SALVATION

CHAPTER V

REQUIREMENTS

EVERY sane person desires to live. Life everlasting in a state of perfect peace and happiness, what more could one desire? The time has come for sincere persons to live for ever on the earth if such will comply with God's requirements. From and after Armageddon the kingdom of God will be in full control of the earth. Concerning the result to obedient human creatures it is written: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4) The human race has been afflicted with sickness, sorrow and death for such a great period of time that many find it difficult to believe that conditions will ever change. Let each one satisfy himself on this point by giving diligence to learn the truth. God's arrangement is that there is a time for everything; and now is the time for people of good will to learn the way to life everlasting. — Psalm 16:11.

In the preceding chapters the indisputable facts are submitted proving that death is the result of sin, which comes upon all men by inheritance; that to Jehovah God belongs salvation; that the greatest crisis of all time is at hand, when the wicked will be destroyed at Ar-

mageddon and when those who seek righteousness and meekness may be spared in that great disaster; that salvation from death, and life for ever in happiness, are open to the obedient ones; and that therefore a great emergency now confronts those who shall form the "great multitude". In order to gain life everlasting one must conform oneself to God's requirements. What is revealed by the Scriptures as that God requires of man?

FAITH

All who would receive the gracious gift of life must please God. Faith is the first requirement. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6) That means that the ones who desire to live must believe first that God is the Almighty, whose name is Jehovah, that he is the Supreme One, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Their desire is to be in harmony with the Almighty God. His provision for life is by and through Christ Jesus. Therefore Jesus says: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto [God] the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6) "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17: 3) Jesus buys every one of the human race that asks to be bought; and, being bought, that is to say, receiving the benefit of the ransom price paid for man, the bought ones become the bond servants of the Lord, and therefore Jesus

says: "If any man serve me, let him follow me." (John 12: 26) The first requirement, therefore, is to believe in God, the Almighty, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as man's Redeemer or purchaser, and then to follow Jesus. The man proves his belief by the course of action he takes.

CONSECRATION

The next requirement to be met is to do the will of Almighty God, because that is what Jesus always does; as it is written: "Then said he [Jesus], Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." (Hebrews 10:9) "I delight to do thy will, 0 my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8) Imperfect man is selfish and desires to do his own will; but, having believed on God and Christ Jesus, that man then must voluntarily surrender his own selfish will, agreeing to do whatsoever is God's will concerning him. That means consecration of the man by agreeing to serve Jehovah God through Christ Jesus; and such consecration must be unconditional, that is to say, the person must gladly forego the doing of his own selfish will and way and diligently seek to know and to do what is the will of Jehovah God. What, then, is the will of God concerning the Lord's "other sheep" who will constitute the great multitude? They must gather themselves together unto the Lord. (Zephaniah 2:1) Such are either directly or indirectly in or under the influence of the religious organization of Satan, which is called "Babylon"; and that organization the person must abandon. As shown by the typical city of refuge,

such person must flee to Christ, the Head of God's organization, and there find refuge until the crisis or emergency of Armageddon is passed. That person must recognize Christ Jesus as the "bread of life"; and as the people of Egypt asked Joseph to buy them so that they might not die, so now the Lord's "other sheep", who will form the great multitude, must ask Christ Jesus, the Greater Joseph, to buy them and feed them upon the "bread of life" that they may not die. They must see that God's kingdom under Christ is the only means of escape from the crisis, and the only place of protection and salvation. The religious institutions are snares into which Satan draws men and entraps them; and the one who would live must avoid such snares and give himself entirely into the possession and protection of Christ Jesus.

The person who believes that Jehovah God is supreme and that Christ Jesus is God's Executive Officer, great High Priest and King, and Redeemer of man, is therefore anxious to know and do the will of God. Belief does not mean merely a mental conception of the fact that God is supreme and that Christ Jesus is the Redeemer, but it means to acknowledge the same and to act accordingly: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." — Romans 10:9-11.

Fleeing from Satan's organization and seeking refuge under Christ's organization means that such a one acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ and asks Christ to take him in. He is not ashamed to confess before others his full confidence in God and Christ Jesus; and so he makes it known to others that he has taken his stand on the side of God and Christ and has voluntarily agreed to do the will of God. The heart is the seat of motive; and, therefore, when a person believes on the Lord, he is moved to make known to others that he has fled to Christ Jesus and has taken his stand on the side of the Lord and wishes to acknowledge that he has agreed to do the will of God. He seeks protection at the hand of Christ Jesus and calls upon the Lord for protection and salvation: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) Being received by the Lord and under his protection, such person is in line to be saved from the devastation of Armageddon. God is always right, and the man who is guided by the will of God is always in the right way. The will of God is his expressed and perfect law concerning men: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." (Psalm 19:7,8) "Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. Thy righteousness is an everlasting right-

eousness, and thy law is the truth." — Psalm 119:138,140,142.

SANCTIFICATION

The next necessary step to take is that of sanctification. The proper understanding of "sanctification" and "sanctified" is quite essential in order that one may appreciate his relationship to God. There is first here set out the definitions of the following words as given by worldly lexicographers:

"SANCTIFICATION: The act of sanctifying; being sanctified.

"SANCTIFIED: Made holy.

"SANCTIMONIOUSNESS: Making a show of sanctity; assumed or hypocritical devoutness."

It is therefore seen from the foregoing definitions that there is a real sanctification and an assumed sanctification.

The Scriptures give the correct definitions. In the Scriptures the words "sanctification", "sanctify," "sanctified," and the word "holy" are all from the same Greek root word. God said to the Israelites, whom he had chosen for his typical people and with whom he made a covenant: "For I am the Lord your God; ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy." (Leviticus 11: 44) The inspired apostle quotes these words: "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14,16) God is holy, since he is devoted exclusively to righteousness, hence wholly, entirely and fully righteous, or "holy". The Devil is

wholly or completely devoted to wickedness, which is the very opposite of righteousness. To those who have taken the side of God the admonition is given: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [course of action]." — 1 Peter 1:15.

There are those who profess to be on the Lord's side but who are in fact on the side of God's enemy, the Devil. Such persons are properly said to be sanctimonious, hypocritically holy, because they have an outward appearance of being one thing, when in fact they are the very opposite thing. Religionists are sanctimonious, but a real Christian is sanctified and holy, because the Christian is entirely on God's side. Religion breeds sanctimoniousness. "Christianity" means to be sanctified. The religious leaders of Israel, known as Pharisees, had the outward appearance of sanctity, but they were in fact hypocrites, and Jesus so identified them. To the people Jesus said of and concerning the Pharisees, the religious leaders: "Do not ye after their works. . . . For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. . . . And call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven." — Matthew 23: 3-9.

Then Jesus, addressing himself to the religious leaders who had made God's Word of no effect by their traditions, said: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matthew 23: 25, 28) A like condition of sanctimoniousness is plainly seen among the present-day religious leaders.

"Sanctified," applied according to the Scriptures, means to be completely devoted to God and his kingdom, therefore holy, as God and Christ Jesus are holy. The Lord is wholly and completely devoted to righteousness; as it is written: "Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." (Psalm 119:137, 142) To be righteous means to be right: "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." (Psalm 19:8) "For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Psalm 11:7) "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains"; that is, solid and everlasting. (Psalm 36:6) "Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: 0 God, who is like unto thee!" (Psalm 71:19) "His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:3) The Lord Jesus is like his Father Jehovah; that is, entirely righteous. Of him it is written: "Thou lovest righteousness, and

hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy follows." (Psalm 45: 7) Christ Jesus is the great Judge and King, who shall reign and rule in righteousness. (Isaiah 32:1; Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31) Jehovah God is holy: "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy." (Psalm 99:9) "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works" (Psalm 145:17) Concerning the Lord Jesus it is written: "Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." — Hebrews 7:26.

Christ Jesus is the Head of the "holy nation", that is to say, God's kingdom, which is devoted exclusively to righteousness and to the carrying out of Jehovah's purpose. (1 Peter 2:1-10) Every creature that pleases God and receives God's approval must be holy, that is to say, unreservedly devoted to God and to his kingdom, which is righteous. Therefore every one of such must be sanctified. That does not mean that the person is perfect in the flesh, but it does mean his heart devotion is unreservedly for the Lord. The faithful men of old from Abel to John the Baptist, including the holy prophets, were not perfect in their organism or flesh, but they were wholly and unreservedly devoted to Jehovah God, and therefore God's invisible power, his holy spirit, guided them in the right way, and they wrote accordingly. (2 Peter 1: 21) The words for "holy spirit" are improperly translated "holy ghost" in many versions of the Bible. Wherever the words "holy ghost" appear, they mean "holy spirit". The sum total of the matter

is that every creature who receives God's approval and is granted life everlasting, must be holy: wholly, completely, uncompromisingly and unreservedly devoted to that which is right and righteous; and therefore he is sanctified. Those who take their stand on the side of God, his King and his kingdom, must thenceforth be completely devoted to God and his kingdom and must avoid compromising with the world, which is the Devil's organization.

