PROTECTION! You can't buy it. Well-paid racketeer gangsters can't give it. Yet even the poorest now can find it. This booklet by a jurist, the foremost author and radio lecturer of today, tells you how. Don't let yourself any longer be relieved of your hard-earned money by the subtlest and most deceptive of frauds. Don't be longer fooled, robbed and misled, to your lasting hurt and destruction. Events rapidly approaching urge you to READ THIS BOOKLET, for your own good and that of family and friends.
 

COPYRIGHTED 1936
AND PUBLISHED BY

WATCH TOWER

BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.

Made in the United States of America

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PROTECTION

TO DWELL IN PEACE and safety, free from injury to or destruction of life and property, is the desire of every honest person. All persons realize that these days are filled with great danger. This is a time of peril in every part of the earth. Men are exceedingly selfish and act in utter disregard of the rights and liberties of others. In every nation devastating war is expected, and each nation is preparing for war. Men's hearts are failing them for fear of what they see approaching, and the people in general are in distress and perplexity concerning the future for themselves and their children, Such a condition is not imaginary, but is real. No matter how good and honest a man is, he knows that he is surrounded by enemies, who seek his injury or destruction. Many persons silently breathe a prayer: "Keep me . . . from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who compass me about." —Psalm 17:8,9.
We are well along in the twentieth century, when the people of the world should have grown better; but they continue to grow worse. What

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is the cause of the increased wickedness? Is there a possible remedy? Can I find protection from those who seek to injure or to destroy me?
You may find full protection from all your foes, but it is of first importance to learn who are your enemies and the means employed by those enemies to do you hurt. If you see a man that is trying to do you injury you may avoid him or defend yourself in some manner; but if that enemy comes to you in secret and employs fraud and deceit to take advantage of you, and to take you unawares and thereby do you great harm, you have no means of protecting yourself. It is absolutely necessary for you to have the aid of a power greater than you are. Know, then, your chief enemies and how they operate and whence your protection may come.
What follows herein will enable you to ascertain the correct answer to each of the foregoing questions and to find the only place of safety. Your worst enemy is Satan the Devil. He is a subtle and wily foe. Because human eyes cannot see him, Satan easily deceives and defrauds mankind to their great injury. He employs wicked men and wicked organizations and false speech to work injury to men. He is known as the prince of darkness, and he at all times attempts to keep men in ignorance of the real truth. Only by ascertaining the real truth can man avoid these enemies and find protection.

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How about the churches and the religion they practice? To what extent does religion serve as a protection to us against our enemies? To appreciate the answer to these latter questions the indisputable facts must be carefully considered, and that without prejudice. Often that which appears on the surface to be helpful and friendly is in fact an enemy and injurious. Satan and his worldly agents who are ministers of religion pose as ministers of the gospel and claim to be friends, while at the same time they are deadly enemies. Concerning this it is written: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) Instead of being a protection, religion is the chief means employed by Satan to lead men into destruction.

RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY

To aid those persons of good will toward God. to have a better understanding and appreciation of Jehovah God and his purpose toward his creatures, attention is here called specifically to religion and Christianity. It is generally understood amongst the people that religion and Christianity are one and the same, but such is

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a very erroneous conclusion. Recognized worldly lexicographers define these terms as follows:
RELIGION: The "conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and practice".  — Webster.
CHRISTIANITY: "The religion of Christians; the system of doctrine and precepts taught by [Jesus] Christ; practical conformity of one's inward and outward life in the spirit of the Christian religion." — Webster.
Those definitions are entirely wrong and in full conflict with the Word of God. Without a doubt in Webster's day the terms religion and Christianity were used interchangeably, and it may be said that he was excusable for so defining those terms. Religion and Christianity, as defined in the Bible, are diametrically opposed one to the other. There is not in existence, nor ever was there in existence, such a thing as "the Christian religion". The Bible, which is the Word of God, is the supreme authority in this matter, and our definitions should conform strictly to the Bible. These two terms, as shown by the Bible, are correctly defined as follows:
RELIGION is any form of worship practiced or indulged in by creatures in recognition of some higher power, and which formalism and practice finds support or "authority" only in tradition.

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Such authority consists of the teachings of men, handed down by tradition from one generation to another. The transmission of any knowledge, doctrine, custom, practice or form of worship from fathers to descendants is tradition. Religion, as shown by the Scriptures, finds no support in the Word of God.
CHRISTIANITY: According to the Bible Christianity means full obedience to the commandments of God, even as Christ Jesus obeyed and taught those commandments to others. A person is a Christian only when he has fully devoted himself to God by consecration, and then is diligent to obey God's commandments, as set forth in the Bible.
In the earth today there are divers and numerous religions practiced by human creatures. There is just one Christianity, and that is not a religion, nor does it have any similarity to religion.

