VINDICATION

CHAPTER VI

ENEMIES

JEHOVAH by his Word makes known his purpose to uncover Satan and his organization, fully ex-pose that wicked one to the eyes of all who earnestly desire righteousness, and to destroy Satan and his entire organization, that all creation may know that Jehovah is the only true and almighty God. It is necessary to know God and his King in order to live; hence the great act of vindication of Jehovah's word and name results beneficially to those who seek life everlasting in happiness and in peace.

At all times Satan has endeavored to keep the people in ignorance concerning Jehovah God and his Christ and his kingdom. For this reason it is written concerning Satan, the invisible god of this world, that he "hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them". (2 Cor. 4:4) For many centuries, unhindered in his wicked course Satan has kept the people in ignorance of the truth; but he must reach the end of his way, because God has so decreed. Long ago Jehovah placed his Word before mankind, and he has magnified his

Word above his name; but now, having reached the end of Satan's world, and the time for Jehovah to act, he will magnify both his Word and his name. He now makes it possible for men to have an understanding of his Word and the meaning of his name. A knowledge of Jehovah, his King and his kingdom, is vitally necessary to those who love righteousness and who would live, and therefore the prayer of such is: "Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments." — Ps. 119: 66.

To his covenant people the Jews God gave his Word, and had they gladly obtained a knowledge thereof and walked in the way of his Word that people would have been preserved and greatly blessed by the Lord God and would have been his chosen people above all others on the earth. The Jews were both ungrateful and unfaithful, and they failed as a nation.

Christ Jesus came to earth clothed with a full knowledge of the Scriptures and he taught the Jews the truth, but only a few gave heed to his teachings. He told them that they erred because they did not know the Word of God, nor his power. — Matt. 22:29.

The peoples of "Christendom", whom Jerusalem specifically foreshadowed, have been furnished with the Word of God and given an opportunity to know it and they have erred and gone in the wrong way because they know not God and his power. "Christendom" has not feared God; but the people thereof, and particularly the leaders, have walked on in ignorance and in darkness, being willingly ignorant of the things that God has given them the opportunity to know. (Ps. 82: 5) Both Jerusalem and "Christendom" are described as having less wisdom than the

ox or the ass. "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters! they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward." — Isa. 1:3,4.

In this day a knowledge of Jehovah, of his King and of his kingdom is of greatest necessity for the peoples of good will. There are many people within the borders of "Christendom" and outside thereof who may now seek to know and to understand the Word of God and greatly profit thereby. To aid such truth-seekers attention is here called to the divinely appointed way of obtaining a knowledge and understanding of the Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Prov. 1:7) It is the fool that hates knowledge and refuses to receive it and profit thereby.

The peoples of the world are now in great distress and perplexity and are ignorant of the reason therefor and they know not what can bring them relief. God's Word contains all and complete information concerning the same. The man who fears God and desires to do his will, and who then diligently seeks to know and to understand, will have his faith and his work rewarded. "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowl-

edge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints." (Prov. 2:3-8) "Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." (Prov. 8:10,11) "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." — Prov. 18:15.

The great issue is now between Jehovah God and Satan the wicked one, and the final determination of that question at issue is near at hand. One purpose in publishing the truth is to disclose to the people Satan and his wicked organization, but the chief reason for the publication of the truth is that the people might learn of the goodness of Jehovah God and of his complete remedy for the ills that afflict humankind. Let the people now learn and understand that no human power can lift the world out of its degradation, suffering and distress, but that Jehovah God, by and through his kingdom, will destroy that which oppresses mankind and will bring peace, prosperity and life and happiness to those who love him and who obey his righteous laws. His kingdom on the earth, now beginning, will first dash to pieces the wicked, oppressive organization of Satan, and the Lord will then speak peace and prosperity to the people. The reason for the woes that now afflict the people on earth is, as stated in God's Word, to wit: "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Rev. 12:12)

The "short time" here mentioned means that in the very near future the great question at issue between Jehovah and the Devil will be finally settled at the battle of Armageddon, and which must take place before lasting blessings can come to the peoples of the earth. Those who now get a knowledge and understanding of the reasons for that battle, and what will be the result, and what will follow after, and who then apply that knowledge in a wise manner, will be greatly blessed.

The chief ambition of Satan has ever been to have man worship and serve him, even as some have worshiped and do worship and serve Jehovah God. It was that selfish ambition that led him to rebel against God and caused him to dispute the supremacy of Jehovah God and to challenge God to put men on the earth whom Satan could not take away from God and cause to curse Jehovah. This challenge of Satan to Jehovah put at issue Jehovah's word and his name and the supremacy of the Almighty God. Since men are by nature born to look to a higher power, religion has been the chief means by which Satan has deceived and led men into his trap. By this means he has induced some to worship him directly, while others he has induced to worship various objects and things and thus to worship Satan indirectly; and this he has done that he might turn the people away from the true God.

Satan first organized the people on the plains of Shinar and started them in the way of the practice of the Devil religion. In the course of time all the peoples and nations of the earth, with the exception of the Israelites, practiced the Devil religion in some form.

When God selected for himself the descendants of faithful Abraham and called them Israelites, and later Jews, he gave to that people his law commanding that they should have no other God aside from Jehovah. "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 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." — Ex. 20: 2-4.

Manifestly God gave the Israelites that law to protect them from the subtle and wicked influence of the Devil and to afford them an opportunity to maintain their integrity toward Jehovah. A few of that people, who are designated in the Scriptures as "the remnant of Israel", did remain true and faithful to God and did maintain their integrity toward him; but the nation as a whole fell away to the Devil and indulged in Baal or Devil worship, and for that reason God destroyed Jerusalem.

The Jews, or Judeans, of Jerusalem, being the covenant people of God whom he used to make pictures foreshadowing greater things to come, specifically typified or foreshadowed "Christendom"; that is to say, the people and nations that practice the so-called "Christian religion", and that claim to serve and worship Jehovah God and his Christ. The true worshipers of Jehovah God on earth were organized into a company by Christ Jesus and his apostles, and these who faithfully followed Christ Jesus have been called Christians, although the name is usually applied in derision. Only a few years passed after the death of

the apostles until the majority of those of the company professing to worship Christ and God had fallen away by reason of the subtle and blinding influence of Satan. These professed worshipers of Christ and God adopted formalism and quickly indulged in hero worship, giving men great honor and praise and worship. Throughout the period of time known as the Christian era a few of those who made a covenant to do the will of God have maintained their integrity toward God, remained true and faithful to him, and worshiped him in spirit and in truth. But the great majority of so-called "Christian" people or worshipers formed themselves into companies or bodies, became active in the affairs of the world, and have since indulged in politics and other parts of Satan's organization and have become fully allied with Satan and a part of his visible organization. These organized bodies have practiced the Devil religion and falsely claimed it to be the "Christian religion". Such is the present situation throughout the nations and countries called "Christendom".

DEVIL WORSHIP

Baal worship is another name for Devil worship or Devil religion, and which Devil religion was introduced amongst the Jews. Balak was the king of the Moabites, which people practiced the Devil religion. (Num. 22:4) Balaam was a soothsayer of Mesopotamia. (Deut. 23:4,5; Josh. 13:22) Balaam, an instrument of Satan, would do anything for hire. He belonged to that class of men that walk with their hands behind them. He hired himself to Balak to curse the Israelites. (Jude 11; 2 Pet. 2:15) Balaam

taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the Israelites. This was a form of devilish worship by lewd rites. "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor." — Num. 25:1-5.

From the time the Devil religion was introduced amongst the Israelites there was a persistent contest between the true worshipers of God and the worshipers of Baal. Although claiming to be God's people, many of the Jews worshiped the Devil and practiced the Devil religion. "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth." — Judg. 2:11-13.

The name "Baal" is from the primitive root which means "to be master; (hence) to marry". Therefore the name means "master" or "husband", and figuratively means "owner". Baal worship, therefore, is a religion or worship of the Devil by joining or uniting with the organization of which Satan the Devil

is master, husband and owner and by which union the Devil is accepted as lord and master. In the practice of this Devil religion graven images were used, which images or statues represented or stood for the unseen. The practice of the Devil religion still persists amongst the nations of the earth. Today men carry on their Devil worship and practice the Devil religion by employing such things as gold and other precious metals, church systems, edifices, commercial and military power, and other like things which they idolize by setting their ambitions and their affections thereon and by worshiping them. The Devil has induced many people to deny his existence and yet he induces them by subtle means to worship that which he has brought into existence.

Within ancient Jerusalem there were a few who were faithful and true to Jehovah God and worshiped him in spirit and in truth, and these few were hated and persecuted by the apostate Jews who claimed to worship God but who did not in fact. Also within that ancient city of Jerusalem there were those who made no pretense of worshiping the true God but who were called "heathen" or "strangers" and who were unfriendly to the true worshipers of God. All the nations round about the city of Jerusalem were heathen and worshipers of the Devil or practicers of the Devil religion, and they hated those who were faithful to Jehovah God and who inhabited Jerusalem. Likewise at this present day, within the land of "Christendom", which was foreshadowed by Jerusalem, there are a few people that are true and faithful to Jehovah God and who worship him in spirit and in truth, and these are hated by the apostate or so-called

"Christians" who have fallen away from God and are under the influence of Satan. Also within the borders of the land or nations of "Christendom" there are many who make no pretense to be worshipers of God and of Christ and who are also unfriendly to the true worshipers of God. The nations round and about "Christendom" are called "heathen", and these are unfriendly towards the true followers of Christ Jesus. With these preliminary facts before us let us now proceed to the examination of the prophecy of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel's prophecy, chapters one to twenty-four inclusive, is directed specifically against Jerusalem. When that prophecy was uttered and completed, then followed the siege of the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. During that siege and until the fall of the city there would be no occasion for God's prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against the city of Jerusalem; hence he is said to have been dumb during that period of time. Such 'dumbness' manifestly means that during that period of time Ezekiel the prophet was dumb so far as Jerusalem was concerned. It would not mean that he was entirely speechless. Book One of Vindication gives consideration to chapters one to twenty-four of Ezekiel's prophecy. Book Two of Vindication gives consideration to the prophecy of Ezekiel beginning with the twenty-fifth chapter, and other chapters that follow thereafter.

