FROM and after A.D. 1918 a voice hitherto unheard speaks up in further fulfillment of the great prophetic drama. It is the voice of the modern-day Elihu. His name means "God of him", or, "whose God is he," that is, Jehovah. Elihu, though young, was a witness for his God, Jehovah. In this Elihu correctly pictures Jehovah's "faithful and wise servant" today, particularly the Head thereof, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the earthly instrument he has used to do on earth the work like Elihu's, namely, the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY. This Society is "wholly devoted to Jehovah and his Theocracy. Further, in a legal capacity, it acts as the servant and publisher and counselor for the faithful remnant on earth of the members of the "body of Christ", who have been taken out by Jehovah as a "people for his name". — Acts 15:14.
Since the coming of the Lord to the temple in 1918 to begin the judgment of the "house of God" this little company, the remnant, has been born or brought forth as his approved children, begotten of his spirit and anointed with his spirit as the last members, or "the feet", of the body of Christ. During this period, the day which is accursed for "Christendom", this remnant have been born as children of God's universal organization, Zion. Hence they are "the remnant of her seed" and are a young company as compared with the Catholic and "Protestant" organizations of "Christendom". (Isaiah 66: 8; Revelation 12:17) Christ Jesus, on conducting the judgment at the temple and finding the remnant responsive to the call to God's service, constitutes them the "faithful and wise servant" class under himself. To them he entrusts the Kingdom interests, which interests they must increase on earth. (Matthew 24:45-47) An honest consultation of the records available will disclose to the reader that the remnant have used and are using the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY as their legal, publishing and administrative servant in their work as Jehovah's witnesses.
32 Elihu was the son of Barachel the Buzite, and hence was a descendant of Buz, a nephew of Abraham, "the friend of God." Elihu had learned of Jehovah's promise to Abraham, that is, God's covenant to estab-
lish the great Theocracy with the Seed of the Great Father Jehovah as his King thereof. Like Job his distant cousin, Elihu took his stand for that Government of the new world. He was not out to justify men, but out to contribute his part toward vindicating Jehovah's name and word of promise. Therefore he sat in on the public argumentation between Job and the three so-called "friends". Elihu believed in the free and open discussion of questions of vital importance to all of us people. He favored letting both sides have their say without censorship, thus permitting the opponents to have their say and all first hear and then judge as to the truth and correctness of what they said. Elihu was not awed or abashed at the lofty, dignified appearance of the religious and official trio, neither was he impudent, lacking in proper decorum. He was bold, fearless and impartial in witnessing for Jehovah. In all this Elihu faithfully foreshadowed the Society representing the remnant at this time.
"So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes." (32:1) The three tools of the "prince of the demons" had failed to accomplish Satan's design to torture Job into cursing Jehovah God and renouncing him to his face. Job's integrity stood the test, by God's grace and strength and to His vindication. That gave the lie to Satan. Job was not self-righteous, but was "righteous in his own
eyes" in the sense that he was not guilty of the things whereof the three religionists accused him to the reproach of Jehovah God. Then Elihu's wrath was kindled. "Against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself, rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." — 32: 2, 3.
Elihu's wrath here befits the time when the remnant came to see that the justification or vindication of Jehovah's name by his Theocracy was and is the chief thing, and that the sufferings which Jehovah's witnesses faithfully endure are that they may be privileged to have a part in vindicating His name. Job had not condemned Jehovah God once, but he had at times been too much concerned with the creature (Job) than with the Creator, whereas the Creator is chiefly the One to be vindicated. Likewise, for a while just before the appearance of the remnant, Jehovah's consecrated people had been concerned more with maintaining a good standing with God, as by self-development to prepare themselves to go to heaven, rather than with the zealous, fearless showing forth of God's praise and the vindication of His name and Word. Such activity in publishing God's kingdom and clearing his name of the Devil's reproaches by religion was mistakenly given a place secondary to the making of the bride of Christ class ready for the mar-
riage with him in heaven, in 1914 as some thought. The remnant, being now enlightened by the Lord at the temple, get the understanding of the proper relationship they bear to Jehovah and his Kingdom and, with righteous indignation, they promptly correct the improper views. The Society representing the remnant is pictured in the drama as a separate character, Elihu, because the remnant are a distinct part of the entire Job class from Abel onward and the Society performs a special part in connection therewith.
Elihu had particular wrath against those three religionists who had tried to break Job's integrity and had not answered him with truth so as to vindicate Jehovah God on the issue; "because that they found not a response, and condemned God." (32:3) So reads the Rotherham version, and with this the comment of the Catholic Bible also agrees, saying: "Almost all the Rabbins assert that the original copies read Jehova, 'the Lord;' (H.) and that the Masorets changed it, to avoid the apparent blasphemy; as if the three friends had rendered themselves guilty by not answering Job." The marginal comment of Rotherham's version agrees with the Catholic and says: "The context shows that the original reading is preferable." What devilish deceptiveness! Those three religionists piously gave outward expressions seeming to exalt God but in reality took the Devil's side of the controversy
against God's witness, Job, and thereby condemned Jehovah and reproached Him. This foreshadows the very same conduct of the religionists and their allies today.
