CHAPTER XI
CLEANSING
(ZECHARIAH, CHAPTER 13)
JEHOVAH'S militant organization must be entirely cleansed and separated from that which defiles, and this must be done before the battle of the great day of God Almighty is fought. Jehovah caused his messenger to answer a question concerning the cleansing of his sanctuary; and about this it is written: "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:14) The prophecy of Zechariah relates to the royal house of Jehovah; hence the cleansing could have no reference to what shall be done during the period of restoration, or the millennial reign of Christ.
The work of cleansing of the sanctuary Jehovah does by the hand of Christ Jesus, his great Judge. "IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, FOR SIN AND FOR UNCLEANNESS [margin, FOR SEPARATION FOR UNCLEANNESS]." (13:1) The fountain for cleansing is opened the same day as that of the mourning mentioned in the preceding chapter. Hence the latter part of chapter twelve is the prelude for chapter thirteen. The "FOUNTAIN" is opened in Jehovah's temple and proceeds from him and from the Lambs throne of judgment; and this
is supported by the prophecy of Ezekiel. (Ezek. 47:1; Vindication, Book Three, page 303; Rev. 22:1, 2; Light, Book Two, page 254) It is not for the general cleansing of mankind, but for "JERUSALEM", the organization of Jehovah, that is, those who shall compose the temple class. The great Judge, "like fullers' soap," sits by this fountain to cleanse the faithful ones, that they may be approved. — Mal. 3:1-3.
The blood of Jesus that cleanses from sin is available at all times for the consecrated. (Rev. 1:5) Upon the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the temple in 1918, however, the fountain for cleansing the sanctuary class is opened. This fountain is the water of truth respecting the preaching of "this gospel of the kingdom" and "the day of vengeance of our God". (Matt. 24: 14; Isa. 12:1-6) This water of truth does not come now through the function of the holy spirit as a comforter and helper, but comes directly from Jehovah, by Christ Jesus, the Head of the temple. (Isa. 54:13) Jehovah is "the fountain of living waters", and he supplies teachers and teaches his sons thereby. (Jer. 2:13; 17:13) The cleansing from sin and uncleanness prepares those of his organization for service unto Jehovah, that 'they may offer unto Jehovah an offering in righteousness'. — Mal. 3: 3.
"THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND . . . INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM" means all in line for the kingdom. The cleansing must precede the anointing; hence the fountain is opened before the Lord begins
to "POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF SUPPLICATIONS", as stated in Zechariah 12:10. The period of mourning was a period of inactivity, therefore the sin of omitting to carry forward God's witness work; for which sin and uncleanness the fountain is employed. (Isa. 6:5-7; 12:1) God's law provided that for uncleanness from contact with the dead "water of separation", mixed with the ashes of the slain red heifer, should be used. (Num. 19: 9,13, 20, 21) If the temple class were not cleansed they would defile the temple, and that would cause them to be cut off. (Num. 19:13; 1 Cor. 3:17) The prophet Isaiah speaks for those in line for the kingdom when he says: "I am a man of unclean lips." (Isa. 6:5) Again the prophet says: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [such as devotional forms, character development, soft speech and the like] are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa. 64: 6) The ashes of the red heifer were of themselves unclean, but, when mixed with the water of separation, therefore pure, they were cleansing. Likewise the "ashes" of repentance, mixed with the "water" of prophetic truth revealed by the Lord to his people since corning to the temple, leads to a purging and purifying of one's course, the cleansing from "dead works", and the entering into the service of the living God in harmony with his commandment. — Heb. 4:1,2; 9:13,14.
The condition of the remnant is likened unto the "holy land" or "land of the living". "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THAT I WILL CUT OFF THE NAMES OF THE IDOLS OUT OF THE LAND, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE BE REMEMBERED; AND ALSO I WILL CAUSE THE PROPHETS AND THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT TO PASS OUT OF THE LAND." (13:2) This prophecy means that 'idols of silver and gold' (Ps. 115:4), that is, by engaging in commerce or commercial enterprises to become rich while in the service of God, must be cut off; also idols of creature worship, such as worshiping a leader who is dead, and the worshiping of prominent brethren or of clergymen or of "elective elders" or leaders; and all idols of character development and foolish hobbies, such as the pyramid of Egypt, chronology, tabernacle in the wilderness, cross-and-crown pins, and all like things, must be cut off and put away. The "NAMES", or terms of things, such as commercial terms in connection with the testimony work with the books, have in harmony with this been "CUT OFF".
Ephraim represented the tribe of Joseph in the house of the Lord. Concerning him God's prophet says: "Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him [Jehovah], and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found." (Hos. 14:8) These idols must be put out of mind, making room for the name of Jehovah to occupy the mind as the all-absorbing issue. Thus the faithful must forget the things that are behind
and be wholly devoted to Jehovah and his kingdom. — Phil. 3:13.
The cleansing work removes all false and foolish teachers and those who desire to magnify themselves and to appear as wise teachers to express their own opinion. The true followers of Christ Jesus come to know that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are now the teachers, and that God by Christ Jesus teaches his sons, and these are at great peace. (2 Pet. 2:1; Isa. 54:13) Jehovah will keep out of his sanctuary false "PROPHETS" and selfish self-appointed creatures in order that the remnant may give diligent heed to his Word and not be given over to words of guessers or would-be prophets or teachers.
