I publish for my readers consideration the full text of the pamphlet a declaration of facts addressed to the state and people of Nazi Germany requesting that Jehovah's servants in Hitler's Germany be left in peace to carry on their preaching and teaching work circa 1933.I've done this so that you can read the document in its entirety and form your own conclusions.
Declaration of Facts
"This company of German people, who are peaceable and law-abiding citizens
representing many others from every part of Germany, all of whom are
earnestly laboring for the highest welfare of the people of this land,
being now duly assembled at Berlin this 25th day of June, AD.. 1933, do
joyfully declare our complete devotion to Jehovah, the Almighty God, and to
his kingdom under Christ Jesus, whose shed blood bought the human race. We
declare that the holy Scriptures set forth in the Bible constitute the Word
of Jehovah God given to men for their guidance in righteousness, and that
the Word of God is the truth, and that it is of greatest importance that
man have a knowledge of his relationship to God. We ask to be judged by the
standard of the Word of God.
"Christ Jesus is Jehovah God's great Witness to the truth, and as his
faithful and devoted followers we are, by His grace, witnesses to the
truth. The purpose of this Declaration is that we may present a true and
faithful witness before rulers and the people as to the name and purpose of
Jehovah God and our relation thereto.
"We are wrongfully charged before the ruling powers of this government and
before the people of this nation; and in order that the name of Jehovah God
may be exalted in the minds of the people, and that his benevolent purposes
be better understood and our position fairly placed before the government,
we do respectfully ask the rulers of the nation and the people to give a
fair and impartial consideration to the statement of facts here made.
"The Scriptures plainly state that the chief opposer of Jehovah God and the
greatest enemy of mankind is Satan the Devil whose name is also that of
Serpent and Dragon. It is written in the Scriptures that Satan, who has
long been the invisible ruler of this world, deceives and blinds the people
to the truth in order that the light of and concerning Jehovah God and
Christ Jesus may not shine into the minds of men. (2 Corinthians 4: 3,4)
Frequently by fraud, subtility [sic]] and deception Satan has induced
honest persons to war with each other, in order that he might turn them all
away from God and destroy them. Above all things, the people need to know
Jehovah God and his gracious provision for their general welfare.
"By the term 'clergy', as used in our literature, reference is made to the
class of professed religious teachers, priests and Jesuits who employ
improper political means to accomplish their ends and pin forces even with
those who deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the same class to
whom Jesus referred as his persecutors. We have no criticism of any honest
religious teacher.
"When Jesus went to the Jews to tell them of the truth, it was the Jewish
clergy, that is to say, the Pharisees and priests, that violently opposed
him and persecuted him and caused him to be charged with all manner of
crimes and offenses. They refused to hear the truth, and addressing them
Jesus said: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot
hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father
ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of
his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the
truth, ye believe me not.' (John 8: 43-45) Although the Pharisees and
priests then claimed to represent Jehovah God Jesus told them that they
were in fact the representatives of Satan the Devil.
"We have no fight with any persons or religious teachers, but we must call
attention to the fact that it is generally those who claim to represent God
and Christ Jesus who are in fact our persecutors and who misrepresent us
before the governments and nations. As true followers of Christ Jesus we
are to expect such opposition, and we mention it here in explanation of why
we have been misrepresented before the rulers of this nation. To his
faithful followers Jesus said: 'Remember the word I said unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. If they [the false religious
teachers] have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have
kept my saying, they will keep yours also.' (John 15: 20) Furthermore,
Jesus said that this same class of men would cause his true followers to be
wrongfully charged before the ruling powers, his language being: 'But take
heed to yourselves: for they [false religious teachers] shall deliver you
up to councils [police power]; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten;
and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a
testimony against them.' (Mark 13: 9) This explains why Jehovah God now
permits his faithful witnesses to be misrepresented and persecuted, namely,
that those of a wrong spirit may identify themselves as opponents of God
and thus bear witness against themselves. The same materialistic spirit
that caused the persecution of Jesus Christ now exists and is back of the
persecution of us his faithful followers.
"It is falsely charged by our enemies that we have received financial
support for our work from the Jews. Nothing is farther from the truth. Up
to this hour there never has been the slightest bit of money contributed to
our work by Jews. We are the faithful followers of Christ Jesus and believe
upon Him as the Savior of the world, whereas the Jews entirely reject Jesus
Christ and emphatically deny that he is the Savior of the world sent of God
for man's good. This of itself should be sufficient proof to show that we
receive no support from Jews and that therefore the charges against us are
maliciously false and could proceed only from Satan, our great enemy.
