RICHES

CHAPTER II

JONADAB

JEHOVAH sent his commissioned angel to the vicinity of earth, who there announced in the hearing of men the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world of humankind. There accompanied that messenger from heaven a "multitude of the heavenly host", and that multitude, immediately following the announcement of the birth of Jesus, sung a marvelous anthem that has resounded through the earth from then until now. As they sung the praises of Almighty God that host was heard saying: "Glory, in the highest, unto God! and on earth peace, among men of good-will." (Luke 2:14, Rotherham) Other translators render this text in this manner: "Glory be to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace among men who please him!" (Weymouth) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased." (Revised Version) That divine message proclaimed from on high proves beyond all doubt that God will have on earth a class of human creatures who are of good will toward God and his Christ, and that such human creatures will have everlasting peace. It does not mean good will amongst all men, as the text has often been applied; but it means peace among those men on earth who are of good will toward Jehovah and Christ Jesus. It is for the benefit of such that the great ransom sacrifice is provided.

Today the earth is filled with strife, and among all the nations there is no peace. In every nation extreme selfishness prevails and crime and gross wickedness are rampant. All worldly organizations are selfish and indulge in unrighteousness, and this includes every organization or denomination called "a church" on earth. From the sure word of divine prophecy, and from the undisputed physical facts, we know that extremely selfish and wicked organizations control the earth and soon these wicked organizations shall cease for ever during a time of great tribulation such as mankind never before have seen or even imagined. Such tribulation will be brought upon the wicked and selfish organizations by Jehovah himself in order to rid the universe of all unrighteousness.

The Scriptures and facts also show beyond all doubt that out from that great tribulation there will come a multitude of men of good will toward God and his kingdom and that such multitude has already become apparent and is coming forward singing the praises of Jehovah and saying: "Salvation [be ascribed] to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Revelation 7: 9,10) Such are the ones that recognize Jehovah as the true and almighty God, and Christ Jesus as God's anointed King and the only hope of the peoples and nations of the earth. A knowledge of Jehovah's purpose toward those of good will is now of most vital importance. Diligence in gaining that knowledge should now be exercised by all men of good will, because now it is the privilege of such to learn of God's purposes. Those who do so will in due time fill the earth with the praises of Jehovah and his kingdom and will enter into fullness

of peace, prosperity and riches beyond the fondest dream of natural man.

In God's infallible word there are recorded these ringing truths: "For if by one man's [Adam's] offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's [Adam's] disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Christ Jesus] shall many be made righteous." — Romans 5:17-19.

"Jesus . . . was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, . . . that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) These scriptures show that the value of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus is made available to every man who will gain a knowledge of Jehovah's gracious purpose, and who will then obey the will of God. Otherwise stated, the death of Jesus as the ransom price would be available for every human creature provided every human creature would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jehovah, and serve God faithfully. Those who spurn the Word of God, of course, cannot receive the benefit of the ransom sacrifice. It would be wholly inconsistent for God to extend the benefits of the ransom sacrifice to the wicked. Those who have been willfully wicked, and who have therefore refused to avail themselves of a knowledge of God's Word and obey him, Jehovah specifically declares that such he will destroy. "The Lord preserveth all them that

love him; but all the wicked will he destroy." (Psalm 145:20) It at once becomes apparent to all reasonable creatures that if they would receive the riches that God has in store for humankind they must know Jehovah, know Christ Jesus, know the Word of God, and then prove their love for God and Christ by obedience. God created the earth for men to inhabit, and he made it not in vain, and such is conclusive proof that the place of everlasting abode of men who obey the Lord will be upon the earth. (Isaiah 45:12,18) The time is now here when all persons of good will on the earth may gain the desired knowledge of the purpose of Jehovah to bestow upon them, through his kingdom, the riches that proceed from heaven.

From the day that God led the Israelites by the hand of Moses out of Egypt until the end of the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Israel, in the year 606 B.C., the Israelites were God's peculiar people, chosen for a purpose. With that people God made a covenant, and had they been faithful he would have taken out from Israel the "people for his name". Becoming unfaithful, they were cast away as a nation. During the time the Israelites were in the favor of God he used them to make many prophetic pictures, foretelling greater things to come to pass in the future as such things pertain to his kingdom under Christ and to the blessings that men will receive by and through that kingdom. By the hand of Moses as the mediator God gave to the Israelites his law, and the Scriptures record that 'the law was a shadow of good things to come'. (Hebrews 10:1) The many things which the Israelites did when under the favor of God, and the things that other people did in con-

nection with the Israelites, foreshadowed things to come to pass at the end of the world. (1 Corinthians 10:11) Now the end of the world has come and those prophetic pictures or dramas are, by the grace of God, made clear, to the end that those who are devoted to God may see and understand the meaning thereof and thus ascertain God's purpose. Some of these pictures we here examine, which will enable you to more clearly see the purpose of Jehovah.

Among the many prophetic pictures of the Bible is that concerning Jehu, one of the kings of Israel, and in which prophetic drama a man named Jonadab was invited by Jehu to join him in his chariot. That prophetic drama aids those who now have faith in God and in his Word to locate the men of good will who are on the earth at the present time and to whom the message delivered by the angelic host at the birth of Jesus now applies. You will want to learn about Jonadab and of the relation you bear to those foreshadowed by him.

Some historical facts concerning Israel's rulers, and in which Jehu figures, will be of interest at this point. The ten tribes of Israel had rebelled against the house of David and had selected their own king. Asa was king of Judah and reigned at Jerusalem about 979 B.C. The ten tribes were located in the north part of Palestine. Omri, a captain in the army of Israel, seized the throne of Israel, making himself king. Later he bought the site of Samaria and built his royal house there, where he reigned over the ten tribes of Israel. (1 Kings 16:16-24) Ahab succeeded Omri as king of Israel. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal. To Ahab and Jezebel was born a daughter named

Athaliah. Some time later Elijah prophesied concerning the coming of the three and one-half years of famine. Afterwards Ahab was killed in battle, and was succeeded by his son Ahaziah. — 1 Kings 22: 34-40.

Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel married Jehoram, the heir to the throne over Judah. He began to reign about 913 B.C., at Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 21:1) He was succeeded to the throne by Ahaziah the son of Athaliah, who was a grandson of Jezebel. Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab succeeded Ahaziah his brother to the throne of Israel. Elijah was taken away, and was succeeded by the prophet Elisha. Then Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, was anointed to be king over Israel. (2 Kings 9:1-6) Shortly thereafter Jehu slew Joram (or Jehoram). (2 Kings 9:24) Thereafter Jehu wiped out the entire house of Ahab.

THE KEY

Jehovah's purpose in having the house of Ahab destroyed furnishes the main key to the understanding of the work that Jehu performed and what it foreshadowed. Ahab pictured Satan, that old Serpent, the Devil. Jezebel, his wife, pictured Satan's "woman" or organization. Their offspring or seed pictures 'the seed of the Serpent', which must be destroyed because anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-Kingdom. The work of Jehu pictures Jehovah's procedure in destroying that which has brought depravity upon the human race and dishonor upon Jehovah's name.

The chief development leading up to the slaughter work done by Jehu was Baal worship, which is Devil worship. The name "Baal" means "to be master;

hence, to marry, to be the husband and, figuratively, the owner". Baal worship therefore appears to be the worship of the Devil by joining the organization of which the Devil is the master, husband and owner, and by accepting him, the Devil, as lord and head. "Baal-peor" means the practice of this Devil religion in connection with lewd and immoral women. It was a seductive means of turning men away from Jehovah God.

Balaam, the soothsayer from Mesopotamia, taught Balak the king of Moab how to seduce the Israelites in connection with this devilish religion of Baal-peor. That Jehovah hated the detestable thing is shown by the following: "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor." (Numbers 25:1-5) That wicked Balaam was slain by the sword at the command of the Lord given to Moses.  — Numbers 31:8.

After the ten tribes withdrew from Judah and set up their own kingdom at Samaria, it was Omri who gave official sanction to satanic worship by the Israelites. Ahab followed him on the throne, and concerning him it is written: "And Ahab the son of Omri

did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." — 1 Kings 16:30-33.

The three and one-half years' famine came upon Israel even as Elijah had prophesied. About the time of the end of that famine Elijah met Ahab and then and there told Ahab to his face that his practice of the Devil religion was the real cause of the trouble upon Israel. "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." — 1 Kings 18:17,18.

Ahab and Jezebel maintained "the prophets of Baal" by which the Israelites were debauched and turned away from Jehovah. Jehovah God used Elijah to execute His judgment upon these four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Later, when Jehu was addressing an assembly of the people, he said to them: "Ahab served Baal." (2 Kings 10:18) These scriptures definitely show that Ahab was given over entirely to Devil worship.

During Ahab's reign Jehu was an officer in his army. He was a captain and charioteer. At the time

Jehovah told Elijah that Jehu and Elisha most be anointed he also said: "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18) It seems quite reasonable, therefore, that, although Jehu was serving in the army of Ahab, Jehu was among the seven thousand Israelites that had refused to indulge in the Devil worship or Baalism.

Ahaziah succeeded his father Ahab to the throne. He was injured by a fall, and he sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, meaning the Devil-god of Ekron, concerning his recovery: "And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed." — 2 Kings 1:2-4.

Jehoram (or Joram) succeeded Ahaziah to the throne; and while he was not as wicked as Ahab, still Baal worship persisted in Israel during his reign. During his reign the old woman Jezebel was still alive and she continued to sponsor the Devil worship. (2 Kings 3:1-3) Afterwards, concerning Jehu, it is written: "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." (2 Kings 10: 28) At that point the Jehu picture ends.

The subsequent facts recorded concerning him do not foreshadow any work done by any servant of Jehovah.

