may be regarded as finally established.”—The Bible and Archaeology, 1940, by F. Kenyon, pp. 288, 289.

17. Show how the Bible is historically true and scientifically sound.

¹⁷ In addition to the Bible’s containing the doctrines of one true religion and being a book of prophecy, the Bible is also an eminent book of divine law and righteous principles. Furthermore, it is the most reliable ancient history book on earth. Archaeology confirms many of its legal and historic accounts. For example, the Bible was the first reporter of the Tower of Babel fiasco in Mesopotamia in the Middle East. Archaeology has found what may be this Tower’s ruins. Geology, which is a scientific study of the earth and its life, likewise confirms the Bible’s order of creation and its record of the deluge of Noah’s time. No inaccuracy of Biblical data in a historical or scientific way has been proved. For example, over three thousand years ago the Bible mentioned that the earth is suspended in space. Just hear its account of this: “He [God] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) Then more than two thousand year before Columbus sailed to America from Spain to prove the earth to be round, the Bible had already stated it to be round. This ancient Book of Freedom says: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers.” (Isa. 40:22) The chemical product of glass is mentioned as being used more than three thousand five hundred years ago, because the Bible said in Job’s day: “Gold and glass cannot be compared to it [wisdom].” (Job 28:17) True chemical knowledge was also known in King Solomon’s time three thousand years ago. The Book of Truth says: “He that is removing a garment on a cold day is as vinegar upon alkali.” (Prov. 25:20) So without prejudice let us give the Bible a chance to be heard on many more basic matters of truth and freedom. Let us keep our minds open to take in treasures of truth.

PUTTING THE BOOK OF TRUTH TO THE TEST

18, 19. What world conditions now call for the great book to be put to what test?

¹⁸ It is becoming more clear that, no matter where one lives on the earth, men are living in a time of reaping of consequences. All nations today have a history of crime, war, hypocrisy and wrong religion. Not one righteous fleshly nation exists on earth. While many individuals have honestly tried to do good and much goodness has been done, yet badness with increasing lawlessness outweighs the goodness. The facts show that all mankind has come into a time of world-wide judgment with a society bloodguilt, piled up for generations, hanging over us. Therefore this is a time to get the facts of early beginnings and reliable history of the past generations to see why wickedness has become so great today. The Bible is the only record available to get such a background from the distant past. These Sacred Writings not only make known the why and wherefore of such great wickedness but also make clear the way of legal escape open today to the minority, the honest-hearted people.

¹⁹ Let us now put to test this ancient Book of Freedom. Let us see whether it ranks along with nature as the other great source of truth and fact. Let us ask the Bible questions that nature is silent on, to see whether higher guidance of truth is forthcoming.

20, 21. Who made the heavens? What is his unique name, and what Scriptural support is there for it?

²⁰ Who made the heavens and the earth? The very opening words of the Bible answer that emphatically: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”—Gen. 1:1.

²¹ Who is this creative God? Does he have a distinctive personal name? The concluding words of the very first document in the Bible disclose his name and connect it to his creative activity. They say: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.” (Gen. 2:4) Later in the Bible the prophet Moses speaks to God, saying: “‘Suppose I am now come to the sons of Israel and I do say to them, “The God of your forefathers has sent me to you,” and they do say to me, “What is his name?” What shall I say to them?’ Then God said once more to Moses: ‘This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel: “Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name to eternity.’” (Ex. 3:13, 15) JEHOVAH, therefore, is the unique name that distinguishes him as the True God from all other so-called gods mentioned in the Bible.

22. Why did Jehovah create the earth?

²² What was Jehovah God’s purpose in creating the earth? In answer we hear the evidence given by the Living God himself speaking to us out of the pages of the Bible. “This is what Jehovah has said, the Holy One of Israel and the Former of him: ‘Ask me even about the things that are coming concerning my sons; and concerning the activity of my hands you people should command me. I myself have made the earth and have created even man upon it. I—my own hands have stretched out the heavens, and all the army of them I have commanded.’ For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He The true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. In a place of concealment I spoke not.’” (Isa. 45:11, 12, 18, 19) That settles it; God formed this earth to be inhabited for all time, regardless of man’s feeble attempts today to ruin it with his atomic bombs and other nuclear devices.

