straightway to build up Zion, the capital organization, and which is called “the temple” or dwelling place of God, and through which Jehovah God deals with his creatures. “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” (Ps. 102:16) “For the Lord hath chosen Zion: he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwells for I have desired it.” (Ps. 132: 13,14) “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.’’ (Matt. 25: 31) Christ Jesus appears at the temple for judgment, which means that he takes account with all those who have agreed to do the will of God. (Mal. 3:1-3) That judgment “must begin at the house of God”, meaning those who are in line for the Kingdom. (1 Pet. 4:17) That judgment resulted in gathering out and casting aside the “evil servant”, that is, a class of persons who had agreed to do the will of God and had been moved to action by reason of selfishness, and had not faithfully kept their agreement with God. That judgment also brought forth the “faithful and wise servant’’, meaning those who had agreed to do the will of God and who earnestly and faithfully endeavored to keep their covenant. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.” —Matt. 24 : 45-47, R.V.
It is the “faithful and wise servant” class the Lord Jesus brings into the temple of God, that is to say, into God’s organization, and anoints and commissions them to be the witnesses of Jehovah and then sends them forth through the land to give testimony before the nations of the earth. Such testimony must be given between the coming of the Lord to the temple and the day of the battle of God Almighty, or Armageddon. When such witness work is completed, according to the will of God, then the wrath of God will be expressed against all nations and peoples that have turned away from and against Jehovah and his King. Before that day of God’s wrath is expressed in the great tribulation the peoples of the nations must be informed in order that those of good will toward God may seek the Lord and his kingdom by taking their stand entirely on the side of God and serving him.—Zeph. 2:2-4.
THE WITNESSES
Upon whom is the obligation laid to carry the information concerning Jehovah and his kingdom to the people? Upon the company of persons whom God has taken out from the world as a people for his name. (Acts 15:14) It is that company of persons who are called out of darkness of this world, which is Satan’s organization, into the light of God’s kingdom and who must then show forth the praises of the Most High. It is the “faithful and wise servant” class, chosen of God and made into a nation or company of people wholly devoted to the Most High. To them the scripture is addressed, to wit: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”—1 Pet. 2:9.
Must the servant class, which is composed of God’s people, be compelled to engage in the service? No; compulsion is repugnant to Jehovah. Those who serve him acceptably must do so in the spirit of willingness prompted by unselfishness. Particularly is this true in the day of the expression of Jehovah’s power against the enemy organization, as it is written: "Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array: out of the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Ps. 110:3, R.V.) The words “the womb of the morning” here used mean the beginning of the Kingdom, that is, the birth of the Kingdom, when Christ Jesus is sent forth to reign and all those who have fully consecrated themselves to do the will of God, and who are faithful, offer themselves willingly in the service of the King. Their service is to do injury to no one, but to proclaim the truth of Jehovah’s purpose.
The name of Jehovah God must now be made known before he exercises his power in wrath to the destruction of Satan and his organization. The Lord Jesus Christ at the temple for judgment brings the nations before him by bringing to the attention of the nations the message of God’s truth. The people have been made blind by the fraudulent working of Satan and his agents, and now Jehovah will use his faithful witnesses whom he has taken out of the world for his name’s sake to inform the people of the truth, that they may have their eyes of understanding opened. Jehovah foretold this very day when he caused to be written these words: “Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things ? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, 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 Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?” — Isa. 43: 8-13, A.R.V.
What is the purpose of giving the testimony among the peoples and nations of earth? Not for the benefit of Jehovah, to be sure, because no creature can bring benefit to him. Not for the purpose of converting the World, because God makes no attempt to convert the world. The purpose is, as the Scriptures state, to inform the people that Jehovah is God, the Supreme One, from whom all blessings proceed, and that he will now give all persons of good will the opportunity of intelligently taking their stand on the side of Jehovah and receiving his blessings. All who do align themselves on the side of Jehovah God and his kingdom must do so willingly, and not by compulsion. Without some knowledge of Jehovah and his purpose it would not be possible for the people to take their stand on the side of the Most High and therefore receive the benefits from his kingdom. Those who hear the testimony and give heed to it are the ones who receive the blessings. Such are the ones whom Jesus described as the “sheep” class, sheep being used as a symbol of harmless and obedient ones.
