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This vicious flood of persecution reached a high point during World War II. In Europe some ten thousand Witnesses were incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps, and thousands died. Under the warlords that ruled Italy, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, faithful Witnesses suffered similar and cruel treatment. Even in so-called Democratic lands, The Witnesses were assaulted by Catholic Action groups, tarred and feathered, and run out of town. Christian assemblies were broken up and Witness children were expelled from school.

Relief arrived from n unexpected source: " But the earth came to the woman's help, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon disgorged from its mouth. And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." (Revelation 12:16, 17) "The earth"-elements within Satan's own system of things-began to swallow up "the river," or "flood." During the 1914's the Witnesses gained a series of favorable decisions in the Unite Stats Supreme Court, and from ruling powers in some other lands, that upheld freedom of worship. Finally, the Allied Nations swallowed up the Nazi-Fascist juggernaut, to the relief of the Witnesses who had suffered under cruel dictatorships, Persecutions did not stop altogether, for the wrath of the dragon has continued until today, and he keeps up the war against those who "have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." In many lands, loyal Witnesses are still in prison, and some still die because of their integrity. But in some of these lands, the authorities from time to time relax their pressure, and the Witnesses enjoy a greater measure of freedom. Thus, in fulfillment of the prophecy, the earth continues to swallow up the river of persecution.

In this way, the earth has provided sufficient relief to allow God's work to spread to more than 200 lands and produce over three million faithful preachers of the good news. Along with the remaining ones of the woman's seed, a great international crowd of new believers is observing the commandments of God as to separateness from the world, clean morals, and love of the brothers, and they are witnessing to that Messianic Kingdom. Their integrity answers Satan's reproachful challenge, so that the death knell is sounded for Satan and his system of things. -Proverbs 27:11

Next time: Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts.