CHAPTER VII
FATE
"Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them." — Psalm 21: 8,9.
MEN are often deceived, and many of them become deceivers. Concerning "the last days", which is a time of great peril, it is written: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) All the evidence shows that the present is a time of greatest deception ever practiced upon the people. No man can deceive God at all. God knows even the secret thoughts of man. At all times he knows who are his enemies, and in his due time he will search them out and duly recompense them for all their wickedness. By what means will he do so? and who will act for Jehovah in dealing with his enemies?
Jesus was born in the month of October; and that is generally understood to mark the beginning of the year 1 A.D. At the time of his birth a company of shepherds were guarding their flocks near the town of Bethlehem, when they heard the voice of angels from heaven proclaiming this glad news: 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace toward men of good will.' (Luke 2:14, Rotherham) That meant that the great
Prince of Peace was born and that in due time he would be God's instrument to bring peace on earth toward all who are of good will toward God; and also means that he will bring about the end of God's enemies and that all will be to the glory of the Most High. Jesus is the Vindicator of Jehovah's holy name. Today all persons of good will are keenly interested in the coming of Christ Jesus, his kingdom, and the vindication of God's name.
Exactly thirty years after the birth of Jesus his official work began on the earth, and his first utterance on that occasion was, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"; meaning that Jesus, the chosen King and rightful Ruler of the world, was beginning his work preparatory for the kingdom, which shall rule the world in righteousness. This proves that the kingdom is the means by which God will completely vindicate his name. For three and one-half years, and until his death, Jesus taught the commandments of God, and the faithful Jews heard him, forsook religion, and obeyed God's commandments.
Throughout that period of time Jesus stressed the fact of the coming kingdom, and the end of the unrighteous world. He taught his disciples that he must go away first and receive from Jehovah's hand the kingdom authority, and that then he would return and set up his kingdom. (John 14:3) Jesus was "put to death in the flesh", and God raised him out of death a "spirit" and exalted him to the highest place in the universe. (1 Peter 3:18, R.V.; Philippians 2: 8-11) Jesus was duly commissioned then to rule the
world as King, but it was not then God's due time for that reign to begin. God's purpose was to permit the enemy Satan to have full time and opportunity to carry out his boastful challenge, and therefore He said to Jesus: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." — Psalm 110:1.
For more than 1800 years Jesus must wait for his reign to begin, and within that period of time Jehovah, by and through Christ Jesus, has gathered out from the nations "a people for his name", which people God uses specifically to declare his name in the earth just preceding the overthrow of his enemies. —Acts 15:14.
END OF THE WORLD
"The world" means the peoples of earth, organized into nations and under the supervision of an invisible overlord, and which overlord for centuries has been Satan the Devil, who, together with a host of wicked angels, has influenced, controlled and ruled the world without interruption. "The end of the world," therefore, means the beginning of the period of time when the rule of Satan must be interrupted preparatory to his overthrow. The coming of the Lord Jesus, the rightful King, would necessarily interrupt Satan's rule of the world and would mark the time when there should be a final showdown between Satan and Jehovah God.
To Jesus his disciples propounded this question: "What shall be the [proof] of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3)
Jesus immediately answered the question in these cryptic words: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows," (Matthew 24:7,8) The beginning of the interruption of Satan's rule, it is seen, therefore, would be a time of sorrow upon the wicked one and upon his allies and agents, visible and invisible, and sorrow to people under Satan's power. That prophecy of Jesus began to have fulfillment in the autumn season of 1914, which marks the beginning of the end of Satan's wicked world. For further proof that the end had come, marking the time when there should be a change, Jesus said: "Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; . . . men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." (Luke 21: 25, 26) Everyone observes that such conditions have obtained, particularly since the World War began, in 1914; and since 1918 the woes and troubles upon peoples and nations have increased.
The Scriptures give further and corroborative evidence of Christ's corning and the end of the world, which evidence is recorded in these words: "Thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry." (Revelation 11:17,18) That also marks the date 1914, as shown by the indisputable facts. Up to that time Satan had the privilege of appearing in heaven. (Job 2:1) When Jesus was enthroned, the conflict immediately began
between Christ Jesus and the Devil, that old Serpent and Dragon. That war in heaven marks specifically the beginning of the end of the world, and concerning which it is written: "And there was war in heaven; Michael [who is Christ Jesus] and his angels fought against the dragon [that is, the Devil]; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Revelation 12:7-10) Thus the Devil and the wicked angels were excluded from heaven and cast down to the earth. Both the chronology of the Bible and prophecy show that it was in 1914 the world ended, marking the time when Christ Jesus took power and began his reign, and his first work was to cast Satan and the wicked angels down to the earth.
