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  • ‘Fight a Fine Fight for the Faith’
    The Watchtower—1963 | January 1
    • brother to ‘fight the fine fight of the faith, to get a firm hold on the everlasting life.’ This is in full accord with the text that Jehovah’s witnesses have chosen for 1963: “Have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.” (Heb. 10:39) With these thoughts in mind it is hoped, not only that those who are now Jehovah’s witnesses will keep a firm hold on the real life, but also that hundreds of thousands, yes, millions of other persons still groping for the light will find it, if it pleases God. Bringing them the light is the great responsibility resting upon Jehovah’s witnesses. They must take the truth and light from the Word of God to the ends of the earth. This they will do by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness right on up to the end of this system of things. Jesus has declared that it will be done. Said he: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matt. 24:14.

  • Serving the Ruler Out of the House of Bread
    The Watchtower—1963 | January 1
    • Serving the Ruler Out of the House of Bread

      WHAT an honor, what a privilege, what a blessing it is to serve the Ruler out of the House of Bread! He is no ordinary, imperfect, selfish or even well-intentioned feeble human that has a fading glory and a fleeting life. No, this Ruler is one that Jehovah God himself chose. Foreseeing mankind’s need of a righteous ruler, God caused one of his prophets long ago to foretell concerning this Ruler: “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, . . . from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler.”—Mic. 5:2.a

      When Jesus came to earth more than nineteen hundred years ago, he was born in Bethlehem in initial fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. Most fittingly God’s angels at that time announced: “There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city. Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of good will.”—Luke 2:11, 14.

      With full confidence Jehovah God could appoint this one to be Ruler, for had he not faithfully served with his Father from time indefinite, gaining experience, adding to his knowledge and wisdom in his exclusive association with his Father? (Prov. 8:22-31) No question about his being the best one that God could possibly have chosen. And after his coming to earth and learning obedience from the things he suffered, Jehovah God exalted him to his own right hand, awaiting the time for the fulfillment of Micah 5:2 on a grander scale.—Heb. 5:8.

      Bible prophecy locates the grander and complete fulfillment of Micah 5:2 at the end of the times of the nations, which came in 1914. At that time the words of Jehovah applied: “I, even I, have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain. . . . You are my son; I, today, I have become your father. Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.”—Ps. 2:6-8.

      How can it be said that this glorious divine Ruler at that time came out of Bethlehem? Because Bethlehem means ‘house or place of bread,’ and the place from where this great Ruler comes is the House of Bread for all mankind. What caused it to become this House of Bread? Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, the merit of which he presented to his Father upon his ascension to heaven. It is by means of this merit that Jesus Christ can give life to all obedient ones of mankind, he being, as he himself stated, “the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.”—John 6:51.

      Further, just as the little town of Bethlehem was located in Judah, meaning [Jehovah-] Lauded, so this greater Bethlehem is situated in the heavens among the angelic hosts, all of whom laud Jehovah. And even as Bethlehem was not situated all over Judah but had a definite location, a certain spot or point or territory in Judah, so the symbolic Bethlehem, the spiritual House of Bread, does not take in all of heaven, but is located where Jesus himself is, since he is the life-giving Bread.

      Associated with this Ruler out of the House of Bread, not as Bread Providers, or as coming themselves out of the House of Bread—for they themselves first had to take of the living Bread—are his faithful footstep followers, the “called and chosen and faithful,” who, with him, constitute God’s capital organization that rules over his universal organization.—Rev. 17:14; 14:1, 3.

      Of course, if Jesus Christ had been made Ruler without coming from this heavenly House of Bread, without his first having ransomed mankind and presented the merit of his sacrifice in heaven, he could not give everlasting life to mankind, regardless of how able and beneficent his rule might be. On the other hand, without his being sent forth as the Ruler, he could not give mankind the benefit of his being the Bread of life in the House of Bread.

      How much all of us are indebted to this Ruler out of the House of Bread! What a fine example he set for all his followers! Dedicated Christians who appreciate the benefits that are and will yet be theirs and the example he set will delight to serve him. They will do as he did when upon earth, go about “preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:1) And as he trained others, so these will also do. For many, January will be a long, cold month, but what are the discomforts of inclement weather compared with the joys that come from being in the direct service of the Ruler out of the House of Bread, bringing the Bread of life to deserving hungry and dying ones!

      [Footnotes]

      a For details see The Watchtower, January 15, 1962.

  • Do You Remember?
    The Watchtower—1963 | January 1
    • Do You Remember?

      Have you read the recent issues of The Watchtower carefully? If so, you should recognize these important points. Check yourself.

      ● Why is it not safe for Christians to follow men?

      Because men are imperfect, make mistakes and at times prove unfaithful. However, so long as they are of “those who through faith and patience inherited the promises” they may be imitated.—P. 535.a

      ● What light do the Psalms throw on life’s roadway?

      They contain accurate history, inspired prophecy, sound doctrine and admonition to right conduct.—Pp. 550, 551.

      ● Why cannot 1 John 5:7 be used to prove the trinity teaching?

      Because it is spurious, not genuine; it being added later.—P. 556.

      ● Did the apostle John borrow from Plato his teaching regarding Jesus’ being the Word?

      No, he did not. He termed Jesus the Word because the Bible shows that the prehuman Jesus was God’s spokesman.—Pp. 602, 603.

      ● Is extrasensory perception for Christians?

      No; for its manifestations, such as clairvoyance, telepathy, visions, object readings and prediction indicate spiritism.—Pp. 647, 648.

      ● What is relative subjection?

      It is a subjection related to something else; specifically, a subjection limited or qualified by God’s will.—P. 651.

      ● Who is the “king” mentioned at 1 Peter 2:17, for whom Christians are to have honor?

      Any king or any political ruler having governors under him.—Pp. 659, 660.

      ● What is the “human creation” to which Christians are to subject themselves?

      A ruling office created by humans of this world or the one occupying such an office.—P. 660.

      ● To whom is “relative subjection” due?

      It is due to husbands, parents, masters of slaves and political governments.—Pp. 665, 666.

      ● Who are the “superior authorities” to whom Christians are to be in subjection?

      The duly constituted political governments of this world.—Pp. 684, 685.

      ● In what way are the “superior authorities” God’s ministers?

      In that they punish wrongdoers.—P. 712.

      ● For what compelling reason should Christians be in subjection to the “superior authorities”?

      For conscience’ sake.—Pp. 714, 715.

      ● Why is faith termed “the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld”?

      Because it makes evident what has not been discerned before and at the same time refutes what appears to be the case but is not.—P. 751.

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