"They shall know that I am Jehovah.”

-Ezekiel 35:15.

JANUARY 1, 1949

CONTENTS

Ministers to Uphold the Issue in 1949 Time of Settling the Issue Deferred .... Modern Organization ..............................

The 1948 Field Service Report

of Jehovah’s witnesses World-wide ..

The Analysis of the Report ................

Return Visits, Public Meetings,

Relief Work ........................................

Jehovah’s witnesses’ Gifts for Relief ....12 Where Jehovah’s witnesses

Sent Relief Gifts ..........

Determined to Praise Him

More and More ............

The Rock Foundation of the Church 13

Nahum Foresees Nineveh’s Doom ......

“Blameless Ministry” Testimony

Period ____________________________________________________

“Watchtower” Studies ............................

1949 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses 1949 Calendar ............................................

Published Semimonthly By

WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY 117 Adams Street -   - Brooklyn 1, N.Y., U.S A.

Officers

N. H. ELnorb, President               Grant Suiter, Secretary

"And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” - Isaiah 54:13.

THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES

THAT JEHOVAH Is the only true God, from everlasting to everlasting, and is the Maker of heaven and earth and Giver of life to his creatures; that the Word or Logos was the beginning of his creation and his active agent in creating all other things; and that the creature Lucifer rebelled against Jehovah and raised the issue of His universal sovereignty;

THAT GOD created the earth for man, made perfect man for the earth and placed him upon it; that man yielded to unfaithful Lucifer, or Satan, and willfully disobeyed God’s law and was sentenced to death; that by reason of Adam’s wrong act all men are born sinners and without the right to life;

THAT THE LOGOS was made human as the man Jesus and suffered death in order to produce the ransom or redemptive price for obedient men; that God raised up Christ Jesus divine and exalted him to heaven above every other creature and clothed him with all power and authority as head of God's new capital organization;

THAT GOD’S CAPITAL ORGANIZATION is a Theocracy called Zion, and that Christ Jesus is the Chief Officer thereof and is the rightful King of the new world; that the faithful anointed followers of Christ Jesus are Zion’s children, members of Jehovah’s organization, and are His witnesses whose duty and privilege it is to testify to Jehovah’s supremacy and declare his purposes toward mankind as expressed in the Bible;

THAT THE OLD WORLD, or Satan’s uninterrupted rule, ended AD. 1914, and Christ Jesus has been placed by Jehovah upon the throne, has ousted Satan from heaven, and now proceeds to vindicate His name and establish the “new earth”;

THAT THE RELIEF and blessings of the peoples can come only by Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ, which has begun; that His next great act is to destroy Satan’s organization and establish righteousness completely in the earth ; and that under the Kingdom the people of good-will surviving Armageddon will carry out the divine mandate to ‘‘fill the earth” with righteous offspring, and that the human dead in the graves will be raised to opportunities of life on earth.

“BLAMELESS MINISTRY” TESTIMONY PERIOD

The ministry of God's Word must be carried forward through cold and heat for God’s ministers not to be blamed. Hence February will experience no stoppage of the proclamation of His kingdom publicly and from door to door. The service calendar announces it as “Blameless Ministry” Testimony Period, and it will be the second month of the 1949 campaign for subscriptions for the Watchtower Society’s magazines. The offer that all those who talk God’s kingdom will therefore make to all their contacts will be a year’s subscription for both The Watchtower and Awake! together with the premium of a bound book and a booklet, at just $2 (American money) for the full set. Preferably the latest book, “Let God Be True”, and one of the latest booklets, The Joy of All the People or Permanent Governor of All Nations, should be offered as the premium Whether in the Northern or in the Southern Hemisphere, February is a difficult month to pull through, but faithTul ministers will not come under blame for slacking the hand. Watchtower readers will not want to come under blame for failure regarding the ministry of God’s Word, and so we invite their inquiries and requests as to a share in it. May your report at the end of the Testimony Period prove you blameless.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of February 6: “Ministers to Uphold the Issue in 1949,” fl 1-22 inclusive, The Watchtower January 1, 1949.

Week of February 13: “Ministers to Uphold the Issue in 1949,” fl 23-46 inclusive, The Watchtower January 1, 1949.

ITS MISSION

HIS journal Is published for the purpose of enabling the people to know Jehovah God and his purposes as expressed in the Bible. It publishes Bible instruction specifically designed to aid Jehovah’s witnesses and all people of good-wilL

It arranges systematic Bible study for its readers and the Society supplies other literature to aid in such studies. It publishes suitable material for radio broadcasting and for other means of public instruction in the Scriptures.

It adheres strictly to the Bible as authority for its utterances. It is entirely free and separate from all religion, parties, sects or other worldly organizations. It is wholly and without reservation for the kingdom of Jehovah God under Christ his beloved King. It is not dogmatic, but invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. It does not indulge in controversy, and its columns are not open to personalities.

Notice to Subscribers: Remittances should -be sent to office in your country in compliance with regulations to guarantee safe delivery of money. Remittances are accepted at Brooklyn from countries where no office is located, by international money order only. Subscription rates in different countries are stated below in local currency. Notice of expuation (with renewal blank) is sent at least two issues before subscription expires. Chance of address when sent to our office may be expected effective within one month. Send your old as well as new address.

Please address the Watch Tower Society in every case.

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Translations of this journal appear In many languages.

ALL SINCERE STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE who by reason of infirmity, poverty or adversity are unable to pay the subscription pilce may have The Watchtower Iree upon written application to the publishers, made once each year, stating the reason for so requesting it Ue are glad to thus aid the needy, but the written application once each year is required by the postal regulations.

Printed in the United States of America

Entered as second-class matter at the post office at Brooklyn, N. T , under the Act of March S, ISIS.

1949 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

With gratitude to God for accomplishing through his servants the greatest service achievement during this past year, the Society now releases the 1949 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses. It will be really a stirring experience, and not a dull review of data and figures, for you to read the president’s report at length on the year’s activities of Jehovah’s witnesses in more than ninety lands. Also, introduced by his own special comment on the 1949 yeartext, the texts and comments drawn from the latest Watchtower issues provide you with a choice thought for each day of the year. Orders for copies of the 1949 Yearbook, bound in peach-color cloth, with more than 350 pages, should be accompanied by remittances at 50c a copy. Companies should send in combined orders to minimize our work of handling and shipping.

1949 CALENDAR

Again the Lord provides us with a new service calendar, for the year 1949, the text for which is, “I . . . will yet praise thee more and more.” (Ps. 71:14) The picture embellishing it steps into the field of realism by exhibiting under the year’s text a bird’s-eye view of that now world-famous missionary school, Gilead, m its environs, in four colors, and which is mightily aiding today in praising Jehovah more and more. Under the picture the date pad presents the six special testimony periods of 1949 and the alternative months, together with the service theme for each such month. Orders may now be sent in, with remittance to cover, at 25c a calendar, or $1.00 for five mailed to one address.

ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH’S KINGDOM

Vol. LXX                             Januaby 1, 1949                                  No. 1

MINISTERS TO UPHOLD THE ISSUE IN 1949

"Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure." —Ps. 103:21, Am. Stan. Ver.

TEHOVAH, the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, I has always had ministers in the earth to uphold J his cause. His good purpose must be proclaimed. His prophet Isaiah said: “Ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God/’ (Isa. 61:6, Am. Stan. Ver.) His ministers are his witnesses to the worldly nations and peoples. Said one of his prominent witnesses to the nations, the apostle Paul: “I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the nations, ministering the gospel of God.” (Rom. 15:16, Am. Stan. Ver., margin) Paul knew his responsibility as a representative of the Most High God, and so he imitated Christ Jesus, who showed the manner of work that was to be done by God’s ministers. “Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.”—Matt. 4:23, A.S.V.

• ² The historical record reveals that Jehovah has had his ministers uphold and keep alive the right answer to the paramount issue, Who is the Supreme One? and who will rule the universe? To all nations they have proclaimed that Jehovah is alone the true God of all the universe, the Creator of all things in heaven and earth, the Great Spirit, that is, the almighty, intelligent, active Personage, invisible to man but made discernible to man by His wondrous visible works of creation. This is tire Supreme One, rightfully ruling all the universe. But very few on earth recognize and act in harmony with his supremacy and universal sovereignty. Little do they realize that “blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah”. —Ps. 33:12, A.S.V.

• ³ Now, more than ever before, the big issue in the minds of all the “great men” of the nations is, “Who shall rule?” Will it be the United Nations organization? Will it be some totalitarian power? or will it be some bloc of nations that will get control of this earth? These questions trouble the minds of all of the groaning creation. Every creature in the earth is ruled and influenced by some power. All the ruling influences which control individuals can be classified under three main headings. The influential ruling

• 1, 2. What issue have Jehovah’s ministers kept alive, and bow? 3 Whit three ruling factors vie with one another, and why? power is either religious or political or commercial. These Big Three are determined to control the lives of all the peoples in the world. Some religious rulers even go so far as to claim control of persons after death. These three powers are constantly vying for positions of rulership. Occasionally they co-operate, but just as often they will stab one another in the back if it proves to be to their advantage. All three have identical aims: Power! Influence 1 Supremacy I

• ¹ The record of the rise and fall of nations under the control of religion, politics and big business makes up our history books. Often the cause for change in government has been the dissatisfaction of the people with their rulers, necessitating the bringing forth of a new political power to take charge. When this happens it does not take long for religion and big business to get in the saddle with the new political party. A more frequent reason for change in rulership is the desire of a strong power to take in all the territories within reach, seeking greater domination or even world rule. There has been a constant struggle between the nations for generations and centuries, as long as man can remember and as far back as recorded history chronicles the struggle. Why cannot men get along at peace? Why cannot they get rid of war and its evils? First of all, man does not acknowledge God as supreme. He refuses to follow Jehovah’s counsel and is so proud of his own achievements that he has become blinded in his lust for power. Man does not love his neighbor as he loves himself; otherwise he would let his fellow man live and try to help him. Man’s activity in all parts of the earth shows he is a selfish creature, and he is led by selfish rulers. Jesus said concerning the religious rulers in his day: “They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.”—Matt. 15:14, Am. Stan. Ver.

