Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then he asked his disciples what they thought, and Peter expressed their belief, “You are the Christ.” “Then he sternly charged the disciples not to say to anybody that he was the Christ.” Let everyone make his own decision, just as this discussion with his disciples showed that they were doing, and coming to various conclusions. They had the Hebrew Scriptures and knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and they could see Jesus’ works and hear his words. Let them decide.—Matt. 16:13-20, NW.

Thus when nettled Jews said irritably, “If you are the Christ, tell us outspokenly,” Jesus replied, “The works which I am doing in the name of my Father, these bear witness about me.” (John 10:24, 25, NW) It is true that Jesus did acknowledge to the Samaritan woman at the well that he was the Messiah, and she told the men of her city, and these Samaritan men came and heard Jesus. But note that their decision was based on what they heard Jesus say, and not on what the woman had told them: “They began to say to the woman: ‘We do not believe any longer on account of your talk; for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.’” (John 4:7-42, NW) Only after he was put under oath before the chief priests and Sanhedrin would he identify himself as the Messiah to them, but before he did even then he said, “That was for you to say.” It was for them to say whether he was the Messiah or not, on the basis of the evidence. The decision was for them to make, their responsibility. (Matt. 26:63, 64, NW) Similarly, when before Pilate and that official asked whether Jesus was a king, Jesus said, “It is for you to say that I am a king.” The decision was for Pilate to make.—John 18:37, NW.

So Jesus did not want men to believe on him because others had talked them into it. He wanted them to decide for themselves whether his words and acts fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah or not. He did not want any decision to be based on excited reports passed from mouth to mouth and enlarged upon, or on noisy advertising of him in the streets. He was not out for publicity of that kind, as the Pharisees were. (Matt. 6:2, 5) The Bible establishes this at Matthew 12:15-19 (NW): “He cured them all, but he strictly charged them not to make him manifest; that it might be fulfilled what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, who said: ‘Look! my servant whom I chose, my beloved, whom my soul approved! I will put my spirit upon him, and he will make clear to the nations what judgment is. He will not wrangle, nor cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the broad ways.’” (Isa. 42:2) So Jesus’ prohibition on the promiscuous advertising of his miracles and Messiahship was in fulfillment of prophecy.

● In the April 1 Watchtower the Chart of Outstanding Historical Dates gives Adam’s creation as in the fall of 4025 B.C. What grounds is there for this?—D. D., Iowa.

The following statement is made at the end of the chart: “It should be noted by the reader that many early Biblical events occurred within years that ran from fall to fall. The Jews even today have a ‘civil year’ that runs from fall to fall. At the Exodus in 1513 B.C. ‘sacred years’ were inaugurated which counted from spring to spring.” This shows that in ancient times the years ran from fall to fall, meaning that their new year started in the fall. How did this practice come about? Well, it is logical to believe that it started with Adam, and if it did, then it is logical to conclude that he was created in the fall. He would naturally count time as it related to himself, numbering his years from the time of his creation. After he had lived one year, a new year would start for him; hence for him a new year would start at the time of each anniversary of his creation. His immediate family, and later all their offspring, might very logically come to adopt that same time as their new year. In that way the ancients might have had fixed for them their practice of counting their years on the basis of Adam’s time of creation; and if that is true, and since they did count their years from fall to fall, we may believe with logic that Adam was created in the fall of the year.

It is noteworthy that the fall is very prominent in Jehovah’s arrangement of things. One of the three outstanding feasts that the Law covenant commanded the Israelites to observe namely the feast of tabernacles or ingathering occurred in the fall. The day of atonement was in the fall. Additionally, Solomon’s temple was dedicated in the fall, Jerusalem’s complete desolation came in the fall, after the seventy years of desolation Jehovah’s worship was restored there in the fall, Jesus was born in the fall of 2 B.C., he was anointed as Messiah in the fall of A.D. 29, and it was in the fall of A.D. 1914 that he was enthroned in heaven.

Experience and Announcements

Quebec City

Sister Saumur was in a house talking to a householder about the Scriptures. Someone nearby had phoned the police and a big bully in uniform came striding into the house and ordered the sister to leave right away, saying she was a communist. The householder was amazed at such tactics. The policeman continued his domineering attitude and instructed the sister to get out of the house. However, Sister Saumur said she was going to phone the mayor. But he rushed to the phone, saying: “No you don’t; I’ll phone the mayor,” and he did. She overheard the conversation, which clearly indicated the policeman was getting a dressing down and was being told to leave her there so long as she was not distributing literature. During this time the policeman was saying, “But she’s a communist!” Finally he left the house and was met in the street by a crowd of people who were waiting to see if he brought the sister out with him. It so happens that this policeman is not liked in the district at all, so the crowd began to laugh at him and kept calling out: “Where is she? Can’t you get her? What’s the matter with you?” They were getting after him because of their dislike for his tactics.

Announcements

“LIFE-GIVING KNOWLEDGE” TESTIMONY PERIOD

The greatest service any man or woman could possibly render to humanity today is to impart to them the knowledge of God and encourage them to run to and fro through His Book in personal Bible study. Knowledge of this kind, if taken in and acted upon, will result in its bringing life to its possessor. Appropriate now when there is so much falsely called “knowledge”, Jehovah’s servants on earth have set aside the month of August as the “Life-giving Knowledge” Testimony Period. The book “Let God Be True” and the latest self-covered booklet will be offered to all kinds of men world-wide, on a contribution of 35c. Align yourself with this life-giving work and turn in a report of what you do in this month.

APPRECIATION FOR BLESSINGS

North American 1951 district assemblies are over. Soon those in Europe follow. What joys of association, worship and service such gatherings provide! The inspiration and fresh zeal they stir up in us do not fade but continue and increase. And why not? Does not the spiritual bounty, “food at the proper time,” nourish and strengthen Jehovah’s servants and witnesses for endurance in these critical days? Every partaker is enriched and built up, and so continues to grow in determination to serve his Creator and Provider. Such in turn aid their neighbors to take and eat the life-giving knowledge. Joyously they make known to others this good news of the blessings of Jehovah God; yes, their appreciation is shown by following through with zealous action. Why not share in today’s grandest of all activities on earth? and then be sure to send to us a report of time you so use, or turn it in to the company of Jehovah’s witnesses nearest you.

THEOCRATIC AID TO KINGDOM PUBLISHERS

For the person who wants to have a part in the joyful work of announcing Jehovah’s kingdom the above-titled book will provide unequaled help. It is the finest presentation of practical aid to develop the individual’s ability to carry on this God-given work. Discussed are such important subjects as, how to study and remember, how to compose and deliver public talks, correct grammar and its proper use, letter writing, fine points of argumentation and their application, facts about the various Bible translations and helps, such as dictionaries and concordances, and how best to use them. A large section is devoted to a history of religions. Clothbound, 384 pages, 50c.

CORRECTION ON “WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

The June 15 Watchtower, on page 384, outlined study material for July 15, 22 and 29. It should have assigned material for only July 22 and 29, as July 15 study material is given in the June 1 Watchtower. Hence for the week of July 22 company groups should study from the June 15 Watchtower the articles “The Place of God’s Word in Our Lives” and “Free Moral Agency and the Word”, and for the week of July 29 the entire article on “The Spirit, the Organization, and the Word”.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of August 19: The 1,290 and 1,335 Days of Daniel’s Prophecy.

Week of August 26: More Liberation Prophecy to Be Fulfilled.