It is only those who know and obey Jehovah God that will get life everlasting; as it is written: “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) For that reason Jehovah now affords the people who desire to live the opportunity to learn the way to life. To his witnesses, the faithful servant class, Jehovah now says: “I have made thee a watchman . . . therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them [the people] warning from me.” (Ezek. 3:17) The Lord tells his witnesses to give the warning, that those to whom the warning is given may make their choice, and upon them the responsibility rests when they hear the warning. Then says the Lord that if, when they are warned by the testimony, such refuse to hear, then they shall themselves bear the responsibility for their own death. But if the witnesses of Jehovah fail to give the warning testimony and men die because of such failure, then, says the Lord concerning the one who thus dies, "his blood will I require at thine hand,” that is, the responsibility will be upon the unfaithful witnesses. (Ezek. 3:17-21) God lays upon his witnesses the obligation to give that testimony as commanded. Is not this the same as compelling the servant to serve him by giving testimony? No. The punishment comes upon the unfaithful servant who fails to obey because that servant has made a solemn covenant or agreement to do the will of Jehovah God and then fails or refuses to carry out his agreement, and thus shows himself a covenant-breaker and not worthy of life; and it is written in God’s law that such covenant-breaker is worthy of death. (Rom. 1: 31, 32) The punishment is inflicted upon the witness because of his disobedience to the commandments of the Lord. He was not compelled to enter into the covenant, but having voluntarily entered into it he must keep it by faithfully performing. The same rule is announced in Acts 3: 23 to the effect that all who do not obey the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s great Prophet, shall be destroyed from amongst the people. Those willingly and voluntarily undertaking to follow Christ are in line for the kingdom of God and must fully comply with the law of the Kingdom if they would receive the blessings thereof. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) This illustration shows that one is not compelled to start to follow Christ Jesus, but, having once started, he must continue faithful in the performance of his agreement.
ORGANIZATION
Jehovah has builded up his capital organization, which must do his will. That organization is designated under the title “Zion”, the building up of which begins at the second coming of Christ Jesus, as afore stated. That organization is now built up, and Christ is the Head thereof and is designated under the symbol of Chief Corner Stone. His faithful apostles, now resurrected and with the Lord in heaven, are the twelve foundation pillars of that organization. He having now come to the temple and gathered the faithful unto himself, those on the earth who are. wholly devoted to Jehovah, and who have been anointed and given a place in the temple, are members and earthly representatives of God’s organization. The entire organization is at unity, or one, that is to say, in complete harmony, acting always under the direction of the Head, Christ Jesus. It is written concerning Christ Jesus, the Head, that he says: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40: 8) His faithful followers must be of the same mind. All those of the temple must delight to do the will of God and pursue the same course that Jesus pursued. (1 Pet. 2: 21) The time has now come for the fulfillment of the words that Jesus uttered concerning those who have been taken out of the world as witnesses for Jehovah, to wit: ‘‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21) They are all one, having one objective, and that is to magnify the name of the Most High.
To the end that the people may be informed and have an opportunity to believe on the Lord and his kingdom Jehovah’s witnesses in obedience to his commandments carry forward the testimony and present it before the people. For this purpose the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the Peoples Pulpit Association, and the International Bible Students Association were and are incorporated to meet the requirements of the law of the land in carrying forward the witness work in which the united company of Jehovah’s witnesses are engaged. The witnesses of Jehovah preach this good news of the Kingdom by public and private speech, by the use of the radio, transcription machines, sound cars, phonographs, printed magazines, books and booklets, and by carrying these from house to house and using them to publish to the people the truth, that they might hear and have an opportunity to believe and take their stand on the right side. These witnesses are not trying to increase the number in any so-called “church” organization, but are merely obeying God’s commandment to bring these truths to the attention of the people, and that for the benefit of the people.
GOOD WILL
At the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, the “man child”, the messengers sent from heaven announced in the presence of watching witnesses these words: “Glory in the highest unto God! and on earth peace, among men of good will.’’ (Luke 2:14, Roth.) This does not mean peace amongst the nations of the earth, nor peace amongst individuals of the world in general. The nations are not of good will toward God, and not very many men are of good will toward him: Manifestly this message from heaven means the peace which God gives to those who devote themselves to him. It is written: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1) This text applies to the spiritual class, who enter the race for a place in the Kingdom. All men, by reason of original sin, are at enmity with God, and it is only when a man exercises faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus and consecrates himself fully, agreeing to do the will of God, that he then receives the peace of God. (Phil. 4:7) When one by faith and consecration devotes himself to God and his organization, and the enmity of God toward that person is removed, he is then at peace with God. Such are the persons of good will, but are not in line for membership in the royal house. The announcement by the angelic host at the birth of Jesus, therefore, means peace on earth from God toward those who are of good will toward Jehovah.
