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AUGUST 1, 979
THE
sW ATCHTOW ER
Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom
A ugust 1, 1 9 7 9
V o l. 1 0 0 , N o . 1 5
THEIWATCHTOWER.
A nno uncin g Jehovah's K ingdom
II
IN THIS ISSUE
3
16
W hat Is Happening
to This World?
26
22
27
24
29
31
AUGUST
1,
1979
Yet antagonisms among Communist nations have grown over the past two decades. Finally, these exploded into open
warfare in early 1979 when Communist
Vietnam invaded Communist Cambodia.
China, favoring Cambodia, then invaded
Vietnam, which was backed by the Soviet
Union, and tensions increased between
China and the Soviet Union. The war
caused shock waves throughout the world.
The Times noted its significance:
The conflict that spread this weekend
from Cambodia to the border of China
and Vietnam and to hostile exchanges between China and the Soviet Union provides
the final proof that no ideology makes men
immune to ethnic and racial strife, or
aggression and chauvinism. While an impotent United Nations looks on, hotheaded governments with no apparent economic interest at stake risk even major
war. Ugly nationalism has triumphed once
again in the human family.
Thus, as with every other political ideology before it, Communism shows th at
it too is incapable of bringing true peace
and unity to all mankind. As the Times
concluded: Nations live as nations have
always lived, by the code of outlaws.
Are you discouraged by the many de3
THE W A T C H T O W E R
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*"V TO PREVIOUS generation in huC / x . man history has witnessed the distressing events that our generation has.
Why, then, when speaking of this very
time, would Jesus say: As these things
start to occur, raise yourselves erect and
lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near ?Luke 21:28.
Clearly, Jesus was saying that there
was a lasting and satisfying solution to
all these disturbing problems. And what is
it? For instance, do prophecies such as
those Jesus gave, and many others in the
Bible, indicate that this deliverance will
come by human efforts? No, not at all.
The harsh lesson of history is th at men
and nations, however sincere, are simply
unable to bring true peace, security and
lasting happiness to mankind. Their best
efforts have ended in failure, sooner or
THE W A T C H T O W E R
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1979
an d b a d . (G en. 3 :5 )
Since they already had
Gods law as to what was
good or bad, this statement in Genesis 3:5 likely indicates th at what
humans wanted was to
determine for themselves
what would be good or
bad. W hat our first forefathers chose to say, in
effect, was th at they did
not need God to direct
th e ir liv e s, t h a t th e y
could successfully run
their own affairs.Deut.
32:4, 5.
Why would God perm it this? Because God
created humans as free
moral agents, not robots.
So he would allow their
departure from his laws
to demonstrate, once and
for all time, whether humans could successfully
govern their own affairs
independently of God.
God has been very patient and long-suffering.
He has given human rulers, and the people, every
o p p o rtu n ity to p ro v e
their inability to rule. In
the past millenniums of
time every conceivable
form of human rule and social system has
been tried. But history, especially the
history of our generation, testifies to the
fact th at not one of these has brought
lasting blessings to all mankind. The failure of the nations to provide true peace
or lasting security even in local regions
of this earth plainly shows th at humans
are not capable of governing themselves
successfully, independent of their Creator.
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to do so. The people of Jerusalem and of filed temple was destroyed in 70 C.E.
the land of Judah made a like mistake in
7Particularly since 1919 C.E. the modthe days of Jeremiah. We do not desire ern Jeremiah class has been calling the
to imitate them. Jeremiah was command- world's notice to the defiled state of Chrised by Jehovah to stand in the gate of the tendom. At the same time th at church
temple of Jerusalem and publicly say to members carry on their worship in this
those coming in there:
professed Christian system of things, they
5
Do not put your trust in fallacioustake part in stealing, murdering and
words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the committing adultery and swearing falsely.
temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah They religiously sacrifice to other gods
they are! . . . Here you are putting your (Baals, Lords) in addition to the Lord
trust in fallacious wordsit will certainly Jesus Christ. Materialistically they convert
be of no benefit at all. Can there be steal- their religious structure into a mere cave
ing, murdering and committing adultery of robbers. (Jer. 7:9-11) In spite of all
and swearing falsely and making sacrifi- these things detestable to Jehovah, the
cial smoke to Baal and walking after other religionists of Christendom pay lip service
gods whom you had not known, and must to Jesus Christ and call him Lord. They
you come and stand before me in this think that because of doing this everything
house upon which my name has been is all right and that their worship is accalled, and must you say, We shall cer- ceptable to God and Christ. But Jesus
tainly be delivered, in the face of doing Christ will surprise them by calling them
all these detestable things? Has this house workers of lawlessness, because of their
upon which my name has been called be- not doing his Fathers will.Matt. 7:21-23.
8 Like the Israelites to whom Jeremiah
come a mere cave of robbers in your eyes?
delivered
Jehovahs message, the religionHere I myself also have seen it, is the
ists
of
Christendom
view their temple,
utterance of Jehovah.Jer. 7:4-11.
upon
which
they
call
the name of Christ,
6Jeremiah was not authorized to clean
as
if
it
were
a
charm
against calamity at
out the temple of all the defiling things
Gods
hands.
They
point
to their nomiput there by those who would carry out
nally
Christian
structure
of things and
a fusion of Jehovahs worship with pagan
say:
The
temple
of
Jehovah
they are!
idol worship. (Jer. 7:30, 31) But more
(Jer.
7:4)
The
Roman
Catholic
Church
than 630 years after the destruction of
claims
to
be
apostolic
by
building
up
a line
that temple Jesus Christ, as the Son of
of
apostolic
successors
going
all
the
way
God, cleansed the rebuilt temple of Jeruback
to
Christs
twelve
apostles.
The
Ansalem on two occasions. When doing so,
glican
Church
of
Great
Britain
does
someJesus used Jeremiahs figures of speech.
We read: Jesus entered into the temple thing similar with regard to its bishops
and threw out all those selling and buying (episcopal clergy). The patriarchates of
in the temple, and overturned the tables the Eastern Orthodox Churches depend
of the money changers and the benches upon an imagined unbroken succession of
of those selling doves. And he said to their bishops back to the twelve apostles,
them: It is written, My house will be who, they argue, had apostolic successors.
called a house of prayer, but you are The papacy of Rome maintains th at it is
making it a cave of robbers. (Matt. 21: 7. (a) At the same time that religionists of Christendom carry on their worship, into what do they convert
12, 13; see also John 2:15, 16.) That de- their religious structure? (b) What do they call Jesus
6. During what action did Jesus use Jeremiahs figures
of speech regarding the temple of Jerusalem?
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12
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13
15 We should not pity Christendom be-th at I had not commanded and th a t had
cause her destruction will affect so many not come up into my heart. Jer. 7:
human lives. Her course has brought great 30, 31; note Leviticus 18:21; 2 0 :2 5 .
17 So, now, when it comes to pity, for
reproach upon God. Why should we not,
first of all, think about him? He is more whom do we have more pity? For the
important than all human creatures. Think idolatrous parents who faced an accountof how Christendom with her hundreds of ing with Jehovah? Or for the sons and
millions of church members has brought daughters screaming as they were being
shame upon his name and has persecuted offered as human sacrifices to the false
his faithful witnesses who proclaimed his god Molech (King), on a high altar at
warnings and his lifesaving counsels. Do Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinwe have more compassion for unheeding, nom? (Jer. 32:35) How could those heartdisobedient humans than for the name of less parents associate such worship of the
the Most High God? True, their perishing fiendish idol-god Molech with worship at
with Christendom is lamentable, but their the holy temple just to the north of the
present course of shameful religious con- valley? It was not a t Jehovahs command
duct is no less lamentable. In illustration that they offered up such live human sacrifices to a false god. The idea of such
of this, Jehovah said:
1e <<
The sons 0f Judah have done what human sacrifices came into the heart of
is bad in my eyes, is the utterance of the religious apostates back there, but
Jehovah. They have set their disgusting never into the heart of Jehovah God. W hat
things in the house upon which my name do men who try to blend such worship
has been called, in order to defile it. And with Jehovahs worship deserve?