• ³ One living in the more civilized nations of the world where the children get an education knows of the efforts of the people to better their conditions and how great advances have been brought about in

• 4 . Why all the changes in government, and the series of wars?

• 5 Why, despite civilization, do all men live selfishly? housing, sanitation, communication, travel, and all the sciences. But even in such countries where advance in knowledge has been great, man has not been able to live above his selfish way. It should be clear to everyone that man is born in sin and shaped in iniquity, and, no matter how great his achievements, even to the extent of controlling the atom, he uses his great power and knowledge selfishly to harm and destroy his fellow man. What ruler on earth has the right to say, what man or group of men, even though it be the rulers, has the right to say that millions of people can ruthlessly be blotted off of the face of the earth? Yet men have assumed such right, taking to themselves such power, and in a few short years of war whole cities have been destroyed along with their civilization.

• ⁶ Within this present generation two great world wars have swept the earth. This gives us reason to change the maps in the geography books. The masses did not want the change; it was the desire of some individuals who wanted supreme rulership. But the millions of people in various countries of the earth backed up such selfish rulers only to find their own and other countries left in ruin and despair. The first World War was fought to “make the world safe for democracy”; but selfish men would not have it so. Neither the rulers of religion nor the rulers of politics nor the rulers of commerce could make it so, whether through their United Nations organization or any other form of government. They can never bring peace and prosperity and eternal happiness to the peoples who inhabit this earth.

• ⁷ Beautifully worded ideas put into charters for all nations to sign will not change the hearts and minds of the people. Written declarations will not remove the many diverse religious organizations that are working against one another: Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Mohammedan, and hundreds of others. Agreements will not remove the big business monopolies, the cartels, powerful steel industries, shipping combines, influential newspapers, nor stop their all-out fight to get to the top and be supreme. The United Nations Charter will never remove the kings, the prime ministers, the dictators, the presidents nor the men behind the scenes who are grasping for power and world rule. As long as man carries on with his selfish desire to be supreme and to rule and domineer over his fellow man, ignoring God, he will have no success in achieving peace and happiness.

• ⁸ Jehovah’s witnesses as God’s ordained ministers are declaring to the nations and their peoples that now is the time to forsake their evil ways and turn

• 0. Why the two world wars, but no “world safe for democracy”?

• 7. Why do beautifully worded charters and declarations not help mankind to achieve peace and happiness?

• 8, 9. Why are Jehovah’s witnesses directing people to the Bible? to Jehovah, the Almighty One, for proper instruction in righteousness. The psalmist David gave wise counsel to rulers of today, when he said, “Now therefore be wise, 0 ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled.” —Ps. 2:10-12, Am. Stan. Ver.

’These are the reasons why Jehovah’s witnesses of today are so busy preaching the good tidings of God’s kingdom and directing the minds of the people to the study of God’s Word, the Bible. There the people can find the truth and can plan a life for themselves based on the principles of truth and righteousness. They need have no part with this old, dying world, but should line up with the “new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”. (2 Pet. 3:13) The Supreme Ruler of the universe will settle the issue without any difficulty when the time comes for a settlement of the controversy as to who shall rule the world. He has not ordained man to rule, either through religious or through political or commercial organizations. He has appointed His glorified Son, Jesus Christ, to do that, and the Son shall reign until he has put all enemies under his feet, including death, the last enemy to be destroyed.—1 Cor. 15:25,26.

TIME OF SETTLING THE ISSUE DEFERRED

• ¹⁰ God has permitted men to rule under the “god of this world”, Satan the Devil, until Jehovah chooses to show His supremacy. (2 Cor. 4:4) The Scriptures are clear on the point that Satan is the invisible ruler of this present evil world. That is why he is also referred to as “the prince of this world”. But in due time he shall be cast out of his ruling position. (John 12:31; Eph. 2:2) The time to settle the issue of world supremacy is very near, and Revelation, chapter 12, shows us the birth of God’s kingdom at the world’s end, where we plainly are now.

• ¹¹ The issue of supremacy had its beginning in the Garden of Eden after the creation of Adam. Lucifer, who later became Satan the Devil, was made the covering cherub over humankind; but, after being honored with this exalted position by God, he declared his avowed purpose to become like the Most High himself and set his throne “in the sides of the north”. (Isa. 14:12-14) Lucifer fell from his lofty position in God’s universal organization because of bringing sin and consequently death into the world. Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan the liar rather than the only true God, Jehovah, their Creator, and it was at that time that the issue was raised: Who shall rule? Jehovah decreed that He would allow Satan to remain as controller of earth’s affairs and

• 10. Under whom does God permit men to rule, and until when? 11. When was the issue raised? What did God decree as to Satan? as the god of this world so that Jehovah God could show forth His power in the “last days”, in which we now live.—Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17.

• ¹² That unhappy day was nearly six thousand years ago, and since then nations have come and gone. Groups of people have risen to power and have either chosen or had forced upon them kings, presidents, dictators, premiers, parliaments and senates; but for the people it has only meant strife and war, distress and struggle, because Satan “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them”. (2 Cor. 4:4, Am. Stan. Ver.) Despite Satan’s uninterrupted rule, he has failed in his attempt to bring all persons under his domination. Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide have stood aloof to his offers to be a part of this world. They choose to be God’s ministers.

• ¹³ Jehovah considers the nations as but a “drop of a bucket, and ... as the small dust of the balance”; and when the time comes for their destruction, he can easily accomplish it. (Isa. 40:15) According to Jehovah’s own word, he has reserved the nations of the earth for destruction, because he classes them as vessels not worthy of existence. The nations are in his hands as soft ‘clay in the potter’s hand’. (Jer. 18:6) As the apostle Paul pointed out, “Hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory?” (Rom. 9:21-23, Am. Stan. Ver.) The nations have ignored and refused his Word. They have not acknowledged him as God, and they do not declare his name unto all the peoples. Jehovah has no reason or obligation to keep these God-dishonoring nations in existence.

• ¹⁴ Jehovah’s witnesses, on the other hand, have accepted this responsibility of announcing Jehovah’s supremacy, and each and every one declares: “I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.” (Ps. 57:9) They do not mean just joining some church and attending once in a while, either; they mean being real, active announcers of God’s kingdom, the only hope for the world. They have the same spirit about this preaching work as David had when he said: “I . . . will praise thee yet more and more.” (Ps. 71:14, Am. Stan. Ver.) They mean just that, all of that, not less, and the 1949 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses proves it. They have rejected and will not

• 12. During bls uninterrupted rule, in what has Satan failed?

• 13. Why is Jehovah not obligated to preserve the nations?

• 14. What do they mean by determining to praise God “yet more’? represent this old world, proclaiming and supporting its schemes, but have chosen to be Jehovah’s witnesses, God’s ordained ministers. Therefore they fearlessly and joyfully announce the incoming new world of righteousness for which Christians have been taught to pray to God: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.” This they will do uncompromisingly.

• ¹⁵ Some people say, “It is no wonder Jehovah’s witnesses are everywhere looked upon as undesirables.” But still people are forced to admit that they are peace-loving people. In every country wherein they reside it is impossible to distinguish them from other people as far as customs and general living habits are concerned. What is it, then, that makes them so peculiar and sets them apart as a group some people want to avoid? What have they done, and what are their current activities? They claim to be God’s ordained ministers, but are they any different from any other so-called religious organization? They certainly are not orthodox. Has it not been said that they are booksellers and magazine distributors? Are not Jehovah’s witnesses in this work because of commercialism? Have not they been called the opposers of all religions? Have not people said they are Communists? Fascists? Zionists? These and hundreds of other questions have been asked about them, and Jehovah’s witnesses have been accused of being just such. But all these mentioned political groups have denied any support of or association with Jehovah’s witnesses and have in fact persecuted them in the countries dominated by these powers.

• ¹⁶ The true answer to all of these questions is so simple that it is difficult for people to understand. Individuals who are seeking truth and who have faith in God and his written Word can find out the real answer by some careful Bible study and by association with Jehovah’s witnesses themselves. Many such students have changed their minds about these ministers. Simply stated, Jehovah’s witnesses are supporting God’s kingdom as the only hope for men to gain eternal life. Paul said: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:20) If Jehovah’s witnesses are ambassadors of God’s kingdom, they cannot serve another kingdom, any more than the representative of one of the nations in this world could stand up and speak in favor of another nation and against his own government. He would lose his citizenship and position. Jehovah’s witnesses have entered into a covenant to represent the kingdom of heaven, and they know “covenantbreakers . . . are worthy of death”. (Rom. 1:31,32) But they love life! Therefore they will defend, work for, support and preach the kingdom of God. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel

• 15. What features about them raise questions and denials?