The prophetic drama which clearly foreshadowed this class of persons of good will is recorded at 2 Kings 10:15-23. Jehu was devoted to Jehovah God. He was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the executioner of Jehovah. During the performance of his official duties he found Jonadab, and Jehu said to Jonadab: “Is thine heart right?” And Jonadab answered, “It is.” That meant that as Jehu was on the side of Jehovah God, such was the heart desire of Jonadab also. Then Jehu invited Jonadab to ride with him in his chariot that he might observe Jehu’s zeal for Jehovah, meaning his unselfish devotion to Jehovah. In brief, this man Jonadab pictured the class of persons who come in contact with Christ Jesus, the Greater Jehu, and who is represented on the earth by the anointed witnesses of Jehovah. From such they hear the message of the Kingdom, and believe it, and desire to obey the Lord and King. Because their heart is right toward him they seek the Lord. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ, the Greater Jehu, invites such persons of good will to join themselves to Jehovah’s witnesses and be their companions in service. Those who do so thus show good will toward God and Christ Jesus, and they then receive and have peace with God. They become the companions of the anointed class, that is to say, the companions of the “virgins” class, and are described in the Scriptures as “the virgins her companions that follow her". — Ps. 45:14.
During the year just passed Jehovah, by Christ Jesus at the temple, has made known to those devoted to him that the “great multitude” is not a company of spirit creatures that will have their eternal habitation in heaven; but that the “great multitude” and the Jonadabs are one and the same class. The description of the “great multitude” and the attitude thereof is stated in this language: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. 7: 9,10) The place of the great' multitude is on the earth, and their standing is before the throne of Christ Jesus, and there they are approved, and this is shown by the fact that they are clothed with white robes, a symbol of approval, and they hail the King, who is the Redeemer of man, and ascribe salvation to God and his King.
The great multitude is that same class which Jesus describes as his “other sheep”. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) When Jesus Christ appeared at the temple in 1918 for judgment, that judgment began with those in line for the kingdom; and then he devotes himself to the other sheep: “And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt. 25: 32-34) The work of separating the sheep from the goats is now in progress, and that work during the year 1935 has progressed to the glory of Jehovah God.
Jehovah’s witnesses are assigned a certain duty to be performed by them while the Lord is thus separating the sheep from the goats. The assigned duty of Jehovah’s witnesses is to publish the message concerning Jehovah God and his kingdom and to proclaim that Jehovah is God, and this work they do with great joy. The Lord foretold this work through his prophet, to wit: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." — Isa. 52: 7, 8.
The time has now begun during which time “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God”. (Isa. 52:10) Jehovah’s witnesses must bear the message of the Kingdom before the nations before the final end, which comes in the expression of Jehovah’s wrath. This they must do, because God has taken them out of the world for that very purpose. Their salvation now depends upon their faithfulness in doing what God has commanded them to do. That is the reason why the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and its associate organizations now carry forward the work that is being done. Jehovah’s witnesses, anointed and sent forward by the Lord, constitute the visible part of God’s organization on earth, and the Jonadabs, or “great multitude”, have joined themselves to God’s organization by participating with the anointed in doing the work.
The Jonadab company must be obedient to the Lord. To those who are of his organization the Lord now says: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) The bride here mentioned is made up of those who compose the royal house of the Lord, and these are the ones that proclaim the message of truth before the Jonadabs, and the Jonadabs are the ones who hear that message; and when they hear, the commandment is given to them in these words: “Let him that heareth say, Come.” Thus the Jonadabs join with Jehovah’s witnesses in informing the people that the water of life, which flows from the throne of God, is free to all who will conform themselves to the rules of the Lord’s kingdom. To the Jonadabs, or great multitude, the promise of the Lord is that if they continue faithful they may be hid during the time of Armageddon and pass through that time of great tribulation, and live for ever on earth, and never die. That is the reason why it can now be truthfully said that “millions now living will never die’’. They will live on the earth, and God will make the earth a fit and beautiful place in which to live.
OPPOSING ORGANIZATION
For many centuries Satan the Devil has been the invisible god or ruler of this world. ‘The whole world lieth in the wicked one.’ (1 John 5:19) Satan’s organization is extremely wicked and always acts in opposition to Jehovah. It was Satan who raised the question of supremacy as between himself and Jehovah, and now that question must be settled finally. Satan declared his ability to turn all men away from God, and now the final test is on to show that Satan is a liar and God is true. The success of Jehovah’s organization under Christ means the complete annihilation of Satan’s organization. There is a deadly conflict between the two organizations. All reasonable and thinking persons will discern at once that everything done by Jehovah’s organization under Christ is and will be opposed by Satan and his organization. Getting this truth fixed well in mind, it is easy to see why Jehovah’s witnesses are persecuted. The organization of Satan the Devil is made up as follows: The Devil is the head thereof, and associated with him is a host of wicked angels, all invisible to human eyes. On the earth the organization of men into governments is controlled and operated contrary to the will of Jehovah God, and therefore they are under the influence and control of Satan and do his bidding, whether men are aware of that fact or not. The three controlling elements of the visible or earthly part of Satan’s organization are these; Religion, led by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, with which are associated the so-called “Protestant” preachers, Jewish rabbis, and the principal of their respective flocks, and the simple ones that follow them. Supporting the religious element is that element which controls commerce, the chief men of whom employ religion as a camouflage to carry on their selfish business; and the third element is the political office-holders, who do the bidding of the commercial giants and hence are allies of the religionists. These three elements of Satan’s visible organization employ and control the public press so that their propaganda may be carried on according to their own ideas. For this reason the newspapers publish only one side of any controversy and refuse to publish the other side, and particularly any part thereof that discloses the truth of God’s Word. By this means the public press is a great instrument to keep the people blind to the truth. Every part of that organization is fighting against God and his people.
