Chapter Twenty-Three/The Second Woe - Armies of Cavalry - Continue

 Remember, the heavenly angel has just sounded the sixth trumpet. Responding thereto, the sixth of the series of Bible Students annual international convention was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  The program there on Sunday, July 24, 1927, was aired through a chain of 53 radio stations, the most extensive broadcast network up to that time. That spoken message went out to an audience of possibly many millions. First, a forceful resolution exposed Christendom as spiritually dead and extended the invitation. "In this hour of perplexity Jehovah God bids the peoples to abandon and forever forsake 'Christendom' or organized Christianity' and to turn completed away from it . . . ; [let the peoples give their hearts devotion and allegiance wholly to Jehovah God and to his King and kingdom." Freedom for the peoples" was the title of the public talk that followed J.F. Rutherford, president of the Watch Tower Society, delivered this in his usual dynamic style, appropriate to "the fire and the smoke and the sulphur" that John next observes in vision. 

"And the number of the armies of cavalry was two myriads: I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw the horses in the vision, and those seated on them: they had fire-red and hyacinth blue and sulphur - yellow breastplates; and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions, and out of their mouths fire and smoke and sulphur issued forth. By these three plagues a third of the men were killed, from the fire and the smoke and the sulphur which issued forth from their mouths." -REVELATION9:16-18.

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Chapter Twenty-Three/The Second Woe - Armies of Cavalry - Continue

 Happily, John can report: "And the four angels were untied, who have been prepared for the hour and the day and month and year, to kill a third of the men." (Revelation 9:15) Jehovah is a precise Timer. He has a timetable and is keeping to it. Hence, these messengers are released exactly on schedule and in time to accomplish what they have to do. Imagine their joy on coming forth from bondage in 1919, ready for work! They have a commission not only to torment but finally "to kill a third of the men." This is related to the plagues heralded by the first four trumpet blasts, which afflicted a third of the earth, the sea, the creatures in the sea, the fountains and rivers, and the heavenly light sources. (Revelation 8:7-12) The four angels go further. They "kill," exposing to a completion Christendom's spiritually dead condition. Trumpeted pronouncements made from 1922 onward and continuing to the present time, have accomplished this.

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Chapter Twenty-Three/The Second Woe - Armies of Cavalry - Continue

 How had those angels been "bound at the river Euphrates"? The river Euphrates in ancient times was the northeastern border of the land that Jehovah promised to Abraham. (Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 11:24) Apparently, the angels had restrained at the border of their God-given land, or earthly realm of activity. held back from entering fully into the service that Jehovah had prepared for them. The Euphrates was also prominently associated with the city of Babylon, and after the fall of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., fleshly Israelites spent 70 years there in captivity, "bound at the great river Euphrates." (Psalm 137:1) The year 1919 found the spiritual Israelites in a similar restraint, disconsolate and asking Jehovah for guidance.

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Chapter Twenty-Three/The Second Woe -Armies of Cavalry

 From 1919 onward, the symbolic locusts' invasion of Christendom has caused the clergy much discomfort. They have tried to stamp out the locusts, but these have kept to coming on stronger than ever. (Revelation 9:7) And that is not all! John writes: "The woe is past. Look! Two more are coming after these things." (Revelation 9:12) Further tormenting plagues are in store for Christendom. 

What is the source of the second woe? John writes: "And the sixth angel blew his trumpet. And I heard a voice out of the horns of the golden altar that is before God say to the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.' " (Revelation 9:13, 14) The angels ' release is in answer to the voice that comes from the horns of the golden altar, and twice previously the incense of the golden bowls from this altar has been associated with the prayers of the holy ones. (Revelation (5:8; 8:3, 4) Therefore, this one voice represents the united prayers of the holy ones on earth. They petition that they themselves be delivered for further energetic service as Jehovah's "messengers," this being the basic meaning of the Greek word here translated "angels."  Why are there four angels? This symbolic number seems to indicate that they would be so organized as to cover the earth in its entirety. - Compare REVELATION 7:1; 20:8.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts -World Rulers Put on Notice - Conclusion

 Rather than announce the incoming Kingdom of God, Christendom's clergy have chosen to remain with Satan's world. They want no part with the locust band and their King, concerning whom John now observes: "They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon [meaning "Destruction"], but in Greek he has the name Apollyon [meaning "Destroyer"]," (Revelation 9:11) As "angel of the abyss" and "Destroyer." Jesus had truly released a plague woe on Christendom. But no more is to follow.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts -World Rulers Put on Notice

