input
stringlengths 0
190
| instruction
stringlengths 0
136
| output
stringlengths 0
130k
|
|---|---|---|
Reasoning (rs)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/books/reasoning-rs | Spirit of the World
Definition: The impelling force that influences human society made up of those who are not servants of Jehovah God, causing such people to say and do things according to a characteristic pattern. Although people act on individual preferences, those who manifest the spirit of the world give evidence of certain basic attitudes, ways of doing things, and aims in life that are common to the present system of things of which Satan is ruler and god.
Why is being tainted by the spirit of the world a matter of serious concern?
1 John 5:19: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (Satan has fostered a spirit that dominates the thinking and activities of those of mankind who are not Jehovah’s approved servants. It is a spirit of selfishness and pride that is so pervasive that it is like the air that humans breathe. We need to exercise great care not to submit to Satan’s power by letting that spirit mold our lives.)
Rev. 12:9: “Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” (Ever since this took place, following the birth of the Kingdom in 1914, the influence of Satan and his demons has intensified greatly among mankind. His spirit has goaded people to acts of increased selfishness and violence. Especially do those who seek to serve Jehovah come under great pressure to be a part of the world, to do what others do, and to abandon true worship.)
What are some of the characteristics of the spirit of the world against which we need to be on guard?
1 Cor. 2:12: “Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.” (If the spirit of the world takes root in a person’s thinking and desires, its fruitage is soon seen in actions that manifest that spirit. So, breaking free from the spirit of the world requires not only avoiding unchristian activities and excesses but also getting to the root of the matter by cultivating attitudes that reflect God’s spirit and genuine love for his ways. This you should keep in mind as you consider the following manifestations of the spirit of the world.)
Doing what a person wants to do, without regard for the will of God
Satan urged Eve to decide for herself what was good and what was bad. (Gen. 3:3-5; in contrast see Proverbs 3:5, 6.) Many who follow Eve’s course do not know what God’s will for mankind is, nor are they interested in finding out. They just “do their own thing,” as they say. Those who know God’s requirements and try to conform to them need to be careful that the world’s spirit does not cause them deliberately to ignore the counsel of God’s Word in what they may view as “little things.”—Luke 16:10; see also “Independence.”
Reacting to situations on the basis of pride
It was Satan who first allowed an overestimation of self to corrupt his heart. (Compare Ezekiel 28:17; Proverbs 16:5.) Pride is a divisive force in the world of which he is ruler, causing people to consider themselves better than those of other races, nations, language groups, and economic status. Even those serving God may need to root out remnants of such feelings. They also need to be on guard so that pride does not cause them to make major issues of minor matters, or become a barrier to their acknowledging their own faults and accepting counsel and thus benefiting from much loving help that Jehovah provides through his organization.—Rom. 12:3; 1 Pet. 5:5.
Manifesting a rebellious attitude toward authority
Rebellion began with Satan, whose name means “Resister.” By his defiance of Jehovah, Nimrod, whose name may mean “Let Us Rebel,” demonstrated that he was a child of Satan. Avoiding that spirit will prevent God-fearing persons from becoming defiant of secular rulers (Rom. 13:1); it will help minors to submit to the God-given authority of their parents (Col. 3:20); it will be a safeguard against sympathizing with apostates, who disrespect those whom Jehovah has entrusted with responsibility in his visible organization.—Jude 11; Heb. 13:17.
Giving free rein to the desires of the fallen flesh
The influence of this can be seen and heard everywhere. There is a need constantly to be on guard against it. (1 John 2:16; Eph. 4:17, 19; Gal. 5:19-21) The thinking and the desires that may lead to more serious evidences of it may be manifest in a person’s conversation, the jokes he tells, the lyrics of music to which he listens, the kind of dancing he does, or in his watching shows that feature immoral sex. This aspect of the world’s spirit shows itself in drug abuse, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality. It also is manifest when a person unscripturally, but perhaps legally, divorces one mate and takes another.—Mal. 2:16.
Allowing one’s life to be dominated by the desire to possess what one sees
It was such a desire that Satan cultivated in Eve, enticing her to do something that ruined her relationship with God. (Gen. 3:6; 1 John 2:16) Jesus firmly rejected such a temptation. (Matt. 4:8-10) Those who want to please Jehovah need to be on guard so that they do not allow the commercial world to develop such a spirit in them. Much grief and spiritual ruin result to those ensnared by it.—Matt. 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:7-10.
Showing off one’s possessions and supposed attainments
This practice, too, “originates with the world” and needs to be abandoned by those who become servants of God. (1 John 2:16) It is rooted in pride, and instead of building up others spiritually, it dangles material enticements and visions of worldly achievement before them.—Rom. 15:2.
Giving vent to one’s emotions in abusive speech and violent acts
These are “works of the flesh” against which many persons have to put up a hard fight. With genuine faith and the help of God’s spirit they can conquer the world rather than let its spirit dominate them.—Gal. 5:19, 20, 22, 23; Eph. 4:31; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; 1 John 5:4.
Basing one’s hopes and fears on what humans are able to do
A physical man considers what he can see and touch to be what really counts. His hopes and fears revolve around the promises and threats of other men. He looks to human rulers for help and is disillusioned when they fail. (Ps. 146:3, 4; Isa. 8:12, 13) To him, this life is all there is. Threats of death easily enslave him. (In contrast, see Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 2:14, 15.) But a new force actuates the minds of people who get to know Jehovah, those who fill their minds and hearts with his promises and who learn to turn to him for help in every time of need.—Eph. 4:23, 24; Ps. 46:1; 68:19.
Giving to humans and things the worshipful honor that belongs to God
“The god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil, encourages all sorts of practices that misdirect man’s God-given inclination to worship. (2 Cor. 4:4) Some rulers have been treated as gods. (Acts 12:21-23) Millions bow before idols. Millions more idolize actors and outstanding athletes. Celebrations frequently give undue honor to individual humans. So common is this spirit that those who truly love Jehovah and want to give him exclusive devotion need to be alert to its influence every day. |
Proclaimers (jv)
1993 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/jv | outputs
SECTION 1“You Are My Witnesses,” Says Jehovah
CHAPTER
10 1 Why Should Jehovah Have Witnesses?
19 2 Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness
26 3 Christian Witnesses of Jehovah in the First Century
33 4 The Great Apostasy Develops
42 5 Proclaiming the Lord’s Return (1870-1914)
61 6 A Time of Testing (1914-1918)
72 7 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941)
90 8 Declaring the Good News Without Letup (1942-1975)
108 9 Jehovah’s Word Keeps Moving Speedily (1976-1992)
SECTION 2Gaining Accurate Knowledge of God’s Word and Applying It
120 10 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth
149 11 How We Came to Be Known as Jehovah’s Witnesses
159 12 The Great Crowd—To Live in Heaven? Or on Earth?
172 13 Recognized by Our Conduct
188 14 “They Are No Part of the World”
SECTION 3An Association of Brothers
204 15 Development of the Organization Structure
236 16 Meetings—For Worship, Instruction, and Encouragement
254 17 Conventions—Proof of Our Brotherhood
283 18 “Seeking First the Kingdom”
304 19 Growing Together in Love
318 20 Building Together on a Global Scale
340 21 How Is It All Financed?
SECTION 4Proclaiming the Good News in All the Inhabited Earth
404 22 Witnesses to the Most Distant Part of the Earth
521 23 Missionaries Push Worldwide Expansion
547 24 By Human Power? Or by God’s Spirit?
SECTION 5Kingdom Preaching Furthered by Production of Bible Literature
556 25 Preaching Publicly and From House to House
575 26 Producing Bible Literature for Use in the Ministry
603 27 Printing and Distributing God’s Own Sacred Word
SECTION 6Exposed to Reproaches and Tribulations
618 28 Testing and Sifting From Within
642 29 “Objects of Hatred by All the Nations”
678 30 ‘Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News’
SECTION 7A People Distinctively His Own, Zealous for Fine Works
704 31 How Chosen and Led by God
710 32 “By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples”
713 33 Continuing to Keep on the Watch
352 World Headquarters and Principal Offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses—In Pictures
718 Noteworthy Events in the Modern-day History of Jehovah’s Witnesses |
Featured output in JW Library and on JW.ORG | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021248 | Featured output in JW Library and on JW.ORG
BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What Does the Bible Say About Caregiving for Elderly Parents?
The Bible offers practical advice that can help caregivers.
In JW Library, go to PUBLICATIONS > ARTICLE SERIES > BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
On jw.org, go to LIBRARY > ARTICLE SERIES > BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
EXPERIENCES
An Expedition up the Maroni River
A group of 13 Witnesses set off to share the Bible’s message of hope with isolated people in the Amazon rain forest of South America.
In JW Library, go to PUBLICATIONS > ARTICLE SERIES > EXPERIENCES.
On jw.org, go to LIBRARY > ARTICLE SERIES > EXPERIENCES OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. |
Young People Ask, Volume 2 (yp2)
2008 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp2 | CHAPTER 21
How Can I Deal With Criticism?
“My mother seemed like a police detective—always looking for areas where I failed. Before I had time to finish my chores, she would inspect my work, looking for mistakes.”—Craig.
“My parents were always lecturing me about something. They said I just couldn’t seem to get my act together. School, home, congregation—they just wouldn’t give me a break.”—James.
DOES it seem as though nothing you do is ever good enough for your parents? Do you feel that your every move is being examined under a microscope—that you’re always being watched and constantly critiqued but you never pass inspection?
Which of the following do you hear most often?
□ Your room is always a mess.
□ You watch too much TV.
□ You stay up too late.
□ You never get up on time.
On the following line, write the parental reminder or criticism that bothers you the most.
․․․․․
True, commands and criticism may get on your nerves. But consider the alternative: If you never received counsel or discipline, wouldn’t you wonder if your parents cared about you? (Hebrews 12:8) Really, discipline is evidence of your parents’ love. The Bible says that a father will reprove “a son in whom he finds pleasure.”—Proverbs 3:12.
You can be grateful, then, that your parents care enough about you to set you straight! After all, you’re young and relatively inexperienced. Sooner or later, correction will be in order. Without guidance, you could easily be overpowered by “the desires incidental to youth.”—2 Timothy 2:22.
But It Hurts!
Of course, “no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous.” (Hebrews 12:11) This is particularly so when you’re young. And no wonder! Your personality is in its developing stages. You’re still growing up and discovering who you are. So criticism—even when carefully thought out and delivered in a kind way—may trigger resentment.
This reaction is understandable, because the value you place on yourself can easily be influenced by what others say about you. And your parents’ opinion in particular greatly affects your sense of self-worth. So when a parent corrects you or complains about the way you do something, it can be devastating.
Should you conclude that nothing you do is ever good enough or that you’re a complete failure simply because your parents have pointed out a few of your flaws? No. All humans fall woefully short of perfection. (Ecclesiastes 7:20) And making mistakes is part of the learning process. (Job 6:24) What, though, if your parents seem to have a lot to say when you do something wrong but little to say when you do something right? That can hurt. Still, it hardly means you’re a total failure.
Behind the Criticism
Sometimes a parent might seem overly critical, not because of any particular failing on your part, but simply because he or she is in a bad mood. Has your mom had a hard day? Is she struggling with an illness? Then she might be more prone than usual to pick on you if your room isn’t in tip-top shape. Is your dad angry and frustrated over family finances? Then he might speak thoughtlessly “as with the stabs of a sword.” (Proverbs 12:18) Granted, such unfair criticism is irritating. But instead of dwelling on the injustice—which will only make you more upset—try to overlook your parents’ faults. Remember: “We all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man.”—James 3:2.
As imperfect humans, parents too can be afflicted with feelings of inadequacy. In fact, failure on your part can make them feel as if they have failed. For example, a mother might criticize her daughter when she brings home a poor report card from school. But what the mother might actually be thinking is, ‘I’m afraid that I’m failing as a mother because I’m not motivating my daughter to succeed.’
Keeping Cool When Under Fire
Whatever is behind the criticism, the question is, How can you cope with it? First, be careful not to lash out. Proverbs 17:27 says: “Anyone holding back his sayings is possessed of knowledge, and a man of discernment is cool of spirit.” How can you remain “cool of spirit” when under fire? Try the following:
Listen. Rather than being quick to justify your actions or protest your innocence, try to hold back your emotions and absorb what your parents have to say. The disciple James told Christians to be “swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath.” (James 1:19) If you angrily interrupt while your parents are talking to you, they’ll think that you aren’t listening. This will frustrate them and inevitably lead to more counsel, not less.
Focus. At times, you may feel that your parents’ counsel was delivered in a less-than-kind manner. Rather than dwell on the way they spoke to you, though, focus on what was said. Ask yourself: ‘What part of this criticism do I know to be true? Have I heard my parents complain about this matter before? What would it cost me to comply with their wishes?’ Remember, despite how it may seem at the moment, your parents’ concern is motivated by love. If they really did hate you, they wouldn’t discipline you at all.—Proverbs 13:24.
Rephrase. If you rephrase your parents’ counsel and repeat it back to them in a respectful manner, you reassure them that you heard what they said. For example, a parent might say: “You always leave your room in a mess. If you don’t clean it up, you’re grounded!” Now, your room may look just fine to you. But expressing that thought will hardly be helpful. Try to look at things from your parents’ viewpoint. It would be better to say, without sarcasm, something like this: “You’re right. My room is messy. Would you like me to clean it right now or after dinner?” When you acknowledge your parents’ concerns in this way, the tension is more likely to ease. Of course, you then need to follow through on your parents’ direction.—Ephesians 6:1.
Wait. Save any justification until after you’ve complied with your parents’ wishes. “The one keeping his lips in check is acting discreetly,” says the Bible. (Proverbs 10:19) Once your parents see that you really were listening to them, they’ll be far more inclined to listen to you.
Write here which of the above four steps you need to work on most. ․․․․․
Why It’s Worth the Effort
Would you be willing to endure some physical hardship to discover a fortune in gold? Well, the Bible says that wisdom is worth far more than any treasure. (Proverbs 3:13, 14) How do you become wise? Proverbs 19:20 says: “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, in order that you may become wise in your future.” True, counsel and discipline may cause some discomfort. But if you find and apply the nuggets of wisdom in any criticism you receive, you’ll gain a treasure worth more than gold.
Let’s face it: Criticism is part of life. You already have to cope with it from your parents and teachers. In the future, you will no doubt have employers and others to deal with. Learn how to handle criticism at home, and you’ll become a progressive student, a valued employee, and a more confident person in general. Surely, it’s worth enduring a little criticism to gain those results!
IN OUR NEXT CHAPTERHemmed in by house rules? Learn how to be output with the freedom you have—and even how you might gain more.
KEY SCRIPTURE
“A wise person will listen and take in more instruction.”—Proverbs 1:5.
TIP
To help you accept correction from your parents
● Appreciate any commendation that you receive with the criticism.
● Ask for clarification if you’re not clear about the problem or the expected solution.
DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
Some dads and moms find it difficult to deal lovingly with their children because they didn’t receive adequate love and understanding from their own parents.
ACTION PLAN!
The next time my parents criticize me, I will ․․․․․
If I feel that my parents are being overly critical, I will ․․․․․
What I would like to ask my parent(s) about this subject is ․․․․․
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
● Why might you find it hard to accept criticism?
● What may prompt your parents to be critical of you?
● How can you make the most of any counsel you receive?
[Blurb on page 177]
“All my life it was my mother yelling and me answering her back. But now I try to put into practice what God’s Word says. It works. Mom’s attitude has started to change. By applying the Bible, I came to understand her better. Our relationship improved.”—Marleen
[Picture on page 180]
If you sift out the nuggets of wisdom in any criticism you receive, you’ll gain a treasure worth more than gold |
Can the Devil Control Humans? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502013281 | Can the Devil Control Humans?
The Bible’s answer
The Devil and the demons influence mankind so much that the Bible says: “The Evil One controls the whole world.” (1 John 5:19, New Century Version) The Bible identifies ways that the Devil exerts this influence on people.
Deception. The Bible encourages Christians to “fight against the devil’s evil tricks.” (Ephesians 6:11, NCV ) One of his tricks is to deceive people into believing that his agents are actually servants of God.—2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
Spiritism. The Devil misleads people through spirit mediums, fortune-tellers, and those who practice divination or astrology. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) Drug use, hypnotism, and meditation techniques that empty the mind also expose a person to demon control.—Luke 11:24-26.
False religion. Religions that teach false doctrines mislead people into disobeying God. (1 Corinthians 10:20) The Bible calls such false beliefs “teachings of demons.”—1 Timothy 4:1.
Possession. The Bible records cases of evil spirits taking control of individuals. Sometimes demon-possessed people were struck blind or mute or even injured themselves.—Matthew 12:22; Mark 5:2-5.
How to avoid the Devil’s influence
You need not live in dread of demon control, for the Bible shows how you can successfully oppose the Devil:
Learn to recognize the Devil’s methods so that you are “not ignorant of his designs.”—2 Corinthians 2:11.
Take in knowledge from the Bible, and then apply what you learn. Applying Bible principles will protect you from the Devil’s influence.—Ephesians 6:11-18.
Get rid of anything connected with demon activity. (Acts 19:19) That includes music, books, magazines, posters, and videos that encourage spiritism. |
Live Forever (pe)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/pe | Chapter 24
Are We Under the Ten Commandments?
1. What law did Moses deliver to the people?
WHAT LAWS does Jehovah God want us to obey? Must we keep what the Bible calls “the law of Moses” or, sometimes, “the Law”? (1 Kings 2:3; Titus 3:9) This is also called “the law of Jehovah,” because he is the One who gave it. (1 Chronicles 16:40) Moses merely delivered the Law to the people.
2. Of what is this law made up?
2 The law of Moses consists of more than 600 individual laws, or commandments, including the 10 main ones. As Moses said: “He [Jehovah] commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” (Deuteronomy 4:13; Exodus 31:18, King James Version) But to whom did Jehovah give the Law, including the Ten Commandments? Did he give it to all humankind? What was the purpose of the Law?
TO ISRAEL FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE
3. How do we know that the Law was given only to Israel?
3 The Law was not given to all humankind. Jehovah made a covenant, or an agreement, with the descendants of Jacob, who became the nation of Israel. Jehovah gave his laws to this nation only. The Bible makes this clear at Deuteronomy 5:1-3 and Psalm 147:19, 20.
4. Why was the Law given to the nation of Israel?
4 The apostle Paul asked the question: “Why, then, the Law?” Yes, for what purpose did Jehovah give his law to Israel? Paul answered: “To make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made . . . Consequently the Law has become our tutor [or, teacher] leading to Christ.” (Galatians 3:19-24) The special purpose of the Law was to protect and guide the nation of Israel so that they might be ready to accept Christ when he arrived. The many sacrifices required by the Law reminded the Israelites that they were sinners who needed a Savior.—Hebrews 10:1-4.
“CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW”
5. When Christ came and died for us, what happened to the Law?
5 Jesus Christ, of course, was that promised Savior, even as the angel proclaimed at his birth. (Luke 2:8-14) So when Christ came and gave his perfect life as a sacrifice, what happened to the Law? It was removed. “We are no longer under a tutor,” Paul explained. (Galatians 3:25) The removal of the Law was a relief to the Israelites. It had shown them up as sinners, for all of them fell short of keeping that Law perfectly. “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law,” Paul said. (Galatians 3:10-14) So the Bible also says: “Christ is the end of the Law.”—Romans 10:4; 6:14.
6. (a) What was the effect upon Israelites and non-Israelites when the Law ended, and why? (b) What action did Jehovah take toward the Law?
6 The Law actually served as a barrier or “wall” between the Israelites and other peoples who were not under it. By the sacrifice of his life, however, Christ “abolished . . . the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, that he might create the two peoples [Israelite and non-Israelite] in union with himself into one new man.” (Ephesians 2:11-18) Concerning the action that Jehovah God himself took toward the law of Moses, we read: “He kindly forgave us all our trespasses and blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees [including the Ten Commandments] and which was in opposition to us [because of condemning the Israelites as sinners]; and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake.” (Colossians 2:13, 14) So, with the perfect sacrifice of Christ, the Law was brought to an end.
7, 8. What proves that the Law was not divided into two parts?
7 Some persons, however, say that the Law is divided into two parts: The Ten Commandments, and the rest of the laws. The rest of the laws, they say, are what ended, but the Ten Commandments remain. Yet this is not true. In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus quoted from the Ten Commandments as well as other parts of the Law and made no distinction between them. Jesus thus showed that the law of Moses was not divided into two parts.—Matthew 5:21-42.
8 Notice, too, what the apostle Paul was inspired by God to write: “Now we have been discharged from the Law.” Was it only the laws other than the Ten Commandments that the Jews were discharged from? No, for Paul goes on to say: “Really I would not have come to know sin if it had not been for the Law; and, for example, I would not have known covetousness if the Law had not said: ‘You must not covet.’” (Romans 7:6, 7; Exodus 20:17) Since “You must not covet” is the last one of the Ten Commandments, it follows that the Israelites were discharged from the Ten Commandments also.
9. What shows that the weekly Sabbath law was also done away with?
9 Does this mean that the law to keep a weekly Sabbath, which is the fourth of the Ten Commandments, was also removed? Yes, it does. What the Bible says at Galatians 4:8-11 and Colossians 2:16, 17 shows that Christians are not under God’s law given to the Israelites, with its requirement to keep the weekly Sabbath and to observe other special days in the year. That keeping a weekly Sabbath is not a Christian requirement can also be seen from Romans 14:5.
LAWS THAT APPLY TO CHRISTIANS
10. (a) Christians are under what laws? (b) From where were many of these laws taken, and why is it reasonable that they were taken from there?
10 Does this mean that, since Christians are not under the Ten Commandments, they do not need to observe any laws? Not at all. Jesus introduced a “new covenant,” based on the better sacrifice of his own perfect human life. Christians come under this new covenant and are subject to Christian laws. (Hebrews 8:7-13; Luke 22:20) Many of these laws have been taken from the law of Moses. This is not unexpected or unusual. A similar thing often happens when a new government takes over the rule of a country. The constitution under the old government might be canceled and replaced, but the new constitution may keep many of the laws of the old one. In a similar way, the Law covenant came to an end, but many of its basic laws and principles were adopted into Christianity.
11. What laws or teachings given to Christians are very similar to the Ten Commandments?
11 Note how this is the case as you read the Ten Commandments on page 203, and then compare them with the following Christian laws and teachings: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship.” (Matthew 4:10; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22) “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 10:14) “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified [not treated in a worthless way].” (Matthew 6:9) “Children, be obedient to your parents.” (Ephesians 6:1, 2) And the Bible makes clear that murder, committing adultery, stealing, lying and coveting are also against the laws for Christians.—Revelation 21:8; 1 John 3:15; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 4:25, 28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Luke 12:15; Colossians 3:5.
12. How is the principle of the Sabbath law carried over into the Christian arrangement?
12 Although Christians are not commanded to keep a weekly Sabbath, we learn something from that arrangement. The Israelites rested in a literal way, but Christians must rest in a spiritual way. How? Because of faith and obedience true Christians leave off doing selfish works. These selfish works include efforts to establish their own righteousness. (Hebrews 4:10) This spiritual rest is observed not only one day a week but for all seven days. The requirement of the literal Sabbath law to set aside one day for spiritual interests protected the Israelites from selfishly using all their time to seek their own material advantage. Applying this principle every day in a spiritual way is an even more effective guard against materialism.
13. (a) What law are Christians urged to fulfill, and how do they fulfill it? (b) What law did Jesus stress? (c) What law is the basis of the entire law of Moses?
13 So Christians are urged to “fulfill the law of the Christ,” rather than to keep the Ten Commandments. (Galatians 6:2) Jesus gave many commands and instructions, and by our obeying them we are keeping or fulfilling his law. In particular, Jesus stressed the importance of love. (Matthew 22:36-40; John 13:34, 35) Yes, to love others is a Christian law. It is the basis of the entire law of Moses, as the Bible says: “The entire Law stands fulfilled in one saying, namely: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’”—Galatians 5:13, 14; Romans 13:8-10.
14. (a) What good will result by our studying and applying the principles of the law of Moses? (b) What will love move us to do?
14 The law given through Moses, with its Ten Commandments, was a righteous set of laws from God. And even though we are not under that law today, the divine principles behind it are still of great value to us. By studying and applying them we will grow in appreciation for the great Lawgiver Jehovah God. But especially should we study and apply in our lives Christian laws and teachings. Love for Jehovah will move us to obey all that he now requires of us.—1 John 5:3.
[Box on page 203]
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. “I am Jehovah your God . . . You must not have any other gods against my face.
2. “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them . . .
3. “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way . . .
4. “Remembering the sabbath day to hold it sacred, you are to render service and you must do all your work six days. But the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, you nor your son nor your daughter . . .
5. “Honor your father and your mother in order that your days may prove long upon the ground that Jehovah your God is giving you.
6. “You must not murder.
7. “You must not commit adultery.
8. “You must not steal.
9. “You must not testify falsely as a witness against your fellowman.
10. “You must not desire [covet] your fellowman’s house. You must not desire [covet] your fellowman’s wife, nor his slave man nor his slave girl nor his bull nor his ass nor anything that belongs to your fellowman.”—Exodus 20:2-17.
[Pictures on page 204, 205]
The Law served as a wall between the Israelites and other peoples |
He Cannot Keep His Copy | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102000014 | He Cannot Keep His Copy
A businessman wrote to the Slovenia branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses:
“Thank you for regularly sending me the Awake! and Watchtower magazines. I take them with me when I travel, as I read them during the trip and while waiting for business meetings.
“I would also like to request that you send me the following publications that have been mentioned in your magazines: Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?, What Is the Purpose of Life? How Can You Find It?, and A Book for All People.
“I would like to have two copies of each publication. This is because every time I read one of your publications when I am traveling, someone is very interested in what I am reading. Despite the fact that I would like to keep it for my own library, I give the person my copy.”
We feel confident that you too will benefit greatly from reading the fine 32-page brochure What Is the Purpose of Life? How Can You Find It? This publication shows that our Creator has a grand purpose that is soon to be realized. You can receive a copy by filling in and mailing the accompanying coupon to the address shown on the coupon or to an appropriate address listed on page 5 of this magazine.
□ Send me a copy of the brochure What Is the Purpose of Life? How Can You Find It?
□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study. |
Examining the Scriptures—2018
2017 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/examining-the-scriptures/examining-the-scriptures-2018 | Our Christian Life And Ministry Bible Reading Schedule for 2018
January
1 Matthew 1-3
8 Matthew 4-5
15 Matthew 6-7
22 Matthew 8-9
29 Matthew 10-11
February
5 Matthew 12-13
12 Matthew 14-15
19 Matthew 16-17
26 Matthew 18-19
March
5 Matthew 20-21
12 Matthew 22-23
19 Matthew 24
26 Matthew 25
April
2 Matthew 26
9 Matthew 27-28
16 Mark 1-2
23 Mark 3-4
30 Mark 5-6
May
7 Mark 7-8
14 Mark 9-10
21 Mark 11-12
28 Mark 13-14
June
4 Mark 15-16
11 Luke 1
18 Luke 2-3
25 Luke 4-5
July
2 Luke 6-7
9 Luke 8-9
16 Luke 10-11
23 Luke 12-13
30 Luke 14-16
August
6 Luke 17-18
13 Luke 19-20
20 Luke 21-22
27 Luke 23-24
September
3 John 1-2
10 John 3-4
17 John 5-6
24 John 7-8
October
1 John 9-10
8 John 11-12
15 John 13-14
22 John 15-17
29 John 18-19
November
5 John 20-21
12 Acts 1-3
19 Acts 4-5
26 Acts 6-8
December
3 Acts 9-11
10 Acts 12-14
17 Acts 15-16
24 Acts 17-18
31 Acts 19-20 |
They Kept On Preaching During the Pandemic | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/500200115 | They Kept On Preaching During the Pandemic
During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, our brothers and sisters have adjusted their methods of sharing the Bible’s comforting message with others. Instead of engaging in public witnessing or going to people’s homes, they have shared their message largely by telephone and letters.a Many people have appreciated these efforts, and Jehovah’s blessing has been evident. (Proverbs 16:3, 4) Consider some experiences from an island country.
Before the pandemic, Helen had regularly visited a young woman and offered to study the Bible with her. The woman always refused the offer. Nevertheless, the day before a COVID-19 lockdown began, Helen gave her a Bible and the book What Can the Bible Teach Us? During the lockdown, Helen again offered to study the Bible with the young lady, explaining that the study would have to be conducted over the telephone. This time, the young lady accepted the offer. She thoroughly enjoyed the discussions and soon asked Helen to study with her every day! The woman also began regularly attending Christian meetings by phone. What is more, she is not only applying Bible teachings in her life but also sharing with others the things she is learning.
As part of their personal ministry, Witnesses in one congregation wrote letters to policemen in the community to express appreciation for their valuable service. The policemen were surprised at the letters. One officer said to Jefferson, a congregation elder, “I thought that Jehovah’s Witnesses were against the police.” Jefferson cleared up this misunderstanding. The police were so delighted with the positive tone of the letters that they posted them at the entrance to the police station. “This might help others to have a positive attitude toward us,” said another officer.
Edna and Ednalyn are both regular pioneers.b Because they have no Internet connection in their home, they could not tie in to congregation meetings via videoconferencing. So they telephoned their non-Witness neighbor to ask if they could access her Wi-Fi and offered to contribute toward the cost of the service. The woman kindly allowed them to connect free of charge. When Edna and Ednalyn invited her to view the meetings, she did so. Now the neighbor, one of her children, and two granddaughters are studying the Bible with the Witnesses and regularly attending Christian meetings.
Local brothers and sisters invited their neighbors, coworkers, and others to a public talk that would be delivered virtually. Ellaine, who works at a hospital in the area, was at first hesitant to invite her coworkers. She thought that some doctors may have had negative views of the Witnesses. Nevertheless, she texted friendly invitations to doctors at the hospital. Ellaine especially hesitated to invite two doctors in particular—a married couple. After thinking about the matter and praying about it, however, she texted them an invitation. The wife replied: “So you want me to join your religion?” Ellaine said that the meeting was open to everyone, not only Jehovah’s Witnesses. The next day, Ellaine was surprised when the couple connected to the meeting early! She says: “Before the meeting ended, I received a text message from the wife that said: ‘This was my first time to attend a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was good. I am delighted. Thanks for inviting me.’”
Ellaine
Ellaine invited 20 doctors to the meeting and was excited to learn that 16 attended. Quoting the apostle Paul, she says: “I am glad that I ‘mustered up boldness’ to share ‘the good news of God’ with my coworkers.”—1 Thessalonians 2:2.
The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. But our brothers and sisters in this island country and elsewhere have been able to maintain their joy and keep a positive attitude by doing what they can to comfort and help others.—Acts 20:35.
a Jehovah’s Witnesses carry out their ministry in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
b Pioneers are full-time Christian ministers. |
Two Translators Who Restored God’s Name to the New Testament | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/501100035 | Two Translators Who Restored God’s Name to the New Testament
One of the first prayers that many people learn is the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught his followers. This prayer is found in what is commonly called the New Testament. The prayer begins: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified [or hallowed].” (Matthew 6:9) Yet, God’s name, rendered in English as “Jehovah” or sometimes “Yahweh,” is rarely found in English translations of the New Testament. These translations do, however, include the names of false gods, such as Zeus, Hermes, and Artemis. So should they not mention the name of the true God and Author of the Bible?—Acts 14:12; 19:35; 2 Timothy 3:16.
The New Testament names several false gods, so would you not expect it to name the true God as well?
The English Bible translators Lancelot Shadwell and Frederick Parker believed that God’s name should be restored to the New Testament. Why use the word “restored”? Because they concluded that God’s name was there originally but was later taken out. Why did they draw that conclusion?
Shadwell and Parker knew that existing manuscripts of what is often called the Old Testament, originally written mainly in Hebrew, include God’s personal name thousands of times. So they wondered why the New Testament manuscripts available to them omitted the full form of God’s name.a Also, Shadwell noticed that when New Testament manuscripts use common Old Testament expressions, such as “the angel of Jehovah,” copyists of the Greek New Testament had evidently replaced God’s name with terms like Kyʹri·os, which means “Lord.”—2 Kings 1:3, 15; Acts 12:23.
God’s name in Hebrew
Even before Shadwell and Parker published their English translations, other translators had restored God’s name to their English translations of the New Testament, but only in relatively few places.b Prior to 1863, when Parker published A Literal Translation of the New Testament, no English translator is known to have restored God’s name extensively in a published New Testament. Who were Lancelot Shadwell and Frederick Parker?
Lancelot Shadwell
Lancelot Shadwell (1808-1861) was a barrister and the son of Sir Lancelot Shadwell, the vice-chancellor of England. The son belonged to the Church of England. Although he believed in the Trinity, he showed respect for God’s name, describing it as “the glorious name of JEHOVAH.” In his translation, The Gospels of Matthew, and of Mark, he used “Jehovah” 28 times in the main text and 465 times in the accompanying notes.
Shadwell may have learned about God’s name by seeing it in the Old Testament in the original Hebrew. He stated that those who had replaced God’s name with the term Kyʹri·os in the Greek translation of the Old Testament “were not honest translators.”
The Gospel according to Matthew rendered into English with notes, by L. Shadwell (1859), provided by the Bodleian Libraries. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 UK. Modified: Text highlighted
Shadwell’s translation showing Matthew 1:20
In his translation, Shadwell first used “Jehovah” at Matthew 1:20. His note for that verse says: “The word [Kyʹri·os] in this, and in many other passages in [the] N.T. means JEHOVAH, the proper name of God: and it is most important to restore this word to the English translation.” He also stated: “The honour of God requires it. He has declared himself by the name of JEHOVAH: and we cannot do better than use that name when we speak of him.” He then said: “In our E.V. [Established, Authorized, or King James Version] of the Bible, the name of JEHOVAH rarely occurs . . . Instead of the proper name of God, we read, The Lord.” Shadwell claimed: “The Lord . . . is a most unworthy input” to use as a substitute for God’s name, adding that even he is called “The Lord” at his manor, or country home.
“[God] has declared himself by the name of JEHOVAH: and we cannot do better than use that name when we speak of him.”—Lancelot Shadwell
Shadwell published his translation of Matthew in 1859 and his combined version of Matthew and Mark in 1861. But then his work came to an end. He died on January 11, 1861, at the age of 52. Nevertheless, his efforts were not in vain.
Frederick Parker
Shadwell’s translation of Matthew came to the attention of a wealthy London businessman named Frederick Parker (1804-1888), who set out to translate the New Testament when he was about 20 years of age. Unlike Shadwell, Parker rejected the teaching of the Trinity. He wrote: “[May] the whole Church of [God’s] dear Son . . . heartily embrace the truth . . . and worship the one Almighty Jehovah.” Parker also felt that New Testament manuscripts that use Kyʹri·os for both the Lord God and the Lord Jesus obscured the distinction between the two. So he was intrigued to see that in certain contexts Shadwell rendered Kyʹri·os as “Jehovah.”
How did Parker understand such matters? He studied Greek and wrote several books and tracts on Greek grammar. He also became a member of the Anglo-Biblical Institute, which promoted research into Bible manuscripts with a view to producing better English Bibles. In 1842, Parker began publishing his first translation of the New Testament in several parts and editions.c
A translation of the New Testament by Parker (Heinfetter)
Parker’s Efforts to Restore God’s Name
For some years Parker had written regarding such questions as: “When does Kyʹri·os refer to the Lord Jesus, and when does it refer to the Lord God?” “Why is Kyʹri·os often used grammatically as a name and not as a input?”
When Parker saw Shadwell’s 1859 translation of Matthew with its comments on Kyʹri·os, he became convinced that in certain contexts, Kyʹri·os “should be translated Jehovah.” So he revised his entire translation of the New Testament to include “Jehovah” wherever he believed that the context or grammar of the Greek text indicated it. Thus, Parker’s one-volume 1863 edition of A Literal Translation of the New Testament contains God’s name 187 times in the main text. As far as is known, this is the first published English version to use the divine name throughout the Christian Greek Scriptures.d
input page of Parker’s 1864 translation of the New Testament
In 1864, Parker also released A Collation of an English Version of the New Testament . . . With the Authorized English Version. His reason for combining the two New Testaments into one volume was to show where and how his version differed from the other.e
To illustrate the value of restoring God’s name, Parker pointed to a number of verses in the Authorized Version, including Romans 10:13, which reads: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Parker asked: “[Who] ever gathered from the Authorized English Version of these Verses, that it was Jehovah, and not The Son Jesus Christ our Lord, . . . referred to in them”?
Romans 10:13 in the King James Version (top) and Parker’s 1864 translation
Parker spent thousands of pounds—a fortune back then—on publishing and advertising his tracts, papers, and other writings. In fact, in just one year, he spent 800 pounds, which is equivalent to over 100,000 British pounds ($132,000 U.S.) today. He also sent complimentary copies of many of his publications to acquaintances and high-ranking clergy for their review.
Parker’s writings and his translations of the New Testament, which had a very limited printing, were ridiculed by some scholars. In doing so, however, they drew attention away from the sincere effort that he, as well as Shadwell and others, had made to restore God’s personal name to the English New Testament.
You may also like to watch the informative ten-minute video: Warwick Museum Tours: “The Bible and the Divine Name.”
The translators of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures also have deep respect for God’s name. If you would like to learn more about why the divine name should be included in the entire Bible, read Appendixes A4, A5, and C1 in The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition).
a “Jah,” a shortened form of “Jehovah,” is found at Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6 in the expression “Hallelujah,” which means “Praise Jah, you people!”
b Shadwell did not translate the complete New Testament. The other translators include Philip Doddridge, Edward Harwood, William Newcome, Edgar Taylor, and Gilbert Wakefield.
c In order to separate his business interests from his Biblical scholarship, Parker used the pen name Herman Heinfetter in his religious writings and Bible translations. This name appears a number of times in the appendixes of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
d In 1864, Parker released An English Version of the New Testament that uses God’s name 186 times.
e Prior to Parker’s translations, many Hebrew translations of the New Testament included God’s name in various verses. Also, in 1795, Johann Jakob Stolz published a German translation that uses God’s name more than 90 times from Matthew to Jude. |
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Should I Get Baptized?—Part 2: Preparing for Baptism | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/500600113 | YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Should I Get Baptized?—Part 2: Preparing for Baptism
If you’re living up to the Bible’s standards and cultivating a friendship with God, it’s only natural for you to be thinking about baptism. How do you know if you’re ready for that step?a
In this article
How much do I need to know?
What should I be doing?
What your peers say
How much do I need to know?
Preparing for baptism doesn’t involve memorizing facts, as a person might do to pass a school exam. However, you will need to use your “power of reason” to strengthen your conviction that what the Bible teaches is the truth. (Romans 12:1) For example:
Are you convinced that God exists and that he deserves your worship?
The Bible says: “Whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.”—Hebrews 11:6.
Ask yourself: ‘Why do I believe in God?’ (Hebrews 3:4) ‘Why do I owe him my worship?’—Revelation 4:11.
Need help? See “Creation or Evolution?—Part 1: Why Believe in God?”
Are you convinced that the Bible’s message comes from God?
The Bible says: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.”—2 Timothy 3:16.
Ask yourself: ‘Why do I believe that the Bible is more than a book of human ideas?’—Isaiah 46:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
Need help? See “How Can the Bible Help Me?—Part 1: Exploring Your Bible.”
Are you convinced that Jehovah uses the Christian congregation to accomplish his will?
The Bible says: “To [God] be the glory by means of the congregation and by means of Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”—Ephesians 3:21.
Ask yourself: ‘Do I view what I learn from the Bible at Christian meetings as coming from humans or from Jehovah?’ (Matthew 24:45) ‘Do I attend meetings even when my parents cannot (if they permit you to do so)?’—Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Need help? See “Why Attend Meetings at the Kingdom Hall?”
What should I be doing?
You don’t have to be perfect to get baptized. However, you should be showing that you really want to “turn away from what is bad and do what is good.” (Psalm 34:14) For example:
Are you living according to Jehovah’s standards?
The Bible says: “Maintain a good conscience.”—1 Peter 3:16.
Ask yourself: ‘How have I shown that my “powers of discernment” are “trained to distinguish both right and wrong”?’ (Hebrews 5:14) ‘Can I think of specific instances when I have resisted negative peer pressure? Do my friends encourage me to do what is right?’—Proverbs 13:20.
Need help? See “How Can I Train My Conscience?”
Do you accept responsibility for your actions?
The Bible says: “Each of us will render an account for himself to God.”—Romans 14:12.
Ask yourself: ‘How honest am I, with myself and with others?’ (Hebrews 13:18) ‘Do I admit my mistakes, or do I tend to hide them or to blame others for them?’—Proverbs 28:13.
Need help? See “How Can I Deal With My Mistakes?”
Are you maintaining a friendship with Jehovah?
The Bible says: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.”—James 4:8.
Ask yourself: ‘In what ways am I drawing close to Jehovah?’ For example, ‘How often do I read the Bible?’ (Psalm 1:1, 2) ‘Do I pray regularly?’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17) ‘How specific are my prayers? Are my friends Jehovah’s friends?’—Psalm 15:1, 4.
Need help? See “How Can the Bible Help Me?—Part 2: Make Bible Reading Enjoyable” and “Why Should I Pray?”
TIP: To help you prepare for baptism, read chapter 37 of the book Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work, Volume 2. Note especially the worksheet on pages 308 and 309.
a Read the article “Should I Get Baptized?—Part 1,” which discusses the meaning and importance of dedicating yourself to God and getting baptized.
What your peers say
“The worksheet about baptism in the Young People Ask book helped me to see areas where I needed to improve before getting baptized. It also helped me to set goals that I wanted to accomplish after baptism. Dedicating yourself to Jehovah is a huge responsibility, but it’s also the greatest privilege a person can have.”—Gabriella.
“In the Bible, Timothy was told: ‘Continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe.’” (2 Timothy 3:14) “Take time to study God’s Word so that you’re convinced in your heart that what it teaches is true. You dedicate yourself to Jehovah—not to other people—so make Jehovah’s feelings your primary concern when you’re thinking about baptism.”—Caleb.
Review: How can I prepare for baptism?
Examine your beliefs. Are you convinced that God exists? That he deserves your worship? That the Bible is God’s inspired Word? That Jehovah uses an organization to accomplish his will?
Examine your conduct. Are you living according to Jehovah’s standards? Do you accept responsibility for your actions? Are you maintaining a friendship with Jehovah? |
Why Dedicate Yourself to Jehovah? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010041 | Why Dedicate Yourself to Jehovah?
“This night there stood near me an angel of the God to whom I belong.”—ACTS 27:23.
1. What steps have those presenting themselves for baptism already taken, and what questions does this raise?
“ON THE basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?” This is one of the two questions answered by baptismal candidates at the conclusion of a baptism talk. Why do Christians need to dedicate themselves to Jehovah? How does being dedicated to God benefit us? Why can one not worship God acceptably without being dedicated to him? To understand the answers, we first need to consider what dedication is.
2. What does it mean to dedicate oneself to Jehovah?
2 What does dedicating oneself to God mean? Note how the apostle Paul described his relationship with God. Before many others aboard an imperiled ship, he called Jehovah “the God to whom I belong.” (Read Acts 27:22-24.) All true Christians belong to Jehovah. In contrast, the world in general is “lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Christians come to belong to Jehovah when they make an acceptable dedication of themselves to him in prayer. Such a dedication is a personal vow. It is followed by water baptism.
3. What did Jesus’ baptism symbolize, and how can his followers imitate his example?
3 Jesus provided an example for us when he made a personal choice to do God’s will. Because he had been born into the dedicated nation of Israel, he was already dedicated to God. Still, at his baptism he did something more than what was required under the Law. God’s Word indicates that he said: “Look! I am come . . . to do your will, O God.” (Heb. 10:7; Luke 3:21) So Jesus’ baptism symbolized his presentation of himself to God for the doing of his Father’s will. His followers imitate his example when they offer themselves for baptism. However, in their case, water baptism is a public demonstration that they have made a personal dedication to God in prayer.
How Dedication Benefits Us
4. What does the friendship between David and Jonathan tell us about commitment?
4 Christian dedication is a serious matter. It is more than a mere commitment. How, though, does making a dedication benefit us? By way of comparison, let us consider how making a commitment in human relationships brings benefits. One example is friendship. To enjoy the privilege of having a friend, you have to accept the responsibility of being a friend. That involves a commitment—you feel an obligation to care about your friend. One of the most outstanding friendships described in the Bible is that of David and Jonathan. They even made a covenant of friendship with each other. (Read 1 Samuel 17:57; 18:1, 3.) Although friendships with that level of commitment are rare, most friendships flourish when companions are committed, or feel some obligation, to each other.—Prov. 17:17; 18:24.
5. How could a slave permanently benefit from belonging to a good master?
5 The Law that God gave to Israel describes another relationship in which people benefited by making a commitment. If a slave wanted the security of belonging permanently to a good master, he could enter a permanent and binding agreement with him. The Law states: “If the slave should insistently say, ‘I really love my master, my wife and my sons; I do not want to go out as one set free,’ then his master must bring him near to the true God and must bring him up against the door or the doorpost; and his master must pierce his ear through with an awl, and he must be his slave to time indefinite.”—Ex. 21:5, 6.
6, 7. (a) How does commitment benefit people? (b) What does that indicate about our relationship with Jehovah?
6 Marriage is a relationship that requires a high level of commitment. It is a commitment, not to a contract, but to a person. Two people who merely live together without getting married can never enjoy real security; neither can their children. But partners who are committed to each other in honorable marriage have an impelling Scriptural reason for striving to resolve their difficulties with love when problems arise.—Matt. 19:5, 6; 1 Cor. 13:7, 8; Heb. 13:4.
7 In Bible times, people benefited from having binding contracts in business and employment. (Matt. 20:1, 2, 8) Today, the same holds true. For example, we benefit from having a binding written agreement, or written contract, before we begin a business venture or start working as an employee in a company. Hence, if commitment enhances relationships such as friendship, marriage, and employment, how much more will making an unreserved dedication benefit you in your relationship with Jehovah! Let us now consider how people in the past have benefited from being dedicated to Jehovah God and how this was far more than just a commitment.
How Dedication to God Benefited Israel
8. What did being dedicated to God mean for Israel?
8 The nation of Israel as a whole became dedicated to Jehovah when they made a vow to God. Jehovah had them assemble near Mount Sinai, and he said to them: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples.” The people answered unanimously: “All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do.” (Ex. 19:4-8) Being dedicated meant much more for Israel than being committed to do something. It meant that they belonged to Jehovah, and Jehovah treated them as his “special property.”
9. How did Israel benefit from being dedicated to God?
9 The Israelites benefited from belonging to Jehovah. He was loyal and cared for them as a loving parent cares for a child. To Israel, God said: “Can a wife forget her suckling so that she should not pity the son of her belly? Even these women can forget, yet I myself shall not forget you.” (Isa. 49:15) Jehovah gave them the guidance of the Law, the encouragement of the prophets, and the protection of the angels. A psalmist wrote: “He is telling his word to Jacob, his regulations and his judicial decisions to Israel. He has not done that way to any other nation.” (Ps. 147:19, 20; read Psalm 34:7, 19; 48:14.) As Jehovah cared for the nation that belonged to him in the past, so he will care for those who dedicate themselves to him today.
Why We Should Dedicate Ourselves to God
10, 11. Are we born into God’s universal family? Explain.
10 While contemplating Christian dedication and baptism, some may wonder, ‘Why can I not worship God without dedicating myself to him?’ The reason becomes clear when we consider the reality of our present standing before God. Remember, because of Adam’s sin, we are all born outside God’s family. (Rom. 3:23; 5:12) Dedicating ourselves to God is a vital requirement for being accepted into his universal family. Let us see why.
11 None of us have a natural father who could pass on to us life as it should be—perfect life. (1 Tim. 6:19) We were not born as sons of God because when the first human pair sinned, the human race was separated from its loving Father and Creator. (Compare Deuteronomy 32:5.) From that time onward, the world of mankind has lived outside Jehovah’s universal family, alienated from God.
12. (a) How can imperfect humans become members of God’s family? (b) What steps must we take prior to baptism?
12 Nevertheless, as individuals we can request that God accept us into his family of approved servants.a How is that possible for sinners such as we are? The apostle Paul wrote: “When we were enemies, we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” (Rom. 5:10) At baptism we make a request to God for a good conscience so as to be acceptable to him. (1 Pet. 3:21) Prior to baptism, however, there are steps we must take. We must get to know God, learn to trust him, repent, and change our ways. (John 17:3; Acts 3:19; Heb. 11:6) And something else remains to be done before we can be accepted into God’s family. What is that?
13. Why is it fitting for a person to make a vow of dedication to God in order to be part of His family of approved worshippers?
13 Before someone who is alienated from God can become a member of God’s family of approved servants, he first needs to make a solemn promise to Jehovah. To understand why, imagine a respectable father who shows kind interest in an orphaned youth and wishes to adopt him as a member of his own family. The father is known to be a good man. Still, before accepting the youth as his son, the man wants the boy to make a promise. So the man says, “Before I accept you as a son, I need to know that you will love and respect me as your father.” Only if the youth is willing to make a solemn promise will the man admit him into his family. Is that not reasonable? Similarly, Jehovah accepts into his family only those who are willing to make a vow of dedication to him. The Bible says: “Offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance.”—Rom. 12:1, The New English Bible.
An Act of Love and Faith
14. In what way is dedication an expression of love?
14 Making a vow of dedication to God is an expression of our heartfelt love for Jehovah. In some ways it is similar to a wedding vow. A Christian bridegroom expresses his love by vowing to be loyal to his bride, come what may. It is a pledge to a person rather than merely a promise to do something. A Christian bridegroom understands that he could not have the privilege of living with his bride if he would not make a marriage vow. In a similar way, we cannot fully enjoy the benefits of being a member of Jehovah’s family without making a vow of dedication. So we dedicate ourselves to God because, in spite of our imperfection, we desire to belong to him and are resolved to be loyal to him, come what may.—Matt. 22:37.
15. How is dedication an act of faith?
15 When we dedicate ourselves to God, we perform an act of faith. Why is that so? Our faith in Jehovah makes us confident that drawing close to God is good for us. (Ps. 73:28) We know that it will not always be easy to walk with God while living among “a crooked and twisted generation,” but we trust in God’s promise to support us in our efforts. (Phil. 2:15; 4:13) We know that we are imperfect, but we are confident that Jehovah will deal mercifully with us even when we make mistakes. (Read Psalm 103:13, 14; Romans 7:21-25.) We have faith that Jehovah will reward our resolve to keep our integrity.—Job 27:5.
Dedication to God Leads to Happiness
16, 17. Why does making a dedication to Jehovah lead to happiness?
16 Being dedicated to Jehovah results in happiness because it involves the giving of ourselves. Jesus stated a basic truth when he said: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) Jesus fully experienced the happiness of giving during his earthly ministry. When necessary, he went without rest, food, and comfort so that he could help others to find the road to life. (John 4:34) Jesus found delight in making his Father’s heart rejoice. Jesus said: “I always do the things pleasing to him.”—John 8:29; Prov. 27:11.
17 Thus, Jesus pointed his followers toward a satisfying way of life when he said: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself.” (Matt. 16:24) Doing so draws us closer to Jehovah. Could we place ourselves in the hands of anyone else who could care for us more lovingly?
18. Why does living in harmony with our dedication to Jehovah bring more happiness than being dedicated to anything or anyone else?
18 Dedicating ourselves to Jehovah and thereafter living in harmony with that dedication by doing his will brings more happiness than being dedicated to anything or anyone else. For example, many people devote their life to the pursuit of material wealth without attaining true happiness and genuine satisfaction. However, those who dedicate themselves to Jehovah find long-lasting happiness. (Matt. 6:24) The honor of being “God’s fellow workers” makes them happy, yet their dedication is not to a work but to our appreciative God. (1 Cor. 3:9) No one could be more appreciative of their self-sacrifice than he is. He will even restore his loyal ones to their youth so that they can benefit from his care forever.—Job 33:25; read Hebrews 6:10.
19. What privilege is enjoyed by those who are dedicated to Jehovah?
19 Dedicating your life to Jehovah brings you into a close relationship with him. The Bible says: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” (Jas. 4:8; Ps. 25:14) In the following article, we will consider why we can be confident about making the choice to belong to Jehovah.
[Footnote]
a Jesus’ “other sheep” will not become sons of God until the end of the thousand years. However, since they have dedicated themselves to God, they can properly address God as “Father” and can rightly be considered members of Jehovah’s family of worshippers.—John 10:16; Isa. 64:8; Matt. 6:9; Rev. 20:5.
How Would You Answer?
• What does dedicating oneself to God mean?
• How does being dedicated to God benefit us?
• Why do Christians need to be dedicated to Jehovah?
[Picture on page 6]
Living in harmony with our dedication leads to our lasting happiness |
Happiness (hp)
1980 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/hp | input Page/Publishers’ Page
Happiness—How to Find It
Most people fail to find happiness. But that need not be true in your case. The experience of persons around the globe proves that outputment and a rewarding life are within your reach. We publish this book to make available the valuable information you need to find happiness.
—The Publishers |
Young People Ask (yp)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp | Chapter 32
How Can I Carry On a Successful Courtship?
“MOST marriage failures are courtship failures. This point cannot too often be repeated.” So said Paul H. Landis, a researcher on the subject of family life. Louise can vouch for the accuracy of this statement. She explains: “My biggest mistake was getting attached affectionately to Andy before I allowed myself to see what he was like as a person. Our courtship had been pretty much limited to one-on-one settings. I never saw how he reacted outside these ‘ideal’ situations.” Their marriage was shattered by divorce. The key to avoiding such a tragedy? Carrying on a successful courtship!
Before Dating
“The prudent man [or woman] looks and considers well where he [or she] is going.” (Proverbs 14:15, The Amplified Bible) Developing romantic feelings for someone whom you hardly know invites disaster—even if that one seems appealing. It can lead to a marriage with a person whose emotions and goals are miles apart from yours! It is therefore prudent first to observe that one in a group setting, perhaps while you are enjoying some form of recreation.
“I knew that if I got too close at first, my emotions would cloud my judgment,” explained Dave, now happily married for ten years. “So I viewed Rose from a distance without her knowing I was interested. I could see how she treated others, or whether she was a flirt. In casual talks, I found out her circumstances and goals.” It also helps to find out what kind of reputation he or she has by talking with someone who knows the person well.—Compare Proverbs 31:31.
The First Dates
Having decided that someone might be a suitable marriage mate for you, you could approach the person and express a desire to get to know that one better.a Assuming there is a positive response, your first date need not be some elaborate affair. Perhaps a lunch date or even being part of a group date will enable you to become better acquainted so as to decide whether you want to take the relationship any further. Keeping things somewhat informal helps ease some of the nervousness both might feel initially. And by avoiding premature expressions of commitment, you can minimize feelings of rejection—or embarrassment—if one of you loses interest.
Regardless of the type of date planned, show up on time, neatly and appropriately dressed. Display the skills of a good conversationalist. Be an active listener. (James 1:19) Though there are no hard-and-fast rules in such matters, a young man will want to follow local rules of etiquette. These may include opening a door for the young lady or helping her into her seat. A young woman, while not expecting to be treated like a princess, should cooperate modestly with her date’s efforts. By treating each other with mutual respect, a couple can set a pattern for the future. A husband is commanded to ‘honor his wife as the weaker vessel.’ And a wife is to have “deep respect for her husband.”—1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:33.
Is holding hands, kissing, or embracing appropriate, and if so, when? Displays of affection, when performed as genuine expressions of endearment and not selfish passion, can be both clean and appropriate. The Bible book The Song of Solomon indicates that some fitting expressions of endearment had been exchanged between the Shulammite maiden and the shepherd boy she loved and would soon marry. (Song of Solomon 1:2; 2:6; 8:5) But as with that chaste pair, a couple would further take care that displays of affection do not become unclean or lead to sexual immorality.b (Galatians 5:19, 21) Logically, such expressions of endearment should be made only when the relationship has reached a point where mutual commitment has developed and marriage seems imminent. By showing self-control, you can avoid being distracted from a primary aim of successful courtship, namely . . .
Getting to Know “the Secret Person of the Heart”
A research team reported in the May 1980 issue of the Journal of Marriage and the Family: “Marriages seem more likely to survive and prosper if people enter them with relatively full knowledge of one another’s inner selves.” Yes, getting to know “the secret person of the heart” of your partner is essential.—1 Peter 3:4.
Yet, ‘drawing up’ the intentions of the heart of another takes effort and discernment. (Proverbs 20:5) So plan activities that are more likely to help you see your partner’s inner self. While going to a movie or a concert may suffice at the start, engaging in activities that better lend themselves to conversation (such as roller-skating, bowling, and visiting zoos, museums, and art galleries) can do more to help you become better acquainted.
To get a glimpse of your partner’s feelings, try using open-ended questions, such as, ‘How do you spend your free time?’ ‘If money were no object, what would you like to do?’ ‘What feature of our worship of God do you like the best? Why?’ These allow in-depth responses that help you learn what your partner treasures.
As the relationship deepens and the two of you more seriously consider marriage, there is need for serious talk about important issues such as your values; where and how you will live; financial matters, including whether both will work outside the home; children; birth control; concepts of each one’s role in marriage; and both immediate and long-range goals and how you plan to achieve these. Many young Witnesses of Jehovah become full-time evangelizers after finishing school and desire to continue serving in that way after marriage. Now is the time for the two of you to make sure your spiritual goals are compatible. It is also a time to reveal things, perhaps in your past, that may affect the marriage. These might include any major debts or obligations. Health matters, such as any serious disease, and their consequences should also be frankly discussed.
In such discussions, follow the example of Elihu, who said: “I talk straight from my heart and speak sincerely.” (Job 33:3, The Holy Bible in the Language of Today, by William Beck) In explaining how her courtship prepared her for what proved to be a happy marriage, Esther said: “I never tried to ‘put on’ or say I agreed with Jaye when I felt differently. I still don’t. I try always to be honest.”
Do not evade or gloss over sensitive subjects out of fear of putting your partner on the spot. Beth made this mistake during her courtship with John. Beth said she believed in saving for the future and not wasting money. John said he agreed. Beth probed no further, imagining they saw eye to eye on matters of finance. But it turned out that John’s idea of saving for the future meant saving for a new sports car! After marriage their lack of agreement on how to spend money became painfully evident.
Such misunderstandings can be prevented. Louise, mentioned previously, says in retrospect of her courtship: “I should have asked a lot more questions, such as, ‘What if I got pregnant and you didn’t want to have a baby, what would you do?’ Or, ‘If we were in debt and I wanted to stay home and care for our child, how would you handle matters?’ I would have carefully noted his reaction.” Such discussions can bring to the surface qualities of the heart that should best be seen before marriage.
See Him or Her in Action!
“A person can be very nice with you on a one-to-one basis,” explained Esther. “But when others are around, they are often put into an unexpected situation. One of your friends might say something to your partner that he might not like. Now you get to see how he reacts under pressure. Will he tell the person off or be sarcastic?” She concludes: “Being around each other’s friends and family during our courtship helped tremendously.”
In addition to recreation, spend time working together. Share in Christian works, including the study of God’s Word and the Christian ministry. Also, take on some of the daily chores that after marriage will become a way of life—shopping for food, preparing a meal, washing dishes, and housecleaning. By being together under real-life circumstances—when your partner may even be at his or her worst—you can see behind any display-window mask.
The shepherd boy of The Song of Solomon saw how the girl he loved acted when she was disappointed or while she was laboring under the scorching sun—sweaty and tired. (Song of Solomon 1:5, 6; 2:15) After also beholding how she loyally resisted the enticements of rich King Solomon, he exclaimed: “You are altogether beautiful, O girl companion of mine, and there is no defect in you.” (Song of Solomon 4:7) Surely he did not mean that she was perfect, but that she had no basic moral defect or blemish. Her physical beauty was enhanced by her moral strength, which outweighed any weaknesses on her part.—Compare Job 31:7.
To make a similar assessment takes time. So avoid a hasty courtship. (Proverbs 21:5) Usually a man and woman will go all out to win each other’s love. But if given enough time, unpleasant habits and tendencies have a way of revealing themselves. A couple who not only take time but also make the best use of it during courtship will likely find an easier adjustment after marriage. With eyes wide open, they can enter marriage confident of being able to work out disagreements that will arise. Successful courtship has prepared them for a successful and happy marriage.
[Footnotes]
a This applies in lands where dating is customary and is viewed as appropriate conduct for Christians. Usually the male takes the initiative, though there is no Scriptural principle that would prevent a young woman from expressing her feelings in a modest way if a young man seems shy or hesitant.—Compare Song of Solomon 8:6.
b See Chapter 24, “How Can I Say No to Premarital Sex?”
Questions for Discussion
◻ What is a primary aim of courtship, and how important is it to marital happiness?
◻ What will help you get to know another’s ‘inner self’?
◻ What kind of conversations contribute to a successful courtship?
◻ Why is spending time together under a variety of circumstances helpful?
◻ What are some indicators that a relationship is faulty?
◻ When should a courtship be called off?
[Blurb on page 255]
“Marriages seem more likely to survive and prosper if people enter them with relatively full knowledge of one another’s inner selves.”—Journal of Marriage and the Family
[Box/Picture on page 256, 257]
Should We Break Up?
As a romance approaches the crossroads of decision, it is not unusual for doubts to arise. What if such doubts stem from serious flaws in the person you are dating or from flaws in the relationship itself?
