LIGHT

Vindication

(REVELATION, CHAPTERS 18 AND 19)

JEHOVAH'S name has been reproached since the rebellion in Eden. The reproaches have attached to every one who has been faithful to God. (Ps. 69:7-9; Rom. 15:3) The vindication of Jehovah's name is of supreme importance. Jehovah will vindicate his name. All creatures shall come to know him, and all that live will honor his name forever. (Ps. 72:17) The vindication of Jehovah's name is the greatest joy of Jesus Christ. This work he began in 1914, when placed upon the throne; and, coming to his temple, he invites his faithful followers to enter into his joy. (Ps. 110:1-3; Matt. 25:21) To those who now walk in the light and delight to obey God's commandments he unfolds his purposes. They see that soon Jehovah's name will be vindicated, and they 'sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praises to the end of the earth'. (Isa. 42:10) The destruction of hypocrisy, the complete overthrow of Satan's wicked organization, and the clear revelation of truth and the shining forth thereof in God's kingdom in the earth, will be the vindication of his name. Chapters eighteen and nineteen of the Revelation have to do with the vindication of God's name and are now here considered and should be carefully read.

Chapter eighteen opens with the vision, given to John, of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's highest deputy, servant and angel, coming down from heaven, clothed with light and glory, and with all power and authori-

ty to act. He is the King of glory on his throne; and having ousted Satan from heaven Christ Jesus now turns his attention to the destruction of Satan's organization and the complete vindication of his Father's name. No power can successfully resist him now. "Where the word of a King [Jehovah's anointed One] is, there is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth both [the] time and judgment." (Eccl. 8: 4, 5) Clothed with the light of all the divine truth, he first reveals to his brethren, the anointed ones, the things that must shortly come to pass; and these anointed ones must in turn give the witness, that the peoples of the earth may have an opportunity to know what God would now have them do. — Isa. 9:2; Matt. 24:14.

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." (Vs. 2) The satanic religion, pictured as "the great whore" that practices hypocrisy, having been exposed, now the entire organization of Satan under the title "great Babylon" is brought forth to judgment and execution, and for the vindication of Jehovah's name. Here reference is made to Babylon under the figure of a great city, foreshadowed by ancient Babylon and including all the elements of Satan's wicked organization. In Revelation 14:8-10 Babylon's fall is announced in connection with the warning against the "image of the beast", which appears as a counterfeit of God's kingdom. The casting of Satan out of heaven marks the fall of Babylon from heaven to

the earth. (Rev. 12:8-12) The fall of "great Babylon" mentioned in the eighteenth chapter is that which pertains to Satan's organization after Satan is cast out of heaven and refers to the complete destruction of that wicked system.

Following the fall of Babylon from heaven to earth God's anointed ones on earth are released from Babylon so that they may engage in the campaign of declaring the vengeance of our God that shall be begun on Babylon at Armageddon. The 'pouring out of the seventh plague' in the "Declaration against Satan and for Jehovah" shows that God's people had at that time been released and were engaged in the campaign on Jehovah's side. God's anointed witnesses on earth must now 'thrash Babylon' before her final destruction. (Jer. 51:33; Isa. 41:15) It is during the 'pouring out of the seventh plague' that 'great Babylon comes into remembrance before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath'. (Rev. 16:19) The forces are now marching to Armageddon, where Babylon's fall must be complete.

The "strong voice" is the voice or message of the Lord and must be taken up and sounded in the earth by the members of his body, to wit, the remnant, to whom is committed "the testimony of Jesus Christ". (Rev. 12:17) Though few in number, the remnant is mighty by the Word of God. This voice or message God has caused to be printed in millions of pages and put in the hands of the people and also told to them by radio and other means. The voice or message cries: "Babylon the great is fallen." This is a prophetic message of what is now about to come to pass, and must be declared by the witnesses of Jehovah just before it actually does come to pass. Thus says the

Lord to his people: "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, . . . conceal not: say, Babylon is taken."  — Jer. 50: 2.

Daniel the prophet read aloud in the presence of the king the handwriting on the wall foretelling the fall of the city of Babylon, on the same night, just preceding the time of its fall. (Dan. 5: 26-28) So now God's people must proclaim the message just before the fall and destruction of the great antitypical city of Babylon the great. (Isa. 21:6-10; 52:7, 8; Jer. 51: 33) God reveals to his people the information of things that must shortly come to pass, and the fact that he shows it to them before or in advance implies that they must tell it out to others. (Isa. 42: 9) That means a tremendous and widespread witness that must be given by God's anointed witnesses, and this they must continue to do and declare 'until the city be wasted without an inhabitant'. (Isa. 6:11) Therefore there appears in Revelation two statements concerning the fall of Babylon, to wit, (1) in reference to the fall of Satan and his organization from heaven, and (2) concerning the fall of the entire satanic organization at Armageddon, the latter being considered in this chapter.

"Is become the habitation of devils [demons, Diag.]."This could not refer to wicked spirits inhabiting the religious systems, because these have always been in Babylon and constitute the invisible part of the Devil's wicked organization. The word "devils", or "demons", here used is equal to or like the word satyr, meaning a rough, wild, vicious, devilish goat opposing everything that is right. Symbolically the picture is that Babylon is a desolate place and holds and offers nothing that could be beneficial

or helpful to any one. It is a detestable thing and God's prophet describes it in this manner: "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited [by sane creatures], neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there; but wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs [demons] shall dance there."

Further describing the desolate, miserable and contemptible condition of this wicked organization, God's prophet said: "And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow; there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate." — Isa. 34: 13-15.

Babylon is really now in the condition the prophet here describes, and so viewed from God's standpoint. No one can now find any satisfaction in this devilish organization. Not even those who manipulate it have any peace of mind. It is, as it were, a haunted place. The 'three unclean frog spirits' (hence foul spirits) are there bellowing forth their boasting words to gather together the kings of the earth to the final fight. It is a "cage" or place of hypocrisy and deceit,

including in particular "organized Christianity" and every part thereof. The religious mongers therein who use the so-called "Christian religion" as a cloak of hypocrisy are described, together with their allies, as lying in wait and trapping the unfortunate human creatures; and then the Lord shows the miserable condition thereof in these words: "For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares: they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper: and the right of the needy do they not judge. " — Jer. 5:26-28.

Thus viewing the miserable organization that now has in subjection the peoples of earth, God through his prophet further says concerning that organization: "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" It is an abhorrent place. Such is God's viewpoint of Babylon, and all having his spirit view it in the same way. At Armageddon it shall be completely wiped out, and shall never come into existence again.

"For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Vs. 3) Verse three tells of the fornication between Babylon, and particularly her Devil religion, and the kings of the earth, and how the commercial crowd have grown rich upon the

abundance of her delicacies. The comments on Revelation 14: 8 and 17: 2 are appropriate here, and need not be repeated.

Babylon's "merchants are princes [rulers], whose traffickers are the honourable [so regarded men] of the earth". (Isa. 23:6) These merchants, however, cannot now save the wicked organization, because it is written: "0 virgin daughter of Babylon [particularly organized Christianity, claiming to be a virgin, but in fact the great whore]; . . . thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee." (Isa. 47:1, 15) Satan himself has organized and managed the great mercantile schemes of his organization by which the people have been pressed down and kept in subjection and robbed. (Ezek. 28:16-18) "Organized Christianity" has been made, and is, "an house of merchandise." (John 2:16) Big Business has committed fornication with her, and grown rich through her delicacies, and the people have been broken and killed. Their cries have reached unto heaven, and God will avenge their sufferings, and therefore he has thus declared:

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Vs. 4) A "voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her". This is a voice from the Lord from his temple, which is open in heaven. (Rev. 11:19) While "a voice [or message] of noise" is being made by Satan's 'bullfrog spirits' crying out to the rulers of the earth, there comes the voice of the Lord from the temple and

it is heard by his people: "A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies." (Isa. 66:6) The voice from the temple being addressed to "my people", the words apply primarily to those who are and who make up God's remnant people on the earth, and to his witnesses: "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." — Isa. 51:16.

During 1918 and prior thereto God's people were forcibly restrained and held by Babylon or Satan's organization. God had promised these: 'Thou shalt be delivered from the hand of thine enemies, for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field.' (See Micah 4:10.) "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. Deliver thyself, 0 Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon." — Zech. 2:6, 7.

Having delivered his remnant, God says to them: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth, also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isa. 26:20, 21) These faithful and approved ones are the willing ones who joyfully volunteer to be God's soldiers and his witnesses in the day of his wrath. (Ps. 110:3) Those making up the "great multitude" are not "willing"; but be-

cause they have been brought forth as God's children he also addresses them as "my people" and warns them to flee from Babylon. (Ps. 50: 7) Those remaining in Babylon will likely 'partake of her sins' because they mix up with that which is darkness. (Prov. 4:14, 15, 18; 2 Cor. 6:14-17) Those who come out may be granted a part with the seventh angel in 'pouring out the plagues' upon Babylon. Understanding that these plagues began to be poured out in 1922, the voice from heaven, "Come out of her," must have been shortly before that and must continue until the antitypical Samson class gets strength to pull down the house upon itself.