"But Elihu had waited for Job with words, because the others were older than he." (Job 32:4, Rotherham) Elihu waited and let those three religionists put on their garments identifying them as servants of Satan; also, he did not run ahead of God in an effort to shorten up the extent of testing that Jehovah purposed his faithful servant to have to fully disprove the Devil's false charge. As for the remnant on the stage of action in the final scenes of this world, the Roman Catholic and "Protestant" sects have existed and operated "days" and "multitude of years" before the remnant, and this should have allowed those religious sects to accumulate and to teach much wisdom. The well-known facts since 1918 show that they have accumulated only the traditions of men and the wisdom of this world and continue to teach religion, which is devilish wisdom, and to unwisely and devilishly persecute the Job class, Jehovah's witnesses, and are doing so in the name of God and religion. — 32:6,7.
Religious sects claim the great men of the world and great age or antiquity for their systems, but their unscriptural teachings and opposition to The Theocracy show they do not understand the Lord's judgment;
which contrasts with the remnant who have the spirit and inspiration of Almighty God. (32: 8) Not greatness in this world nor getting aged and hoary in religion, but the Lord's spirit and the study of his inspired Word are what gives understanding of the great issue and the course of wisdom. Elihu called attention to this, and it is only what might he expected that the Catholic commentators speak in condemnation of Elihu, saying: "With his private spirit he comes forth, not much unlike Protestants and Puritans, who pretend that they will overturn the Catholic faith by arguments which have escaped the sagacity of all preceding ages!" (Haydock) In the same way those religionists view and bitterly condemn Elihu's counterpart now, the Society-remnant having God's spirit.
The religionists have failed to convince or convert the Job class, down to these very days of the remnant; they have failed to answer his words and to prove that "God thrusteth him down, not man". (32:13) Particularly since the introduction of radio they have refused repeated challenges from the remnant to select and put up their best official representative and to debate over a nation-wide radio hookup of stations on religion's teaching as against that which the Bible teaches, to let all the people hear and then decide for themselves which is true. But to this date the pope and the American mem-
bers of the Hierarchy, and other religious federations, have refused such petitions and challenges, which petitions were signed by millions of truth-seekers of all denominations and beliefs.
Job had no controversy with Elihu: "Now he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your [religious] speeches." (32:14) Today the Elihu-Society gives comfort to all the Job class, including the Lord's "other sheep", with Bible truths and not with religious speeches. The religionists stubbornly persist in charging that the remnant or Jehovah's witnesses are following a man and that such man is their "leader". Untrue; for the Elihu remnant give such title or like titles to no man, but declare that their only leaders are heavenly, namely, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, and the infallible word and command of these they will follow at all costs. In Elihu's words they answer the religionists who give and accept awe-inspiring titles to themselves: "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away." (32:21,22) For this reason the Elihu remnant refuse to "heil" or salute dictators who assume the title of "leader; fuehrer; duce", though it means concentration camp, dungeon, or death for them. Titles take away from fear of Jeho-
vah God and arouse fear and reverence of men. Hence titles are abominable to God. (Luke 16:15) Religion shall die therefor.
33 Jehovah's witnesses, of whom Elihu was one, were never created or organized by a man or men, and no man is their founder. Said Elihu: "The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." (33: 4) God is the Founder of his witnesses; He is the source of the commission to them to serve as his ordained ministers. This fact holds true also concerning the Elihu remnant today, and concerning the Society which they make up, which "Society" means the company of those anointed, commissioned ones who as children of Jehovah God are united as one in Christ Jesus. They act in a common purpose of carrying out the terms of their commission as Jehovah's witnesses and according to the instructions of His Theocratic organization. Jehovah has formed this "Society", and by His spirit or power and truth He has given it life, power, wisdom and understanding to act, and He uses it as His "faithful and wise servant". Originally those of the Society or Elihu remnant were in 1918 made up of those who prior to the temple judgment were members of the Job class and who passed the temple judgment and continued as such. This is the meaning of Elihu's words to Job: "Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay." (Job
33: 6, Am. Rev. Ver.) "Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God." — Leeser's translation.