For example, it is true that even people who love each other can disagree at times. (Compare Genesis 30:2; Acts 15:39.) But if you disagree on just about everything, if every discussion turns into a shouting match, or if your relationship is a never-ending cycle of breakups and makeups, beware! A poll of 400 physicians revealed that constant bickering is a strong indicator of “emotional unreadiness for marriage,” perhaps even revealing “irreconcilable conflict between the couple.”
Another cause for concern may be your discovery of disturbing personality flaws in a prospective mate. A display of a violent temper or even hints of selfishness, immaturity, moodiness, or stubbornness may make you wonder if you want to spend the rest of your life with this person. Yet many overlook or try to justify such shortcomings and seem determined to make the relationship work at all costs. Why is this?
Since courtship is taken seriously among true Christians—as well it should be—some feel pressured to marry the person they are dating. They may also dread having to confront and perhaps hurt this person. Others may simply fear that they will not be able to find someone else to marry. Nevertheless, these are not good reasons for prolonging a problem-plagued courtship.
The purpose of courtship is to investigate the possibility of marriage. And if a Christian starts a courtship in good faith, he or she has no obligation to continue it if it proves faulty. Besides, would it not be wrong and selfish to prolong a deteriorating relationship on the premise, ‘maybe I won’t find someone else?’ (Compare Philippians 2:4.) It is thus important that you face—not evade—your problems as a couple. Begin by taking a hard look at the person you are dating.
For example, is there evidence that this is a woman who will be a submissive, capable wife? (Proverbs 31:10-31) Is there evidence this is a man who will show self-sacrificing love and be an able provider? (Ephesians 5:28, 29; 1 Timothy 5:8) A person may claim to be a zealous servant of God, but are there works to back up such a claim of faith?—James 2:17, 18.
Of course, if you have invested much time and emotion in developing a relationship, do not be quick to call it off just because you have discovered that he or she is not perfect. (James 3:2) Perhaps the person’s flaws are ones you can live with.
What if they are not? Talk matters over. Do you have fundamental differences in goals or viewpoints? Or have there simply been misunderstandings? Could it be a case of both of you needing to learn how to ‘restrain your spirit’ and settle matters more calmly? (Proverbs 25:28) If irritating personality quirks concern you, does he or she humbly admit the shortcomings and show a desire to improve? Is there a need on your part to be less sensitive, less touchy? (Ecclesiastes 7:9) ‘Putting up with each other in love’ is the lifeblood of a good marriage.—Ephesians 4:2.
Far from destroying your relationship, talking matters out may well reveal the potential it has for future growth! But if the discussion simply results in another frustrating standoff, do not ignore clear signs of impending disaster. (Proverbs 22:3) Things are not likely to improve after marriage. Calling the courtship off may be in the best interests of both of you.
[Picture on page 253]
Observing each other in a group can allow you to become acquainted without romantic involvement
[Picture on page 254]
Obeying local rules of etiquette and good manners sets a pattern of mutual respect that can carry over into marriage
[Picture on page 259]
When it becomes apparent that a courtship is not working out, the kind thing to do is to have a face-to-face discussion, explaining why the relationship must end |
Sing Praises (ssb)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/Ssb | Song 191
Make the Truth Your Own
(2 Corinthians 4:2)
1. The way of the truth is the best way of living.
No better way can there be found.
Christ Jesus has taught us the value of giving,
That happiness spreads all around.
Make the truth your own.
May your faith to all be shown.
By the way you do conduct yourself,
You make known that the truth is your own.
2. By putting God first and him actively praising,
The world and its friendship you’ll lose.
To those without faith, it is truly amazing
That God’s righteous way you did choose.
Make the truth your own.
Shun the world; leave it alone.
As to God Jehovah you draw near,
You make known that the truth is your own.
3. The Devil will ever resort to deception,
But him you can firmly oppose.
The large shield of faith will provide sure protection,
And with it you’ll ward off his blows.
Make the truth your own.
Satan’s wiles are not unknown.
Putting on the armor God supplies,
You make known that the truth is your own.
4. The flesh is so weak, and the heart too is desp’rate.
With this sinful state you contend.
But please be assured that you can overcome it,
For God is your Helper and Friend.
Make the truth your own.
To bad ways do not be prone.
If your body members you control,
You make known that the truth is your own. |
Why Pray? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021000 | Why Pray?
No. 1 2021
© 2020 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To make a donation, please visit donate.jw.org. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
THIS MAGAZINE, The Watchtower, honors Jehovah God, the Ruler of the universe. It comforts people with the good news that God’s heavenly Kingdom will soon end all wickedness and transform the earth into a paradise. It promotes faith in Jesus Christ, who died so that we might gain everlasting life and who is now ruling as King of God’s Kingdom. This magazine has been published continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority. |
Reasoning (rs)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/books/reasoning-rs | Ancestor Worship
Definition: The practice of honoring and venerating dead ancestors (ceremonially or otherwise) in the belief that they are conscious in an invisible realm and can help or bring harm to the living and are therefore to be appeased. Not a Bible teaching.
Are dead ancestors aware of what the living do and are these ancestors able to help living persons?
Eccl. 9:5: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.”
Job 14:10, 21: “An earthling man expires, and where is he? His sons get honored, but he does not know it.”
Ps. 49:10, 17-19: “Even the wise ones die, together the stupid one and the unreasoning one perish, and they must leave to others their means of maintenance. . . . At his death he cannot take along anything at all; his glory will not go down along with him himself. . . . His soul finally comes only as far as the generation of his forefathers. Nevermore will they see the light.”
Is it not true that food placed on an altar or a grave remains untouched? Does not this indicate that the dead are unable to benefit from it?
See also the main heading “Spiritism.”
Is there reason to fear that our dead ancestors will harm us?
Eccl. 9:5, 6: “As for the dead, . . . their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.”
Is there a spiritual part of a person that survives the death of the body?
Ezek. 18:4: “Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Also verse 20)
Ps. 146:3, 4: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man . . . His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.”
Scientists and surgeons have found no evidence of any conscious, living part of humans that survives when the body dies.
See also pages 100-102, under the heading “Death.”
Would you prefer that your children and grandchildren show respect and love for you while you are alive or that they perform rituals at your grave after you are dead?
Eph. 6:2, 3: “‘Honor your father and your mother’; which is the first command with a promise: ‘That it may go well with you and you may endure a long time on the earth.’” (Children trained in Bible principles show such honor that brings joy to the hearts of their parents while they are alive.)
Prov. 23:22: “Listen to your father who caused your birth, and do not despise your mother just because she has grown old.”
1 Tim. 5:4: “If any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion in their own household and to keep paying a due compensation to their parents and grandparents, for this is acceptable in God’s sight.”
When spirit mediums claim to deliver messages from the dead, from where do these actually come?
Isa. 8:19: “In case they should say to you people: ‘Apply to the spiritistic mediums or to those having a spirit of prediction who are chirping and making utterances in low tones,’ is it not to its God that any people should apply? Should there be application to dead persons in behalf of living persons?” (Would God warn us against such a practice if it truly put us in touch with our loved ones?)
Acts 16:16: “As we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction.”
See also pages 384-386, under “Spiritism.”
To whom should our worship be directed?
Luke 4:8: “Jesus said to him: ‘It is written, “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.”’”
John 4:23, 24: “The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”
What hope is there for a future uniting of family members, including those who have died?
John 5:28, 29: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” |
Why Does God Not Answer All Prayers? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021005 | Why Does God Not Answer All Prayers?
Our heavenly Father, Jehovah God, is willing and pleased to hear our sincere prayers. But there are things that would stop him from answering our prayers. What are these things, and what should we keep in mind when we pray? Here are some Bible guidelines.
“When praying, do not say the same things over and over again.”—Matthew 6:7.
Jehovah does not want us to repeat memorized prayers or read them out of a prayer book. Rather, he wants us to speak from the heart. Imagine how frustrating it would be to have a friend recite the same words to you day in and day out. Good friends are open and sincere. When we pray in our own words, we are saying something personal to our heavenly Father.
“When you do ask, you do not receive because you are asking for a wrong purpose.”—James 4:3.
We would certainly not expect God to answer our prayers if we were to ask for things we know he does not want us to do or to have. For example, would Jehovah grant a gambler’s request for good luck when He has clearly warned against greediness and the superstitious belief in luck? (Isaiah 65:11; Luke 12:15) How illogical to expect Jehovah to answer such prayers! For God to answer when we pray to him, we must make sure that our requests are in harmony with what he tells us in the Bible.
“The one refusing to listen to the law—even his prayer is detestable.”—Proverbs 28:9.
In Bible times, God did not answer those who rejected his righteous laws. (Isaiah 1:15, 16) His feelings have not changed. (Malachi 3:6) If we want God to answer our prayers, we must do what we can to live in harmony with his laws. What, though, if we did things in the past that are wrong? Does that mean Jehovah will never listen to us? Of course not! God will lovingly forgive us if we turn our life around and do our best to please him.—Acts 3:19.
“Whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.”—Hebrews 11:6.
Prayer is not a mere emotional outlet for us when we are under stress. It is an expression of our faith and part of our worship of God. If we do not “keep asking in faith,” says the disciple James, then we “should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah.” (James 1:6, 7) To build faith in God, we must take the time and effort to get to know him by studying the Bible. Doing so will help us to know his will and to pray with conviction.
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Though God does not answer all prayers, he does hear and answer the sincere prayers of millions of people. The Bible outlines steps you can take so that your prayers will be pleasing to God. The next article will explain. |
HOW YOUR DONATIONS ARE USED
A Very Different Bible Study Aid | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502500218 | HOW YOUR DONATIONS ARE USED
A Very Different Bible Study Aid
APRIL 1, 2022
In January 2021, the Governing Body announced the release of a new Bible study aid, Enjoy Life Forever!a How did you react to the announcement? Matthew, from Canada, says: “I was excited! And my excitement grew during the talks and videos that explained why the publication was developed and how it had been tested. I couldn’t wait to see it and to start using it.”
Enjoy Life Forever! introduced a new method of conducting Bible studies. However, that is not the only difference between the new book and previous study aids. If you use a printed copy of Enjoy Life Forever! you may have noticed that it also feels different. To see why, let us take a closer look at how the book is made.
A New Book With a New Feel
Heavier paper. Why was this necessary? Enjoy Life Forever! has over 600 colorful images, nearly ten times more than the Teach Us book! The new book also has more white space—areas without text or artwork—on its pages. These two factors present a problem: When the paper is thin, images on the reverse side of a page may be seen, even if only vaguely. To avoid this, brothers in the International Printing Department (IPD), in Wallkill, New York, U.S.A., tested four types of paper that we are currently using in our printeries. The Writing Committee of the Governing Body examined each sample and selected the least transparent paper. Although this paper costs about 16 percent more than the paper we use for most of our other publications, it allows Bible students to read each page of Enjoy Life Forever! without being distracted by images on the reverse side of the paper.
The page on the right depicts the paper used in Enjoy Life Forever!
Different cover laminate. The cover of the new book feels different from the covers of our other books because it is finished with a different laminate, or protective film. Instead of the normal gloss laminate, the new book has a matte finish, which makes the cover artwork stand out. The laminate also helps to protect the book from the signs of wear that result from frequent use. However, matte laminate can cost up to five times more than gloss laminate. So several branches collaborated to obtain a less costly matte finish.
Adding laminate to the covers
Why were these more expensive materials chosen? A brother who works with IPD explains: “We expect this book to be well-used, so we want it to retain a dignified appearance despite repeated use.” Eduardo, who works in the Printery Office at the Brazil branch, says: “We are very glad to see how Jehovah’s organization has used quality materials to make this book beautiful, durable, and pleasant to handle, while also making wise use of donated funds.”
Printing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We began printing Enjoy Life Forever! in March 2021. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic, which created challenges. As a result of the Bethel lockdown, our printeries could not rely on the help of Bethel commuters, nor could they invite new brothers to serve as Bethelites. As a result, some printeries did not have enough personnel, and others were temporarily closed because of government mandates.
How were these difficulties overcome? When the printeries were able to operate, brothers and sisters from other Bethel departments were temporarily assigned to help with the printing. “Their self-sacrificing spirit and their willingness to learn new assignments were invaluable in getting the work accomplished,” says Joel, who works with IPD.
Despite the challenges, we have already printed millions of copies of Enjoy Life Forever! Producing them calls for a wide variety of materials, including printing plates, laminate film, paper, ink, and adhesive. In just the first five months of printing, over $2.3 million (U.S.) was spent on materials alone. To conserve costs, we have been careful to print only the number of books that congregations actually need.
“It Is a Work of Art”
How do Bible teachers and their students feel about this new Bible study aid? Paul, a brother in Australia, says: “Enjoy Life Forever! is so enjoyable to use that I get excited about conducting Bible studies. The book’s layout is very appealing and truly interactive. It has an excellent combination of clear information, heart-motivating questions, videos, pictures, charts, and goals for the student. It is a work of art that motivates me to improve my teaching.”
A Bible student in the United States says: “I really like the new book. The artwork helps me understand the main points. The videos touch my heart and motivate me to act.” This student is studying twice a week and regularly attends congregation meetings.
Millions of copies of Enjoy Life Forever! still remain to be printed in many languages. In fact, to date, the Governing Body has approved publishing this book in 710 languages, 340 more than were approved for the Teach Us book!
How are the printing costs covered? By donations to the worldwide work, many of which are made via donate.jw.org. We appreciate your generous spirit, which helps us produce Bible study aids for those who want to learn about Jehovah and to “enjoy life forever.”—Psalm 22:26.
a It was released on JW Broadcasting during the spiritual program held in conjunction with the annual meeting. |
Sing Praises (ssb)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/Ssb | Song 83
Zion’s Reason for Rejoicing
(Isaiah 66:8)
1. Jehovah has a nation;
In our day it was born.
A land was also brought forth
Where we need never mourn.
Jehovah’s heav’nly Zion
—She suddenly gave birth
To many sons, who sounded
God’s name throughout the earth.
(Chorus)
2. The birth of this new nation
Brought joy beyond compare.
It serves the Kingdom int’rests
And of God’s flock takes care.
Yes, Zion’s faithful children
Are trembling at God’s word.
They preach and teach with boldness.
By nothing they’re deterred.
(Chorus)
3. It is Jehovah’s purpose
The nations now to rock.
The choice ones of such nations
To Zion’s height do flock.
They deem it a rare priv’lege
To elevate God’s fame,
And bowing down before him,
They call upon his name.
(CHORUS)
Rejoice, exult with Zion high above!
How great for her is God Jehovah’s love!
Her sons on earth are serving as a sign,
And at Jehovah’s table they recline. |
“Kingdom Come” (kc)
1981 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/kc | Chapter 11
Kingdom Illustrations
1. Why are Jesus’ parables of interest to all who serve God?
WHILE he was with his disciples, Jesus spoke many parables, or illustrations. These show what is involved in membership in the kingdom of the heavens. They indicate what course must be taken by the “little flock” of Kingdom heirs, and also by those who will gain everlasting life on earth under that kingdom. These “other sheep,” too, rejoice to know about the prophecies concerning the Kingdom, and they pray fervently for it to ‘come.’—Luke 12:32; John 10:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20.
2, 3. (a) Why did Jesus use illustrations? (b) Why did others besides his disciples fail to understand? (c) Unlike those described at Matthew 13:13-15, why should we diligently study God’s Word?
2 After he had related one of these parables to the people, Jesus’ disciples came to him and asked: “Why is it you speak to them by the use of illustrations?” In reply, Jesus said:
“To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those people it is not granted.” (Matthew 13:10, 11)
And why not? It was because they were not willing to dig down and get the deeper meaning of his words, so that their hearts would motivate them to action in behalf of the “good news.” They did not regard the Kingdom as “treasure” or a “pearl of high value.”—Matthew 13:44-46.
3 Jesus quoted the prophecy of Isaiah as having fulfillment in those unbelievers, saying: “By hearing, you will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look but by no means see. For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them.” (Matthew 13:13-15) We should want to avoid being like those unappreciative people. Let us, then, apply ourselves to the study of God’s Word.
4. (a) What types of hearts fail to profit from the word? (b) How may we be blessed if we strive to get the sense of the word?
4 In his parable introduced at Matthew chapter 13:3-8, Jesus describes himself as “a sower” of seed. He sows “the word of the kingdom” in different kinds of hearts. Some persons’ hearts are like roadside soil. Before the seed can take root, the Devil sends his henchmen like “birds” to pluck “the word away from their hearts in order that they may not believe and be saved.” Other hearts are like rocky soil. At first, they accept the word with joy, but then the tender plant withers under trial or persecution. Some seed falls among “thorns,” where it is choked out by “anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life.” Ah, but there is also the “seed” sown upon the right kind of soil!
“This is the one hearing the word and getting the sense of it, who really does bear fruit and produces, this one a hundredfold, that one sixty, the other thirty.” (Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 14-20; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15)
Yes, we will be blessed and our sacred service to our God will become really fruitful if we receive the word into appreciative hearts and expend ourselves in behalf of God’s kingdom!
ANOTHER “SOWER”
5. (a) To what other illustration are we now encouraged to pay attention? (b) Why could this “man” not be the Lord Jesus?
5 Alone of the Gospels, Mark’s account follows up this parable of the “sower” with an illustration involving a different “sower.” Just before giving this illustration, Jesus told his disciples in private: “Pay attention to what you are hearing.” Then he tied in the parable, saying:
“In this way the kingdom of God is just as when a man casts the seed upon the ground, and he sleeps at night and rises up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows tall, just how he does not know.” (Mark 4:24-27)
Obviously, this “man” is not the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, for the latter no longer needs an earthly night’s sleep. Nor would it be correct to say that the Son of God, who worked with his Father in creating all things, “does not know” how growth takes place. (Colossians 1:16) So in the context we can appreciate that the “man” has reference to the individual Christian who should be ‘paying attention’ to matters related to “the kingdom of God.”
6. What two things should each “sower” watch, and why?
6 Each “sower” should watch with what personality traits he is sowing, and also the environment in which he sows. Without our being aware of it, the development of our personality may be influenced for good or for bad, according to the “ground” or kind of people among whom we associate as we seek to develop Christian qualities—be that inside or outside the congregation. (Compare 1 Corinthians 15:33.) Finally, “the full grain” will appear in the head, and we will harvest accordingly. (Mark 4:28, 29) How important that those of the “little flock,” and indeed all who reach out for everlasting life in God’s Kingdom arrangement, watch what and where they sow with regard to the developing of Christlike personalities!—Ephesians 4:17-24; Galatians 6:7-9.
A COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM
7. How do the various parables help us to view the Kingdom?
7 Mark’s account describes Jesus as going on to say:
“With what are we to liken the kingdom of God, or in what illustration shall we set it out?” (Mark 4:30)
Then he invites us to look at the Kingdom in a different setting. Indeed, these illustrations help us to view the Kingdom from various standpoints, just as we might inspect a building on the outside and on the inside, and from a number of different angles.
8. (a) Why could not the phenomenal growth from the mustard grain have reference to the Kingdom heirs? (b) Why does this logically fit Christendom’s “kingdom”? (c) How does God’s description of apostate Israel support this view?
8 So to what should we liken the kingdom of God? Jesus answers:
“Like a mustard grain, which at the time it was sown in the ground was the tiniest of all the seeds that are on the earth—but when it has been sown, it comes up and becomes greater than all other vegetables and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven are able to find lodging under its shadow.” (Mark 4:30-32)
A phenomenal growth this—and surely, to something far more expansive than the “little flock” of 144,000 Kingdom heirs, to whom ‘the Father has approved of giving the kingdom’! (Luke 12:32; Revelation 14:1, 3) Rather, it is the growth of the great counterfeit “tree” of Christendom as an apostasy from the congregation that Jesus had planted. (Luke 13:18, 19) It is huge! It boasts more than 900,000,000 members worldwide, for whom it claims a destiny in the heavens. This apostate kingdom was foreshadowed long ago by backsliding Israel, of which Jehovah said: “I had planted you as a choice red vine, all of it a true seed. So how have you been changed toward me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?”—Jeremiah 2:21-23; see also Hosea 10:1-4.
9. (a) Who are the “birds” and the branches of the “tree”? (b) In view of the statements at 2 Thessalonians 1 and Matthew 7, why should we now stand clear of that “tree”?
9 According to Matthew’s description of this “tree,” “the birds of heaven come and find lodging among its branches.” Apparently, they are the same “birds” of the earlier parable that gobble up the “word of the kingdom” that falls by the roadside. (Matthew 13:4, 19, 31, 32) Those “birds” roost in the hundreds of sectarian branches of the “tree.” They represent the apostate “man of lawlessness,” the clergy of Christendom. They will lose their sheltered perch when God chops down that “tree,” along with all other false religion. Stand clear, now! For the crash of that “tree” is imminent!—Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 2:3; Matthew 7:19-23.
10, 11. (a) In what contexts do Matthew and Luke present the parable of the “mustard grain,” and why appropriately so? (b) What admonition and warning does the Kingdom parable of the leaven provide for us?
10 Appropriately, Luke presents the parable of the “mustard grain” as a follow-up to Jesus’ denunciation of the apostate religionists of his day. And as if to emphasize the point, both Matthew and Luke next portray Jesus as giving the parable of the “leaven.” (Matthew 13:32, 33; Luke 13:10-21) When used figuratively in the Bible, leaven always has an unfavorable connotation, as when Jesus warned his disciples to “watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” and when the apostle Paul counseled Christians to clear away the “leaven of badness and wickedness.”—Matthew 16:6, 11, 12; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:7-9.
11 In the illustration, a feature in connection with “the kingdom of the heavens” is said to be like leaven that a woman hides in three measures of flour. So the whole mass of flour becomes fermented. This pictures the stealthy corrupting of the professed Christian congregation with false Babylonish teaching and practice, resulting in the massive structure of Christendom’s counterfeit kingdom. This should serve as a warning for us. Viewing the sorry result of apostasy in Christendom, the “little flock” of Kingdom heirs and their companions today should beware that the “leaven” of false, deceptive teachings is never permitted to contaminate their heartfelt appreciation of the purity and truth of the “word of the kingdom.”
THE SOWER AND HIS “ENEMY”
12, 13. (a) In the parable of the “wheat” and the “weeds,” how does Jesus identify the principals? (b) What is the harvest, and what evidence do we see that it is taking place today?
12 In another illustration Jesus likens “the kingdom of the heavens” to “a man that sowed fine seed in his field.” Then, “while men were sleeping, his enemy came and oversowed weeds in among the wheat, and left.” What kind of fruitage could be expected from that field? Jesus went on to identify this sower as himself, “the Son of man,” the sowing of whose Kingdom seed results in fruitage of wheatlike Christians, “the sons of the kingdom.” The enemy is “the Devil,” and the “weeds” are “the sons of the wicked one”—his hypocritical religious “seed.” (Compare Genesis 3:15.) In fulfillment, some true Christians kept growing up among the conglomeration of “weeds” that have marked the great apostasy from the first century onward. But now in our 20th century, we have come to the time for harvest—“a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels”!—Matthew 13:24-30, 36-39.
13 At last, under angelic direction, the “wheat” is separated from the “weeds.” The clear distinction between the two has been made manifest. As we shall see, the evidence abounds that “the Son of man” is today present in his heavenly kingdom, gathering wheatlike true Christians to Kingdom activity. But what of Christendom and its teachers of apostasy? Jesus’ parable goes on to say:
“The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness.”
For centuries the clergy of Christendom have stumbled honest persons with their false doctrines and outward show of piety. But they have come under God’s judgment, and are ‘weeping and gnashing their teeth.’ Today they bemoan diminishing support by the laity and division in their own ranks. In contrast, Jehovah’s wheatlike servants are witnessing joyfully concerning his kingdom. They are shining “as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”—Matthew 13:40-43; compare Isaiah 65:13, 14.
A SUCCESSFUL ‘FISHING’ PROJECT
14, 15. (a) How did Jesus start a great ‘fishing’ project, but what other kinds of ‘fishing’ have gone on since then, and with what ‘catches’? (b) What part do the angels then play, and how do they dispose of the “fish”? (c) For what opportunity should we therefore be thankful?
14 “Again,” says Jesus, “the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet let down into the sea and gathering up fish of every kind.” (Matthew 13:47) Jesus started this ‘fishing’ project himself, when he called his first disciples from their nets in order to make them “fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) But during the great apostasy, under angelic surveillance faithful minority groups and Christendom’s religions have continued to ‘fish’ for converts. However, have all of the hundreds of millions of symbolic sea creatures turned out to be ‘good fish’? As we have noted, Christendom’s religions have based their teachings on the Greek philosophy of Plato, and on the “mysteries” of ancient Babylon. Their fruitage is seen in the hatreds, strife and bloodshed that have spotted the pages of Christendom’s history, and in their support of the world wars of our 20th century.
15 At last, “in the conclusion of the system of things,” it is time for the angels to haul in the “dragnet.” This symbolizes the organizations on earth of those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ—the true and the false. Those “fish” found to be “unsuitable” for “the kingdom of the heavens” must be thrown away, cast into “the fiery furnace” of destruction. “There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.” (Matthew 13:48-50) But the angels are also separating ‘good fish’ out from the symbolic dragnet. How thankful we should be for our opportunity of being counted along with these—a distinct people dedicated to magnifying Jehovah’s name and who pray meaningfully for his kingdom to “come”!
16. This last parable gives rise to what questions, and why should we be interested in finding the answers?
16 However, what is “the conclusion of the system of things,” concerning which Jesus speaks so forcefully in this last parable? What are “the last days,” concerning which several of Jesus’ disciples wrote? Are we now living in those days? If so, what does this mean for us, and for all mankind?
[Box on page 104]
GIVE HEED TO JESUS’ KINGDOM ILLUSTRATIONS!
● These describe the Kingdom as desirable, like a “treasure” or “pearl.” Those seeking it are likened to “the right kind of soil,” “wheat,” “good fish.”
● The counterfeit kingdom is portrayed as a mustard “tree” with many branches, a leavened mass of flour. Its supporters are the “birds,” “weeds,” ‘unsuitable fish.’
● Looking at the Kingdom’s development from various angles, we are better able to understand the great issue before mankind today, and are encouraged to take a firm and loyal stand for the Kingdom. |
What People Say About Praying | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021003 | What People Say About Praying
“When I pray, I feel as if God were by my side, holding my hand and guiding me when I feel lost.”—MARÍA.
“My wife died after a 13-year battle against cancer. I remember praying to God every day and feeling that he was really listening to me in my pain. I felt at peace.”—RAÚL.
“Prayer is a beautiful gift from God to humans.”—ARNE.
For María, Raúl, Arne, and many others, prayer is a unique gift. They feel that through prayer, they can talk to God, thank him, and seek his help. They wholeheartedly believe the Bible’s assurance regarding praying to God: “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14.
On the other hand, many people find it difficult to accept what the Bible says about prayer. Steve recounts how he felt about praying: “When I turned 17, three of my friends were killed in two separate accidents. One died in a car crash, and the other two drowned at sea.” What did Steve do? “I prayed to God for answers as to why all that had happened, but I got no reply. So I asked myself, ‘Why pray?’” Seemingly unanswered prayers have led many to ask whether there is really any point in praying.
People also question the value of prayer for other reasons. Some say that since God knows all things, he is already aware of our needs or our problems, so there is little point in telling him about them.
Others believe that God actually refuses to listen to their prayers because of mistakes they have made in the past. “My biggest problem,” says Jenny, “is that I feel so worthless. I’ve done things that I regret, so I convince myself that I don’t deserve to be heard by God.”
How do you feel about praying? If you have ever had similar concerns or doubts about prayer, you can take comfort from the fact that the Bible can offer satisfying answers. The Bible is an authority on the subject of prayer;a it can help you find answers to such questions as:
Does God really hear our prayers?
Why are some prayers not answered?
How can you pray and be heard?
What can prayers do for you?
a The Bible contains the prayers of many of God’s servants, including those of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew Scriptures, commonly called the Old Testament, contain well over 150 prayers. |
Did You Know? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2008005 | Did You Know?
When did the astrologers visit Jesus?
In Matthew’s Gospel, we are told that “astrologers from eastern parts” visited Jesus, bringing him gifts. (Matthew 2:1-12; footnote) How many of these astrologers, or “magi,” visited the child Jesus is not disclosed, and there is no firm basis for the traditional notion that there were three; neither are they named in the Biblical account.
The New International Version Study Bible makes this comment on Matthew 2:11: “Contrary to tradition, the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth as did the shepherds. They came some months later and visited him as a ‘child’ in his ‘house.’” This is verified by the fact that Herod, when seeking to have the young child killed, ordered the slaughter of all boys two years of age and under throughout Bethlehem and its districts. He targeted that age group by calculating “according to the time that he had carefully ascertained from the astrologers.”—Matthew 2:16.
Had these astrologers visited Jesus on the night of his birth and brought gold and other valuable gifts, it is unlikely that Mary would have offered only two birds 40 days later when she presented Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:22-24) This was a provision in the Law for poor people who could not afford a young ram. (Leviticus 12:6-8) However, these valuable gifts may have been timely and useful in financing the stay of Jesus’ family in Egypt.—Matthew 2:13-15.
Why did it take Jesus four days to arrive at the tomb of Lazarus?
Basically, it seems that Jesus arranged matters that way. Why can we say that? Consider the account recorded in John chapter 11.
When Lazarus, a resident of Bethany and a friend of Jesus, fell seriously ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus. (Verses 1-3) At the time, Jesus was a two-day journey or so from Bethany. (John 10:40) Lazarus evidently died about the time that the news reached Jesus. What did Jesus do? He “remained two days in the place where he was,” and then he left for Bethany. (Verses 6, 7) Hence, by waiting two days and then traveling two days, he arrived at the tomb four days after Lazarus’ death.—Verse 17.
Earlier, Jesus had performed two resurrections—one right after the death of the person and the other likely sometime later on the day of death. (Luke 7:11-17; 8:49-55) Could he raise up someone who had been dead for four days and whose body had already begun to decompose? (Verse 39) Interestingly, one Bible reference work says that among the Jews, there was a belief that no hope was possible “for a person who had been dead for four days; by then the body showed recognizable decay, and the soul, which was thought to hover over the body for three days, had left.”
If any of those gathered at the tomb had doubts, they were about to witness Jesus’ power over death. Standing before the open tomb, Jesus cried out: “Lazarus, come on out!” Then, “the man that had been dead came out.” (Verses 43, 44) The resurrection, not the false notion of many that the soul lives on after death, is the real hope for the dead.—Ezekiel 18:4; John 11:25. |
What Has Happened to Respect for Family? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102024005 | What Has Happened to Respect for Family?
WHY RESPECT FOR FAMILY MATTERS
Respect for family members creates a stable environment in which husbands, wives, and children feel secure.
The book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work says that when spouses have mutual respect, they express fondness for each other “not just in the big ways but in little ways day in and day out.”
Research shows that children who learn to respect others have greater self-esteem, enjoy a better relationship with their parents, and suffer fewer psychological problems.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Create a plan, together with your family. First, fix in mind what you mean by “respect.” Second, write down specific behaviors that are expected from everyone in the family as well as behaviors that should be avoided. Third, discuss the plan as a family so that your children—and you—have a common foundation on which to build.
“The plans of the diligent surely lead to success.”—Proverbs 21:5.
Set the example. Do you criticize your family members for their faults, mock them for their opinions, or ignore or interrupt them when they are talking to you?
Tip: Try to view respect as something that you owe your spouse and children, not something that they need to earn.
“In showing honor to one another, take the lead.”—Romans 12:10.
Disagree without being disagreeable. When expressing yourself, avoid sweeping assertions, such as “you always” or “you never.” Such harsh criticisms attack the character of your family member and can turn a minor disagreement into a major conflict.
“A mild answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”—Proverbs 15:1.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Jehovah’s Witnesses encourage family members to treat one another with respect, often making it a theme of the articles, books, brochures, and videos that we publish, which are made available free of charge.
FOR MARRIED COUPLES: The article series Help for the Family can help husbands and wives to . . .
be good listeners
end the silent treatment
stop arguing
(Search “Help for the Family” on jw.org)
FOR PARENTS: The article series Help for the Family can help parents train their children to . . .
be obedient
assist with chores around the house
say “please” and “thank you”
(Search “Raising Children” and “Raising Teenagers” on jw.org)
See also the appendix, “Questions Parents Ask,” in the book Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work, Volume 1. (Search “Questions Parents Ask” on jw.org)
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: The Teens and Young Adults section of jw.org has articles, videos, and worksheets that can help young ones to . . .
get along with parents and siblings
talk respectfully to parents about rules
gain their parents’ trust
(Search “Teens and Young Adults” on jw.org)
Use of the website jw.org is free of charge. No fee, subscription, or membership is required, and no personal information will be requested.
LEARN MORE
Joseph Ehrenbogen was violent and addicted to drugs when he got married. To learn how studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses improved his family life, search for the article “I Learned to Respect Women and Myself” on jw.org. |
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Dating—Part 2: What Should I Expect When Dating? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/500600126 | YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Dating—Part 2: What Should I Expect When Dating?
You are attracted to someone you have met, and the two of you have decided to date in order to see if you would be good marriage mates for each other. What should you expect as the relationship moves forward?
In this article
Expect to have honest conversations
Expect to have different viewpoints
Expect dating to be stressful
Expect to have honest conversations
You and your friend will learn a lot about each other as you spend time together. Some things you will learn by observing the other person’s behavior.
However, there are some things that the two of you will need to discuss openly. As you do so, remain as objective as possible and resist the tendency to let your emotions cloud your judgment.
Topics that both of you should discuss include:
Finances. Do you have any debt? Do you find it difficult to control your spending? If you get married, how would you and your spouse make decisions on income and expenses?
Health. Are you in good health? Have you had any serious health problems in the past?
Goals. What would you like to accomplish with your life? Are your goals compatible with the goals of your girlfriend or boyfriend? After you are married, will you still be happy if circumstances keep you from achieving your goals?
Family. Do you currently have any family obligations? What obligations do you foresee in the future? Do you want to have children? If so, how many?
When you discuss such topics, be honest and transparent. Don’t withhold or distort the facts just to make a good impression.—Hebrews 13:18.
To think about: What do you need to know about the person you are dating? What should he or she know about you? How will being transparent pave the way for honest communication later if the two of you decide to marry?
Bible Principle: “Tell each other the truth.”—Ephesians 4:25, New Century Version.
Tip: Be discerning about when to discuss marriage. If you bring up the topic too soon, you could make your friend feel as if he or she is being rushed. Remember, each person is different, and each relationship moves at its own pace.
“The girl might think, ‘In six months, we’ll probably be engaged,’ but the boy might be thinking a year. In that case, the girl might end up hurt and confused because she expects a commitment sooner rather than later. It’s important for both to be on the same page.”—Ariana, married one year.
Expect to have different viewpoints
No two people are alike. So don’t assume that you and the person you are dating will agree on everything or feel the same way about things. Factors such as your culture and upbringing can affect your viewpoint.
To think about: When viewpoints on minor issues differ, are both of you willing to compromise for the sake of peace as long as no clear Bible standard is involved?
Bible Principle: “Let your reasonableness become known.”—Philippians 4:5.
Tip: Rather than focus on how much you agree on things, pay close attention to what happens when you disagree. You’ll learn a lot about the other person that way.
“As ‘perfect’ a match as you may think you are, you will have differences. Although compatibility is important, the qualities that each one displays when dealing with differences are even more important.”—Matthew, married five years.
Expect dating to be stressful
Dating will no doubt take up a lot of your time and may cause you some stress. What can help?
Set reasonable limits. Don’t become so consumed with your dating life that you neglect your responsibilities—or your other friends. Alana, married five years, says: “You’ll still need your friends after you get married, and they will still need you. Don’t ignore them now, just because you have started dating.”
Remember, when you get married, you will need to balance all facets of your life. Why not work on achieving that balance while dating?
To think about: Do you demand an unreasonable amount of time and attention from the person you are dating? Do you feel that he or she is demanding too much from you? How can both of you be balanced so that neither one feels drained or smothered by the relationship?
Bible Principle: “There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every activity.”—Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Tip: In addition to recreation, try to share in activities that involve the responsibilities of everyday life.
“If recreation is the only way dating couples spend their time, marriage might be a rude awakening. It’s good for a couple to engage in real-life activities like shopping, doing chores, and worshipping together. This can really help them to form a solid foundation for their marriage.”—Daniel, married two years.
Remember, dating is a temporary period that will lead to a decision, either to marry or to end the romantic relationship. Part 3 of this series will discuss things you need to consider when making that decision. |
Good News (fg)
2012 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/fg | input Page/Publishers’ Page
Good News From God!
January 2018 Printing
English (fg-E)
© 2012
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA
This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations.
To make a donation, please visit www.jw.org.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
Photo Credits:
Page 6, top, Dead Sea Scroll: Shrine of the Book, Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; page 6, middle, and page 32, upper right, Greek Codex: From The Codex Alexandrinus in Reduced Photographic Facsimile, 1909, by permission of the British Library; page 16, Hitler: Based on U.S. National Archives photo |
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Should I Drop Out of School? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/500600105 | YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Should I Drop Out of School?
“I hate school!” If that’s how you feel, you might be tempted to drop out. This article will give you some better options.
Why some drop out
Count the cost
A better approach
What your peers say
Why some drop out
Common reasons noted by educators include:
Academic struggles. ‘I’m losing the battle against failing grades.’
Apathy. ‘I see no value in what I’m learning.’
Economic hardship. ‘I have to work to help support my family.’
Count the cost
The Bible says: “The shrewd one ponders each step.” (Proverbs 14:15) The lesson? If you’re considering dropping out of school, be sure to count the cost.
Ask yourself:
‘How will dropping out affect future job opportunities?’
“Think about having to get a job and then possibly providing for a family one day. How can you do that if most employers require at least a high school diploma?”—Julia.
‘How will dropping out affect my ability to deal with hardship?’
“School prepares you for life. In the future, the people you meet, the temptations you encounter, and the work you do will be similar to what you faced in school.”—Daniel.
‘How will dropping out affect my life skills?’
“School may seem impractical now, but when you are 23 years old and balancing your checkbook, you’re going to think, ‘I’m glad I paid attention in math.’”—Anna.
A better approach
Get help. The Bible says: “There is success through many advisers.” (Proverbs 11:14) If your grades are slipping, reach out to a parent, a teacher, a guidance counselor, or another trusted adult for tips on how to improve.
“Talk to your teacher if you’re struggling. Sometimes you might think that the teacher is the problem, but often you can improve the situation just by asking for help.”—Edward.
Look at the big picture. The Bible says: “Better is the end of a matter than its beginning.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) When you finish school, you will have acquired qualities and skills that go beyond the subjects you were taught.
“You may not have to write essays or study for exams as an adult, but the way you handle stress at school prepares you for the challenges you will face after you graduate.”—Vera.
Dropping out of school is like getting off a boat before it docks; you might wish you had stayed onboard!
Consider your options. The Bible says: “All who are hasty surely head for poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5) Don’t be quick to decide that dropping out is your only choice. You might be able to complete your education by means of online schooling or a homeschool program.
“School teaches you to work hard, solve problems, and cooperate with others. The benefits are long-lasting. It’s worth the effort to finish school.”—Benjamin.
The bottom line: Finish school and you’ll be better prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood.
What your peers say
“When you apply for a job, employers will be more likely to consider you if you graduated from school. The fact that you succeeded shows that you are determined to finish what you start. Dropping out is not the wisest choice.”—Annabelle.
“It can be difficult to stay in school, and it might seem easier just to drop out. But you will always have to endure stressful situations, and you want to become someone who is capable. School prepares you for adulthood.”—Cole.
“As an adult, you may not need to know how to solve a complex math problem. But you will need to manage time, meet deadlines, and even train yourself to get up early. School can help you develop those abilities.”—Brynn.
Review: Should I drop out of school?
Count the cost. Think about how dropping out will affect your job prospects, educational goals, and even your ability to endure hardship.
Get help. If your grades are slipping, talk to a parent, a teacher, a guidance counselor, or another trusted adult.
Look at the big picture. The benefits of school go beyond the subjects you study there. School also helps you learn how to study, meet deadlines, and handle responsibility.
Consider your options. If your circumstances force you to drop out, consider available alternatives, such as homeschooling or online schooling. |
Daniel’s Prophecy (dp)
1999 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/dp | Chapter Six
Unraveling the Mystery of the Great Tree
1. What happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, raising what questions?
JEHOVAH allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to become a world ruler. As Babylon’s monarch, he had great wealth, a sumptuous table, a grand palace—everything he desired in a material way. But suddenly he suffered humiliation. Becoming mentally deranged, Nebuchadnezzar acted like a beast! Driven away from the royal table and the imperial residence, he lived in the fields and ate grass like a bull. What led up to this calamity? And why should it concern us?—Compare Job 12:17-19; Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2.
THE KING MAGNIFIES THE MOST HIGH
2, 3. What did the king of Babylon wish for his subjects, and how did he view the Most High God?
2 Shortly after his recovery from that complete mental collapse, Nebuchadnezzar sent throughout his realm a remarkable report of what had occurred. Jehovah inspired the prophet Daniel to preserve an accurate record of these events. It begins with these words: “Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, national groups and languages that are dwelling in all the earth: May your peace grow great. The signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed with me, it has seemed good to me to declare. How grand his signs are, and how mighty his wonders are! His kingdom is a kingdom to time indefinite, and his rulership is for generation after generation.”—Daniel 4:1-3.
3 Nebuchadnezzar’s subjects were “dwelling in all the earth”—his empire embracing most of the world of Bible record. Regarding Daniel’s God, the king said: “His kingdom is a kingdom to time indefinite.” How those words magnified Jehovah throughout the Babylonian Empire! Moreover, this was the second time that Nebuchadnezzar had been shown that the Kingdom of God alone is eternal, standing “to times indefinite.”—Daniel 2:44.
4. In connection with Nebuchadnezzar, how did Jehovah’s “signs and wonders” begin?
4 What “signs and wonders” did “the Most High God” perform? These began with the king’s personal experience related in these words: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, happened to be at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. There was a dream that I beheld, and it began to make me afraid. And there were mental images upon my bed and visions of my head that began to frighten me.” (Daniel 4:4, 5) What did the Babylonian king do about this disturbing dream?
5. How did Nebuchadnezzar view Daniel, and why?
5 Nebuchadnezzar summoned Babylon’s wise men and told them the dream. But how they failed! They were totally unable to provide an interpretation. The record added: “At last there came in before me Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god and in whom there is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I said what the dream was.” (Daniel 4:6-8) Daniel’s court name was Belteshazzar, and the false deity that the king called “my god” may have been either Bel or Nebo or Marduk. Being polytheistic, Nebuchadnezzar viewed Daniel as one in whom there was “the spirit of the holy gods.” And because of Daniel’s position as prefect over all of Babylon’s wise men, the king referred to him as “the chief of the magic-practicing priests.” (Daniel 2:48; 4:9; compare Daniel 1:20.) Of course, faithful Daniel never abandoned the worship of Jehovah to practice magic.—Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
AN IMMENSE TREE
6, 7. How would you describe what Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream?
6 What was the output of the Babylonian king’s frightening dream? “Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding,” said Nebuchadnezzar, “and, look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense. The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it. Under it the beast of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of the heavens would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself.” (Daniel 4:10-12) Reportedly, Nebuchadnezzar was fond of the great cedars of Lebanon, went to see them, and had some brought to Babylon as lumber. But he had never beheld anything like the tree seen in his dream. It occupied a prominent position “in the midst of the earth,” was visible earth wide, and was so fruitful that it provided food for all flesh.
7 There was much more to the dream, for Nebuchadnezzar added: “I continued beholding in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, look! a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens themselves. He was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: ‘Chop the tree down, and cut off its boughs. Shake off its foliage, and scatter its fruitage. Let the beast flee from under it, and the birds from its boughs. However, leave its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let its portion be among the vegetation of the earth.’”—Daniel 4:13-15.
8. Who was the “watcher”?
8 The Babylonians had their own religious concept of good and evil spirit creatures. But who was this “watcher,” or sentinel, from heaven? Called “a holy one,” he was a righteous angel representing God. (Compare Psalm 103:20, 21.) Imagine the questions that must have plagued Nebuchadnezzar! Why chop this tree down? What good is the rootstock restrained from growth by bands of iron and of copper? Indeed, what purpose is served by a mere stump?
9. Basically, what did the watcher say, and what questions are raised?
9 Nebuchadnezzar must have been completely mystified as he heard the watcher’s further words: “Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it. By the decree of watchers the thing is, and by the saying of holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.” (Daniel 4:16, 17) The rootstock of a tree does not have a human heart beating inside it. For that matter, how can the heart of a beast be given to a tree’s rootstock? What are the “seven times”? And how does all of this relate to rulership in “the kingdom of mankind”? Surely Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know.
BAD NEWS FOR THE KING
10. (a) Scripturally speaking, what can trees symbolize? (b) What is represented by the great tree?
10 Upon hearing the dream, Daniel was momentarily astonished, then fearful. Urged by Nebuchadnezzar to explain it, the prophet said: “O my lord, may the dream apply to those hating you, and its interpretation to your adversaries. The tree that you beheld, that grew great and became strong . . . , it is you, O king, because you have grown great and become strong, and your grandeur has grown great and reached to the heavens, and your rulership to the extremity of the earth.” (Daniel 4:18-22) In the Scriptures, trees can symbolize individuals, rulers, and kingdoms. (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7, 8; Ezekiel, chapter 31) Like the immense tree of his dream, Nebuchadnezzar had “grown great and become strong” as the head of a world power. But “rulership to the extremity of the earth,” involving the whole kingdom of mankind, is represented by the great tree. It therefore symbolizes Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, particularly in its relationship to the earth.—Daniel 4:17.
11. How did the king’s dream show that he would experience a debasing change?
11 A debasing change was in store for Nebuchadnezzar. Pointing to this development, Daniel added: “Because the king beheld a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was also saying: ‘Chop the tree down, and ruin it. However, leave its rootstock itself in the earth, but with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens let it become wet, and with the beasts of the field let its portion be until seven times themselves pass over it,’ this is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High is that which must befall my lord the king.” (Daniel 4:23, 24) Surely courage was needed to give the powerful king that message!
12. What was going to befall Nebuchadnezzar?
12 What would befall Nebuchadnezzar? Imagine his reaction as Daniel added: “You they will be driving away from men, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will come to be, and the vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like bulls; and with the dew of the heavens you yourself will be getting wet, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.” (Daniel 4:25) Apparently even Nebuchadnezzar’s court officials would ‘drive him away from men.’ But would he be cared for by compassionate herdsmen or shepherds? No, for God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would dwell with “the beasts of the field,” eating vegetation.
13. What did the tree dream show would happen to Nebuchadnezzar’s position as world ruler?
13 Just as the tree was cut down, Nebuchadnezzar would be toppled from world rulership—but only for a time. Daniel explained: “Because they said to leave the rootstock of the tree, your kingdom will be sure to you after you know that the heavens are ruling.” (Daniel 4:26) In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream the rootstock, or stump, of the felled tree was allowed to remain, although it was banded so that it would not grow. Similarly, the “rootstock” of Babylon’s king would remain, though banded from flourishing for “seven times.” His position as world ruler would be like the banded tree stump. It would be kept safe till seven times had passed over it. Jehovah would see to it that during that period nobody would succeed Nebuchadnezzar as Babylon’s sole ruler, although his son named Evil-merodach may have carried on for him as acting ruler.
14. What did Daniel urge Nebuchadnezzar to do?
14 In view of what was foretold concerning Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel courageously urged: “Therefore, O king, may my counsel seem good to you, and remove your own sins by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor ones. Maybe there will occur a lengthening of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:27) If Nebuchadnezzar would turn away from his sinful course of oppression and pride, perhaps this would change matters for him. After all, some two centuries earlier, Jehovah had determined to destroy the people of Assyria’s capital, Nineveh, but he did not do so because its king and his subjects repented. (Jonah 3:4, 10; Luke 11:32) What about proud Nebuchadnezzar? Would he change his ways?
THE DREAM’S INITIAL FULFILLMENT
15. (a) What attitude did Nebuchadnezzar continue to manifest? (b) Inscriptions reveal what about Nebuchadnezzar’s activities?
15 Nebuchadnezzar remained proud. Walking about on the palace roof 12 months after his tree dream, he boasted: “Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built for the royal house with the strength of my might and for the dignity of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:28-30) Nimrod had founded Babylon (Babel), but Nebuchadnezzar gave it splendor. (Genesis 10:8-10) In one of his cuneiform inscriptions, he brags: “Nebuchadrezzar, King of Babylon, the restorer of Esagila and Ezida, son of Nabopolassar am I. . . . The fortifications of Esagila and Babylon I strengthened and established the name of my reign forever.” (Archaeology and the Bible, by George A. Barton, 1949, pages 478-9) Another inscription refers to about 20 temples that he renovated or rebuilt. “Under Nebuchadnezzar’s rule,” says The World Book Encyclopedia, “Babylon became one of the most magnificent cities of the ancient world. In his own records, he rarely mentioned his military activities, but wrote of his building projects and his attention to the gods of Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar probably built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.”
16. How was Nebuchadnezzar about to be humiliated?
16 Boast though he did, proud Nebuchadnezzar was about to be humiliated. Says the inspired account: “While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, there was a voice that fell from the heavens: ‘To you it is being said, O Nebuchadnezzar the king, “The kingdom itself has gone away from you, and from mankind they are driving even you away, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will be. Vegetation they will give even to you to eat just like bulls, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.”’”—Daniel 4:31, 32.
17. What happened to proud Nebuchadnezzar, and in what circumstances did he soon find himself?
17 Nebuchadnezzar promptly lost his reason. Driven away from mankind, he ate vegetation “just like bulls.” Out among the beasts of the field, he certainly was not sitting idly in the grass of a virtual paradise, enjoying refreshing breezes daily. In modern-day Iraq, where Babylon’s ruins are located, temperatures range from a high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit [50°C] in the summer months to well below freezing in wintertime. Unattended and exposed to the elements, Nebuchadnezzar’s long, matted hair looked like eagles’ feathers and his uncut fingernails and toenails became like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:33) What humiliation for this proud world ruler!
18. During the seven times, what took place with regard to Babylon’s throne?
18 In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the great tree was felled and its stump was banded to prevent growth upward for seven times. Similarly, Nebuchadnezzar “was brought down from the throne of his kingdom” when Jehovah struck him with madness. (Daniel 5:20) In effect, this changed the king’s heart from that of a man to that of a bull. Yet, God reserved Nebuchadnezzar’s throne for him until the seven times ended. While Evil-merodach possibly acted as the temporary head of government, Daniel served as “the ruler over all the jurisdictional district of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” His three Hebrew companions continued to share in administering that district’s affairs. (Daniel 1:11-19; 2:48, 49; 3:30) The four exiles awaited Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration to the throne as a sane king who had learned that “the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it.”
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S RESTORATION
19. After Jehovah restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity, what did the Babylonian king come to realize?
19 Jehovah restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity at the end of seven times. Then acknowledging the Most High God, the king said: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’” (Daniel 4:34, 35) Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did come to realize that the Most High is indeed the Sovereign Ruler in the kingdom of mankind.
20, 21. (a) How did the removal of the metal bands around the dream tree’s rootstock find a parallel in what happened to Nebuchadnezzar? (b) What acknowledgment did Nebuchadnezzar make, and did this make him a worshiper of Jehovah?
20 When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his throne, it was as though the metal bands around the dream tree’s rootstock had been removed. Concerning his restoration, he said: “At the same time my understanding itself began to return to me, and for the dignity of my kingdom my majesty and my brightness themselves began to return to me; and for me even my high royal officers and my grandees began eagerly searching, and I was reestablished upon my own kingdom, and greatness extraordinary was added to me.” (Daniel 4:36) If any court officials had despised the deranged king, now they were “eagerly searching” for him in complete subservience.
21 What “signs and wonders” the Most High God had performed! It should not surprise us that the restored Babylonian king said: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, am praising and exalting and glorifying the King of the heavens, because all his works are truth and his ways are justice, and because those who are walking in pride he is able to humiliate.” (Daniel 4:2, 37) Such an acknowledgment, however, did not make Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile worshiper of Jehovah.
IS THERE SECULAR EVIDENCE?
22. With what disorder have some identified Nebuchadnezzar’s madness, but what should we realize regarding the cause of his deranged state?
22 Some have identified Nebuchadnezzar’s madness with lycanthropy. Says one medical dictionary: “LYCANTHROPY . . . from [lyʹkos], lupus, wolf; [anʹthro·pos], homo, man. This name was given to the sickness of people who believe themselves to be changed into an animal, and who imitate the voice or cries, the shapes or manners of that animal. These individuals usually imagine themselves transformed into a wolf, a dog or a cat; sometimes also into a bull, as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar.” (Dictionnaire des sciences médicales, par une société de médicins et de chirurgiens, Paris, 1818, Volume 29, page 246) The symptoms of lycanthropy are similar to those of Nebuchadnezzar’s demented state. Since his mental illness was divinely decreed, however, it cannot specifically be identified with a known disorder.
23. What secular testimony is there to Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity?
23 Scholar John E. Goldingay cites several parallels to Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and restoration. For instance, he states: “A fragmentary cuneiform text apparently refers to some mental disorder on Nebuchadnezzar’s part, and perhaps to his neglecting and leaving Babylon.” Goldingay cites a document called “The Babylonian Job” and says that it “testifies to chastisements by God, illness, humiliation, seeking interpretation of a terrifying dream, being thrown over like a tree, being put outside, eating grass, losing understanding, being like an ox, being rained on by Marduk, nails being marred, hair growing, and being fettered, and then to a restoration for which he praises the god.”
SEVEN TIMES THAT AFFECT US
24. (a) The great dream tree symbolizes what? (b) What was restrained for seven times, and how did that come about?
24 As represented by the great tree, Nebuchadnezzar symbolized world rulership. But remember, the tree stands for rulership and sovereignty far grander than that of Babylon’s king. It symbolizes the universal sovereignty of Jehovah, “the King of the heavens,” especially with respect to the earth. Before Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians, the kingdom centered in that city with David and his heirs sitting on “Jehovah’s throne” represented God’s sovereignty with reference to the earth. (1 Chronicles 29:23) God himself had such sovereignty chopped down and banded in 607 B.C.E. when he used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem. Exercise of divine sovereignty toward the earth by a kingdom in the line of David was restrained for seven times. How long were these seven times? When did they begin, and what marked their end?
25, 26. (a) In Nebuchadnezzar’s case, how long were the “seven times,” and why do you so answer? (b) In the major fulfillment, when and how did the “seven times” begin?
25 During Nebuchadnezzar’s madness, “his very hair grew long just like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:33) This took longer than seven days or seven weeks. Various translations read “seven times,” and alternatives are “appointed (definite) times” or “time periods.” (Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32) A variant of the Old Greek (Septuagint) reads “seven years.” The “seven times” were treated as “seven years” by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus. (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 10, paragraph 6) And certain Hebrew scholars have viewed these “times” as “years.” “Seven years” is the rendering in An American Translation, Today’s English Version, and the translation by James Moffatt.
26 Evidently, Nebuchadnezzar’s “seven times” involved seven years. In prophecy, a year averages 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days each. (Compare Revelation 12:6, 14.) So the king’s “seven times,” or seven years, were 360 days multiplied by 7, or 2,520 days. But what about the major fulfillment of his dream? The prophetic “seven times” lasted much longer than 2,520 days. This was indicated by Jesus’ words: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) That ‘trampling’ began in 607 B.C.E. when Jerusalem was destroyed and the typical kingdom of God ceased to function in Judah. When would the trampling end? At “the times of restoration of all things,” when divine sovereignty would again be manifested toward the earth through symbolic Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God.—Acts 3:21.
27. Why would you say that the “seven times” that began in 607 B.C.E. did not end 2,520 literal days later?
27 If we were to count 2,520 literal days from Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E., that would bring us only to 600 B.C.E., a year having no Scriptural significance. Even in 537 B.C.E., when the liberated Jews were back in Judah, Jehovah’s sovereignty was not manifested on the earth. That was so because Zerubbabel, the heir to David’s throne, was made not king but only governor of the Persian province of Judah.
28. (a) What rule must be applied to the 2,520 days of the prophetic “seven times”? (b) How long were the prophetic “seven times,” and what dates mark their beginning and their end?
28 Since the “seven times” are prophetic, we must apply to the 2,520 days the Scriptural rule: “A day for a year.” This rule is set out in a prophecy regarding the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 4:6, 7; compare Numbers 14:34.) The “seven times” of earth’s domination by Gentile powers without interference by God’s Kingdom therefore spanned 2,520 years. They began with the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem in the seventh lunar month (Tishri 15) of 607 B.C.E. (2 Kings 25:8, 9, 25, 26) From that point to 1 B.C.E. is 606 years. The remaining 1,914 years stretch from then to 1914 C.E. Thus, the “seven times,” or 2,520 years, ended by Tishri 15, or October 4/5, 1914 C.E.
29. Who is “the lowliest one of mankind,” and what did Jehovah do to enthrone him?
29 In that year “the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled, and God gave rulership to “the lowliest one of mankind”—Jesus Christ—who had been considered so base by his foes that they even had him impaled. (Daniel 4:17) To enthrone the Messianic King, Jehovah loosened the symbolic iron and copper bands around the “rootstock” of his own sovereignty. The Most High God thus allowed a royal “sprout” to grow from it as a manifestation of divine sovereignty toward the earth by means of the heavenly Kingdom in the hands of David’s greatest Heir, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 11:1, 2; Job 14:7-9; Ezekiel 21:27) How we thank Jehovah for this blessed turn of events and for unraveling the mystery of the great tree!
WHAT DID YOU DISCERN?
• What did the great tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream symbolize?
• What befell Nebuchadnezzar in the initial fulfillment of his tree dream?
• After his dream’s fulfillment, what acknowledgment did Nebuchadnezzar make?
• In the major fulfillment of the prophetic tree dream, how long were the “seven times,” and when did they begin and end?
[Full-page picture on page 83]
[Full-page picture on page 91] |
Cassettes Changed His Life | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101989010 | Cassettes Changed His Life
A Witness in Barbados was studying the Bible with a lad whose brother was a seaman. This seaman had traveled abroad and was disillusioned with what he had seen of religion. He ridiculed his brother’s interest in the Bible. Although skeptical, he accepted some Bible literature and some Bible cassette tapes, which he took on his next voyage. By the time he reached Australia, he had read all the literature and listened to the tapes. He wanted to know more. Australian Witnesses happened to visit his ship, and he happily accepted more Bible literature.
After several months at sea, he returned to Barbados—a changed man. He quit smoking tobacco and marijuana, gave up gambling and drinking, and left off his immoral ways. He was eventually baptized. What triggered his change? In retrospect he said: “It was the Bible tapes that opened up the Scriptures to me and made it especially easy for me to absorb Bible truths.” |
Sing Praises (ssb)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/Ssb | Song 60
God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years
(Revelation 20:4-6)
1. God has decreed a thousand years of justice.
The time has come for his dear Son to rule mankind.
With him enthroned will reign twelve times twelve thousand.
To serve as kings and priests with Christ, they’ll be assigned.
2. Kindly disposed t’ward all imperfect humans,
In sin-removing work with Christ they will rejoice.
All earth will be a paradise of pleasure.
In praise to God all ransomed men will lift the voice.
3. One thousand years, the Kingdom by Christ Jesus!
With eyes of faith, we now behold the wondrous scene:
Dead ones arise and learn of God’s requirements.
A judgment day in righteousness, yes, it will mean.
4. So let us all put forth our best endeavor;
Keep on the watch, for soon will dawn the glorious day.
Strong and courageous, may we act most wisely,
Inviting all to call on God without delay. |
Examining the Scriptures—2023
2022 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/examining-the-scriptures/examining-the-scriptures-2023 | July
Saturday, July 1
Afterward, [discipline] yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.—Heb. 12:11.
Disfellowshipping is part of Jehovah’s arrangement. It is in the best interests of everyone, including the wrongdoer. Any negative comments about the way a disciplinary matter was handled have likely been initiated by someone who did not mention details that would put the wrongdoer in a bad light. We simply do not have all the facts. It is wise, then, to trust that the elders who took judicial action made every effort to follow Scriptural principles and to judge “for Jehovah.” (2 Chron. 19:6) By supporting the elders’ decision to disfellowship your loved one, you may actually help him to return to Jehovah. “Severing family association with our adult son was extremely difficult,” admits Elizabeth. “But after he returned to Jehovah, he admitted that he deserved to be disfellowshipped. In time, he expressed appreciation for the lessons he learned.” w21.09 28-29 ¶11-12
Sunday, July 2
He saw a needy widow drop in two small coins of very little value.—Luke 21:2.
Think about that widow. No doubt she wished that she could have given more to Jehovah. Yet, she did what she could; she gave Jehovah her very best. And Jesus knew that her contribution was precious in his Father’s eyes. Here, then, is an important lesson for us: Jehovah is pleased when we give him our best—our wholehearted and whole-souled service. (Matt. 22:37; Col. 3:23) Jehovah is happy when he sees us doing all we can! That principle applies to the amount of time and energy we can devote to our worship, including the ministry and the meetings. How can you apply the lesson from the account about the widow? Try to think of specific individuals who may need to be reassured that their efforts are pleasing to Jehovah. It may be an older sister who perhaps feels guilty or useless because she no longer has the health or energy to do as much as she used to in the ministry. w21.04 6 ¶17, 19-20
Monday, July 3
Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life.—Jas. 1:12.