• 16. Why, really, are they looked upon as undesirables world-wide?

should live of the gospel. . . . for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:14-16) Because of taking such an unequivocal stand for God’s kingdom they are hated of all nations. “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.” (John 15:19) Yes, Jehovah’s witnesses are looked upon as undesirables because they preach God’s kingdom, and because of this they are accused of all manner of evil. “Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimonv against them and the Gentiles.” —Matt. 10:18.

• ¹⁷ Centuries ago Jehovah inspired men to write books which we now have compiled into one volume called the Bible. These faithful men were servants of God and foretold the good news of God’s kingdom. Paul the apostle was “set apart to declare God’s good news, which he promised long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures”. (Bom. 1:1-3, An Amer. Trans.) You can turn to the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and there find a list of men who lived in olden times whom God used in promulgating true worship. They were witnesses of Jehovah, but they were not loved by the world. “They were stoned to death, they were tortured to death, they were sawed in two, they were killed with the sw’ord. . . . they were driven from place to place, destitute, persecuted, misused—men of whom the world was not worthy.” (Heb. 11:37, 38, An Amer. Trans.) So Jehovah’s witnesses of more than 2,000 years ago were looked upon as undesirables, too!

• ¹⁸ After these men foretold the coming of the Messiah and the new world, Jehovah sent his Son into the world that ‘whosoever believeth on him might gain eternal life’. His Son, Christ Jesus, during his ministry upon the earth preached the greatest message of all time: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is a message which the nations of the earth as a whole, the religious organizations and the men of commerce of these nations have completely ignored down through the 1900 years that have passed since the death of Christ, and right up to the present time. Jesus himself said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” and correspondingly the world rulers have shown they will have none of this Kingdom, but rather they are determined to rule the world themselves, they will be the supreme rulers. They have not accepted and will not accept the King chosen by Jehovah, His beloved Son, Christ Jesus, who proved himself worthy of that high position of kingship over this earth. Speaking of the nations, Jehovah says, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth 17. Who also were looked upon as undesirables over 2,000 years ago? IS. Bow is Jesus Christ classed as an undesirable to this day*’

Brooklyn, N. Y. set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed.” The Anointed One or Messiah was looked upon as an undesirable, and the people cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” But the Almighty God declares, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”—Ps. 2:1, 2, 6.

• ¹⁹ Christ Jesus was one of Jehovah’s witnesses. He is now and ever will be “the faithful and true witness”. (Rev. 3:14) The apostles, Peter, John, Paul and the others, and the thousands of disciples who followed Jesus 1900 years ago, were Jehovah’s witnesses,_preaching the same message. Then came the early church which received persecution at the hands of the Jews, Greeks and Romans. Some were stoned to death; others were thrown to the lions. Many were forced to hide in eaves and in the wilderness. But as they fled from place to place they continued to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. During the Dark Ages righteous men broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and other religious organizations of Christendom because the doctrines taught by them were so intermingled with pagan teachings. The Bible truths were hidden; in fact, the Catholic Church made every effort to keep the Bible from the people. But right down through the centuries Jehovah God has had witnesses to minister the message of the Kingdom despite all the opposition to make them quit such talk. Now as we draw nearer to the new world of righteousness Jehovah has raised up more witnesses and blessed them in carrying this good news to others, but they have never become popular.

MODERN ORGANIZATION

• ⁵⁰ It was back in the year 18S4 that a group of Christian men and women in America came together and drew up a charter of a Society which set out as its purpose the dissemination of Bible truths. But even before this, as far back as 1870, these lovers of God’s Word were studying it diligently. They were looking for the complete establishment of God’s kingdom, and from 1874 to 1877 they published a booklet, The Object and Manner of the Lord’s Return. Bible classes were started in and about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and these folk made a careful study of the Bible truth concerning the three worlds: the one overflowed by water in Noah’s day, the “present evil world” and how it would come to its end; and the third world, the world without end, “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3) Then in July, 1879, the first issue of Zion’s Watchtower was published, and it has been continued to this day, a magazine “announcing Jehovah’s kingdom”. Seventy years have passed, and The Watchtower has now, in 1949, a circulation of 600,000 copies on the 1st and 15th of every

19 What shows his disciples were not popular for 1900 years?

• 20. What activities preceded organizing the Watch Tower Society?

month, in more than a score of languages. However, in order to reach more people than by the magazine, tracts were printed and distributed free. Some were called Old Theology Quarterly and others Food for Thinking Christians. Expansion of the work resulted, and in 1884 Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was organized and given a charter by the State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.

• ²¹ The One these Christians looked to as the supreme and rightful Ruler of the universe is Jehovah God. He has decreed through his Word that a government of righteousness shall be established to bring peace and prosperity to all people desiring to serve him in spirit and in truth. The Kingdom teachings of these Christians associated with what is today the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were different from those taught by the recognized religious organizations. From the early days the clergy objected to laymen’s studying the Bible and teaching others from it. They felt that their profession should not be invaded by “unlearned men”. One thing the Watch Tower Society did was to direct the attention of the people to the Bible, not to manmade creeds and traditions. Bible study brought to the fore again the good news of God’s kingdom, which was the big thing foretold by the ancient prophets and preached by Jesus and his apostles. That the earth was made for obedient man to live upon under the Kingdom was clearly seen in the study of God’s Word. Man is to be the keeper of the earth and make it beautiful. The earth, and not hell, or purgatory or heaven, is man’s home. Teaching such a thing was certainly contrary to the creeds of Christendom; but, being proved true by the Bible, it must be proclaimed.

• ²² This good news was preached by word of mouth by those associated with the Watch Tower Society, besides which millions of tracts were printed for free distribution and personal home study. From 1886 to 1893 these Christians distributed 2,459,609 tracts. As time went on they intensified their distribution work to put out one, two, three, yes, four million tracts a year. They delivered them from door to door, to those going to Christendom’s churches or coming out of the churches. The message they contained was truly “food for thinking Christians”. Finally the tract distribution grew to more than twenty -million yearly in 1910, and the record shows that by 1918 a grand total of at least 324,000,000 copies of tracts had been distributed by these early workers with the Watch Tower Society. Up until 1918, according to reports available, 8,993,166 bound hooks also were distributed, and these were used in home Bible studies. Additionally, millions of book-

• 21. Notably, how did the Society’s teaching differ from the clergy’s? 22. In what ways and to what extent was this message preached, from 1886 to 1918? lets and pamphlets were placed with the people by these witnesses of Jehovah.

²³ In 1896 the name of the Society was changed from Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It has surely been a Bible and tract society since its incorporation, because it has laid great stress on home Bible study. Following the Scriptural admonition to preach “publicly, and from house to house”, the Society’s first president, right on down to his death, in 1916, went on lecture tours throughout the United States and various parts of the world. He introduced the “colporteur work”, today known as the “pioneer service”. He established congregations in many places and arranged for conventions of God’s consecrated people. The “pilgrim” work he organized for traveling lecturers to visit all congregations, and under him the “Bible House” or first Bethel home was built in Pittsburgh in 1898. The first Branch office was established in 1900, namely, in London, England, and in 1909 a New York corporation was brought into existence to do business better in New York State. By the year 1910 there was so much interest in the Bible lectures of the Society’s president that newspapers began to syndicate his sermons. It started with just a few newspapers in 1910, but by 1914 more than 1,000 newspapers in various parts of the world were publishing his sermons. As Jehovah’s witnesses look back over the years from 1884 to 1914 they see that many things happened in preparing the way before the Lord God of hosts, who began his reign in 1914. The Scriptures foretold this preparing work, at Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

²¹ Now the time had arrived for Christ Jesus to receive his royal power and begin to reign. This he did as described in Revelation, the 12th chapter. Furthermore, the “times of the Gentiles” ended in 1914, World War I supporting the chronology of the Bible and proving that what Jehovah’s witnesses had for years prophesied was really true. (See Daniel chapter 4 and Luke 21 : 24.) Also the physical facts proved that the end of the Devil’s rule without any interruption or interference had been reached. Matthew, the 24th chapter, sets out the Lord’s answer to the apostles’ questions as to the end of the world and Jesus’ second presence. All these things took place, but for detailed proof on the subject see the book "Let God Be True".

²⁵ Jehovah’s witnesses could not and did not con-

23. How did the Society’s first president promote preparatory work? 24. What did 1914 mark, as proved by Scripture and fact?

25. What has become the slogan of Jehovah’s witnesses, and why? elude that the great work of honoring Jehovah’s name before the final end comes had been finished by 1914. No, the Scriptures pointed out that before the Devil’s organization and the nations under “the god of this world” are destroyed a great, final witness must be given. Jesus said ‘this gospel of the Kingdom must be preached unto all nations before the end comes’. That meant more work from 1914, and especially from 1918, onward. “Other sheep I have,” Jesus said, and these must be gathered, too, before the battle of the great day of God Almighty. (John 10:16) This meant expansion, and the slogan of Jehovah’s witnesses became “Advertise, advertise, advertise the King and the Kingdom!”