"Sanctification" is the act of sanctifying. The man who has agreed to do the will of God and has taken his stand by declaring himself for God and his kingdom must then act to the sanctifying of himself, which means that he sets himself to the task of fully performing his agreement to do the will of God. It will not do merely to agree, but he must perform his agreement. The Scriptural account of "the house of the Rechabites", that is, of the Jonadabs, is a striking example. Those men solemnly agreed that they would drink no wine and that they would dwell in tents. There was no evil in the drinking of a moderate amount of wine nor in the living in houses, but they agreed to do otherwise, and to them the important thing was to keep that agreement and perform it. They did faithfully keep their agreement, and because of that fact God said concerning them: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want [that is, shall not fail of] a man to stand before me for ever." (Jeremiah 35:19) The faithful keeping of the agreement is what God approves. To be sanctified, therefore, means that the man who has agreed to do God's will sets himself faithfully

to the task of performing his agreement, and hence sets himself aside and devotes himself wholly to that which is right and righteous. The man who takes the step of setting himself to the task of doing God's will is set to work by the Lord to do God's will and thus to maintain his integrity toward God.

How is man sanctified? Jesus answers in these words, addressed to Jehovah: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17) It is therefore impossible for any kind of religious ceremony to sanctify one to God. The clergy of the religious organizations can do nothing to sanctify a man to God. Sanctification is solely between the individual, who has agreed to do the will of God, and the Lord, who sets the man to work to prove his agreement. The man must learn what is the will of God toward him: "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." (1 Thessalonians 4:3) In this text the word "fornication" means illicit relationship, whether between individuals or between a Christian and the world. The one who has agreed to do God's will is precluded from mixing up with or compromising with the world, or the Devil's organization; and to do so means an illicit relationship described as fornication or adultery. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God." — James 4: 4.

Satan is the god or invisible ruler of this wicked world, which world will be destroyed at Armageddon. (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31;

14: 30) The consecrated and sanctified one must be entirely or wholly on the side of God and his kingdom and wholly or completely against the Devil and his organization. Such sanctified one must "study to show [himself] approved unto God", and not be ashamed or apologetic in doing the work which God has given him to do. (2 Timothy 2:15) For the aid and comfort and hope of those who have taken their stand on the side of God and his kingdom the Scriptures have been provided by the Lord, and in these last days the Lord makes them to be understood and causes publications to be circulated among the people to aid them in understanding. For that purpose study classes are organized and carried on for the study of God's Word, that those who have made an agreement to do God's will may learn the right way.

The "other sheep" of the Lord, which he is now gathering, flee from Satan's organization and seek refuge in the Lord's organization and, having thus taken their stand on the side of the Lord, they cannot remain idle or indifferent. As the "strangers" among the Israelites were required to obey the law which God had given to Israel, so now the Jonadabs, or "other sheep", are required to obey. (Exodus 12:48,49) The "other sheep", who will compose the great multitude, have now become the "companions" of Jehovah's witnesses on earth, and the same law of God is the rule of action for both. They must be active in doing what the law of God commands to be done.

THINGS REQUIRED

As Jehovah has shown his witnesses, the remnant, so has he shown his "other sheep", who have consecrated and sanctified themselves to God, what is required, and therefore to all such he says: "He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" — Micah 6: 8.

"To do justly" means to do what is right and righteous. The "other sheep" are specifically commanded to "seek righteousness", and therefore they must be diligent to ascertain what is righteousness in the sight of God. Jehovah deals justly with all, and never unjustly with any. To do justly, then, means to know God and his way and walk therein and do justly towards all; avoid everything that is unjust toward another. "Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31: 9) The poor and needy are particularly those who seek the Lord and hence who show a sincere desire to learn the truth. Concerning those who have God's approval it is written: "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that refuseth the gain of exactions; that shaketh his hands free from holding a bribe; that stoppeth his ear from hearkening to deeds of blood, and shutteth his eyes from giving countenance to wrong." (Isaiah 33:15, Rotherham) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in

this present world." — Titus 2:11,12; 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 7:1.

One who has made a covenant to do the will of God must perform that covenant faithfully, and justice and righteousness requires such. That is of first importance; as it is written: "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." (Proverbs 12:28) "The Lord . . . loveth him that followeth after righteousness." (Proverbs 15:9) Every person who is truly on the side of God and his King has a sincere desire to do good unto all who will receive that which is good: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10) Such is the right course to pursue. "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Proverbs 3: 27) All acts of injustice are iniquity, or lawless, because contrary to God's command. Those persons who are under Satan's control do unjustly toward others. Those who are on the side of God and his King take exactly the opposite course, and hence do right toward others. It is not the duty or even the privilege of those who are on the side of God to demand justice of others, but they must likewise do justly toward others. The one who deals unjustly with others God will duly recompense in his own good way.

God requires those on his side to love mercy. "Love" is the perfect expression of unselfishness. "Mercy" is the result of loving-kindness exercised toward another who is not justly entitled thereto. "To love mercy," therefore, means

to unselfishly do good to others, even though such others are not entitled to receive goodness: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy."  — Micah 7:18.

When Jehovah God sent his beloved Son to earth that he might save man from perishing God thereby showed great mercy toward man. All men, being imperfect because of inherited sin, would justly go into death; but in the exercise of his unselfishness or loving-kindness God shows mercy to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thus saves them from perishing. (John 3:16,17) "God is love." (1 John 4: 8) Therefore he is wholly unselfish. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. But thou, 0 Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious; longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86: 5,15) The person who oppresses another, and particularly the poor, because he has the power to do so, is not merciful and is therefore a reproach to Jehovah's name. (Proverbs 14:31) The man who loves mercy delights to show kindness and mercy to another, and that without any hope or expectation of personal or pecuniary gain. If the one who has done wrong shows a contrite spirit, then it is the privilege of the other one, who has been the victim of the wrongdoer, to show mercy to the wrongdoer. Teaching his disciples the right and proper course, Jesus said to them: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst

after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." — Matthew 5: 6, 7.

WITH GOD

Another thing God requires of man is, "to walk humbly [(margin) humble thyself to walk] with thy God." That means to pursue a course that God marks out for the ones who are in a covenant to do his will. 'To walk with God' means to go in the way God goes, which is always righteous. How is weak man to know the way of God? Man ascertains the will and the way of God by informing himself of the truth as set forth in the Bible, and thus he is guided in the right way: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105) "The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way." (Psalm 25: 9) The reasoning faculties of imperfect man necessarily are imperfect, and therefore he unwittingly takes the wrong way; which is often the result of yielding to his own process of reasoning. Therefore it is written: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3: 5, 6) Without a knowledge of what God has put in his Word no one can learn God's way. The religious institutions have kept the Bible away from the people and therefore have induced the common people to rely upon what the priests or clergymen tell them to do. The result is that many sincere persons are totally ignorant of God's will and ignorant of his righteous way. Now God brings to the

attention of the people the Bible and the meaning thereof, that they may learn the righteous way, and the clergy fight against the people's gaining this knowledge. Now God commands his faithful witnesses to carry to the people an explanation of his Word, that they may learn the way of salvation. Those who receive such favor from the hand of the Lord and who devote themselves to a study of his Word rejoice and truly say: "0 how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119: 97-99,103,104) Never has it been so vitally necessary for the people to learn God's law as it is at the present time, because now the Lord is gathering his "other sheep", who must be teachable and who must seek righteousness in order to escape the emergency and disaster of Armageddon.

OBEDIENCE

God requires obedience to his commandments from every one that agrees to do His will. To obey means to receive salvation unto life. To disobey means destruction. The Lord Jesus blazed the way of obedience that every creature who receives life everlasting must follow. Disobedience is rebellion against God and is the sin that finds no forgiveness. Lucifer disobeyed by

rebelling against God. His end will be complete destruction. (Ezekiel 28:19) Many religious leaders knowingly and willfully disobey God, and their end is the same. Jesus was fully obedient to every law of God, and he lives for ever and occupies the highest place next to Jehovah. While undergoing the most severe suffering Jesus was always obedient. By reason of his full obedience he received the greatest honor of all creatures. In this connection the rule is announced that every creature that receives life everlasting must be fully obedient unto God: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." — Hebrews 5:8, 9.