Jehovah knows the best time to end this wicked world. His patience has allowed for the gathering of a great crowd, numbering into the millions, who worship and praise him. All of them are glad that Jehovah has endured long enough for them to be born, to learn to love him, and to dedicate themselves to him. Jehovah’s decision to endure will be fully justified when he joyfully rewards the millions of us who have endured to the end! Despite all the heartache and suffering Satan has caused, Jehovah remains “the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) We can likewise remain joyful while we patiently wait for Jehovah to sanctify his name, vindicate his sovereignty, end all wickedness, and bring an end to our present problems. Let us be determined to endure and to take comfort in knowing that our heavenly Father is enduring too. w21.07 13 ¶18-19
Tuesday, July 4
Can anything good come out of Nazareth?—John 1:46.
Many in the first century did not put faith in Jesus. To them, he was just the son of a humble carpenter. And he was from Nazareth, a city that may have been considered of little importance. Even Nathanael, who became a disciple of Jesus, at first said: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” He may have had in mind the prophecy found at Micah 5:2, which foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, not in Nazareth. The prophet Isaiah foretold that Jesus’ enemies would fail to concern themselves “with the details of [the Messiah’s] generation.” (Isa. 53:8) If those people had taken the time to examine all the facts, they would have learned that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and that he was a descendant of King David. (Luke 2:4-7) So Jesus’ place of birth was in line with the prophecy found at Micah 5:2. What, then, was the problem? People were too quick to make a judgment. They did not have all the facts. Because of this, they were stumbled. w21.05 2-3 ¶4-6
Wednesday, July 5
Should the righteous one . . . reprove me, it would be like oil on my head.—Ps. 141:5.
The Bible provides good examples of those who were blessed because they accepted counsel. Consider Job. Although he was God-fearing, he was not perfect. Under intense pressure, he expressed some wrong viewpoints. As a result, he received straightforward counsel, both from Elihu and from Jehovah. How did Job react? He said: “I spoke, but without understanding . . . I take back what I said, and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:3-6, 12-17) He proved his humility by accepting the counsel that Elihu gave him, even though Elihu was much younger than he was. (Job 32:6, 7) Humility will likewise help us apply counsel, even when we feel that we do not deserve it or when the one giving it is younger than we are. Who among us does not need to make progress in cultivating the fruitage of the spirit and in carrying out the Christian ministry? w22.02 11 ¶8; 12 ¶12
Thursday, July 6
By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.—John 13:35.
All in the congregation have a responsibility to contribute to a loving and peaceful environment where no one feels completely alone. What we do and say can really make a difference! What can you do to help those who are alone in the truth to feel that they are part of the congregation? Take the initiative to offer your friendship. We can start by warmly welcoming new ones to the congregation. (Rom. 15:7) However, we want to offer more than just a friendly greeting. We want to build strong friendships over time. So take a warm and sincere interest in new ones. While respecting their privacy, try to understand what they may be going through. Some may have difficulty expressing their feelings, so be careful not to pressure them to talk. Rather, kindly draw them out with discreet questions and listen patiently to their answers. For example, you could ask how they came to know of the truth. w21.06 11 ¶13-14
Friday, July 7
They will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.—John 10:16.
We treasure the privilege of serving Jehovah unitedly as “one flock” under “one shepherd”! The book Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will, page 165, states: “Benefiting from that unity, you have the responsibility to help maintain it.” Thus, we need to “train ourselves to see our brothers and sisters as Jehovah sees them.” To Jehovah, we are all precious “little ones.” Is that how you view your brothers and sisters? Jehovah notices and values everything you do to help them and care for them. (Matt. 10:42) We love our fellow worshippers. So we are “determined not to put a stumbling block or an obstacle before a brother.” (Rom. 14:13) We consider our brothers and sisters to be superior to us, and we want to forgive them from our heart. May we not allow ourselves to be stumbled by others. Rather, let us choose to “pursue the things making for peace and the things that build one another up.”—Rom. 14:19. w21.06 24 ¶16-17
Saturday, July 8
God . . . makes it grow.—1 Cor. 3:7.
If we diligently study and apply the counsel we receive through God’s Word and his organization, we will gradually develop a Christlike personality. We will also grow in our knowledge of God. Jesus used an illustration to explain how the Kingdom message we preach is like a tiny seed that gradually develops in honesthearted ones. He said: “The seeds sprout and grow tall—just how, he [the sower] does not know. On its own the ground bears fruit gradually, first the stalk, then the head, finally the full grain in the head.” (Mark 4:27, 28) Jesus was explaining that just as a plant grows little by little, so a person who accepts the Kingdom message grows spiritually little by little. For example, as our sincere Bible students draw closer to Jehovah, we begin to see the many fine changes that they have made. (Eph. 4:22-24) But we must remember that it is Jehovah who makes that tiny seed grow. w21.08 8-9 ¶4-5
Sunday, July 9
Better to enjoy what the eyes see than to wander after one’s desires.—Eccl. 6:9.
We can find joy if we look for it in the right place. A person who enjoys “what the eyes see” appreciates what he has, such as his present circumstances. In contrast, the person who wanders after his desires keeps wishing for something he simply cannot have. So, what is the lesson for us? To find joy, we should focus on what we have and on what we can realistically hope to obtain. Is it really possible to be satisfied with what you already have? After all, as time passes, we naturally seek out new challenges. Yes, it really is possible. We can enjoy and not merely settle for what our “eyes see.” How can we do that? To find out, consider Jesus’ parable of the talents, found at Matthew 25:14-30 and focus on what it can teach us about how to find joy and even increase our joy in the blessings we presently have. w21.08 21 ¶5-6
Monday, July 10
I reside in the high and holy place, but also with those crushed and lowly in spirit.—Isa. 57:15.
Jehovah cares deeply for those “crushed and lowly in spirit.” All of us, not just the elders, can help to encourage our dear brothers and sisters. One way we can encourage them is by showing a sincere interest in them. Jehovah wants us to convey to them his love for his precious sheep. (Prov. 19:17) We can also help our brothers and sisters by being humble and modest. We do not want to draw attention to ourselves that could result in stirring up envy in others. Instead, we use our abilities and knowledge to encourage one another. (1 Pet. 4:10, 11) We can learn much about how to treat others by considering how Jesus treated his followers. He was the greatest man who ever lived. Yet, he was “mild-tempered and lowly in heart.” (Matt. 11:28-30) He taught by using simple language and appealing illustrations that touched the hearts of lowly ones.—Luke 10:21. w21.07 23 ¶11-12
Tuesday, July 11
Ask . . . your elders, and they will inform you.—Deut. 32:7.
Take the initiative to talk with older ones. True, their eyesight may have dimmed, their pace may have slowed, and their speech may have softened, but they are young at heart, and they have made “a good name” with Jehovah. (Eccl. 7:1) Remember why Jehovah treasures them. Continue to show them honor. Be like Elisha. He insisted on staying close to Elijah on their last day together. Three times Elisha declared: “I will not leave you.” (2 Ki. 2:2, 4, 6) Show genuine interest in older ones by kindly drawing them out. (Prov. 1:5; 20:5; 1 Tim. 5:1, 2) Ask such questions as these: “When you were younger, what convinced you that you had found the truth?” “How have your experiences drawn you closer to Jehovah?” “What have you found to be the secret to remaining happy in Jehovah’s service?” (1 Tim. 6:6-8) Then listen as they tell their story. w21.09 5 ¶14; 7 ¶15
Wednesday, July 12
God is the one who for the sake of his good pleasure energizes you, giving you both the desire and the power to act.—Phil. 2:13.
When you do your best to obey the command to preach and make disciples, you are demonstrating your love for God. (1 John 5:3) Think of this: Your love for Jehovah has already moved you to preach from house to house. Was that command easy to obey? Probably not. When you approached your very first door in the preaching work, were you nervous? No doubt you were! But you knew that this is the work that Jesus wants you to do, and you obeyed the command. And likely, with time, it has become easier for you to engage in the preaching work. Now what about conducting a Bible study? Does the very thought make you nervous? Perhaps. However, when you ask Jehovah to help you overcome your nervousness and muster up courage to offer a Bible study, Jehovah can help you to strengthen your desire to make disciples. w21.07 3 ¶7
Thursday, July 13
These should be marked on their right hand or on their forehead.—Rev. 13:16.
Slaves in ancient times were branded with a mark to show who owned them. Similarly, all in our day will be expected to have a symbolic mark on their hand or forehead. Their thoughts and actions will show that they belong to and support the political systems. Will we accept this symbolic mark and give our allegiance to political governments? Those who refuse to receive the mark will face difficulties and danger. The book of Revelation says: “Nobody can buy or sell except a person having the mark.” (Rev. 13:17) But God’s people know what God will do to those who have the mark mentioned at Revelation 14:9, 10. Rather than bear that mark, they will, in effect, write on their hand, “Belonging to Jehovah.” (Isa. 44:5) Now is the time to make sure that our loyalty to Jehovah is strong. If it is, Jehovah will gladly claim us as his own! w21.09 18 ¶15-16
Friday, July 14
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens his friend.—Prov. 27:17.
To accomplish our ministry, we can benefit from the assistance of others. The apostle Paul shared his preaching and teaching methods with Timothy, and he encouraged Timothy to use those methods to help others. (1 Cor. 4:17) Like Timothy, we can benefit from experienced ones in our congregation. Also, we should pray to Jehovah for help. Look to Jehovah for guidance every time you share in the ministry. Without the help of his powerful holy spirit, none of us would be able to accomplish anything. (Ps. 127:1; Luke 11:13) When you ask for Jehovah’s help in prayer, be specific. For example, ask him to direct you to anyone who may be rightly disposed and ready to listen. We should also make time for personal study. God’s Word says: “Prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) The more convinced we are that we know the truth about God, the greater will be our conviction when we talk to others in the ministry. w21.05 18 ¶14-16
Saturday, July 15
Your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.—1 Cor. 15:58.
What if in spite of your earnest efforts and prayers in his behalf, a Bible student fails to make progress and the study needs to be discontinued? Or what if you have never directly helped someone to the point of baptism? Should you feel guilty, perhaps thinking that Jehovah has not blessed your ministry? Note how Jehovah measures our success. Jehovah looks at our efforts and endurance. In Jehovah’s eyes, our work for him is successful when we carry it out with diligence and love, regardless of how others respond. Paul wrote: “God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones.” (Heb. 6:10) Jehovah remembers our efforts and our love, even if those efforts do not lead to positive results. Thus, you may apply to yourself what Paul said in today’s text. w21.10 25 ¶4-6
Sunday, July 16
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and I will never drive away the one who comes to me.—John 6:37.
Jesus’ kindness and love were reflected in the way he dealt with his disciples. He knew that they had different abilities and circumstances. So they could not all handle the same responsibilities; nor could they be equally productive in the ministry. Yet, he appreciated the whole-souled efforts of each one. Jesus’ understanding attitude is reflected in the parable of the talents. In that illustration, the master assigned each slave work “according to his own ability.” One of the two diligent slaves gained more than the other. But the master commended both with the same words: “Well done, good and faithful slave!” (Matt. 25:14-23) Jesus is kind and loving in the way he deals with us. He knows that our abilities and circumstances vary, and he is pleased when we do our best. We do well to treat others as Jesus did. w21.07 23 ¶12-14
Monday, July 17
I will not lift my hand against my lord.—1 Sam. 24:10.
King David was not always merciful. For example, when Nabal, a harsh man by nature, spoke disrespectfully and refused to provide David and his men with food, David was enraged and decided to kill the man and all the men in his household. Thanks to quick action on the part of Nabal’s long-suffering wife, Abigail, David avoided incurring bloodguilt. (1 Sam. 25:9-22, 32-35) Note that when David gave in to his rage, he judged Nabal and all his men as deserving of death. And later, David was ready to judge the man in Nathan’s illustration as worthy of death. In this second instance, we might wonder why a normally warmhearted man would pronounce such a harsh judgment. Consider the context. At the time, David had a guilty conscience. A harsh, judgmental spirit is not a sign of good spiritual health. Quite the opposite, in fact. w21.10 12 ¶17-18; 13 ¶20
Tuesday, July 18
You must be holy, because I am holy.—1 Pet. 1:16.
From the words of today’s text, we learn that we can imitate Jehovah, who is the supreme example of holiness. We must be holy in our conduct. That may seem impossible because we are imperfect. The apostle Peter himself made a number of mistakes; yet, his example shows that we can become holy. When people think of someone who is holy, many imagine a joyless person who wears religious garments and always has a pious look on his face. But that cannot be accurate. Jehovah, who is holy, is described as “the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) Those who worship him are called “happy.” (Ps. 144:15) Jesus condemned those who wore distinctive garments and practiced their righteousness in front of men. (Matt. 6:1; Mark 12:38) As Christians, we shape our view of holiness by what we have learned from the Bible. We are convinced that our loving God would never give us a command that we could not possibly obey. w21.12 2 ¶1, 3
Wednesday, July 19
You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart.—Mark 12:30.
Of all the things that we have been kindly given by God, perhaps one of the greatest gifts is the ability to worship him. We show Jehovah that we love him by ‘observing his commandments.’ (1 John 5:3) Speaking for his Father, Jesus commanded us to make disciples, baptizing them. (Matt. 28:19) He also commanded us to love one another. (John 13:35) Jehovah will make obedient ones a part of his worldwide family of worshippers. (Ps. 15:1, 2) Show love for others. Love is Jehovah’s foremost quality. (1 John 4:8) Jehovah showed love for us before we ever knew him. (1 John 4:9, 10) We imitate him when we show love for others. (Eph. 5:1) One of the best ways we can show love for people is by helping them learn about Jehovah while there is still time. (Matt. 9:36-38) In doing so, we give them an opportunity to become prospective members of God’s family. w21.08 5-6 ¶13-14
Thursday, July 20
No one has love greater than this.—John 15:13.
Jesus’ deep love for Jehovah moved him to make sacrifices for his Father and for us. (John 14:31) Jesus proved the depth of his love for people by the way he lived his earthly life. Each day, he was loving and compassionate, even when some opposed him. A key way he showed his love for people was by teaching them about God’s Kingdom. (Luke 4:43, 44) Jesus also proved his self-sacrificing love for God and for men by willingly suffering an agonizing death at the hands of sinners. He thus opened the way for all of us to gain everlasting life. We dedicated ourselves to Jehovah and got baptized because we love our heavenly Father. So, like Jesus, we should show love for Jehovah by how we treat people. The apostle John wrote: “The one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”—1 John 4:20. w22.03 10 ¶8-9
Friday, July 21
Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, making the best use of your time.—Eph. 5:15, 16.
Although we enjoy spending time with Jehovah, we face a challenge. We lead busy lives, which can make it difficult for us to schedule time for spiritual activities. Secular work, family responsibilities, and other necessary activities can demand so much of our time that we may feel that we are just too busy to pray, study, or meditate. There is another more subtle threat to our time. If we are not careful, we could allow activities that are not wrong in themselves to rob us of time that we could use to draw closer to Jehovah. For example, consider the matter of recreation. We all benefit from an occasional change of pace. But even wholesome recreation can cut into our time to the point that there is little time left for spiritual activities. We need to keep recreation in its place.—Prov. 25:27; 1 Tim. 4:8. w22.01 26 ¶2-3
Saturday, July 22
The foreigner who resides with you should become to you like a native among you; and you must love him as yourself.—Lev. 19:34.
When Jehovah commanded the Israelites to love their fellow man, he did not mean that they should show love only to those of the same race or nationality. They were also told to love the foreigners in their midst. That is the clear message found at Leviticus 19:33, 34. The foreigner was to be treated “like a native,” and the Israelites were to “love him” as themselves. For example, the Israelites were to permit both the foreign residents and the poor to benefit from the gleaning arrangement. (Lev. 19:9, 10) The principle about loving foreigners applies to Christians today. (Luke 10:30-37) How so? There are millions of immigrants, and likely some live near you. It is important for us to treat these men, women, and children with dignity and respect. w21.12 12 ¶16
Sunday, July 23
Those seeking Jehovah will lack nothing good.—Ps. 34:10.
The more we look to Jehovah for guidance now, the more confident we will be in his ability to deliver us in the future. It takes faith and a willingness to rely on Jehovah to ask our employer for time off so that we can attend an assembly or a convention or to ask for an adjusted work schedule so that we can attend all our meetings and spend more time in the ministry. Suppose our employer refuses our request and we lose our job. Do we have faith that Jehovah will never leave us or abandon us and that he will always supply our basic needs? (Heb. 13:5) Many who are in full-time service can relate experiences that show how Jehovah came to their aid when they needed him most. Jehovah is faithful. With Jehovah on our side, we have no reason to fear the days ahead. Our God will never forsake us as long as we put his interests first in our lives. w22.01 7 ¶16-17
Monday, July 24
You do not judge for man but for Jehovah.—2 Chron. 19:6.
How might our trust in the elders be tested? Suppose a person who has been disfellowshipped is a close companion. We might worry that the elders did not consider all the facts, or we might wonder whether they truly judged the matter the way Jehovah would. What can help us maintain the proper attitude toward the decision? We do well to remember that disfellowshipping is Jehovah’s arrangement and that it benefits the congregation and may benefit the wrongdoer. If an unrepentant wrongdoer were permitted to remain in the congregation, he could be a corrupting influence. (Gal. 5:9) In addition, he may not recognize the seriousness of his sin, and he may have little incentive to adjust his thinking and actions so that he can regain Jehovah’s favor. (Eccl. 8:11) We can be sure that when deciding if a person should be disfellowshipped, the elders take their responsibility seriously. w22.02 5-6 ¶13-14
Tuesday, July 25
No bruised reed will he crush, and no smoldering wick will he extinguish.—Matt. 12:20.
Patience and kindness are especially needed when someone initially resists Bible-based counsel. An elder must guard against the tendency to get irritated if his counsel is not immediately accepted or acted on. So in his private prayers, the elder may ask Jehovah to bless the one needing counsel and to help him understand the reason for the counsel and apply it. The brother being counseled may need time to think about what was said. If the elder is patient and kind, the one he is trying to help will not be distracted by the way the counsel is given, but he will be able to focus on the message. Of course, the counsel should always be based on God’s Word. We want our counsel not only to be effective but also to “make the heart rejoice.”—Prov. 27:9. w22.02 18 ¶17; 19 ¶19
Wednesday, July 26
Expectation postponed makes the heart sick.—Prov. 13:12.
When we pray for strength to deal with a trial or a weakness, we may feel that the relief we are seeking is taking longer than we had hoped. Why does Jehovah not answer all our prayers right away? He views our sincere prayers as evidence of our faith. (Heb. 11:6) Jehovah is also interested in seeing how determined we are to live in harmony with our prayers and to do his will. (1 John 3:22) So we may need to show patience and work along with our prayers whenever we are trying to overcome a bad habit or a weakness. Jesus implied that some of our prayers might not be answered immediately. He urged: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened.”—Matt. 7:7, 8. w21.08 8 ¶1; 10 ¶9-10
Thursday, July 27
How I do love your law! I ponder over it all day long.—Ps. 119:97.
To build faith in your Creator, you need to continue studying God’s Word. (Josh. 1:8) Pay attention to its prophecies and to its internal harmony. Doing so can reinforce your faith that a loving, wise Creator made us and that he inspired the Bible. (2 Tim. 3:14; 2 Pet. 1:21) When studying God’s Word, note how helpful its counsel is. For example, the Bible long ago warned that the love of money is harmful and that it produces “many pains.” (1 Tim. 6:9, 10; Prov. 28:20; Matt. 6:24) How helpful, then, is the Bible’s warning against developing a love of money! Can you think of additional Bible principles that have proved to be beneficial? The more we appreciate the Bible’s counsel, the more we will rely on the timeless wisdom provided by our loving Creator. (Jas. 1:5) As a result, our life will be more enjoyable.—Isa. 48:17, 18. w21.08 17-18 ¶12-13
Friday, July 28
For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name.—Heb. 6:10.
If you are getting well along in years, be assured that Jehovah remembers the work you have done in the past. You have zealously supported the preaching work. You have endured trials—even heartbreaking ones—upheld the Bible’s righteous standards, carried heavy loads of responsibility, and trained others. You have done your best to keep pace with Jehovah’s fast-moving organization. You have supported and encouraged others as they pursued the full-time ministry. Jehovah God loves you very much for being loyal. He promises that “he will not abandon his loyal ones”! (Ps. 37:28) He gives you this assurance: “Until your hair is gray I will keep bearing you.” (Isa. 46:4) So do not conclude that in view of your advancing years, you no longer have an important role in Jehovah’s organization. You most certainly do! w21.09 3 ¶4
Saturday, July 29
Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him.—Ps. 103:13.
Jehovah shows mercy because of his matchless wisdom. The Bible says that “the wisdom from above” is “full of mercy and good fruits.” (Jas. 3:17) Like a loving parent, Jehovah knows that his mercy benefits his children. (Isa. 49:15) Divine mercy gives them hope despite their imperfections. So Jehovah’s infinite wisdom moves him to extend mercy whenever he sees any basis for doing so. At the same time, Jehovah’s mercy is perfectly balanced. Wisely, he never crosses the line from mercy to permissiveness. Suppose that a servant of God deliberately sets out to follow a course of sin. What then? “Stop keeping company with” him, Paul wrote under inspiration. (1 Cor. 5:11) Unrepentant wrongdoers are disfellowshipped from the congregation. That action is necessary in order to protect our faithful brothers and sisters and to reflect Jehovah’s holy ways. w21.10 9-10 ¶7-8
Sunday, July 30
God loves a cheerful giver.—2 Cor. 9:7.
We worship Jehovah when we support the Kingdom work with our donations. The Israelites were not to appear before Jehovah empty-handed. (Deut. 16:16) They were to bring a material gift according to their circumstances. Thus they expressed their appreciation for all the arrangements that had been made to benefit them spiritually. How can we express our love for Jehovah and our appreciation for the spiritual provisions we receive? One way is by giving financial support to the local congregation and to the worldwide work as our circumstances allow. The apostle Paul put it this way: “If the readiness is there first, it is especially acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what a person does not have.” (2 Cor. 8:4, 12) Jehovah values any heartfelt donation we make, no matter how modest the amount.—Mark 12:42-44. w22.03 24 ¶13
Monday, July 31
Speak consolingly to those who are depressed, support the weak, be patient toward all.—1 Thess. 5:14.
Elders cannot remove all the trials that Jehovah’s people face. Even so, Jehovah wants elders to do what they can to encourage and protect his sheep. How can busy elders find the time to provide the needed assistance? Follow the apostle Paul’s example. Paul looked for ways to commend his brothers and build them up. Elders do well to follow his loving example by treating Jehovah’s people with tender affection. (1 Thess. 2:7) Paul assured fellow worshippers that he loved them and that Jehovah loved them. (2 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 2:4, 5) Paul treated those in the congregation as friends, spending time with them. He showed that he trusted them by speaking openly about his own fears and weaknesses. (2 Cor. 7:5; 1 Tim. 1:15) Paul, however, did not focus on his own problems. Rather, he wanted to help his brothers. w22.03 28 ¶9-10 |
Am I Addicted to Electronic Media? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102011015 | Young People Ask
Am I Addicted to Electronic Media?
What do these three people have in common?
“I love, love, love texting! I think it’s the greatest thing ever. I guess you could say that it has taken over my life.”—Alan.a
“My mom bought a TV for my room, and I was ecstatic! Instead of going to sleep at night, though, I stayed up for hours on end watching it. I chose to watch TV rather than spend time with family and friends.”—Teresa.
“For a time, I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without wondering if someone had posted something for me on my Web page. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I had to go online. Any chance I got, I updated my blog.”—Anna.
Which of the above three youths would you say is describing addiction to some form of electronic media?
□ Alan □ Teresa □ Anna
WHEN your parents entered their teens, TV and radio were the main forms of electronic media. Back then, phones were just phones—they only carried voice transmissions and likely were anchored to a wall. Sound hopelessly old-fashioned? A girl named Anna would say so. “My parents grew up in the technological dark ages,” she says. “They’re just now figuring out how to use some of the features on their cell phone!”
Today you can take a call, listen to music, watch a show, play a game, e-mail your friends, take a picture, and access the Internet—all on a single device you can carry in your pocket. Because you’ve grown up with computers, cell phones, TV, and the Internet, you may think nothing of using them all the time. Your parents, though, may feel that you’re addicted. If they express concern, don’t write off their comments as being out of touch with reality. “When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it,” said wise King Solomon, “that is foolishness on his part.”—Proverbs 18:13.
Do you wonder why your parents might be concerned? Take the test that follows to see if you show signs of addiction to some form of electronic media.
‘Am I Addicted?’
One encyclopedia defines addiction as “habitual repetition of excessive behavior that a person is unable or unwilling to stop, despite its harmful consequences.” In view of that definition, all three youths quoted at the outset of this article are or have been addicted to electronic media. What about you? Look at the breakdown of that definition below. Read the quotes, and see if you have said or done anything similar. Then fill in your answers.
Uncontrolled behavior. “I would spend hours playing electronic games. They robbed me of sleep and dominated my conversations with others. I isolated myself from my family and became lost in the imaginary worlds of the games I played.”—Andrew.
In your opinion, how much time each day is it reasonable to spend using electronic media? ․․․․․
How much time do your parents think you should spend? ․․․․․
What is the total amount of time each day that you actually spend texting, watching TV, uploading pictures and comments onto a Web site, playing electronic games, and so on? ․․․․․
After looking at your answers above, would you say that your use of electronic media is excessive?
□ Yes □ No
Unable or unwilling to stop. “My parents see me texting all the time and tell me that I’m doing it too much. But compared to other kids my age, I hardly text at all. I mean, compared to my parents, sure, I text more than they do. But that’s like comparing apples to oranges—they’re 40 and I’m 15.”—Alan.
Have your parents or friends said that you spend too much time on some form of electronic media?
□ Yes □ No
Have you been unwilling or unable to control your use of that form of media?
□ Yes □ No
Harmful consequences. “My friends text all the time—even while driving. How unsafe is that!”—Julie.
“When I first got my cell phone, I was always calling someone or texting someone. It was all I did. It damaged my relationship with my family and even with some of my friends. Now I notice that when I’m out with my friends and talking to them, they constantly interrupt and say: ‘Oh, hold on. I have to answer a text message.’ That’s one reason I’m not closer to those friends.”—Shirley.
Do you ever read text messages or send them while driving or during class?
□ Yes □ No
When you are conversing with family or friends, do you constantly interrupt to answer e-mails, phone calls, or text messages?
□ Yes □ No
Is your use of electronic media stealing time from needed sleep or distracting you from studying?
□ Yes □ No
How to Be Balanced
If you use some form of electronic media—whether a computer, a cell phone, or another device—ask yourself the four questions below. Applying the Bible-based advice and following a few simple dos and don’ts will help you to stay safe and in control.
1. What is the output? “Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.”—Philippians 4:8, Today’s English Version.
Do keep in contact with friends and family, and share upbuilding news and viewpoints.—Proverbs 25:25; Ephesians 4:29.
Don’t spread harmful gossip, share immoral text messages or pictures, or watch morally degrading video clips or programs.—Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:15.
2. When am I using it? “For everything there is an appointed time.”—Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Do set a limit on how much time you will spend sending and receiving calls and text messages, watching programs, or playing games. Out of respect, turn off your device while at important events, such as meetings for worship. You can always respond to messages later.
Don’t allow your use of electronic media to interrupt time you have set aside to spend with friends and family, to study, or to engage in spiritual activities.—Ephesians 5:15-17; Philippians 2:4.
3. With whom am I associating? “Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.”—1 Corinthians 15:33.
Do use electronic media to strengthen the ties you have with people who encourage you to develop good habits.—Proverbs 22:17.
Don’t fool yourself—you will adopt the standards, language, and thinking of those you choose to socialize with through e-mail, texting, TV, video, or the Internet.—Proverbs 13:20.
4. How much time am I spending? “Make sure of the more important things.”—Philippians 1:10.
Do keep track of how much time you spend using electronic media.
Don’t ignore the comments of your friends or the direction of your parents if they say that you’re spending too much time with some form of media.—Proverbs 26:12.
Speaking of using electronic media in a balanced way, Andrew, quoted earlier, sums up the matter well: “Electronics are fun, but only for a brief amount of time. I’ve learned not to allow technology to become a wedge that separates me from my family and friends.”
More articles from the “Young People Ask” series can be found at the Web site www.watchtower.org/ype
[Footnote]
a Some names in this article have been changed.
[Box/Pictures on page 25]
WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY
“My parents used to tell me, ‘We might as well glue your hands to your cell phone, the way you use it!’ At first, I found that funny, but then I realized that they were serious. Now I limit my texting, and I have never been happier!”
“I used to feel that I had to check the Internet for messages every time it was available. I was neglecting my homework and other studies. Now that I’ve cut back, it’s like a tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Moderation is the key.”
[Pictures]
Jovarny
Mariah
[Box on page 26]
“I WAS A SOCIAL-NETWORKING-SITE ADDICT”
“A few years ago, my family moved. I wanted to keep in touch with my friends, and they invited me to join a photo-sharing site. That seemed like a great way to stay connected. I would be talking only to people I knew, not strangers, so what could possibly go wrong?
“At first, all worked well. I would go online once a week to look at my friends’ pictures and post comments and read their comments on my pictures. But I soon became obsessed. Before I knew it, I was on the site all the time. Since I was online that much, people who are friends of friends began to notice, and they invited me to be their friends. You know how it is—a friend says that this person is good fun, so you accept. Before you know it, you have 50 online friends.
“Soon, I found that I was constantly thinking about being online. Even when I was on the Web site, I was thinking about when I could get back to check it next time and that I needed to post new pictures. I’d read a comment here, post a video there, and before I knew it, hours would fly by.
“It took about a year and a half, but I eventually realized that I was an addict. Now, though, I tightly control my use of the Internet and focus on making friends face-to-face with people who I know share my moral standards. Some of my friends don’t understand my actions, but I’ve learned my lesson.”—Ellen, 18.
[Box on page 26]
WHY NOT ASK YOUR PARENTS?
Sometimes you might be surprised when you strike up a conversation with your parents about entertainment. “Once my dad suspected that one of my music CDs was bad,” says a girl named Cheryl. “I asked him if we could sit down together and listen to the entire CD. He agreed. Afterward, he told me that he found nothing objectionable in it!”
Below, write a question you would like to ask your parents about electronic media.
[Box on page 27]
A NOTE TO PARENTS
Does your adolescent spend too much time online, send and receive too many text messages, or have a better relationship with his MP3 player than he has with you? If so, what can you do?
You could just take the device away from your child. But do not write off all electronic media as evil. After all, likely you use some form of electronic media that was not available to your parents. So instead of simply confiscating your adolescent’s device—unless there is compelling reason to do so—why not use this as an opportunity to train your son or daughter to use electronic media wisely and with moderation? How can you do that?
Sit down and discuss the matter with your adolescent. First, state your concerns. Second, listen to what he or she has to say. (Proverbs 18:13) Third, work out practical solutions. Do not be afraid to set firm limits, but be reasonable. (Philippians 4:5) “When I had a problem with texting,” says Ellen, mentioned earlier, “my parents didn’t take away my phone; they set guidelines. The way they handled it has helped me to be balanced in my use of texting, even when my parents aren’t there to monitor me.”
What if your son or daughter reacts defensively? Do not conclude that your counsel has fallen on deaf ears. Instead, be patient and give your adolescent some time to think about the matter. Chances are, he or she already agrees with you and will make needed adjustments. Many youths are similar to a teen named Hailey, who says: “At first I was offended when my parents told me I was addicted to my computer. But later, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they were right.”
[Picture on page 27]
Do you control your electronic devices, or do they control you? |
Watching the World | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101981012 | Watching the World
War More “Humane”?
◆ The drafting of a treaty on the rules of war recently was completed by a 72-nation conference in Geneva, Switzerland. It is supposed to make war less hard on civilians. For example, it bans incendiary bombing of civilian concentrations and forbids the use of booby traps that are planted in an “apparently harmless portable object.” However, observed France’s Le Monde: “This attempt to ‘humanise’ war quickly found its limits. The only weapons which have been banned from being used ‘under any circumstances’ do not seem to be in known arsenals.”
Even under the new treaty, says the newspaper, “one can without feeling any shame place mines around a military target and even booby-trap utensils used in army kitchens.” The treaty “does not deal with chemical weapons (consisting mainly of paralysing gases) which are at present enjoying a boom in superpower and other arsenals,” notes Le Monde. “It would be quite risky to infer from it that the wars which are being waged today . . . are going to become ‘humanised’.”
Arms for the Poor
◆ While the two ‘superpowers’ spent more of the $500,000,000,000 devoted to weapons in 1980 than other nations did, the largest increase in arms spending has come in nations that can least afford it. In a recent 10-year period, military budgets of the developed countries grew by 5.8 percent (in constant prices). But England’s Guardian reports that those of the ‘Third World’ countries went up by an average of 107.1 percent—nearly 20 times as fast! It is estimated that governments now spend eight times as much on new-weapons research alone as they do on solving energy problems.
Piltdown Conspiracy
◆ Writing in Natural History magazine, Harvard historian Dr. Stephen Jay Gould claims that famous Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a party to the “Piltdown man” hoax, “the most famous and spectacular fraud of twentieth-century science.”
The hoax began in 1912 when lawyer and amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed that he had found an apelike human’s remains near Piltdown, England. But in 1953 British scientists proved that “Piltdown man” was a fraud. Radioactive dating showed that the cranium came from the skull of a modern man. The jaw belonged to an orangutan. The teeth had been artificially filed down and the bones chemically stained to suggest age. Also, ancient animal bones from distant lands had been placed in the same area to further the impression of age.
For a long time Dawson was accused of being a lone culprit in the hoax, but Gould asserts that his research shows that Teilhard, who had just been ordained as a priest and was then studying paleontology, was part of “the Piltdown conspiracy.” Gould says that some of the bones found in the Piltdown pits came from other countries where Teilhard collected specimens on previous trips. Also, in letters sent by Teilhard to one of the scientists who uncovered the hoax, Gould asserts that Teilhard lied to cover up his part in the scheme.
Government Supports Organic Farming
◆ Two recent studies supported by unlikely sources, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, are quite favorable to organic farming. According to the New York Times, in their examination of 69 farms in 23 states, one research team found that “almost all of them were efficient, productive, scientifically sound and cost-competitive with conventional farms.” In another comparison of 51 farms, reports the Times, scientists learned that “although the cash value of crops was lower on organic farms, the organic farmers’ expenses were 36 percent less than those of conventional farms. . . . farmers who used organic agricultural procedures consumed only about 40 percent of the energy required on farms that used chemical fertilizers and pesticides.” The article notes that these findings “have angered and baffled some practitioners of traditional [chemical] farming.”
Brazil Repeats History
◆ In circumstances reminiscent of America’s old West, Brazil still has problems of clashes between native Indian tribes and white settlers. The Indians claim that the whites are gradually invading their reserves and that their appeals for help have been heeded too slowly. After a massacre in September, policemen carrying machine guns were sent in to keep the peace. However, as Veja magazine observed: “Only the definite establishment of boundary lines between the properties of the whites and the Indians is going to prevent the continuing of a war which other countries suffered during the last century and which survives today only in nostalgic wild west stories.”
Saliva Heals
◆ Animals are often observed licking their cuts and other wounds. A team of scientists headed by Dr. Michael Young of the University of Florida thinks it knows why: saliva contains a healing agent. The substance is called “nerve growth factor” (NGF), a protein. When NGF was applied to an open wound, either experimentally by the scientists or through licking by the hurt animal or its companions, the wounds healed four to five times as fast. Similarly, researchers in Australia reported that when mice were prevented from licking their wounds they healed much more slowly than those that could. Other animals, and humans, are also known to have NGF in their saliva. Efforts are being made to see if NGF can be used to make a woundhealing medication for use after surgery and in cases of severe burns and other trauma.
Catholics and Concubines
◆ Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo of Lusaka, Zambia, recently admitted that “more than 30 per cent of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Lusaka live with concubines.” A church survey released by the archbishop to the Times of Zambia revealed that “about 3,225 out of 10,903 married couples live with concubines.” How does the Church view children from such unbiblical arrangements? According to Archbishop Milingo’s report, says the Times, “children born from marriages out of wedlock, but of Christian parents,” or from a “Christian couple living in concubinage” or even “a second wife to a Christian married in church had a right to be baptised and religious ministers had an obligation to baptise them.”
Inept Gunmen
◆ “For the second time in two days,” reports the New York Post, “a holdup man has blasted off his own finger—leaving it at the robbery site as evidence for police.” Apparently some gun-happy New York criminals are in a hurry to try out their weapons on the “job,” before acquiring the ability to use them. Both of the inept gunmen ended up in local hospitals.
‘No Virgins Left’
◆ A highly respected study by Johns Hopkins University professors Melvin Zelnik and John Kantner show that about 50 percent of the 10.3 million young women between the ages of 15 and 19 in the United States have taken part in premarital sex—fornication. This is about double the percentage since Zelnik and Kantner began their research in 1971. Observes Zelnik: “Things that supported remaining a virgin in the past . . . have disappeared.” A high school senior in Louisiana said of the girls now in their first and second years of her high school: “By the time they graduate there aren’t going to be any virgins left.” One consequence of this immorality: one million teenage girls in the U.S. get pregnant each year, the sharpest increase being among those under 14. Another: venereal disease is rampant among adolescents, accounting for 25 percent of the one million newly reported gonorrhea cases every year.
Priest Shortage Worsening
◆ “A survey of Canadian priests by the Roman Catholic Church’s bishops shows that the institution is plagued by old age,” says the Toronto Star. The church survey showed that 82 percent of all Canadian priests were over 40 years of age, with many nearing retirement. However, the Star reports, “the source of replacements, those below 30 years old, stands at a mere 2.4 per cent. . . . Given the shortage of men entering seminary, the survey’s results indicate the crisis over manpower is vastly more serious than was hitherto believed.”
As an example, the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix states: “During the last five years, only two Catholic priests have been ordained in Edmonton compared with more than 10 a year two decades ago. And no priests will be ordained this year. Rev. Mike McCaffrey, principal of Newman Theological College in nearby St. Albert, . . . says the church is attracting not only fewer but also poorer candidates for the priesthood.”
Another priest, Les Drewicky of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Edmonton, says that the shortage of priests is a symptom of a larger disease: “The basic problem is that the church as a whole—each individual Christian—is losing a sense of mission.” He called the situation in the church “a crisis of faith.”
Old Seeds Grow
◆ Over 100 years ago, botanist William Beal began an experiment with plant seeds to see how long they could survive and still grow. Near his laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan, he buried 20 bottles, each containing 1,000 seeds of 20 plant varieties. After five years, he unearthed one of his bottles, planted the seeds, and they sprouted. He did this every five years to 1920, and found that all the samples he unearthed germinated. At his death in 1924, his colleagues continued the experiments every 10 years. In 1980, over 100 years later, another bottle was unearthed and the seeds were planted. Twenty-nine of the seeds germinated, although six died. The 23 that grew were of three different varieties.
Fewer Nuns
◆ A Reuter’s report from Spain states that in 1979 the number of Roman Catholic nuns in that country dropped to 62,200 from 82,000 six years before. In 100 of the religious orders for nuns, there are now no novices training. Church authorities also expressed great concern at the growing apathy and skepticism toward religion on the part of Spanish youth.
Boxing Slaughter
◆ Columnist James Wechsler, writing in the New York Post, notes that deaths in the “sport” of boxing are nearly one a month now. He says: “Since 1945, an Associated Press survey now reports, 330 professional and amateur boxers have died as a result of the beatings they suffered.” He noted that “boxing is the only so-called sport in which the only test of achievement is inflicting maximum physical damage on an adversary.” He adds: “Outlawing of boxing will not make the world safe for sanity. It would be a minimal affirmation that murder acquires no legal sanction because it is conducted in an arena with commercial sponsors.”
World Subway Fares
◆ New York City residents often complain of the high cost of a subway ride. A comparison of other subway systems shows the following for a six-mile (10-km) ride: London, $1.93 (U.S.); Munich, 85 cents; Paris, 73 cents; Tokyo and New York, 60 cents; Mexico City, 5 cents; and Moscow, 3 cents. London has a zone fare system, shorter rides costing less.
Feel Safer Overseas
◆ A survey of American diplomats around the world revealed that many of them feel safer in their overseas assignments than they do in Washington, D.C. Of those who answered, 243 said that they felt less safe overseas, but more than twice as many, 541, said that they were more, or at least equally, frightened in the Washington area. The dangers most feared at home were burglary and street crime. |
World Without War (wi)
1992 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/world-without-war-wi | Knowing the True God—What Does It Mean?
1, 2. According to Isaiah 2:3, what invitation is made in the last days, and to whom?
ISAIAH’S stirring prophecy concerning the last days holds out an invitation that should interest people of every nation. The invitation is to get to know the true God personally: “And the many peoples shall go and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the Mount of the LORD, to the House of the God of Jacob; that He may instruct us in His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.’”a—Isaiah 2:3.
2 This prophecy shows that in the last days, people of many nations worldwide would be guided to a common source of instruction to help them come to know the true God. What truths will they learn that serve to unite them in bonds of true peace?
3. How was an important feature of the Bible almost lost as a result of tradition?
3 An outstanding feature of the Bible, almost lost as a result of tradition, is that of establishing a relationship with God, our heavenly Father and Creator, in the most personal of terms, by addressing him by his name. Who is the person that has a dear and beloved friend whose name he refuses to use or even to mention when asked about it? Usually only an enemy is so despised that one prefers not to honor him by even mentioning his name. The special relationship that existed between ancient Israel and their God—whereby they knew him by his name—is beautifully expressed by the ancient psalmist: “Because he is devoted to Me I will deliver him; I will keep him safe, for he knows My name.”—Psalm 91:14.
Should We Use the Divine Name?
4, 5. What is the meaning of God’s name?
4 From the point of view of the Bible, there has never been any question as to the name of the true God. When God spoke to Moses, explaining that He would use him to lead the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, Moses asked a logical question: “When I come to the Israelites and say to them ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” God answered: “Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: The LORD [Hebrew, יהוה = YHWH = Yahweh, or, since the 13th century C.E., Jehovah], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you: This shall be My name forever, this My appellation [memorial, JP] for all eternity.”—Exodus 3:13, 15, italics ours.
5 This name is full of meaning for one who speaks the Hebrew language. It comes from the basic Hebrew root הוה, h·w·h, meaning “to become.” However, the name is in the causative form, Hiph·ʽilʹ, according to Hebrew grammar. Therefore its basic sense is not relating to God’s eternal existence but rather to his causing things to come to be or to come about. This is especially true in a unique way regarding his purposes. As he purposed to free his chosen nation from Egyptian bondage, so he caused it to be. No power could stand in the way of his express will. Jehovah is the God who causes his purposes to be fulfilled. He thus causes himself to become the Fulfiller of his promises. This was also true of his purpose to free his nation from Babylonian captivity. The same is true regarding his purpose to bring paradisaic conditions to this earth. His very name gives meaning and a guarantee to these promises.—Isaiah 41:21-24; 43:10-13; 46:9, 10.
6-9. (a) How do we know that God does not forbid the use of his name? (b) How and when did a prohibition on the use of God’s name become part of Judaism?
6 But do not the Ten Commandments forbid the pronouncing of God’s name? By no means! Although many have interpreted the third commandment in this way, note what the Encyclopaedia Judaica comments: “The avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11) as meaning ‘Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain,’ whereas it really means ‘You shall not swear falsely by the name of YHWH your God.’”5 Notice that the text does not forbid ‘taking up’ or pronouncing God’s name. However, even if it meant taking God’s name “in vain,” note what the Hebrew lexicon by Koehler and Baumgartner states regarding the Hebrew term translated “in vain” (Hebrew, lash·shawʹʼ): “name a name without reason . . . misuse a name.”6 Therefore, this commandment does not forbid the use of God’s name but, rather, its misuse.
7 But what of the argument that God’s name is “too holy to be pronounced?” Well, does it not seem reasonable that if God viewed his name as too holy for men to pronounce, he would not have revealed it in the first place? The very fact that in the original text of the Hebrew Scriptures, God’s personal name appears over 6,800 times shows that he wants men to know him and to use his name. Far from restricting the use of his name to prevent disrespect, God repeatedly encourages and even commands his people to use his name and to make it known. Doing so was evidence of their close relationship with him, as well as their love for him. (Psalm 91:14) The prophet Isaiah showed clearly what God’s will is in this matter when he stated: “Praise the LORD [Hebrew, יהוה = YHWH = Jehovah], proclaim His name. Make His deeds known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.”—Isaiah 12:4. See also Micah 4:5; Malachi 3:16; Psalm 79:6; 105:1; Proverbs 18:10.
8 If Jehovah did not want men to pronounce his name, he could have explicitly forbidden it. However, nowhere does the Bible forbid the proper use or the pronouncing of his name. Faithful men of Bible times used his name freely. (Genesis 12:8; Ruth 2:4; 4:11, 14) In fact, God repeatedly condemned those who would cause his people to forget his holy name.—Jeremiah 23:26, 27; Psalm 44:21, 22 (44:20, 21, NW).
9 But how did this prohibition become a part of Jewish thought, since it was so clearly not a part of the Bible? Comments by Dr. A. Cohen, a rabbi and author of the book Everyman’s Talmud, show that the tradition took hold gradually over a period of many centuries. Dr. Cohen writes: “In the Biblical period there seems to have been no scruple against its use in daily speech. The addition of Jah or Jahu to personal names, which persisted among the Jews even after the Babylonian exile, is an indication that there was no prohibition against the employment of the four-lettered Name. But in the early Rabbinic period the pronunciation of the Name was restricted to the Temple service.” Regarding further developments during this period, he remarks: “Instead of JHVH the Name was pronounced Adonai (my Lord) in the Synagogue service; but there is a tradition that the original pronunciation was transmitted by the Sages to their disciples periodically—once or twice every seven years (Kiddushin 71a). Even that practice ceased after a while, and the method of pronouncing the Name is no longer known with certainty.”7 Such was the effect of the “commandment of men.”—Isaiah 29:13; Deuteronomy 4:2; see the section “The Bible—Inspired by God?,” paragraphs 15-16.
SHOWING HONOR TO THE DIVINE NAME
GOD’S NAME IN THE BIBLE—WHAT GOD SAID
“And God said moreover unto Moses: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: The LORD [Hebrew, יהוה = YHWH = Jehovah], the God of your fathers, . . . hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.’”—Exodus 3:15, JP, italics ours.
“Presently Boaz arrived from Bethlehem. He greeted the reapers, ‘The LORD [יהוה] be with you!’ And they responded, ‘The LORD [יהוה] bless you!’”—Ruth 2:4.
“Praise the LORD [יהוה], proclaim His name. Make His deeds known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.”d—Isaiah 12:4, italics ours; Psalm 105:1.
“For then I will make the peoples pure of speech, so that they all invoke the LORD [יהוה] by name and serve Him with one accord.”—Zephaniah 3:9, italics ours.
“Pour out Your fury on the nations that do not know You, upon the kingdoms that do not invoke Your name.”—Psalm 79:6, italics ours.
GOD’S NAME IN THE TALMUD—WHAT MEN SAID
“It was ordained that a man should greet his friends by mentioning the Name.”—Berakhot 9:5.
“Thus did he [the High Priest on the Day of Atonement] say: O JHVH, Thy people, the House of Israel, have committed iniquity, have transgressed, have sinned before Thee. I beseech Thee by the Name JHVH . . . And when the priests and the people that stood in the Court heard the glorious and revered Name pronounced freely out of the mouth of the High Priest, in holiness and purity, they knelt and prostrated themselves, falling on their faces, and exclaiming: Blessed be His glorious, sovereign Name for ever and ever.”—Yoma 6:2.
“In the Sanctuary the Name was pronounced as written; but beyond its confines a substituted Name was employed.”—Sotah 7:6.
“At first the High Priest used to proclaim the Name in a loud voice; but when dissolute men multiplied, he proclaimed it in a low tone.”—The Jerusalem Talmud, Yoma 40d.
“[Among those excluded from the world to come is] he who pronounces the Name according to its letters.”—Sanhedrin 10:1.
“Whoever explicitly pronounces the Name is guilty of a capital offence.”—Pesikta 148a.
d The phrase “proclaim His name” (Hebrew, קראו בשמו) may also be translated “call him by his name.” (Compare The New English Bible.) The same Hebrew construction is found at Genesis 12:8, where it is translated by the Tanakh: “[Abram] invoked the LORD by name.”
Requirements for Those Who Bear the Name
10-14. (a) What does God require of those who would bear his name? (b) What forms of purity are required of those who desire to please God? (c) What foreign pagan influence left a deep impression on Judaism?
10 Obviously, just knowing or even using God’s name is not enough for a person to please God. Bearing God’s name as one of his true worshipers is a unique privilege, as the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed: “Your word brought me the delight and joy of knowing that Your name is attached to me.” (Jeremiah 15:16) But this grand privilege brings with it a weighty responsibility. Jehovah stated emphatically to kings of Gentile nations: “I am bringing the punishment first on the city that bears My name.” (Jeremiah 25:29) When Jehovah released the nation of Israel from 70 years of captivity in Babylon, he had already warned his people through the prophet Isaiah: “Turn, turn away, touch naught unclean as you depart from there; keep pure, as you go forth from there, you who bear the vessels of the LORD [יהוה]!” (Isaiah 52:11) What would be involved today in keeping pure as true worshipers, as bearers of the name of the most holy God, Jehovah?
11 Certainly a person who desires to please God in his worship would have to remain pure in conduct, especially with respect to the moral standards that God himself establishes. In contrast with the permissive standards of today’s society, the Scriptures leave no doubt or room for interpretation when expressing God’s condemnation of lying, stealing, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, murder, and every form of deceit. (Exodus 20:12, 13 [20:12-16, NW]; 23:1, 2; Leviticus 5:1; 19:35, 36; 20:13) The Scriptures condemn not only the wrong action itself but also the wrong thinking that leads to wrong conduct.—Exodus 20:14 (20:17, NW); Leviticus 19:17; Psalm 14:1-5; Job 31:1, 9-11.
12 In addition to moral purity, religious purity would certainly be required of those bearing Jehovah’s name. Repeatedly Jehovah warned the ancient nation of Israel not to be influenced by the religious thinking, practices, and customs of the neighboring nations, who worshiped other gods. In fact, it was on this condition alone—that they would not imitate the false worship of the nations—that they could remain in the Promised Land. (Leviticus 18:24-30; Deuteronomy 12:29-31) Not only idolatry was clearly forbidden but also all forms of superstitious practice and belief, such as astrology, spiritism, fortune-telling, magic, and praying to or inquiring of the dead, were prohibited.—Exodus 20:3-5; 22:17 (22:18, NW); Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Isaiah 8:19, 20; 47:13; Jeremiah 10:2.
13 Closely related to religious purity is the matter of doctrinal purity. The warning not to imitate the morals and worship of the nations around them applied more than just at the time when the nation of Israel took over the land from the Canaanites. Jehovah had revealed religious truth to his people. Only they worshiped the true God, Jehovah. (Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 4:32-37; Psalm 147:19, 20) Only they knew this God personally and, being his witnesses, were in a position to teach others about him. (Isaiah 43:9-12; Psalm 105:1) In contrast, the religious customs and practices of other nations reflected a basic lack of knowledge of God.—Isaiah 60:2.
This ancient synagogue floor in Tiberias, Israel, is just one example of the extent to which Greek thought and culture influenced Judaism. Notice the signs of the zodiac with their names written in Hebrew. The figure in the center is the sun-god Helios
14 Despite its good start, the nation of Israel was repeatedly enticed by foreign religious ideas. (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Kings 18:21; Jeremiah 2:11-13; Ezekiel 8:14-18) While the Canaanite and Babylonian cultures left their mark, by far the greatest challenge ever to face Judaism came during the period of Hellenization by the Greek Empire.b Summing up this prolonged period of Greek cultural influence, extending from the fourth century B.C.E. well into the early centuries of the Common Era, the Jewish author Max Dimont remarked: “Enriched with Platonic thought, Aristotelian logic, and Euclidian science, Jewish scholars approached the Torah with new tools. . . . They proceeded to add Greek reason to Jewish revelation.”
Does Man Have an Immortal Soul?
15-17. (a) What does the Bible teach about death and the soul? (See the box “Death and the Soul—What Are They?”) (b) What hope does the Bible hold out for those who have died?
15 Were Judaism’s doctrines and religious beliefs influenced during this period? The Encyclopaedia Judaica frankly admits: “It was probably under Greek influence that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul came into Judaism.”8 The Hebrew Scriptures teach simply and clearly that God originally intended for men to live forever in perfect health on this earth. (See the section “What Is God’s Purpose for Mankind?,” paragraphs 2-4.) At Genesis 2:7 we read: “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (JP) Notice that the text does not state that man was given a soul but, rather, that he became a soul. Because of disobediently rebelling against God, the first man, Adam, was sentenced to death. Therefore, Adam, as a human soul, died. No part of him continued living in another realm. Thus, the concept of an immortal soul is not a Bible teaching.c The Bible says plainly: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezekiel 18:4, JP.
16 What the Scriptures reveal about the condition of the dead harmonizes with the Bible teaching that the soul dies. At Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verses 5 and 10, we read: “The living know they will die. But the dead know nothing . . . For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol [mankind’s common grave], where you are going.” (Compare Psalm 146:3, 4.) Death was given as a punishment by God. (Genesis 2:17) It is the opposite of life, not another form of life. Since this is true, we should not be surprised to discover that nowhere do the Scriptures speak of a burning punishment of hellfire (geh hin·nomʹ). This too is a concept absorbed from Greek philosophy and pagan doctrine. Respecting the Jewish mystical belief in reincarnation, The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia states: “The idea seems to have originated in India. . . . In Kabbalah [mystical books of Judaism] it first emerges in the book Bahir, and then, from the Zohar onward, was commonly accepted by mystics, playing an important role in Hasidic belief and literature.”9
17 Since death is the opposite of life and the soul does not live on in another realm, what hope is there for those who have died? God’s Word clearly teaches that after the restoration of paradisaic conditions to mankind on earth by the intervention of the Messianic King appointed by God, the majority of the dead will be brought back to life. This Bible teaching is often referred to as ‘the resurrection of the dead.’ The resurrected ones will include not only those who faithfully served God but also many millions, even billions, who never received a full opportunity to learn about him and serve him in truth.—Daniel 12:2, 12 (13, NW, JP); Isaiah 26:19; Job 14:14, 15.
DEATH AND THE SOUL—WHAT ARE THEY?
WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY:
“Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [neʹphesh].” (Genesis 2:7, JP, italics ours.) Notice man was not given a soul but became one.
“But as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.” (Genesis 2:17) Notice that death was mentioned to the first man, Adam, only as a punishment for disobedience.
“By the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground—for from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”—Genesis 3:19.
“In the towns of the latter peoples, . . . you shall not let a soul [nesha·mahʹ] remain alive.”—Deuteronomy 20:16.
“And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, . . . all the souls [neʹphesh] that were therein; he left none remaining, . . . but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls [neʹphesh] that were therein.”—Joshua 10:37, JP.
“They proscribed and put to the sword every person in it. Not a soul [nesha·mahʹ] survived.”—Joshua 11:11.
“Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine; the soul [neʹphesh] that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezekiel 18:4, JP, italics ours.
“The living know they will die. But the dead know nothing . . . For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol [mankind’s common grave], where you are going.”—Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10.
WHAT THE RABBIS HAVE SAID:
“In the seventh heaven, Araboth, are stored the spirits and souls which have still to be created.”—Hagigah 12b, Talmud.
“An additional soul is given to man on the eve of the Sabbath, which is taken from him at the termination of the Sabbath.”—Taanit 27b, Talmud.
“For full 12 months [after death] the body continues to exist and the soul ascends and descends.”—Shabbat 152b, Talmud.
“Worms are as painful to the dead as a needle in the flesh of the living.”—Shabbat 13b, Talmud.
“If a statement is said in a person’s name in this world after his death his lips move in the grave.”—Sanhedrin 90b, Talmud.
“Judaism is ‘the religion which insures the immortality of the soul after the demise of the body.’”—The Kuzari 1:103, Judah Halevi, 12th-century rabbi.
18, 19. Why should a person come to know the true God, and how can he do so?
18 Is not this Bible hope of the resurrection to perfect life on earth powerful motivation for people of all nations to search for and come to know the true God? But where is the true source of instruction from Jehovah for these last days, as mentioned at Isaiah 2:2, 3? Who can instruct people in Jehovah’s ways, that they “may walk in His paths”? Can either Judaism or Christendom provide such instruction, in the light of the Bible information considered up to this point?
19 According to prophecy there would be a group of people bearing Jehovah’s name in purity, who would truly serve both as his Witnesses and as a source of spiritual light to the nations.—Isaiah 60:2, 3.
a A casual reading of this prophecy could give the impression that in the last days, there will be a massive conversion to Judaism. However, the context itself, as well as current events, shows that this is not the correct view. The discussion in this section and the next will also be of aid in understanding why we reach this conclusion.
b From the time of Alexander the Great’s rule (336-323 B.C.E.), the Greeks made a concerted effort to spread their philosophy, culture, and language to all lands encompassed by the Greek Empire. Those who adopted Greek culture and thought were considered Hellenized. This effort to win other cultures over to that of Greece was perpetuated under the Roman Empire, which, although having conquered Greece, found its culture and philosophy appealing. Even among many of those who ostensibly fought diligently to resist this tidal wave of Greek influence, we find clear evidence of their adopting Greek philosophical ideas, reasonings, and doctrines.
c In Biblical Hebrew the word translated “soul” is neʹphesh. However, in Judaism today, the Hebrew word nesha·mahʹ is often considered the part of man that continues to exist after death. But a careful study of the Scriptures reveals that the word nesha·mahʹ never conveyed such a meaning; it simply refers to the breathing process or a breathing creature, man or animal.—Genesis 7:22; Deuteronomy 20:16; Joshua 10:39, 40; 11:11; Isaiah 2:22. |
Peace and Security (tp73)
1973 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/tp73 | Can You Prove That the Bible Is Really God’s Word?
Is the Bible Really the Word of God?
Millions of persons need to have their questions answered if they are going to accept the Bible as being the word of God. For example, they want to know:
● Is the Genesis account of creation fact or fiction?
●Was there an earth-wide flood?
● Can you expect secular history always to agree with the Bible?
● Are the miracles of the Bible true?
● Does the Bible contradict itself?
● Is the Bible practical for our day?
Equip yourself with many convincing proofs of the Bible’s divine origin. Then you can help others. Obtain the 192-page book Is the Bible Really the Word of God?
Also available is the illustrated and documented 192-page book Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?
To obtain your copy of either of these attractive hardbound books postpaid, just send 25c, or 50c for both.
Write to Watchtower, using an address from the next page. |
ILLUSTRATED BIBLE STORIES
Joseph Saves Lives | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502013288 | ILLUSTRATED BIBLE STORIES
Joseph Saves Lives
Download this story and read about Joseph, whom God used to save an entire nation.
Download
1234 |
Proclaimers (jv)
1993 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/jv | Chapter 22
Part 3—Witnesses to the Most Distant Part of the Earth
A global report of the preaching of the Kingdom message from 1935 through 1945 is set out on pages 444 to 461. The year 1935 is highly significant because at that time the great multitude, or great crowd, of Revelation 7:9 was identified. In connection with the gathering of that group, Jehovah’s Witnesses began to discern that the Bible set before them a work of greater proportions than any that had preceded it. How did they go about it when the nations became embroiled in World War II and a majority of lands imposed bans on them or their Bible literature?
AS Jehovah’s Witnesses shared in their ministry during the 1930’s, their aim was to reach as many people as possible with the Kingdom message. If they discerned exceptional interest, some of them might stay up much of the night explaining Bible truths and answering questions to satisfy spiritually hungry ones. But in most cases, the Witnesses simply used brief presentations that were designed to stir up the interest of householders, and then they let the literature or public Bible lectures do the rest. Theirs was a work of informing people, sowing seeds of Kingdom truth.
Intense Effort to Reach Many People With the Good News
The work was done with a sense of urgency. As an example, early in the 1930’s, when Armando Menazzi, in Córdoba, Argentina, read the clear exposition of Bible truth in the booklets Hell and Where Are the Dead?, he acted decisively. (Ps. 145:20; Eccl. 9:5; Acts 24:15) Moved by what he learned, and inspired by the zeal being shown by Nicolás Argyrós, he sold his auto-repair shop to devote himself to preaching the truth as a pioneer. Then, in the early 1940’s, with his encouragement the Witnesses in Córdoba bought an old bus, installed beds, and used this vehicle to take ten or more publishers on preaching expeditions that lasted a week, two weeks, or even three months. As these trips were planned, different brothers and sisters from the congregation were given opportunity to go along. Each one in the group had his assigned work—cleaning, cooking, or fishing and hunting for food. In at least ten Argentine provinces, this zealous group preached from house to house, covering cities as well as villages and reaching out to scattered farms.
A similar spirit was manifested in the Australian field. Much witnessing was done in the heavily populated coastal cities. But the Witnesses there also sought to reach people who lived in remote areas. Thus, on March 31, 1936, in order to reach people on the sheep and cattle stations scattered across the outback, Arthur Willis and Bill Newlands struck out on a trip that took them a total of 12,250 miles [19,710 km]. For much of their journey, there were no roads—only bush tracks through the treeless desert with its oppressive heat and howling dust storms. But they pressed on. Wherever interest was found, they played recorded Bible discourses and left literature. On other occasions, John E. (Ted) Sewell went with them; and then he volunteered to serve in Southeast Asia.
