Prophecy

CHAPTER IX

Day of His Preparation

JEHOVAH is preparing for battle against the enemy. There is now no possibility of preventing that great battle. God foretold it by his prophets when he directed that the cup of his fury should be handed to all the nations. Had the teachers of "organized Christianity" stood by God's Word and caused the people to hear the truth, the great battle upon Christendom would have been avoided. But not now! (Jer. 23:21,22) Prophetically, God announces his decision when he directs his prophet to take the wine cup of his fury and pass it to every nation. "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. . . . And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them." — Jer. 25:15-26.

The "wine cup" is a symbol of the potion which Jehovah has decreed shall be drunk by all the ruling powers of the earth. "Sheshach" is one of the names applied to Babylon, which means the Devil's organization, and therefore the prophecy particularly applies to Christendom so called, or "organized Christianity". It applies, of course, to all of the Devil's religions, but greater responsibility is upon those who have had ample opportunity to know better. While God proceeds with this preparation, he causes notice

of his purpose to be delivered to the nations. — Matt. 24:14.

By his prophet Jehovah foretold the end of the Gentile times, the end of the world, and the beginning of the reign of Christ, and stated that it would be marked by the World War, quickly followed by famines, pestilences, distress of nations, the regathering of the Jews to Palestine, and the federation of the organizations of Christendom. The physical facts in fulfilment of this great prophecy began to come to pass in 1914. Between that date and 1918, Christ Jesus, the great executive officer of Jehovah, ousted Satan from heaven. Next in order thereafter is the preparation for the final battle for the destruction of Satan's organization. The evil organization that controls the nations of the earth must be destroyed before Christ Jesus, earth's rightful King, inaugurates righteousness amongst the nations of the earth. Satan is now devoting his attention to the earth, as the great Prophet foretold; and "because he knoweth that he hath but a short time", Satan is preparing for the final battle. (Rev. 12:12; 16:14) Just when that great battle will take place is not now revealed to man; but because the preparations are being made, the indications are that it will come to pass in the very near future.

The Prophet Nahum had a vision concerning Nineveh, the ruling city of Assyria, and he began his prophecy by saying, "The burden of Nineveh." The word "burden" means "an utterance of doom". His prophecy that follows relates to the day of God's preparation for the expression of his vengeance against his enemy, and incidentally refers to Satan's preparation also. Assyria, as the reader will recall, was the Devil's organization in which politics held

sway, and at the same time the political element was ably supported by the commercial and religious elements. The fact that Nahum's prophecy is directed against Nineveh, the capital city that ruled Assyria, is strongly significant that the day of preparation marks a period of time when, in the world organization, politics holds sway, and at the same time the political rulers are ably supported by Big Business and the religious elements.

The conditions existing at the present time exactly fit the description of the prophecy. Just now it is the political rulers who are making peace pacts and treaties, and forming leagues, and declaring that they are going to make the world safe for democracy and a desirable place in which to live. In this they are ably supported by the commercial powers, which powers join in the cry of "Peace!" and at the same time are spending great sums of money to prepare for war. The claim is that the best way to prevent war is to prepare for war. In other words, the best way to prevent two men from killing each other is to arm each one of them with all the guns he can carry.

In the peace movements and war preparations the Clergy and religious leaders are giving their unstinted support. These religious leaders occupy high seats at the councils held for the consideration of a world arrangement to prevent war. It is just at this time (1929) that the great political power restores temporal power to the head of the church of Rome, and a large sum of money is handed to the pope in connection therewith, which evidently the financiers had something to do with providing. All the facts show that the political rulers are in the saddle, Big Business and the preachers are in the chariot, and the entire combine is moving on to the great climax. All the

facts show that Nahum's prophecy is now in course of fulfilment.

