spoke many different languages, each one heard and answered these questions in his own dialect, because the questions were translated from English to Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebu-Visayan, Hiligaynon-Visayan, Benguet, Pampango, Ibanag and Pangasinan by competent brothers. It was a real thrill to see these 434 brothers of many tongues who had dedicated themselves to Jehovah, all speaking one pure language—the truth of God’s Word.

The visiting brothers gave the same talks at this convention in the Philippine Islands that they had given at other places. By Saturday night the attendance reached a peak of 11,567. The brothers who heard the stirring narrative by the president on the work in Russia were shocked by the story of brutality and persecution, but thrilled by the integrity of their fellow servants behind the iron curtain. The wonderful endurance, the unity and strength of the harassed brothers in Russia are stimulating to Jehovah’s witnesses everywhere.

Sunday’s program was a full one. Along with Brother Adams, Brother Barry, the Japanese branch servant, spoke in the morning. The day’s program was brought to a climax at five o’clock in the evening when the public lecture was delivered. As Brother Knorr began his talk the sun was low in the sky and there was plenty of cool shade for the crowd that packed the stadium and overflowed into the bleachers to the left and the right of the platform. There were 17,259 in attendance, which meant at least 5,000 persons of good will had been gathered to hear this message on “Making All Mankind One Under Their Creator.” As the tropical sun set on the final day of the Triumphant Kingdom assembly all who had gathered together felt strengthened and comforted and determined anew to carry on in the great work assigned to them by Jehovah to preach the good news of his kingdom everywhere.

In recent years tremendous strides have been made in the ingathering work in the Philippines. In 1945 there were 2,000 preaching the good news, but in only ten years this number increased to over 24,000. The brothers there are enthusiastic and they like to talk. Of course, when they do talk it is the truth that first comes to their mind, and so it has spread rapidly throughout the country. Many of the brothers are sincerely trying to put Kingdom interests first in their lives. In checking the pioneer records it was found that of the 500 pioneers and thirty-five circuit servants almost all these brothers and sisters were unmarried, so they could spend the good years of their youth in the full-time work before settling down to the obligations and responsibilities of married life. They were a very happy group, and it is clearly seen that Jehovah is blessing their efforts richly. Many of these brothers are enjoying great increases in their assignments as those of good will hear the truth and join with them in the service work.

ONWARD TO CHINA

Early the next morning Brothers Knorr, Adams and Barry boarded a plane for Hong Kong. They left behind them memories of the largest and happiest assembly ever held in the Philippines, and a strong determination on the part of the Filipino brothers to apply the counsel given and to do their share in bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse of Jehovah’s temple.—Mal. 3:10, AS.

Within a few hours the plane the three brothers were in was skimming low through the hills that very closely surround the Hong Kong airport. (This is one airport that travelers hope the pilot knows his way around in in order to land safely.) The missionaries and local brothers who were waiting for their arrival were happy to greet them. In Hong Kong there is much activity. Many big changes are under way. Even as the group left the airport they observed a crew of workmen busily cutting away at rock and dirt of a large hill, leveling it off to provide more space for this crowded city. This was being done in numerous places. Approximately 2,250,000 people are jammed into the small area of the free port of Hong Kong and adjacent Kowloon. Many of these are refugees from the mainland of China, who have come to Hong Kong in the past five years. Pouring into an already overcrowded city, and with no place to go, they were forced to get along the best they could in little wooden or corrugated-tin shacks. This situation has now been much improved, however. After the big fire in December had destroyed large sections of the squatter areas, the government quickly moved in and erected concrete apartments for the people. While these buildings provide just the bare essentials, still they have greatly improved the situation and the people now have a roof over their heads and do not have to live in the streets.

Because of Hong Kong’s political connection with the mainland of China it has been possible to keep in touch with the brothers in Shanghai. There they continue to do well in gathering together the “other sheep,” even though it is almost impossible to do house-to-house work without interference. Brother Knorr was very happy to receive a letter from the brothers in Shanghai while visiting Hong Kong, and excerpts follow:

“Greetings in the name of Jehovah to yourself and the brothers traveling with you from your brothers up here in Shanghai. The Shanghai congregation rejoice in the opportunity you now have to meet with their brothers in Hong Kong. How sorry we are that it will not be possible for you to come to us up here, or for any of us to come down and meet you there. This is because of circumstances entirely beyond our control, but we shall be thinking of you all the time and offering prayers to Jehovah for his blessing and spirit to be upon your visit to Hong Kong and other congregations here in Asia. We can but hope that the day is not too far away when we ourselves can enjoy the pleasure of your visit.

“We want to take this opportunity of sending you our heartfelt love, and to ask you to convey our love to all our brothers you will meet on the rest of the trip to the East and carry it back home with you to the Bethel family at Brooklyn.

“Be assured at all times of our sincere desire to press on in Jehovah’s kingdom service, spreading the Kingdom good news by any way we can find, sticking close to the New World society, living and acting the way it does, this by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness through Christ Jesus our reigning King. We are so very grateful for all the help we are getting through such mediums as the latest Bible literature released at last year’s summer gatherings, and the steady flow of truth that comes regularly to us through Jehovah’s present channel of communication. We pray we shall be allowed the continued freedom to put such spiritual food to good use in gathering yet more in this large city to the only place of safety, the New World society under the triumphant kingdom of our God Jehovah.”

