“And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. He was saying in a loud voice: ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment by him has arrived, so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of water.’ — Another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the wild beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb.'” —Revelation 14:6-7, 9-10
Immediately after his baptism when Satan tempted Jesus to do an act of worship before him, the Devil boasted that the glory of all the kingdoms of the world had been given to him and to whomever he wished, he gave it.
Jesus did not deny that the Devil had authority over all earthly governments; in fact, on another occasion, he referred to Satan as the ruler of the world. But the Devil’s authority over mankind is only a temporary arrangement and limited in scope. Perhaps “restrained” is a better way to put it. Ultimately, the wicked one’s empire is going to be obliterated and replaced by the Kingdom of Christ —This is the theme of the entire Bible.
Even though evil angels have been allowed to mislead and dominate sinful humans for the time being, God has not abdicated his own sovereignty. Throughout history, God has intervened to further his own purpose when deemed necessary.
One such occasion was after the great Flood, which drowned the wives and freakish offspring fathered by the renegade, materialized angels. As the human family began to repopulate the earth after that watery cataclysm, in a scheme to enslave mankind under what seems intended to have been a one-world dictatorship, the demons set up a tyrant by the name of Nimrod.
Although God had commanded the post-flood generation to spread out and fill the earth, thereby diluting the influence of strongman tyrants like Nimrod, a rebellion against God was manifest when the people under Nimrod’s rule began to build a city —the ill-fated city of Babel. Instead of spreading abroad as God had commanded, the people engaged in a construction project to erect a massive tower that reached up to heaven.
Jehovah intervened again, thwarting Satan’s scheme by suddenly, miraculously, confusing the common, spoken tongue — reprogramming the brains of various families with entirely different languages, thereby creating a cacophony of babble, effectively preventing people from communicating with each other. That certainly explains the multitude of languages spoken among mankind today even though DNA proves all humans have come from the same ancient source. As a consequence of Jehovah’s linguistic reprogramming, groups speaking the same language went off —some this way and others that way. The demonically motivated tower of Babel undertaking gradually came to naught. The Devil’s world government scheme was broken up and the Almighty’s purpose advanced.
Later, though, the dark spirit princes were successful in developing great empires that extended their control over vast areas. Those empires were characterized by their rapaciousness. Assyria, Babylon, Greece and Rome were the most notable –and, of course, the British Empire presently. Most importantly, each of those empires dominated God’s people at different times — Christ and the first century Christians included.
Nevertheless, in spite of these empires serving as the means for wicked demons to exercise their authority over the world, human governments have served God’s purpose. Paul explained that the “superior authorities” have been placed in their relative positions by God and that they serve a beneficial purpose. The inspired apostle went on to state: “That is why you are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants constantly serving this very purpose. Render to all their dues: to the one who calls for the tax, the tax; to the one who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to the one who calls for fear, such fear; to the one who calls for honor, such honor.” —Romans 13:6-7
Regarding the principle of the superior authorities serving as God’s ministers, of the ancient empires that dominated the Hebrews at various times the Persian empire was perhaps most prominently used by God as a benefactor and protector. Cyrus foremost —he being figuratively taken by the hand, called by Jehovah to take down mighty Babylon. Also King Darius, who supported Daniel. And Ahasuerus who married the Jewess, Esther, who as the queen of Perisa, acted prudently to save the Jews from Haman’s genocidal scheme.
In view of God’s past dealings with the human rulers of Satan’s system, it is apparent that America has served as a benefactor in modern times —as have other nations. The relative peace and prosperity, as well as the legal protections provided, have been a blessing to people of faith in the past century. Although there have been two world wars, so-called, the Western Hemisphere has largely remained untouched by the scourge of war. All of that is about to change in a very dramatic way. The reason? The coming to power of God’s Kingdom.
Although the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has sponsored a remarkable worldwide preaching campaign, Jehovah’s Witnesses are laboring under a powerful, satanic delusion, imagining that the Kingdom of God was established in 1914. Because God’s word is truth correctly reasoning upon it can easily dispel all lies and myths. According to God’s word, there is an event called judgment day. Paul spoke of it, as recorded in the 17th chapter of Acts: “Because he has set a day on which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has provided a guarantee to all men by resurrecting him from the dead.”
