NEUTRALITY

The WatchtowC?" of
N ovem bel' 1, 1839,
contained the follow

ing on "Neutrality" .

.-

COPYRIGHT, 1939
AND PUBLISHED BY
W ATCI-ITOWER
BIBL,E AND 'l'RACT SOCIETY, INC.
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.
Made

the United States

of America

NEUTRALITY
"They

are

not of the too'rld, even as 1

world." .John 17,' 16.

EHOV AH

not of the

is the God of pl!aee: "The God

be with you all."

God of

am

peace

of

peace

(lomans 15: 33) "And the very

sanctify yon ",,holly." (1 Thessalonians

23) Jehovah is not a pacifist, as that word is gener

ally defined. In his own due time Jehovah makes war
5

against those who blaspheme his

name

and defy Him

mrhc God of peace

shall bruise Satan nnder your feet shortly." (llomans
16: 20) Jehovah God is always neu t. r al in a controversy
or war between nations or peoples who are on the side
of Satan and a part of Satan':,; world.
Christ Jesns is the Prinee of Peace", and when his
kingdom is fnlly in operation there will be no end to
peace. (Isaiah 9: 6, 7; Hebrews 'i': 1, 2) But Christ Jesus
is not a pacifist. In God's cine time and at. God's com
mand he makes war upon Satnn a.nd all of his organi
zation and will completely destroy all the wicked. (Rev
elation 19: 11; Psalm 110: 2-4) When there is a co n
troversy or war between those who are of Satan's org an
ization Christ Jcsus is always llCU tral as to the contend
ing sides.
"Neutrality" means to decline or refuse to engage in
a controversy or war which is between others, and par
ticularly when such warring nations are unfriendly to
the neutml one. In llch conho,'el'sies or wars the neu
tral one does not take the part of either side, but refuses
to t(tke up the fight of one as against the othel'; a.nd
this is particularly true where lhe neutra.l one has no
and who oppose THE THEOCRACY.

just cause to interfere.

a

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

The position of Jehovah's witnesses :;;hould be

and

clearly

defined, and that posil i on must be fully

supported by the Scriptures Joho\";1h's witnesses are
Christians, who follow the lead of Christ Jesus their
definitely

Head in obeying the commandmcnls of t.he Almighty

God, and who

are

the kingdom
mere fact that
mean that be is
to

clltirely devoted
is TJI!..: THEOCRACY, The
be a Christian does not

therefore wholly nwl

of God, which
one claims to

fact a Christ i an
claim. A C1uiRtian
in

His course of action

must prove his
is a e wh o has fully
covenanted to do the will of Almighlj' G u and therefore
to be obedient to God's commanc1mcnts even as Christ
.

and exalted Son of God, obeys Jeho

vah's commandments. As Christ Jesus is, so are his fol
lowers, Jehovah's witnesses, in t.his world. 1 Jolm 4: 17.
Jesus, the beloved

'1'here is now war among some of (he nations of earth .

Some of

the nations not actually at war have declared

their neutrality. It will be difficult for the officials of the
nations to cl early understand the real neutrality of J eho

be so clearly
have any doubt

vah's "'itnesses, but their position must

stated that there may be

no

occaion 10

as to where they stand and no do ubt liS to the correctness

of the position they take or have taken.

ENTIRELY NEUTRAL

The

true followers of

Christ Jesus

mUHt follow

where

Christ Jesus leads, became they are called to take that

exact course and they must be diligent to obey his and

commandment. (1 Peter 2: 21) Wherever

ther e is a conflict between the laws of the nations and
the laws of Almighty God the Christian must always
obey God's law in preference to man's law, All laws of
men or nations in harmony with God's law the Chris
ti an obeys. The words of Jesus, spoken to his disciples,
apply to all p ersons who have made a covenant to be
obedient to Almighty God. Coneerning such J CSliS says:
Jehovah's

.'.

"They
\\,o1'ld."

not of the lrorld,

( John 17: lG) That

arc

1 urn not of lht'

Jesus intclltlctj this rule

even as

to apply to everyone who becomes a real Christian is

proved by his words, as f ol lo ws : "Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me

through their word." (John 17: 20) Jesus is sanctified

or set aside entirely to the work of his Father, Jehovah,

and concerning those who agree to follow in his steps

Jesus says: "As thou hast s en t me into the world, even

have 1 also sellt them into the world. And for their
sakes 1 sanctify myself, that they also might be sancti
fied throngh the truth." John 17: 18, 19.
The world mentioned by Jesus consists of the nations
of earth under the supervision of the invisible overlord,
Satan. (2 Corinthians 4: 4; J ohn 12; 81; 14: 30) The
world of Satan, therefore, con si st s of the invisible, called
"heavens", and t.he visible, called "earth"; and which
world, in God's due ti me will be completely destroyed.
(2 Peter 3: 7) J eh ov ah s witnesses are set aside an d
commissioned by Jehovah God to be the representatives
on the earth of the Most High, the Great Theocrat.
Jehovah's witnesses are not a political or religions or
ganization, and they have no part in the political affairs
of this world, not even of the nations wherein they have
their domicile. The authority for this position is clearly
st ated by Jesus, to wit: "1 have given them thy wo rd ;
and the worl d hath hated them [like aliens and stran
geTS], because they are not of the wo1'IL1, even as I am
not of the world!'- John 17: 14.
Further add ressin g his tnle followers, the Lord Jesus
says: "If yo were of the world [that is, a part of an y
of the nations participating in war with other nations],
the world [that is, the Tulers and supporters] woulcllove
his own; but because ye aTe not of the world, but 1 have
chosen you [the followers of Christ Jesus] ont of the
wOTld, therefore the world hateth you."
J uhn 15: 19,
.so

'

c,

Ii

The :fact th at

the true followers of Chri st Jesus, real

Christians, are hated by the nations of earth is conclu
sive proof that such Christians must be neutral and not

enter into any all iance with nations that are engaged
at war with other na tion s Some of the nations of earth ,
such as the United States, are now neutral toward other
.

nations,

but

the

United

States or other neutral nations

are not hated because of that neutrality. They are a part

of the world and continue to have commercial dealings
with the nations that are at war. The position of .Teho
vah's witnesses is entirely different from that of the na
tions of ear t h J ehorah's witnc:'lses are entirely neutral
for Jehovah's name s sake, and because thereof they are
hated, as Jesus stated, "for my name's sake" and the
sake of his Father's nume. Jehovah's witnes s are en
.