The siege of Jerusalem began in 608 B.C., by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. While that siege was in progress Ezekiel did not speak against Jerusalem, and therefore he is said to have been dumb;

but during that period of the siege he did speak the prophecy of Jehovah God against the nations called "heathen" and which were round and about Jerusalem. His prophecy is not spoken against Babylon; the evident reason being that the nation of Babylon was then being used by Jehovah as his instrument to enforce his judgment against the Jews. All the heathen nations or peoples practiced the satanic religion, and therefore the entire number represented the invisible ruler of this wicked world. The prophecy of Ezekiel specifically names seven of these heathen nations; and seven, being a symbol of completeness of things not seen by human eyes, evidently here is meant to include all the nations that go to make up Satan's visible organization. The entire enemy organization, both seen and unseen and which shall be utterly destroyed, is represented under the name of "Gog and Magog". The names considered in this chapter apply more specifically to those of earth who form a part of the Devil's organisation aside from the professed "Christian" element or who make prominent some other part of Satan's visible organization.

Chapters twenty-five to thirty, inclusive, of Ezekiel's prophecy name seven different heathen nations, to wit, Ammon, Moab, Edom or Seir, Philistia, Tyrus and Zidon (both names applying to the same nation), Egypt, and Ethiopia, Assyria had been overthrown before the prophecy of Ezekiel began to be uttered, and probably this is the reason that no predictions are made concerning Assyria. Although Ezekiel did not directly prophesy concerning the fall of Babylon, and for the probable reason above assigned, indirectly his prophecy does apply to Babylon, and the proph-

ecy contains numerous predictions of and concerning the restoration of God's people; which implies a deliverance from Babylon and the destruction of Babylon as a component part of the enemies of the Most High. The prophecy does foretell the doom of all the enemies of Jehovah and therefore the enemies of Jehovah's people.

The prophecy of Ezekiel beginning with chapter twenty-five, and the chapters following, disclose many features and doings of Satan's organization and contains an illuminating description thereof. The inference that is properly drawn from this is that Jehovah's witnesses in the earth are first to take careful note of the Devil's organization, its make-up and its deeds against God and his kingdom, and then go and declare God's judgment previously written against that wicked organization and every part thereof. "Christendom" is the enemy of Jehovah God and his kingdom. There are others, who make no pretense of being Christian, that are God's enemies. While the first part of Ezekiel's prophecy deals specifically with "Christendom", his prophecy in the twenty-fifth to the thirty-second chapters inclusive deals specifically with other parts of Satan's visible organization all of which is the enemy of Jehovah God. To be sure, Jehovah knows all his enemies; but manifestly one of the primary purposes of Ezekiel's prophecy is to expose to God's covenant people now on earth every part of the enemy Satan's organization, and this he will do before he destroys them. "Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies; thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee." — Ps. 21: 8.

AGAINST AMMON

(EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 25)

The Revelation, chapters one to three, takes seven branches of God's organization and deals with them during the period of judgment time. The seven churches or divisions of God's visible organization clearly picture states of affairs or conditions existing in all of the companies forming God's organization at one and the same time. With the coming of the Lord to the temple of Jehovah for judgment there 'judgment began at the house of God', which judgment would include the real as well as the professed followers of Christ Jesus. Corresponding to this Ezekiel's prophecy deals specifically with seven branches of Satan's organization, which he names, and against which he prophesied during the period of his dumbness against Jerusalem. The prophecy of Ezekiel has to do with God's judgment against Satan's organization, and the prophecy here under consideration specifically pictures conditions or states of affairs that exist in all of Satan's organization, and which is symbolized by the seven nations here separately considered. The prophecy here was leveled against ancient Ammon, and it may be expected that we shall find a modern Ammon against which the prophecy is also leveled.

The prophecy against Jerusalem had been uttered, and the dumbness of Ezekiel against Jerusalem was therefore beginning, and the prophet of God then writes: "The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them." (25:1, 2) The indisputable facts are that prior to 1918 the faithful

followers of Christ Jesus specifically directed their testimony against the religious systems of "Christendom", and which work was foreshadowed by the Prophet Elijah. The prophecy of Ezekiel, beginning with the twenty-fifth chapter, evidently foreshadowed the time of change of the work of God's people from that represented by Elijah to that represented by the Prophet Elisha. This prophecy therefore points in time to the period following 1918, when the Lord came to the temple and inaugurated the day of vindication upon "Christendom" so called. It seems to point to the period marked by the formation of the League of Nations, all of which nations were and are anti-God and anti-kingdom. The prophecy, of course, refers to conditions existing long prior thereto and which conditions began to be exposed and made known from and after 1918.

The seven nations specifically named by Ezekiel, and against which nations his prophecy was directed, were hostile against one another and were all united against Jerusalem, and to that extent they were one, and were equally at all times leagued together against Jerusalem. It is written: "For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee [God is represented by the earthly members of his organization]; the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them; they have holpen the children of Lot [Moab and Ammon]." (Ps. 83:5-8) Here are named five of the seven heathen powers mentioned by Ezekiel, and

which are shown to be in a confederacy, or leagued, against God's true people, representing his organization. When Jerusalem fell the five heathen nations here named rejoiced, just as when God's "two witnesses" were killed the many enemies of God's people rejoiced. "And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth." (Rev. 11:10; Light, Book One, page 208) In both instances the rejoicing was due to selfishness and to a malicious desire to see God's people suffer. That rejoicing, however, is but temporary, as this prophecy plainly shows.

The Revised Version (25:2) says: "The children of Ammon, . . . prophesy against them." The name "Ammon" means "the son of my kindred, tribal (that is to say, inbred) ". Ammon was a grand-nephew of Abraham. His territory bordered on the east of the territory of the tribe of Reuben. (Deut. 3:16; Gen. 19:38) The Ammonites practiced the satanic religion, worshiping the Devil under the guise of the worship of Milcom (Molech, margin, 1 Ki. 11:5,7). The Ammonites were unfriendly to the Israelites during the time of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, and when they were marching toward Canaan. (Deut. 23:4) On a number of occasions the Ammonites committed assaults upon God's people. Also they contaminated the Israelites in a religious way. (Judg. 10: 6; 11:4, 5; 2 Chron. 20:1-10; 2 Ki. 24:2) After the destruction of the city of Jerusalem the Ammonites continued to manifest their enmity against the people of Israel. When God's people were sent to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem the

Ammonites conspired with the other enemies to hinder the building thereof. — Neh. 4:7,8.

Jehovah caused his decree to be written precluding the Ammonites from ever entering into the congregation of the Lord. "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever: because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor, of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee." (Deut. 23: 3, 4) In this text "their tenth generation" manifestly means all the earthly generations of that people. "On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever. And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah [the Ammonite], in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God." (Neh. 13:1,7) Furthermore, God caused the decree to be written against the Ammonites: "Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon [shall be] as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation; the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts." — Zeph. 2:9,10.

MODERN AMMONITES

The Ammonites therefore clearly appear to represent those whom the Lord God would never admit into the company of his true people because they neither sever themselves from Satan's organization, neither are they favorable to those who are escaping from that wicked organization, and who are pictured by the Israelites escaping out of Egypt. The modern Ammonites are a self-sufficient, inbred, evolutionistic or 'self-made by character development' class, and camp near upon the trail of God's true people for the purpose of harassing and opposing them, and have contaminated, adulterated and hindered the work of God's true people. They revile God's people while they themselves worship the Devil, practicing the Devil religion in some form.

Jehovah commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against the Ammonites: "And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God; Because thou saidst Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; behold, therefore, I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. For thus saith the Lord God, Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel." — 25:3-6.

Thus is disclosed a people that make no pretense of being followers of Christ but who manifest a malicious and wicked spirit against the devoted people of God. They stand by and look on while professed "Christian religionists", so called, heap reproach and ignominy and cruel persecution upon the faithful people of God, and when these faithful ones are taken into the custody of the law of Satan's organization and unjustly punished, then these modern Ammonites express delight at such acts or deeds of injustice. They wickedly rejoice and take delight in such wickedness, both inwardly and outwardly, all of which the Lord God sees and takes notice of, and in due time will give just recompense therefor.

Nothing escapes the watchful eye of Jehovah, and in his due time he will give recompense to those who unjustly and wrongfully treat his people. The enemies of God may think they can ill-use his covenant people and go unpunished, but in this they do err. Those who love God pray: "Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who compass me about. They are inclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly." — Ps. 17:8-10.

With full confidence in Jehovah, who is ever watchful, his faithful people sing: "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Ps. 121:2-4) To his faithful followers Jesus declared the divine rule: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one

of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matt. 10:29-31) Jehovah has permitted the Devil and his crowd to exhibit their wickedness in opposition to him and his kingdom by persecuting and ill-treating his true people, but he will vindicate them, as well as his own name, in his own due time. "For thus saith the Lord of hosts, After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants; and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. Sing and rejoice, 0 daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." — Zech. 2: 8-10.

In corroboration of the fact that God will recompense those who have ill-treated his anointed, Ezekiel says: "Behold, therefore, I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee; they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk." (25:4) "Men of the east" here mentioned refers to the same as the "kings of the east" in Revelation 16:12. The Christ of God is the One who shall take possession of all nations and peoples of earth; hence these "men of the east" or "kings of the east" consist of Christ Jesus and the glorified members of his body now with him and also those on earth who continue faithful unto the end and who will be included in the same class. (Light, Book Two, page 38) God will duly recompense the enemies of

his people, represented by Ammon. "Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel [his covenant people], Surely . . . the children of Ammon [shall be] as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them." (Zeph. 2:9) "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord [to the day of executing the judgment of Jehovah against the enemy]." — Jas. 5: 7.

Jehovah's declared purpose is that the modern Ammonites shall have every reason to know that he is the Almighty God: "And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks; and ye shall know that I am the Lord." (25: 5) The meaning of the word "Rabbah" used in this verse is "great city" or "metropolis". It was the capital city of the Ammonites, and was therefore a royal city, and, says the prophet, it shall become like a camel's stable, which is a disreputable place. (Deut. 3:11; Josh. 13:25; 2 Sam. 11:1; 12:26; Amos 1:13-15) That means that the condition of the modern Ammonites shall be that of great humiliation, and they shall know that Jehovah is God. God will not permit his covenant people to be persecuted and the persecutors to go unpunished.

Further pronouncing the divine decree against the modern Ammonites the prophet indicates that these shall be delivered up to places in the League of Nations that is anti-kingdom and then to the fate of destruction which awaits that unholy compact. "Behold, therefore, I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen;

and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries; I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord." (25: 7) Because of the cruel- and hard-heartedness of the modern Ammonites, it is needful that Jehovah God literally show them who he is. — Jer. 25:17, 21.

It is interesting here to note that there appears to be no provision made or expressed in the Word of God for the recovery of Babylon, which stands primarily for hypocritical Devil religion, but there is strong proof that God will be merciful to the modern Ammonites and open their eyes to the fact that they have been captured by Satan and then give them opportunity as individuals to obey and to serve him and to have the blessings of restitution in his own due time: "Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the Lord, Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities? Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, -saith the Lord. Howl, 0 Heshbon; for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together. Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, 0 backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me? Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man

right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the Lord." (Jer. 49:1-6) Evidently this scripture means that God will not permit any of the Ammonites to be of his kingdom, but after the destruction of all his enemies the individuals that have made up the Ammonite class, who find that they have been the dupes of Satan their worst enemy, will be given an opportunity for restitution.

AGAINST MOAB

The Israelites, also called Jews, were the covenant people of God whom he punished for their unfaithfulness to him and their repudiation of their covenant with him. The people of the Jews therefore stood before the heathen world as the accredited representatives of God. Because Jehovah permitted or suffered punishment to come upon the Jews by the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar the Judeans, or Jews, were spoken of in derision by the heathen nations and these heathen said: 'The Jews are just like others of the heathen. They have claimed so much for their God and now he is unable to protect them from the assaults of Nebuchadnezzar.' Jehovah caused report of this to be made by directing Ezekiel to write: "Thus saith the Lord God, Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen." (25: 8) That derisive statement of the Moabites not only was a slap at the Jews, but was an insult and reproach cast upon Jehovah. It was a presumptuous interference on the part of the Moabites with the work

of the Lord. It was Jehovah's exclusive prerogative to punish the Jews for wrongdoing, and it must be understood that it was none of the affair of any of Satan's organization to interfere or to speak derisively of God's work.

In like manner in these last days, the organization called "Christian", which was foreshadowed by the Judeans, or Jews, is very much in disrepute amongst those who make no pretense of serving God. They see the so-called "Christians" falling away from God and they say in substance that the Christians are no better than other people, that they are all crooks and their God is no better than any other god. They speak with like words against the true Israel as they do against the pretending Christians. It seems certain that "organized Christianity" will come into greater disrepute amongst the peoples of earth, and then after the destruction of "organized Christianity" all persons who serve God in fact, or who claim to serve him, will be in disrepute in the minds of the class represented by the Moabites. Such is and will be a great insult and reproach to Jehovah God. The name of Jehovah will be vindicated, and all must come to know that he is God; and therefore he will visit the modern Moabite and properly recompense such.

"Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth. Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim." (25:9) "Moab" means "from my father", that is, "seed of the (mother's) father." Moab was a son of Lot by his eldest daughter. (Gen. 19:37) The Moabites were unfriendly to the Jews and ill-treated them when they were on their

trek to the land of Canaan, even hiring the soothsayer Balaam to curse the Israelites. (Num. 22; Mic. 6:5) The Moabites worshiped the Devil under the form of Chemosh. (1 Ki. 11:7; Jer. 48: 7,13,46) They assaulted the Jews and captured and held them in captivity for a period of eighteen years. — Judg. 3:12-14.

God has not permitted wickedness to persist in the earth in order to teach men the evil effects thereof, but he has permitted his covenant people to come in contact with Satan's organization, thereby affording them an opportunity under test to prove whether or not they love the Lord God. The Israelites came in contact with the heathen nations and were fully warned aforetime to keep themselves separate from the heathen, but they failed to do so. Their coming in contact with the heathen afforded them an opportunity to prove their love for Jehovah. Likewise God's covenant people who agreed to do his will and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ have been in the world but like their Master they are not of the world. They have been duly warned to keep themselves separate from the world and to prove their faithfulness and love for God. They have been told that friendship with the world and the mixing up with worldly schemes is an abomination in the sight of God. The Jews as a nation were unfaithful to God and for that reason he punished them. At the same time there were faithful Jews in the land who held themselves separate and distinct from their enemies and who maintained their integrity toward God. Likewise the people of "Christendom" who have covenanted to do the will of God have in the aggregate been unfaithful to God and have turned away to Satan's organization,

but at the same time there have been a few who have maintained their integrity and remained faithful and true to God.

Ruth was a Moabitess. She voluntarily forsook the god of Moab and became willingly and obediently the servant of the Most High, and she received God's blessing by being made a link in the genealogy of David leading up to Christ. She ceased to be a Moabitess and was adopted into the family of God. As a people or nation the Moabites were enemies of Jehovah. The Moabite Sanballat did what he could to hinder the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. (Neh. 2:19) The Moabites magnified themselves against Jehovah God, and by reproaching his covenant people they reproached Jehovah, and for this reason God pronounced his decree against Moab. "The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the Lord. Make ye him drunken; for he magnified himself against the Lord: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy. . . . We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud,) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. I know his wrath, saith the Lord; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it. And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord." (Jer. 48:25-30,42) "And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel [ten tribes] was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence. How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?" — Jer. 48:13,14.

MODERN MOABITES

The Moabites therefore were and do picture a people, whether within the confines of the land of "Christendom" or outside thereof, who do not acknowledge Jehovah as God or pretend to be Christian but who practice some form of Devil religion; a people that is self-contained, self-important; a class of people who rely upon their own strength and the strength of their organizations. There are many such in the land called "Christian", and many outside thereof, who are proud, arrogant, lofty and haughty, but despise the name of God and of his Christ, and who are against those who worship and serve God in spirit and in truth. They are closely related to the modern Ammonites. They have their lodges, clubs and leagues, and like organizations, which practice militarism, and they count much on their military strength and power, and their god is their own power and their own strength. They are like "armed soldiers" of ancient Moab. Many of these clubs, lodges and leagues made up of men and women, and to which is attached militarism, reproach professed Christians and true Christians alike; and even after the fall of "Christendom" will still reproach the true Christians with the same hatred that they now have; and they shall come to bitter sorrow, as the Lord says of them: "Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him." — Isa. 15: 4.

The modern Moabites, like the Ammonites, shall be delivered into the hand or possession of Christ: "unto the children of the east (coming) against the sons of Ammon, and I will give them in possession; in order that the sons of Ammon may not be remem-

bered among the nations. And on Moab will I execute judgments; and they shall know that I am the Lord." (25:10,11, Leeser) The destruction of the modern Moabites is therefore closely related to that of their half brothers the modem Ammonites. — Jer. 25:17-21.

It was "Christendom" that instigated the persecution of God's people during the World War. Foreknowing this tribulation that was to come upon them God foretold it in these words:" Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler; for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land."  — Isa. 16: 3,4.

The modern Moabites there had the opportunity of furnishing some succor and help to God's covenant people then in trouble, but instead of so doing they rejoiced at the tribulation that came upon the faithful children of God during the period from 1917 to 1919 and hence these faithful ones were scattered and persecuted. No country on earth during the World War hardships furnished aid or succor to the faithful people of God, nor did these nations give heed to the truth God's faithful people had proclaimed. In all such countries those who did not even claim to be the followers of Christ or worshipers of God also manifested their ill will against God's people. These opposers of God's people did not trust in the churches of "Christendom", but they trusted in their own works and in their own treasures and practiced some form of Devil religion. They willingly cooperated,

however, with the powers of "Christendom" to cut off God's people and destroy them out of the land of the living. Therefore it is written concerning the modern Moabites: "Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, . . . For because thou hast trusted in thy works, and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken; and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, with his priests and his princes together. . . . The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the Lord." — Jer. 48:1-25.