'ELECT SERVANT'

The elect servant of Jehovah is Christ, his beloved Son. (Isaiah 42:1) Jehovah used faithful men of old, designated by him as "prophets", to do work in his name, which prophets and their work foreshadowed greater work to be done in the future. The prophet Elijah faithfully served Jehovah God, and Jehovah used Elijah to express his abomination concerning the Devil (or Baal) religion. Elijah and his work foreshadowed the work done by faithful men on the earth under the direction of Christ Jesus, God's Elect Servant, for the period of time from about A.D. 1878 to the year 1918. Elijah was taken away in a whirlwind, and Elisha succeeded him in the office of prophet and servant of God. The work that Elisha thereafter did foreshadowed the work done on the earth by the faithful followers of Christ Jesus and under the direction of Christ Jesus, God's Elect Servant, from and after the time the Lord Jesus comes to the temple of Jehovah. — Malachi 3:1-3.

Such faithful ones serving under Christ Jesus the Scriptures designate as the "faithful and wise servant" class (Matthew 24:45-47), and to that faithful class the Lord commits his kingdom interests on earth; and this faithful servant class is commissioned by the Lord to advertise his kingdom by preaching this good news, gospel, or message of the kingdom to those who will hear amongst all the nations of the earth. When Elijah was taken away there was a short period of tune elapsing before Elisha began his work. The Scrip-

tures and the facts show that the work which the man Elijah the prophet did foreshadows a work done by the faithful servant class under Christ Jesus, and which work ended in A.D. 1918; that there was then a short period of time of inactivity on the part of the true followers of Christ Jesus, which period of inactivity was followed by a greater work, which latter work was foreshadowed by the prophet Elisha and which activity is herein spoken of as "the Elisha work" or "work of the Elisha period". This work of the Elisha period or Elisha work began in A.D. 1919 and must continue until the witness work is done. Those who prove entirely faithful to God in doing this work foreshadowed by the prophets are made part of his 'elect servant' class, of which Christ Jesus is Head and Chief. Such faithful ones are brought into the temple of God and are appointed and anointed specifically to be witnesses to Jehovah.  — Isaiah 43:10-12.

King Jehu was a type or picture of Jehovah's elect servant and sometimes foreshadowed both Christ Jesus and his faithful followers. The fulfillment of the Jehu prophetic drama must take place after the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple of Jehovah, which coming was in A.D. 1918. Jehu came in contact with the prophet Elijah and lived for more than twenty-eight years of the period of the prophet Elisha. This appears to mean that Jehovah, during the Elijah period, that is, from A.D. 1878 to A.D. 1918, began to prepare a people to be witnesses to the name of Jehovah, and that those who prove faithful during that period were brought over into the Elisha period, which began in A.D. 1919, and that these are made mem-

bers of God's organization and are designated the "faithful and wise servant" class. It is upon such faithful ones that God bestows his "new name", calling them "Jehovah's witnesses"; and these continuing faithful unto death are the ones that are changed in "the first resurrection" into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Revelation 20:6) This would show that Jehovah's witnesses are embraced within the picture or drama made by Jehu and Jonadab. Being associated with them in the work being done enables us to locate the class whom Jonadab represented or pictured.

IN SUPPORT

In support of the conclusion that Jehu pictured Jehovah's 'elect servant' the following is submitted: Jehu was born under the law covenant and was therefore an Israelite, in covenant relationship with Jehovah, and which facts are shown by the Scriptures and God's dealing with him. (2 Kings 13:1-6; 14: 23-27) The fact that he was against Baal worship is further proof that he was in the favor of the Lord God.

The name "Jehu" means "Jehovah is he". His name is emphatic in calling attention to the fact that Jehovah is he that is the Supreme One, and this is the same fact to which the "servant" class, including Jehovah's witnesses, the "remnant", now call the attention of the people. The names of his father and grandfather are also significant. Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, who was the son of Nimshi. (2 Kings 9:2,14) "Nimshi," the name of his grandfather, means "extricated", being probably derived from mashah, the primitive root word, meaning to "pull out" and

being the same root word from which the name Moses is derived. "Jehoshaphat," the name of the father of Jehu, means "Jehovah-judged, that is, vindicated". The latter part of the name, shaphat, means "to judge or pronounce judgment or sentence either for or against; and, by implication, to govern or rule and vindicate". This Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, is not the same as Jehoshaphat mentioned in 1 Kings 15:24 as the son of Asa. These two names therefore, Nimshi and Jehoshaphat, would represent that which is taken out or pulled out and used for the vindication of Jehovah's name.

It was Jehovah who gave order for the anointing of Jehu to be king over Israel, and therefore the anointing was by Jehovah. Ahab was never anointed by Jehovah. So far as the record discloses, Jehu was the only man ever anointed by order of Jehovah to be king over Israel the ten-tribe kingdom. The record is: "And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel." (1 Kings 19:16) Acting under instructions from the Lord, Elisha directed his "young man" to go and perform the anointing: "And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel." — 2 Kings 9: 2, 3, 6.

Jehu was duly anointed and commissioned as the executioner of Jehovah to exterminate Baal, or Devil worship, in Israel. His divinely given commission reads: "And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah; and the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her." —2 Kings 9: 7-10.

Jehu fulfilled his commission. "And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab ..." (2 Chronicles 22:7,8); which words prove that he was an executioner. In carrying out his commission from the Lord Jehu gained Jehovah's "well done" or approval, and for that reason Jehovah made the covenant with Jehu that his sons should continue to reign on the throne. (2 Kings 10:30) This statement is that they should reign for four generations, that is to say, a foursquare or complete succession to the throne. Jehu and his house occupied the throne of Israel for a hundred years. Jehu himself reigned twenty-eight years. (2 Kings 10:36) Jehoahaz, his first generation, reigned for seventeen years, and during that time God favored Israel. (2 Kings 13:4,5) Joash, or Jehoash, the grandson of Jehu, was on the throne of Israel at the death of Elisha, and he was favored by Jehovah's prophet.  — 2 Kings 13:14-23.

At Mount Carmel Elijah had slaughtered four hundred and fifty of the priests of Baal; and Jehu duplicated that slaughter work, only on a far greater scale. (1 Kings 18:40; 2 Kings 10:18-25) Elijah made a start at the slaughter work of Baal worship, and Jehu completed that work. (2 Kings 10: 28) Another point in his favor is that Jehu was anti-Jezebel. He had and manifested the spirit similar to that of the Lord's approved people who have and manifest the anti-Jezebel spirit, as described in Revelation 2: 20-23. He rode over Jezebel in utter contempt and trampled her to death. Jehu was a vindicator of Jehovah's word, in this, that he fulfilled the word of Jehovah spoken by his prophet Elijah against Ahab and Jezebel. In this work he also completed that which Elijah had begun. Elijah had called down fire from heaven in the presence of the prophets of Baal and Ahab at Mount Carmel. His prayer was: "Hear me, 0 LORD, hear me; that this people may know that thou art the LORD God." (1 Kings 18: 37) That was a vindication of Jehovah's reputation, but not sufficient to cause the reformation of Ahab and Jezebel. Baal worship continued, and the Lord God used Jehu to vindicate his word and his name in connection with Baal worship. (2 Kings 9: 25-37; 10: 9-11) These are merely abstract statements of historical facts showing that Jehu was used by Jehovah in performing the work of execution upon the representatives of Satan, and therefore supporting the conclusion that he foreshadowed the work of executing God's judgment upon Satan and his organization and which the Scriptures plainly show will be done by Christ Jesus and those associated with him.

Jehu was a fighting man. He was in the chariot corps and a captain in the army of Israel. Whenever Jehovah favored the army of Israel that army was victorious over the enemy, and hence the army became and was the army of the Lord of hosts; and that, being true, would make Jehu a captain in the army of the Lord of hosts. (1 Kings 20:1-30; 2 Kings 3:5-25; 6:24-7:16) Jehu was known and was recognized by reason of his rapid driving, because he drove "furiously", that is, "in madness." (2 Kings 9:16, 20, marginal reading) The fact that Jehu was associated with the war chariot of Israel seems to suggest that those who fulfill the Jehu picture must have to do and are associated with "the chariot of the cherubims" (1 Chronicles 28:18) that pictures the colossal chariot of Jehovah's organization, which the prophet Ezekiel saw in vision and which the Ezekiel class understands to picture Jehovah's great organization. (Ezekiel 1; 10) "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place." (Psalm 68:17) "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." (Nahum 2:3) "Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?" (Habakkuk 3:8) "Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind." — Psalm 104: 3.

The word of Jehovah concerning the house of Ahab and Jezebel was fully vindicated with the destruction of that house. In his due time Jehovah God will completely vindicate his word and his name concerning Satan and his organization by the full and complete destruction thereof. Jehu had done the work well concerning the house of Ahab and Jezebel, but he was not yet through with his execution work specified in his commission. There was something more for him to do.

ZEAL FOR JEHOVAH

Jehu had much zeal for Jehovah, and that is another reason why he pictured Christ, the royal Executioner. Concerning the Lord Jesus it is written: "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." (Psalm 69: 9) Such is the zeal peculiar to the royal house, and therefore is pleasing to Jehovah. Elijah manifested like zeal for the Lord of hosts. After he had slain the prophets of Baal and then went and hid himself in a cave at Mount Horeb, in response to an inquiry from the Lord as to why he was there Elijah said: "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts." (1 Kings 19:10) The word "jealous" in this text means the same as 'zealous' in Psalm 69: 9. The two words are derived from the same root. 'Jehovah is a jealous [zealous] God.' (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9) "For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." —Deuteronomy 4:24.

Concerning the establishment of the righteous government under Christ the King it is written: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts [Lord of battle] will per-

form this." (Isaiah 9:7) In the Scriptures the words "zealous" and "jealous" are from the same root word: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." (2 Corinthians 11:2) When Paul was defending himself before the Jews he said of himself: 'I was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.' (Acts 22:3; Philippians 3:6; Colossians 4:13) The remnant of God, who are anointed to do his work, must have this same zeal for Jehovah. "Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13,14) The words "zealous" and "jealous" as used in the above scriptures do not mean ill will or hatred or envy, but they do mean a strong, unbending determination to carry out the righteous purpose of the Lord; an unbreakable determination to accomplish that which one is commissioned by the Lord to do. They obey God rather than man.

