Page:Tree-of-hope-1934.djvu/4

⁴ period of time is represented by multiplying the days of one year, 360, by seven (times), equaling 2,520; and as the Scriptures fix a day as a symbol of a year, the period of ‘‘seven times’’ therefore equals 2,520 years.

⁵ The ‘seven years’ did not begin to count from the date of the decree condemning the tree to destruction, which decree would be from the time of the fall of man onward. Thereafter and during the time of Melchizedek, and of Israel as God’s covenant people, there was at least during those times typically the kingdom of God on the earth, and as long as these existed the “seven times” could not begin to count. The reason is that the stump (picturing mankind) with bands of iron and copper around it shows the non-existence or non-activity of the kingdom of God in the earth. The beginning of the counting of the seven times must wait until the overturning of Israel’s last king, which took place in the year 606 B.C. From that time the scripture applies which says: “It shall be no more, until he come whose right it is” to have the kingdom and rulership of the world. (Ezek. 21; 27) It was at the overthrow of Zedekiah that this decree against Israel was entered, and there it was that Satan became ‘the god of the whole world’, and it was then and there that the seven times, mentioned in Daniel's prophecy, in the fourth chapter, began to count; meaning that God would not interfere with the beastly rule of earth until.the end of that specific period of time. That period of seven times, beginning in 606 B.C. and extending over a period of 2,520 years, ended in 1914, when Christ was enthroned by Jehovah and sent forth to rule amongst his enemies. —Ps. 110: 2.

THE DECREE

⁶ The decree heard by Nebuchadnezzar, recorded by Daniel, was a divine judgment: “This matter [question at law] is by the decree of the watchers [Jehovah and his Logos], and the demand [the judicial decision, Strong] by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Vs.17) Jehovah and Christ Jesus are the only “holy Ones”. (Isa. 57:15; Rev. 3:7) The judicial decree is rendered by Jehovah and is announced and executed by the Vindicator of Jehovah’s name. Jehovah and Christ Jesus are the watchers named in this verse, as it will be noted that the word is in the plural. They are the watchers over Jehovah’s name, and that pertains to its vindication. The intent or purpose is made certain by the words: “To the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.” Therefore the supreme purpose is the vindication of Jehovah’s name and the settlement for ever of the question of his supremacy and his inherent rulership. Again the vindication of Jehovah’s name is magnified as the most important of all doctrines taught in the Scriptures. When Christ Jesus comes to the temple of Jehovah that marks the beginning of the time when the rulers of the world shall no longer plead ignorance but they must know that Jehovah is God. “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.”—Ps. 83:18.

⁷ The words of the text “kingdom of men” do not refer to the petty kingdoms of Satan’s wicked world, but to the kingdom or invisible lordship set up over man. Jehovah has no responsibility for the national

governments of the present wicked world, and certainly not as to who gets into office or is put out of office by the votes of men. Those who are wholly devoted to Jehovah, therefore, can have no part in the election of such rulers. The fact that Satan has been permitted to continue to exercise overlordship of man is no contradiction of this. He has so exercised rulership, not because his power was superior to Jehovah's, nor because he is higher than Jehovah, but Satan has exercised the overlordship because Jehovah has suffered it to be so, having fixed a time certain to permit Satan to work out his strongest practical argument in support of his beastly challenge of Jehovah's position. Otherwise stated, Jehovah has stood by and let Satan do his worst and bided his own good time to prove Satan the most fertile liar in the universe. Jehovah in due time shows his supremacy, first making known to his faithful witnesses why he has waited:

“But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) The fact that Jehovah directed Jesus to remain inactive and wait until 1914 to begin his work of interference with the enemy proves that Jehovah is “the Most High [that] ruleth in the kingdom of men”, and that he is therefore supreme. In his own due time he delegates this power of rulership to whomsoever he pleases, and he makes known now that he has given it to Christ Jesus and that he will associate with Christ Jesus in that organization 144,000 others, the true and faithful footstep followers of Christ Jesus, who maintain their integrity to the end. (Dan. 7: 13-27) “Fear not. little flock: for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) In this latter text the words of Jesus are not only strong but conclusive proof that the giving of the kingdom over mankind is exclusively within the power of Jehovah the Most High.

“LOWEST OF MEN”

⁸ Jesus, although the beloved Son of Jehovah, must suffer humiliation in order to prove Jehovah's side of the question at issue and in order to demonstrate his own qualification to become Jehovah’s Vindicator. (Heb. 5:8,9) Concerning Jesus it is written that he was meek and lowly. (Matt. 11:29) “He was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isa. 53:3) Ile made