18 Back there, the sacrifices of children
they have built the high places of Topheth,
by
the renegade sons of Judah pale into
which is in the valley of the son of Hininsignificance
as to number when comnom [outside the south wall of Jerusapared
with
the
human sacrifices th at
lem], in order to burn [what?] their sons
Christendom
has
offered
up to her unchrisand their daughters in the fire, a thing
tian gods during the centuries. Though
pretending to be the visible kingdom of
the Prince of Peace, she has offered up
countless sons and daughters to the god
of war, her Molech or King. In now less
than a century, she has sacrificed scores
Jehovah, O ur Hope for
of millions of her finest young church
Entering a N ew Order
members in the two most sanguinary wars
of all human history, and in many mi The W a y of Life or The
nor wars. Blasphemously Christendom
W a y of Death" Which?
calls this Christianity. Such sacrifices she
counts as the supreme sacrifice that
Your View of Money Can
gains for the sacrificed ones an immediate
Affect Your Life
passport into Christs presence up in
heaven!
In Coming Issues
AUGUST
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1979
AUGUST
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1979
22, 23. (a) How has Christendom, with all her record
of shedding human blood, failed to offer sacrifices acceptable to God ? (b) What was to happen to her
ancient prototype to show whether she would go unpunished?
15
there is none?
2, 3. (a) To what are men feeling obliged to look as
the source for a stable, lasting peace? (b) To illustrate
the helplessness of such source of peace, what was
Jeremiah next told to say?
THE W A T C H T O W E R
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1979
eate
tants of Jerusalem from their graves. And
they will actually spread them out to the
sun and to the moon and to all the [star
ry] army of the heavens that they have
loved [as objects of worship] and th at they
have served and th at they have walked
after and that they have sought and that
they have bowed down to. They [the
bones] will not be gathered, nor will they
be buried. As manure upon the face of
the ground they will become. Jer. 8:
1, 2 .*
4Ah, yes, the heavenly bodies th at had
beamed down so promisingly upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of
Judah would then look down so helplessly
during th at calamitous time when the
miah that they look as the Source of a question would be settled, Who is the God
stable, lasting peace. The supernatural of truth? The desecration of graves of
forces for peace to which they look will persons prominent in religion and politics
prove to be false gods, absolutely help- would show the contempt felt toward those
less! Warning all of us of the blasting of who worshiped false gods in violation of
the foundationless dreams of peace on the Jehovahs Ten Commandments. Even the
part of kings, princes, priests, prophets and peace with which they slept in death would
the concerned populace when their false be broken. (Job 3 :1 3 1 9 )In Jehovahs
gods of peace fail them, the inspired eyes, devout worshipers of false gods do
prophet Jeremiah was told to say of that not earn for themselves protective sanetity or holiness, especially not when they
time:
3 At that time [as foretold in Jere-claim to be in Christian relationship with
miah 7:32-34], is the utterance of Jeho- the God of the Bible and yet break his
vah, people [the Babylonian conquerors] plainly stated commandments. (Ex. 20:
will also bring forth the bones of the kings 1-6; 1 John 5:21; 2 Cor. 6:16) Respect
of Judah and the bones of its princes and
* Note Baruch 2:24, 25, Douay Version.
the bones of the priests and the bones of 4. So the desecration of graves manifests what for the
of false gods, and what do they not deserve
the prophets and the bones of the inhabi worshipers
to experience?
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17
for the dead they do not deserve to ex- his badness, saying, What have I done?
Each one is going back into the popular
perience!