Jehu drove "furiously", or "with madness", and with an unbending and unbreakable determination that he would permit nothing to hinder him in the accomplishment of his purpose for which he was commissioned. In the very hour that he received his commission he started with his military staff to execute that commission. When the messengers of the kings approached him and inquired why he was thus driving he said to them: 'Get out of my way, and get in the rear; I have no time to waste with you.' Likewise when Christ Jesus received the order from Jehovah to go forth and rule in the midst of the enemy, he started the "war in heaven" and ousted Satan

and his angels from heaven and cast them down to the earth. The Scriptures show that just as soon as the testimony work now in progress is completed, according to the will of Jehovah, Jesus will move without delay and will permit nothing to hinder him in executing the enemy. — Psalm 110:1-6; Revelation 11: 17-19; 12:7-12; Matthew 24:14,21,22; Psalm 45:3,4.

The members of the "body of Christ", including the remnant now on the earth, must have the same zeal as that which was manifested by Jehu. To see and to appreciate the fact that the Kingdom is here means that the remnant must be diligent in performing their work until every vestige of the enemy organization falls. (Isaiah 6:9-12) Jehovah has commanded that the testimony work must be done before the slaughter work begins, and the remnant are zealous to do it, fully determined that by the grace of God nothing shall prevent them from doing it faithfully. "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not, to keep thy commandments. My zeal hath consumed me; because mine enemies have forgotten thy words."  — Psalm 119:59,60,139.

In doing this work in the name of Jehovah of hosts the remnant must drive rapidly, and many call them mad perverts for so doing. But it matters not what the enemy says; they are doing it with joy. When David went out to fight in the army of the Lord he said: "The king's business required haste." (1 Samuel 21: 8) When the Lord's anointed see and appreciate that the Kingdom is here they see that it is time to make haste in obeying God's commandments. They are diligent to make their calling and election

sure. (2 Peter 1:10) They engage in the Lord's service with a zeal peculiar to Jehovah's house. "In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack." — Zephaniah 3:16.

JONADAB

A man by the name of Hemath was the father of the house of Rechab, who was a Kenite. (1 Chronicles 2:55) The Kenites lived in the desert-land between the southern part of Canaan and the mountains of Sinai. They were connected with the Midianites. When Pharaoh sought to kill Moses the young man Moses fled from Egypt and went into the land of Midian and there married the daughter of Jethro a Kenite. (Exodus 2:15-21) The Kenites showed much kindness to Moses when he was in distress, and that kindness Moses never forgot. When the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, were journeying from Egypt to Canaan they passed by the Kenites, and Moses said to the Kenites: "We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good." (Numbers 10: 29) It was from these Kenites that Rechab descended. Rechab was the ancestor of Jehonadab, who was the real founder of the nomadic tribe of Rechabites. In the Scripture his name appears both as "Jehonadab" and as "Jonadab", and hereinafter this man is referred to as or called "Jonadab".

"He and his people had all along been worshippers of Jehovah, circumcised, though not looked upon as belonging to Israel, and probably therefore not considering themselves bound by the Mosaic law and rit-

ual. The worship of Baal was offensive to them. Jehonadab inaugurated a reformation and compelled a more rigid adherence than ever to the old Arab life. They were neither to drink wine, nor build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant nor have any vineyard. All their days they were to dwell in tents. (Jeremiah 35: 6, 7) This was to be the condition of their retaining a distinct tribal existence. For two centuries and a half they adhered faithfully to this rule. The invasion of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, in B.C. 607, drove the Rechabites from their tents to Jerusalem, where they stood proof against temptation, and were specially blessed." —International Bible Dictionary, page 550 — "Rechab."

Jehu had progressed with his work of execution and had slain the kings and sons of Ahab and others, and when he finished with the forty-two adherents of Ahaziah he met up with Jonadab. Jehu put the question to Jonadab: 'Are you on my side or not?' By that time Jonadab would have heard what Jehu was doing, or probably Jehu told him he was destroying Baalism in Israel; otherwise Jonadab would not have understood the question Jehu put to him: "And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand: and he took him up to him into the chariot." (2 Kings 10:15) Manifestly Jehovah permitted Jonadab to appear in this picture for some good purpose, and that purpose when known must be an encouragement and comfort to the faithful. It

does not appear from the record that Jonadab did anything toward the slaying work. What, then, did Jonadab represent in this picture?

Jonadab represented or foreshadowed that class of people now on the earth during the time that the Jehu work is in progress who are of good will, are out of harmony with Satan's organization, take their stand on the side of righteousness, and are the ones whom, if obedient and faithful, the Lord will preserve during the time of Armageddon, take them through that trouble, and give them everlasting life on the earth. These constitute the "sheep" class that favor God's anointed people, because they know that the anointed of the Lord are doing the Lord's work. (Matthew 25:32-40) In support of this conclusion the following is submitted:

The name "Jehonadab" means (according to Strong's Concordance) "Jehovah-largess", that is to say, liberal, generous and bountiful. According to another authority the name means "Jehovah is bounteous". His name, therefore, would suggest that Jonadab pictures the class to whom Jehovah is very generous. The Rechabites were sticklers for observing what they considered to be right as they were taught. The Scriptures show that Jonadab followed the course of honesty and meekness and did what he believed to be right, and that he taught his children righteousness and that they followed a like course. The descendants of Jonadab received a commandment from man, but not from Jehovah, that they must drink no wine for ever, that they should not build houses, but must dwell in tents. That meant that they must lead a simple life of self-denial. Their faithfulness

in doing what they had been taught because they understood it to be right the Lord used by way of comparison with the unfaithfulness of Israel in failing to do what they were commanded by Him. God had commanded the Israelites that they should not eat at the Devil's table, which meant that they should have nothing to do with devil worship, and the Israelites disregarded this commandment and turned to Baalism or Devil worship. Today the so-called "organized Christianity", in which the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and its priests take the lead, entirely disregards the commandments of the Lord and attempts to eat and drink at His table while at the same time they partake of the Devil's table by making their organization a part of Satan's world. "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." (1 Corinthians 10:21) Jehovah hates a hypocrite.

The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the official and governing body that rules the religionists of the world, and the so-called "Protestant" organizations are now linked up and jointly form what is called "organized Christianity". What is here said about the Hierarchy and the clergy or ruling body is not applied to the sincere Catholics or sincere Protestants. There are millions of Catholics who are supposed to be members of the Catholic church, but are not members; even the Hierarchy designates them as "Catholic population". No one should be held up to ridicule because he is a Catholic. Sincere Catholics want to know the truth, and what is said here in the way of criticism is for the purpose of enabling honest people to see

how a few men have misled and defrauded millions of honest persons. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the governing body, together with the clergy of the other denominations, claim to be the representatives of God and the ones to whom the right is delegated to proclaim his Word. They claim to be Christians; therefore they are at least in an implied covenant to do the will of God. On the contrary, they have not obeyed the commandments of God, but have followed their own selfish desires. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, that governing religious-political body, has misled and greatly deceived millions of honest persons.

Many of these persons of good will have given support to the Catholic organization, both financially and morally and otherwise, but these honest people of good will have not at all approved the hypocrisy practiced in these organizations. Many other persons of good will outside of the organizations called "organized Christianity" have desired to do right and still have such desire and wish to know and to serve Jehovah God. The time must come when these people of good will toward God will receive an opportunity to hear and to know the truth; and that time has now come. The hypocritical class designated "organized Christianity'' was foreshadowed by the faithless Israelites who claimed to be God's people and yet refused to obey God and turned from the worship of God to Baalism or Devil worship. The persons of good will now on the earth were foreshadowed by those of the house of Jonadab. With these observations let us proceed to examine the Scriptures and see how the faithless Israelites stood before God as compared with the Jonadabs.

Jehovah caused his prophet Jeremiah to utter a prophecy in which the faithless Israelites are strongly contrasted with the Jonadabs, and such prophecy foretells that Jehovah will reject hypocritical "organized Christianity", so called, and particularly the hypocritical leaders thereof, and that he will extend his favor and blessing to the people of good will who take their stand on the side of righteousness, and who were foreshadowed by the house of Jonadab. That prophecy follows: "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink." — Jeremiah 35:1,2.

This part of the prophecy foreshadows God opening the way for those people of good will now on the earth to be brought into his house or organization and receive his blessings. Many persons of good will are now observed coming into the organization of Jehovah, as this prophecy foreshadowed. The prophet then continues: "Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: and I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine:

for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons for ever." — Jeremiah 35: 3-6.

Observe that the Rechabites refused to drink wine that was offered to them, thus showing their determination to be faithful to what they had promised. They were determined to keep their word of promise. The prophecy continues, showing the Rechabites speaking as they had been instructed by Jonadab, the founder of that house, to wit: "Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us." — Jeremiah 35: 7-10.

Those Rechabites of the house of Jonadab had not set their hearts on worldly riches, such as houses and vineyards. Their dwelling in tents symbolically says they were sojourners, looking for a better government, which like desire had filled the hearts of other faithful men of old who by faith had looked forward to a better government, to wit, the righteous government of God under Christ Jesus, and which is symbolized by a city. (See Hebrews 11:14-16.) When the city of Jerusalem was threatened by the allied armies of the east the Jonadabs went to dwell in Jerusalem, thus illustrating or picturing the people of good will

at the present time seeking a place of peace and safety with God's organization on earth.