TROUBLE INCREASES
The beginning of the World War marked the "beginning of sorrows" on the earth, as Jesus stated. The World War ended in 1918, but the troubles upon the nations have continued to increase since. In the first chapter herein a number of questions are propounded concern-
ing the great increase of sorrow and trouble in the earth, and now those questions shall be answered according to the Scriptures and in harmony with the Scriptures. The clergy have told the people that the increased woes upon the nations are due to the fact that the people have been unfaithful to their religious organizations and for that reason God has sent trouble upon them. That claim is entirely wrong and a defamation of God's holy name. The correct answer is set forth in the Bible in these words: "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." — Revelation 12:12.
Being cast out of heaven and compelled to confine his operations to the earth, Satan knows that his time is very short until the final conflict which will determine the question of supremacy and his own existence. The purpose of Satan the Devil is to turn all men away from God and bring about their destruction. Therefore Satan the enemy brings greater woes and sorrows upon the peoples of earth and causes his agents, the religionists, to falsely charge Almighty God with the responsibility therefor, his purpose being to turn the people against God and cause them to curse God and die.
You will now readily call to mind that there has been a great increase of crime and woe and suffering since the end of the World War, all of which is due to the operations of God's enemy the Devil and his wicked allies. As fur-
ther corroborative proof, note it is written in the Scriptures, to wit: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Those who take the lead in the wickedness described in this scripture are the religionists, who are now carrying on their religious racket. This is further proof that these are the last days for Satan and his wicked agents and that soon the end thereof will come.
"THE TEMPLE OF GOD"
In connection with the Bible record of the war in heaven and the ousting of Satan, it is written: "And the temple of God was opened in heaven." (Revelation 11:19) What is meant by the term "the temple of God"? It does not mean a house or building erected by human hands, but means the composite body of faithful followers of Christ, the Head of God's organization. In proof of this statement note the scriptures addressed to the faithful followers of Jesus Christ: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of
God is holy, which temple ye are." — 1 Corinthians 3:16,17.
Those who compose the temple of God are not religionists, but must be separate and distinct from every part of Satan's organization, showing full obedience to God's commandments: "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." — 2 Corinthians 6:16-18.
The temple of God is the house of sons, of which Christ Jesus is the Head. It is the church of God; and concerning which it is written: "Ye are . .. the household of God;... In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit." (Ephesians 2:19, 21, 22) The names of those who compose that temple company are not written in books on the earth, but are recorded in heaven: "[The] church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven." — Hebrews 12: 23.
COMING TO THE TEMPLE
It is to the temple company, his faithful followers, that Jesus Christ says: "And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 3) God caused Solomon to build a temple at Jerusalem, which was a mere type of God's organization, his spiritual temple, of which Christ Jesus is Head. Solomon, who was a type of Christ Jesus, began to build that temple in the fourth year of his reign. (1 Kings 6:1) When Jesus was on earth it was in the fourth year of his ministry, or exactly three and one-half years after the beginning thereof, that he offered himself to Jerusalem as king. As shown by the foregoing evidence, it was in 1914 that Christ Jesus was enthroned by Jehovah as King (Psalm 2:6); and three and one-half years thereafter, that is, in the fourth year of his reign, Jesus Christ comes to the temple of Jehovah God; that is to say, he began to gather unto himself his faithful followers, first those who are dead being resurrected, and then those on earth were gathered. During the 1900 years of his waiting many of the faithful had died and must sleep in death until the coming of the Lord. Doubtless some of those faithful ones had been Catholics and some of them non-Catholics, but all of the temple company must be wholly devoted to God and to Christ. The faithful dead are first resurrected and gathered unto the Lord; and that marked the beginning of gathering the temple company. — 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
The second coming of the Lord and the beginning of his reign must precede by three and one-half years his coming to the temple and
gathering unto himself his faithful ones. "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, . . . Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." — 2 Thessalonians 2:1,3.