Jehovah has used the Society as his servant under Christ to call vital things to the attention of the Job class. Elihu had heard Job's words, and now says: "Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man." (33:12) He did not mean that Job was wicked or accusing God of injustice; for not once did Job curse God to His face under the demons' assaults. Elihu meant that Job was not rightly or equally balancing all the things involved and was making too much over the sufferings undergone and his own justification and salvation. "God is greater," and his vindication by his King of The Theocracy is the main concern. The salvation of creatures from sin and death is only minor, secondary; and for the creature to lay the chief stress on that is selfish. Whatever the failure theretofore to see things rightly and in proper proportion, now, since the enthronement of Jehovah's King in Zion in 1914, it is the "day of Jehovah" and the chief purpose of his Theocratic Government then begun is the vindication of Jehovah's name by destroying all opposers of his universal domination. All self-centered creature considerations must give way completely to that all-important divine purpose. All other things that may not yet be understood are not of chief con-
sequence nor to be disputed over; "for he giveth not account of any of his matters." (33:13) Yet he can and must be fully trusted, till his due time, in his own chosen way, to give understanding.
Since the death of Christ's apostles God speaks to his covenant people through his written Word and by the physical facts which God causes to come to pass in fulfillment of the prophecies of his Word. Thereby he gives them vision of and concerning the primary issue and his glorious purpose. Not once, but repeatedly, Jehovah thus speaks to his people because slow to perceive spiritual things. His Word has been sealed to the proper understanding until the "time of the end". (Daniel 12:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11) That is the time of the end of Satan's world and is humankind's darkest period, "the night," and since 1914 its darkness has thickened. Now is Jehovah's due time to unseal the understanding of his Word. In 1914-1918 Jehovah's consecrated ones were likened unto the ten virgins that slumbered and slept. (Matthew 25:1-13) Then he aroused them by sending his Messenger, the Bridegroom, to the temple and revealing and announcing his presence there. As respects the "wise" virgin class, "then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." (33:14-16) Worldly religionists sleep on, but to the servants of Jehovah the apostle writes: "Let us not sleep, as do others; but
let us watch and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6) Jehovah God speaks to the watchful by unfolding the vision of his Word: "that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword." It is God's sword executing his judgment. — 33:17,18.
For centuries the Job class were surrounded by such as Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar under the influence of the demons. Particularly from about forty years before 1918 the Job class began to break away completely from that religious, political, commercial crowd. When the World War came as the demons' protest to the enthronement of Jehovah's King of The Theocracy, the Job class had not completely ridded themselves of all things religious, nor did they see or appreciate the Theocratic rule and the vindication of Jehovah's name as of chief importance. Hence under the stress of war and the persecution by the religionists and their political and judicial allies the Job class displayed fear of men and they relaxed from the bold and open proclamation of Jehovah's kingdom now established. They divided their attention with other things. There was considerable pride in so-called "character development", and much self-concern about getting ready to go to heaven, rather than to fearlessly do God's work on earth and get it finished. This was leading (and
it did lead some individuals) into a failure or refusal to keep the covenant to do specifically God's will. Hence it was leading to the "pit", or trap, which meant perishing by the sword of Jehovah's great Minister of execution, who executes all covenant-breakers with death, annihilation. (Romans 13:1-5; 1: 31,32) Jehovah was testing out the integrity of his covenant-people, not in order to destroy them, but for their salvation, that they might have a part in vindicating his name on the right side of the primary issue. How, then, did he withdraw them from a mistaken purpose and keep them from perishing by execution? Jehovah by his servant "Elihu" gives answer.
RETURN TO YOUTH
Only the power of Jehovah can heal spiritual sickness and deliver the sick from death at the hand of his Executioner, Christ Jesus. Relaxation from God's active service by not fulfilling the vow of obedience to him provides no bed of ease. During the period of violent opposition and persecution from the enemy, just prior to and for a time after the Lord's coming to the temple, neglect of covenant-keeping for fear of men and by submitting to world powers of "Christendom" brought to the Job class no ease of mind, heart and conscience. There was not full appreciation of the "meat in due season" provided by the Lord, and there was much conten-
tion thereat within the Job company. Spiritual leanness and corresponding weakness for serving the Lord resulted. "Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers." (33:19-22) These destroyers were Jehovah's hosts of angels under Christ Jesus, who is officially called "Michael". At that time there was war in heaven over the birth of The Theocracy, and Satan and his wicked angels were thrown out and down to the earth! (Revelation 12:1-12) Would Jehovah's destroyers under Michael then press the war to its final conclusion and destroy Satan's organization visible and invisible? God's Word reveals that he was angry also with his covenant-people, the Job class, for their failure respecting their covenant with him; and now would he express his wrath against them and destroy them as covenant-breakers? How would he restore them from spiritual ill-health and deliver them from execution by his commissioned destroyers?
