SERVING WITH THE WATCHMAN

The Conclusion of A Nation of Witnesses

Those truly devoted to pure worship had to "put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones."  (Jude 3) Would the witness to pure worship and to Jehovah vanish from the earth?  No. As the time approached for the destruction of the rebel Satan and all his works, it became evident that not everyone had surrendered to the apostle worship practiced in Christendom.  In the latter part of the 19 -century, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A., a group of sincere Bible students was organized and became the nucleus of God's modern-day witness class.  These Christians drew attention to the Scriptural evidence that the conclusion of the present world system was at hand.  True to Bible prophecy, this world's "conclusion" began in 1914 and was marked by the outbreak of the first world war.  (Matthew 24:3, 7)  There is strong evidence that Satan and his demonic hordes were cast out of heaven following that year.   The trouble - filled 20th century has provided clear proof of Satans's activity and of a remarkable fulfillment of the sign of Jesus' royal presence in heavenly Kingdom power. -Matthew, chapters 24 and 25; Mark, chapter 13; Luke, chapter 21;  Revelation, 12:10, 12.

 In June 1918, Satan frantically tried to wipe out those Bible students, who by then were preaching in several  countries.  He also sought to destroy their legal corporation , the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.   Responsible officers of the Society were imprisoned, falsely charged with sedition, as Jesus had been in the first century.  (Luke 23:2) But in 1919, these officers were released, enabling them to continue their ministry. Later, they were fully exonerated. 

Next time: A "Lookout" on the Watch

Watchtower, 2000