Also the "UNCLEAN SPIRIT [SPIRIT OF IMPURITY, Roth.]" must pass out from the remnant. That means that the Jezebel spirit (Rev. 2:20-23), also the spirit of fear of man, which particularly includes the desire to please man, must be put away. Those who hesitate to carefully observe God's word of commandment manifest the spirit of fear of man. (Prov. 29: 25) One who is not diligent to observe and obey God's commandments manifests the spirit of the fear of man. The spirit of selfish ambition and exaltation, the spirit of evil-speaking or backbiting, the spirit of Baalism and the Nicolaitanes, and the spirit of "holier than thou", all of these things must be taken away; and the Lord removes them from his approved ones. Jehovah by Christ Jesus causes all such unclean spirits to get out, and then he pours upon his people 'the spirit of
grace and prayer'. The unclean ones he will not permit to pass over the "highway" into "THE LAND" or condition of the ones approved by the Lord. — Isa. 35: 8; 52:1; Matt. 13:41.
The gathered-out ones are no longer permitted to serve Jehovah, and to prophesy or teach in his name thereafter is a great wrong. Therefore says the prophet Zechariah: "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS [SO SHALL IT COME ABOUT, Roth.], THAT WHEN ANY SHALL YET PROPHESY, THEN HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER THAT BEGAT HIM SHALL SAY UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT NOT LIVE; FOR THOU SPEAKEST LIES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: AND HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER THAT BEGAT HIM SHALL THRUST HIM THROUGH WHEN HE PROPHESIETH." (13:3) In consequence of the casting out of the unclean ones the condition arises for the application of this prophecy. The faithful sons of God are all taught of Jehovah, and anyone who presumes to teach to the contrary is 'speaking lies in the name of the Lord' and opposing God's organization; and such are adversely judged. There are at this time companies amongst those who claim to be in "present truth" which are ruled by "elective elders" that oppose God's organization and attempt "YET [to] PROPHESY" or teach. The "FATHER" and "MOTHER" picture those who have occupied the closest relationship to or connection with such false prophets by reason of being in the Lord's organization with them, and these faithful ones shall pronounce what is the Lord's judgment against the false prophets, saying: "THOU SHALT NOT LIVE," and thus
"THRUST HIM THROUGH [with the 'sword of the spirit, which is the truth'] WHEN HE PROPHESIETH." Jehovah provided by his law that the false prophet "shall be put to death". (Deut. 13:1-5; 18:22) The book of Deuteronomy applies specifically to those who are called to the kingdom and who have responded to the call, and the application thereof is during the building up of Jehovah's temple.
Repeatedly the Lord, through his publications, has given warning to these heady "elective elders" who have wanted merely to talk and exhibit their own learning and express their own wise opinions and who decline to get in line with God's organization and to proclaim the message of his kingdom and to give glory to the Lord. Wise in their own conceits they have opposed and continue to hinder the witness work concerning the kingdom. Of such opposers the Lord says: "There shall in no wise enter into it [the heavenly Jerusalem] any thing that . . . maketh a lie ... For without are dogs, . . . and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." — Rev. 21: 27; 22:15.
The apostle wrote: "For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." (1 Cor. 4:15) Thus he bore to such the relationship of a father and mother who brought forth those mentioned as followers of Christ Jesus; and this he did by delivering them the gospel. Says the prophet Zechariah: "AND HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER . . . SHALL THRUST HIM THROUGH WHEN HE PROPHESIETH" ; meaning that those who
are faithful and true to Jehovah will be wholly devoted to him and his organization, even though they must sever every tie that has bound them to others on earth, and declare to such opposers that they are in the "man of sin" class. The faithful cannot maintain their integrity as members of God's house except by obeying God implicitly, regardless of what any creature may say or do. (Deut. 13:6-10) The faithful thus maintain their integrity by displaying perfect love and unqualified devotion to God and full and complete obedience to his beloved Son, the Greater Moses. (Acts 3: 22, 23; Deut. 18:15,18) "He that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:37; Luke 14: 26) The faithful remnant will not shield one who is opposed to God's organization and its work, but will unsparingly use the "sword of the spirit, which is the word of God", upon the wrongdoer and render him dead to themselves, and will not permit such wrongdoer to further interfere with their highest devotion to God and to his kingdom.
Such is the high degree of perfect love and faithfulness to Jehovah which is required of the remnant, and the remnant will maintain this high standard; and the false prophets and selfish teachers cannot thrive among God's people, but must die quickly, meaning that they are turned away from God's organization. The explanation, "Jehovah's Organization," published in The Watchtower of August 15 and September 1,1932, and the subsequent adoption of resolu-
tions relating to elders in the congregations, have been an act of thrusting through those of the false prophets or selfish teachers amongst God's devoted people. Those who are true and faithful to Jehovah will henceforth follow the plain instructions given by the apostle Paul, and will avoid all such selfish ones who indulge in soft speeches to draw followers after them. (Rom. 16:17,18) The faithful will form separate companies of their own and absolutely refuse to have anything to do with the opposers. They will thus, therefore, avoid all controversy.
Let the opposers take whatsoever course they desire. This is not the time to try to bring opposers back into the fold, but is a time of faithful service to the Lord. The opposing prophets who speak lies in the name of the Lord are outside of the temple, and those of the temple have nothing in common with them, because the opposers are unclean. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:17,18) If such opposers and "elective elders" are in the majority in a company, let the minority who are faithful and true to Jehovah God withdraw or separate themselves from the opposers and go on in peace doing the work the Lord of the temple has assigned them to do.