The faithful remnant now know, and, taking up Elihu's inspired words, they answer: "If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness; then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom." (33: 23, 24) Religion and teachings of men who attempt to interpret the Bible would not suffice. What the Lord's consecrated ones
needed was instruction from Him and his interpretation of His will to show them the remedy for their release from wrath and destruction. Therefore Jehovah did not bring upon the world the climax of the tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, immediately with the casting of Satan out of heaven. In fulfillment of Jesus' words concerning the order of events at the end of the world Jehovah shortened those days of tribulation. He brought in a cessation of hostilities before resuming the great fight over universal domination between His organization and Satan's. (Matthew 24: 21, 22) Therefore he sent his Messenger to the temple for judgment of the "house of God" and of the nations, and in harmony with this He stopped the World War. For whose sake? For his own name's sake, and "for the elect's sake", meaning those who were in line to be the elect with Christ Jesus in The Theocracy and upon whom also God's name was called. — Ezekiel 36: 21-23; Mark 13: 20.
The "messenger", or, (Am. Rev. Ver.) "angel", whom Jehovah sent to the temple, is He who promised his followers to come again and receive them unto himself, namely, Christ Jesus, who is officially "Michael the archangel", and who descends with "the voice of the archangel". (Jude 9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16) Hence he is "one among a thousand", he being accompanied by "all his holy angels". He is the interpreter of
God's will and purpose, and the mediator between Jehovah God and those taken into God's new covenant to be a "people for his name". He and Jehovah are The Teachers of all the covenant people. (1 Timothy 2: 5, 6; John 6: 45) At the temple judgment he proceeds to "shew unto man [the consecrated ones yet in the flesh] his uprightness", or, "to declare to the son of earth what is right for him." (Rotherham, margin) Jehovah's "messenger" revealed God's requirements, that the vindication of His name is eminently the right thing, and that the work of all who would be spared by the Lord's Executioner and approved is to boldly and continuously proclaim the Kingdom, The Theocracy, by which Jehovah's name shall be completely vindicated. This tested all those gathered to the temple, and the Lord's angels gathered out all the "workers of iniquity" and brought into the temple a tried and purified and faithful remnant, into unity with God's Messenger. — Matthew 13: 41-43.
Thus Jehovah God was gracious unto this obedient remnant, who turned from all religion and all reverence of human teachers and who diligently applied themselves to keeping their covenant obligations to the Lord by showing forth his praises. Concerning such the Supreme Judge, Jehovah, said to his Executioner, Christ Jesus: "Deliver him," or, "Release him," "set him free." (Leeser; Rotherham) But why spare them
from the pit of destruction? Why command this deliverance of the remnant? Jehovah answers: "I have found a ransom." Seeing the repentance of the remnant and their prompt response to active service as his witnesses, Jehovah found them not willful sinners or rebellious covenant-breakers, but still subject to the covering merits of the great Mediator and Advocate, Christ Jesus, and in Him Jehovah found a ransom to provide for the reinstatement of the remnant in his service and organization. The remnant too, and their companions thereafter, likewise take up and joyfully echo the words: "I have found a ransom."
The body when consumed away to a skeleton, as Job's was, is unsightly; but flesh gives fullness and beauty to the human frame. Concerning the change of state of the remnant yet in the flesh Elihu foretells: "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth." (33: 25) The condition of those of the remnant during their time of inactivity while scattered, oppressed and persecuted by the religionists during the World War, is likened to a valley of dry bones, without covering of flesh and skin and scattered. (Ezekiel 37: 5-8) But by sending his Messenger to the temple and reviving the repentant remnant to activity in his service, Jehovah fills them with his spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. He makes them 'full-fleshed', or beautiful,
as his witnesses, vigorous, active, energetic as a tumbling, romping boy, and fresher in strength and appearance because of the moisture of refreshing truth of the Kingdom and because of the strong spiritual food which builds healthy "flesh".
"Return to the days of his youth" means for the remnant the power of vision to see the primary issue, namely, God's universal domination and the vindication of his name. (Joel 2: 28; Acts 2:17) It means also a restoration of the Theocratic rule of organization among the remnant in serving God. Job describes how the Theocratic rule obtained in the days of his youth (chapter twenty-nine); and the coming of the Theocratic King to the temple in 1918 makes possible the restoration of this rule which obtained in the youth of His church, both when He was with his disciples and thereafter while his apostles were with the church. This youthful condition of the remnant and their companions was fully attained particularly from and after October 1, 1938. The Theocratic organization of Jehovah's witnesses for his service was then actually put into effect, and it still continues and shall. — See The Watchtower, June, 1938.