5 So the day of reckoning will come forcourse.Jer. 8:4-6.
8What was the trouble back there in
those who have persecuted the Christian
Jeremiahs
day during the time for Jehowitnesses of Jehovah, taunting them with
vahs
inspecting
of his covenant people?
the defiant words, Where is your God
Also,
what
is
the
trouble today with the
Jehovah? Let him come and save you
people
of
Christendom?
It was and is their
now! (Ps. 22:7, 8) In the approaching
not
using
their
powers
of
discernment such
great tribulation in which Christendom
as
those
th
at
migratory
birds
have to diswill go down, the persecutors who pleased
cern
the
time
for
the
arrival
of springher by their acts will find out whether
time.
Birds
from
the
north
th
a
t
had taken
their false gods can help them. Then they
haven
in
warm
southern
areas
during
the
will learn that their gods will be unable
northern
winter
like
th
at
in
Palestine
to save them from judgment by the God
promptly return to their roosting and matwhom they ridiculed.
8 In Jeremiahs day there were to being places up north. But, says Jehovah
survivors of Jerusalems destruction. What by way of contrast, as for my people,
about them? They were to be deported they have not come to know the judgment
to the land of Babylon. There, as far as of Jehovah. (Jer. 8:7) It was the same
they were concerned, death will certainly in the days of Jesus and his apostles, bebe chosen rather than life. (Jer. 8:3) fore the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in
Even though Jehovah appealed to the 70 C.E. (Matt. 16:2-4; Luke 19:44) It has
covenant-breaking Israelites to return to proved to be the same with Christendom
peaceful relationship with him, they took in these days of the Jeremiah class.
the popular course of this world down
BREAKDOWN NOT HEALED
till 607 B.C.E. So they laid no secure
9
The
clergy
of Christendom claim to be
foundation for a peaceful future under Jewise,
not
basically
due to having the Bible
hovahs blessing. In modern times also,
but
because
of
having
theological semiChristendom has taken the popular course.
nary
training.
They
insist
th at they are
For decades now since 1919 C.E., the Jereinformed
on
the
law
of
the
Bibles
God and
miah class as made up of anointed witknow
how
to
interpret
it
and
apply
it. But
nesses of Jehovah has made known the
the
God
of
the
Bible
knows
differently.
way to come back into peaceful relations
with the God of the Bible. But most He looks ahead to the near future, when
church members of Christendom have re- the consequences of their handling of
fused to take heed. It is just like what Christendoms affairs will actually face
them. With such a foreview Jehovah says:
Jeremiah said:
7 Why is it that this people, Jerusa- 10 How can you men say: We are wise,
lem, is unfaithful with an enduring un- and the law of Jehovah is with us? Surely,
faithfulness? They have taken hold of now [at the outbreak of the final trouble],
trickiness; they have refused to turn back. the false stylus of the secretaries has
. . . There was not a man repenting over worked in sheer falsehood. The wise ones
have become ashamed. They have become
5. How will persecutors of Jehovahs Witnesses find
that their taunts respecting Jehovah apply as to their
own gods ?
6, 7. (a) What would the deportees to Babylon have
preferred, and why? (b) In spite of Jehovahs appeals
for a returning to him, how has the response been like
that in Jeremiahs day?
18
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prevented rank worldliness from invading time, he must give her due attention, just
the churches. We do not need to detail as he did to ancient Jerusalem. Then her
this for our readers. The clergy feel quite self-confident religionists will stumble to
confident about the remedies that they their fall into destruction. Jehovah will
have applied. With words that throw their make a clean sweep; there will be nothing
ailing flocks off guard, the modern-day to glean like leftovers. W hatever material
priests and prophets keep assuring things Jehovah has permitted them to
Christendom with the words: There is acquire will pass by them and on into
peace! There is peace! or, All is well, enemy hands.Jer. 8:12, 13.
all is well.Jer. 8:11;
American
19 Back in the year 33 C.E., when Christ
Translation; see also The New English foretold the destruction th at was to come
Bible.