Since God has committed into the hand of Jesus the full power and authority to carry out his purpose, every creature that lives must be obedient to Christ Jesus. Therefore 'to walk with God' means joyfully to submit to His will and follow faithfully the course that Jesus has marked out. The "other sheep" of the Lord must render themselves in full obedience unto the Lord. In every instance cited in the Scriptures willful disobedience of God leads the disobedient ones into destruction. The importance of obeying God cannot be overstated. For this reason one who really is devoted to God will always be diligent to obey God rather than men.

FEAR

Satan the Devil is God's great adversary and also man's worst enemy. Satan uses fraudulent

and deceptive means to ensnare the people. Religion is one of his chief means by which he ensnares them. Satan is the author of religion, and men are made religious teachers, and the Devil uses men to put fear into the minds of others that they might be ensnared by religion. The religious teachers induce men to fear "eternal torment" if they do not obey the teachings of the religious system. They teach men that all imperfect ones must spend a time in "purgatory", the duration of which may be long or short in proportion to the ability of that man's friends to contribute to the priest to get him out. Both "eternal torment" and "purgatory" are inventions of the Devil and are promulgated by men as his representatives, and both serve as a great means of deception and as a defamation of God's name.

Fear, then, is the chief means by which men are drawn into these organizations. The Scriptures fully disprove the "eternal torment" and "purgatory" doctrines. Many sincere persons fear to disobey the commands of the priests or the clergymen of the religious organizations. That fear of man is a means of ensnaring others; as it is written: "The fear of man bringeth a snare." (Proverbs 29:25) Religion, being an invention of the Devil, turns men away from God. The people were long ago warned that religion would ensnare them, and it has ever been so: "And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them; neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. The graven images of their gods shall ye

burn with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God." — Deuteronomy 7:16,25; Judges 2:3.

To safeguard men from the snares of the Devil which are laid by causing men to fear other creatures, God commands that those who agree to do His will shall fear God, and not creatures. Then God states the meaning of fear concerning him: "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13) The Devil is the chief of the wicked, and therefore the way of the Devil and his agents is wicked, and all righteous men must hate such wickedness, and those on the side of God and his kingdom do hate wickedness. God's law is right, and the wise person fears to take a course contrary to God's law. When one comes to know God he fears to disobey God. Therefore the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge and of wisdom. (Proverbs 1: 7; 9:10) The fear of God is a real protection to all of those who have agreed to do his will. The prophet under inspiration from God asks: "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." — Job 28: 20, 28.

The rulers of the nations of the earth are moved by their fear of man and man-made powers. Worldly leaders are now in the state particularly mentioned by the Lord, to wit: "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking

after those things which are coming on the earth." (Luke 21:26) It was fear that induced the rulers to form the League of Nations; and hence they acted under the direction of Satan. God warned his people to have nothing to do with such a confederacy of nations, but that they should fear God; and his promise is that to them he will he a sanctuary. (Isaiah 8:12,13) The League of Nations has failed to bring about peace, but it has accomplished the Devil's purpose.

The Devil set a snare in which to catch the people, and out of that League of Nations have grown the totalitarian governments, that is to say, the total power vested in one dictator; and now all the nations are headed right into that same snare. The political leaders of the earth have great fear, and, they desiring some assurance from some power, the Devil and his wicked angels induced them to believe that they can find such consolation through the Papal Hierarchy. Hence the political leaders of the nations visit and send ambassadors to Vatican City and there take the advice of religious leaders and in this manner the Devil leads the political rulers fully into his trap. In this the political rulers follow the same course that King Saul took after God had rejected him. He went to the witch of Endor, the representative of the Devil, which witch spoke as a medium of the wicked spirits. She gave bad advice to Saul. (1 Samuel 28:7-25) Even so now the worldly rulers hasten to take advice of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and particularly the pope, and from that source they receive bad advice, as they will shortly come to

know at Armageddon. Both the political and religious leaders are blind and find themselves in the same class named by the Lord when he said that they would "both fall into the ditch", meaning destruction. (Luke 6: 39) The rulers of the nations know that the witnesses of Jehovah are proclaiming within their hearing the facts concerning the approaching disaster of Armageddon. They do not want to hear God's warning, because it is bad news to them. Hence they willingly join the religionists in the persecution of Jehovah's witnesses, and because of their fear they rush off to the pope, hoping to there find some consolation. Exactly as God foretold by his prophets, these worldly rulers form leagues and build strong cities, hoping thereby to protect themselves. They put the state above God and even indulge in the persecution of little children to compel them to recognize the state above God, and the Devil induces them to use this as a means of persecution of Jehovah's true witnesses.

"HIGHER POWERS"

Are not all persons commanded to obey the "higher powers"? and are not the rulers in the various nations the "higher powers"? All who have agreed to do the will of God must obey and be subject to the "higher powers"; as it is written: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." — Romans 13:1, 2.

But the "higher powers" herein named are not the kings and dictators and presidents or other political rulers of the nation, nor are the religious leaders any part of the "higher powers". Not one of them represents God and Christ Jesus, but, on the contrary, they are under the control of Satan, who is the invisible ruler of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Further instructing those who would know the right way, the scripture reads: "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." — Romans 13: 3,4.

Everyone knows that the rulers of this world are evil and do many evil things and, instead of aiding good works, they persecute those who do good works. This shows that they are not the "higher powers" mentioned in the Scriptures. Who, then, are the "higher powers"? Jehovah God is supreme, and Christ Jesus is his Chief Officer, to whom he has committed full power and authority to carry out his purpose; and therefore the "higher powers" are Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. (Matthew 28:18) The scripture above quoted concerning the "higher powers" is addressed specifically to those who have agreed to do God's will and whom God has accepted and called into his organization. (Romans 1:7) God is not dealing with the rulers

of this world, nor authorizing them to represent him.

Concerning the "higher powers", as above mentioned, he is instructing those who are on the side of the kingdom, and them alone, and shows that Christ is "the minister of God" and "revenger to execute [God's] wrath upon him that doeth evil". Christ Jesus is the "King as supreme" in the organization of God, and is so named in the following scriptures: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well." (1 Peter 2:13,14) "Governors," in the foregoing text, means the apostles of Jesus Christ, who were given specific power in the organization of the Lord. God's organization alone is included in the following text: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17) That text has no reference whatsoever to worldly organizations. Surely such wicked men as Hitler and Mussolini and Stalin, all of whom are against God and Christ Jesus, do not "watch for your souls", but rather attempt to destroy those who are on the side of Christ the Lord. In the foregoing text (1 Peter 2:13), "every ordinance of man" is limited entirely to those who are on the Lord's side and in his organization. When the Lord sent the apostles forth to establish congregations of Christian

people he committed to those apostles authority to make certain "ordinances" or rules, and therefore the faithful apostles were "governors" in the Lord's organization, and the rules promulgated by such are to be obeyed, and these rules are written in the Scriptures. (For an extended examination of this matter concerning the "Higher Powers" see The Watchtower, 1929, pages 163-169,179-185.)

IMAGES, MEN, FLAGS

Should a Christian obey the law of the land where he lives? Yes; unless the law of the land is directly opposed to the law of God. As an example, taxes are required to be paid for the legitimate expense of the state. Jesus said: "Render therefore unto Caesar [Caesar symbolically standing for the state] the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:18-21) Following that rule announced by the Lord, the Christian should obey every law of the state that is not in conflict with the law of God; but when obedience to any law of the state would operate as forcing the Christian to violate God's law, then the law of God takes precedence over the law of the state and the law of God must be obeyed rather than the law of man or that of the state.

A state or government in which all the activities of the people are within the control of a dictator, that ruling power constitutes a "totalitarian state or government". Under such the people are regimented or formed into classes, and all their individual privileges are fixed by the state, if they have any at all. Germany is

such a government under the rule of a dictator. In that land all the people are required to give a specific salute and to exclaim "Heil Hitler", which means, "Salvation and protection come from Hitler." A person who is in a covenant to do the will of Almighty God could not obey that law of the German state, which demands him to give a specific salute and repeat the words above mentioned, for the reason that to do so is a flagrant violation of God's specific command, as recorded at Exodus 20:2-5. "Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah," and not to any man, and a Christian who denies this and obeys the state rather than God takes the course leading to certain destruction.

An image, as defined by the Scriptures, means a "representation, a figure, a symbol; that is, something that stands for and in the place of another". It is defined by Webster thus: "Something that represents another; a symbol; a representation." "Bowing down," as used in the Scriptures, means to do reverence, obeisance; to worship. It is the purpose of the Devil to cause men to reproach God's name that destruction of man may result. For the specific protection of those who have agreed to do God's will the Most High gives this commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third

and fourth generation of them that hate me."  — Exodus 20:3-5.

