CHAPTER IX
JUDGMENT
JEHOVAH'S primary or chief purpose in sending his beloved Son Jesus to earth is to perform the duties of vindicating God's name. Incidental or subordinate thereto is the redemption and salvation of all human creatures that love righteousness and. hate iniquity. His purpose Jehovah illustrated or pictured in dealing with the nation of Israel, his typical people. That he did by sending his representative Moses to Egypt to 'redeem a people to himself and make him a name'. (2 Samuel 7: 23) In fulfillment of that prophetic picture Jehovah sent Jesus, the antitypical Moses, to earth (the antitypical Egypt) to perform his purpose. Jesus must first prove his own qualifications to carry out the purpose of Jehovah. To that end Jesus was put to the test for three and one-half years, and in everything Jesus proved his complete faithfulness unto God: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9) Jehovah made Jesus the King of the world, the Redeemer of mankind, the great Executive Officer of Jehovah, and the Vindicator of His name. To Jesus Jehovah said: "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Hebrews 1:9; Psalm 45: 7) Jehovah also made Jesus the Judge
to judicially determine all questions for decision that arise between Jehovah and his creatures. —John 5:22-27.
Jehovah is the true and almighty God. Satan the Devil is the mimic god, because Satan covets that which belongs to Jehovah and always resorts to wickedness to accomplish his purpose. The name of Jehovah God stands for everything that is good and righteous. The name of Satan stands for everything that is wicked. The question in dispute and which must be determined is: Can Satan induce all creatures to turn away from God and curse him, or will many of the human race when put to the test remain true and faithful to God? Can God put men on the earth who will be true to him? God's unchangeable law is that those who prefer to follow Satan, the mimic god, in his course of unrighteousness shall die, and those who prove true and faithful to Jehovah shall live for ever. Those who do prove faithful to God constitute "a people for himself". Necessarily the question at issue involves the word and name of Jehovah God, and to prove his supremacy Jehovah must vindicate his name. Christ Jesus is the great Vindicator, Judge and Executioner.
The temple of God is his capital organization, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, precious corner stone and foundation. (A detailed explanation concerning the temple is to be found in Vindication, Book Three, beginning at page 111.) When Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection he was then the Judge of all things and King of the world, but he was required to await God's due time for him to begin his rule and his judgment. The Scriptures and the facts show that Christ Jesus was enthroned in the year
1914 (A.D.) and sent forth to rule while the enemy Satan still exercises power. (Psalms 2:6; 110:1,2) Thereafter, to wit, in 1918, the Scriptures and the facts show that Christ Jesus, the great Judge, came to the temple of God and from that time onward, and until the conclusion of Armageddon, he sits in judgment. At the temple Christ Jesus appears in the glory of his Father and in the glory which the Father has given him, Christ Jesus: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31,32) This is a mental vision of his glorious court of judgment.
ORDER
The Scriptures show that the judgment of Christ Jesus at the temple proceeds in this order: The judgment begins with the "house of God", meaning those who are consecrated to do the will of God, begotten of the spirit, called to the high calling, and in line for a place in the kingdom. (1 Peter 4:17) At this judgment all selfish ones are adjudged adversely and 'gathered out of the kingdom and cast into outer darkness'. Such constitute the "evil servant" class, the end of which is destruction. All who are found faithful and true are gathered into the temple, that is, made a part of God's capital organization. These are anointed and made a part of the "faithful and wise servant" class, to whom Christ Jesus commits the interest of his kingdom on the earth by making them
the official witnesses of Jehovah and the representatives of Christ on earth. —Matthew 13:41-43; 24:45-51.
The anointed witnesses of Jehovah must go forth and 'preach this gospel of the kingdom for a witness' that the people of the nations may have an opportunity to choose whom they will serve; and when that witness work is done, then will follow Armageddon. (Matthew 24:14, 21) By causing "this gospel of the kingdom" to be told to the people Christ Jesus the great Judge thereby gathers before him the peoples of the nations, and the separating work begins. In this judgment persons of good will, and who are herein called Jonadabs, take their stand on the side or "right hand" of the Lord, and these the Lord calls his "sheep"; and all those who are against God and his kingdom show themselves to be on the side of the Devil, and Jesus puts them on his left hand, meaning the adverse side. Being brought in contact with the truth of God's kingdom, the people choose their own destiny, and therefore it is their personal responsibility. Upon Jehovah's witnesses is laid the responsibility of telling to the people the message of the kingdom, and upon those who hear rests the responsibility of determining which side they will take. (Ezekiel 3:18-21) Christ Jesus renders the final judgment upon each and every one, because God has committed to Christ all judgment. — John 5:22,27.
Satan has heretofore been adjudged guilty of death. All who remain on his side will be destroyed. The Lord specifically mentions hypocrites and the "evil servant" among those that shall be destroyed. Such is the fate of all the wicked. (Psalm 145:20) The religious elements or organizations amongst the hu-
man race constitute the hypocrites, because such have claimed to serve God when in fact they have been serving the Devil. The Scriptures indicate that these will be destroyed first at Armageddon. Then follows the destruction of all other elements of Satan's organization. (Revelation 19:19-21) Satan is compelled to see all of his organization wiped out. Then the Lord Jesus, the great Executioner, dispatches Satan, and the earth is made clean. (Revelation 20:1-3; Hebrews 2:14) The destruction of Satan and his supporters constitutes a vindication of Jehovah's name because such proves that Satan is a liar and that Jehovah God is true and all-powerful.
From Abel to John the Baptist there were a few men who maintained their integrity toward Jehovah and received his approval. Those men died in faith but must remain dead and await the completion of the royal house before they are awakened out of death. Then they shall be brought to life and made perfect and will serve in the high offices of the kingdom on earth as the representatives of Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 11:1-40; Psalm 45:16) Those faithful men will also be a vindication of Jehovah's name. Jesus, the perfect man, by his faithfulness and complete obedience to God even unto the ignominious death, is the great vindication of God's word and name and for that reason is made the Vindicator or chief amongst God's officers. The faithful members of his organization who become part of the royal house in heaven are also a vindication of Jehovah's name. All persons of good will called the Jonadabs or "great multitude", proving their faithfulness unto Jehovah and his King, shall also constitute a vindication of Jehovah's name. Then
follows the resurrection of the dead and the judgment of all such during the reign of Christ. (John 5: 27-29) All mankind proving faithful and true during that judgment will be a testimony to the supremacy of Jehovah and to the honor of his name. All faithful men enter into the riches Jehovah has provided for them. The earth will be their everlasting home, yielding abundance and bringing constant peace, prosperity and happiness to all. — Psalm 67: 6, 7.
During the present time "the goats" are showing their opposition to God and his kingdom by persecuting Jehovah's witnesses. Chief amongst these persecutors are the religionists, the clergy of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and other religious leaders. Those persecutors cause the arrest and imprisonment of Jehovah's witnesses to prevent them from carrying the message of the kingdom to the people, and therefore they are specifically acting as the instruments of the Devil. Concerning those opposers likened unto goats by the Lord he says: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire [symbolic of destruction that lasts for ever], prepared for the devil and his angels." Those of good will toward God and his kingdom show it by rendering aid, comfort and support to Jehovah's witnesses and by earnestly engaging with them in telling to others the truth about the kingdom. Christ Jesus, the great Judge, pronounces judgment upon such and uses these words: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25: 34) All such are granted life everlasting on the earth.
This knowledge coming to the people, each one must choose what course he will take. Which side are you taking, that of the Devil, or that of Christ the King of Jehovah and his kingdom? The obligation is laid upon you to choose whom you will serve.