'

tirely for the Theocratic Government of the Almighty

God by Ch rist Jesus the King. The unint.errupted r ule

of Satan has ended, and therciore great woes have come
upon the nat ions of the earth. (JImelation 12; 12) Con
cerning the eUll of Satan's world the Lord Jesus says:
"N ation shall 1'i8e against nation, and kingd om against
kingdom" ; and in this connection Jesns, further speak
ing concerning the Christian, says; "And ye [tht' fol

of Christ Jesus] shall be haled of all nat ions for

my name's sake." (Matthew 24: 79) Thitl alone proves
that J eho\,ah'8 wi tnesses are entirely separate and apart
lower

from the nations of this world.

THE THEOCRACY

Many centuries

ago JehO\'ah, the Almighty God, de

clared h is purpose to set up the THEOCRATIC GOVElm

which is his kingdom by Christ Jesus, and whi eh

kingdom sha ll rule the earth in righteousness. In the
year 29 (A.D.) Christ JeRus was anointed and commis
sioned as King of the Theocratic Government or King
dom, which he declared would be set up at his second
coming. Christ Jesus was entirely neutral toward na
}'IENT,

Hons when he was on earth. He did not i n struct his

followers to take sides with any government or any
nations of earth in thei r controversies, but he emphati
cally instructed all his true followers to devote themselves

entirely to God's kingdom, THE THEOCRACY. He urged

upon them the necessity of always praying for the com

ing and full operation of THE THEOCRACY: "Thy king
dom come. Thy will be d one in earth,

-Matthew

as

it is in heaven."

6: 10,

He told his .followers that the nations of this world

seek entirely after ma terial or selfish things, and then
to his followers he said: "But seek ye first the kingdom

of God, and his righteousness [ t hat is, seek THE THEOC

RACY, and not democracy, totalitarianiBm, Fascism, or
any other political governnH'nt 1 ; and all these thi ngs
shall be added unto you!' (Matthew 6: 33) The Chris
ti a n that is to say, the true fo]lo;yer of Christ Jesus,
who is for the government of Jehovah, could not take
sides for or against any political gove rnment now on
eari h. Great religious organizations and the F ascists say,
"We expect to rule the earth" ; while the democracies say,
"We will rule the earth"; and all of these aTe against
Jehovah God s kingdom by Christ Jesus, That his fol
lowers might have no reason to take a wrongful course
JeslIR instructs them to give no concem to the affairs
of this world, and then adds: "For all these things do
,

'

<.

the nations of the world seek after; and your Father

knoweth that ye have need of these things, But rather
seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things s hall

be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your

Father's good

10 give yon the kingdom." (Luke

12: 30-32)

positive and emphatic instruction

pleasure
Here is the

that those who will have a part in the l'HEOCRATTU Gov

in

ERNMENT, that is,

God's heavenly kingdom, mURt be

entirely neutral with Teference to

earthly nations.

Every nation on the earth, including those that

at war and those that are not now at
1

ar

are

end01'ses and

practices religion, and religion and politics operate to

gether, and not one of such nations is for the Theocratic
Government of ,h,hovllh, but all

tions of

against it. The na

ar th pursue the selfish course for commer

political gain. Some of thcse nations call them

the

cial and

arc

Belves "Christian" nations, but they are aU opposed to

the kingdom of God

..

by Christ .Tesus. Every religious

institution under the snn. has some part in the affairs
of this world, ana therefore constitutes a part of this
world; and that explains why the rulers of the nations
of this \I'orId do not hate the religioll systems, as Jesus
stated his followers are hllted for his namc's sake. That
proves 1 h" t these rdigious Aystems

[lrc

not for the name

of J el10mh God no r for the name of Christ Jesus, but

against God and his kinglom. The instructions given
to those who are for the Theocmtic Government are that
their citizenship is in heaven and their duty is to be
entirely loyal and faithful to the heavenly government
by Christ Jesus. Concerning this it is \\T' ton: " ( For
many walk, of whom I have told you oCto , and now
tell you even weeping, that they Ilre the enemies of the
cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose nod
is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things [commercial, political and religious

things].)

For

our

cihzemhip is in heaven [A.R.V.];

from whence also we look for

the Saviour, the Lord

18-20) Mark this strong

Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:

contra st pointed ont between those who are Christians

and those religionists, that is, who are of this world.

Does the Lord instruct his people to indulge in war
for one nation against another nation? No; but, on the
contrary, ihe cmlJhatic instruction to the Chritian is
stated in these words: "Thou therefore e ndure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth
. entangleth himself with the airairs of this [world] ; that
.he ,may please him who bath choson him to be a soldier."
'
. 2 Timothy 2.: 3, 4.
B

l d not be a soldier of Jesus Christ and at the

same time a soldier of the nation that is under the super
vision of God's enemy, the DeviL Hence the Ohristian
does not entangle himself with the affairs of this world:
"For though we walk in the fles h we do not war after
the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare arc not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that ex alt e th itself against the knowledge of God [t he
great THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT], and bringing into cap
tivity every thought to the obedience of Christ [the King
of THE THEOCRACY]." (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5) Then
the Chri,,1ian is specifically instructed as to the warfare
to which he is subjected: "For ours is not a conilict
with
flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the
empires, the forces that control and govern this dark
world- the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in
the heavenly warfare." Ephesians 6: 12, Weymouth.
The war of one nation against another n a tion of the
earth is not the fight of the followers of Christ Jesus.
If the nations of this world desire to fight, that is their
affair entirely, and it is not at all the affair of one who
has made a covenant to be faithful to Almighty God and
One

cou

his King and Kingclom. '1'he Christian must not inter

fere in the least manner with the war between the na

Christian is not to interfere with the drafting

of men of either nation that goes to war. 'fhat is the
affair of the nations of this world. The Christ.ian must
be entirely neutral, and this without regard to his place
of birth or nationality. It is the privilege of each Chris
tian to make his own position and relationship to the
Lord clearly to be understood, that he is separate and
apart from any of the nation s of this wmld. Jehovah's
wit nes se s have separated themselves entirely from thi s
world by covenanting to be faithf u l to God's kingdom,
and they have received the commission from Jehovah
God to aid and comfort the peoples of the earth who
tions. The

that without reganl to what na

tion such people may be s11bject to. They bring comfort
to those who are seeking the right way, by declaring
seek righteousness,

and

to th em the name and the kingdom of Almighty God

by ChTist J eSlls, calling their attention to the em phatic
wor d of God that his kingdom is the only l10pe for man

kind. (Iaiah 61:

1,2; MaHhew 12 : 18-21) To tho.e who

have covenanted to do God's will as followers of Christ
J esllS he says: "Yc are my witnesses . that I am G od " ;
.