Elihu's prophecy continues: "He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him; and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness." (33:26) In answer to the remnant's
prayer for forgiveness and restoration to his service, Jehovah by his Messenger prevented the religionists and demons from killing them off. He released them from their condition of restraint imposed by the enemy, freed them from fear of men, poured out his spirit of anointing upon them, and sent them forth as his commissioned witnesses. Then Jehovah gives them a vision of his Representative and Messenger at the temple, with favor showing to them in his face, and they rejoice and are satisfied. (Psalm 17:15, Am. Rev. Ver.) "And he restoreth unto man his righteousness." (A.R.V.) He does this by forgiving the remnant their sin through the precious blood of Christ, and then cleansing them from their iniquity of lip through fear of men, and thereafter covering them over with the "robe of righteousness" as his approved official witnesses, and organizing and instructing them for his righteous service as Jehovah's witnesses. Fully comforted thereby, they sing forth his praises, as foretold: "And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me." — Isaiah 12:1; 61:1,2,10.
Elihu's further words, according to the Hebrew, are: "He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it was not requited unto me. He hath redeemed my soul from going
into the pit, and my life shall behold the light." (33: 27, 28, Am. Rev. Ver., margin) Before all men, whether enemies or persons of good-will, the remnant began singing in 1919 and continue to sing. They sing boldly of Jehovah's graciousness toward them through his Theocracy by not requiting them for their sin with destruction but delivering them from the Executioner and now permitting them to see the light of his Theocracy and to shed it forth to others to enlighten their darkness. The religionists and their organizations hate the song and try to silence it, but in vain. They cannot sing of any such spiritual revival which they hoped for their organizations after the World War, neither will their hopes of a religious revival after this war between "the king of the north" and "the king of the south" be realized. Instead, after the "harlot" of religion gets exalted on the back of the "beast" of world federation, both religion and her allies after her will be delivered into the hands of the Destroyers, God's Executioner and his angelic host, and will go down into the pit of destruction at Armageddon. Only the people of good-will who become the Lord's "other sheep" catch up and carry on the song of the remnant, and they joyfully look forward with the Scriptural hope of being hid from the Destroyers and of being delivered from going down into the pit of destruction during the final battle over uni-
versal domination. They rejoice in and reflect to others the light now shining from The Theocracy and look ahead to endless life in eternal youth on earth in the new world.
Thus are fulfilled the further words of the prophecy: "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes [or, (Am. Rev. Ver.) twice, yea, thrice] with man, to bring back his soul from [going down into] the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living." (33: 29, 30) Almighty God worked this first in the prophetic drama with Job; and then with the remnant in the prophetic fulfillment; and finally with the remnant's companions, the Lord's "other sheep". Such fulfillments of Elihu's words prove that his words were inspired by the Lord's spirit and that he was an approved prophet and witness of Jehovah, regardless of his being condemned by religionists of "Christendom".
To the exact contrary of his modern religious critics who condemn Jehovah's witnesses, Elihu said to Job: "If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee." "Speak! for I desire to pronounce thee innocent." (Noyes) (33:32) This was not a desire to justify a man rather than God, but it expressed the wish to help Job to hold fast his integrity toward the Lord God. Elihu had just uttered the prophecy foretelling how at the end of the world the Job class who halted and slacked the hand for a time in Jehovah's service would
repent and return to the Lord's works of righteousness and have his favor and approval. The remnant, in line for membership in the bride of Christ the King, would be arrayed, figuratively, "in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." The "other sheep", who shall form the "great multitude" surviving Armageddon, identify themselves also as for the Kingdom, and before Armageddon they 'wash their robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb'. (Revelation 19: 7, 8; 7:9,14) Elihu spoke the prophecy with heavenly wisdom, and merely repeated the wisdom that God by his spirit had taught Elihu. He was not setting himself up as the teacher; neither is the "Society" today the teachers, but it repeats God's teaching.
34 Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar viewed the young witness for Jehovah, Elihu, precisely as do the Roman Catholic Bible commentators who vent themselves concerning him. Therefore let the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allies attend to what Elihu next says; for he addresses those three men: "Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge." (34: 2) When the Hierarchy refused to debate publicly by radio with the representative spokesman of the Elihu "Society" they weakly argued that it is beneath the dignity of their high and holy office to debate with such a man, who counted for nothing in reli-
gious circles. They have tried to ignore what the Society is saying, but have been unable to escape the penetrating and reaching power of the Kingdom message. — 34: 3, 4.
Was Job obliged to lie against his right judgment of himself? The disease wounding him was incurable, but not for transgression that he had committed against God. The record shows it was demon work. (34: 5, 6) Drinking up scorn and scoffing from the cup continually handed him by the religionists, Job correctly stated it that a devoted man who serves God in this world does not find any profit in it from the religionists who claim to serve God. Religionists hate and persecute the Job class, their hatred reaching its climax against the Perfect One, Christ Jesus. (34:7-9) The Devil had argued with God, 'Does Job serve God except for profit?' and Job's three religious visitors joined the Devil in making Job poor by letting Job have no profit, not even a good name, from them for delighting himself in God. Job, however, was faithful amid poverty and incurable disease. Thereby he proved that a man of true integrity and devotion to God delights himself in serving God, not for what selfish profit he can get out of it, but because it is right and God is worthy thereof and is glorified thereby and His name is honored. Still, is there no blessing to such man therefor?
