the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”—Ps. 2:6-8 and Psalm 110, AS.

9. What Scriptural proof is there to show that the coronation of the King of kings could not take place until these “last days”?

⁹ The coronation was not to take place at the first advent of Christ Jesus, but at the second. He was not to be King over just one small part of this earth, but King of all. He is “King of kings”. “For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11, NW) “Next, the accomplished end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed all government and all authority and power. For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet.” (1 Cor. 15:24, 25, NW) When the Gentile times expire then every power will be broken to pieces. (Ps. 110:5, 6) “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Ps. 2:9, AS) No, a literal city will not be the seat of this majestic, glorious, mighty King, but heaven itself. It is with these sacred truths that we get the setting for the proper understanding of the 12th chapter of Daniel, and see Jehovah’s faithful ones in these last days earnestly inquiring of God the meaning of the present-day events and seeking for an understanding of the vision of Jehovah’s promises to comfort his people.—Isa. 40:1, 2; 44:2, 8; 45:1-4, AS.

MICHAEL ‘STANDS UP’ AND TIME OF TROUBLE

10. How do we identify “Michael”, and in what way does he “stand up”?

¹⁰ Daniel 12:1 (AS) reads: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” The name of this angel, “Michael,” is most significant. It means “Who is as, or like, God?” Christ Jesus is “the image of God”. (2 Cor. 4:4, NW) He is the “reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being”. (Heb. 1:3, NW) “He is the image of the invisible God, . . . by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible.” (Col. 1:15-17, NW) He is Jehovah’s appointed Ruler, seated at his right hand. Therefore the text would read, according to the meaning of the name Michael, “Then he, who is as, or like, God, will stand up.” For a long time Christ has been waiting for the time to stand up for the children of God’s people. At last the day comes. “Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110:2, AS) He is the “great prince”, the foremost one. At last he comes. And why does he come? The obvious answer is, to aid and to defend his people and to destroy their enemies. It is a time for judgment, and God’s judge is Christ Jesus. The day for deliverance arrives when the Lord Jesus Christ stands up for the children of God’s people.—Ps. 50:1-6, AS.

11. What is indicated in Jesus’ prophecies as to the duration of the “time of trouble”?

¹¹ Though the statement pertaining to the time of trouble is brief, we should not understand that to indicate it is a very short time. For we are bound to take into account the many other prophecies in the book of Daniel, and elsewhere, in order to grasp how much is involved. Christ Jesus groups many such prophecies and enlarges on them when explaining to his disciples some of the things which must come to pass in the last days. (See Matthew 24.) He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a “generation” in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on “this generation” that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble.

DELIVERANCE

12. Who are “thy people”, and how do other prophecies point to the fact that they “shall be delivered”?

¹² “And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Dan. 12:1, AS) This grand promise, therefore, shall be kept. Zion’s spiritual children are to be called from wherever they are dispersed. “Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth.” (Isa. 43:5, 6, AS) “Saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture. Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.”—Isa. 49:9, 12, 13, 18; Ps. 87:2, 5, 6, AS.

13. How are many awakened from their dustlike condition, with what differing results, and why can we be sure God will “gather” them?

¹³ The time has come for Zion to rise and shine, for her light has indeed come. (Isa. 60:1-3 and Isa 52:1, 2, AS) Zion’s children have been brought out from mystic Babylon. Freedom has come, and Babylon’s end is here. The erstwhile conqueror now is conquered. The glory of that great city is ended, and her mighty ruler, Satan, is laid low and despised. Some who move along with the released captives become lawless, wicked and contemptible, and it is to their everlasting shame. They came out of Babylon’s “dust” (Dan. 12:2), but do not live in Zion. They die. (Matt. 24:48-51) The setting free of the prisoners goes on, for just as it would take time in the days when Israel was in literal Babylon for the word to reach through the length and breadth of the land, so it is today. It is taking years to reach all the Lord’s “other sheep”, but they will all hear, for it is the determination of the Great King to bring them all together. It is difficult to find them, for they are so widely scattered. But, thanks to Jehovah God, they will be gathered and our work will not have been done until they are found. But, “As Jehovah liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries whither he had driven them. And I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.” (Jer. 16:15, 16, AS) This great gathering is primarily God’s, given into the hands of Christ Jesus, and we, God’s people on earth, are kindly permitted to share in their grand work. Never let us conclude that it is our work and take to ourselves the credit for bringing some to Zion, as though they were our sheep. No, they are not ours; they belong to God; but oh the joy of sharing in this gathering work and being used to help others know the way out of captivity and into God’s organization!