• ²⁶ To do this it required organization world-wide, and it meant putting to use all the instruments that could be used to further the gospel-preaching. Jehovah’s witnesses of today still use the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as a servant organization to carry on their work throughout the whole world. This Pennsylvania corporation is not the only Society used by Jehovah’s witnesses. The New York corporation, established in 1909, known now as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., serves Jehovah’s witnesses in the United States of America. Another association, known as the International Bible Students Association, in London, England, is a servant to Jehovah’s witnesses in the British Isles, and a similar society exists in Canada. Other corpo-2G. For world-wide organization, what ha\e been established? rations of Jehovah’s witnesses have been formed in the various countries of Europe and in South America. But all of these corporations work to the same end, namely, preaching “this gospel of the kingdom”.

• ²⁷ In 1944 the charter of the Pennsylvania corporation was amended, and under the second article it is shown that the purposes of the Society are, “To act as the servant of and the legal world-wide governing agency for that body of Christian persons known as Jehovah’s ■witnesses,” which function it is fulfilling; further, “to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom under Christ Jesus unto all nations as a witness to the name, word and supremacy of Almighty God JEHOVAH.” For proof that Jehovah’s witnesses are doing this, read the Society’s yearly reports of activity, particularly from 1918 onward. The reader will see that Jehovah’s witnesses have diligently and without hesitation put forth every effort to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom, making known Jehovah’s name and word, and that year by year they have expanded that witness, reaching even to the ends of the world.

• ²⁸ Never before in all history has the announcement been made so publicly, so persistently, and on such a world-wide scale as is now being done by Jehovah’s witnesses. Let the report for 1948 speak for itself, as published below.

• 27. According to charter purposes, bow has the Society served? 28, 29. As to Kingdom publication, what does the chart show?

  THE 1948 FIELD SERVICE REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLD-WIDE

  	1917	1948	Per-		No.						Av
  Country	Av.	Av	cent	Peak	Com-	Total	Total	New	Individual		Book
  	Pubs.	Pubs	Incr.	Pubs.	panies	Literature	Hours	Subs.	Magazines	Back-Calls	Studies
  U. S. of America	67,630	72.945	7%	78,666	2.901	8.383.231	16.964.919	230.278	6,486,766	4.590.198	51,023
  Alaska	17	30	80%	43	3	8,066	11.361	325	6,661	3,630	34
  Bahamas	17	33	94%	44	1	8.3^«	13.969	257	2.304	6.123	114
  Bermuda	4	6	50%	7	1	2,44b	4.858	205	804	3,056	42
  Cameroun		60	New	81	1	95	6.854	3	214	1.177	4
  Ecuador	14	29	110%	42	1	2.328	14.047	43	1,637	4.401	42
  Fr. Equ. Africa		2	New	2			20			21
  Guadeloupe	13	28	120%	46	o	435	7,797	13	256	1,373	8L
  Iceland	3	3		6	i	3 107	1,628	114	1,003	651	5
  Liberia	3	9	200%	15	i	2.236	5,629	31	395	1,935	17
  Neth W Ind.	28	36	30%	43	2	15,321	12.591	712	8.373	4.514	42
  Palestine	8	22	175%	30	6	1,774	5,398	14	346	845	7
  Peru	22	40	85%	51	2	19,642	22,494	339	1,854	8.175	105
  Portugal		10	New	14	1	2.381	1,180	14	118	137
  Sierra Leone	22	24	10%	83	1	1,899	4,162	41	843	1,183	10
  Spain		34	New	43	7	782	4.916	42	169	1,407	6
  Syria-Lebanon	99	109	10%	129	8	8.981	26.856	165	4,462	7.481	82
  Virgin Islands	17	32	90%	47	1	8,358	8.353	496	2.226	4,580	79
  Argentina	679	927	36%	1,033	45	135,672	224.369	1,992	44.064	64,701	551
  Australia	3,234	3,503	6%	3,723	201	240,881	728,440	6,162	321,328	202,689	2,041
  Fiji	9	10	11%	14	1	7,471	5,619	107	2,189	1,902	13
  Java	11	9		10	1	1,182	812	19	23	227	3
  Singapore	6	10	66%	14	1	1,352	3,817	106	595	1,397	16
  Austria	751	1,286	71%	1,552	129	247.572	281,000	4.394	106,031	126.706	606
  Belgium	876	1,177	34%	1,367	43	184,757	295,585	1,693	54,225	60,434	692
  Luxembourg	47	47		59	3	2,776	12.866	53	10,040	4,153	46
  Bolivia	16	36	125%	46	3	9,263	25.493	302	2,492	8,184	94
  Brazil	648	1,077	66 %	1,319	67	391,400	397,329	3.601	48.300	88,555	833
  British Guiana	134	174	30%	220	10	19,298	63.650	383	20.978	16,914	267
  British Honduras	38	38		49	5	2,309	11,907	38	3.911	3,886	65
  British Isles	12,149	14,676	20%	15,555	612	2,038.777	3.986.753	56,387	351,586	1,241,320	8.104
  Eire	37	52	40%	62	4	15,022	45.206	335	1,194	11,736	43
  Malta	6	3		3		89	2.032	4	37	421	9
  British West Indies	700	980	40%	1,071	37	54,381	254,073	1,501	70.638	70,941	959
  Burma	19	36	90%	52	2	20,714	16,727	912	3,372	6,619	82
  Canada	11,224	12,603	12%	14,219	561	558,229	2.315.951	23,087	840,003	524,593	5,209
  Chile	137	191	40%	231	11	43,177	69,425	820	13,828	19,583	272
  China	9	25	177%	92	8	12,619	9.952	99	1,428	2,479	30
  Colombia	29	28		37	4	21,752	19.608	879	3,856	7,064	80
  Costa Rica	449	637	41%	915	21	27.W	150.935	795	21.468	37.346	579

  
  

  January 1, 1949	SHeWATCHTOWEFL							9
  	1947	1948	Per-		No.						Av
  Country	Av.	Av.	cent	Peak	Com-	Total	Total	New	Individual		Book
  	Pubs.	Pubs.	Incr.	Pubs.	panies	Literature	Hours	Subs.	Magazines	Back-Calls	Studies
  Cuba.	8,199	4,352	36%	4,782	121	144,121	905,160	2,321	92,919	194.117	2.513
  Cyprus	37	59	60%	86	7	83.605	20,306	197	3.490	5,052	56
  Czechoslovakia	1.257	1,581	25%	1.991	196	254.283	284.198	3,813	77.599	98,596	613
  Denmark	2.724	3,260	17%	3,485	158	278,288	504,358	7,712	836.762	137,200	1,023
  Dominican Republic	59	128	116%	153	3	19,876	52,448	608	8,488	21,017	336
  Egypt	68	98	41%	117	6	8,871	27.718	440	4,441	6,858	74
  EI Salvador	80	151	88%	201	2	9,931	38.696	400	7.617	11,921	163
  Finland	2.281	2.610	14%	3,075	473	395,705	597.466	13.290	214.919	123.454	1,167
  France	2,184	2.627	20%	2,854	108	265,057	468,733	6,043	73,979	105,978	1,102
  Saar		252	New	301	8	4,009	57,539	64	641	35,086	145
  Germany	15.856	29,172	83%	36,526	1,609	36.199	6,099,153	45,000	28.608	3.227,093	13,512
  Gold Coast	360	735	104%	1,134	42	19.326	167,491	642	4,398	14,737	168
  Greece	1,891	2,338	23%	2,642	225	92,930	271,869	3,500	78,168	80,351	522
  Albania		35	New
  Turkey	6	12	100%	23	1	1,825	1.807	50	5	750	24
  Guatemala	75	121	61%	185	5	17,276	52.763	528	11.257	18.095	237
  Haiti	16	36	125%	45	3	8,115	21.437	51	2,457	7,348	94
  Hawaii	129	156	20%	183	7	46.201	57,757	2,394	16,194	18.912	255
  Honduras	45	119	164%	278	5	9,344	29.000	283	8,236	8.533	115
  Hungary	939	1,346	36%	1.647	176	161.683	267,342	837	24,148	106.469	970
  India	198	267	34%	334	23	19.286	81,792	1,221	15.6B0	18,463	269
  Ceylon	12	25	108%	27	1	4,485	14,071	159	5,871	5.123	52
  Iran	1	2	100%	2		1,143	1,018	112	814	182	3
  Pakistan		23	New	28	2	6.833	12,381	371	3,147	2.829	26
  Italy	152	329	116%	454	50	68,631	59,251	1,100	3,521	19,089	142
  Jamaica	1,185	1,465	23%	1.739	131	56.802	336.175	1.082	51.196	81.713	1,424
  Mexico	4,125	4,711	14%	5,708	270	218.3S6	956,127	4,683	113.386	177,329	2.8'>3
  Netherlands	3,764	4,190	11%	4.394	109	135,254	943,550	4,076	123,484	175,905	1,735
  Newfoundland	54	85	57%	154	11	20,406	28.922	854	8,042	9.416	65
  New Zealand	678	790	17%	858	56	83,273	192,412	3,410	107,831	48,550	514
  Nicaragua	36	72	100%	154	2	4,851	20,638	213	3,580	7,182	77
  Nigeria	8,710	5,511	48%	6,825	249	54.993	1,481,775	859	37,188	77,598	B50
  Dahomey		140	New	301	1	629	6,755		30	334	22
  Norway	799	992	24%	1,145	91	200.321	191,433	4,645	117.938	59,990	370
  Panama	175	224	28%	257	9	32.349	75,286	1,155	32,651	31.363	459
  Paraguay	34	47	38%	61	5	8.129	16,781	139	4.467	4.921	51
  Philippine Republic	2.471	3.589	45%	4,073	256	227.669	645.148	2,334	43,091	78,453	788
  Poland	6.334	9,048	42%	10,385	617	316.667	1,363.612	S.150	172.467	333.676	3,367
  Puerto Rjco	87	160	82%	184	5	30,783	47,952	1,080	12,208	17,044	218
  Rumania	1,990	1,992		1,992	389	327,302	292.661		63,062	81,096	3,812
  Russia	3,498	8,000	128%	8,000
  Siam	21	48	128%	65	5	18.120	18.219	399	6,364	4.657	41
  South Africa	3,843	4,440	15%	4,831	250	268,143	1,360,377	7,113	195,196	239,325	3.391
  Belgian Congo		14	New	27	5	333	2,966		3	613	18
  Northern Rhodesia	6,114	9,873	61%	11,606	232	11,695	2.314,625	35	62	224.785	4.038
  Nyasaland	8.542	4.918	38%	5,626	440	13,441	1,347.221	63	27	309.322	5,219
  Portuguese E. Africa	214	398	81%	674	48	469	102.536			25,6^5	212
  St. Helena	17	10		12	1	62	791		26	127	3
  Southern Rhodesia	2,572	3.599	40%	4,232	117	65,288	897.235	536	11,730	118.127	2.231
  Tanganyika	198	136		218	8	4	39.140	4		4.302	70
  Surinam	55	78	41%	102	2	9,949	23.139	128	5,475	7.057	126
  French Guiana	1	2	100%	2		395	1.080	3	178	598	17
  Sweden	2,894	3,231	11%	3,509	370	237.854	603,584	12.106	478.081	158.575	1,102
  Switzerland	1,512	1,660	10%	1.776	94	177.905	274.982	3.416	311.669	79.589	Bi5
  Uruguay	175	249	42%	307	10	31,298	87.925	433	19,272	29,480	375
  Venezuela	29	51	75%	66	6	15,862	26,323	119	5.685	6,015	55
  Yugoslavia	120
  TOTALS	181,071	230,532	37%	260.756	11,714	17,031,901	49,832,205	483.092	11,380,767	13,807.920	130,281