Then the Lord by the prophecy draws a strong contrast of the one with the other, showing his displeasure with the covenant-breakers, the Israelites, and showing his pleasure in those men of the house of Rechab, the Jonadabs, that had faithfully kept their agreement to do what they had promised. The prophecy continues: "Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and tell the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers; but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me." — Jeremiah 35:12-15.

This prophecy concerning the Israelites exactly describes the course of action taken by the so-called "organized Christianity" under the leadership of the governing factors, and which is so apparent today among these organizations on earth. Particularly the ruling element of the Roman Catholic organization, and the clergy of other organizations, have made great

pretenses of serving God, but in fact have been engaged in serving the Devil and by their course of action have deceived millions and led them to believe that these governing factors or clergymen are servants of God. The whole ruling element, to wit, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and the chief men supporting their organization, and who have controlled and ruled the "Catholic population", have been entirely unfaithful to God. The honest, sincere ones of the "Catholic population", who are of good will toward God, were foreshadowed by the Jonadabs.

Then Jehovah directs the prophet Jeremiah to speak these words, which words apply to the people of good will, to wit: "Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you; therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever."  — Jeremiah 35:16-19.

The marginal reading of this verse is: "There shall not a man be cut off from Jonadab the son of Rechab

to stand before me for ever." Here is a positive promise from Jehovah to the people of good will now on the earth, who take their stand firmly on the side of the Lord and continue faithful there, that they shall in due time enter into great riches and stand before the Lord for ever approved.

Moses, who was a type of the 'Elect Servant' of Jehovah, Christ Jesus, invited the Kenites, from which came the Jonadabs, to "come . . . with us, and we will do thee good". (Numbers 10: 29) That foreshadowed members of the 'elect servant' class today saying to the people of good will, in effect: 'Come with us, and learn to know Jehovah and Christ Jesus, and serve them, and good will result to you.'

Recurring now to the prophetic drama or picture performed by Jehu, and in which Jonadab appears, the Scripture record shows conclusively that Jonadab was against the Devil religion called Baalism. The record says that Jehu "lighted on [(margin) found] Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot". — 2 Kings 10:15.

Jonadab knew that Jehu was then doing the work commanded by Jehovah to destroy the Devil worshipers out of the land, and Jonadab knew that such was a righteous work, and he was in full sympathy therewith. Likewise at the present time those people on earth of good will, and who learn of the work that Jehovah's witnesses are now doing at the commandment of the Lord, know that such is a righteous work,

and these people of good will are in full sympathy with that work and desire to be identified with that righteous work.

A chariot symbolically represents or pictures an organization; and since Jehu was riding in a chariot while engaged in the work of Jehovah, his chariot pictured Jehovah's organization now on earth, that is, the "faithful servant" class, Jehovah's remnant, and who are Jehovah's witnesses acting under the leadership of Christ Jesus. Jehu took hold of the hand of Jonadab and asked Jonadab to get up into Jehu's chariot, and in this he pictured the Lord Jesus giving aid to those persons of good will who desire to unite themselves to his organization. Note that Jehu did this after Jonadab had sincerely expressed himself as being of the same heart or mind as Jehu, which means that he was in full sympathy with Jehu and his work and that his motive was like that of Jehu, namely, unselfish, and that his action showed him on the side of Jehovah God. This proves that those who would have the blessing of the Lord God must declare themselves on the side of God and his kingdom, and must take their position with the visible organization of Jehovah on earth.

Jehu, having found Jonadab in full heart accord and in sympathy with him and his work, no doubt told Jonadab what he was about to do: "And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made him ride in his chariot." (2 Kings 10:16) Jehu was not boasting of his zeal, but was notifying Jonadab to observe the proper course of one who agrees to do the will of God. What Jehu did he did earnestly and enthusiastically. His words mean that he

was determined to accomplish the purpose and work which Jehovah God had assigned to him and that he would do so in the name and by the grace of the Lord. Jonadab went with Jehu and doubtless supported Jehu in his work, doing what he was asked or told to do. By giving his hand to Jonadab Jehu symbolically said: 'I will use my power for you and give you aid, support and comfort, and teach you the right way to serve Jehovah God.' Likewise the Lord now says to the people of good will.

Jehu, accompanied by Jonadab, went to Samaria, where the remaining members of the house of Ahab were destroyed. Then Jehu prepared for a clean-up of all the leaders of Devil worship throughout Israel. The fact that Jonadab was with Jehu on this commission shows that he was thereby giving testimony against the Devil and for Jehovah, and thus illustrates the Jonadabs by their bold and courageous course of action bearing testimony to the name of Jehovah God and his kingdom at this day. Jehu employed strategy that he might gather all the priests of Baal or Devil worshipers at one place and there dispatch them: "And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshippers of

Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not.

"And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day [the day the prophecy was written]. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." — 2 Kings 10:18-28.

The commission given to Jehu by God to destroy Baalism shows that the Devil religion is an abomination in the sight of Jehovah. This shows that hypocrisy in the name of the Lord, as practiced by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and the other religionists,

is a great abomination in the sight of Jehovah. "When Jehu went into the house of Baal, accompanied by Jonadab, that was a testimony on the part of Jonadab that he was against the Devil worship and on the side of Jehovah. Likewise at the present time, when the men of good will, regardless of their previous church associations, now openly associate themselves with Jehovah's witnesses and give aid and support to them in their work, the Jonadabs, or people of good will, thereby give testimony before the people that they are against the hypocritical or Devil religion as practiced by "organized Christianity", so called, and that they are on the side of Jehovah and his kingdom.

There are many other scriptures that fully corroborate this conclusion. Jehovah and his King, Christ Jesus, now afford to the Jonadab class the opportunity to prove their love for the kingdom of righteousness by joining with Jehovah's witnesses in the giving of testimony and in supporting such work financially, morally and actively in the preparation and publication of the kingdom message. This gospel of good news of the kingdom must now be told to the people in obedience to the commandment of the Lord, and it is the privilege and duty of the Jonadab class to have part in the delivering of this glorious message.

Jehu called upon all the Baal or Devil worshipers to clearly identify themselves, and this they did by wearing certain garments. A vestment or garment is symbolic of identification. For the purpose of making those men identify themselves Jehu said: "Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal"; and all others were excluded from the Baal temple.

This symbolically says that there must be a division amongst the people so that all may be identified as on one side or the other; that is, either on the side of the Devil or on the side of Jehovah God and his kingdom. Jehovah's servants are now commanded to publish the truth and to call upon all who are against the kingdom message to don the vestments or garments identifying themselves and thus declaring themselves against the kingdom of God. Those who join with the anointed of the Lord in bearing testimony to his name indicate where they stand by separating themselves from the hypocritical religionists. When Elijah, on another occasion, was causing the Devil worshipers to identify themselves he said: 'If Jehovah be Almighty God, follow him; if the Devil be your god, follow him.' (1 Kings 18:21) That corresponds exactly with what Jehu did, and shows that at the present time God brings about conditions causing the people to take their stand either on the side of the Devil or on the side of the Lord, and thus identify themselves. There are many of the prophetic pictures in the Scriptures showing a division of the people, and in each instance God causes knowledge to be brought to the attention of the people, thereby affording the people an opportunity to choose voluntarily whom they will serve.

Let it be kept clearly in mind that Jehovah God is not trying to save men. He has not commissioned any company or people on the earth to try to save men. God does not try to do anything, but accomplishes his purpose according to his will. Jehovah has provided boundless blessings of riches for those who do serve him, and he causes a knowledge of his

truth to be brought to the attention of men that they may voluntarily choose whether they will serve God and receive his blessing, or serve selfish men who are dominated and controlled by the Devil. It is the men who exercise faith in God and in Christ Jesus as the Redeemer of man, and who then prove their faithfulness by boldly making known this fact to others, that receive the blessings of the Lord. Such men delight to declare the truth of God's Word and his kingdom to others. To that end God sends the truth to the people; and this he does by sending throughout the land his witnesses to declare his name and his kingdom, and by this means he affords an opportunity and privilege to men of good will to join with his anointed witnesses in declaring his message of truth to others, that they may intelligently act and choose whom they wish to serve. The prophetic drama of Jehu and Jonadab, therefore, clearly illustrates the people of good will now on the earth taking their stand on the side of God and his kingdom and serving with Jehovah's witnesses in making known these truths to the people.

'MARK FOREHEADS'

It has pleased Jehovah by other prophets to identify and locate his people of good will now on earth. Jehovah's invisible organization, which is in heaven, and those on the earth who are a part of his organization work in exact harmony. The invisible or heavenly part of the organization is likewise in control. In the prophecy of Ezekiel a prophetic drama or picture appears, showing the working together of the heavenly part of God's organization with those on

earth and disclosing the manner of instructing and separating the people. The prophecy recorded at the ninth chapter of Ezekiel, and which is fully supported by other prophecies, shows a separating work taking place shortly preceding the battle of the great day of God Almighty, otherwise called "Armageddon", and clearly identifies the class of people of good will.

Christ Jesus is the mighty Executive Officer of Jehovah, and the one who leads the host of heaven at the battle of the great day of God Almighty, and who executes Jehovah's judgment upon the Devil's organization. In the prophecy of Ezekiel above mentioned these words are recorded: "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." (Ezekiel 9:1) This command directs the invisible army of Jehovah to make preparations for the final battle, and for this reason the invisible army of the Lord is told to draw near and each one to have in his hand a slaughter weapon. In the vision Ezekiel behold six creatures approaching: "And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side; and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar." — Ezekiel 9:2.