that

is, t he Supreme One, and who gives peace and sal

vation t o those who do his will. (Isaiah 43: 10, 12; Psalm

8) Officiale of the nations of this world and who have

to do with t he selecting of the army cannot have a proper
appreciation of the scriptmes hereinbefore mentioJled,
for the Teason that they are of the world and have not
devoted themselves to Almighty God. Concerning this
it is written : "I11It the natural man [the man dc\'oted
to the things of Satan':;; world J rcceiveth not the things
of the spirit of God; for they are foolihJ1ess unto him;
neither can he know them, because they are spiri tually
discerned. For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God."
3:

-1 Corinthians 2: 14, 11.

that worldly men and officials do not under

stand and appreciate the clear distinction between the
nations of this world and the great THEOCllATIC Gov
ERN}'IENT of Jehovah Gou by Christ Jesus is n o excue
for a Christian to yield to the demands of worldly na
tions. The Ch ri sti an has made a covenant to be faithful
to God and to his kingdom; and for the Christian to
willingly break that covenant means his everlasting de
struction. The position here announced of the Christian
The fact

is nothing new, bl1t

was

clearly set forth in the Scrip

tures long centuries :.:.go for the

or

righteousness

mighty

God.

who

guidanee

man

has agreed to be faithful to Al

1.0

of the

NEUTRALITY FORESHADOWED

Jehovah useo the Israelites to set up

racy, which foret;lHldowed his

his

real

a typical theoc

and great Theocracy,

kingdom by Christ Jesus. Ahrl'1ham, Isaac and Jacob

and they
were always neutral in the wars of other nations. Abra
ham had nothing to do with the fight between the rulers
of Sodom and Gomorrah and their enemies. The invad
were

ers

faithful

representatives of Jehovah God,

ove r ran the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, and a great

conflict raged between them. Abraham and Lot, his neph

ew, were there, but they

took

no part whatsoever in that

\Iar. (Geneis 14; 1-3) After that war between the con
tending natlons was a ll Dyer and one side seized Lot and
his property

an d

with

fled

the

same,

Abraham did

PlU

sue the invaders, not because he wa.s au all y of the de

feated ones, but because one of the enemy had seized

and carried awa y Lot, the "righteous man", (2 Peter

2: '1,8) 'Then Abraham pursued the invaders and recov
ered Lot, his nephew, and not because he was his neph
ew, but because Lot was a faithful servant of Almighty
Cod. 'Thus the divine rule is established that one of

GOlI's deyoted servants is jmtified in acti ng in behalf

of his fe1low scrvants. the servants of God. The rescue
of Lot accomplished by the armed forces of Abraham
,

approved by Jehovah, as shown by the follow

ing scriptures: And Melchizedek king of Salem hrought
, forth bread and winc ; and he was the priest of the mmlt
high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be
was fully

Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and

the most high

deiivered thine enemies into thy haud.
tithes of all." Genesis 14; 18-20.

earth; and blessed be

God, which hath

And he gave

him

the fact that he was not ill

any alliance with either of the warring factions are fur
ther proved by his refusal to accept any reward whattlo
ever or any part of the spoils taken from the enemy.
Abraham's neutrality

(Genesis 14: 21-24)

and

This

proves that Abraham

was

not

11

. .

the servant of any earthly king, but that he was

the

SC1'vant and representative of Jehovah God, the great

THEOCRAT. Abraham's neutrality ,,;as due to the fact
that he was wholly devoted to the THEOCRATIC GOVERN
lIIENT, and tho1'efore God addressed him as his "friend".

This is further p roved

by what is

w1'itte n

concerning

Abraham, to wit: "By faith he sojourned in the land of

promise, as
with

in

a strange

country ,

d welli ng in tabernacles

Isaac and .Jacob, the heirs with him of the same

promise; for he looked for a city [government] which

hath foundation, whose builder and maker is God." Hebrews 11: 9,10.

This scripture proves that he

not

was

a stranger and did

act as a native nationalist, plltting the state above

Almighty

God. He

Isaac and Jacob,

dwelt in tents with

and thus showed himself separate and apart from the

others and that he was a noncombatant. He was a sheep

herder, engaged in a peaceful business, and had no part
in the affairs of the govcmmcnt in the land where he
re si ded lIe had his mind nnd heaTt set upon God'8 king
.

written
concerning him: "Therefore sprang there even of one,
and him a good as dead, so many as the stars of the
sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not hav ing

dom, the GHEAT THEOCRACY; and fmther it is

received the promiHes, but having seen them afar off,

and were persuude(l of them, and embraced [saluted]
them, and

confessed

grims on the eUT1h."-

that they

were

Hebrews 11

st1'angers and pil

12,

13.

Bothc'l'hanJs, and Ymmgo's translation.)

(See Diaglott,

and thus attributed salvation to Al

mighty God, and hence he did not salut e the flag of
those worldly gOl'ernmcllts and dtrilmte salvation and
p r otection to them. He did not lock for protection or
salvation from an y caTthly government, and tllercforc
He "saluted"

jt is written eOllccrninghim: "For they that say such

things declare

plainly that they

12

seek a country

And

truly

if

they had been

mindful

of that country from

whencE' they came out, they might have had opportunity

to ha \'e

returned." Hebrews 11: 14, 15.

He conld have returned t.o those governments whence
he came by saluting th e ir Hag, and thus denying .Teho
vah God. And why diel he not do so?
answer: <'But now they desire a better

The Scriptures
country, that is,

an heavenly [that is, The Theocratic Government of

,Tehovah by Cl11'i8t .Tesus]: wherefore God is not a sh amed
to be called their God; for he hath prep are d for them

a city."

Verse

16.
TYPICAL

Abraham's neutrality was typica.l, and furnishes the

true and COITect guide for the Chris1"ians, who form a
part of God's ''1101y nation"; and concerning which it is
written: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest
hood an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should
shew forth the praises of him r Jeho\'[lh, the Great Theo
crat, by faithfully repreHenling him and his government,
and not by showing forth the prnises of men] who hath
called you out of darkness into his mUfYcllous light."
,

-.1 Peter 2: 9.

Further showing that

the trne followers of

Chri"t Jesus

are separate and d.istinct from the nations o f this

the

earth,

scripture continues: ('Dearly beloved, I beseech you

as strangers and pilg rims [that is, not native nation al

. having your con

ists or any part of Satan's world],
versation [behavior, course of action] honest among the
.

; th at , whereas they speak against yo u

they may by your good works [of faithfully

Gentiles [nations.l
as

evil doers,

representing Jehovah's theocratic government by always

bearing testimony

to his

name

by the course
shall behold, glorify God

and kingdom

of action you ta ke1, which they

in the day of visitation [that is, the coming of distreHs

and trouble upon ihe nations of

don]."