Those that go to make up the 'wicked servant' class will surely receive a share in the final plagues upon Babylon. They profess to have come out from Babylon, yet they continue to oppose the work of the Lord; and thus doing, they align themselves with Satan's forces. They smite their "own mother's son" and attempt to betray God's witnesses into the hands of the enemy. (Ps. 50:20) They are like Edom: "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and east lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them." (Obad. 10, 11) Therefore the wicked servant class receive of the plagues of God's vengeance. — Jer. 51: 6.

"For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (Vs. 5) Like the tower of Babel, Babylon's sins cleaved together unto heaven. (Gen. 11:4) The sins of that wicked organization in heaven have cleaved together with her sins

in the earth and they have been cumulative throughout the centuries. They have been committed especially against God's faithful people, and therefore against God and his Christ. God's time comes to restrain wickedness, and he remembers the wicked deeds of Babylon and will recompense her therefor. (Jer. 51:9; Rev. 16:19) Clearly this implies that God would cause his people on earth, who constitute his witnesses, to widely expose and publish the hypocrisy and other iniquities of Babylon, that the people might have an opportunity to know God and his purposes concerning Babylon and concerning the people.

Jehovah serves notice on the rulers and on the people of what he will do; therefore there must be a wide witness of the truth, and particularly the declaration of the day of vengeance of our God. (Isa. 61: 2) Being now in that day, the Lord says to his people in Zion: "Let not thine hands be slack." (Zeph. 3:16) Let no amount or kind of opposition deter the faithful from now giving a witness to the people. Satan's organization, and particularly the clergy, will bring to bear all opposition under all hypocritical pretenses to prevent the giving of the witness; but let God's anointed go straight forward in the witness work in spite of all opposition.

"Render to her as she also rendered, and repay double according to her works; in the cup which she mixed, mix to her double." (Vs. 6, Diag.) From the time that Jesus began his ministry on earth until now, Babylon, Satan's organization, has drunk the blood of God's chosen ones. To this great crime of wrongfully shedding righteous blood the wicked agents in Babylon, particularly the religionists, have added repeated insults to Jehovah and to his beloved

Son. These religious organizations have taken the name of Christ and carried on their religion under the name of "organized Christianity", and in that name have practiced their cruel deeds. Let the reader call to mind the history of the world written particularly with reference to "Christendom" during the past 1600 years. False religion, and therefore the Devil religion, banded together with commercial giants and conscienceless politicians called "statesmen", and thus constituting Satan's organization, has run roughshod over the people and crushed the people into the earth. Anyone daring to raise a protesting voice has been quickly dispatched. Cruel laws of inquisition and espionage and spying have been made and maliciously enforced against innocents. Autocratic rulers have dragged the poor and defenseless before them and caused such to suffer cruel death, and this has been done to gratify a wicked passion. While a few have lived in luxury and wantonly flourished upon their ill-got gains from the fruits of honest toil, billions have unjustly suffered poverty, starvation, disease and cruel death. When one part of Satan's organization has become offended against another or when the wicked spirit of conquest has goaded the rulers on, the common people have been horned and pushed like dumb driven cattle into the slaughter pen, there to fight against one another and to die. This the rulers have brought about and done that their ambitious, insatiable desire might be gratified.

On the back of this "wild beast", or beastly rule, and forming a part of the wicked organization, has sat the hypocritical religion called "organized Christianity", there to lend 'divine sanctity' to the Devil's

schemes and to mark with approval the cruel murders of the poor and helpless. The religious mongers, to wit, the clergy, have especially directed the venom of the devilish organization against God's faithful witnesses who tell the truth. Even in this day, with all the light of divine truth shining, these clergymen wrongfully influence and urge the law-enforcing part of Satan's organization to arrest, persecute and imprison humble witnesses of the Lord who go from house to house to tell the people the truth. Above all these crimes and wickedness, these religionists have committed and been guilty of a greater crime, to wit, carrying on their own wickedness and approving the wickedness of their allies in the name of Christ and of God, and labeling their entire devilish arrangement as "Christendom". Therefore Jesus tells them that they are of their father the Devil, and, as Jehovah's spokesman, further says: 'Woe unto you, hypocrites! Upon you shall come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth.' (Matt. 23:27-36) Even if time and space would permit the giving of a full description of the crimes and wickedness practiced by Babylon under the name and guise of "organized Christianity", human words would utterly fail to adequately describe it.

But Jehovah has remembered such iniquities; and his time having come, he commands his servant class to notify Babylon that she shall be rewarded in the same manner that she has rewarded God's people. Jehovah, by his Chief Officer and Field Marshal, will do the breaking of Babylon; but he will have his few faithful witnesses on the earth to let it be known what he will shortly do. The time for retributive justice is at hand, and God's people must now use their

heaven-given power and opportunity to make known to the world concerning the coming execution of God's judgment against the devilish organization. To Christ and his army Jehovah now says: "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; with thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon, and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea, all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord." — Jer. 51:20-24.

Christ Jesus is the One here generally addressed; and associated with him is a great multitude of holy angels and the risen saints, and upon this earth is a little handful who will sound the alarm and sing the praises of Jehovah as the forces move into action for the final battle.

The Israelites wrongfully harbored Eglon, the king of Moab, who was a representative of Satan and his organization. The professed spiritual Israelites have long harbored Satan's representatives under the cloak of their hypocritical religion. God raised up Ehud for a purpose. Ehud appeared in the presence of Eglon and said: "I have a message from God unto thee." Then Ehud thrust a long knife into Eglon's belly, "and the haft also went in after the blade; and

the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out." Today God sends his faithful servant class, the remnant, with the message to Satan's representatives on earth. He serves notice upon them of his purpose, and soon the belly of Babylon shall be cut through and through and Babylon shall fall to rise no more, and then the people shall be delivered from bondage.  — Judg. 3:14-30.

"Double unto her double according to her works." This does not mean that God will inflict upon Babylon twice the amount of punishment she has inflicted upon others. God's law is: "An eye for an eye." The Greek word here rendered double means a duplication, that is to say, like for like. The text means, then, that great Babylon shall be given the same measure of punishment that she has inflicted upon others. 'Make her to drink a like potion as she has poured out for the Lord's witnesses,' is the command. This is the time that God furnishes "the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath" and Babylon must drink it.

"How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Vs. 7) Babylon with the "harlot" religion riding the beastly organization has "glorified herself", but has not glorified Jehovah. She has lived wantonly and voluptuously: 'Thou art given to pleasures,' and that at great cost to others. (Isa. 47:8) Babylon has brought great sorrow upon God's people and tormented them, and she shall be likewise tormented and caused to suffer. As Babylon has caused the people of God to be slain and fall, so

shall Babylon be afflicted with sorrow and fall. — Jer. 51:24-35, 49.

Being the wife of Satan, Babylon flippantly and boastingly challenges God and says: 'I sit as a queen and shall see no sorrow.' She scoffs at Jehovah's prophecies, even as Pharaoh challenged Jehovah in Egypt. Her religious mouthpiece declares that nothing shall befall her, and they and their allies cry, "Peace, peace"; and then sudden destruction shall come upon her.

"Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (Vs. 8) That means her complete destruction. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary." (Jer. 51: 58) When one beholds the pomp and show and power today exercised by Satan's organization it requires real faith in God to know that she shall shortly fall and be completely destroyed. Those having little faith or no faith in God say, in substance: 'Behold, how great is this organization! What is like the great organization of the world? Who can do anything against it [Babylon]?' "Why should we say anything against it?" say the lukewarm and selfish ones who claim to be followers of Christ. God's remnant know that it shall fall, because it is written in God's Word: "Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the Lord. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her

rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King whose name is the Lord of hosts. And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant." (Jer. 51: 53, 57, 29) The Lord then reveals what will be the effect upon the great men of earth when they see Babylon's fall.

"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more." (Vss. 9-11) Babylon here represents the entire organization of Satan on which the Devil religion has been riding and forming a part thereof. After the destruction of "the great whore" (picturing "organized Christianity") Babylon, that is, Satan's organization, still continues to exist. The politicians and commercial giants of the old world rely upon it and hold to it, and the clergymen quit their preaching business, take off their sanctimonious robes, and walk with the others, and then they shall see the entire organization destroyed. When these great men see the organization gone and know that their rule is done, and that their claim of ruling by divine right is entirely false and groundless, then they will lament.