Six is a symbolic number used in the Scriptures to denote incompleteness, whereas the number seven symbolizes completeness. Jehovah's organization being one and at complete unity, the "six men" in this drama

symbolically discloses and identifies the invisible or heavenly part of God's organization, while the one man with the writer's inkhorn by his side, and clothed in linen, pictures the "faithful servant" class on earth, the visible part of God's organization under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. The six, representing the heavenly, and the one, representing the earthly, picture the entire organization in completeness. The earthly part of God's organization is commanded to bear testimony or publish the truth of and concerning Jehovah and his kingdom. The "faithful servant" class on the earth is likened unto a bride adorned for her husband, and concerning this class it is written in the Scriptures: "It was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Revelation 19:8, R.V.) The figure of one creature clothed with linen, and bearing an inkhorn at his side, pictures the entire remnant or servant class; that is, Jehovah's witnesses are pictured. The two parts of the Lord's organization now act in exact harmony. The invisible part does the work of execution of the wicked, while the visible or earthly part does the work of publishing the message of truth, to the end that intelligent creatures may choose which side they will take before the execution takes place. The publishing work must first be done, and when that is done then the invisible part of Jehovah's organization will execute those who are on the side of the Devil and under his wicked organization.

Religion is an integral part of Satan's organization. From the time of Nimrod the Devil has employed religion to reproach the name of Jehovah God and to

deceive men and turn them away from God. Religious organizations are chiefly understood by the people to be made up of those who worship God; but the fact is, those organizations called "religious" are political, the objective of which is to gain and exercise control over the peoples of the earth. Under the dominating control of these so-called "religious organizations" are many persons of good will who have been induced by fear to support the unrighteous and hypocritical organizations. The entire organization on earth is symbolized under the term "city", which God will destroy at Armageddon. Before the destruction takes place Jehovah gives command that his publishers, his witnesses, that is, 'the man with the writer's inkhorn by his side,' must do a certain work, and to this end the Lord gives command: "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry, for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." — Ezekiel 9:4.

Hypocrisy or Devil worship is exceedingly abominable unto Jehovah. Under the control of the governing part of these religious organizations, to wit, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, there are millions of persons of good will who see the cruel, unjust and wicked things done in the church organizations in the name of God and of Christ, and those persons of good will are pictured as the ones 'who sigh and cry, for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof'.

It is the will of Jehovah that such persons of good will may have an opportunity to get a knowledge of the truth. The forehead of a man symbolically rep-

resents the seat of intelligence; therefore to 'set a mark upon the forehead of those that sigh and cry' means to give to such people an intelligent perception of the truth of and concerning Jehovah's purpose. That is the work which Jehovah's witnesses are now commanded to do and which work they are doing, by the grace of God, by going from house to house to inform the people of God's purpose. For this reason Jehovah's witnesses have published many books explaining the Scriptures, and these are daily carried to the people who desire to receive 'the mark in their foreheads'; such are the meek or teachable ones who are seeking knowledge. It is these persons of good will, otherwise called "Jonadabs", who receive a knowledge of the truth and who are thus marked in the forehead and who then show that they have been thus marked by attaching themselves to the visible part of God's organization, and go along with Jehovah's witnesses, and join them in giving testimony to others.

In God's due time this witness work, that is to say, the work of setting a mark on the forehead of those that desire the truth, will be done, and this is shown by the words of the prophet: "And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me." — Ezekiel 9:11.

This corresponds exactly with the words of Jesus, who commanded that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached . . . for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"; and that end shall come in a time of tribulation such as never before was known in the world. (Matthew 24:14, 21) When

the witness work is done and completed by those pictured as 'the man with the writer's inkhorn and clothed with linen', then will follow the work as pictured in the prophecy by the "six men", that is to say, the heavenly part of God's organization. To this invisible company the Lord Jesus gives command, which is heard by the prophet and is recorded in these words: "And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." (Ezekiel 9: 5, 6) This shows that God's Executioner slays all except those who bear the mark in the forehead, and likewise is directed to begin with the "ancient men", that is to say, those high in authority and who exercise governing control over the organization. It is those who are marked in the foreheads that are spared. This appears to mark the beginning or first part of Armageddon, the battle of the great day of God Almighty: "And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city." — Ezekiel 9:7.

This part of the prophecy shows a great slaying work being done and that those who are themselves on the side of the Devil and his organization shall be destroyed and shall not be spared: "And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the Lord: I will not pity,

nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them." — Jeremiah 13:14.

It is the Jonadab class who are marked in the forehead that obey the Lord and are spared and protected by the Lord during Armageddon. A more detailed explanation of this prophecy of Ezekiel is found in Vindication, Book One, page 94.

NOAH AND FAMILY

Another picture in the Bible which enables one to locate the people of good will is that concerning Noah and his family. In Noah's day the peoples of earth had become extremely wicked, and Jehovah announced to Noah his purpose to destroy the creatures of earth. God commanded Noah to build an ark, which would furnish a place of safety for Noah and his family during the time of the great deluge. (Genesis 6:1-17) That great destruction which came upon the earth at the flood prophetically foretold the destruction of the Devil's wicked organization that rules the earth at the present time. (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17: 26,27) The ark that Noah builded was a picture of the only place of safety for those who serve God, to wit, God's organization. The wickedness in the earth in Noah's day was the result of Satan and his wicked angels' deceiving and defrauding other creatures, which matter is more fully discussed and explained in the booklet Angels.

Religion has been the chief means employed by the Devil to deceive the people, and mention is made of religious organizations in order that the truth now due to be understood may be appreciated by those who love righteousness.

Every religious organization that has existed, beginning with Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10), Satan has overreached and used for his purpose. The most glaring example of this is the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Parading under the name of God and of Christ, that organization is used by Satan to deceive millions of people who have desired to do right but who are kept in ignorance of what is Jehovah's purpose. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the strongest visible foe on earth of Jehovah's witnesses and that organization is desperately fighting to keep the people in ignorance of the truth. This is conclusive proof that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is Satan's organization, into which he has drawn and entrapped many good persons whom he desires to hold under restraint and away from God. In like manner Satan has held many persons in the Protestant churches under the control of their clergymen. It was even so in Noah's day that Satan entrapped the "sons of God". (Genesis 6:1, 2) The fact that the clergy have joined hands with the political and financial interests of the world, all of which is under Satan, is proof conclusive that Satan has entrapped them and is using them for his purposes. Both the Catholics and the Protestants preach to the people that their dead friends are alive and conscious either in purgatory or in torment. Such is in substance Satan's first lie spoken to man. (Genesis 3:4; John 8:44) Many good people are induced to believe that their friends who have died are suffering and in purgatory and may now be aided by prayers said in their behalf by clergymen. All of such fraudulent practice originated with Satan and is carried on by him and his host of wicked

ones. Now Satan knows that his time is very short until the great fight at Armageddon takes place, and ho hastens to drive all men into spiritism or devilism and therefore against God; and for that reason at the present time there is a great turning to spiritism and spirit mediums throughout the land. All who follow the lead of Satan and his wicked allies will die at Armageddon.

PARAMOUNT TRUTH

What truth stands out as of paramount importance to all who wish to have and to hold the favor of Jehovah God? It is this: that there is but one place of safety, and that is to be in and to abide in the organization of Jehovah God. "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." (Psalm 46:10,11, A.R.V.) Everything in opposition to Jehovah God will ultimately be destroyed. Some examples follow.

Lucifer knew that Jehovah is the Almighty God and that he, Lucifer, was duty-bound to obey God. He was in God's organization and willingly forsook it, setting himself up in opposition to God, and took away with him a host of angels who were under him. Such leaving of the organization of God means their destruction. Jehovah has been longsuffering toward them in this, that he has permitted Satan and his wicked host to continue in existence and to exhibit their wickedness until God's due time to execute them. What God has prominently set out in his Word con-

cerning this wicked crowd serves as a strong warning to all intelligent creation.

Any creature once in God's organization and who treats his privilege carelessly and indifferently opens himself to the subtle attack of the enemy. Yielding to the enemy's influence and then turning away from God's organization and thereafter willfully opposing the same means that creature's certain destruction. Willful sin is knowingly violating God's law. Such is wickedness, and all the wicked God will destroy.  — Psalm 145: 20.

Saul is another example of those once in God's organization and who fail. (1 Samuel 9:15-17; 15: 22-26) Judas is another example of those once in God's organization who become willful, fall to the wiles of the Devil, and then willfully turn away and oppose God, and whose destruction is certain. Such is the fate that comes to the "man of sin" or "son of perdition". (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9) These were once in the truth, in God's favor, and in his organization, and because of selfishness turn away from God and suffer destruction. Concerning such the apostle Peter says: "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (2 Peter 2:20,21) Israel as a nation was God's typical organization and in his favor and had his protection, but that nation fell away to the Devil and suffered destruction. Likewise "Chris-

tendom", or "organized Christianity", began with the avowed purpose of serving God, but its leaders have turned away from God and Christ and have joined hands with the Devil's organization and must suffer destruction at Armageddon.

SAFETY

Where is safety to be found? And who are they that find such place of certain safety? The destruction of the world in Noah's day by the flood foreshadowed the destruction of the present world at Armageddon. Because Noah devoted himself to Jehovah, maintained his integrity toward God and continued faithful, he was righteous in the sight of Jehovah. At the direction of God Noah built the ark, which served as a place of safety and preservation of Noah and those associated with him. That foreshadowed that the only place of safety during the greatest tribulation of all time is to be found in Jehovah's organization. The ark which Noah built at the command of God is therefore a picture of Jehovah's organization, and symbolically says to all intelligent creatures: "Jehovah's organization is the only place of safety."

The flood brought great tribulation upon the world. Armageddon will bring the greatest tribulation. (Matthew 24:21,22) In the tribulation of Armageddon the opposers of God will find no way of escape, hence no place of safety. (Jeremiah 25: 33-35) The fact that they call themselves "Christians" or by the name of Christ and God will furnish them no place of safety. Since the days of Enos men have been hypocritically calling themselves by the name of God, all of which is a mockery. (Genesis 4:26, margin) God cannot be

mocked with impunity. (Galatians 6:7) All who oppose Jehovah's witnesses in their giving testimony concerning the kingdom of God will be destroyed, and that definitely includes the "man of sin", "the son of perdition." The Nephilim (Genesis 6:4, A.R.V.), being those who rebelled with Satan, shall be destroyed with Satan at the battle of the great day of God Almighty. (See Vindication, Book Two, page 311.) "The sons of God" who became disobedient and left God's organization in the days of Noah have been imprisoned for a long time. (1 Peter 3:19,20) They are yet alive, and it seems that their punishment may end approximately at Armageddon. Such of that company as turn to righteousness may be saved and recovered.