Professed clergymen who have claimed to be the representatives of God and Christ, but who
have allied themselves with Satan's world, have caused many persons to err. They wear distinctive garments, thereby claiming to be representatives of God, but which, in fact, are a means of deceit. The time comes when these professional clergymen become unpopular and their hypocrisy is exposed, and concerning this Zechariah prophesied: "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE PROPHETS SHALL BE ASHAMED [WILL TURN PALE, Roth.] EVERY ONE OF HIS VISION, WHEN HE HATH PROPHESIED; NEITHER SHALL THEY WEAR A ROUGH GARMENT TO DECEIVE." (13:4) In this day the professional clergymen are becoming ashamed of their false predictions, such as 'making the world safe for democracy', 'the League of Nations as being the means of bringing peace on earth and good will toward men,' 'the cleaning up of the morals of the earth by prohibition and like means,' and 'by the moral achievements of men making the earth a fit place to be visited by Jesus'. The people are now seeing that these men do not represent God; and when the people are plainly told that such men are in fact the representatives of the Devil and are challenged to come forth and prove to the contrary, the clergymen remain silent, because they are ashamed, and the people know that they are hypocrites. — Jer. 51:30.
Not only have many of the clergymen secretly entered into a conspiracy against Jehovah's witnesses, but they indulge in the commission of overt acts against God's witnesses; and when
confronted with these facts they show their shame and they "TURN PALE". Some of these monstrosities appear in and about Bergenfield, New Jersey, and operate there. Jehovah sees to it that disgrace comes to these shamefaced prophets; for it is he "that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish". (Isa. 44:25) "Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths [something to eat and drink in payment for their false prophecy], they even prepare war against him: Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God." (Mic. 3:5-7) Their shame has caused some of them to hunt honest work, but there are many of them who have not reached that point as yet.
CLERGY EXPOSED
The professional clergymen have for a long while been designated as "gentlemen of the cloth", but they will have to cease wearing "A ROUGH GARMENT [or, HAIRY MANTLE, R.V.] TO DECEIVE", because the Lord is exposing them and his truth is sweeping away the hiding place of
their lies. (Isa. 28:17) Esau was a type of the hypocritical and cruel clergymen, and God found him such. Esau, when he was born, was "red, all over like an hairy garment, and [therefore] they called his name Esau". The hairy garment gives the clergymen a sanctimonious and professional appearance; thus they have created a superstitious awe for them on the part of others, and have attracted attention to themselves, and have assumed the offices and a dignified appearance of superior men before others in order to support their claims of being mouthpieces of God. It seems certain that their complete expose is near, and when it does come they will hasten to east off their clergy wraps and get into clothes like those ordinary, common men wear, and this they will do in order to escape detection. What a great pity and a shame that men, elected to the place of an elder amongst God's covenant people, have copied the clergymen in the matter of distinctive solemn ways in appearance and have deceived even those whom at the beginning they did not intend to deceive. When the faithful ones saw their undesirable position they quickly took the right course, threw away their "clergy garb" and sanctimonious appearance, and let the people see them as they are. Others who love the approval of men continued in the unhappy way of 'more holy than thou'.
The exposé of these false prophets and professional teachers is certain to come and will be complete, because God has declared it thus.
When that time does fully come the clergy and other like professional ones will attempt to deny the position they have occupied. Therefore says the prophet Zechariah: "BUT HE SHALL SAY, I AM NO PROPHET [no false prophet], I AM A HUSBANDMAN [I AM A TILLER OF THE GROUND, R.V.]; FOR MAN TAUGHT ME TO KEEP CATTLE FROM MY YOUTH." (13:5) This text according to Leeser is : "SOME ONE HATH TAUGHT ME TO KEEP CATTLE FROM MY YOUTH." A marginal note reads: "SOME ONE HATH PURCHASED ME AS A SERF." He denies even being a free man, but wishes to pass off as a bondman compelled to labor daily in the humblest vocation, so as to avoid suspicion of belonging to the band of false prophets, of whom there were so many during the time of the first temple. Such become like and no better than Cain, for "Cain was a tiller of the ground". (Gen. 4:2) The Hebrew word for "CATTLE" does not appear in the original, but the word employed is one regularly translated "to get; to buy; to purchase ; to possess". In harmony with this, when Cain was born Eve said: "I have gotten a man from the Lord." — Gen. 4:1.
Even the Devil utters a few words of truth; and there is some truth in the statement of these shamefaced false prophets who say they were hired men or serfs from their youth up, for such were really brought up and hired by the other elements of Satan's organization. Commercial and political men meet together with others and "hire the preacher", and this has been the common practice for many years;
and the preachers, or prophets, depend upon their employers, and the employers depend upon the preachers to protect them from "radicals" and the "detestable" class, such as Jehovah's witnesses. The clergy have also been paid for their military service in war times to lend a sanctimonious air to the wholesale slaughter of others. This is proof, as stated, that he was "PURCHASED ... AS A SERF", owned and used as a bondman. These false preachers or prophets mean to be understood as saying: "Oh no, I am no religious fraud. I have never been associated with Big Business and politicians, or been a man of leisure; but from my youth up I have been one of the laboring class, exploited, possessed and bossed by the capitalists, the real slave of the oppressive industrial and commercial system." They will not, however, be able to hide their identity.