The vision of Nahum can now be understood and is understood by those who are devoted to the Lord, because its fulfilment has begun and is progressing. The name Nahum means "comforter", and his prophecy contains words of comfort to the people of God. The anointed are told that Jehovah is slow to anger and great in power; that he will not acquit the wicked, but that he will have his own way in the trouble, and that he has in mind those that trust him. (Nah. 1:1-7) These are words of comfort to those who are in "the secret place of the Most High".

Then the Lord tells his own that he will make an utter end to the wicked and that affliction shall not arise the second time. (Nah. 1:8-11) The prophet tells how the elements of the enemy organization are folded together like thorns and drunk with ambition and their own schemes, but that God is preparing to destroy them like stubble. The Lord then informs his people that their day of affliction is about ended. "For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder." For the further encouragement of his people, God then tells them that the Devil's wicked system shall be destroyed, and adds: "I will make thy grave; for thou art vile." — Nah. 1:10-14.

Jehovah calls his people Judah, because Judah means "praise", and they praise his name; and in this connection, for the further encouragement and comfort of his own people, he says to them: "0 Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows [having been brought into the covenant by sacrifice, be faithful to it]: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee." (Nah. 1:15) The faithful remnant has been cleansed that the members thereof might "offer unto

the Lord an offering in righteousness", which is the praise of their lips and their full heart devotion to him. (Mal. 3:1-3; Heb. 13:15) They appreciate the fact that they have been taken into the covenant by sacrifice, and joyfully perform their part. (Ps. 50: 5,14; 24:4; Rom. 12:1) This is another proof that whatsoever was written in the Scriptures aforetime was written for the benefit and encouragement of those who devote themselves wholly to the Lord God and prove faithful to him in the last days.

Then the prophet shows Jehovah preparing for the siege of the enemy and his strongholds. The fact that God foretold through his prophet the day in which he would prepare for battle is proof that the battle will be fought. The physical facts which we now see show the fulfilment of the prophecy, and are proof also that the great battle is in the very near future. Addressing those who are of Zion and who are watching the fulfilment of God's prophecy, the prophet of the Lord says: "He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face." That means that Christ Jesus, the great executive officer of Jehovah, is present and preparing the siege, which he does after casting Satan out of heaven.

Another of God's prophets describes the mighty officer of Jehovah, Christ Jesus, as the maul or war club with which he beats to pieces the enemy organization, and specifically names Babylon as that enemy. (Jer. 51:20-24) Appropriate to this same time, the Lord's prophet says concerning the compact of the League of Nations: "Gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought." — Isa. 8: 9,10.

Further addressing God's anointed concerning the preparation for the siege against the enemy, Nahum

the prophet says: "Keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily [pull yourselves together firmly]. For the Lord [Jehovah] hath turned away [restored, Rotherham] the excellency of Jacob [his people]." (Nah. 2:1,2) God announces that his time is at hand when he will show his favor in a special manner to his anointed, and he tells them to prepare for the siege and to be of great courage. Up to this time "plunderers have plundered" those of God's anointed. (Rotherham) They have "emptied out" God's people and marred their vine branches; but now from henceforth and for ever God will protect them and keep them night and day. — Nah. 2:2; Isa. 27: 2, 3; Ps. 125:1-3.

Then says the Prophet Nahum: "The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken." (Nah. 2:3) This and the subsequent verses of the prophecy have been heretofore understood and described to mean the "chariots" for rapid transportation in this day. While the words of the prophet do well describe the modern means of fast travel, yet the prophecy surely has a deeper meaning than that. That deeper meaning could not be understood until the coming of the Lord to his temple and the building up of Zion, and until God's lightnings flash, illuminating the prophecy. Instead of criticizing any interpretation heretofore given this prophecy, rather should God's people rejoice because of the greater illumination that the Lord puts upon it in his own due time.

The words of the prophecy, now illuminated by the lightnings of Jehovah, show that they are descriptive of Almighty God's preparation for war. It is Je-

hovah who lays siege to Nineveh, the Devil's organization. Jehovah provides the shield for his mighty men. God then tells the enemy to get ready for the siege because he is going to destroy him. He says: "Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strongholds. . . . There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts." — Nah. 3:14,15.