"The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American
empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of
America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the
British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a
means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact
particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold
of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a
proverb concerning the city of New York which says: 'The Jews own it, the
Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.' We have no fight
with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and
in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are
compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the same in order that
the people may be enlightened concerning God and his purpose.
Our Literature
"It is said that our books and like literature, when circulated amongst the
people, constitute a danger to the peace and safety of the nation. We are
certain that this conclusion is due to the fact that our books and other
literature have not been carefully examined by the rulers and hence are not
properly understood. We respectfully call attention to the fact that these
books and other literature were written originally in America and the
language therein used has been adapted to the American style of plainness
of speech and, when translated into German, the same appears to be harsh.
We admit that the same truths might be stated in a less blunt and more
pleasing phrase, and yet the language of these books follows closely the
language of the Bible.
"It should be borne in mind that in the British Empire and in America the
common people have suffered and are now suffering greatly because of the
misrule of Big Business and conscienceless politicians, which misrule has
been and is supported by political religionists, and hence the
writers of our books or literature have endeavored to employ plain
language to convey to the people the proper thought or understanding. The
language used, however, is not as strong or emphatic as that used by Jesus
Christ in denouncing the oppressors and false teachers of his time.
"The present government of Germany has declared emphatically against Big
Business oppressors and in opposition to the wrongful religious influence
in the political affairs of the nation. Such is exactly our position; and
we further state in our literature the reason for the existence of
oppressive Big Business and the wrongful political religious influence,
because the Holy Scriptures plainly declare that these oppressive
instruments proceed from the Devil, and that the complete relief therefrom
is God's kingdom under Christ. It is therefore impossible for our
literature or our work to in any wise be a danger or a menace to the peace
and safety of the state.
"Our organization is not political in any sense. We only insist on teaching
the Word of Jehovah God to the people, and that without hindrance. We do
not object or try to hinder anyone's teaching or believing what he desires,
but we only ask the freedom to believe and teach what we conceive the bible
to teach, and then let the people decide which they wish to believe.
"To know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for mankind is of most
vital importance to all persons, because God has declared in His Word that
where there is no vision or understanding of his Word the people perish.
(Proverbs 29: 18) We have devoted our lives and our material substance to
the work of enabling the people to gain a vision or understanding of God's
Word, and therefore it is impossible for our literature and our work to be
a menace to the peace and safety of the nation. Instead of being against
the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely
for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus
will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to
the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest
heart.
"Our organization seeks neither money nor members, but we are a company or
organized body of Christian people engaged solely in the benevolent work of
teaching the Word of God to the people at the least possible cost to them.
Our organization was originally incorporated in the United States of
America in 1884 under the name of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE 15r TRACT SOCIETY,
and in 1914 incorporated under the laws of Great Britain by the name of the
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. These are merely the corporate
names of our organization for legally carrying forward its work. The
Scriptural name by which we are known is 'Jehovah's witnesses'. We are
engaged solely in a benevolent work. The purpose of our organization is to
aid the people to understand the Bible, which discloses the only possible way
for the complete relief and blessing for mankind. Our organization has
extended its work throughout the earth. The education, culture and
upbuilding of the people must and will come through the agency of God's
kingdom concerning which we teach as set forth in the Bible. The salvation
of the people depends upon the true knowledge of and obedience to Jehovah
God and his righteous ways.
"The people are in great distress and in need of help to understand the
reason for their unhappy condition and what is the means of relief. The
Scriptures, when understood, make this matter clear. Instead of collecting
money from the people and using the same to erect great buildings and to
support men in luxury, we print the gospel message of God's kingdom and
carry it to the homes of the people that they may, at the least
inconvenience to themselves, gain a knowledge of God's purposes concerning
them.
"A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact
that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national
government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our
publications, and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high
ideals in due time will be attained by all persons who love righteousness
and who obey the Most High. Instead, therefore, of our literature and our
work's being a menace to the principles of the present government we are
the strongest supporters of such high ideals. For this reason Satan, the
enemy of all men who desire righteousness, has sought to misrepresent our
work and prevent us from carrying it on in this land.
"For many years our organization has put forth an unselfish and persistent
effort to do good to the people. Our American brethren have greatly
assisted in the work in Germany, and with money freely contributed, and
that at a time when all Germany was in dire distress. Now because it
appears that Germany may soon be free from oppression and that the people
may be lifted up, Satan, the great enemy, puts forth his endeavours to
destroy that benevolent work in this land.
