So six represents a completeness only in man’s sight and falls short of the completeness or perfection that God designates by the number seven.—1 Ki. 10:14; Dan. 3:1; 1 Chron. 20:6; Rom. 13:1.

Because six falls short of God’s perfect number seven, it is called a man’s number and attaches to the visible organization of men under Satan, the god of this world, and which organization is symbolized by the wild beast. So it is with this meaning in mind that this number of the wild beast is said to be “a man’s number.” It is not God’s perfect number of spiritual completeness.

Announcements

MAKING THE FRAGRANCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD PERCEPTIBLE—2 Cor. 2:14, NW.

Today as never before ‘the odor of the knowledge of God is made perceptible in every place.’ The 1956 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses reports the declaring of the truth in 158 lands and islands of the seas. And what is the effect upon people? Twofold! To one group it is “an odor issuing from life to life” and to the other “an odor issuing from death to death.” (2Co 2 Verse 16) Christians have the responsibility of making known the sweet odor of Christ, and then it is the responsibility of the hearer to receive it favorably or unfavorably. This month in regular congregation territory Jehovah’s witnesses will publish the truth by word of mouth and by printed page by offering, on a contribution of $1.50, three revealing Bible study books and three booklets. The unassigned territory offer will be made by all privileged to serve isolated sections.

KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED

Do you admire someone who always seems to be well informed, who generally has substantial facts to impart to almost any kind of discussion? Even in these days of intense activity and extreme specialization you can be that well equipped. Many educated people are lost outside their own field because their everyday reading is confined to a few highly specialized publications. Solve this problem for yourself by obtaining and regularly reading Awake! magazine. All topics of general or specific interest are within its range. Yet it is written in language that you can readily adapt to your own speech. But most important for our day, it clearly and unmistakably draws the true pattern of our times and identifies its significance. Like its companion magazine, the one you now hold in your hand, it is published with a purpose. It helps you to recognize that, in spite of discouraging world events, hope for the future can be real. Send one dollar and it will be mailed to you twice a month for one year.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

September 2: Jehovah’s Message Against Gog of Magog. Page 460.

September 9: Delivering Satan’s Death Notice. Page 467.

Check Your Memory

After reading this issue of “The Watchtower,” do you remember—

✔ What can really help you to understand the Bible? P. 451, ¶4.

✔ What shows that just doing constructive good works is not enough for the Christian? P. 453, ¶1.

✔ What is even more important than loving your neighbor? P. 453, ¶7.

✔ Where you can find history written in advance? P. 460, ¶2.

✔ Who “Gog” is and why it is appropriate that he is from “Magog”? P. 461, ¶6.

✔ Why Jehovah chose the obscure people that he did? P. 467, ¶1.

✔ What effect the serving of Satan’s death notice has had upon people of good will? P. 473, ¶16.

✔ What increase Jehovah’s witnesses have had in the Philippines since 1945? P. 477, ¶3.