1 Peter 2: 11, 12.

13

the earth

at Armaged
;

true followers of Chri st

Jesus to now be upon the earth i s that they might bear
witness to the name of Jehovah God and proclMm his
kingdom. By remaining aosolutely and entirely neutral
The only

r e a s on

for any of the

in the controversies and wars between the nations, these

Christians stand forth fOT the witne8s of the Most High

and thus fulfill their commission, maintain their integ

rity, and
his King.

prove

their faithfulness to Almighty God and

time

those who are now Jehovah's

witnesses were a part of this world, but, having made a
solemn covenant to do the will of Alm ighty God and
h avin g become the true followers of C h rist Jesus, snch
There was a

whe n

are no longer any part of the world. "'l'hat at that time

[as citizens of the world and hence a part of earthly

governments] ye were without Chrht, being aliem; from

the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the cove

promise, hav ing no hope, and without God in

the ,vorld; but now., in ChrIst Jesus, ye who sometimes
were faT on, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now

nants of

therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but

fellow-citizens

with

the saints, and of the household of

Cod; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles

und prophets. J eSllS Christ himself being the chief cor
ner

Ephesians 2: 12, 13, 19,

stone."

Christ Jesus,

Being in

in the controversies

20.

one can no longer take sides

wars between the peoples and

nationc; are against Jehovah'::; king
a nd

which
dom: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand
of God. Set your affection on thing s above, not on things
on the earth. For ye arc dead, and your life is hia with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall ap
pear, then shull ye also appear with him in glory,"'
nations, all of

Colossians 3: 1-4.

The truly covenant people of Almighty God now on

earth are not pro-"fon:lgn power", nor hyphenated na14

tiona lists, with a divided human all egiance ; they are

not propagandists for either side of the warring factions.
They are separate and distinct from all such and are

sol ely

the witnesses of Jehovah. Qod and bis THEOCRATIC

GOVEltNMENT, and hence the y must stand aloof from

every nation of this world. They must declare the king

dom of God, and without doiDg so they cannot be fai t h

ful to God and receive his app rOval and salvation to life.
To them obediencE' to the world Il1efLnS everlasting de

struction ; obedience to Almig)1ty n ad means everlasting

must they do' ? They must be witnesses

for the Lord and obey his comr)1andments by pointing the
people to his King and his KirJl.gdom.-Jl.Iatthew 24 : 7, 14.
life. What, then,

'

,
.

IS RAEL'S WARS

It

that the wars or the nation of

other nations i@ Inoor that wars between
may be properly ind.u l ged in and hence that

has been
Israel against

nat ions

Christians

clai me d

dlOuld

join '\'ith OHler

nations

in making war.

Such reasoning finds no SUPIJo:rt whatsoever in the Scrip

tures. The nation of Irael vva" not organized by any

political ruler or dictator or Uflurper. That was Go d's

typical nat i o n formed and org;arlized b y the great T H RO
CRAT for the purpose of pi ctulr i:ng the re al THEOORAOY
that shall rule the world by 0 h1'i8t Jesus. Israel had no
,

. man-made laws and

no politic.al rarties and no religious

This was true a.::l

long as that nation remained :faithful to God, God chose
the earthly location for his ty pical theocratic nation, as
it is written : "A land which the Lord thy God careth
for ; the eyes of the Lord thy" C od are always upon it,
from the beginning of the yea r \'en u nt o the end of the
year." ( Deuteronomy 11 : 1 2 ) "\Vhen the Most High

advisers to direct the politican aJfairs.

divided to the nations their ;inheritance, when he sep

Adam, he set the bounds of the people

according to the number of the ch ildren of Israel." (Dellarated

th e sons of

.10

",
.-, --.
"

8) Jeh ovah

teranomy 32 :

the

uler of that typical

law of the nation.

only

G od, the

was

nation Israel, and his will the

The land assigned to Israel

previously by

great THEOCRAT,

held in possession

was

the Canaanites and

others who

were de
voted to devil-worship, and who therefore were against
Jehovah G o d '1'hat land God had given to Abraham
and to his seed after him. ( G enesis 13 : 14-17 ; 1 5 : 1 8-21 ;
Psalm 105 : 8-1 2) The Canaani teB, who were against God,
refused to surrender possession to G od's chosen people
.

and

crat,

to come over on the side of the gre at Theo

and therefore they must be onsted. The only ex

refused

ception was the people of Gibeon, who voluntarily put

themselves on the side of Jehovah and who therefore
TCceived protection and deliverance at the hand of God's
chosen servant,

ites

Joshu a

Israel's wars against

the Canaan

were calTied on by the direction of Jehoyah God.

-Deuteronomy 7 : 1 ; Exodus 34 : 24.

Joshua,

name is t.he same as Jesus amI who

foreshadowed Chri s t Jesus, carried on such wars by the
direct conunand of the Almighty God, and Joshua gained
whose

the victory for that reason.'

Joshua 1 1 :

.Joshua

chapters 9

and

10 ;

20-23.

Israel was the onl y

nation

of

earth

to

which

God

assigned any territ ory and authorized them to take

session of it by fmce. Hence the

wars

Christ
gift to

pos

of Israel for gain

ing possession of what belonged to them

Almighty God foreshadowed

ever

by the gift

of

JeSlls' taking pos

him from Jehovah

session of the entire earth, a
God, and Ch r i st acts under the command of the Al

mighty. ( Psalm 2 : 6 - 1 2 ) The Israelites did not invade

that which bel onged to others. They took
belongeJ to them by a gift
pation in

war was

from

the

land that

Jehovah. '1'heir partici

by the comma nd of the Almight.y God,

and their obedience to his commandment was m ore ac

ceptable than

sacrifi ce. ( 1 Samuel 15 :

20-23) Such wars

16

.'

were righteous; hence God heard and answeTed the

pTayers of his typ i cal people as l011g as they obeyed
him. Victory was not granted to them by reason of

their

su p er

ercised his

ioT military
almighty

equipmcnt, belt because God ex

power in their behalf.

(Joshua

10: 14) King David carried out Gotfs command in tak

ing possession of the entire domain which the gTeat

people. (2 >:-lam
ueI 8; 1 Kings 4: 21) Thus he pictured the Greater
David, Chr is t Jesus, taking possessioIl of the entiTe earth.
When the Israelites violated their covenant with God
he permitted them to be puni,hed by theiT enemie, and
they never gaiIlcd the victory over their enemies under
such circumstances. nut when the Israelites repented
and turned to God he drove out their enemy imadeTs
and gave ISTael the victory. ( J udge s chapters 6 and 7)
Theocrat harl assigned to His typical

All these things happened to ISTaelfor tYIJes and were

written and Tecorded

for the

and guhlance of
the eaTth. (1 COTinthians
advice

faithful Christians now on

10: 11) None of the nations of "Chlistendom"

ever

had

any teI'Titol'Y assigned to them by the great Theocrat,

Jehovah.