League of Nations
"The language in our books or literature concerning the League of Nations
has been seized upon as a reason for prohibiting our work and the
distribution of our books. Let us remind the government and the people of
Germany that it was the League of Nations compact that laid upon the
shoulders of the German people the great unjust and unbearable burdens.
That League of Nations compact was not brought forth by the friends of
Germany. In America at one time the public press announced
that 140,000 clergymen had set aside a certain period of time in which a
concerted movement was to be made, and which was made, to induce the
American people to fully endorse the League of Nations. It was the
Federation of Churches in America that issued a manifesto stating that the
'League of Nations is the political expression of God's kingdom on earth',
and which by them was substituted in the place and stead of God's kingdom
under Christ. It was in America that our organization under the visible
leadership of its president pointed out emphatically that the League of
Nations is not an institution of Jehovah God, because it is oppressive and
unfair. It was that condition, existing at the time, which called forth
language that appears in our books concerning the League of Nations and
also calling attention to the fact that such League of Nations compact can
never bring about the relief and blessing of the people, because such
relief and blessing can come by adhering strictly to the principles laid
down in God's Word and in the manner which Jehovah has pointed out.
"For almost half a century our strictly Christian organization has carried
on its work in various parts of the earth. Its books are published in more
than 50 languages, and upward of 140 million of these books are in the
hands of the people. For more than thirty years our books and literature
have been distributed throughout Germany, and millions of these are now in
the hands of the German people and are read by the people, all of whom will
bear testimony to the fact that these books, based strictly on the Bible,
are of great help to them and upbuild them and give them hope for a
realization of the blessings which Jehovah God long ago promised. In all
these years of our work, and in the wide distribution of our books and
literature, not one instance can be truthfully cited wherein our work or
literature has been a menace to the government or has in any wise
endangered the peace and safety of the nations.
"The endeavors of our organization being exclusively confined to bearing
testimony to the name and Word of Jehovah God, it would be entirely
inconsistent for us to attempt to exert any political influence in the
governments of this world or to do anything that would endanger the peace
and safety of the nation. We have no desire nor inclination to do anything
except to carry out our divinely given commission to proclaim the Word of
Jehovah God.
"In America, Canada and other parts of the British Empire the political
clergy, priests and Jesuits have persistently persecuted and continue to
persecute those of our organization, and without just cause or excuse; and
we have every reason to believe that a like influence has been subtly
[sic] employed by the great enemy Satan to misrepresent us and our work in
Germany. We remind you that in the years past the political clergymen have
brought more sorrow upon the German people than probably any other class of
men. We have no desire to fight with the clergymen, but we do ask that the
ruling powers of the nation judge us not by the misrepresentation of such
men, but that we be judged according to the Word of God and the work we are
doing consistent therewith. Jehovah God persecutes no one, but permits each
one to choose his own course, holding him responsible for his acts
according to knowledge. Jehovah God has emphatically expressed his anger
against those who do persecute others who are trying to serve him; and this
proves that those who persecute us do not represent God, but that they are
incited so to do by the enemy of God and man.-Psalm 72:4
Great Truths
"The Holy Scriptures, viewed in the light of present-day events which are
in fulfilment of divine prophecy, disclose that: The time has arrived when
Jehovah will make his name known to all creation and vindicate his name and
clear it from the defamation which Satan has placed against that holy name.
(Psalm 83: 18) When Jesus Christ, the Vindicator, ascended into heaven
Jehovah commanded him to wait until his due time to put the enemy down.
That period of waiting has now come to an end and God has sent forth his
beloved Son to oust the enemy and rule in righteousness. (Psalm 110: 14;
Hebrews 10: 12,13) The world, or uninterrupted rule, of Satan has ended,
and this began to be evidenced by the World War in 1914, and since then
until now is the time when the gospel of the Kingdom must be told to the
people. (Matthew 24: 3,14) Satan has now been cast out of heaven and down
to the earth and now confines his operations to the earth in an endeavor to
blind the people to the truth and destroy them, and that is the reason for
the present-day sufferings of humanity. The prophetic words of Jesus now
apply: 'Woe to the inhabiters [the rulers] of the earth, and of the sea
[the people in general]! for the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.'-Revelation 12:
12.