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy operates particularly through its secret order of Jesuits and has seized control of many nations, including Italy, Austria, Germany and other countries, and for years has desperately attempted to get complete control of the United States of America. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy is in fact a political organization, and employs religious ceremonies and sails under a religious name in order to blind the people concerning its real purpose. That organization is extremely selfish, cruel and grossly wicked. Pretending to represent God and his kingdom on earth the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in fact represents the Devil and is therefore the greatest hypocritical organization on earth. It follows the course of its father the Devil in deceiving the people and blinding them to the truth. The best evidence that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the chief instrument of the Devil on earth is the fact that it constantly engages in the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, because those witnesses bear the message of the truth of God’s kingdom to the people. The chief men in the commercial and political part of the organizations on earth have been made the principal men of the religious flocks. (Jer. 25: 34, 35) The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, by sly and subtle schemes, induces the political and commercial elements to do injury to Jehovah’s witnesses and to this end induces the political element to make laws to carry out selfish schemes for the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses and opposition to the kingdom of God.
During the year 1935 the Roman Catholic Hierarchy induced the legislative bodies of some of the states, including Massachusetts, to enact a law requiring school teachers and pupils to salute the flag of the United States at regular intervals. All sensible persons will see that there is no necessity for such a procedure. Honest persons do not have to be required to swear their allegiance to the law of the land. They obey the law willingly. The purpose of the modern flag-saluting business is to single out those who are devoted to Jehovah God and his kingdom and to bring them into disrepute by persecuting them because of their faithfulness. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy know that Jehovah’s witnesses are law- abiding persons and that they can find no occasion against them except by reason of their devotion to God. The Devil is the father of that scheme, and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the chief instrument of the Devil to put the scheme into operation. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, by this means, expects and intends to plant fear in the minds of the people and cause the people to remain quiet while the Hierarchy grabs control of the United States government and rules it by the hand of a vicious dictator, exactly as it now rules the German people. This is a part of the Devil’s scheme to cause all men to curse God and turn away from him.
Those who are devoted to Jehovah God have no objection, of course, to any person’s saluting any flag that such person desires to salute. Jehovah’s witnesses insist that this is a personal privilege of each and every one. The saluting of or salutation to a flag means this: “I depend upon what that flag represents for my salvation.” Those who know and serve God in spirit and in truth look to Jehovah God for salvation, and not to any man or any man-made organization. It therefore follows that the saluting of any flag by those who are in a covenant with Jehovah God to do his will constitutes the breaking of that covenant with God, and such covenant-breakers are guilty of death.—Rom. 1: 31, 32.
Recently a schoolboy of eight years, a son of one of Jehovah’s witnesses, was singled out to be used as a means of persecution upon Jehovah’s witnesses and to thereby put fear into the minds of other people. That young boy was directed to salute the flag. He declined to do so, stating that he served Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, and therefore could not salute any flag. The public press, which is the tool and publicity arm of the Devil’s visible organization, published throughout the land the fact that the young boy had refused to salute the flag; that he is a son of one of Jehovah’s witnesses; and that the Department of Justice of the United States is investigating the attitude of Jehovah’s witnesses. A like announcement was made public over the radio by those under the influence of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Thus The Associated Press and the other means of propaganda by the Hierarchy published throughout the land just enough, and no more, to bring Jehovah’s witnesses into the limelight in an undesirable attitude. Then The Associated Press requested the president of the
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society to issue a statement of the attitude of Jehovah’s witnesses and the reason therefor. That statement was furnished, getting forth the position of the followers of Christ Jesus, but the press declined publication of the same because it stated the truth and exposed the fact that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is back of the flagsaluting scheme, and that its purpose is to mislead the people and to withhold from the people its cruel purpose of seizing the United States government. In order that the position of Jehovah’s witnesses might be plainly stated the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, on the 6th day of October, 1935, broadcast its position over a chain of fourteen radio stations, to which radio stations the commercial rate was paid, in order to get this truth before the people. Thus Jehovah’s witnesses, at a money sacrifice to themselves, attempted to aid the people in hearing the truth, and the public press throughout the country not only attempted to prejudice all the people against Jehovah’s witnesses but refused to publish the statement showing the side of Jehovah’s witnesses. This shows their unfairness and that they do not desire the people to know the truth, and that Satan’s entire organization, as above described, follows his own course of resorting to lies, fraud and misrepresentation to keep the people in ignorance.