The territory supervised by the Society’s branch in Australia reached far beyond Australia itself. It included China and island groups and nations stretching from Tahiti on the east to Burma (now Myanmar) on the west, a distance of 8,500 miles [13,700 km]. Within that area were such places as Hong Kong, Indochina (now Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam), the Netherlands East Indies (including such islands as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo), New Zealand, Siam (now Thailand), and Malaya. It was not unusual for the branch overseer, Alexander MacGillivray, a Scotsman, to invite a zealous young pioneer into his office, show him a map of the branch territory, and ask: ‘Would you like to be a missionary?’ Then, pointing to an area in which little or no preaching had been done, he would ask: ‘How would you like to open up the work in this territory?’
During the early 1930’s, some of these pioneers had already done much work in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) and Singapore. In 1935, Frank Dewar, a New Zealander, traveled with a group of these pioneers aboard the Lightbearer as far as Singapore. Then just before the boat went on to the northwest coast of Malaya, Captain Eric Ewins said: “Well, Frank, here we are. This is as far as we can take you. You chose to go to Siam. Now, off you go!” But Frank had nearly forgotten about Siam. He had been enjoying his service with the group on the boat. Now he was on his own.
He made a stopover in Kuala Lumpur until he could get together enough money for the rest of the trip, but, while there, he was in a traffic accident—a truck knocked him off his bicycle. After recuperating, with just five dollars in his pocket, he boarded the train bound from Singapore to Bangkok. But with faith in Jehovah’s ability to provide, he got on with the work. Claude Goodman had preached there briefly in 1931; but when Frank arrived in July 1936, there were no Witnesses on hand to welcome him. During the next few years, however, others had a part in the work—Willy Unglaube, Hans Thomas, and Kurt Gruber from Germany and Ted Sewell from Australia. They distributed much literature, but most of it was in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
When a letter was sent to the Society’s headquarters saying that the brothers needed literature in the Thai language but had no translator, Brother Rutherford replied: “I am not in Thailand; you are there. Have faith in Jehovah and work diligently, and you will find a translator.” And they did. Chomchai Inthaphan, a former headmistress of the Presbyterian Girls’ School in Chiang Mai, embraced the truth, and by 1941 she was translating Bible literature into Thai.
One week after Frank Dewar took up preaching in Bangkok, Frank Rice, who had pioneered the Kingdom work on Java (now part of Indonesia), came through on his way to a new assignment in what was then French Indochina. As he had done in his earlier territory, he preached to those who spoke English while he learned the local language. After covering Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), he taught some English lessons in order to buy an old car that he could use to reach the northern part of the country. His concern was not material comforts but Kingdom interests. (Heb. 13:5) Using the car he purchased, he witnessed in towns and villages and at isolated homes all the way to Hanoi.
Bold Publicity
To arouse interest in the Kingdom message and to alert people to the need to take decisive action, eye-catching means were used by the Witnesses in many lands. Starting in 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, the Witnesses advertised convention discourses by wearing placards and distributing handbills in shopping areas. Two years later, in 1938, in connection with a convention in London, England, another striking feature was added. Nathan H. Knorr and Albert D. Schroeder, who later served together on the Governing Body, led a parade of nearly a thousand Witnesses through the central business district of London. Every other one of the marchers wore a placard advertising the public talk “Face the Facts,” to be delivered by J. F. Rutherford at the Royal Albert Hall. Those in between carried signs that read “Religion Is a Snare and a Racket.” (At that time they understood religion to be all worship that was not in harmony with God’s Word, the Bible.) Later in the week, to neutralize the hostile reaction of some of the public, signs reading “Serve God and Christ the King” were interspersed with the earlier ones. This activity was not easy for many of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they looked at it as another way to serve Jehovah, another test of their loyalty to him.
Not everyone was pleased with the bold publicity that Jehovah’s Witnesses gave to their message. The clergy in Australia and New Zealand put pressure on the managers of radio stations to suppress all broadcasts sponsored by Jehovah’s Witnesses. In April 1938, when Brother Rutherford was en route to Australia to deliver a radio address, public officials allowed themselves to be influenced to cancel arrangements that had been made for him to use the Sydney Town Hall and radio facilities. Quickly the Sydney Sports Grounds were hired, and as a result of the extensive news publicity surrounding the opposition to Brother Rutherford’s visit, an even larger crowd came to hear his discourse. On other occasions, when the Witnesses were denied the use of radio facilities, they responded by giving intense publicity to meetings at which Brother Rutherford’s lectures were reproduced with transcription equipment.
The clergy in Belgium sent out children to throw stones at the Witnesses, and priests would personally go around to the homes to collect literature that had been distributed. But some of the villagers liked what they were learning from Jehovah’s Witnesses. They would often say: “Give me several of your booklets; when the priest comes, I can give him one to satisfy him and keep the rest to read!”
The following years, however, led to even stronger opposition to Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Kingdom message that they proclaimed.
Preaching in Europe in the Face of Wartime Persecution
Because they would not abandon their faith and desist from preaching, thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands were imprisoned or sent to Nazi concentration camps. There brutal treatment was the order of the day. Those not yet in prison carried on their ministry cautiously. They often worked with just the Bible and offered other literature only when making return visits on interested persons. To avoid arrest, Witnesses would call at one door in an apartment house and then perhaps go to another building, or after calling at just one house they would go to another street before approaching another house. But they were by no means timid about giving a witness.
On December 12, 1936, just a few months after the Gestapo had arrested thousands of the Witnesses and other interested persons in a nationwide effort to stop their work, the Witnesses themselves conducted a campaign. With lightning speed they put tens of thousands of copies of a printed resolution in mailboxes and under the doors of people throughout Germany. These protested the cruel treatment being meted out to their Christian brothers and sisters. Within an hour after the distribution began, the police were racing around trying to catch the distributors, but they laid their hands on only about a dozen in the entire country.
Officials were shocked that such a campaign could be carried out after all that the Nazi government had done to suppress the work. Furthermore, they became afraid of the populace. Why? Because when the police and other uniformed officials went to the homes and asked whether the inhabitants had received such a leaflet, most of the people denied it. In fact, by far the majority of them had not. Copies had been delivered to only two or three households in each building. But the police did not know that. They assumed that one had been left at each door.
During the months that followed, Nazi officials loudly denied the charges made in that printed resolution. So, on June 20, 1937, the Witnesses who were still free distributed another message, an open letter that was unsparing in its detail about the persecution, a document that named officials and cited dates and places. Great was the consternation among the Gestapo over this exposure and over the ability of the Witnesses to achieve such a distribution.
Numerous experiences of the Kusserow family, from Bad Lippspringe, Germany, manifested that same determination to give a witness. An example involves what occurred after Wilhelm Kusserow had been executed publicly in Münster by the Nazi regime because of his refusal to compromise his faith. Wilhelm’s mother, Hilda, immediately went to the prison and urgently requested the body for burial. She said to her family: “We will give a great witness to the people who knew him.” At the funeral Wilhelm’s father, Franz, offered a prayer that expressed faith in Jehovah’s loving provisions. At the grave Wilhelm’s brother Karl-Heinz spoke words of comfort from the Bible. For this they did not go unpunished, but to them the important thing was honoring Jehovah by giving a witness concerning his name and his Kingdom.
As wartime pressures mounted in the Netherlands, the Witnesses there wisely adjusted their meeting arrangements. These were now held only in groups of ten or less in private homes. Meeting places were frequently changed. Each Witness attended only with his own group, and none would divulge the address of the study, not even to a trusted friend. At that time in history, when entire populations were being driven from their homes as a result of the war, Jehovah’s Witnesses knew that people urgently needed the comforting message that is found only in God’s Word, and they fearlessly shared it with them. But a letter from the branch office reminded the brothers of the caution that Jesus had demonstrated on various occasions when confronted by opposers. (Matt. 10:16; 22:15-22) As a result, when they encountered a person who showed hostility, they made careful note of the address so that special precautions could be taken when working that territory in the future.
In Greece widespread suffering was experienced by the populace during the German occupation. The most severe treatment meted out to Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, came as a result of vicious misrepresentation by the clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church, who insisted that the police and the courts take action against them. Many of the Witnesses were imprisoned or were banished from their hometowns and sent to obscure villages or were confined under harsh conditions on barren islands. Nevertheless, they kept on witnessing. (Compare Acts 8:1, 4.) Often this was done by talking to people in parks and public gardens, by sitting on the benches with them and telling them about God’s Kingdom. When genuine interest was found, a precious piece of Bible literature was lent to the person. Such literature was later returned and used again and again. Many lovers of truth gratefully accepted the help offered by the Witnesses and even joined with them in sharing the good news with others, though this brought bitter persecution upon them.
An important factor in the courage and perseverance of the Witnesses was their being built up by spiritual food. Though supplies of literature for distribution to others eventually became quite depleted in some parts of Europe during the war, they managed to circulate among themselves faith-strengthening material that had been prepared by the Society for study by Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. At the risk of their lives, August Kraft, Peter Gölles, Ludwig Cyranek, Therese Schreiber, and many others shared in reproducing and distributing study material that was smuggled into Austria from Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Switzerland. In the Netherlands, it was a kindly prison guard who helped by procuring a Bible for Arthur Winkler. In spite of all the precautions taken by the enemy, refreshing waters of Bible truth from The Watchtower reached even into the German concentration camps and circulated among the Witnesses there.
Confinement in prisons and concentration camps did not stop Jehovah’s Witnesses from being witnesses. When the apostle Paul was in prison in Rome, he wrote: “I am suffering evil to the point of prison bonds . . . Nevertheless, the word of God is not bound.” (2 Tim. 2:9) The same proved to be true in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Europe during World War II. Guards observed their conduct; some asked questions, and a few became fellow believers, even though it meant the loss of their own freedom. Many prisoners who were confined with the Witnesses had come from such lands as Russia, where very little preaching of the good news had been done. After the war some of these returned to their homeland as Jehovah’s Witnesses, eager to spread the Kingdom message there.
Brutal persecution and the effects of total war could not prevent the foretold gathering of people to Jehovah’s great spiritual house for worship. (Isa. 2:2-4) From 1938 to 1945, most of the lands of Europe showed substantial increases in the number sharing publicly in such worship by proclaiming God’s Kingdom. In Britain, Finland, France, and Switzerland, the Witnesses experienced increases of approximately 100 percent. In Greece, there was nearly a sevenfold increase. In the Netherlands, twelvefold. But by the end of 1945, details had not yet come from Germany or Romania, and only sketchy reports had come in from a number of other lands.
Outside Of Europe During Those War Years
In the Orient too, the world war gave rise to extreme hardship for Jehovah’s Witnesses. In Japan and Korea, they were arrested and subjected to beatings and torture because they advocated God’s Kingdom and would not worship the Japanese emperor. Eventually they were cut off from all contact with Witnesses in other lands. For many of them, the only opportunities to give a witness were when being interrogated or when on trial in court. By the end of the war, the public ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses in these lands had virtually come to a halt.
When the war reached the Philippines, the Witnesses were mistreated by both sides because they would not support either the Japanese or the resistance forces. To avoid being seized, many Witnesses abandoned their homes. But as they moved from place to place, they preached—lending literature when there was some available, and later using only the Bible. As the war front receded, they even outfitted several boats to carry large groups of Witnesses to islands where little or no witnessing had been done.
In Burma (now Myanmar), it was not Japanese invasion but pressure from Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and American Baptist clergymen exerted on colonial officials that led to a ban on the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses in May 1941. Two Witnesses working in the cable office saw a telegram that alerted them to what was coming, so the brothers quickly moved literature out of the Society’s depot in order to avert its being confiscated. Efforts were then made to send much of the literature overland into China.
At that time the U.S. government was trucking vast amounts of war material over the Burma Road to support the Chinese Nationalist government. The brothers tried to secure space on one of those trucks but were rebuffed. Efforts to obtain a vehicle from Singapore also failed. However, when Mick Engel, who was in charge of the Society’s Rangoon (now Yangon) depot, approached a high U.S. official, he was granted permission to transport the literature on army trucks.
Nevertheless, after that when Fred Paton and Hector Oates approached the officer controlling the convoy into China and asked for space, he nearly had a fit! “What?” he shouted. “How can I give you precious space in my trucks for your miserable tracts when I have absolutely no room for urgently needed military and medical supplies rotting here in the open?” Fred paused, reached into his briefcase, showed him the letter of authorization, and pointed out that it would be a very serious matter if he ignored the direction given by officials in Rangoon. Not only did the road controller arrange to transport two tons of books but he placed a light truck, with driver and supplies, at the disposal of the brothers. They headed northeast over the dangerous mountain road into China with their precious cargo. After witnessing in Pao-shan, they pressed on to Chungking (Pahsien). Thousands of pieces of literature telling about Jehovah’s Kingdom were distributed during the year that they spent in China. Among others to whom they personally witnessed was Chiang Kai-shek, the president of the Chinese Nationalist government.
Meanwhile, as bombing intensified in Burma, all but three of the Witnesses there left the country, most of them for India. The activity of the three who remained was, of necessity, limited. Yet they continued to witness informally, and their efforts bore fruit after the war.
In North America too, Jehovah’s Witnesses were confronted by severe obstacles during the war. Widespread mob violence and unconstitutional application of local laws brought great pressure on the preaching work. Thousands were imprisoned because of taking their stand as Christian neutrals. Yet, this did not slow down the house-to-house ministry of the Witnesses. Furthermore, beginning in February 1940, it became common to see them on the streets in business districts offering The Watchtower and Consolation (now Awake!). Their zeal became even stronger. Though undergoing some of the most intense persecution ever experienced in that part of the world, the Witnesses more than doubled in numbers in both the United States and Canada from 1938 to 1945, and the time they devoted to their public ministry tripled.
In many lands identified with the British Commonwealth (in North America, Africa, Asia, and islands of the Caribbean and of the Pacific) either Jehovah’s Witnesses or their literature was put under government ban. One of such lands was Australia. An official notice published there on January 17, 1941, at the direction of the governor-general, made it illegal for Jehovah’s Witnesses to meet for worship, to circulate any of their literature, or even to have it in their possession. Under the law it was possible to challenge the ban in court, and this was promptly done. But it was over two years before Mr. Justice Starke of the High Court declared that the regulations on which the ban was based were “arbitrary, capricious and oppressive.” The full High Court removed the ban. What did Jehovah’s Witnesses do in the meantime?
In imitation of the apostles of Jesus Christ, they ‘obeyed God as ruler rather than men.’ (Acts 4:19, 20; 5:29) They continued to preach. In spite of numerous obstacles, they even arranged for a convention at Hargrave Park, near Sydney, December 25-29, 1941. When the government refused rail transportation to some of the delegates, a group from Western Australia equipped their vehicles with gas-producing units operating on charcoal and struck out on a 14-day cross-country trek, which included spending one week traversing the pitiless Nullarbor Plain. They arrived safely and enjoyed the program along with the other six thousand delegates. The following year another assembly was held, but this time it was divided up into 150 smaller groups in seven major cities across the country, with speakers shuttling from one location to the next.
As conditions in Europe deteriorated in 1939, some pioneer ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses volunteered to serve in other fields. (Compare Matthew 10:23; Acts 8:4.) Three German pioneers were sent from Switzerland to Shanghai, China. A number went to South America. Among those transferred to Brazil were Otto Estelmann, who had been visiting and helping congregations in Czechoslovakia, and Erich Kattner, who had served at the Watch Tower Society’s office in Prague. Their new assignment was not an easy one. They found that in some farm areas, the Witnesses would get up early and preach until 7:00 a.m. and then do further field service late into the evening. Brother Kattner recalls that as he moved from place to place, he often slept in the open, using his literature bag as a pillow.—Compare Matthew 8:20.
Both Brother Estelmann and Brother Kattner had been hounded by the Nazi secret police in Europe. Did their move to Brazil free them from persecution? On the contrary, after just a year, they found themselves under prolonged house arrest and imprisonment at the instigation of officials who were apparently Nazi sympathizers! Opposition from the Catholic clergy was also common, but the Witnesses persisted in their God-given work. They constantly reached out to cities and towns in Brazil where the Kingdom message had not yet been preached.
A review of the global situation shows that in the majority of lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses were located during World War II, they were confronted with government bans either on their organization or their literature. Though they had been preaching in 117 lands in 1938, the war years (1939-45) saw bans on their organization or literature, or deportation of their ministers, in over 60 of those lands. Even where there were no bans, they faced mob violence and were frequently arrested. In spite of all of this, the preaching of the good news did not stop.
The Great Crowd Begins to Manifest Itself in Latin America
Right in the midst of the war years, in February 1943, with an eye on work to be done in the postwar era, the Watch Tower Society inaugurated Gilead School in New York State to train missionaries for foreign service. Before the end of the year, 12 of those missionaries had already begun to serve in Cuba. The field there proved to be very productive.
As early as 1910, some seeds of Bible truth had reached Cuba. C. T. Russell had given a discourse there in 1913. J. F. Rutherford had spoken on the radio in Havana in 1932, and there was a rebroadcast of the material in Spanish. But growth was slow. There was widespread illiteracy at that time and much religious prejudice. Interest shown was at first largely among the English-speaking population that had come from Jamaica and other places. By 1936 there were just 40 Kingdom proclaimers in Cuba. But the planting and watering of seeds of Kingdom truth then began to yield more fruit.
In 1934 the first Cubans had been baptized; others followed. Starting in 1940, daily radio broadcasts coupled with bold street witnessing reinforced the house-to-house ministry there. Even before Gilead-trained missionaries arrived in 1943, there were 950 in Cuba who had embraced the good news and were preaching it to others, though not all of them were sharing regularly. During the two years following the arrival of the missionaries, the numbers increased even more rapidly. By 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cuba numbered 1,894. Although most of them had come from a religion that taught that all faithful supporters of the church would go to heaven, the vast majority of those who became Jehovah’s Witnesses eagerly embraced the prospect of eternal life on earth in a restored paradise. (Gen. 1:28; 2:15; Ps. 37:9, 29; Rev. 21:3, 4) Only 1.4 percent of them professed to be spirit-anointed brothers of Christ.
In yet another way, help was provided for the Latin American field by the Society’s world headquarters. Early in 1944, N. H. Knorr, F. W. Franz, W. E. Van Amburgh, and M. G. Henschel spent ten days in Cuba to strengthen the brothers there spiritually. During that time a convention was held in Havana, and arrangements for better coordination of the preaching work were outlined. This trip also took Brother Knorr and Brother Henschel to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico to assist Jehovah’s Witnesses in those lands.
In 1945 and 1946, N. H. Knorr and F. W. Franz made tours that enabled them to speak and work with the Witnesses in 24 lands in the area from Mexico to the southern tip of South America as well as in the Caribbean. They personally spent five months in that part of the world, providing loving help and direction. In some places they met with just a handful of interested persons. So that there would be regular arrangements for meetings and field service, they personally assisted with the organizing of the first congregations in Lima, Peru, and Caracas, Venezuela. Wherever congregation meetings were already being held, they attended these and, on occasion, provided counsel on how to improve their practical value in connection with the evangelizing work.
Where possible, arrangements were made for public Bible talks during these visits. The talks were given intensive publicity through the use of placards worn by Witnesses and through handbills distributed on the streets. As a result, the 394 Witnesses in Brazil were pleased to have 765 at their convention in São Paulo. In Chile, where there were 83 Kingdom proclaimers, 340 came to hear the specially advertised discourse. In Costa Rica the 253 local Witnesses were delighted to have a total of 849 at their two assemblies. These were occasions of warm fellowship among the brothers.
The objective, however, was not merely to have memorable conventions. During these tours the representatives from headquarters placed special emphasis on the importance of making return visits on interested people and conducting home Bible studies with them. If people were going to become real disciples, they needed regular instruction from God’s Word. As a result, the number of home Bible studies grew rapidly in this part of the world.
While Brother Knorr and Brother Franz were making these service tours, more Gilead-trained missionaries were arriving in their assignments. By the end of 1944, some were serving in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. In 1945, other missionaries were helping to get the preaching work better organized in Barbados, Brazil, British Honduras (now Belize), Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, and Uruguay. When the first two missionaries arrived in the Dominican Republic in 1945, they were the only Witnesses in the country. The effect of the ministry of the early missionaries was quickly felt. Said Trinidad Paniagua about the first missionaries sent to Guatemala: “This was exactly what we needed—teachers of the Word of God who would help us understand how to go about doing the work.”
So the groundwork was being laid for expansion in this part of the world field. On the Caribbean islands, there were 3,394 Kingdom proclaimers by the end of 1945. In Mexico, there were 3,276, and another 404 in Central America. In South America, 1,042. For this part of the world, that represents an increase of 386 percent during the previous seven years, a very turbulent period of human history. But it was just a beginning. Growth of truly explosive proportions was yet ahead! The Bible had foretold that “a great crowd . . . out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues” would be gathered as worshipers of Jehovah before the great tribulation.—Rev. 7:9, 10, 14.
When World War II began in 1939, there were just 72,475 of Jehovah’s Witnesses preaching in 115 lands (if counted according to the national divisions of the early 1990’s). In spite of the intense persecution that they experienced on a global scale, they more than doubled in number by the end of the war. Thus, the report for 1945 showed 156,299 Witnesses active in the 107 lands for which it has been possible to compile reports. By that time, however, 163 lands had actually been reached with the Kingdom message.
The witness given during the years from 1936 to 1945 was truly amazing. During that decade of world turmoil, these zealous Witnesses of Jehovah devoted a total of 212,069,285 hours to proclaiming to the world that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for humankind. They also distributed 343,054,579 books, booklets, and magazines to help people to understand the Scriptural basis for that confidence. To help sincerely interested ones, in 1945 they were conducting, on an average, 104,814 free home Bible studies.
[Blurb on page 455]
Though wartime conditions forced them to flee, they kept on preaching
[Box/Pictures on page 451-453]
They Refused to Stop Witnessing Even Though Imprisoned
Shown here are only a few of the thousands who suffered for their faith in prisons and concentration camps during World War II
1. Adrian Thompson, New Zealand. Imprisoned in 1941 in Australia; his application for exemption from conscription was rejected when Australia banned Jehovah’s Witnesses. After his release, as traveling overseer, he strengthened the congregations in their public ministry. Served as a missionary and the first traveling overseer in postwar Japan; continued to preach zealously until his death in 1976.
2. Alois Moser, Austria. In seven prisons and concentration camps. Still an active Witness in 1992 at 92 years of age.
3. Franz Wohlfahrt, Austria. Execution of his father and his brother did not deter Franz. Held in Rollwald Camp in Germany for five years. Still witnessing in 1992 at 70 years of age.
4. Thomas Jones, Canada. Imprisoned in 1944, then held in two work camps. After 34 years of full-time service, he was appointed in 1977 to be a member of the Branch Committee supervising the preaching work in all of Canada.
5. Maria Hombach, Germany. Repeatedly arrested; in solitary confinement for three and a half years. As a courier, she risked her life to take Bible literature to fellow Witnesses. In 1992, a faithful member of the Bethel family at 90 years of age.
6. Max and Konrad Franke, Germany. Father and son, both imprisoned repeatedly, and for many years. (Konrad’s wife, Gertrud, was also in prison.) All remained loyal, zealous servants of Jehovah, and Konrad was in the forefront of rebuilding the preaching work of the Witnesses in postwar Germany.
7. A. Pryce Hughes, England. Sentenced to two terms at Wormwood Scrubs, London; had also been imprisoned because of his faith during World War I. In the forefront of the work of Kingdom preaching in Britain down till his death in 1978.
8. Adolphe and Emma Arnold with daughter Simone, France. After Adolphe was imprisoned, Emma and Simone continued to witness, also to distribute literature to other Witnesses. Emma, when in prison, was put in solitary confinement for persistently witnessing to other prisoners. Simone was sent to a reform school. All continued to be zealous Witnesses.
9. Ernst and Hildegard Seliger, Germany. Between them, more than 40 years in prisons and concentration camps for their faith. Even in prison they persisted in sharing Bible truths with others. When free they devoted their full time to preaching the good news. Brother Seliger died a loyal servant of God in 1985; Sister Seliger, in 1992.
10. Carl Johnson, United States. Two years after baptism, imprisoned with hundreds of other Witnesses at Ashland, Kentucky. Has served as a pioneer and as a circuit overseer; in 1992, still taking the lead in the field ministry as an elder.
11. August Peters, Germany. Torn away from his wife and four children, he was imprisoned 1936-37, also 1937-45. After release, instead of doing less preaching, he did more, in full-time service. In 1992, at 99 years of age, he was still serving as a member of the Bethel family and had seen the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany grow to 163,095.
12. Gertrud Ott, Germany. Imprisoned at Lodz, Poland, then Auschwitz concentration camp; next in Gross-Rosen and Bergen-Belsen in Germany. After the war she served zealously as a missionary in Indonesia, Iran, and Luxembourg.
13. Katsuo Miura, Japan. Seven years after his arrest and imprisonment in Hiroshima, much of the prison where he was confined was destroyed by the atom bomb that desolated the city. However, doctors found no evidence that he suffered injury from the radiation. He used the final years of his life as a pioneer.
14. Martin and Gertrud Poetzinger, Germany. A few months after marriage, they were arrested and forcibly separated for nine years. Martin was sent to Dachau and Mauthausen; Gertrud, to Ravensbrück. In spite of brutal treatment, their faith did not waver. After release they devoted all their efforts to Jehovah’s service. For 29 years he served as a traveling overseer throughout Germany; then, as a member of the Governing Body until his death in 1988. In 1992, Gertrud continued to be a zealous evangelizer.
15. Jizo and Matsue Ishii, Japan. After distributing Bible literature throughout Japan for a decade, they were imprisoned. Though the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Japan was crushed during the war, Brother and Sister Ishii witnessed zealously again after the war. By 1992, Matsue Ishii had seen the number of active Witnesses in Japan increase to over 171,000.
16. Victor Bruch, Luxembourg. Imprisoned in Buchenwald, Lublin, Auschwitz, and Ravensbrück. At 90 years of age, still active as an elder of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
17. Karl Schurstein, Germany. A traveling overseer before Hitler came to power. Incarcerated for eight years, then killed by the SS in Dachau in 1944. Even within the camp, he continued to build others up spiritually.
18. Kim Bong-nyu, Korea. Confined for six years. At 72 years of age, still telling others about the Kingdom of God.
19. Pamfil Albu, Romania. After being brutally mistreated, he was sent to a labor camp in Yugoslavia for two and a half years. After the war he was imprisoned two more times, for another 12 years. He did not stop speaking about God’s purpose. Before his death he helped thousands in Romania to serve with the global organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
20. Wilhelm Scheider, Poland. In Nazi concentration camps 1939-45. In Communist prisons 1950-56, also 1960-64. Until his death in 1971, he unwaveringly devoted his energies to the proclaiming of God’s Kingdom.
21. Harald and Elsa Abt, Poland. During and after the war, Harald spent 14 years in prison and concentration camps because of his faith but continued to preach even there. Elsa was torn away from their infant daughter and then held in six camps in Poland, Germany, and Austria. In spite of a 40-year ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Poland even after the war, all of them continued to be zealous servants of Jehovah.
22. Ádám Szinger, Hungary. During six court trials, sentenced to 23 years, of which he served 8 1/2 years in prison and labor camps. When free, served as a traveling overseer for a total of 30 years. At 69 years of age, still a loyal congregation elder.
23. Joseph Dos Santos, the Philippines. Had devoted 12 years as full-time proclaimer of Kingdom message before imprisonment in 1942. Revitalized the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Philippines after the war and personally continued in pioneer service until his death in 1983.
24. Rudolph Sunal, United States. Imprisoned at Mill Point, West Virginia. After release he devoted full time to spreading the knowledge of God’s Kingdom—as a pioneer, a member of the Bethel family, and a circuit overseer. Still pioneering in 1992, at 78 years of age.
25. Martin Magyarosi, Romania. From prison, 1942-44, continued to give direction for the preaching of the good news in Transylvania. When released he traveled extensively to encourage fellow Witnesses in their preaching and was himself a fearless Witness. Imprisoned again in 1950, he died in a labor camp in 1953, a loyal servant of Jehovah.
26. R. Arthur Winkler, Germany and the Netherlands. First sent to Esterwegen concentration camp; kept preaching in the camp. Later, in the Netherlands, he was beaten by the Gestapo until unrecognizable. Finally he was sent to Sachsenhausen. A loyal, zealous Witness until his death in 1972.
27. Park Ock-hi, Korea. Three years in Sodaemun Prison, Seoul; subjected to indescribable torture. At 91 years of age, in 1992, still zealously witnessing, as a special pioneer.
[Map/Picture on page 446]
Alexander MacGillivray, as overseer of the Australia branch, helped to plan preaching expeditions to many countries and islands
[Map]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
TAHITI
TONGA
FIJI
NEW GUINEA
JAVA
BORNEO
SUMATRA
BURMA
HONG KONG
MALAYA
SINGAPORE
SIAM
INDOCHINA
CHINA
PACIFIC OCEAN
Place Names Are Ones That Were in Use During the 1930’s
[Map/Pictures on page 460]
By late 1945, missionaries from Gilead School had already taken up service in 18 lands in this part of the world
Charles and Lorene Eisenhower
Cuba
John and Adda Parker
Guatemala
Emil Van Daalen
Puerto Rico
Olaf Olson
Colombia
Don Burt
Costa Rica
Gladys Wilson
El Salvador
Hazel Burford
Panama
Louise Stubbs
Chile
[Map]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
BARBADOS
BELIZE
BOLIVIA
BRAZIL
CHILE
COLOMBIA
COSTA RICA
CUBA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA
HAITI
JAMAICA
MEXICO
NICARAGUA
PANAMA
PUERTO RICO
URUGUAY
[Picture on page 444]
Some colporteurs placed many cartons of literature; householders received numerous Bible sermons in each book
[Picture on page 445]
Armando Menazzi (center front) and a happy group that traveled with him on a preaching expedition in their “pioneer home on wheels”
[Picture on page 445]
Arthur Willis, Ted Sewell, and Bill Newlands—three who took the Kingdom message to the Australian outback
[Picture on page 447]
Frank Dewar (shown here with his wife and their two daughters) went to Thailand as a lone pioneer in 1936 and was still a special pioneer in 1992
[Picture on page 447]
Chomchai Inthaphan used her ability as a translator to reach the Thai people with the good news found in the Bible
[Picture on page 448]
In Germany, Jehovah’s Witnesses gave this open letter extensive public distribution in 1937, even though their worship was under government ban
[Picture on page 449]
Family of Franz and Hilda Kusserow—every one of them a faithful Witness of Jehovah, though all in the family (except a son who had died in an accident) were put into concentration camps, prisons, or reform schools because of their faith
[Pictures on page 450]
Some in Austria and Germany who risked their lives to duplicate or distribute precious material for Bible study, such as that shown in the background
Therese Schreiber
Peter Gölles
Elfriede Löhr
Albert Wandres
August Kraft
Ilse Unterdörfer
[Picture on page 454]
Witnesses at convention in Shanghai, China, in 1936; nine of this group got baptized on that occasion
[Picture on page 456]
In spite of a ban on their worship, these Witnesses held a convention at Hargrave Park, near Sydney, Australia, in 1941
[Picture on page 458]
Cuban Witnesses at a convention in Cienfuegos in 1939
[Picture on page 459]
N. H. Knorr (left) at São Paulo convention in 1945, with Erich Kattner as interpreter |
STUDY ARTICLE 2
Lessons From “the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved” | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021245 | STUDY ARTICLE 2
Lessons From “the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”
“Let us continue loving one another, because love is from God.”—1 JOHN 4:7.
SONG 105 “God Is Love”
PREVIEWa
1. How does God’s love make you feel?
“GOD is love,” wrote the apostle John. (1 John 4:8) That simple statement reminds us of a fundamental truth: God, the Source of life, is also the Source of love. Jehovah loves us! His love makes us feel secure, happy, and satisfied.
2. According to Matthew 22:37-40, what are the two greatest commandments, and why may we have difficulty obeying the second one?
2 For Christians, showing love is not optional. It is a commandment. (Read Matthew 22:37-40.) When we come to know Jehovah well, we may find it easy to obey the first commandment. After all, Jehovah is perfect; he is thoughtful and gentle in the way he treats us. But we may have difficulty obeying the second commandment. Why? Because our brothers and sisters—who are among our closest neighbors—are imperfect. At times, they may say and do things that we feel are uncaring and unkind. Jehovah knew that we would face this challenge, so he inspired some of the writers of the Bible to include specific counsel on why and how we should show love to one another. One of those writers was John.—1 John 3:11, 12.
3. What did John stress?
3 In his writings, John stresses that Christians must show love. In fact, in his account of Jesus’ life, John uses the words “love” and “loved” more often than the other three Gospel writers combined. John was about one hundred years old when he wrote his Gospel account and his three letters. Those inspired writings reveal that love must influence everything a Christian does. (1 John 4:10, 11) However, it took time for John to learn that lesson.
4. Did John always show love to others?
4 When John was a young man, he did not always show love. For example, on one occasion, Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem through Samaria. A certain Samaritan village refused to show them hospitality. What was John’s response? He asked about calling down fire from heaven and destroying all the inhabitants of the village! (Luke 9:52-56) On another occasion, John failed to show love to his fellow apostles. He and his brother James apparently coaxed their mother into asking Jesus to give them prominent positions alongside him in the Kingdom. When the other apostles found out what James and John had done, they were furious! (Matt. 20:20, 21, 24) Nevertheless, despite all of John’s flaws, Jesus loved him.—John 21:7.
5. What will we examine in this article?
5 In this article, we will examine John’s example and some of the things he wrote about love. As we do, we will learn how we can show love to our brothers and sisters. We will also learn about an important way in which a family head can prove that he loves his family.
LOVE IS EXPRESSED BY ACTIONS
Jehovah proved his love for us by sending his Son to earth to die for us (See paragraphs 6-7)
6. How has Jehovah revealed his love for us?
6 We often think of love as a warm feeling expressed by kind words. But for love to be real, it must also be backed by actions. (Compare James 2:17, 26.) For example, Jehovah loves us. (1 John 4:19) And he expresses his love through the beautiful words recorded in the Bible. (Ps. 25:10; Rom. 8:38, 39) However, we are convinced that God loves us not just because of what he says but also because of what he does. John wrote: “By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him.” (1 John 4:9) Jehovah allowed his beloved Son to suffer and die for us. (John 3:16) Can there be any doubt that Jehovah really loves us?
7. What did Jesus do to prove his love for us?
7 Jesus assured his disciples that he had affection for them. (John 13:1; 15:15) He proved the depth of his love for them and for us not just by what he said but also by what he did. “No one has love greater than this,” said Jesus, “that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:13) When we think about what Jehovah and Jesus have done for us, how should we be affected?
8. What does 1 John 3:18 say we should do?
8 We prove that we love Jehovah and Jesus by obeying them. (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3) And Jesus specifically commanded us to love one another. (John 13:34, 35) We must not only express our love for our brothers and sisters in words but also show that we love them by what we do. (Read 1 John 3:18.) What specifically can we do to prove that we love them?
LOVE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
9. What did love move John to do?
9 John could have stayed with his father and made money working in the family fishing business. But instead he devoted the remainder of his long life to helping others learn the truth about Jehovah and Jesus. The life John chose was not an easy one. He suffered persecution, and near the end of the first century when he was an old man, he was exiled. (Acts 3:1; 4:1-3; 5:18; Rev. 1:9) Even while confined for preaching about Jesus, John proved that he was thinking of others. For example, while on the island of Patmos, he recorded the revelation that he received and had it sent to the congregations so that they would know what “must shortly take place.” (Rev. 1:1) Then, likely after he was released from Patmos, John wrote his Gospel account of Jesus’ life and ministry. He also wrote three letters in order to encourage and strengthen his brothers and sisters. How can you imitate John’s self-sacrificing life course?
10. How can you prove that you love people?
10 You can prove that you love people by what you choose to do with your life. Satan’s system would have you spend all your time and energy on yourself, trying to make money or to make a name for yourself. Instead, self-sacrificing Kingdom proclaimers all over the world spend as much time as they can preaching the good news and helping people to draw close to Jehovah. Some are even able to preach and teach full-time.
We prove our love by what we do for our brothers and sisters and for our family (See paragraphs 11, 17)b
11. How do many faithful publishers prove that they love Jehovah and their brothers and sisters?
11 Many loyal Christians must work at secular jobs full-time so that they can support themselves and their families. Even so, these faithful publishers support God’s organization in any way they can. For instance, some are able to provide disaster relief, others can work on construction projects, and everyone has the opportunity to donate funds to the worldwide work. They do these things because they love God and their fellow man. Each week, we prove that we love our brothers and sisters by attending congregation meetings and participating in them. Although we may be tired, we are present at those meetings. Although we may be nervous, we comment. And although we all have problems of our own, we encourage others before or after the meeting. (Heb. 10:24, 25) How grateful we are for the work done by our fellow publishers!
12. What is another way that John proved his love for his brothers and sisters?
12 John proved his love for his brothers and sisters not only by commending them but also by imparting counsel to them. For instance, in his letters, John commended his brothers and sisters for their faith and good works, but he also gave them direct counsel about sin. (1 John 1:8–2:1, 13, 14) Similarly, we need to commend our brothers and sisters for the good things they do. But if someone is developing a bad attitude or habit, we can show love by tactfully telling him what he needs to hear. It takes courage to give counsel to a friend, but the Bible says that true friends sharpen, or correct, one another.—Prov. 27:17.
13. What should we avoid doing?
13 Sometimes, we prove our love for our brothers and sisters by what we do not do. For example, we do not get easily offended by what they say. Consider an incident that happened toward the end of Jesus’ life on earth. He told his disciples that to gain life they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood. (John 6:53-57) That speech was so shocking that many of his disciples abandoned him—but not so his real friends, including John. They loyally stuck with him. They did not understand what Jesus said, and they were likely surprised by it. However, Jesus’ loyal friends did not assume that what he said was wrong and become offended by it. Instead, they trusted him, knowing that he spoke the truth. (John 6:60, 66-69) How important it is that we do not become easily offended by what our friends say! Rather, we allow them the opportunity to explain misunderstandings.—Prov. 18:13; Eccl. 7:9.
14. Why should we not allow hatred to fester in our heart?
14 John also urged us not to hate our brothers or sisters. If we fail to heed that counsel, we leave ourselves open to being manipulated by Satan. (1 John 2:11; 3:15) This happened to some at the end of the first century C.E. Satan was doing all that he could to promote hatred and divide God’s people. By the time John wrote his letters, men who showed the same spirit as Satan had slipped into the congregation. For instance, Diotrephes was creating serious divisions in one congregation. (3 John 9, 10) He was disrespectful to traveling representatives of the governing body. He even tried to throw out of the congregation those who were hospitable to people whom he disliked. How arrogant! Satan is still desperately trying to divide and conquer God’s people today. May we never allow hatred to drive us apart.
LOVE YOUR FAMILY
Jesus entrusted the physical and spiritual care of his mother to John. Family heads today must care for the needs of their household (See paragraphs 15-16)
15. What must a family head remember?
15 One important way that a family head proves that he loves his family is by providing for their material needs. (1 Tim. 5:8) He must remember, however, that material things cannot satisfy his family’s spiritual needs. (Matt. 5:3) Note the example that Jesus set for family heads. According to John’s Gospel, while Jesus was dying on a torture stake, he was still thinking of his family. John was standing with Jesus’ mother, Mary, at the location where Jesus was being executed. Despite being in severe agony, Jesus arranged for John to care for Mary. (John 19:26, 27) Jesus had siblings who would no doubt care for Mary’s physical needs, but it appears that none of them had yet become his disciples. So Jesus wanted to make sure that Mary was cared for physically as well as spiritually.
16. What load of responsibility did John carry?
16 John carried a heavy load of responsibility. As one of the apostles, he took the lead in the preaching work. He may also have been married, so he would have had to balance caring for his family’s material needs with providing for their spiritual needs. (1 Cor. 9:5) What is the lesson for family heads today?
17. Why is it important for a family head to care for his family’s spiritual needs?
17 A brother who is a family head may have a number of weighty responsibilities. For instance, he must be diligent in his secular work so that his conduct reflects well on Jehovah. (Eph. 6:5, 6; Titus 2:9, 10) And he may have responsibilities in the congregation, such as shepherding and taking the lead in the preaching work. At the same time, it is important that he regularly study the Bible with his wife and children. They will deeply appreciate his efforts to keep them physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.—Eph. 5:28, 29; 6:4.
“REMAIN IN MY LOVE”
18. Of what was John sure?
18 John had a long, eventful life. He faced all types of challenges that could have weakened his faith. But he always did his best to observe Jesus’ commandments, including the order to love his brothers and sisters. As a result, John was sure that Jehovah and Jesus loved him and that they would give him the strength to overcome any trial. (John 14:15-17; 15:10; 1 John 4:16) Nothing that Satan or his system did could stop John from feeling, expressing, and showing love.
19. What does 1 John 4:7 encourage us to do, and why?
19 Like John, we live in a world dominated by Satan, the hateful god of this system. (1 John 3:1, 10) While he wants us to stop loving our brothers and sisters, he cannot make that happen unless we allow him to do so. May we be determined to love our brothers and sisters, to express that love by what we say, and to prove that love by what we do. Then we will have the satisfaction of being part of Jehovah’s family, and life will truly be worth living.—Read 1 John 4:7.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What did you learn from John’s example?
How can we show that we love our brothers and sisters?
How can family heads prove that they love their family?
SONG 88 Make Me Know Your Ways
a The apostle John is believed to be “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 21:7) So even as a young man, he must have had many admirable qualities. Years later, Jehovah used him to write extensively about love. This article will review some of John’s writings and will discuss what we can learn from his example.
b PICTURE DESCRIPTION: A busy family head shares in disaster relief work, supports the worldwide work with his donations, and invites others to join him and his wife and children in family worship. |
Blood brochure (hb)
1990 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/blood-brochure-hb | Foreword
EACH day people face ethical decisions about health: organ transplants, abortion, the “right to die.” Hopefully, you will never face those problems.
Yet, there is one issue that demands your attention: How can blood be used to save life?
With good reason, many now ask, ‘How safe are blood transfusions?’ But this is more than a medical issue. It has made news involving Jehovah’s Witnesses. Have you wondered why these ethical people, who believe in good medicine, refuse to accept blood?
As you will see, the medical and moral aspects of using blood bear directly on how you can save your most valued possession: LIFE. |
Scriptures for Christian Living (scl)
2023 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/scl | Endurance
Do servants of Jehovah need endurance?
1Co 13:4, 7; 1Ti 6:11; 2Pe 1:5, 6
Why should we expect that some people will be indifferent to our preaching work or even opposed to it?
Mt 10:22; Joh 15:18, 19; 2Co 6:4, 5
Relevant Bible account(s):
2Pe 2:5; Ge 7:23; Mt 24:37-39—Though Noah is “a preacher of righteousness,” most ignore him, and only he and his family survive the Deluge
2Ti 3:10-14—The apostle Paul uses his own example of endurance to encourage Timothy to endure
Why may we expect opposition even from family members?
Mt 10:22, 36-38; Lu 21:16-19
Relevant Bible account(s):
Ge 4:3-11; 1Jo 3:11, 12—Cain slaughters his brother because Cain’s own works are wicked, whereas Abel’s are righteous
Ge 37:5-8, 18-28—Joseph’s brothers attack him and sell him as a slave, in part because he related to them a dream from Jehovah
When persecuted, why do we not need to fear death?
Mt 10:28; 2Ti 4:6, 7
See also Re 2:10
Relevant Bible account(s):
Da 3:1-6, 13-18—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face death rather than compromise by committing an act of idolatry
Ac 5:27-29, 33, 40-42—Despite threats of death, the apostles persevere in the preaching work, showing endurance
What will help us to stay faithful to Jehovah even when we are disciplined?
Pr 3:11, 12; Heb 12:5-7
Relevant Bible account(s):
Nu 20:9-12; De 3:23-28; 31:7, 8—Jehovah’s discipline disappoints the prophet Moses; yet, he endures faithfully to the end
2Ki 20:12-18; 2Ch 32:24-26—King Hezekiah sins and is rebuked, but he humbles himself and endures faithfully thereafter
How might the unfaithfulness of others test our endurance?
Jer 1:16-19; Hab 1:2-4
Relevant Bible account(s):
Ps 73:2-24—After considering the peace and prosperity of the wicked, the psalmist questions the value of enduring in his service to Jehovah
Joh 6:60-62, 66-68—Though many stop following Jesus, the apostle Peter is determined to endure in faith
What will help us to endure?
Sticking to Jehovah
De 30:19, 20; Ro 15:5, 6; 1Co 10:13
Gaining knowledge of God’s Word through study and meditation
Ec 7:12; Ro 15:4; Col 1:10, 11; 2Pe 3:15-18
Approaching Jehovah in regular, heartfelt prayer
Ro 12:12; Col 4:2; 1Pe 4:7
Relevant Bible account(s):
Da 6:4-11—The prophet Daniel continues to pray openly and regularly, despite a scheme to destroy him
Mt 26:36-46; Heb 5:7—On the last night of his earthly life, Jesus prays intensely and urges others to do the same
Associating regularly with fellow believers to worship together
Ro 1:11, 12; Heb 10:23-25
Keeping our mind focused on the rewards that Jehovah promises
Ro 8:25; 1Th 1:3; Heb 11:6; 12:1, 2
Strengthening our love for Jehovah, for our Christian brothers and sisters, and for righteousness
Mt 6:33; 1Co 13:4-7; 1Th 3:12, 13; 1Jo 4:18, 19
Strengthening our faith
Eph 6:16; 1Jo 5:4; Jude 20, 21
Maintaining the right attitude toward suffering
Ac 5:40, 41; Jas 1:2-4; 1Pe 3:14; 4:14, 16
What are some benefits of enduring faithfully?
We bring honor to Jehovah God
Pr 27:11; Joh 15:7, 8; 1Pe 1:6, 7
Relevant Bible account(s):
Job 1:6-12; 2:3-5—Satan challenges Jehovah regarding the integrity of Job, a challenge that can be answered only by Job’s faithful endurance as a servant of Jehovah
Ro 5:19; 1Pe 1:20, 21—By enduring faithfully to the end, Jesus resolves this vital question: Can a perfect man succeed where Adam failed, maintaining integrity under the hardest tests?
We encourage others to endure
Php 1:13, 14; Jas 5:10, 11
Endurance contributes to a fruitful ministry
Ec 11:6; Lu 8:15; 2Pe 1:5-8
We gain Jehovah’s approval and receive promised rewards
Mt 24:13; Lu 21:19; 1Co 15:58; Heb 10:36
See also Ro 2:6, 7; Jas 1:12 |
Reasoning (rs)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/books/reasoning-rs | God
Definition: The Supreme Being, whose distinctive name is Jehovah. The Hebrew language uses terms for “God” that convey the idea of strength, also of majesty, dignity, and excellence. In contrast to the true God, there are false gods. Some of these have set themselves up as gods; others have been made objects of worship by those who serve them.
Are there sound reasons for believing in God?
Ps. 19:1: “The heavens are declaring the glory of God; and of the work of his hands the expanse is telling.”
Ps. 104:24: “How many your works are, O Jehovah! All of them in wisdom you have made. The earth is full of your productions.”
Rom. 1:20: “His invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made.”
New Scientist magazine said: “The lay view persists—of scientists having ‘disproved’ religion. It is a view that commonly expects scientists to be nonbelievers; that Darwin put the last nails in God’s coffin; and that a succession of scientific and technological innovations since have ruled out the possibility of any resurrection. It is a view that is wildly wrong.”—May 26, 1977, p. 478.
A member of the French Academy of Sciences stated: “Natural order was not invented by the human mind or set up by certain perceptive powers. . . . The existence of order presupposes the existence of organizing intelligence. Such intelligence can be none other than God’s.”—Dieu existe? Oui (Paris, 1979), Christian Chabanis, quoting Pierre-Paul Grassé, p. 94.
Scientists have identified over 100 chemical elements. Their atomic structure displays an intricate mathematical interrelationship of the elements. The periodic table points to obvious design. Such amazing design could not possibly be accidental, a product of chance.
Illustration: When we see a camera, a radio, or a computer, we readily acknowledge that it must have been produced by an intelligent designer. Would it be reasonable, then, to say that far more complex things—the eye, the ear, and the human brain—did not originate with an intelligent Designer?
See also pages 84-86, under the heading “Creation.”
Does the existence of wickedness and of suffering prove that there is no God?
Consider examples: Does the fact that knives have been used to murder prove that no one designed them? Is the use of jet aircraft to drop bombs in time of war evidence that they had no designer? Or is it rather the use to which these are being put that is causing grief to mankind?
Is it not true that much disease is a result of man’s own poor living habits and his spoiling of the environment for himself and others? Are not the wars fought by humans a major cause of human suffering? Is it not also true that, while millions suffer from lack of food, there is more than enough in other lands, so that one of the underlying problems is human greed? All these things give evidence, not that there is no God, but that humans are sadly misusing their God-given abilities and the earth itself.
Does God really care what happens to us humans?
Yes, indeed! Consider the evidence: The Bible tells us that God gave man a perfect start. (Gen. 1:27, 31; Deut. 32:4) Man’s continued enjoyment of God’s favor, however, depended on obedience to his Maker. (Gen. 2:16, 17) If man was obedient, he would continue to enjoy perfect human life—no sickness, no suffering, no death. The Creator would provide man with needed guidance and would use His power to safeguard mankind against any calamity. But man rejected God’s guidance; he chose the course of self-rule. In trying to do something for which he was never designed, he has brought calamity upon himself. (Jer. 10:23; Eccl. 8:9; Rom. 5:12) Yet, over the centuries God has been patiently seeking out those who, because of love for him and his ways, are willing to serve him. He sets before them the opportunity to enjoy all the blessings of which they have been deprived because of man’s imperfections and misrule. (Rev. 21:3-5) The provision God made by means of his Son to redeem humans from sin and death is a marvelous evidence of God’s great love for mankind. (John 3:16) God has also set an appointed time when he will destroy those who ruin the earth and will cause lovers of righteousness to enjoy life in harmony with his own original purpose.—Rev. 11:18; Ps. 37:10, 11; see also the main headings “Suffering” and “Wickedness.”
Is God a real person?
Heb. 9:24: “Christ entered . . . into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us.”
John 4:24: “God is a Spirit.”
John 7:28: “He that sent me is real,” said Jesus.
1 Cor. 15:44: “If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one.”
Does God have feelings of the sort that we associate with living people?
John 16:27: “The Father himself has affection for you, because you have had affection for me and have believed that I came out as the Father’s representative.”
Isa. 63:9: “During all their distress it was distressing to him. . . . In his love and in his compassion he himself repurchased them.”
1 Tim. 1:11: “The happy God.”
Did God have a beginning?
Ps. 90:2: “Before the mountains themselves were born, or you proceeded to bring forth as with labor pains the earth and the productive land, even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God.”
Is that reasonable? Our minds cannot fully comprehend it. But that is not a sound reason for rejecting it. Consider examples: (1) Time. No one can point to a certain moment as the beginning of time. And it is a fact that, even though our lives end, time does not. We do not reject the idea of time because there are aspects of it that we do not fully comprehend. Rather, we regulate our lives by it. (2) Space. Astronomers find no beginning or end to space. The farther they probe into the universe, the more there is. They do not reject what the evidence shows; many refer to space as being infinite. The same principle applies to the existence of God.
Other examples: (1) Astronomers tell us that the heat of the sun at its core is 27,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit (15,000,000° C.). Do we reject that idea because we cannot fully comprehend such intense heat? (2) They tell us that the size of our Milky Way is so great that a beam of light traveling at over 186,000 miles per second (300,000 km/sec) would require 100,000 years to cross it. Do our minds really comprehend such a distance? Yet we accept it because scientific evidence supports it.
Which is more reasonable—that the universe is the product of a living, intelligent Creator? or that it must have arisen simply by chance from a nonliving source without intelligent direction? Some persons adopt the latter viewpoint because to believe otherwise would mean that they would have to acknowledge the existence of a Creator whose qualities they cannot fully comprehend. But it is well known that scientists do not fully comprehend the functioning of the genes that are within living cells and that determine how these cells will grow. Nor do they fully understand the functioning of the human brain. Yet, who would deny that these exist? Should we really expect to understand everything about a Person who is so great that he could bring into existence the universe, with all its intricate design and stupendous size?
Is it important to use God’s name?
Rom. 10:13: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”
Ezek. 39:6: “People will have to know that I am Jehovah.”
Jesus said to his Father: “I have made your name known to them [his true followers] and will make it known.”—John 17:26.
See also pages 196, 197, under “Jehovah.”
Is it important which God we serve, as long as we have some religion?
1 Cor. 10:20: “The things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.”
2 Cor. 4:4: “The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.” (Here the Devil is referred to as a “god.” See 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9.)
Matt. 7:22, 23: “Many will say to me [Jesus Christ] in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Even professing to be a Christian is not a guarantee that we are acceptably serving the true God.)
See also pages 322, 323, under the heading “Religion.”
If Jehovah is “the only true God,” what kind of “God” is Jesus?
Jesus himself referred to his Father as “the only true God.” (John 17:3) Jehovah himself said: “Besides me there is no God.” (Isa. 44:6) The apostle Paul wrote that, to true Christians, “there is . . . one God the Father.” (1 Cor. 8:5, 6) So Jehovah is unique; no one else shares his position. Jehovah stands in utter contrast to all such objects of worship as idols, deified humans, and Satan. All these are false gods.
Jesus is spoken of in the Scriptures as “a god,” even as “Mighty God.” (John 1:1; Isa. 9:6) But nowhere is he spoken of as being Almighty, as Jehovah is. (Gen. 17:1) Jesus is said to be “the reflection of [God’s] glory,” but the Father is the Source of that glory. (Heb. 1:3) Jesus in no way seeks the position of his Father. He said: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Luke 4:8) He exists “in God’s form,” and the Father has commanded that “in the name of Jesus every knee should bend,” but this is all done “to the glory of God the Father.”—Phil. 2:5-11; see also pages 212-216.
If Someone Says—
‘I don’t believe in God’
You might reply: ‘Have you always felt that way? . . . Before you came to that conclusion, did you examine some body of evidence that you found to be persuasive?’ Then perhaps add: ‘This is a subject that greatly interests me and I have given it considerable thought. Some points that I found to be very helpful were these: . . . (On page 145, see the subheading “Are there sound reasons for believing in God?” also see pages 84-86, under “Creation.”)’
Or you could say: ‘Do you mean that you do not believe that there is a Creator, or is it that you have seen so much hypocrisy in the churches that you have no faith in what they teach?’ If it is the latter, you might add: ‘There is a great difference between the churches of Christendom and true Christianity. It is true that Christendom has oppressed people, but Christianity has not. Christendom has waged war, but Christianity has not. Christendom has failed to provide proper moral direction, but Christianity has not. God’s Word, the Bible, does not support Christendom. On the contrary, it condemns Christendom.’
Another possibility: ‘I have had interesting conversations with others who felt as you do. Some of them said that they just could not reconcile belief in God with all the suffering and wickedness in the world. Is that how you feel? (If so, use some of the material on pages 146, 147, under the subheading “Does the existence of wickedness and of suffering prove that there is no God?”)’
‘I believe only what I can see, and I have never seen God’
You might reply: ‘That view is quite common nowadays. And there is a reason for it. We live in a society that emphasizes material possessions. But you are a person who likes to be realistic, aren’t you?’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Are there some things that we cannot see with our eyes but that we believe exist because there are sound reasons to do so? What about the air we breathe? We may feel it when there is a breeze. We can tell that it fills our lungs, even though we do not see it. Because we see the effects, there is good reason to believe in it, isn’t that so?’ (2) ‘And we cannot see gravity. But when we drop something we see evidence that gravity is at work. Nor do we see odors, but our nose picks them up. We cannot see sound waves, but our ears detect them. So we believe in things we cannot see—provided there is good reason to do so, isn’t that right?’ (3) ‘Well, is there evidence that an invisible God really exists? (Use material on pages 145, 146, under the subheading “Are there sound reasons for believing in God?”)’
‘I have my own concept of God’
You might reply: ‘I’m glad to hear that you are a person who has given this matter some thought and that you believe in God. May I ask, What is your concept of God?’ Then perhaps add: ‘I am sure you appreciate that it is important to make certain that whatever we believe is in harmony with what God himself says. May I share with you just one thought from the Bible on this matter? (Ps. 83:18)’ |
School Guidebook (sg)
1992 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/sg | Study 12
Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speech
1, 2. How does Jehovah help us to speak?
1 “Do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you.” (Matt. 10:19, 20) Those words must have brought wonderful assurance to Jesus’ early disciples. And they strengthen God’s ministers of the good news today when they are called on to give a witness before government officials. This does not mean that Christian Witnesses of Jehovah today are given miraculous “speech of wisdom” and “speech of knowledge,” as were some of those first-century Christian witnesses. (1 Cor. 12:8) However, we do enjoy the opportunity of a fine theocratic education and, as promised, God’s spirit brings answers back to our minds when the need arises.
2 By reason of the training you receive at Bible studies, Theocratic Ministry School sessions and other congregation meetings, you lay up a vast store of Bible knowledge. You learn basic principles of righteousness and how to apply them in your own life in a variety of circumstances. Then by applying yourself to the field ministry you gain experience in speaking to others, imparting the information you have gained. This speaking you do in an extemporaneous manner or impromptu.
3. Explain the difference between extemporaneous and impromptu speech.
3 Though closely related, these two types of speech are not identical. An illustration will perhaps make the distinction clear. Suppose you approach a householder and begin to give a prepared presentation, the outline of which you have already firmly fixed in your own mind. Beyond that outline you have not memorized the exact words by which you will develop the material. You are speaking extemporaneously. But then the householder raises some unforeseen objection for which you have made no specific preparation. However, because of your training at the Kingdom Hall you are equipped to offer some comment or explanation, drawing on your reservoir of Bible information. At this point it could be said that your speech is impromptu, composed and uttered on the spur of the moment.
4. What preparation is needed for an effective extemporaneous speech?
4 Extemporaneous speech. Preparation is the key element in effective extemporaneous speech, whether it is a house-to-house presentation or a discourse from the platform. If you are going to give a discourse extemporaneously, prepare a good outline with several main points to be developed. Under the main points you can list the supporting ideas, proofs, scriptures and illustrations, so that you will be ready to present a truly informative talk. Determine in advance everything but the exact words you will use.
5-7. Mention the advantages of extemporaneous speech.
5 The extemporaneous manner of speaking has several advantages. One is that it allows for versatility. The material is not so rigidly set that you cannot depart from it, as is the case with reading from a manuscript or reciting from memory. Last-minute developments may dictate some changes in the planned discourse. Suppose you find out just before going to the platform that the audience contains an unexpectedly large number of newly interested persons. The extemporaneous method allows you to make adjustments to help them fully to grasp the arguments. Or perhaps you note that there are many school-age youths in the audience. You can adjust your illustrations and application with a view to aiding them to appreciate how the material affects their lives.
6 A second advantage of extemporaneous speaking is that it has the effect of stimulating your mind. It leaves you measurably free to develop fresh thoughts. Often, when you encounter an appreciative, responsive audience, you warm up and new ideas flow into your mind, ideas that can easily be incorporated in an extemporaneous speech.
7 A third advantage of this type of speech is that it also allows you to keep your eyes on your listeners. This improves your communication with them. The result is that they will likely give closer attention to what you are saying. And the listeners will feel that you know your subject, since you do not have to keep your eyes on some written material all the time. Then, too, you are in position to note the reactions of the audience. If you see that their interest is waning, you can take steps to overcome this difficulty. Thus, this type of delivery lends itself to a warm, conversational presentation, a real heart-to-heart talk.
8-10. How can the pitfalls in regard to extemporaneous speaking be avoided?
8 There are, however, some pitfalls with regard to extemporaneous talks; but these can be avoided. For example, the speaker may insert too many additional ideas so that his talk runs overtime. Also, in view of his freedom to introduce spontaneously ideas that come into mind, the speaker may dwell much longer on certain points than he planned. You can guard against this by making notations on your outline as to the time allowed for each section of the talk. Then stick closely to this schedule.
9 There is also the danger of omitting points, making incomplete or inaccurate statements, or making claims without adequate supporting evidence. If you look at your notes from time to time, unhurriedly, you should be able to stick to your material and avoid omissions and inaccuracies. By forming a good outline, with several main points to be developed with supporting proofs and scriptures, you can avoid the danger of making assertions.
10 While it is not necessary to memorize the very words of an extemporaneous talk, yet appropriate phrasing can be practiced, and you are helped by having the train of thought firmly fixed in mind. In this way you can avoid inferior language and poor choice of words. And if in your everyday conversation you try to use good language, it will become easier when delivering a talk. True, even then you may not have the choicest expressions and grammatical precision of the manuscript talk, but you can more than make up for this by your conversational style. Also, make it a point to review your talk several times before delivering it. Some find it sufficient to do so silently, in their own mind. But many find it very helpful, particularly in connection with timing, to practice giving it aloud.
11, 12. Why is it a safeguard for the speaker to have an outline?
11 In time, and with practice, you should soon be able to reduce your outline to just a few words for each point of your talk. These, together with a notation of the scriptures you will use, might all be listed on a card or sheet of paper easily referred to. While for shorter talks, such as a student talk in the ministry school, some may prefer to memorize the outline, there is no objection to having a brief outline on hand for reference in case some distraction or memory lapse breaks your train of thought. For longer talks, such as a public talk, it is usually the course of practical wisdom to have your detailed outline available for reference while speaking.
12 The extemporaneous style of delivery is very valuable in the house-to-house ministry. For when the householder raises an objection or interrupts in some way, it is possible to depart briefly from the points under consideration, meet the objection and then continue with the material that has been prepared. It would be difficult, were the precise words in the presentation committed to memory, to meet such an interruption and then resume the talk.
