THIS JOURNAL

ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS journal is published for the purpose of aiding the people to understand the divine plan. It provides systematic Bible study in which all its readers may regularly engage. It gives announcement of the visits made to Bible classes by traveling speakers, announces conventions, and gives reports thereof. It announces radio programs and publishes suitable Bible instruction for broadcasting.

It adheres strictly to the Bible as God’s revealed Word of Truth. It stands firmly upon the great ransom sacrifice as the fundamental doctrine by which all doctrines are measured. It is free from parties, sects and creeds of men. It does not assume a dogmatic attitude, but confidently invites a careful examination of its utterances in the light of the infallible Word of God. It does not indulge in controversies, and its columns are not open to personalities.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

THAT JEHOVAH is the only true God, the Maker of heaven and earth, and is from everlasting to everlasting; that the Logos was the beginning of his creation; that the Logos became a man; that he is now the Lord Jesus Christ in glory, clothed with all power in heaven and in earth.

THAT GOD created the earth for man, created perfect man for the earth and placed him upon it; that man wilfully disobeyed God’s law and was sentenced to death; that by reason of Adam’s wrongful act all men are born sinners and without the right to life.

THAT JESUS was made a human being in order that he might become the Redeemer of man ; that he gave his life a sacrifice for man and thereby produced the ransom price; that Jesus the divine was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and presented the value of his human sacrifice as the redemptive price for man.

THAT FOR MANY CENTURIES God, through Christ, has been selecting from amongst men the members of his church, which constitutes the body of Christ; that the mission of the church is to follow in the footsteps of her Lord Christ Jesus, grow in his likeness, give testimony to the name and plan of Jehovah God, and ultimately be glorified with Christ Jesus in his heavenly kingdom; that Christ, Head and body, constitutes the “seed of Abraham” through which all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

THAT THE WORLD HAS ENDED; that the Lord Jesus has returned and is now present; that Jehovah has placed Christ Jesus upon his throne and now commands all nations and peoples to hear and obey him.

THAT THE HOPE OF THE PEOPLES of earth is restoration to human perfection during the reign of Christ; that the reign of Christ will afford opportunity to every man to have a fair trial for life, and those who obey will live on earth for ever in a state of happiness.

Yearly Subscription Price

United States, $1.00; Canada and Miscellaneous Foreign, $1.50; Great Britain, Australasia and South Africa, 7s. American remittances should be made by Express or Postal Money Orders, or by Bank Draft. Canadian, British, South African and Australasian remittances should be made to firanclt offices only. Ilemittances froni scattered foreign territory may be made to the Brooklyn office, but by International Postal Money Orders only.

[(Foreign translations of this journal appear in several languages.}', [Terms to the Lord’s Poor: All Bible Students who, by reason of old age or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May stating their case and requesting such provision. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually find in touch with the Berean studies.

Fotice to Subscribers: Acknowledgment of a renewal or a new subscription will be sent only when requested. Change of address, when requested, may be expected to appear on address label within one month. A renewal blank (carrying notice of expiration) will be sent with the journal one month before the subscription expires. ‘Entered as Second Class Mall Matter at Brooklyn, N, Y,, Postofftce.

Act of March 3, 1879,

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY

WATCH TOWER BIBLE &. TRACT SOCIETY

117 ADAMS STREET - BROOKLYN, N. Y., U. S. A.

OFFICERS

J. F. RUTHERFORD President          W. E. VAN AMBURGH SecreMry

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE -       - J. F. RUTHERFORD

W. E. VAN AMBURGH J. HEMERY R. H. BARBER E. J. COWARD

FOREIGN OFFICES

British...........34 Craven Terrace, London, W. 2, England

Canadian .............40 Irwm Avenue, Toronto, Ontario

Australasian .... 7 Beresford Rd., Strathfield, Sydney, N. S. W_, Australia South African ..........6 Lelie St., Cape Town, South Africa

Please address the Society in every case

SPECIAL SERVICE WEEKS

Designating certain weeks during the year for special service to the Lord in advertising bis kingdom has had the Lord’s blessing. This is the best evidence that we should continue this practice. Where a definite time is set and notice given ahead, the anointed remnant can prepare and arrange their affairs so as to devote the time to special field service.

For the year 1929 two separate weeks have been selected. The first will be the week beginning May 19 and ending May 26. This will include two Sundays. Notice is now given that the anointed in every part of the earth may have ample time to prepare. The British Empire is now the great world power. Within its domains there are a number of the Lord’s anointed. It will be their privilege to give the witness in these countries, to the glory of the Lord’s kingdom, likewise in the United States, the anointed will have the same opportunity.

The second drive or field service week will begin August 25 and will include two Sundays and one holiday, to wit, September 2, Labor Day in the United States.

Regional service directors and local service directors everywhere will please take notice and prepare the organization for united action during these two service weeks.

VACATION

The vacation date for the Bethel Family office and factory force at Brooklyn is fixed for the two weeks beginning August 18 and ending September 2, 1929. This gives two full weeks. During that period of time there will be no general convention, and therefore all who take advantage of this period for vacation may arrange for special field service wherever they spend their vacation.

As to all other countries, it will be desirable to have the vacation in the same period if convenient. If not convenient, the local managers will fix the vacations in the countries respectively which best suit the convenience of the majority of the brethren.

The classes will please have these dates in mind and send in any orders so that they can be filled prior to August 18, as no orders to the office will be filled during the time above mentioned, the period of vacation. During the period of vacation the Bethel Home will be closed.

OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE

It seems likely that we shall find it necessary to Increase our factory force at Brooklyn from time to time to care for the increasing work. Any unencumbered brothers desiring to participate in this branch of the service will be sent questionnaires. When returned to us they will be filed for call when required.

AND REPAID OF CHRISTS PRESENCE

JEHOVAH SUPREME

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” —Isa. 59:1.

JEHOVAH is long-suffering and merciful. His mercy is great unto the heavens, and his loving-kindness is for ever extended to them that know and obey him. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but when his creatures continue in the way of wickedness and with no attempt at reformation, their destruction becomes a necessity for their own good. Every act of Jehovah is therefore unselfish. God is love.

• ² Pride and vainglory cause some to disregard the mercy and loving-kindness of Jehovah God. Seeing those in danger who have made a covenant with him, God sends them a warning. Those who are still in possession of some meekness will hear the warning and change their course of action. Those who are proud and impressed with their own importance will not heed, but v ill harden their hearts toward God and his work. When the attempt is made to aid such to see the way of the Lord, the effort is repulsed and the proud assume that, because of the effort being made, they are needed by the Lord. Believing that they have developed such an approved character that the salvation of man and the operation of the universe requires them, they go on in their own selfish way.

• ³ The Prophet Isaiah (fifty-eighth chapter) is caused to sound a warning to those who have made a covenant with God and who have transgressed in violation of that covenant. The prophecy indicates that there are many who have taken their own selfish way in utter disregard of their covenant and God’s Word, although they have been offered the opportunity to serve God. The same prophet (fifty-ninth chapter) utters the sequel to the preceding prophecy. In both chapters the prophet who speaks is the anointed and approved prophet of Jehovah God, and therefore represents the class on earth today who are faithful and true to the Lord as witnesses. To such the Lord has committed his kingdom interests represented by his goods. As the instrument of Jehovah, the servant class takes its stand before those who refuse to heed the prophet’s warning and says to them: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save. ’ ’ The inference must be drawn that the disobedient have assumed an attitude that God can not get on without them. The prophet then tells them in substance that Jehovah is supreme and needs no one to help him. Regardless of what the creature may do, Jehovah’s prepared plan of salvation for man will be worked out exactly according to his will and exactly in due time. Everything that Jehovah does for man is for man’s own good.

• ⁴ The purpose of the warning is a manifestation of mercy and loving-kindness on the part of Jehovah extended to those who have become lukewarm and indifferent to their covenant privileges. The words of the prophet are addressed to those who have spurned the warning. Those who continue in that attitude separate themselves from God. Even though a man has made a solemn covenant with the Lord, if he gets into a bad way, God does not save him from that condition until the creature admits his error and calls upon God for help. To such the Lord had already said that if they would turn away from their wrongful course and cry unto him he would hear and help. “Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.’’ (Isa. 58: 9) But the prophet shows that some do not repent and cry unto the Lord. On the contrary, they continue in their way of iniquity. Then says the prophet of the Lord to them: ‘God’s ear is not heavy, that he can not hear.’ The cries of those who are repentant and desirous of service to God, he will hear, and he will lead them and help them.