The salute to the dictatorial ruler, as above mentioned, the bowing down to images or worshiping such, attributes to whatsoever that image represents the quality of protection and salvation, and is therefore a clear violation of God's law; and hence the one devoted to Jehovah cannot obey and will not obey a law of a state that requires him to violate God's law.

The Israelites were in a covenant to do the will of God, and they were a typical people. Satan had established religion amongst the nations and endeavored to draw the Israelites away from God by means of religion. The faithful servant and prophet of Almighty God, at the command of Jehovah God, gave utterance to these words: "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: but cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day." (Joshua 23:6-8) Thus the command of the Lord not to bow down to anything that represented the Devil was emphasized, and all who follow the Lord must obey God, and not obey man.

In the beginning Lucifer was appointed as a god or invisible overlord of man, and when he rebelled his name was changed to "Satan" and "Devil" (Ezekiel 28:13-15; Isaiah 14:12-15),

but his power to control men was not taken away. Therefore Satan is the "god" or invisible ruler of the wicked world, and the Scriptures plainly so state. (John 12:31; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Psalm 110:1,6) The above scriptures and the extraneous evidence show that the nations of the world are under the control of Satan. (James 4:4; 1 John 5:19, A.R.V.) Flags of the various nations represent the government and what the government stands for. The law of the nation or government that compels the child of God to salute the national flag compels that person to salute the Devil as the invisible god of the nation. The Christian, therefore, must choose to yield to God's enemy or to remain faithful and true to Almighty God. No one for a moment can doubt the fact that the Hitler government is against Jehovah God. No Christian could salute the German swastika without violating God's law.

But is the saluting of the American flag by a Christian or one in a covenant to do God's will a violation of God's law? Most emphatically yes, for the reason that protection and salvation are thereby attributed to the nation, whereas the protection and salvation to the Christian come from the Lord. In the flag itself there is no harm. It stands, however, for the ruling power of the government, all of whom are against Jehovah God and his kingdom under Christ. Not a single officer in the American government is for God's kingdom under Christ Jesus. The child of God, who has made a solemn covenant to be in full harmony with Jehovah and his kingdom, must look to Jehovah's kingdom alone for protection

and salvation. When he salutes a flag of a worldly government he repudiates his covenant with Jehovah; and that means his destruction, because he thereby becomes a 'covenant breaker worthy of death'. — Romans 1: 31, 32.

The real question is this: Is a person who is a Christian to fear the things that the governments of this world stand for? or is that person to fear Jehovah God and his kingdom under Christ? If the judges of the courts really understood what it means to be for Jehovah God and his kingdom and to be fully on the side of God and his King, and if they desired to be on the side of Jehovah and his kingdom, they would immediately resign as justices of worldly courts and declare themselves wholly for God's kingdom.

Judges of courts who have ruled that compulsory flag-saluting is right concerning a Christian doubtless sincerely believe that the flag stands for righteousness; but the facts show exactly to the contrary. Today God's kingdom is here and Christ Jesus is present and has taken his power and begun his reign while Satan is in control of the earth. All the nations of the earth are against God and his kingdom. It is therefore impossible for a person to be in full accord with the governments of this world and at the same time to be in full harmony with God's kingdom under Christ. He must serve one or the other of the masters, and there can be no compromise. The difficulty with judges and other officers is that they do not see or understand what God's kingdom is or means. The true Christian knows that he cannot be for God and his

kingdom and at the same time agree his protection and salvation come to him from the governments of this world. To salute a flag of the nation in effect says: "I look to what that flag stands for and represents for my protection, comfort and salvation." It is impossible for the child of God to say that and at the same time remain true to God, because the Christian knows that the government for which the flag stands will soon go down at the battle of Armageddon and that the Lord will destroy every vestige of Satan's organization. Hence that worldly government for which the flag stands could not be for the protection and salvation of the one who serves God. But does the flag of the United States stand for anything more or mean anything more to those who salute it than mere respect for the government under which they live? Yes, it means much more. If the saluting of the flag meant merely this: "By saluting the flag I will obey every law of the land that is not contrary to God's law," then everyone could salute it with absolute impunity. As to what the flag does mean, let the worldly authorities for themselves speak, as follows:

"The flag, like the cross, is sacred. Many people employ the words or term 'Etiquette of the Flag'. This expression is too weak, too superficial, and smacks of drawing-room politeness. The rules and regulations relative to human attitude toward national standards use strong, expressive words, as, 'Service to the Flag,' 'Respect for the Flag,' 'Reverence for the Flag,' 'Devotion to the Flag,' 'Behavior Towards the

Flag.'" — Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 11, page 316.

Continuing the definition, the colors are defined as follows: "White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; Blue signifies Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice."

Another authority says: "America was settled by lovers of liberty. America expects those who come here to love and revere and defend the flag which protects them. It is the emblem of a free people." — Manual of Information, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

If the flag is a symbol of a free people, then to compel a person to salute it flatly contradicts that claim. If a man is free, then he is free to believe what God's Word means to him. But if the courts can say that God's Word does not mean to that sincere man what he conscientiously believes it to mean, then the man is not free to exercise his own understanding of the Word of God.

Does not the state have the complete power to compel its citizens to obey every law it makes? Most emphatically, No. If a state enacts a law that is in direct conflict with God's law, the person who is in a covenant to do the will of God cannot properly obey such law of the state, and certainly he could not properly be compelled to violate God's law. Jehovah God is supreme, and his law is above all law of any or all nations of the earth. That question was raised and settled many centuries ago, according to the will of God. The worldly government called "Babylon" held as prisoners many Israelites that had been tak-

en away from Palestine. Babylon enacted a law which demanded that all the people should bow down before an image at the giving of a certain signal. Three Israelites who were devoted to God, being in a covenant with him, refused to bow down to that image. They were told that such refusal meant that they would be cast into a fiery furnace; and to that they replied to the king: "We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." — Daniel 3:16-18.

Those men were then bound with fetters and cast into a fiery furnace, and God rewarded their faith and delivered them from the fiery furnace without even a scorch on their clothing. Thus God demonstrated that his law is far above the law of man and that those who obey his law shall receive salvation and those who violate it shall be destroyed. The men who cast these three faithful ones into the furnace were destroyed. The faithful were preserved alive. (See Daniel 3:15-28.)

A further example showing the will of Almighty God in this matter and the proper course for those in a covenant with God to take, is the following: The apostles of Jesus Christ were arrested and arraigned before the courts for preaching the gospel concerning Jesus Christ, and the judges of the courts threatened them with dire punishment if they refused to cease

preaching; and their reply to the court was this: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 4:19;5:29) The child of God has no alternative. He cannot compromise and live. His salvation depends upon full and complete faithful obedience to God.

"FEAR THEM NOT"

In Germany many persons are imprisoned and some have been killed who refused to salute the swastika flag and "heil Hitler". They preferred death for doing right (because they know the Lord will resurrect them, if they do right) rather than destruction, from which there is no resurrection. If an American law required everyone to salute the flag, would it not be better to salute it rather than be imprisoned or killed? Each person must answer that question for him-

self. The act of saluting the flag is not an offense; but the one who has made a covenant to do God's will, and who then acts in disobedience to God's will, commits a wrong leading him into destruction. Those who desire to salute flags should do so, but those who have agreed to serve Jehovah God must obey him if they would live at all. The state may imprison and may even kill those who disobey its law concerning the flag-saluting, but those who die because of their faith and obedience to God are assured of a resurrection, whereas he that dies at the hands of God's Executioner, because that person is unfaithful to God, cannot have a resurrection. The state can kill only the body, but has no power to bring one out of death. Only God has the power of resurrection. Therefore Jesus said: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake [because of your faithfulness to the Lord]; . . . And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna; meaning complete destruction from which there is no resurrection]." (Matthew 10:22,28) To disobey God is sin, and the penalty thereof is death; but to obey God by faithfully keeping one's covenant means life everlasting. (Romans 6:23) It is therefore far better to obey God and suffer for righteousness' sake than to disobey and lose everything. (1 Peter 4:13,16) For centuries faithful men have suffered because of complete devotion to God, and such men have God's assurance of his everlasting approval and blessing. The true follower of Christ Jesus, therefore, obeys God at

all times, and by obeying God he is certain to do no wrong to his fellow man.