That a record may be kept of the position Jehovah’s witnesses occupy, as defined in the Scriptures, that radio broadcast is set forth as a part of this report, to wit:
SALUTING A FLAG
[Broadcast over chain October 6, 1935, by Judge Rutherford]
Recently much publicity has been given to the ease of Carleton B. Nichols, Jr., a schoolboy of tender years, who declined to salute the American flag and sing “America”. He is the son of one of Jehovah’s witnesses. The Associated Press has requested me to express my view of the matter. This I do from the standpoint of a true follower of Christ Jesus. To many persons the saluting of the flag is merely a formalism and has little or no significance. To those who sincerely consider it from the Scriptural standpoint, it means much.
The flag representatively stands for the visible ruling powers. To attempt by law to compel a citizen or child of a citizen to salute any object or thing, or to sing so-called “patriotic songs”, is entirely unfair and wrong. Laws are made and enforced to prevent the commission of overt acts that result in injury to another, and are not made for the purpose of compelling a person to violate his conscience, and particularly when that conscience is directed in harmony with Jehovah God’s Word.
The refusal to salute the flag, and to stand mute, as this boy did, could injure no one. If one sincerely believes that God’s commandment is against the saluting of flags, then to compel that person to salute a flag contrary to the Word of God, and contrary to his conscience, works a great injury to that person. The State has no right by law or otherwise to work injury to the people.
For many centuries Satan the Devil has been the invisible ruler of the nations of the earth. God has suffered or permitted him to so act in order to put a test upon the human race to determine how many will serve God willingly and how many will serve the Devil. For that reason Jehovah God gives this commandment to those who will receive His favor (Ex. 20:3, 5): “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. . . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.”
At the third chapter of Daniel the Divine Record states that in violation of God’s law the government of Babylon made a law commanding all persons, when the national hymn was played, to fall down and worship before a certain image and that those who refused would be put to death in a fiery furnace. Three Hebrews who had covenanted to serve Jehovah God refused to obey that commandment and said to the king: ‘We have no need to obey you in this matter; and if it be that you cast us into the fire, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace; and he will deliver us.’ The test was on. The three Hebrews were cast into the furnace; and because of their faithfulness God delivered them, and thus put his disapproval upon the emblem-saluting law of Babylon.
The present-day attempt to compel school children and others who believe in and serve Jehovah God to salute any flag or sing any song is exactly in line with the Babylonish law just mentioned. To salute a flag means, in effect, that the person saluting ascribes salvation to what that flag represents, whereas salvation is of Jehovah God. The Hitler government, a stench in the nostrils of all honest people, requires all persons of Germany to give a certain salute and to cry out, “Heil Hitler!’’ and those who refuse to do so are severely punished. At the present time more than twelve hundred of Jehovah’s witnesses are in prison in Germany because of the commission of the ‘grave offense’ of declining to shout, “Heil Hitler!” They trust in Jehovah God and in Christ Jesus, and not in man.
Jehovah’s witnesses are men and women who have fully pledged themselves to obey the commandments of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. They fully comply with the commandment of Jesus, who said: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s?’ (Luke 20:25) The meaning of that declaration of Jesus is this: Jehovah God is supreme, and his law is above all human laws. "Casar” stands for the state or human law. All laws of the state or government that are not in conflict with God’s law should be gladly obeyed by all who are devoted to Jehovah God. When the law of man is in conflict with the law of Jehovah, then the Christian cannot obey that law of man. The apostles of Christ Jesus placed this exact construction upon the words of Jesus. In answer to charges of violating the law of the province or state they said to the high court: ‘‘Whether it be right in the sight of God [for us] to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ... We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 4:19; 5:29) Jehovah’s witnesses take that same stand. They gladly obey every law of the land that is not in conflict with God’s law. But when the law of man is in direct conflict with God’s law, they cannot and will not comply therewith.
It is written, at Romans 13:1: ‘‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers”; and many wrongfully hold that ‘‘the higher powers” are the visible rulers of the nations of earth. This scripture is addressed to the followers of Christ Jesus, and to no others, and ‘‘the higher powers” are Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, and every true follower of Christ Jesus must obey God in preference to man.
