Questions From Readers

● When Jesus Christ was on earth he stated: “I began to behold Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18) Does this mean that by that time Satan the Devil had already been ousted from heaven?—O. B., Australia.

No. We are not Scripturally justified in taking that view of Jesus’ statement recorded at Luke 10:18. Christ was evidently referring to a future event but was moved to do so on the basis of current happenings.

Earlier “the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come.” (Luke 10:1) Upon successfully completing their assignment the seventy disciples returned with joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.” (Luke 10:17) This was a marvelous display of God’s power over the demons! After such a grand report Jesus was fittingly moved to utter his significant words respecting Satan’s fall, words denoting mastery over that wicked one.

That by his words recorded at Luke 10:18 Christ was not referring to any past literal falling of Satan from heaven becomes apparent upon considering what is said elsewhere in the Bible. At Revelation 12:7-9 we are told about the hurling of Satan and his angels from heaven down to the earth. But this did not occur prior to or during the days of Jesus’ human life on earth. It should be noted that the entire book of Revelation consists of prophetic material. It is not a compilation of past history. Revelation 1:1 indicates this, in stating: “A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented it in signs through him to his slave John.” The apostle John received the revelation on the Isle of Patmos toward the end of the first century of our Common Era, completing the writing of it about 96 C.E. That was many years after Jesus Christ made the statement recorded at Luke 10:18.

A careful examination of Revelation chapter 12 indicates that the ouster of the Devil and his wicked angels from heaven was to follow the birth of God’s kingdom. (Rev. 12:5, 10) As has often been proved Scripturally in the columns of The Watchtower, the heavenly kingdom with Christ as King was established in 1914 C.E. Not long after his installation, Jesus Christ, or Michael, took action and “war broke out in heaven.” Michael and angels under him battled with Satan and his angels, casting them out of heaven and down to the earth.

It appears, therefore, that Jesus had in mind Satan’s ultimately being cast out of heaven when he said: “I began to behold Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.” This fall was assured by the fact that the seventy evangelizers though mere men on earth had cast out demons in Jesus’ name. To Jesus this was a sign that Satan was sure to fall from heaven in God’s due time. To Jesus it was as if he already saw Satan cast out and fallen from heaven. So even then he could speak of this future event as a certainty, as though he saw it already accomplished. Christ himself, by dying in faithfulness and being resurrected as a mighty spirit creature, would be granted the power to fulfill that prophecy by ousting Satan and the other demons from heaven. In fact, later the exalted Jesus Christ would also abyss and finally destroy these wicked spirit creatures.—Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 16:20.

● Looking for omens is condemned in the Bible. (Deut. 18:10) How, then, can we explain Genesis 44:5, which indicates that Joseph, who had God’s favor, possessed a cup by means of which he read omens?—A. J., Rep. of the Congo.

Joseph was Egypt’s food administrator, a high official of a pagan land. Because of a severe famine, his brothers had come all the way from Canaan to obtain food supplies in Egypt. (Gen. 42:1-7) Years earlier, they had sold Joseph into slavery. Now, though they did not realize it, they were requesting food from their own brother. Joseph had not yet chosen to reveal himself to them. Instead, he was determined to test them. Genesis 44:5 should be viewed with this in mind.

Evidently, Joseph was proceeding according to a certain design, representing himself, not as their brother who had faith in Jehovah God, but as an administrator of a pagan land. In line with his purpose, Joseph commanded the man over his house to fill their bags with food, place each one’s money in the mouth of his bag and put Joseph’s silver cup in the mouth of the youngest one’s bag. (Gen. 44:1, 2) Joseph’s brothers had not gone far when he told his servant: “Get up! Chase after the men and be certain to overtake them and to say to them, ‘Why have you repaid bad for good? Is not this the thing that my master drinks from and by means of which he expertly reads omens? It is a bad deed you have committed.’” (Gen. 44:3-5) Joseph, acting in a manner consistent with what he sought to achieve, told the man who was over his house what to say. He had him describe the cup as “the thing that my master drinks from and by means of which he expertly reads omens,” possibly in order to show the great value of this particular cup and thus heighten the seriousness of the event.