  
  

THE ANALYSIS OF THE REPORT

• ²⁹ The charter further provides for the Society “to print and distribute Bibles and to disseminate Bible truths in various languages by means of making and publishing literature containing information and comment explaining Bible truths and prophecy concerning establishment of Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ Jesus”. In the last year alone the Society and its associates made and distributed Bibles, bound books and pamphlets to the number of 17,031,901 copies in 96 different nations, colonies, isles of the sea and territories of nations. Not only this, but they have also placed magazines in the hands of the people to the extent of 11,380,767 copies. These magazines were The Watchtower and Awake! as published in the principal languages of the earth. Hundreds of thousands of subscriptions were also taken for these magazines so that the publications could go directly into the homes of the people for careful study and reading. Since 1920, Bibles, books (ranging from 300 to 400 pages each) and booklets (of 32 or 64 pages) have been distributed to the grand total of 530,218,352 copies.

• ^s0 Still neither the Society nor Jehovah’s witnesses are “booksellers”. What Jehovah’s witnesses offer to the peoples of the world in various languages are printed sermons, Bible information. After talking personally to the people and arousing their interest in Bible study, Jehovah’s witnesses leave literature with them for private study. If the person so benefited wishes to make a contribution to cover the cost of printing and distribution, he may do so, and most persons do. However, millions of booklets are left each year with the people who want to read but who feel unable to make a small contribution at the time. None of the thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses going from door to door ever receive a salary for

• 30. Nevertheless, why are Jehovah’s witnesses not “booksellers”? doing the work of preaching. They do their work because they are consecrated to promote true worship of Jehovah God and to give a witness concerning God’s kingdom. Their oral sermon is first; placing literature is secondary. It is an aid to further study of God’s Word.

• ⁸¹ The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is also authorized to “appoint agents, servants, employees, teachers, instructors, evangelists, missionaries and ministers to go forth to all the world publicly and from house to house to preach and teach Bible truths to persons willing to listen, by leaving with such persons said literature and by conducting Bible studies thereon”. This Jehovah’s witnesses have very definitely done during the past service year, as their field service record shows. The report we publish is not one of members, for Jehovah’s witnesses do not have enrolled congregations. But it is of the heap of witness that was piled up by the workers in the congregations world-wide. This is truly a Society of evangelists, missionaries and ministers who are located in 96 different parts of the earth. There are now 230,532 ambassadors for the kingdom of God engaging in preaching the gospel every month, to compare with 181,071 for the service year of 1947. That means that there are now 49,461 more ministers who have been instructed and properly taught through Bible study the truth from God’s Word so they, too, could be authorized and appointed as servants, teachers, and ministers and assigned to go forth in some territory and publicly preach this good news of God’s kingdom from house to house.

• ³² The glad tidings that these 230,532 ministers are carrying to the ends of the earth were so happily received by thousands that by the end of the year even greater numbers were receiving special training to “go . . . make disciples of all the nations”. (Matt. 28:19, Am. Stan. Ver.) This new interest added to the average monthly number brought the total to 260,756 in a particular month, to compare with 1947’s all-time high peak of 207,552 ministers. This was an increase of 53,204 more persons advertising the Kingdom than ever before. This is “marvelous in our eyes”, and we trust and pray that all of those who have taken their stand for the Kingdom and have made a consecration to serve the Most High God will continue faithfully throughout 1949 and to the end, .preaching this good news. That is the covenant all of them have made, to preach “publicly, and from house to house” these Bible truths to persons who are willing to listen. This we sincerely believe they will do, and the Supreme One of all the universe will pour upon them His blessing as they continue to serve. These new ministers recognize Jehovah’s

• 31. True to charter purposes, whom has the Society trained to date? 32. What Increase in number of ministers marked 194S, and why? supremacy and choose to serve Him rather than this dying old world.

⁸⁸ It was suggested last year that every company organization throughout the world try to increase its organization by 10 percent in the number of publishers carrying this good news to the people. By so doing a greater witness could be given. The chartered purpose of the Society is to prepare such teachers, instructors and evangelists, and so it is only proper that every group of Christians put forth diligent effort to carry on such Bible instruction in their Kingdom Halls and in private home Biblestudy classes. During the 1947 service year there was an increase of 14 percent over 1946 in gathering instructors together; but 1948 showed an unusual increase, of 27 percent, in the average number of publishers monthly engaging in Kingdom work. The local company organizations throughout the world have done splendid work in preparing ministers. Do you work with such a company of Jehovah’s witnesses, and did your company share in this increase ? Are you prepared during 1949 to welcome the stranger of good-will into your midst and help him to know Jehovah?

³⁴ One of the chartered purposes of the Society is: “To improve men, women and children mentally and morally by Christian missionary work and by charitable and benevolent instruction of the people on the Bible and incidental scientific, historical and literary subjects; to establish and maintain private Bible schools and classes for gratuitous instruction of men and women in the Bible, Bible literature and Bible history”. The charter further provides that we shall “teach, train, prepare and equip men and women as ministers, missionaries, evangelists, preachers, teachers and lecturers”. So that this can be accomplished in a regular and systematic manner, Jehovah’s witnesses have weekly study periods for the benefit of all who are desirous of taking up the ministry. There are three weekly meetings that every minister and every person preparing for the ministry should attend: the Watchtower study, the service meeting, and the Theocratic ministry school. There are other Bible studies with the help of Watch Tower publications that can be attended, too, but the three mentioned are essential to proper training and advancement in knowledge and wisdom in God’s Word. Actually, during 1948, 49,461 more students prepared themselves to be lecturers, teachers and ministers and engaged in the preaching ■work every month so as to improve others mentally and morally by their Christian missionary work. A goodly number of this group have taken up the full-time service, known as “pioneer service”. There are now 8,994 pioneers in the full-time work, 33. To what extent was the percentage of increase aimed at met*’ 34. For mental and moral improvement, what meetings are held" to compare with the 1947 total of 7,017; which means an increase of 1,977.

RETURN VISITS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, RELIEF WORK

” Answering specifically the question as to what Jehovah’s witnesses are doing today, it can be stated that they are preaching the message of God's kingdom from house to house and publicly, following the example set by Christ Jesus. Nor is this being done in a limited way, for these 230,532 regular monthly publishers of the Kingdom have devoted 49,832,205 hours in ministerial activity. This is an increase of almost six million hours above the previous year. During these millions of hours they have endeavored to instruct, train, prepare and equip men and women by helping them to a better understanding of the Bible. This has been done, not by gathering a congregation to their church building, but by going from house to house. Then by going back to the homes of the people where they placed literature they were able to give them further instruction and help. The number of such calls made was 13,807,920. These we term “back-calls”, and they are made on all persons showing interest in Bible study, persons from all religions and walks of life. Not all of these calls develop into studies where careful scrutiny can be given to the Bible and its teachings, but Jehovah's witnesses conducted on the average 130,281 Bible studies in the homes of interested people every week of the past year. If there were only an average of four persons attending each of these studies, it would mean more than a half million people who were being taught by Jehovah’s witnesses every week. That would make quite a congregation of regular students in addition to the millions of persons visited daily in the regular house-to-house work.