Smoke is an evidence of burning. These great ones' standing on the side shows that they are helpless and

they realize that their own destruction is at hand. With the powerful organization gone, the individuals can do nothing, and they wring their hands in despair: "Alas, alas, the great city!" Jehovah, by his Executive Officer, will destroy Satan's wicked organization; and it will be a fearful and an awe-inspiring sight when it goes down. 'The whole earth shall be surprised and become astonished.' (Jer. 51:41) Big Business, cruel, oppressive and heartless, is here pictured by the "merchants", and is the "sixty" element of the "number of the beast". They seeing everything swept away and their hopes of further controlling the people gone, it is their day to weep. Therefore it is written: 'Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.... Ye have heaped up treasures for the last day' and they have come to naught. (Jas. 5:1-3) Their profiteering will cease. In that hour of distress the people cannot buy their merchandise. The people will not want it. They will want to buy life, which God alone can give. The pomp and glory and strength of the mighty ones being destroyed, and all in distress and in perplexity, man's extremity will turn many to Jehovah. "And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." — Zeph. 1:17, 18.

"The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and

silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men." (Vss. 12, 13) Note that this scripture gives a list of the material necessities of life, as well as the luxuries, of which Satan's organization has long had control. Big Business and her allies have trafficked in these things. These items need not be regarded as symbolic, but are set forth here to show the fact that Satan's organization controls that which is for the material and physical well-being of the peoples of earth and has used it wantonly and selfishly and to the sorrow and oppression of the people, and to keep them in subjection. Satan's ruling agents have sought after the things of this earth that give riches and power, and the hypocritical religionists have helped to hold the devilish and oppressive organization together and to keep the people in ignorance of Jehovah's provision for man. The destruction of the wicked organization and the relieving of the people from oppression and bringing to them a knowledge of God's provision for them will be a vindication of Jehovah's great and holy name and will completely prove that his word is true.

"And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all." (Vs. 14) Neither the necessities nor luxuries for men ever did belong to Satan and his wicked organization. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." "Moreover, the

profit of the earth is for all." (Ps. 24:1; Eccl. 5:9) But those who have had Satan for their god have sought after these things of the earth for selfish reasons, and their love for money has been the root of all evil; and this has been particularly true with reference to those who have used religion as a cloak for their unrighteous work. (1 Tim. 6:10) Satan's organization, and particularly the visible ruling factors thereof, have used all of these fruits of the earth for selfish purposes. Now God will use them for the blessing of the people because he made them for that purpose.

"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. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!" (Vss. 15-18) Big Business and her tools and allies continue to weep and lament the loss of the devilish organization. "Why do these weep? Surely not because there are no more meeting houses for them to assemble in and hear some preacher talk nonsense while they work out schemes to further rob and oppress the people. They weep and wail because their own selfish trade is done and gone and the people can no longer be held in subjection and exploited.

It might be asked, Why would God let these mighty men remain for a while after the complete fall of the great organization of Satan? It is apparent that God

gives Big Business and big politicians and their allies a little space of time to gaze upon the wreck and ruin of the devilish organization of which they have been a part, that they might lament and howl and see what awaits them. They have viewed Babylon from the standpoint of great riches and as the organization which is invulnerable. They have worshiped the power of the organization and its god. Big Business has used the organization in order that it might gather out the things of the earth for selfish use; the politicians have looked at it from the viewpoint of organized power of control; and the preachers have been holding on as parasites, claiming to give a divine sanctimoniousness to the devilish schemes of the system. God will permit them to see that their claims are without foundation and therefore vain. They shall learn that "riches profit not in the day of wrath". — Prov. 11:4.

The fall of Babylon will wreck all who do not serve God but who do serve the wicked one. (Ezek. 27; 28; Isa. 23:1, 14; 2:16) The fact that the class that once ruled stand afar off and wail shows their own expectation to be cut off; and doubtless they will feel that they deserve such fate. They know that their business is gone; and they do not rejoice that Jehovah has triumphed, but they must see that Jehovah God has wrecked the devilish organization and that therefore he is supreme. Their wailing shows that they have no hope, because having no knowledge; and they must see and will see the vindication of Jehovah's word and his name, whatever God may have for them in the days of reconstruction.

"And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great

city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." (Vs. 19) This verse shows that the mighty ones continue to weep and wail and lament the fact that so great riches and wealth and power should disappear in one hour and the whole organization that they built up be quickly made desolate. Their hearts have been entirely set upon selfish riches and power and the accumulation of even more wealth. This spirit of greed has been emphasized especially since the World War. The increase of tax burdens upon the people, the concentration of wealth in the hands of a comparatively small number, and the greatly increased cost of the necessities for living, all testify to the greed of the ruling factors.

The sudden destruction of all this wealth and power shocks the mighty men beyond human words of description. They have thought that their religion and foolish ceremonies performed by their paid clergymen, and their allegiance to and worship of the "beast", would save them. They will be greatly astonished. While they are thus suffering ignominy and shame and the loss of their all, it seems from other scriptures that before they die they shall witness the comfort and joy of those who serve the Lord. "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name." — Isa. 65:13-15.

REJOICING

"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets: for God hath avenged you on her." (Vs. 20) The expression of God's vengeance in the destruction of Satan's organization will be a vindication of his word and name and call forth rejoicing because of the execution of his righteous judgment. This is one of the Scriptural proofs that God will permit some of his faithful remnant to be on the earth at the time of the complete destruction of Satan's organization and that these will join in the song of joy because the word and name of Jehovah are vindicated. Jacob stands for or represents God's people who receive the kingdom birthright. The prophet of God writes: "Sing, 0 ye heavens: for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, 0 forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof." — Isa. 44: 23-26.

Jehovah God will do the great work of destruction, and not man; but those who love God he invites to sing for joy because of his vindication. In this twentieth verse the words "ye saints" (R.V.) no

doubt include the remnant on earth who will rejoice and sing to the glory of God because his name has been vindicated. The words "ye apostles" (R.V.) must refer to those faithful ones who have been resurrected and who are with the Lord, and the word "prophets" probably refers to some of those faithful men of old who gave a witness to God's name, even with their lives, and who testified and prophesied concerning the fall of Babylon and who shall be alive and on earth at the complete destruction thereof.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel were especially privileged to give such prophecy. It is not improbable that Jehovah will establish a direct connection between the last of his saints on earth with the faithful men of old who were God's faithful witnesses and who are mentioned specifically in Hebrews the eleventh chapter.

It was Babylon, Satan's devilish organization, and particularly the hypocritical religionists thereof, that persecuted and shed the blood of the faithful prophets of old. It is not at all unreasonable that God would permit these to see his vengeance upon that wicked system, and for this reason it is written that all those who love God, in heaven and earth, should rejoice: "For God hath avenged you on her."

"And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." (Vs. 21) What John saw at this point was doubtless an illustration of the manner in which Babylon shall fall; that is to say, by and with the mighty power of the Lord, and not by violence of the enraged masses against the classes. One class of men destroying another would bring no glory and honor to God nor

vindicate his word and name. Armageddon is the 'great battle of the day of God Almighty'; and his Chief Field Marshal, Christ Jesus, is the One leading the fight that will bring about the complete fall and destruction of Satan's organization. With great violence from heaven shall Babylon be destroyed. "The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire." (Jer. 51: 58) All the honor and glory for the execution of his judgment will be due to Jehovah, and his great Executive Officer will do the executing. This must be such an outward demonstration that all creation can observe and understand that it is a manifestation of divine power.

In the Scriptures Satan is called "the king of Babylon", and concerning his organization it is written: "Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers." (Isa. 14:4, 5) This proves that Jehovah does the breaking, and not man.

Further, the Lord says: "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord. I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts. The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." (Isa. 14:15, 22-24) Satan's organization shall go down and never again arise. — Jer. 50: 39; 51: 26; Ezek. 28:19.

"And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee." (Vs. 22) The entertainers now in Babylon are made up of paid church choirs, organists, army bands, symphony orchestras, operatic singers, professional radio broadcasters, including long-frocked preachers; and all these entertainers have refused to use their natural endowments to the glory of God. They have made Babylon to appear attractive. Babylon will become a joyless ruin. All music and joy will cease therein. Thereafter all music and laughter will be to the glory of God and his kingdom. — Ps. 150: 3-6.

Craftsmen will be no more in Babylon, but must use their abilities to the Lord's glory or not use them at all: "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." (Isa. 60:12) There will be no more sweatshops nor the grinding of mills for prisoners or other oppressed labor, and slavery shall cease. — Lam. 5:13.

"And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." (Vs. 23) This verse describes the desolation of Satan's once great organization. Darkness and gloom will be its portion. (Prov. 24:20) No more great church weddings and feasts will be celebrated in her. The people will not even desire to think of her any more. — Isa. 14:20-22.

The great men in Babylon have been and now are the commercial giants, but their greatness shall be no more: "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? 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." (Isa, 23: 8, 9) The wicked organization has promoted great monopolies in which big banks have swallowed up smaller ones, the chain stores have forced the small and honest dealer into bankruptcy, and the trusts and syndicates have wrongfully taken the fruits of honest labor, lived wantonly thereon, and compelled men who work to be their puppets. The devilish religious practitioners, or "voodoo medicine men", by their false and hypocritical teachings have become party to the criminal practices of Big Business, and by superstition and fraud induced the people to submit to robbery. These agents of Satan 'now stand with their enchantments and with their multitude of sorceries' and practice and hoodwink and deceive the people. (Isa. 47:12, 13) The sorceries of the Devil religion hypocritically parading under a false name make her the wife of "the Serpent". She is a witch and Jehovah will not permit her to live. — Ex. 22:18.