Jehovah's 'mighty man' who is commanding all of his forces is the great Christ Jesus. His other "mighty men" are those who are fully and completely devoted to God as members of the army of the Lord. To Christ Jesus, the great Field Marshal, Jehovah says:" Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, 0 most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." (Ps. 45:3,4) Concerning all the members of Zion, Jehovah says: "I have commanded my consecrated ones, yea, I have called my mighty men for mine anger, even my proudly exulting ones."  — Isa. 13: 3, R. V.; see also Zech. 10: 5.

A shield wards off or turns aside the blows of the enemy. Jehovah is the Shield to the members of Zion: "Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation." (Ps. 18:35) Jehovah is the right-hand support of his mighty officer, Christ Jesus, in the battle. (Ps. 110:5) Describing the faithful of the Lord who "finally" or at the end are equipped for the war, the apostle mentions the shield of faith which turns aside the fiery missiles of the enemy. (Eph. 6:16) The abiding faith of the anointed in the shed blood of Christ and the faithful keeping of the covenant by

sacrifice into which they have been graciously brought well represent the shield "made red".

Again, another picture is given by the prophet. The mighty Christ Jesus is described as returning from the war and the question is propounded to him, "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel?" and he replies that he has stained his raiment with the blood of the enemy. (Isa. 63:1-3) "The valiant men are in scarlet," says the prophet; and these words show that the garments are made red, which identifies them with those who have the absolute and abiding faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus as the Redeemer and Deliverer, in whose footsteps they joyfully follow. The so-called "organized Christianity" has no faith in the shed blood of Jesus, because his blood is denied as a means of salvation. It is only those who valiantly stand for the Lord that are identified by their garments of scarlet. These are given the garments of salvation when the Lord builds up Zion. — Isa. 61:10.

Again, God's prophet speaks of these faithful followers and calls them volunteers who joyfully obey the commandments of the Lord "in that day". (Ps. 110:3) Those who are of Zion occupy the position of favor with the Lord, and concerning them it is written: "Through God we shall do valiantly." (Ps. 108:13; 118:16) It is important to note that both of these prophecies are made to apply "in that day", which is the day of God's preparation.

"The chariots shall be with naming torches in the day of his preparation." "Chariots" represent the divisions of Jehovah's militant organization. (Ezek. 1:4-26) Bearing upon this point, mention is here made of Elisha's experience at Dothan. For the purpose of taking Elisha, his enemy the king sent "horses and chariots, and a great host, and they came by

night and compassed the city about". Elisha's servant was terrified by the great power of the enemy, but Elisha was not at all disturbed. He held firmly to his shield of faith, the shield with which God had provided him, and then it was that the Lord disclosed that he had filled the mountains round about with horses and chariots of fire for the protection of Elisha. (2 Ki. 6:12-17) That record was made for the benefit of God's people, and now we are "in that day" when God is making ready for the war and when the enemy, the dragon organization, would take the remnant and destroy the members thereof because doing the work foretold by Elisha; and the Lord surrounds the remnant with his fiery chariots. "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place."  — Ps. 68:17.

Throughout the earth today there are small militant groups of the remnant of God's organization, who are active in the service of the Lord. These are divisions of God's organization, and are represented as his chariots; and these flash with the light of fire from the "lightning" of Jehovah, which shines upon them by and through his present King, who is now in his temple. The words of the prophet do not convey the thought of a burning torch, as is well shown by other translations of the text which are here given: "The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation." (R. V.) "On fire are the chariot-steels." (Rotherham) God's chariots or divisions of his organization are fired with a zeal peculiar to his house, and are illuminated by Jehovah's lightnings and by the beams of light arising from "the Sun of righteousness" now present and in command of the forces of Jehovah.