Jehovah's witnesses stand out boldly in contrast to these professional, sanctimonious preacher frauds. God's faithful witnesses go about in snow and rain, cold and heat, and diligently endeavor to preach the kingdom message to the people. Public political officials, aided and urged on so to do by the professional clergy and the "man of sin" class, command Jehovah's humble witnesses to stop their work of preaching the gospel by going from house to house, and to them these faithful witnesses of Jehovah reply, as did Amos to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore
fruit: and the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel." (Amos 7:14,15) As Jehovah took the humble man Amos and sent him to prophesy, so now he takes from amongst the common people those wholly devoted to him and uses them to go about and preach the gospel.
When the false teachers and professional clergy attempt to hide their identity they will be unsuccessful, and will be recognized as men who have been in the habit of haranguing the congregation and collecting money from the people. This is indicated by the words of Zechariah: "AND ONE SHALL SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT ARE THESE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? THEN HE SHALL ANSWER, THOSE [are the wounds] WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED [WHEREWITH I WAS WOUNDED] IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS [OF THEM WHO LOVED ME, Roth.]." (13: 6) In this manner they actually acknowledge their identity. It hardly seems that this prophecy means literal wounds in the hands by means of or use of violence, but the words are symbolically used. The hand of a man is a symbol of the ways and means or equipment had and used by him by which he carries on his work. (Ex. 4:7) The prophecy states that this man received the wounds in the "HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS". That could not be God's house, but the house which the clergy claim to be the house of God. The professional clergy, the false prophets, use what they call the "church house" of their congregation as a place for carrying on their commercial use of the gos-
pel, and there they use their equipment which is symbolized by the hand. In that house or congregation are held the "prisoners", which were foreshadowed by Samson and hence are the Samson class. (Judg. 16:1-31) These yet must have a part in pulling down the structure of the fraudulent church systems, during which destructive work the false teachers will suffer many wounds in their fraudulent work, that is to say, their fraud will be exposed and their place of operation and means of operation spoiled.
According to the law of God these "prisoners" are not permitted to use carnal weapons to inflict bodily injury upon others, but they do take positive action by taking a firm stand on the side of Jehovah when the real test comes, and this will render useless the ways and means or equipment used by the clergy to carry on their work in the congregations. They will therefore receive 'wounds in their hands', that is to say, the ways and means or equipment by which they carry on their work will sorely suffer, because, says the prophet, their pastures will be spoiled. (Jer. 25:36) The claim of the clergy, or false teachers, would seem, then, to be that 'they suffer, not because of their unfaithfulness to God, but because of the lack of appreciation by their "FRIENDS" in their congregations who turn against them; and through them they had received the wounds'. Undoubtedly according to the prophecy they will be identified as the ones who operated their racketeer business as clergy-
men in the worldly church organizations. They will make as a defense, justification or reason for the spoiling of their equipment that their supposed friends had spoiled them and put them in this undesirable plight. (Ezek. 16: 37-42; 23: 22-29) The people will identify these false clergymen and will shun them. — Jer. 2: 30.
The following prophecy relates to approximately the time when the Lord Jesus comes to the temple and there begins the cleansing work, and discloses the enemy organization giving expressions of enmity against the Lord and his faithful followers. Christ Jesus is "the good shepherd", and the members of his little flock are the only class associated with him. (John 10:11) When Christ Jesus comes to the temple he is the "one shepherd" whom Jehovah has appointed to feed his flock. "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd." (Ezek. 34: 23) "And David my servant shall be king over them: and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them." (Ezek. 37:24) He is the "great Shepherd of the sheep". — Heb. 13:20.
There was, however, an earlier fulfilment of the prophecy, at the first advent of Christ Jesus. When he was about to be taken into custody and crucified he knew that the hour had come for the enemy to act, and therefore he said to them: "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." (Luke 22:52, 53) When he stood be-
fore Pilate he said: "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." (John 19:11) Jesus knew that the hour had struck for the enemy's sword to awake against him and that such was by permission of Jehovah, to the end that the final test might come affording an opportunity to Jesus to prove his integrity toward Jehovah God and to vindicate his Father's name. Satan had defied Jehovah to put on earth a man that would be faithful to him under the most adverse conditions. Here was the perfect man, the beloved Son of God, who had been sent from heaven and made in the likeness of sinful man, and had suffered all manner of persecution at the hands of Satan and his agents. Looking to the time when this perfect and undefiled one should die in the place of the sinner, God caused Zechariah to prophesy and say: "AWAKE, 0 SWORD, AGAINST MY SHEPHERD, AND AGAINST THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED; AND I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES." (13:7) This was said by Jehovah, not in anger against the shepherd, but because the time had come for the crucial test, and the time for the good Shepherd to lay down his life for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might
take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.... I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." — John 10:14,15,17,18.
Satan had made repeated attempts to kill Jesus, but on each occasion had failed. Doubtless Satan's chief officer, Gog, had formed a conspiracy to kill Jesus and had brought the Pharisees and their allies into the conspiracy. Jesus was fully aware of the conspiracy, and he knew that it would be carried out. He was familiar with the prophecy that had been written of and concerning him, to wit: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isa. 53:4) Satan expected to kill Jesus and thus put an end to the anointed King of the world. God would permit Satan to kill Jesus, but would show him His greater power by raising Jesus up out of death; which he did. Jesus was not afraid to die, nor was he afraid he had been unfaithful in the smallest thing. He knew that he had maintained his integrity toward his Father. He knew that he must die as a sinner and hence Satan and all of his host would use his death as a means to further defame the name of his Father; and his fear and crying were because of the reproach that his death in this manner would bring upon his Father's name. Hence he said: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me!" — Matt. 26:39.