"And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Vs. 24) This is further proof that Satan's organization, and particularly the Devil religion thereof, has brought about the death of God's faithful witnesses, both of the prophets of old and of the witnesses of modern times. Babylon is the wife and lewd woman of Satan, who has been "a murderer from the begin-

ning", and she has been party to his crime; therefore in her is found the blood of God's faithful ones, and with the complete destruction of this wicked system the word and name of Jehovah will be vindicated.

GREAT REJOICING

(REVELATION, CHAPTER 19)

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God." (Vs. 1) John's vision then disclosed a great multitude rejoicing and giving praise to Jehovah. They are saying "Alleluia", which means, "Praise ye Jehovah." This acclamation of laud to Jehovah is mentioned exclusively in this chapter, and no other place in the New Testament. The time of beginning of this scene of rejoicing seems therefore to coincide with the raising of the "Hallelujah" chorus to the glory of God as mentioned in the Old Testament. When Satan and his organization were cast down from heaven there was great rejoicing in heaven saying: 'Now is come salvation, and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.' — Rev. 12:10.

In 1919 God's people, being released from Babylon's power that they might continue in the Lord's service, and being brought under the garments of salvation, had received "the robe of righteousness" and entered into "the secret place of the Most High", and therefore had occasion to begin the song to the glory of God. This doubtless marks the beginning of the song of the Hallelujah chorus. But chapter nineteen discloses the raising of a song to the glory of God by "much people". This, however, does not mean

that the great multitude of Revelation 7:14 is included in this song of praise. The multitude of singers would include the risen saints and the remnant on earth, which latter class is 'seated in heavenly places', and would include also all the angels of the Lord, and therefore all of God's holy organization. The song must pertain to the time of deliverance of God's people from the enemy.

Satan's organization has always condemned the saints, who, like Jesus when on earth, are classed as the poor. When the time comes to deliver them and they are delivered and are made bold witnesses for Jehovah, they join the multitude of the holy ones in heaven to the praise of Jehovah God: "I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul." (Ps. 109: 30, 31) "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Ps. 103:2) The song is also a prayer: "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord." (Ps. 104: 35) From the time of the building up of Zion the song begins: "Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord." (Ps. 113:1,2, 9) God's woman Zion, barren to this time, has now brought forth her children and begins housekeeping. That vision did not begin prior to the Lord's coming to his temple; and this conclusion is further supported by Revelation 15: 3, 4. The song begins after judgment

begins. "Judgment must begin at the house of God" and this at the coming of the Lord to his temple.

"For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Vs. 2) The remnant now see that the judgments of Jehovah are righteous. They perceive that soon God's judgments written will fall upon Satan's organization and particularly upon "the great whore". The people have been deceived and made to believe that "organized Christianity", or the "Christian religion", so called, represents Jehovah. Even many of the Lord's people have believed this. When they get their eyes open to the truth they will rejoice. When the clergy get together and pray that God will rescue their organization in Russia, many churchgoers expect God to answer that prayer; but he does not answer. When the 'beast burns the great whore with fire', picturing particularly the destruction of "organized Christianity", such verifies the statement made by God's witnesses that his judgments are declared against her. Those who by faith see these things rejoice now and will continue to rejoice: "Rejoice, 0 ye nations, with his people; for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people."  — Deut. 32:43.

The shepherds and the principal ones of their flock will then find no way to escape, and with the execution of this judgment the song of rejoicing will continue. Satan preached false religion to Eve, resulting in death. False religious teaching respecting the 'seed of the woman' has led to the slaying of God's true

witnesses. The reprehensible ones have been and are those who have been wilful teachers of false religion; therefore when the destruction of the "great whore" comes to pass there will be occasion for much rejoicing; and this is pictured here.

Big Business and politicians have long served as catspaws for Satan's religious frauds. The politicians, like Pilate, must come to see the necessity of washing their hands of this vile Devil religion, which has led to the persecution of the true servants of God. It may be that some of these will repent, see the truth, and rejoice in the righteousness of God's judgments on the "great whore". (Isa. 49: 22, 23) Those who hold to the Devil's beastly organization will see the destruction of it and weep. The righteous continue to sing praises of Jehovah because his judgments are righteous against the enemy.

"And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia." (Vss. 3, 4) The statement here, "Again they said, Alleluia," doubtless applies at the complete fall of Satan's organization at Armageddon. Those of God's remnant then on earth will have another reason for rejoicing and saying, "Praise Jehovah." 'The rising of her smoke for ever and ever' will be a testimony that Babylon's destruction is complete and Babylon will never be recovered. — See Revelation 14:11 and comments.

The four and twenty elders and the four beasts also join in saying, "Alleluia." This shows that every part of God's organization joins in the worship and praise to Jehovah because he has vindicated his word

and his name. Therefore they all sing: "Praise ye the Lord [Hallelujah, margin]. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the firmament of his power. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." — Ps. 150:1,6.

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, [Sinaitic Manuscript omits "and"] ye that fear him, both small and great." (Vs. 5) This shows that it is the servant class that fears God; and all members of this class, whether they be elders, deacons, young or old, male or female, must join in this praise, of service to Jehovah. 'The voice came out of the throne'; which shows that it is Jesus Christ, "the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne," and therefore the official representative of Jehovah, that is speaking. He commands the message of praise to be sung. The message has heretofore been written in the Word of God, and now Christ Jesus directs his angel to cause the message of praise to Jehovah to be sounded forth in the earth. Therefore the remnant must be included in the servant class and it is for the particular benefit of the remnant on earth that the Scriptures have been written.

All the servant class sealed in their foreheads must now do service to the glory of Jehovah God. Jehovah has appointed the manner of giving this praise. He has anointed his remnant to be his witnesses on the earth. No one who is of the remnant is to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, and therefore to think he is excused from active service to the praise of Jehovah because he is "great". No one is to think he is too poor and lowly to have part in the song of praise to Jehovah. The time for the singing of the song of Jehovah's praise is now here, and the

song must be sung, and is being sung. That song means actively engaging in God's service as opportunity affords to testify that Jehovah is God and that his kingdom is at hand.

Before Armageddon is fought God reveals to his people what is shortly to come to pass, and all these must join in proclaiming his praise. Therefore there must continue to be a wide witness to the truth; and the remnant will give this witness. Jehovah is God; and let that now be told by all who love him. Others will join in the song of praise later. The remnant must do it now. The words of verse five contain a command from Jesus Christ to all the servants of Jehovah to praise him, and that which appears in the following verse is what takes place in obedience to that command.

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Vs. 6) Here the message proclaimed, or song sung, fixes the time when this anthem of praise begins; to wit, when the Lord God omnipotent places his beloved Son on his throne in Zion and his reign begins. — See Revelation 11:15 and comments.

The seventh angel began to sound, and the proclamation is made to the glory of Jehovah. It was at Detroit in 1928 that the remnant on earth discerned and took up this song of praise and began to herald it throughout the earth, and therefore those joining in the Hallelujah song must include the remnant of God's people on the earth. The great chorus of voices sing: "The way of the wicked he turneth upside down. Jehovah will reign for ever, thy God, 0 Zion,

unto all generations. Hallelujah." (Ps. 146:9, 10, A.R.V., margin) "But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation." — Jer. 10:10.

That this great song of praise to Jehovah begins after his throne is set for judgment is further supported by the following texts: "Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty [at the battle of Armageddon], the Lord mighty in battle." — Ps. 24:7,8.

The fact that the words "a great multitude" appear in this verse does not at all mean that the great multitude or tribulation class of Revelation 7: 9 is included. All the scriptures bearing upon this point, as well as the facts aside therefrom, show that the great multitude or tribulation class is not included in this song. The "great multitude" mentioned and considered here necessarily means the hosts of heaven and embraces all the glorious angels of God. (Rev. 9:16) The 'tribulation class' does not join in the song of praise at this time. They go through a great tribulation that causes them to weep; and after they are forced to take their position on the side of Jehovah and are delivered, then they rejoice. The message that follows and the reason given for the song show that the "great multitude" of Revelation 7:9 is not included.