It is "the day of his preparation", because it is the day which God has made for the accomplishment of his great work. (Ps. 118: 24) The word "preparation", used by the Prophet Nahum in this text, is from the Hebrew word kûn. It is interesting to note the manner in which this word is used in the prophecy. It means "to prepare, to perfect, to establish or be established": "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect [kûn] day." (Prov. 4:18) This would indicate that the day of Jehovah's preparation is the beginning of "the perfect day". Other texts in which the same Hebrew word is used are: "The house of the Lord shall be established [kûn] in the top of the mountains." (Mic. 4:1) "God will establish [kûn] it for ever. " — Ps. 48: 8; 87: 5.

The conclusion is therefore that "the day of his preparation" must be the day in which Jehovah's chariots (divisions of his organization) begin to receive the light of "the perfect day" because of the presence of the Head of Zion in his temple and because of the flashes of Jehovah's lightnings. It is the time when the Lord lays "the Stone" before the members of the temple class and when the perfect light shines thereupon. — Zech. 3: 9.

To be sure, Jehovah is always fully equipped to engage his enemy in war; therefore "the day of his preparation" seems to refer more particularly to the fact that he is preparing by enlightening his own people, who are members of his organization, as to the time when the great conflict is approaching, and fortifying them to do their part which he has assigned to them. He sends the remnant forth to proclaim his praises and to advise the world of the approaching day of his vengeance, and while these faith-

ful ones do so he enlightens them. He shields them and protects them, and puts them in proper order in his organization.

"And the fir trees shall be terribly shaken." What could that mean in connection with God's preparation? It appears that God's consecrated people are likened unto fir trees. The prophet foretells the shaking of spiritual Israel and the protection of those who shall 'dwell under the shadow of his wing'. These are represented as saying: "I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found." Then adds the prophet: "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."  — Hos. 14:7-9.

Following the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918, judgment began at the house of God. (1 Pet. 4:17) From that time forward there was a great shaking amongst the consecrated, and those who took the wise course God has blessed with an understanding of his Word, while others who claim consecration have been shaken down. This is in exact accord with what Paul declared would take place immediately preceding the destruction of Satan's organization and the complete establishment of God's kingdom on earth. — Heb. 12: 27, 28.

Other translators render these words thus: "The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress [or fir] spears are brandished." (A. R. V.) "And the lances are put in motion." (Rotherham) God's anointed are likened unto polished shafts or spears. A spear made of a fir tree or cypress, polished, and brandished in the sunlight, flashes and reflects the light. It is written con-

cerning the "servant" class by the prophet of the Lord: "He hath made ... me [as] a polished shaft."  — Isa. 49:2.

With the coming of the Lord to his temple, and the judgment that followed, there was a great shaking among the consecrated. The approved ones, like polished spears, were put in motion by the great zeal manifested by them for the witness work in which they have participated and which is still in progress. This further suggests that God's preparation is to fortify his people for 'that great and terrible day'; and before the battle he sends them forth to serve, upon the enemy and upon the people, notice of his intention to lay siege to the enemy organization and bring about its destruction. The prophet describes the great war and its preparation, and some of God's instruments are mentioned as his "glittering spear". (Hab. 3:11) Throughout the nations of the earth there are numerous groups, called ecclesias, who are consecrated and devoted to the Lord, and who therefore form parts of his organization; and they may be properly spoken of as divisions of God's organization, a number of whom are polished like a shaft ready for the service of the King.

The war that is impending is not the battle merely of men. It is "the battle of that great day of God Almighty". God has not kept it secret and is not now proceeding in secrecy. He causes his witnesses to proclaim the facts, that even his arch-enemy and all of his organization may have an opportunity to know of his purposes. Satan is now aware of the fact that he is facing the greatest conflict of his existence. Recently he engaged in a fight with Christ Jesus in heaven and was worsted in that fight and cast out of heaven down to the earth. The Devil now has

"great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" to prepare. — Rev. 12:12.