 At this convention, the symbolic locusts received further fighting equipment, notably a new book entitled the Deliverance. It included a Scriptural discussion of the sign proving that the 'man child' government, Christ's heavenly Kingdom had been born in 1914. (Matthew 24:3-14; Luke21:24-26; Revelation 12:1-10) Thereafter, the quoted manifesto published in London in 1918 and signed by eight clergymen, who were described as being "among the world's greatest preachers." They represented the leading Protestant denominations-Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Methodist. This manifesto proclaimed that "the present crisis points toward the close of the times of the Gentiles" and that the revelation of the Lord may be expected at any moment." Yes, those clergymen had recognized the sign of Jesus' presence! But did they want to do anything about it? The book Deliverance informs us: "The most remarkable part of the affair is that the very men who signed the manifesto subsequently repudiated it and rejected the evidence which proves that we are at the end of the world and in the day of the Lord's second presence. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts - World Rulers Put on Notice

 The modern-day locusts had a job to do. The Kingdom good news had to be preached. Errors had to be exposed. Lost sheep had to be found. As the locusts went about these tasks, the world was forced to sit up and take notice. In obedience to the angel's trumpet blasts, the John class had continued to expose Christendom as deserving of Jehovah's adverse judgments. In response the fifth trumpet, a particular aspect of these judgments was emphasized at a convention of the Bible Students in London, England, May 25-31, 1926. This featured a resolution, "A Testimony to the Rulers of the World," and a public talk at the Royal Alber Hall on "Why World Powers Are Tottering-The Remedy." the complete text of both of these being printed in a leading London newspaper the following day. Later, the locust bend distributed worldwide, as a tract, 50 million copies of that resolution-a torment indeed to the clergy! Years later, people in England still spoke of this stinging expose'.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts - Locusts Equipped for Battle

 This preaching involves more than the spoken word! "Also, they have tails and stings like scorpions; and in their tails is their authority to hurt the men five months." (Revelation 9:10) What does this mean? As they go about their Kingdom work, Jehovah's Witnesses leave behind them publications-books, magazines, brochures, timely tracts. These contain authoritative statements, based on God's Word, for the people to read in their homes, and they have scorpionlike sting because they warn of Jehovah's approaching day of vengeance. (Isaiah 61:2) Before the present generation of spiritual locusts lives out its life span, its divinely ordained work of declaring Jehovah's judgments will be completed - to the hurt of all stiff-necked blasphemers. 

The locust band was overjoyed when a new magazine, The Golden Age, was announced at their 1919 convention. It was a biweekly magazine, designed to intensify the sting of their witnessing. Its issue No. 27, of September 29, 1920, exposed the clergy's duplicity in persecuting the Bible Students in the United States during the 1918-1919 period. Through the 1920's and 1930's, The Golden Age tormented the clergy with further stinging articles and cartoons that exposed their crafty dabbling in politics, and especially the Catholic hierarchy's accords made with the Fascist and Nazi dictators. In response, the clergy 'framed mischief by law' and organized mob violence against God's People. - PSALM 94:20, King James Version. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe -Locusts - Locusts Equipped for Battle - Continue

 In the vision, the locusts have iron breastplates, symbolizing unbreakable righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14-18) They also have men's faces, this feature pointing to the quality of love, since man was made in the image of God, who is love. (Genesis 1:26; 1 John 4:16.) Their hair is long like a woman's, which well pictures subjection to their King, the angel of the abyss. And their teeth resemble a lion's teeth. A lion uses its teeth to tear meat. From 1919 onward, the John class has again been able to take in solid spiritual food, particularly the truths about God's Kingdom ruled by "the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah," Jesus Christ. Just as the lion symbolizes courage, so great courage has been needed to digest this hard-hitting message, to bring it forth in publications, and to distribute it around the globe. Those figurative locusts have made a lot of noise, like the sound of chariots of many horses running into battle." After the example of the first-century Christians, they do not intend to stay quiet. - 1 CORINTHIANS 11:7-15; REVELATION 5:5. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts -Locusts Equipped for Battle

 What a remarkable appearance those locusts have! John describes it:  "And the likenesses of the locusts resembled horses prepared for battle; and upon their heads wee what seemed to be crowns like gold, and their faces were as men's faces, but they had no hair as women's hair. And their teeth we as those of lions; and they had breastplates like iron breastplates. And the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running into battle." - REVELATION 9:7, 9. 

This well illustrates the loyal group of revived Christians in 1919. Like horses, they were ready for battle, eager to fight for the truth in the way described by the apostle Paul. (Ephesians 6:11-13; 2 Corinthians 10:4) On their heads Johns sees what seem be crowns of gold. It would not be proper for them to have actual crowns because they begin ruling while they are still on earth. (1 Corinthians 4:8; Revelation 20:4) But in 1919 they already had a royal appearance. They were brothers of the King, and their heavenly crowns were reserved for them provided they could continue faithful to the end. - 2 TIMOTHY 4:8; 1 PETER 5:4.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts - Those Tormenting Locusts - Conclusion

 The torment lasts for five months. Is that a relatively short time? Not from the point of view of a literal locust. Five months describes the normal life span of one of these insects. Therefore, it is for as long as they live that the modern-day locusts keep stinging God's enemies. Moreover, the torment is so severe that men seek to die. True, we have no record that any of those who were stung by the locusts actually tried to kill themselves. But the expression helps us to picture the intensity of the torment-as though by a relentless assault of scorpions. It is like the suffering foreseen by Jeremiah for those unfaithful Israelites who would be scattered by the Babylonian conquers and for whom death would be preferable to life. - JEREMIAH 8:3; see also ECCLESIASTES 4:2, 3.