13-15. When do we speak impromptu, and what preparation is involved?
13 Impromptu speech. The word “impromptu” has been defined as meaning “without preparation, offhand, done on the spur of the moment.” But does this mean that there has been no preparation at all on the subject or point? No, for in all genuine teaching there must be preparation. However, there are occasions when you may not have advance notice that you are to speak on a certain subject, so you do not prepare specifically for a discussion of it. This may be when the householder met in the house-to-house preaching raises a question. Or it may be on return visits, at home Bible studies, when doing informal witnessing, or when called before a court or board. In such instances, the arrangement of material and the phrasing will be impromptu, but your background knowledge resulting from theocratic studies will provide the basis for what is said. So what we might call impromptu speech is also based on advance preparation, though the preparation may not have been planned for the particular occasion.—Isa. 50:4.
14 If you learn, even a few minutes in advance, that you are going to be called on to say something, there are worthwhile steps that you can take in preparation. First, decide on one or two main points to cover. Select some supporting arguments, including a few appropriate scriptures. Then give some thought to a brief introduction. Now, if need be, you are ready to start talking. This might be necessary, for example, when a last-minute substitution for a student speaker is required in the Theocratic Ministry School.
15 There are examples in the Scriptures of ministers of Jehovah who were called upon on the spur of the moment to give a witness to the truth. One of these was Stephen, who was taken by force to the Sanhedrin and accused by false witnesses. His stirring impromptu speech may be read in chapter 7 of the book of Acts. The apostle Paul was laid hold of by Athenians, led to the Areopagus and questioned about his beliefs. His fine impromptu discussion is found in Acts chapter 17.
16-18. Why should students practice extemporaneous speaking, in preference to using a manuscript or memorizing their talks?
16 Best method. Sometimes beginners want to use a manuscript for their student talks. This is not generally the best method, and they should make an effort to break away from it soon, as it detracts from audience contact and conversational quality. There are occasions when we do use manuscript talks, but you get practice for these when you have a reading assignment. Use your other talks to speak freely from notes.
17 Some students try to memorize talks, to be free from all notes. But memorized speeches have definite disadvantages, not being adaptable, lacking naturalness and raising the possibility of one’s forgetting a vital portion. Memorizing may be appropriate for a few key sentences, such as in the introduction or conclusion, but it is not suitable for the entire talk.
18 The best method is usually extemporaneous. This is what is used in the field ministry, where we are really trained to think on our feet. Likewise at congregation meetings the extemporaneous method is the one to use most often, as it permits a sincere, direct presentation of our message that will produce fine results. So practice it constantly. And although at times we may be called upon for an impromptu delivery, we will be prepared for it, for Jehovah sees to it that we are well equipped for both extemporaneous and impromptu speaking. Both have their proper place in our ministry. |
WATCHING THE WORLD
Spotlight on Religion | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102015010 | WATCHING THE WORLD
Spotlight on Religion
Religion is supposed to be a force for unity. All too often, however, it has been a source of conflict and distrust.
World
More than three quarters of the world’s population live in countries with significant restrictions on religion, either because of official policies or social hostilities. In a recent five-year period, the number of countries with incidents of abuse against religious minorities nearly doubled.
TO THINK ABOUT: For what contrasting reasons are some people hostile toward religion?—Matthew 23:27, 28; John 15:19.
England
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair writes in the Observer newspaper that “an abuse of religion” is a common motive behind recent acts of terrorism. “The battles of this century,” he adds, “are less likely to be the product of extreme political ideology—like those of the 20th century—but they could easily be fought around the questions of cultural or religious difference.”
TO THINK ABOUT: Why is religion so often a source of division?—Mark 7:6-8.
Australia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 1 out of 5 Australians claims no affiliation with a religion. Even “religious affiliation is not the same as actively participating in religious activities,” says the report. Only 15 percent of men and 22 percent of women with religious affiliations profess that they actively participate in a religious or spiritual group.
TO THINK ABOUT: What negative qualities are evident in much of today’s organized religion?—Matthew 7:15-20. |
A Brighter Tomorrow? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102006002 | A Brighter Tomorrow?
The future is a subject of intense fascination. Who of us would not like to know what we will be doing next month, next year, or even a decade from now? On a broader scale, what kind of world will this be in 10, 20, or 30 years?
DO YOU have an optimistic view of the future? Millions of people do, and these may be divided into two groups: those who say they have solid grounds for their belief that things will get better and those who maintain a bright outlook simply because the alternatives are too bleak to consider.
Of course, some people see no good news on the horizon. Among them are prophets of doom who seem to take delight in heralding an apocalyptic annihilation of planet Earth. Their view of the future has room for few, if any, survivors.
How do you envision the future? Do you foresee gloom and doom or peace and security? If you expect the latter, on what is your hope based—wishful thinking or firm evidence?
Unlike the doomsayers, the publishers of Awake! do not believe that mankind is headed for extinction. On the contrary, the Bible provides solid reason to believe that the best of times are ahead.
[Picture Credit Line on page 5]
U.S. Department of Energy photograph |
Creation (ce)
1985 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/ce | Chapter 17
Can You Trust the Bible?
1. (a) What view do many have of the Bible, as opposed to the Bible’s own claim? (b) What question arises?
MANY view the Bible simply as a book written by wise men of a bygone era. A university professor, Gerald A. Larue, asserted: “The views of the writers as expressed in the Bible reflect the ideas, beliefs, and concepts current in their own times and are limited by the extent of knowledge in those times.”1 Yet the Bible claims to be a book inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16) If this is true, it would surely be free from mistaken views prevailing at the time its various parts were written. Can the Bible withstand examination in the light of present knowledge?
2. How does new information often affect the writings of humans on scientific matters?
2 As we consider this question keep in mind that, with the progress of knowledge, humans constantly must keep adjusting their views to conform to new information and discoveries. The Scientific Monthly once observed: “It is too much to expect that articles written in some cases as [recently] as five years ago could now be accepted as representative of the latest thinking in the areas of science with which they are concerned.”2 Yet the Bible was written and compiled during a period of some 1,600 years, and was completed nearly 2,000 years ago. What can be said today about its accuracy?
The Bible and Science
3. What views did ancient people have regarding the earth’s support, but what does the Bible say?
3 When the Bible was being written, there was speculation regarding how the earth was held in space. Some, for example, believed that the earth was supported by four elephants standing on a big sea turtle. Yet rather than reflect the fanciful, unscientific views existing at its time of writing, the Bible simply stated: “[God] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) Yes, over 3,000 years ago the Bible correctly noted that the earth has no visible support, a fact that is in harmony with the more recently understood laws of gravity and motion. “How Job knew the truth,” observed one religious scholar, “is a question not easily solved by those who deny the inspiration of Holy Scripture.”3
4, 5. (a) What did people once believe about the shape of the earth, causing what fear? (b) What does the Bible say regarding the shape of the earth?
4 Regarding the shape of the earth, The Encyclopedia Americana says: “The earliest known image that men had of the earth was that it was a flat, rigid platform at the center of the universe. . . . The concept of a spherical earth was not widely accepted until the Renaissance.”4 Some early navigators even feared sailing off the edge of the flat earth! But, then, the introduction of the compass and other improvements made possible longer ocean voyages. These “voyages of discovery,” another encyclopedia explains, “showed that the world was round, not flat as most people had believed.”5
5 Yet long before such voyages, in fact, about 2,700 years ago, the Bible said: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers.” (Isaiah 40:22) The Hebrew word chugh, translated “circle,” can also mean “sphere,” as such reference works as Davidson’s Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon show. Other translations, therefore, say “the globe of the earth” (Douay Version), and “the round earth.” (Moffatt) Thus the Bible was not influenced by the erroneous, flat-earth view prevalent when it was written. It was accurate.
6. What marvelous cycle, generally not understood in ancient times, does the Bible describe?
6 Humans have long noted that the rivers flow into the seas and oceans and yet these do not increase in depth. Some believed, until it was learned that the earth is spherical, that this was because an equal amount of water was spilling off the ends of the earth. Later it was learned that the sun “pumps” up thousands of millions of gallons of water from the seas every second in the form of water vapor. This produces clouds that are moved by the wind over land areas where the moisture falls as rain and snow. Water then runs into the rivers and flows again into the seas. This marvelous cycle, although generally unknown in ancient times, is spoken about in the Bible: “Every river flows into the sea, but the sea is not yet full. The water returns to where the rivers began, and starts all over again.”—Ecclesiastes 1:7, Today’s English Version.
7, 8. (a) How has the Bible been proved accurate in what it says about the origin of the universe? (b) What is the reaction of some astronomers regarding this newer information, and why?
7 Regarding the origin of the universe, the Bible states: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) But many scientists had considered this unscientific, asserting that the universe had no beginning. However, pointing to newer information, astronomer Robert Jastrow explains: “The essence of the strange developments is that the Universe had, in some sense, a beginning—that it began at a certain moment in time.” Jastrow here refers to the now commonly accepted big bang theory, as noted in Chapter 9. He adds: “Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world. The details differ, but the essential elements in the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same.”6
8 What has been the reaction to such discoveries? “Astronomers are curiously upset,” Jastrow writes. “Their reactions provide an interesting demonstration of the response of the scientific mind—supposedly a very objective mind—when evidence uncovered by science itself leads to a conflict with the articles of faith in our profession. It turns out that the scientist behaves the way the rest of us do when our beliefs are in conflict with the evidence. We become irritated, we pretend the conflict does not exist, or we paper it over with meaningless phrases.”7 But the fact remains that while “evidence uncovered by science” disagreed with what scientists long believed regarding the origin of the universe, it confirmed what was written in the Bible millenniums ago.
9, 10. (a) What does the Bible say about a great flood? (b) What evidence now verifies that what the Bible says is true?
9 In the days of Noah, the Bible says, a great flood covered earth’s highest mountains and destroyed all human life that was outside the huge ark that Noah built. (Genesis 7:1-24) Many have scoffed at this account. Yet seashells are found on high mountains. And further evidence that a flood of immense proportions occurred in the not-too-distant past is the great number of fossils and carcasses deposited in icy, mucky dumps. The Saturday Evening Post noted: “Many of these animals were perfectly fresh, whole and undamaged, and still either standing or at least kneeling upright. . . . Here is a really shocking—to our previous way of thinking—picture. Vast herds of enormous, well-fed beasts not specifically designed for extreme cold, placidly feeding in sunny pastures . . . Suddenly they were all killed without any visible sign of violence and before they could so much as swallow a last mouthful of food, and then were quick-frozen so rapidly that every cell of their bodies is perfectly preserved.”8
10 This fits in with what happened in the great Flood. The Bible describes it in these words: “All the springs of the vast watery deep were broken open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.” The downpour “overwhelmed the earth,” being accompanied no doubt by freezing winds in the polar regions. (Genesis 1:6-8; 7:11, 19) There, the temperature change would be the most rapid and drastic. Various forms of life were thus engulfed and preserved in frozen muck. One such may have been the mammoth that was uncovered by excavators in Siberia and that is seen in the accompanying illustration. Vegetation was still in its mouth and stomach, and its flesh was even edible when thawed out.
11. What else in the Bible has been confirmed by increased knowledge, leading even some scientists to what conclusion?
11 The closer the Bible is examined, the more astonishing is its remarkable accuracy. As noted on pages 36 and 37 of this book, the Bible gives the stages of creation in the very order science now confirms, a fact hard to explain if the Bible were simply of human origin. This is another example of the many details in the Bible that have been confirmed by increasing knowledge. With good reason one of the greatest scientists of all time, Isaac Newton, said: “No sciences are better attested than the religion of the Bible.”9
The Bible and Health
12. How did a physician contrast common superstitions regarding health with statements in the Bible?
12 Throughout the centuries there has been great ignorance on matters of health. A physician even observed: “Many superstitions are still believed by large numbers of people such as, that a buckeye in the pocket will prevent rheumatism; that handling toads will cause warts; that wearing red flannel around the neck will cure a sore throat,” and others. Yet he explained: “No such statements are found in the Bible. This in itself is remarkable.”10
13. What hazardous medical treatment was prescribed by ancient Egyptians?
13 It is also remarkable when one compares hazardous medical treatments used in the past with what the Bible says. For example, the Papyrus Ebers, a medical document of the ancient Egyptians, prescribed the use of excrement to treat various conditions. It directed that human excrement mixed with fresh milk be applied as a poultice to lesions that remain after scabs fall off. And a remedy for drawing out splinters reads: “Worms’ blood, cook and crush in oil; mole, kill, cook, and drain in oil; ass’s dung, mix in fresh milk. Apply to the opening.”11 Such treatment, it is now known, can result in serious infections.
14. What does the Bible say about waste disposal, and how has this been a protection?
14 What does the Bible say about excrement? It directed: “When you squat outside, you must also dig a hole with [a digging instrument] and turn and cover your excrement.” (Deuteronomy 23:13) So, far from prescribing excrement in medical treatment, the Bible directed the safe disposal of sewage. Up until the present century the danger of leaving excrement exposed to flies was generally not known. This resulted in the spread of serious fly-borne diseases and the death of many people. Yet the simple remedy was on record in the Bible all the time, and it was followed by the Israelites over 3,000 years ago.
15. If Bible advice regarding touching dead persons had been followed, what medical practice resulting in many deaths would have been avoided?
15 During the last century medical personnel would go directly from handling the dead in the dissecting room to conducting examinations in the maternity ward, and they would not even wash their hands. Infection was thus transferred from the dead, and many others died. Even when the value of hand washing was demonstrated, many in the medical community resisted such hygienic measures. Doubtless unknown to them, they were rejecting the wisdom in the Bible, since Jehovah’s law to the Israelites decreed that anyone touching a dead person became unclean and must wash himself and his garments.—Numbers 19:11-22.
16. How was wisdom beyond human knowledge shown in directing that circumcision be performed on the eighth day?
16 As a sign of a covenant with Abraham, Jehovah God said: “Every male of yours eight days old must be circumcised.” Later this requirement was repeated to the nation of Israel. (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:2, 3) No explanation was given why the eighth day was specified, but now we understand. Medical research has discovered that the blood-clotting element vitamin K rises to an adequate level only by then. Another essential clotting element, prothrombin, seems to be higher on the eighth day than at any other time during a child’s life. Based on this evidence, Dr. S. I. McMillen concluded: “The perfect day to perform a circumcision is the eighth day.”12 Was this mere coincidence? Not at all. It was knowledge passed on by a God who knew.
17. What is another discovery of science that confirms the Bible?
17 Another discovery of modern science is the degree to which mental attitude and emotions affect health. An encyclopedia explains: “Since 1940 it has become more and more apparent that the physiologic function of organs and the organs systems are closely allied to the state of mind of the individual and that even tissue changes may occur in an organ so affected.”13 However, this close connection between mental attitude and physical health was long ago referred to in the Bible. For instance, it says: “A calm heart is the life of the fleshly organism, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.”—Proverbs 14:30; 17:22.
18. How does the Bible direct people away from damaging emotions and emphasize showing love?
18 The Bible, therefore, directs people away from damaging emotions and attitudes. “Let us walk decently,” it admonishes, “not in strife and jealousy.” It also counsels: “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness. But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate.” (Romans 13:13; Ephesians 4:31, 32) Especially does the Bible recommend love. “Besides all these things,” it says, “clothe yourselves with love.” As the greatest proponent of love, Jesus told his disciples: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you.” In his Sermon on the Mount he even said: “Continue to love your enemies.” (Colossians 3:12-15; John 13:34; Matthew 5:44) Many may scoff at this, calling it weakness, but they pay a price. Science has learned that lack of love is a major factor in many mental ills and other problems.
19. What has modern science discovered regarding love?
19 The British medical journal Lancet once noted: “By far the most significant discovery of mental science is the power of love to protect and to restore the mind.”14 Similarly, a noted stress specialist, Dr. Hans Selye, said: “It is not the hated person or the frustrating boss who will get ulcers, hypertensions, and heart disease. It is the one who hates or the one who permits himself to be frustrated. ‘Love thy neighbor’ is one of the sagest bits of medical advice ever given.”15
20. How did a doctor compare Christ’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount with psychiatric advice?
20 Indeed, the Bible’s wisdom is far ahead of modern discoveries. As Dr. James T. Fisher once wrote: “If you were to take the sum total of all the authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene—if you were to combine them, and refine them, and cleave out the excess verbiage—if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an awkward and incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount.”16
The Bible and History
21. About a hundred years ago, how did critics view the historical value of the Bible?
21 After Darwin’s publication of his theory of evolution, the Bible’s historical record came under widespread attack. Archaeologist Leonard Woolley explained: “There arose towards the close of the nineteenth century an extreme school of critics which was ready to deny the historical foundation of practically everything related in the earlier books of the Old Testament.”17 In fact, some critics even claimed that writing did not come into common usage until the time of Solomon or afterward; and, therefore, the early Bible narratives could not be relied upon since they were not put into writing until centuries after the events occurred. One of the exponents of this theory said in 1892: “The time, of which the pre-Mosaic narratives treat, is a sufficient proof of their legendary character. It was a time prior to all knowledge of writing.”18
22. What has been learned about the ability of early peoples to write?
22 In recent times, however, a great deal of archaeological evidence has accumulated to show that writing was common long before the time of Moses. “We must again emphasize,” archaeologist William Foxwell Albright explained, “that alphabetic Hebrew writing was employed in Canaan and neighboring districts from the Patriarchal Age on, and that the rapidity with which forms of letters changed is clear evidence of common use.”19 And another leading historian and excavator observed: “That the question should ever have been raised whether Moses could have known how to write, appears to us now absurd.”20
23. What was discovered regarding King Sargon, resulting in what revision of views?
23 Time and again the Bible’s historical record has been substantiated by the uncovering of new information. The Assyrian king Sargon, for example, was for a long time known only from the Bible account at Isaiah 20:1. In fact, during the early part of the last century this Bible reference to him was discounted by critics as of no historical value. Then archaeological excavations produced the ruins of Sargon’s magnificent palace at Khorsabad, including many inscriptions regarding his rule. As a result, Sargon is now one of the best known of the Assyrian kings. Israeli historian Moshe Pearlman wrote: “Suddenly, sceptics who had doubted the authenticity even of the historical parts of the Old Testament began to revise their views.”21
24. How closely does an Assyrian account of Sargon compare with the Bible account regarding the conquest of Samaria?
24 One of Sargon’s inscriptions tells of an episode that previously had been known only from the Bible. It reads: “I besieged and conquered Samaria, led away as booty 27,290 inhabitants of it.”22 The Bible account of this at 2 Kings 17:6 reads: “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and then led Israel into exile.” Regarding the striking similarity of these two accounts, Pearlman observed: “Here, then, were two reports in the annals of the conqueror and the vanquished, one almost a mirror of the other.”23
25. Why should we not expect that Biblical and secular records would agree in every respect?
25 Should we expect, then, that Biblical and secular records would agree in every detail? No, as Pearlman notes: “This kind of identical ‘war reporting’ from both sides was unusual in the Middle East of ancient times (and on occasion in modern times too). It occurred only when the countries in conflict were Israel and one of its neighbours, and only when Israel was defeated. When Israel won, no record of failure appeared in the chronicles of the enemy.”24 (Italics added.) It is not surprising, therefore, that Assyrian accounts of the military campaign into Israel by Sargon’s son, Sennacherib, have a major omission. And what is that?
26. How does the account by Sennacherib compare with that found in the Bible regarding his military expedition into Israel?
26 Wall reliefs from King Sennacherib’s palace have been discovered that depict scenes of his expedition into Israel. Written descriptions of it were also found. One, a clay prism, reads: “As to Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke, I laid siege to 46 of his strong cities . . . Himself I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage. . . . I reduced his country, but I still increased the tribute and the katrû-presents (due) to me (as his) overlord.”25 So, Sennacherib’s version coincides with the Bible where Assyrian victories are concerned. But, as expected, he omits mentioning his failure to conquer Jerusalem and the fact that he was forced to return home because 185,000 of his soldiers had been killed in one night.—2 Kings 18:13–19:36; Isaiah 36:1–37:37.
27. How does the Bible’s account of Sennacherib’s assassination compare with what ancient secular accounts say about it?
27 Consider Sennacherib’s assassination and what a recent discovery reveals. The Bible says that two of his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, put Sennacherib to death. (2 Kings 19:36, 37) Yet both the account attributed to Babylonian King Nabonidus and that of the Babylonian priest Berossus of the third century B.C.E. mention only one son as involved in the slaying. Which was correct? Commenting on the more recent discovery of a fragmentary prism of Esar-haddon, Sennacherib’s son who succeeded him as king, historian Philip Biberfeld wrote: “Only the Biblical account proved to be correct. It was confirmed in all the minor details by the inscription of Esar-haddon and proved to be more accurate regarding this event of Babylonian-Assyrian history than the Babylonian sources themselves. This is a fact of utmost importance for the evaluation of even contemporary sources not in accord with Biblical tradition.”26
28. How has the Bible been vindicated in what it says about Belshazzar?
28 At one time all known ancient sources also differed with the Bible regarding Belshazzar. The Bible presents Belshazzar as the king of Babylon when it fell. (Daniel 5:1-31) However, secular writings did not even mention Belshazzar, saying that Nabonidus was king at the time. So critics claimed that Belshazzar never existed. More recently, however, ancient writings were found that identified Belshazzar as a son of Nabonidus and coruler with his father in Babylon. For this reason, evidently, the Bible says Belshazzar offered to make Daniel “the third ruler in the kingdom,” since Belshazzar himself was the second. (Daniel 5:16, 29) Thus the Yale University professor, R. P. Dougherty, when comparing the Bible book of Daniel with other ancient writings, said: “The Scriptural account may be interpreted as excelling because it employs the name Belshazzar, because it attributes royal power to Belshazzar, and because it recognizes that a dual rulership existed in the kingdom.”27
29. What confirmation has been discovered regarding what the Bible says about Pontius Pilate?
29 Another example of a discovery that confirms the historicalness of a person mentioned in the Bible is given by Michael J. Howard, who worked with the Caesarea expedition in Israel in 1979. “For 1,900 years,” he wrote, “Pilate existed only on the pages of the Gospels and in the vague recollections of Roman and Jewish historians. Next to nothing was known about his life. Some said he never even existed. But in 1961, an Italian archaeological expedition was working in the ruins of the ancient Roman theater in Caesarea. A workman overturned a stone that had been used for one of the stairways. On the reverse side was the following, partially-obscured inscription in Latin: ‘Caesariensibus Tiberium Pontius Pilatus Praefectus Iudaeae.’ (To the people of Caesarea Tiberium Pontius Pilate Prefect of Judea.) It was a fatal blow to the doubts about Pilate’s existence. . . . For the first time there was contemporary epigraphic evidence of the life of the man who ordered the crucifixion of Christ.”28—John 19:13-16; Acts 4:27.
30. What has been discovered regarding the use of camels that substantiates the Bible record?
30 Modern discoveries even substantiate minor details of ancient Bible accounts. For instance, contradicting the Bible, Werner Keller wrote in 1964 that camels were not domesticated at an early date, and, therefore, the scene where “we meet Rebecca for the first time in her native city of Nahor must make do with a change of stage props. The ‘camels’ belonging to her future father-in-law, Abraham, which she watered at the well were—donkeys.”29 (Genesis 24:10) However, in 1978 Israeli military leader and archaeologist Moshe Dayan pointed to evidence that camels “served as a means of transport” in those early times, and hence that the Bible account is accurate. “An eighteenth-century BC relief found at Byblos in Phoenicia depicts a kneeling camel,” Dayan explained. “And camel riders appear on cylinder seals recently discovered in Mesopotamia belonging to the patriarchal period.”30
31. What further evidence is there that the Bible is historically accurate?
31 Evidence that the Bible is historically accurate has mounted irresistibly. While it is true that secular records of Egypt’s Red Sea debacle and other such defeats have not been found, this is not surprising since it was not the practice of rulers to record their defeats. Yet, discovered on the temple walls of Karnak in Egypt is the record of Pharaoh Shishak’s successful invasion of Judah during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. The Bible tells about this at 1 Kings 14:25, 26. In addition, Moabite King Mesha’s version of his revolt against Israel has been discovered, being recorded on what is called the Moabite Stone. The account can also be read in the Bible at 2 Kings 3:4-27.
32. What can visitors to museums today see that verifies Bible accounts?
32 Visitors to many museums can see wall reliefs, inscriptions and statues that verify Bible accounts. Kings of Judah and Israel such as Hezekiah, Manasseh, Omri, Ahab, Pekah, Menahem and Hoshea appear on cuneiform records of Assyrian rulers. King Jehu or one of his emissaries is depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser as paying tribute. The decor of the Persian palace of Shushan, as the Biblical characters Mordecai and Esther knew it, has been re-created for observation today. Statues of the early Roman Caesars, Augustus, Tiberius and Claudius, who appear in Bible accounts, can also be viewed by museum visitors. (Luke 2:1; 3:1; Acts 11:28; 18:2) A silver denarius coin, in fact, has been found that bears the image of Tiberius Caesar—a coin Jesus asked for when discussing the matter of taxes.—Matthew 22:19-21.
33. How does the land of Israel and its features provide evidence that the Bible is accurate?
33 A modern-day visitor to Israel familiar with the Bible cannot help but be impressed with the fact that the Bible describes the land and its features with great accuracy. Dr. Ze’ev Shremer, leader of a geological expedition in the Sinai Peninsula, once said: “We have our own maps and geodetic survey plans, of course, but where the Bible and the maps are at odds, we opt for The Book.”31 To give an example of how one can personally experience the history presented in the Bible: In Jerusalem today a person can walk through a 1,749-foot-long tunnel that was cut through solid rock over 2,700 years ago. It was cut to protect the city’s water supply by carrying water from the hidden spring of Gihon outside the city walls to the Pool of Siloam within the city. The Bible explains how Hezekiah had this water tunnel constructed to provide water for the city in anticipation of Sennacherib’s coming siege.—2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30.
34. What have some respected scholars said about the Bible’s accuracy?
34 These are but a few examples that illustrate why it is unwise to underestimate the Bible’s accuracy. There are many, many more. So doubts about the Bible’s reliability are usually based, not on what it says or upon sound evidence, but instead upon misinformation or ignorance. The former director of the British Museum, Frederic Kenyon, wrote: “Archæology has not yet said its last word; but the results already achieved confirm what faith would suggest, that the Bible can do nothing but gain from an increase of knowledge.”32 And the well-known archaeologist Nelson Glueck said: “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible.”33
Honesty and Harmony
35, 36. (a) What personal shortcomings did various Bible writers acknowledge? (b) Why does the honesty of these writers add weight to their claim that the Bible is from God?
35 Something else that identifies the Bible as coming from God is the honesty of its writers. It is contrary to imperfect human nature to admit mistakes or failures, especially in writing. Most ancient writers reported only their successes and virtues. Yet Moses wrote how he had “acted undutifully,” and so was disqualified from leading Israel into the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 32:50-52; Numbers 20:1-13) Jonah told of his own waywardness. (Jonah 1:1-3; 4:1) Paul acknowledges his former wrongdoings. (Acts 22:19, 20; Titus 3:3) And Matthew, an apostle of Christ, reported that the apostles at times showed little faith, sought prominence and even abandoned Jesus at his arrest.—Matthew 17:18-20; 18:1-6; 20:20-28; 26:56.
36 If Bible writers were going to falsify anything, would it not be unfavorable information about themselves? They would not likely reveal their own shortcomings and then make false claims about other things, would they? So, then, the honesty of the Bible writers adds weight to their claim that God guided them as they wrote.—2 Timothy 3:16.
37. Why is the internal harmony of the Bible such strong evidence that it is inspired by God?
37 The internal harmony around a central theme also testifies to the Bible’s Divine Authorship. It is easy to state that the Bible’s 66 books were written over a period of 16 centuries by some 40 different writers. But think how remarkable that fact is! Say that the writing of a book began during the time of the Roman Empire, that the writing continued through the period of the monarchies and to modern-day republics, and that the writers were people as different as soldiers, kings, priests, fishermen, and even a herdsman as well as a medical doctor. Would you expect every part of that book to follow the same precise theme? Yet the Bible was written over a similar period of time, under various political regimes, and by men of all those categories. And it is harmonious throughout. Its basic message has the same thrust from beginning to end. Does this not lend weight to the Bible’s claim that these “men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit”?—2 Peter 1:20, 21.
38. What does it take for a person to trust the Bible?
38 Can you trust the Bible? If you really examine what it says, and do not simply accept what certain ones claim that it says, you will find reason to trust it. Yet, even stronger evidence exists that the Bible was indeed inspired by God, which is the subject of the next chapter.
[Blurb on page 202]
“The astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same”
[Blurb on page 204]
The Bible is remarkably free from superstitious expressions
[Blurb on page 206]
The close connection between mental attitude and physical health was long ago referred to in the Bible
[Blurb on page 215]
It is contrary to human nature to admit mistakes or failures, especially in writing
[Blurb on page 215]
The Bible is harmonious throughout
[Diagram on page 201]
This water cycle, generally unknown in ancient times, is described in the Bible
[Picture on page 200]
This is how some ancients believed that the earth was supported
[Picture on page 203]
Frozen-solid mammoth uncovered in Siberia. After thousands of years, vegetation was still in its mouth and stomach, and its flesh was edible when thawed out
[Picture on page 205]
In the past century, doctors did not always wash after touching the dead, causing other deaths
MORGUE
MATERNITY
[Picture on page 207]
The Bible’s emphasis on love harmonizes with sound medical advice
[Picture on page 209]
A limestone relief of King Sargon, who had long been known only from the Bible account
[Pictures on page 210]
A wall relief from King Sennacherib’s palace in Nineveh, showing him receiving booty from the Judean city of Lachish
This clay prism of King Sennacherib describes his military expedition into Israel
[Pictures on page 211]
Victory monument of Esar-haddon, son of Sennacherib, amplifies 2 Kings 19:37: “And Esar-haddon his son began to reign in place of him”
This inscription, found in Caesarea, verifies that Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea
[Pictures on page 212]
This wall relief verifies the record found in the Bible of Shishak’s victory over Judah
The Moabite Stone records the revolt of Moab’s King Mesha against Israel, described in the Bible
[Pictures on page 213]
King Jehu, or an emissary, paying tribute to King Shalmaneser III
Marble bust of Augustus, the Caesar when Jesus Christ was born
A silver denarius with Tiberius Caesar’s inscription, like the one Christ asked for
[Picture on page 214]
Interior of tunnel that King Hezekiah had hewed out to provide water for Jerusalem during Assyrian siege |
THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES
Jeson Senajonon: Jehovah Has Heard Me | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/501000008 | THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES
Jeson Senajonon: Jehovah Has Heard Me
Learn how a deaf person developed a relationship with God and discovered a true purpose in life.
Media is loadingPlay videoPlayBack 5 secondsForward 15 secondsPreviousNextMuteSettingsFull ScreenLoaded: 0%Current time 0:00/Duration 0:00This is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window. |
Young People Ask, Volume 2 (yp2)
2008 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp2 | CHAPTER 3
Is This Person Right for Me?
Take a moment to complete the following quiz:
What qualities would you currently view as essential in a potential marriage mate? In the list below, put a ✔ next to the four traits you feel are most important.
□ Good-looking □ Spiritually-minded
□ Friendly □ Trustworthy
□ Popular □ Morally upright
□ Funny □ Goal-oriented
When you were younger, did you ever develop a crush on anyone? In the list above, put an × next to the one trait you found most appealing about that person at the time.
THERE’S nothing wrong with any of the above traits. Each of them has its own appeal. Wouldn’t you agree, though, that when you’re in the grip of a youthful crush, you tend to dwell on the more superficial qualities, such as those in the left-hand column?
As you mature, however, you begin using your powers of perception to examine deeper issues, such as those in the right-hand column. For instance, you start to realize that the cutest girl in the neighborhood may not be all that trustworthy or that the most popular boy in class may not be morally upright. If you’re past the bloom of youth, you most likely look beyond the superficial traits to answer the question, “Is this person right for me?”
Know Yourself First
Before you can consider who might be right for you, you need to know yourself well. To learn more about yourself, answer the following questions:
What are my strengths? ․․․․․
What are my weaknesses or vulnerabilities? ․․․․․
What emotional and spiritual needs do I have? ․․․․․
Getting to know yourself is no small task, but questions like those above can get you started. The more you understand yourself, the better equipped you will be to find someone who will amplify your strengths rather than your weaknesses.a What if you think you’ve found that person?
Will Just Anyone Do?
“Can I get to know you better?” That question will make you either cringe or leap for joy—depending on who’s asking. Suppose you answer yes. Over the course of time, how can you tell if your boyfriend or girlfriend is right for you?
Suppose you want to buy a new pair of shoes. You go to the store and find a pair that catches your eye. You try on the shoes, only to find that—much to your disappointment—they’re too tight. What would you do? Buy the shoes anyway? Or look for a different pair? Clearly, the better choice is to put the shoes back and look for others. It would make little sense to walk around in a pair of shoes that just didn’t fit!
It’s similar with choosing a marriage partner. Over time, more than a few members of the opposite sex may catch your eye. But not just anyone will do. After all, you want someone you’ll be comfortable with—someone who truly fits your personality and your goals. (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4-6) Have you found such a person? If so, how can you tell if that one is right for you?
Looking Beyond the Surface
To answer that last question, look at your friend objectively. Be careful, though! You might be inclined to see only what you want to see. So take your time. Try to perceive your friend’s true nature. This will take effort on your part. But that’s only to be expected. To illustrate: Imagine that you want to purchase a car. How thoroughly would you research it? Would you be concerned only about the outer appearance? Wouldn’t it make sense to look deeper—perhaps learning as much as you could about the condition of the engine?
Finding a mate is a much weightier issue than choosing a car. Yet, many who date don’t look beyond the surface. Instead, they quickly point to the things they have in common: ‘We like the same music.’ ‘We enjoy the same activities.’ ‘We agree on everything!’ As mentioned earlier, though, if you’re truly past the bloom of youth, you look beyond superficial traits. You see the need to discern “the secret person of the heart.”—1 Peter 3:4; Ephesians 3:16.
For example, rather than focus on how much you agree on things, it might be more revealing to note what happens when you disagree. In other words, how does this person handle conflict—by insisting on his or her way, perhaps giving in to “fits of anger” or “abusive speech”? (Galatians 5:19, 20; Colossians 3:8) Or does this person show reasonableness—a willingness to yield for the sake of peace when no issue of right or wrong is at stake?—James 3:17.
Another factor to consider: Is the person manipulative, possessive, or jealous? Does he or she demand to know your every move? “I hear of dating couples who fight because one person can’t stand that the other hasn’t constantly ‘checked in,’” says Nicole. “I think that’s a bad sign.”—1 Corinthians 13:4.
Issues such as those raised above focus on personality and conduct. However, it’s just as important to learn something of your friend’s reputation. How is that one viewed by others? You may want to talk to those who have known this person for some time, such as mature ones in the congregation. That way you will know if he or she is “well reported on.”—Acts 16:1, 2.
It might be revealing to jot down your personal observations as to how your friend measures up in the areas discussed so far.
Personality ․․․․․
Conduct ․․․․․
Reputation ․․․․․
You will also benefit by consulting the box “Would He Make a Good Husband for Me?” on page 39 or “Would She Make a Good Wife for Me?” on page 40. The questions raised will help you determine if your friend would make a suitable marriage partner.
What if after considering the matter, you conclude that this person may not be right for you? In that case, you’re faced with the serious question:
Should We Break Up?
Sometimes a breakup is a blessing. Consider the experience of Jill. “At first,” she says, “I was flattered that my boyfriend was always worrying about where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with. But it got to the point where I couldn’t spend time with anyone but him. He even got jealous when I spent time with my family—especially my father. When I ended the relationship, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders!”
Sarah had a similar experience. She began to notice that John, the young man she was dating, was sarcastic, demanding, and rude. “One time,” Sarah recalls, “he came to the door three hours late! He ignored my mother when she answered the door, and then he said: ‘Let’s go. We’re late.’ Not ‘I’m late,’ but ‘We’re late.’ He should have apologized or explained himself. Most of all, he should have shown my mother respect!” Of course, a single disappointing act or trait doesn’t necessarily doom a relationship. (Psalm 130:3) But when Sarah realized that John’s rudeness was a pattern rather than an isolated incident, she decided to end the relationship.
What if, like Jill and Sarah, you determine that the person you’re dating wouldn’t make a suitable marriage partner? In that case, do not ignore your feelings! Hard as it is to accept, it might be best to end the relationship. Proverbs 22:3 says: “Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself.” If, for example, your friend exhibits one or more of the danger signs found on pages 39 and 40, it would be best to end the relationship—at least until the problem is corrected. True, breaking up may not be easy. But marriage is a permanent bond. It’s better to live with short-term pain now than suffer with lifelong regret later!
Breaking the News
How should you go about breaking up? First, choose a proper setting for the discussion. What could that be? Well, think how you would like to be treated in such a situation. (Matthew 7:12) Would you want the announcement to be made in front of others? Likely not. Unless circumstances make it advisable, it would be best not to terminate a relationship by means of a telephone answering machine, a text message, or an e-mail. Instead, choose a time and place that will enable you to discuss this serious matter.
What should you say when the time comes to speak up? The apostle Paul urged Christians to “speak truth” with one another. (Ephesians 4:25) The best course, then, is to be tactful yet firm. State clearly why you feel that this relationship won’t work for you. You don’t need to recite a laundry list of faults or let loose with a barrage of criticism. In fact, instead of saying, “You don’t” do this or “You never” do that, it would be better to use phrases that focus on how you feel—“I need a person who . . .” or “I feel that this relationship should end because . . .”
This is no time to be wishy-washy or to yield to another’s opinion. Remember, you have chosen to break up for a serious reason. So be cautious if your friend attempts to change your mind through subtle forms of manipulation. “After I ended the relationship,” says a young woman named Lori, “my ex-boyfriend started acting depressed all the time. I think he did it to make me feel sorry for him. I did feel bad. But I didn’t allow his reaction to alter my decision.” Like Lori, know your own mind. Stick to your decision. Let your no mean no.—James 5:12.
Aftermath of a Breakup
Don’t be surprised if you’re deeply upset for a time after the breakup. You might even feel like the psalmist who said: “I have become disconcerted, I have bowed low to an extreme degree; all day long I have walked about sad.” (Psalm 38:6) Some well-intentioned friends may try to help by encouraging you to give the relationship another chance. Be careful! You will have to live with your decision—not your well-meaning friends. So don’t be afraid to remain firm—even though you may feel sad about what’s happened.
Be assured that, eventually, your painful feelings will pass. In the meantime, why not take positive steps, such as the following, to cope with the situation?
Express your feelings to a trusted confidant.b (Proverbs 15:22) Pray to Jehovah about the matter. (Psalm 55:22) Keep busy. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Don’t become a loner! (Proverbs 18:1) Get right back into group association with those who will upbuild you. Strive to keep your mind on things that are positive.—Philippians 4:8.
In time, you may well find a new friend. No doubt you will do so with an even more balanced outlook. Perhaps this time your answer to the question “Is this person right for me?” will be yes!
READ MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC IN VOLUME 1, CHAPTER 31
IN OUR NEXT CHAPTEROnce you are dating, where should you draw the line when it comes to expressing your affection for each other?
[Footnotes]
a You can learn even more about yourself by considering the questions in Chapter 1 following the subheading “Are You Ready to Get Married?”
b Your parents or other adults, such as Christian elders, can help. You might even find that they went through similar painful experiences when they were young.
KEY SCRIPTURE
“Even by his practices a boy makes himself recognized as to whether his activity is pure and upright.”—Proverbs 20:11.
TIP
Engage in activities that reveal personal qualities:
● Study God’s Word together.
● Observe each other participating at congregation meetings and in the ministry.
● Participate in Kingdom Hall cleaning and in building projects.
DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
Research consistently shows that marriages between people of different religions are much more likely to end in divorce.
ACTION PLAN!
If I am attracted to an unbeliever, I will ․․․․․
To find out about the reputation of the person I’m dating, I can ․․․․․
What I would like to ask my parent(s) about this subject is ․․․․․
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
● What positive qualities would you bring into a marriage relationship?
● What vital qualities would you look for in a marriage partner?
● What complex issues could arise if you were to marry someone who didn’t share your faith?
● In what ways could you learn of the character, conduct, and reputation of someone you’re dating?
[Blurb on page 37]
“The way your friend treats his or her own family is the way he or she will treat you.”—Tony
[Box on page 34]
“Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked”
“Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.” That Bible principle, found at 2 Corinthians 6:14, likely makes sense to you. Still, you might find yourself drawn to an unbeliever. Why? Sometimes it’s just physical attraction. “I would always see this girl in gym class,” says a boy named Mark. “She would go out of her way to come up and talk to me. It was not hard for a friendship to develop.”
If you know yourself and have confidence in your spiritual values—and if you’re mature enough not to be ruled by your feelings—you’ll know what you should do. Really, this person—no matter how attractive, charming, or seemingly virtuous—will not enhance your friendship with God.—James 4:4.
Of course, if a romance has developed, ending it won’t be easy—something that a girl named Cindy found out. “I cried every day,” she says. “I thought about the boy constantly, even during Christian meetings. I loved him so much that I thought I would rather die than lose him.” Soon, though, Cindy saw the wisdom of her mother’s counsel against dating an unbeliever. “It’s good that I broke up with him,” she says. “I have every confidence that Jehovah will provide for my needs.”
Are you in a situation similar to that of Cindy? If so, you don’t have to deal with it alone! You could talk to your parents. That’s what Jim did when he found himself infatuated with a girl at school. “I finally asked my parents for help,” he says. “This was a key to my overcoming these feelings.” Congregation elders can also assist you. Why not talk to one of them about what you’re going through?—Isaiah 32:1, 2.
[Box/Picture on page 39]
Worksheet
Would He Make a Good Husband for Me?
Character Basics
□ How does he handle any authority he may have?—Matthew 20:25, 26.
□ What are his goals?—1 Timothy 4:15.
□ Is he now working toward those goals?—1 Corinthians 9:26, 27.
□ How does he treat his family?—Exodus 20:12.
□ Who are his friends?—Proverbs 13:20.
□ What does he talk about?—Luke 6:45.
□ What is his attitude toward money?—Hebrews 13:5, 6.
□ What type of entertainment does he enjoy?—Psalm 97:10.
□ How does he demonstrate his love for Jehovah?—1 John 5:3.
Assets
□ Is he industrious?—Proverbs 6:9-11.
□ Is he financially responsible?—Luke 14:28.
□ Is he well reported on?—Acts 16:1, 2.
□ Is he considerate of others?—Philippians 2:4.
Danger Signs
□ Is he disposed to anger?—Proverbs 22:24.
□ Does he try to involve you in sexual misconduct?—Galatians 5:19.
□ Is he physically or verbally abusive?—Ephesians 4:31.
□ Does he need to use alcohol to have a good time?—Proverbs 20:1.
□ Is he jealous and self-centered?—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5.
[Box/Picture on page 40]
Worksheet
Would She Make a Good Wife for Me?
Character Basics
□ How does she show submissiveness in the family and the congregation?—Ephesians 5:21, 22.
□ How does she treat her family?—Exodus 20:12.
□ Who are her friends?—Proverbs 13:20.
□ What does she talk about?—Luke 6:45.
□ What is her attitude toward money?—1 John 2:15-17.
□ What are her goals?—1 Timothy 4:15.
□ Is she now working toward those goals?—1 Corinthians 9:26, 27.
□ What type of entertainment does she enjoy?—Psalm 97:10.
□ How does she demonstrate her love for Jehovah?—1 John 5:3.
Assets
□ Is she industrious?—Proverbs 31:17, 19, 21, 22, 27.
□ Is she financially responsible?—Proverbs 31:16, 18.
□ Is she well reported on?—Ruth 3:11.
□ Is she considerate of others?—Proverbs 31:20.
Danger Signs
□ Is she outputious?—Proverbs 21:19.
□ Does she try to involve you in sexual misconduct?—Galatians 5:19.
□ Is she verbally or physically abusive?—Ephesians 4:31.
□ Does she need to use alcohol to have a good time?—Proverbs 20:1.
□ Is she jealous and self-centered?—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5.
[Picture on page 30]
Not just any size shoe will fit; similarly, not just anyone will make a good partner
[Picture on page 31]
Do you think it’s important to look beyond outward appearance when choosing a car? How much more so when choosing a marriage mate! |
Read About Teaching Natives of Far Off Lands | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101978012 | Read About Teaching Natives of Far Off Lands
The missionary above is instructing natives of Papua New Guinea. Read the absorbing story about the beginning and development of Christianity there. This is featured in the 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Also included in this 384-page book are similar reports about Spain and the Philippines. Get your copy. Only 50 cents (U.S.), postpaid.
Please send me the 1978 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses; I enclose 50c (U.S.). |
Saving the Human Race (sv)
1970 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/saving-the-human-race-sv | input Page/Publishers’ Page
Saving the Human Race—In the Kingdom Way
THE HUMAN RACE includes you, the Reader. You would like to believe that the human race is worth saving. Men of affairs are now being driven to make frantic efforts to save the human race, not just for future generations, but for their own selves. For them, now is the critical time, or never! Do you think their efforts will succeed? The Creator of the human race has a better way than man’s, and it is bound to succeed in saving the human race. Why put yourself in line for disillusionment by trusting in man’s way? Save yourself time and get new hope by specializing on learning God’s way, the Kingdom way.
That you may do so, the Publishers have prepared this booklet that contains the public address that is being given world wide on this fascinating subject.
—THE PUBLISHERS |
Examining the Scriptures—2019
2018 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/examining-the-scriptures/examining-the-scriptures-2019 | How to Use This Booklet
On the following pages, you will find a scripture for each day and comments on that text. Although the text and comments may be read at any time, many find it advantageous to consider them in the morning. Then they can reflect on such thoughts throughout the day. Discussing the text as a family is most beneficial. Bethel families around the world do so at breakfast time.
The comments are taken from the Watchtower (w) issues of April 2017 through March 2018. Figures following the date of the Watchtower issue refer first to the page(s) in that issue and then to the paragraphs where the material is found. (See illustration below.) Additional information on the subject matter can be found in the article itself. |
What Does the Bible Say About Euthanasia? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502018102 | What Does the Bible Say About Euthanasia?
The Bible’s answer
The Bible does not specifically discuss euthanasia.a However, what it does say about life and death offers a balanced perspective. Causing death is unacceptable, but there is no requirement to go to desperate lengths to prolong life during the dying process.
The Bible identifies God as our Creator, “the source of life.” (Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:28) In God’s eyes, life is very precious. For this reason, God condemns both taking the life of another and taking one’s own life. (Exodus 20:13; 1 John 3:15) Additionally, the Bible indicates that we should take reasonable precautions to protect our own life and the lives of others. (Deuteronomy 22:8) Clearly, God wants us to value the gift of life.
What if a person is terminally ill?
The Bible does not condone taking someone’s life even when the person is facing an imminent and unavoidable death. The example of King Saul of Israel supports this. When he was mortally wounded in battle, he asked his attendant to help end his life. (1 Samuel 31:3, 4) Saul’s attendant refused. However, another man later falsely claimed to have fulfilled Saul’s wish. This man was condemned as bloodguilty by David—a person who reflected God’s thinking on the matter.—2 Samuel 1:6-16.
Must life be prolonged at all costs?
When death is clearly imminent, the Bible does not require extending the dying process. Rather, the Bible offers a balanced view. Death is our great enemy, the consequence of our sinful condition. (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:26) While not to be longed for, death need not be feared, because God promises to resurrect those who die. (John 6:39, 40) A person who shows respect for life would seek the best medical care available. Yet, doing so does not require choosing medical procedures that simply prolong a dying process that is nearly complete.
Is suicide an unforgivable sin?
No, the Bible does not list suicide as an unforgivable sin. Even though taking one’s own life is a serious sin,b God fully understands factors such as mental illness, extreme stress, or even genetic traits that may lead to suicidal urges. (Psalm 103:13, 14) Through the Bible, he provides comfort to those in distress. In addition, the Bible says that there will be “a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) This shows that there is hope of a resurrection for people who have made serious mistakes, such as having committed suicide.
What about pet euthanasia?
Pet euthanasia differs greatly from human euthanasia. While God gives humans the hope of living forever, this is not the case for animals. (Romans 6:23; 2 Peter 2:12) Although the Bible condemns treating animals cruelly, it does give men authority over animals’ lives. (Genesis 9:3) Since God expects us to care for animals mercifully, it is a pet owner’s responsibility to decide on the most humane way to treat an animal, which may include choosing death for one that is suffering.—Proverbs 12:10.
a Euthanasia, or mercy killing, is defined as “killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering.” (Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary) When a doctor helps a patient to end his life, this is called physician-assisted suicide.
b The few cases of suicide mentioned in the Bible all involved persons who did not act in harmony with God’s will.—2 Samuel 17:23; 1 Kings 16:18; Matthew 27:3-5. |
God’s Kingdom Has Approached (ka)
1973 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/ka | Chapter 17
The “Slave” Who Lived to See the “Sign”
1. According to the account of the creation of heavenly lights, God desired man to be like him in what respect?
MAN’S Creator is a timekeeper. He meant for man to keep time also. In the creative account as found in the first chapter of his inspired Word, we read: “And God went on to say: ‘Let luminaries come to be in the expanse of the heavens to make a division between the day and the night; and they must serve as signs and for seasons and for days and years. And they must serve as luminaries in the expanse of the heavens to shine upon the earth.’ And it came to be so. And God proceeded to make the two great luminaries, the greater luminary for dominating the day and the lesser luminary for dominating the night, and also the stars.” (Genesis 1:14-16) So the Holy Bible keeps a count of time on man’s existence, and does so in seasons and days and years.
2, 3. (a) How did the Bible project the count of time even down to the year 1914 C.E.? (b) What did Jesus say regarding the time for his coming at the “great tribulation” that occurs during his parousia?
2 The Bible’s count of time carried on from man’s creation in the Garden of Eden until where its chronology connects up with the authentic dates of secular history. The Bible’s prophecies that contain chronological features project the count of time still farther into the future, even down to the end of the “seven times” of Gentile domination of mankind without divine interruption, till in the year 1914 C.E. (Daniel 4:16, 23, 25, 32; Luke 21:24) That year was the time when the parousia or “presence” of the glorified Jesus Christ in heaven began. Jesus prophesied of the unequaled “great tribulation” that was to occur during his parousia, but he did not pinpoint the particular day and hour when that unparalleled time of trouble would break upon the whole world of mankind. He said:
3 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned. Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming [Greek: erʹkhe·tai].”—Matthew 24:36-42; Mark 13:32, 33.
4. So social conditions among mankind during Jesus’ parousia were to be like the days of whom, and which particular days?
4 According to this prophecy, the social conditions among men and women on earth during this invisible parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ should be like those in the days of Noah before the planetary deluge. Evidently by the time reference, “the days of Noah,” Jesus meant “those days before the flood” when Noah was preparing the ark that God had instructed him to build. Otherwise, there would have been nothing special for the antediluvian people to take note of to indicate that a deluge was scheduled for their generation. This preparing of the ark would locate the particular “days of Noah” within the last hundred years of his life before the deluge, for the deluge started in Noah’s six hundredth year, and so we read: “Noah got to be five hundred years old. After that Noah became father to Shem, Ham and Japheth.”—Genesis 5:32; 7:11.
5. (a) The “days of Noah” for building the ark are also shown to be limited by what fact? (b) The comparison made with the “days of Noah” proves what about the meaning of parousia?
5 Another limit on the time would be that Noah was told that he must take into the ark his own wife and his three sons and his “sons’ wives” with him. (Genesis 6:18) This would indicate that Noah’s three sons were married before the work on the ark began. So the time before the deluge during which the people could note that something unusual was going on may have been reduced to around fifty years before the global catastrophe. At any rate, the “days” allowed to the people for taking serious note were a considerable time. Inasmuch as “so the presence [parousia] of the Son of man will be,” this proves that the invisible parousia of Christ is an extended period of time and does not mark merely the time of the start of the “great tribulation” at a certain hour of a specific day. In harmony with that view of the parousia, Jesus’ parallel statement, in Luke 17:26, says: “Moreover, just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man.” But just as the days of Noah’s building the ark led up to the entry of him and his immediate family into that tremendous structure, so the invisible parousia runs for a period of time and comes to a climax in a global “great tribulation.”
6. (a) In what way, as Jesus said, would the days of Noah resemble the time of his parousia? (b) What, then, was wrong on the part of the people?
6 In Noah’s days the earth was filled with violence and was being ruined. (Genesis 6:11, 12) That, of course, was bad, wrong! But Jesus did not refer to that in showing the resemblance between the days of Noah and the days of his parousia or “presence.” Jesus said: “They were eating, they were drinking, men were marrying, women were being given in marriage, until that day when Noah entered into the ark, and the flood arrived and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:27) Such things mentioned were right and proper in themselves. Well, then, what was the wrong thing on the part of the people? It was that they became absorbed in those common, everyday things, and evidenced no faith in Noah’s message from God and did not take seriously Noah’s backing up his message as absolutely true by building the ark in demonstration of his faith. (Hebrews 11:7) That this was the wrong thing on the part of the people, Jesus said: “And they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.”—Matthew 24:39.
7. (a) For what were the people who were destroyed in the Flood condemned, and due to what? (b) How has the same feature on the part of the people been demonstrated since 1914?
7 The people destroyed in the global deluge were condemned for their unrighteous lack of faith. They were ungodly. Consequently, God “did not hold back from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.” (2 Peter 2:5) Jesus’ prophecy, “So the presence of the Son of man will be,” prompts us to examine the doings and attitude of the people today during his parousia, his unseen “presence.” Does Jehovah God find the same absence of faith upon them? The same absorbing concern for the ordinary, everyday procedures of life, eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, with indifference toward what a small group, comparable to Noah and seven family members, are saying and doing? Well, for nearly sixty years now, since the beginning of Christ’s parousia in 1914 C.E., Jehovah’s “chosen ones” and, latterly, a “great crowd” of other sheeplike persons have been proclaiming world wide God’s established kingdom and the oncoming “great tribulation,” but the people in general have shown no serious concern.
8. (a) On what day of the final week did Noah and his family enter the ark to stay, and what then fixed matters? (b) Against what failure on our part today is this a warning?
8 In Noah’s time, during the final week before the deluge, the specimens of the animals and birds that were to be preserved were brought into the ark. On the last day of that crucial week, on the seventeenth day of the second month (Noah’s calendar) of the year 2370 B.C.E., Noah and his seven family members themselves entered the ark. “After that Jehovah shut the door behind him.” (Genesis 7:1-16) This action shut Noah and his family in for salvation, but the preoccupied people out for destruction. Jesus makes this a warning example for all his disciples who are living in these days of his parousia or “presence.” Far be it from us, therefore, to imitate this world of ungodly people in their selfish inattentiveness and faithless indifference! Failure to take note and to act according to the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy could signify nothing but destruction for us with the unbelieving world. The destructive “great tribulation” will catch the unwary at an unannounced, not now known day and hour.
SELECTED FOR LIFE OR FOR DESTRUCTION
9. (a) How did Jesus show that the salvation would be selective and the destruction would be selective? (b) In what way is it important to be sharp-sighted like the eagles?
9 At that time the salvation will be selective and the destruction will be selective, even with regard to close associates in secular affairs, like farming in a field or grinding grain at home. Said Jesus: “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned.” (Matthew 24:40, 41) Weeks before this prophecy, when Jesus made a similar statement, his listeners asked him: “Where, Lord?” He answered: “Where the body is, there also the eagles will be gathered together.” (Luke 17:34-37) So the ones “taken along” for salvation will be the spiritually sharp-sighted ones, like eagles, who gather to the spiritual feast that Jehovah provides within his place of safety. The ones abandoned to destruction will be those who do not keep spiritually aware of the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy and who indifferently pursue their selfish way of life. These, seeking to preserve their human souls by worldly means, will lose their souls in the sudden “great tribulation.”
10. How did Jesus here emphasize that we should not be like the worldly people, self-absorbed?
10 We dare not be like the worldly people, even those of Christendom, who resemble the self-absorbed people of Noah’s days. In our interest Jesus emphasized the lesson of his illustration, saying: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming [Greek: erʹkhe·tai].” (Matthew 24:42) If we believe in the Lord’s parousia since 1914 C.E., there is all the more reason for us to keep awake and on guard lest we be overtaken by the “great tribulation” wrongly occupied.
11, 12. (a) Why did Jesus not tell his disciples the precise time of his coming as Jehovah’s executional officer to the “great tribulation”? (b) Our being overtaken by the “great tribulation” as by a thief at night will mean what for us, as shown by Jesus’ illustration?
11 The Lord Jesus did not inform his disciples of the exact day and hour of the particular month of the certain year when he is coming (Greek: erʹkhe·tai) as Jehovah’s executional officer at the “great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning.” He is not letting any of his disciples know of the precise time, so that they can be careless and occupy themselves with worldly pursuits until almost the last minute, and then immediately before the known precise time take on a form of godliness and busy themselves in God’s commanded service. Not so! But the failure to advise us of the precise date enforces upon us the need to stay continually on the alert. Our being overtaken by the “great tribulation” as by a thief will mean an eternal loss if we are not active in God’s pure worship. Hence, Jesus said:
12 “But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch [of the night] the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming [Greek: erʹkhe·tai].”—Matthew 24:43, 44.
13. (a) What is the purpose of leaving the disciples uncertain as to the precise time when the Lord comes to execute Jehovah’s vengeance? (b) So what does this behoove us to do about it?
13 What is the purpose of this leaving of his disciples uncertain as to the precise time of the Lord’s coming to execute the vengeance of Jehovah or to mete out justice upon this system of things, religious and political and social? It is to require all who claim to be Christ’s disciples to prove whether they are genuine everyday Christians all the time, continually occupied in preaching the good news of God’s Messianic kingdom and constantly exerting themselves in making “disciples of people of all the nations,” or are merely opportunists. That is, do they wait until they see that there is no longer any time to delay but now at last they must get busy as if they had always been wholly taken up with God’s approved work? Since it is “at an hour that you do not think to be it” that “the Son of man is coming,” it behooves us to be awake and active at all hours in the worship and service that our Lord approves.
“THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE”
14. What question did Jesus here raise, leaving his listeners to determine what they cared to be?
14 Here the Lord Jesus has got onto the subject of watchfulness and preparedness as required of his disciples. So he now raises a question that challenges each one of his disciples regarding his personal devotion to Jehovah’s Messiah and personal use of prudence, foresight and insight in service to the Messiah. Each disciple could determine for himself what kind of slave he wanted to be as he heard the Master ask the question: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?”—Matthew 24:45.
15. (a) Why did Jesus raise the question regarding a slave that would be faithful? (b) What question arises as to the identity of the slave, and what does Meyer’s Hand-Book on Matthew have to say about this?
15 Knowing, as he did, from the inspired prophecies of his Father’s Word that there would be rebellious apostates from the true Christian faith and service, Jesus quite properly raised this searching question that affects each disciple of his. But, by the form of his question, was he speaking about a particular man, an individual disciple of his? Or was he speaking with reference to a class of disciples? The Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew, by H. A. W. Meyer, Th.D., (1884) makes a suggestion. On page 429, it says regarding the expression “who therefore” (AV): “Considering the necessity for preparedness thus indicated. The inference itself is presented in the form of an allegory, the doúlos [slave] representing the disciples whom the Lord has appointed to be the guides of His church, in which they are required to show themselves faithful (1 Cor. iv. 1 f.) and prudent, . . .” This limiting the “slave” to the twelve apostles, however, might allow for the doctrine of an apostolic succession or an episcopal succession, a succession of bishops (overseers) by the religious process of ordination.
16. As to whether the “slave” class includes the whole body of disciples, not just overseers, what does Mark 13:34-36 say?
16 However, when we view the “faithful and discreet slave” as being the whole body of disciples (including spiritual overseers), it eliminates such a thing as “episcopal succession” that history shows has worked such harm and oppression in Christendom. The way in which the disciple Mark words Jesus’ discussion of this matter indicates that the entire body of disciples is involved. Mark 13:34-36 says: “It is like a man traveling abroad that left his house and gave the authority to his slaves, to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep on the watch. Therefore keep on the watch, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming [Greek: erʹkhe·tai], whether late in the day or at midnight or at cockcrowing or early in the morning; in order that when he arrives suddenly, he does not find you sleeping.”
17. Why was it not harsh on Jesus’ part to liken his disciples to “slaves,” but what did their slavehood make obligatory?
17 It might sound somewhat harsh that Jesus should liken his disciples to “slaves.” But there was a proper basis for this classification for them, for we read, in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 1Co 7:23: “You were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of you people.” “You were bought with a price; stop becoming slaves of men.” Besides those words of the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter wrote to the Christians: “You know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were delivered from your fruitless form of conduct received by tradition from your forefathers. But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, even Christ’s.” (1 Peter 1:18, 19) In accord with this, this disciple of Christ opened up his second letter with this introduction: “Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.” Also, Paul did not feel embarrassed when introducing himself as “Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:1) And a fleshly half brother of the Lord introduced his letter with the words: “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James.” (Jude 1) Slavehood on such a basis makes Christian faithfulness all the more obligatory.