upon Jerusalem in 70 C.E., what did he
16 Thus these religious leaders act false- tell the Jews to do? To get out of Jeruly. They make their flocks feel that there salem and all the province of Judea when
is nothing basically wrong with Christen- the nearness of impending destruction was
dom. They assert that her relationship indicated. The person in the field or rural
with God is good, and hence there is no areas was not to go into Jerusalem but at
tribulation to be expected at his hands. once was to get out of all Judea, for seSo, do not pay attention to predictions that curity and survival. (Matt. 24:15-18; Luke
the Jeremiah class makes about early de- 21:20, 21) But in Jeremiahs day, at the
struction for Christendom in a great approach of the Babylonian destroyers,
tribulation.Jer. 6:14.
the people felt it to be better to leave the
17 The threatening situation is thus fal- open country and take refuge in Jerusalem
sified by Christendoms mouthpieces in and other fortified cities. There, in such
their giving such assurances of peace, possible holdouts during siege, they prewhen there is no peace. There is no ferred to come to silence in death, if need
peaceful relationship between Jehovah be. But aid from Jehovah, the God of
God and Christendom. Her sins are not their temple, did not come. Instead, he
covered by the atoning blood of Christ. let them drink a bitter potion, deathHer sky-high mass of sins is unpardon- dealing poisoned water. Due to the asable. So God is not at peace with her. De- surances of their false prophets, there
struction, not peace or spiritual pros- was a hoping for peace, but what? But
perity, awaits her, because her clergy and no good came; for a time of healing, but,
church members have shamelessly done look! terror! The sounds or reports of
even what is detestable to Jehovah.Jer. the invading forces of destruction were in
8 : 12.
their ears.Jer. 8:14-16.
18With the clergy and their flocks in
20 In Jeremiahs day Jehovah was the
such an off-guard attitude destruction will One who sent his agents of destruction
befall them suddenly, yes, as if in a against the covenant-breaking Israelites.
moment. (Jer. 4:20; 6:25, 26) Since the They had done detestable things before
close of World War I in 1918 a thorough him, polluting his temple and his land.
inspection of Christendom has been made For here I am sending in among you
by Jehovah, and shortly, at his appointed
16. How do the clergy speak contrary to what the
Jeremiah class says?
17. Why Is there actually no peace between Jehovah
and Christendom ?
18. The destruction will befall Christendom how, and
to what extent will the destruction go?
20
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They Answered
The"M acedonian"
C all To Guam
HE Pacific island of Guam is magnificently lush in greenery and has
a very warm, humid climate. Breathtaking
indeed are the sheer cliffs that drop sharply to the sapphire-green waters! Hundreds
of varieties of tropical fish swarm within
its reefs. Farmers grow such crops as corn,
rice, bananas, pineapples, coffee, citrus
fruits, yams, sugarcane and papayas.
22
The years 1954 to 1964 saw much activity, with the influx of many missionaries and others who came to serve where
the need was great. The highlight of 1964
was the two-day visit (in September) of
Brother N. H. Knorr, then the Watch
Tower Societys president. At th at time
six of Guams 12 missionaries were reassigned to service elsewhere in Micronesia.
However, by 1968 only 30 percent of the
territory on Guam was receiving a witness
once in six months, and the population was
THE W A T C H T O W E R
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1979
approximately 100,000. With the expansion in all the island districts of Micronesia.
of the Kingdom Hall and missionary home A modern building with six bedrooms, an
in 1969, it was possible to house four office, a large Kingdom Hall seating 400
more missionaries. Hence, in that year, persons, and facilities for some printing
a married couple and two single sisters was designed. Construction began in Janwere sent to Guam from Hawaii. Pub- uary 1978, and from among the Witnesses
lishers reached 50 in 1969, when Guam in Hawaii and the continental United
and other Micronesian islands were placed States came carpenters, plumbers, paintunder the supervision of the Societys ers, architects, electricians, and a civil enbranch office in Hawaii. As time passed, gineer. All volunteered their talents free
Jehovah blessed their efforts. In 1971, for of charge. The new facility, located amid
example, 336 persons gathered here to palms and flowers just six miles (10 km)
commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. from Agana, is scheduled for completion
Also, that year saw a new peak of 124 by the fall of 1979.