The sO-ClllIed

"Christian" nations have tareen

possession of land by what they call "the Tight of dis

covery" or by purchase or by conqnert, and not by God's

"Christendom" is the antitype 0 f un:faithful Israel,

which un faithful people lost the whole land by reason
of their unfaithfulness to God. "Christendom," that is,
will.

the so-eal1ed "Christian" nations, are without any au

thority whatsoeveT from Almighty God to engage in war

and with his approval and blessing. :I-Icnce the wars be

tween the nations of the earth, even defensive wars; find

no support

OT

jllStification in the

"aI'S

that ISl'ael

gaged in. There is nothing, therefon,. that

en

would justify

the true Christian in obeying the pol itical and religious

rulers in taking up arlllS for aggK:!8sive war or even
for defensive war of one worldly naliion against another
worldly nation. If j be nations of "Christendom" or any
17

other nations of earth desire to engage in war and do so,

that is their affair and it is the duty of God's covenant
people to remain entirely neutral as to such wars. Reli
,

gious leaders, forming a part of this evil world, insist

that Christians should engage in war between nations,
citing the experiences of IsTael as authority, The most
powerful religious organization on earth now attem pts

to justify war, that is, war now raging between the

nations, and hence the Roman Catholic HieraTchy of
Auth01'ity urges the religIonists of the various nations
to take sides and go to war. Evidently they have over
looked their own previously announced co ncl us ions upon
tbis point. Some conscientious member of the Hierarchy
at one time wrote and published the correct position in
tbis matter, to wit: "Here, also, it is to be noted that
nations cannot draw a parallel from the Old-Testament
titles. The Isr ae lites lived under a theocracy; G od, as

Supreme Lord

of all the earth, in specific instance8, by

tl1e exeTcise of His supreme dominion, transferred the

ownership of alien Lands t.o the Israelits; by His com

they waged war to obtain possession of it, and

their title to war was the ownership (tlLuS giv en them)
of the land for w hich they fought. 'The, privation thus

m an d

wrought upon its prior owners and actual possessors had,

moreover, the character of punishment vi:sited upon them

by God's

order for offences committed against Him. No

state can find such title existing for itseH under the
natural law." The Catholic Encyclol1fcZia, Volume 15,
under the heading "V'v ar", and subtitle IV, pa ge 548,
column 2.

Contrary to their once announced coonect d octr i ne

the Catholic clergy in various nations now advise t.he

"Catholic popUlation" to participate in a war, evidently

reasoning that their failure to do so ,.'ould ca use the

Hierarchy to lose much fina ncial support. It is th erefore

apparent that they arc willing to repudiate their former
and once cOITect position and sacri fice human lives in
18
-

order -to
parts oj'

maintain their

own

present position with the

world.
fu rnish no precedent

this wicked

or authority for
The Scriptures
a Christian to engage in war for one nation as against
another, for the manifest reaSOll that all such nations
are against the great THEOCRATIC GOVERN}IENT and

hence

between the nations is not the fight of

one wIIO is in a covenant to do the will of the Almighty
God. The Israelites' wars, which Jehovah approved, were
the fight

for the purpose of taking possesion of their own land.

Outside of their own territory assigned to them by the
Lord they were not authorized to extend their warIare
to any more territory at any time. -See Deuteronomy

2: 1-9. 19,

37.

WhcIl. the holy land "I'as invaded by other nations the

Israelit% were authorized to fight in a defensive war
against such invaders. Specific examples arc found in
the Sc riptnrcs

in

reference to invasion by

Egypt, Ethio

pia, Syria and AssYTia, and in which Jehov ah not only

approvd the action of his typical people but came to

(2 Kings
When the

their {te:feme and fought their battles for them.

18: 9-3f; 19: 1-36; 2 Chronicles 14: 9-15)

intern8! enemy who was against God and his people rose
up agttlUst them in war they were authorized to fight
and to subdue the anti-theocratic up
rising. Such was the rule that God gave to the Israelites.

in

selidefense

-See Judges, chapters 3 to 16.

In the wa.rs that raged between

in lhe
the Theocratic

the nations

outsid world beyond the boundaries of

terriioll'y of Israel the Israelites were commanded to re
main :rnmtral, and did remain neutral as long as faithful
to Jeh.ovah. When they violated that neutrality they suf

defeat and did not have God's help. (2 Kings

23: 29'-35; 2 Chronicles 35: 20-211) This rule govern
ing true typical theocracy fixes the rule by which those
who a:n of the real Theocracy must be guided.

fered

19

"CHRISTENDOM" NOT TIIEOCRATIC

There is no so-called "Christian nation" of

"Christendom" that is a theocracy,

because not one of snch nations

so-called

or

any part thereof,

even

claims Almighty

God

as the Ruler. AU these nations are ruled according

to man's law. If such nations had Jehovah God for ruler
the political power could not
The law

of

enforce conscription

laws_

the political govermnents is not theocratic.

Since God commands all of his covenant people to keep

themselves aloof from the world and thereby devote

no per
son in a covenant to do the will of God is un der obli
gation to take up arms for one political government as
agn imt another political government. 'I'he i nt e r e st of
the state and the interest of God's theocratic govern
ment are n ot common. 'I'he onlinanccs or laws of the
themselves entirely and wholly to his kingdom,

state do not express the will of Almighty God, because

God has not authorized any politicai

nation

to act for

nation.
Exactly the opposite is the Scriptural rule: "JeSliS an
swered, My kingdom is not of this world [of which 'Chris
telldom' is apart] ; if my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants light, that I sh oul d not be de
Ih-ered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from
him in declaring and making war on another

hence [not from the source of 'Christendom']." (John

(36) Again says the Word of the great Theocrat:
"B1es8C'd is the nation whose God is Jehovah, the people
whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm

18

33: 12, A.R_ F.)

Not

one nation within the realm of

80-

called "Christendom" has Jehovah for its God and Ruler,

and his govern

ment by Ch rist Jesus and hate those who bear testimony
to his name and his government. (Matthew 24: 9) In
Germany there are some Christians that are truly and
fully the covenant people of God. Why should they fight
for Hitler and his gangsters that defy the Almighty
God and persecute those who serve J ehoyah God and
but all such nations hate Jehovah God

20

Christ Jesus i'

Some

of

these faithful

Christians have

recently been, as the press announces, executed, that is,

put

to

death, because they would not bear arms at the

command of H itler

integrity

and faithfulness to the

ERNMENT

and is

proved his
THEOCRATIC Gov

Thus the executed one

guaranteed

great

resurrection and life ever

lasting; which no gangster such as Hitler will ever get.

