which resulted in “the saving of his household.” (Heb. 11:7, NW) Now Noah’s proclamation was not subversive. It was not his message that overthrew and washed that wicked system of things out of existence. Rather, it was Jehovah’s terrible manifestation of supreme power following the completing of the warning that wrought such havoc to the opposers. So, too, in modern times, the message delivered by Jehovah’s witnesses, although most appreciated by all lovers of God, may be hot enough on the ears of the wicked, nevertheless, its heat is nothing to compare with the fire to follow, the ‘fire of Jehovah’s jealousy and anger,’ which will consume this world at Armageddon.—Zeph. 3:8; 2 Pet. 3:7.

¹⁵ Jehovah does not propose to reform the irreformable, and neither do his witnesses. Jehovah is not attempting to straighten out this crooked and perverse generation, and neither are his witnesses. This old system is condemned by God and doomed to complete destruction. The charge that the early Christians “turned the world upside down” was, of course, entirely false. (Acts 17:6) So also is the same charge today when leveled against Jehovah’s witnesses and their gospel activity. The assignment Jehovah’s witnesses have from the Lord God is merely to warn all, the rulers and the ruled, of the impending cataclysm of Armageddon, in order that all who will may now take advantage of Jehovah’s provision for safety.—Jer. 1:17-19; Ezek. 3:10, 11; 33:7-9.

WHAT IS ACCOMPLISHED?

16. (a) What blessings and benefits do Jehovah’s witnesses bring to good-will people the world over? (b) Yet what separating takes place as a result?

¹⁶ Instead of seditiously disturbing the peace within nations, or agitating revolt among the people, the work of Jehovah’s witnesses has an exactly opposite effect. The momentous announcement concerning God’s theocratic government now being made by his witnesses gives real contentment and tranquillity with peace of mind. This happy message calms and quiets distressed people who sigh and cry because of the present abominable conditions. It steadies and strengthens the faltering, the feeble and the weak. It brings perception and sight to the mentally blind. It opens the ears of the spiritually deaf. It restores health to the spiritually sick. It gives hope to the hopeless. And life to the spiritually lifeless it gives. Of course the proclamation of such a wonderful message like this will not be acceptable to all, for those with the Devil’s spirit and the spirit of this old world detest and reject it the same as did those who perished in the Flood, in Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the Red Sea disaster. Hence, the present publication and distribution of the Kingdom message causes a dividing of the people in their standing before the Lord, a separating of lovers of what is right from workers of lawlessness, a dividing of the sheep from the goats, all “according to the purpose of him who operates all things according to the way his will counsels.”—Eph. 1:11, NW; Matt. 25:31-33.

17. What is the chief concern, aim and purpose of Jehovah’s witnesses, and, hence, what are all people called upon to do?

¹⁷ While the above-mentioned results may seem most important to mankind, yet additional results are accomplished by Jehovah’s witnesses that are of universal and hence of far greater importance. Primarily Jehovah’s witnesses are concerned with the settling of the universal issue of supremacy, with the vindication of Jehovah, with the clearing of his holy Word and sacred name, which have been smeared and reproached for so long by the Devil and his hordes. Jehovah is the only true and living God. He alone is the Source of life and blessings, a God unequaled in every respect. Jehovah is wise beyond complete comprehension or understanding. Jehovah is just beyond dispute or contradiction. Jehovah is powerful beyond resistance or containment. Jehovah is love beyond full measure or appreciation. Yes, Jehovah is the supreme universal Sovereign! These facts must be published to the ends of the earth. “Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king. Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give him the glory.” (Rev. 19:6, 7, NW) Jehovah has placed his anointed King upon his glorious throne in the heavens and people of all languages and races are commanded to bow in subjection to him. After so many thousands of years under Satan’s oppressive and killing rule all these facts are certainly good news. Therefore let all who love righteousness and hate wickedness join this chorus of witnesses in shouting praise to Jehovah!

18. Why is it really later than most people think?

¹⁸ There is no time to lose. This is a most urgent message. Time is fast running out for Satan and his system of things, for they refuse to recognize that the “Gentile times” ended in 1914 and Christ Jesus was then enthroned as earth’s rightful Ruler. We are now forty years within “this generation,” the generation that witnessed the eventful year 1914, the generation doomed to experience Armageddon. (Matt. 23:36; 24:34) Make no mistake about it, that final war is a fixed date on the divine calendar, just as sure to occur on time as all the other purposes of Jehovah have. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” “For to every purpose there is a time and judgment.” (Eccl. 3:1, 17; 8:6, AS) Really, it is much later than most people think!

19. Prove that the rebellion in Eden did not spoil, change or delay Jehovah’s purpose to populate a paradise earth with perfect creatures.