JONADAB COMPANY

God's witness Noah, the "preacher of righteousness", foreshadowed the faithful remnant now on the earth. Those persons with Noah in the ark foreshadowed the Jonadab company now on the earth who associate themselves with God's organization. These have the promise that, performing the conditions named, they may be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger. (Zephaniah 2:3) The conditions are that they attach themselves to the Lord's organization, and they must remain there steadfastly serving God, working in harmony with Jehovah's witnesses, and refusing to compromise with the world. Any attempt to remain in the organization or "chariot" of the Lord and at the same time to support the wicked world, even with the unwise desire of lifting up the world, will meet with disaster. Jehovah's organization is the only place of safety, and one who once avails him-

self of that safety and then voluntarily leaves the same is certain of destruction. Those who are of the Jonadab company must continue to faithfully study God's purposes as embraced in his Word; and hence the publication of the Lord's Word is for their benefit. They must show their love for God by being diligent in keeping his commandments. For the benefit of the temple company, and also for the benefit of those who join themselves to God's "chariot", the Lord has now pulled back the curtains and permits his light to shine in the faces of those who have devoted themselves to him, and gives them a view of things that must shortly come to pass, as well as the meaning of things that have come to pass in the sixty centuries gone by. The truth that stands out and is made to appear in the vision as of paramount importance to all others is this: Jehovah, the Almighty God, is the Giver of life, and he will preserve those who love and obey him and who remain steadfastly faithful to his organization, at all times manifesting an unfaltering and unbreakable love for Jehovah. The crucial test upon all intelligent creation is here. Let all such take warning and beware. "Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." — Habakkuk 2: 20, A.R.V.

Those who will learn the right way must refuse to follow the teachings of men. Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are the true teachers of all those who love righteousness and who desire to know the truth. (Isaiah 30:20) Selfish men who assume to teach doctrines pleasing to themselves have fallen under the subtle and seductive influence of Satan, and thereby they are induced to substitute their own doctrines of specu-

lation and falsehood for the truth of God's Word. By this means many sincere people are deceived. Anyone who would receive the riches of Jehovah God must gain a knowledge of the truth, and this can be gained only by a careful study of God's Word and the helps which he has provided to understand the same. It is the privilege and duty of all persons of good will now to so inform themselves.

CITIES OF REFUGE

Those people of good will, otherwise called "Jonadabs", will now find peculiar interest in God's gracious provision as set forth in the Scriptures concerning the "cities of refuge". Those cities of refuge specifically foretell God's refuge provided for certain ones during the time of Armageddon. Moses was a type of Christ Jesus and he first received information from Jehovah concerning the cities of refuge, and later Moses transmitted that information to the people: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment." — Numbers 35:9-12.

At the command of Jehovah Moses gave that information to the Israelites shortly before they reached the land of Canaan. (Deuteronomy 1:1-3) Jehovah made provision for six cities of refuge (Numbers 35: 6), the number six being symbolic of incomplete-

ness or imperfection, referring to the provision made by the Lord for men during the time of imperfect conditions on the earth. The word "refuge", as used in these texts, means a place or condition of protection or safekeeping. The killing of a human creature by another constitutes the breaking of God's everlasting covenant concerning the sanctity of life. (Genesis 9: 4-16) For a man who slew his fellow man by accident or unawares God provided the cities of refuge, that the slayer might flee to such city or cities and there find protection under certain conditions and be safe from the avenger or executioner until a certain time. This would clearly indicate that it is reasonable that God would provide a place or condition of safety for those people of good will on the earth that they might be protected during the time of the world-wide destruction at Armageddon, which trouble comes upon the nations because they have broken his everlasting covenant.

The provision of the law was that these cities of refuge were for the benefit of those who should kill a person unawares. "These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them; that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither." (Numbers 35:15) What is meant by the words "every one that killeth any person unawares"? Satan's organization on the earth has willfully and deliberately broken the everlasting covenant by wantonly and cruelly killing human creatures. God by his prophet declares his purpose to destroy Satan's official organization on the earth because of the violation of the everlasting covenant. "The earth also

is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." (Isaiah 24: 5, 6) The commercial and political elements of Satan's visible organization have deliberately planned and promoted cruel wars resulting in the wholesale shedding of innocent human blood. The religious element of "Christendom", and particularly those of the clergy, have sanctified those wars and blasphemously declared them to be in harmony with God's will. All such willful slayers shall perish at Armageddon.

On the other hand there are those on the earth, and particularly in the realm of "Christendom", who have worked for and supported the commercial and political systems of oppression; who have served in the armies and navies and taken human life; have upheld the commercial and political systems that have greatly oppressed the people; have been associated with religious systems which have sanctified war and have hence been a party to the crime of breaking the everlasting covenant; and those as members of the "strong-arm squad" who have aided in the persecution of the faithful followers of Christ Jesus, and have persecuted those who serve God. During the World War many men participated in these wrongful doings, and especially in the persecution of God's people, and did so without malice and without knowledge that they were violating God's law.

The ruling elements in Israel had been guilty of just such wicked things as those described in the

foregoing paragraph, and to them Jesus said: "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." (Matthew 23:35,36) The bloodguilty of the official element of the nation of Israel that connived at and oppressed and killed the servants of God in particular, and oppressed and killed the defenseless people in general, were visited by God's vengeance. That terrible punishment came upon Israel within a few years after the crucifixion of Jesus; and Peter, filled with the spirit of God, speaking of that approaching trouble, said to the Israelites: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation."  — Acts 2:40.

There has been great persecution heaped upon the people of God in the land of "Christendom", and there is bloodguiltiness on the part of those who have participated in this wrongful persecution deliberately. Others have had part therein unwittingly. "Christendom," and particularly the official part thereof, lays great claim to doing the will of God, while at the same time being guilty of many flagrant crimes. The prophet of Jehovah, referring to such, says: "How is the [professed] faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come

unto them. Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies." (Isaiah 1:21-24) The clergy, and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in particular, have connived with the big commercial and political wrongdoers in robbing and destroying the people; and the above prophecy applies to them, because such are the ones who claim to be God's kingdom. Again says Jehovah's prophet:

"For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child; the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers." (Jeremiah 4:31) "And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city." (Matthew 22: 6, 7) Among both the Jews and "Christendom" there have been those who have had no sympathy with such wrongdoing, yet by reason of circumstances have been forced into participating in and supporting these wrongdoers, to some degree at least, and are thus of the class that unwittingly or unawares are guilty of shedding blood.

Those who have unwittingly or unawares supported these wrongdoers must have some way of escape, otherwise they would fall in the great trouble in the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Jehovah in his loving-kindness has made just such a provision as is needed for their escape. Of the six cities of refuge "Moses severed three cities on this side [the] Jor-

dan toward the sunrising". (Deuteronomy 4:41-44) Joshua confirmed that selection after he had crossed the Jordan, and also appointed three cities in Canaan. (Joshua 20:7-9) The six cities were a place of refuge "for the children of Israel" and "for the stranger" and "for the sojourner", thus showing that in the fulfillment of the prophecy the place of refuge would be for those in "Christendom", and also for those associated with "Christendom" but not a part thereof, who might have need of such refuge and who desire and seek it. "That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation." — Joshua 20: 3, 9.

If death resulted from a willful act by one using as a weapon "an instrument of iron", or by "throwing a stone", or "with an hand weapon of wood", that is, a club, the one doing the wrongful act which resulted in death was guilty of murder and must die. (Numbers 35:16-18) The murderer's blood must be shed by the avenger or revenger of blood, that being the law of God for punishment in violation of the everlasting covenant. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." (Genesis 9:6) "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him." (Numbers 35:19) But if the killing was by accident or unawares, the

manslayer might flee to the city of refuge for protection. "And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment."  — Numbers 35:12.

THE AVENGER

Who is "the avenger", or the one who executes vengeance antitypically upon such wrongdoers? The very language of the law of God makes "the avenger" God's official executioner. According to the Hebrew for "avenger" the execution of vengeance devolved upon one by reason of kinship.

The great kinsman of the human race by birth is Jesus, being born of the virgin Mary, and hence he was the kinsman of the Israelites. (Galatians 4:4, 5) The perfect man Jesus bought the human race with his own precious blood and is therefore the Redeemer, and as the Redeemer of man he is clothed with authority from Jehovah his Father to give life to the human race. (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 9:6,7) He is Jehovah's great official executioner and delivers justice by repaying like with like upon the bloodguilty. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." (John 5:22,27; Deuteronomy 19:21) Christ Jesus is the Vindicator of Jehovah's name, and the Executioner of all of God's enemies, and in this execution of vengeance he associates with him those pictured by the "six men" each of which was armed with a slaughter weapon in his hand and used it un-

der the direction of the Lord. — See Ezekiel 9:1, 2; pages 93-99; also Vindication, Book One, page 94.

"The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him." (Numbers 35:19) Jesus Christ, the great Executioner, will certainly meet or overtake all of the bloodguilty ones at Armageddon in the battle of the great day of God Almighty and will slay all such as are not in the cities of refuge. The provision of the law was, "that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment." (Numbers 35:12) All other manslayers must be executed. The cities of refuge were prepared as a way of escape: "Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past . . . that innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee." (Deuteronomy 19: 6-10) That provision of God's law foreshadowed far greater things to come to pass after the faithful and approved remnant are taken into the covenant for the Kingdom. (Hebrews 10:1; 12:12-29) The new covenant having been inaugurated, and the faithful being taken into the covenant for the Kingdom, it would therefore follow that the antitypical cities of refuge are now set up and that these are for the benefit of those who come within the terms of God's loving provision. (Considered in detail in Jehovah.)