• ⁵ Then the prophet addresses those who continue to oppose God, and says: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.’’ (Verse 2) The marginal reading is, “sins have made him hide his face from you.” That means that God’s favor is withdrawn from them. If the lawless ones have separated themselves from God, what good could result from calling attention thereto? Manifestly the purpose is to awaken some of the weaker ones who are in danger and to rescue them from the influence of the stronger, self-willed ones who continue in the wrong way. It is a part of Ilie warning which God commanded his servant to give, as set forth in the fifty-eighth chapter. To be sure, God would not have the warning sounded forth for his own good. It is an act of loving-kindness on his part toward those who have consecrated themselves to do God’s will. It is a warning for them to break away from the sinister influence of men and delight themselves in the Lord.

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• ⁶ That the danger might be realized for their own good, the prophet of God then proceeds to set forth the terrible condition of those men who deliberately oppose the way of the Lord God. It would be a waste of time and effort to appeal to such as have, by reason of their iniquities, persisted in a course that has caused God to hide his face from them. If, however, there arc those who are being held under the influence of the workers of iniquity and who can be made to see their danger and their opportunities to escape therefrom, then the warning and the recounting of the deeds of the iniquitous persons might result in good to those who will hear and obey.

• ⁷ God through his prophet makes it plain that it is not a lack on God’s part that causes such consideration, but is the lawless course taken by proud and unrepentant ones that has separated themselves from the Lord. It is their sins which have ‘made him to hide his face from them’. Then the dreadful situation of such is made known by the words of the prophet, to wit:

• ⁸ “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” (Verse3) Doubtless the course of iniquity by such workers was begun by evil surmisings and evil words spoken against their brethren. The tongue is a great enemy. Concerning it it is written: “And the tongue is a fire, the world of wickedness; thus is that tongue rendered among our members, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by gehenna. . . . but the tongue of men no one is able to subdue, an irrestrainable evil, full of death-producing poison.”—Jas. 3:6, 8, Diacjlott.

• ⁹ An effort is made to hinder the work of the Lord by evil speakers using their power against it. Their desire is to kill the Lord’s work, and thereby they defile their hands with blood, which is a symbol of death. Their fingers, representing even their smallest efforts, are defiled with lawlessness. By their unlawful course these have corrupted themselves. It seems quite certain that the evil class here mentioned includes those clergymen or leaders in the denominational church systems who claim to represent God and yet who deliberately persecute those who they know are striving to serve God. Furthermore, the iniquitous ones embrace those who have been favored with the truth of God’s plan and who by reason of their perverseness haro joined with the clergy in opposition to the work of the Lord. All such opposers are of the antichrist.

• ¹⁰ If the clergy were just, they would surely say: ‘Let the Bible Students tell what they know about God’s Word, and let the people judge as to whether or not they are right.’ On the contrary, they say to the people: ‘Don’t hear anything the Bible Students tell you. Burn their books and read nothing they bring you.’ Those who have been in the truth and then turn against the work of the Lord have entered into a combination with the clergy to accomplish an evil purpose against the Lord’s people. Whether they know it or not, they are working to the same end. They know that the clergy arc doing injustice to those who arc striving to be witnesses for God, and yet they join with the clergy in seeing that the Bible Students should say nothing against the Devil’s organization. Once in the truth and then turning from it, and thus separating themselves from God, no more do they plead for justice and truth, but they speak against justice and truth. They trust in their own vanity and speak lies. Therefore the prophet of God, continuing to speak of and concerning them, says:

• ¹¹ “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.” (Verses 4, 5) These opposers are in combination against the work God has commanded his anointed to do. They are working to the same end, to wit, the destruction of the work of God's anointed. They weave webs like the spider to ensnare the gullible. As food for such they provide that which is likened by the Lord unto cockatrice’ eggs, which results in death to those who feed upon that food. They resort to lies to accomplish their unlawful purposes, and when these arc crushed or exposed to others they break forth like vipers to destroy everything in their way. Continuing the prophet says:

• ¹² “Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.” (Verse 6) The proud and vain workers of iniquity deceive themselves and try to cover up their evil course by an outward appearance; but the Lord declares that these webs they weave shall not be a garment to cover them. They do not deceive the Lord’s elect by their works, and of course they do not deceive the Lord. They do deceive some who follow their advice, but the Lord through his prophet says that their works of iniquity shall be uncovered; and without a doubt this is done for the benefit of the ones who have been put under the yoke of the workers of iniquity. God offers the opportunity for the breaking of that yoke, that the less guilty may escape. Continuing to describe the evil done by those who are opposing the message of God’s kingdom, the prophet says:

• ¹³ ‘ ‘ Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” (Verses 7, 8) The Apostle Paul, addressing the Jews, emphasizes the fact that man can not by his own efforts make himself righteous; that this can be done only by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, and then by following in the footsteps of Christ Jesus in doing God’s will. He shows that the praise of men or the approval of men could result in no benefit, but that God alone must approve. (Rom. 2:29) He then quotes the above words from the Prophet Isaiah to show the condition of those alienated from God. But the context, both of the words of the apostle and of those of the Prophet Isaiah, shows that they are applicable to the people who have known the way of God and who by their perverse heart and course of action have separated themselves from God. (Rom. 3:1-22) Therefore the words of the prophet would mean that those thus described as having taken the evil course have been brought down to the lowest level of iniquitous humanity. These words show that the clergy and those who have held positions of confidence and trust among the people of God, such as elders and leaders, and who have turned away from God, are the most reprehensible of all creatures aside from Satan himself. Such are the same as those described by the psalmist. “Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slander-est thine own mother’s son.”—Ps. 50: 20.

• ¹⁴ These concoct schemes of evil against those who were once their brethren because brought forth by the same covenant. The student of God’s Word is reminded of a terrible condition that existed at a former time amongst men. (Jer. 6:5) The prophet of God, in the eighth verse above quoted, says that these workers of iniquity have made crooked paths for their feet. They have made common cause with Satan’s organization by turning from the Lord and persecuting his people, and therefore the way of peace is not known to them. Jude describes those who “speak evil of those things which they know not”. Then he describes them as those who like Cain would murder their brother. He that hates his brother is a murderer. Again Jude describes them as those who, like Balaam, preached for reward or approval of men; and again, as those who, like Core, refused to hold the head and therefore refused to follow Christ as head of God’s organization. The fact that record is made of such shows that this class is amongst the people of God. Then Jude says to them: “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” (Jude 12, 13) Whosoever therefore follows where such men lead will find themselves hopelessly involved in the way of evil; and continuing therein, their end will be destruction. The warning of the prophet is, doubtless, to recover the ones that are being influenced by the evil class described by Jude.

• ¹⁵ Those who have proudly walked in the way of evil have deceived themselves and others. (2 Tim. 3: 13) They have become bold and brazen. They have once known the Lord and turned away from him and have then come to realize that they have no light but that they walk on in the darkness. Then God, by and through his prophet, makes such speak against themselves. Be it noted that in their speech there is not the slightest expression of regret for their terrible condition. The prophet records them as speaking of themselves thus:

• ¹⁰ “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us; we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”—Verses 9-13.

• ¹⁷ The words of the prophet here seem to say that such workers of iniquity come to know how dreadful their course has been and is. They know that they have taken a lying course against Jehovah and have spoken in revolt of his Word and in repression of his service. These workers of iniquity are not satisfied to be steeped in evil themselves, but if they see one trying to depart from evil and take the right course in serving the Lord, they make that person a prey. Then God speaks by and through his prophet concerning the result of the evil course of the workers of iniquity and says:

• ¹⁸ “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey; and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.” (Verses 14, 15) With those who have taken the course of evil against the Lord and his work, truth is fallen in the street or by the wayside, and equity and righteousness can no more be with them. So far as they are concerned, the truth has failed. Once knowing the truth, there was no excuse for them to fail to see that God would have his anointed ones testify to his name and his works while he proceeds to set up his government for the benefit of man. They had no reason to refrain from calling attention to the enemy’s organization, its blinding influence and effect, and great oppression of mankind. There was no excuse to refuse to tell the people that God with his strong arm would dash to pieces the enemy organization and deliver mankind. They revolted against the truth and joined with the oppressors. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no proper conclusion reached by them that work against the cause.