ENEMY'S PREPARATION

In keeping with his usual mode of procedure, Satan the enemy prepares for war, and he does so with great noise and boasting and at the same time keeps the peoples in ignorance of his purpose. Christ Jesus, God's great Prophet, caused John to make a record of this prophecy: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. " — Rev. 16:13,14.

The three unclean spirits here mentioned are likened unto frogs. A frog swells up, is bombastic, and boasts 6f what he is going to do and makes much noise about it. The noise of a bullfrog strikes terror to the mind of one who does not know whence the noise emanates. The Devil has the whole world in fear and distress because his 'bullfrogs' are bellowing forth their noise. The "dragon" in the text represents the entire satanic organization, while the "beast" is symbolic of the visible part of that organization, and the "false prophet" particularly represents the fraudulent religions. With one accord all these elements of Satan's organization boast and make much noise of what they are doing and are going to do.

In substance they say: 'The earth is ours, and we are going to fix everything to our liking; and when we get through the people will like it.' This is but voicing the sentiment of the Devil, who says: "My river

[peoples] is mine own, and I have made it for myself." (Ezek. 29: 3) The visible part of the organization makes peace pacts and boldly announces: 'We have outlawed war and hence there will be no more war, and let the people be assured to that end.'

When the Paris Peace Pact was pending before the United States Senate for ratification, its chief sponsor in America was prancing about like a well-groomed horse that wanted to show itself. Even moving pictures were made of his antics, and these were exhibited before the people throughout the land. At the same time the war organization was pushing the law-making body both for the ratification of the peace pact and for more battle-ships. The political whip was brought to bear to carry out the purposes of those in power: "The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots." — Nah. 3: 2.

Within a few days after the United States Senate ratified the Paris Peace Pact by an almost unanimous vote, the law-making machinery provided for the building of a more powerful navy than has ever before been had, and provided for the expenditure of $275,000,000 for new war vessels, to say nothing about the great expenditure for other military preparations. Public press dispatches, dated February 13, 1929, announced that the president signed a bill that day to authorize the construction of fifteen modern war-ships, and within a few minutes thereafter the building program was begun. The clergy and the religious leaders loudly applaud the action of the political and commercial powers, and say to the people, in substance: 'There will be no more war, because we have outlawed war. At the same time we must prepare by building more ships.'

It is rather difficult for the common people to understand the consistency of such actions and declarations. The building of war machines proceeds upon a gigantic scale in every nation called Christendom. The political factors, in the saddle, make the legal provision; the commercial giants arrange for the money; and the clergy provide the sanctimonious smoke screen which their "father" employs to blind the people to the truth. Just as the prophet says, all three are like bullfrogs; but the loudest one, and the most sanctimonious among the three, is the "false prophet" religion.

The preparation goes on and Satan causes his agents, the rulers of the earth, to take counsel together against God and against his Anointed, and to say in substance: 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, and fix the world to suit ourselves.' "He [Jehovah] that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." — Ps. 2:2-4.

Returning now to the consideration of Nahum's prophecy relative to preparation, it is found to be exactly in accord with the prophecy of Revelation above quoted. Jehovah speaks through Nahum and says: "The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings." — Nah. 2: 4.

The chariots mentioned in this last quoted verse are not the same chariots as those mentioned in verse three of the same chapter. The chariots first mentioned are outside of the city (the Devil's organization) and are preparing to lay siege to the Devil's organization. The chariots mentioned in verse four

are in the streets or roadways inside of the city, and are therefore a part of and belong to the city, which is the Devil's organization. These chariots last mentioned are therefore the military organization and machinery of Satan.