"The people of Germany have suffered great misery since 1914 and have been
the victims of much injustice practiced upon them by others. The
nationalists have declared themselves against all such unrighteousness and
announced that 'Our relationship to God is high and holy'. Since our
organization fully endorses these righteous principles and is engaged
solely in carrying forth the work of enlightening the people concerning the
Word of Jehovah God, Satan by subtlety [sic] endeavors to set the
government against our work and destroy it because we magnify the
importance of knowing and serving God. Instead of our organization's being
a menace to the peace and safety of the government, it is the one
organization standing for the peace and safety of this land .
We beg to remind all that the great crisis is upon the world because the
transition period from bad to good is at hand, and the hope of the world is
God's kingdom under Christ, for which Jesus taught his followers to
constantly pray: 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is
done in heaven.'
"The power of Jehovah God is supreme and there is no power that can
successfully resist him. His time to exercise his power in the interest of
humanity and to the vindication of his great name is here. In this
connection we respectfully call attention to the admonition and warning of
Jehovah God, both to the rulers and to the people, which applies to this
very hour, wherein he says: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of
Zion.... Be wise now, therefor, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the
earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but
a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.'-Psalm 2: 6,
10-12.
'"The present government having declared adherence to the aforementioned
high ideals, we are persuaded that the rulers do not desire to knowingly
resist the progressive witness work to the name of Jehovah God and his
kingdom which we are now carrying forward. If our work is merely that of
men, it will fall of its own weight. If it is of Jehovah God and being
carried forward in obedience to his commandment, then to resist it means to
fight against God.-Acts 5: 39.
We therefore appeal to the high sense of justice of the government and
nation and respectfully ask that the order of prohibition against our work
and our literature be set aside, and the opportunity be given us to have a
fair hearing before we are judged. We respectfully ask that the government
appoint a committee of impartial men to hold conference with a committee of
our organization and that a fair and impartial examination of our
literature and our work be made, to the end that all misunderstanding may
be removed and that we may without hindrance obey Jehovah God's commandment
now applying to us, to wit: 'Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye
the way of the people; cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up
a standard for the people.'-Isaiah 62: 10.
"The peoples of Germany are a God-fearing people and should not be deprived
of an opportunity to learn of Jehovah God and of his gracious provision to
bring lasting peace, prosperity, liberty and everlasting life on earth to
all those who know and obey him. Let all who love God work together to the
honor and vindication of his name. All who take a
contrary course must take responsibility before God; but as for us we will
serve Jehovah forever.
"RESOLVED, That copies of this Declaration be respectfully delivered to
high officials of the government and that the same be given wide
publication to the people, that the name of Jehovah may be further known."
Ps.The two world wars remain an enormous embarrassment for Christendom the spectre of supposed Christians indulging in the most unchristian mass fratricide on an industrial scale has certainly called the west's Christian credentials into question especially WWII the co-operation of the Protestant,Catholic and evangelical churches with both sides of what still holds the record as the most lethal international conflict of all time has left a particularly stubborn stain.The most notable exception to this failure to adhere to the christian principle of unarmed and pacific neutrality re:The national/political conflicts of the present civilisation (see Matthew26:52,Revelation13:10) has been Jehovah's servants in the twentieth and twenty first centuries.For their steadfasness in obeying God and Christ in this regard they have had to endure all manner of ill treatment at the hands of the political powers of this world with the full support of their religious confederates.
While no apology has ever been given by this civilisation's politicised religions for the ungodly hostility in which they have participated against Jehovah's people their representatives have been quite busy spreading all manner of libellous distortions half-truths and outright lies about us.
My aim in publishing in full the Watchtower Society's 1933 declaration to the German state and people is to counter one particularly egregious revision of the historical facts by anti-JW propagandists.The steadfastness of German servants of Jehovah in refusing to give any political/military co-operation to the Nazi state or even to so much as say "heil Hitler" is a matter historical record as is the suffering they willingly endured as a result.
Alas anti-JW propagandists aren't the sort to let a little thing like the facts get in the way of their mission thus some have quote mined the above document in an attempt to support the claim that the society proposed some kind of political compromise with the German state.
By way of providing some background at the time the Nazi party had just ascended to power as part of a coalition a mere three months before so the concentration camps,the final solution were yet ahead and like all entities indulging in electoral politics there was much rhetoric uttered about standing up for the common man against the elite,restoring or extending national greatness,supporting the family as the basic unit of the society and other platitudes with which no sane person would/could take issue.