Those on the earth and alive at the coming of the Lord, and who were found faithful, are gathered unto him, and form or make up the temple class. Before the coming of the Lord Jesus there must be, as the Scriptures point out, a preparatory work done concerning Christ's second coming. The facts show that for forty years prior to 1918 the Lord caused his faithful followers to proclaim throughout the earth the second coming of the Lord, to the end that those who are faithfully devoted to him might be prepared to receive the Lord. That was work under Christ Jesus preparing for the coming to the temple. Concerning this matter Jehovah caused to be written: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." — Malachi 3:1.
The matter of the coming of the Lord to his temple is considered more in detail in Vindication, Book Three, beginning with page 101. The proof shows that the time of his coming was in 1918 and that he has since been at the temple.
Those who deny this are against God and his kingdom, regardless of what they may claim.
PURPOSE OF HIS COMING
The primary purpose of the coming of the Lord Jesus is the vindication of Jehovah's name. The Scriptures show that at his coming there would be some who would remain faithful and true to God when put to the most severe test. Those who successfully withstand the test receive the Lord's approval. Have in mind now that Jehovah said to the Devil that He would first have his name declared throughout the earth and that then he would show forth his supreme power. (Exodus 9:16) The temple company constitutes 'the people of God taken out for his name'. (Acts 15:14) Such are the ones who must be witnesses for Jehovah. — Isaiah 43:10-12.
Those faithful ones on earth at the second coming, and who prove faithful unto God, are called "the remnant of her seed" (Revelation 12:17); meaning that they are the remaining faithful ones who are the children born of God's woman or organization, and which takes place at the temple judgment. At the time of the coming of the Lord to the temple there were many who had made a covenant to do God's will, all of whom must be put to the test by the Lord Jesus, to determine who are faithful and unselfishly devoted to God and his kingdom. That marked the beginning of judgment. Therefore concerning his coming to the temple, and the
purpose thereof, it is written: "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." — Malachi 3:2,3.
All judgment has been committed to Christ Jesus, and now he sits as the great Judge to render and to execute judgment. (John 5:22,27) He tries all who have made a covenant to do God's will, and those who receive his approval thereafter 'offer unto God an offering in righteousness', which offering in righteousness is the unselfish devotion to God in the proclamation of his message of his kingdom, and sounding the praises of Jehovah. (Hebrews 13:15) It is with those who have made a covenant with the Lord that judgment begins at the temple. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17) At that judgment the approved ones the Lord Jesus designates collectively as "a faithful and wise servant", and then adds: "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods." — Matthew 24:46,47.
"His goods" here mentioned means his kingdom interests, that is to say, the proper proc-
lamation of the testimony concerning Christ and his kingdom. The faithful approved ones are made witnesses for the Lord and receive instruction from him at the temple (which 13 called the 'secret' or 'dark' place, hidden from the world), and such witnesses are then commanded to go forth and proclaim from the housetops, that is, publicly, what they have learned. (Matthew 10:27) Because they faithfully obey the Lord's commandment in proclaiming the testimony, the old Dragon, the Devil, desperately attempts to destroy them; and concerning which it is written: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." — Revelation 12:17.
It is those of the temple company remaining on the earth, the people taken out from the world for the name of Jehovah, that are commanded by the Lord to go to the people and tell them of the kingdom, and to warn them of the destruction of Satan's organization that is coming upon the world and to inform them of the great blessings that shall come to the people after Satan's organization is destroyed. The Lord therefore gives this commandment: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." — Matthew 24:14,21.
Jehovah's witnesses delight to obey this commandment, regardless of all opposition on the part of Satan and his religions agents. As the Lord's witnesses they have no alternative; they must obey. (Acts 3:23) The Lord at the temple is sending forth his witnesses to proclaim this glorious message of the kingdom, and which they must do as a witness to the nations and as a warning, and this work must be done before the execution of God's enemies. It is being done now.
ENEMIES IDENTIFIED
While the witnesses of Jehovah are, in obedience to God's commandment, proclaiming his name throughout the earth, the judgment of the nations, and particularly of the religious organizations, is in progress. One of the purposes of the 'preaching of this gospel as a witness to the nations' is to furnish the opportunity to the peoples of the nations to identify themselves and make known to others whether they are on the side of God or on that of the Devil. The judgment of the nations is now taking place; and concerning which it is written: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" — Matthew 25:31-33.
The animals, goats and sheep, are here used as symbols denoting the bad and the good. Goats are used as a symbol of those people who show an ugly, cruel and persecuting spirit in opposition to the kingdom of God and against God's witnesses. The persons of good will toward God and his kingdom are symbolized by "sheep". The division of the people into two general classes, that is, goats and sheep, is now in progress.