Why is it granted to torment these ones in a spiritual sense, and not to kill them? This is an initial woe in the exposing of the lies of Christendom and her failures, but only later, as the Lord's day progresses, will her deathlike spiritual state by fully publicized. It will be during the second woe that a third of the men are killed. - REVELATION 1:10; 9:12, 18; 11:14.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts - Those Tormenting Locusts

 What battle instructions did those locusts receive?  John reports: "And they were told to harm no vegetation of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And it was granted the locusts, not to kill them, but that these should be tormented five months, and the torment upon them was as torment as torment by a scorpion when it strikes a man. And in those days the men will seek death but will no means find it, and they will desire to die but death keep fleeing from them." - REVELATION 9:4, 6. 

Notice that this plague is not directed first against the people or prominent ones among them-the 'vegetation and the trees of the earth.' (Compare Revelation 8:7.) The locusts are to harm only those men who do not have the seal of God on the foreheads, those in Christendom who claim to be sealed but whose record belies that claim to be sealed but. (Ephesians 1:13, 14) Thus, the tormenting utterances of these modern-day locusts were directed first against the religious leaders of Christendom. How these self-assuming men must have been tormented at hearing it publicly announced that not only were they failing to lead their flocks   to heaven but they themselves would not get there! Truly, it has been a case of 'the blind leading the blind'! - MATTHEW 15:14.

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts - The 20th Century Plague - Conclusion

 As John observes, the release of the locusts is accompanied by much smoke, like "the smoke of a great furnace." That is how it proved to be in 1919. The situation darkened for Christendom and for the world in general. (Compare Joel 2:30, 31) The release of those locusts, the John class, was actually a defeat for Christendom's clergy, who had schemed and plotted to kill the Kingdom work for good and who now rejects God's Kingdom. Evidence of a smokelike pall started to spread over apostate Christendom as that locusts band was given divine authority and began to exercise it in proclaiming powerful judgment messages. Christendom's "sun"-her appearance of enlightenment suffered an eclipse, and "the air "became thick with declaration of divine judgments as "the ruler of authority of the air" of this world was shown to be Christendom's god. -EPHESIANS 2:2; JOHN 12:31; 1 JOHN 5:19. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts -The 20th Century Plague - Continue

 The account continues: "And he opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the pit as the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun was darkened, also the air, by the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke locusts came forth upon the earth; and authority was given them, the same authority as the scorpions of the earth have." (Revelation9:2, 3) Scripturally, "the abyss" is a place of inactivity, even of death. (Compare Romans 10:7; Revelation17:8; 20:1, 3) The small band of Jesus' brothers spent inactivity in such an "abyss" of relative inactivity at the end of the first world war (1918-1919) But when Jehovah poured out His spirit upon his repentant servants in 1919, they swarmed forth to meet the challenge of the work that lay ahead. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe-Locusts - The 20th Century Plague - Continue

Revelation, written some 26 years after Jerusalem's destruction, also describes that plague. What does it add to Joel's description? Let us take up the record, as reported by John: "And the fifth angel blew his trumpet. And I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth, and the key of the pit of the abyss was given him." (Revelation 9:1) This "star" is different from that at Revelation 8:10 that John saw in the act of falling. He sees "a star that has fallen from heaven" and that now has an assignment with respect to this earth. Is this a spirit or a fleshly person? The holder of this "key of the pit of the abyss" is later described as hurling Satan into "the abyss." (Revelation 20:1-3) So he must be a might spirit person. At Revelation 9:11, John tells us that the locusts have "a king, the angel of the abyss." Both verses must refer to the same individual, since the angel holding the key of the abyss would logically be the angel of the abyss. And the star must symbolize Jehovah's anointed King, since anointed Christians acknowledge only the one angelic King Jesus Christ. - COLOSSIANS 1:13; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:25. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe -Locusts - The 20th-Century Plague

 Reasonably, we could expect Joel's prophecy to have a final fulfillment in the time of the end. How true this has proved to be! At the Bible Students convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. September 1-8m 1919, a notable outpouring of Jehovah's spirit activated his people to organize a global campaign of preaching. Of all professed Christians, they alone, recognizing that Jesus had been enthroned as heavenly King, spared no effort in publishing abroad that good news. Their relentless witnessing, in fulfillment of prophecy became as a tormenting plague to apostate Christendom. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts - A First Century Plague - Conclusion