IN COURSE OF FULFILMENT

• ¹⁹ The facts show that the prophecy here under consideration is in course of fulfilment, and that must mean that God intends for his anointed now to have some understanding thereof. It was in the year 1918 that the Lord came to his temple, and there judgment came upon those who claimed to be followers of Christ Jesus. (1 Pet. 4:17) It was about that time that the nominal church systems, under the leadership of their clergy, rejected in toto the Lord’s plan and adopted the Devil’s plan of salvation. It was about that time that great distress came upon the anointed of the Lord, and many who had professed to be walking according to present truth turned back and began the persecution of their brethren. Such thereby joined the enemy. Since that time both the nominal church clergymen and those who departed from the truth have been working to the same end, whether by actual agreement or not. Their object has been the overthrow and destruction of the Lord’s work on the earth. Both classes of these opponents should have been active in honoring the name of Jehovah by declaring his name and plan of salvation for the people instead of following their own selfish devices. Proud and arrogant, they have exalted themselves and followed their own selfish course. They induce themselves to believe that they have the work of salvation in their own hands, and they would do it in their own way. Displeased with the course of action God’s anointed take in obedience to his commandments, the opposers have persecuted the remnant of the Lord. God announced his displeasure with these workers of iniquity, and through his prophet says: ‘The hand of the Lord is not shortened, that he can not save. ’

• ²⁰ The Lord has no need of any other. Surely he needs not those who work iniquity. Then says the prophet: ‘Neither is his ear heavy, that he can not hear. ’ God hears those who cry unto him in sincerity and in truth and grants his favor unto them. This terrible condition having obtained, and seeing that the workers of iniquity were dragging others with them, God directs his servant class to ‘cry out aloud, and lift up the voice like a trumpet, that his people may see their transgressions’. This he does that they might turn away from the transgression and no longer be deceived by the proud, self-centered and lawless ones. That message is given forth by the true lovers of God and of his righteous cause. The workers of iniquity who profess to be of the Lord, whether in the truth or out of it, God now declares to be against him and therefore proves they are false. The goodness of God hardens the heart of such, even though they still call themselves by his name. Among these workers of iniquity there is no one who will make a move toward repentance or make an intercession with God. Therefore says God through his prophet:

• ²¹ “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.” (Verse 16) The due time arrives for God to act. He sends forth the faithful servant class to represent him. These are under the direct supervision of Christ Jesus, the great right Arm of Jehovah God. These faithful servants are in partnership with God and with Christ, because they walk in the light and rejoice to do the will of God. (1 John 1:7) Armed in the holy cause of God, in righteousness the servant class comes forth. God himself is in supreme command thereof; and his beloved Son, as the Head of Zion, and all who are of Zion, go forth in complete harmony to represent the Lord. The prophet of God, then speaking concerning the faithful servant class of Jehovah, Christ and his body members, says:

• ²² “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. ” (Verse 17) The battle is Jehovah’s and the time has come for him to get himself the victory. The prophet here speaks also concerning the servant class which is now, in obedience to God’s commands, clothed in the armor of the Lord. These “put on righteousness as a breastplate”, because their heart devotion to God is whole and complete. They put on the “helmet of salvation” as the servant class of the Lord, because they are all of one mind and that is the mind of Christ, the Head of Zion. They intelligently and obediently follow the Lord. The servant class furthermore ‘put on the garments of vengeance for clothing’ because they are identified as the ones commissioned by Jehovah to declare the “day of vengeance of our God” and they do it. (Isa. 61:2) The servant class is “clad with zeal as a cloke”, because these have the approval of God and possess the burning zeal peculiar to his house. Such is the armor of Almighty God, and is so described by the Apostle Paul. (Eph. 6:10-18) All who are in harmony with Jehovah must be thus clothed. Clad in the accoutrements of warfare and in the capacity of an avenger, God and his entire organization move on to the scattering and punishment of the enemy and to the complete vindication of Jehovah’s name. God remembers the degree of iniquity of the evil class, and he deals with them accordingly. Concerning such, through his prophet he says:

• ²³ “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.’’ (Verse 18) God will show his fury against those who have deliberately opposed his work of righteousness and will recompense those who have stood on the side of the enemy. There are those amongst God’s people who have faith in God but who are looking to the time when they may enter into his glorious realm. Concerning his commandments to sing forth his praises they are negligent and indifferent. They are content to meditate upon the Word of God and do nothing. But they do not rely upon the restless world. They do not put their trust in the power of restless humanity. Such are of God’s organization, and are described as Jerusalem which shall be taken in the battle. (Zech. 14:2) They are otherwise called the great multitude. (Rev. 7:9) They come in for a just recompense in the great tribulation that will mark the complete overthrow of the enemy’s organization. In another part of the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet mentions the faithful servant class as speaking to the same class, thus: “Listen, 0 isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far.’’ (Isa. 49:1) In the prophecy here under consideration (Isa. 59:18) the prophet of the Lord says: “To the islands he will repay recompence.” The prophecy therefore must mean that when God’s fury is expressed against the adversary those of the great company class will receive a just recompense due them.

• ²⁴ The prophet represents the faithful servant class as a part of God’s organization participating in the battle against the enemy. It is the battle of Almighty God, however, and Jehovah does the real fighting by and through Christ Jesus, his beloved Son and chief executive officer. The remnant class is counted in as participating in the battle, because these sing forth the praises of Jehovah and at the same time give notice of his purpose of avenging and vindicating his name. As the forces of righteousness move on in battle those who hear and heed the warning are represented as looking up from the west toward the rising sun which marks the beginning of the manifestations of God’s almighty power. As these take note they will begin to fear the name of the Lord God and to observe his glory and manifestation of his power. Concerning such, the prophet further says:

• ²⁵ “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (Verse 19) In this verse the Authorized Version reppresents the enemy as coming in like a flood. The Revised Version renders that part of the text thus: “For he shall come as a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord driveth.” Whichever rendering is accepted as correct, we know from this and other scriptures that Satan will assault the people of God like a rushing flood and that God will drive the enemy and his forces asunder and completely wreck his organization. For the encouragement and comfort of those who have a hearing ear, the prophet then says:

• ²⁰ “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.” (Verse 20) God thus declares his purpose to fully protect and save Zion by the hand of his beloved Son, the Head of Zion. The words of the prophet here also show the reason for God’s causing this prophecy to be recorded concerning those who become desperately wicked. That purpose is shown to be as a warning to all of the house of Jacob who still possess some love for God. The great Deliverer comes also “unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob”. Again God shows his mercy and loving-kindness to those who do not harden their hearts but who turn to him and joyfully obey him. In corroboration of this prophecy, by another prophet God shows that some will harden their hearts.—Ps. 95: 8-11.

• ²⁷ In harmony with this prophecy of Isaiah, Jesus declared that he would send forth his angels and would ‘gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and all that do lawlessly’, and that then the righteous should shine forth as the sun. (Hatt. 13: 41-43) That day of shaking and separating of the false from the true is at hand. Let all who are of God’s organization take warning. Let no one of the household of God be influenced or guided by any human being on earth. God declares that ‘no flesh shall glory in his presence’. (1 Cor. 1:29) It could not therefore be pleasing to God for any one to glory in the learning, ability or acquisition of a fleshly being. Let all the followers of Christ take full warning of this. There may be in an ecclesia some eldei; who has long been held in high esteem and confidence by the members of that ecclesia, and to whom many have looked for advice. If that elder opposes the Lord’s work, particularly the giving of testimony now to the name of Jehovah and the declaring of God’s vengeance against the enemy’s organization and of God’s purpose to set up his kingdom of righteousness, do not heed the advice or follow the course of that elder. Look to the Lord and his Word for guidance. The things which he has heretofore caused to be written were written for the encouragement and comfort of those now on the earth. (Rom. 15: 4) No man’s advice, regardless of who he is or what position he holds, should be taken when that advice or course of action is contrary to God’s Word.

• ²⁸ God commissions his anointed to declare the day of his vengeance against his enemy and to tell of his great works and the establishment of his kingdom of righteousness. (Isa. 61:1-3; 43:10-12; 12:1-6) Any man or woman who advises against any or all of the anointed’s participating in giving this witness is giving such advice contrary to the Word of God. The advice of no such opposcr should be taken by any one who is consecrated to the Lord.

• ²⁹ Each consecrated one has a responsibility before God to know his Word and to obey it. God has made it so plain in his Word that he has called out a people for his name to give testimony concerning his name and plan that there is no excuse for any of his children now to err as to the will of God. If one who loves God supremely, who seeks his counsel and is guided thereby, follows that righteous course, he will be fully protected from the blinding influence of the enemy. Those who take a contrary course shall suffer that which God, through his Prophet Isaiah, in the prophecy here under consideration, points out.