The "faithful servant" class, who, as Jehovah's witnesses, carry the message of the kingdom to the people, are counted by the Lord Jesus as a part of himself, because they are members of his official house or body. Whatsoever is done unto his faithful followers, whether that be good or bad, Jesus marks up as done unto himself. The facts and scriptures show that the Devil hates God's faithful witnesses and tries to destroy them. All those who join the Devil in the persecution of the faithful followers of Christ Jesus are of the Devil, and hence are placed by the Lord in the goat company.
Consider the facts now: Who are the ones in the earth that ill-treat, persecute and cause to be arrested and imprisoned the faithful witnesses of the Lord, who go about from house to house to exhibit to the people this gospel of the kingdom and to tell them about the kingdom? There is but one answer. It is the religionists, the leaders in the religious organizations, that cruelly persecute the faithful followers of Christ, and the ones that take the
lead in that cruel persecution are those of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. They are the ones who urge the people to destroy books which explain the kingdom or kingdom message. It is those religionists, who are children and agents of the Devil and therefore enemies of the Lord, that are desperately trying to keep the people in ignorance of what is written in the Bible. They not only cause the arrest of these witnesses, but heap indignities and punishment upon them after they are thrown into prison. To that wicked, persecuting, goat class of religionists Jesus, the great Judge, says: "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." — Matthew 25:42-45.
The facts well known clearly identify the religionists, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, as the "goats" who persecute Jehovah's witnesses, and this they do because Jehovah's witnesses are faithfully serving the Lord in obedience to his commandments. A few instances are here cited: In the state of New Jersey, where the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is exercising great political power over the
politicians and the courts, hundreds of Jehovah's witnesses have recently been arrested and thrown into prison for no reason whatsoever except the fact that they preach the truth of God's kingdom to the people. They are arrested on the ground that they are preaching the gospel without a police permit. It is worse than ridiculous to conclude that a policeman, an imperfect and unrighteous man, could grant a permit to do what the Almighty God has commanded shall be done; and for the same reason neither the police nor the courts have any right to prevent or even attempt to prevent what the Almighty God has commanded his witnesses now to do. Their conduct is 'fighting against God', and thus they identify themselves as God's enemies, who will receive due recompense.
In many of the other states like persecutions of the Lord's faithful followers are carried on by religionists, particularly by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. In Catholic Quebec many of the faithful followers of Christ Jesus are charged with the crime of sedition and are convicted upon the sole testimony that they are going about preaching the gospel of God's kingdom. In Germany, which is outwardly ruled by the fanatic Hitler, but which is secretly ruled by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and the Devil, thousands of faithful and true witnesses for the Lord are imprisoned, cruelly beaten and some of them foully murdered because they have in possession a Bible or books which explain the Bible. In Italy, which is outwardly ruled by the gangster Mussolini and secretly
dictated to by the Vatican, the true and faithful followers of Christ Jesus are cruelly persecuted. In Northern and Southern Rhodesia, in West Africa, and many islands of the sea, and, in fact, in all the lands of so-called "Christendom", the religionists, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, carry on a wicked persecution of the faithful followers of Christ. By this means those persecutors identify themselves as "goats", that is, enemies of God and of Christ.
The Lord, the great Judge at the temple, takes note of this and divides the nations by placing the "goats" on his left hand, which means the place where they will receive a just punishment. And what will be the punishment of such wicked goats? Jesus announces his de-
cree, to wit: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting [destruction]." (Matthew 25:41,46) In the judgment which the Lord is now conducting at the temple he is 'finding out his enemies' and making them identify themselves and duly marking them for destruction. — Psalm 21:8, 9.
SHEEP
The faithful members of the body of Christ he designates as his "sheep", who are made members of his royal house. Then says Jesus: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16) Those who compose this company designated as "other sheep" are also designated in the Scriptures as those persons of good will toward God, and as Jonadabs (2 Kings 10:15-23), and who, continuing faithful, shall form the "great multitude" and receive life everlasting on the earth. In the judgment now in progress at the temple those "other sheep" identify themselves by the course they take, and these are the ones of whom the Lord says that he puts them on his right hand, that they may receive his favor.