The flag of the United States is not the flag of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. It is the emblem of the power that rules the nation; and no one can truthfully say that God and Christ Jesus rule a government where crime is rampant. Men have organized governments, and Satan the Devil overreaches men and rules them because of their refusal to obey God, and hence the nations of the world are under the control of Satan the Devil, as stated at 1 John 5:19:
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the Evil one.’’ (Weym.) In proof of this, mark the words of Jesus. That the Devil is the invisible ruler of the world, note this from the Bible: Satan took Jesus up on a high mountain, and, being the god of this world, he showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and offered to give them to Jesus upon condition that Jesus would fall down and worship the Devil. Jesus refused and said (Matt. 4:10): “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.’’
In further proof, Jesus, at John 12:31, stated that Satan is the prince or invisible ruler of this world. At John 18:36, he said: “My kingdom is not of this world.’’ Jesus directed his followers to pray to God saying (Matt. 6: 9-12): 'Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven. ’ At 2 Corinthians four it is written that Satan is the god of this world and deceives and blinds the people to the truth.
Jehovah’s witnesses are true followers of Christ Jesus and must obey his commandments. To them the Lord says (John 15:19): “Because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.’’ At John 8:23: “I am not of this world.” At John 14:21: “He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” Concerning his followers it is written in the Scriptures (Phil. 3:20): 'For our citizenship is in heaven.’ (Roth.) At 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” At 1 Corinthians 10:14: ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, flee from idolatry.’ This commandment is based upon the commandment at Exodus 20; 4, 5.
FATE
Jehovah’s witnesses are in a solemn covenant or agreement to obey God and Christ Jesus, and for them to break that covenant means their destruction, as it is written, in Romans 1: 31, 32, that “covenant breakers . . . are worthy of death”. At Acts 3:23 they are told that every one who does not obey Christ shall be destroyed. When Jesus was about to be put to death the Roman governor pointed to Jesus and said to the Jews, “Behold your King”; and the Jews answered, “We have no king but Cesar. ” (John 19: 14,15) They were in a covenant to obey God. Their repudiation of their covenant resulted in their destruction. The question to each of Jehovah’s witnesses therefore is: “Shall I obey every command of man and die, or shall I obey Jehovah God and live?”
Jehovah’s witnesses are not a sect or cult. They are true followers of Christ Jesus. The Bible is their only creed. God has given them a banner or flag, and that is his message of truth, as stated in Psalm 20: 5. Jehovah commands his witnesses to “lift up a standard for the people” (Isa. 62:10), meaning that his witnesses must raise God’s standard of truth and point to that as the only salvation of man. Every nation has a different standard; and therefore none of these are God’s standard.
The Pilgrim fathers left the oppressive nations in Europe, and landed in New England, because of their sincere desire to be free to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. It now appears that in Massachusetts, the very cradle of American liberty, an oppressive rule is attempted to be enforced that takes away the liberty of the citizen to worship God as God has commanded that man shall worship. The government or state is wholly inconsistent and unfair in compelling citizens to salute the flag. No one is injured by a man conscientiously serving God as he is commanded by the Lord. Jehovah’s witnesses are thoroughly devoted to God and Christ Jesus, and they will obey the laws of God always, and will obey the laws of the state or nation that are not contrary to God’s law. No government has a right to compel a man to violate God’s law in which he conscientiously and implicitly trusts.
The Supreme Court of the United States, in Church vs. United States, 143 U. S. 457, authoritatively ruled that the American government is a Christian nation. 'If the nation is standing by that ruling of the Supreme Court, then the nation must recognize the law of God as superior to the law of man, and where the two are in conflict the Christian must obey the law of God.
On the ships that ply the sea the Roman Catholic service is held. At that service the flag of the pope is displayed above the flag of the United States. The United States Senate went on record, in February, 1929, as favoring the right of the flag of the pope to be thus displayed, and this appears in the Congressional Record No. 47, page 2851. In that instance the senator from Massachusetts took the position that the flag of the pope is the flag of God. I wholly disagree with him in that regard; but giving him credit for believing that the flag of the Catholic church is the flag of God his words are appropriate. He said: “I for one refuse to depart from the time-honored American custom of placing the emblem of God above every other emblem of the world. I will not run down the pennant of God for any other emblem.” The Senate, by a vote of 68 to 10, sustained the senator in that position. The United States government is therefore estopped from saying that the flag of the United States should be honored above Jehovah God.
The most important question before the peoples of earth now is, Whom do you choose to serve, Jehovah or Satan the Devil? The crisis is here because the end of the Devil’s reign is at hand. Soon Christ Jesus will destroy all of the Devil's organization visible and invisible, and that includes all who take their stand on the side of the Devil. Each person must choose for himself. There can he no compulsion on either side. As for Jehovah’s witnesses, they will serve and obey Jehovah God.