publishers and pioneers (full-time KingLooking back, one of the early Filipino
dom proclaimers), representing a 58- brothers on Guam reminisces: It thrilled
percent increase over the 1970 service us to see new faces turning up at our meetyear!
ings in the Kingdom Hall. Each new face
During the five-year period from 1971 represented a milestone in our discipling
to 1976, Kingdom publishers grew to the workadded proof th at Jehovah recognumber of 136, and a steady witness was nized us as his true servants on Guam.
being given. During th at time, families Americans and Guamanians joined us in
from the United States mainland moved the work of making disciples, spurring us
in and out, responding to the opportunity on to greater efforts.
to serve where the need was great. All
Disciple-making efforts on Guam have
of them contributed toward covering Guam indeed been blessed by Jehovah. As a rewith the Kingdom message.
suit, there are now 146 Kingdom proclaimOn May 13, 1976, Guam was hit by ers on this island. Faithful native witsuper-typhoon Pamela. It sustained winds nesses of Jehovah have served side by side
of some 140 miles (225 km) per hour, with with fellow believers from other lands. And
greater gusts, making it one of the worst the history of Christian developments on
typhoons ever to strike the island. Eighty Guam is reminiscent of the apostle Pauls
percent of the buildings were damaged, at action when entreated: Step over into
least half of them beyond repair. The Macedonia and help us. (Acts 16:9) JeKingdom Hall and the adjacent mission- hovah blessed Paul in sowing seeds of
ary home were totally destroyed. Happily, truth among the Macedonians. Likewise,
though, none of Jehovahs servants lost
God has blessed local Witnesses, as well
their lives.
as missionaries and the various families
that have come here to meet a great need
GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
for
harvesters. (Matt. 9:37, 38) As a dediIn the wake of this tragedy, the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses ap- cated Christian, can you answer a similar
Macedonian call to serve where
proved plans for a new branch ofthe need is great in some part
flee on Guam. It was to oversee the
of the earth?
Kingdom-preaching work here and
THE W A T C H T O W E R
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23
0NATHANAEL
c^ M a ii
cWithout D eceit
T WOULD indeed be a great honor for a man
to be called a true Israelite in whom there is
no deceit. Even greater would that honor be if
the commendatory statement originated with one
whose judgment was recognized as far superior
to that of all other men. Nathanael, also known
as Bartholomew, was so highly honored. None
other than the Son of God said regarding him:
See, an Israelite for a certainty, in whom there
is no deceit.John 1:47.
Jesus Christ spoke these words before Nathanael became one of the 12 apostles. According to
the account written by the apostle John, Jesus
had invited Philip to be his follower. In turn,
Philip searched out his friend Nathanael, breaking to him the joyful news: We have found the
one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Proph-
AUGUST
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1979
himself vigorously to gain Gods favor. edge. Whether Nathanael was engaged in
(Gen. 32:22-28; Heb. 12:16) As a true private meditation or prayer underneath
Israelite, then, Nathanael had faith in the boughs of th a t tree, we do not know.
and appreciation for the divine promises. However, the incident associated with the
He was an Israelite not merely by birth fig tree was of a nature that, in Nathanbut in deed and truth, manifesting the aels mind, provided a solid basis for what
kind of adherence to Gods will that was the Son of God said about him.
exhibited by his forefather Jacob. There
The import of Jesus words removed all
was nothing deceitful, hypocritical or de- doubt from Nathanaels mind and heart.
vious about Nathanael. In the estima- In full faith, he declared: Rabbi, you are
tion of Jesus Christ, he was an upright the Son of God, you are King of Israel.
man.