When Joseph confronted his brothers, he continued with his subterfuge, asking them: “Did you not know that such a man as I am can expertly read omens?” (Gen. 44:15) Later, no longer able to control himself, Joseph revealed his true identity.—Gen. 45:1-15.

Hence, the cup was evidently all part of the subterfuge. We may be sure that Joseph, as a worshiper of Jehovah, did not really use the cup to read omens, just as Benjamin did not actually steal it.

Announcements

ASSEMBLIES STILL FUTURE

The “God’s Sons of Liberty” District Assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses are already under way. Preparations for those still future are progressing and plans are being perfected by those expecting to attend. How are your plans developing? Time is running out. A fine program is in prospect and thousands of persons like you, who are interested in peaceful living, will be united with you in sharing joyful association. The featured talk at each assembly will be “What Has God’s Kingdom Been Doing Since 1914?” For assistance in obtaining rooming accommodations write to Watchtower Convention at the rooming address listed for the assembly city of your choice.

JULY 13-17: Montreal, Que. (English and French) English: The Forum, 2313 Ste. Catherine W. Rooming: 1637 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal 25, Que. French: Marche Atwater, Atwater & Notre Dame. Rooming: 1637 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal 25, Que.

JULY 27-31: Winnipeg, Man., Winnipeg Stadium, Empress St. & Rapelje Ave. Rooming: 1338 Main St., Winnipeg 4, Man.

AUGUST 3-7: Dallas, Tex. (English and Spanish), Market Hall, 2200 Stemmons Freeway. Rooming: 234 S. Patton St., Dallas, Tex. 75203. Newark, N.J. (Spanish only), Newark Armory, 180 Sussex Ave. Rooming: 129 Morris Ave., Newark, N.J. 07103. San Francisco, Calif. (English and Spanish), Candlestick Park Stadium, San Francisco, Calif. Rooming: 3435 Alemany Blvd., San Francisco, Calif. 94132. Vancouver, B.C., Empire Stadium, Exhibition Park. Rooming: 3280 Grandview Hgwy., Vancouver 12, B.C.

AUGUST 10-14: Anchorage, Alaska, West Anchorage High School Auditorium, 1700 Hillcrest Dr. Rooming: 1438 Medfra St., Anchorage, Alaska 99501. (Hotel and motel accommodations cost approximately double the normal rates in Canada and continental United States.)

AUGUST 17-21: Baltimore, Md., Baltimore Memorial Stadium, 33d & Ellerslie Ave. Rooming: 7824 Eddlynch Rd., Baltimore, Md. 21222.

AUGUST 24-28: Miami Beach, Fla. (English and Spanish), Miami Beach Convention Hall, 1700 Washington Ave. Rooming: 6620 N. Miami Ave., Miami, Fla. 33150. Mobile, Ala., Municipal Auditorium-Theater, 401 Auditorium Dr. Rooming: 4059 Halls Mill Rd., Mobile, Ala. 36609.

BRITISH ISLES

JULY 27-31: Glasgow, The Ice Rink, off Glasgow Rd., Paisley. Rooming: Kingdom Hall, 21 School Wynd, Paisley, Glasgow.

AUGUST 24-28: London, Rugby Union Football Ground, Whitton Rd., Twickenham, Middx. Rooming: Same address.

FIELD MINISTRY

It is important for every one of Jehovah’s witnesses to keep in mind the Scriptural counsel not to “neglect the house of our God.” And it is a great kindness to others to encourage them to attend the meetings of the congregation too. At their weekly Bible studies held in relatively small groups in various neighborhoods throughout their congregation territory, Jehovah’s witnesses are at present studying the fine book “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie.” With a view to sharing this vital information with others, during July they will offer that book, with a booklet, to other interested persons on a contribution of 50c.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

August 7: The Long-suffering of God an Eternal Blessing to Mankind. Page 424. Songs to be used: 23, 43.

August 14: Be Long-suffering Toward All. Page 430. Songs to be used: 115, 56.