It is to the "men of the east", including the anointed ones on earth, that the execution of God's judgments is committed. All the saints must have a part therein even though the only part the earthly division has is to serve notice and sing the praises of Jehovah. "To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord." (Ps. 149: 7,9) Any one of the anointed, therefore, who is negligent or indifferent in the performance of his duty shall be condemned by the Lord. "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully [negligently, margin]." (Jer. 48:10) Jehovah's written judgment against Moab (ancient and modern) is: "But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth; and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet: and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the Lord." (Amos 2:2,3) "Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom."  — Zeph. 2:9,10.

The Jews were the direct descendants of Abraham. The Ammonites and Moabites were the descendants of Lot, who was a nephew of Abraham. The Ammonites and Moabites therefore were distinctly related to the Jews and probably used a similar language, although opposed to each other. The Israelites or Jews foreshadowed the "Christians", so called, of modern times. The organizations within the borders of "Christendom", as well as outside, such as "Christian Scientists", so called, theosophists, psychologists, evolutionists and like ones, are distinctly related to "organized Christianity", and talk something like "organized Christianity". These are self-centered, self-important, and think they can by their own mental and physical efforts bring themselves up to perfection. They are the enemies of God and of his kingdom. These are the modern Ammonites and Moabites, and, like the Ammonites and Moabites of old, have been and are the dupes of the Devil; they are not willing hypocrites, but are entirely blind to God and to the truth; therefore after the destruction of their organization and systems God will have mercy upon them individually and in his own due time and way give them an opportunity for restitution blessings. "Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab." (Jer. 48:47) The testimony is delivered to the modern Ammonites and Moabites within the land called "Christendom".

AGAINST EDOM

The people of Edom, otherwise called Mount Seir, picture another class of the enemies of God. "Thus

saith the Lord God, Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them." (25:12) The Edomites picture a class of people that reproach the name of Jehovah God because "Seir [doth] say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen". (25:8) This class also vent their spleen or malicious hatred against God's covenant people that serve him and give praise to his name.

Edom (which also we call Mount Seir) means "red", and is a name of reproach because of Esau's selling his birthright for a mess of red pottage. (Gen. 25:30) The Edomites were descendants of Esau by two heathen women of Canaan and by the niece of Isaac, that is, a granddaughter of Abraham through Ishmael. (See Genesis 36:1-6,43.) The Edomites worshiped false gods; therefore they practiced the Devil religion. (2 Chron. 25:14,15,20) They intermarried with the Horites (meaning cave dwellers, the original inhabitants of Mount Seir). (Gen. 36:12, 20-22) Edom is therefore addressed as "Thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high". (Obad. 3) The Edomites ill-treated the children of Israel when the messengers of Moses, who represented the Lord, requested a favor for the Israelites. (Num. 20:21) They entered into a conspiracy with other enemies of God against the Israelites. "For they have consulted together with one consent; they are confederate against thee; the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes." (Ps. 83:5,6) "Remember, 0 Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof." — Ps. 137: 7.

"Esau" means "rough" (that is to say, sensibly felt, because of his hairy skin). (Gen. 25: 25) "Seir" means "shaggy, rugged, hairy, rough and wooded", and is another form of "sa'ir", which means "devil, satyr, goat". The name is well used to picture and applies to a part of Satan's organization. "Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir. Esau is Edom." (Gen, 36: 8, 9) The Herod who caused John the Baptist to be killed was an Edomite.

The Edomites seem clearly to picture a class of persons who claim to have been begotten of the spirit of God and are therefore classed as spiritual brothers of God's faithful sons. The opportunity was once theirs of participating in the kingdom or royal house of God, but they bartered away that opportunity or right for ever that they might gratify their selfish desires. For a mess of pottage they give up the opportunity of entering into Jehovah's organization. Soured and revengeful against those who love and serve God, they persecute and try to take vengeance upon those who do enter into the covenant with Christ Jesus to be members of Jehovah's royal house. When they see other enemies of God and of his people persecuting Jehovah's "servant" class they join themselves to the side of the enemy and take either an active or a passive position in such persecution. They are not really a part of "Christendom", although in "Christendom", because they once separated themselves from "Christendom"; and then disregarding God's commandments, and relying upon their own loftiness, they return to the elementary things of the Scriptures and forsake God's kingdom. They perch themselves very high in self-exaltation, not believing

that the Lord will bring them down to the ground as he declares he will do. (Obad. 3,4) They are wise in their own conceits and past masters at deception.

They voluntarily oppose those whom they once called their brethren. They slander these without a cause. "Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son." (Ps. 50:20) When some of these saw there was a conspiracy against God's covenant people who were serving him, in the years 1917 and 1918, they lent their aid and support to the persecutors of God's people, and have been doing so ever since. "Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. For thy violence against thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress." — Obad. 8-12.

As the Edomites stood by and gave aid and comfort and encouragement to those that were carrying away the people of Israel as captives, even so the modern Edomites or Esau crowd gave aid and comfort to the enemy that were persecuting and carrying away God's

people during the World War distress. By thus taking vengeance and by having revenged themselves the modern Edomites put themselves in a class mentioned by the psalmist: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." (See The Watchtower 1930, page 100.) In harmony with this it is written: "Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever.". — Mal. 1:4.

"SON OF PERDITION"

The description of the Edomites and the facts concerning the "evil servant" class (Matt. 24:48-51), "the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2: 3-12), exactly fit. It is this class that join themselves in a conspiracy to do injury to God's people who are faithfully endeavoring to advertise the name of Jehovah and his kingdom. "Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, 0 thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord."  — Jer. 49:16.

In a judicial decree entered against the Edomites Jehovah says: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall

by the sword." (25:13) Those who have once been enlightened by the Lord, and who then for envy take vengeance upon those who have been once their brethren, are far more reprehensible before God than those who have not been so enlightened. The district of Dedan was near Edom, and it is evident that those whom Dedan pictures joined with those whom Teman pictures in acts of vengeance against the people of God. It is written: "And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; . . . duke Teman, duke Mibzar." (Gen. 36: 40-42) These were descendants of Abraham. "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan . . . And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim, and Leummim." — Gen. 25:1-3.

The adverse judgment entered by Jehovah against Esau also reaches the people of Dedan. "Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him." (Jer. 49: 8) "And thy mighty men, 0 Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter." — Obad. 9.

Jehovah will execute his vengeance against those who after having received his favor spurn his goodness, disobey his commandments, and persecute those who delight to do his will. Such are the modern Edomites. "And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger, and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith

the Lord God." (25:14) Christ Jesus, the chief executive of Jehovah, will execute his vengeance against the Edomites. All the members of the capital organization of Jehovah, including the faithful remnant on earth, are given some part in the execution of this judgment. (Ps. 149: 9; Obad. 17,18,21) "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies: and Israel shall do valiantly."  — Num. 24:17,18.

The Esau class, or modern Edomites, are those who do know better, yet who wrongfully do violence to those who praise Jehovah. God's vengeance will be specially manifested against such, and the remnant now on the earth must have to do with this in that they declare the day of God's vengeance upon his enemies. (Deut. 32:43) Those who are devoted to Jehovah will see the expression of his righteous indignation against his enemies and will rejoice in the vindication of his name. "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth." — Ps. 58:10,11.

Jehovah further emphasized his purpose to inflict punishment upon the modern Edomites. (Jer. 25: 21) "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof: and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of

Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this." (Amos 9:11,12) "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea [Edom], and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood; it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever." (Isa. 34:5,6,10) "Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: but I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah." (Amos 1:11,12) These scriptures constitute strong proof that the Edomites pictured a class that is turned away to complete destruction or second death. There is no promise in the Bible of restitution of the Edomites.

AGAINST PHILISTIA

At the time of the expulsion of man from Eden Jehovah caused to be recorded in his Word the prophecy concerning the enmity of the seed of the serpent, Satan, against the Seed of the woman, God's organization. (Gen. 3:15) The Philistines constituted a part of that seed of the serpent. The Philistines harassed, persecuted, and expressed their vengeance despitefully

against the Jews in Canaan. God through Ezekiel said: "Thus saith the Lord God, Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred." — 25:15.

The Philistines were the descendants of Noah's son Ham through Mizraim. (Gen. 10:6,13,14; Amos 9:7) The Philistines bore no close relationship to God's chosen people. The Philistines were the worshipers of the fish god Dagon and of the female god Ashtaroth, and also of Baal-zebub. (Judg. 16: 23; 1 Sam. 31:8-10; Judg. 10:6; 2 Ki. 1:2,3; Isa. 2:6) Being of the seed of the serpent they were the enemies of God's organization. They captured and imprisoned Samson. (Judg. 3:1-3; 16; Josh. 13:3; Ps. 83:7) Twice they tried to unseat David the king of Israel, moving their armies against him. In this connection the first battle of Mount Perazim was fought, which is a type of God's strange act and work. — 2 Sam. 5:17-25; Isa. 28:21.

The name "Philistine" means "rolling", that is, migratory, and doubtless refers to the fact that they migrated from Egyptian territory (Mizraim) and settled on the sea coast to the north. In Exodus 23:31 the Mediterranean sea is described as the "sea of the Philistines". They therefore must have had harbors and ships and commercial trade by sea. The Philistines therefore seem to represent and picture those who outwardly appear to have come out of the world (that is, migrated from Egypt) and who make a pretext of worshiping God but who in fact worship the Devil under various forms and particularly oppress the "prisoner" class represented by Samson. They

reject Christ Jesus, the Prince of peace and earth's rightful Ruler, and oppose the establishment of the kingdom of God. They reject the Stone laid in Zion, and therefore clearly include those described by the prophet of God as "the principal of the flock" and who rely upon their own strength and their military equipment and strength and are therefore under the influence of their god the Devil. During the World War practically all the clergymen of "Christendom" openly advocated the war, and supported the same in some form. Probably the wide testimony of the truth of God's Word concerning the followers of Christ Jesus engaging in the war, which testimony has been emphasized since the war ended, has caused some of the clergymen to become weak-kneed and disposed to reverse their position in regard to participating in war.