It is a great pity for the people who attend the churches that their clergymen fail to teach them the truth of God’s Word. For their neglect the clergymen are doubly responsible. Today the combined church organization celebrates “loyalty day’’. Do they mean loyalty only to man? If entirely loyal to God they do harm to no one. To compel the saluting of the flag, thereby saying in symbol, “We look to the flag for salvation,” is doing great harm to man and reproaching the name of Jehovah God.—Gal. 6:10.
The Baltimore Evening Sun editorially expresses the true American sentiment in these words:
“For our part, we glory in Carleton’s spunk. Any statute requiring that the flag be saluted by school children is an insult to the Stars and Stripes, and ought to be resented by all patriots. Is our national ensign a swastika flag, to be respected only by forced salutes? Since when has the Star- Spangled Banner so lost the respect of the people over whom it flies that laws are necessary to make them pretend to honor it? What a disgraceful thing it is to assume that the flag would not be saluted if people were not afraid to refuse the tribute of respect! ... It is supposed to float because its people have raised it of their own free will and uphold it out of preference—not because they fear it, but because they love it. If the time has come when they must be compelled to pay it a formal and forced tribute, then the time has come to-haul it down and hoist in its place some red or black banner of dictatorship of force and fear.’’—Baltimore Evening Sun of September 28, 1935.
The Nichols lad has been taught by his parents to serve and obey Jehovah. He has made a wise choice, declaring himself for Jehovah God and his kingdom of righteousness. All who act wisely will do the same thing. The great multitude that serves God is revealed as saying: “Salvation [salutation] to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the [Christ].’’— Rev. 7 : 9, 10.
Real American citizens who love the principles of the Bill of Rights and the fundamental law of the land, who believe in freedom of thought and freedom of speech, and, above all, in the right of man to worship God. according to the dictates of his own conscience, will commend the lad, Carleton B. Nichols, Jr., for the bold stand he has taken for Jehovah. It is foolish to attempt to make good citizens by compelling them to act as hypocrites.
For more than 150 years honest Americans have obeyed the law without being compelled to salute the flag. Why the burning zeal to now compel flag-saluting? The reason is this, and once again I warn the American people, that the same power that caused Fascism and Hitlerism to seize governments in Europe is moving to seize control of the American institutions, and the policy of compulsory flag-saluting is but a part in that program to put fear into the minds of the people and compel submission to an arbitrary dictator. One mighty religio-political organization is back of the entire program. That organization is not the honest Catholic population, but it is the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, operating from Rome, in its determination to rule the whole earth. It has its political ambassadors in almost all countries. On March 8, 1934, a special cable dispatch from Rome to the New York Sun states that a definite agreement has been reached by President Roosevelt and the Vatican and that diplomatic relations shall be established between the United States and the “Holy See’’ as soon as public opinion in America can be brought around to the idea. Compulsory saluting of the flag is in line with Hitlerism and a part of the studied, diabolical effort to bring the people around to the Roman idea. It is high time that the loyal and faithful American people realized this great peril. True and honest men of America, in which class Jehovah’s witnesses are included, do not need shotgun methods or prisons to compel them to do what is right.
The public press is a part of Satan’s visible organization and does the bidding of that organization. It is the desire of the Devil and his agents to prevent the people from knowing the following salient facts, to wit:
That the United States Supreme Court has officially decided that the law of God is higher than the law of the nation because God is supreme, and that the American government assumes to be a Christian nation; and that in harmony therewith Jehovah’s witnesses have properly construed and applied the law of man and God, that is to say, the Christian must obey God’s law first, and must refuse to obey any law of man that is in conflict with God’s law.
That the United States Senate by an overwhelming vote has decided that the flag of the Catholic church is superior to the flag of the United States, and therefore that during the papal service the flag of the pope should be displayed on the American battleships above the American flag and given preference thereto.
That President Roosevelt has assured the pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, that the United States government will enter into diplomatic relations with the Hierarchy as soon as the American people ean be brought around to see it that way; that the flag-saluting is a part of the scheme of the Devil and the Hierarchy to put fear into the minds of the people and bring them around to the point of agreeing that diplomatic relationship with the Vatican is the proper thing.
That the position taken by Jehovah’s witnesses concerning flag-saluting is the proper and Scriptural one and in harmony with the law of the land.
If the people could come to know and understand these things it would interfere with the scheme of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy to seize control of the American government.
As further proof that the public press does not publish the truth but willingly resorts to lies in an attempt to strengthen the position of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, mark the following: After the broadcast aforesaid, setting forth the position of Jehovah’s witnesses concerning flag-saluting, and after the press had been furnished, at its request, with a complete copy of that speech, it refused to publish the speech, but in its very next issue did publish the untrue statement that the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society had ordered a strike in the vicinity of Boston concerning flag-saluting. Not only is that published statement untrue, but it is a deliberate lie published for the purpose of bringing reproach upon Jehovah’s witnesses and furnishing further excuse for their persecution. The president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society has no power to call a strike concerning flag-saluting, has not done so, and will not do so. On the contrary, the position of Jehovah’s witnesses is plainly stated in his speech to the effect that saluting the flag is an individual matter that each one must decide for himself, and that the true follower of Christ Jesus cannot consistently salute any flag, because by doing so he attributes salvation to what the flag represents, whereas salvation proceeds from God alone.