• ³⁰ Jehovah’s witnesses not only provide for these home Bible studies, but they also give instruction in public meetings held in parks, auditoriums, halls, schools, playgrounds, in fact, almost anywhere that the people will assemble. Last year 133,634 such advertised public meetings were arranged for in all parts of the earth.

• ³⁷ At the Memorial season of each year Jehovah’s witnesses and people interested in their work assemble to celebrate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; and 376,393 persons were in attendance Thursday night, March 25, 1948. Of this number, 25,395 partook of the bread and wine, which indicated their belief that they had been invited to the high calling with Christ Jesus in his heavenly kingdom. The others professed to be his “other sheep” with prospects of everlasting life on this earth under the kingdom of heaven. This yearly Memorial service was 35, 30. What about time spent, back-callff, Bible studies, public meetings? 37. What about the annual Memorial service and company meetings? arranged for by the 11,714 company organizations throughout the world. These company organizations also hold regular studies in The Watchtower, as well as conduct service meetings and Theocratic ministry schools. All these services are free, and no collections are ever taken. It is all part of the gratuitous education carried on by Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide on behalf of all peoples.

• ³⁸ This tremendous volume of work, preaching the gospel of God’s kingdom unto the ends of the earth, is not done with any political ambition in mind, nor are Jehovah’s witnesses trying to influence the policies of the governments. They have no “lobby” in the capitals of the different nations; they are not trying to establish some religious order, nor is there any pecuniary gain in it for any individuals. Anyone who observes Jehovah’s witnesses in any of the lands reported on in the table on pages 8-9 will know they are not engaged in any of those endeavors. They have one thing to do, and that is to preach the message of God’s kingdom. Christ Jesus directed that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness” until the end comes; and that Jehovah’s witnesses are definitely trying to do as ambassadors in the 96 countries on which reports are given.

• ³⁹ The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is a nonprofit organization, and what monies it receives it uses for the spreading of the gospel unto the ends of the earth. During the 1948 service year the Brooklyn office sent money and literature to its Branch offices valued at $488,821.22. In addition to that, for foreign service or expansion work in various countries where Branches are not established, assistance was required to the amount of $110,851.11. Literature and supplies were sent to some countries as gifts, and this amounted to $118,608.04. This meant a total outlay of $718,280.37 to assist the preaching of the gospel outside the United States. A few of the large Branches were able to remit to the Brooklyn office to cover the cost of some of the shipments made, and these remittances amounted to $296,119.58. That left a balance of $422,170.79 that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society paid out during 1948 for the expansion work in territories outside the United States of America.

• ⁴⁰ Knowing the needs of Jehovah’s witnesses in other countries, the Society as the servant to Jehovah’s witnesses also arranged to send food and clothing for relief to their brethren. Jehovah’s witnesses in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark were in position to gather together clothing, food and other necessary supplies to aid their fellow ministers in war-torn lands. The

• 38. In all this volume of work, what Is their objective?

• 39. What financial report shows the Society a nonprofit organization? 40. What material relief work has the Society done since 194G’ large quantities of food were purchased with money contributed for that purpose; and clothing, shoes, bedding and other supplies were freely donated to the Society for shipment to various parts of the earth where needed. The total value of the food, clothing and the shipping costs for relief only from January, 1946, up to and including August, 1948, amounted to $1,322,406.90. This figure does not include the value of any time spent on the part of the brethren in gathering the clothing from all parts of the United States, Canada and other countries and then packing it, shipping it to Brooklyn, rehandling it at Brooklyn, or distributing it in other lands. This service was an additional free gift on their part and a joyful service which enabled Jehovah’s witnesses to help their brethren in other parts of the world.

• ⁴¹ The Society, too, wishes to express through these columns its appreciation for the hearty co-operation on the part of all these earnest and hard workers, as well as to pass along the sincere gratitude of the recipients of these gifts to those who gave them. This has certainly been an expression of love one toward another. We know all the brethren did this as an honor to the Lord, having in mind that this material assistance would help some to carry on their true worship; and so they esteemed it a great privilege to be able to serve their brethren in this manner. This act of kindness to their neighbors is just another proof that Jehovah’s witnesses are not in this work for any commercial gain.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES’ GIFTS FOR RELIEF January, 1946, to August, 1948

	Pounds of Clothing	Value	Pounds of Food	Cost	Total Value
United States 919,302 Mise		9898,481.16	537,995	J208.416.76	$1,106,897.92 6,709.46
Canada Denmark Norway	72,807	80,699.88	87,913 2.949 24,000	36,084 90 1,407.14 12,000.00	116,784.78 1,407 14 12,000.00
Switzerland Mise.	57,584	42,400.00	40,682	13,754.00	56,154.00 3,851.00
Sweden Mise.	6,554	9,776.10	25,334	8,702.50	18,478.60 121.00
TOTALS	1,056,247 $1,031,357.14		718.873	$280,365.30	$1,322,406.90

WHERE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES SENT RELIEF GIFTS

	Pounds of Clothing	Pairs of Shoes	Pounds of Food	Pounds of Mise. Supplies
Austria	39,304	4,118	43.675
Belgium	28,113	2,576	1.397
Bulgaria			387
China	553	43
Czechoslovakia	33,458	2,435	6,450
Denmark	35,219	3,832
Englund	21,160	1,786	31,970
Finland	23,973	1.944	6,450
France	39,545	3,948	6,450
Germany	544,749	72,804	564,025	80,459
Greece	17,888	2.813	2,lo0
Hungary	32,054	3,349	21,500	251
Italy	9,266	597	4,300
Netherlands	122,533	11,494	7,958
Norway	20,514	2,244
Philippine Republic	10,594	2.239
Poland	77,324	7,888	11,411
Rumania			10,750
TOTALS	1,056,247	124,110	718,873	80,710

41. In behalf of this work, what expression does the Society make?

DETERMINED TO PRAISE HIM MORE AND MORE

• ⁴² Men and women who really want to know the truth about Jehovah’s witnesses will look at their work, their teachings and their service to Jehovah’s kingdom with clear vision not blurred by gossip, false statements and prejudice. When one sees the truth, he will want more of it and in time will become a real minister. Once in a while you hear a person say, “I am afraid to study ■with Jehovah’s witnesses. When I get to believing everything that you do, I’ll lose all my old friends. I might become involved in something, and I don’t want to take on the responsibility of going from house to house the way you do. I would be ridiculed and maybe persecuted as you are.” This is entirely the wrong attitude for any individual to take. One cannot straddle the fence. Individuals must take a stand for Jehovah’s new world or stick with the old one. The Scriptures clearly point out that you cannot serve God and the Devil. You must be either hot or cold; you must be either for or against the Lord. Persons who are desirous of engaging in the political, commercial or religious affairs of the world, supporting them even as they support one another in opposition to the supremacy of the Almighty God, will have to go down with that old world organization when it is destroyed at the battle of Armageddon. The decision must be made now in these last days of the old world. It pays to serve Jehovah. He alone can give you life, while the wages sin pays is death.—Rom. 6: 23.

• ⁴⁸ Those who know this hearken to the Lord’s Word and study it. The Bible is the true guide. It will guide you to the right course of action, preaching the good news you learn. It is the truth that makes one free from worldly politics, religion and commerce. You should never be afraid of becoming involved in something that frees you from death and leads to life. “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Tim. 2: 3, 4) No, this freedom which the truth gives does not mean that you will be able to go through life now without any hardships or trials or difficulties. So Jehovah’s witnesses face these on every hand. Jesus warned that things would not be easy for his servants; even as they persecuted him, they will also persecute you. “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.”—John 15:18,19.

** Jesus’ prayer to God points out: “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, 42. What vital decision must be made now, and why fearlessly?

• 43. Does freedom by the truth mean freedom from hardship? Why?

• 44, 46. Why do we carry God’s Word to others? In whose strength’

and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17: 3) Therefore, Jehovah’s witnesses are very earnest in their endeavor to praise Jehovah yet “more and more”. They know one can learn the way to gain eternal life through a knowledge of God’s Word. A lover of life, not a destroyer of it, wants to see his fellow man live too; so, having been trained in Jehovah’s principles of truth and righteousness, he will want to 'go . . . and disciple all nations’. This is the mission of Jehovah’s witnesses, and they are trying to do it well.

⁴⁵ The report you have read on the various activities and the chart you have looked over on pages 8-9 show clearly how Jehovah’s witnesses are advancing from one end of the world to the other. They are not doing this grand work in their own strength: they are doing it by the spirit of God. It is not because of their own ability that they make progress and expand, but it is because God is with them.

⁴⁴ May we urge all of Jehovah’s witnesses everywhere to make the 1949 service year your biggest year yet, not only in hours in the field, but in making back-calls on interested persons. All Watchtower readers are cordially invited to join in this privilege. Carry on that good work of Bible education and continue in the splendid activity of conducting Bible studies in the homes of the people. Enlarge your congregations in the homes of people of good-will and train men and women to be good ministers of God’s kingdom. World-wide we can hear Jehovah’s witnesses determinedly saying in unison, “I ... will yet praise thee more and more.”—Psalm 71:14.