That Jesus was familiar with the prophecy of Zechariah and its application to himself, and with what would be the result, is shown by the fact that he quoted the prophecy at the time to his faithful disciples, immediately following the institution of the memorial supper. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I [Jehovah, who calls for the sword to awake] will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock [being offended] shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." (Matt. 26:31, 32) But at the time Jesus did not quote all the words of Zechariah's prophecy, omitting therefrom these words, to wit, "AGAINST THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW"; which fact proves that there would be another fulfilment of the prophecy.
It is Jehovah who gives command: "AWAKE, 0 SWORD." He calls to the enemy to awake and tells him to do now what he purposes to do, and do it quickly. The enemy has boasted of what he will do, and now let him proceed to do it! In like manner Jehovah tells the enemy now to prepare for the final war at Armageddon, because it is Jehovah's purpose to clean out the enemy completely. The great issue of supremacy must now be settled, and hence Jehovah commands: "Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay,
and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the canker-worm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away." (Nahum 3:13-16) Jehovah is doing nothing against the enemy by secret; hence he says: "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen [nations], and gather yourselves together round about; thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about." — Joel 3:9-12.
But who is the man designated "THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW"? Other translators render the text thus: "EVEN AGAINST THE MAN THAT IS MY COMPANION." (Roth.) "THE MAN WHOM I HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH ME." (Leeser) Manifestly "the man" here mentioned stands for Jesus and, later, those associated with him who are his faithful followers, called to the kingdom and invited into the covenant for the kingdom with him (Luke 22:28-30); those for whom Jesus prayed that they might be made one with him even as he and his Father are one and associated
together. (John 1:1; 17:21) The second fulfilment of the prophecy therefore takes place approximately at the time of the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple, and hence would include those who at that time were faithful to their covenant. "THE MAN" is evidently Christ Jesus as Head over those engaged in the Elijah work during the time He is 'preparing the way before the Lord', from 1878 to 1918.
The sword of the World War was being brandished from 1914 onward, but not until the latter part of 1917, or the beginning of 1918, was positive action taken against the faithful followers of Christ Jesus. The time had come for a crucial test to be put upon those who had been called and who had responded to the call for the kingdom. Satan declared they would not maintain their integrity towards Jehovah. Satan tried to inveigle them into the World War, but those faithful to Jesus would not go in. Now Jehovah said to Satan: 'Awake, and do what you will against the man associated with me.' The closest relationship exists between Jehovah and his beloved Son: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matt. 11:27) The sword of enmity was awakened against the Elijah work, and the faithful workers were smitten; but in smiting them it smote Christ Jesus, for the reason, as he stated, "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my breth-
ren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40) The great Judge had come to the temple, and the children of Zion must be gathered as troops. "Now gather thyself in troops, 0 daughter of troops; he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." (Mic. 5:1) The seed of the Serpent did then smite those gathered unto the Lord, in which smiting the great Judge, Christ Jesus, was reproachfully smitten upon the cheek: "They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me." — Job 16:10.
The Elijah work was done, and Satan's visible agents, the Anglo-American empire system, sought to kill it, and did kill God's "two witnesses". (Rev. 11:7) It was then that the sheep were scattered. Just prior to his crucifixion Jesus said to his disciples: "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own [home], and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." (John 16:32) The scattering of the sheep at that time was only from Gethsemane to Pentecost. But toward the end of the World War, to wit, the beginning of 1918, the scattering of the sheep extended over a period of time until the latter part of 1919. "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and
shall hate one another." (Matt. 24:9,10) It was then, according to Zechariah's prophecy, that "they [the scattered sheep] shall look upon me [Christ Jesus] whom they [Satan's seed] have pierced, and they [the scattered sheep] shall mourn for him". (12:10) The great Shepherd, represented by the Elijah work, was smitten, in 1918, by the sword of the enemy, and then the sheep were scattered.
"Christendom's" clergy class, the pastors, like the Pharisees or pastors of Jesus' day, were really the instruments of Satan responsible for the scattering of the sheep. Some who had been associated with the faithful in service now turned traitor and connived with the clergy in their wicked work against God's faithful witnesses. Jehovah foretold that by his prophet Jeremiah: "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed [profess to feed] my people, Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord." — Jer. 23: 1,2.
To the same effect is the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:12. To be sure, Jehovah could have prevented the smiting and scattering of the sheep in 1918; but he permitted it that Satan's wicked agents, the clergy, might mark themselves with blood and that his covenant people might have opportunity to prove their integrity under the
severe test. God permitted this by somewhat turning away his protecting hand over the sheep, that the enemy might get at them, just as he did in Job's case that Job's integrity might be tested. — Job 1:9,10; 2: 3.
When Jesus quoted the prophecy of Zechariah he also omitted these words: "AND I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES." Manifestly the reason why he did not include these words was that they were due to be fulfilled just after his resurrection. After he was awakened out of death he did meet the "little ones" at Galilee, as he had promised. (Matt. 28:5-7,16,17; 1 Cor. 15: 6) The other fulfilment of this prophecy was after 1918. Satan's agents unrestrained had scattered the sheep, and God foretold that he would restore them. "HOWBEIT I WILL TURN BACK MY HAND OVER THE LITTLE ONES." (Roth.) "I WILL TURN MY HAND TOWARD THE FEEBLE ONES." (Leeser) In 1919 Jehovah exercised his power in behalf of the feeble ones who had remained faithful, saved them both from death and from Satan's organization, and restored them to his service to deliver his testimony. Those who had betrayed their brethren and had become the "evil servant" class were not so favored by the Lord. Only the "FEEBLE ONES", that is, feeble in themselves, "THE LITTLE ONES" who had not lifted up themselves to join the "man of sin" crowd, were thus favored by the Lord. Concerning these little ones who remained faithful, and who are thus the apple of the Lord's eye, Jesus said: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones
which believe in me, it were better for him [the 'man of sin'] that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven," — Matt, 18: 6,10.