-llevelation 2: 10.

THEOCRACY

The THEOCHACY is the heavenly, invisible gove rnme nt

of Jehovah God by Christ .Jesus,the King, who is in
visible to human eyes. (Isaiah 9: 6,7) rrhat government
is not allied with or represented by any religions, politi
cal, judicial government on the earth. If the church-state
gmernments were a part of God's Theocracy, then there
would be only one government, und er one Leader, Christ
Je\lS. Hence there could be no war between them_ There
would be no international division, and no rivalry, and

conflict between the peoples of those

nations. Neither would the clergy of one of such nations
pray to some reputed "god" to favor one of such coun
tries at war as against another nation at war. Christ is
not div i de d The Theocracy is one inseparable, righteous
government, always righteous. (1 Corinthians 1: 10-13;
3: 1-4) It follows, therefore, that Jehm<uh must be neu
tral, and hemc his ear is deaf to the prayers of the clergy
of all sides of the war between the nations. J e11on].h God
hears only the prayers of th05e who are for his THEO
CRATIC GOVERNMENT. (1 Peter 3: 12) A religious state
is anti-Theocracy, and to such state God shows no fa \'ors
over another like state or nation. J ehovah God is neutral,
and his covenant people who have vowed to serve him
and his 'l'HEOCRACY must therefore remain neutral, de
pending wholl y and entirely upon God for prolection
and salvation_
2 Corinthians 10: 3,4.
_ .
.
hence no

bloody

21

SELF. DEFENSE

be defined as one who re

fuses to fight under any and all circumstances. The
CO\,llant pe opl e of God are not pacifists, even as God
and Christ are not pacifists. God's covenant people are
authorized to defend themselves against those who fight

"pacifist" may properly

aga ins t the THEOCIL-I.TIC GOVERN1.IEN'I'. Nehemiah of

Judah was in times of peace the official of the Persian

not engage in building up military

d e fens es for Persia. Because he remained n e u tral he
was falsely accused as a seditionist. (Nehemiah 1: 11;
2: 1-20) Nehemiah devoted himself to building up and
strengthening the interest of Jeho\'ah's typical cove
nanl pearle as against the anti-God forces. (Nehemiah
4: 7-23) His opponents conspired together to fight
against Jerusale m and to prevent God 's covenant peo
ple from carrying out the commandments of the Al
mighty. Therefol'e Nehemiah armed the servants of God,
who worked with him. and commanded th em to "fight
fOT your brethren".
Nehemiah 4: 1, 14.
Likewise Zerubbabel, who was commanded by Jeho
vah to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. (Ezra 1; 1-11 ;
2: 1. 2; 3: 1-13) He did not devote himself to the build
ing up of military defenes of Medo-Persia; and because
he remai ned neutral as to the political state Zerubbabel
was accused of sedition, which charge was false. (Ezra
4: 6-24) But Jeho\'ah God protecteu and bl esed Zerub
babel in his work in behalf of the covenant people of
God. (Ezra 5: 1-17; 6: 1-22) Thus God's rule is fixed.
gO\ernment. He did

Likewise ,1ehovah's witnesses today, in caring for the

interest of THE THEOCRAOY by arranging for and hold

public meetings and there proclaiming the llame of

Jehovah and his King, and by advertising the kingdom
as commanded, h av e the right to defend themselves

ing

against the assaults of the anti-God, anti- Kingdom crowd

who would hinder such work which God has commanded

th em to do; and in defending themselves they have the
22
'

.'

appro v

al of tlle Almighty .

of Religion," September
Being entirely

neut ral

See The Watchtower,

15, 1939, page 279.
.

"Doom

as between the nations of earth

Jehovah's witnesses do not pray to God for one politica l

ruler as against another. They do not pray, as com
manded by the ruler of any earth!y government, for the
success of the armies of one nntioll against another, but
they pray as J ehovah God, by Christ Jesus, has com
manded them to pray, to wit: 'Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.' (Matthew
6: 10) God's people are now !iving on the earth practically under all earthly govemments, and it would be
entirely inconsistent for them to pra y for one govern
ment as against another and particularly in view of (he
.

fact that all of such earthly governments are against

Father
as to aU

God's kingdom. Jehovah's witnesl>es pray to their

and who is neutral

earth ly governments, and wh o declares that in his own
due time he will by the hand of Christ J esus completely
detroy all government" that are opposed to and against
THE THEOCRACY, for the reason that such opposing gov
in heaven,

who is eternal,

ernments

are

Jehovah's

under the hand of Satan.

neutraliiy

is

further

proved by the fact that

h is resurrection,
any other nation on earth

he ordered his anointed King, following

to take n o action for or against

until due time for the Theocratic rule to begin. He com

man d ed Christ ,Jesus to rem ain inactive toward all such
nations until God sellds him forth to rule ; which He
(lid in 1914: "The LORD said onto my

thou

at my ri ght hand, until

foot

make t hine

Lord, Sit
enemies thy

stool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out
of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (Psalm
At the end of the world,
time came for Satan to be onsted. God

110: 1,2; Hebrews 10:

that is, after

the

12, 13)

forth his Ki ng to rule. That did not mean that

Jehovah was taking sides between the nations which
rise up against each other in war (Matthew 24: , 8),
sent

..

nor

did

to take sides,
them to go about

Jesus tell his faithful follo,,"crs

y he commanded
amongst all the nations and preach t11e go od news, giv
ing testimony that Satan's world had eurlcd and that
the kingdom of righteousness is at hand, which shaH
but,

on the

con rar

vindicate Jehovah's name and bring bles6ings to the

obedient people. (Matthew 24: 14) The end of

Satan's
world has come, and God by Christ Jesus takes a hand
in completely ousting Satan and all of his supporters
from the earth became the earth belongs to Christ Jesus
as a gift from Jeh oyah God. Psalm 2: 8,9.
The rule by \\' hich .1 ehO\'ah's covcnant people must
now be governed is t hat of strict nentraHty between the
nations at war. It is the privilege of all nations to fight
it out amo ngst themselves, but the Christian must not
interfere, by word or act, with the governments in any
action they may take with reference to the conscription
of men or material for the war. The covenant people
. of God must keep their llUnds off, because it is not their
fight and it would be wrong to try to induce others not
to fight. Each one must determ i ne for himself his rela
tionship to God and his government.
Jehovah favors no polit ical nation as against another
like nation. In due time he expl'csses his wrath against
all such nations, because all are ag ainst his kingdom.
"Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people;
let the earth hear and all that is therein; the world,
and all things that come forth of it. For the indigna
tion of the Lord is upon all nations, an d his fury upon
all their atmies; he hath utterly destroyed them, he h ath
delivered them to the slaughter." (Isaiah 34: 1, 2)
Jeremiah 25: 31, 32; Zepha ni ah 3: 8; Haggai 2: 22;
Revelation 11: 17, 18.
,