• ³⁰ The Lord draws a contrast between those who trust him fully and those who turn aside unto their crooked ways: “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, 0 Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity; but peace shall be upon Israel.”—Ps. 125:1-5.

• ³¹ Without a doubt the warning is given for the benefit of those who have an honest desire to be pleasing to the Lord and who are in some measure wrongfully influenced in taking a course that they are now taking. If such as are the Lord’s people heed his warning and ‘turn from their transgressions’, they have the promise of God’s blessing. Concerning such the prophet says: “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.” —Isa. 59:21.

• ³² Jehovah delights in blessing those who delight themselves in him. He will have his family be a joyful and glorious one. To the wicked and erring ones he extends his mercy and loving-kindness that they may return to him and receive the blessings which he has in store for those that truly love him. Let the remnant be not at all discouraged by the harsh criticism leveled against them by the opposers of the truth. Let the lukewarm ones of the Lord’s people arouse themselves and put on the zeal peculiar to the Lord’s house. Let all take courage and press on in the keeping of God’s commandments. Let all who are God’s anointed ones henceforth and for evermore sing the praises of our God.

QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY

In what are .Teliovali’s long-suffering and mercy manifest? To whom are his warnings given? Describe the circumstances necessitating the Lord’s bringing his words of warning to the attention of his people. Point out the purpose of such counsel, and how differently two classes receive it. fl 1-4.

Seeing that the lawless ones have separated themselves from God, justify calling attention thereto. fl 5-7.

In the light of the apostle’s statement (Jas. 3: 6, 8), how, doubtless, have the iniquitous and sinful come into their condition of defilement? What are the facts supporting this conclusion? fl 8, 9.

Show how those who have separated themselves from present truth are really in combination with the clergy against the Lord’s people and his message of truth. Quote the Lord’s judgment against these, as recorded in verses 4 and 5, and show the application thereof. fl 10, 11.

Show that the iniquitous attempt to conceal their works, and whether they will succeed thciein. Give the words of the Prophet Isaiah, describing the condition of those alienated from God. The application is to what class, as shown by context? What does the apostle say as to the means by winch a person is justified? How do the psalmist, the Prophet Jeremiah, and the Apostle Jude refer to these? What in the words of each indicates that these workeis of iniquity are amongst the people of God? Then how timely is the Lord’s warning to his people now? fl 12-14.

In the prophet’s words respecting those who have once known the Lord and have turned away from him, what admission do these themselves make concerning their present condition and their attitude toward those who would face about and take the right course? Then how should even neglect and indifference, as a beginning of iniquity, be regarded by God’s people? fl 15-18.                                        ’

Explain why since 1918 many have turned away from present truth and have joined the enemy. Describe the position now taken by that class. fl 19.

Dor what purpose, then, does God direct his servant class to ‘cry aloud, and lift up the voice like a trumpet’? Under what arrangement ami supervision will the servant class go forth to carry out their commission? Describe their armor and their peculiar zeal. fl 20-22.

Identify the “adversaries”, the “enemies”, and the “islands”, referred to in verse 18. How will God deal with each of these classes? fl 23.

What is the part of the remnant class in the battle of Almighty God? fl 24.

What, activity on the part of the enemy is suggested in verse 19, and what results? 5 25.

Apply, “The Redeemer shall come (a) to Zion, and (b) unto them that turn from tiansgression in Jacob.” fl 2(i.

Locate the day referred to in Matthew 13: 41-43. By what standard only must all counsel, whether of elders or of others, be weighed? What should be the attitude of every one of the Lord’s people toward any indifference or opposition to engaging heartily in the witness work now to be done? Point out the personal responsibility of each of the anointed in this respect, fl 27-29.

The psalmist draws what contrast between the faithful and those who turn aside? State the promise given to those who heed the warning and “turn from their transgressions”. Clearly, then, what is the proper procedure for the faithful remnant at this time? fl 30-32.

[Thirty-minute

HE great majority of people are taught that when a person dies he is more alive than ever.

This belief is common among Christian people and is shared by heathen people as well. It is quite common, on funeral occasions, to hear expressions like this: ‘There is no death; what seems so is merely a transition from one scene of activity and life to another. Your loved one is not dead: he is present with us today and fully aware of what is taking place on this occasion.’

The foundation for such belief is found in the age-old doctrine that every man possesses an immortal soul that can not die. This doctrine is held alike by both heathen and Christian. It is supposed that every person has somewhere in his body something that is called a soul, and that at the moment of death this soul escapes from its prison and lives on in either a more happy or a less happy environment, depending on whether or not the individual has repented of his sins and received forgiveness. If a proper repentance has occurred and a proper forgiveness received, the individual is supposed to live on in glory, as a spirit being, happy beyond the power of words to describe. If, however, such a forgiveness has not been given, it is supposed that the individual will continue to live on either in an intermediate state called “purgatory”, or in a horrible place called “hell” to be tormented by the Devil and a horde of imps throughout all eternity.

Those who believe that dead people are more alive than ever find themselves in great difficulty when considering the Bible doctrine of a resurrection of the dead. Their belief makes confusion in their minds on this subject of the resurrection; for if a man who dies is more alive than ever, then how can he be resurrected'? And if he is alive and happy, and has shaken off this old mortal coil, as the body of flesh is often called; if he has escaped from the prison of the flesh, and is free from its limitations, why should a resurrection be necessary or even be desired?

In an effort to avoid this confusion, they are driven to the necessity of claiming that it is the body that is resurrected, at some most distant date, and will be united with the soul again. As a result they have a man-made “Apostles’ Creed” that none of the apostles ever saw, which has a sentence in it as follows: “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” The claim that it is the body that dies and will be resurrected adds more confusion to that already existing in their minds, for the Scriptures tell us in most emphatic language that it is the soul that dies, and that the body will not be resurrected.

Let me quote some of the proofs. In Ezekiel 18; 4, 20 we read: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Also, in 1 Corinthians 15:37, 38, we read: “Thou so west not that body that shall be, . . . but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him.” Thus do the Scriptures deny the teaching of the creeds. Moreover, every one knows that our present bodies are not desirable. They are full of w’ounds and bruises and putrefying sores; pains and aches, disease and death. If it is true, as claimed by the creeds, that when a man dies he has escaped out of the prison-house of his old body, why want to come back into the prison? If one has thus escaped into a larger life and is beyond the limitations of the flesh, and enjoying bliss unspeakable, then, to resurrect the body and reunite it with the soul would mean to fetter the soul with all the handicaps that it formerly had. Thus we see that the theory, that it is the body that dies and is resurrected, only intensifies the confusion on this subject and places it in violent conflict with the teachings of the Scriptures.

The resurrection of the dead is one of the most important doctrines found in the Bible. Every Christian should have a proper understanding of it, and should not be content until he has such an understanding. To reach this understanding, it is of the utmost importance that he discard the teachings of the creeds and go directly to the Bible for his instruction. To the reverent and honest student the Bible furnishes a most complete and satisfactory explanation of two important questions, namely, What is meant by the word “resurrection”? and, Why is a resurrection necessary?

The word “resurrection” means to restore to life again. It means that a being has formerly had life, and for some reason has lost the same, and will receive back again the life that had been lost. This, which is the Bible explanation, is very simple. Even a child can understand it. But if one is handicapped by the creeds, he has been taught that a person who dies has not lost anything, but, on the contrary, has gained something, because he now lives on a higher plane, in a better environment, and enjoys a larger liberty than he did before he passed through what the creeds call the gate of death. In the creeds, death is pictured as a door or gate into higher life; but the Bible never pictures it thus. In the Bible, death always means to pass out of existence; it means the very opposite of life.

Over and over the Bible confirms this thought. In Ecclesiastes 9:5 we are plainly told that “the dead know not any thing”. Again, in Psalm 146:4 we are told that a dead man “returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish”. If, as the Bible teaches, a man who is dead knows nothing, if even his thoughts are perished, then it becomes an easy matter to discern what a resurrection means and why a resurrection is necessary.

A question that must be considered in the discussion of this subject is, How did man become subject

to death ? Why is death necessary, and why does God permit it? The Bible clearly answers all these questions; but the creeds are silent on them for the reason that the creeds assume that there is no death.

According to the Bible, God created this earth with the benevolent intention of making it the home of a happy and sinless race of human beings. With this purpose in view, he started the race in Eden and commissioned Adam and Eve to multiply and increase and fill the earth with their posterity. But God also purposed that no one could have everlasting life on earth unless he should first prove himself loyal to God and obedient to his law.