The Hebrew word used to translate the word "rage" in verse four of the prophecy is hallal, and means "to praise or to boast", and is also rendered, "to show oneself foolish." (Young) Thus the "chariots" of Satan's organization that "rage" in the streets means the military preparations: that are vainglorious and carried on in a boastful manner; and those who are doing it swell up and bellow like bullfrogs making a great noise, while praising their own greatness, and thereby seek to impress the people by appearing in the streets and exhibiting themselves. Why all the noise in the public press and upon the screens of the moving pictures concerning war preparations? Why the great military and naval display at every national function? Why the exhibition at every moving picture show of some politician or warrior who is preparing for war? It is the war organizations and war lords raging in the streets and making themselves foolish. Why, in all the war preparations, at the canteens, in the art galleries, in the public press and in the moving pictures, is the religious element made so prominent? It is always a part of the same bombastic campaign that Satan himself is engineering, and he is blinding the men who are really engaged in it and using them as his dupes; These fraudulently say: 'We are Christian, and we therefore represent Christendom.' But be it noted that they do not praise God nor his King, but they praise themselves. They are hurrying in their preparations and boast of their power and make themselves mad

and foolish before the Lord. And the preparation goes on!

One translator renders the text thus: "They rush along in the broadways." (Rotherham) Thus they do, because among the people they can make better speed by boasting of their power and that they are making the world safe for democracy. Another translator renders the text: "They rush to and fro in the broad ways." (A. R. V.) The thought of friction is absent. By means of diplomacy they avoid friction, and thereby keep the real meaning hid from the eyes of the people. Such is always Satan's method.

Then adds the prophet: "They shall seem [the appearance of them is, R. V.] like torches." The word "torches" in this verse is more frequently translated "lamp", and suggests the view that Satan's organization-units, or his foremost agencies, will claim or appear to be as lamps lighting the way of the people, or like torches of liberty lighting the way for freedom and progress in the government of the people. It is the clergy that use their pulpits and the radio to harangue the people and to tell them of the great torches of liberty that the heroes are holding forth to light the people into a desirable condition. They are really blind guides and false prophets. God foretold exactly that the condition would exist which now does exist. "For such are false apostles [preachers and teachers], deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ [claiming to represent Christ, and hence called 'organized Christendom', or 'organized Christianity']. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [the clergy] also be transformed as the ministers of

righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." — 2 Cor. 11:13-15.

Then adds the prophet: "They shall run like the lightnings." They are swift in the execution of their preparations, because Satan knows he has but a short time (Rev. 12:12), and the rulers are in distress and perplexity because of what they see approaching. — Luke 21:26.

God's prophet proceeds: "He shall recount his worthies [margin, gallants]: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared." (Nah. 2:5) The word "worthies", or gallants, in this text is in the American Revised Version rendered "nobles". The same Hebrew word is rendered "principal of the flock" (Jer. 25:34-36), and also "famous". (Ps. 136:18) It is Satan's nobles or principal ones of the flock of the religious organization who are here meant. He has them in mind and recounts them. He takes a census of his chief agencies, and measures the strength of his fighting force as well as of his bellowing "frogs". Those men are of Satan's world; hence Satan gives consideration to them. — John 15:19.

Those who carry out Satan's purposes are his favored ones, hence called his "worthies", or nobles or famous ones. This is one of his schemes to turn the people away from Jehovah God. Satan keeps before the people the great heroes of his organization. In the religious organizations, in the great political meetings, in meetings of the financiers, in all of these the importance of the principal men, as examples and heroes worthy of praise, is held before the people. The metropolitan press, which is merely the tool or mouthpiece of Satan's organization, publishes glowing accounts of the valor of the mighty officers of

war, of the power and virtue of the financial giants, and of the greatness of the religious element and religious leaders. It is a mutual admiration society; and the press and the radio, the moving pictures and the artist, are all called into action to glorify the names of men, all of which keeps the minds of the people turned away from Jehovah God.

In his preparation for the great battle Satan summons his nobles and the principal of his flock, and these "noble" clergymen and principal of the flock, hypocritically claiming to be Christians, hurry to obey the summons of their master, Satan, even as the prophet of God says they would do; and as they come "they stumble in their march". (R. V.) They stumble over "The Stone", which is God's anointed King, as the prophet foretold. They make haste to the defense of Satan's world or organization; and in so doing they stumble and fall, even as Jesus the great Prophet foretold they would. (Matt. 21:44) "And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken." (Isa. 8: 14,15) They hasten to aid in the preparation for the assault upon God's Anointed, but they fall. "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."  — Ps. 27:2.