4G. What working exhortation are we given for 19491

THE ROCK FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

PERVERSION, distortion, and lying misrepresentation of the truth are the cunning methods of God’s adversary to cause people to believe a falsehood and thereby turn them away from Jehovah, the living and true God. A striking example of such religious lying is found in the application that is made of the words of Jesus Christ respecting the “church” and the rock foundation upon which it is built, as reported at Matthew 16:18.

Let us first note this, that one of the titles which Jehovah God gives himself is “The Rock” (Hebreiv, ha-Tztzur), because he is the eternal foundation of his holy universal organization and is a foundation that can never be moved. Jehovah inspired the prophet Moses to sing: "I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock [Ha-Tztzur], his work is perfect.” (Deut. 32:3, 4, Am. Stan. Ver.) Samuel’s mother, inspired, sang: “There is none holy as Jehovah; for there is none besides thee, neither is there any rock [Tzur] like our God.” (1 Sam. 2:2, Am.Stan. Ver.) The psalmist broke out in this inspired song: “For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock [Tzur], besides our God. Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock [Tzur]; and exalted be the God of my salvation.” (Ps. 18:31, 46, Am. Stan. Ver.) The prophet Isaiah also sang: “Trust ye in Jehovah for ever; for in Jehovah, even Jehovah, is an everlasting rock [tzur].” —Isa. 26: 4, Am. Stan. Ver.

This Jehovah has now built up a capital for his universal organization, and the Head or Chief Cornerstone of this capital is his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As the Son of the great Rock Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ is fittingly designated a Stone [Hebrew, Eben) or Rock (Hebrew, Selah). We read, at Isaiah 28:16: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone [eben], a tried stone [eben], a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” And in the interpretation of the prophetic dream, given at Daniel 2: 34-45, the description is given of a “stone” (eben) that is “cut out of the mountain”, that is to say, out of Jehovah’s universal organization, and which stone thus cut out by Jehovah’s power becomes a “great mountain” or mass of rock and fills the whole earth. That symbolic stone (eben) is Christ Jesus, and the mountain that overspreads the whole earth is symbolic of his kingdom, in which he unites with himself his glorified church.

In Isaiah 32:2 Christ Jesus the King is called a “great rock” (selah) in a weary land. He is also pictured by the rock concerning which Jehovah said to Moses: “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock [seZafc] before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock.” (Num. 20:8) Identifying this rock as symbolic of Christ Jesus, the apostle Paul writes: “Our fathers . . . did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock [petra in Greek] that followed them: and that Rock [petra] was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:1, 4) At Psalm 118:22, 23 is another prophecy concerning “the stone” which the national builders rejected, and the apostle Peter applies this prophecy to Jesus Christ, saying to the judges of the supreme court: “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”—Acts 4:10, 11.

All the prophets had written foretelling the coming of the Messiah or Christ, who would rule the new world in righteousness, and these prophecies were written before the Son of God came to earth. Messiah or Christ as a title means Anointed One, hence Sanctified One, and in such prophecies it applies to God’s anointed King, Christ Jesus, as the appointed Head of God’s capital organization. Jesus’ disciples, being familiar with the prophecies, were looking for Messiah or Christ. Jesus put them to the test in the last year of his earthly life, to determine whether his disciples realized or not that he was the promised Messiah or Christ. He did so in private by propounding to them this question: “Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered for his fellow apostles, saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:15,16) Jesus then told Peter that his answer was correct and that Jehovah God had revealed that truth to Peter by means of His spirit. He said: “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [Petros in Greek], and upon this rock [petra in Greek] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”—Matt. 16:16-18.

Even the episcopal committee of the Catholic Confraternity of Christian Doctrine admits that there is a difference between the terms Peter and rock. In its 1941 translation of “The New Testament” the episcopal committee makes the following footnote on Matthew 16:18: "Bar-Jona: 'sou of Jona.’ Jona is most likely an abridged form of Johanan— John. Peter, in Greek Petros, is a masculine form from Petra, 'rock.’ In Aramaic the name meaning ‘rock’ is Kepha; in Greek it took on the form Kephas." Since the Roman Catholic episcopal committee refers to the Aramaic or Syriac language, we here quote what Smith Lewis has to say on Matthew 16:18 in her book Light on the Four Gos})els from the Sinai Palimpsest (1913), and in chapter 4 entitled “Variants in Matthew”; “We must explain that the Syriac language has two genders only, the masculine and the feminine; the feminine doing duty for the neuter. It is well known that Kepha, 'a stone’ (rather than ‘a rock’), is feminine. But St. Peter can never in Syriac be mistaken for a stone; because, where he is furnished -with a verb or with a relative pronoun, these are always in the masculine; whereas, when a stone is meant, these adjuncts are feminine, —just as in French we say, ‘cettc pierre a ete roulee,’ but in the case of a boy, ‘Ce Pierre est mechant.’ Apply this simple rule to the text of Matthew’s Gospel, and what result do you get?”

Smith Lewis then continues: “We cannot use this touchstone in English, for our language has none of these grammatical niceties. The feminine, as I have said, does duty for the neuter; and in the case of a phrase being nominative to a verb, that verb, and any relative pronoun which represents the phrase, would be feminine. Let us, then, try to put Matt. 16:18 into literal French—a language with which many of my readers must be acquainted. ‘Et moi je te dis aussi. que tu es le Pierre, et sur cette pierre je batirai mon Eglise.’ It is evident that Peter’s confession, not Peter himself, is grammatically represented by 'cette pierre,’ and that the Syriac Versions simply and strongly support the view of this passage held by the ancient Orthodox Church of the East, and also by the Reformed Churches of the West.” —Page 54 fl 1 to page 55 fl 2, inclusive.

Thus the argument of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy that in the Aramaic or Syriac text of Matthew’s account the word’for Peter and rock are the same, namely, Kepha, and that hence Peter must be the one meant by “this rock”, falls flat, and is exposed as deceptive. Peter and “this rock” no more mean the same person or thing than would Patrick and Patricia mean the same person. Thus even the original Aramaic or Syriac text of Matthew 16:18 makes a difference between Peter and “this rock”, by showing a different gender for each.

Furthermore,, note that Jesus did not say: “And on thee, Peter, I will build my church.” Instead, to Petros he said: “Upon this rock [petra, meaning a mass of rock, a great rock, a crag] I will build my ehurch.” As Rotherham’s translation says in its footnote: “ ‘Thou art petros,—and on this petra’=‘Thou art a piece of rock; and on this rock.’ Note that our Lord does not say: ‘And on thee.’ ” The expression “this rock” has no reference to Peter, but applies exclusively to Christ Jesus, God’s anointed One, whom Jehovah has laid as a sure and everlasting foundation for His capital organization. In further proof that Jesus was here fixing in the minds of his disciples that he is The Christ, note his words in verse 20 of the same chapter, after this discussion: “Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.” (Matt. 16:20) All the Scripture proof is conclusive that the building of the chureh or assembly was to be, not upon the apostle Peter, but upon Christ Jesus, the “foundation” or “precious corner stone”.

When Jesus said “my church” he referred to the “house of God, which is the church of the living God”, and not to any organization on earth among men. (1 Tim. 3:15) The word church means a people gathered together from among the nations for the name of Jehovah God and who are made members of his royal house in heaven. As the disciple James said: “Simon [that is, Peter] has told how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people to bear his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written.” (Acts 15:14, 15, Cath. Conf rat.) Further showing that Peter is not the foundation of the church, the Scriptures designate all twelve apostles of Christ as twelve foundation stones, but Jesus Christ himself as the chief foundation and precious cornerstone. Describing the Holy City, Revelation 21:14 says: “And the wall of the city has twelve foundation stones, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” {Cath. Conf rat.) Showing the primacy of Christ Jesus it is written that God “gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body”. (Eph. 1:22, 23) Also: "Through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Therefore, you are now no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are citizens with the saints and members of God’s household : you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief corner stone. In him the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord; in him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the spirit.” (Eph. 2:18-22, Cath. Confrat.) “Again, he is the head of his body, the Church; he, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the first place.”—Col. 1:18, Cath. Conf rat.

■When Jesus used the words "upon this rock”, Peter understood them to mean that Jesus would build the church upon himself as the Christ, and upon no one else. This is proved by Peter’s own -written words: "Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 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: 3-9.

Thus the Roman Catholic religious organization which claims the apostle Peter as its first “pope” denies what Peter says and argues contrary to him in order to exalt those whom it terms the “successors of Peter” in the papal throne. Note the following quoted from the comments in “Haydock’s Catholic Bible”, approved by John, Archbishop of New York, and “according to the Douay and Rheimish Versions”, namely: “And I say to thee, and tell thee why I before declared, (John 1:42) that thou shouldest be called Peter, for thou art constituted the rock upon which, as a foundation, 1 will build my Church, and that so firmly, as not to suffer the gates (i.e. the powers) of hell to prevail against its foundation; because if they overturn its foundation, (i.e. thee and thy successors) they will overturn also the Church that rests upon it. Christ therefore here promises to Peter, that he and his successors should be to the end, as long as the Church should last, its supreme pastors and princes.”