The turning back of Jehovah's hand upon the little ones was the bringing of them to Zion, and this was done by his using the "MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW", and who had been smitten, namely, Christ Jesus. The words of Jehovah delivered by Jeremiah here apply and are a great comfort to the remnant, to wit: "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord." — Jer. 23:3,4.
The remnant have seen the fulfilment of the prophecy concerning the regathering and the favor of God bestowed upon them as he promised: "For thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to
their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country, I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." (Ezek. 34: 11-13,15,23,24) "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him." (Ezra 8: 21, 22) "Then I [Nehemiah] told them of the hand of my God, which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." — Neh. 2:18; Isa. 1:25,26.
It was in 1919 that Jehovah began to turn his hand back upon his little ones and thus he 'anointed them with fresh oil' and gladness in the Lord. (Ps. 23:5; 92:10) During the time the little ones were scattered they prayed the prayer with which Jehovah had supplied them: "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand [the man that is thy fellow], upon the son of man [Christ] whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, 0 Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved." (Ps. 80:17-19) Jehovah heard that prayer and turned his favor to the faithful little ones, and these he has hid-
den "in the shadow of his hand", where they are safe. — Isa. 49: 2.
The Scriptures and the facts show that it is the hireling clergy class and the "man of sin", including all the ones first enlightened with the truth and who have become bitter against God's organization, that are the instruments of Satan actively employed by him against Jehovah's little ones, the remnant; and these willful enemies are to be cut off. The faithful remnant must be completely separated from these false teachers, in order that they may be cleansed and prepared for the use of the Lord. The cutting off and gathering out of the unclean from God's organization will leave there only the clean ones. In this connection Zechariah prophesied: "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN ALL THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD, TWO PARTS THEREIN SHALL BE CUT OFF, AND DIE; BUT THE THIRD SHALL BE LEFT HEREIN." — 13 : 8.
In the book Deliverance, page 298, this and the ninth verse of Zechariah's prophecy concerning the two parts "cut off' are applied to "the beast" and "the false prophet", and the other "part" is applied to the survivors at Armageddon. It is now seen that this application of the prophecy is incorrect. That error was evidently due to the attempt to interpret prophecy before its fulfilment was seen. It is manifest in the light of other scriptures that the prophecy applies during the temple-building work and before Armageddon is fought, and is
a part of the work of cleansing or preparing the temple class.
In verse two of this same chapter of the prophecy Zechariah prophesies that the Lord declares his purpose to "cut off the names of the idols out of the land", meaning out of the land of the living, the earthly condition of the faithful remnant. It seems that the same "land" is meant in verse eight of the prophecy; therefore the cutting off must refer to the taking away from amongst the remnant those who are of unclean spirit. The word "PARTS", in verse eight of the prophecy, is from the Hebrew peh; and this is the only place in the Bible where the Hebrew word is rendered "parts". It is derived from the verb meaning "to puff", that is, to blow away with the mouth. This means the blowing, whether literally or figuratively, particularly as applied to speech. The prime significance of the word indicates that "TWO PARTS" are two sets, or two companies, of the mouthpieces used by Satan; and that the "THIRD PART" is the mouthpiece used by Jehovah to tell his testimony. For example, the psalmist says: "For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue." (Ps. 109:2) "The mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness," and "poureth out evil things". — Prov. 10:32; 15:28.
The facts which completely fit the prophecy show that one of these "TWO PARTS" is made up of the modern Pharisees and Sadducees, that is
to say, "Christendom's" clergymen, who have rejected Jehovah's King, the Stone, and who smite him and speak the words of Satan against Jehovah and his kingdom. The other one of the "two parts" is the "slothful servant", the "evil servant", the opposer of God's organized witness work, all of whom end up in the "man of sin", "the son of perdition," of which Judas was a type.
There are two things emphasized by this prophecy, to wit, the cutting off from Jehovah's organization and, later, actual death. It was in 1918 that the great Judge, Christ Jesus, came to the temple, and from that time the cutting-off work proceeded. The clergy endorsed the League of Nations in the place and stead of God's kingdom, hailed the abominable thing as man's deliverer, and committed other acts of violence against God's kingdom by persecuting his faithful witnesses who were telling of the great name of Jehovah and his kingdom. These men claim to be servants of God, and their course of action shows them to be servants of the Devil. (Rom.6:16) "For thy [Edom's, which is 'Christendom's'] violence [during the World War and since] against thy brother Jacob [God's faithful people], shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever." (Obad. 10) "The evil servant" began to be made manifest in 1918; concerning which Jesus said: "The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder [cut him
off, margin], and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 24:50,51) "The man of sin" class was not discerned by God's people, however, until 1930. — The Watchtower, September 15, 1930, page 275.