“WISE SHALL SHINE”

14. What Scriptural corroboration have we of the fact that we are now in the time for the “wise” to “shine”?

¹⁴ “And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3, AS) Jesus said, “The harvest is a consummation of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. . . . and they [the angels] will collect out from his kingdom . . . persons who are doing lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matt. 13:39-43, NW) Note how similar these words are to those of Daniel, chapter 12. Now we are in the time of gathering, the harvesting of God’s royal children, before the winter storms of Armageddon’s battle come on for the destruction of this system of things. For many years God has caused his angelic messengers to care for the interests of his gathered people. For their sake, and so they might be preserved, many wicked persons have been gathered out, and such purifying work still goes on. Anyone hurting God’s children or walking lawlessly will not remain in the assembly of the righteous. But those humble, faithful devoted ones who take heed to Jehovah’s Word and commands are marvelously blessed. But how can they “shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom”?

15, 16. How can they “shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom”?

¹⁵ It is interesting to note Psalm 19:4, 5:“For the sun hath he set up a tent therein; and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, he rejoiceth as a hero to run a race.” (Ro) “See, there is the sun’s pavilion pitched! He glows like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, exults like a hero to run his course.” (Mo) No gradual dawning and emerging over the distant horizon this, but a sudden breaking forth, unheralded, unannounced, even as the sun leaps forth in all its splendor in the Mediterranean latitudes. “So perish all thine enemies, O Yahweh, but be they who love him as the going forth of the sun in his might!”—Judg. 5:31, Ro.

¹⁶ So shall the wise saints of God be in the Kingdom service in these last days—full of vigor, vitality and energy by reason of Kingdom joy. Leaping for sheer delight they zealously run the race. Before them is their work, and it will be accomplished according to the King’s schedule. No time have they to dally along the road; no holding back. Brighter shines the Kingdom light. Just as the powerful sun scatters the darkness of the night and causes it to disappear and irresistibly moves on from brightness to greater brightness, so the holy servants of Jehovah increase and expand their efforts. Were all the inhabitants of the world to object and fight against it, they could not stop or delay for one second the sun’s rising and shining. So Jehovah’s people shall shine in the Kingdom as brightly as the sun. All the terrible forces of Satan’s world cannot stop the light of truth from shining through for even one second. Let us therefore be confident in God’s power, for “God is with us”. Yes, let those who try to stop us perish.

17. What special comfort may we take from the illustration of the “sun”, and so why do we do well to be “wise”?

¹⁷ Let us not forget that, because of storm clouds, the brilliance of the sun is not immediately seen. Temporarily the brightness of the shining may be obscured; but the sun is still there, and shortly appears in all its glory. So with the shining forth of the wise in the Kingdom. Sometimes persecution, bans and prohibitions interfere for a short time with the shining forth and the light is partially obscured. But remember, the Kingdom is here and Christ Jesus is King, and he determines that the righteous shall so shine. If you are of those faithful ones who are being circumscribed and limited in your worship of Jehovah by worldly powers, take comfort and rejoice that God’s day is here and the night for Jehovah’s people is over, and you will yet be brought forth from the difficulties and proscriptions you are enduring and you will yet shine forth more brilliantly. Yes, upon the horizon are the black clouds presaging a great storm; but be of good cheer, for the great day has dawned and the sun of righteousness has risen never again to set. Be wise, therefore, by obeying Jehovah’s Word.

18. Who are those that derive blessing from the shining forth of the wise? How so?

¹⁸ The shining forth causes multitudes to see the way to go, for it is a light dispelling their darkness. “The people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and as for those sitting in a region of the shadow of death light dawned upon them.” (Matt. 4:14-16, NW; Isa. 9:1-4) Yes, the way out of Babylon’s darkness is made clear, for the Kingdom sun shines upon it. The faithful therefore declare the Kingdom truths with boldness, without fear of man or conditions, for they know whom they serve and why they serve, and where they are going. Shine forth then, you people of Jehovah, so that the returning multitudes will not lose their way or stumble as they eagerly make for the holy city. Those who shine forth are the wise ones, and shall be rewarded by Jehovah forevermore. Blessed privileges now and everlasting praise in the new world will be your portion.

AUTHORITY OVER THE WATERS, AND BREAKING OF POWER

19-21. Who is represented by the “one clothed in linen” standing above the waters, and what is signified by the question asked?

