This is the Declaration
of Facts that Jehovah's Witnesses today wish never existed, and that they
also pretend does not exist. When we know that the JWs are represented in the
Holocaust Museum, together with the Jews - we can surly wonder why the Jews does not
protest most strongly by being presented together with JWs as "victims".
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.
ț"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
ț 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 subtilly [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.ăPsalm 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.'ăRevelation 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 subtilty [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.'ăPsalm 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.ăActs 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.'ăIsaiah 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."
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