Why is such a strenuous effort put forth in these "last days" to compel the people, and particularly school children, to salute the flag and sing so-called "patriotic" songs? The Scriptures answer that these are evil days, perilous times, when the Devil is desperately attempting to turn all men against God because he knows that his time is short. (Revelation 12:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) For more than 150 years the people of America have gotten on without being compelled to salute the flag, but now in these last days of peril Satan is determined to break down all obedience of men to Almighty God in order that he might bring about their destruction. The totalitarian or dictatorial rule is the scheme of the Devil, and compulsory flag-saluting is one of the means of dictatorial rule to break the courage of the people, and to regiment them and control them. The religious leaders, and particularly the clergy of the Roman Catholic system, put fear in the minds of the people and compel them to obey the political rulers. The clergy and the politicians and their allies instill fear into the minds of the people and thus make them the victims of the Devil's snare. "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." — Proverbs 29:25.

There are two masters: Jehovah God, the Master over all who desire righteousness; and the Devil, over those who are against God. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he

will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6: 24) The rule that should be followed, then, is this: Obey every law of the state that is in harmony with God's law, because that is right. If you are trusting in Jehovah God and his kingdom, obey his law always, because He is supreme.

ADVERTISING THE KINGDOM

The obligation which God's law lays upon men should be met and performed voluntarily and gladly. Jesus said: "I delight to do thy will, 0 my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8) Such is the rule that the followers of Jesus must obey, and thus always delight to do the will of God. The "strangers" amongst the typical people of God pictured the present-day Jonadabs, the "other sheep" of the Lord now on earth. The strangers were required to obey the law which God gave to Israel. The same rule applies to the Jonadabs or "other sheep" today. The Lord commands, in Matthew 24:14, that this gospel of the kingdom must be preached unto the nations. The Jonadabs, or "other sheep", are under obligation to obey this commandment of the Lord. At Revelation 22:17 the Jonadabs or "other sheep" are the ones who hear the message from the Lord and the remnant, his witnesses on the earth, and they are commanded to say to other people to "come" and learn of God and his kingdom. It is therefore the duty of the "other sheep" of the Lord, the "companions" of the remnant, to carry the message of the kingdom to the people and to inform

them of God's purpose to vindicate his name at Armageddon and to grant salvation to life to all of those who obey his commandments.

The Jonadabs or "other sheep" have declared themselves for Jehovah and his kingdom. It is therefore their privilege and their obligation to give all their support to God's kingdom, and that means their time, their energy, their money, and everything, to advance the kingdom interest. To be sure, the Lord does not need the support of any creature; but those who do voluntarily support his kingdom show their devotion to him. After providing the necessary material things for oneself and one's dependent ones, then if he is in a covenant with the Lord it is his privilege and duty to use his substance to further the interest of the Lord's kingdom.

The Lord has commanded his people to carry the message of warning to the world. He has provided books, magazines, phonographs and other means of preaching the gospel or carrying the message to them, and thus the Lord has made it possible for every one that loves him to have some part in advertising the King and kingdom. It is the privilege and obligation of the Jonadabs, or those who will form the great multitude, to avail themselves of all opportunity to thus bear witness to others of and concerning the kingdom. The religionists and their political allies will attempt to keep the "other sheep" of the Lord from hearing the truth or engaging in the publication of the kingdom message; but let none of them fear what man or devil may do to them. With joy obey the Lord, and live.

BAPTISM

Is baptism required of everyone who is in a covenant to do the will of God? Yes, because baptism or immersion in water is a symbol outwardly testifying that the person thus immersed has surrendered his selfish will to do God's will. To such God provides protection. Immersion in symbol says: 'I have put myself entirely under the command of Almighty God, and by His grace I will do his will.' It is to such that God furnishes his protection and guidance. Before entering upon his work Jesus presented himself to John to be baptized, and John objected, and Jesus in reply said: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15-17) Jesus was then baptized; and when he came up out of the water, God gave an outward demonstration of His acceptance of Jesus.

Those who went into the ark with Noah thereby showed that they had agreed to do God's will as made known to them by Noah. They were baptized unto Noah and were thus saved from the flood. 1 Peter 3:20,21: "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

When the Israelites left Egypt under the command of Moses, all of them agreed thereby to obey Moses as God's representative; and Moses was a type of Christ. They followed Moses

across the dry bed of the Red sea, made possible by God's miracle. They were thus hidden or immersed in the cloud and the sea. "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1 Corinthians 10:1, 2) When John the Baptist came as the representative of the Lord he commanded the Israelites to repent of their sins against the law covenant and to be baptized. (Matthew 3:1-11) Those who did repent and were baptized testified thereby that they had changed their course of action and that they would no longer be guided by their own selfishness and would gladly obey the will of God. Those who had not violated the covenant but had been faithful to God had no need to be baptized.

Baptism, therefore, symbolically and outwardly testifies to an agreement to do God's will. In the picture concerning the cities of refuge the "other sheep" of the Lord are shown as fleeing unto the Lord's organization, thereby agreeing to do his will. They are thus hidden or immersed under and unto the organization of the Lord. Those who followed Moses through the waters of the Red sea and under the canopy of the cloud overhead were thus "baptized unto Moses" in the sea and the cloud and were thus protected from the expression of God's wrath against the Egyptians, representing the Devil's organization. Likewise those who followed Noah into the ark and remained there were hidden or immersed and thereby baptized unto Noah. Both

Moses and Noah pictured The Christ, the royal organization of Jehovah God. Therefore even the Jonadabs at this present time experience the baptism unto the Greater Noah, Christ Jesus. Coming under the protection of the organization of Christ Jesus, the "other sheep" now find shelter, and if they continue there to seek righteousness and meekness, rendering themselves in obedience unto the Lord, they have the promise of deliverance from the wrath of God at Armageddon. True, the Jonadabs are not counted members of the capital organization, but their protection and safety is from Jehovah God by and through his organization of which Christ Jesus is the Head. As the Red sea brought destruction upon the Devil's representatives, who were pursuing the Israelites, and there the Israelites had protection by reason of being baptized unto Moses; so likewise the deluge of waters destroyed those who reproached God and opposed Noah, and the ark furnished protection and safety to them from the disaster wrought by the flood. That baptism, which provided safety and salvation for some and destruction for others, appears to be referred to by the words of John to those who came to him for baptism, to wit: "He [Christ] that cometh after me is mightier than I, ... he shall baptize you with the holy [spirit], and with fire." (Matthew 3:11,12) The "fire" baptism evidently refers to the fire of Armageddon, which immersion will be the destruction of all of the Devil's organization, and protection to those who find refuge in Jehovah's organization. That "fire" will be a time of tribulation such as the world

has never known; and never again will it occur, because it will completely destroy the wicked. Baptism is required because it is an act of obedience; and all who please God are required to be obedient.

MEMORIAL

Just preceding his crucifixion Jesus instituted the Memorial of his death. Is it necessary and proper that the Lord's "other sheep", the Jonadabs, partake of the emblems of the Memorial? No, such is not required, and, in fact, it is very improper for those who will compose the great multitude to partake of the emblems of the Memorial, for the following reason: God made a covenant with his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, for the kingdom. Jesus must die as a man, be raised out of death a spirit, ascend into heaven and there receive the authority of the kingdom. It is the will of God that Jesus shall have associated with him in his kingdom 144,000 taken out of the world. Such faithful ones must die as human creatures, be raised out of death, and become members of the royal organization of Jehovah. They must follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

To his faithful disciples Jesus said: "And you are they who have continued with me in my trials. And I covenant for you, even as my Father has covenanted for me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22: 28-30, Diaglott) Just preceding this declaration of Jesus he took a loaf of bread and broke it, which symbolized

his body; he took a cup of wine, which he said represented his blood, and invited all his faithful disciples to drink of it. (Matthew 26: 26-29) The broken bread pictured the broken body of the Lord, and the wine pictured his lifeblood poured out; and inviting his disciples to drink of it meant that he invited them to partake of his death that they might partake with him of life in the kingdom. Those who hope to share with Christ Jesus in his kingdom of heaven, therefore, must celebrate the Memorial, thus testifying to their agreement to be dead with Christ, that they may live with him: — 2 Timothy 2:11,12.

At the present time, since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple, those faithful ones drink the cup of the new wine of joy because the time has come for the vindication of Jehovah's name; and this fills them with joy. (Matthew 26: 29) As the Israelites were hidden, shielded and protected by reason of their baptism unto Moses, even so those who are baptized into the death of Christ are hid with him; as it is written: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3,4) The members of the body of Christ, therefore, must be "baptized into [Christ's] death", which is entirely separate and distinct from water immersion and has nothing to do with water immersion. — Romans 6: 3-5.

Those who form the great multitude will not die as human creatures and be resurrected as spirit creatures. They are not called to the

heavenly calling, and therefore are not a part of the kingdom. They find life on the earth under the King and kingdom. They are not baptized into the death of Christ. If the "other sheep", or great multitude, should partake of the Memorial wine, which is a symbol of the blood of Christ, they would in effect say: "We have agreed to be dead with Christ Jesus, and know that we must die with Him." Thus it is seen that it is improper for them to partake of the Memorial emblems.