In 1931 a questionnaire was sent out to the preachers to get an expression from them concerning their advocacy of war, and in response to that questionnaire a number of clergymen expressed themselves against war. This shows that they were ashamed of their former record during the World War. During the World War these "principal men of the flock", politicians, military men and commercial men, had held the clergymen in line, but after the war some of them began to try to face about in order to gain back, if possible, the support of many people who had once thought them to be honest. About the close of 1931 a general in the United States army, and who is one of the 'principal in the flock' of the so-called "Christian church", comes forth in a printed statement in which he severely takes to task the clergymen that have

dared express themselves as opposed to war. Like his subtle and hypocritical father the Devil, this general in the army quotes scripture and misapplies it in order to bolster up his position. The incident is cited here to show the class of men who are always against God's anointed, and who harass, unjustly criticize and persecute them because of their faithfulness to God. None of these "uncircumcised Philistines" get into the real company of God's people, but they do push their noses in, and stick out their chest, amongst the professed Christians, and this they do in order to make themselves appear important and great. It is the navy and military power that backs the commercial giants at sea and makes it possible for these to carry on their operations which result in oppressing the people.

Great corporations have been organized and now exist within the borders of the land called "Christendom". Many of the chief men therein have apparently come out of the world and have associated themselves with the so-called "Christian church" and in that organization are made by the clergy the 'principal ones of the flock'. These men are modern uncircumcised Philistines. They never, in fact, came out of the world, have never had any spiritual interest in God's kingdom, and never even claimed to have, but have always been against it. They rely upon their own strength and the strong arm of their so-called "law and order force". When they can quote scripture to apparently support their position they do so, but they have no faith in it whatsoever. They coerce and oppress the "prisoner" class and aid the clergy in holding such as prisoners in the churches. They exercise

a cruel, oppressive military power against all that dare take a position for the right, that is to say, for God's kingdom. There is an abundance of evidence that has been brought to light during the past few years about these modern Philistines who operate, for instance, the coal fields of West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and other places. These men persecute the men and women who make an honest endeavor to feed the starving children of the families whom they desire to keep within their power. They also persecute and oppress Jehovah's witnesses who make an effort to carry the Word of God and his kingdom amongst the people.

God's judgment is written against them; therefore he directs Ezekiel to say: "Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims [Cherethites, R.V.], and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. "(25:16) "Cherethims" means "executioners", such as guardsmen, private policemen, etc. They clearly picture the element amongst the modern Philistines that are hired by their chiefs to bear military arms and to unjustly and without right execute innocent men and women. Included within this crowd are dishonest judges of courts, who owe their positions to the power and influence of the men that own and control the great corporations and who employ the force and power of the law to unjustly punish and execute those who are innocent of crime. Many an innocent man is made a "goat" to hide the wickedness of some of these "principal of the flock". These men are officers of Satan's organization posing as principals of the flock of the church organizations,

and form a part of the crowd that controls and operates the commerce of land and sea, and they do it by force and violence, and are mentioned by God's prophet in these words: "Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; 0 Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity." — Zeph. 2: 5, 7.

The gross and flagrant injustices which in these days are practiced by the modern Philistine against defenseless people of the land will not go unnoticed by the Lord, and in his due time he will execute his vengeance upon such that they may know that he is the Almighty God. "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them." — 25:17.

Let the peoples of good will, and who are suffering oppression at the hands of these modern Philistines, consider the Word of God and take courage. The Lord's kingdom will bring them relief. All the people and the nations that have practiced the Devil religion and use various hypocritical cloaks behind which to hide their acts of unjustice, and all that oppose God and his kingdom of righteousness, shall drink of the cup of his wrath, because he has thus declared it. "Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me ... and all the kings [wicked rulers] of the

land of the Philistines, and [the Philistines' cities of] Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod." (Jer. 25:17,20) "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. 0 thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it." — Jer. 47:1, 6, 7.

It seems certain that God's remnant on earth have something to do with Jehovah God's judgment against modern Philistines, and their part of the work must be to serve notice upon such of and concerning God's purposes and his kingdom and to tell them that his kingdom is at hand. This work is now in progress by the Lord's faithful witnesses. This work of witnessing is not for the purpose of giving glory to the remnant, but for the sole purpose of the vindication of Jehovah's name, and hence that those upon whom notice is served may know that Jehovah is the only true God.

AGAINST TYRE

(EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 26)

The dumbness of Ezekiel during the siege manifestly meant that it was only against Jerusalem that he was not to speak and did not speak during that time, but during the time of the siege he was to pronounce God's judgment against the other enemies of God; and this conclusion is supported by the following: "And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord

came unto me, saying." (26:1) If this was the first month of the eleventh year, that would be three months and nine days before Jerusalem was broken up, and four months and seven days before the city and the temple were burned. It is, however, not stated by the text which month it was, but it is certain that it was before the escaped messenger reached Ezekiel to tell him that "the city is smitten".

Jehovah, addressing his prophet, said: "Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people; she is turned unto me; I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste." (26: 2) This prophecy is directed against Tyre. The word "Tyre" means "rock", but not "The Bock", Jehovah. It refers to the rock of the mimic god, the rock on which the serpent has his way. (Prov. 30:19) It is the rock in which Satan's seed and representatives on the earth do hide themselves "for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty". (Isa. 2:10) It means the Devil and his wicked organization bearing his name. The city of Tyre was doubtless so called because it was originally built upon the mainland and was afterwards moved to the great island rock for defensive purposes. This was a part of the territory of Canaan, the accursed one. (Gen. 10:15,19; 9:25) Even in ancient times it was a strong city. (Josh. 19: 29) It was called the "strong hold of Tyre". (2 Sam. 24: 7) The prophet speaks of it as the "city whose antiquity is of ancient days". (Isa. 23:7,8) Tyre is spoken of as "the strength" of the ships of Tarshish or a "fortress". (Roth.) According to the Revised Version it is called "the strong hold of the sea". (Isa. 23:4) The ships

of Tarshish were the carrier vessels of Tyre, being so called because of being a certain type peculiar to Tyre rather than because of being of Tarshish or built or owned by Tarshish. Proof of this is found in the following text: "Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold; but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber." (1 Ki. 22: 48) During the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem there were in Jerusalem traders from Tyre. (Neh. 13:16) At one time there was friendship between the king of Tyre and Jerusalem's rulers, but this changed to hostility.

Tyre seems to specifically refer to the mercantile-marine division of Satan's organization, that is to say, the business interests which exploit the people by ships at sea. It finds its highest expression in the seventh world power, to wit, the dual empire of Britain and America. This marine power once at least pretended to be friendly to God's people, but in the latter times has become very unfriendly. Germany did at one time bid fair to be a powerful contender for the shipping of the world, but her power was broken. The Bible attributes no commercial fleet to ancient Egypt. Tyre therefore seems to represent a special division or part of Satan's organization, whereas it appears that Egypt more particularly represents the commercial or Big Business power on the land, backed by military power, and which appears more prominently in the great financial and trust companies which juggle with the produce of the land and control the means of public transportation. While most of these organizations and powers operate within the borders of the land called "Christendom", yet

many of them do not even pretend to be of "organized Christianity". Among the powerful men who control the commerce of the sea are many Jews, so called, yet who are against God and against Christ and against the kingdom of God. This is probably the reason why God by his prophet speaks of them separately and distinctly from Jerusalem, both ancient and modern. All are representatives of the Devil, to be sure, and form a part of his organization, but the Lord is pointing them out as separate and integral parts of Satan's organization and gives his people a vision of them from different standpoints.

It was in 1917 to 1919 that the seventh world power, particularly the mercantile empire of Satan's organization, succeeded in scattering the people of God, and which is mentioned by Ezekiel as saying "against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people; she is turned unto me". Jerusalem, that is, God's covenant people, were "the gates of the people" God-ward, and Satan evidently reasoned that now the way toward God is broken by reason of the falling down of God's people during the World War. Then Satan would and did say, "Aha, she is broken . . .; I shall be replenished now she is laid waste." This would also be the language of that part of Satan's organization here specifically pictured.

The World War was really a contest for the control of the commerce of the earth. The seventh world power was perfectly willing and even glad that divine truth, which is the way of the people to God, should be cast down and trodden under foot just so she was not impeded in her efforts to win the World War and to control the great commerce of the seas of the earth.

It would be natural, then, for this world power, seeing God's people go down and herself winning, to say, as it is put by another translator: "I shall be made full, now she is laid in ruins." (26:2) "Now the commerce of nations will be turned to me." (Margin, Rashi) Satan would and did rejoice when God's people were in distress in 1918 because these had impeded his progress in getting everything on earth for himself. Many heard the Word of God and believed it but were overcome by the deceitfulness of the riches of commerce: "He also that received seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." — Matt. 13:22.

But now when the World War came Satan and his chief instruments in the commerce of the sea observed the faithful witnesses of Jehovah go down and become apparently dead, they would reason, Now we shall have the whole thing to ourselves and without opposition. This was too much for the weak faith of some of those who professed to be God's people and they turned aside from following after the Lord; but not so with the true ones. Jehovah God will supply the necessities of his faithful people, and those who are devoted to him will not be overreached by the commercial or rich influence of the world.