ORIGIN

It seems quite proper here to call attention to the beginning of religion following the Flood, and that information should be enlightening, and particularly pleasing to all who wish to know the right way and follow in the way of righteousness. Every sincere and honest person desires the truth, and the truth concerning Jehovah and his purpose and his relationship

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to his creatures is found only in the Bible. Concerning it the Lord Jesus, when on earth, said: "Thy word is truth." — John 17:17.
The order of Jehovah God's creation, as set forth in the Bible, is this: First, the Logos, who thereafter and now is known as Jesus and Christ Jesus. (John 1:1, 2, Emphatic Diaglott, interlinear reading) "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." (Colossians 1:15) The Logos was at all times thereafter the active agent of Jehovah in the creation of everything that was created. (Colossians 1:16) God created heavenly creatures known as seraphim, cherubim and angels. One mighty angel of great light and power created by the Lord God was first named Lucifer.
In his due time God created the earth, and he created the creature man to live on the earth. (Isaiah 45:12,18) It is recorded in the prophecy of Job: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job, 38:4,7) It reasonably follows that when the great Creator informed his creatures of heaven concerning his purpose to create the earth and to create and place on the earth an intelligent creature to the praise of the Most High, then the heavenly sons sang songs of praise to the Almighty God and all the angels of heaven shouted in praise of his holy name.

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Then in due time God created man and made him in his own image and likeness. He placed man in a beautiful part of the earth, which was then finished, called Eden, and his mighty angel creature Lucifer was installed as man's overlord. Lucifer had marked the praise that all creatures gave Jehovah God, and he coveted that praise for himself. (Jeremiah 51:13) He had an insatiable desire for that which belonged exclusively to Jehovah God. He set about to gratify that unholy desire, and concerning the same it is written: "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:13,14) Jehovah, being fully aware of Lucifer's desire to exalt himself, said this: "How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." — Isaiah 14:12,15.
Adam and the woman Eve were in Eden, having been placed there by the great Creator, with specific instructions as to their course of action, and had received at the mouth of Jehovah God his law, which informed them that in the day that they committed a willfully wrongful act, that would mean their death. (Genesis 2:17)

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Lucifer, knowing this fact, set about to accomplish his wrongful purpose by turning Eve and Adam against the great Creator. Lucifer deceived Eve and caused her to violate the law of Almighty God, and Adam, by reason of his selfish desire to have Eve, joined her in the transgression, and thus both were turned away from God. (1 Timothy 2:14) For their violation of God's law they were sentenced to death. (Genesis 2:17; 3:15-19) Before being put to death their children were born, and the result of the death sentence upon Adam and Eve was that all the human race inherited sin and death. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." — Romans 5:12.
Lucifer also was sentenced to death, but the execution of his death sentence was deferred for the reasons as hereinafter set forth. (Ezekiel 28:19) Jehovah God now changed the name of Lucifer, calling him by four separate and distinct names, which names portrayed the wickedness of that creature. From then till now he is known as Satan, which means adversary or the one who opposes Jehovah God; Devil, meaning slanderer; Serpent, meaning deceiver; and Dragon, meaning devourer. (Revelation 12: 9; 20: 2) That creature, as his names indicate, is the very embodiment of wickedness and is known in the Scriptures, as well as by experience of

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other creatures, as the chief wicked one of the universe.
The Devil, having succeeded in turning Adam and Eve away from God, proceeded upon the theory that he could turn all creatures away from Jehovah God; therefore he challenged God to put on earth any man who would maintain his integrity toward God when put to the test. The Devil declared that he could induce all men to curse God to His face. (Job 2:5) That challenge raised the question of supremacy, that is to say, Is God, whose name is Jehovah and who is all-powerful, is he supreme and is his word true 1 or can Satan the Devil thwart the purposes of Jehovah? To be sure, God could have executed the Devil immediately; but had he done so, that question of supremacy would have been left unsettled in the mind of other creatures. It pleased Jehovah God to accept the challenge of the wicked one and give the Devil full opportunity to make proof of his boastful challenge. Jehovah knew full well that in due time Satan would fail and that all creatures would have an opportunity to determine each one for himself which is the right way and who is right, and that therefore each creature would have to do with his own eternal destiny. Therefore Jehovah God said to the Devil: "For this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they [my wit-