EVERLASTING COVENANT

The flood had ended, and at the command of God Noah and his family went forth out of the ark. Those eight persons were then the only human creatures left on the earth. God then made known to Noah his covenant concerning the sanctity of life, and which is called "the everlasting covenant". Its terms apply to all living creatures, and it shall stand forever. It is a unilateral or one-sided covenant, because it is the solemn and emphatic declaration of Jehovah God concerning his purpose; and such he will never change, but will perform the terms thereof regardless of what creatures may do. That covenant, disclosing the sanctity of life, is a further vindication of Jehovah's name. God is the "Fountain of life". (Psalm 36: 9) He gives life, and he takes it away. No creature can properly take life except in strict accord with God's law. The everlasting covenant is with and applies to man, beast and fowls. (Genesis 9:12) That all creatures might have a tangible token of that covenant God set the rainbow in the

cloud; and when one looks upon the rainbow he is forcibly reminded of God's everlasting covenant concerning life.

The terms of the everlasting covenant are stated in these words, to wit: "And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man." — Genesis 9: 2-6.

HUMAN LIFE

No man can give life, and therefore no man can take away life except he act strictly in accord with the law of God concerning the same. The command given to individuals by Almighty God is, "Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13) This command is not a contradiction of Genesis 9:6: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man." If a man commit murder, he shall be punished by the taking of his life, and the executioner of the murderer cannot be self-appointed, but must act as the representative of God. The words of the foregoing text, "for in

the image of God made he man," do not refer to the creation of Adam, but mean that the executioner of the murderer acts as the representative of God and upon authority delegated by God and therefore acts in the image of God. Noah was righteous in the sight of God because of his faith and obedience, and the commission God gave to him was that he should execute the willful murderer of another. — Exodus 21:12-24; Leviticus 24:16-21.

Some examples are here cited. Moses, as the representative of Jehovah God, delivered God's law to the Israelites, and to them he said concerning the inhabitants of the land of Canaan: "And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly." (Deuteronomy 7:2-4) Why should those people be killed? Because they were opponents of God and were the servants of the Devil and engaged in persecuting God's chosen people. Therefore God appointed Joshua and others with him as executioners of those enemies of the Most High. For forty years God led the people of Israel by the hand of Moses on their long journey from Egypt to Canaan, the land of promise. On the way the Amalekites, without cause or excuse, assaulted the Israelites and be-

gan to destroy them, and tried to prevent the Israelites from entering the promised land. (Exodus 17:8-14) The Canaanites were in the land of promise when the Israelites reached that land, and tried to prevent the Israelites from entering. The Canaanites were God's enemies, fighting against his covenant people. The execution of the Canaanites by Joshua and his army was in harmony with God's command, because those Canaanites were God's enemies and practitioners of the devil religion. The one exception amongst those people was the Gibeonites, who voluntarily sought out Joshua, expressed their faith in God, and asked Joshua to give them protection. In this the Gibeonites pictured the great multitude, who flee to the Greater Joshua, Christ Jesus, and ask for protection and salvation.

The Canaanites that fought against God's chosen people pictured those nations and peoples of earth who today practice the devil religion, oppose God, and wickedly persecute his chosen people now on the earth, and which religious persecutors therefore are God's avowed enemies. At Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jehovah's Executioner, will punish and completely destroy all of God's enemies. (Psalm 21: 8) Today the representatives of Satan, and particularly the religionists, are in a conspiracy to destroy those persons on earth who are devoted to God and to his kingdom. Their purpose is to prevent God's covenant people from entering into the kingdom and there having the blessings of Jehovah. In this they were pictured by the Canaanites. (Psalm 2: 2-9;

Psalm 83:2-18) The destruction of God's enemies is a vindication of his name. He is the source of life, and from those who willfully oppose him he takes what little life they have. It is therefore written in God's Word: 'A time for every purpose under heaven; a time to kill, and a time to heal.' (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3) God determines the time and occasion to take life, and therefore it is written: "To me [Jehovah] belongeth vengeance [vindication], and recompence." (Deuteronomy 32: 35) "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves; but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." — Romans 12:19.

WAR

Two men engage to fight a duel, and in doing so one of them is killed. In most countries the law of the land declares that the man who killed his antagonist in the duel is a murderer. When two nations declare war against each other, or begin war without a declaration, and the citizens of each nation respectively are required to go on the battlefield and kill, there is in fact no difference between such and the two men fighting a duel. In both instances the "everlasting covenant" is violated. When a nation prosecutes a war of conquest against another people in order to gain more territory or other things of material value, such is a violation of the everlasting covenant. If a people are attacked by invaders and those who are attacked defend themselves and their families, during which defense some are killed, such is not a violation of the everlasting covenant, because the wrongdoer is

the aggressor. (Exodus 22:2) When a nation goes to war for commercial reasons and men volunteer to go and fight, and do so, and kill, such is a violation of the everlasting covenant, because it is the taking of life without authority from Jehovah. Because a Christian has agreed to do the will of God a Christian properly refuses to kill voluntarily, because the same is a violation of the everlasting covenant. For this reason those wholly devoted to God and his kingdom refuse to go to war against their fellow creatures, because they prefer to obey God and suffer at the hands of men or earthly governments rather than to disobey God and suffer complete destruction. It should be kept in mind that the law of Almighty God is supreme and far above the laws that are made or can be made by any earthly governments.

All the nations of "Christendom", as is well known, have violated the everlasting covenant. A modern instance follows: For the purpose of enlarging national territory and satisfying the ambition of a dictator Italy prosecuted a war against Abyssinia, in which many were killed. In Spain political and ambitious men have made a rebellion against the government, causing many human creatures to be slain. Both as to the slaying in Abyssinia and as to the war in Spain, the leading religious organization on earth, to wit, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, has not only approved, but aided and abetted, such unrighteous war. The Papal system therefore is guilty of breaking the everlasting covenant with reference to both Abyssinia and Spain. The same rule applies concerning Ger-

many and its assault on Austria and Czechoslovakia. Today the nations of earth are in a condition of wickedness and woe. Concerning all such nations God declares: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (Isaiah 24: 5) Punishment shall come upon such nations for the breaking of the everlasting covenant, as God further says: "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 24:6.

Those who compose the great multitude must now learn what is the will of God concerning life and the sanctity thereof, and, learning, must see to it that they do not violate the everlasting covenant. God emphatically declares that he alone is the source of life. No creature can take away life of his own volition, and for the purpose of punishing another, without violating the everlasting covenant. Lucifer was made man's overlord. He rebelled against God and led man into death, and therefore it is emphatically written against him that he is a murderer. (John 8:44) The Devil ultimately shall be completely destroyed, together with all persons who have willfully followed his lead in breaking the everlasting covenant.

BEAST

God created the beast of the field and the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea and gave them life. (Genesis 1: 25) The life of such can proper-

ly be taken only as provided by God's law. The animals and fowls are included in the everlasting covenant. 'I establish my covenant with you, and with every living creature that is with you, the fowl, the cattle, and the beast.' (Genesis 9: 9,10) Noah took many animals into the ark with him that they might be preserved to produce their species later. When Noah brought these animals out of the ark and set them at liberty they would quickly scatter through the earth and increase rapidly and thus endanger the life of Noah and his family. For the protection of man and to safeguard the animals also, God said to Noah: "And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered." — Genesis 9:2.

The fear and dread which the beasts had for man caused them to keep out of man's way and not to molest him. In his law God provided that man could have the animals for food as he might require, and could kill them for that purpose. (Genesis 9:3-5) If a man required a beast for food he was permitted to kill it, but the blood of that beast he must pour out on the earth, and not eat it, because the life is in the blood and eating the blood is a violation of the everlasting covenant. The law which God gave to the people through Moses fully supports this conclusion. God specified in that law what hunters must do, and such law shows that no one is justified to hunt animals or fowls for sport, thrills or adventure: "And whatsoever man there be of the

children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; whosoever eateth it shall be cut off ." — Leviticus 17:13,14.

It follows to a certainty that the Devil induces men to violate the everlasting covenant in order to turn them from God. As Satan is a rebel, so he attempts to make rebels of men. Noah's son Ham begot a son and called his name Cush. Nimrod was a son of Cush. Nimrod became a rebel and a violator of the everlasting covenant. Because he is the outstanding one of early times who violated that covenant mention is made of him in the Scriptures. (Genesis 10: 6, 8-10) He was a wanton slayer of beast and fowls.

