Chapter Eight/Striving to Be Conguerors

"Tribulation Ten Days"

Much like the Christians in Smyrna, the John class and their companions today have been and continue to be "fully put to the test."  Their faithfulness under trial marks them as God's own people.  (Mark 13:9, 10) Shortly after the Lord's day got under way, Jesus' words to the Christians in Smyrna brought real comfort  to the small international group of Jehovah's people.  (Revelation 1:10) Ever since 1879, these had been digging our from God's Word spiritual riches that they freely shared with others. But during World War I, they met up with  intense hatred and opposition, partly because  they did not get caught up in the war fever and partly because  they fearlessly exposing the errors of Christendom.. The persecution of Christendom's leaders came to a head in 1918 and was comparable to what the Christians in Smyrna  received from the Jewish community there.

A wave of persecution  in the United States of America was climaxed when the new president of the Watchtower Society, Joseph F.Rutherford, and seven associates  were sent to prison on June 22, 1918, most of them with 20-year sentence.  They were released on bail nine months later.  On May 14, 1919, the appeal court reversed their erroneous convictions; their were shown to be 125 errors in the trial. Roman Catholic Judge Manton, a knight of the order of St.Gregory the Great, who in 1918 had refused  bail to these Christians, was sentenced later, in 1939, to two years' imprisonment and a fine of $10,000  on six charges of soliciting and accepting bribes. 

During Nazi rule in Germany, Hitler later completely banned the preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses.  For years, thousands of Witnesses were cruelly confined in concentration camps, where many died, while hundreds of young men who refused to fight in Hitler's army were executed.  The clergy's support of all this is evidenced by the words of a Catholic priest, published in the newspaper The German of May 29, 1938.  In part, he said:  "There is now one country  on earth where the so-called . . .Bible Students  [Jehovah's Witnesses] are forbidden.  That is Germany! . . . When Adolph Hitler came to power, and the German Catholic Episcopate repeated their request, Hitler said:  "These so-called Earnest Bible Students [Jehovah's Witnesses] are troublemakers, . . .I consider them quacks , I do not tolerate that the German Catholics shall be besmirched in such a manner by this American Judge Rutherford; I dissolve ][Jehovah's Witnesses] in Germany.'"  To this, the priest added: "Bravo!" 

As the Lord's day has proceeded, the Serpent and his seed have never ceased  to fight against the anointed Christians and their companions.  Many of these have never been imprisoned and viciously persecuted.  (Revelation 12:17) The enemies have continue to 'frame mischief bylaw,' but Jehovah's people steadfastly insist: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men."  ( Psalm 94:20, King James Version; Acts 5:29)  In 1954 the Watchtower magazine reported: "More than seventy countries at one time or another during the past forty years have made restrictive decrees and have persecuted Jehovah's Witnesses."  Where it has been possible to fight for religious freedom in the courts, these Christians have done so and have come through with resounding victories in a number of countries.  In the United States Supreme Court alone, Jehovah's Witnesses have won 23 favorable decisions.

No other group has been so conscientious in obeying Jesus' command to pay back Caesar's things to Caesar.  (Luke 20:24; Romans 13;1, 7)  Yet, no other group has had members imprisoned in so many lands under so many forms of government, and this continues to the present time in the Americas, in Europe, in Africa, and in Asia. Jesus' great prophecy concerning the sign of his presence included these words:  "Then people will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name."  ( Matthew 24:3, 9)  This has certainly  been fulfilled upon the Christian  witnesses of Jehovah during the Lord's day. 

To fortify God's people against tribulation, the John class has continually reminded them of the substance of Jesus' words  to the Christians in Smyrna.  For example, as Nazi persecution started, The Watchtower in 1933 and 1934 carried articles such as "Fear Them Not," which discussed Matthew 10:26-33; "The Crucible," based on Daniel 3:17, 18; and "Lions' Mouths," with Daniel 6:22 as they key text.  In the 1980's, during which decade Jehovah's Witnesses have suffered vicious  persecution in more than  40 lands. The Watchtower has fortified God's people with articles such as "Happy Though Persecuted!" And "Christians Meet Persecution With Endurance."  

Truly, the Christian Witnesses of Jehovah are suffering physical persecution and other testings for a symbolic ten days.  Like the Christians back in Smyrna, they have not been afraid, nor do any of us need to be afraid as troubles worsen here on earth. We are prepared to endure under sufferings and take even the 'plundering of our belongings joyfully.  (Hebrews 10:32-34) By studying God's Word and making it our very own, we will be equipped  to stand solid in the faith. Be assured that Jehovah can and will guard you in your integrity.  "Throw all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:6-11.

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name

From the book of Revelation