John 1:49.
How did Nathanael react? He countered
From then on Nathanael saw fulfilled
with a question: How does it come that the following words of Jesus Christ: Beyou know me? Yes, what basis did Jesus cause I told you I saw you underneath
have for making this statement? Then the fig tree do you believe? You will see
came the reply of Gods Son: Before things greater than these. (John 1:50)
Philip called you, while you were under At a marriage feast in his hometown of
the fig tree, I saw you. (John 1:48) Im- Cana in Galilee, Nathanael witnessed Jemediately Nathanael understood. There sus first miracle, the turning of water inwas something about the reason for his to superb wine. (John 2 : 1 2 1 : 2 ;11 )Along
being under the fig tree th at gave evi- with the 11 others later appointed as aposdence of his being a true Israelite without ties, Nathanael saw Jesus heal the sick,
deceit. Hence, Jesus words constituted a expel demons and even raise the dead. Like
personal testimony to him, confirming that the other apostles, Nathanael was emthe speaker possessed miraculous knowl powered to perform miracles and to share
in proclaim ing th e th rillin g
news: The kingdom of th e
heavens has drawn near. (Matt.
10:1-8) Additionally, Nathanael
benefited from the teaching and
training provided by Jesus during the course of Christs earthly
ministry.
Just as the Son of God knew
who Nathanael was at heart, so
he knows the real motivation of
all who today profess to be his
disciples. (Rev. 2:23) May we,
therefore, strive to be persons
without deceit and thus, like
Nathanael, come to see things
greater than those we saw when
we made our first confession of
faith in Jehovah God and his Son.
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IE tendency of
im p e rfe c t h u mans is to follow the
course of least resista n ce . P eo p le o fte n
want much from life
but never achieve their
desires because of unw illin g n e ss to p u t
forth the required effort. Some are content
simply to dream and
perhaps to take an occasional chance in a
lottery, hoping to obtain the means to fulfill their dreams.
Many workers campaign for both higher
pay and a shorter workweek. More money
for less effort is the ideal of most people
today. But some persons realize that there
is something far more valuable than material wealth. W hat is that?
What could be of greater value to any
of us than Gods approval leading to salvation? Can we expect to attain that without any exertion? While God has done
all that is necessary to save mankind, does
this mean that men will receive salvation
automatically, without any effort on their
part? (Titus 3:4-7) Jesus Christ provided
the answer when replying to the question,
Are those who are being saved few? He
said: Exert yourselves vigorously to get
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tftoffDBJf
OR many persons, lifeof itselfis their most
precious possession. But this is not the case with
Gods true servants. They value having an intimacy
with their heavenly F ather above everything else, even
life itself apart from their Creator. This was the way
AUGUST
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1979
I shall bless you during my lifetime; the result? On me, says David, your
in your name I shall raise my palms. As right hand keeps fast hold. (Ps. 63:8)
with the best part, even fatness, my soul Yes, Jehovah extended his right hand of
is satisfied, and with lips of joyful cries favor and upheld his servant.
How different it is with those who igmy mouth offers praise. (Ps. 63:3-5) As
far as David was concerned, his whole nore their Maker! We are told: As for
purpose in life was to praise Jehovah God those who keep seeking my soul for its
for the expressions of divine loving- ruin, they will come into the lowest parts
kindness or active compassionate concern. of the earth. They will be delivered over
To the psalmist, Jehovahs loving-kindness to the power of the sword; they will bewas better than life itself, for it was Gods come a mere portion for foxes. (Ps. 63:
loyal love expressed toward him that gave 9, 10) In these words, David expressed
real meaning to his life. That is why Da- the confidence th at his enemies would
vid felt compelled to continue praising suffer defeat and be plunged into the pit
Jehovah. He was determined to bless or of death. They would be killed with the
speak well of the Most High for the rest sword, their carcasses becoming food for
of his life. Lifting his hands in an attitude scavenger foxes. It is noteworthy th at
of prayer, David would thank Jehovah. Absalom and his many followers did sufBecause of having experienced Gods love fer humiliating defeat in battle. Thousands
and care, he felt totally satisfied. He had were slain.2 Sam. 18:7, 8, 1517.