Hence God placed the first man under certain tests, in order that he might prove his worthiness to live for ever on the earth. Under this test, the divine arrangement was that if the man proved disloyal and disobedient, he was to die. This meant that he would forfeit and lose his life and his right to live. God did not tell Adam that he would go to eternal torment; he did not tell him that death would be simply a doorway into a higher and better life; but he did tell him that death would be the punishment for disobedience. Paul says that “the wages of sin is death”. (Rom. 6:23) God told Adam that he would return to the dust as he was. Let us get this thought in all its significance; namely, Death is a penalty for disobedience, and is not a reward for obedience.

After Adam had sinned he was driven out of his beautiful Edenic home and left alone to die. He had forfeited his right to his home and his right to live. God deserted him; or more properly speaking, he had deserted God. After 930 years of struggle against the death penalty which had been pronounced against him; after trying in every way to keep himself alive, by eating the fruits of his own labor, he finally succumbed to the inevitable and passed into death.

This means that he passed out of existence, and that if he ever has life again it must be a gift from God in the nature of a resurrection and a restoration to his former condition. His posterity were born under this same condemnation and, like Adam, have gone down into death, have returned to the dust as they were, which means that they have ceased to exist. They are dead, sleeping in the dust of the earth, and awaiting a resurrection which God has promised all through his Word.

God has promised just such a resurrection and restoration, by all the prophets and apostles who have written the Bible. He has purposed that Jesus, the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45, 47), shall first ransom the first Adam and all his posterity from the power of the grave, as recorded in Psalm 49:15 and Hosea 13:14, and that then the second Adam shall recover for the first Adam and his posterity just what the latter lost for himself and them, namely, the right to go on trial, to pass other tests intended to prove their loyalty and obedience, and give them, if obedient, just what was promised Adam if he had obeyed in the first trial in Eden, namely, eternal life.

This is why Jesus could say: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” (John 11:25) Again, Jesus said: “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Now an excellent question is, What was lost? And the Bible tells us in most unequivocal terms that Adam lost the right to live on earth. This is what he will receive again, and his posterity will receive, at the hands of the second Adam.

What a glorious prospect lies just ahead of the present time for the human family! How grand it will be when the graves begin to open and the dead begin to come forth again, not to sickness, pain, disease and death, but to be restored to the perfection of being that Adam lost in Eden!

This great work is to be accomplished by Jesus, who, as the second Adam, the great agent of Jehovah God, will reign a thousand years. During the thousand years he will bind the Devil and restrain every evil work and every person that would do iniquity, and will write the law of God on every human heart. Then for the first time those children of Adam who are called ‘ ‘ heathen ’ ’ will learn why they had to die: that it was for the disobedience of the one man. They will also learn for the first time about the loving plan of God for their ransom from the curse of death, and their deliverance into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. They will learn that Christ died for their sins and made a resurrection possible for them. They will have their first opportunity to prove their loyalty and obedience to God.

During the thousand years all those who have died in infancy will come forth from the tomb, and for the first time will learn of the love of God and of Jesus and will have an opportunity to prove their loyalty and obedience and their right to live eternally on the earth. During this same thousand years all those people who have been blinded by the creeds, who profess to be Christian and yet do not know the truth, will come forth from the tomb and have an opportunity to honor their heavenly Father by believing the truth; and this will be the first time they will ever have fully understood and appreciated the same. They will then unlearn the creeds which have so blinded them in the past.

Who is to blame for these creeds, which have hidden the truth for centuries ? The answer is that, primarily, Satan is to blame. He is the great adversary of God. He delights to misrepresent God and the Bible. It serves his purpose so to do. He is a wily creature, and realizes full well that if he can make creeds that misrepresent God and the Bible and get the people to believe the creeds, they will, of course, believe that the Bible supports the creeds. Satan has also taught the people that the creeds summarize the teachings of the Bible, and, therefore, that if they know the creed it is not necessary to study the Bible; hence we find that most people think that Bible study is unnecessary. In fact, many people believe that it is dangerous to study the Bible, and say: ‘ If you pry into God’s secrets too much you will go crazy.’ Such remarks are of Satan and are designed to keep people from investigating the Bible; for he is well aware that if people study the Bible they will shortly repudiate the creeds.

Bible study is delightful as well as instructive. It reveals God’s plans and purposes to his amazed creatures. It clarifies the truth. On the contrary, the creeds confuse, perplex, frighten and discourage the people. Many people who believe the creeds inwardly hope they are not true, and some with more liberty than others openly express this hope. The Devil has the people so in bondage to the creeds that if any one doubts or denies them he is immediately branded as an infidel or a heretic; and the Devil has made people believe that it is a great disgrace to be called an infidel or a heretic. This feeling, that they will be disgraced, only increases the bondage.

But how could Satan succeed in this work of blinding and deceiving the people? The answer is that he has worked through human dupes. He finds among the human family some men and women who are ambitious; who like to shine among men; who like to be leaders of thought, leaders in some important movement. They like to have a following and to have their names emblazoned on the front page of the newspapers, or to have their names go down in history. These people like to draw attention to themselves. Having selfishness enthroned in their hearts, they are unfit for the service of the Lord; and so the Devil, who is the very embodiment of selfishness, uses them to further his selfish purposes. Selfish people are not particular whom they slander or misrepresent if they can accomplish their ends. So Satan uses such people to start some creed. Then he uses other selfish people to popularize it. He can find plenty of people who will, for a money consideration, print and circulate the same, and write up news items extolling the virtues of the said creed. Soon it has a following. Innocent and guileless people are duped into believing that it is supported by the Scriptures.

Again, Satan uses another class of superstitious people, a class who love the occult, the mysterious; who love to delve in mesmerism, hypnotism, black art or healing of disease. lie panders to their ambitions, and uses them to foist on the race false ideas of divine healing, of communication with those who have died, and makes them believe they are heaven’s favorites by giving them what seem to be miraculous powers by which they can do secret and occult things. This appeals to certain ones and soon crystallizes into a creed. Thus many more are deceived.

These creeds, of which there are hundreds in the earth, are contradictory one of another, as well as contradictory of the Bible. Nevertheless, great colleges and theological schools are built to educate others in the creeds and send them out to poison other minds and blind them to the beauties of Jehovah’s plans and purposes. In this way Satan has perpetuated the creeds and fastened them with viselike grip on the minds and consciences of millions of people. It is an undisputed fact that it is the clergy of our day who are teaching these creeds to the people and urging them to worship and venerate these more than the Bible. Thus the clergy become the tools of Satan, some of them ignorantly so, and others wilfully and maliciously so.

The doctrine of the resurrection is a most beautiful doctrine. Nothing could be more comforting, and surely nothing could be a greater honor to Jehovah God, nor prove his love and power more. Why should any one refuse to believe the plain and beautiful teachings of God’s Word? There are several answers to this question. Some men esteem themselves too highly and therefore put their own views ahead of the teachings of God’s Word. Others esteem some other man or men too highly and put the sayings or teachings of these men ahead of the Word of God. Others are so extremely selfish and dishonest that they allow their love of money, position or power to swerve them from honoring Jehovah God. Still others have not taken the time to investigate and are conscientiously believing and teaching the error. Being conscientious in their beliefs, they oppose those who advocate the truth.

The Bible calls attention to two resurrections, a first resurrection and an afterward resurrection. Why the two resurrections? we ask; and the answer is just as beautiful and harmonious as one could wish. When Jesus was on earth, at his first advent, he was continually pointing forward to a coming kingdom. He taught his followers to pray for that kingdom. Other Scriptures show that that kingdom is a thousand years long; that it is right here on the earth; and that during that kingdom Satan is to be bound in order that he may deceive the nations no more.

Now comes a most wonderful fact, namely, that Jesus invited 144,000 men and women to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow in his footsteps. He told these to “search the Scriptures”; to “preach the word”; and that if they were faithful they would have all manner of evil said about them falsely; that they would be persecuted, reviled, and that some of them would be killed. This would be a test of their loyalty and obedience; and if they faithfully stood the test these would come up in the first resurrection and reign with him during that thousand years. Their reward would be glory, honor and immortality, and they would get this reward in the first resurrection.

Speaking of the first resurrection, of this 144,000, Jesus said: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; . . . they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6) Jesus also said of them: “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.”