¹⁹ Daniel 12:5-7 continues: “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” The one clothed in linen here foreshadows Jesus Christ, and this is easily understood by the aid of other scriptures. “I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.” (Dan. 10:5, 6, AS) “I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” (Dan. 7:13, AS) Christ Jesus is the one appointed by Jehovah over the waters, which are peoples, nations and tongues.

²⁰ Inquiry is made, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” This pictures Jehovah’s people in these last days asking, “How long will these things continue?” The angel standing above the waters with hand upraised as though in an attitude of swearing to God is similar to the vision recorded at Revelation 10:5-7, which is also for these last days: “And the angel that I saw standing on the sea and on the earth raised his right hand to heaven, and by the One who lives for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth and the things in it and the sea and the things in it, he swore: ‘There will be no delay any longer; but in the days of the blast of the seventh angel, when he is destined to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.’”—NW.

²¹ The Lord Jesus Christ has the sovereignty over all peoples and nations from one extremity to the other; the expanse of waters is encompassed in his mighty rule. “And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven saying: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king for ever and ever.’ . . . ‘We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.’” (Rev. 11:15, 17, NW) Before this, mystic Babylon with its god, Satan, had been ruling. (Rev. 17:15, 18; 19:6) “Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; Jehovah is clothed with strength; he hath girded himself therewith: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. The floods have lifted up, O Jehovah, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.” (Ps. 93:1, 3, AS) How very pointed and definite is the Word of God! how clearly it shows that when Jehovah rules as King all the floods (multitudes) lift up their voices!

22. How do other translations assist in getting at the proper answer given by “the one clothed in linen”?

²² Therefore it is at this time Christ Jesus answers the inquiry of his people, “How long will it be?” by saying, “It shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Dan. 12:7) The correct thought here is not readily grasped if one confines his reading to the King James Version. Other translations help: “When the dispersion of a part of the holy people is brought to an end then shall come to an end all these things.” (Ro) The marginal footnote reads: “‘When the power of the disperser of the holy people shall come to an end.’ (Oxford Gesenius)” “And when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (AS) “When the power of him who shattered the sacred people should be over, then the end of all should arrive.” (Mo; AT) From these renderings it is plainly to be understood that the “dispersing”, the “scattering” of God’s people is ended, that they will now be gathered together, for the power of him who scattered them is broken. Now listen to the word of Christ Jesus: “And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet-sound and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.” (Matt. 24:31, NW) For the evil power which dispersed them is broken. They will go through much tribulation but never will they be scattered again.

23. When and how is the power of the scatterer broken?

²³ Satan is the scatterer of God’s people. He is the roaring lion trying to devour. (1 Pet. 5:8) To bring about the shattering of his power the very heavens will be shaken; and such acts could come only from the Almighty God and his King, Christ Jesus. “And the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven.” (Matt. 24:29, 30, NW) This is one of the long-promised purposes of Jehovah. “For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, . . . and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.” (Hag. 2:6, 22, AS) “‘Yet once more I will set not only the earth but also the heaven in commotion.’ Now the expression ‘Yet once more’ signifies the removal of the things being shaken as things that have been made, in order that the things not being shaken may remain.” (Heb. 12:26, 27, NW) “While men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near.” (Luke 21:26-28, NW) It is therefore very evident that the shaking of the powers in the heavens will not of itself bring immediate and complete deliverance. Something has been set in motion, however, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ as earth’s rightful Ruler opening his campaign against the enemy.

24. Describe the events that come to pass within the period of three and a half times.

²⁴ God’s anointed King, Christ Jesus, takes over rule in heaven in 1914. The former ruler, Satan the Devil, refuses to vacate, and resists the new king, and a fight results in heaven. The 12th chapter of Revelation describes what happens. The Kingdom is born and Satan the “dragon” stands by waiting to devour and destroy it. War breaks out, Michael battles it out with the Devil and his angels, resulting in a glorious victory for Michael, while Satan and his demon host are thrown out of heaven. The Devil’s seat of authority is gone, his power is broken, but to bring it about the very heavens had to be shaken. He is not at this time destroyed, but is permitted to wage war against the saints of God on earth, to try to wear them out. However, his uninterrupted world rule has ended. This all happens in the period ‘time, times and half a time’, according to Daniel 12:1, 7.