18. Why was ancient Israel a nation of servants to Jehovah, and how did he liken all those servants to a single person?
18 No objection to Christian slavedom was raised by Christ’s disciples on account of any mistreatment as in the objection made regarding the mistreatment of the nation of Israel: “Is Israel a servant, or a slave born in the household? Why is it that he has come to be for plunder?” (Jeremiah 2:14) The ancient nation of Israel came to be “for plunder” by the Gentiles because the Israelites failed to act as faithful servants of the Most High God, Jehovah. Because of Jehovah’s redemption of them from ancient Egypt, the whole people of Israel was a nation of servants of Jehovah. When telling Pharaoh of Egypt concerning the special claim that Jehovah had upon the nation of Israel, He likened this chosen nation to a single person, saying: “Israel is my son, my firstborn. And I say to you: Send my son away that he may serve me.”—Exodus 4:22, 23.
19. How did Jehovah speak through Isaiah to the nation of Israel as a single individual slave of His?
19 More than seven centuries later, Jehovah speaks to the whole nation of Israel as if it were a single individual servant of His, saying: “But you, O Israel, are my servant, you, O Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend; you, whom I have taken hold of from the extremities of the earth, and you, whom I have called even from the remote parts of it. And so I said to you, ‘You are my servant; I have chosen you, and I have not rejected you.’” (Isaiah 41:8, 9) To make clear that this composite “servant” is made up of many individuals, the Creator says to the nation of Israel: “‘You are my witnesses,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant whom I have chosen.’ . . . And now listen, O Jacob my servant, and you, O Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what Jehovah has said, . . . ‘Have I not from that time on caused you individually to hear and told it out? And you are my witnesses.’”—Isaiah 43:10; 44:1-8; also Isa 42:19; 44:21; 48:20; 49:3; Jeremiah 30:10.
20. When was natural Israel rejected, and who became a spiritual Israel, and why do the words of Isaiah 43:10 apply to it?
20 At the Festival of Pentecost of the year 33 C.E., fifty days from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the circumcised nation of natural Israel was cast off by Jehovah God. But about the years 50-52 the Christian apostle Paul wrote to his Christian brothers in the Roman province of Galatia and said: “Neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation is something. And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15, 16) The true Christian congregation was the organization that walked orderly by that rule regarding a “new creation,” and now, since natural Israel’s being rejected, the congregation of Christ’s followers was “the Israel of God.” It was a spiritual Israel. As a united congregation it was the “servant” of Jehovah God and his Christ. To it in a spiritual way Isaiah 43:10 could be directed: “‘You are my witnesses,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant.’”
21. (a) Though Jesus raised the question about him, did Jesus know who that composite “slave” was? (b) What question do we ask about when that “slave” class began?
21 Although raising the question about the “faithful and discreet slave,” Jesus was in no doubt about who this “slave” was. Jesus doubtless had in mind that “servant” of Jehovah God, that “Israel of God.” There would be no mistake in fixing upon that composite “servant.” With the price of his own blood he had bought that Israel of God as his slave, and in the illustration given in his prophecy he could refer to it as a composite “slave,” one that would prove “faithful and discreet.” Since Jesus spoke of this “slave” in his prophecy concerning the “sign of [his] presence and of the conclusion of the system of things,” did that composite “faithful and discreet slave” first come into existence during his “presence” or parousia from 1914 onward?
22. (a) Why could the “faithful and discreet slave” class not have come into existence first during Christ’s parousia? (b) Who were the “domestics” whom the “slave” had to feed?
22 No; for Jesus’ illustration portrays the lord of the “slave” as going away, as a “man traveling abroad that left his house and gave the authority to his slaves.” (Mark 13:34) So the “faithful and discreet slave” is one “whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) It was more than nineteen hundred years ago, at his ascension to heaven, that the “master” of the composite “slave” went away, leaving the “slave” with instructions to feed the “domestics.” (Matthew 28:16-20) The “domestics” were not the family of the master but were his “domestic servants” (H. A. W. Meyer) or his “household staff.” (New English Bible) They were slaves, just the same as the “faithful and discreet slave” charged with feeding them. Thus they were all a body of slaves, and were all subject to the same “master.” All were obligated to be “faithful and discreet.”
23. (a) So when did the existence of that composite “slave” begin? (b) What shows that such “slave” lived to see the “sign” of his master’s parousia?
23 Jesus’ illustration began fulfillment at his departure in the year 33 C.E., and the composite “slave” has been existing since then, namely, “the Israel of God,” the spirit-begotten, anointed congregation of Christ the membership of which will finally reach 144,000. (Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1-3) The historical records show that at the beginning of the invisible parousia of the “master” at the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 there was still a remnant of this “slave” class on earth. Consequently, the composite “slave” has lived to see the “sign” of the Master’s parousia or “presence.”
“GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD AT THE PROPER TIME”
24. What was that “slave” appointed to do, and why might “domestics” be used in having it done?
24 In this parable the “slave” was not given silver “talents” with which to do business. So here we are not talking about spiritual “talents.” The appointed “slave” was specially made responsible for giving his fellow “domestics” their food at the proper time. They needed food regularly, the same as the appointed “slave” did, in order to be strengthened for their work in the master’s house. If the master’s number of domestics was large, the appointed “slave” would not be going to all of them individually and serving each one his meals directly. More sensibly, the “slave” would see to it that the food was made available and that it was served to all the “domestics” or “household staff.” Some of the “domestics” would aid in the serving of the meals to their fellow domestics. It is not odd, then, that the domestics should be helping in the feeding of one another.
25. At what “proper time” did the “slave” class begin to serve the “food,” to whom, and with what result that day?
25 No sooner did the spiritual “food” become available “at the proper time” on the festival day of Pentecost of 33 C.E., than the appointed “slave” class proved itself “faithful and discreet” by passing out the “food” under the inspiration of God’s outpoured spirit. The congregation of about 120 disciples began talking among themselves about the “magnificent things of God.” But that small original congregation did not keep those “things” to themselves. Thousands of spiritually hungry ones, who professed to be servants of Jehovah God, gathered to listen to these “things.” The apostle Peter took the lead in feeding those spiritually hungry Jews and proselytes who were at Jerusalem for the celebrating of the now out-of-date festival of Pentecost. At heart they wanted to become “domestics” of the Messianic “master,” and they needed to be fed to become such. At this “proper time” it was that the “faithful and discreet slave” class fed them. As a result, about three thousand of them became believers, got baptized and received the gift of the holy spirit. Now they were indeed “domestics” of the Master, but still needed more food.—Acts 2:1-42.
26, 27. (a) When the feeding program was widened out, who was used to do the feeding of the prospective “domestics”? (b) This was in harmony with what command of the Master before his going away?
26 Less than three and a half years later the feeding efforts of the “faithful and discreet slave” class were extended to other prospective “domestics.” These were to be from “people of all the nations,” non-Jews, Gentiles. The apostle Peter was used to take the lead in this and was sent under divine guidance to the city of Caesarea on the eastern Mediterranean seacoast to convert the Italian centurion Cornelius and the interested ones whom he had gathered into his house. (Acts 10:1 to 11:18) Thus the door was flung open wide for Gentiles to become “domestics” of the Messianic Master, Jesus Christ. The “faithful and discreet slave” class had to go to these prospective “domestics” with the spiritual food and feed them, that they might become spiritual Israelites, members of the Israel of God. After these became spiritual “domestics,” they also had to join in the feeding work. This was in obedience to the Master’s command not long before his departure:
27 “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”—Matthew 28:19, 20.
28. (a) What lasting portion of spiritual food, still available today, was provided in the first century C.E.? (b) Do we today need the spiritual food that the “slave” class fed on at its start?
28 To give lasting aid in the spiritual feeding work, apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ were inspired by God’s spirit to write the twenty-seven authentic books of the Christian Greek Scriptures, from the Gospel of Matthew to Revelation. This luscious portion of the spiritual food served to the Christian “domestics” by the “faithful and discreet slave” class of the first century remains available to Christian “domestics” of this twentieth century. This has made for a complete Holy Bible, of sixty-six inspired books, thirty-nine in Hebrew and Aramaic and twenty-seven in first-century common Greek. The whole Bible is needed, not just the inspired Christian Greek Scriptures. When the “faithful and discreet slave” class started out in the first century, it had only the inspired Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures as spiritual food in writing on which to feed. What the Christian “domestics” then fed on at the start, we need to feed on still today. The original congregation at Jerusalem spoke and read Hebrew. We today need translations of the Hebrew Scriptures.
29. (a) After the first century C.E., how did the feeding work by the “slave” class continue? (b) In the latter half of the nineteenth century, how did a feeding work get under way?
29 As to just how the “faithful and discreet slave” class existed and served down through the centuries after the death of the apostles of the Master Jesus Christ, we do not have a distinct historical picture. Apparently one generation of the “slave” class fed the next succeeding generation thereof. (2 Timothy 2:2) But in the latter half of the nineteenth century there were God-fearing persons who loved the spiritual food of the Holy Bible and who desired to feed on it, not merely entertain themselves by reading it as sacred literature. Bible study classes apart from the Sunday Schools and churches of Christendom were formed and progressed in the understanding of the fundamental truths of the Sacred Scriptures. The sincere unselfish ones among these Bible students were eager to share these vital portions of spiritual food with others. They had the faithful spirit of the “slave” appointed to give the “domestics” the needed spiritual “food at the proper time.” They were “discreet” in discerning that it was then the right and proper time and what were the best means for serving the food. They endeavored to serve it.
30. (a) What danger then existed with regard to the doctrine of a “ransom for all,” but what champion thereof was raised up at the “proper time”? (b) What did the editor of the Watch Tower publish about the “faithful and wise servant” back in 1881?
30 A “ransom for all” was one of those basic doctrines of the Bible, and a great danger began to loom up that this vital dish on the spiritual table of God-fearing persons would be taken away by the devotees of higher criticism and the evolution theory. At what can now be appreciated as “the proper time” there appeared an uncompromising champion of Christ’s “ransom for all.” It was in the form of a brand-new magazine for Bible lovers, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, its first issue being that of July, 1879, with an initial edition of 6,000 copies. Its editor and publisher was a member of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bible study group, namely, Charles Taze Russell. This studious Christian took note of Jesus’ illustration of the “faithful and wise servant” (Matthew 24:45, Authorized Version) and published his understanding of it in the Watch Tower issue of November, 1881, page 5. In the fourth- and fifth-last paragraphs of the article “In the Vineyard,” he said:
We believe that every member of this body of Christ is engaged in the blessed work, either directly or indirectly, of giving meat in due season to the household of faith. “Who then is that faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household,” to give them meat in due season? Is it not that “little flock” of consecrated servants who are faithfully carrying out their consecration vows—the body of Christ—and is not the whole body individually and collectively, giving the meat in due season to the household of faith—the great company of believers?
Blessed is that servant (the whole body of Christ) whom his Lord when he has come (Gr. elthon) shall find so doing. “Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” “He shall inherit all things.”
31. (a) What must be said as to whether C. T. Russell claimed to be the “faithful and wise servant”? (b) What record proves that he served as a faithful part of that “servant” class?
31 From this it is clearly seen that the editor and publisher of Zion’s Watch Tower disavowed any claim to being individually, in his person, that “faithful and wise servant.” He never did claim to be such.a However, he did continue to edit the Watch Tower magazine down to the day of his death on October 31, 1916. He organized Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in the year 1881 and got it incorporated under State of Pennsylvania law in December, 1884. He also authored and published the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures during the years 1886-1904, as well as published many booklets on Bible themes and engineered the world-famous Photo-Drama of Creation, which began to be shown in January of 1914 and was thereafter displayed around the earth. He delivered innumerable public lectures all around the globe. His death occurred during his last public lecture tour across the United States of America. It cannot be successfully disputed that, till his death in 1916, he lovingly served as a part of the “faithful and discreet slave” class in giving to the Master’s domestics “their food at the proper time.”
32. After Russell’s death, how did a sectarian trend toward him develop, but when was this halted, and how?
32 Since the “slave” of Jesus’ illustration is not just one Christian man but is the anointed congregation of Christ’s disciples, the “faithful and discreet slave” class continued to serve on after the death of C. T. Russell. However, the sense of appreciation and indebtedness toward Russell moved many of his associates to view him as the fulfillment of the “faithful and discreet slave.” This view was prominently featured in the book published in July of 1917 by People’s Pulpit Association of Brooklyn, New York. This book was called “The Finished Mystery” and furnished a commentary of the Bible books of Revelation and Ezekiel and The Song of Solomon. On its Publishers page the book was called the “Posthumous Work of Pastor Russell.” Such a book and religious attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man. Such a drift toward sectarianism was halted, however, by the publication early in 1927 of the articles “The Son and Servant” and “Servant—Good and Evil,” in The Watch Tower under date of February 1 and 15, 1927. These articles showed that the “servant” of Matthew 24:45 was a composite one.—Isaiah 43:10-12.
33. Did disposal of remaining stocks of Russell’s books and of The Finished Mystery leave Christ’s “domestics” with no “food”?
33 Later in the year 1927 any remaining stocks of the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures by Russell and of The Finished Mystery were disposed of among the public. But did this leave the Lord’s “domestics” or “household staff” without spiritual “food at the proper time”? Not by any means! Why not, we shall shortly see.
THE “HAPPY” SLAVE
34. Who raised the question regarding the “faithful and discreet slave,” and who answered it, and how?
34 Did Jesus, in Matthew 24:45, raise the question regarding the “slave” that was appointed over his master’s “domestics” to feed them and how this “slave” would prove his faithfulness and discreetness? In the very next verse (Matthew 24:46) Jesus also answers that question, saying: “Happy is that slave if his master on arriving [Greek: elthòn] finds him doing so.” He proved his faithfulness to his master and his prudence by continuing to do what his master appointed him to do until his return, namely, “to give [the domestics] their food at the proper time.” This was to result in great happiness for the “slave” at his master’s return.
35. (a) Back in the first century, what turbulent period foretold in Jesus’ prophecy did the “slave” class survive, and what did John write at the end of the century? (b) Correspondingly, when the Gentile Times ended in 1914, what question arose about the “slave” class?
35 Nineteen centuries ago, when the “faithful and discreet slave” class was first formed, it survived the turbulent period of time prophetically described by Jesus in Matthew 24:4-22, Mark 13:5-20 and Luke 21:8-24. More than twenty-five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E., the apostle John wrote the Revelation and the Gospel and the three letters of John, all of these being written for the benefit of the “faithful and discreet slave” class and for the feeding of the “domestics” of the heavenly Master. In the year 1914 C.E. the remnant of the “faithful and discreet slave” class entered into the time of the complete or final fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy on the “sign of [his] presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.” The events that Jesus foretold to characterize the typical time period from 33 C.E. to 70 C.E. began occurring also in 1914 C.E. The question now arose as to whether the “faithful and discreet slave” class would survive the hard things that were due to occur to correspond with what befell the “slave” class between 33 and 70 C.E.
36. During World War I, how difficult did it become for the “slave” class to feed the “domestics,” but what about the Watch Tower magazine?
36 The end of the Gentile Times about October 4/5 of 1914 found World War I already in progress for more than two months. This was something new, not only for the world of mankind, but also for the Master’s “slave” class. World War I far exceeded in violence and destructiveness the foretold “wars and reports of wars” and the rise of nation against nation and of kingdom against kingdom such as marked the years after Jesus’ ascension to heaven in 33 C.E. (Matthew 24:6, 7) World War conditions and restrictions made it very difficult for the “faithful and discreet slave” class to continue on giving to the “domestics” of the heavenly Master “their food at the proper time.” The situation worsened for them until finally many of the domestics were in prison or military encampments and officials of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and members of the editorial staff of The Watch Tower were imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, under heavy sentences, in the summer of 1918 C.E. In spite of this The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence continued to be published, not from Brooklyn but from its original location, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
37. What was the distressing situation of the “slave” class at the end of World War I, and what question arose about it?
37 That was the distressing situation that existed when World War I ended on November 11, 1918. Easy international communications between the Watch Tower Society headquarters and its foreign branches had been broken up or impeded. Bible literature was either under official government ban or withdrawn from circulation among the people. Printers’ plates that had been used in the publishing of Bible tracts had somehow been destroyed or lost. What, now, were the prospects ahead of the Master’s “slave” class? What was this “slave” class resolved to do in the then opening postwar period?
TIME OF INSPECTION BY THE SLAVE’S MASTER
38. Appropriate to the time of inspection then due, what questions arose respecting the religious sects of Christendom and regarding Christians internationally hated?
38 Without a question of doubt, it was a real time for inspection of the Master’s “slave” class. All the facts of the case argue that the Master came for the work of inspection at the time. Such a thing was to be expected according to the prophecy of Malachi 3:1-5. Of course, the sectarian churches of Christendom had made a wartime record for themselves, an open record that had a heavy bearing on their claim to be disciples and slaves of Jesus Christ. Could they, by even their latest record down till 1919, prove that they themselves were the composite “faithful and discreet slave” class of the heavenly Lord and Master, Jesus Christ? He as Judge would indicate what his findings were by the way he thereafter dealt with the hundreds of religious sects of Christendom. Appropriately, now, our attention focuses upon those sincere, Bible-studying Christians who, during World War I, were persecuted for their obedience to Christ and who became “objects of hatred by all the nations” on account of Christ’s name. Since they also came under divine inspection, what did the Master show to be his decision on them?
39. According to Jesus’ parable, in what frame of mind did the master return home, and with what purpose in mind?
39 According to Jesus’ illustration, how did the master who appointed the slave return to his house? Was it in great rage in order to destroy the house? Or was it to enjoy his homecoming and to see how things had been going on during his absence? His return to his house was a peaceful one. He did not come to engage in the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon. (Revelation 16:13-16) Rather, he wanted to make sure that his domestic affairs were in the right condition. Had his appointed slave done as he was assigned to do, namely, give to the “domestics” their “food at the proper time”? The master needed to make an inspection.
40. Since the serving of food regularly, and the right kind of food, was the issue on which to base a decision, what did the returned Master find concerning the persecuted, hated Christians?
40 The serving of food, the right sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master. Well, then, what about that body of Christians internationally hated and persecuted? (Matthew 24:9) Down to 1919 C.E. they had endeavored to give “food at the proper time” to the “household of faith” or the “domestics” of the heavenly Master. They did this despite interference by persecutors and the warring nations. Not only was the regularity in serving the spiritual food a problem, but the quality of the food itself was to be considered. In this respect the body of hated, persecuted Christians, who always sought to be faithful slaves of Jesus Christ, met the test. During the years of the world conflict they had not joined Christendom or pagandom in preaching the war propaganda submitted by the political governments. They persisted in preaching the Bible message for the time and in advocating a Christian adherence to Bible principles for everybody.
41. When inspecting such Christians, by what was the Master not influenced, and how has his decision expressed itself since?
41 What, then, did the heavenly Master decide regarding these obedient slaves of his? He was not influenced by their unpopular, persecuted position in the war-mad world, for he had foretold such a hard experience for them during his invisible parousia or “presence.” Did he find that body of Christian slaves disregarding the unpopularity of the world and seeking to be pleasing to their Master by doing what he had appointed to be done during his absence? He must have found them so, according to the way the inspection, begun in 1919, has affected his decision since. His actions, his dealings with his Christian slaves, speak louder than words.
42, 43. (a) On the night of being betrayed, Jesus applied what prophecy to his apostles, and how was it fulfilled? (b) Three and a half years after Jesus’ enthronement in 1914, how was the same prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 being fulfilled?
42 Let us reflect a moment on the case of Jesus’ apostles. Three and a half years after being baptized in the Jordan River, Jesus Christ was betrayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He quoted from the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 and foretold what would happen to his apostles, saying: “All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered about.’ But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:31, 32) Jesus’ application of Zechariah’s prophecy to his apostles proved true on that same night of Nisan 14, 33 C.E., for the account in Matthew 26:56 tells what occurred after Jesus’ betrayal: “Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.” His “sheep” were indeed scattered.
43 In parallel fashion, three and a half years after the close of the Gentile Times and Christ’s enthronement in the heavens in 1914 C.E., there came the annual celebration of the Lord’s Supper on Tuesday, March 26, 1918. The scattering of the heavenly Shepherd’s “sheep” was then nearing its climax, and The Watch Tower, under date of March 1, 1918, in its first paragraph of the leading article “In Memory of Our King,” said: “Whether the coming Memorial will be the last on earth, we do not, of course, know; but we do know that we are one year nearer the full consummation of our hopes. If it please the Lord to have us celebrate this Memorial other years, then we shall do so gladly.” The outlook blackened as prominent ones of the Watch Tower Society who had to do with the feeding of the heavenly Shepherd’s “sheep” were arrested, unfairly tried and sentenced to many years in Federal Penitentiary. It was not then appreciated that Zechariah 13:7 was being fulfilled.
44. (a) What did the bright side of Zechariah’s prophecy say and mean? (b) How was this part of the prophecy fulfilled upon Jesus’ apostles?
44 However, there was a bright side to this prophecy. It not only foretold the striking of the shepherd and the scattering of the sheep but also added Jehovah’s promise: “And I shall certainly turn my hand back upon those who are insignificant.” That meant a turning back of Jehovah’s hand upon the scattered sheep with favor. And so Jesus, after quoting from the prophecy about the scattering of the sheep, reassured his apostles by adding: “But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Matthew 26:32) This meant that, after his resurrection from the dead, he would regather them. This actually took place, and concerning this we read: “The eleven disciples went into Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had arranged for them, and when they saw him they did obeisance, but some doubted. And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: ‘All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.’”—Matthew 28:16-20.
45. How was this same prophecy fulfilled upon the faithful “slave” class in 1919, and how was this “slave” made “happy”?
45 Similarly, in the year 1919, Jehovah did “turn [his] hand back upon those who are insignificant.” (Zechariah 13:7) Jehovah’s Shepherd-King, Jesus Christ, did begin regathering the scattered “sheep.” Like the slave’s master in the illustration, the Lord Jesus did return to his house and inspect the situation within it. He did find there a “faithful and discreet slave” class that was striving, in spite of world conditions, to do as commanded, give the Lord’s “domestics” at the proper time their spiritual food, food taken from the inspired Word of God. So the Lord showed his favor by regathering them into a well-organized body of “domestics” in his house. The eight-day general convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, on September 1-8, 1919, was a notification to all the world that the invisibly present Lord Jesus Christ was regathering his faithful “sheep.” It indicated to the world who it was that the returned Lord Jesus had found to be his “faithful and discreet slave” class. This made the “slave” class happy. It meant their being retained in the service of their heavenly Master.
46. Jesus explained that the faithful “slave” was “happy” in view of what reward?
46 The Lord Jesus explained why the state of the “faithful and discreet slave” was a happy one, for Jesus said: “Happy is that slave if his master on arriving [Greek: elthòn] finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.”—Matthew 24:46, 47; Luke 12:42-44.
APPOINTED OVER ALL THE MASTER’S BELONGINGS
47. The promotion of the faithful “slave” lays what upon him, and how does this agree with the new capacity of his master?
47 The Lord Jesus pronounced the “faithful and discreet slave” happy because of what awaited him as a reward for his doing as his master appointed him to do. He gets a promotion, with larger responsibilities toward the master to whom he is so faithful. This is so, doubtless, because his master has also been clothed with larger responsibilities. Certainly the master does not leave his house and go on a journey as a mere touring sightseer or for his health. He had a more serious objective in mind, one that would enhance his position and increase his power and authority. And when we consider that Jesus was making an illustration here that applied to his departing to heaven to receive a kingdom after a long wait at his Father’s right hand, we know that this increase in the master’s responsibilities is implied in the illustration. The master is to be understood as returning home in a new and larger capacity. (Hebrews 10:12, 13) Hence “all his belongings” take on a larger value. So the promoted “slave” shares honors with his lord.
48. Why was the service committed to the “slave” class by their returned Master more important and honorable than the former service?
48 In the fulfillment of the prophetic illustration, the “master,” the Lord Jesus Christ, did obtain a heavenly kingdom when the “appointed times of the nations” ended in 1914 C.E. So his invisible parousia or “presence” began in that year with him as crowned reigning King on the heavenly throne. When he returned to his “household staff” in 1919 to make an inspection of all his “domestics,” he did so in a royal capacity such as he had not possessed when he was down here on earth in the first century. This put the “faithful and discreet slave” class in the service of a personage who had greater rank, authority and power than the one whom they had been serving hitherto. This made service to him much more important now. It was a higher honor now to be in his service. And for one to receive a promotion from him and thereby be entrusted with heavier responsibilities was a reward indeed!
49. The returned master’s appointing of the “slave” to be “over all his belongings” signified what for the slave, with what opportunity for him?
49 In the illustration, before the master departs, he gives a limited responsibility to the one who is expected to be a “faithful and discreet slave.” He appoints this slave over only his domestics or household staff with the obligation to give them their due food at the proper time. Consequently, when, at his return, the master appoints the approved slave “over all his belongings,” it signifies larger obligations for the promoted slave. Now he can demonstrate his faithfulness and discreetness in a larger way, for he has supervision over more things. He becomes a prized slave.
50. “All his belongings” refer to those where, and what are they?
50 In the fulfillment of the illustration, “all his belongings” over which the master appoints the worthy slave do not picture all his belongings up in heaven. The glorified Master, Jesus Christ, to whom “all authority” in heaven and on the earth has been given, is not incapable of taking care of all his “belongings” up in the invisible heavens where his holy angels are in his service. “All his belongings” over which the “faithful and discreet slave” class is appointed must refer to all the spiritual things that belong to him on earth in connection with his established heavenly kingdom. It does not mean any part in the political governments of this world as if the King Jesus Christ were now running and controlling all these man-made political institutions. Those institutions are doomed to destruction. “All his belongings” therefore mean the performing of a role on earth in the fulfillment of the prophecies that apply since the establishment of the Kingdom in the heavens in 1914 C.E.
51. How is the ambassadorship of the faithful “slave” class larger now than formerly, and what privilege and responsibility toward prophecy do they now have?
51 On inspecting the remnant of his anointed disciples in the year 1919 C.E., the reigning King Jesus Christ did find the appointed “slave” faithful and discreet in the feeding of his “domestics.” Accordingly, he appointed this “slave” class over all his belongings. Their enlarged responsible position now was that of serving in fulfillment of the now due Kingdom prophecies. All through the centuries the “faithful and discreet slave” class has been made up of those who are “ambassadors substituting for Christ,” which ambassadors make an entreaty to people to become reconciled to God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20) Since their appointment in 1919, however, they are ambassadors of the inaugurated Messianic kingdom, with a Kingdom message that has taken on new meaning and force. (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10) Theirs is the privilege and responsibility to lend themselves as instruments for the carrying out of the Kingdom prophecies that have their finalizing fulfillment since 1914 C.E. What an honor it is for them to be used in the working out of what the book of Revelation foretells with all its marvelous symbolisms and its glorious news about the thousand-year reign of Christ!
52. How was this an elevation of position for the “slave” class, and how was this pictured in the book of Revelation?
52 All these are privileges, responsibilities, dignities and honors that have been reserved for the remnant of the “faithful and discreet slave” class and that are bestowed upon them by their heavenly Master, the reigning King Jesus Christ. No wonder they can be pronounced “happy”! Their being charged with these precious things denotes an elevation of them indeed. It resembles the picture presented in Revelation 11:11, 12 concerning the “two witnesses” killed by the enemy, whose dead bodies lay exposed in the broad way of the Sodom-like “great city” for three and a half days: “And after the three and a half days spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon those beholding them. And they heard a loud voice out of heaven say to them: ‘Come on up here.’ And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them.”
53. (a) Why were the privileges and responsibilities of the “slave” class now greater? (b) How did the feeding of the “domestics” continue on despite the disposal of earlier publications?
53 Their being charged with such elevated privileges and responsibilities has meant more work for those making up the composite “faithful and discreet slave.” It has called for more time and attention on their part, also for the use of larger facilities for getting the work done in order that the Bible prophecies concerning this Kingdom work on earth fail not. They have also had to work over a larger field, all parts of the inhabited earth. (Revelation 14:6, 7; 10:11) Of course, the feeding program toward the Lord’s “domestics” has had to continue on. And with what a spiritual table of Scriptural food they have been fed! The disposing of any remaining stocks of the Studies in the Scriptures by C. T. Russell and of The Finished Mystery in the year 1927 produced no shortage of spiritual food for these “domestics.” New and up-to-date bound books and booklets and tracts have continued to be published since the book The Harp of God in 1921. Yes, in October of 1919 a companion to The Watch Tower was published in the form of the magazine The Golden Age (now eninputd “Awake!”).
54. To the “slave” class there has been added the privilege of working for the realization of what picture in Revelation, and how has this resulted in larger responsibility and yet with assistance?
54 Added to the privileges and responsibilities of the rewarded “faithful and discreet slave” class was their working for the realization of the beautiful vision seen by the apostle John under inspiration and described by him in Revelation 7:9-17. Yes, since the year 1935 the “slave” class has seen that vision come to reality. Their blessed eyes see the numerically unlimited “great crowd” from everywhere over the earth praising and worshiping Jehovah God at his spiritual temple and crediting salvation to Him and to his Lamb, Jesus Christ. It has meant a great responsibility for the “faithful and discreet slave” class of spiritual Israelites to take care of this continually increasing “great crowd,” but they realize that these sheeplike ones “out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues” are a precious part of “all his belongings” on the earth and so they are happy to take care of the spiritual needs of these “other sheep.” In turn, this “great crowd” is assisting the “faithful and discreet slave” in taking care of all the Lord’s earthly “belongings.”
“IF THAT EVIL SLAVE”
55, 56. Why does each member of the “slave” class need to maintain his faithfulness and discreetness, in the light of what warning of Jesus?
55 The Lord Jesus Christ will continue to have a “faithful and discreet slave” class down to the end of its happy service on earth. However, each spirit-begotten, anointed member of that “slave” class today must watch his conduct that he does not prove himself unfit to continue in that highly favored class. By failure to maintain his personal faithfulness and discreetness he would become like a man who turns out to be an “evil slave.” Jesus warned of this danger when he continued on with his illustration to say:
56 “But if [ever] that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards [literally, the (ones) getting drunk], the master of that slave will come [Greek: héxei] on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish him with the greatest severity [literally, he will cut asunder him] and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.”—Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 12:45, 46; INT.
57. (a) Does Jesus here say that the master does appoint an “evil slave” at the start, or that the appointed slave turns out bad? (b) By the way in which Jesus introduces the matter, what was Jesus showing?
57 When we take a close look at what Jesus here says, we notice that he does not here say that the departing “master” does appoint an “evil slave,” to begin with; nor does he say that the “faithful and discreet slave” turns out bad, becomes “evil.” He merely raises the question and says, “If ever” (as in Luke 12:45 and Interlinear reading in Matthew 24:48) the slave that was appointed over the domestics were to say, after his becoming “evil” at heart, that his master will yet be a long time in returning and were to start acting improperly, this is the way that his master would deal with him on returning. It would be far opposite from the slave’s being put over all his master’s belongings. So Jesus’ suggestion here is, Suppose that the appointed slave would turn out bad and act unfaithfully and imprudently, what would happen to him when his master suddenly returned? It would be just as Jesus described. Jesus does not speak of the original appointed slave’s turning out bad as a certainty or as very likely.
58. (a) How do other modern translations render the passage by means of paraphrase? (b) If the “slave” class appointed by Jesus went bad, how would this outcome leave Jesus?
58 Some modern translations of Jesus’ words bring out that thought more clearly, by a bit of paraphrase. An American Translation says: “But if he is a bad slave and says to himself, ‘My master is going to stay a long time,’ and begins to beat the other slaves, and eats and drinks with the drunkards.” (Matthew 24:48, 49) The New English Bible reads similarly. The New American Bible says: “But if the servant is worthless and tells himself,” etc. The New Testament in Modern Speech, by R. F. Weymouth, says: “But, if the man, being a bad servant, should say in his heart,” etc. The coming of an “evil slave” into existence is not definitely predicted by Jesus. He merely describes how an unfaithful and indiscreet slave would think, speak and act, and the punishment that he would receive from his master on his sudden returning. If the “slave” appointed by the Lord Jesus turned out bad, it would leave him without a “slave” to reward for his integrity. Jesus does not appoint two slave classes.
59. (a) For what kind of “slave” class did Jesus lay the foundation? (b) Did the prophecies indicate that the “slave” class was meant to turn out bad or would do so, or otherwise?
59 Jesus, before his departure nineteen centuries ago, took care not to appoint a bad, evil, worthless “slave” over his “domestics.” The record in the Christian Greek Scriptures proves that the appointed “slave” class did not turn out bad, and the prophecies thereof show that the “slave” class was not expected to turn out bad and would not do so. In his tried and proved apostles he laid the foundation for the building up of a body of faithful slaves. Revelation 7:3-8 foretells that a full 144,000 spiritual Israelites would be sealed as “the slaves of our God.” Revelation 12:17 foretells that, after the dragon Satan the Devil is ousted from heaven, he would war upon the remnant of the “seed” of God’s “woman,” who “observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.” And Revelation 14:1-4 foretells that the entire number of 144,000 “that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes” stand with him upon the Mount Zion. They “have been bought from the earth.” “These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
60. (a) Were individuals who act like “that evil slave” appointed as such by the Master? (b) What do all such individuals form in general?
60 If there is a class of spirit-begotten, anointed Christians who act according to the description of “that evil slave,” it is not the Lord Jesus who appointed them and put them in charge of his domestics or “household staff.” Individuals who were once members of the “faithful and discreet slave” class may break away for selfish reasons such as personal ambitions, power over others and self-indulgence. These self-seekers may form themselves into groups in pursuit of their goals. However, they would form one general class, separate and distinct from the “faithful and discreet” slave class.
61. What is it reasonable to say as to whether there would be cases that could be used to illustrate what Jesus said about the “evil slave”?
61 It is reasonable to believe that the Lord Jesus would not use an illustration without having some cases, or a general case, with which to furnish an example of what he meant, as far as conduct and the outcome thereof is concerned. This would illustrate, not that Jesus appointed “that evil slave” class or type of Christians, but that it really happens to unfaithful, unreliable, untrustworthy, indiscreet Christians during his invisible parousia or presence just as he described.
62. What instances of this were there, especially during World War I days, and how did this affect the “faithful and discreet slave” class?
62 There were instances of this in the ranks of the International Bible Students Association right after the death in 1916 C.E. of the editor of The Watch Tower and founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. There were attempts on the part of some individuals to seize power and control contrary to the provisions of the Society’s Charter. There were disagreements as to who made up the Lord’s approved organization. The power-seeking ones and those dissatisfied with sincere efforts to conduct matters according to the legal Charter and Bible principles were frustrated. They indulged in considerable ‘beating of their fellow slaves’ in a verbal way in print and by word of mouth and in judicial court. They put themselves on the side of the “confirmed drunkards” of this world, spiritually speaking, especially during those days of World War I. All of this put the stability of the organization, which was then under increasing religious persecution, to a great test. It brought a great trial upon the “faithful and discreet slave” class.
63. (a) What assurance did Jesus give that such an “evil slave” group would not break up his house of “domestics”? (b) How did this foretold action take place?
63 Jesus’ illustration gave the assurance that during his parousia or presence he would not permit any disloyal ones with the traits of “that evil slave” to break up his “household of faith” or to dominate it and turn it from its appointment to give his “domestics” their spiritual “food at the proper time.” At his time of inspection he punished with the greatest severity such an evilly disposed class. Or, according to the literal meaning of the Greek verb used in Matthew 24:51: “He will cut him in two.” (Marginal footnote) He “cut asunder” that class of misbehaving ones from the “faithful and discreet slave” class. This manifested itself in what appeared their strike for independence and withdrawing themselves and forming their own religious groups with a headship according to their liking. The outcome of their course of action is there for anyone who cares to investigate to do so.
64. With whom does the master assign those like “that evil slave” to have their portion, but with whom did he not want them to be?
64 Such a class that was “cut asunder” displayed the characteristics and suffered the consequences of “that evil slave” described by Jesus and could, at least in a limited way, be called the “evil slave” class. In his illustration Jesus said that the master “will assign him his part with the hypocrites.” (Matthew 24:51) In the corresponding illustration in which the “slave” is called a “steward,” Jesus says: “He will . . . assign him a part with the unfaithful ones.” (Luke 12:46) During his parousia or presence the Lord Jesus definitely does not care to have any professed Christians who take on the traits of “that evil slave” or “steward” within his “household staff” or “domestics.” The Christianity of such ones turns out to be hypocritical and they belong with the religious hypocrites of Christendom. They prove themselves unfaithful, not faithful, reliable, trustworthy in what the Lord appointed them to do. They belong with the unfaithful professed Christians of Christendom.
65. The weeping and gnashing of teeth on the part of those like “that evil slave” is because of what?
65 Among the hypocrites and unfaithful ones, those who display the trait of an “evil slave” find no real spiritual pleasure, and they must share the experiences of those hypocrites and unfaithful religionists. “There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be.” (Matthew 24:51) This will not be because of repentance on their part. It is not a “sadness in a godly way” such as “makes for repentance to salvation that is not to be regretted.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) Their expressions are those of vexation and of bitter disappointment. They may still carry on in a religious way, but they miss the joy and blessing of carrying out the approved slave’s appointment “over all [the master’s] belongings.”
WARNING AGAINST OUR BEING SNARED
66. According to Luke’s account, what warning did Jesus give to his disciples in closing his prophecy on the “sign”?
66 In his prophecy on the “sign of [his] presence and of the conclusion of the system of things,” Jesus gave more warning than just this illustration of how an “evil slave” will fare. He spoke words to his apostles directly warning all his disciples against adopting the course of such an “evil slave.” According to Luke’s account of the close of Jesus’ remarkable prophecy, Jesus said: “But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.”—Luke 21:34-36.
67. Now that they have been put over all the “belongings” of their returned Master, why is it highly important for those of the faithful “slave” class to heed his warning?
67 It is highly important now for individuals to heed those words, now that the “faithful and discreet slave” of the invisibly present Lord Jesus has been appointed “over all his belongings.” The day when the unparalleled “great tribulation” breaks upon antitypical unfaithful Jerusalem, Christendom, is very near. As a snare that is instantaneous in action that day will be released upon those dwelling upon the face of all the earth, and all the unwary ones will be caught during their overeating and heavy drinking and anxiousness over the selfish things of life. The snarelike “day” will bring their destruction. The members of the “faithful and discreet slave” class do not desire to share with those selfish heedless ones along with those like “that evil slave.”
68. (a) What more than just the presence of the “faithful and discreet slave” is proof of our living where the “sign” indicates that we are? (b) For what personal success should our supplications therefore be?
68 There is no reason for us to be uncertain with regard to the period of time in which we are living. Because we have done according to Jesus’ illustration of the “fig tree and all the other trees,” we know where we are and what is near. The “faithful and discreet slave” illustration is at the culmination of its fulfillment. Not just the presence of that “faithful and discreet slave” class, but the appointment of that class over all the Lord’s belongings and its taking care of all those belongings—these things are an outstanding feature of the “sign” proving that we are living in the parousia, the invisible presence of the enthroned King Jesus Christ, and at the same time living in the “conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 24:3) The day of the destruction of this “system of things,” Christendom and all, is near to being released like a snare. This fact is the thing to which to “keep awake.” “All the time” it is urgent for us to be “making supplication that [we] may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.”—Luke 21:36.
[Footnotes]
a See the book The Battle of Armageddon, published in 1897, page 613, under the heading “Dispensing of Food to the Household.—Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-46.” |
Young People Ask, Volume 2 (yp2)
2008 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp2 | CHAPTER 26
How Can I Control My Emotions?
WHAT do you think—is fire good or bad? You probably would say that the answer depends on the circumstances. On a cold winter night, logs burning in a fireplace can provide much-needed warmth. That’s good. Uncontrolled, however, the flames can quickly spread and destroy the entire house. That’s bad.
It’s similar with your emotions. When controlled, they’re beneficial, enabling you to develop warm friendships. Unrestrained, your emotions can be destructive, not only to you but also to those around you.
As an adolescent, you may at times find yourself overwhelmed by anger or sadness. How can you control those emotions? Let’s discuss them one at a time.
Defusing Anger
It isn’t easy to deal with the hurt and pain that arise when you’re a victim of mistreatment. Some in that position lose their self-control. In fact, the Bible speaks of people who are “given to anger” and “disposed to rage.” (Proverbs 22:24; 29:22) This is no trivial matter. Uncontrolled anger can cause you to take action that you’ll later regret. So how can you control your emotions when you’ve been mistreated?
First, analyze the situation squarely, and see if you can settle the matter in your heart.a (Psalm 4:4) Remember, paying back “injury for injury” will just make matters worse. (1 Thessalonians 5:15) After thinking the matter over and praying about it, you might find that you’re able to let go of resentment. Once you do that, you will reduce its hold on you.—Psalm 37:8.
But what if the hurt just won’t go away? The Bible says that there is “a time to keep quiet and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) Can you approach the person who hurt you? If that’s not advisable, you might benefit by talking to your parents or a mature friend about how you feel. If someone is purposely trying to harass you, make a special effort to be kind to that one. The chart on page 221 can help you to think up additional responses to situations that until now may have made you react impulsively.
By all means, pray to Jehovah, and ask him to help you avoid building up resentment toward the individual who hurt you. Remember this: Although you can’t change what happened, you can change your reaction to what happened. If you let yourself be consumed with resentment, you become as helpless as a hooked fish. You allow someone else to lead your thinking and emotions. Wouldn’t you rather be the one who is in control?—Romans 12:19.
Coping With Sadness
“Recently I have been moody and overly self-critical,” says 16-year-old Laura. “I get no joy out of life. I cry myself to sleep.” Like Laura, many young people feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life. What about you? Demands from your parents, friends, and teachers; the physical and emotional changes of puberty; or the feeling that you’re a failure because of some minor shortcoming—these things may leave you feeling miserable.
Some young people even resort to self-injury to relieve anguish.b If you’ve fallen victim to such a habit, try to discern the reason. For example, self-injury is often a way of coping with some form of stress. Is there a situation—perhaps with regard to your family or friends—that is causing you distress?
One of the best ways to deal with troubled feelings is to talk to a parent or a mature member of the Christian congregation who could prove to be one who is “born for when there is distress.” (Proverbs 17:17) Liliana, 16, confided in some adult Christian sisters. “Since they are older than I am,” she says, “their advice is sound. They have become my friends.”c Dana, 15, says that she gained a measure of relief by increasing her share in the Christian ministry. “It was the best thing I could have done,” she says. “In fact, it was the happiest time of my life!”
Above all, if you’re sad and depressed, don’t neglect prayer. The psalmist David, who was no stranger to adversity, wrote: “Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22) Jehovah knows about your suffering. More than that, “he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) If your heart condemns you, remember that ‘God is greater than your heart and knows all things.’ (1 John 3:20) He understands even better than you do why you’re distressed, and he can lift your emotional burdens.
If sadness persists, it could be that you suffer from a health disorder, such as depression.d If that’s the case, it would be good for you to get a medical checkup. Ignoring the situation would be like turning up the volume of a car radio to drown out a knocking noise in the engine. It’s far better to address the matter. Really, there’s no need to be ashamed of your condition. Many youths who suffer from depression and related disorders are being helped through treatment.
Remember, your emotions are like fire. When controlled, they’re beneficial; when unrestrained, they’re destructive. Do your best to keep your emotions in check. True, on occasion you will likely say or do things that you later regret. But be patient. In time, you’ll learn to control your emotions so that your emotions do not control you.
IN OUR NEXT CHAPTERAre you a perfectionist? If so, how can you learn to cope with your failings?
[Footnotes]
a If the mistreatment involves bullying, see Chapter 14 of this book for suggestions on how to deal with the situation. On the other hand, if a friend has made you angry, you may find the information in Chapter 10 helpful.
b Self-injurers deliberately hurt themselves by various means, such as cutting, burning, bruising, or scraping their skin.
c If you can’t bear a face-to-face talk, try writing a letter or speaking over the phone. Confiding is often the first step toward emotional healing.
d For more information on depression, see Volume 1, chapter 13.
KEY SCRIPTURE
“Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.”—Romans 12:21.
TIP
Each day, tell your parent(s) one good thing that happened to you—even if it’s just a little thing. Then when a serious problem arises, you’ll find it easier to talk to them. And they’ll be more inclined to listen.
DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
When your body is deprived of sufficient rest and nutrition, you’re less capable of dealing with your feelings.
ACTION PLAN!
The negative emotion I contend with most is ․․․․․
I will deal with this negative emotion by ․․․․․
What I would like to ask my parent(s) about this subject is ․․․․․
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
● Why is uncontrolled anger displeasing to God?
● In what ways can having an angry disposition hurt you?
● What are some ways you can cope with sadness?
[Blurb on page 223]
“The most important thing was knowing that someone really cared about me, that there was someone I could talk to when things looked bleak.”—Jennifer
[Chart/Pictures on page 221]
Worksheet
Control Your Anger
Complete the chart
Event
A classmate ridicules me
Impulsive reaction
Respond with an insult
Better response
Ignore the remark, and show my classmate that he will not provoke me
Event
My sister “borrowed” my favorite shoes without asking me
Impulsive reaction
Retaliate by “borrowing” something of hers
Better response
․․․․․
Event
My parents say I’m grounded
Impulsive reaction
․․․․․
Better response
․․․․․
[Picture on page 220]
A person who harbors resentment is like a hooked fish—both are controlled by someone else |
CAN OUR PLANET SURVIVE?
Oceans | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102023006 | Georgette Douwma/Stone via Getty Images
CAN OUR PLANET SURVIVE?
OCEANS
OCEANS supply not only much of the food we eat but also many ingredients we need to have to make medicine. Our oceans generate more than half the world’s oxygen, and they absorb carbon emissions from human activity. In addition to that, oceans regulate our climate.
The Threats to Our Oceans
Climate change threatens coral reefs, shellfish, and other marine life. Scientists predict that almost all reefs—which support at least a quarter of all known life in the sea—could be at risk of dying within the next 30 years.
Experts estimate that up to 90 percent of seabirds may have eaten plastic, and ocean plastic is thought to kill millions of sea animals every year.
“We have taken the ocean for granted,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022, “and today we face what I would call an ‘Ocean Emergency.’”
Our Planet—Designed to Survive
Oceans and the life within them are designed to keep themselves clean and healthy when not overwhelmed by human pollution. The book Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation explains that when a part of the sea is protected from human industry, “the innate regenerative capacity of oceans is allowed to operate unhindered.” Consider a few examples:
Tiny organisms called phytoplankton consume and store carbon dioxide—the main gas believed to cause global warming. Phytoplankton alone store almost the same amount of carbon dioxide as that stored by all the trees, grasses, and other land-based plants on earth combined.
Microbes feed on waste products of fish, which would otherwise pollute the ocean. Then the microbes themselves become food for other marine creatures. This cooperative arrangement “keeps the ocean clean and clear,” according to the Smithsonian Institution Ocean Portal.
Many ocean creatures use their digestive system to transform acidic ocean waters—which harm corals, shellfish, and other creatures—into healthier alkaline waters.
DID YOU KNOW?
Seagrass and Ocean Health
Seagrasses trap underwater sediment and keep it in place, stabilizing the seafloor. They reduce coral disease and even protect coastlines by helping both to reduce destructive waves and to limit erosion.
What Is Being Done
Using reusable bags and refillable water bottles can help reduce the amount of plastic waste in our oceans
Waste that never enters the ocean never has to be cleaned up. So experts encourage people to reuse bags, tools, and containers instead of using plastic items once and then discarding them.
But more is needed. Recently, in one year, an environmental organization collected 9,200 tons of beach litter dumped by ocean tides in 112 countries. Yet, that was only about one thousandth of the trash that enters the ocean each year.
National Geographic reported that “the acidification [of the oceans] that has occurred so far is probably irreversible.” Sea creatures are “up against a global economy built on cheap fossil fuels. It’s not a fair fight.”
Reasons for Hope—What the Bible Says
“The earth is full of what you have made. There is the sea, so great and wide, teeming with countless living things, both small and great.”—Psalm 104:24, 25.
Our Creator made the oceans and their ability to purify themselves. Consider: If he knows so much about the sea and all marine life, might he also be qualified to undo the damage that has been done to our oceans? See the article “God Promises That Our Planet Will Survive,” on page 15.
LEARN MORE
Blue Planet Archive/Doug Perrine
An effective and nontoxic method used to keep large ships clean has been working in the ocean all along. Read the article “The Pilot Whale’s Self-Cleaning Skin” on jw.org. |
Making Whole-Souled Sacrifices for Jehovah | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2012045 | Making Whole-Souled Sacrifices for Jehovah
“Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah.”—COL. 3:23.
SEE IF YOU CAN ANSWER:
How can we honor Jehovah in our everyday activities?
What sacrifices do we make in our worship of God?
How can we offer our material things to Jehovah?
1-3. (a) Did Jesus’ death on the torture stake mean that Jehovah no longer required any kind of sacrifice from us? Explain. (b) What question arises with regard to sacrifices today?
IN THE first century C.E., Jehovah revealed to his people that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice had abolished the Mosaic Law. (Col. 2:13, 14) All the sacrificial offerings that the Jews had been making for hundreds of years were no longer necessary and no longer had any value. The Law had fulfilled its function as a “tutor leading to Christ.”—Gal. 3:24.
2 That is not to say that Christians are no longer interested in sacrifices. On the contrary, the apostle Peter spoke of the need to “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:5) Moreover, the apostle Paul had made it clear that a dedicated Christian’s life—every aspect of it—may appropriately be considered “a sacrifice.”—Rom. 12:1.
3 So, then, a Christian makes sacrifices for Jehovah, either by offering up certain things to him or by giving up certain things for him. On the basis of what we know about the requirements that existed for the Israelites, how can we be sure that all our sacrifices today are acceptable to Jehovah?
IN EVERYDAY LIFE
4. What must we remember about everyday activities of life?
4 As we go about our everyday lives, it might seem difficult to relate our activities to making sacrifices for Jehovah. Housework, schoolwork, secular work, shopping, and the like might on the surface seem to have little to do with spiritual concerns. However, if you have dedicated your life to Jehovah or hope to do so in the near future, then the spirit with which you approach mundane activities is important. We are Christians 24 hours a day. Scriptural principles need to be applied in every aspect of our lives. Hence, Paul urged us: “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.”—Read Colossians 3:18-24.
5, 6. What considerations should affect our everyday dress and conduct?
5 A Christian’s day-to-day activities are not part of his sacred service. Yet, the fact that Paul urges us to work “whole-souled as to Jehovah” makes us think about our entire course of life. So how might we apply this to ourselves? Do we act and dress with proper decorum at all times? Or while engaging in day-to-day activities, might we be embarrassed to identify ourselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses, either because of the way we behave or because of the way we dress? Never may that be! Jehovah’s people would not want to do anything that might reflect badly on God’s name.—Isa. 43:10; 2 Cor. 6:3, 4, 9.
6 Let us examine how a desire to work “whole-souled as to Jehovah” affects a number of different areas of life. As we do so, bear in mind that all sacrifices that the Israelites presented to Jehovah had to be the very best they had.—Ex. 23:19.
HOW YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED
7. What is involved in Christian dedication?
7 When you dedicated yourself to Jehovah, you made that decision without reservation, did you not? In effect, you said that in every aspect of your life, you would put Jehovah first. (Read Hebrews 10:7.) That was a good decision. Doubtless you have seen that when you seek Jehovah’s will in a matter and strive to work in harmony with it, the results are excellent. (Isa. 48:17, 18) God’s people are holy and joyful because they reflect the qualities of the One who instructs them.—Lev. 11:44; 1 Tim. 1:11.
8. Of what significance is it to us that Jehovah considered ancient sacrifices to be holy?
8 The sacrifices that the Israelites made to Jehovah were considered to be holy. (Lev. 6:25; 7:1) The Hebrew term translated “holiness” conveys the idea of separateness, exclusiveness, or sanctification to God. In order for our sacrifices to be acceptable to Jehovah, they must be separate from and uncontaminated by worldly influences. We cannot be loving any of the things that Jehovah hates. (Read 1 John 2:15-17.) Clearly, this means that we have to avoid any associations or involvements that would defile us from God’s point of view. (Isa. 2:4; Rev. 18:4) It also means that we cannot allow our eyes to keep looking at that which is unclean or immoral or let our minds fantasize about such things.—Col. 3:5, 6.
9. How important is a Christian’s conduct toward others, and why?
9 Paul urged fellow believers: “Do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb. 13:16) So being good and doing good to others as a matter of course is something that Jehovah views as an acceptable sacrifice to him. Loving concern for others is a distinguishing mark of true Christians.—John 13:34, 35; Col. 1:10.
SACRIFICES IN WORSHIP
10, 11. How does Jehovah view our Christian ministry and worship, and what effect should this have on us?
10 One of the most obvious ways in which we as Christians do good things for others is through “the public declaration of our hope.” Do you seize every opportunity to give a witness? Paul called this essential Christian activity “a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to [God’s] name.” (Heb. 10:23; 13:15; Hos. 14:2) Much could be said about the quantity and quality of the time that we spend preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and many Service Meeting parts are designed to stimulate our thinking on this matter. Briefly stated, however, since our field service and informal witnessing activities are “a sacrifice of praise,” a part of our worship, that sacrifice should be of the very best that we can offer. While circumstances vary, the amount of time that we devote to announcing the good news often reflects our appreciation for spiritual things.
11 Christians regularly spend time in private or group worship. Jehovah requires us to do so. It is true that we no longer have to observe a strict Sabbath rest or make regular trips to festivals in Jerusalem. However, those ancient observances do have their counterparts in Christian life. God still expects us to desist from dead works and to study his Word, pray, and attend Christian meetings. And Christian family heads take the initiative in conducting family worship with the members of their own households. (1 Thess. 5:17; Heb. 10:24, 25) Regarding our spiritual activities, we do well to ask ourselves, ‘Could I improve the quality of my worship?’
12. (a) The offering of incense in ancient worship can be compared to what today? (b) How should this comparison affect the output of our prayers?
12 King David sang to Jehovah: “May my prayer be prepared as incense before you.” (Ps. 141:2) Think for a moment about your prayers—about their regularity and their quality. The book of Revelation likens “the prayers of the holy ones” to incense in that acceptable prayers rise to Jehovah like a sweet-smelling and pleasant odor. (Rev. 5:8) In ancient Israel, the incense that was regularly offered on Jehovah’s altar had to be carefully and precisely prepared. It was acceptable to Jehovah only if offered according to the guidelines that he had established. (Ex. 30:34-37; Lev. 10:1, 2) If our heartfelt prayers are similarly formulated, then we can be sure that they are acceptable to Jehovah.
GIVING AND RECEIVING
13, 14. (a) What service did Epaphroditus and the Philippian congregation perform for Paul, and how did the apostle feel about it? (b) How can we follow the example of Epaphroditus and the Philippians?
13 Financial contributions made to support the worldwide work can be likened to a sacrifice, whether we offer much or little. (Mark 12:41-44) In the first century C.E., the congregation in Philippi sent Epaphroditus to Rome in order to care for Paul’s physical needs. That envoy of the Philippians evidently carried with him a monetary gift from the congregation. This was not the first time that the Philippians had shown generosity to Paul. By their kindness they intended to free Paul of financial worries so that he could devote more time to the ministry. How did Paul view the gift? He called it “a sweet-smelling odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” (Read Philippians 4:15-19.) Paul truly appreciated the Philippians’ kind gesture, and so did Jehovah.
14 Likewise today, Jehovah deeply appreciates our contributions to the worldwide work. Moreover, he promises that if we continue to put Kingdom interests first in our lives, he will take care of all our needs, spiritual and physical.—Matt. 6:33; Luke 6:38.
SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION
15. What are some of the things for which you are grateful to Jehovah?
15 It would take a long time to enumerate the many reasons we have for being grateful to Jehovah. Is it not true that we should thank him each day for the gift of life? He gives us all that we need to sustain ourselves—food, clothing, and shelter as well as every breath that we take. Moreover, our faith, based on accurate knowledge, gives us hope. It is appropriate that we worship Jehovah and offer sacrifices of praise to him, simply because of who he is and what he has done for us.—Read Revelation 4:11.
16. How should we respond to Christ’s ransom sacrifice?
16 As we have seen in the preceding article, an especially precious gift of God to mankind is Christ’s ransom sacrifice. This is an outstanding manifestation of God’s love for us. (1 John 4:10) What is the appropriate response to it? Paul declared: “The love the Christ has compels us, because this is what we have judged, that one man died for all; . . . and he died for all that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up.” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15) In effect, Paul was saying that if we appreciate God’s undeserved kindness, we will use our lives to honor Him and His Son. Our love and appreciation for God and Christ is expressed through our obedience and by our desire to preach and make disciples.—1 Tim. 2:3, 4; 1 John 5:3.
17, 18. In what ways have some increased their sacrifice of praise to Jehovah? Give an example.
17 Would it be possible for you to improve the sacrifice of praise that you offer to God? After reflecting on all the good that Jehovah has done for them, many have been moved to organize their time and activities to increase their participation in the Kingdom-preaching work or other theocratic activities. Some have been able to auxiliary pioneer for one or more months each year, while others have been able to enter the ranks of the regular pioneers. Still others have engaged in Kingdom construction projects. Are not these excellent ways to show one’s appreciation? If performed with the right motive—to show gratitude and give thanks—these acts of sacred service are acceptable to God.
18 Many Christians have felt a debt of gratitude to Jehovah and have been motivated by it. One such person is Morena. She searched for answers to her spiritual questions in Catholicism, the religion in which she was raised, and in Asian philosophy. But she found no satisfying answers in either. Only when she began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses was her spiritual thirst quenched. Morena was so grateful for the Scriptural answers to all her questions and for the stability that those answers gave to her life that she wanted to thank Jehovah by using all her energies in his service. She began auxiliary pioneering on a regular basis immediately after her baptism, and as soon as her circumstances allowed for it, she became a regular pioneer. That was 30 years ago, and Morena is still in full-time service.
19. How might it be possible for you to increase your sacrifices to Jehovah?
19 Of course, there are many faithful servants of Jehovah whose circumstances do not allow them to serve as pioneers. Whatever we can do in Jehovah’s service, all of us can offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices to him. In our conduct, we need to observe righteous principles carefully, mindful that we represent Jehovah at all times. In faith, we put full trust in the outworking of God’s purposes. In fine works, we help spread the good news. Out of our heart’s abundance and out of appreciation for all that Jehovah has done for us, let us continue to make whole-souled sacrifices for Jehovah.
[Blurb on page 25]
Does Jehovah’s goodness motivate you to improve your sacrifice of praise?
[Picture on page 23]
Do you seize every opportunity to give a witness? |
Sing Praises (ssb)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/Ssb | Song 207
To Whom Do We Belong?
(1 Corinthians 6:20)
1. To whom do you belong?
Which God do you obey?
For just the one to whom you bow
Your master is; you serve him now.
You cannot serve two gods;
Both masters cannot share
The love of your heart in its ev’ry part.
To neither you’d be fair.
2. To whom do you belong?
Which God will you obey?
For one is false and one is true,
So make your choice; it’s up to you.
Shall Caesar of this world
Claim your allegiance still?
Or will you obey the true God today
And vow to do his will?
3. To whom do I belong?
Jehovah I’ll obey.
This God of truth I’ll gladly serve;
From paying my vow I’ll not swerve.
He bought me at great cost;
I’ve ceased from serving men.
The death of his Son my ransom has won;
I’ll not turn back again.
4. To God we do belong!
There’s no uncertainty.
The unity that he foretold
We now experience in his fold.
Just like the fragrant oil
Upon the high priest’s head,
We find it so sweet together to meet
And with his truth be fed. |
“Good Land” (gl)
2003 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/good-land-gl | input Page/Publishers’ Page
“See the Good Land”
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
[Map on page 2, 3]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
Middle East (overview)
BRITAIN
SPAIN (TARSHISH?)
ITALY
GREECE
ASIA MINOR
PROMISED LAND
EGYPT
ETHIOPIA
ARABIA
SHEBA
ASSYRIA
BABYLONIA
MEDIA
PERSIA
[Bodies of water]
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean Sea (Great Sea)
Black Sea
Red Sea
Caspian Sea
Persian Gulf
Arabian Sea
[Rivers]
Nile River
Euphrates River
Tigris River
[Full-page picture on page 1, 36]
[Picture Credit Lines on page 3]
Photo Credits: All photos except pages 6 bottom, 24, and 25: Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.; maps pages 9, 17 (except inset), 18, 19, and 29: Based on maps copyrighted by Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. and Survey of Israel |
Young People Ask, Volume 1 (yp1)
2011 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp1 | CHAPTER 6
How Can I Get Along With My Siblings?
On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being “distant” and 5 being “close,” how would you rate your relationship with your siblings? ․․․․․
SOME siblings are very close. For example, Felicia, who is 19, says, “My 16-year-old sister, Irena, is one of my best friends.” And Carly, 17, says of her 20-year-old brother, Eric: “We get along super well. We never fight.”
On the other hand, many have a relationship like that of Lauren and Marla. “We fight about everything,” says Lauren. “It doesn’t matter how trivial the subject.” Or maybe you can relate to what Alice, 12, says about her 14-year-old brother, Dennis: “He gets on my nerves! He barges into my room and ‘borrows’ things without asking. Dennis is such a child!”
Do you have a sibling who gets on your nerves? Your parents, of course, have the responsibility to maintain order in the household. Sooner or later, though, you will need to learn how to get along with others. You can learn that while at home.
Think about the conflicts you’ve had with your brother or sister. What do you fight about most? Look at the list below, and put a ✔ next to the type of incident that makes you steam!
□ Possessions. My sibling “borrows” items without asking.
□ Personality clashes. My sibling acts selfishly or thoughtlessly or tries to run my life.