This explains why there is a first and an afterward resurrection. The first resurrection is for this elect, special class, who will faithfully follow in Jesus’ footsteps now and prove their loyalty and obedience to Jehovah God now. They are to share in the kingdom work with Jesus. These will assist Jesus in the work of awakening all the rest of the dead and bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. Their reward will be a heavenly one, for it is written that they ‘shall be like the Lord and see him as he is’.

The rest of the race will be awakened to life on the earth again and have an opportunity to prove faithful and loyal during the thousand years, under the special help and ministration of Christ and the faithful elect church.

Other scriptures show that some will carry their selfishness and ambition to the length of refusing to come into harmony with God and that such ones will be destroyed in the second death. The Bible repeatedly refers to the second death; but the creeds are silent about it because, if the creeds were true, that a man, when he dies, is more alive than ever, how would a second death be possible?

The Bible teaching of a second death for the wilfully wicked is a point-blank denial of the creeds.

Answering the question, then, Why is a resurrection necessary? The Scriptures clearly indicate that it is necessary in order that people may have life. Without a resurrection death would end all. People would remain for ever dead. There would be no hope for the race, as Paul most emphatically states. He says: “If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then- is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Cor. 15:13, 14) Ah, yes! If there be no resurrection, there can be no hope for any member of the race; and it would be useless to try to preach the gospel, for the reason that there would be no gospel to preach: no hope to set before the race and no basis for a proper faith.

The resurrection of the dead is the logical result of the death and resurrection of Jesus; and for any one to teach that the dead are more alive than ever completely nullifies the beautiful, harmonious and consistent doctrine of the resurrection of the dead as taught in the Bible.

WHAT I [Thirty-minute THE word “hell” is a Bible word. Among professing Christian people it is generally supposed to be a place where sinners are everlastingly tormented in a literal lake of fire and brimstone, at the hands of a wicked creature, called the Devil, who is aided in this work by a host of lesser devils. It is claimed to be, and taught to be, a place of indescribable cruelty and suffering. Parents, who love their children, have been guilty of threatening them with this everlasting torture for some slight offense against parental authority or for some mischievous act; and children who have been taught this cruel doctrine have suffered untold agony and spent many sleepless hours, fearing that the Devil or some of his imps would come to carry them to this place of torment.

Mothers and fathers have likewise suffered in anguish of heart, believing that a loved son or daughter who died without having joined some church was suffering in this place of fiery torment, never to be released. Many Christian people honestly believe that infants dying without being baptized must always suffer this same torment because their parents neglected to have the rite performed.

It is also generally believed that all those liars,

S HELL?

radio lecture]

thieves, murderers, adulterers, bribers, grafters, profiteers and those who indulge in other forms of sin, who die without being converted must spend eternity in this torment. It is further claimed that those fortunate ones who succeed in getting into heaven can look over the battlements of heaven and see their loved ones writhing in torment and still be serene and happy themselves because they are convinced that their loved ones deserve this cruel fate. It is further believed that the unfortunate ones who are suffering in this torment will be able to see their loved ones in heaven, and will beg for a drop of water to alleviate their anguish, only to find that those in heaven are so happy and contented with their lot that they will turn a deaf ear to their cry.

It is claimed that God is the author of this doctrine, and that in some indescribable way it will redound to his glory. Men and women who believe and teach this doctrine try to convince themselves that God can still be a God of wisdom, justice and love, and condemn sinners to this awful punishment.

The heart of every good man and woman on earth rebels at the thought of eternal torment, and in their inmost heart they hope that it is not true. No honest person would thus torment a dog; and if a brute beast were thus tormented, the laws of men would send the tormentor to prison. Love recoils at the thought, reason rejects it, and justice forbids it. It would be impossible to conceive of anything more wicked, cruel and unjust than the doctrine that God has created a lake of fire and brimstone for the purpose of tormenting any of his creatures and has also created a being called the Devil to do the tormenting. This doctrine is not true. It is not taught in the Bible, and its author is the Devil himself.

Satan’s object in leading the people to believe in eternal torment is to cast a reproach upon the name of Jehovah God and his Word, so that otherwise good and loving people would reject the Bible because they think it teaches these horrible doctrines. Millions of people have rejected the Bible because they have thought it teaches this theory; and those people who have taught it, however unwittingly they may have done it, are guilty before God of having misrepresented him and his Word and also of having injured their fellow men. These must give an account of the same before the judgment bar of Jehovah God.

The Bible teaches very clearly that there is a ‘‘hell”; but the description just given is not the description of the Bible hell; it is a description of the theological hell, the hell of the creeds, which originated in the dark ages.

First, let it be clearly understood that we are not denying that there is a hell. It would be foolish for any one to attempt to deny it, because the Bible mentions it many, many times, and undoubtedly it is a name applied to a place or condition to which people go at death. Thus far, but no further, the Bible agrees with the theological idea of hell.

In most clear and positive language, the Bible sets forth the following propositions, which we shall prove, namely, that hell means destruction; that both good and bad people go to hell; that Jesus was there for three days; that the Devil has never been there; that there is no torment there, nor any other suffering; that there is no fire there and no consciousness there; that it is described as a silent and dark place; that cities as well as men go to hell; and finally, that every person who is in hell is to be delivered from it and hell itself is to be destroyed. If these propositions can be proven, it will most effectively and for ever shatter the bogy of eternal torment and will deliver the people from bondage to one of the worst teachings of the creeds. It will likewise clear the name of Jehovah God of one of the worst slanders ever uttered against him. It will help the people to see that God is love, and will confirm and strengthen their faith in his Word.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek. The Old and New Testaments were first translated into the English language in the latter part of the fourteenth century. The Hebrew word for hell is sheol, and the Greek word is hades. Both these words were translated by the English word “hell”; and this is a correct translation. At the time the Bible was translated into the English language the word “hell” meant nothing but a dark, hidden, secret or covered place. In other words, it meant the grave. There is not the remotest idea of fire, brimstone, consciousness or torment in the word. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 we read: “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave [Hebrew, hell}, whither thou goest.” This text alone is indisputable proof that there is no knowledge or consciousness in hell. Many other texts confirm this thought.

Of course, if hell simply means the grave, even a child can see that eternal torment is not true. Still further, a child can see that the grave is a dark, secret, hidden and covered place, just what all standard dictionaries say the word means. More than this, if hell means the grave, it is quite easy to see that if people who are in the grave are ever to have life again they must have a resurrection, and that a resurrection would mean to bring them out of hell, out of the grave. That is exactly what the Bible teaches, as we shall show.

In Ezekiel 32:27 we are told of some soldiers who were buried in hell with their weapons of war under their heads. Surely this can not mean eternal torment, but must mean the grave. Again, in Amos 9: 2 we read that Jehovah purposes to take people out of hell, for it says: “Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them.” All must admit that the only hell that men can dig into is the grave. Most positively do both of these texts deny the doctrine of eternal torment.

Again, Jonah called to the Lord out of the belly of the great fish; and he said: “Out of the belly of hell cried I.” Surely Jonah was not in eternal torment. That fish’s stomach was his grave, his tomb, just as we say of men who are buried in a cave-in during a mining disaster. We say they are buried; they are entombed; they are in a grave; and frenzied efforts are made to dig them out of their tomb before they die. Jonah escaped from his living tomb before death overtook him. Thus seen, Jonah was in hell before he died, proving again that hell does not mean eternal torment.

David was declared to be a man after God’s own heart, and in Hebrews 11: 32 he is mentioned by name as one of those who obtained a good report through faith. After he had passed through a specially severe and trying experience David said: “The pains of hell gat hold upon me.” (Ps. 116: 3) David tells us that he suffered the pains of hell before he died, while he was still in the flesh. Any one can see that David was not in eternal torment; and thus the teaching of eternal torment is punctured again. What David really meant was that he was suffering such severe anguish that unless the Lord had delivered him it would have meant his death. In other words, these pains would have brought him down to the grave, the tomb.

The Scriptures tell us that God will punish the wilfully wiekcd with second death, which is declared to be everlasting destruction. Of these wicked ones who are God’s enemies David says: "Let them be silent in the grave” (Ps. 31:17); and the Hebrew word means hell. In other words, those who are in hell are silent, dead. In full harmony with this thought are the words of the prophet recorded in Psalm 146: 4, “ He [man] returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”

According to the Scriptures both good and bad people go to the same place, namely, return to the dust as they were. For the proof of this read Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20, which says: "That which bcfalleth the sons of men bcfalleth beasts; ... as the one dieth, so dieth the other; ... all go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

Again, in Ecclesiastes 9:2 we read: "All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean.” Yes, both the righteous and the wicked, the clean and the unclean all go to the same place, namely, the Bible hell, which means the grave, there to remain until the Lord shall call them all forth from the sleep of death in the resurrection of the just and of the unjust.