When Jehu went forth to vindicate the name of Jehovah 'his heart was hot' to accomplish the work assigned him to do. Likewise the Greater Jehu, Christ

Jesus, when sent forth to rule amongst his enemies and to vindicate Jehovah's name, "his heart is hot" within him to accomplish that great work. The gross and flagrant violation of the everlasting covenant by the shedding of human blood must now be avenged, because this is the day of the vengeance of our God and the bloodguilty ones must fall by the hand of the great Executioner. Therefore the Devil 'knoweth that his time is short' and that soon the battle of the great day of God Almighty will be fought. (Revelation 12:12) Such will result in the meting out of justice to the murderers and in the vindication of Jehovah's name. Those who have been unwittingly associated with the devilish work against mankind, and in the heaping of infamy upon the name of Jehovah, and who would now escape to the city of refuge, must hasten thereto. They must get away from the Devil's organization and take their place with the Lord God's organization and remain there. For this reason it is written: "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul; be not cut off in her iniquity: for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple." — Jeremiah 51: 6,11.

For centuries the whole world has been under the dominating control of the wicked one, Satan, and his cruel and wicked organization. The Executioner will completely destroy such at Armageddon. Christ Jesus, the Executioner, is at the temple of Jehovah now

for judgment, and God calls upon all the nations to keep silent before him and see and give heed to Jehovah's commandment. It is his time to make announcement of his purpose, and he gives notice and warning. The official element of Satan's visible organization has received notice and warning that this world is Satan's organization, and that it will be destroyed and that Jehovah's witnesses are appointed by him to proclaim these truths and serve such notice. A proclamation of these truths has not comforted the clergy, big business and politicians, but, on the contrary, they have refused to give heed to the notice and warning and have hardened their hearts. This is particularly true with reference to the clergy element. This official element with deliberation, premeditation and malice aforethought continues to oppress God's people and to persecute them for making proclamation of the truth. Furthermore, they do injury to and kill those who are devoted to the Lord. They do injury to the people of good will by constantly trying to keep away from them the truth.

The official elements of Satan's organization, visible and invisible, are in a conspiracy to destroy the anointed of the Lord and to prevent the proclamation of the truth concerning Jehovah, his name and his purpose. (Psalm 83:1-5) Like Ahab and Jezebel, who suborned witnesses to have Naboth killed and his property stolen, the clergy and their allies now induce others to swear falsely against the witnesses of Jehovah and cause them to suffer, and thus they show malice and cruel hatred. These are such as lie in wait to slay those against whom they hold malice. Concerning such the law of God is: "But if he thrust him of

hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him." — Numbers 35:20,21.

Not later than Armageddon Jesus Christ, the revenger of blood, will slay the malicious clergy and their allies. It appears that such men, who have professed to serve God but who have willfully served the Devil, shall receive the severer punishment at the hands of the great Executioner. The Lord gives command to the "six men", who representatively stand for the invisible part of the organization under Christ Jesus, to go in with their weapons and slay the willful ones, and that without mercy. "And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." (Ezekiel 9:5,6) The plain declaration of the Lord is that "organized religion", which has so greatly defamed his name, and those therein who have participated in the persecution of his faithful people and have defamed God's name, shall be destroyed without mercy.

Who, then, are the ones that will escape? It is the people of good will that flee into the city of refuge. They were once associated in some respect with Satan's organization, but now, by reason of learning of the wickedness thereof, and of God's loving-kindness, they seek refuge in God's organization, which

organization was pictured by the cities of refuge. They forsake Babylon, that is to say, Satan's organization, and flee unto God's organization, taking their stand on the side of Jehovah and his kingdom, and henceforth they must have no sympathy with nor give support to the wicked organization, but must remain steadfastly on the side of the Lord and be in full sympathy with his organization and the work he is doing.

ELDERS

The elders of God's organization are those who have been brought into the temple and anointed of the Lord, and who are therefore elders in fact, or mature ones in Christ. These shall not shun to declare the truth of and concerning the enemies of God; and this was foreshadowed by the declaration of God's law in Moab, to wit: "But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee." — Deuteronomy 19:11-13.

The faithful remnant of God's organization, and who hence are elders, must not compromise in any way with the deliberate manslayers or persecutors who are of Satan's organization or try to shield them, nor must they have any sympathy for them as against the execution of God's vengeance upon them. They not only must be separate themselves from that wicked

organization, but must be in full heart accord with God's determination to execute his vengeance upon them. They must be consistent and pray God that his declared purpose to destroy the wicked shall be carried into operation. Thus they will show their full sympathy with and heart devotion to Jehovah and to his purposes. These faithful ones, therefore, must continue to boldly declare the vengeance of our God, because this is a part of the commission given to his anointed ones. — Isaiah 61:1, 2.

Throughout the land of "Christendom" there are millions of people of good and honest heart who do not wish to share the guilt of blood innocently shed. Ignorantly, hence unwittingly and unawares, they have been drawn into Satan's trap and caused to commit many wrongful deeds against others. In God's law ignorance thereof is an excuse when one turns his heart to righteousness. In order for these to escape, however, they must show their devotion to God and his kingdom upon coming to a knowledge of his provision for the human race. Like the "elders of his [the manslayer's] city", they must not safeguard the guilty ones, but must be in accord with the Greater Jehu; and when, like Jehu, He calls for the heads of the sons of the antitypical Ahab crowd they must follow the example of the rulers and elders and deliver up the heads. (2 Kings 10:1-7) This does not mean that they participate in the execution of any creature, but it does mean they must not hesitate to declare the truth when the opportunity comes, and must not refrain from doing so in order to secrete someone else. The clergy, especially the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, howl and complain that Jehovah's

witnesses attack them. Such is wholly untrue. God lays the obligation upon his people to declare the truth, that others may know of God's purposes. It is the truth that exposes the wicked, and the truth is declared for the benefit of those who wish to do right.

The great Judge, Christ Jesus, is upon his throne at the temple and is dividing the people, and those who desire to be in harmony with God and righteousness must without equivocation or compromise take their stand on the side of the Lord and let it be known that they are for God and his righteous government at all times. The obligation is now upon Jehovah's witnesses to instruct the Jonadab class in order that those of good will may act intelligently. Those persons of good will and honest heart have been kept in blindness by Satan and his agents, particularly the clergy, and until they heard the truth about the Lord and his kingdom; and thus they have unwittingly supported the unholy crowd and committed acts of violence to those who are devoted to Jehovah and his kingdom, as well as to others.

Since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple and the building up of Zion those found faithful and brought into the covenant for the Kingdom form a part of God's organization. It was after the covenant of faithfulness, which was made in Moab, that the cities of refuge were set up; and this shows that it was after the taking of the faithful sons of God into the covenant for the Kingdom that the cities of refuge antitypically are set up or, rather, made to apply. Prior to the taking of the faithful remnant into the covenant for the Kingdom there were, and since then

have been, and are yet, people of good will who have unwittingly or unawares violated the everlasting covenant. The period of sacrifice for the taking out of a people for Jehovah's name must end with the completion of Zion; but what provision is made for those of good will who now devote themselves to Jehovah God? They are in the world ruled by Satan, and they have no sympathy with his wicked rule, and have separated themselves therefrom. They desire to serve God and to do his will. It is important just now to understand what is Jehovah's purpose concerning them and what is the obligation laid upon the faithful remnant in connection with the Jonadabs.

Men went to the World War and violated the everlasting covenant by shedding human blood, but many of them did so because they were forced by the ruling powers of Satan's organization to do so, and they did it in ignorance of the fact that they were violating the everlasting covenant. There they saw the duplicity and hypocrisy of the clergy, who claimed to be followers of Christ Jesus, and servants of God, and yet who not only participated in the war but viciously urged upon others the killing of human creatures. Such men were shocked by the conduct of the clergy, and when they returned from the war and heard of the truth of God's provision for the human race through Christ Jesus they had a desire to know and to do the will of God. They hated wickedness, and with an honest heart sought to find the right way. Others have supported the wicked and oppressive organization which governs this world and which has done much violence to men, including the witnesses of Jehovah. Others have been connected

with religious organizations that have cruelly persecuted God's faithful people in a manner similar to that wrong committed by Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-22) Others as members of the police force, or strong-arm squad, have reluctantly done the bidding of the clergy and have committed acts of violence against God's anointed people, but, learning the truth, they have shown anxiety to take a different and right course. Those who thus honestly change their course of action and seek the Lord in his appointed way find him.

The antitype of the cities of refuge is Jehovah's organization, and he has made provision for the protection of those who place themselves fully on the side of his organization and who have not willfully and maliciously violated the everlasting covenant. "Willfully and maliciously" means to knowingly do a wrongful deed with a wicked motive in the heart and in utter disregard of the rights of others. For instance, clergymen have connived at the persecution and killing of Jehovah's witnesses and have done so knowing that such men and women were harmless and were proclaiming the Word of God. The motive of such clergymen was malicious because they desired to get such witnesses out of their way. Others have assisted them in wrongdoing but have done so ignorantly and without malice. God's law concerning such was stated to the Israelites, and antitypically applies to others now, to wit: "These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them; that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither." — Numbers 35:15.

Now, since the coming of the Lord to the temple, those in "Christendom" and who form no part of "Christendom", but who are of good will and have a desire to serve God and his righteous government, must find a haven or place of refuge in the city (that is to say, the organization) that is wholly devoted to Jehovah and his service. Jehovah has laid upon his witnesses at the present time an obligation concerning this class who desire to do right, and that obligation cannot be side-stepped or ignored. That obligation is to carry to the people of good will the message of the kingdom informing them of God's provision made for those who diligently seek to know him and to serve him. By and through his great High Priest, Christ Jesus, Jehovah commands that his witnesses must preach this gospel of the kingdom before the final end comes. They must give notice and warning to the people, that those of good will may act intelligently and in order that they may bear their own responsibility before God.