‘Time, Times and Half a Time’

1. What scriptures aid us to determine the meaning of a “time”, and why could it not refer to a period of 360 years?

ONE “time” is accepted as referring to one year. Therefore this means ‘one year, two years and a half a year’, totaling three and a half years. Corroboration of this “time” reckoning is provided by the inspired use of the expression at Revelation 12:6, NW: “a thousand two hundred and sixty days,” and according to Bible reckoning this is three and a half years. Also reference is made at Revelation 11:2 to the “holy city” as being trampled underfoot for forty-two months. Bible scholars of past generations have worked out the period on a scale of a day as one year, making 1,260 years. However, there is no reasonable support for this conclusion and these wonders cannot take place until after 1914, but must happen inside the length of time of our generation. It is Scriptural and proper to understand by ‘time, times and half a time’ the period of 1,260 literal days, or three and a half years.

2. Why should the nations rage during the 1,260-day period?

² The visible part of the organization reflects the spirit and actions of the invisible part. Jesus said: “You are from your father the Devil and you wish to do the desires of your father.” (John 8:44, NW; compare James 3:17.) The demons inspire rulers to do their bidding. (Rev. 16:13, 14, NW) When war broke out in heaven in 1914 and the term of Gentile domination over God’s people ran out, then the nations commenced to rage in war which affected all peoples directly and indirectly. At the conclusion of the 1,260 days the war was stopped for the specific purpose of permitting the Kingdom work to get under way.

TRIALS DURING THE 1,260 DAYS

3, 4. How do the experiences of the Lord’s people during and at the end of the ‘time, times and half a time’ fulfill the prophetic words at Daniel 12:7?

³ Prior to 1914 the faithful servants had been proclaiming the “end of the Gentile times” in that year. Now let us see what happened during these 1,260 days. These days of Daniel are not to be confused with Revelation 12:6, 14, which reads: “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days. But the two wings of the great eagle were given the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place; there is where she is fed for a period and periods and a half a period of time away from the face of the serpent.” (NW) Here these verses merely serve to show that ‘a time, times and half a time’ equals 1,260 literal days. Whereas those days of Revelation 12:6, 14 began after Satan was cast out of heaven, the 1,260 days of Daniel 12:7 began at the end of the Gentile times, about October 1, 1914.

⁴ The facts pertaining to Jehovah’s people fit so miraculously that there cannot be any doubt about the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jehovah’s “holy people” were to be scattered and shattered by the enemy for three and a half “times”, or 1,260 days, following which time period the enemy’s power over them would end or be over. (Matt. 24:9-12, NW) Right on time prophecy was fulfilled. The 1,260 days would commence when the Gentile times ended, about October 1, 1914, and would therefore terminate about April 1, 1918, after which the enemy’s power would be broken. This indicates that by then Satan the Devil had been cast down from heaven and Christ Jesus came to the temple of God for judgment work. This was not altered by the fierce persecution which broke out at that time, for early in February, 1918, many of Jehovah’s people in Canada were seized and thrown into prison. That same month the enemies of the truth took away books and private papers from the head office of the Society at Brooklyn. On the 7th of May warrants were served for the arrest of officers of the Society, and on the 15th of May they appeared in court. They were indicted, convicted and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, and on June 20, 1918, were confined to prison. At this same time many others of the Lord’s anointed were arrested and imprisoned, the main office of the Society at Brooklyn was completely dismantled, all communications between the main office and the branches were cut off, and the ministry of preaching the gospel throughout the earth by Jehovah’s people was virtually stopped.

5. What was the condition of the faithful during the 1,260 days? What other attitudes became manifest among those associating with them?

⁵ It was a distressing and anxious time, for the work of witnessing was interfered with, not only by the active forces of evil, but also by reason of fearfulness on the part of some. Others were disappointed that 1914 had not worked out in the way they had anticipated, for they still found themselves on earth instead of in heaven. Many were selfish, thinking more of themselves than of the work of God, and some of the Lord’s people were submitting to the enemy without a fight for their right to worship Jehovah God. However, the few faithful, loyal ones continued to the best of their ability to comfort and feed the sheep. There was a very careful checking to see if the chronology of the Scriptures pertaining to 1914 was correct; also that the “signs of the times” were the ones that should be looked for; and during this time very little witnessing was done, and that which was done was in a “sackcloth” condition. The witnesses were not filled with the great joy and gladness of the Kingdom rule, but “in sackcloth” they deplored their condition as they saw no certain relief in sight. Certainly during the 1,260 days they were in an uncertain, anxious condition, and then at the end of those days great hatred and persecution came upon them.

THE “TWO WITNESSES”

6. How does Revelation 11:3 corroborate the 1,260-day time period, and what is the fulfillment of the witnessing in sackcloth performed by the two witnesses?

