announcing jehovah's kingdom - Watchtower Archive

I N
"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM"
THE Holy Bible a tree is used as a symbol of a
creature or an organization of creatures. Accordingly
the fruits borne by the tree symbolically stand for what
centuries of growth Christendom's fruitage plainlY visible
proves she is not that nation. She has never at any time
brought to the people the fruit or Scriptural message of
the creature or organization of creatures holds before the the kingdom of God. On the contrary, she has at all times
people as spiritual food for their nourishment and growth. co-operated with politicians, militarists, commercial giants,
Jesus used trees as an illustration of this kind, saying in and ambitious gangsters to rule and control the nations of
his sermon on the mount: "A good tree cannot bring forth the earth. Instead of bearing before the people the fruits
evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. of God's Word, which really sustain the eater, she has
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn bitterly opposed the kingdom under Christ, as is proved by
down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye her continual persecution of Jehovah's witnesses, the only
shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, ones telling the people the Bible facts about God's kingdom
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that under Christ. Every religious system of Christendom
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will indulges in politics and commerce, more or less, contrary
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied to Christ, who said his kingdom is not of this world. They
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and call him ''Lord, Lord", but do works that are lawless to
in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will Him, or iniquity.
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, Everyone that is made a member of the "church of God"
ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7: 18-23) Despite their call- must faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and must
ing Jesus ''Lord, Lord", and professing to do many out- therefore do as Jesus did. "For even hereunto were ye
wardly righteous works in His name, those symbolic trees called," writes Peter to the true Christians, ''because Christ
were not producing good fruits, but were producing "evil also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
fruit" that Jesus called "iniquity". So, in this day, we must follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found
not be influenced by religious leaders' oft repetition of in his mouth." (1 Pet. 2: 21, 22) Jesus said he came into
"Lord, Lord", with reference to Jesus Christ, but we must this world to bear witness to the truth, and then he added:
look at their teachings and works, and then we shall "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John
positively be able to know whether they are religious 18: 37) Every true Christian, therefore, listens to Jesus'
hypocrites or genuine Christians. voice of truth and then brings forth the fruitage of truth.
To Jesus Christ and to those who faithfully follow him He is Jehovah's great Prophet, and they must obey him
as members of the "church, which is his body", Jehovah or else suffer destruction. So both Moses and Peter said.
God has covenanted to give the kingdom of heaven. The (Deut. 18: 15-19; Acts 3: 22, 23) For any religious leader
Kingdom will open up the new world of righteousness by on ear.th to lay claim to the office of personally representruling
for a thousand years and undoing all the wicked ing and substituting for Jesus Christ and then to take the
work, and its effects, of Satan the Devil. (Luke 22: 28-30) course exactly opposite to what Jesus took on earth, is
The kingdom of God has nothing that is commercial. It wholly inconsistent. It shows that his claims or pretenses
has nothing in common with the harsh, cruel and wicked are false. The pope of Vatican City is much in the limesystem
now ruling the world, for this present rule the light these days. His newspaper publicity department
Bible tells us is under Satan the Devil and his representa- forces him and his religious claims upon the attention of
tives invisible and visible. The "god of this world" is the all of us, no matter of what belief, and consequently it is
great blinder of men's minds to the truth, who is also only logical that we discuss what he claims and what he
called "the prince of this world". (2 Cor. 4: 4) Concerning and his religious organization does.
this world Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world." Neither Jesus nor his apostles owned any real estate,
"The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in houses or other property. Of Jesus we read, at Luke 9: 58:
me." (John 18: 36; 14: 30) Hence this present world and "The Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus
its nations will never be converted into the kingdom of and his apostles did not build cathedrals and basilicas at
God, but the Kingdom will be something entirely new and great expense to the people and draw the paying people
distinct from them. The time of his second coming marks into them to serve the clergy, but he and his apostles went
the hour when Christ Jesus takes the kingdom that God about "from house to house" preaching the truth to the
presents to him and begins ruling in the midst of his people and instructing them privately and publicly in the
enemies in heaven and in earth. At this time also he way of God. (Matt. 10: 5-15; Acts 20: 20) All true followgathers
to himself the "church, which is his body", that ers of Christ Jesus have ever pursued the same course. But
they may be with him in the heavenly kingdom.-Eph. how about the pope of Vatican City, who is both a political
1: 22, 23; 2 Tim. 4: 1; 2 Thess. 2: 1. ruler and a religious head?
That t.he Jl'wish national organization missed out on The pope pays great deference to Emperor Constantine
the privilege of being the symbolic tree to bear the fruits of Rome. This politician, militarist and emperor of Rome
of God's kingdom to the people Jesus showed, when he said was a pagan or heathen but claimed to adopt Christianity.
to their religious leaders: "The kingdom of God shall be He was rich and influential, and as a clever politician and
taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the military strategist he knew how to use his wealth, influence,
fruits thereof." (Matt. 21: 43) But as we look at the and position, to buy the salvation that the Roman Cathorganized
religion of Christendom we can see from her olic system of his day claimed to offer. A Roman Catholic
fruits that she has not proved to be that "nation bringing authority is appropriate to quote here, namely, page 134
forth the fruits" of the kingdom of God. After sixteen of The Faith of Our Fathers, by the late Cardinal Gibbons,
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