Elihu replies that though the man loves God and serves him with delight without desire for selfish profit, yet God is not unjust so as to ignore such unselfish service and devotion to him and fail to render unto the man according to his work and way. (34:10-12) He will not pervert judgment: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10; also Matthew 10: 40-42) God is Most High and Universal Governor: "Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?" He gave Lucifer the charge of invisible overlord of the earth and created that world righteous. But no one assigns Jehovah his supreme position; He holds the universal domination and will retain it by his own sovereign right and power. He could rightly withdraw the breath of life instantly from all mankind, because their heart is set against him. — 34:13-15.
God, who exercises the Supreme Government and the universal domination, could not be a hater of right, but only most just. He is higher than all earthly kings and princes and mighty ones, and such ones are not the "higher powers" "ordained of God" as the religious clergy claim. At Armageddon they shall be made to die in a moment and be taken away, and all their subject peoples with them, in the depth of earth's dark-
ness. He sees through all the religious words and pious expressions with which the mighty rulers try to cover over their dark conspiracies and opposition to him and his Theocracy. "He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead." Instead of those political rulers Jehovah will resurrect the faithful men of old and make them "princes in all the earth". (34:17-28) When He gives the quietness of the new world of righteousness, "who then can make trouble?" and when He hides his face in condemnation of this present wicked world, who of the clergy or worldly potentates can behold his face of favor, let them offer all the prayers for peace and for blessing on their schemes that they may? This is true, "whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only." "So is it with nations and individuals alike!" (Noyes) Why? "That the [religious] hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared," in the new world. (34: 29, 30) The world rulers should not be offended at such divine dealing, nor at God's message warning of Armageddon. It would benefit them to acknowledge their offenses and iniquity and turn therefrom, and then ask the great All-wise God to teach them right and truth. But if they selfishly want God to do "according to [their] mind", then let them know that God will recompense them, whether they refuse it or choose it.
He does the choosing of what He shall do. — 34:31-33.
What do those of religious understanding and of worldly wisdom pray should be done with Jehovah's witnesses who hold out in integrity against their attacks'? Elihu tells what is their answer: "Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me: Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom. Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God." (34:34-37, Am. Rev. Ver.) Hence they keep up and increase their persecution of Jehovah's witnesses as if authorized by their own prayers.
VINDICATION BEFORE SALVATION
35 The desire for salvation to everlasting life is a proper thing, but it is not to be put before the vindication of God's name. It is not to be given such prominence and size that it hides and eclipses the all-important and foremost issue, namely, God's vindication by the enforcement of his universal domination against the opposers of his Theocracy and the defamers of his name.
To increase the power of religious clergymen and to make them appear all-necessary to sinful man, the religionists have magnified the matter of human salvation out of its
secondary place that the Scriptures give it. Hence the religionists have gone to all unreasonable and unscriptural lengths in their salvation campaign, such as inventing a place called "Purgatory" and foisting this make-believe place upon the clergy-trusting people and then collecting billions of dollars from the people to pray and offer masses to get the dead out of that imaginary place of purification by torment and into heaven. Almighty God is "all in all" and is self-contained. The salvation of sinful creatures is not essential to His happiness, but is only by his mercy or loving-kindness. He could easily blot out the present sinful race, and create new, perfect human creatures and start off in righteousness a new human race. But the vindication of God's name is of highest importance, and except for that vindication not even human creatures that are finally saved could be saved. Surrounded by demons and religionists, there was an inclination or tendency of the Job class before the Lord's coming to the temple to put more emphasis on self-centered efforts to get into heaven and into the Kingdom than on God's praises.
Elihu, in his further words to Job, showed that the remnant, when taught and enlightened by the Lord at his temple, would see, take and advocate the right view and stand on this subject. Elihu did not accuse Job of being self-righteous and more righteous than
God. He said Job was laying more stress on the personal side, the matter of his own justification to which Job was entitled, than on the chief and all-overshadowing issue of righteousness, namely, justification or vindication of Almighty God, whom religion has grossly misrepresented to humankind. (35:2) As to serving Jehovah God, "what advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have by it more than by my sin [more than if I had sinned]?" (35:3, margin) No advantage or profit whatever from this world of demons and religionists, as Job's own case proved. Religion favors wicked sinners, as shown by concordats between Vatican City and religious-totalitarian dictators of Germany, Italy, Portugal, and, in prospect, Spain and others. The lover of righteousness serves God for no selfish profit from any source, nor because he can bring any profit to God, but because it glorifies God and to keep one's integrity or blamelessness toward God plays a part in vindicating God's name.