23. According to Scripture what is man, and does science agree?

²³ How was man made by God the Creator? The Bible clearly says: “Then Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) Again in another place it says: “‘The first man Adam became a living soul.’ . . . The first man is out of the earth and made of dust.” (1 Cor. 15:45, 47) Plainly, then, man is a soul. He does not possess a separate soul that is supposed to be immortal and to transmigrate, as falsely claimed by religious clergy. Scientists have confirmed the Bible account by proving that over ninety elements of the earth are found in the human body of flesh. So man is truly out of the dust. Fittingly, when God sentenced the disobedient Adam to death, he said to Adam: “In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”—Gen. 3:19.

24. How did Jehovah show his purpose in creating man and woman, and how was communication with the first human pair possible?

²⁴ What did God tell man and woman his purpose was in creating them? The Scriptures answer: “God blessed them and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is creeping upon the earth.’” (Gen. 1:28) Because man had been created in God’s image and likeness God could tell man and woman exactly what his purpose was regarding them. No such communication of purpose and work could have been made to the lower animals with their limited intelligence. Thus from the first human pair it was God’s will to populate the whole 196,940,000 square miles of this earth with perfect humans, and then the need to multiply would stop.

25, 26. (a) To what extent was man to “subdue the earth,” and does the Bible indicate he was to subdue other planets? (b) Was man made to inhabit heaven?

²⁵ What did God mean by his command to Adam and Eve to ‘subdue the earth’? The Bible logically indicates what he meant: “Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it.” (Gen. 2:8, 15) With the expansion of the human family from Adam and Eve the limited paradise of Eden would have to be enlarged until it encompassed the whole earth, thus being subdued to paradisaic conditions and beauty. Incidentally, there is no mention made by God that it is his purpose for man to “subdue” the moon or any other object in space. Humans are earth-men, made to live on earth in comfort and security. No artificial living in space suits was set before man, to conquer and populate other planets.

²⁶ Was it God’s will for men to be transferred by death to some heaven or afterworld and thus depopulate the paradise earth? The Bible has the answer in these words to his chosen people: “Jehovah will give increase to you, to you and to your sons. You are the ones blessed by Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth. As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men.” (Ps. 115:14-16) Without doubt, then, the heavens are for God and the angels, but the earth is the place destined for mankind by their Creator. There is conclusive evidence that man has received no assignment involving migrations to other planets in the future.

WHY DEATH?

27, 28. Why did Adam die? Why do all men to this day die?

²⁷ What is the Bible’s biography of Adam? Why did Adam die? The Holy Scriptures definitely indicate that God wisely put a curb on man’s Edenic freedom by law. This legal curb was to remind Adam as a son of God that he was a dependent creature with a purpose to perform, the divine will, the will of his heavenly Father. This guidance of man’s life would bring man greatest happiness. God said to his son Adam: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Gen. 2:16, 17) Eve and Adam defiantly rebelled against the Sovereign Power of heaven and thus disobeyed and sinned, and brought upon themselves this penalty of death, against which they had been warned. The Bible continues to say: “With that Jehovah God put him [Adam] out of the garden of Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. And so he drove the man out . . . Now Adam had intercourse with Eve his wife and she became pregnant. In time she gave birth to Cain and said: ‘I have acquired a man with the aid of Jehovah.’ Later she again gave birth, to his brother Abel. . . . And Adam lived on for a hundred and thirty years. Then he became father to a son in his likeness, in his image, and called his name Seth. And the days of Adam after his producing Seth came to be eight hundred years. Meanwhile he became father to sons and daughters. So all the days of Adam that he lived amounted to nine hundred and thirty years and he died.”—Gen. 3:23, 24; 4:1, 2; 5:3-5.

²⁸ Few men and women today live past even one hundred years of age. Down to this day why do men die? Under the divine law of natural inheritance this sin of Adam and its condemnation have passed on to all his offspring and, in turn, their offspring down through the generations. The Bible says: “That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.”—Rom. 5:12.