received the best, the choicest part. ThereDavids confidence in Jehovah had not
fore, joyful praise to the Almighty would been misplaced. That trust is well excontinue to flow from his lips.
pressed in the concluding verse of Psalm
Even during wakeful periods of the night 63. It says: And the king himself will
David would think about his God and the rejoice in God. Every one swearing by
things that He had done in his behalf. him will boast, for the mouth of those
We read: When I have remembered you speaking falsehood will be stopped up.
upon my lounge, during the night watches (Vs. 11) Because of what Jehovah would
1 meditate on you. For you have proved do for him, David would be able to reto be of assistance to me, and in the shad- joice. Others who, like David, could swear
ow of your wings I cry out joyfully. (Ps. in Jehovahs name with sincerity could
63:6, 7) In Davids time, the Israelites boast or take pride in this. Why? Because
had three night watches. The first ran they were able to do so on account of havfrom 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the second, from ing an approved standing with the Most
10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and the third, from High. But those who speak falsehood in
2 a.m. to 6 a.m. The psalmists using pe- Gods name, who have no approved relariods of wakefulness during these night tionship with him, will have their mouths
watches to think about Jehovah certainly silenced in death.
Indeed, as David expressed it, Jehovahs
reflected deep appreciation for the help
loving-kindness
is better than life. Our
that he had received when the Most High
being able to enjoy an intimacy with our
protected him as with wings. Thus safeheavenly Father as his approved servants
guarded, David could give way to re- makes life meaningful and assures us of
joicing.
his help and guidance. Moreover, in harBecause he loved Jehovah, he sought to mony with the divine promise, we can
imitate him. The psalmist continues: My look forward to an eternity of happy livsoul has closely followed you. What was ing.Rev. 21:4.
30
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Q U E S T IO N S
from
R EA D ER S
Revelation 19:19-21 says that in the coming
war of God the symbolic wild beast and false
prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, but
,the rest will be killed with a sword. Who are
the rest, and what will happen to them?
Following a description of the Lamb and
his angels who will wage war on Gods enemies, Revelation 19:19-21 says: I saw the wild
beast and the kings of the earth and their
armies gathered together to wage the war
with the one seated on the horse and with his
army. And the wild beast was caught, and
along with it the false prophet that performed
in front of it the signs with which he misled
those who received the mark of the wild beast
and those who render worship to its image.
While still alive, they both were hurled into
the fiery lake that burns with sulphur. But
the rest were killed off with the long sword of
the one seated on the horse, which sword
proceeded out of his mouth. And all the birds
were filled from the fleshy parts of them.
A quick reading of this passage might
suggest that there is a basic distinction between the outcome for the wild beast and
false prophet and that for the rest. However, both the context of this passage and
other portions of Revelation show that the
rest are human enemies of God who are cut
off in the coming war of God.
Revelation 19:11-21, termed by The New
Bible Commentary The messianic judgment
of Armageddon, opens with a view of the
Lamb, Jesus Christ, on a white horse. With
his heavenly armies he rides to execute Gods
wrath against the nations. (Vss. 11-16) Anticipating the coming slaughter, an angel calls
carrion birds to eat the fleshy parts of those
who will be slain.Vss. 17, 18.
Then, in the passage that we read above,
John saw the actual warfare. Action is first
taken against the symbolic wild beast (understood to represent Satans earth-wide political
system) and the false prophet (standing for
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September 9: Why Will Christendom Not Survive? Page 9. Songs to Be Used: 39, 40.
September 16: Saying Peace When There
Is None. Page 16. Songs to Be Used: 76, 80.
THE W A T C H T O W E R
AUGUST
1979