were sawn asunder, they died by slaughter with the sword, they went about in sheep skins, in goat skins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment; and the world was not worthy of them.” They did not get the plaudits of those hurrahing the king; no! And they did not curry the favor of the rich or of those in positions of power. They did not cowardly seek the honor of men. Even though killed, they have not perished, for Malachi 3:16 indicates their names are written in the “book of remembrance . . . for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.” Do we have the courage to copy these men that the inspired disciple James tells us to copy?

17. (a) Explain the path of Christian conduct? (b) How can they safely walk the narrow way that leads to life?

¹⁷ The path of Christian conduct is high, lofty, narrow and straight. Avoiding fear of men keeps Christians from falling off the path down to deadly depths of compromise and loss of life. Jesus commands Christians: “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.” (Matt. 7:13, 14) Do you like to go the easy broad way leading to destruction just because the majority are walking there? Do you still like to please men who are walking this broad way of destruction? Why try to please and fear mortal men who the Bible says “will be rendered as mere green grass”? (Isa. 51:12) Therefore walk the straight and narrow way of integrity, and fear Jehovah the supreme Sovereign. In the battle of Armageddon Jehovah will clean the earth of all cowards, compromisers, men-pleasers and fearful people.

18. In whom should Christians put their trust? What is necessary for doing so, and why?

¹⁸ Christians should put their trust and confidence in Jehovah and never fear men or try to please men. Whom shall we fear when Jehovah is with us? The psalmist said: “Jehovah is my light and my salvation. Of whom shall I be in fear?” (Ps. 27:1) To overcome fear of men knowledge of Jehovah is essential. And to know Jehovah careful study of His Word and law is necessary. Lack of knowledge makes one depend on men and makes one fearful of men, but knowledge of Jehovah dispels fear. Through study you learn: “The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” (Prov. 18:10) Through study you learn the mighty acts Jehovah has done for those who fear him and not men. “Listen to me, you the ones knowing righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Do not be afraid of the reproach of mortal men, and do not be struck with terror just because of their abusive words. For the moth will eat them up just as if a garment, and the clothes moth will eat them up just as if wool. But as for my righteousness, it will prove to be even to time indefinite, and my salvation to unnumbered generations.” So study and learn to fear Jehovah, but never men.—Isa. 51:7, 8.

19, 20. (a) What do we expect? (b) But what admonishment does the Bible give?

¹⁹ May Christians never be trembling, soft and double-minded or unstable because of fear of men or devil. Jehovah has informed his servants about the coming attack from Gog of Magog. Jehovah’s witnesses expect persecution by Caesar. They know this old world hates them. But they have confidence in the power of Jehovah, their God, as did those men who served him fearlessly in the past. What did Moses command Jehovah’s warriors of the ancient typical organization to do? “Be courageous and strong. Do not be afraid or suffer a shock before them, because Jehovah your God is the one marching with you. He will neither desert you nor forsake you. . . . Jehovah is the one marching before you.” (Deut. 31:6, 8) Like the psalmist of old, let each true Christian brace up his mind with determination to avoid compromise and loss of integrity: “Jehovah is on my side; I shall not fear. What can earthling man do to me? It is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in nobles. All the nations themselves surrounded me. . . . They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished like a fire of thornbushes. It was in the name of Jehovah that I kept holding them off.”—Ps. 118:6, 9-12.

²⁰ And how does Paul admonish us? “What, then, shall we say to these things? God is for us, who will be against us?” “We mustered up boldness by means of our God to speak to you the good news of God with a great deal of struggling.” “For God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but that of power.”—Rom. 8:31; 1 Thess. 2:2; 2 Tim. 1:7.

21. What attitude should Christians have to avoid the danger of compromise and men-pleasing?

²¹ Therefore, Christian fighters, be courageous, never fear men or try to please men, never compromise just to avoid trouble. Hold fast to God’s supreme law and word. Serve Jehovah, not by “eyeservice as men-pleasers, but as Christ’s slaves, doing the will of God whole-souled.” (Eph. 6:6) Preach and defend your faith and hope fearlessly and efficiently and your reward will be everlasting life in Jehovah’s new world. May Jehovah God bless each one of you ministers of Jehovah and men of good will with his spirit of power.

Part 20—“Your Will Be Done on Earth”

In the inspired dream that Daniel describes in the seventh chapter of his prophecy the lion pictures the dynasty or line of kings of the Babylonian world power, the bear the line of kings of the Medo-Persian world power, the leopard the line of kings of the Macedonian or Grecian world power, and the terrible forth beast the fourth expression of world domination, which began with the Roman Empire under Augustus Caesar. This empire was dissolved into political ruling powers pictured by the ten horns on top of the forth beast’s head. The ‘little horn’ that came up among them and before whom three horns fell is the Anglo-American world power, and the three horns that fell before this, the seventh world power of Bible history, were (1) Spain, (2) The Netherlands, and (3) France. This symbolic ‘little horn’ with a talkative mouth and eyes opposes Jehovah God and his holy ones.

23, 24. (a) How did this symbolic horn think to change the “times” of God? (b) How did it think to change His law?

²³ To this day this symbolic horn has thought “to change the times and the law” of God. In the autumn of 1914 the “seven times,” or “the appointed times of the nations,” ended also for the Anglo-American dual world power. The time had then passed for the trampling down of the “Jerusalem above,” which is free and which is the “mother” of God’s “saints” or holy ones. The time had then come for the promised Kingdom of God and of his Christ to stand forth as the rightful ruler of the earth. It was the right time for the kingdoms of this world, particularly the kingdoms of Christendom, to bow before