“false prophet,” representing Satan’s political system, have been in the lake of fire already now for a thousand years and have never reappeared. The Devil joins them there finally for his everlasting destruction. The Serpent’s head is finally completely and everlastingly crushed by the Seed of God’s woman, Jesus Christ. (Gen. 3:15) The triumphant King has used the keys of death, of Hades (Sheol) and of the abyss, but he has no key for this “lake of fire and sulphur.” He never lets the symbolic wild beast and false prophet and Satan the Devil and his demons out of the fiery, sulphurous lake. That is why it is said that there “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”​—Rev. 20:10.

ISSUE NEVER TO RISE AGAIN

In the original Greek the word translated “will be tormented” is the future tense of the Greek word basanízō. It means primarily “to rub on the touchstone, to put to the test, then, to examine by torturing (básanos), touchstone, torment.”​—The Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Volume IV, page 141, by W. E. Vine, published by Oliphants Ltd., London, England.

You can see from this that, in the settlement of the issue of God’s sovereignty, which had been challenged seven thousand years previously, the judicial judgment of the Most High God Jehovah will stand as an eternal precedent. If ever the issue of Jehovah’s sovereignty should rise again on the part of any individual, spiritual or physical, in any part of the universe, this case or court precedent could be referred to as the touchstone concerning who rightfully holds the universal sovereignty. This is because the case involving Satan has gone to the very bottom of things as proof that there is no question unanswered with regard to God’s sovereignty. It has been completely and thoroughly settled. Therefore, anyone who would make any statement out of harmony with God’s sovereignty would be judged on the basis of this precedent and immediately destroyed in the “lake of fire and sulphur.” So God has not wasted time in allowing wickedness to come to a head during 6,000 years of human history. The touchstone (básanos) on universal sovereignty, being for eternal use, will forever torment or heap disgrace on the name of Satan the Devil.

This could be illustrated. Say, for example, that a good man in a community has a family loyal to him. There is a wicked hater of him in the neighborhood who slanders him and lies about him, bringing his name or reputation into question in the minds of the townspeople. An investigation is made, the facts are assembled, and in the ensuing court case the one bringing the lying charges is fully shown up to be a slanderer and a thoroughly wicked person. From that time on that wicked man’s name, when mentioned in the community, would be like a stench in the nostrils of the people. They would say, “Oh, that liar and slanderer,” when his name was mentioned. Such a record and repeated mention of what he was exposed to be would be a torment or distress to his name and, if he had a family, this would result in torment for them to bear that name. So, should the issue of God’s sovereignty come up in any place, it would only be a reminder of Satan’s rebellion, which is a stench in the nostrils of all those who love God’s sovereignty. Such a challenger of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty would be put to death.

EVERLASTING LIFE ASSURED

On the part of any of those who stand faithful during the final test there will be no fear that they will ever become such wicked challengers of God’s sovereignty. The test administered by Jehovah himself will be complete, thorough, guaranteeing the everlasting obedience of those who pass it successfully. He issues the judicial decisions approving or justifying them, declaring them righteous, with a right to a permanent place on earth. Under his everlasting sovereignty they can be assured that he knows that their faithfulness is such and their integrity is such that they will never turn from him. They look forward to life a million years, yes, a thousand million years in the future with full certainty that the loving God Jehovah will protect and sustain their lives for all eternity. He will provide them with progressively marvelous things from his inexhaustible storehouse of riches through the continued administration of his beloved Son and Chief Agent, Jesus Christ.​—Rom. 11:33-36; Phil. 4:19; 2:9-11.

Benefits Recognized

● At a circuit assembly in California the following experience was related: “At my place of employment a group of workers had evidently discussed Jehovah’s witnesses, one of them expressing the belief that the Witnesses are right and that they had an enlightening book with the word ‘Babylon’ in the title. A co-worker of mine told him she felt I would be able to get the book for him. The next morning she told me about the discussion; and I was able to tell the man that I could get him the book, adding that I did have with me a copy of the book ‘All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial.’ He said: ‘I will take it.’ I told him that I would bring the book ‘Babylon the Great Has Fallen!’ God’s Kingdom Rules! tomorrow. He said, ‘OK! Bring me ten!’

“Arrangements were made to deliver them during the lunch hour, at which time I asked, ‘What are you going to do with all these books?’ He said, ‘I am going to mail some of them and pass some of them out to my friends. If a little bit of this truth rubs off on whoever reads it, it will do a mighty lot of good.’ Later, through a telephone call he asked me for two more ‘Babylon’ books, two ‘All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial’ and two copies of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. He subscribed for both The Watchtower and Awake! and placed an order for more Bible-study aids. Though he has been transferred, I learned that one of the Witnesses who works nearby has made arrangements for further helping this interested man.”

Happy Coincidences

● From 1946 to 1948 an American soldier and a German civilian worked together at an American base in West Germany and became good friends. After several transfers, both met again in 1951 and worked together until 1952. It was during this period of time that the wives of both started to study the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses, much to the unconcern of the soldier and the opposition of the German.

In 1952 the two parted ways and lost contact with each other for the next fifteen years. Then they met again in February of this year at South Lansing, New York. Both of them were there to attend the two-week Kingdom Ministry School, a refresher course for overseers and ministerial assistants of Jehovah’s witnesses. What a joy to meet after all these years! Especially to be united in the worship of the only true God, Jehovah!

When the two sat together at the school and examined their lives, it was interesting to note that the wife of one was able to overcome the lack of interest, while the wife of the other overcame opposition. It was also interesting to note that both of them had begun to study the Bible in 1953; both were baptized in 1956, within two months of each other; both received their first appointment as ministerial servants in the congregation in 1958. And now, in 1967, both attended the 90th class of the Kingdom Ministry School!

Both of these ministers are thankful to Jehovah God for blessing them with a new start in life, and hope that they can be used still further to give honor to His name.