The Watchtower claims that the day when Christ began judging mankind began in 1914. That raises a number of questions, none of which Jehovah’s Witnesses can answer satisfactorily —such as: What has been the basis for Christ’s judgment? Astonishingly, the Watchtower implies that Jesus has already condemned a considerable portion of mankind to everlasting death because of their support for human governments. Based upon what is stated in the 14th chapter of Revelation, which refers to the arrival of the “hour of judgment,” Jehovah’s Witnesses imagine that everyone who votes or salutes the flag or shows any patriotism has had their names permanently blotted out of the book of life. Even the hundreds of millions who have already died over the course of the past century have evidently landed in the lake of fire with no possibility of resumed life. Here is what is stated in this regard in the October 1st, 2005, Watchtower:
At Revelation 14:9, 10, a further aspect of ‘the hour of judgment’ is described. Another angel says: “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God.” Why? “The wild beast and its image” are symbols of human rulership, which does not acknowledge Jehovah’s sovereignty. Alert Christians are careful not to allow themselves to be influenced or to be marked, in either attitude or action, as being in servitude to those who refuse to acknowledge the supreme sovereignty of the true God, Jehovah. Christians know that God’s Kingdom has already been set up in heaven, that it will put an end to all human rulerships, and that it will stand forever.
Ironically, the Watchtower article is entitled: “Keep on the Watch” —The Hour of Judgment Has Arrived. Since according to the Watchtower the hour of judgment has been ongoing over the past century, what exactly are we to keep on the lookout for?
Admittedly, you rarely hear Jehovah’s Witnesses discuss the 666 mark of the beast. No doubt that is because the Watchtower-induced delusion has stupefied the faithful into believing that people have already received the mark. Witnesses are incapable of reasoning for themselves on the matter. For example, presumably, Jehovah’s Witnesses have not allowed themselves to receive the symbolic 666 mark. If so, though, in what way has anyone been prevented from buying or selling? Not only that, but the scripture says that everyone is put under compulsion to worship the beast. If words mean anything, in what way has all of mankind been coerced into giving allegiance to the political system? Let the Governing Body explain how the image of the beast has killed those who refuse to worship it. Or how have the masses who have supposedly already received the mark of doom been forced to drink the cup of the wine of God’s wrath? It will be especially problematic for those doomed souls who have already passed away naturally to drink the cup of God’s rage.
In the United States a few years ago a number of professional football players refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem. Instead, they “took a knee” in defiance. The movement spread and American patriots became highly offended by their lack of respect for the revered symbol of America —the stars and stripes. Obviously, though, none of those footballers were put to death. They experienced no punishment at all. Far from being prevented from buying or selling, they continued to receive their million dollar paychecks. Perhaps the kneeling gladiators have won Jehovah’s approval for not worshipping the national emblem?
At this point, there is probably nothing the Watchtower could do anyway to fix their broken eschatology. The adjustment would be too great. The leap too far. The damage to their credibility would be unrepairable. How, for example, could it be presented to the flock that the entire 1914 doctrine has been wrong? It appears as if the Governing Body and their Helpers are hoping that the tribulation bails them out and they will be off the hook. Too bad for them it is not going to happen that way.
WHY ARE THE NATIONS AGITATED?
One of the most profound events associated with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God is the reaction that it will provoke among the nations. The second Psalm describes it this way: “Why are the nations agitated and the peoples muttering an empty thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and high officials gather together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one. They say: ‘Let us tear off their shackles and throw off their ropes!’ The One enthroned in the heavens will laugh; Jehovah will scoff at them. At that time he will speak to them in his anger and terrify them in his burning anger, saying: ‘I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”’
While it is true that Jehovah’s Witnesses have experienced persecution, particularly during times of war, no legal restraints have been placed upon them except in Muslim and communistic nations —political systems which also suppress other sects that identify themselves as Christians.