"For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." (Ps. 37:9,10,22,34) "Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." (Isa. 9:14-16) "I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord." (Ps. 101:8) The cutting off must necessarily be continued until everything that is defiling, and hence displeasing to the Lord, is removed from his organization. The "elective elders" who are selfish and oppose the work of testimony in the name of Jehovah and his kingdom, and who decline to declare his vengeance against Satan and his organization, necessarily will be included in those cut off. At Armageddon
all the enemies of God, after having been cut off from his organization, shall die, as this prophecy declares.
There is a third part, which survives; as Zechariah says: "THE THIRD [part] SHALL, BE LEFT THEREIN" (that is to say, in the holy "land of the living", or earthly condition of Jehovah's favor), and whom he makes representatives of his kingdom and to whom are committed the kingdom interests. Such is the happy state or condition of the faithful remnant whom Jehovah preserves even through Armageddon and for a temporary work on earth thereafter.
FAITHFUL REMNANT
The prophecy next following definitely shows that the "third part" left applies to the remnant. The cleansing and refining work of the sanctuary class must all be done before Armageddon, because such is a part of the preparatory work. The battle of the great day of God Almighty is not the time for the performance of the refining of God's approved class, but is for the destruction of the workers of wickedness. Concerning the third part that shall be left in the land of the living, the favorable condition, the prophet of Jehovah says: "AND I WILL BRING THE THIRD PART THROUGH THE FIRE, AND WILL REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED, AND WILL TRY THEM AS GOLD IS TRIED: THEY SHALL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL HEAR THEM: I WILL SAY, IT IS MY PEOPLE; AND THEY SHALL SAY, THE LORD IS MY GOD." (13:9) This prophecy shows the close
and confidential relationship established between Jehovah and those faithful ones who are brought "THROUGH THE FIRE", and is strong proof that "THE THIRD PART" means those whom the Lord approves at the temple and whom he anoints and makes his witnesses. It is the "Refiner" that brings them through the fire. Christ Jesus is the Refiner at the temple, and he purges those whom he approves; and it is the fire that is employed to do the refining, as mentioned by another prophet. "For he [Christ Jesus at the temple] is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." — Mal. 3: 2,3.
This third part is the remnant mentioned by Zechariah, in chapter 3:1,2, as the "brand plucked out of the fire". Fire tries or tests the works of each one called to the kingdom. "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:12-15) They must undergo the crucial test. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 1:7) This third part is the very part that Jehovah uses as his witnesses and upon whom he bestows his name, saying to them: "Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." — Isa. 43:1,2,10.
The fiery test began in 1918, and the sinners and hypocrites amongst God's people became offended. Many of the weaker ones were afraid that they would lose the approval of men, and this led them into the snare of the enemy. Only those who put their trust wholly in the Lord and who feared God and who continued steadfast and immovable in doing the will of God have been able to stand. Jehovah is the refuge and safety for such only as love and serve him. (Isa. 8:13,14) "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites: Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppres-
sions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." (Isa. 33:14-17) After this cutting off has progressed, then the Lord permits the faithful ones in the temple to see it.
It is those who withstand the fire and who are refined that are taken into the temple and, says the prophet, "I . . . WILL REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED, AND WILL TRY THEM AS GOLD IS TRIED"; and this must be done before these are approved by the Lord and placed in the temple building, and this of necessity must precede the time of Armageddon. Those refined then offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Mal. 3:3) "For thou, 0 God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried." (Ps. 66:10) "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10) "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth." (Ps. 11:4,5) "Behold, I have refined thee but not with silver [margin, for silver]; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should
my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." (Isa. 48:10,11; Jer. 20:12) The fiery furnace of trial is for the very purpose of preparing the approved ones for service. Jehovah had Gideon bring his men down to the water and there to "try them", before they were sent into the battle. — Judg. 7:4.
These are put through the trial that God might prepare them as "a people for his name", and, being thus prepared, then "THEY WILL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEIR PRAYER". (13:9, Leeser) It is the tried and approved class that now pray: "0 Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity." (Ps. 118:25) The heart of each one of the approved ones is entirely set on the vindication of Jehovah's name; and they know that if they maintain their integrity they will come through victorious and to that extent participate in the vindication of the name of the Most High. "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name." (Ps. 80:17,18) "Then called I upon the name of the Lord: 0 Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord." (Ps. 116:4,13,17) — Isa. 12:4: Ps. 105:1: Joel 2: 32, R.V.; Ps. 91:14,15.
Not only does Jehovah say that he will hear the prayer of the faithful, but he also says: "I
WILL SAY, IT IS MY PEOPLE." The people of Jehovah are those that are born of his woman and whom he teaches and to whom he gives a new name. (Isa. 54:13; 62: 2; 65:15) It is this people that Jehovah uses as his witnesses to declare his commandments. "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) Jehovah dwells amongst his temple class, and not amongst the "restitution class" on earth. (2:11; 8:8) "My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore." (Ezek. 37: 27,28) This is further corroborative proof that the "THIRD PART" that is brought through the fire constitutes the faithful remnant that are made a part of the temple. When the Lord began judgment at the temple those who now compose the Ruth class were not there, but later are brought in. Concerning such it is written: "And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy [the Ruth class]; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God." — Hos. 2:23.
In harmony with this are the following: Romans 9: 25,26; 1 Peter 2: 9,10. It is those who are in the temple class, telling of the glory of
Jehovah, that now say: "JEHOVAH IS [OUR] GOD." (A.R.V.) (Ps. 29:9) From and after the 26th day of July, 1931, the remnant have definitely declared these very words in fulfilment of the prophecy, and since then they are known as "Jehovah's witnesses" and they say: "God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light; bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee." (Ps. 118: 27,28) "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Rev. 21:7) "0 Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." — Isa. 25:1,4.