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." (Vs. 7) Many centuries ago God made known the fact that he would

prepare a bride for his beloved Son and that in his due time there should be a marriage in heaven. This he pictured in the selection of Rebecca to be the wife of Isaac. The church is the bride of Christ, selected from amongst men, and those selected have the faith like unto Abraham. (Gal. 3:6, 7) As Abraham selected Isaac's wife, so Jehovah selects the bride for his beloved Son. When begotten or brought forth as God's children these are espoused to Christ to be his bride. (2 Cor. 11:2) When united with Christ Jesus in the glorious union of marriage the church will then be joint-heir with Christ and share his nature and glory. — Rom. 8:16, 17; 1 John 3: 2.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom. (John 3:29) Jesus Christ is the bridegroom. The angels do not marry, but Jesus is "so much better than the angels", and this marriage of Christ to his church is the only marriage that takes place in heaven. (Matt. 22: 30; Heb. 1:4) Therefore the marriage of the Lamb would be an occasion for great rejoicing in heaven and all the hosts of heaven would give honor and glory to Jehovah because he has arranged for the wedding. The marriage of the bride and Bridegroom, therefore, would mark another forward step in the outworking of the glorious purposes of Jehovah for the vindication of his word and his name. The union of the Bridegroom and bride would be conclusive proof that Jehovah does have among his creatures those who would maintain and who do maintain their integrity with him, which he illustrated with Job. Jehovah is the great King who makes the marriage for his Son Christ Jesus, and Jehovah should be given the honor and glory on that occasion, just as John saw in the vision. The Lord himself rejoices on that

occasion, as it is written: "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." — Isa. 62:5.

When it is written, "Let us be glad and rejoice," it would necessarily mean the contracting parties, as well as the host of heaven, that were joining in this song of praise. That song of praise, then, would necessarily include the remnant on earth, because these are the only ones on earth that see and appreciate the fact that the time has arrived for the marriage of the bride and Bridegroom, and these see this great truth when Zion is built up and they are brought into the temple.

This is further supported by the words of the prophet: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isa. 61:10) This rejoicing could not include the tribulation or great multitude class that pass through the time of trouble, but these must learn of this truth by the proclamation of the remnant. It is therefore with the remnant on earth that the Lord begins the fulfilment of this prophecy on the earth. Those of the remnant class on earth make this announcement to one another to encourage one another. At the same time they 'go forth to meet the Bridegroom'. They sing the honor of Jehovah's name, and "cry aloud", that their lukewarm brethren may be awakened to their privileges. — Isa. 58:1.

Seeing that the church is the bride of Christ, and therefore his wife, the statement is made, "And his wife hath made herself ready." That would mean

that the faithful saints had been resurrected and united with the Lord Jesus in heavenly glory, hence the time for them to begin singing the great song of praise. This continues when the Lord comes to his temple. Those constituting the remnant are examined, approved and brought into the temple; and these, seeing that the time of the union with the King has come, arise and hurry to meet the Bridegroom, and they join in the song. This they do by looking well to the interests of the King and kingdom committed to their hand. Having now received "the testimony of Jesus Christ" the faithfulness of the remnant in proclaiming that testimony is essential for them in preparing themselves for the wedding. At this particular time the remnant learn to have but one purpose in mind, and they are blind to everything else; and that purpose is the King and kingdom. (Isa. 42:19) Those on earth at the time the examination begins when the Lord comes to his temple, must now make themselves ready. Therefore they hear and respond to the call: "Hearken, 0 daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house [permit now no earthly relationship to interfere with your preparation for the kingdom wedding]; so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him."  — Ps. 45:10, 11.

The resurrected saints are now made a part of Zion; and the remnant, being approved and brought into the temple, are likewise built up into Zion; and all these take the name of their mother and are acknowledged by and given the name of their God and the name of his glorious kingdom. — Rev. 3:12; 21: 9-11.

To make herself ready for the wedding the church must clean herself up. (2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:26) She must do more than that. She must prove her real devotion to the Lord, that she may have his approval and that she may receive the robe of righteousness and the wedding garments and keep them on. She must be robed properly for the occasion. Her garments prior to this were "as filthy rags", and she must have a change of raiment, which the Lord provides. (Isa. 64: 6; Zech. 3:4) This change of raiment and robe of approval the remnant must receive while on earth; and thus properly clothed, she is in a condition of approval. This approval is evidenced by the robe of righteousness received after their being brought into the temple. These approved ones therefore constitute "the feet of him", the Bridegroom, and they go forth to proclaim the great message of salvation. (Isa. 52: 7, 8) The time for the marriage of the Lamb came when Jesus appeared at his temple; and then and there the rejoicing began and all of the temple class honor and praise Jehovah, and this they do by singing forth the honor of his name. (Ps. 29: 9; Isa. 12: 6) It is written concerning the remnant:

"And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Vs. 8, R.V.) This raiment is provided preparatory for the wedding; and this could not be done after the remnant has reached heaven and after being united in heaven to the Bridegroom. Nor is the righteousness here mentioned that which is imputed to one at the time of consecration and which results in justification. Each one must be justified or made righteous as a human creature before he is acceptable unto God and before

he is brought forth as a new creature. Therefore the righteousness here of necessity refers to something else. "The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints," so say the Revised Version and the Diaglott. It must therefore mean the approval received by the remnant from Jehovah through Christ and granted to those who keep the commandments of God in carrying out the terms of their covenant. It represents the approval of God's elect servant class, and their faithfulness to service as his witnesses is pleasing to him and calls forth his delight and approval. Merely the cleansing away of one's sin is not sufficient, because that will be required of the great multitude class also. The Lamb's wife must first receive the approval of Jehovah, manifested by the robe of righteousness, and then continue faithful unto the end. These "righteous acts", then, consist of full obedience to God in keeping his commandments and giving the testimony of Jesus Christ committed to them. In this manner the remnant prepare to meet the Lamb, and become a part of his bride.

Mark what beautiful raiment these have. It is described as "fine linen, bright and pure". It is called in the Greek, byssus or byssine. It is an apparel made from fabric of yellow flax, and very fine, and highly prized by the ancients. In the parable the "rich man" wore it. (Luke 16:19; Ezek. 16:10-13) The armies in heaven that followed the Lamb on white horses wear this kind of garment. (Rev. 19:14) After Joseph was made ruler of Egypt he was arrayed in this beautiful vesture. (Gen. 41:42) The miter of the high priest and his coat were made of that material. (Ex. 28: 39) When David installed the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle he was clothed with an ephod of like

material. (2 Sam. 6:14) The men that Daniel saw by the river were clothed in like beautiful garments of this material. (Dan. 10: 5; 12: 6, 7) No earthly riches could buy this material nor qualify anyone for membership in the bride of Christ. Hence it must be that this glorious apparel is granted unto her by the Lord and shows his delight in her faithfulness. This beautiful apparel to be worn by the bride shows that those who gain this position must prove their faithfulness and devotion unto God and unto the Bridegroom. This can be proven only by singleness of purpose and a whole-hearted devotion to the service of Jehovah. There could be no compromise: the ones who will be of that glorious bride must be entirely for the Lord. Faithful service to the Lord God, therefore, cannot be too strongly emphasized.

MARRIAGE SUPPER

"And he says to me, 'Write, Blessed are those who have been invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' He also said to me: 'These are the true words of God.'" (Vs. 9, Diag.) It has been said that the "great multitude" of Revelation 7: 9 is the class here mentioned that is called or invited to the marriage supper; but that conclusion could not be correct. The mere fact that the text says, 'Blessed are they that are invited,' excludes the 'tribulation class'. There are seven beatitudes in Revelation, and this is one of them.

Daniel the prophet also says, 'Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh unto the thirteen hundred and thirty-five days.' "The wise shall understand." (Dan. 12:10, 12) The words of blessedness apply to the faithful remnant and to none other. Why should it be

said that a secondary class would be blessed, when all the other scriptures show that these composing the "great multitude" or 'tribulation class' are negligent and respond to the call too late to share in the Bridegroom's feast? (Matt. 25:10) The "blessed" ones are the "called, and chosen, and faithful" ones, and none other.

Jesus was instructing his disciples concerning the kingdom, and he spoke a parable in which he referred to the proper decorum in arranging for a feast. One of his disciples said to him: "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready." (Luke 14:15-17) Many of those who received the invitation to the wedding supper made excuses. One claimed that he had a real estate deal to close; another that he had bought some oxen; another that he had married a wife and must attend to his obligations to her. Concerning them Jesus said: "None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." (Luke 14:24) This exactly describes what the "great multitude" class have been doing; namely, making all manner of excuses to justify themselves in keeping away from service and devotion to the Lord.

Upon coming to his temple Jesus made promise to open the door and sup with those who respond to his knock, and the "great multitude" do not respond to the knock. (Rev. 3:20) It is to the faithful servant class that Jesus said: "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and

make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." (Luke 12:37) The "great multitude" could not possibly be included among these.

Jesus spoke this parable: "The kingdom of heaven [not the "great multitude"] is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. For many are called, but few are chosen." — Matt. 22:2-5, 14.

It was Jehovah who made that feast for his beloved Son, and none could come in thereto and partake thereof without having on a wedding garment. (Matt. 22:12) The "great multitude" class have treated the invitation lightly, and instead have gone about other matters. Others who made a consecration have refused to do God's service in the manner in which he directs, and none of these have put on the wedding garment; and therefore they cannot be at the wedding supper.