⁶ Now note further corroborative proof of this period of time: “I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.” (Rev. 11:3, NW) The “two witnesses” are the antitypical Elijah-John-the-Baptist work, and their being introduced at this time is important, for it helps us to understand Daniel’s prophecy. Nearly seventy years ago The Watchtower for November, 1883, explained to God’s people that Elijah and John the Baptist foreshadowed great works to be accomplished at this end of the system of things, and which were also to be done before 1918. The brothers serving Jehovah throughout that period did so believing they were engaging in such antitypical work. This noble, splendid and faithful service was interrupted in 1918. It is strengthening to faith to remember that Elijah himself fled from before the threatening face of wicked Queen Jezebel of Israel and took refuge at Mount Horeb, and thereby suffered a temporary interruption of his work. (1 Ki. 19:1-14) After this interruption Elijah returned to work and finally concluded his service by being taken away in a fiery chariot. However, John the Baptist ended his ministry by imprisonment and beheading. (Matt. 14:1-12) So it was antitypically with the work done from 1878 to 1918. It came to an end in a time of trouble, with imprisonment and the slaying of the work. The scripture was fulfilled: “The wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them.”—Rev. 11:7, NW.

7. What then must we conclude as to the opening and closing of this period of three and a half times, and what is the outstanding feature of its end?

⁷ This 1,260-day period (’time, times and half a time’) was fulfilled from October, 1914, to April, 1918, during which time the mighty Prince Michael (the Lord Jesus) became King, enthroned in heaven, and set about Kingdom work and the deliverance of his faithful servants from Babylonish bondage. He took decisive action against the prince of the power of darkness and of this evil world and forcibly removed this wicked one from his exalted position, not merely unseating him but throwing him out of heaven, with all his evil angels. He broke his power, so he no longer can scatter God’s children. The time has truly come for these things to happen. “There will be no delay any longer; . . . the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.” (Rev. 10:6, 7, NW) “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.”—Matt. 24:14, NW.

1,290 DAYS

8. How and when was the continual burnt-offering taken away and the abomination of desolation set up?

⁸ Next, Daniel 12:11 (AS) says: “And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” Two great wonders come to pass within this period: (1) “The continual burnt-offering shall be taken away” and (2) “the abomination that maketh desolate [shall be] set up”. We have seen that at the end of the 1,260-day period the antitypical witnesses, Elijah and John the Baptist, were slain, thus taking away the “continual burnt-offering” of public praise to God, but that did not mean the end of the individuals’ later performing such service. Satan and his agents no doubt thought it would end all the witnessing activities and declarations against his wicked organization and exposing the hypocrisy of his false religionists. But he did not count on God’s power. In fact, he never does. Satan is selfish to the extreme, and is full of egotism, hence becomes blinded to the obvious, having in view only his devilish schemes. His position now was that of being confined to the region of earth and he was without further access to heaven. Yes, he had had a place up there, but now it was no more. Hence he determined to try to establish his bullying, rebellious dictatorship on earth among the nations. For this reason the warning is sounded: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Rev. 12:12, NW) So his first move is to unite all the nations in one design, in order that he may bully them into submission to his wicked conspiracy. The time is short for him to prepare for the next offensive by earth’s new King. But mark this, that all his evil designs are in complete defiance to God’s kingdom, for he will not acknowledge it and would, if possible, destroy it. How did he go about it? First he played havoc with God’s people, and then when he finally got the leading visible servants of God’s people into prison he produced the League of Nations. This confederacy was first brought about in the latter part of January, 1919; and there seemed to be a clear field for his satanic operations.

9. Could those of professing “Christendom” at that time plead ignorance of the presence of the King?

⁹ It was not as if many did not know that the time for Christ’s kingdom had come, because they did. Remember, the witnesses had been preaching for forty years before the end of the Gentile times in 1914. Here is one published statement of religious clergymen when World War I was reaching its climax:

“The following manifesto was recently issued by a number of England’s most noted ministers:

“‘First—That the present crisis points toward the close of the times of the Gentiles.

“‘Second—That the revelation of the Lord may be expected at any moment, when he will be manifested as evidently as to his disciples on the evening of his resurrection.

“‘Third—That the completed church will be translated, to be “forever with the Lord.”

“‘Fourth—That Israel will be restored to its own land in unbelief, and be afterward converted by the appearance of Christ on its behalf.

“‘Fifth—That all human schemes of reconstruction must be subsidiary to the second coming of our Lord, because all nations will be subject to his rule.