The big men of the seventh world power who control the commerce of the seas are doubtless the proudest that have lived on the earth. They are really rulers or princes of the seventh world power and together with their allies at land control the politics or politicians who are the more tangible rulers. These princes are really Devil worshipers, because they worship

things such as money power and their own bellies, and they consult with the wicked angels and by this means are in communication with the Devil and are directed by him. God declares himself against them, which means both ancient and modern Tyre, and he so writes his judgment in these words: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, 0 Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God; and it shall become a spoil to the nations. And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the Lord. " — 26:3-6.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

No man could be a type of Christ Jesus, the King of kings, unless that man was fully devoted to Jehovah God. A man, although not devoted to God, might be used as an illustration of God's manner of accomplishing his purposes. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. He was the head of the world power of Babylon. He was a representative of Satan, the god of this world, and, being the chief one in the world, he was therefore the king of kings. He was an illustration of the mighty One whom Jehovah will use for his destructive work against Satan's organization; therefore he illustrated or pictured Christ Jesus, who at the end of the period of waiting becomes the universal ruler of the world and

whose right it is to rule, and who therefore is the King of kings. (Ps. 110:1,2) Prior to that time Christ Jesus had no kingdom although he was anointed as King. Satan had offered to give him the kingdoms of this world, and thus Satan was recognized by the Lord as ruling the world. Jehovah now takes away from Satan the right to rule the world and gives it to Christ, and this is according to the rule announced by the Lord. — Matt. 25:29; see Light, Book Two, page 321.

Jehovah therefore used Nebuchadnezzar as an illustration of his power that would be exercised against Satan's organization. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and then laid siege to Tyre, and thus he illustrated the fact that Jehovah will first destroy "Christendom" and then all of Satan's organization, and that he will do so by the King of kings, Christ Jesus. Jehovah caused Ezekiel to prophesy against ancient Tyre, and which prophecy applies to modern Tyre, in the following language: "For thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people. He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field; and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee. And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers. By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee; thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city

wherein is made a breach. With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground. And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise; and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones, and thy timber, and thy dust, in the midst of the water." — 26: 7-12.

History states that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for thirteen years but did not succeed in reducing it as described in the foregoing words of the prophet. Later Alexander assaulted it and in seven months captured the city. This would indicate that the prophecy was not completely fulfilled in the day of Nebuchadnezzar, but must be completely fulfilled 'in that day which the Lord has made"; and must be fulfilled upon that great organization, which Tyre represented. The fulfilment of the prophecy, therefore, must be the great act of Jehovah by and through Christ Jesus in destroying this and other parts of Satan's organization. The antitypical city or organization must suffer complete destruction, because Jehovah by his prophet further says: "And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock; thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more; for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God." — 26:13,14.

Jesus visited Tyre in his day, thus showing that the city existed then. (Matt. 15:21) In this present century it has about 6,500 inhabitants. This shows that the complete fulfilment of the prophecy setting forth

the judgment written against antitypical Tyre must be fulfilled against the organization pictured by ancient Tyre and fulfilled in "the last days". Therefore that must mean the complete destruction of the seventh world power, particularly with reference to the maritime Big Business, which has dominated and ruled commerce, and which shall be built no more after Armageddon. However, it shall be more tolerable for the men of Big Business after the fall and during times of restitution than it will be for those ecclesiastical hypocrites of modern Jerusalem. — Matt. 11:21, 22.

"Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus, Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?" (26:15) "The isles" here mentioned seem clearly to represent the small maritime-mercantile or commercial dealers in the seventh world power having favorable treaties and relationships with the giants or Big Business crowd. At the fall of the latter the isles or smaller ones shall also be shaken. The exalted leaders and magnates or commercial giants are referred to as "princes" whose policy is to exploit the seas of humanity and concerning which the prophet of God says: "Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments; they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants,

which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!"  — 26:16,17.

Britain, the head and seat of the seventh world power, has refused to recognize the freedom of the seas. Her navy is a shield and protector of her big commerce and has been and is a terror to all who have sought to do or to carry on business in great waters. The merchant marine of the seventh world power has made possible its Big Business, both at sea and on land. Tyre, however, more particularly represents Big Business that has operated by means of the waterways, but the relationship is close to that of commerce that is carried on at land. The prophecy of Ezekiel, however, treats the two from two different viewpoints.

Jehovah God will make a clean-up of that which has brought a curse upon mankind, and only the glory of the Lord will remain to fill the earth. The commerce of the seas, as well as of the land, has been made a curse to mankind and has been a means of glorifying men, but God's judgment is written against it and it shall not rise the second time. "For thus saith the Lord God, When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; when I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living." (26:19, 20) "For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted

up, and he shall be brought low; . . . and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." (Isa. 2:12-17) The God of battle will make a complete wreck of oppressive commercialism, which has been a terror to humankind, and concerning which the prophet says: "I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more; though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord God." — 26:21.

In the time of the resurrection, when men who have been adherents of Big Business, and who have operated the same, are brought forth they will be surprised to learn that commerce for the purpose of exploiting the people will never again exist. That fact will be a great consolation to those who have been exploited and gouged and oppressed by Big Business. "And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire." — Zech. 9:3,4.

Christ Jesus, the great King of kings, will destroy this oppressive agent of the Devil and will deliver the needy. "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." (Ps. 72:10-12) During the time of restitution Satan will be dead. His organization will

also be destroyed. Satan shall never build another organization. During restitution men who have had to do with Big Business, the Scriptures seem to indicate, will seek to know how they might again carry out their schemes. Concerning this, according to another rendering of the text, the Lord says: "An unsubstantial thing will I make thee, and thou shalt pass away." "Suddenly will I annihilate thee, but thou shalt never be found any more." — 26:21, Leeser, marginal reading.

This applies both to Satan and the maritime Big Business that he has organized and carried on to oppress the people. It is only those who have willfully sinned against the light of God's kingdom that will not be resurrected until the end of the thousand-year reign and suffer complete destruction with the Devil. Those who have been dupes of the Devil, and have sinned ignorantly concerning God's kingdom, will have an opportunity during the thousand-year reign of Christ.

STRATEGIC POSITION

(EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 27)

The twenty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy continues against Tyrus or Tyre. The seventh world power, to wit, Britannic-American empire, and particularly the mercantile commerce of the seas, has held a strategic position among and power over the peoples of the nations in all commercial transactions, and this world power has made the most of it. Foreknowing this Jehovah caused Ezekiel to take up a lamentation against Tyre, but which applies particularly against the product of the Devil, to wit, the

seventh world power: "And say unto Tyrus, 0 thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God, 0 Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty." (27: 3) According to another translator the language is: "I am the perfection of beauty!" (Roth.) Although within the borders of the land fraudulently called "Christendom" the Big Business crowd that has controlled the seas make gold their god, strut about arrogantly, and greatly admire themselves. Jehovah has caused to be written of his own organization: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." — Ps. 50: 2.

Modern Tyre disputes this and, at the instance of the Devil, says: "I am the perfection of beauty." So great is the vanity and self-admiration of the maritime Big Business of Britain and America that those in control have constituted themselves the dictators of what the people shall hear and even think about, and they carefully exclude the message of truth concerning God and his kingdom. The radio is the God-given channel for the instruction of the people in matters of interest and convenience. In Britain Big Business controls the radio and absolutely refuses to permit even a word to be broadcast by Jehovah's witnesses concerning his kingdom. Big Business absolutely controls the radio messages by sea or from ship to shore, and shore to ship, or internationally. In the United States wing of the seventh world power the same element controls all the choice radio frequencies or channels and refuses to use any of these, or to permit their facilities to be used, for broadcasting the message of God's kingdom. No message is welcome or

acceptable to these vain princes that informs the people truthfully as to what is the cause of the world distress or how it can be remedied. Although these dictators must know that man has no adequate remedy for the terrible conditions existing amongst the nations, yet Jehovah God's Word of truth concerning the same is excluded from the people by them as far as it is possible, and the exclusion is put upon the ground that it might offend some others. The real purpose, however, is to prevent the people from hearing and therefore from being informed concerning Satan, that he is the god of this world, and that the maritime power is one of the strong instruments he uses against the interests of the people. The people are learning that the advertising of Big Business as the sole stay and help for the people is purely a propaganda scheme and is intended for the gullible public to swallow that they might be kept quiet while Big Business continues to rifle the pockets of the people.

The prophet, continuing to address both ancient and modern Tyre, with words of sarcasm says: "Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty." (27: 4) Commerce claims that its rightful field of exploitation is the people; that it has all the rights, and that this right is represented in the power it possesses and that "the public be damned".

The seventh world power not only denies the freedom of the seas, but in the language of its father Satan it says: 'These waters are mine, and I have made them for myself.' The master builder of modern Tyre is, of course, the Devil himself, and in this work there have been employed the most efficient and expert men,

such as planners and builders, and these are the ones that it is claimed have "perfected thy beauty". Today this same Big Business or commercial power not only controls the ships and commerce of the waterways, but has engaged and employed and controls the keenest financial experts, the most brilliant lawyers and technical men that the world produces, for the purpose of carrying out her selfish schemes. She has spared nothing in her efforts to perfect the organization. All just and rightful privileges of the home, family and country are disregarded and even human life counts for nothing when these would prevent the carrying out of the selfish and devilish schemes to exploit the people to the profit of the few.

Furthermore the prophet, concerning this devilish organization, by verses five to seven continues to describe the divers means employed by these instruments of Satan to make his organization to appear beautiful, that it might dazzle and confound the peoples of the earth.