The first huntsman mentioned in the Bible is Nimrod. The slaying of animals by Nimrod was done in defiance of God's law and was done at the instance of Satan for the purpose of defying and reproaching Jehovah's name. It is not Scripturally correct to say, as some critics have said: "The sin of Nimrod and of the people that followed him did not include the wanton slaying of animals, and the Scriptures are silent in the matter; and Nimrod's sin was solely worshiping the creature instead of the Creator." Concerning him it is written in the Scriptures: "And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth: he was a mighty hunter before

the Lord; wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord." (Genesis 10: 8, 9) If Nimrod was a mere hunter to obtain necessary food, that certainly would not have caused the people to hail him as a mighty hunter "before the Lord".

The word "before", in the above text, as commonly used today does not convey the proper thought. The correct meaning of that word, however, furnishes a key which discloses the kind of man Nimrod was, and shows that he was a willful and deliberate sinner and that one of his great sins was slaying of animals in violation of the everlasting covenant. Other translations of this scripture, and the definition of the word "before", will clarify this matter; and which follow, to wit: "Before" means "against" (Jehovah) (Septuagint [LXX]); "in defiance of (Jehovah) (Fausset's Encycl.); "in opposition to, in defiance of" (Jehovah). (The Companion Bible) A footnote of the appendix No. 28 of The Companion Bible in this matter says:

"Nimrod persuaded mankind not to ascribe their happiness to God, but to think that his own excellency was the source of it. And he soon changed things into a tyranny, thinking there was no other way to wean men from the fear of God, than by making them rely upon his own power.

"The Targum of Jonathan says: 'From the foundation of the world none was ever found like Nimrod, powerful in hunting, and in rebellions against the Lord.'

"The Jerusalem Targum says: 'He was powerful in hunting and in wickedness before the

Lord, for he was a hunter of the sons of men, and he said to them, "Depart from the judgment of the Lord, and adhere to the judgment of Nimrod!" Therefore is it said: "As Nimrod (is) the strong, strong in hunting, and in wickedness before."'

"The Chaldee paraphrase of 1 Chron. 1:10 says: 'Cush begat Nimrod, who began to prevail in wickedness, for he shed innocent blood, and rebelled against Jehovah.'

"Nimrod was the founder of Babylon, which [symbolized Satan's organization and] partook of his character as being the great antagonist of God's Truth and God's People.

"We cannot fail to see, in Nimrod, Satan's first attempt to raise up a human universal ruler of men."

The name Nimrod means "rebellious one" or "him that rules in rebellion". (See book Prophecy, pages 127,129,130; see also Riches, pages 95 [paragraph 1], 100 [par. 1], 168 [.par. 2].) 'The preposition translated "before" means "against the Lord". Nimrod was a killer of men and beasts. He trained men to hardship that they might successfully battle against beasts and men. His prowess in hunting must have coexisted with valor in battle. Hunting and heroism were of old specially and naturally associated.' — McClintock & Strong's Cyclopædia, Volume VII, page 109.

"The name Nimrod signifies 'the subduer of the leopard'. This name seems to imply that as Nimrod had gained fame by subduing the horse and so making use of it in the chase, so his fame as a huntsman rested mainly on this, that he

found out the art of making the leopard aid him in hunting the other wild beasts." — Hislop's The Two Babylons, pages 24, 44.

Nimrod was a religionist. He made himself a great name amongst the people by his wanton slaying of wild beasts, and thus he induced the credulous ones to look upon him as a god. He organized religion and practiced it and caused the people to practice formalism or religion, and that he did for the very purpose of turning the people away from Jehovah. Nimrod was the visible instrument of the Devil to carry out the Devil's defiant challenge to Jehovah, that he could turn all men against God. Nimrod killed the beasts of the forest to show his prowess and to impress men with his greatness and in order that he might receive their applause, that he might gain control over the people and draw them to himself and use them for his selfish purposes of carrying on wars of conquest. His wanton slaying of wild beasts could not have been merely for food and in harmony with God's law and the terms of the everlasting covenant, but was in defiance of God and for the purpose of willfully and maliciously breaking the everlasting covenant.

The example set by Nimrod has influenced the men of every nation since that time. The indisputable facts show that a class of men who indulge in hunting wild beasts and fowls merely for the thrill and selfish pleasure derived therefrom are also the men who indulge and delight in military training and the prosecution of wars and who advocate war, and also that they are to a large degree religionists, given over to formal-

ism and to the praise and adulation of men, all of which is done in direct opposition to and in defiance of God's law, and which is therefore sin.

Thus it clearly appears that the sin of Nimrod and his supporters included the wanton slaying of beasts, together with his prosecution of wars of conquest and the killing of men; also the exaltation of men and causing the people to worship men; also his organizing political bodies to rule and to carry on commerce to unjustly reap personal gain. The purpose of all of such was and still is to hold the attention of men upon human creatures of a supposed higher class and to turn the masses away from their service and devotion to Almighty God. The entire scheme is that of the Devil, brought into being and put into operation in furtherance of his wicked challenge to Jehovah that he could cause all men to curse God. In order to exalt himself Nimrod wickedly violated the everlasting covenant by wantonly slaying men and beasts, and by this means the credulous people were deceived and it became a proverb concerning him that he was a great and mighty one; as it is written: "He began to be mighty upon the earth." (1 Chronicles 1:10) "He was a mighty hunter [killer] in defiance of Jehovah." (Genesis 10:8,9, Septuagint) When he had made a name for himself he set up a kingdom; "and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel," that is, Babylon, and that was in defiance of Jehovah. (Vs. 10) Since Nimrod's time all the nations have been made drunk with the wine of Babylon, that is to say, the wicked doctrine of

Satan's organization, and hence have indulged in wanton slaying of men and beasts and have cruelly persecuted those who truly serve God and his kingdom. Concerning such it is written, "For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, and the destruction of the beasts, which made them afraid." — Habakkuk 2:17, A.R.V.

Jehovah's people, both the remnant and Jonadabs, are especially concerned now about these truths, because they disclose to man the manner and means by which Satan has turned men away from God. Those who have covenanted to do the will of God are now, because of increased light, exceedingly anxious to know how they can conform themselves to God's will, not only in one thing, but in all things. They have a keen desire to honor God's name and to show their love for him by diligently keeping his commandments. The Jonadabs especially, being commanded to seek meekness and righteousness, must now be diligent to learn what is right. Seeing from the Scriptures that the chase or pursuit of and the killing of beasts and fowls merely for sport is wrong, because in violation of the everlasting covenant, they will avoid such and refuse to have anything to do with so-called "sport" of hunting merely for the thrill that men get by shooting birds and beasts. God will punish every nation that has violated his everlasting covenant, which means all the nations. Those who are consecrated to do God's will are exceedingly anxious to avoid doing anything that has even a tendency to violate God's expressed will. If the people need food, and "clean" animals can be taken for that purpose, it is in harmony with

God's will that they may slay and eat the meat of such clean animals and clean fowls; but no one really consecrated to the Lord will permit himself to indulge in the chase or slaying of wild beasts or fowls merely for so-called "sport" or thrill.

PROTECTION

God has provided protection for those who love and serve him. Those who left the ark with Noah numbered in the aggregate only eight persons, and they were the only living human creatures. There were numerous animals that Noah brought out of the ark with him, and these

animals would immediately roam about the earth and multiply. For the protection of man God put fear or dread in the minds of the animals that they might fear or dread man; as it is written: "And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered."  — Genesis 9: 2.

That certainly means that when men would come near the wild beasts those beasts, having fear or dread of man, would run away and escape from man, and this was done for the protection of the beast, and particularly for the protection of men. A few men could not protect themselves against a great number of wild beasts. Their dread of man was man's protection.

The Devil put it into the mind of his agent Nimrod to seek the beasts and kill them. When the beasts attempted to escape from Nimrod he would chase them and kill them. He trained other men to do the same thing. He killed those wild beasts merely to demonstrate his prowess and in defiance of God. In self-defense, and for their own safety, many of the animals of the forest became vicious and learned to attack man. Thus it was that the Devil, acting through wicked men such as Nimrod, caused the wild beasts of the forest to become vicious. Had God's commandment been obeyed by men, no doubt the lion, the bear, the tiger, and other like wild beasts would never have become vicious and dangerous to men. Since the time of Nimrod

men who call themselves "sportsmen" have hunted the wild beasts, have lain in wait for them, have chased them, and brutally slain them, and thus the beasts of the forests and the wild fowls of the air have become man's mortal enemies because the huntsmen have become their mortal enemies. Men have wrongfully gone into the wilds and trapped the wild beasts and removed them from their natural homes, and placed them in prisons, such as zoos, and thus inflicted upon them cruel punishment, and their excuse has been that such is to satisfy the curiosity and fancy of men. Jehovah God never imprisoned wild beasts in zoos, but, on the contrary, he provided for the saving of their lives during the flood and for their protection after the flood by including them in his everlasting covenant. The violation of the everlasting covenant concerning both man and beast has brought great sorrow and suffering upon men and upon the beasts as well. God provided the forests as the home of the wild beasts, and men have no excuse or justification to remove the beasts from their homes and confine them, nor have they any right to ruthlessly and wantonly slay them.