 Was there a figurative plague during those days? Yes, indeed! It came as a result of the relentless preaching of the newly anointed Christians. Through, them, Jehovah invited those Jews who would listen to repent and enjoy blessings from him. (Acts 2:38-40; 3:19) The individuals who responded received his favor to a remarkable degree. But to the ones who refused the invitation, the first-century Christians became like a devastating swarm of locusts. Starting in Jerusalem, they spread through all Judea and Samaria. Soon they were everywhere, tormenting the unbelieving Jews by publicly proclaiming Jesus' resurrection with al that this implied. (Acts1:8; 4:18-20; 5:17-21, 28, 29, 40-42; 17:5, 6, 21:27-30) That plaguing continued until the "fear-inspiring day," in 70 C.E., when Jehovah brought the Roman armies against Jerusalem to destroy it. Only those Christians who in faith called on the name Jehovah were saved. - JOEL2:32; ACTS 2:20, 21; PROVERBS 18:10. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe -Locusts -A First Century Plague

 There was a fulfillment of Joel chapter 2 in the first century. It was then, at Pentecost 33 C.E., that holy spirit was poured out, anointing the first Christians and empowering them to speak the "magnificent things of God" in many tongues. As a result, a large crowd assembled. The apostle Peter addressed those astonished onlookers, quoting Joel 2:28, 29 and explaining that they were witnessing its fulfillment. (Acts 2:1-21) But there is no record of a literal insect plague at that time, causing discomfort to some and leading others to repentance. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts

 The fifth angel prepares to blow his trumpet. Four heavenly trumpets have already sounded, and four plagues have directed to the third of the earth that Jehovah regards as most reprehensible-Christendom.  Her deathly sick condition has been uncovered. While angels sound the trumpet blasts, human heralds follow through on earth. Now the fifth angelic trumpet is about to announce the first woe, more fearsome even than what has gone before. It is related to a terrifying locust plague. First, though, let us examine other scriptures that will help us to understand the plague better.

The Bible book of Joel, written during the ninth century B.C. E., describes a plague of insects, including locusts, that is similar to the one that John sees. (Joel 2:1-11, 25) It was to cause much discomfort for apostate Israel but would also result in individual Jews' repenting and returning to Jehovah's favor. (Joel 2:6, 12-14) When that time arrived, Jehovah would pour out his spirit on "every sort of flesh," while fearful signs and alarming portents would precede "the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah." - JOEL 2:11, 28-32. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Flying Eagle - Conclusion

 An eagle flies high into the sky, so that people in a wide area can see it. It has exceptionally keen sight and can see a long wa7y ahead of itself. (Job 39:29) One of the cherubic living creatures around God's throne was pictured a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:6, 7) Whether it this cherub or another farsighted servant of God, it loudly proclaims a dynamic message: "Woe, woe, woe"! Let earth's inhabitants take note, as the three remaining blasts are heard, each of them linked to one of these woes.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Flying Eagle

 These first four trumpet blasts truly resulted in uncovering the desolate and death-dealing condition of Christendom. Her part of "the earth" was exposed as deserving of Jehovah's judgment. Revolutionary governments springing up in her hands and elsewhere were shown to be inimical to spiritual life. The fallen condition of her clergy was laid bare, and the general darkness   of her spiritual condition was exposed for all to see. Christendom is the most reprehensible part of Satan's system of things. 

What more is there to reveal? Before we find the answer to this question, there is a brief pause in the series of trumpet blasts. John describes what he sees next: "And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven say with a loud voice: 'Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling on the earth because of the rest of the trumpet blasts of the three angels who about to blow their trumpets!' " - REVELATION  8:13. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Darkness! - Conclusion

 In line with the heavenly proclamation, a capacity crowd of God's people assembled in convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., on August 29, 1925, and adopted for publication a forthright resolution entitled "Message of Hope." Again, some 50 million copies were distributed in a number of languages. It described the false light held out by the combine of commercial profiteers, political leaders, and the religious clergy, as a result of which "the peoples had fallen into darkness." And it pointed to God's Kingdom as the real hope for receiving "the blessings of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty, and eternal happiness." It took courage for the small band of anointed Christians to proclaim such messages against the giant organization of Christendom. But consistently, from the early 1920's until now, they have done so. In more recent time, in 1955, a further expose' of the clergy class was made by a worldwide distribution in many languages entitled Christendom or Christianity-Which one is "the Light of the World"?  Today, Christendom's hypocrisy has become so evident that many in the world can see it for themselves. But Jehovah's people have not let up in exposing her for what she is a kingdom of darkness.  

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Darkness! - Continue

 Jesus said that Christians would be recognized by their fruits and that many claiming to be his followers would "workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:15-23) No one looking at the fruits  of the third of the world occupied by Christendom can deny that she is groping in spiritual darkness. (2 Corinthians 4:4) She is most blameworthy, for she claims to be Christian. Hence, it is only proper that the fourth angel should trumpet the fact that Christendom's "light" is, in fact, darkness, and her sources of  "light" are Babylonish-non-Christian. - MARK 13:22, 23; 2 TIMOTHY 4:3, 4. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Darkness!