What, then, if a servant of God does suffer due to the test of the integrity of his unselfish devotion to God? In permitting such test to come and to be attended by sufferings at the hand of Satan and his crowd Jehovah God is not unrighteous nor has he thereby injured his righteous servants. The Devil's challenge makes the permitting of the painful test proper. Furthermore, God has a
grand reward for those who triumph in it, particularly the "joy of Jehovah" by having a share in upholding and vindicating his worthy name. It is not unjust on God's part, but is becoming: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation [Christ Jesus] perfect through sufferings." — Hebrews 2:10.
Whether one sins and commits transgression or holds to the right course does not affect God personally. (35:5-8) The prime consideration in the heart of one who is in a covenant with God to do His will is as to how it bears on God's name. Would it support the Devil's side or Jehovah's side of the great controversy? Satan and the demons drive the wicked ones in power to heap oppression upon the people to make them turn to religion and against Jehovah God. "But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night; who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?" (35: 9-11) The oppressed people cry, but the religious clergy in their pride do not relieve the people, but continue to work with the oppressive rulers. Jehovah God will not attend to their religious vanities; and that is why the pope's "Holy Year" of 1933 did not flood the world with peace and prosperity as he prayed. Religionists fear, revere and trust in men, but
the Job class must trust in Jehovah God, although they cannot at once see him or his hand in what takes place; "yet judgment is before him," or, "the cause is before him." (35:12-14; Am. Rev. Ver.) Before the Lord came to the temple and began judgment at the house of God, the Job class did not see or know the main issue. Hence during the World War they so acted as to bring the Lord's displeasure, and came into dire extremity and 'multiplied words without knowledge'. — 35:15,16.
36 While Elihu is speaking a storm is brewing in the distance. The clouds are scudding across the sky heading our way, and the growling of thunder is heard. Elihu has more words for God and ascribes righteousness to his Maker, from whom he acquires his knowledge. Though young in years, he quickly became mature in knowledge of the issue. "One of competent knowledge is with thee," meaning that the Elihu "Society" have looked to the true Teachers, Jehovah God and his Messenger at the temple, and have thereby come to maturity in Scriptural knowledge, and can now inform the "other sheep" of the Job class, who also must keep their integrity. (36: 2-4, Rotherham) The Elihu remnant now tell how Almighty God puts the righteous "feet" members of Christ's body in line for kingship on the throne with Christ in The Theocracy, which shall be established for ever. The remnant have themselves been
restored from captivity to Babylon, and now they tell how the Lord delivers the prisoners of religion from their fetters and cords in the worldly religious organizations of the demons. Thereby He releases the "other sheep" and brings them into the "one fold" of the Lord. However, the disobedient hypocritical "evil servant" class, and all of the "man of sin" class, never come to maturity in Christ, but shall die ignorant and in their uncleanness with the world by the Lord's executional sword at Armageddon. During oppression the Lord's poor, "poor in spirit," open their ears to Him for instruction, and he shows them the way out and delivers them. — 36:5-15.
Elihu reminded Job that the foregoing rules governing God's dealings also applied to Job and would surely bring him freedom and abundance of the Lord's pro vision. "But IF thou art full of the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice shall take hold of thee. For if wrath be with him, beware lest he take thee away by his stroke, so that a great ransom shall not save thee!" (36:17, 18, Noyes) The Job class need to be reminded of the consequences if they wickedly broke the covenant with God; then even Christ's ransom sacrifice would not avail for them, nor material riches, nor gold, "nor all the forces of strength." For God's servant to choose to do iniquity or lawlessness rather than to suffer affliction for keeping his cove-
nant with God would mean destruction beyond redemption, either now or in the world to come. — 36:19-21; Psalm 85: 8; Matthew 12:31,32.
The storm of Armageddon is approaching us, where all wicked covenant-breakers and workers of iniquity shall be cut off, and Elihu foretells of that "strange act" and also of God's "strange work" against his religious enemies immediately preceding that "act". Jehovah exalts his Theocracy as the "new heavens" of the new world. Who except him can teach the truth concerning the great issue now to be settled for ever? He commands his own way, and in that way who can accuse him of iniquity? His "strange work", and not religion, is to be magnified and fully participated in by his covenant people. (36: 22-25) He, and not human creatures, is great, and the years of his eternal existence are unsearchably endless. He rains down his refreshing truth abundantly upon his men of integrity. He spreads the clouds of his coming storm of wrath over "Christendom" and all nations. His "new heavens", his pavilion wherein he resides, thunder and crash with his message of warning concerning the execution of his judgments. He spreads out the light over the pavilion of his heavens, and covers the bottoms of the sea-beds with waters. By the supernatural forces of lightning and by great tidal waves of the sea he shall execute judgment against
the people of this world at Armageddon. Now also the flashes of his revelations of his purpose, and the mighty waters of truth which overflow religion's refuge of lies, are his means to judge the peoples, separating them as "sheep" and "goats". To the "sheep" he gives "meat in abundance". As for those who assail his Theocracy and his witnesses, "He covereth his hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge against the assailant." — 36: 26-32; Am. Rev. Ver., margin; Noyes.