Zidon preceded Tyre as the master of the seas and then gave way to the latter. "The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, 0 Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots. The ancients of Gebal, and the wise men thereof, were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise." (27:8, 9) Arvad is an island near Zidon which was also Canaan territory. (Gen. 10:15,18) The Canaanites under the curse of the Lord became the "rowers" (Roth.) of the ships of Tyre. Likewise those under the curse of sin, and under the control of their master the Devil, have been compelled to push and row the

ships of Big Business, the Devil's organization, both at land and at sea. Those who are in God's kingdom and wholly devoted to it refuse to pull or boost for any part of Satan's organization.

In the world a man is considered wise if he is able to "put over" some big scheme. "Thy wise men, 0 Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots." These worldly-wise men now monopolize and control and manage the commerce of the earth, and hence are the pilots thereof, and exploit the whole business upon the people. These wise men are on the boards of directors, and see to it that things in their organizations are done according to their selfish wishes; but even in the present day, because of distress, many of them are turning black in the face.

Ancient Tyre had her rough sea work done by foreigners. Likewise the pilots of modern Tyre have their rough and dirty work done by hirelings while the pilots themselves hold themselves aloof as the very pink of beauty and as the preservers of the business interests of the world. Many of these workers in modern Tyre now recognize that they are foreigners and no longer free but that they are held where they are because with them it is to "do what you are told to do or starve".

It is thrilling in this day to observe that Jehovah long ago foreknew and foretold the present oppressive conditions existing in the world by reason of the operation of Satan and his tools in modern Tyre. The fact that these things are now coming to light is proof that we are now in the day of deliverance and therefore in a time to feed upon truths that the Lord is giving us and to rejoice.

In the ninth verse of this prophecy above quoted Gebal is mentioned. Gebal means "hilly, mountain, border", and refers to the sharp-sighted, far-seeing ones of the commercial part of Satan's organization. The wise men thereof are not novices, but are experienced, astute, far-seeing and shrewd. These are employed as calkers (that is, preventers of leaks) to keep Satan's commercial ships afloat. Business panics, business depression, slack trade, and such like, must not be permitted if they can avoid it. To that end great holding companies have been organized, giant mergers accomplished, that a few might control almost everything. Special legislation has been enacted, public officers are influenced and even wars are produced, in order to keep the old ship of commerce afloat. These "wise men" have thought to completely control the business of the world by sea and by land, but even now they are becoming very much frightened at what they see coming upon the world.

"They of Persia, and of Lud, and of Phut, were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness [splendour, Roth.]." (27:10) Ancient Tyre hired soldiers from other countries to protect her ships from pirates and other marauders. The great wealth resulting from her commerce enabled Tyre to hire outsiders to do her fighting. The controllers of commerce, which we commonly call Big Business and, to wit, modern Tyre, have not put their cultured and rich sons to the front to fight the battles amongst the nations and peoples, or in the navies and the armies, to do the rough work, but they have sent the men and boys of the people from the common walks of life to fill the trenches and

to man the battleships and to shed their blood. The rich favored ones have stayed behind the lines to help work out the schemes to reap big profits and to get rich quick. The military and the navy are really the arm of force for Big Business but are camouflaged as the defenders of the nations. The fact is that the common people of no nation on earth would force a war between nations. These wars are always forced by the selfish interests of those who control the commerce. There would never be a war if it were left to the rank and file of the common people.

What has made the seventh world power appear so strong and beautiful in the eyes of all the peoples of the earth? The prophet answers: "The men of Arvad, with thine army, were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims [valorous, Roth.] were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect." (27:11) The navies, the marine corps, and the supporting armies have been required to keep the things looking rosy or beautiful for the big commercial interests of the seventh world power operated at sea and upon land. By reason of the navy and the army and the marine corps the seventh world power has dominated the sea and kept the people helpless and in subjection while the experts of Big Business have gone through their pockets and have extracted whatsoever was found there.

Ancient Tyre had a profitable business or commercial connection with all parts of Satan's mighty empire, that is to say, with all the nations of the world. It did not handle things of the Lord by trying to carry his message to the ends of the earth for the

glory of God. Likewise modern Tyre, the seventh world power, has had profitable or commercial or business relationships with the entire human race and has dominated the business of the world. These use the so-called "Christian religion" as a camouflage, sending missionaries along with their fleets into all parts of the earth, and backing these up with the guns and bayonets of the navy and the army, and by this means Big Business or commerce has been enabled to accomplish many of her selfish purposes. The Devil has thus made a powerful instrument out of this part of his organization. The seventh world power has given herself over to the traffic of this world which says: 'What shall we eat or drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?'

Verses twelve to twenty-five of the twenty-seventh chapter describe the marine or commercial marts of the three great branches of the human race with which ancient Tyre had dealings and therefore picture modern Tyre, which likewise has commercial relationships with the entire world. Verses twelve to fifteen inclusive describe particularly the Japhetic, that is to say, the European race. (Gen. 10:2-5) Verses eighteen to twenty-one describe the Shemites. In the nineteenth verse Dan is mentioned, but this is not Dan of the tribe of Dan, but "Vedan" (R.V.), or "Wedan" (Roth.). Verses twenty-two and twenty-three describe the Hamitic. — Gen. 10: 6, 7.

It is noted that Judah and the land of Israel had commercial intercourse with Tyre, and doubtless from Tyre the Jews learned how to cheat their fellow man. This may also picture how some of God's covenant people permit themselves to be choked by the weeds

and thorns of the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and who therefore resort to improper commercial schemes to gain such ends. — Matt. 13: 22.

It is not wrong for God's people to engage in an honest and just barter where the rules are observed that were laid down by Jesus, but anyone who engages in commerce and willingly takes advantage of opportunities to cheat others could not be pleasing to the Lord. Some of the consecrated in modern times have been drawn into deals with Big Business for pecuniary interest, which is always unprofitable spiritually to those who are seeking the Lord's approval. To be sure, God's people must come in contact with Big Business for the bare necessities of life; otherwise they must "go out of the world", as the apostle suggests. (1 Cor. 5: 9,10) Those, however, who are truly devoted to God, and who are children of his woman Zion, are seeking the things of the kingdom, and God according to his promise adds things that are necessary for their existence.

Big Business has by means of hire and also by coercion induced many men to do menial service and to be pushers and pullers or rowers of their schemes. These pushers or pullers or rowers have brought Big Business into deep waters, and the next step will be the breaking up of the oppressive crowd. "Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas." — 27:26.

Big Business has gained control of big preachers, big lawyers, big doctors, and big engineers, and all of the various machinery of the governments, all of which are resisting and opposing earth's rightful King, Christ Jesus, the Stone which Jehovah God has laid

in Zion. Big Business attempts to prevent the message of the kingdom from being published by the radio and by the public press. This wing of the Devil's organization continues to heap injustice upon those who serve God and those who try to do right. "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you." — Jas. 5: 5, 6.

"ACT OF GOD"

The "east wind" that breaks Tyre in the midst must refer to the power of Christ, the King from the sun rising, to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth. "Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it for ever." (Ps. 48:7,8) Such breaking is "an act of God", that is to say, the divine visitation of Jehovah God upon this part of Satan's organization and which Big Business cannot successfully resist. Jehovah has commanded his King to proceed to the breaking-up work, and the commercial wing of Satan's organization is in for her share in due time. "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble." (Ps. 107:23-26) "He stretched out his hand over the sea; he shook the kingdoms; the Lord hath given a commandment against the mer-

chant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof." (Isa. 23:11) The nations composing the seventh world power have been the places for the chief operation of the commercial wing of Satan's organization, and these are in for their part of a complete drubbing.

The doom of every part of Satan's organization is written, and there is no escape for Big Business. "Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that arc in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin." (27: 27) Those who have been used by the Devil to build this mighty machine of oppression must, by the power of Jehovah exercised against them and the organization, be brought to know that Jehovah is God. He has power and resources vast and deep like unto the sea, and which will engulf the entire organization of Big Business and its military and naval equipment, and make it disappear from the sight of heaven and earth, even as the Egyptians were engulfed in the Red sea. "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." (Rev. 18:21) And then the wicked organization shall completely fall. (Ezek. 27: 34) The sea, or "depths of the waters", in this text pictures Jehovah's power under the lash of the "east wind", The Christ dashing to pieces the enemy organization.

Fear has now taken hold of the mighty men of this wicked organization, but the worst is yet to come. Verses twenty-nine to thirty-one inclusive describe the

distress of those who have put their trust in riches, making gold their god, and who therefore have worshiped this part of the Devil religion. These have looked upon the commerce of the seventh world power as that which could not be broken, but they shall see that mighty organization go down. "And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?" (27: 32) This conclusion is further supported by the following texts: Ezekiel 26:15-17; Revelation 18:17-19. Every part of Satan's organization shall be destroyed, and these texts specifically refer to the commercial division thereof. All shall drink of the wrath of God. "And all the Icings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea." — Jer. 25:22.

The prophetic picture here given is for the special benefit and instruction of God's faithful covenant people. Those who love God now will stay clear of Big Business and devote themselves exclusively to the kingdom and will do "this one thing". Some who heard the call to the kingdom committed the fatal error of going after wealth and riches and were 'drowned in the sea'. "But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things [of Tyre]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1 Tim.

6:9-11) Those who have made a covenant with the Lord, and who have then become negligent thereof and become entangled with Big Business, will have more cause for weeping and wailing than the worldly merchants. Not only will they lose their earthly possessions, but they will lose their hope of life everlasting. — Rev. 20:13.