The prophet says: "They shall make haste to the wall thereof." The clergy and the principal of their flocks make haste to seek the instruments available for the persecution and punishment of those of God's people who are known as the remnant, and who are diligent in spreading among the people the truth of Jehovah. They make haste to man the bulwarks of Satan's organization, that the hated remnant may be destroyed. But while this preparation is going on,

the clergy, or "nobles", decline to appear in the open and defend their cause. Their policy is to never enter into an open discussion with those who represent God, because that would expose their duplicity to the people. They are "mighty men of Babylon" (the religious part of the organization), and they swagger about and content themselves with boasting words, and secretly bring their influence to bear upon the political factors to torment God's witnesses until the day the great battle will be fought, — Jer. 51: 30.

Satan knows that shortly he must fight the Lord, and therefore he prepares for the conflict. His method of preparation, however, is that of darkness. By loud boasting, by exalting the virtues and achievements of men, and by putting the nations in fear of each other, he hastens the gathering of the people together for the great day of battle. He is really keeping the men of his visible organization in the dark. Satan hates the remnant of God with a deadly hatred, and he incites his nobles and the principal of the flock to attempt their destruction. Doubtless Satan is confident that he can destroy the insignificant and "pestilential" group in the coming battle, but he now attempts to torment and persecute them.

Satan would completely destroy the remnant now, were it not for the protection God furnishes his own. The prophet refers to Satan's preparation and to his cohorts preparing for battle, and then says: "And the defence shall be prepared." These latter words manifestly refer to the protection God furnishes to his remnant. The word rendered "defence" appears in the margin as "covering", and is a covering or protection for those assaulting Satan's organization. Rotherham renders the text: "Yet the storming cover is prepared." Jehovah is the covering, and his

protection for his own is "in the secret place of the Most High", under the shadow of his wing; 'he shall cover these with his feathers, and under his wings shall they trust.' — Ps. 91:1-4.

Jehovah sent Jonah to prophesy against the capital city of Assyria. The prophecy was given when Jonah had been delivered from the belly of the whale. The destruction of the city was deferred until the day of God's preparation. Since Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, which was foretold by the deliverance of Jonah (Matt. 12:40), there has been given a testimony to the nations of earth; and particularly has this testimony been given since the second coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the faithful body members of Christ. During that period of time there has been a partial repentance of those who claim to be followers of Christ. Now the testimony work is about complete. The day of God's preparation is done. War upon and destruction of Satan's organization is now about due. As the gates of ancient Babylon were opened and the army entered and the city fell, so, as the prophet says, "The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved," and Satan's organization shall fall. — Nah. 2: 6.

The day of battle draws nigh. The day for the judgment of the nations is at hand. The Lord is in his holy temple for judgment. "Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is; and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple." — Mic. 1: 2.

Notice must be given to the world, because God does not take action in secret. Through his prophet Jehovah 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. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat [the place and time for Jehovah to pronounce and execute judgment]: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about." — Joel 3:9,10,12.

Satan marches his great army into "the valley of decision" for war. With blaring bands of military music and flying banners his officers approach. In the van march the kings, the princes, the presidents, the governors, and the smaller political rulers; the judges and the attendants upon the great judicial systems; the parliaments, the congresses, and all others having to do with the political machinery of the world. More bands and banners, and on come the financial giants of the world, comparatively small in number, but great in power. More music, banners and floats, and then appear in the line of march the mighty ecclesiastical pontiffs, the bishops, the cardinals, the priests, the rabbis, the doctors of divinity, the right reverends and all the other clergy, each wearing an apparel that identifies him, and accompanied by lay leaders and those who serve and receive the collections. Proud, haughty, cold, calculating and severe, and with heavy dignity, each one of the three great governing factors of the visible part of the Devil's organization takes its respective position in the line of march. Self-importance is written upon their countenance, and self-praise is upon all lips.

