free moral agents. That is what God did in the case of Adam and Eve and of the covering cherub whom he anointed to be over them. For God to exercise foreknowledge concerning their case would have been to predestinate them, because that foreknown course would then have been required to fit God’s foreknowledge. In which case Adam and Eve and the covering cherub would not have stood a chance of going straight. That would be unjust on God’s part, to set before them verbally an opportunity to enjoy everlasting life in happiness in a righteous world, whereas all the while he foreknew and hence predestinated that they would never make it. It would be raising false hopes, which would be deceptive and unfair.

So in their case God did not choose to exercise foreknowledge of what these creatures (persons other than himself) would do. The only thing he did predestinate respecting them was that if they obeyed they would live forever, but if they rebelled they would suffer and die. God so informed Adam, and through him Eve. (Gen. 2:16, 17) So God did not become responsible for any of them going wrong. But after they had gone wrong he permitted Adam and Eve to live on and raise a family. If it had not been for such mercy by God, you and the rest of us would never have been born and had opportunity for eternal life in the righteous new world. God is not now exercising foreknowledge of whether we individuals will succeed or not, but he is leaving it entirely up to each one of us. But he does have foreknowledge of what he himself is going to do in vindicating his name and in blessing obedient creatures, and he has informed us by his prophecy, the meaning of which he is now revealing to us.

Announcements

“MAKE KNOWN THE GOOD NEWS” TESTIMONY PERIOD

While serving as an ambassador of the government of God, the apostle Paul was bound in chains by those who opposed the truth. Rather than be silenced, however, Paul prayed that he might open his mouth “with all freeness of speech to make known the sacred secret of the good news”. (Eph. 6:19, NW) Jehovah’s witnesses, who serve similarly as ambassadors of the Theocracy in this day, follow Paul’s example and have selected “Make Known the Good News” as the theme for their activity during February. Their offer will be a year’s subscription for The Watchtower, at the yearly rate of $1, with three booklets (Evolution versus The New World, Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? and any other self-covered booklet) given free to each new subscriber. The Watchtower magazine has long been foremost in bringing the good news of the Kingdom to men of good will. Would you not like to join in this beneficial activity? A letter to us, or an inquiry directed to the local company of Jehovah’s witnesses, will bring you any instruction you may require, together with forms for obtaining subscriptions and reporting what you accomplish.

1951 YEARBOOK AND CALENDAR

All the joys and blessings of the Theocracy’s Increase Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses are emphasized in the 1951 Yearbook. Thousands thrilled as they attended the convention and heard reports from the representatives of over 65 nations. Now available to many more thousands of persons of good will is the report by the president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society on the world-wide activities of Jehovah’s witnesses in their praise-giving work during the past year. With joy-filled hearts you will thrill at their experiences as they are recounted for you in the pages of this interesting Yearbook. In addition you will be able to read a daily Scripture text and appropriate comments to start your day right. Remit for your copy today, 50c each. If you attend any of the company meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses, turn in your order through that local organization. The beautiful new 1951 calendar may be ordered with your copy of the Yearbook. This may be obtained on a contribution of 25 cents each, or five to one address for $1.00.

CORRECTION

In the December 1, 1950, Watchtower, page 479, last paragraph, it states that the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah “are now under water on the bottom of the Red sea”. It should have said “Dead sea”.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of February 4: Theocracy’s Increase ¶1-25.

Week of February 11: Measuring the Visible Part of the Restored City, ¶1-16.