All of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world appreciate the love and zeal of their brothers in Shanghai, China, and will delight to remember them in their prayers.

In Hong Kong the convention had gotten off to a good start on Sunday at the Social Club on Nathan Road in the heart of Kowloon and it gathered momentum now with arrival on Monday of the three brothers from Manila. Brother Barry gave a fine talk to the brothers in the afternoon while Brother Knorr spent the time at the branch, considering problems of the brothers in that territory with the branch servant. Every minute was put to use as the schedule called for only two full days in Hong Kong. In the evening Brothers Knorr and Adams spoke to the brothers. It was good to see their rapt attention and how they quickly made notes or looked up the scriptures mentioned, in their Chinese Bibles. There is a very fine congregation in Kowloon and also at Hong Kong. A large number of young people are associated with these congregations and many of them do well in the service as they enjoy studying and learning new things.

However, at the missionary meeting the next morning it was learned that in recent years many have associated with the organization for a time, learned the fundamental truths, only to drop by the wayside as victims either of the heat of opposition from their families or of apathy. What could be done? It was explained that just because a person begins to associate with the congregation and goes out in the service does not mean he is mature and able to stand up against opposition and continue in the faith. Accurate knowledge is needed and continued association, so the brothers were encouraged to show patience and love with the newer ones by continuing to study with them until they are thoroughly grounded in the truth and have achieved a measure of maturity.

In this connection it was observed that language was still a barrier for the missionaries, preventing them from best serving their Chinese-speaking brothers. Due to the fact that there are several dialects of Chinese spoken in this area and since many of the people speak English fluently, the brothers had not felt it necessary to work hard on learning the language. Yet at the meetings all the talks were being interpreted. The Watchtower was being translated into Chinese. So obviously there was a need to communicate with the people in the tongue they know the best. Arrangements have been made for the missionaries to concentrate on mastering the language now, and it is believed that this will greatly help them in serving the common people. Even the aid of the congregation was enlisted by Brother Knorr, as he advised the brothers never to speak to the missionaries in English, but only in Chinese until they learned to speak it fluently. After this talk one little Chinese girl came up to Brother Knorr and told him that she wanted him to learn Chinese too, so she was only going to talk to him in Chinese. It is hoped all the Chinese brothers and sisters will now become teachers and the missionaries their pupils in the Chinese language.

For most of the sessions there were between 80 and 100 in attendance, which made it possible to meet many of the brothers and hear of their experiences. Tuesday evening was the climax of the assembly. The public talk was scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Boy Scouts Hall in Kowloon. The publishers and missionaries were busy bringing their friends and gathering up those of good will to hear this important message and all were delighted to have 294 in attendance. Still this is just scratching the surface in this populous territory and much work is yet to be done. The brothers were encouraged to get in the pioneer work if at all possible, to help fill the need for mature workers in this territory. And as those of the New World society in Hong Kong continue to plant and water the seeds of truth, all will look to Jehovah to give the increase manyfold.

Questions From Readers

● Revelation 13:18 (NW) states: “Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.” What is meant by this number?—E. J., United States.

The suggestion that this number refers to the pope of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is not Scriptural. It could not apply to the office of pope. It is the number of a beast. The Bible uses beasts to symbolize beastly human governments, as is the case in Daniel, chapter 7. In Revelation chapter 13 “wild beast” is used to symbolize Satan’s visible organization, so it is this organization whose number is said to be 666.

From the first human political government at Babylon down to our day, governments by men have had three principal elements: religious, political and commercial. Now the number 666, three orders of six together, names or represents these three elements of Satan’s beastly visible organization. Why six? Because the Bible uses six to represent imperfection. Seven designates spiritual completeness or perfection, and six is short of that and therefore is incomplete or imperfect. The number 666 in the original language is denoted by three different alphabetic letters or symbols in the Greek text, namely, χ (600), ξ (60) and ς (6).

Six symbolizes imperfection, which is abominable in God’s sight, and therefore reprehensible. Six hundred would attach to the most reprehensible element, which is false religion. It is the false religions of the world that hypocritically pose as worshiping God but actually misrepresent him and either lead people away from God or turn them against him by their falsehoods and blasphemies. Rather than looking to God and Christ and the heavenly kingdom, these religions love money and extol political substitutes for that kingdom. Moreover, it is the religious clergy that bitterly oppose the preaching of the good news of Christ’s kingdom by Jehovah’s witnesses, and stir the other two elements of Satan’s visible system to oppose also.

The commercial element is more reprehensible than the political element, because it wields more power behind the scenes, whereas the political class are the willing, loud-talking tools in the public eye. Therefore the 60 well represents the commercial element and 6 the political element. All together the three elements make up Satan’s visible organization and the number 666 represents these combined elements that are imperfect and reprehensible in God’s sight.

The number suggests selfish gain because in olden times King Solomon’s annual revenue was 666 talents. Also, the dimensions of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol-image, which the three faithful Hebrews refused to salute and adore, were sixty cubits high and six cubits broad. And wicked Goliath, who fought against God’s nation Israel, had a brother giant with six digits on each hand and on each foot, and pictured Satan’s visible dictatorial organization that claims to be the “higher powers” instead of acknowledging Jehovah and Christ as such.