Jehovah's storm signals increase as he multiplies the fulfillments of his prophecies declared long ago concerning the end of the world. His witnesses now proclaim these, loudly and boldly, and the thunderous noise of his message of vengeance tells concerning him and his "strange act". It tells concerning his Vindicator and his Executioner of the wicked, who goes up to the slaughter. The religious clergy and those to whom they are spiritual advisers cannot discern the "signs of the times", but those whom they disdain as "cattle", namely, the people of good-will who become the Lord's "other sheep", heed the warning and also warn others. — 36: 33, margin.
THE STORM
37 The storm draws closer. Elihu's heart leaps and trembles. How like Noah, who was moved with fear of the coming Flood to pre-
pare the ark for safety and preservation! (Hebrews 11:7) Now the Elihu "Society" gives a description according to God's Word of the threatening Armageddon storm. Now the noise of his warning thunders like the voice of God, and the lightnings of his truth flash to the ends of the earth, the forerunners of the terrifying thunders and lightnings when Jehovah God goes forth to battle as he did in the days of old. It will be his "strange act"; "great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend." (37:1-5) Now his message is like cold snow to some and like small rain of refreshment to others, but THEN he shall send the "great rain of his strength", a deluge! The religious enemies and their allies now increase their efforts to shut up the active hands of Jehovah's witnesses and will soon put a stop to the "strange work" God is accomplishing through their hands. Then by his "strange act" Jehovah of hosts will shrivel up the hands of those enemies, sealing up the hand of every one of them, "that all men may know his work," that He is Jehovah, the Almighty God. — 37: 6, 7.
The beasts hide out. The whirlwind of the south meets head on with the bitter cold of the north, and then! A great frost, and the vast waters of the people alienated from God are frozen motionless with chill fear. The water-wearied clouds unload their burdens onto the earth. God moves the clouds about and shoots out from them the lightnings.
Riding on top of the forces of power and destruction, Jehovah by his great Executive Officer directs them and the whole course of the superhuman battle between His organization and Satan's organization. The storm he causes to smite the world, for a punishing rod upon the opposers of his universal domination by his Theocracy. He causes it to come for the sake of the earth which has been defiled by the innocent blood that is shed. The earth can be cleansed only by the blood of the murderers and violators of his everlasting covenant concerning sacredness of blood, which blood is the life of all flesh. (Numbers 35: 33; Genesis 9: 4-11) That worst of all storms, ridding the earth of all the wicked, is "for mercy" to those "other sheep" who shall weather the storm under God's protection. They shall come forth thereafter and inhabit the cleansed earth for ever and fill it with their righteous offspring. The storm clears the way for the fulfillment of the divine mandate. — 37:8-13.
"Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." (37:14) In all truth, now if ever is the time for the Job class who seek to keep their integrity toward God to fix their whole attention upon the works of God rather than on any personal justification or other self-concern. His works are all in vindication of his glory, power, and perfect knowledge. The flashing and crackling roar of his light-
nings, the many-shaped clouds wonderfully balanced above the earth, the quieting south wind bringing its warmth, the luminous sky, strong like a burnished mirror to reflect his glory, all are divine works earthly man knows not how to create or command. Man's knowledge and understanding of God's works are as darkness compared with His, and He, rather than any man, should be and is the Teacher. In darkness are the religionists who seek to add to or to take away from His written Word; no human words of worldly wisdom or science can match His Holy Word. To speak now in controversy with and in contradiction of God means to be swallowed up by destruction in his due time. — 37:15-20.
The rising storm has now darkened the heavens, as Elihu continues: "And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds; but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them." (37: 21) In such speech he tells that God's invisible power will cause the Armageddon storm to pass and will cleanse and clear the glorious heavens again over the heads of those of the Job class, that survive that final end of the wicked world. Then glorious conditions like gold shall come out of the northerly place of God's throne, and He will be discerned by all on earth in the terrible majesty of his universal domination. His almighty power, beyond fully finding out, shall excel all opposing powers at Armageddon
in the execution of his justice and judgment. He will not spare the worldly-wise then, but will afflict only those who do not fear and serve him. — 37: 22-24.
Elihu ceases to speak. A wonderful voice is now heard in accents above the power of human organs to produce, and the eyes of understanding of those who listen in profound worship brighten with a new vision unspeakably grand.