When Jehovah's witnesses go about the country carrying the message of the kingdom and come in contact with the people of good will, they are gladly received by such persons. When these "other sheep" find some of Jehovah's witnesses sick, suffering and in prison, they do
what they can to relieve them of such suffering, and they do so because they love righteousness and hate iniquity and desire to be pleasing to God and to Christ Jesus; and thus they identify themselves. Therefore it is written concerning them: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:34-40) Those faithful "other sheep" receive the blessings of everlasting life.
PREPARING FOR ARMAGEDDON
While the Lord Jesus Christ at the temple is conducting judgment, and while his faithful followers and witnesses are carrying the message of the kingdom to the people, Satan is moving with all his power to assemble all the enemies of God preparatory for the final battle at Armageddon. The word "Armageddon" means the
place of assembly of troops, that is, where God's people are, and Satan gathers his forces together to destroy them. Knowing his time is short, Satan is hurrying his forces on for the conflict; and concerning this it is written: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." — Revelation 16:13,14,16.
The term "beast" here used symbolically stands for the governments of the nations of the earth, particularly of "Christendom", which are beastly and cruel. The "false prophet" is composed of those of the ruling element of the nations of "Christendom" which falsely prognosticate that the remedy for the present ills is found in the League of Nations or other like combinations of men and nations. They ignore and oppose God's kingdom and look to man for support and protection and blessings. The word "dragon" is one of the Devil's names, and he it is who is directing the enemy's forces. All are marching forward and taking their position ready for the great conflict.
THE EXECUTION
The climax comes at the battle of Armageddon. It is "the battle of that great day of God
Almighty", and at that battle the disputed question of supremacy will be settled for ever. The Devil boastfully and egotistically expects to win. He is certain to lose. Jehovah has been waiting for this time, and he has let the Devil go on, and for that reason he addressed the Devil in these words: "But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power." (Exodus 9:16, Leeser) The power of Jehovah God is unlimited. He is the Almighty God, his purpose shall be accomplished, and none can prevent it. The enemies of God having been identified, and the wickedness thereof disclosed, and the warning given, the time for execution is at hand. Those who believe that God's Word is true may expect to find in the Scriptures the correct and true statement as to the execution of God's enemies. It is even so.
The chief visible enemy of God, and therefore the greatest and worst public enemy, is the Roman Catholic religious organization. For centuries that organization scornfully and arrogantly has ridden upon the backs of the peoples and nations and robbed the people of their just earnings. The day of that wicked institution must come to an end. That organization, that is to say, the Roman Catholic "Hierarchy of Jurisdiction", for years has boastfully said and still says: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against [us]." These words of Jesus Christ concerning his own organization, which is the habitation of Almighty God, are misapplied by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy; and this is further
evidence of the presumptuous sin of that religious organization.
Jehovah foretold that the Hierarchy would make such boastful claims, and long ago he caused his prophet to record a prophecy concerning the Roman Catholic religious organization, in which that devilish organization is represented as saying: 'Yes, Armageddon is coming, but the overflowing scourge shall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehoods have we hid ourselves. We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we are at agreement. We are safe and secure.'
Jehovah God replies to that declaration of the boastful and scornful men who for long have ruled the "Catholic population" and other people, and his answer is in these words: "Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it." (Isaiah 28:14-18) Do you care to believe God or to believe those scornful and arrogant men? You must make your choice.
Have in mind also that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the religious system, is designated by the Lord God in these words: "The harlot," and old "whore", and "Babylon", "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." For centuries that wicked organization has ridden upon the back of the beastly governments or ruling political and military powers, and now the time approaches when
God will put it into the hearts of those who rule to fulfill his will, and they "shall make her [the old harlot] desolate and naked, and ... burn her with fire". (Revelation 17:15-17) That will mark the beginning of Armageddon. It is that religious crowd, together with their chief allies, that have for centuries oppressed the people; and therefore says the Lord Jehovah concerning them: "The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth." — Isaiah 23:9.
It is the Roman Catholic "Hierarchy of Jurisdiction" that has falsely and fraudulently assumed to shepherd the "Catholic population" and rob them and fleece them. Claiming to be shepherds, they have really been wolves; and to that wicked crowd Jehovah says: "Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel." — Jeremiah 25: 34.
The Roman Catholic "Hierarchy of Jurisdiction", the religious system, is hypocritical in the extreme; and God hates a hypocrite, a racketeer and a liar, all of which that gang is. The hope of hypocrites shall perish.' (Job 8:13) That hypocritical crowd of religionists carry on their racket concerning "purgatory" by which they rob many widows and orphans; and by means of false pretenses and the making of long prayers they are enabled to deceive and practice their racket; and to such Jesus Christ
says: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." — Matthew 23:13.