The cities of refuge were occupied by those of the tribe of Levi: "And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime." (Joshua 20:4, 5) It was the duty of the Levites in the cities of refuge to give information, aid and comfort to those seeking refuge. Likewise it is the duty of the anti-

typical Levites to give information, aid and comfort to those who now seek the Lord's organization. This they must do by giving them a mark in the forehead, that is to say, giving them intelligent information as to what they must do in order to have the Lord's favor. God through his prophet Ezekiel especially commands that the priestly class must go through the land and thus put a "tav" (Hebrew) or mark upon the foreheads of those who are seeking the way of the Lord. It is this class of people who are thus marked, and who thereafter come into and abide in the city, that are spared and taken through the great tribulation. — Ezekiel 9:6; Zephaniah 2: 3.

That the people of God's remnant have a special obligation toward those of good will thus seeking refuge from the Avenger and who committed wrong unwittingly, it is written: "Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: and the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil." — Numbers 35:22-25.

Therefore those who refuse or fail to go among the people and call upon them at their homes and give them the life-giving kingdom message from the Lord, and those who hinder, oppose and discourage the ones who are thus obeying the Lord in carrying the message of truth to the people, show an unloving and unjust spirit that would hand over the Jonadab class without mercy to be executed by the Executioner at

Armageddon. Failure or refusal to assume and carry out this responsibility will not go unnoticed by the Lord, because he has enlightened his anointed ones and they must obey. "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" (Proverbs 24:11,12) "A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies."  — Proverbs 14: 25.

SEEKING REFUGE

The fact that the provision for refuge was made "for the stranger" as well as for Israelites shows that Jehovah's loving-kindness has made provision for those outside of his organization that they may seek and find refuge by associating themselves with his organization, that is, be wholly devoted to him; but those who will avail themselves of such refuge must first be informed about it and then comply with the rules the Lord has laid down for their guidance. God's law required that if one committed manslaughter accidentally or unawares or unwittingly, and if the slayer was not an enemy of the slain person, then the congregation should judge between the slayer and the avenger or next of kin; that is, they should try the case and determine whether or not the slayer might flee to their city and find refuge there. "And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then

shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled." — Joshua 20:6.

If the decision was that the slaying was without malice and the crime accidental or unwittingly committed, then the slayer should find protection in the city of refuge, and must remain there until the death of the high priest. Then though the congregation found the slayer not guilty, and entitled to the protection of the city of refuge, that was not sufficient for him to go free, but he must go into the city of refuge and remain there until a change took place in the office of the high priest. At the death of the high priest the slayer might return with safety to his own place or residence. This would clearly seem to teach that the Jonadab class, having sought and found refuge with God's organization, must remain in the chariot or organization of the Lord with the Greater Jehu, and must continue in heart sympathy and harmony with the Lord and his organization and must prove this proper heart condition by co-operating with Jehovah's witnesses until the office of the high priest class yet on the earth be finished. Thus the people of good will must do if they would have their lives spared during the battle of the great day of God Almighty and be of the class that shall live and often mentioned as the "millions now living shall never die".

The Lord Jesus Christ is the great High Priest, and the faithful members of his royal house are counted in as members of that priesthood. (Revelation 1:6; 20:6; 1 Peter 2:5-9) The anointing oil of God's spirit has been specially poured out on all of Jeho-

vah's witnesses in these latter days; and the remnant being thus anointed, they are made members of the "royal priesthood".

This anointing or 'pouring out of the spirit upon all flesh' has taken place since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple, and since then the "young men" who are of the priesthood have had a clearer vision of Jehovah's purposes concerning them. (Joel 2:28,29) These are the days in which the Jonadab class has come into existence, and those who are of the Jonadab company have fled to Jehovah's organization. As long, then, as the anointed members of the royal priesthood, meaning the anointed remnant, live on the earth and continue to preach "this gospel of the kingdom", the Jonadab company must keep in company and in harmony with Jehovah's anointed and aid them in their work; otherwise the great Avenger will overtake them.

It must be kept in mind that the things pertaining to the law which God gave to the Israelites were shadows of greater things to come. (Hebrews 10:1) The law concerning the manslayer who did such slaying unwittingly or unawares provided for his protection only within the bounds of the city of refuge, and the bounds or borders of the city were the suburbs which surrounded the city. (Numbers 35: 2-5) If the avenger should find the slayer out of bounds of the city of refuge, then he could slay him with impunity and the avenger would be entirely free from wrongdoing. "But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; and the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of

blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood."  — Numbers 35: 26, 27.

This prophetic provision of the law finds its fulfillment in the present day. Jehovah has graciously provided for those of good will who now seek him, and who are not of the spiritual class. If after receiving these good things from the hand of the Lord any man is found exercising too much personal liberty, that is to say, not keeping within the bounds of Jehovah's merciful provision made for him at the present time; not taking into consideration that he does not yet possess the right to life, but treats the favor of Jehovah lightly, indifferently, or ignores it, he loses the protection which Jehovah has provided for him. He must continue to appreciate the certainty and nearness of Armageddon, at which time Satan's organization will be destroyed, and also the fact that soon the priestly company shall pass from the earth, and that then the Jonadab class may receive the gift of life through Jesus Christ if they continue steadfast on the side of the Lord and righteousness. Having once taken his stand on the side of the Lord and tasted the good things of God's arrangement, and learning of God's gracious provision for those of the Jonadab class, he cannot again turn to the beggarly elements of Satan's organization and at the same time have the Lord's protection. — Ezekiel 18:24, 26.

Those who have once sought and found refuge on the Lord's side and who turn again to unrighteousness will die justly. The executioner of Jehovah is entirely justified in slaying such, and his hands are clean, because he carries out Jehovah's orders. No one

in the universe can ever justly say that the slaughter at Armageddon will be barbarous, unjustified or unrighteous. On the contrary, it will meet the requirements of God's law concerning the sacredness of human life. The value and importance of the warning to the people now is emphasized by the words of Jehovah announced through his prophet: "Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his blood shall be upon him: but he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. "When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it." — Ezekiel 33:4, 5,13.

"SHEEP"

The Lord is pleased to use figures of speech which he applies to those who hear and obey his commandments. One of such figures of speech is that of sheep, an animal that is docile and obedient. The Lord sometimes spoke parables to illustrate the gathering to himself of those that love and obey Jehovah and Christ Jesus. The shepherd and the sheep were used by him in this way. It was in the land of Palestine (where Jesus taught) that the custom was for the shepherd to go before the sheep and the sheep, knowing his voice, obeyed and followed him. Speaking of the shepherd Jesus said: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice." — John 10:4.

Jehovah is the great Shepherd who leads, shields and protects those who are devoted to him. "Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1, A.R.V.) Christ Jesus, always obedient to the Father's will, is likened in the Scriptures unto the sheep, uncomplaining and fully submissive to the Most High.  — Isaiah 53:7.

When Jehovah led the Israelites, his typical people, out of Egypt, 'he made his own go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.' (Psalm 78:52) Those obedient ones of the Israelites were typical of God's chosen people, who ultimately become members of the royal house. (Psalm 95: 7) Jehovah has made his beloved Son Jesus the Head, the Leader and the Good Shepherd of all those who become members of his royal house. The Lord Jesus 'sends forth as sheep' men that are fully obedient to his call and commandments. These go forth amidst others that are likened unto wolves, and Christ Jesus protects them. (Matthew 10:16) Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gave his life for those who become his true followers. Jesus himself is the door or way or entrance for the sheep into life, and this he illustrates by these words: "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." — John 10:9-11,14.

Jesus is referring to those who are called to follow in his footsteps and who prove true and faithful, when he uses these words: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27,28) The Lord by this illustration shows his watch-care over those persons who devote themselves to God's cause and follow the Master, Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

In the world there are organized systems called "churches", and in these organizations men teach, and for many years have taught, that all the professed followers of Christ Jesus go to heaven at death and that all others go to purgatory or eternal torment, and that there is no hope for life for anyone except those who ultimately reach the heavenly realm. Such teaching or conclusion is entirely out of harmony with the Word of God. Jesus first described his faithful followers, such as his apostles, and likens them unto sheep, and then, in order to distinguish those who go to heaven from others of the human race that love and obey God, Jesus said: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." — John 10:16.

The ones here mentioned as "other sheep" are those who in other parts of the Scriptures are identified as Jonadabs, who in due time are brought into God's organization under the leadership of Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd; and it is these obedient ones to whom Jesus referred when he said: "Verily, verily, I say

unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (John 8: 51) "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"  — John 11:26.

The Scriptures definitely show that those sheep who will be members of the royal house in God's heavenly organization will inherit, with Christ Jesus, the riches of his glory, and that such are limited to the 144,000. The Scriptures also clearly show that there will be multitudes that will live for ever on the earth and be the recipients of boundless riches Jehovah has provided for them in his kingdom under Christ. Those now on the earth are permitted to live in a time when Jehovah God is making clear the meaning of his Word and he is revealing to those who search for the truth his treasure house of great riches.

The foregoing Scriptures identify the class of persons of good will toward Jehovah, and which are known in the Scriptures as Jonadabs; as those that receive a mark in their foreheads; as those that flee to the city of refuge and there find safety; as those foreshadowed by Noah's family, who found safety in the ark; and as "other sheep", which the Lord ultimately brings into his organization and makes them to inherit blessings upon the earth. Other prophetic pictures are disclosed by the Scriptures identifying this same class under different names. It is for these obedient ones that God has in reservation untold riches. Every sane person will be anxious now to know how he can have a part in those great riches. It is now your opportunity to learn these satisfying truths.