 "And the fourth angel blew his trumpet. And a third of the sun was smitten and a third of the moon and a third of the stars, in order that a third of them might be darkened and day might not have illumination for a third of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12) The ninth plague on Egypt was a plague on literal darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29) But what is this symbolic darkness that come to the plague of men in our 20th century ?

The apostle Peter told fellow believers that they had been in darkness, spiritually speaking, before they became Christians.  (1 Peter 2:9) Paul too, used the word "darkness" to describe the spiritual state of those outside the Christian congregation.  (Ephesians 5:8; 6:12; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5) But what about those in Christendom who claim to believe in God and who say they accept Jesus as their savior? 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -A Star Falls From Heaven - Conclusion

 Since the third angel started to blow his trumpet, the clergy's position of dominance among mankind has been slipping until, in this day and age, very few of them retain the godlike powers they enjoyed in former centuries. Because of the preaching of Jehovah's Witnesses, great numbers of people have to realize that many doctrines taught by the clergy are spiritual poison-"wormwood." Furthermore, the clergy's power in northern Europe is almost spent, while in most Eastern European lands, as well as China, the government strictly curtails their influence. In Catholic parts of Europe and in the Americas, the clergy's scandalous behavior in financial reputation. From now on, their position can only get worse, since soon they will suffer the same fate as all other false religionists. -REVELATION 18:21; 19:2. 

Jehovah's plaguing of Christendom is not yet finished. Consider what happens after the fourth trumpet blast. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Star Falls From Heaven - Continue

 Outstanding in this connection was the proclamation made at what the Golden Age magazine described as "the greatest convention of Bible Students held during the age4s." This convention assembled in Columbus, Ohio, July20-27, 1924. No doubt at the direction of the angel that sounded the third trumpet, a forceful resolution was there adopted and later 50 million copies were distributed as a tract. It was published under the title Ecclesiastes Indicted. A subheading presented the issue: "The Seed of Promise Versus the Seed if the Serpent." The indictment their taking of high-sounding religious titles, their commercial giants and professional politicians the principal ones of their flocks, their desiring to shine before men, and their refusing to preach to the people the message of the Messiah's Kingdom. It emphasized that every dedicated Christian is commissioned by God to proclaim: "the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn. - ISAIAH 6:12, KJ. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Star Falls From Heaven - Continue

 When the clergy of Christendom apostatized from true Christianity, they fell from the lofty "heavenly " position described by Paul at Ephesians 26:7. Instead of offering fresh waters of truth, they served up "wormwood," bitter lies such as hellfire, purgatory, the Trinity, and predestination; also they led the nations into war, failing to build them up as moral servants of God. The result? Spiritual poisoning of those who believed the lies. Their case was similar to that of unfaithful Israelites of Jeremiah's day, to whom Jehovah said: "Here I am making them eat wormwood, and I will give them poisoned water to drink. For from the prophet of Jerusalem apostasy has gone forth to all the land." - JEREMIAH 9:15; 23:15. 

This fall from the spiritual heavens became apparent in the year 1919 when, rather than Christendom's clergy, the small remnant of anointed Christians was appointed over Kingdom interests. (Matthew 24:45-47) And from 1922 that fall was dramatized when this group of Christians renewed their campaign of frankly exposing the failings of the clergy of Christendom. 

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Chspter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -A Star Falls From Heaven Continue

 John sees this particular star falling from heaven. How? The experiences of an ancient king help us to understand. Speaking to the king of Babylon, Isaiah said "O how you have fallen from heaven, you are shining one, son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, you who were disabling the nations!" (Isaiah14:13) This prophecy was fulfilled when Babylon was overthrown by the armies of Cyrus, and its king made an abrupt descent from world rulership to shameful defeat. Thus, a fall from heaven can refer to losing a high position and falling into ignominy. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/ Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Star Has Falls From Heaven

"And a third angel blew his trumpet. And a great star burning as a lamp fell from heaven, and it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters turned into wormwood, and many of the men died from the waters, because these had been made bitter." (Revelation 8:10, 11) Once again other parts of the Bible help us to see how with scripture applies in the Lord's day. 