They viciously assault and persecute those men and women who faithfully serve God by carrying to the people his message of the kingdom; and like vipers which hide in the grass they hide behind the police and other officers to sting and otherwise injure the Lord's little ones, and to them the Lord Jesus says: "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city." — Matthew 23:33,34.
That proud, scornful, arrogant and presumptuous crowd of religionists think they are fooling the Lord; but even their sacrifices are an abomination unto him. (Proverbs 16:5; 21: 27) Even their prayers are an abomination in the sight of God. — Proverbs 28: 9.
And when will the end of that hypocritical, . religious organization come? At the beginning of Armageddon. 'Roman Catholic Action,' as the selfish, political movement of the Hierarchy is now called, will soon convince themselves and others that they have put to silence all who tell the truth and who thereby expose the wickedness of the Hierarchy. Having spread their influence politically and otherwise throughout the
earth and destroyed the freedom of speech and the freedom of worship, and regarding themselves as secure from all opposition, that wicked crowd is represented as saying: 'We are now at peace and safety; we can go on without interruption and carry forward our racket to suit ourselves.' Concerning this matter the Lord's Word says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3) The religious systems that have for long defamed God's name shall be the first to fall at the battle of the great day of God Almighty.
"EVIL SERVANT"
The Scriptures and the facts show that there are those who covenant to serve God, and who break their covenant, deny the Lord's coming, and begin to smite their brethren, and these the Lord designates the "evil servant". (Matthew 24:48,49) One of the disciples of Jesus foreshadowed that "evil servant", and his name was Judas Iscariot. He was an enemy of God and of Christ. While Judas was professing to be the servant of Christ, he was conspiring with . the enemy to have Jesus put to death and to have Jesus and his brethren betrayed into the hands of the enemy. For this reason Jesus called Judas "the son of perdition". (John 17:12) Some men of modern times have been greatly favored by a knowledge of the truth, and by having a part in God's organization, and have
then broken their covenant and become wicked, denied the presence of the Lord, and have gone about smiting those who do serve God and Christ Jesus. That wicked class, called the "evil servant", is the most reprehensible part of "the man of sin" and is described in the Scriptures as "the man of sin", "the son of perdition," of which Judas was a type.
Those composing the "evil servant" are the enemies of God and of Christ and his kingdom, and the fate of such is announced by the Lord in these words: "And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:51) And again concerning that same crowd it is written: "Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:8) Concerning such "evil servant" class, "the man of sin," "the son of perdition," it is written: "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption." — 2 Peter 2:12.
OTHER ENEMIES
Jehu was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and pictured him as the great Executioner of Jehovah. Jehu slew all the practitioners of the Devil religion who practiced in the land of Israel. Those people professed to serve God but had turned to Devil worship. Those reli-
gionists were typical of "Christendom", professing to serve God but serving the Devil. At the commandment of the Almighty God Jehu annihilated those Devil worshipers; and that foreshadowed and foretold that Christ Jesus will completely wipe out all religion and religious practices, because such defame the name of Almighty God. (2 Kings 10:1-28) Religion has always been the chief means of deceiving men and reproaching God, because the Devil found it the best means by which he could deceive. Religion and religious practitioners will be the first to be destroyed at Armageddon. Christ Jesus, the great Executioner, will execute them and then proceed with the other elements of Satan's organization. —See Vindication, Book Three.
Symbolically the religious systems are likened unto a great city. That organization or "great city" is certain to fall in the near future, and the political, military and judicial and other supporters of the religious system, which have profited by that system, will see that they are next in order for punishment at the hand of the Lord, and then they will weep and wail: "The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! for in one hour so great riches is come to nought." (Revelation 18:15-17) Then they will attempt to hurl their armies and navies
and all other forces into battle, but they will perish at the hand of the Lord.
"BEAST" AND "FALSE PROPHET"
The governing elements that rule the world, because of harshness and cruelty, are designated under the symbol of a "beast". Those elements of the visible organization of Satan which prophesy that the world can be recovered and the people blessed by the puny efforts of man are designated "the false prophet". Now behold Jesus Christ pictured as riding upon a war mount and going forth to war with all the enemy forces, and being followed by his armies in heaven, before whose onward march the "beast" and "false prophet" will be utterly unable to stand: Armageddon will proceed. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. . . . And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone." (Revelation 19:13-21) Thus is described the execution of the rulers of the nations of the earth.