Jehovah's witnesses are his cleansed people, and must remain in that cleansed condition if they would "bear the vessels of the Lord". They must be entirely separate from every part of Satan's organization. They know that Satan and his agents are making war on them and endeavoring to bring about their destruction. (Rev. 12:17) Satan follows his subtle tactics in an endeavor to ensnare the remnant. Satan's agents say to Jehovah's witnesses: "You cannot preach your message until you first obtain a permit from us. You must submit to us, for our exami-
nation and censorship, your proposed speech before it is attempted to be broadcast, and if you say anything derogatory to the clergy you will not be permitted to be heard to speak." Can the temple company remain true to the Lord God and abide in the temple if they yield to the demand of worldly officers who are of Satan's organization, and first ask of such permission to preach the gospel or submit their message to be censored by worldly men before they attempt to preach it? The answer to this question is emphatically, No!
Jehovah has built up the temple class as a people for his name. The remnant now on earth he sends forth as his witnesses, and he commands them to declare that he is God, that his kingdom under Christ is at hand, that Satan is the enemy of God and of man, and that Satan and his wicked organization shall be destroyed at Armageddon. This is the message of Jehovah's vengeance. The clergy of "Christendom" constitute one of the pillars in Satan's visible organization. To fail or refuse to tell the people the truth of and concerning the clergy and the principal of their flock would be to violate God's command and the commission which he has given to his people. (Isa. 61:1,2) To carry a copy of this gospel of the kingdom to representatives of Satan and hand it to them for examination is equivalent to saying that they have a right to censor it before the message is delivered; and such would be and is a direct insult to the Lord, because it is a violation of his command. The
early apostles were put to the same test, and they replied to their would-be censors: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. . . . We ought to obey God rather than men." Such is the only course for Jehovah's witnesses to now take.
Jehovah sent Jeremiah to bear testimony to Jerusalem, telling of his purpose to destroy that city. Jeremiah knew that he was in danger of his life, that Satan and his agents, particularly the clergy, would attempt to do him bodily harm. Knowing this Jehovah said to him: "Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord." (Jer. 1:7,8) The Pharisees and Sadducees were the pastors or clergymen of their day and had the Jewish people under their control in a large measure, and they together with the commercial and political elements hindered Jeremiah and tried to prevent him from telling the people God's message of truth. Did Jeremiah put on the soft pedal and refrain from speaking the truth of and concerning the clergy and their allies at that time? Did he first submit his speech to them to be examined and censored? He did not; but he boldly told the truth to them even though he knew it would cost him his life. At Jehovah's command he said concerning the clergy: "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture I saith the Lord. Therefore thus
saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people, Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord." — Jer. 23:1, 2.
In that day the preachers who called themselves "prophets", or clergymen, were lying to the people, just as the clergymen of "Christendom" are now doing; and this they were doing in the name of the Lord because they were hypocrites. God commanded Jeremiah to say to those hypocrites and liars, and to the present-day hypocrites: "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you [the clergymen], and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten." (Jer. 23:21, 22, 25,40) Had Jeremiah failed or refused to deliver that message, or had he directly or indirectly consented that the message should be censored or shaved down so as not to appear harsh against the clergymen, God would have destroyed Jeremiah. Jehovah's witnesses stand today in an exactly similar position.
Jehovah sent Ezekiel to his unfaithful covenant people and commanded him what he must prophesy against them. Knowing that the clergy
and their allies would bluster and threaten and try to intimidate his prophet, and that they would attempt to censor or prevent his speech and put him in fear, God said to Ezekiel: "Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant, harder than flint, have I made thy forehead; fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." (Ezek. 3:8,9) Ezekiel had no alternative; if he would maintain his integrity toward God he must deliver the message, and a failure to do so would be a failure to maintain his integrity toward God, and that would mean his death: "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." — Ezek. 3:17-19.
What Jeremiah and Ezekiel did to Israel was merely a type foreshadowing what must be done how at the end of the world, when Jehovah commands that "Christendom" shall be told of her sins and that every part of Satan's organization must be served with warning, and particularly
the clergy; because the things that came to pass upon Israel were merely examples showing what shall come to pass now upon "Christendom". Jehovah has now taken out a "people for his name", and these he sends forth to declare his Word. The great war is just ahead, and Jehovah will have warning served upon the enemy and the people notified that they must take their stand on Jehovah's side if they would live. To he sure, there is danger ahead, and it is certain that Satan and his agents will do all they possibly can to prevent the message from being told; but for anyone of the temple class to go to Satan's agents and ask permission to preach the message of truth, or to submit any part of that message for examination and possible censorship before preaching the same, means that one so doing thereby becomes unclean.
Jehovah has prepared his people for the war, and their part in the war is to proclaim the message of truth as he has commanded. It is not a question of whether we shall be courteous to worldly officers and comply with their command. The whole question is, Shall Jehovah's witnesses be obedient to God? They must be obedient to God and follow his commands if they live. The safety of Jehovah's witnesses is in his name which they have taken. (Prov. 18:10, A.R.V.) Those who remain clean will give earnest heed and obey every commandment that Jehovah gives by his Chief Officer, the Greater Moses. — Acts 3:22,23.