We have already met the symbolism of a star in Jesus messages to the seven congregations, in which the seven stars symbolize the elders in the congregations." (Revelation 1:20) Anointed "stars" along with all others of the anointed, inhabited heavenly places in a spiritual sense from the time that they are sealed with the holy spirit as a token of their heavenly inheritance. (Ephesians2:6, 7) However, the apostle Paul warned that from among such starlike ones would become apostates, sectarians, who would mislead the flock. (Acts 20:29, 30) Such unfaithfulness would result in a great apostasy, and these fallen elders would come to make up a composite man of lawlessness that would elevate himself to a godlike position among mankind. (2 Thessalonian 2:3, 4) Paul's warning were fulfilled when the clergy of Christendom appeared on the world scene. This group is well represented by the symbol of "a great star burning as a lamp." 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Like a Burning Mountain - Conclusion

 The second trumpet blast reveals that those of mankind who got involved in revolutionary conflicts over government rather than submit to God's Kingdom are bloodguilty. Particularly Christendom's "third of the sea" has become as blood. All living things therein are dead in God's eyes. None of the radical organizations floating like boats in the third of the sea can avoid ultimate shipwreck. How happy we are that millions of sheeplike people have now heeded the trumpetlike call to separate from those who are still wallowing in the narrow nationalism and bloodguilt of that sea!

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Like a Burning Mountain - Continue

 The Fascist and Nazi experiments were snuffed out by the second world war, but government continued to be a fiery issue, and the human sea continued to churn and throw up new revolutionary governments. In the decades since 1945, these have been installed in many places, such as China, Vietnam, Cuba, and Nicaragua. In Greece an experiment in military dictatorship failed. In Kampuchea (Cambodia) an excursion into fundamentalism communism resulted in a reported two million and more deaths. 

That "mountainlike burning with fire" continues to make waves in the sea of mankind. Ongoing struggles over government are reported in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific islands. Many of these struggles are taking place  in lands of Christendom or where Christendom's missionaries have become activists. Roman Catholic priests have even joined up with and fought its members of communist guerilla bands. At the same time, Protestant evangelical groups have worked in Central America to counter what they call communist' vicious and relentless thirst for power." But none of these convulsions in the sea of mankind can bring peace and security. -Compare ISAIAH 25:10-12; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:3.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Like a Burning Mountain -

 Doubtless, this resolution came as a result of the sounding of the second trumpet. Those who would in due course respond to that message would separate from the goat-like group that Israel described in these words: "'But the wicked are like the sea that is being tossed, when it is unable to calm down, the waters of which keep tossing up seaweed and mire." (Isaiah 57:20; 17:12, 13) Thus, "the sea" well pictures restless, unsettled, and rebellious humanity that churns up unrest and revolution. (Compare Revelation 13:1) The time will come when that "sea" will be no more. (Revelation 21:1) Meantime, with the blast of the second trumpet, Jehovah pronounces judgment against a third of it-the unruly part that is in the realm of Christendom herself. 

A great mountainlike mass burning with fire is hurled into the "sea." In the Bible, mountains very often symbolized governments. For example, God's Kingdom is portrayed as a mountain. (Daniel 2:35, 44) Ruinous Babylon became a burnt-out mountain." (Jeremiah 51:25) But the mountainous mass that John sees is still burning. Its being hurled into the sea well represents how, during and after the first world war, the question of government became a burning issue among mankind, especially in the lands of Christendom. In Italy, Muss0lini introduced fascism. Germany embraced Hitler's Nazism, while other countries tried different forms of socialism. A radical changed occurred in Russia, where the Bolshevik revolution produced the first communist state, with the result that religious leaders of Christendom lost power and influence in what was formerly one of their strongholds. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Like a Burning Mountain

 "And the second angel blew his trumpet. And something like a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures that are in the sea which have souls died, and a third of the boats were wrecked." (Revelation 8:8, 9) What does this frightful scene picture? 

We may best understand it against the background of the convention of Jehovah's people held in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., on August 18-26m 1923. The featured Saturday afternoon talk by the Watch Tower Society's president was on the topic "Sheep and Goats." The "sheep" were clearly identified as those righteously disposed persons who would inherit the earthly realm of God's Kingdom. A resolution that followed drew attention to the hypocrisy of "apostate clergymen and 'the principal of their flocks,' who are worldly men of strong financial and political influence." It is called on the "multitude of the peace and order loving ones in the denominational churches . . . to withdraw themselves from the unrighteous ecclesiastical systems designated by the Lord as 'Babylon' " and to ready themselves "to receive the blessings of God's Kingdom.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Third of the Earth Burned Up - Conclusion

 What testimony did these Christians offer? This: "We hold and declare that Messiah's kingdom is the complete panacea for all the ills of humankind and will bring peace on earth and good will to men, the desire of all nations that those who yield themselves willingly to his righteous reign now begun will be blessed with lasting peace, life, liberty and endless happiness." In these corrupt times, when man-made governments, especially those in Christendom, are failing utterly to solve the world's problems, that trumpeting challenge rings out with even greater force than in 1922. How true that God's Kingdom in the hands of his conquering Christ is mankind's one and only hope!