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nesses] may proclaim my name throughout all the earth." — Exodus 9:16, Leeser translation.
This is a plain statement by Jehovah that he was giving Satan a suspended sentence and that He would permit Satan to exercise all the power at his command in his effort to thwart Jehovah God and His purpose, and that then Jehovah would show Satan the supremacy of the almighty God by the exercise of His own power, and that He would have His own great name proclaimed throughout the earth. It is essentially important to keep in mind at all times the issue raised by Satan's challenge and God's purpose as expressed in connection therewith. By doing so, the reason for the existence of so many religions in the earth will be understood. Also the reason will be very apparent that religion and following in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, called "Christianity", are exactly opposed one to the other.

RELIGION ORGANIZED

The first man and woman, being expelled from Eden, exercised their God-given functions to bring children into the earth. The flood destroyed all people, save "Noah, the eighth person", and his family. (2 Peter 2: 5) After the flood human creatures multiplied and increased and within a period of time there were in the earth many men, and among them was a man whose name was Nimrod. (Genesis 10:8) Satan

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now began his operations to organize mankind in open defiance of the Almighty God and he employed religion for that purpose. Nimrod was selected as the visible or earthly leader, and he stood before the other people as one pretending to be even greater than Jehovah God himself. It is written in the Scriptures concerning Nimrod: "He began to be a mighty one in the earth: he was a mighty hunter before the Lord; wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, ... in the land of Shinar." (Genesis 10:8-10) He became a slayer of animals in violation of God's law (Genesis 9:4-6), and his prowess and audacity and boastfulness made him an object of worship by others of mankind. Nimrod was an agent of the Devil, and Nimrod became the chief one whom the Devil used after the flood to organize religion in the earth. By inducing men to worship and praise a creature the Devil knew he would effectually turn away the people from the Creator. The Devil then induced the people to believe that they should build a tower by which they could enter heaven and, as it is written, "they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4) That was the beginning of the practice of religion following the deluge. That tower

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and city of Babel was built in defiance of Jehovah God and for the purpose of carrying out the wicked challenge of Satan. The names "Babel", or "Bab-il", and "Babylon" mean "The gate of God"; therefore in derision. Babylon was built as a defiance to God, and the people were led to believe that through Babylon was the way to their salvation. Nimrod was the head of Babylon, and his name means "Rebellious; or he that rules as a rebel". Babylon symbolically stands for Satan's organization. Babylon was therefore a religious organization, directing the people to worship creatures in defiance of the Creator, and was Satan's adopted method of carrying out his wicked challenge. Religion was the binding tie that held the people together. The people ignored God, the Creator, and gave their allegiance and praise to a creature. (Romans 1:20-25) The proof is conclusive, therefore, that Satan the Devil originated religion in defiance of Jehovah God for the purpose of deceiving the people and to accomplish his threat to turn them away from God.
Thereafter other nations were organized, the peoples of which likewise adopted a devil religion and indulged in the forms and practices of worship based upon the teachings of men, which had been induced by Satan and handed down from one generation to another; and thus the religions that followed thereafter were based upon or found authority only in tradition. All

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religious worship was and ever has been contrary to the commandments of Almighty God.
From the day of Abel till now, at all times there have been a few men on the earth who have remained loyal and faithful to Jehovah. Among such men was one known as Abram, afterwards called Abraham, and whom God used to make prophetic pictures foreshadowing His purposes. Jehovah made promise to Abraham, and bound it with His oath, that in due time he would have on earth a righteous rule and that such righteous government would rest upon the shoulder of God's beloved One, whom Abraham's son Isaac foreshadowed, and that such government would bring boundless blessings to all peoples of earth who would obey God and maintain their integrity toward him. (Genesis 22:17,18) The issue was clearly made now, and two pathways lay before the creatures of earth: the one marked out by Satan, which leads into unrighteousness and into destruction; the other marked out by Jehovah as recorded in his Word, which leads to endless life and happiness.
Jehovah God caused the descendants of Abraham to sojourn for a term of years in the land of Egypt that those people there might perform certain acts and make prophetic pictures foretelling how Jehovah would develop and bring to pass his purpose to bless the obedient ones of mankind. There in Egypt God's chosen people were severely persecuted and ill-treated by

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those who practiced the devil religion. Jehovah God heard their cries, made a covenant with them, and caused Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and then when they reached Mount Sinai Jehovah God confirmed his covenant and inaugurated it toward his chosen people. At that time Jehovah said to them: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." ...