DIVIDING THE PEOPLE

Jehovah assumes no responsibility for national divi

sion, that is, for one system of government of men as
24

g
another system of government. On the contrary,
Chrit Jesus, Jehovah's Kinp.-, is now present, judging

a a i ngt

and separating the people of all nations int o two classes,

that is to say, the obedient ones in one class, designated
as "sheep", and the disobedient 01' opposing ones, desig
nate d as "goats". (Matthew 25: 31-40) The questions
issues upon which the individual division takes place
and wh i ch all such individuals must by their course of
action answer are these: Are you for the Theocratic
rule by Ch rist J eaus the King? Do you, on the contrary,
favor the continuation of Satan's rule by the p o liti cal

or

and religious elements of thi s world?

must choose for himself.

Je11ovah's COYBnant people stand
tions that

Each

aloof

individual

from the na

are

anti-Theocracy, and they must remain

neutral as to all such nations. There is but one nation
that has Jehovah's app roval, and that is his "holy na
tion", composcd of Christ Jesus, the Head and Ruler,

and all those who fully support and are associated with
Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 2: 9) These faithful followers of

must prm'e their integ

rity and remain true and faithful to Jehovah and his
King. Now the nations of earth, controlled by the reli
Christ Jesus, in order to live,

gious and political rulers, conspire together to cause

God's covenant peo111e to be cut off from being a holy

nati o n (Psalms 83: 2-18; 2: 2-0) As to all such opp o s
ing nations, they are the encmies of God and of his
covenant people, and therefore the coycn ant people m ust
.

not mix up

with

or become

part of any of

such

oppos

ing nations.
What shall be the end of those nations th at oppose
the Theocracy and that persccute the faithful witnesses
and their "companions", who obey the commandments
of

God by prcaching

this "gospel of the kingdom"?

Jesus answers that question as follows: "And shall not
God avenge his

him, thougb he

own

elect, which cry day and night unto

bear long with them?

25

I tell you that

avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son

man cometh, shull he find faith on the earth ?"

he will
of

Luke 18; 7, B.
Even if some nations of earth have heretofore declared

that they are God's nation, it is certainly true DOW that

every nation on earth has forgotten God and now op
poses his 'Theocratic government. Because they oppose
that kingdom and those who work under the King's
supervision, all such nations are wicked and their e1HI

is fixed. "The

Lord is known by the judgment

which

he executeth; the wicked is snared in the work of his

OW11

hands

The wicked shall he tumed into h ell,

.
nations [(Hebrew) goyim] that forget God."
.

and all the

(Psalm 9: 16, 1(1) Con cerning snch Jehovah directs hi s
covenant pco]Jle to pray: "Arise, 0 Lord; let not man
premil; let the heathen [( Hebrew) goyim nations] be
judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, 0 Lord ; that the
nations may know themselves to be but men." (Psalm
9: 19, 20) "0 God, the heathen [(Hrbrew) goyim] are
come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple hove they
defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps." "Pour out
thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known tllce,
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon t h y
"

name

[in spirit and in truth and withont hypocrisy 1-"

(Psalm '19: 1, 6 ; 2 Timothy 3:

elation 11:

17, 18)
in disobedience to

It

would

5)

(Isaiah G4: 1,2; Hev

be entirely inconsistent

and

God's commandments for any cove

nant chil d of his who supports

His TIIEOCR.-I.CY

to line

with and fight for one earthly nation as against an

other earthly nation, boih of which nations are against
the THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. Therefore the position
of Jehovah's witnesses is complete neutrality.
Without a question of doubt every nation of earih
has violated the ewrlasting covenant of God concerninv
the sanctity of life. This they have done by wrongfully
killing human and beast creation, and particularly by
up

26

killing

those who are devoted to God, and whom they

have killed because such were faithful to Jehovah God.

9:

(Genesis

any human

4-6, 16,17 )

creature is

The only justified kiUing of

in dr-defense or as God's exe

No nntion on earth has ever

is free from the wrongful taking,of the

cutioner. (Exodus 22: 2)

claimed
lives of

that it

others, and which hU8 been done in disregard

of God's law. Concerning all mch it is written: "The

earth also is defiled L1nd(!!' tlw inhabitants thereof; be

cause they have tranHgl'PRSl'd j,\](! laws, changed the ordi

nance, broken the everlating (;ovenant."
Isaiah 24: 5.
UNSPOTTED

THEOCRACY and who have

covenant to do the will of Al

Those who are for the great

therefore

made a solemn

mighty God,

the

unblemished

and ullcontaminated from the affairs of the

great THEOCRAT, must keep themselves

nations of eaTth, which are ag-nillst the gl'eat THEOCRAT;

as Jesus plainly declared: "They are not of the world,
even

as I am

not

of

the world, Sanctify them through

thy truth; thy word is truth."

(John 17: 16. 17)

By

the truth of Jehovah's Word they are completely set asi(le

to bis exclusive ervice. Therefore such are commanded
to 'keep themselves unspotted fl'om the world'. (James
1:

27) "Unspotted"

means to be free from

blemish

and

from mixing up with the affairs of this world. Those

who worship God in spiTit and in truth must do that

the true worship of Almighty

God. '1'here has crcpt into the Authorized Translation
of the Bible. in James 1: 27, the word "religion", whi('h
is imlJTOperly there. The conect translation of that text
is as follows: "For the wOTship that is pure and holy
very thing. Buch C01l5titutes

before God the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless

and the widows in their ailli ction, and that one keep
himsclf unspotted from the world."

dock's Syriac.
'2
7

James 1: 27, Mur

CONSCRIPTIOl'l

Within the realms of warring nations there

doubtless

are many who have devoted themselves to Jehovah God

and h is kingdom by Christ Jesus. Those respective na
tions by law conscript the man-power and send men to
war against other men. That is the affair and responsi
bility of each or such nations, about which true neutrals
have no th in g to say. Public officials who have to do with
conscription and the hearing of applications for exemp

tion from military service do not understand and appre

"
ciate the relation of Jehoyah's witnesses and their com

p anions", the "other sheep" of the Lord, to Jehovah,

the grea t THEOCRAT, and Christ Jesus. In order to in
duce Christians to withdraw their a.pplicu.tion for

ex

emption from military service the conscription officer

propounds this question: "Woulcl you uefend your mother
from attack (" Of course, the Christian would give the

the Lord tl csus gave, because such is the

Scriptural answer, by which he is governed. It is not
for one person to decide for another what answer should
answer w hicb

be given, but the Lord himself :fixes the matter. Each

person must decide fOT himsel f his own relationship
to God and Christ. Christ's definition of who is the
mother OT brut her or one of the co,'enant people of Jeho

vah God furnihes the true and correct guide for all
Christians. J csus was instructing the people, and con-'
cerning those who would love him and his kingdom he
said: "He that is not with me is against me; and he
that gathereth not with me scattcrcth abmad." Mat

thew 12: 30.