Another most positive proof that hell does not mean eternal torment is the fact that Jesus was three days in hell, from the time of his death on the cross until he was raised from the dead. Very few people are aware of the fact that Jesus did not go to heaven when he died, and for three days was not even resurrected. In 1 Corinthians 15: 4 we read of Christ: "He was buried, and . . , rose again the third day.” Where was Jesus during those three days? The answer is that he was in hell. David uttered a prophecy concerning Jesus, which reads: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.” (Ps. 16:10) Centuries later Peter quoted this prophecy and added this explanation: "David, . . . being a prophet, . . . spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell.” (Acts 2: 27, 30, 31) Here is a positive statement that Jesus was in hell during those three days, and is another most emphatic proof that hell means the grave and does not mean eternal torment, as the creeds of the dark ages claim.

Another interesting side-light on this question is that tliere is not a single text in the Scriptures that says that the Devil is or ever was in hell. He is declared to be going up and down in the earth. He is also declared to be busy deceiving the whole world, and working in the hearts of the children of disobedience. He is busy putting forth false doctrines, called, in the Bible, the doctrines of devils.

In the face of all the texts that tell us that the Devil is working among the living, lying to, deceiving and injuring them (not working among the dead), it is quite interesting to inquire as to where clergymen got the idea that Satan is in hell stoking fires and tormenting people. The answer is that they got the thought from the creeds and the theological schools which teach the creeds.

Still another proof that the word "hell” does not mean eternal torment is found in Matthew 11: 23. Jesus addressed these words to the city of Capernaum. "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell.” Any one should be able to see that a city can not be tormented. This prophetic statement, however, was fulfilled in every detail on the wicked city of Capernaum. It was so completely destroyed that the very site is not known. For many centuries that city has been in hell, destroyed, out of existence; and this is exactly what hell means.

The Bible tells us that when Jesus died on Calvary’s tree he died to ransom the souls of men from hell. If this statement is true, then all the souls in hell are to be delivered from it. Let us examine this phase of the question. In Psalm 49:10-15 we read that "wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish; . . . like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; . . . but God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave”. This word "grave” is the Hebrew word shcol, and in the margin of the Bible we are told that the word means hell.

Again, in Hosea 13:14 we read: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.” The prophet says: "I will redeem them from death.” He does not say, ‘I will redeem them from torment,’ for the reason that he knew that hell means death and doos not mean torment.

After Jesus had given his human life as a ransom for all that were in the grave, both good and bad, God raised him from the dead, on the third day. But God did not bring him back to life as a man again, for the reason that Jesus had given his flesh for the life of the world and therefore could never have his flesh back again. Had he taken his flesh back again, it would have nullified the ransom work 'and left the race dead without any hope of a resurrection. God raised Jesus from the dead as a spirit being, and gave him the divine nature and all power in heaven and in earth. Peter gives us the proof of this statement, saying, "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] spirit.” (1 Pet. 3:18) Paul agrees with Peter, for he says: "Now the Lord is that Spirit.”—2 Cor. 3:17.

When Jesus was raised as a spirit being he exercised the powers of a spirit being and materialized in the presence of his disciples on several occasions. Many people arc prone to regard the fact that Jesus appeared on several occasions after his death in a body of flesh as a proof that he is now a man and has a body of flesh; but this is wrong reasoning. The scriptures just read show that Jesus is now a spirit being, and not a fleshly one. More than that, it is impossible for a human being to dematerialize as Jesus did. On the contrary, spirit beings can both materialize and dematerialize, and have done so on many occasions. An angel appeared to Daniel in the den of lions; angels appeared to Lot, to Abraham, to Manoah and to Peter. These spirit beings materialized and then dematerialized. Jesus had this power after his resurrection, and not before.

The fact that Jesus appeared several times, on different occasions, and with different bodies, is an undeniable proof that he was a spirit being. On one occasion Jesus said to his disciples, when he appeared to them and they were terrified: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” The disciples could not see a spirit being, and so Jesus assumed a human body in order that they could see him; and thus he could prove to them that he was alive. A few moments later Jesus dematerialized and was a spirit being, without flesh and bones. When Jesus materialized, it was to convince his disciples that he was alive. When he dematerialized in their presence, it was to convince them that he was a spirit; and in no other way could he convince them of this fact.

When God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him the divine nature and power, a power which he did not possess before, he gave him the power to resurrect the dead. Consequently, Jesus could say after his resurrection, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18) Again, Jesus said: “I am the resurrection, and the life.”—John 11: 25.

When and how did Jesus get “all power” and the right to resurrect the dead? The answer is that he received this power and right when God raised him from the dead. The apostle tells us that at his resurrection God gave Jesus the keys of death and hell. We quote: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, . . . and have the keys of hell and of death. Here is the plain statement that God gave to Jesus the keys of hell at the time he was raised from the dead. Now the question before us is, What is Jesus to do with those keys? We understand the word “keys” simply means “power” and “authority”, and that Jesus now has both the power and the authority to unlock hell, the grave, and deliver all who are therein. This is why God gave him “all power in heaven and in earth”. This is why Jesus could say, “I am the resurrection, and the life.”

Jesus obtained these “keys”, this power, because he had given his life to ransom the race. It was a reward for his faithfulness, and it is the only hope of life which the race possesses. Without a resurrection there is no hope for the race; and that which entitles the race to a resurrection is the fact that Jesus ransomed their souls from the power of the grave. Now the question that confronts us is this: Will all the race be delivered from the tomb, the Bible hell?

The Apostle Paul says: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15) Notice that it is the dead that are to be raised, and that both the just and the unjust are to be brought forth. If the unjust are to have a resurrection from the grave, the Bible hell, then it is worse than folly to claim that hell means eternal torment. It is a wicked way of imposing upon the credulity of the people.

As further proof that there is no such thing as eternal torment we cite the words of Jesus, recorded in John 5:28, 29, which read: “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth,” and, says Jesus, in this same text, this includes ‘those that have done good and those that have done evil’.

Our last proof text is so emphatic that it is an end to all controversy unless one is an unbeliever in the Bible. It is found in Revelation 20:13, and reads: “Death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them.” This text tells us, again, that those in hell are dead and that they are to be delivered out of hell.

This leaves just one portion of Scripture for our consideration, namely, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19-31. This parable is generally supposed to teach eternal torment; but a proper understanding of it is in entire harmony with all the texts just quoted. It is a parable, for the reason that we are told in Matthew 13: 34 as follows: “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.” Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to illustrate a beautiful truth. The parable is too long to be discussed on this occasion, but a copy of the booklet entitled Hell will be sent to any address on receipt of ten cents to pay the cost of printing and mailing.

How the people have been fooled on this subject of hell! Stupendous sums of money have been taken from them by their leaders who have taught the lie, thus defaming Jehovah God, misrepresenting the Bible and deceiving the people. How thankful we are that the matter is being cleared up in our day and that the people are being set free from the shackles of ignorance and superstition.

International Bible Students Association

RADIO SERVICE

The message of the kingdom of Jehovah is broadcast by these and other stations in Australasia, Canada and the United States. Local radio representatives are requested to send (1) prompt advice of change in schedules and (2) a monthly report to Iladio and Lecture Department, 117 Adams St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

AUSTRALIA

Adelaide ........................	_____ SDN
Sun pm 8.15-10
Melbourne ....................	....... 3DB
Sun pm 6.30-8.30
Newcastle ....................	...... 2IID
Sun pm 7-8.30
Perth .............................	...... 6WF
Sun (occasionally)
Sydney .........................	...... 2KY
Mon Tue pm 8.30

CANADA

Calgary, Alta.....................C.TCJ

Sun pm 1 30-2 30          _

Winnipeg, Jian.  ............. CKY

Sun am 11-12 30 (semi-monthly) Hamilton, Ont................CKOC

Sun am 10-11¹

London, Ont.....................CJGO

Sun pm 2-3 (every other week)

Preston, Ont.....................('KPC

Sun pm 3 4.30

Moose Jaw, Sask...........CJRM

Sun am 10.15- (monthly)