□ Privacy. My sibling enters my room without knocking or reads my e-mails or text messages without asking permission.
□ Other ․․․․․
If your sibling constantly annoys you—bossing you around or invading your space—it might be hard not to let resentment build. But a Bible proverb says: “The squeezing of the nose is what brings forth blood, and the squeezing out of anger is what brings forth quarreling.” (Proverbs 30:33) If you hold a grudge, it will result in an angry outburst just as surely as squeezing your nose will cause blood to flow. Then the problem will only get worse. (Proverbs 26:21) How can you prevent an irritation from bursting into a raging argument? A first step is to identify the real issue.
Incident or Issue?
Problems between siblings are like pimples. The surface evidence of a pimple is an unsightly sore, but the cause is an underlying infection. Similarly, an ugly clash between siblings is often just the surface evidence of an underlying issue.
You could attempt to treat a pimple by squeezing it. But you would only be dealing with the symptom, and you may leave a scar or aggravate the infection. A better approach is to deal with the infection and thus prevent further outbreaks. It’s similar when it comes to problems with siblings. Learn to identify the underlying issue, and you will get past the incident and right to the root of the problem. You’ll also be able to apply the advice of wise King Solomon, who wrote: “The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger.”—Proverbs 19:11.
For example, Alice, quoted earlier, said about her brother Dennis, “He barges into my room and ‘borrows’ things without asking.” That’s the incident. But what do you think is the real issue? Likely, it’s related to respect. Alice could deal with the problem by telling Dennis never to come into her room or use her things. But that approach treats only the symptom and would likely lead to further conflict. However, if Alice could convince Dennis to respect her privacy and her property, their relationship would no doubt improve.
Learn to Resolve or Avoid Conflicts
Of course, identifying the underlying issues you have with a sibling is only part of the solution. What can you do to resolve an issue and avoid a future confrontation? Try taking the following six steps.
1. Agree to some ground rules. Look back at what you indicated caused conflict between you and your sibling. See if together you can work out some rules that you both agree on and that address the underlying issue. For example, if you clash over possessions, Rule 1 could be: “Always ask before taking an item that belongs to someone else.” Rule 2 could be: “Respect a sibling’s right to say, ‘No, you can’t use that item.’” When making these rules, think of Jesus’ command: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matthew 7:12) That way you will make rules that both you and your sibling can live by. Then check with your parents to make sure that they approve of your rules.—Ephesians 6:1.
2. Abide by the rules yourself. The apostle Paul wrote: “Do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching ‘Do not steal,’ do you steal?” (Romans 2:21) How can you apply that principle? If you want your sibling to respect your privacy, for instance, then you likewise need to knock before entering your sibling’s room or ask before reading his or her e-mails or text messages.
3. Don’t be quick to take offense. Why is that good advice? Because, as a Bible proverb states, “only fools get angry quickly and hold a grudge.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9, Contemporary English Version) If you are easily offended, your life will be miserable. Yes, your siblings will do or say things that upset you. But ask yourself, ‘Have I done something similar to them in the past?’ (Matthew 7:1-5) “When I was 13, I thought that I was too cool for everyone,” says Jenny, “and that my opinion was the most important and must be heard. My little sister is now going through a similar stage. So I try not to get upset over the things she says.”
4. Forgive and forget. Serious problems need to be discussed and resolved. But must you call your sibling to account for every mistake he or she makes? Jehovah God appreciates it when you are willing to “pass over transgression.” (Proverbs 19:11) Alison, 19, says: “My sister Rachel and I are usually able to resolve our differences. Both of us are quick to say that we are sorry and then explain what we think was the cause of the clash. Sometimes I’ll sleep on it before bringing up a problem. Often, the next morning it’s as if the slate is wiped clean, and I don’t even have to talk about it.”
5. Involve your parents as arbitrators. If you and your sibling can’t resolve an important issue, maybe your parents can help you make peace. (Romans 14:19) Remember, though, that the ability to resolve conflict without appealing to your parents is like a mile marker—it’s a measure of genuine maturity.
6. Appreciate your siblings’ good qualities. Your siblings likely have qualities that you admire. Write down one thing that you appreciate about each of your siblings.
Name
․․․․․
What I appreciate
․․․․․
Rather than obsess about your siblings’ faults, why not find an opportunity to tell them what it is that you admire about them?—Psalm 130:3; Proverbs 15:23.
The Bible acknowledges that a brother or a sister might not always be the closest companion you will have. (Proverbs 18:24) But you can strengthen your friendship with your siblings if you “continue putting up with one another,” even when they give you valid “cause for complaint.” (Colossians 3:13) If you do so, your siblings are likely to become less irritating to you. And you may even annoy them less!
IN OUR NEXT CHAPTERHow do you know if you’re really ready to leave home?
KEY SCRIPTURE
“Let your reasonableness become known to all men.”—Philippians 4:5.
TIP
If you have a brother or a sister whom you find difficult to get along with, take a positive view—that sibling is helping you to develop valuable life skills!
DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
When you leave home, you will at times be surrounded by people who irritate you—workmates and others who seem rude, insensitive, and selfish. Home is the place to learn how to deal peaceably with such challenges.
ACTION PLAN!
Some ground rules I could work out with my sibling(s) are ․․․․․
I can be less irritating to my sibling(s) if I ․․․․․
What I would like to ask my parent(s) about this subject is ․․․․․
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
● Why is it important to see the difference between an incident and the underlying issue?
● What advantages do you see in having siblings?
[Blurb on page 46]
“Without my siblings, all my fondest memories would vanish into thin air. To those who have siblings, I would say, ‘Don’t take them for granted!’”—Marilyn
[Box on page 42]
Worksheet
Identify the Real Issue
Want to hone your skills at identifying underlying issues between siblings? If so, read Jesus’ parable of the son who left home and wasted his inheritance. (Luke 15:11-32) Look closely at the way the older brother reacted when his younger brother returned home. Then answer the following questions.
What was the incident that sparked the older brother’s reaction? ․․․․․
What do you think was the underlying issue? ․․․․․
How did the father try to resolve the issue? ․․․․․
What did the older brother need to do to resolve the issue? ․․․․․
Now think of a recent argument you’ve had with a sibling. Then write your answers next to the questions below.
What was the incident that sparked the argument? ․․․․․
What do you think might be the underlying issue? ․․․․․
What ground rules could you agree to that would address this issue and prevent further clashes? ․․․․․
[Picture on page 43]
Problems between siblings are like pimples—to fix them you need to treat the underlying cause, not just attack the symptom |
KEEP ON THE WATCH!
Which Leader Will You Choose?—What Does the Bible Say? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/501100057 | Comstock Images/Stockbyte via Getty Images
KEEP ON THE WATCH!
Which Leader Will You Choose?—What Does the Bible Say?
People are making important decisions about which leaders they will choose.
What does the Bible say?
Human leaders are limited
The Bible identifies a limitation that all human leaders have.
“Do not put your trust in princes nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation. His breath goes out, he returns to the ground; on that very day his thoughts perish.”—Psalm 146:3, 4, footnote.
Even the most capable leaders will eventually die. Furthermore, they cannot guarantee that any of their good works will be continued by those who come after them.—Ecclesiastes 2:18, 19.
The fact is, the Bible reveals that humans were never meant to govern themselves.
“It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23.
Is there anyone who can provide good leadership today?
A leader approved by God
The Bible explains that God has appointed a most capable and trustworthy leader: Jesus Christ. (Psalm 2:6) Jesus is the King of God’s Kingdom, a government that rules from heaven.—Matthew 6:10.
Will you choose to accept Jesus’ leadership? The Bible highlights the significance of that choice:
“Honor the son [Jesus Christ], or God will become indignant and you will perish from the way, for His anger flares up quickly. Happy are all those taking refuge in Him.”—Psalm 2:12.
Now is the time to make your decision. Bible prophecy reveals that Jesus began ruling in the year 1914 and that soon God’s Kingdom will replace all human governments.—Daniel 2:44.
To learn more about how you can support Jesus’ leadership, read the article “Choose to Support God’s Kingdom Now!” |
What Does the Bible Say About Interracial Marriage? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502013207 | What Does the Bible Say About Interracial Marriage?
The Bible’s answer
God approves of marriage between a man and a woman of different races because all races are equal in his sight. The Bible says: “God treats everyone on the same basis . . . , no matter what race.”—Acts 10:34, 35, Good News Translation.
Consider some other Bible principles that bear on racial equality and marriage.
All races come from a common source
All humans descended from the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, whom the Bible calls “the mother of everyone living.” (Genesis 3:20) For this reason, the Bible says of God: “He made out of one man every nation of men.” (Acts 17:26) Regardless of their race, all humans are part of just one family. What, though, if racial prejudice or class distinctions are strong where you live?
Wise people ‘consult together’
While interracial marriage is perfectly acceptable to God, not all people share his view. (Isaiah 55:8, 9) If you are considering marrying someone of another race, you and your prospective mate should discuss the following:
How will you deal with the pressures you might face from your community or family?
How will you help your children to deal with prejudice?
“Consulting together” in this way can help you to make your marriage a success.—Proverbs 13:10; 21:5. |
Comet Crash! | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101997006 | Comet Crash!
FOR a week in July 1994, the collisions of about 20 fragments of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into the planet Jupiter captured the attention of stargazers around the world. Comet watchers marveled, since the display turned out to be, as one astronomer put it, “the celestial drama of the century.” Why did this event far exceed expectations?
First, the comet fragments, speeding at some 120,000 miles per hour [200,000 kph], produced huge blasts that only the most extreme predictions had indicated. Their entrance into Jupiter’s atmosphere brought forth flashes that lasted just a few seconds. Then, superheated gases shot out of the atmosphere, forming immense fireballs that for the largest blasts briefly exceeded the surface temperature of the sun! Over the next 10 to 20 minutes, a large plume rose as high as 2,000 miles [3,200 km].
Furthermore, what initially were thought to be poor viewing conditions turned out to be nearly ideal. Because the impacts occurred on the darkened side of Jupiter, the brilliant flashes and plumes were more easily detected. In some cases the tops of the plumes could be seen rising above Jupiter’s horizon, and within ten minutes of impact, Jupiter’s rotation brought the impact sites into direct view of the earth. Another ten minutes brought the impact sites into the sunlight. By then, the plumes had dissipated, and they were replaced by huge, dark bruises. These spots—the largest was twice the size of the earth—had not been predicted by astronomers, and yet they turned out to be the most distinct features that could be seen.
The Galileo spacecraft provided direct views of the impacts. In earth orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope viewed the impacts at the wavelengths of visible and ultraviolet light. Other observatories measured the response of the comet blasts at various wavelengths specifically chosen to yield valuable information. At the South Pole, the sun never rose, permitting full-time viewing from the South Pole Infrared Explorer telescope.
Sky watchers have experienced a rare treat. When will the next comet spectacle take place? Comet Hale-Bopp, already visible to the naked eye, may be the brightest comet we see this century. It will pass within 123 million miles [198 million km] of our planet. Comet watchers in the Northern Hemisphere will want to view Hale-Bopp during the month of April 1997. All of this reminds us that we live in a dynamic, changing universe created by Jehovah, “the Father of the celestial lights.”—James 1:17; Psalm 115:16.
[Picture on page 21]
Dark bruises mark areas where comet fragments crashed into Jupiter
[Credit Line]
Hubble Space Telescope Comet Team and NASA |
“A Must-Read” | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102007011 | “A Must-Read”
That is what a professor of physics in the United States said about Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?a He wrote: “The book deals with some of the most outstanding puzzles in astrophysics, molecular biology, and human anatomy, which are hard to explain by chance. . . . A consideration of the examples and arguments presented in the book will be valuable regardless of whether one is inclined to accept evolution or creation.”
A woman wrote: “I really do not have words to express how deeply this little book has affected me. I could not put the book down, as each page described further unfolding discoveries about our universe that scientists have brought to light. I really learned so much!”
Other things that impressed her about the book were the discussions of the four fundamental physical forces and of the uniqueness of humans compared with animals.
Do you ever wonder if there is solid scientific evidence that points to the existence of a Creator? If a Creator does exist, does he really care about us? You will find answers to such questions in this fascinating 192-page book. You may request a copy by filling in the accompanying coupon and mailing it to the address provided on the coupon or to an appropriate address listed on page 5 of this magazine.
□ Without obligation, I request a copy of the book shown here.
□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study.
[Footnote]
a Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
[Picture on page 32]
A photo of gaseous pillars called “Pillars of Creation” found in the NGC 6611 Nebula, or Eagle Nebula (M16). Photographed through the Hubble Space Telescope
[Picture Credit Line on page 32]
Photo above and on cover: J. Hester and P. Scowen (AZ State Univ.), NASA |
Revelation Climax (re)
1988 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/re | Chapter 4
Jesus Comes With Encouragement
1. To whom does John now write, and who today should find his message to be of absorbing interest?
WHAT follows next should be of absorbing interest to everyone associated with the congregations of God’s people today. Here is a series of messages. They have particular application as “the appointed time” draws near. (Revelation 1:3) It is to our everlasting benefit that we heed those pronouncements. The record reads: “John to the seven congregations that are in the district of Asia: May you have undeserved kindness and peace from ‘The One who is and who was and who is coming,’ and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ.”—Revelation 1:4, 5a.
2. (a) What does the number “seven” signify? (b) During the Lord’s day, to whom do the messages to the “seven congregations” apply?
2 Here John addresses “seven congregations,” and these are named for us later in the prophecy. That number, “seven,” is often repeated in Revelation. It signifies completeness, especially in connection with the things of God and his anointed congregation. Since the number of congregations of God’s people worldwide has grown into the tens of thousands during the Lord’s day, we can be sure that what is said primarily to the “seven congregations” of anointed ones also applies to all of God’s people today. (Revelation 1:10) Yes, John has a vital message for all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses and all who are associated with them, everywhere on the face of this earth.
3. (a) In John’s greeting, where do “undeserved kindness and peace” come from? (b) What expression of the apostle Paul is similar to John’s greeting?
3 “Undeserved kindness and peace”—how desirable these are and especially when we appreciate their source! The “One” from whom they flow is the Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself, “the King of eternity,” who lives “from time indefinite to time indefinite.” (1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 90:2) Involved here, too, are “the seven spirits,” which term indicates a fullness of operation of God’s active force, or holy spirit, as it brings understanding and blessing to all who pay attention to the prophecy. Also occupying a key role is “Jesus Christ,” of whom John later wrote: “He was full of undeserved kindness and truth.” (John 1:14) Thus, John’s greeting has the same elements that the apostle Paul mentioned in closing his second letter to the Corinthian congregation: “The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sharing in the holy spirit be with all of you.” (2 Corinthians 13:14) May those words apply also to every one of us who loves truth today!—Psalm 119:97.
“The Faithful Witness”
4. How does John go on to describe Jesus Christ, and why are these descriptive terms so appropriate?
4 After Jehovah, Jesus is the most glorious person in the universe, as John recognizes, describing him as “‘the Faithful Witness,’ ‘The firstborn from the dead,’ and ‘The Ruler of the kings of the earth.’” (Revelation 1:5b) Like the moon in the heavens, he has been firmly established as the greatest Witness to Jehovah’s Godship. (Psalm 89:37) After he kept integrity down to a sacrificial death, he became the first from among mankind to be raised to immortal spirit life. (Colossians 1:18) Now in Jehovah’s presence, he is exalted high above all earthly kings, being invested with “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth.” (Matthew 28:18; Psalm 89:27; 1 Timothy 6:15) In 1914 he was installed as King to rule among the earthly nations.—Psalm 2:6-9.
5. (a) How does John continue to express appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ? (b) Who benefit from Jesus’ gift of his perfect human life, and how have anointed Christians shared in a special blessing?
5 John continues to express appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ in these glowing words: “To him that loves us and that loosed us from our sins by means of his own blood—and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5c, 6) Jesus gave his perfect human life so that those of the world of mankind who exercise faith in him may be restored to perfect life. You, dear reader, can be included in this! (John 3:16) But Jesus’ sacrificial death opened the way for a special blessing for those who become anointed Christians like John. These have been declared righteous on the basis of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Renouncing all earthly life prospects, as Jesus did, those of the little flock have been begotten by God’s spirit, with the expectation of being resurrected to serve as kings and priests with Jesus Christ in his Kingdom. (Luke 12:32; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 20:6) What a grand privilege! No wonder John exclaimed so affirmatively that the glory and the might belong to Jesus!
“Coming With the Clouds”
6. (a) What does John announce about Jesus’ “coming with the clouds,” and of what prophecy of Jesus may John have been reminded? (b) How does Jesus ‘come,’ and who will experience great grief on earth?
6 Next, John jubilantly announces: “Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7) No doubt John was here reminded of Jesus’ earlier prophecy concerning the conclusion of the system of things. Jesus there stated: “Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:3, 30) Thus, Jesus ‘comes’ by turning his attention to the executing of Jehovah’s judgments on the nations. This will result in momentous changes on earth, and since “all the tribes of the earth” have ignored the reality of Jesus’ kingship, they will indeed experience “the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.”—Revelation 19:11-21; Psalm 2:2, 3, 8, 9.
7. How will “every eye,” including those of the disobedient ones, “see” Jesus?
7 During Jesus’ last evening with his disciples, he told them: “A little longer and the world will behold me no more.” (John 14:19) How is it, then, that “every eye will see him”? We should not expect that Jesus’ enemies would see him with physical eyes, for the apostle Paul said, after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, that Jesus now “dwells in unapproachable light,” and “not one of men has seen or can see” him. (1 Timothy 6:16) Evidently, John meant “see” in the sense of “discern,” just as we can see, or discern, God’s invisible qualities by means of his creations. (Romans 1:20) Jesus “is coming with the clouds” in that he will be just as invisible to the naked eye as the sun is when it is behind clouds. Even when the sun is hidden by clouds during daytime, we know it is there because of the daylight that surrounds us. Similarly, though the Lord Jesus is invisible, he will be revealed like ‘a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not obey the good news about him.’ These too will be compelled to “see him.”—2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; 2:8.
8. (a) Who were “those who pierced him” in 33 C.E., and who are such ones today? (b) Since Jesus is no longer here on earth, how can people ‘pierce him’?
8 Jesus will be ‘seen’ also by “those who pierced him.” Who might these be? When Jesus was executed in 33 C.E., the Roman soldiers pierced him literally. The guilt of that murder was shared by the Jews, for Peter told some of these at Pentecost: “God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled.” (Acts 2:5-11, 36; compare Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37.) Those Romans and Jews have now been dead for close to 2,000 years. So those who ‘pierce him’ today must represent nations and peoples that display the same hateful attitude that was shown when Jesus was impaled. Jesus is no longer here on earth. But when opposers either actively persecute Jehovah’s Witnesses, who bear witness to Jesus, or passively consent to such treatment, it is just as though such opposers were ‘piercing’ Jesus himself.—Matthew 25:33, 41-46.
“The Alpha and the Omega”
9. (a) Who now speaks out, and how many times in Revelation does he do so? (b) When Jehovah calls himself “the Alpha and the Omega” and “the Almighty,” what does this mean?
9 Now, wonder of wonders! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself speaks. How appropriate this is as a preface to the visions that are about to unfold, since he is our Grand Instructor and the ultimate Source of Revelation! (Isaiah 30:20) Our God declares: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, . . . the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) This is the first of three times in Revelation that Jehovah himself speaks from heaven. (See also Revelation 21:5-8; 22:12-15.) First-century Christians would quickly have recognized alpha and omega as the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jehovah’s calling himself by those two letters stresses that before him, there was no almighty God, and there will be none after him. He will bring to a successful conclusion, for all eternity, the issue of Godship. He will be forever vindicated as the one and only almighty God, Supreme Sovereign over all of his creation.—Compare Isaiah 46:10; 55:10, 11.
10. (a) How does John next describe himself, and where was he confined? (b) The scroll written by John must have been forwarded to the congregations with whose cooperation? (c) How is spiritual food often provided today?
10 Confident that Jehovah will direct the outcome of matters, John tells his fellow slaves: “I John, your brother and a sharer with you in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in company with Jesus, came to be in the isle that is called Patmos for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9) A prisoner on Patmos for the sake of the good news, enduring tribulations with his brothers, hoping firmly to have a share in the coming Kingdom, the aged John now sees the first of the visions of Revelation. No doubt he was encouraged greatly by these visions, just as the John class is stimulated today at seeing their fulfillment. We do not know how John forwarded the scroll of Revelation to the congregations, since he was in confinement at the time. (Revelation 1:11; 22:18, 19) Jehovah’s angels must have cooperated in getting this done, just as they have so often protected faithful Witnesses of Jehovah who serve under bans and restrictions today, so that these have been able to get timely spiritual food to their truth-hungry brothers.—Psalm 34:6, 7.
11. What privilege, similar to that appreciated by John, does the John class greatly treasure today?
11 How deeply John must have appreciated his privilege of being used by Jehovah as His channel of communication to the congregations! Similarly, the John class today treasures greatly its privilege of providing the household of God with spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) May you be one of those strengthened by this spiritual provision so as to attain to the glorious goal of everlasting life!—Proverbs 3:13-18; John 17:3.
[Box on page 21]
Obtaining Spiritual Food in Difficult Times
During these last days, when Jehovah’s Witnesses have suffered so much persecution and hardship, it has been vital for them to receive spiritual food in order to stay strong in faith. In most cases, adequate sustenance has been provided, often thanks to some remarkable demonstrations of Jehovah’s power.
For example, in Germany under Hitler, Witnesses mimeographed and distributed copies of The Watchtower, which was officially banned by the cruel Nazi authorities. In Hamburg the Gestapo raided a house where such mimeographing took place. The house was small, and there was nowhere to hide anything securely. The typewriter had been left in a cupboard, and the bulky mimeograph equipment was stored in a potato bin in the basement. Moreover, behind the bin there was a suitcase full of magazines! Discovery seemed inevitable. But what happened? The officer who opened the cupboard did so in such a way that he did not see the typewriter. As for the basement, the householder reports: “The three officers stood in the middle of the room, mind you, right there where the bin stood with the suitcase full of Watchtowers behind it. But none of them seemed to notice it; it was as though they had been struck blind.” Thanks to this remarkable providence, the household was able to continue supplying spiritual food in difficult and dangerous times.
In the 1960’s, there was a civil war between Nigeria and the breakaway province of Biafra. Since Biafra was completely surrounded by Nigerian territory, the only instruction between it and the outside world was an airstrip. This meant that the Witnesses in Biafra were in danger of being cut off from their supply of spiritual food. Then, early in 1968, the Biafran authorities assigned one of their civil service staff to an important post in Europe and another was assigned to the Biafran airstrip. These two happened to be Jehovah’s Witnesses, and now they were at both ends of the only instruction between Biafra and the outside world. The two recognized that the arrangement must have been from Jehovah. Hence, they volunteered for the delicate and risky task of channeling spiritual food into Biafra. And they were able to do this all through the war. One of them commented: “The arrangement was beyond something that humans could have planned.”
[Chart on page 19]
Symbolic Numbers in Revelation
Number Symbolic Meaning
2 Signifies solidly confirming a matter. (Revelation 11:3, 4; compare Deuteronomy 17:6.)
3 Denotes emphasis. Also indicates intensity. (Revelation 4:8; 8:13; 16:13, 19)
4 Signifies universalness or foursquareness in symmetry. (Revelation 4:6; 7:1, 2; 9:14; 20:8; 21:16)
6 Signifies imperfection, something not normal, monstrous. (Revelation 13:18; compare 2 Samuel 21:20.)
7 Signifies divinely determined completeness, as to Jehovah’s purposes or to Satan’s. (Revelation 1:4, 12, 16; 4:5; 5:1, 6; 10:3, 4; 12:3)
10 Signifies allness or completeness in a physical way, as to things on earth. (Revelation 2:10; 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 12, 16)
12 Signifies a divinely constituted organization either in the heavens or on the earth. (Revelation 7:5-8; 12:1; 21:12, 16; 22:2)
24 Signifies Jehovah’s abundant (doubled) organizational arrangement. (Revelation 4:4)
Some numbers mentioned in Revelation are to be understood as literal. Often, the context helps to determine this. (See Revelation 7:4, 9; 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 17:3, 9-11; 20:3-5.) |
Lasting Peace (pc)
2009 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/lasting-peace-pc | input Page/Publishers’ Page
Lasting Peace and Happiness—How to Find Them
This publication is not for sale.
It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations.
To make a donation, please visit www.jw.org.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.
2009 Printing
English (pc-E)
© 1996, 2009
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
Photo Credit:
Page 6: U.S. Army Photo |
A Flood That Brought Good News | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/500200108 | A Flood That Brought Good News
In 2017, a dozen Witnesses set off by boat from the Mosquito (Miskito) Coast region of Nicaragua. Their boat was named Sturi Yamni. A crew member named Stephen recalls, “Our goals were to encourage a small group of Witnesses who lived in a remote area and to help them preach the good news in their vast territory.”
The 12 Witnesses departed from Pearl Lagoon on their 200-kilometer (125 mi) journey up the Río Grande de Matagalpa. Little did they know that the name of their boat, which means “Good News” in the Miskito language, would come to have special meaning for the people living along the river. After some 12 hours of travel, not counting an overnight stop, the Witnesses reached their destination—the community of La Cruz de Río Grande. The six local Witnesses warmly welcomed their spiritual brothers and sisters.
That night disaster struck. A powerful storm brought heavy rain to the headwaters of the Río Grande de Matagalpa. Within a few hours, the river overflowed its banks and continued to rise for two days. The Kingdom Hall and many houses in La Cruz were flooded. The visiting brothers helped the local people to evacuate their houses. Most spent the next two nights in a two-story house belonging to a Witness.
The flooded Kingdom Hall in La Cruz
On the third night, the mayor of La Cruz went to the visiting Witnesses to request their help. Since the Sturi Yamni was the only boat sturdy enough to navigate the flooded river, the mayor wanted the crew to transport a team of relief workers downriver to assist other affected communities. The Witnesses were happy to cooperate.
The next morning, three Witnesses set off with the relief team. “By now the river was raging,” recalls Stephen. “Huge uprooted trees were floating downstream, large whirlpools had formed, and the river was flowing at a speed of more than 18 kilometers per hour [11 mph].” Despite the difficult conditions, the boat was able to get to three communities.
The three Witnesses used the opportunity to give much-needed comfort to the villagers. The Witnesses also distributed copies of a 2017 issue of Awake! fittingly eninputd “When Disaster Strikes—Steps That Can Save Lives.”
The residents of the river communities deeply appreciated the practical and spiritual help that the Witnesses provided. “They are willing to help in difficult times,” some villagers said. Others observed, “They have true love of neighbor.” After seeing the effort that the Witnesses made to help their fellow worshippers and others, many villagers have been more willing to listen to the Bible’s comforting message. |
Did You Know? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2021242 | Stone inscription: “Cursed be Hagaf son of Hagav by Yahweh Sabaot”
Did You Know?
How does an ancient inscription support the Bible?
A STONE block with an inscription, dated to about 700-600 B.C.E., belongs to the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. The stone was taken from a burial cave not far from Hebron in Israel. The inscription states: “Cursed be Hagaf son of Hagav by Yahweh Sabaot.” How does this inscription support the Bible? It shows that God’s name Jehovah, written YHWH in ancient Hebrew letters, was well-known and used in daily life during Bible times. In fact, other inscriptions from the burial caves show that those who used the caves as places to meet and hide frequently wrote God’s name, along with personal names that include forms of God’s name, on the walls.
Commenting on these inscriptions, Dr. Rachel Nabulsi of the University of Georgia said: “The repeated use of the name YHWH is important. . . . The texts and the inscriptions show the importance of YHWH in the life of Israel and Judah.” This supports the Bible, wherein God’s name, written YHWH in Hebrew letters, appears thousands of times. Often personal names included the divine name.
The words “Yahweh Sabaot,” inscribed on the stone block, mean “Jehovah of armies.” This seems to indicate that not only the name of God but also the expression “Jehovah of armies” was commonly used in Bible times. This also supports the Bible’s use of the phrase “Jehovah of armies,” which appears 283 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, mostly in the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah. |
Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Call On People Who Already Have a Religion? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502012465 | Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Call On People Who Already Have a Religion?
We’ve found that many people who already have a religion enjoy discussing Bible topics. Of course, we respect a person’s right to hold a belief different from ours, and we don’t force our message on others.
When discussing religion, we try to apply the Bible’s advice to do so with a “mild temper” and to show “deep respect” for the other person. (1 Peter 3:15) We expect that some will reject the message we bring. (Matthew 10:14) However, we don’t know how people will respond until we talk to them. We also realize that people’s circumstances change.
For example, a person may be too busy to talk one day but will gladly converse with us at another time. And people may face new problems or situations that they must deal with, moving them to take an interest in the Bible’s message. So we endeavor to talk to people on more than one occasion. |
Great Teacher (te)
1971 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/te | Chapter 7
Obedience Protects You
WOULD you like it if you could do anything you wanted? Are there times when you wish that no one would ever tell you what to do? Now, be honest and tell me.—
But which is better for you? Is it really wise to do anything you want? Or do things turn out better when you obey your father and your mother?— God says that you should obey your parents, so there must be a good reason for it. Let’s see if we can figure it out.
How old are you?— Do you know how old your father is?— How old is your mother?— They have lived much longer than you have. And the longer a person lives the more time he has to learn things. He hears more things, and sees more things and does more things every year. So young folks can learn from older ones.
Who has lived longer than you or I or any other person?— Jehovah God has. He knows more than you do and he knows more than I do. When he tells us what is good for us, we can be sure that it is right. If we do what he says, it will protect us. We should always obey him.
So you see, I need to be obedient too. I need to obey God. It is for my own good. And it brings good to you too when you obey God.
Let’s get out our Bible and see what God tells children to do. Can you find the book of Ephesians?— We are going to read from Ephesians chapter six, verses one, two and three. It says: “Children, be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord, for this is righteous: ‘Honor your father and your mother’; which is the first command with a promise: ‘That it may go well with you and you may endure a long time on the earth.’”
That is in the Bible. So it is Jehovah God who is telling you to be obedient to your parents.
What does it mean to “honor” your father and your mother?— It means that you are to show them respect. You should listen to them and do what they say without complaining. And God promises that if you obey, it will “go well with you.”
I know a story about some people whose lives were saved because they were obedient. Would you like to hear it?—
These people lived in the big city of Jerusalem long ago. Most of the people in that city were bad. They did not listen to God. Jehovah sent his own Son to teach them. But they still did not listen. What would God do to them?—
The Great Teacher warned them that God was going to have their city destroyed. He said that armies of soldiers would camp around the city and ruin it. He also told the people how they could escape if they loved what was right. This is what he said:
‘When you see armies all around Jerusalem, then is the time to get out of Jerusalem and run to the mountains.’—Luke 21:20-22.
It happened just as Jesus said it would. The armies of Rome came to attack Jerusalem. They camped all around. Then for some reason they left. Most of the people thought that the danger was past. They stayed in the city. But what had Jesus said they should do?—
What would you have done if you had been living in Jerusalem?— Those who really believed Jesus left their homes and ran far away from Jerusalem into the mountains. Not only grown-ups went; children went with them.
But were they really protected because they were obedient?— For a whole year nothing happened to Jerusalem. For three years nothing happened. But then in the fourth year the armies of Rome came back. For those who had stayed in Jerusalem it was now too late to escape. This time the armies destroyed the city. Most of the people inside were killed.
But what happened to those who had obeyed Jesus?— They were far away from Jerusalem. So they were not hurt. Obedience protected them.
If you are obedient, will that protect you too?— Yes. Let me show you how. I may tell you never to play in the street. Why do I do that?— It is because you might be hit by a car and get killed. But someday you might think: “There are no cars right now. I won’t get hurt. Other children play in the street, and I have never seen them get hurt.”
That is how most of the people in Jerusalem thought. After the armies of Rome had left, it looked safe. Others were staying in the city. So they stayed too. They had been warned, but they did not listen. As a result, they lost their lives. And children who play in the street can lose their lives too. How much better it is to obey!
Obeying just some of the time is not enough. But if you always obey, it really will protect you.
Who is it that tells you, “Be obedient to your parents”?— It is God. And, remember, he says that because he really loves you.
(Here are some more fine scriptures showing the importance of obedience: Ecclesiastes 12:13; Colossians 3:20; Proverbs 23:22.) |
‘We Obey God Rather Than Men’ | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102003013 | ‘We Obey God Rather Than Men’
When he was 17 years of age, Adam was one of three winners of a contest sponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Those submitting an entry—nearly 500 in all—used art or writing to depict courage under Nazi oppression. Adam is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and he decided to create a collage that would portray the adversity faced by members of his religion under the Nazi regime. The art, Adam says, reflected, not defeat or bitterness, but joy in that Jehovah’s Witnesses triumphed over the onslaught of that cruel oppressor. A child is shown. Why? “To point out that even children remained strong against Nazi persecution,” Adam says.
It is well-known that during the Nazi era, Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to salute Hitler or support his political party. Their stand is illustrated in the upper right corner of Adam’s collage. There a letter is quoted that was sent to the German government on October 7, 1934, by all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In part, the letter stated: “There is a direct conflict between your law and God’s law, and, following the lead of the faithful apostles, ‘we ought to obey God rather than men,’ and this we will do. (Acts 5:29) . . . Since your government and its officers continue in your attempt to force us to disobey the highest law of the universe, we are compelled to now give you notice that we will, by his grace, obey Jehovah God and fully trust Him to deliver us from all oppression and oppressors.”
Adam is proud of his spiritual heritage. “Jehovah’s Witnesses firmly believed in not harming their fellowman and in giving worship to no one other than God, even if this meant death,” he says. The unwavering position of Jehovah’s Witnesses is reflected in the input of Adam’s collage: “We Will Obey God Rather Than Men!” |
Survival (su)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/su | Chapter 12
Identified for Destruction or Survival?
1. What questions does this lesson encourage us to consider?
THE religious situation that exists today calls on us to show what really is in our hearts. Do we truly love Jehovah and his ways? Are we like his Son, Jesus Christ, to whom it was said: “You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness”? (Hebrews 1:9) Are we willing to manifest this openly so that others know where we stand? The Bible record concerning Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Reʹchab helps us to examine our position.
2. Who were Jehu and Jehonadab?
2 In the tenth century B.C.E., Jehu was anointed to be king over the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, which had its capital at Samaria. He was commissioned to destroy all who belonged to the wicked house of King Ahab, including Queen Jezebel, who had promoted Baal worship in Israel and had endeavored to stamp out the worship of Jehovah. Jehonadab, a Kenite (hence, not an Israelite), doubtless knew of Jehu’s executional program when he went out to meet Jehu. But how strong was Jehonadab’s love for Jehovah? Would he openly identify himself as one who firmly believed that only Jehovah, the true God, should be worshiped?
“IS YOUR HEART UPRIGHT WITH ME?”
3. How did Jehonadab make known publicly his position regarding worship of Jehovah?
3 After the two men had exchanged greetings, Jehu called on Jehonadab to make clear his position. “Is your heart upright with me,” Jehu asked, “just as my own heart is with your heart?” Without hesitation Jehonadab responded: “It is.” “If it is, do give me your hand,” Jehu replied. So he took Jehonadab up into his chariot and said: “Do go along with me and look upon my toleration of no rivalry toward Jehovah.” Jehonadab did not fearfully hold back.—2 Kings 10:15, 16; see Deuteronomy 6:13-15.
4, 5. (a) By what means did Jehu make the Baal worshipers identify themselves? (b) What action did Jehu then take, and where was Jehonadab? (c) How do you react to that destruction of Baal worshipers?
4 Arriving in Samaria, Jehu took measures that would require all who worshiped Baal to identify themselves. The prophets, the priests and all worshipers of Baal were called to a grand sacrifice at the house of Baal. They were notified that any persons failing to attend would forfeit their lives. Jehu directed that garments be issued for all worshipers of Baal to wear so that they would be clearly identified. Any who claimed also to worship Jehovah were thus made to show whom they really served. It seemed to be a glorious hour for Baal and for Satan the Devil, the false god whom Baal really represented.
5 This was no place for true worshipers of Jehovah. A search was made to be sure that only the worshipers of Baal were present. Then the ceremony proceeded. Meanwhile, outside, Jehu’s men prepared, and at his signal they went into action. “Strike them down! Do not let a single one go out,” he commanded. Every worshiper of Baal was destroyed. The house of Baal was pulled down. “Thus Jehu annihilated Baal out of Israel.” Jehonadab was at Jehu’s side to witness those events. (2 Kings 10:18-28) How do you personally react to what took place? While none of us delight in the death of others, even of wicked persons, do we appreciate why it was necessary and why it is recorded in the Bible for us to read today?—Compare Ezekiel 33:11.
6. (a) How will Babylon the Great be destroyed? (b) When on earth, how did Jesus show that he tolerated no rivalry toward Jehovah?
6 The account is not authorizing us to destroy either buildings that belong to religious groups or people devoted to false worship. Jehovah has appointed, not his modern-day witnesses, but the glorified Jesus Christ, as the Greater Jehu, to execute His righteous judgments. By permitting the combined political powers to express their own hatred for Babylon the Great, the heavenly King will bring about the annihilation of the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 6:2; 17:16; 19:1, 2) When on earth, Jesus refused to perform even one act of worship that would honor the Devil. He denounced the setting aside of Jehovah’s Word for human tradition and the using of worship of God for commercial gain. He tolerated no rivalry toward Jehovah.—Luke 4:5-8; Matthew 15:3-9; 21:12, 13.
7. (a) What are some of the modern-day evidences of Baalism? (b) Why has Christ as King tolerated these things?
7 Why, then, does Christ, now ruling in the midst of his enemies, permit modern Baalism seemingly to prosper? Why does he allow people apparently to get away with honoring the god of this system of things by shoving aside Jehovah’s requirements? Why does he tolerate their acting as if God had no objection to their sexual immorality, their glorifying a materialistic way of life, their indulging in spiritistic practices while professing to be Christians, and their teaching Babylonish doctrines as if these were the word of God? The ancient drama shows that this is to put people to the test, to let them show outwardly whom they worship, and thus whether they deserve preservation or execution.
8. What serious questions do we need to ask ourselves?
8 What course have you chosen? Have you abandoned all practices that might identify you as a practicer of modern Baalism? Have you separated yourself from the world and taken your stand as a true worshiper of Jehovah?—2 Corinthians 6:17.
9. (a) If we truly are like Jehonadab, what will we be doing? (b) How do the cited scriptures emphasize the importance of these things?
9 Jehonadab, as a non-Israelite worshiper of Jehovah, foreshadowed the “other sheep” who are now being gathered with the hope of eternal life on earth. Do you reflect Jehonadab’s spirit? Are you willing to identify yourself publicly with the Greater Jehu and with his anointed followers on earth who are proclaiming the approaching “day of vengeance on the part of our God”? Are you sharing with them in that urgent work? (Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 9:26; Zechariah 8:23) Do you give Jehovah your exclusive devotion, allowing nothing to infringe on the place that he should hold in your heart? (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17) Does your life demonstrate that your relationship with him is your most precious possession, that everything else is built around it?—Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 3:1-6.
DO YOU HAVE THE MARK?
10. How does the Bible show that only worshipers of Jehovah will survive?
10 It would be a serious mistake to conclude that if a person tries to lead a “good” life and if he shuns religions that are doing things clearly condemned in God’s Word, nothing more is required of him. All who hope to survive into the “new earth” must also be unmistakably identified as worshipers of Jehovah. (Revelation 14:6, 7; Psalm 37:34; Joel 2:32) This message is conveyed in a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel before Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E.
11. (a) Describe the vision recorded at Ezekiel 9:1-11. (b) What was the key to survival?
11 Ezekiel heard Jehovah summon those appointed to bring unfaithful Jerusalem and its inhabitants to ruin. He saw six men armed with weapons for smashing, and there was also one man clothed in linen, with a secretary’s inkhorn at his hips. First to this linen-clad man Jehovah said: “Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and you must put a mark on the foreheads of the men that are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the midst of it.” Then to the six others he said: “Pass through the city after him and strike. Let not your eye feel sorry, and do not feel any compassion. Old man, young man and virgin and little child and women you should kill off—to a ruination. But to any man upon whom there is the mark do not go near, and from my sanctuary you should start.” Ezekiel saw in vision the destruction that followed—so extensive that it seemed that all Israel still in the land was being brought to ruin. (Ezekiel 9:1-11) What was the key to survival? It was the mark placed on one’s forehead by the man with the secretary’s inkhorn.
12. (a) What were the detestable things over which the marked ones were “sighing and groaning”? (b) Why would Jehovah be disgusted with such things?
12 Only persons “sighing and groaning over all the detestable things” being done in Jerusalem were marked for survival. What were those “detestable things”? Five are listed: (1) A “symbol of jealousy” at the entrance to the inner court of Jehovah’s temple. Whatever form it took, this object was being given devotion that the Israelites owed to Jehovah. (1 Kings 14:22-24) (2) Wall carvings of creeping things and of beasts, before which incense was being offered right in the temple enclosure. (3) Women weeping over the death of the god Tammuz, which was another name for Nimrod, that rebel against Jehovah. (Genesis 10:9) (4) Men displaying outrageous disrespect by turning their backs to Jehovah’s temple and bowing to the sun. (Deuteronomy 4:15-19) (5) As a final indignity, people filling the land with violence as well as holding out a “shoot,” possibly a sex symbol, to Jehovah’s nose. Can you appreciate why Jehovah was disgusted with them?—Ezekiel 8:5-17.
13. (a) Taking one at a time, comment on the modern-day practices that are comparable to those “detestable things.” (b) How do you feel about these practices?
13 How do you personally react to the modern-day practices of Christendom that are comparable to these “detestable things”? (1) In many of her churches are images before which people bow in worship, although the Bible warns against doing so. (1 Corinthians 10:14; compare 2 Kings 17:40, 41.) (2) She goes along with the trend to put the evolution of man from animals in the place of creation by God; also she shares in displaying fervent devotion before representations of animals and birds used as national symbols. (3) In her worship she features the cross, which from antiquity was a religious symbol of Tammuz, and she joins in ceremonies to mourn those who have died in blood-spilling wars that reflect the spirit of Nimrod. (But see John 17:16, 17.) (4) She turns her back on what God says through his Word and, instead, chooses the “enlightenment” offered by modern science and human philosophy. (1 Timothy 6:20, 21; compare Jeremiah 2:13.) (5) As if that were not enough, she endorses revolution in certain places and she takes an indulgent view of sexual immorality, while professing to speak in the name of God. (2 Peter 2:1, 2) Some people view these trends as liberal. They may not agree with all of them, but they may share in others or at least condone them. How do you feel about such God-dishonoring practices that turn people away from mankind’s Creator?
14. Why does the fact that a person is disillusioned with the churches not necessarily mean that he will be a survivor?
14 Many people are disillusioned with the churches and no longer attend. They may also be greatly disturbed about the violence and dishonesty in the world. But that does not necessarily mean that they are marked for survival. They must be marked by the ‘man with the secretary’s inkhorn.’ The facts show that “the faithful and discreet slave” class is doing that marking work today.—Matthew 24:45-47.
15. (a) What is the mark? (b) How does a person get it?
15 All who want to be marked as having God’s approval must accept the instruction that Jehovah is providing through that “slave” class and become true worshipers of Jehovah. They must not be persons who honor Jehovah with their mouths but who really love the world’s ways. (Isaiah 29:13, 14; 1 John 2:15) They must love Jehovah and his standards and feel grieved at heart, “sighing and groaning,” over teachings and practices that dishonor him. No one will put a literal ink mark on their forehead. But when they have the symbolic mark it will be obvious to all that, as dedicated, baptized Christians, they have put on the “new personality” described at Ephesians 4:24. They have a living faith. Publicly and privately they endeavor to do what will honor Jehovah. Not only persons who have come out of Christendom but all, regardless of background, who hope to survive into the “new earth” as associates of the anointed class must have this mark.
16. Why is this vision particularly important for children and their parents?
16 Particularly significant is the fact that Jehovah’s executioners were told that age, sex, singleness or marriage relationship was no reason to spare an offender against Jehovah. A married person must individually have his or her mark in order to be spared. If parents resist having their children marked or if they fail to bring them up as servants of Jehovah, they must bear the responsibility for what happens to those children. Although obedient children of godly parents are viewed as “holy” by Jehovah, rebellious ones are not. (1 Corinthians 7:14; Psalm 102:28; Proverbs 20:11; 30:17) If children are old enough to become baptized Christians but do not want to live up to the requirements, whether they are baptized or not, their age will not result in their being spared. How vital, then, for each individual of responsible age to be clearly marked as a person dedicated to God and doing his will!
17. What have we learned here as to Jehovah’s compassion?
17 Jehovah has shown great compassion for mankind by sending his witnesses to warn them of impending destruction and to point the way to safety. But he well knows the record of false religion and the rotten fruitage that it has produced. When Babylon the Great is destroyed, no compassion will be shown for any who insist on clinging to it. To survive the coming execution of divine judgment, we must walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ as true worshipers of Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth.
[Pictures on page 95]
Do you really have the mark needed for survival? |
Reasoning (rs)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/books/reasoning-rs | Baptism
Definition: The word “baptize” comes from the Greek ba·ptiʹzein, meaning “to dip, to plunge.” (A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott) Christian water baptism is an outward symbol that the one being baptized has made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication through Jesus Christ to do the will of Jehovah God. The Scriptures also refer to John’s baptism, baptism with holy spirit, and baptism with fire, among others.
Do persons who really believe God’s Word hold back from being baptized?
Matt. 28:19, 20: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”
Acts 2:41: “Those who embraced his word heartily were baptized.”
Acts 8:12: “When they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 8:36-38: “Now as they were going over the road, they came to a certain body of water, and the [Ethiopian] eunuch said: ‘Look! A body of water; what prevents me from getting baptized?’ With that he commanded the chariot to halt, and . . . [Philip] baptized him.”
Christian water baptism—is it by sprinkling or by complete immersion?
Mark 1:9, 10: “Jesus . . . was baptized [“immersed,” ED, Ro] in the Jordan [River] by John. And immediately on coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being parted.”
Acts 8:38: “They both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized [“immersed,” ED, Ro] him.”
Was infant baptism practiced by first-century Christians?
Matt. 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . baptizing them.”
Acts 8:12: “When they believed Philip . . . they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women.”
However, later on, Origen (185-254 C.E.) wrote: “It is the custom of the church that baptism be administered even to infants.” (Selections From the Commentaries and Homilies of Origen, Madras, India; 1929, p. 211) The practice was confirmed by a Council of Carthage (c. 252 C.E.).
Religious historian Augustus Neander wrote: “Faith and baptism were always connected with one another; and thus it is in the highest degree probable . . . that the practice of infant baptism was unknown at this period [in the first century]. . . . That it first became recognised as an apostolic tradition in the course of the third century, is evidence rather against than for the admission of its apostolic origin.”—History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (New York, 1864), p. 162.
Does Christian water baptism result in forgiveness of sins?
1 John 1:7: “If we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, . . . the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (Thus, not baptismal water but the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin.)
Matt. 3:11: “I [John the Baptist] . . . baptize you with water because of your repentance; but the one coming after me [Jesus Christ] is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off.” (Verses 5, 6, also Acts 13:24, show that what John did was directed, not to all people, but to the Jews. Why? Because of the sins of the Jews against the Law covenant and to prepare them for Christ.)
Acts 2:38: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins.” (Did the baptism itself bring forgiveness to them? Consider: This was stated to Jews who shared responsibility for the death of Christ. [See verses 22, 23.] Their baptism would give evidence of something. Of what? That they now put faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ. Only by their doing this could their sins be forgiven. [Acts 4:12; 5:30, 31])
Acts 22:16: “Rise, get baptized and wash your sins away by your calling upon his name.” (Also Acts 10:43)
Who is baptized with holy spirit?
1 Cor. 1:2; 12:13, 27: “To you who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones . . . For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit. Now you are Christ’s body.” (As Daniel 7:13, 14, 27 shows, such “holy ones” share in the Kingdom with the Son of man, Jesus Christ.)
John 3:5: “Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (A person is ‘born from spirit’ at the time of his baptism with that spirit. Luke 12:32 shows that only a “little flock” have that privilege. See also Revelation 14:1-3.)
Do all who are baptized with holy spirit speak in tongues or have the gift of healing?
1 Cor. 12:13, 29, 30: “For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body . . . Not all are apostles, are they? . . . Not all perform powerful works, do they? Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they?”
See also “Healing” and “Tongues, Speaking in.”
‘Baptism for the dead’—what does it mean?
1 Cor. 15:29, KJ: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
The Greek preposition hy·perʹ, here translated “for,” also means “over,” “on behalf of,” “instead of,” “for the purpose of,” etc. (A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott) What does it mean in this text? Was Paul suggesting baptizing living persons in behalf of those who had died unbaptized?
The only other scriptures that directly mention death in connection with baptism refer to a baptism that the individual himself undergoes, not a baptism on behalf of another person, one who is dead
Rom. 6:3: “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Also Mark 10:38, 39)
Col. 2:12: “For you [living members of the congregation in Colossae] were buried with him in his baptism, and by relationship with him you were also raised up together through your faith in the operation of God, who raised him up from the dead.”
Rendering in “New World Translation” is grammatically correct and in agreement with these other Bible texts
1 Cor. 15:29: “Otherwise, what will they do who are being baptized for the purpose of being dead ones? If the dead are not to be raised up at all, why are they also being baptized for the purpose of being such?” (So they are baptized, or immersed, into a course of life that will lead to a death of integrity like that of Christ and then to being raised to spirit life as he was.)
What results from baptism with fire?
Luke 3:16, 17: “He [Jesus Christ] will baptize you people with . . . fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor completely . . . The chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.” (Its destruction would be forever.)
Matt. 13:49, 50: “That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the fiery furnace.”
Luke 17:29, 30: “On the day that Lot came out of Sodom it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all. The same way it will be on that day when the Son of man is to be revealed.”
Not the same as baptism with holy spirit, which was for disciples
Acts 1:5: “John, indeed, baptized with water, but you [Jesus’ faithful apostles] will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.”
Acts 2:2-4: “Suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon [but did not envelop or immerse] each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.” |
Paradise Restored (pm)
1972 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/pm | Chapter 20
A “Third Part” Preserved in a Purged Land
1. Has Christendom failed in producing the kind of land that honest-hearted people want, and upon whose promise to produce the desired Paradise must we depend today?
WHAT decent, honest-hearted, righteously disposed people want today is a land in which the inhabitants live clean lives and there is no religious hypocrisy or fraud and deception. Christendom, after trying out her hundreds of varieties of so-called Christian religions, has failed to produce such a land. All hope has now been lost that she will ever be able to do so. Not one land can she set forth as her showpiece to prove that she can purge out wickedness and religious uncleanness. She has nowhere brought about a spiritual paradise among her hundreds of millions of church members. If the Creator of heaven and earth were to depend upon her to bring about a purged earth with pure, undefiled religion, it would never come about. But the Almighty God will yet bring this about, in his way, by means of his own theocratic organization. His promise to do so still stands sure, for all right-minded people to trust in today.
2. After telling of the wailing over the one “pierced through,” what does Jehovah tell of being opened up for sin and for an abhorrent thing?
2 It is most interesting to examine how God illustrates his purpose to do this remarkable thing. In his “pronouncement” he has just finished speaking about the wailing and bitter lamentation in his land over the piercing through of the Messiah to whom the inhabitants of the land had pinned their hopes. (Zechariah 12:1, 10-14) Immediately following upon this, he proceeds to say: “In that day there will come to be a well opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for an abhorrent thing.”—Zechariah 13:1.
3. What proves whether Christendom has availed herself of that “well” that was opened up for sin and for an abhorrent thing?
3 Do we today see ‘sin and an abhorrent thing’ prevailing throughout the earth, even in Christendom? If we do, then it is evident that Christendom has not availed herself of that “well” that was to be opened “in that day.” We are in “that day” now, are we not? Here the word “day” does not refer to a twenty-four-hour day. How can we determine whether we are in that favored “day”? This we can do by considering all the circumstances involved.
4. (a) Who opens that “well,” to provide water for what purpose? (b) According to the Scriptures, what are some of the abhorrent things that do not belong in God’s temple?
4 That “day” is prominently marked by a “well.” This well was opened by Jehovah, for he himself is the One that digs it by means of his loving provisions. He sees to it that it is filled with pure water. What is the stated purpose of this water? Not that of drinking in order to quench thirst, but that of purification. The “well” with its water is opened “for sin and for an abhorrent thing.” Among things abhorrent to God is the one described in Leviticus 20:21: “And where a man takes his brother’s wife, it is something abhorrent. It is the nakedness of his brother that he has laid bare. They should become childless.” An abhorrent or impure thing has no place in God’s temple. (2 Chronicles 29:3-5) An abhorrent thing is to be thrown away, even if it involves silver and gold. (Ezekiel 7:19) By acting outrageously before God, one can make oneself an “abhorrent thing.” (Lamentations 1:8) The Israelite who defiled himself by touching a dead corpse was considered as something abhorrent and as not to be touched until after he had been cleansed with the water mixed with the ashes of a sacrificed red cow.—Numbers 19:2-22.
5. How had the inhabitants of the land made it before the Israelites took possession of it, and why did Jehovah open up a “well for sin and for an abhorrent thing” in behalf of the remnant that had been restored there?
5 Before the Israelites had taken possession of the land of Canaan, the land had been made abhorrent, filthy, impure, “because of the impurity of the peoples of the lands, because of their detestable things with which they have filled it from end to end by their uncleanness.” (Ezra 9:11) But after the Israelites themselves had occupied the land for some time, they too made the land abhorrent, filthy, impure, so that Jehovah could say: “The house of Israel were dwelling upon their soil, and they kept making it unclean with their way and with their dealings. Like the uncleanness of menstruation their way has become before me.” (Ezekiel 36:16, 17; Leviticus 15:19-33) Rightly, then, Jehovah did not want the land of his restored remnant to become again an abhorrent land or to continue to be such. That is why he opened up this “well” to cleanse away sin or an abhorrent thing.
6. As this was after the restoration from Babylon, why did the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” need such a well for cleansing? (b) For how many, really, was the “well” meant, and how could these avail themselves of it?
6 So the “well” was opened “to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” But let us not lose from sight that these were of the remnant of Israelites who were liberated from Babylon and who returned to the land of Judah to rebuild the temple of their God at Jerusalem. Consequently, although there was among them a “house of David,” they did not have a king of the lineage of King David sitting on a royal throne at Jerusalem. Zerubbabel, who had come from Babylon, was of the “house of David” but was merely appointed by King Cyrus of Persia to be governor of Judah. (Zechariah 4:6-10; Matthew 1:6-13) The Messiah had yet to come for them to get a king of the “house of David.” Naturally, then, as here meant, the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” needed cleansing from “sin” and any “abhorrent thing.” They needed that “well” to be opened. In fact, the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” represented their whole nation. The whole nation needed that “well” with its cleansing water, and they could avail themselves of this divine provision when they came up to Jerusalem for their annual festivals.
7. When was that “well” opened up to the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem,” and with what results at the start?
7 When was that “well” opened to the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” and to the nation whom these represented? This was after the One whom they “pierced through” to the death on the impalement stake outside the walls of Jerusalem on Passover Day of 33 C.E. was resurrected from the dead. This enabled him to ascend to heaven and enter into the presence of Jehovah God and present to him the sin-atoning value of his shed blood. Thereafter on the festival day of Pentecost, Sivan 6 of 33 C.E., Jehovah God used the sin-atoning Messiah, Jesus Christ, to pour out the holy spirit upon his faithful disciples in Jerusalem, about 120 of them, to begin with. Later, that same day, about three thousand Jews confessed their guilt at having shared in the killing of the Messiah, Jesus, and they got baptized in water to become his disciples and they, too, were baptized with the holy spirit.—Acts 1:2-5, 15; 2:1-36.
8, 9. (a) What did Peter’s counsel to those thousands of conscience-stricken Jews on the day of Pentecost mean, as respects the “well”? (b) What assurance of this did Peter give later to Jews at the temple?
8 When, now, the Christian apostle Peter said to those thousands of conscience-stricken Jews, “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit,” what did that mean? (Acts 2:37, 38) It meant that it was “that day” foretold in Zechariah 13:1. It meant that the “well” had been opened “to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for an abhorrent thing.” Could there have been an “abhorrent thing” greater than that of instigating and sharing in the violent death of the Messiah, Jesus? Likely quite a number of Jews among those thousands of Jews had looked upon the impaled body of Jesus Christ when it was “pierced through” by the spear of the Roman soldier guard. (John 19:37) But even such an “abhorrent thing” the water from that opened “well” could cleanse away. Peter gave assurance of this when he later said to Jews at the temple in Jerusalem:
9 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers also did. But in this way God has fulfilled the things he announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets [including Zechariah 12:10], that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the person of Jehovah and that he may send forth the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”—Acts 3:17-20.
10. According to Paul, how many natural Jews availed themselves of that “well,” and how long was Jerusalem with her “house of David” seemingly the literal location of that “well”?
10 That was in the year 33 C.E., but even down to the year 56 C.E. the apostle Paul under inspiration pointed out that only a remnant of the natural, circumcised Jews looked to the “pierced through” Messiah, Jesus, in faith and availed themselves of the “well” of cleansing waters: “At the present season also a remnant has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness.” (Romans 11:5; 9:27, 28) In the year 70 C.E. Jewish Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman legions and she ceased to be available for an application of Zechariah 13:1 to her literally, and her “house of David” became lost to identification by means of genealogical records, for these became lost.
11. Parallelwise, when did a remnant of spiritual Israelites come upon the scene, and what did they appreciate as respects God’s anger toward them (Isaiah 12:1, 2)?
11 However, there is a parallel fulfillment of Zechariah 13:1 to the remnant of spiritual Israelites, who have to do with the “heavenly Jerusalem,” the “city of the living God.” During the first world war of 1914-1918 C.E., the remnant of spiritual Israelites came under Babylonish bondage and proved to be guilty of spiritual shortcomings and uncleanness. In the year 1919 there came a liberation of them from the organization of Babylon the Great and her political, military paramours. Then they began to appreciate and discern the application of the words of Isaiah 12:1, 2: “And in that day you will be sure to say: ‘I shall thank you, O Jehovah, for although you got incensed at me, your anger gradually turned back, and you proceeded to comfort me. Look! God is my salvation. I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jah Jehovah is my strength and my might, and he came to be the salvation of me.’”a So now, as in Zechariah’s time, there was a restored remnant, liberated from Babylon the Great and devoting themselves to the building up of Jehovah’s pure worship at his spiritual temple.
12. (a) When was a “well” of purifying waters opened up to them, and why? (b) How was the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:24, 25 thus fulfilled?
12 This restored anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites needed to be cleansed from all “sin” and any “abhorrent thing” that had attached to them during their bondage under Babylon the Great and her worldly paramours. As something suited to their spiritual needs then, the “well” of purifying water was opened up to them by the merciful Jehovah, in that liberation year of 1919 C.E. At once they began to avail themselves of the cleansing water of that “well.” Then, in a spiritual way, was fulfilled the divine promise in Ezekiel 36:24, 25: “And I will take you out of the nations and collect you together out of all the lands and bring you in upon your soil. And I will sprinkle upon you clean water, and you will become clean; from all your impurities and from all your dungy idols I shall cleanse you.” During their spiritual bondage in Babylon the Great, the remnant had touched the dead things of the war-mad world; and now it was as if Jehovah through Christ were sprinkling the repentant remnant with the “water for cleansing,” mixed with the ashes of the slaughtered red cow.—Numbers 19:1-13.
13. Among those restored spiritual Israelites, who among them needed to be cleansed, to correspond with the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem,” and why so?
13 This was required in the case of all the repentant, restored members of the remnant of spiritual Israel. There were none too high in importance or responsibility, resembling the “house of David,” nor any too ordinary or commonplace and numerous, resembling the “inhabitants of Jerusalem,” to be excused from this cleansing by means of the water from the “well” of Jehovah’s provision. The general governing body of the remnant of spiritual Israel, and also the official elders as overseers of the local congregations of these spiritual Israelites needed to be cleansed just the same as did the dedicated, baptized members of their congregations. (Acts 20:17-28; 14:23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:14; Titus 1:5-9) There was a community uncleanness among them. In preaching, teaching and daily living they were obliged to be clean in their restored spiritual estate. In line with keeping themselves unspotted from this world, they were brought to the position of maintaining strict Christian neutrality toward the violent conflicts of the nations that heaped up dead corpses.—James 1:27; John 15:18, 19; 17:14.
LOYALTY TO GOD TRANSCENDS FAMILY TIES
14, 15. (a) “That day” must be a time also for testing what quality toward Jehovah? (b) In Zechariah 13:2, 3, what guiding illustration of this did Jehovah give?
14 “That day” in which the “well” is opened up “for sin and for an abhorrent thing” is also a day for testing the degree of one’s loyalty to God. The remnant that was restored from Babylon in 537 B.C.E. was forewarned of this. In describing how loyal to Him his worshipers must be and would even be, the Sovereign Lord God proceeded to say further to his prophet Zechariah:
15 “‘And it must occur in that day,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies, ‘that I shall cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will no more be remembered; and also the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness I shall cause to pass out of the land. And it must occur that in case a man should prophesy anymore, his father and his mother, the ones who caused his birth, must also say to him, “You will not live, because falsehood is what you have spoken in the name of Jehovah.” And his father and his mother, the ones who caused his birth, must pierce him through because of his prophesying.’”—Zechariah 13:2, 3.
16. What is the “land” out of which Jehovah has cut off the “names of the idols,” and what has this resulted in among the spiritual Israelites of today?