29. Is there hope of a future everlasting life, and how does Jehovah’s Word speak about it in connection with Abraham?

²⁹ From the Bible it is now understandable why people of all nations find themselves handicapped by a curse of sin and death. But does God extend any hope to them of a future life? Yes, indeed. That is why many people call the Bible also the Book of Life. The Bible is the only document that sets forth God’s terms for everlasting life for peoples of all nations, Jews and non-Jews. About three hundred years after the flood of Noah’s time there lived a man of great faith in the true religion of the Bible; his name was Abraham. Jehovah God gave him an oath-bound promise of the coming of a righteous kingdom of heaven whose builder is God. It is pictured as being like a glorious city, where happiness and purity reign. Under this citylike kingdom Abraham and his descendants and righteous persons of all nations would live forever on this earth. Let the Bible tell the story briefly in these words: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed in going out [from the city of Ur of the Chaldeans] into a place which he was going to receive as an inheritance, and he went out although not knowing where he was going. For he was awaiting the city having real foundations and the builder and creator of which is God. In faith all these [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] died, although they did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off and hailed them and publicly declared that they were strangers . . . But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Hence God is not ashamed of them, to be called upon as their God, for he has made a city ready for them.”—Heb. 11:8, 10, 13, 16.

THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO ALL NATIONS

30. What three important terms are outlined by Jehovah’s oath to bless all nations through Abraham?

³⁰ Exactly what was that promise God made to Abraham and was it to be limited only to the ancient Jews? That is a good question. Actually Abraham was not only the founding father of the Jewish nation of Israel but he was also the forefather of many Gentile nations such as the Ishmaelites and the Midianites, and even today Abraham is recognized as the father of many of the Arabic nations in the Middle East. The Bible records the precise words spoken by Jehovah as to his oath-bound promise of future blessing for people of all nations: “By myself I do swear, is the utterance of Jehovah, that by reason of the fact that you have done this thing and you have not withheld your son, your only one, I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed [offspring] like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore, and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice.” (Gen. 22:16-18) Note the three important terms of this promise. First, that a seed or offspring of indefinite number is to come from Abraham. Second, that this seed group under its leader will destroy the great enemies of God and man. And third, that peoples from all nations will bless themselves by means of this chosen seed group; hence hope of life on this earth is extended internationally to all mankind.

31. (a) Who is the seed-ruler promised to come by descent through Abraham? (b) How did the angel of Jehovah in speaking to Jesus’ earthly mother show the fulfillment of Genesis 49:10?

³¹ Does the Bible reveal who this primary seed-ruler descended from Abraham is? Definitely! Just before the death of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob under inspiration of God uttered the following prophecy over his son Judah: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him the obedience of the people will belong.” (Gen. 49:10) Seventeen hundred years later that prophecy and three hundred other prophecies began to be fulfilled as to Shiloh, that is, Jesus Christ, and his activities in Palestine. When foretelling his birth at Bethlehem of Judea, an angel of Jehovah God said to his future mother: “You are to call his name Jesus. This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father [of the tribe of Judah], and he will be king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:31-33) Following his birth in Bethlehem shepherds heard the angels sing: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of good-will.” (Luke 2:14) After Jesus Christ’s eventful ministry on earth proclaiming his future kingdom of heaven, and after his death, his resurrection and his return to heaven, the Bible says of him: “Look! the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered.” (Rev. 5:5) Thus Jesus Christ came to earth to qualify as the commander to lead not only the believing Jews but the righteous persons from all nations to life on this earth under the Kingdom city promised to Abraham in accord with the true religion. He is yet to complete his victories by conquering man’s great enemy death and also Satan the Devil.

32. Who and how many are brought into association with Jesus as part of the seed?

³² Who besides Jesus Christ make up this seed group mentioned to Abraham, and what is their number? It was God’s gracious will for Shiloh, the King-Commander Jesus Christ, to have associates with him in forming the citylike Kingdom in which Abraham hoped. During Jesus’ ministry on earth nineteen hundred years ago he began to give his dedicated disciples an invitation to join him in the kingdom of heaven. He spoke of them as a “little flock.” He said to them: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Later the Bible says to the disciples in this little flock: “Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.” (Gal. 3:29) This confirms the fact that the little flock become a secondary part along with Christ Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” as the complete “seed of Abraham.” But how large is their number? From Abraham’s time onward this was kept hidden for ages until the last book of the Bible was written. There the number of the ones with Jesus in the heavenly Zion is finally disclosed. The writer of that last book says: “And I saw, and look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. . . . These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were purchased from among mankind as a firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”—Rev. 14:1, 4.

