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52 She WATCHTOWER. 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. 5The ‘seven years’ did not begin to count from the date of the decree condemning the tree to destrue- tion, which deeree would be from the time of the fall of man onward. Thereafter and during the time of Melchizedek, and of Isracl 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 Isracl’s last king, whieh took place in the year 606 B.C. From that time the seripture applics which says: ‘It shall be no more, until he come whose right it is’? to have the kingdom and rulership of the world. (Ezck. 21; 27) It was at the overthrow of Zedekiah that this deerce against Tsracl was entered, and there it was that Sa- tan became ‘the god of the whole world’, and it was then and there that the seven times, mentioned in Daniel's propheey, in the fourth chapter, began to count ; meaning that God would not interfere with the beastly rule of carth 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 Jchovah and sent forth to rule amongst his enemies. —Ds. 110: 2. THE DECREE ®° The deerce heard by Nebuchadnezzar, recorded by Daniel, was a divine judgment: ‘“‘This matter [ques- tion at law] is by the decree of the watehers [Jeho- vah 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 whom- soever 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; Rey. 3:7) The judicial deerce is rendered by Jchovah and is an- nounced and exeented 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 Jchovah’s name, and that pertains to its vindication. The in- tent or purpose is made certain by the words: ‘‘To the intent that the living may know that the Mast High ruleth in the kingdom of men.”? Therefore the supreme purpose is the vindication of Jchovah’s name and the settlement for ever of the question of his su- premacy and his inherent rulership. Again the vin- dication of Jchovah’s name is magnified as the most Brooxiyn, N. Y. 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 lotiger plead ignorance but they must know that Jehovah is God. ‘That men may know that thou, whose namc alone is JEHOVAN, art the Most High over all the earth.’’—Ps. 83:15. ™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 sct up over man. Jchovah has no responsibility for the national governments of the present wicked world, and cer- tainly not as to who gets into office or is put out of office by the votes of men. Those who are wholly de- voted to Jehovah, therefore, can have no part in the selection of sueh rulers. The fact that Satan has been permitted to continue to exercise overlordship of man is no contradiction of this. Te has so exercised ruler. ship, not beeause his power was superior to Jchovah’s, nor beeause he is higher than Jehovah, but Satan has exereised the overlordship because Jchovah has suffered it to be so, having fixed a time certain to permit Satan to work out his strongest practieal argu- ment in support of his beastly challenge of Jehoval’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. Jchovah in due time shows his supremacy, first mak- ing 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 interferenee with the enemy proves that Jehovah is ‘‘the Most High [that] ruleth in the kinedom 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 or- ganization 144,000 others, the true and faithful foot- step followers of Christ Jesus, who maintain their . integrity to the end, (Dan. 7: 18-27) ‘‘Fear not, lit- tle 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 Jchovah, must suffer humiliation in order to prove Jehovah's side of the question at issue and in order to demonstrate his own qualification to beeome Jehovah’s Vindicator. (Heb. 5:8,9) Concerning Jesus it is written that he was meek and lowly. (Matt. 11:29) ‘(Ile was despised, and we esteemed him not.’’ (Isa. 53:3) Tle made