So, in what way have the nations banned together as one against God’s Kingdom? The Watchtower has assured Jehovah’s Witnesses that the formation of the short-lived League of Nations was the fulfillment of the prophetic Psalm. If that is true, in what way was the League anti-God? Did the League express any defiance of God? Did it persecute God’s people? Let the watchman of Bethel explain. And as has been pointed out many times already, the leading nation of the world, the U.S.A., was not even a member of the League. That being the case, how can it be said that the nations gathered together as one against Jehovah’s Kingdom? Obviously, they didn’t. Neither has the United Nations endeavored to suppress Christianity or the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. On the contrary, the Watchtower has often appealed to the UN Human Rights Office for support, as well as to the European Commission on Human Rights, which is a spinoff of the UN. And Jehovah’s Witnesses have been received favorably.
The second Psalm poses the question: “Why are the nations agitated”? Jesus said that the nations will be in anguish and perplexity “not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” —Luke 21:25-26
The Bible uses the roaring of the sea to symbolize the upheaval and chaos among the nations. Jehovah’s Witnesses understand this. However, this presents yet another contradiction in the Watchtower’s folklore. On the one hand, the Watchtower claims the nations have been in a state of agitation since 1914. On the other hand, the Society now teaches that people have not become faint with fear not knowing the way out due to the raging of the sea of mankind.
One of the most glaring omissions in the Watchtower presentation of prophecy is the role of Babylon as God’s appointed executioner. Just as Jehovah has at times used the nations of Satan’s system for the benefit of his people, God has also commissioned empires to serve as his punishing agents. That was true of both Assyria and Babylon. The eighth king of Revelation will serve a similar purpose.
The Governing Body has recently announced a readjustment in their method of interpretation —declaring that they no longer consider types and antitypes valid unless there is clear Scriptural support for such. Okay. Fine. What about Babylon? The prophecies of Zephaniah and Habakkuk both concern events in the day of Jehovah. The prophecy of Habakkuk portrays the Chaldean as having been specifically appointed by God to execute his judgments. Furthermore, the Watchtower frequently cites Habakkuk 2:3, which says: “For the vision is yet for its appointed time, and it is rushing toward its end, and it will not lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it! For it will without fail come true. It will not be late!”
Since Babylon obviously poses as a type of something yet to be revealed at the appointed time, and even the Watchtower recognizes the vision is yet to be fulfilled, that means that an antitypical Chaldean is destined to be appointed to serve as God’s killer of nations. Since there is a clear type/antitype fulfillment, why no mention of it? Has the Governing Body abandoned their guard post?
Isaiah also portrays a greater Babylon being acquisitioned by Jehovah to serve as his military force. This is what the day of Jehovah is all about. Here is what Jehovah has said: “I have issued the command to those whom I have appointed. I have summoned my warriors to express my anger, my proudly exultant ones. Listen! A crowd in the mountains; it sounds like a numerous people! Listen! The uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! Jehovah of armies is mustering the army for war. They are coming from a distant land, from the extremity of the heavens, Jehovah and the weapons of his wrath, to bring ruin to all the earth. Wail, for the day of Jehovah is near! It will come as a destruction from the Almighty.” —Isaiah 13:3-6
The uproar of kingdoms? Nations gathered together? Bringing all the earth to ruin? Again, any honest person should ask why those who boast of being the seers for God’s earthly organization see no significance in Babylon being used to express divine wrath during the oncoming day of Jehovah.
Fortunately, the reign of terror of the last king will be relatively brief —a symbolic one hour.
The Watchtower is very much in error. Not only has Christ’s Kingdom not been established in heaven. Neither has the eighth king arisen from the abyss. First must come the next world war and the sudden crash of the presently teetering global financial system and the Almighty Dollar –in short, the Anglo-America dominated system. The nations will be thrown into such turmoil and anguish they will gladly accept a communistic world government –the eighth king. That is when the resurrected beast will cause to be killed all who refuse to worship it. That is the hour of test coming upon the entire inhabited earth, about which Jesus spoke.
Yes, by all means, keep on the watch. The hour of judgment is nigh!
Further reading: The Coming Rise and Fall of Babylon – Mark of the Beast – The Devil Has Come Down to You