33, 34. (a) What scripture shows that more than 144,000 benefit from Christ’s ransom provision? (b) How many more receive the blessing of life? Where? And how any nations are involved in this blessing?

³³ If only 144,000 dedicated, baptized Christians are purchased from among mankind to go to heaven to be with Christ, what is the hope for others? As we have noticed, the scripture just quoted speaks of the firstfruits of mankind going to heaven. However, the Scriptures also indicate final fruits from among mankind as being gathered for everlasting life on earth. Jesus spoke of these other fruits as “other sheep.” He said: “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [of the little flock]; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) Thus Jesus Christ as King and Commander must gather together these other sheep into a flocklike society, not in heaven but on earth.

THE BLESSINGS FOR EARTHLY SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM

³⁴ Is there any set number of these others, and where do they come from? The Bible answers by means of the apostle John’s prophetic vision: “I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ . . . ‘These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?’ . . . And he said to me: ‘These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.’” (Rev. 7:9, 10, 13, 14) Here we see that the number of these survivors of tribulation is great, left indefinite, and that these have to put on their robes of identification as advocates of the True God Jehovah and as accepting the leadership of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this great numberless crowd of believers come out on God’s side during the great tribulation of the last days upon Satan’s old world. And notice, they come out from all countries of the earth. So we see the one true religion of the Bible is actually the only universal religion in the earth.

35. What is the “blood of the Lamb,” and by whose terms is life offered?

³⁵ What is this “blood of the Lamb” that is mentioned? Jehovah God provided his Son from heaven to become man’s ransomer, to give his human lifeblood to recover from sin and death all the multitudes who put faith in Jesus’ atonement sacrifice made nineteen centuries ago. At that time the prophet John the Baptist introduced Jesus, saying: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The Bible further says: “For God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) So we see that if anyone and his family desire to qualify as part of this great crowd of earthly survivors they must study God’s Book of Freedom, the Bible. They must get the full truth of God’s legal provision for their protection, which is tied to faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Those are God’s terms for life. We, as dying, fallen men, cannot set the terms. We are given a choice to accept or reject this loving, reasonable provision. We want to show appreciation by accepting it, that we may live forever in happiness.

36, 37. Is there a hope for the dead, and when will such hope be realized?

³⁶ But what about our dead loved ones? Is there any hope of their living on earth as part of the “other sheep” under Jesus Christ’s leadership? Yes, the resurrection from the dead is the great hope for the reformable dead ones in the memory of God, and this too is made possible through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures plainly speak on this matter: “Now Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:20-22) “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.”—John 5:28, 29.

³⁷ When can the resurrection of those to live on earth be expected to begin? The apostle John says in his vision of the new world: “And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne.” (Rev. 20:11, 12) There is the answer. Not until the old heaven and the old earth systems have “fled away” or have been destroyed as part of the enemies conquered by the Commander Christ Jesus, not until then will standing up again of the earthly dead by resurrection take place.

“NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH”

38. Which heavens and earth will be destroyed, and is such destruction near?

³⁸ What are these heavens and earth that are to be destroyed? Peter the apostle explains them to be the symbolic heavens and earth. The symbolic heavens are those making up Satan’s invisible organization of demons; the symbolic earth is his earthly visible arrangement of men and their rulers that keep mankind in darkness and in confusion. Peter says, when telling of the scoffing unbelievers of our time: “This fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens in ancient times and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God, and by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2 Pet. 3:5-7) Today the fulfillment of other Bible prophecies indicates that this time of destruction of the old heavens and earth is now imminent in God’s great battle of Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14, 16.

39. What did the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Peter show takes the place of the old heavens and earth?