March! March! March! And on they come! In the line there are great magazine owners and publishers, who use their columns to extol the virtues of the mighty worldly organization. There are the owners and publishers of the great metropolitan newspapers, which mold public opinion in favor of the ruling heroes.

More bands of music, and on come the chariots and horses of war. These are no part of the ruling factors, but they are instruments employed by the ruling factors.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Will they never cease to tramp? All the nations must come, because they must assemble to drink of that cup of wrath which God has poured for them, and none can refuse. — Jer. 25:28.

There are more than sixty nations that are putting forth their best endeavors to equip for war. Some idea of the number of poor souls that are prepared for the slaughter, and which form a military instrument of the Devil's organization, may be gathered from the following table, which sets out the name of the country, the active army, the organized reserve, the unorganized reserve, and the total military manpower. These figures are published by the U. S. War Department, as of September 24, 1928.

It will be observed that the total military man-power set forth above is, to wit, 124,192,440 men. For all these men there must be war equipment, such as guns, swords, knives, knapsacks, gun carriages, tanks, ammunition, bombs, and all other instruments of destruction used by men of war. Then add to the above the tremendous navies of the countries, which are not here set forth, including torpedoes and numerous submarines. To this add the enormous aircraft that fly through the air and drop deadly missiles upon men. To this add poison gases, a comparatively small quantity of which would destroy a whole city in less than a day.

These are all marching into "the valley of decision", the mass of them ignorant of why they are going there. There are multitudes upon multitudes of people who are no part of this organization, but who are either indirectly or directly affected thereby. These include the drivers of motors, the hospital corps, those who supply and convey the food necessary to feed the armies, the doctors and the nurses. And then there are other multitudes upon multitudes of people who are indirectly affected, because their necessities of life must be curtailed in order to supply the military organization. And then, over and above all this visible organization, unseen by all and known by a very few, rides the Devil, its mighty god, flanked and supported by hordes of evil angels.

In view of all this array of organized power, even some who claim to be Christians scorn the thought of

a Devil's organization. It might here be asked, Whose organization is it that is above described? Surely God does not need such; and while these come in the name of the Lord, they come hypocritically in his name, but in fact in the name of Satan the Devil.

The visible part of God's organization is really small and insignificant, so small, in fact, as to hardly deserve notice. They are on the other side of the valley of decision, under the banner of the Lord. They bear no weapons of warfare; only their trumpets do they have with which to sound the praises of Jehovah God, The visible members of Satan's organization look upon this small and insignificant company of trumpeters with contempt. They are the only visible foes of Satan, and they refuse to compromise with any part of his organization. They persist in singing forth Jehovah's praise and in declaring the wonders of his works. Satan incites the clergy to destroy the little band of trumpeters, or singers, because the great ecclesiastics are annoyed by the presence of and the noise made by this small company of witnesses. The little company is doing no harm to any one; the politicians would find no occasion against them except for the influence of the ecclesiastics, and the financiers are too busy to give them any heed; but both must heed their ally's demands, because Satan is very mad at this little company and would destroy them. (Rev. 12:17) The Lord says to them: 'Continue to sound your trumpets, cease not day or night, and fear not; no evil shall befall you; I have put my words in your mouth; tell it out that others might know that I am God.' — Isa. 62: 6; 51:16; Ps. 91:10.

The power and military strength of the invisible part of God's organization can not be stated, because it is not revealed. We know that Jesus said that he

could call for twelve legions of angels for his own defense. We know, therefore, that there are angels of great power who form a part of God's mighty organization. Christ Jesus is the Head of it, the field marshal leading the forces; and over and above it all rides the Almighty God. The power thereof may be approximated somewhat by the results that follow. The great issue to be determined finally is, Who is the Almighty God? The day of decision is at hand, and those who have some knowledge of and faith in the Word of God are now enabled to determine from the words of the prophets what shall be the result.