During the fiscal year the Roman Catholic Hierarchy has induced and caused the persecution, the arrest and imprisonment of many of Jehovah’s witnesses, and continues to do so. In New Jersey and other, states many of Jehovah’s witnesses have been imprisoned on the charge of distributing literature without a permit from the police, the issuance of which permit rests within the discretion of police officers. One who has covenanted to do the will of Jehovah must obey his commandments and therefore could not ask a permit of some earthly creature to do what Almighty God has commanded shall be done. The duty of the Christian is to obey God’s commandments. It is also his duty to obey the laws of the land as long as such laws do not conflict with God’s law. The law of the land is that men shall ask a permit to go from house to house with literature, and the law of God is directly in conflict therewith, which means that those in a covenant with him shall go from house to house with the message or gospel of the Kingdom and tell it to others and present it to them in printed form. The question is not one to be debated by the followers of Christ Jesus, because they must obey God first and all the time. The apostles of Jesus Christ were arrested because they went about the city from place to place preaching the gospel, and when arrested they construed God’s law exactly as here stated. A court before whom they appeared instructed the apostles that they must not teach in the name of Jesus Christ: “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.’’ (Acts 4:15-19) “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Such is the correct position that must be taken by all followers of Christ Jesus. For this reason they could not ask a permit of an imperfect man to do what God has commanded them they must do.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah’s great Prophet, of whom Moses was a type. Jesus utters the commandment of Jehovah God with absolute authority. To those in a covenant with God Jesus commands: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) The true followers of Christ Jesus will not stop to ask the question as to whether they shall preach this gospel of the Kingdom, but will gladly obey the commandment at the risk of their earthly lives. It is far better to puffer indignities and punishment at the hands of men than to disobey God and be destroyed. Those who do refuse to obey the commandments of the Lord shall suffer destruction, as stated: "It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23) The opposition of Satan's organization, therefore, cannot be permitted to deter faithful men and women who follow Christ Jesus in doing their duty as commanded by the Lord.
In Quebec, which is ruled and ridden by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, Jehovah’s witnesses during the year have been arrested, tried, and convicted of the "crime of seditious conspiracy”. The facts upon which such conviction was obtained are these: That Jehovah’s witnesses went throughout the city of Quebec and distributed freely to the people without charge booklets containing the message of God’s kingdom, and which message, including the words of the prophets and Christ Jesus, exposed the wickedness of Satan’s organization. Those truths angered the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and in order to give vent to their cruel hatred they caused the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those faithful witnesses of the Lord. Thus the Hierarchy has kept the people of Quebec in ignorance of the truth and continues to prevent them from understanding the truth. If the Lord Jesus Christ were in Quebec today he would be imprisoned and would be crucified, because he would continue to proclaim the message of Jehovah God.
In Germany the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society work has been completely destroyed, although individuals of Jehovah’s witnesses still continue to tell the truth. In that land hundreds of Jehovah’s witnesses are imprisoned, and some brutally killed, because they attempt to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles and proclaim the Kingdom, which is the only hope of mankind. Furthermore, for meeting together in their own houses for the study of the Bible these witnesses of Jehovah are arrested and thrown into prison, and this is done at the instance of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, There is not one of Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany that is harmful. His only offense is being faithful to the Lord. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy organized in Germany the Communists and used that organization as a scarecrow to put fear into the minds of the people, and then the Roman Catholic Hierarchy brought into existence the Nazis and with that organization seized control of Germany and put one Hitler up as absolute dictator. The real power behind Hitler is the Jesuit organization of the Hierarchy. In Germany it is now a high crime to refuse to salute the swastika and cry out “Heil, Hitler!” To be sure, no one who is in a covenant with Jehovah God will give that salute and cry out “Heil, Hitler!” because it means “Salvation by Hitler”, whereas salvation is of God through Christ Jesus, and there is no other way whereby men might be saved.—Acts 4:12.
It is easy to be seen that the peoples of this world are under the Devil’s control and the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses continues solely because they are proclaiming the message of God's kingdom that is in opposition to the Devil’s organization. But persecution has not deterred and will not deter the faithful witnesses of Jehovah. They are not at all surprised or alarmed by reason of such persecution. Long ago Jesus foretold this very time. He said to his faithful followers: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 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 15:18-20.
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