Necessarily one who is against the King is not for
him, and one who is for the King cannot be against
him (Mark 9: 40) The two texts abov e referred to are
in exact harmony. Stated in common phrase, t.he po si
tion of every pel'son is either for the King and his king
.

dom or againiSt the King and his kingdom. There is no

ml(lrlle ground.

At

that point of his

28

. .

discourse

to

the

people the following took pln.rc and these words were

uttered by Chri st .Jesus: "While he yot bIked to the
p eople, behold, his mother and his brethren stood with
out, desiring to speak with 'him. Then one said unto
him, Behold, thy mother ant! thy brethren stand with
Qut, desiring to speak with 111('(, But he answered and
said unto him ilwt told him, Who is my mother? and
who Ilre my bJ'dhren? And he Htretched forth his hand
towa]'(l 11is (li.tiphR, 11]1(1 Hail], Brhold my mother and
my bl'elhnm I For \l'hORll(,V(H' hn.ll do the will of my
F athe r which iH 11l heaven, tIl<! Kil/YIC is my brot.hel', and
sister, and lllotllel'."'--l\IaH hcw 12: 4 G50.
Further, Jesus dearly defmlld the relationship of those
who do the will of .Jehovah God: that aU who sincerely
do the ;"ill of God uy ubeying his commandments occupy
the relationship to each otlwr as brother, sister, and
mo ther, that is, the family relationship of the family of
God. TIle fact that one has a brother and sister and
mother after the flesh but who are against the Theocracy
by Chrit .Jesus does not at all mean that the ChTistian
is undeT any obligation whai:Ro(lver to care for or protect
such opponent of the kingdom.
The Scriptural answer to the propounded question,
therciore, is this: If the one who is called "my mother"
is against the kingdom of .Jehovah by Christ Jesus, then
the only duty I have towaTd RI1Ch is to tell her of God's
provision for mankind. If she is really devoted to God
and his kingdom, then as my real relative in C h rist Jesns
I will do whatsoever I call fol' her protection and defense;
but that docs not mean that, I must fight against the
nation or p eople that is fighting another nation, both of
which are against God and his kingdom, As to such na

tions I am entirely neutral and cannot and will not fight

for

one

as against the other. If an enemy of the great

THEOCRACY and His King nttempts to do me harm and

to hinder me and my work rol' the kingdom and fights
against me and my spiritual mother or brother, then I
2\l

have the right to defend myself against such assaults,

and the right to defend my brethren, and I will do so
.. ..Nehemiah 4: 14.
'rhus the Christian clearly defines himself as for peace
and righteousness but not as a pacifist.
.

CHRISTIAN'S POSITION

The position of the true follower of Christ Jesus is

clearly set forth in the Scriptures. Such follower of
Christ Jesus cannot compromise. One is either for 'rUE
'l'HEOCRACY or against that righteolls government. If for

the THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT and His King, then he

is not going to compromise in order to escape hatre d
or punishment at the hands of enemies. He is now in a
position to prove his integrity toward God and to prove
that the Devil's challenge to ,J ehoyah is a wicked lie.
(J Db 2: 5) Therefore as a follower of Christ J eSllS he
can be faithful and true to God, and will do so, come
what may.
Jehovah the great Theocrat has now enthroned his

King and sent him forth to rule. (Psalms 2: 6; 110; 2;

Revelation 11: 17) Christ Jeslls is now at the temple

of Jehovah conducting his judgment of the nations. God's

"strange work" of exposing the fallacy and the hypoc
risy of religion, and pointing the people to the fact that
'1'he Theocracy is the only hope for the peoples, is now
in progress, and that work will be finished in his due
time. (Isaiah 28: 21; Matthew 12: 18-21) The Lord's
"other sheep", the "great multitude" (Revelation 7: 917)., are now hastening to take their stand on the side

of Jehovah and his King. The "strange work", when

completed, will be quickly followed by God's act, "his
strange act," at the battle of the great day of God Al
mighty called "Arma geddon" , and at which hattIe all
the opponents of THE THEOCRACY will die. Only those

\\'ho have declared themselves for THE THEOCHACY and

who maintain their integrity shall live. Some of them

30

may be killed by the enemy hccanse of their faithful

ness, but such have the promic of resurrection to l i fe.

Therefore all who receive proh'ction and salvation fTOm
1 eh ovah must prove their i n te g r ity t.o the great Theo crat
and to his King. Noone who is (b'oted to the Theocratic
Government and its King wi l l [ear what man can do
to him. He will fear God and ohl\y him. (Isaiah 8: 13, 14)
Let all the faithful ones keep in mind the words of Christ
Jesus sp ok en to them: "And fear not them which kill
the body, but are not ab le to kill the soul; but raiher
fear him which ii; able to dl't roy both soul and borly
in helL" (Matthew 10: 28) "Bllt he that shall endure
unt o the end, the same shall be Haved." (Matthew 24: 13)
It is far belter to die faithful to God and because of faith
fulness and receive at the hund,; of the Lord everlasting
,

life than to compromise with any part of Satan's organ

iza t ion and suffer everlasting destTuction. Concerning the

faithful it is written that thoe who now die faithful

shall have an instantaneous rClmrrection from death.
(1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52) .TdlOvah God is the foun
t ai n of life, th e everlasting Fnllwl', and the Giver of life
to those who obey him, whidl gift he makes through
Christ Jesus, his beloved Son. (John 3: 16; Romans
6: 23) "Salvation belongeth unto J ehoyah," and not to
man

nor to any organization of

tnt'l!.

(Psalm 3: 8) There

is no room for compromise with the enemy. Remember

that God has said to his people concerning the enemy:

"And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not
prevail against thee; for I

am

with thee,

saith

the Lord,

J el'emiah 1: 19.
Those who have taken thei r stand on the side of the
great THEOCRAT and his King will stand fast in that
position, trusting in and rel ying solely upon God, well
knowing that God will deliver them and grant unto them
everlasting life. Al l who are on the Lord's side will be
neutral as to warring nations, and will be entirely anrl
wholly for the great 'THEOCRAT and his King.
to deliver thee."

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