It appears strange to many that a man poor in this world's goods who enters politics and is elected to a public office and receives a reasonable salary, as fixed by law for his services, yet, in spite of all this, within a few years is a man of great material wealth. What is the reason? Big Business provides the wealth for such in consideration of special services in behalf of their selfish and oppressive schemes. Men in public office who render these services are described as "kings", that is to say, the earthly visible rulers of Satan's organization, and concerning which the Lord says: "When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise." (27:33) For this reason public office has become a private grab and office-holders are corrupted by the ill-got gains of the commercial wing of Satan's wicked organization operated on sea and on land.

Today the small mercantile shippers who take note are astounded at the grip hold Big Business has on every thing. The small trader has attempted to carry on a legitimate business separate from and independent of the big giants, but the mighty ones who control the commerce have almost completely crushed the life out of all small traders. Foreseeing this great

act of injustice practiced by a few, the Lord caused Ezekiel to write: "All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more." (27: 35, 36) But the day of these giant commercial oppressors is about at an end, and their big machines, together with all other parts of Satan's organization, shall go down; and then the people, small dealers and others will hiss contemptuously at the bare mention of these commercial giants, and never again will God permit such pernicious things to trouble the peoples of earth.

During the World War God's earthly organization was made "desolate" and a perpetual hissing at the instance of the clergymen, and Big Business, represented by Tyre, stood by and concerning God's faithful company said: 'Aha, she is broken and will trouble us no more.' For this wickedness Jehovah in due time will recompense Tyre with some of her own medicine. "Yea, and what have ye to do with me, 0 Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head: because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: the children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: and I will sell your sons and your

daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it." (Joel 3:4-8) God will vindicate his name and his organization.

God has provided the things of the earth for the benefit of obedient mankind. Therefore not only is the day of relief for the people coming, but the time when the product of the earth, which Big Business has used to exploit the people to enrich themselves, God will take away from them and give to the people that obey and serve him, that they may with these natural resources glorify the name of the great Creator who has made them. Then shall be fulfilled the words of the prophecy: "And her [Tyre's] merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. " —Isa. 23:18.

LEADERS OF TYRE

(EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 28)

Then the prophet of God addresses the leaders or rulers of the commercial division of Satan's organization. "Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God, Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God." (28:2) The word here rendered "prince" is the same as that in Daniel 9: 25 rendered in "Messiah the Prince". It refers to one that stands boldly out to the front and makes announcement of the public policies of the people, therefore the leader. The

prince of Tyre is clearly distinguished in this chapter from the king of Tyre, and therefore the prince seems to clearly picture or have reference to the visible ruling factors or dictators of the policies of Satan's commercial system of the world and who are hence spokesmen on earth for Satan in this division of his organization. These mighty ones control the big newspapers, the colleges, the universities of various kinds, including the theological, technical, medical and law schools; they control the greater part of the radio facilities and other means of communicating to the people, the purpose being to prevent anything's being carried to the people that might reflect upon Big Business.

This crowd is proud and haughty, and of them the prophet says: "Thine heart is lifted up." They are a self-admiring, self-important, dominating and arrogant class, and because of their riches consider themselves gods, and they therefore assume that position amongst the people. The great banking giants that control the commerce of the seas and the land, and who operate within the borders of the seventh world power today, assume this very attitude. These mighty men are set forth as models for the youth of the land, particularly for those young men who spend their early days in the colleges and universities where they are taught to learn everything that is anti-God and anti-kingdom. These strong men of commerce and finance are idolized by the younger and weaker elements among them. Their own selfishness is their god and they believe that "money is power". They heap it up regardless of the amount of suffering which this entails upon the common people. These men as-

sume the positions of gods and claim themselves to be benefactors of the world, and they demand respect and veneration and claim that they are justly entitled to rule and to dictate the policy of the nations.

As an example of this, recently a newspaper reporter attempted to have an interview with one of these big financial bosses at a railway station in the city of London, where he had just arrived, and that self-appointed god denounced the poor reporter because he had the audacity to even speak to him. But let the people take note that the prosperity of these visible agents of Satan draws near to an end, when God's indignation shall be openly expressed against them. The Lord by his prophet tells this self-admiring crowd who claim to be gods: "Thou art a man, and not God." This strongly proves that the "prince of Tyrus" refers to the visible representatives of Satan's organization who by reason of their wealth dictate the policy of the nations of earth, and particularly by and through the seventh world power. At Armageddon these will come to fully realize the meaning of the statement: "Thou art a man, and not God." "Arise, 0 Lord; let not man prevail; let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, 0 Lord; that the nations may know themselves to be but men." (Ps. 9:19,20) "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land."  — Zeph. 1:18.

These cold-blooded, conscienceless, commercial representatives of Satan think themselves wiser than all

other men, and even deny the very existence of the prophets, such as the Prophet Daniel; therefore the Lord in derision says to them: "Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee." (28: 3) Daniel gave all credit to Jehovah God for the deep and secret things about which he spoke. (Dan. 2: 22) The "wise men" of Satan's commercial organization, and who are wise therefore in their own conceits, regard themselves as incomparably greater than the prophets of Jehovah. They are past masters at manipulating schemes and making secret agreements and in detective operations, which they call secret service, and which is used to oppress the peoples in humble walk. They are exceedingly wise in making deals, compromising, and in giving bribes and corrupting public officials, and in operating secret and subtle schemes to obtain control of patents and inventions, and of laboratories and research work, and financing the same for their own selfish aggrandizement. They scour the seas and scrape the land to obtain control of the commerce and the markets, of the mineral deposits, power sites and power plants, and every thing of whatsoever kind that might be used to produce material wealth. They are of the opinion that no secret, even of Jehovah God, is hidden from them, because they deny God and think themselves to hold all the secrets of the world.

With the cunning and sagacity of their father Satan these mighty men have greatly enriched themselves, and because they have been able to do so they lift up their own eyes and in the eyes of their understudies they are great. The Lord says to them: "With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast

gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: by thy great wisdom, and by thy traffic, hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches." (28:4,5) These words of the prophet are exactly in harmony with the utterances of James the apostle. (5:1-6) These men, the visible representatives of Satan, the commercial wing of his organization, rely upon the power of their wealth, "and they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches." (Ps. 73:11,12) They depend upon their power and their riches to make the earth a suitable place for man and that they have the ability thus to robe the earth with their own glory and beauty. But the Lord says: "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others." (Ps. 49:6,7,10) "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall." — Prov. 11:28.

The Lord then tells these representatives of Satan why they must go down: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; behold, therefore, I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas." (28: 6-8) With reference to ancient Tyre the 'strangers of the

terrible nations' were Nebuchadnezzar and his armies; and thus is illustrated the Lord's means of performing his "strange act", which will strike terror to the heart of the prince of Satan's commercial organization that rules and dominates the people. The mighty princes of Tyre will die like those of a storm-wrecked ship at sea. The wide distribution of the booklet The Kingdom, The Hope of the World, amongst these financial giants is notice of what they may expect to come to pass, but they will not take heed to it.

Jehovah says to the proud and arrogant: "Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee." (28:9) The braggadocio of the "prince of Tyre", Big Business and leaders, will come to naught and these will fall before the assault of the King of kings, who is Jehovah's Executive Officer, and who at Jehovah's command does these terrible things: "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." (Ps. 45:3,4) Jehovah will rise, as he says, and shake terribly the earth, that is, the organization of Satan that is visible to man, and the power of that wicked organization will cease. "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles, and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his

nostrils." (Isa. 2:20-22) "But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one; therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper; their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten." (Jer. 20:11) In that terrible day their riches will avail them nothing: "Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death." (Prov. 11: 4) These proud ones have spurned the words of wisdom recorded in God's Book, the Bible, and have relied upon their own wisdom and the strength of their own organization. They have not given any heed to the advice: "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." (Eccl. 5:2) "God is not a man, . . . neither the son of man . . .: hath he said, and shall he not do it?" — Num. 23:19.

Jehovah is now sending forth his witnesses to bear testimony of warning to those branches of Satan's organization. These witnesses need expect no comfort from such now; nor when they appear before them, shall they fear or tremble, and surely they should not assume an apologetic attitude when presenting to them the message of truth. Those who trust in the Lord will be calm, firm, and speak the truth in kindness. Therefore Jehovah says to his witnesses that when they come in contact with the princes of modern Tyre "I, even I, am he that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the

earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?"  — Isa. 51:12,13.

These princes of modern Tyre, to wit, leaders in Britain and America's sea commerce or Big Business, hold themselves forth as the honorable men of the earth to whom the common people should bow down and beg their favor; but the days of their arrogance draw near to an end, because the Lord says to them, "I am against thee, 0 Tyrus." (26:3) "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city [the bestower of crowns, Roth.], whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. He stretched out his hand over the sea; he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for your strength is laid waste." — Isa. 23: 8,9,11,14.

Jehovah's decree is written and cannot be reversed. "Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God." (28:10) "Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof." — Amos 1: 9,10.

Whomsoever of God's people the princes of modem Tyre captured they delivered up. Modern Tyre and her princes shall die the death of the unclean. (Gen. 17:11,13) These have lived wantonly and luxuriously in utter disregard of the rights of other men. They have trafficked in human flesh and blood for their own selfish gain and have taken away from their hired laborers that which was justly due the babies of the poor. They have burned the property of the poor, destroyed their food, persecuted and oppressed men and women of good will who dared render aid and comfort to the poor and their children. The coal operators of West Virginia and Kentucky and other places are glaring examples of such cruelty. They have carried on their wicked operations within the borders of the land called "Christendom", and mislabeled "the land of the free and the home of the brave". These princes of Tyre have marked America with the inscription: "The land of the thieves and the home of the slaves." They disregard the