After Solomon the king dedicated the temple he held a feast, and it was a feast of great joy. (1 Ki. 8:65, 66) "A feast is made for laughter." (Eccl. 10:19) The "great multitude" class weep and mourn even while the wedding feast is in progress. The great antitypical Solomon comes to his temple, and that marks a time of joy and is the beginning of the supper feast. It is then that he examines and approves the remnant and invites them to enter into his joy.

It is at that time that the faithful saints are resurrected and brought into Zion. That marks the time for the beginning of the wedding and the feast or supper of joy. Therefore only the remnant on earth, and not the 'great company' class, are included amongst those who are thus blessed by being invited to the supper. The remnant respond to the invitation and prove faithful unto God and his beloved Son. At the proper time they cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom!" and this could not be done until the coming of the Lord to his temple, and from this the 'great company' class is manifestly excluded. — Matt. 25: 6-10.

This feast must be something more than what the consecrated enjoyed before the coming of the Lord to his temple. The feast is not the restoration of the ten fundamental doctrines to the church, which causes rejoicing, but the unfolding of the prophecies shoving that the King is on his throne, that the kingdom has begun, and that the great privilege of knowing and serving Jehovah is here. This is a feast of joy. This supper menu contains food that the 'great company' class could not eat and does not eat. It contains the "things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him". (1 Cor. 2: 9, R.V.) Those who love him keep his commandments. (1 John 5:3) The 'great company' do not do so. It is when the Lord builds up Zion that he appears in his glory. (Ps. 102:16) Then the Lord is at his temple. Then particularly is fulfilled the prophecy: "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor

with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy." — Ps. 132:13-16.

The conclusion is therefore irresistible that it is God's remnant on the earth that receive the invitation to the wedding supper, respond thereto, and are chosen, and because of faithfulness enter into the joy of the Lord, and begin to drink the wine of joy anew with the Lord in his kingdom. Being now in the secret place of the Most High and continuing there faithfully unto the end, they constantly rejoice from henceforth. (Ps. 91:1-3) "The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore." — Ps. 121: 8.

When the remnant come to a realization of the blessed condition that they are permitted by God's grace to enjoy, in substance they say: 'This is almost too good to be true, that we should see these glorious things and be so blessed while sojourning here on earth.' Of course the Lord would foreknow this heart condition, and he caused his angel to write in response thereto: "These are the true sayings of God." This is another proof that the remnant, or some of them, will really continue actively and joyfully in the service of the Lord and see the name of Jehovah completely vindicated while they are yet on the earth.

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Vs. 10) Here is a lesson for the consecrated that many have utterly failed to learn. Since the days of the apostles there has been a tendency to honor and worship men. Doubtless this has

led to many of the more prominent elders' receiving special attention from the brethren. When one of these would ascend the platform or pulpit wearing a long, black coat and a solemn face, members of the congregation would look on in awe and solemnity. When he had finished his speech, much of which probably was not understood, many would say, "Is not he a wonderful man!" Paul resented such treatment and hero worship; but since his day many have liked it and to them it has been a snare, as well as to others. Now in the light from the temple shining upon God's people the faithful see that creature worship is not right.

John, being so greatly favored by being given the vision and message at the hand of the angel, states that he fell at the feet of the angel to worship him, but the angel of the Lord forbade him to do so. He said to John: "Worship God." He who is the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Giver of everything that is good, is the One entitled to worship. The lesson that all faithful ones must now learn is that the truth belongs to Jehovah, and not to man, and that no creature is to be honored or worshiped because he is privileged to serve the truth to others. (1 Cor. 3: 5-7) The words of the angel to John show that the angel is the servant of God and of Christ and that those on the earth who constitute the remnant class are likewise servants of God. All of these are charged with the obligation and privilege of performing the duties assigned to them by the Lord. Because these words are so directly connected with the statement of the marriage supper they strongly indicate that the remnant would see and appreciate the meaning of the marriage supper while still in the flesh and would

call one another's attention thereto and rejoice and give glory to God.

Those of the remnant bear the commission of "the testimony of Jesus Christ" and must prophesy if they would be faithful. They must now take an active part in the service of the Lord in telling of God and his kingdom through Christ. It is upon these that the spirit of the Lord is poured out, and those receiving the spirit "shall prophesy". (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:18) God has spoken, and his faithful servants must prophesy. (Amos 3:8) These constitute the "feet" of Jesus Christ, who must now deliver the message. (Isa. 52: 7, 8) And in giving this testimony the remnant is not to honor the creature, but to give all honor and glory to the Creator.

Jesus emphasized the rule when he said: "If I bear witness of myself [that is, to vindicate my name], my witness is not true." (John 5:31) It is God's name and word that must now be vindicated. The name of man is not to be vindicated; and if any one bears witness to the name of man or any creature this is an abomination in the sight of the Lord and in disobedience to the rule laid upon the remnant. Therefore the angel said to John, and says to the John or servant class on earth: "Worship God"; and so shall the remnant do at this time.

ARMAGEDDON

The history of the world bears record of many terrible battles. The history of God's Word records many fierce battles that have been fought. But the greatest battle ever fought or that ever will be fought is described in these words: "The battle of that great day of God Almighty." Call to mind that Jehovah

caused the waves of the Red Sea to sweep away in a moment the entire army of Egypt; that he caused the angel with one stroke of his sword to slay 185,000 Assyrians; and that these merely foreshadow in a small way what will take place at Armageddon. Then know that the battle of the great day of God Almighty cannot be described in human phrase. Part by part the vision had unfolded to John. He had seen the vision of "the great whore" and the judgment against her. He had just observed the rejoicing of Christ and his bride, including the remnant, that the day for the vindication of God's name had arrived and that he had vindicated himself on the Devil religion. And now, looking, he says: "And I saw heaven opened." (Vs. 11) This means something more concerning the kingdom of heaven and that the revelation thereof is from heaven and not from man. It is one of the visions foretold by Joel, when he wrote: "Your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28) The "old men" dream dreams. Because they have wanted to dream and be at ease many who have made a covenant with God have dreamed that all the fighting is done and that now they must only wait to be taken on flowery beds into heavenly glory. Not so with the "young men", which means those who are strong in the Lord, strong in faith and giving glory to God. These are now privileged to have a vision of things about to come to pass; and John, speaking for them, tells what they see. He beholds Jesus Christ the great executive officer of Jehovah fully equipped for war and ready to strike the enemy a blow which sweeps the organization of the enemy into everlasting destruction. Let the words which the angel delivered to John, and which he recorded, tell the vision.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Vss. 11-13, 16) Before considering the description in detail let it here be noted that this nineteenth chapter of Revelation puts into close proximity the marriage of the Lamb, the making ready by the wife, and the beginning of the great battle that deals out the vengeance of Jehovah. Also note that Psalm forty-five puts the same events in juxtaposition with one another. Marriage, joy and war go together in the vindication of Jehovah's name, and the remnant is to have a part therein. Truly the remnant now on earth is blessed! What an inducement to complete faithfulness!

The description of Jesus Christ ready for the battle and supported in action by his angels is thrilling; and the remnant, now seeing it, looks on in breathless awe. The glorious Son of God is seated upon a white horse, denoting that he rides a righteous war mount and that his cause is a righteous one and will result in victory. The horse symbolizes war equipment that bears the warrior on to a speedy attack. Ever faithful to Jehovah from the beginning, one of the titles given to Jesus is "Faithful and True". Jehovah appointed him his High Priest or chief executive officer forever and he "was faithful to him that appointed him". (Heb. 3:1, 2) He made Jesus his chief witness and

Jesus has proven himself to be "the faithful and true witness". (Rev. 1:5; 3: 7, 14) It follows then that no one could be with him in that war except he be "called, and chosen, and faithful". All must be conformed to the image of God's dear Son, and that means to be faithful and true witnesses of Jehovah and not merely to develop oneself in sweetness. (Rom. 8:29) Though Jesus is always righteous, the record says: "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God . . . hath anointed thee . . . above thy fellows." — Heb. 1:9; Ps. 45: 7.

He is given the name "Melchizedek", which means King of righteousness and King of peace. (Heb. 7: 1, 2) He is the great Judge to whom all judgment is committed, with power and authority to execute the same. (John 5: 22, 27) The adverse judgments of Jehovah have been written against his enemies, and Christ Jesus must now execute them and cut off the wicked. (Ps. 75:7-10) The description recites that "his eyes were as a flame of fire"; which signifies not only that he sees that the wickedness of the enemy has come to the full, but that his burning judgments shall destroy the enemy. — Ps. 11:4.

Wearing upon his head many crowns or diadems signifies that he is clothed with all power and authority and dominion, which he has received from Jehovah. He has the diadem which God removed from Israel and which now rightfully belongs to Christ. (Ezek. 21:26) His power and authority extend throughout the universe, and, he being Jehovah's right arm, the great Jehovah commands: "Let all the angels of God worship him." — Heb. 1: 6.