“‘Sixth—That under the reign of Christ there will be a further great effusion of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.

“‘Seventh—That the truths embodied in this statement are of the utmost practical value in determining Christian character and action with reference to the pressing problems of the hour.’

“This remarkable statement was signed by A. C. Dixon and F. B. Meyer, Baptists; George Campbell Morgan and Alfred Byrd, Congregationalists; William Fuller Gouch, Presbyterian; H. Webb Peploe, J. Stuart Holden, Episcopalians; Dinsdale T. Young, Methodist.

“These are well-known names, and are among the world’s greatest preachers. That these eminent men, of different denominations, should feel called upon to issue such a statement is of itself exceedingly significant.”

10. How did certain prominent clergymen blasphemously express themselves in 1919?

¹⁰ However, the great enslaver, Satan the Devil, dominated worldly religionists and caused them to give their approval and blessing to his scheme. Even though they knew something of the truth and the fact of God’s kingdom, note the following blasphemous utterance:

“The time has come to organize the world for truth, right, justice and humanity. To this end as Christians we urge the establishment of a League of Free Nations at the coming Peace Conference. Such a league is not merely a peace expedient; it is rather the political expression of the kingdom of God on earth. The League of Nations is rooted in the gospel. Like the gospel, its objective is ‘Peace on earth, good will toward men’. Like the gospel, its appeal is universal.

“The heroic dead will have died in vain unless out of victory shall come a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.—2 Peter 3:13.

“The [nominal] church can give a spirit of good will, without which no League of Nations can endure.”—Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, January, 1919.

11. Explain why the League of Nations is appropriately described as “the abomination of desolation”.

¹¹ This League of Nations was standing before the peoples in a false position. It was a counterfeit, an offensive organization, and hence an abomination in God’s sight. Satan demanded recognition of this scheme and purposed forcing obedience to his plea for world organization and worship of it by all peoples. “And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings one hour with the wild beast. These have one purpose, and so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. These will battle with the Lamb, but, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also those called and chosen and faithful with him will do so.” (Rev. 17:12-14, NW) “And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark.”—Rev. 13:16, 17, NW.

12. What is the satanic purpose back of the “abomination”, and to what is it now leading all nations?

¹² Those who worship the abomination will be clearly and, no doubt, publicly identified, so it will make very obvious those who do not worship this political league which is an image of the beast and not of God’s kingdom by Christ. God condemns its worship. “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:9, 10, NW) Satan’s purpose since 1919 has been and is to get the nations together in one selfish common bond, and they will be so bound as the distresses, hatreds and terrors increase; moreover, he will get desperate as the time nears for the decisive battle. In arrogance, in fearfulness, the nations will close their ranks, envying and hating each other, and yet in desperation clinging to what little they have. The rulers of the Gentile nations should learn the truth and be wise, for they would then know they are being gathered together, not for peace, but for the Devil’s purpose. “They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” (Rev. 16:14, NW) Satan and his demons are not working for the good of humanity, but to maintain their domination over the people, and they would rather involve all nations in dreadful bloodshed than give up. The greatest war of all ages is near and will see all nations of earth under the dictatorship of the invisible Devil fighting against God’s anointed people and against the King, Christ Jesus, and the holy angels of God. The warning goes out to the nations so that they may know the truth, but the warners are despised, ridiculed, jailed, put inside concentration camps, and some of them killed.

(This series of articles will be continued in our next issue.)

“Continue in the Things You Learned”

THE great Master Worker of all is Jehovah God, and all his works are perfect. Christ Jesus is also a worker extraordinary, for no other man ever performed works as great as he. “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” “We must work the works of him that sent me,” Jesus said. (John 5:17; 9:4, NW) From village to village he hastened, preaching and teaching in the synagogues and in the homes of the people. On the mountain sides, at the seashores, by the roadsides, and in the market places, Jesus taught the people out of the divine Textbook of wisdom, God’s Word the Bible.

What a wonderful example Jesus gave in the pure worship! Recommending that others follow him, Jesus trained and instructed his disciples and sent them out to do the same worth-while work. And this is what Paul meant when he urged Timothy, “Continue in the things you learned.”—2 Tim. 3:14, NW.a

Remember Lot’s wife! Do not be a quitter and turn back to the filth of modern Sodom. (Luke 17:32) Look ahead to the sublime Kingdom and its divine blessings! Do not let worldly attractions or desires turn you aside. Your time and energy are limited. Expend them in God’s service.