1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

these false kingdoms of God whose rulers were glad to haveassistance in holding the control which Antichrist had giventhem over the people. They desired to hold forever, forthemselves and their families, the fat positions already attained.Hence, the various governments of Europe are wedded to somereligious system, which they support, and at the hands of whoseofficers, with religious pomp and ceremony, titles and officesare entered upon. No matter how villainous, or imbecile, orinsane, or opposed to both the letter and spirit of God's Word,these announce their authority to perpetuate wrongs under thehypocritical mask (authorized first by Papacy, and sinceconceded by all Protestant sects)--king, or queen, or emperor,"by the grace of God."Thus we find to-day, many so-called Christian kingdoms in theworld, as well as many churches, though our Lord onlyestablished one church, which in due time was to be completedand glorified to constitute the one kingdom of God promised. Inthe light of God's Word, we must deny that kings and emperorsnow reign by the grace of God, or that God is in any degree,responsible for their misruling, though he predetermined topermit these various experiments at self-government for anappointed time--"until He come, whose right it is." (Ezek.21:27.) The facts of history corroborate the testimony of theScriptures, that present governments are under the control of"the prince of this world." (John 14:30; Eph. 2:2.) To deceivethe people he assumes a garment of light, and authority is givennot in his own name, but in the name of God, at the hands of theapostate church.--2 Cor. 11:14,15.How much of the spirit of Christ do they manifest? Hear louderand louder down the centuries the clash of arms, the thunder ofartillery, the tread of mighty armies, and the groans of the dying,in the strife of these so-called kingdoms of God to annihilateeach other; and remember, that at no period of the world'shistory were there ever, as to-day, armies numbering elevenmillions of men, thoroughly equipped and trained, ready at amoment's call to rush to battle, armed with weapons of carnage ahundred fold more dreadful and destructive than were everbefore known, which make them equal to a hundred millions informer times.Remember too, that these eleven millions must soon be calledinto action, if for no other reason than that the great expense oftheir maintenance is rapidly bankrupting these various kingdomsof Christ (?). Remember too, that when the tocsin of war shallsound, the various pulpits will support the various thrones withwords of burning eloquence and prayers to God for help, each toconsume the other. And with the army corps shall go chaplains,to cheer the dying soldiers of God's (?) kingdom; to assure eachhost that its cause is just, and that if they fall it is in support ofthe Lord's anointed representatives.