He comes as a special and confidential Servant of Jehovah, because John says: "He had a name writ-

ten, that no man knew but he himself." This would mean some very private and confidential office and command he holds from Jehovah. But he has another name plainly displayed and easy to be seen by all. It is written on his vesture on his thigh: "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." This denotes that a great duel is about to be fought and that it will for ever decide the rulership of the earth and that Jehovah has sworn that Jesus Christ shall win. The thigh was that part of the body to which the hand was put when swearing to an obligation that must be performed. (Gen. 24:2; 47:29) Jehovah named his beloved Son 'Priest of the Most High God' and bound his appointment with his everlasting oath. (Ps. 110:4) Putting his hand to his thigh and upon the thigh of his beloved Son and there writing his name and title is a guarantee from Jehovah that Jesus shall rule forever and that his enemies must fall before him. The name prominently displayed on his thigh discloses that he is fearless, because he is easily identified by the enemy when entering into the fight and makes no attempt to conceal his identity.

Generals of worldly armies usually stay in the rear or hide their identity lest, if they fall in the attack at the hands of the enemy, their armies might be demoralized. The king of Israel on going into a fight thus disguised himself. (2 Chron. 35: 22) Not so with Jesus Christ. He leads the fight and invites all the power the enemy may hurl against him. This not only signifies that Jesus is fearless and certain of victory, but inspires faith in his followers that they are not to hide themselves but are to boldly bear the banner of the Lord and advertise the King and his kingdom. (Matt. 10: 32; 1 John 4:17, 18) The name displayed

in a place of prominence is also notice that 'the Stone rejected by others has now become the chief Stone' and is now in supreme command. (Ps. 118: 22) It is also notice to all that the time has come for his kingdom to dash to pieces all the kingdoms of Satan and that the kingdom of Christ shall stand forever. — Dan. 2:44.

"His vesture" appears to have been dipped in blood even before the battle begins. This blood would suggest the covenant by sacrifice and that his blood poured out in faithfulness to his Father had gained for him the greatest of all things. (Phil. 2: 9-11) This also suggests that only those will be with him who are likewise faithful unto death. (2 Tim. 2:10-12; Rev. 2:10; 17:14) He is the "Logos" of God. Even before he became the ransomer the angels of heaven had called him "The Word of God". "The Word of God" never returns to him void but accomplishes his purposes. (Isa. 55:11) Jehovah has sent him on a great mission and he cannot fail. He will vindicate the word and name of his Father, and now the time has come for his supreme joy.

John then observes a cavalry division of the Lord's army in heaven with the great Warrior, and of that he says: "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." (Vs. 14) This would include the resurrected saints who are now "forever with the Lord". These also are on white horses, showing that they are joined with Christ in his righteous warfare that is now to be carried to the limit against the wicked organization of the enemy. This glorious army in heaven would certainly include all the holy angels

of heaven that had fought with Michael when Satan was ousted from heaven. — Rev. 9:16; 12: 7.

The faithful remnant now on earth would be counted in as a part of this heavenly army, even though their part is but to sing. They are counted from God's viewpoint as in heavenly places. The garments worn by all the members of that mighty army identify them as fighting in a righteous cause. The remnant on earth must follow the Lamb in battle formation and be subject always to him and to his commandments. They are the ambassadors of war. They do not bear carnal weapons, but they declare God's war message against Satan and against his organization: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." — John 12:26.

"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." (Vs. 15) The sword is a war implement and the instrument of judgment. The sword proceeds out of the mouth of Christ Jesus. That means that when Christ utters the command to his army to destroy, it shall be done. "For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." (Ps. 33: 9) Jehovah 'has made his mouth [Christ Jesus] his spokesman and sharp sword'. (Isa. 49:2) God's faithful witnesses on earth utter his sharp judgments, and to that extent their mouths are made a sharp sword. They utter not the words of the remnant, to be sure, but the words they utter are God's words. When Jesus speaks the command of the great battle it seems certain that

the action will be sharp, quick, and decisive. He carries into action the will of God. God needs only to will a thing to be done and it is done.

"And he shall rule them with a rod of iron." This could hardly be said to apply to the millennial reign of reconstruction by the Lord. Satan's representatives have ruled the peoples of earth with whips and scorpions. (1 Ki. 12:11) Jesus will not rule in that manner. An iron rule of the people after the destruction of Satan's organization would be contrary to the plain Word of God. "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." (Isa. 11:4) "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." — Isa. 40:10, 11.

The rod of iron is for those "fitted to destruction". (Rom. 9:22) The iron rule mentioned means the breaking of Satan's organization. "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron: thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Ps. 2:9) The Lord will dash to pieces the nations and break them that hold to Satan. This is the time that 'he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of the Almighty God'. (Mic. 5:5, 6) "And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." — Rev. 16:19.

REMNANT'S POSITION

Having the assurance that the Scriptures are written for the special benefit of God's faithful people on earth at the end of the world, we should expect to find something therein referring to the position to be occupied by the remnant about the time of the great battle of Armageddon. God has given the remnant the privilege of proclaiming the fact of the approaching battle. Where, then, will they be when the contending forces are lined in battle array? The vision of John answers the question: "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God." (Vs. 17) In this picture the remnant on the earth are "the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven".

The angel of the Lord, to whom is assigned the duty of giving the command, stands in the light of the glory of God that shines upon his temple, in the same light with which God's woman Zion is clothed at the birth of The Nation. (Rev. 12:1) The fact that the command is given to the remnant, "Come, and gather yourselves together," is proof that these are not in darkness, but in the light of God's great name and of his purpose and in the privilege of being in his service. They must be in the light of God's favor in order to see and appreciate the fact of the approaching battle. 'The Lord is a sun and shield' for them. (Ps. 84:11) The light of God's glory shines upon all of the servant class. While others are in darkness Jehovah says to his servant on earth: "Arise, shine [be enlightened, margin]; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

Thy sun shall no more go down [because not the literal sun, but the light of God's glory in the day that the servant class is brought where the angel is standing]; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light." — Isa. 60:1, 20.

The angel's crying out with a loud voice shows that the servant class on the earth must take up the message and tell it to others. It becomes to them the battle cry mustering God's remnant on earth together, that they may take their assigned position before the great battle is fought. Their position is in the light and with a clear view of the opposing armies.

The gathering is to "the supper of the great God". Therefore it is Jehovah's supper which he is preparing, and the remnant shall be privileged to partake thereof. It seems certain that "the marriage supper of the Lamb" merges into 'the supper of God'. Those who are "blessed" in partaking of one partake also of the other. Both the Diaglott and the Revised Version say, "To all the birds that fly in mid heaven." These birds are invited to feed upon the fallen hosts of the enemy's organization; therefore they must represent the Lord's remnant on the earth. They fly in mid heaven, and not low, where the fowler's snare could catch them. 'The arrows that fly from the enemy do not touch these.' Evidently these birds are the same as the eagle mentioned in Revelation 8:13 (R.V.): "And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven." The faithful are likened unto eagles. 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up as on eagle's wings.' (Isa. 40:31) The eagles fly high. 'They fly away as eagles toward heaven.' (Prov. 23: 5) 'The way of the eagle is in the air.' (Prov. 30:19) "Make thy nest as high as the

eagle." (Jer. 49:16) Eagles feed upon the flesh of dead animals. "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered." (Matt. 24: 28) Jehovah said to Job: "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she."  — Job 39:27-30.

All these Scriptural illustrations fit the faithful servant class on earth. Since these are gathered to "the supper of the great God", this proves that the remnant do no carnal fighting before or at Armageddon. Jehovah, by his mighty Field Marshal, does the fighting and fills the earth with dead bodies. The remnant's being invited and gathered together for the occasion proves that these must have faith in God and his purposes and gather to the battle site in confidence that Jehovah will be victorious and his name will be vindicated. Hence they will see the battle, and it will be a feast to those who are on the Lord's side.

"That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." (Vs. 18) The remnant in the light of God's glory by faith now see the great slaughter of those composing Satan's organization. As the gathering to "the great supper of God" must take place before the battle of Armageddon is fought, therefore the remnant must be brought into the position assigned to them before the final assault is made. They are actually gathered there, ready for the feast when it is

fully spread. After John sees the angel raising the cry bidding the fowls to come, then he sees the opposing armies lined up. He sees the forces join battle, and the result. The birds (remnant) are advised of what is about to come to pass and, gathering together, they are witnesses to the battle. Like all birds on such an occasion, they sit in a sheltered or protected place and sing. When the contending forces begin to move into combat these birds set up the song of praise to Jehovah God.

This was beautifully illustrated in the battle of the Israelites against Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir. "And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." (2 Chron. 20:22) It seems quite certain that some of the remnant will be on earth when the battle of Armageddon is fought and that they will view it from their position of protection. It is a thrilling prospect!