But note the contradiction that appears in the notes of the Haydock’s Catholic Bible, when it says with reference to Augustine whom the Roman Catholic Hierarchy made a “saint”, as follows: “It is true S. Augustine, in one or two places, thus expounds these words, and upon this rock, (i.e. upon myself) or upon this rock, which Peter hath confessed." This shows Augustine understood it right.

Augustine, above quoted, died in the year 430, and it is interesting to note that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy not only does not agree with the apostle Peter but also does not agree with the man whom it “sainted” and reveres as “St. Augustine”. A Roman Catholic comment on Matthew 16:18 later than Augustine’s says: “Our Savior, by the words 'Thou art Peter,’ clearly alludes to the new name which He Himself had conferred upon Simon, when He received him into the number of His followers (John 1:42); and he now reveals the reason for the change of name, which was to insinuate the honor He was to confer on him, by appointing him President of the Christian republic; just as God, in the Old Law, changed Abram’s name to Abraham, when He chose him to be the father of a mighty nation. . . . Jesus, our Lord, founded but one Church, which he was pleased to build on Peter. Therefore, any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone is not the Church of Christ, and therefore cannot stand, for it is not the work of God. This is plain.”—Quoted from Cardinal Gibbon’s The Faith of Our Fathers, written in 1876, or more than fourteen centuries after Augustine.

The above construction upon Jesus’ words concerning “this rock” may be the uniform teaching of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy following the days of their “sainted” Augustine, but it is in direct contradiction of every inspired scripture in the Bible bearing on the subject. When we adhere to the Bible, because we know it to be true as the Word of God, then we follow the apostolic command to “let God be true, but every man a liar”. (Rom. 3: 4) When we follow the truthful Scriptures, which contain the teachings of the apostles, then there can be no doubt as to the meaning of the words of Jesus concerning “this rock”. The Scripture proof is conclusive that the words “this rock” mean Christ Jesus himself, for he is God’s Chief Executive Officer and God has committed to him all power in earth, where his visible church is, as well as in heaven. Christ Jesus is the rock foundation of the church of the living God.—Matt. 28:18.

NAHUM FORESEES NINEVEH’S DOOM

NAHUM the prophet is sadly thinking of the plight of his people Israel, how they are suffering at the hands of the cruel Assyrian empire. He takes comfort in recalling the words Jehovah his God proclaimed as He passed before Moses on Mount Sinai: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth; keeping loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.” (Ex. 34: 6, 7, Am. Stan. Ver.) All of a sudden Nahum hears a loud rushing sound, looks up, and sees a great stormy whirlwind sweeping across the land. As it races across he sees great clouds rise up behind it, just as a man kicks up dust as he runs. Nahum realizes Jehovah’s way is in that whirlwind and storm.—Nahum 1:3.

As he sees the hurricane push out against the sea he notices the sea dry up. Then the prophet looks over the land it has passed over. He sees the rivers are all parched. He looks to the east toward Bashan and, instead of the leafy forests of evergreen oak, he sees nothing but bare trunks and branches. Over its once fertile plateau he sees only the carcasses of sheep and cattle, and vultures circling up above them. He looks to the west and sees Mount Carmel is barren, stripped of its luxuriant orchards and gardens. He looks to the north and sees the cedar, fir and cypress forests of Lebanon are all withered. (Nahum 1:4, Young) He sees the mountains reel and the hills dissolve. All the earth round about is laid waste at the presence of Jehovah. (Nahum 1: 5) Nahum, realizing all this is an expression of Jehovah’s vengeance, cries out: “Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.”—Nahum 1: 6.

Then the words come to Nahum: “Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make a full end of her plaee, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time. For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.” —Nahum 1: 7-10, Am. Stan. Ver.

As Nahum is taking comfort from the fact that affliction shall not rise up the second time, he hears Jehovah say: “Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.” (Nahum 1:12, 13, Am. Stan. Ver.) The very promise of deliverance for Jehovah’s people makes Nahum breathe more easily. But before he has had time to relax thoroughly, suddenly the enemy looms up before his eyes, the hated Assyrian. He quickly tenses. Then he hears Jehovah pronounce the enemy’s doom: “Your name shall no more be remembered, I sweep idol and image from the temple of your god, I make your grave a dunghill.” Then Nahum hears footsteps up above and, raising his eyes to the mountains, sees there the feet of a herald, and he hears him proclaim peace and prosperity and say: “Hold festival, Judah, now do what you vowed—for never again will the villain invade you, he is finished and done with.” (Nahum 1:14, 15, Moffatt) This vision fills Nahum with a desire to go right out and proclaim it in praise of Jehovah’s name.

As Nahum meditates on the vision and wonders just how the enemy is to be overthrown, he has a vision of an alert army. As a mighty warrior leader appears before them, the instructions to prepare to besiege are given: “Keep the keeps,—watch the way, brace the loins, pull thyself firmly together. For Jehovah hath restored the excellency of Jacob, like the excellency of Israel,—for the plunderers have plundered them, and their vine branches have they marred.” (Nahum 2:1, 2, Roth., margin) Then Nahum sees a large city alongside a large river on a plain —Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, to be besieged.

Next Nahum looks into the city of Nineveh itself and sees the vainglorious boastful preparation of the Assyrian enemy. “The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings.” (Nahum 2:4, Am. Stan. Ver.) Nahum sees that within the palace the Assyrian king is sending forth messengers to summons his nobles. Soon from every direction the nobles are streaming into the presence of the king. He hurriedly gives them instructions, and they scatter toward the walls, stumbling in their haste.—Nahum 2: 5, Am. Stan. Ver.

Then Nahum looks outside the walls of Nineveh and sees that the besieging army is equipped with the storming cover under which they can find protection.—Nahum 2: 5.

The prophet sees the gates of Nineveh’s rivers opened and a portion of the walls washed away. Then through the breach the besiegers stream in and race toward the palace, throwing it into a panic. The queen is captured, “stripped and carried off, her ladies mourning like doves, beating their breasts.” (Nahum 2:6, 7, Moffatt) Then the prophet gets a panoramic view of the enemy city. Its milling people spilling out at every gate make him think of a “pool of water, whose water escapes”. He hears some of the Assyrian officers shout hoarsely, “Halt, halt!” But the people madly rushing toward the gates do not so much as turn their heads to see who shouts. (Nahum 2: 8, An Amer. Trans.) From the conquerors Nahum hears another cry: “Seize ye silver, seize ye gold, and there is no end to the prepared things, to the abundance of all desirable vessels.” Nahum sees the invaders draining Nineveh of all her valuables, leaving her desolate and dreary, empty and forsaken. He sees flames and smoke rise from the city. (Nahum 3:15) Then he gets a look at the faces of the Assyrians who are futilely trying to escape their pursuers. He sees there nothing but fear and anguish.—Nahum 2:9, 10, Young.

As Nahum looks at the smoldering desolation that was Nineveh, and remembers its arrogant blasphemy against Jehovah and its diabolical cruelty toward His people, he cries out: “What has become of the Lion’s den, the lair of the young lions, whither the Lion withdrew, and the whelps with none to scare them?—the Lion who tore enough for his whelps and strangled for his mates, till he filled his lairs with prey, his dens with mangled carcases.” —Nahum 2:11, 12, Moffatt.

Then Nahum hears the voice of Jehovah addressing the Assyrian: "I attack you, ... I send up your lair in flames, and the sword shall devour your cubs; I will wipe your prey from the earth, and the threats of your envoys shall be heard no more.” (Nahum 2:13, Moffatt) Nahum remembers the insolent threats Sennacherib’s envoy Rabshakeh hurled at God’s people and the subsequent cruel treatment of His people. Then with righteous indignation he bursts out in an inspired utterance: “Woe to the city, bloody throughout, full of lies and booty! Prey ceases not. The crack of the whip, and the noise of the rumbling wheel, and the galloping horse, and the jolting chariot; the charging horseman, and the flashing sword, and the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a mass of bodies, and no end to the corpses! They stumble over the corpses! Because of the many harlotries of a harlot of goodly favor and a mistress of spells, who sells nations by her harlotries, and clans by her spells.”—Nahum 3:1-4, An Amer. Trans.

Again Jehovah’s voice is heard addressing Nineveh: “I attack you, ... I will uncover your skirts to your face, and expose you naked to nations and bare to the kingdoms, to be pelted with filth and disgraced, to stand as a butt for derision, till all who see you shrink away: 'Ruined is Nineveh,’ they say, 'none to lament her; where can we find her any consoling?”’ (Nahum 3:5-7, Moffatt) As Jehovah continues to emphasize the utter destruction of Nineveh Nahum’s righteous satisfaction mounts at the knowledge that Jehovah will avenge himself on the blasphemous Assyrian and completely clear His own name. Jehovah’s closing assurance leaves Nahum perfectly satisfied: “Assyria, your rulers are asleep, your lords slumber in death! Your people are scattered all over the hills, with none to rally them. You are shattered past repair, wounded to death. All who are told of you clap their hands over you; for whom have you not wronged unceasingly?” —Nahum 3:18, 19, Moffatt.

Just as Nahum had the divinely given vision of the utter destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrian, and proclaimed it, likewise Jehovah’s witnesses today have in God’s Word the written record of His inspired visions and prophecies which give them the assurance that Jehovah will completely destroy the modern-day Assyrian, Satan, and his entire organization. They find great satisfaction in proclaiming that great act of Jehovah which will vindicate His name.