Saskatoon, Sask.............CJIIS

Sun pm 1-2

NEWFOUNDLAND

St. Jolin’s .........................VO8A

Sun pm 8.30-9 30

ALABAMA Birmingham ..............WBRC

Sun pm 7.10-7.55

ARIZONA Phoenix .............................. KOY

Sun pm 8-9

CALIFORNIA Hollywood ........................ KNX

Sun pm 1-2

Los Angeles .................... KTM

Sun am 9-10

Oakland ........    KKWM

Sun am 9.-15-11 : pm 12-2 30, 0-7.45, 9.15-10 30

Mon Wed Fri am 8-9; pm 2.30-3 30. 4 30-6, 7 S.30

COIORVDO

Colorado Springs ............KFFM

Sun pm 7-7 30 Denver ....................... KLZ

Sun pm 6-6 30 Pueblo  ........  KGHF

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington ....................WMAL

Sun am 10-11¹ Washington  ..................... WOL

Sun am 10-11¹

FLORIDA Jacksonville ...............  ..WJAX

Sun (June 1G) am 11-12

Tampa .............................WDAE

Mon pm 7.30-8

ILLINOIS

Chicago ............................WORD

Sun am 9-12¹ : pm 1-7.30

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat am 10-11 ; pm 7-8

Decatur ..............................WJBL

Thu pm 8-8.30

Galesburg ..........................WKBS

Sun pm 1-3

INDIANA Evansville ..............._.......WGBF

Sun am 9-10¹

Fort Wayne ....................WOWO

Sun pm 4-4.30

Indianapolis ....................WKBF

Sun am 9-10¹ Terre Haute .  ................WBOW

Sun pm 1-1.40

IOWA

Cedar Rapids ..................KWCR

Sun am 9 30-10 ; pm 4 5

Wed pm 9-10

Council Bluffs ..................KOIL

Sun am 10-11

Davenport ..................... WOC

Sun pm 10.15-10.45

Muscatine  ......................KTNT

Sun pm 12-1

(every other week)

KANSAS

Milford ......  KFKB

Fri pm G-G.30 Wicnita .......   KFH

Sun am 9.30-10.15

KENTUCKY

Hopkinsville ....................WFIW

Sun am 9-10¹

I OUISIANA Shreveport .......................KTSL

Thu pm 8-9

MARYLAND Baltimore .......................WCBM

Sun pin 6-8 (every other week) Thu Sat pm 9.30-10

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston ............  WMES

Sun am 10.30-1 pm; pm 7.45-9

Gloucester ......................WEI’S

Sun am 11-12

New Bed lord ....................WNBII

Tue pm 8-9

MICHIGAN

Bay City ......  WBCM

Tuo pm 7.45-8.15

Detroit ......  WGHP

Sun pm 5-5.30 Flint ...........  -.....WFDF

Fri pm 9 30-10 Grand Rapids ..................WOOD

Sun pm 9-10

Jackson  ..........................W1BM

Sun pm 2-2.45

MINNESOTA

Duluth ..............................WEBC

Sun pm 2-2.45 Minneapolis ....................WRHM

Sun am 9.30-10.45

MISSISSIPPI

Hatti esbu rg ......................W R B J

Mon pm 8.30-9

MISSOURI

Kansas City .................... WHB

Sun am 9-9.30

St. Joseph ........................KTEQ

Sun am 10-10.45 St. Louis ...................  WIL

Sun pm 6.30-7

MONTANA Billings ..............................KGHL

Sun am 9.30-10.30

NEBRASKA York ..................................KGBZ

Sun am 9.45-10.45

NEW JERSEY

Paterson ..........................WODA

Sun am 10-11¹

NEW YORK

Binghamton ...........  WNBF

Sun am J1 -1 ; pm 7-9

Thu pm 8-9

Buffalo   .......................WEBR

Suu pm 2-3

Jamestown ........................WOCL

Sun am 11-12 (frst and thu d, monthly)

Long Island City ............WLBX

Fri pm 7-8

New York  ................WBBR

Sun am 8.3.0-11¹ ; pm 5 9

Mon am 10-12; pm 2-4

Tue pm 12-2: 6-8

Wed am 10-12 ; pm 9-12

Thu pm 1-3. 8-10

1’i.i pm 2-4, G-8

New York ........................ WOV

Sun am 9.30-11¹

New York  ....................WWRL

Sun pm 5-G

Poughkeepsie ....................WOKO

Sun am 10-11¹

Thu pm 9-9.30

Saranac Lake  ............WNBZ

Sun am 10-10.30

Syracuse ............................WFBL

Sun am 10-11¹

Charlotte ......................... W’BT

Sun am 10-11¹ Greensboro ........ WNRC

Fri pm 7-7.30

NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo .............................-WDAY

Sun pm 2-3

onio

Akron ...........  WFJC

Wed pm 7.30-8

Cincinnati ........................WFBE

Sun pm 5-6

Cleveland .......................... WIIK

Suu am 9.30-11¹ ; pm 2 3, <-8

Mon Tuo Wed Thu Fri Sat am s 8 30 ; Thu pm 7.45-9 Columbus ..........................WA1U

Sun am 10-11¹

Columbus ... . . ................WCAH

Sun pm 12-1, 9 10

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat am 11.30-12 noon

Thu pm 7.30-9

Dav ton ..............................WSMK

Sat pm 5.30-6

Mansfield ..........................WLBV

Sun pm 9-10

Toledo ...............................WSPD

Sun pm 2.30-3

OKLAHOMA

Chickasha ........................KOCW

Sun pm 6.30-7 Enid ....................................KCRC

Suu am 10-10.30 Oklahoma City ..................KFJF

Sun am 9-9.30

Thu pm 8.30-9.15

OREGON

Portland ...........................KTBR

Sun am 10-1V¹ pm 8.30-9 (Greek) pm 9-10 (English)

PENNSYLVANIA

Allentown ..........................WCBA

Sun pm 6.30-7 Altoona ..............................WFBG

Sun pm 7-7.30 Erie ........................... WEDH

Sun pm 9-9.30

Harrisburg ...................  WHP

Sun am 10-11¹

Oil City ..........................WLBW

Sun pm 5-5.30 (second and fourth, monthly)

Philadelphia ..........   W1P

Sun pm 2.30-3 30 (German, Greek, Italian, Polish)

Wed pm 3.45-4 (English)

Philadelphia ......................WNAT

Wed pm S.15-8.45

Pittsburgh ........................ KQV

Sun am 10-11¹; pm 1-2, 7-8

Fri pm 8.30-9.30

Reading ..........................WRAW

Sun pm 7-8

Scranton ............................WGBI

Sun am 10-11¹

RHODE ISLAND Providence ..........................WLSI

Sun am 10-11¹

SOUTH DAKOTA

Sioux Falls .......................KSOO

Sun am 9.30-11; pm 2-3

(German and .Norwegian occasionally)

TENNESSEE

Knoxville ..........................W⁷N0X

Fri pm 7.30-8 Memphis ......  -...........WREC

Sun pm 1.30-2

Nashville ___________________-.....WBAW

Sun pm 7-7.30

TEXAS

Dallas ................................ WllR

Sun pm 2 15-3 : Fri pm 7-7.45

Fort Worth ........................KFJZ

Sun pm 6.30-7.30

Houston ..............................KPRC

Sun pm 2.30-3

San Antonio ....................KGRC

Sun pm 1-2

Waco .................................WJAD

Sun pm G.45-7.30

UTAH Salt Lake City .................. KSL

Sun pm 1-1.30

VIRGINIA

Norfolk ..............................WTAR

Sun- am 10-11¹; pm 7-7 30

Pcioisburg .............  ..WLBG

Sun am 9-10 ; pi '■ 3-4, 4 30-5 30

WASH TAG TON

Aberdeen ......................KXRO

Mon Wed Fri pm 7.30-8 Bellingham    ..............KVOS

Sun am 10-1V¹

Ev ei ett ..........-..............KFBL

Sun am 10-11 ¹

So.-Hie ...........   KOMO

Sun am 10-11²

Spokane .............   KHQ

Sun am 10-11' : pm 4.45 5.15

Mon Tue Thu Fri Sat am 6.45-7

WEST VIRGINIA Charleston ......  WOBU

Wed pm 8.30-9

Huntington  ....................WSAZ

Sun pm 3-4

Wheeling .........................WWVA

Sun pm 1-2

WISCONSIN Madison ..........  WIBA

Sun pm 12.15-12.45 (fourth monthly) Milwaukee ..........................WISH

Sun am 10-11

Sun am 9-10 (Polish, every other week)

Sun am 11-11.30 (last, monthly, German)

¹

watchtower chain program.

²

♦♦ Northwest network program.