The remnant is told in advance what the result of the battle will be, and hence by faith they eat the feast in advance. The flesh of kings and captains, mighty men, horses and riders (meaning the organizations and those that direct and control them), free and bond, small and great, all these are food for the feast. It will be a great slaughter; and it will be the last one, because there will be no need to duplicate it. (Matt. 24:21, 22) Satan's mighty organization, including his armies, navies, great corporations, institutions and organizations of men, and those that control and manage them, shall all fall. "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." (Jer. 25:33) No longer shall God's "little flock" be birds preyed upon by the Devil's crowd. The tables will be turned: "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." — Ps. 27: 3.

The eating by the remnant will not be literally consuming the flesh of the dead. What, then, is represented thereby? This great carnage at Armageddon will be God's open judgment forcibly executed on the enemy organization in vindication of his word and name, and it will figuratively be meat and drink to those who delight themselves in Jehovah. (John 4: 32, 34) It will not be a meat that perisheth. (John 6: 27) It will be a joy to their hearts and will give strength to the remnant to go onward in the work and service which God may have for them to do, and will enable them to aid others and to be "in the midst of many people, as dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass". (Mic. 5:7) They will rejoice because of the vindication of God's name and because the people will now be forever free.

God foreshadowed this symbolic feasting by the cryptic words of his prophet: "Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, 0 Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field, to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God,

Speak unto every feathered fowl; and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God. And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. " — Ezek. 39:1,4, 5,17-21.

A picture of the battle of Armageddon was made when David, representing Christ, faced Goliath, who represented the Devil and his organization. Just before he struck the fatal blow against Goliath David said: "This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." (1 Sam. 17: 46) And so at the battle of Armageddon, the slain by the hand of the Lord will be the great supper of Jehovah God, a time of feasting and rejoicing to all that love Jehovah.

THE FIGHT

The vision that John had now discloses the enemy with all of his hosts gathered together to make war against Jehovah's anointed. The three unclean spirits

with the appearance of frogs have gathered them together for the fight. (Rev. 16:16) A great noise arises from the wicked hosts in defiance of Almighty God and his organization, even as Goliath defied the armies of Israel just preceding his fall. Every part of the mighty organization of the enemy is taking its place in battle array. One looking upon it beholds it is a bloody organization, "full of lies and robbery." "The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots. The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear." (Nah. 3: 1-3) The great military commanders of the earth are there; the kings and the other rulers are there swaggering about. The mighty statesmen or politicians are there talking loudly, the 'lamb horned beast' is there and always claiming to fight a righteous cause and on the defensive, talking like the Dragon, that is to say, with oily words of duplicity and deceit. 'His speech betrayeth him.' He is now properly labeled by the Lord "the false prophet", because he has prophesied that Satan's organization would establish peace on earth and make the earth a desirable place for the people to live in, and has counseled the people to give no heed to the words spoken by Jehovah's witnesses. The combined Anglo-American empire composes this false prophet and occupies a prominent place in the enemy's army. This false prophet talks with great sounding words and exhibits much outward wisdom, but has little or none. All the rulers, of "Christendom" in particular, are there, because even now fifty-seven nations are bound together in a League of Nations compact or some other peace pact forming a part thereof; and this gathering includes particularly

the United States of America. They are against God and against his Anointed. They are anti-God and anti-kingdom of Jehovah, and therefore the angel commanded John to write, and he wrote:

"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." (Vs. 19) These are gathered especially to make war against Christ and his army. These seem to be the hordes described by the prophet as "Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal". (Ezek. 38:2) "Gog" has the meaning of 'mountain, gigantic, and high', and attacks "the land of the remnant brought back from the sword, gathered from among many peoples". (Ezek. 38:8, Roth.) The forces of Gog, therefore, seem to fitly represent the exalted or principal ones of Satan's organization and are against God and his kingdom. They are the ones that rule and control the finances, the military strength, and all the powers of government, and who command all the forces against God's anointed. "And it shall come to pass at the same time, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. And I will call for a sword against him [prince of Gog] throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God." (Ezek. 38:18, 21) That this is the time when God vindicates his name, and therefore the time of the battle of Armageddon, is further shown by the words of the prophet: "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and

sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the Lord." — Ezek. 38:22, 23.

Jehovah's sword is his mighty Son and executive officer, Christ Jesus. (Isa. 34:5, 6) All the enemy's forces are gathered together to war and these "make war with the Lamb". (Rev. 17:14) These forces of wickedness come with great boasting and with extravagant claims, and those who have no knowledge of God look on at this great array and assembly of force and power and say: 'Who is like unto this great organization? who could successfully make war with the beast?' — Rev. 13: 4.

At the head of the army of righteousness is Jesus Christ. "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth" says of Jesus Christ: "And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power." (Hab. 3:1, 4) At his right hand is Jehovah, because it is His battle, and His beloved One is to lead the assault and win: "The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries." (Ps. 110:5, 6) 'His glory covered the heavens and the earth.' (Hab. 3:3) None aside from the remnant on earth see and appreciate this. On the side of Christ Jesus is his mighty army invisible to human eyes, two hundred million strong or more, including the myriads of holy angels. (Rev. 9:16) What an imposing sight to behold! The only ones on the Lord's side visible to human eyes will be the remnant; and what a small and insignificant company that is! While the enemy's drums are rolling and his

host is shouting defiance, and the "windbags" are speaking loud commands, God's little company of song birds warble praise to the honor of his name. The words of David must have been prophetic and should find a complete fulfilment on this occasion at Armageddon. The great antitypical David, at the head of his army, and with eyes flashing fire, in response to the defiance of the enemy says: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." (1 Sam. 17: 45) The greatest fight of the ages is on! No human words could describe it. Let the divine record tell the results.

"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." (Vs. 20) This scripture is proof conclusive that revolutions by the peoples of the nations will never destroy the beastly governments and that all efforts in that direction are without avail to deliver the people. Every effort of the people to release themselves will result only in the governing factors' making the restraining bands tighter and the burdens to be borne greater. Only the Lord can and will bring their deliverance. The "beast", which is Satan's mighty organization in its entirety, is fully alive, and the "false prophet" is alive. Both of these are living, going concerns, and going strong at the time of the battle of Armageddon. They have the peoples and the nations completely in subjection. The entire beastly organization of Satan and the false prophet part

thereof, to wit, the Anglo-American empire, and which leads the nations of the earth, are much alive, are active and going concerns, and oppose God's anointed King and kingdom and are doing the bidding of Satan the Devil. The Lord arrests or captures these wicked and oppressive organizations alive and 'hurls them alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone'. Symbolically this means that God will completely destroy them while in their pomp and glory and power. They could have gone on indefinitely except for the exercise of God's power through Christ. The people could never destroy the devilish rule of earth. God will do it.

Another prophet of God describes the result of the fight. (Ezek. 38:22, 23) "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about." (Ps. 97:1-3) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." (Ps. 37:20) "For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared: he [Jehovah] hath made it deep, and large [sufficient in which to destroy Satan's organization]; the pile thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it." (Isa. 30: 33) At the battle of Armageddon the Lord gives command and at his word it is done, and Satan's powerful organization goes into everlasting destruction. Fire and brimstone symbolically represent complete destruction or annihilation.

There are multitudes that support Satan's organization, having the "mark of the beast" in their hand or in their forehead. These will continue to align themselves on the side of Satan at Armageddon. When the organization of Satan falls they will weep and cry and, knowing their own guilt, will expect to be the next to be destroyed. (Rev. 18:15) These are described as "the remnant" of Satan's organization, that is, those remaining after the fall of Satan 'a powerful organization. Therefore the record is:

"And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Vs. 21) These have opposed the Lord and his work and supported Satan and are guilty of death, but not necessarily the second death. They have said, "There is no death," but now they must taste it for themselves. The organization of Satan will never arise, but these individuals may have the privilege of hearing the truth under favorable conditions and, obeying it, may live. The judgment is written against them, and the Lord's Word like a destructive sword consigns these servants of Satan to death. His sword proceeds out of his mouth, and these remaining after the fall of the great organization die. "With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." (Isa. 11:4) This will end the great organization that has encumbered the earth and oppressed the people and reproached the name of Jehovah God.

"And all the fowls were filled with their flesh." God's true witnesses on the earth have long been praying that Jehovah would crush Satan's wicked organization, deliver mankind, and vindicate his name. "The desire of our soul is to thy name." (Isa. 26: 8)

The vindication of Jehovah's name is of paramount importance to all things. The fall of the enemy organization at Armageddon will be a vindication of his name, and that will call forth a song of praise from all on the earth who love righteousness, and particularly from those of the remnant. This song was foreshadowed by the song that Moses and those with him sang at the time of the overthrow of the Egyptian hosts. (Ex. 15:1-21) Therefore "the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven", God's faithful remnant, will enjoy a great feast and be filled with joy and rejoicing because the organization the enemy of God lies dead and the great and glorious name of the Most High is vindicated.