Through resolutions, tracts, booklets, books, magazines, and discourses. This and later promotions were trumpeted forth by means of the congregation of anointed Christians. The first trumpet blast resulted in Christendom's being beaten as with the hardened water of a pounding hail. He bloodguilt, due to her share in the wars of this 20th century, has been laid bare, and she has been shown to be deserving of the fiery expression of Jehovah's wrath. The John class, with later support from the great crowd, has continue to echo the first trumpet blast, drawing attention to Jehovah's view of Christendom, as being fit for destruction. -REVELATION 7:9, 15.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -A Third of the Earth Burned Up - Continue

 How is this judgment message delivered? Generally, not by the world's news media, which are part of the world and often reproachful of God's "slave." (Matthew 24:45) It was proclaimed in a notable way at the second historic gathering of God's people at Cedar Point, Ohio, September 10, 1922. These unanimously and enthusiastically adopted a resolution entitled "A Challenge to the World Leaders." In outspoken terms, it put the modern-day symbolic earth on notice, as follows: "We therefore call upon the nations of earth, their followers and allies, big business and big politicians, to bring forth their proof in justification of the position taken by them that they can establish peace and prosperity on earth and bring happiness to the people; and their failing in this, we call upon them to give ear to the testimony that we offer as witnesses for the Lord, and then let them say whether or not our testimony is true.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Third of the Earth Burned Up

 Reporting on the angels, John writes: "And the first one blew his trumpet. And there occurred a hail and  fire mingled with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and the green vegetation was burned up." (Revelation 8:7) This is similar to the seventh plague on Egypt, but what does it mean for our 20th century? - EXODUS 9:24. 

In the Bible, the word "earth" often refers to mankind. (Genesis 11:1; Psalm96:1) Since the second plague is on the sea, which also has to do with mankind, "the earth" must refer to the seemingly stable human society that Satan has built up and that is due to be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 21:1) The plague scenario reveals that Christendom's third of the earth is scorched by the searing heat of Jehovah's disapproval. Her prominent ones-standing like trees in the midst of her-are burned up by the proclaiming of Jehovah's adverse judgment. All her hundreds of millions of church members, if they continue to support Christendom's religion, become like scorched blades of grass, spiritually wilted in God's eyes. - Compare PSALM 37:1, 2. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Identifying the "Third" -

 It is Christendom! In the 1020's, her realm embraced about one third of mankind. Her religion is the fruit of the great apostasy from true Christianity-the apostasy that Jesus and his disciples foretold.  (Matthew 13:24-30; Acts20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Peter2:1-33) The clergy of Christendom claim to be in God's temple and have represented themselves as teachers of Christianity. But their doctrines are far removed from Bible truth, and they continually bring God's name into disrepute. Aptly represented by the symbolic third, Christendom receives potent, plaguing messages from Jehovah. That third of mankind merits no divine favor whatsoever!

In line with there being a sequence of trumpet blasts, special resolutions were featured at seven conventions from 1922 to 1928. But the trumpeting has not been confined to those years. The powerful exposing of Christendom's wicked ways has been continuous, ongoing, as the Lord's day progresses. Jehovah's judgments must be proclaimed universally, to all nations, despite international hatred and persecutions. Only then does the end of Satan's system come. (Mark 13:10, 13) Happily, the great crowd has now added its voice to that of the John class in making those thunderous pronouncements of worldwide importance. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Identifying the "Third"

 As we shall see, when the first four trumpets are blown, plagues are inflicted on "a third of the earth, or the sea, of the rivers and fountains of waters, and of the earth's sources of light. (Revelation 8:7-12) A third is a considerable part of something but not the whole. (Compare Isaiah 19:24; Ezekiel 5:2; Zechariah 13:8, 9) So which "third" would be most deserving of these plagues? The vast majority of mankind has been blinded and corrupted by Satan and his seed. (Genesis 3:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4) The situation is s described by David: "They have all turned aside, they are all alike corrupt, there is not one doing good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3) Yes, the whole of mankind is in danger of receiving an adverse judgment. But one section thereof is particularly guilty. One part-"a third-should have known better! What is that "third"?

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets - Conclusion

To my readers: Sorry, the blog was so short, but I had to do my blogs on my phone for a couple days because someone was trying to get information through my website. It may happen again, not just because of that but because Cox may be working on it in the area.

    As we shall see, each of the trumpet blasts herald a dramatic scene in which terrible plagues affect portions of the earth. Some of these remind us of the plagues that Jehovah sent to punish the Egyptians in Moses' day. (Exodus 7:19-12:32) These were expressions of Jehovah's judgment on that nation, and they opened the way for God's people to escape from slavery. The Plagues seen by John accomplish something similar. However, they are not literal plagues. They are signs that symbolize Jehovah's righteous judgments. - REVELATION 1:1.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets - Continue

 As the angels got ready to blow those Trumpets, no doubt they were also giving direction to a preparatory work on earth. From 1919 to 1922, the revitalized John class was busy in reorganizing the public ministry and building publishing facilities. In 1919 the magazine The Golden Age, known today as Awake!, had been brought forth as A journal of Fact, Hope, and conviction"-a trumpet like instrument that would play a key role in exposing false religion' political involvements.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets

 John goes on to say: "And the seven angels with the seven Trumpets prepared to blow them." (Revelation 8:6) What does the blowing of those Trumpets mean? In the days of Israel, trumpet blasts were used to signal important day's or newsworthy events. (Leviticus 23:24; 2 Kings 11:14) Similarly, the blasts of the Trumpets that John is to hear will call attention to matters of life-and-death inportance.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Hurling Fire to the Earth - Conclusion

 Referring to the recent hard  experiences of God's people, the speaker said: "So pitiless was the onslaught of  the enemy that many of the Lords dear flock were stunned and stood still in amazement, praying and waiting for the Lord to indicate his will. . . . But notwithstanding the momentary discouragement, there was a burning desire to proclaim the message of kingdom" - See the September 15, 1919 issue of the Watch Tower, page 280.

In 1919 that desire was satisfied. This small but active group of Christians was set on fire spiritually speaking, to begin a worldwide preaching campaign. (Compare 1Thessalonians 5:19) Fire was hurled to the Earth in that God's Kingdom was made the burning issue, and so it continues to be! Strong voices replaced silence, sounding out the Kingdom message with clarity. Thunderous storm warnings from the Bible pealed forth. Like flashes of lightning, brilliant beams of truth shone from Jehovah's prophetic Word, and, as of by a mighty earthquake, the religious calm was shaken to its foundations. The John class lsaw that there was work to be done. And to this day, that work continues to expand gloriously throughout the inhabited earth! - Romans 10:18.

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ChapterTwenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Hurling Fire to the Earth - Continue

 On one occasion Jesus told his disciples: "I came to start a fire on the Earth." (Luke12:49) Truly, he did ignite a fire. By his zealous preaching, Jesus made God's Kingdom the paramount issue before the Jewish people, and this sparked heated controversy throughout that nation. (Matthew:17,25; 10:5-7,17, 18) In1919Kesus'spiritusl brothers on earth, the small band of anointed Christians who had survived the trialsome days of world war one, set light to a similar fire in Christendom. In September of that year, Jehovah's spirit was remarkably in evidence as his loyal Witnesses assembled from near and far at Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A.. Joseph F. Rutherford, recently released from prison and soon to be completely exonerated, boldly addressed that convention saying: "Obedient to the command of our Master, and r ecognizing our privilege and duty to make war against the strongholds of error which have so long held the people in bondage, our vocation was and is to announce the incoming glorious kingdom of Messiah. "That is the primary issue-God's Kingdom! 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Hurling Fire to the Earth

 John tells us: "But right away the angel took the incense vessel, and he filled it with some of the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth. And thunders occurred and voices and lightnings and an earthquake." (Revelation 8:5) After the silence, there is sudden dramatic activity! This is evidently in response to the prayers of the holy ones, since it is triggered by fire taken from the incense altar. Back in 1513 B.C.E., at Mount Sinai, thunders and lightnings, a loud noise, fire, and a quaking of the mountain signaled Jehovah's turning his attention to his people. (Exodus 19:16-20) The similar manifestations reported by John likewise indicate Jehovah's giving attention to his servants on earth. But John observes is presented in signs. (Revelation 1:1) So how are the symbolic fire, thunders, voices, lightnings, and earthquake to be interpreted today?

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Fervent Prayer

 The sincere Christians of the John class were perplexed. What did God want them to do next? When they would be taken up to heaven? An article entitled "The Harvest Ended-What Shall We Follow?" appeared in the May 1, 1919 issue of the Watch Tower. It reflected this state of uncertainty and encouraged the faithful to continued endurance, adding: "We believe it is now a true saying that the harvest of the kingdom class is an accomplished fact, that all such are duly sealed and that the door is closed." During this difficult period, the fervent prayers of the John class were ascending, as though in the smoke of a large quantity of incense.  And their prayers are being heard!

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Fervent Prayer - Continue

 Can we determine when this happened? Yes, we can, by examining the context, together with the historical developments early in the Lord's day. (Revelation 1:10) During 1918 and 1919 events on earth harmonized remarkably with the scenario described at Revelation8:1-4. For 40 years before 1914, the Bible students-as Jehovah's Witnesses were then called-had been announcing boldly that the times of the Gentiles would end in that year. The distressful events of 1914 proved them correct. (Luke21:24; King James Version; Matthew24:3, 7, 8) But many of them also believed that in 1914 they would be taken from this earth to that heavenly inheritance. That did not happen. Instead, during the first world war, they endured a time of severe persecution. On October 31, 1916, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, Charles T. Russell, died. Then, on July 4, 1918, the new president, Joseph F. Rutherford, and seven other representatives of the Society were transported to the Atlantic Georgia penitentiary, wrongly sentenced to long years in prison. 

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