¹⁹ With the passing of Armageddon’s destructive storm Jehovah’s original purpose to have the earth filled with faithful and obedient creatures will begin to take place. The completion of that purpose will not be delayed but will be accomplished within the time limit originally set by the Creator. By the end of the sixth creative day Jehovah had issued to Adam and Eve the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth with perfect creatures like themselves. Jehovah then “proceeded to rest on the seventh day from all his work that he had made.” (Gen. 2:2, 3, NW; Ge 1:28) So the end of Jehovah’s 7,000-year sabbath will see his purpose accomplished by the 1,000-year reign of Christ Jesus.a By that time the paradise earth in all its beauty and perfection will be fully populated by a New World society that is expanded to the limits. Thus Christ during his reign will accomplish what the rebel cherub in Eden failed to do. No, not even the 6,000-year rebellion that broke out in Eden has spoiled, changed or delayed Jehovah’s original purposes one iota!

20. So, in the face of these facts, what are we urged to do?

²⁰ In view of the momentous period in which we live, this is no time for you faithful witnesses of Jehovah to slack your hands. You have your divine commission, you have your assignment of territory, you know your purpose, and you have the backing of the Most High God. ‘A purpose sustained Jehovah will guard, saying, Prosper! Prosper!’ (Isa. 26:3, Ro) Therefore, Go! advertise the established kingdom of God as man’s only hope for eternal peace! Go, disciple all nations with implicit trust in the one that is “with you all the days until the consummation of the system of things.” (Matt. 28:20, NW) Go, “preach good tidings unto the meek”; go, “bind up the broken-hearted”; go, “proclaim liberty to the captives”; go, “comfort all that mourn”; and as you do, never hedge or show fear in proclaiming “the day of vengeance of our God.” Continue to go, and continue to preach this joyful and happy news from door to door, on the streets, and in the homes of the people until the Devil’s organization is wasted and emptied without inhabitant. “Thoroughly accomplish your ministry.” And, never forget it, Jehovah’s spirit, favor, blessing and prosperity will continue upon you and your work!—Isa. 61:1, 2, AS; 2 Tim. 4:5, NW; Isa. 6:11, 12; Luke 4:18.

Questions From Readers

● A footnote on page 138 of “New Heavens and a New Earth” refers to certain numbers as perfect numbers. One of them is the number “3.” In what sense is it a perfect number?—R. I., United States.

The number “3” is a number of perfect or complete emphasis. At different places in the Bible things were stated three times for the purpose of emphasis. For example, before the Jews were overthrown and taken captive by Babylon they were warned: “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.” The backsliding Jews had defiled the temple, yet came to it to be forgiven their abominations. Jehovah showed he would not preserve that defiled temple, any more than he preserved the tabernacle at Shiloh when it was defiled, and that to call it “the temple of Jehovah” was a lie. These lying words were stated three times for emphasis. Also by a threefold repetition Jehovah emphasized the overturning of the unfaithful kingdom: “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it.”—Jer. 7:4-14; Ezek. 21:27, AS.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was grieved and sorely troubled, and three times he prayed that if possible the cup he was to drink be taken away, yet Jehovah’s will was to be done. This gave complete emphasis to the prayer, just as after his death and resurrection his thrice-stated instruction to Peter to feed the sheep made the command perfectly emphatic. On another occasion Peter had a matter made emphatic to him by a threefold repetition of it, namely, when he was on the housetop and in a trance he saw animals considered unclean, but his objections to eating for that reason were overcome by the divine command to eat, and which command was perfectly emphasized by being stated three times. Emphasis and intensity of the superlative height of Paul’s rapture are indicated by his being caught away “to the third heaven.” Another illustration of perfection of emphasis by stating something three times is that of the four living creatures that say: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.”—2 Cor. 12:2; Rev. 4:8; Matt. 26:39-44; John 21:15-17; Acts 10:9-16, NW.

Additional information on perfect numbers can be found on pages 249 and 250 of the April 15, 1952, Watchtower.

Announcements

WILL YOU BE ONE OF THE THOUSANDS THAT HEAR?

August 1 marks the day that the timely discourse “God’s Love to the Rescue in Man’s Crisis” will be given simultaneously in ten cities of the United States, which will be attended by an aggregate attendance of over 50,000. This is the big assembly week end of 1954! Will you be among this great throng if you have not attended one of the earlier assemblies? If you have not planned to attend so far, why not arrange NOW to be at any of the ten cities listed for this week end, earlier in The Watchtower? You will not regret placing other things secondary to being present with true Christians for this important life-giving message of truth. Rooming accommodations may still be obtained. If not received by mail ahead of time, you may pick up accommodations at the rooming department at the assembly