The Assyrian and the 8th Kingdom

Today, Jehovah certainly has provided an abundance of spiritual men to shepherd his precious sheep, to strengthen his people for the future attack of the modern-day “Assyrian.” The most practical step that we can take to prepare for the coming attack of “the Assyrian” is that of strengthening our faith in God and helping our brothers to do the same. When “the Assyrian” attacks, the elders must be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us. At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking.

Commentary

“When the Assyrian attacks” is saying something — something very profound.

Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that at some point in the future true Christians will come under attack by the nations under Satan’s control.

To that end Jehovah has provided us with some insight into the future, for which we can be grateful. And there is no question that a program is in place to help us strengthen our faith in preparation for that eventual attack. And there is no doubt that the Watchtower institution has been an instrument in the hand of Christ to accomplish a vital phase of God’s unfolding purpose.

However, when it comes to prophecy the Devil is in the details – literally!

What is to take place between now and that final attack is something that has been concealed from the seers of Bethel.  And it is significant.

For all of their insight and spiritual comprehension, what does the Scripture say? It reveals that Jehovah has covered the heads of his prophets and visionaries. They do indeed see the outline of the end game – that being the attack of Gog of Magog — but they are not allowed to see what immediately precedes the final attack. And what is that, exactly?

The “Assyrian” typifies the eighth king. The eighth king is not the UN. It certainly was not the League of Nations. The eighth king has not ascended from the abyss yet. It may well be the United Nations in the future. I expect that it will be. But, it is not the relatively impotent UN we are familiar with now.

Moreover, before the last kingdom begins his short-lived, “one-hour” reign, first the head of the wild beast must suffer a mortal blow. That did not occur during WWI. First the beast must plunge into the symbolic abyss. That did not occur when the League went bust during WWII.

What does the beast plunging into an abyss signify? It portends the earth-shaking collapse of the present governmental and economic system! Nothing short of the complete overthrow of the nation-state system! The ascendency of the last king will be in the form of a global, communistic world government.

During the day of tyranny the Watchtower will be completely discredited and cease to function as a publishing company. It will not issue any sort of life-saving instructions. On the contrary, at that point it will become an uncanny voice of an antichrist. Those who continue to trust in that human institution will be lost.

What about Jehovah’s Witnesses? What about the truth?

The coming crash of civilization will herald the authentic coming of Christ. The Watchtower will have served its purpose. Those whose faith survives the jolt will move on into a new reality — they will ascend into the true mountain of Jehovah — into the Kingdom of God. Elders will not play a leading role then. The angels will.

The trampling of the holy place is what is pictured by the literal Assyrian’s conquest of the northern 10 tribe kingdom of Israel. The attack of the modern-day “Assyrian” will be an attack upon the regathered people of God — not as Jehovah’s Witnesses presently exist under the authority of the Watchtower. That is what Judah represents in the drama — those gathered into spiritual paradise. The seven princes picture the sons of the Kingdom, who will then be shining as brightly as the sun. The eighth prince is Christ himself. Together they will shepherd the “Assyrian” by annihilating him.