Every part of Satan's wicked organization shall be destroyed, including all who work any kind of iniquity, such as frauds, cheats, thieves, robbers, kidnapers, rapists, murderers, religious racketeers and other racketeers, and all suchlike. Says the Lord God concerning all those wicked ones of the world: "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." — Zephaniah 3: 8.
The execution of all of those will be clone by the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom Jehovah says: "Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalm 2:8,9, R.V.) Armageddon will not be a fight between the members of Satan's organization, but, as is plainly stated in the Scriptures, it is the battle of God Almighty in which he, through Christ Jesus and his army, will wreck Satan's entire wicked organization, that the earth may be cleansed from all iniquity. "The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment; the wicked is snared in the work of his
own hands. The wicked shall return to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever. Arise, 0 LORD; let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in thy sight." — Psalm 9:15-19, E.R.V.
"Upon the wicked he shall rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup." (Psalm 11:6, E.R.V.) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the excellency of the pastures; they shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away." (Psalm 37: 20, E.R.V.) "Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land; to cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord." (Psalm 101:8, E.R.V.) "The Lord preserveth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy." — Psalm 145:20.
The earth is full of wickedness and wicked creatures; and when Armageddon is done, all the wicked on the earth will be dead, for God has declared they shall be slain by the hand of Christ Jesus. "And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." (Jeremiah 25: 33) "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word." (Isaiah 24:3-6) Such will be the fate of all who remain on the Devil's side. This information the Lord now brings to the attention of the people, that they may, before his wrath
strikes, choose which side they desire to be on. What is your choice?
INVISIBLE ENEMIES
The Scriptural evidence cited in a preceding chapter shows that there is a host of wicked spirit creatures who joined the Devil in his rebellion and who have since practiced fraud and deception on the human race and continue to reproach God's holy name. What is to be the fate of such? The chief one among that wicked angelic crowd next in order to the Devil himself is designated as Gog, who, together with other wicked angels, has his habitation in what is called "the land [place] of Magog". "Thus saith the Lord GOD [Jehovah], Behold, I am against thee, 0 Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." (Ezekiel 39:1) A more detailed consideration of the Scriptures relating to Gog and the other wicked angels will be found in Vindication, Book Two, page 311 et seq.
Gog and the other wicked angels with him have for centuries exercised a ruling power over the nations of the earth. Haying destroyed the wicked ones in the earth, Christ Jesus leads his forces against those wicked spirit creatures and destroys them; and concerning which it is written: "Thou shalt fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles; and they shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 39:5,6) It is further written concerning the same wicked crowd: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the
godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." (2 Peter 2:9) "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day." (Jude 6) Their end is destruction; as it is written that God has prepared a place for the complete destruction of all the wicked ones. — Matthew 25:41.
DEVIL LAST
It was the Devil who challenged Jehovah and who for centuries has defied and reproached him. Jehovah gave his word that the Devil shall feel His power; and that word will be kept, and the Lord Jesus Christ will execute Jehovah's purposes. The Devil is compelled to stand by and see all of his organization first destroyed. This will be humiliating to him when he knows that he is next. The Lord Jesus then binds him and casts him into "the bottomless pit", where he is completely silent for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-3) At the end of the thousand years Satan shall be released for a little season and then utterly destroyed. — Revelation 20:7-10.
The complete destruction of the Devil and his organization is the decree entered by Jehovah long ago, and which will be executed in his due time: "By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and
I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness; I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee; and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." — Ezekiel 28:16-19.
Destruction is the everlasting fate of all the enemies of God. "His enemies shall lick the dust." (Psalm 72:9) "For, lo, thine enemies, 0 Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish." (Psalm 92:9) "Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off ." — Micah 5:9.
The Word of God is true; and from the indisputable testimony all doubt is removed as to who are God's enemies and what shall be their fate. In view of the frightful suffering the Devil and his allies have brought upon the human race, in view of the fact that a host of enemies are now operating in an attempt to destroy all mankind, and in view of the terrible things that shall shortly come to pass on the earth, as shown by the Scriptures, would you now care to be introduced to a real friend, in
whom you can put complete confidence and absolute trust and who will guide you into the way of everlasting life and happiness? If so, that privilege is now before you.