Nimrod's commercial example was also in violation of God's law. Following that example, men since have willfully slain animals that they might make commerce out of their skins or bones. The great herd of buffalo that once swarmed upon the wilds of America have been wantonly slain for commercial reasons. The elephant, which has inhabited the wilds of the forests of India and other places, has been wantonly slain in order that the ivory of its

tusks might be used for commercial purposes. These things originated with the Devil, and the purpose has been and is to turn men away from God. God has furnished the means by which man can protect himself and also that the animals might be protected, but cruel men following the lead of the Devil have turned men away from the righteous course.

For the purpose of providing clothing or raiment for Adam and Eve the Lord caused the skins of animals to be used. (Genesis 3:21) In the construction of the tabernacle "antelope skins" were used. (Exodus 26:14, Strong's) It appears also that certain skins were used for clothing and raiment amongst the Israelites. (Numbers 31: 20) Of course, it would be necessary to slay the animals in order to get their skins for a covering or raiment. These scriptures, therefore, would seem to fully justify one in slaying animals and taking their skins for the purpose of providing necessary clothing or raiment. Wherever such skins are required for this purpose the taking of the life of the animal to provide such clothing or raiment is not a violation of the everlasting covenant. Nor would the taking of life to provide raiment be limited to the person who used the furs or skins, but such could be properly furnished to another. In some places men have their lands enclosed and the deer feed upon their pastures and other vegetation, and when these deer are mature and at certain seasons of the year they are killed for food and their skins used for other purposes needful to man. This is not a violation of the

everlasting covenant, because it appears to be clearly within the terms of God's law.

FOR FOOD

Man may lawfully kill and eat the flesh of beasts, fowls and fish, but the blood thereof he must not eat. The Israelites were Jehovah's covenant people, whom he used to make types and shadows of greater things to come. The statutes or laws which he gave to the Israelites applied to them alone, because they were God's covenant people. At the eleventh chapter of Leviticus God's law specifies what beasts were clean for the Israelites to eat. Among the animals mentioned were swine, as follows: "And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you." — Leviticus 11: 7.

Mark the emphasis in this scripture on the words "to you". A similar statute governed the eating of the hare. (11: 6) It would follow that such animals were not unclean to all human creatures, because of the use of the words "to you". Other peoples generally do eat the flesh of swine and hare. Bacon and ham constitute the food of many people. It is not a violation of the everlasting covenant to eat such food. The everlasting covenant, applying to mankind in general, concerning the eating of flesh says: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." — Genesis 9: 3.

That provision of God's law was made prior to the law covenant with Israel, and it stands for ever. God's covenant with Israel was made

for the specific purpose of holding that nation in line and under protection until the coming of Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:19) When Christ Jesus came, the nation of Israel ended. (Romans 10:4) Christ Jesus fulfilled the law covenant and brought it to an end: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances. . . . and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross [tree]." (Colossians 2:14) It appears, from what follows, that the eating of swine, for instance, is not a violation of the everlasting covenant so far as Christians and the "great multitude" are concerned: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."  — Colossians 2:16,17.

In order that sincere persons might not suffer from confusion in regard to the things to eat, the inspired writer of the Scriptures furthermore said: "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; . . . forbidding to marry, am. commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1,3-5) (See also Ephesians 2:15,16.) The terms of the Jewish law covenant forbidding the eating of swine and rabbits or hares do not apply to Christians or others of this day. There are certain animals

that no one does care to eat, such as skunks. The everlasting covenant, which applies to all men, specifically forbids the eating of the blood of the beasts; and the reason is given: because the life is in the blood. At Leviticus 22:8 it is written:

"That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the Lord." Manifestly this law would apply to all persons, and to all animals that died, as there stated, for the reason that the blood of the animal is not poured out but remains in the flesh, and it hence could not be lawfully eaten. In this connection, note the advice of the apostles to Christians and others as to what they should and should not eat: "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment. For it seemed good to the holy [spirit], and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." — Acts 15: 24, 28, 29.

The governing rule in reference to the taking of the life of animals may be summed up in these words: Animals may be slain for food, but the blood must not be eaten. The man who goes about with his gun deliberately killing animals for the mere sport or thrill of shooting them does violate the everlasting covenant. A Christian or a Jonadab, therefore, could not willfully and wantonly engage in the slaying of beasts,

animals or fish merely for the sport or thrill of doing so.

SACRIFICE

God commanded the Israelites to sacrifice certain clean animals, and the killing of them for that purpose, of course, was right and proper. (Exodus 12:5-7) Thereby God was foretelling that the sacrificial blood of Christ Jesus would make an atonement for the sins of the people.

But the killing of all such animals could not be done by everyone, and the victim could not be offered by everyone. The sacrifice must be brought and offered in the proper manner as prescribed by the Lord: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying, What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, and bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord, before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood [of a beast to no valid end]; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord." "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an

atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood." — Leviticus 17:1-5,11,12.

Time and again God emphasizes this truth, that life belongs exclusively to him, and therefore no life can properly be taken when such is done in disregard of God's law. Foretelling his purpose to redeem the human race by the sacrificial blood of his Firstborn, Jesus Christ, God commanded that the firstborn of the animals fit for sacrifice should be sacrificed unto the Lord: "All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God: . . . Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God year by year, in the place which the Lord shall choose, thou and thy household."  — Deuteronomy 15:19, 20.

The firstling of the animals not acceptable for sacrifice must be redeemed with a lamb, that is, an animal suitable for sacrifice. If the firstborn was not redeemed as provided by law, then it was proper and lawful to kill that unredeemed firstborn: "Thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck; and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem." (Exodus 13:12,13) "All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep,

that is male. But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty." (Exodus 34:19,20) This shows that animals must be treated or used according to God's law and any treatment thereof contrary to his law is a sin. Since the sacrifice of Jesus, the antitype, there is no further occasion to use beasts for sacrifice.

DESTROYERS

Beasts may be killed under other circumstances that are within the terms of the covenant as follows: Beasts that work injury to others or kill a human creature must be slain (Exodus 21: 28); or, if that beast is destroying one's property, it would be proper to slay such beast, and such does not constitute a breaking of the everlasting covenant. "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes." (Canticles 2:15) Thus the rule is fixed that animals that destroy man's food and property may be taken, that is, killed. The beasts or birds that are found destroying crops of the farmer or gardener may be slain; and this is for man's protection, and not in violation of the everlasting covenant.

Likewise God placed a value on the life of wild beasts of the field and of the forest. Their lives belong to God, and they are not to be hunted down and ruthlessly and wantonly slaughtered. Such pursuit of wild beasts and wanton slaughter of them are entirely out of harmony with God's commandment to man, to wit: 'Have do-

minion over the beast of the field and the fowl of the air.' (Genesis 1: 28) That it is in harmony with God's will to hunt beasts and fowls to be used for food is made certain by his law (Leviticus 17:13; Genesis 27:3-5); but only their flesh must be eaten, and not their blood; and this proves that the killing merely for thrills or pleasure of shooting of beasts or birds is wrong.

STUDY

The prayer of every person of good will toward God is this: "Teach me good judgment and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments." (Psalm 119: 66) Men of the world seek money and power that money brings them. The man who is wise takes the course which God has pointed out for him to take: "Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold." (Proverbs 8:10) The admonition of the faithful apostle is: "Study to show thyself approved unto God." (2 Timothy 2:15) The "bunk" proclaimed by "higher critics", who think to show their own greatness, does not constitute "knowledge", within the meaning of the Scriptures. Religion and the practice thereof have kept the people ignorant concerning God's purpose and therefore void of true knowledge. The end of religion is now at hand, and all who desire righteousness will be diligent to learn the truth, and such will seek the knowledge that God's Word imparts. Persons of good will toward God will quickly abandon religion and seek the knowledge contained in God's Word relative to him, his King and his kingdom. When God commands them to seek righteousness and meek-

ness, that means that they should be anxious to learn and diligent to learn what is right; and that information is found only in the Scriptures. The persons of good will who will constitute the great multitude will be diligent to learn about the kingdom. Like the faithful men of old, all persons of good will now desire a government of righteousness and peace. To all such the Lord says: "Now therefore hearken unto me, 0 ye children; for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." — Proverbs 8:32-35.