Chapter Twenty-Seven/God"s Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation - Continue

 Relief arrived from an 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 out of 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 1940's the Witnesses gained a series of favorable decisions in the United States 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 keep up with the war of those who "have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." In many lands, loyal Witnesses are still in prison, and some die because of their integrity. But in some of these lands, the authorities from time to time relax their pressure, and the Witnessed enjoy a greater measure of freedom. Thus, in fulfillment of the prophecy, the earth continues to swallow up the river of persecution. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation - Conclusion

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