³⁹ If the old heavens and earth systems are to pass away in Armageddon’s universal battle, what will take their place? Again Peter answers in the Bible: “But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Pet. 3:13) The prophet Isaiah captures the solemn assurance by Jehovah as to his creating the new heavens and a new earth, and says: “This is what the Lord Jehovah has said: . . . ‘For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come into the heart. But exult, you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating.’” (Isa. 65:13, 17, 18) This calls for great rejoicing by all people. As guaranteed by the God of the universe, this new world will last forever.

40. Who will constitute the citizens of the new earth and how do we know this?

⁴⁰ Who will make up the new earth that is to stand forever? Why, all people of good will, all meek and teachable ones from all nations who now learn the truth and take their stand for holy freedom. You meek ones should now seek to make peace with the great impartial God who holds open a way of salvation to peoples of every national origin. Hear the Bible’s words as to this time for freedom and as to the possibility of living on earth forever through the angry storm of Armageddon just ahead: “Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3) Again the Bible assuringly says: “Just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more, and you will certainly give attention to his place and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Ps. 37:10, 11, 29) Then the grand Jubilee era of release and of freedom will be ushered in to bathe this earth with peace forever. The Bible says concerning this Jubilee that was foreshadowed so long ago: “Proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants.”—Lev. 25:10.

41. Who constitute the new heavens? Why is this new city called New Jerusalem, and what marvelous things will God perform through it?

⁴¹ There are yet the new heavens to consider. What are they? They are the new heavenly ruling group of 144,000 with Christ Jesus the King, who has been enthroned in heaven since 1914, as indicated by many prophecies and the physical facts of our time fulfilling the prophecies. They make up the city, the kingdom of heaven, that ancient Abraham was looking for. In the Bible this new city is called by the name New Jerusalem, taken from old Jerusalem, which long ago served as the capital city for ancient King David, who pictured the greater Davidic king, Christ Jesus. In prophetic vision the Bible describes the New Jerusalem’s control over the earth, bringing to the earth a paradisaic restoration, beauty and health. The apostle John says: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away . . . I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! the tent of God is with humankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.’ And the one seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’”—Rev. 21:1-5.

42, 43. What should everyone loving life now do, and what benefits will result now and in the future?

⁴² What a grand vision of paradise regained! Such vision is part of the closing theme of the Book of Freedom, the Bible. It is the full answer to the great prayer taught by Jesus: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matt. 6:10) However, here we have only begun to get a glimpse of the vast field of truth contained in the Bible and, oh, how grand it is! All this information it is impossible to get from nature. The time is now here for every lover of life and freedom to get a copy of the Bible and begin to make a study of its life-giving message. The Bible says plainly: “This means everlasting, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—John 17:3.

⁴³ Do you already have a Bible? Do you read it regularly? If not, take it down off your shelf of seclusion. Dust it off. Begin to use it daily to guide your life. It will help your family in the way of living now for the new world. See what happiness and unity have come to the New World Society of Jehovah’s witnesses in every part of the earth. You too can have that same joy, satisfaction and spiritual health. No other book or treasure you possess will produce such lasting joy of heart or give such freedom. Why deny yourself its help and profitableness? Take your stand for the true religion of the Bible. Get the truth. Follow it and be set free. Assure yourself of a happy future, everlasting life on this beautiful paradise earth under God’s kingdom.

Part 23—“Your Will Be Done on Earth”

Before World War I ended on November 11, 1918, American President Wilson proposed a League of Nations. Before the Paris Peace Conference opened in 1919 the executive committee of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America adopted a Declaration stating that the proposed League was “the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.” The executive committee also appointed a Special Commission to present officially the Declaration to the Peace Conference then soon to convene at Paris.

32. What record do we have that the Special Commission presented the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference?

³² Did this Special Commission present the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference after it opened on January 18, 1919? In the annual report of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America for the calendar year of 1919 there appeared on page 11 this sentence:

At the Peace Conference in Paris a representative committee of the Federal Council was received by officials of the government and presented the actions of the executive committee which they were instructed to convey to the Peace Conference.

33. What further action was taken by the Federal Council of the Churches toward idolizing the League of Nations?

³³ More action than the above was taken. The Peace Treaty was signed on June 28,