16 As regards our time since the year 1919 C.E., Jehovah of armies is here speaking about the spiritual estate of his restored remnant of spiritual Israelites. Because this God, who requires exclusive devotion to himself, has caused the “names of the idols” to pass out of the “land” of their relationship with Him, they now refuse to worship the “wild beast” out of the sea and also the “image” of that wild beast. Or, if we say it plainly without the use of those Bible symbols of political institutions, the spiritual Israelites refuse to worship the political state as a whole on a world scale and also the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations. In this way they avoid suffering the divine penalty for carrying the “mark” of the “wild beast.” (Revelation 13:1-18; 14:9, 10) Because they have “approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem” and they are “enrolled in the heavens,” their “citizenship exists in the heavens.” (Hebrews 12:2, 23; Philippians 3:20) So they do not yield themselves to the delirium of earthly nationalism. They do not render any worshipful gestures or attitudes to nationalistic idols. Idol names are not remembered. The loyal spiritual Israelites praise the name of Jehovah as the true God, in heartfelt, full allegiance to Him.
17. In view of what warnings of Jesus Christ and the apostle John was it timely for Jehovah to cause false prophets to pass out of the “land”?
17 Jehovah has also caused the false prophets and “spirit of uncleanness” to pass out of the spiritual estate of his restored remnant. Jesus Christ forewarned us concerning this “conclusion of the system of things” that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:3, 4, 24, 25) The apostle John warned: “Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression [or, every spirit], but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.” (1 John 4:1) Accordingly, there would be need among the restored remnant of spiritual Israelites to guard against false prophets invading or rising up in the midst of their spiritual estate on earth.
18, 19. (a) What did Jehovah’s causing the false prophet to pass out of the land require the reinstated remnant of spiritual Israel to do? (b) What counsel of the apostle Peter concerning prophecy did they heed?
18 How, then, did Jehovah keep their “land” or spiritual estate pure in worship by fulfilling his promise: “Also the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness I shall cause to pass out of the land.”? (Zechariah 13:2) It was by causing any wrong understandings of the Bible prophecies that had been entertained before the remnant’s reinstatement in their “land” in 1919 C.E. to be corrected. The “time of the end,” the “conclusion of the system of things,” that began in 1914 at the end of the Gentile Times was God’s appointed time for the fulfillment of many prophecies. These could not be understood until they were just about to be fulfilled or after they had been fulfilled. So in the light of all that was taking place since 1914 the reinstated remnant looked anew into the prophecies that God had reserved for the “time of the end” for their fulfillment. (Daniel 12:4; Revelation 10:6, 7) This included a restudy of the books of Ezekiel and Revelation, an explanation of which had been attempted and published in July of 1917 in the book eninputd “The Finished Mystery.” Thus the restored remnant heeded the words:
19 “We have the prophetic word made more sure; and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar rises, in your hearts. For you know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.”—2 Peter 1:19-21.
20. How, figuratively speaking, did fleshly parents pierce their son through for prophesying falsely?
20 Any attempted interpretation of prophecy, if it proved to be incorrect in the light of historic events and the clearer understanding of the Bible, was corrected, regardless of who had offered the interpretation. Loyalty to God and to his inspired Word was the issue here to be met. So, as an illustration of the loyalty required, even if a fleshly son should offer a wrong interpretation of divine prophecy and should persist in it, like a false prophet, then his own fleshly parents in their loyalty to God would have nothing further to do with him on a religious basis. Christian parents could not do as under the Mosaic Law covenant, namely, have him put to death; but they could pronounce him spiritually dead to themselves in spite of their parenthood of him physically. In this way, figuratively speaking, they “must pierce him through because of his prophesying.” (Zechariah 13:3; compare Deuteronomy 13:1-5.) With their full consent, such a false prophet would be expelled, disfellowshiped, from the Christian congregation. By such loyalty on the part of all members of the restored remnant, the “prophet” of falsehood would be made to pass out of their “land.”
21. How, too, was the “spirit of uncleanness” made to pass out of their spiritual “land”?
21 Yes, too, the “spirit of uncleanness” would thus be made to pass out of their spiritual “land.” If that spirit were an inspired expression of uncleanness by a would-be prophet or was any tendency, trend, or inclination to uncleanness, it would be disapproved and resisted by the loyal ones. As a consequence any uncleanness as to religious teaching or as to moral behavior would be forced to pass out, under the driving force of God’s holy spirit. The God-given spiritual estate must be maintained as a “land” where clean, Scriptural living is carried on. Persons spiritually and morally unclean must be disfellowshiped therefrom.—2 Corinthians 6:14 to 7:1; compare Deuteronomy 13:6-18.
RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY EXPOSED
22, 23. (a) How does Jehovah put the false prophets to shame? (b) How does Jehovah describe the false prophets trying to hide their reason for feeling shame?
22 Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid being killed or being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah’s loyal worshipers. He foretold this by having his true prophet Zechariah continue on to say:
23 “And it must occur in that day that the prophets will become ashamed, each one of his vision when he prophesies; and they will not wear an official garment of hair for the purpose of deceiving. And he will certainly say, ‘I am no prophet. I am a man cultivating the soil, because an earthling man himself acquired me from my youth on.’ And one must say to him, ‘What are these wounds on your person between your hands?’ And he will have to say, ‘Those with which I was struck in the house of my intense lovers.’”—Zechariah 13:4-6, NW; JB; NE; NAB; contrast Amos 7:14-17.
24. The scar-producing wounds on the deceptive prophet were admitted by him to be inflicted by whom, and what would this indicate as to loyalty to God in comparison with attachment to fleshly loved ones?
24 Thus Jehovah foretold that his people, in their “land” of restoration, would be so well instructed with his Word and would be so loyal to Him and His true prophecies that they would refuse to be friends and intense lovers of any false prophet. If they did not kill him, then they would discipline him and strike him so hard in their indignation that visible wounds and scars would result. Such marks on his person, yes, on his breast which would be partly exposed, would betray his identity in spite of the fact that he had discarded official garments that he had assumed to wear as a bona fide prophet of Jehovah God. From whom had he got such scar-producing wounds? From his intense lovers, whether these were his own fleshly parents or his intimate associates. However, their intense loyalty to Jehovah as the God of true prophecy would be stronger than their till-then intense love for a deceptive prophet. They would place love of God and his inspired Word above personal friendships with fleshly relatives or associates. Such a course would cause “the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness” to pass out of the “land” of Jehovah’s repatriated people.
25. This course of supreme loyalty to Jehovah has been adopted by whom and since when, and how has this affected their spiritual “land”?
25 This course of supreme loyalty to the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has been the one adopted by the anointed remnant since 1919 C.E. This has resulted in the disfellowshiping or excommunicating of religious apostates or rebels from the theocratic organization that Jehovah the heavenly Theocrat has established among his obedient remnant. The loyal remnant have found out that it is not the mere “official garment of hair,” not a professional uniform or type of dress, that makes a true prophet of the one living and true God. That is why they have left Babylon the Great, including Christendom, with its distinctively garbed religious priests, preachers, monks and nuns. What makes a true prophet of Jehovah today is his true Christian personality as his identification and his loyal adherence to Jehovah’s Word and its prophecies. It is no wonder, then, that Jehovah’s witnesses while acting as ministers of God’s Word wear plain business suits or the regular attire of the common people. So the loyal remnant are willing to brush aside intense love for close associates and to inflict spiritual “wounds” upon these in disapproval and rejection of apostates. This has kept their theocratic “land” a spiritual realm of clean godly living.
STRIKING THE SHEPHERD CAUSES A SCATTERING
26. (a) As a prophet, Jesus Christ was struck and wounded for what reason? (b) How did Jehovah foretell this through the prophet Zechariah?
26 Jehovah’s greatest prophet on earth was struck and wounded to the death, but this was for his proving to be a true prophet of the Most High God down to the end. (Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Acts 3:13-23) His violent death caused a short-time scattering of his disciples who were loyal to him. The true prophet Zechariah was used to foretell this, for God went on to say to him: “‘O sword, awake against my shepherd, even against the able-bodied man who is my associate,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies. ‘Strike the shepherd, and let those of the flock be scattered; and I shall certainly turn my hand back upon those who are insignificant.’”—Zechariah 13:7.
27, 28. To avoid the mistake made by some modern Bible translators, whose application of Zechariah 13:7 will we correctly accept, and according to what record thereof?
27 Certain modern Bible translators would apply those words to the “useless shepherd,” the “valueless shepherd,” by transferring the words of Zechariah 13:7-9 and attaching them to Zechariah 11:17. (See translation by Moffatt, An American Translation, The New English Bible.) But we shall make no mistake if we take the application of the words of Zechariah 13:7 as made by Jehovah’s greatest Prophet on earth, Jesus Christ. It was on the night of the Jewish Passover at Jerusalem, Nisan 14 of 33 C.E. Jesus had just celebrated the Passover supper and thereafter had inaugurated the Lord’s Supper (or, Evening Meal), and was now on his way with his eleven faithful apostles to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. At this point we read the record:
28 “Then Jesus said to them: ‘All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered about.” But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’”—Matthew 26:31, 32; Mark 14:27, 28.
29. (a) In awaking against Jesus Christ, how was it that the sword was awaking against Jehovah’s Shepherd as “the able-bodied man who is my associate”? (b) Why could Jehovah have confidence in Jesus Christ when calling for the sword to awake against him?
29 Did the Great Prophet Jesus make a true application of the words taken from Zechariah 13:7? Shortly afterward that same Passover night the “sword” of warfare did awake against Jehovah’s true Shepherd, even against the able-bodied man who was His earliest and closest associate, Jesus Christ his Son. This was his only-begotten Son, “the firstborn of all creation,” “the beginning of the creation by God.” (John 3:16; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) Before his birth as a human creature, he had enjoyed spiritual life with Jehovah God in heaven and had associated with his heavenly Father when He created all other things, Jehovah using his only-begotten Son as his agent in doing so. (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-18) Therefore, Jehovah had the fullest confidence in his Son, even when he was a perfect, able-bodied man on earth. He was convinced that his Son would keep his integrity under warfare by the enemy. In this assurance he called for the martial “sword” of the enemies to “awake” against his Son.
30. Why did Jesus quote Zechariah 13:7 as if Jehovah were doing the striking, and why did Jesus not resist being struck?
30 Since it was Jehovah who prophetically issued the command to “strike the shepherd,” it was as if He himself were striking the shepherd. Hence Jesus could quote the prophetic words of Zechariah 13:7 as if his heavenly Father were saying: “I will strike the shepherd.” (See the Greek Septuagint translation in The Septuagint Bible, by Charles Thomson.) The crowd that came that Passover night under the guidance of the betrayer Judas Iscariot did come with literal swords and clubs. Jesus did not try to resist the fulfillment of the prophecy. If his heavenly Father had given the command for Jesus now to be struck, then he would submit to it.
31. What question did Jesus ask after telling Peter to sheathe his sword that had been drawn in defense, and what further part of Zechariah 13:7 now came true?
31 So, when the apostle Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword, Jesus told him to return the sword to its sheath and commented: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels? In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must take place this way?” Then after Jesus had asked the crowd why they had come out against him, a peaceful, public preacher, “with swords and clubs as against a robber,” he added: “But all this has taken place for the scriptures of the prophets to be fulfilled.” At this point the scripture of Zechariah was not all fulfilled. A further part came true, when, as the record states: “Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.” In that way “those of the flock” were scattered.—Matthew 26:51-56; Mark 14:47-50; John 18:1-9.
32. Who were “those who are insignificant,” and how did Jehovah turn his hand back upon them, according to Zechariah 13:7?
32 Jesus had correctly applied the prophecy. That night when he as the Fine Shepherd was struck with the “sword,” his sheep did become scattered, thus being stumbled in connection with him. But how was the further part of Zechariah 13:7 fulfilled: “And I shall certainly turn my hand back upon those who are insignificant.”? This proved to be a merciful and favorable turning back of Jehovah’s hand, as in the case of Isaiah 1:25, 26. With his “hand” of applied power Jehovah of armies protected the scattered sheep. These fearful apostles were “insignificant” in comparison with their Fine Shepherd Jesus Christ. Also, from the standpoint of the Jewish world of that day they were “insignificant,” not important enough to be taken into custody on that night of Jesus’ arrest. Yet not in Jehovah’s estimation were they “insignificant,” and he turned his compassionate attention to them and protected and preserved them. On the third day therefrom, on Nisan 16, he brought them together again to have the resurrected Jesus appear to them and resume shepherding them.—Luke 24:33-43; John 20:1-29.
33. How did the enemies strike at Jehovah’s Shepherd with their “sword” during World War I, with what intent, and how did Jehovah turn his hand back upon the “insignificant” ones?
33 At the climax of World War I in 1918 C.E., there was a similar scattering of the sheep of the governmental Shepherd Jesus Christ, whom Jehovah had enthroned in the heavens, in order to “go subduing in the midst of your enemies.” (Psalm 110:1, 2) Those earthly enemies had really declared war against the heavenly Shepherd whom Jehovah had appointed to shepherd the world of mankind. Unable to use the “sword” of war directly against Jehovah’s governmental Shepherd, they struck at “those of the flock” on earth by using their war powers and measures and arrangements against these “sheep,” to scatter them in the hope of separating them permanently, unable to be reorganized. But, as in the first century, Jehovah of armies turned his hand back upon these “insignificant” ones of the remnant of spiritual Israel. Marvelously he protected and preserved them, and in the first postwar year of 1919 C.E. he brought them together again in an organized fashion. At this reviving and exalting of them in His service, their seemingly triumphant enemies were astounded and became fearful.—Revelation 11:7-13.
“TWO PARTS” ARE CUT OFF
34. From what is a tremendous part of the world population being cut off, and why so?
34 The striking of Jehovah’s Shepherd and Associate led to consequences that have affected all mankind, even to this day. A modern-day parallel of it in our twentieth century has had marked effects upon this generation that has been living in this “time of the end,” this “conclusion of the system of things.” A tremendous part of the world population are being “cut off” from any share in the God-given spiritual estate or “land” of divine favor and blessing. Because of their preoccupation with the material and political and social things of this present system of things, they are indifferent or ignorant as regards the far-reaching prophecy of Zechariah 13:8, 9 that is being fulfilled toward them. Note what it says:
35. How many “parts” does Zechariah 13:8, 9 say will be “cut off”?
35 “‘And it must occur in all the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘that two parts in it are what will be cut off and expire; and as for the third part, it will be left remaining in it. And I shall certainly bring the third part through the fire; and I shall actually refine them as in the refining of silver, and examine them as in the examining of gold. It, for its part, will call upon my name, and I, for my part, will answer it.’”
36. Did the fact that the spiritual remnant were liberated and reinstated in their “land” in 1919 C.E. mean that Jehovah was through refining and examining them, and what typical picture shows whether or not?
36 Let us remind ourselves that these words were spoken, through the prophet Zechariah, to the repatriated remnant of Israel in the “land” of Judah. That ancient Israelite remnant would typify or prophetically prefigure the anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites in this “time of the end,” this “conclusion of the system of things” that began when the Gentile Times ended in 1914 C.E. After the severe trials and bondage experienced during World War I, the surviving remnant of spiritual Israelites were liberated and reinstated in their God-given spiritual estate or “land” in 1919, in the spring of that meaningful year. The fact that those of this surviving remnant had come through the persecution and afflictions of that first world conflict did not mean that they were now finished with their being tried and examined by the heavenly Refiner Jehovah God. It was not so in the case of the Israelite remnant (including Zechariah) who were liberated from fallen Babylon in 537 B.C.E. They had quite a time getting the second temple of Jehovah completed at Jerusalem, first by the year 515 B.C.E. It has been correspondingly so with the remnant of spiritual Israel since 1919.
37. What did Malachi prophesy about sixty years later concerning Jehovah’s refining work and the restoring of pure worship at His temple?
37 The prophet Malachi, who prophesied in the land of Judah about sixty years after Zechariah lived, foretold that Jehovah, accompanied by his “messenger of the covenant,” would come to his temple. There He would sit “as a refiner and cleanser of silver” and he would “cleanse the sons of Levi.” Why? So as to bring about a restoration of the pure worship of the true God at his temple. Then, just as predicted by Malachi, “They will certainly become to Jehovah people presenting a gift offering in righteousness. And the gift offering of Judah and of Jerusalem will actually be gratifying to Jehovah, as in the days of long ago and as in the years of antiquity.”—Malachi 3:1-4; written about 443 B.C.E.
38. What more would there be to it besides the cleansing of the sons of Levi, in order to cleanse the land?
38 There would be more to it than the cleansing of the sons of Levi as temple functionaries, in order to make the “land” of his restored people a land of clean, godly living. Jehovah also said: “‘And I will come near to you people for the judgment, and I will become a speedy witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against those swearing falsely, and against those acting fraudulently with the wages of a wage worker, with the widow and with the fatherless boy, and those turning away the alien resident, while they have not feared me,’ Jehovah of armies has said. ‘For I am Jehovah; I have not changed. And you are sons of Jacob [Israel]; you have not come to your finish. . . . Return to me, and I will return to you,’ Jehovah of armies has said.”—Malachi 3:5-7.
39. Was there a fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy in the first century C.E., and what indicates whether there should be any fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy since 1914 C.E.?
39 There was a first-century fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy at the time that the Messiah Jesus was present in the flesh among the nation of Israel. (Matthew 11:7-10; Mark 1:1, 2; Luke 7:24-27) There should likewise be a further fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy after Jesus Christ was enthroned in the heavens in the year 1914 C.E. and thus became present in his kingdom. At the due time thereafter Jehovah God, accompanied by him as “the messenger of the covenant,” must have come to his spiritual temple for the judgment of all his worshipers there, including those who were merely professing to worship Him. Certainly Jehovah must have been at his spiritual temple as the Supreme Judge by the year 1919, when he liberated the spiritual Israelites from Babylon the Great and restored them to their “land” or God-given spiritual estate on earth.
40. How did Jehovah act like a Refiner of precious metal, and who were due to be “cut off” from 1919 C.E. onward?
40 In harmony with the prophetic picture, Jehovah would act as a refiner of his professed people. He would clear away those who were like dross. He would treasure and keep those who were like pure precious metal, like clarified silver and gold. So from 1919 C.E. onward it would be the time for certain ones to be cut off from the “land” that was to be inhabited by his restored people. Spiritually speaking, such “cut off” ones must “expire” as far as vital relationship with Jehovah is concerned.
41. In his parable of the sower, what did Jesus say about the cutting off of some?
41 Who, then, are the “two parts in it” that are “cut off and expire”? (Zechariah 13:8) This is something for the reigning King Jesus Christ as the “messenger of the covenant” to indicate for us. This has to do with the “conclusion of the system of things,” the “time of the end” in which we have been living since 1914. (Daniel 12:4; Matthew 24:3-14; 28:20) What did Jesus say about this critical period? In explaining the parable of the sower he said:
“The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”—Matthew 13:37-43.
42. Who specifically are those symbolic “weeds,” and from what are they cut off, and by whom?
42 That parabolic illustration foretold a cutting off of a large part in the conclusion of the system of things, where we are now living since 1914 C.E. The part cut off during this time is the symbolic weeds, who picture the “sons of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil, the “enemy” who sowed such weeds. They were for a long time mistaken for being symbolic wheat, mistaken for being the “sons of the kingdom,” that is to say, anointed Christians with a call to the heavenly kingdom. They pretended to be Christians, and so they were confused with the true anointed Christians who are heirs of the Kingdom. But their development to what they really are in this time of the “harvest” has proved them to be “weeds,” imitation Christians, who, like the Devil their sower, are enemies of the Kingdom. Rightly, they are “cut off” from association with the “wheat” class. The heavenly angels, as “reapers,” are the ones used to cut them off. These pitch the “weeds” into the “fire” and such weeds will not come through that “fire.” Their false identity is destroyed, and finally they themselves also.
43. In his prophecy on the “sign” of the conclusion of the system of things, how did Jesus describe the harvest of the chosen ones, and thereafter whose cutting off did he foretell?
43 However, there is another “part” or class that is “cut off” in this “conclusion of the system of things.” Jesus Christ foretold this “part” or class in his marvelous prophecy regarding the “sign” of his presence and of the conclusion of the system of things. (Matthew 24:3) In this prophecy he tells of the “harvest,” which history shows began in the year 1919 C.E., and he said: “He will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.” (Matthew 24:31) Then, toward the middle of this prophecy, he said:
“On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.
“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.
“But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.”—Matthew 24:44-51; compare with this Luke 12:42-46 with its similar parable.
44. What class, then, does that “evil slave” picture, and why is that class cut off, and from what?
44 Here it is the “evil slave” who is “cut off,” he being assigned his part, not with the fellow slaves of his master, but with the hypocrites, with the unfaithful ones, after he has been punished with the greatest severity. Just as the “faithful and discreet slave” pictures a class of anointed Christians who are actually in the household of the Master Jesus Christ as his “domestics,” so that “evil slave” pictures a class. This class of Christians, unlike the “weeds,” was anointed with God’s spirit and was a part of the Master’s household, he being a fellow slave therein. However, this class turns unfaithful, becomes self-seeking, loses self-control over its appetites, mistreats fellow slaves in an abuse of power and authority, and becomes careless and indifferent toward the matter of having to account with its Master at his coming. Therefore, during this “conclusion of the system of things,” this time of his second and invisible “presence,” as King, he cuts this “evil slave” class off. He disfellowships them to the religious hypocrites and to the unfaithful ones. There they expire.
45. Thus how many “parts” have been “cut off,” and who have been brought through the “fire,” and why have they called upon God’s name?
45 Thus “two parts” or the majority of those professing to be Christians at this time are cut off from the “land” or God-given spiritual estate of Jehovah’s restored remnant. But the Sovereign Lord God has brought a “third part,” a minority of those professing to be heirs of God’s heavenly kingdom, through the “fire” of testing and examining as to their faith, personality and works. These have humbly submitted to the refining process as applied by the great Refiner, although it has been trialsome. To endure the figurative heat, they have had to call upon Jehovah’s name, and he has answered them according to the sincerity of their hearts.
46. What has Jehovah said to this “third part,” and how, and what has this “part” said in response?
46 In fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 13:9, the heavenly Supervisor of his “land” has not cut off this “third part” from the God-given spiritual estate of his restored remnant. He has said, by his evident favor toward them and by his marvelous dealings with them as His witnesses: “It is my people.” In turn, the faithful anointed remnant has said: “Jehovah is my God.” Outstandingly so since July 26, 1931, when those of this anointed remnant embraced the name “Jehovah’s witnesses.” They have remained active on their spiritual “land” to this day, praising their God.
47. Who is it out of all the nations that attach themselves to the “third part” to join in worship at Jehovah’s temple?
47 It is to this “third part” that has been left remaining in this spiritual “land” that the “ten men out of all the languages of the nations” attach themselves, taking hold of the skirt of these faithful spiritual Jews or Israelites. To these the international “great crowd” as pictured by the “ten men” are saying: “We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people.” (Zechariah 8:20-23) In increasing numbers, by the tens of thousands in a year, these associate themselves with the anointed remnant on their “land” and worship Jehovah at his temple.—Revelation 7:9-15.
[Footnotes]
a See The Watch Tower under date of June 1, 1928, and its leading article eninputd “His Name Exalted,” with Isaiah 12:4 as its theme text. |
The Challenges and Blessings of Raising Seven Sons | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101999006 | The Challenges and Blessings of Raising Seven Sons
As told by Bert and Margaret Dickman
I was born in 1927, in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., and grew up in South Dakota. I can recall my boyhood during the hard years of the Great Depression (1929-42). Mother used to make what she called graveyard stew. She would put a bit of fat in the frying pan and add some water, and then we would dip our bread in it. Things were hard for many families at that time.
MY FAMILY members were not religious—they saw too much hypocrisy in the local Protestant religions. As for me, my thinking was shaped by two years in the army during World War II. That was when I developed a taste for drink and gambling.
On a furlough from the army, I went to a local dance and met Margaret Schlaht, a girl of German-Ukrainian descent. We fell in love, and after courting for three months, we married, in 1946. Within eight years we had seven sons, and we found out the hard way what it is like to be parents.
In 1951, I had a serious accident at the sawmill and almost severed my lower left arm. For two years I had to stay in the hospital for skin and bone grafts. In the meantime, Margaret held the fort with five boys. Thanks to friends and neighbors, she made it through that tough period. While in the hospital, I had plenty of time to think about the purpose of life. I tried to read the Bible but without much success in understanding it.
Shortly after I got out of the hospital, we moved to Opportunity, a town in Washington State, and I went into the building trade with my brother-in-law. Now I’ll let Margaret tell her side of the story.
My Hands Were Full!
I was brought up on a farm where we cultivated grain, raised a small dairy herd, and canned fruit and vegetables. I had a strong work ethic that trained me for the future challenges of life, which were going to be many. We survived the Depression better than most, since we at least always had food.
My parents had no time for religion, although I attended Sunday school occasionally. Then, Bert and I married at the age of 19. We did not go to a church—we just had a simple ceremony in the front room of my parents’ house, with a Congregational minister officiating. In the course of a few years, I gave birth to seven boys—Richard, Dan, Doug, Gary, Michael, Ken and, finally, Scott, in 1954. They were quite a handful!
After we moved to Opportunity, a lady called at the house to talk about the Bible. I asked her if she believed in hellfire, a doctrine that really scared me. To my relief, she explained that hellfire is not a Bible teaching and that even the teaching of the immortality of the soul is not in the Bible! I had lived in fear and dread of dying and could not reconcile hellfire with a God of love. I determined that I would never teach falsehoods like that to my children.
In 1955, I started to study the Bible with the help of the book “Let God Be True.”a Wouldn’t you know it, that is just when the Pentecostal preacher suddenly took an interest in me and wanted to save me from Jehovah’s Witnesses! He made a big mistake—he started to preach hellfire to me! He even sent three of his Pentecostal ladies around to try to dissuade me from studying with the Witnesses.
In the meantime, Bert listened in on my Bible study from the front room. Later, he started to read the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, and things began to make some sense to him. He was working a shift that ended at midnight. Of course, I was in bed when he got home. One night I sneaked downstairs and found him secretly reading my books! I tiptoed back to bed, feeling pleased that he was checking things for himself. Eventually, he too studied the Bible, and in 1956 we became baptized Witnesses.
Having had seven sons in eight years, I found that caring for all the daily chores of feeding and clothing them and trying to keep the house clean and tidy was a challenge. The boys learned to pull their weight in the home. I have often said that I did not have an automatic dishwasher—I had seven! Each took turns in this necessary routine. Of course, Bert was a great help. He maintained consistent discipline and house rules yet also kept the lines of communication open. The boys respected their dad but were not afraid of him. Bert never neglected his responsibility to teach our sons about what they fondly remember him referring to as “the birds and the bees.”
Richard, our eldest son, went to serve as a volunteer at the Watch Tower Society headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, in 1966. To see the first one leave the nest was quite a test for me. That empty seat at the table each day made my heart ache. But I was happy that he was gaining good experience and training.
I’ll let Bert continue the story.
Raising Our Boys by Bible Principles
Margaret and I were baptized at a convention in Spokane, Washington. Now we had the challenge of raising our boys according to Bible principles—what you might call the old-fashioned way. I would not tolerate any lies or any double standards, and the boys knew it. We taught them that Jehovah deserves the best.
However, they knew that they could confide in me because we had a close relationship and we did so many things together. As a family, we enjoyed going to the beach, having picnics in the mountains, and playing softball. We had animals and a garden, and the boys all pitched in with whatever had to be done. Thus they learned to work and to play. We tried to keep a balance in our activities.
A Theocratic Adventure
On the spiritual side, we all went to the Christian meetings at the Kingdom Hall together, and we had our regular family Bible study. In 1957 we attended a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Seattle, Washington. During the program a call was made for families to move to serve where there was a greater need for Witnesses to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. Our family thought it was a good idea, and we started to plan our move. First we went to Missouri in 1958 and then to Mississippi in 1959.
In 1958 we had our first big theocratic adventure. I built a camping trailer, which we pulled with an old 1947 three-seater, six-cylinder DeSoto. That year all nine of us traveled to New York in that car to attend an international convention. We spent several weeks on the road, camping on our way from Spokane, on the West Coast, to New York—a distance of over 2,600 miles [4,200 km]! The boys fondly remember that journey as quality time and great fun.
Learning Discipline From a Cake
At that convention we got our copies of the book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained.b That book along with the Bible became the basic text for our weekly family Bible study. All the boys learned to read at an early age. After school Marge would spend some time with the boys, listening to them read the Bible. We did not allow TV to take over their minds.
We had discipline and respect in the family. On one occasion Margaret had made a big cake—one of her specialties. The meal that day included carrots. We always encouraged the boys at least to taste their vegetables. Doug did not like carrots. He was told that unless he ate the carrots, he would not get any cake. He still refused to finish his meal. Margaret said, “If you don’t eat those carrots, the dog will get your cake.” I don’t think that Doug really believed her until he saw Blackie gulp down his delicious cake! He learned a lesson from that experience, and so did the rest of the boys. As parents, we meant what we said.
Life Was Fun
Margaret and I were guided by Jesus’ expression found at Matthew 6:33: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” As a family, we tried to put Kingdom interests first. We all enjoyed going out preaching together, and the boys would take turns going from house to house with me. Each one had his own book bag, Bible, and Bible literature. We commended them for any progress they made. Margaret often gave them a big hug. Indeed, we regularly showed them affection. We always made time for the boys—life was fun!
As the boys grew up, they had such responsibilities as picking up people to take them to the meetings, opening up the Kingdom Hall, and helping with other duties. They learned to appreciate the Kingdom Hall as their place of worship and enjoyed maintaining it.
We encouraged them to express themselves at Christian meetings. They gave their short student talks in the Theocratic Ministry School, where they gradually learned to be speakers. Michael, our fifth son, always disliked public speaking and had a hard time on the platform. Partway through his talks, he would begin to shed tears of frustration, since he was unable to finish. In time, he got over that, and now, as a married man, he serves as a traveling overseer, visiting different congregations and giving talks several times a week. What a change!
How the Boys Viewed Discipline
Awake! contacted Michael to get his impressions of being raised the old-fashioned way. “We viewed Dad as a benevolent disciplinarian. I recall that as a teenager, I went to work for a radio station. I wanted a car so that I could also engage in the full-time pioneer ministry. The station manager offered me his two-door Ford Mustang convertible, a sporty car popular with young people. I had my heart set on it, even though I knew it was not a very practical car for taking people with me in the ministry. I went to Dad with a certain sense of trepidation. When I told him about the offer, he said, ‘Let’s talk about it.’ I knew what that meant! He reasoned with me and showed me the advantages of a more practical car. So I bought a four-door sedan, and after driving it over 100,000 miles [160,000 km] in my preaching assignment, I could only say, ‘Dad was right again.’
“The moving around when we were youngsters—from Washington to Missouri and then to Mississippi—was an exciting experience. We enjoyed it. Even with nine of us living for a year in an 8-foot by 37-foot [2.5-m by 11m] trailer, it was all great fun and taught us to be organized and get along with one another, even in cramped quarters. Of course, we tended to play outside a lot.
“Something else I remember and cherish was how Dad conducted the consideration of the daily text with us. In 1966 he attended a school for elders at Kingdom Farm, in South Lansing, New York, and he saw that the Bethel family did research in order to give comments on the text each day. He incorporated the same system into our family routine. Each of us seven boys was assigned a morning to comment on what we had researched. Though at times we grumbled, it taught us how to do research and express ourselves. Habits like that last a lifetime.
“I was impressed by the sacrifices that Mom and Dad made in our behalf. When my two older brothers Richard and Dan could have been earning money for the family, our parents encouraged them to go to Brooklyn, New York, to serve as volunteers at the world headquarters of the Watch Tower Society. Our parents also saved up money so that five of us could fly to New York to see the headquarters for ourselves. That greatly affected me. It increased our appreciation for Jehovah’s organization.
“Now let me turn the story back to Dad.”
We Had Our Setbacks
Like any other family, we have had our problems and setbacks. As the boys got to courting age, I had to counsel them about rushing into marriage with the first girl who caught their eye. We also made sure that they were suitably chaperoned. We wanted them to have some experience in life before choosing a lifelong mate. Sometimes there were tears and even temporarily broken hearts, but in the long run, they recognized the wisdom of Bible counsel—especially to marry “in the Lord.” We commended them for their wisdom.—1 Corinthians 7:39.
Scott, our seventh son, caused us to shed some tears. He succumbed to bad association at his workplace. Finally, he was disfellowshipped from the congregation. That was a hard blow for all of us, but we respected the elders’ judicial decision. Scott had to learn the hard way that serving Jehovah is the best way of life.
We never gave up on his coming back to the congregation. Happily, after five years he was reinstated in the congregation. Looking back, he says, “One thing that helped me while I was disfellowshipped was that although family association was very limited, I always knew that my family loved me.” Scott continued to progress and has served as an elder for the past eight years.
Sad to say, two of our grandchildren were disfellowshipped in recent years. But we have the comfort that discipline from Jehovah can result in positive changes.
A Big Change in Our Lives
Finally, by 1978, all the boys had left home. In the course of the years, I had gained experience in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. In 1980, Margaret and I received an amazing invitation to serve at the Brooklyn headquarters of the Watch Tower Society for nine months. Eighteen years later, we are still here!
We have been abundantly blessed. It was not always easy to raise our sons the old-fashioned way, according to Bible principles, but it has paid off in our case. Our present family situation is that five of our boys serve as congregation elders, and one is a traveling overseer. We have 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren—and most are in the truth and faithful to God.
We have seen the truthfulness of the words of the psalmist: “Look! Sons are an inheritance from Jehovah; the fruitage of the belly is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of youth.”—Psalm 127:3, 4.
[Footnotes]
a Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., in 1946; now out of print.
b Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
[Pictures on page 20, 21]
With our sons and daughters-in-law (right) and grandchildren (far right) at our 50th anniversary, in 1996 |
Life (lp)
1977 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/lp | Chapter 16
You Can Be Confident of a Reward
1. Whom can we thank for our being here on earth?
LIFE is a gift from God. No one would have life at all had not God, because of his own generosity, created the first man and woman. (Revelation 4:11) Being sinful people, we would not be here if God had not patiently ‘put up’ with our ways. “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” wrote the psalmist.—Psalm 130:3.
2. Though life is a free gift, on what does continued life depend?
2 Life is indeed a free gift. And it is God’s will that the human race keep on living. (1 Timothy 2:3, 4) He gave mankind, not mere life, but life with a purpose. God does not grant everlasting life to his enemies, because they would only cause disorder in the earth and harm to others. Therefore our obtaining everlasting life is dependent on our faith in God, which really means that we must be friends of God. “Without faith it is impossible to please him well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.”—Hebrews 11:6.
3. What is the main purpose in studying the Bible?
3 Our faith, then, gains the friendship of God, and this friendship means a reward. In your study of the Bible, as you are doing, you are actually seeking him—that is, seeking to know him, to please him and become friends with him. And as you learn more about him your faith will become stronger, more solidly founded.—2 Peter 1:5-8.
4. If you are sincerely seeking God by studying his Word, of what can you be assured?
4 You may wonder, ‘Why have I been able to see these things about God’s purposes when many of my friends and acquaintances do not see them?’ You can indeed be happy that you do, because out of millions of persons, God has seen fit to let you know about his purpose. He draws to him whomever he wants to, but not arbitrarily or without good reason. We cannot see what God sees. God reveals his secrets to those who have a sincerely inquiring mind to know about him, as Jesus pointed out. (Matthew 13:10-15) And he knows just when circumstances are right for the individual to see and grasp the truth of the good news. (Acts 8:25-36) God’s choice of friends is right. He does not make mistakes. Therefore you can be assured that an opportunity for everlasting life is opened to you.—Acts 13:48.
5. What loving appreciation does God show toward those sincerely seeking him?
5 Jehovah God sees hearts. He blesses those who use their reasoning power and look sincerely into his Word. He appreciates and favors those who do even the slightest service toward him, giving them further opportunities to know him.—Matthew 10:40-42.
6. Why should we not undervalue or look down on the opportunities that God opens up for us to know him?
6 However, the apostle Paul warned: “Working together with him, we also entreat you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose.” (2 Corinthians 6:1) It is up to the one whom God has favored with his kindness to appreciate it and to go ahead and come to establish a real, lasting relationship with him. (2 Corinthians 6:2) What a pity for one who, receiving God’s favor, turns away and loses out on the fine reward!—Proverbs 4:5-9.
PERSONAL PURPOSE IN LIFE NOW
7. (a) From what we have studied, what may we conclude? (b) What will happen if a person pursues a purpose in life that disregards God’s will?
7 As you have considered God’s Word thus far as to his purpose, the truth may be clear that your own life also indeed DOES HAVE A PURPOSE. The will of God is that we conform our life to his purpose because only God’s wisdom and guidance can bring us to a desirable, happy goal. A man or woman may set out to accomplish a purpose with good intentions, and that purpose may appear to succeed for a while. But if it has no regard for God’s direction it will end only in frustration. Such a person will actually be out of harmony with the rest of God’s creation.
8, 9. What will be the outcome for one who goes through life without a purpose?
8 The apostle Paul wrote to the young man Timothy, showing the reason for making the pursuit of God’s ways our own purpose. He said: “In a large house there are vessels [utensils] not only of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for an honorable purpose but others for a purpose lacking honor. If, therefore, anyone keeps clear of the latter ones, he will be a vessel for an honorable purpose, sanctified, useful to his owner [Jehovah God bought all humankind through the sacrifice of his Son], prepared for every good work.”—2 Timothy 2:20, 21.
9 But without a purpose in life a person in this world will be easy prey to bad influences, “tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error.” (Ephesians 4:14) He will become a vessel for a purpose lacking honor.
BAPTISM, A SERIOUS BUT ESSENTIAL STEP
10. When should a person be baptized?
10 After learning and determining what God’s will is, and after making a dedication of yourself through Christ to do God’s will forever, you may be baptized in water. This step is very serious. You must be sure that this is the course you want to take. You are thereby imitating Jesus’ example and obeying his command. Baptism is essential for one to become a follower of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 10:7; Matthew 3:13-15; 28:19, 20) In being baptized, you are publicly declaring that your purpose in life is to serve God fully as his will and purpose are made known to you. Make your own decision. You should not be baptized because you let someone “push” you, or just because someone else gets baptized.
11. Should a newly baptized person feel that now he (or she) is in no need of further counsel or help? Why?
11 Now, baptism in symbol of your dedication is but a beginning of your Christian course. Regardless of what education or position you have had in the world, you are, Scripturally, a spiritual “babe.” It is absolutely essential that you keep on studying, continuing to get help from those who are serving God. (1 Corinthians 14:20) You need regular association with the Christian congregation. Do not try to ‘go it’ on your own.—Hebrews 10:24, 25.
12. Does being a long time ‘in the truth’ in itself mean that one is a mature Christian? Why?
12 Time ‘in the truth’ is not the sole barometer of your spirituality. Continued study and application of the Bible’s principles are also necessary to produce the fruits that indicate maturity. (Hebrews 5:14; Romans 12:1, 2) The apostle Paul made these points clear to the early Hebrew Christians. He told them: “Indeed, although you ought to be teachers in view of the time, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God; and you have become such as need milk, not solid food.” He counseled them: “Let us press on to maturity.”—Hebrews 5:12; 6:1.
LOOKING FOR REWARD NOT SELFISH
13. Is it selfish to serve God with a reward in view? Explain.
13 In pursuing a purpose in life as a follower of Jesus Christ it is entirely proper, and not selfish, to look for God to reward you for faithfulness to him. (Colossians 3:24) Jehovah wants us to know that he is the kind of God that rewards those who love him. He is not like many worldly persons who have no appreciation or consideration for those who do things in love or loyalty. And a god without appreciation and loyalty, who never rewarded his servants, would be unworthy of worship. But Jehovah God is loyal; he is warmhearted and draws close to his friends. (Jeremiah 3:12) Even if you should make a bad mistake, entreat his forgiveness in prayer. (1 John 1:9; 2:1, 2; Luke 18:1-8) Seek help from fellow Christians. (James 5:16-18) If you hold fast to faith in him, he “will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5, 6.
14. Even if we come to serve God with all our might, what should be our attitude?
14 However, Jesus said that, on our part, we should not feel that we are doing God a “favor,” or earning life as wages by serving him. He told his disciples: “When you have done all the things assigned to you, say, ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves. What we have done is what we ought to have done.’” (Luke 17:10) Nonetheless, we know that God loves us and does not feel that our efforts are of no value to him.
15. What rewards does faithfulness bring now and in the future?
15 So there are great rewards to look forward to, of things far beyond what we are able to conceive. Our keeping of faithfulness to God gives, first of all, a better life now, with a purpose. (1 Timothy 4:8) Then, there is the prospect of being a part of the “foundation” of the “new earth.” What a joy to be in on the “groundwork” of making the earth a paradise! More than that, how fine to be on hand to receive people back in the resurrection and to teach, help and train them! There is a fine purpose in the life ahead!
16. Why is it such a great privilege to serve God now?
16 But do not belittle the marvelous opportunity, you have to serve God now. For this is the last time that people will have an opportunity to stand for God’s side of the issue of universal rulership amid a whole world of people who do not know God’s provisions. Furthermore, it is the last opportunity to proclaim the good news to such people under conditions of opposition. What a fine way to prove your loyalty to God! (Matthew 24:14) Doing this brings the greatest reward. Now is the opportunity to work together with “God’s household, which is the congregation of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth,” in sharing and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom to others.—1 Timothy 3:15.
DO NOT BE DISMAYED BY OPPOSITION
17. Why may opposition be expected, and how should you view it?
17 You can associate with this congregation where God has “deposited” the truth about himself and his purposes. But when you try to put the truth of God’s Word into effect in your life and to speak the truth, do not be surprised or dismayed when opposition faces you. The apostle Peter gave these comforting words: “Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you, which is happening to you for a trial, as though a strange thing were befalling you. On the contrary, go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, even the spirit of God, is resting upon you.”—1 Peter 4:12-14.
18. (a) How can you develop more sympathy for those who oppose you? (b) Should you feel that those who oppose you are absolutely “wicked”? (c) Even if treated harshly, what should your response be?
18 A good thing to do when faced with opposition is to look back at your former state—your life and attitude before coming to a knowledge of God’s purposes. This will help you to be sympathetic with the situation of those who oppose you and to have compassion for them. You may see that formerly, in your ignorance of God’s ways, you also did many of the wrong things that they are doing now. You may even have had a bad attitude toward God, toward the Bible and toward those who are witnesses for Jehovah God. (Compare Colossians 3:5-7.) By looking at the way you felt then, you can avoid the feeling that these people are absolutely “wicked” because they do not listen. You will not be condemning them or giving them up as hopeless. When someone, even in a harsh manner, challenges your faith, you will be “always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.”—1 Peter 3:15.
AVOID BEING ‘OVER-RIGHTEOUS’
19. (a) How might a person fall into the snare of being ‘over-righteous’? (b) Rather than feeling that you are better than those not serving God, what should you realize and do?
19 There is a certain temptation for one who sees the right way of life to become “righteous overmuch.” He may tend toward his being a “perfectionist.” This may lead him to begin to be critical of others, to look down on them, and to become a judge of his fellowman. (Ecclesiastes 7:16; Matthew 7:1, 2) He may grow to have the feeling that he is just a little better than those who do not yet know the truth. But it must be kept in mind that Christ died for all mankind. You are one of them and, without his help, you would be like the rest. Jesus Christ has compassion for all. He knows that circumstances, and the spirit of this world under its god Satan, have forced many people into a bad way of life. It was prophetically said: “Darkness itself will cover the earth, and thick gloom the national groups.” This is true today. (Isaiah 60:2) Therefore it is necessary to have understanding and sympathy and have as our aim to help rather than accuse or condemn.—1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8.
20, 21. What principle and course of action should a person employ toward those closely associated with him (or her)?
20 Accordingly, a husband or wife coming to a knowledge of the truth should put stress on making himself or herself a better husband or wife. A child should become a better, more obedient child. This may have much more influence on others than words do. While all persons receiving the truth should be enthusiastic and zealous, it must be recognized that any attempt to “push” the unbelieving mate, the relative or friend may actually push him or her away from listening. Do not “nag” a person because he has a habit or belief of which you do not approve. Rather, use patience and more than the usual kindness. Even toward those showing enmity, be “cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves,” using every possible means, in love, to help others to see the truth. (Matthew 10:16; 1 Corinthians 9:20, 23) Whether you are a wife, a husband or a child, follow the principle expressed by the apostle Peter at 1 Peter 3:1, 2:
21 “In like manner, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.”
BE A HAPPY INTEGRITY KEEPER
22. (a) Will your efforts to apply Bible principles always remove problems? (b) If things do not go just right for you, what attitude should you avoid?
22 During your life course as a Christian, things will not always go just right for you, because we are not yet in God’s new system of things. Your efforts to apply Bible principles will not always completely solve or remove your problems. But they will help you greatly to cope with these problems. They will enable you to do all that can be done to make such less troublesome. So, if things occur that trouble you, do not become a complainer. Rather, be happy. Rejoice in the truth. Realize that Adam’s sin and Satan’s influence as the “god of this system of things” are the cause; God is not.—2 Corinthians 4:4.
23. If something bad should occur in the congregation of God’s people, is this a reason to become discouraged, offended or disgruntled?
23 So, instead of complaining at hardships or undesirable occurrences that you presumed would not happen among God’s people, take advantage of the opportunity to show that you are like Christ, an integrity keeper. Vindicate Jehovah’s name by demonstrating that not all men will let difficulties turn them away from God, as the Devil charged, but that they can be integrity keepers.
24. (a) How does our serving God give us a satisfactory purpose in living? (b) Can we count on continued purpose in life forever, with no dullness or monotony?
24 What a rewarding purpose life has indeed! With all the worthwhile things that we can do now, using what “gifts” or abilities we have to honor God and to help our fellowman, there is a real satisfaction in living—we find our place in life. And God, in using us, does not ask us to give up living a normal, productive life and become ascetics or in any way fanatical. Rather, he makes life better and more productive of things having lasting value. Furthermore, we will forever receive at God’s hand new and exciting projects for accomplishment, so that life will become ever more purposeful, never monotonous. As the apostle Paul wrote to his Christian associates: “My God will fully supply all your need to the extent of his riches in glory by means of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19; Psalm 145:16; Romans 8:38, 39. |
Young People Ask (yp)
1989 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/yp | Chapter 33
Drinking—Why Not?
‘IS IT wrong to drink? Is it really harmful? Or is it wrong only for me but all right for adults?’ These questions may very well go through your mind. After all, your parents may indulge. Many young people your age (legal age limits notwithstanding) are drinking. TV shows and movies make it look appealing.
When used moderately, alcohol can indeed be a source of pleasure. The Bible acknowledges that wine can make the heart merry or can enhance the taste of a meal. (Ecclesiastes 9:7) When misused, however, alcohol creates serious problems ranging from run-ins with parents, teachers, and police to premature death. As the Bible says: “Wine is a ridiculer, intoxicating liquor is boisterous, and everyone going astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1) It is important, then, that you make a responsible decision about drinking.
But how much do you really know about alcohol and its effects? The following test will enable you to find out. Simply mark the following True or False:
1. Alcoholic beverages are predominantly stimulants ․․․․․․․․ ____
2. Alcohol in any quantity is damaging to the human body ․․․ ____
3. All alcoholic beverages—liquor, wine, beer—are absorbedinto your bloodstream at the same rate ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ ____
4. A person can sober up more quickly if he drinks blackcoffee or takes a cold shower ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ ____
5. Alcohol in the same amount has the same effect oneverybody who drinks ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ ____
6. Drunkenness is the same as alcoholism ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ ____
7. Alcohol and other sedative drugs (such as barbiturates)when taken together multiply each other’s effects ․․․․․․․ ____
8. Switching drinks will keep a person from getting drunk ․․ ____
9. The body digests alcohol just like food ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ ____
Now check your answers against those given on page 270. Did some of your views on alcohol prove wrong? If so, realize that ignorance regarding alcohol can be deadly. The Bible warns us that improperly used, alcohol “bites just like a serpent, and it secretes poison just like a viper.”—Proverbs 23:32.
John, for example, married as a teenager. One night, after a fight with his young wife, he stormed out of the house, determined to get drunk. After gulping down a whole pint [0.5 L] of vodka, he fell into a coma. Were it not for the efforts of doctors and nurses, John could have died. Evidently he didn’t realize that rapidly gulping down a large amount of alcohol can even be fatal. Ignorance almost cost him his life.
The Rebound Effect
This is one of alcohol’s most insidious effects. Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. The seeming uplift you feel after you drink occurs because alcohol depresses, or brings down, your anxiety level. You feel relaxed, less anxious, less worried than before you drank. Taken in moderate quantities, alcohol can thus, to a small extent, help a person ‘forget his troubles.’ (Proverbs 31:6, 7) A youth named Paul, for instance, drank to escape from family problems. “I learned very early that drinking was a way to relieve the pressure I was under,” he recalls. “It relaxed my mind.”
No harm done, right? Wrong! Alcohol has a rebound effect. After a couple of hours, when the sedative effect of the alcohol wears off, your anxiety level bounces back—but not back to normal. It jumps up to a higher level than before you drank! You feel more anxious or more tense than ever. Alcohol withdrawal may last for up to 12 hours. True, if you have another drink, your anxiety level will again go down. But a couple of hours later, it will rise, this time higher than before! And so it goes in a vicious spiral of artificial highs and ever-lower lows.
So in the long run, alcohol will not really reduce your anxiety. It may very well increase it. And when the alcohol wears off, your problems are still there.
Emotionally Stunted
Others claim that alcohol helps them to function better. Dennis, for example, was extremely shy and found it difficult to hold even a simple conversation. But then he made a discovery. “After a few drinks I would loosen up,” he said.
The problem is that one matures, not by running from difficult situations, as Dennis did, but by facing them. Learning to cope with the problems you face as a youth is just a rehearsal for the trials of adulthood. Dennis thus found that, in the long run, the temporary effects of alcohol did not help him to overcome his shyness. “When the alcohol wore off, I went back into my shell,” he reports. What about now, years later? Dennis continues: “I never really learned how to communicate with people on my own true level. I think I was stunted in this way.”
The same is true of using alcohol as a crutch in dealing with stress. Joan, who did so as a teenager, admits: “Recently, in a stressful situation I thought: ‘It would be nice to have a drink right now.’ You think that you can handle a situation better with a drink.” Not so!
An article published in the New York State Journal of Medicine says: “When drugs [including alcohol] become the means of easing difficult situations—academic, social, or interpersonal—the necessity for learning healthy coping skills is removed. Effects may not be felt until adulthood, when establishing close personal relationships then often proves difficult, leaving the individual emotionally isolated.” It is far better to meet and deal with problems and difficult situations directly!
“He Would Not Take It”
Consider the example of Jesus Christ. On the final night of his earthly life, Jesus endured a terribly stressful ordeal. Betrayed, then arrested, Jesus endured a series of interrogations in which lying accusations were made against him. Finally, after having been up all night, he was handed over to be impaled.—Mark 14:43–15:15; Luke 22:47–23:25.
Jesus was then offered something that would dull his senses—a mood-altering substance that would make it easier for him to cope with this difficult situation. The Bible explains: “They tried to give him wine drugged with myrrh, but he would not take it.” (Mark 15:22, 23) Jesus wanted to be in possession of all his faculties. He wanted to face this difficult situation squarely. He was no escapist! Later, though, when offered evidently a moderate amount of undrugged wine to quench his thirst, Jesus accepted.—John 19:28-30.
In comparison, your problems, pressures, or stresses pale into insignificance. But you can still learn a valuable lesson from Jesus’ experience. Instead of using a mood-altering substance (such as alcohol) to cope with problems, pressures, and uncomfortable situations, you are much better off if you deal with them directly. The more experience you gain in facing life’s problems, the better you will become at solving them. You will grow to have a healthy emotional makeup.
When you come of legal age, whether or not you choose to drink occasionally—and in moderation—will be a decision for you (and perhaps your parents) to make. Let it be an informed decision, an intelligent decision. If you choose not to drink, you have nothing to apologize about. But if you’re of legal age and decide to drink, drink responsibly. Never drink as an escape or in order to gain artificial courage. The Bible’s advice is simple and straightforward: “Drinking too much makes you loud and foolish. It’s stupid to get drunk.”—Proverbs 20:1, Today’s English Version.
Questions for Discussion
◻ Why do many youths become involved in drinking alcoholic beverages?
◻ What are some common misconceptions about alcohol?
◻ What are the dangers in mixing driving and drinking?
◻ What are the dangers of using alcohol in order to escape from problems?
◻ What should a youth do when he encounters problems, and why?
[Blurb on page 268]
Drinking can trap a young person in a vicious spiral of artificial highs and ever-lower lows
[Blurb on page 271]
“I never really learned how to communicate with people on my own true level. I think I was stunted in this way.”—A young man who abused alcohol as a teenager
[Box on page 264]
‘Why We Started Drinking’
An interview with some former teenage drinkers
Interviewer: Why did you drink?
Bill: For me, at first it was the group I was in. It was the “in” thing to do, especially on weekends.
Dennis: I started drinking at about age 14 or so. My father was a pretty heavy drinker. There were always cocktail parties at the house. As a child I saw that drinking was the thing to do socially. Then, when I got older, I got in with a wild crowd. I used to drink to be accepted by the other kids.
Mark: I was involved in sports. I guess I started drinking at about age 15 with the guys on the basketball team. It was mainly, I think, curiosity.
Joan: I was affected very much by what I saw on TV. I used to see the characters drinking. It looked so great.
Paul: My father is an alcoholic. Now I can see that the reason we had so many problems was the alcoholism. I was trying to escape from it. Ironically, that’s one reason I turned to drinking.
Joan: My parents usually didn’t drink much. But I remember one thing about my dad, on social occasions he used to brag about how much he could drink. I kind of developed that attitude—thinking I was unique. One time my friends and I went on a drinking binge. For hours we were drinking. It really didn’t affect me like the others. I remember thinking, ‘I’m just like my dad.’ I guess his attitude about alcohol really did affect me.
Interviewer: But why do many drink to the point of intoxication?
Mark: That’s the reason we drank—to get drunk. I really didn’t care for the taste.
Interviewer: So you drank for the effect?
Mark: Yes.
Harry: I’d say the same thing. It’s like climbing a ladder. Each time you drink you’re reaching for a better high—the next rung on the ladder.
[Box on page 270]
Answers to True or False Test (Page 263)
1. FALSE. Alcohol is predominantly a depressant. It can make you high in that it depresses, or reduces, your anxiety level, making you feel relaxed, less anxious than before you drank.
2. FALSE. Drinking moderate or small amounts of alcohol does not appear to do any serious harm to the body. However, prolonged and heavy drinking can damage the heart, brain, liver, and other organs.
3. FALSE. Liquor or spirits are generally absorbed faster than wine or beer.
4. FALSE. Coffee can wake you up, and a cold shower can make you wet, but alcohol continues in your bloodstream until it is metabolized by your liver at the rate of about one half ounce of alcohol per hour.
5. FALSE. A number of factors, such as your body weight and whether you’ve eaten or not, can influence how alcohol affects you.
6. FALSE. Drunkenness describes the result of overconsumption. Alcoholism is characterized by a loss of control over drinking. However, not everyone who gets drunk is an alcoholic, and not all alcoholics get drunk.
7. TRUE. When mixed with alcohol, some drugs greatly exaggerate the usual reactions expected from alcohol or from the drug alone. For example, mixing alcohol and tranquilizers or sedatives could result in severe withdrawal symptoms, coma, and even death. Thus, one drink plus one pill has a far greater effect than you might imagine. Indeed, the effect of the drug is multiplied three times, four times, ten times, or even more!
8. FALSE. Drunkenness is a result of the total amount of alcohol consumed, whether it’s in gin, whiskey, vodka, or whatever.
9. FALSE. Alcohol doesn’t have to be digested slowly the way most other foods must be. Rather, about 20 percent immediately passes through the walls of the stomach into the bloodstream. The rest goes from the stomach to the small intestine, and from there it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
[Box/Pictures on page 266, 267]
Driving and Drinking—A Deadly Combination
“Drunk driving is the leading cause of death for young people aged 16-24,” says the 1984 Report on the National Conference for Youth on Drinking and Driving. Indeed, “a teenager is four times more likely to have an alcohol-related crash than any other driver.” (Just Along for the Ride) Such needless carnage is in part due to the persistence of many myths about the effects of alcohol. Here are a few typical examples:
MYTH: It’s safe to drive if all you’ve had is a couple of beers.
FACT: “The alcohol in two 12-ounce [355 cc] cans of beer consumed in less than an hour can slow a driver’s reaction by 2/5ths of a second—allowing an automobile traveling at 55 miles per hour [90 km/hr] to travel an additional 34 feet [10 m]—possibly the difference between a near miss and a crash.”—Development of a Traffic Safety and Alcohol Program for Senior Adults, by James L. Malfetti, Ed.D., and Darlene J. Winter, Ph.D.
MYTH: It’s OK to drive as long as you don’t feel drunk.
FACT: It’s dangerous to rely on how you feel. Alcohol creates an illusion of well-being, making the drinker feel that he’s in control, when in fact his abilities have been diminished.
Dangerous as it is for anyone to mix drinking and driving, it’s even riskier for youths. The driving performance of youths who are drinking “worsens more rapidly than that of adults because driving is a newer and less routine skill for them. In short, most teenagers are both inexperienced drivers and inexperienced drinkers, and even more inexperienced at combining drinking and driving.”—Senior Adults, Traffic Safety and Alcohol Program Leader’s Guide, by Darlene J. Winter, Ph.D.
It also takes less alcohol to intoxicate a youth than an adult. Youths generally weigh less than adults, and the less a person weighs, the less fluid there is in his body to dilute the alcohol he consumes. The higher the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream, the more intoxicated you become.
“Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself, but the inexperienced have passed along and must suffer the penalty.” (Proverbs 22:3) Given the dangers of mixing drinking and driving, you are “shrewd” if you promise yourself not to mix the two. You can thus not only spare yourself crippling—or fatal—injuries but also show respect for the lives of others.
You should further resolve that you will (1) never get in a car with a driver who’s been drinking and (2) never let a friend drive if he’s been drinking. This may upset your friend, but he may appreciate what you did once he comes to his senses.—Compare Psalm 141:5.
[Pictures]
Never get in a car with a driver who’s been drinking, and never let a friend drive if he’s been drinking
[Pictures on page 262]
Peers, television, and sometimes even parents can influence youths to begin drinking
[Picture on page 265]
Alcohol, when misused, can ‘bite like a snake’
[Pictures on page 269]
Drinking and driving often leads to this |
Greatest Man (gt)
1991 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/gt | Chapter 88
The Rich Man and Lazarus
JESUS has been talking to his disciples about the proper use of material riches, explaining that we cannot be slaves to these and at the same time be slaves to God. The Pharisees are also listening, and they begin to sneer at Jesus because they are money lovers. So he says to them: “You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; because what is lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God’s sight.”
The time has come for the tables to be turned on people who are rich in worldly goods, political power, and religious control and influence. They are to be put down. However, the people who recognize their spiritual need are to be lifted up. Jesus points to such a change when he goes on to say to the Pharisees:
“The Law and the Prophets were until John [the Baptizer]. From then on the kingdom of God is being declared as good news, and every sort of person is pressing forward toward it. Indeed, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one particle of a letter of the Law to go unfulfilled.”
The scribes and the Pharisees are proud of their professed adherence to the Law of Moses. Recall that when Jesus miraculously gave sight to a certain man in Jerusalem, they boasted: “We are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses.” But now the Law of Moses has fulfilled its intended purpose of leading humble ones to God’s designated King, Jesus Christ. So with the beginning of John’s ministry, all kinds of persons, especially the humble and the poor, are exerting themselves to become subjects of God’s Kingdom.
Since the Mosaic Law is now being fulfilled, the obligation to keep it is to be removed. The Law permits divorce on various grounds, but Jesus now says: “Everyone that divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he that marries a woman divorced from a husband commits adultery.” How such pronouncements must irritate the Pharisees, especially since they permit divorce on many grounds!
Continuing his remarks to the Pharisees, Jesus relates an illustration that features two men whose status, or situation, is eventually changed dramatically. Can you determine who are represented by the men and what the reversal of their situations means?
“But a certain man was rich,” Jesus explains, “and he used to deck himself with purple and linen, enjoying himself from day to day with magnificence. But a certain beggar named Lazarus used to be put at his gate, full of ulcers and desiring to be filled with the things dropping from the table of the rich man. Yes, too, the dogs would come and lick his ulcers.”
Jesus here uses the rich man to represent the Jewish religious leaders, including not only the Pharisees and the scribes but the Sadducees and the chief priests as well. They are rich in spiritual privileges and opportunities, and they conduct themselves as the rich man did. Their clothing of royal purple represents their favored position, and the white linen pictures their self-righteousness.
This proud rich-man class views the poor, common people with utter contempt, calling them ‛am ha·’aʹrets, or people of the earth. The beggar Lazarus thus represents these people to whom the religious leaders deny proper spiritual nourishment and privileges. Hence, like Lazarus covered with ulcers, the common people are looked down upon as spiritually diseased and fit only to associate with dogs. Yet, those of the Lazarus class hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment and so are at the gate, seeking to receive whatever meager morsels of spiritual food may drop from the rich man’s table.
Jesus now goes on to describe changes in the condition of the rich man and Lazarus. What are these changes, and what do they represent?
Rich Man and Lazarus Experience a Change
The rich man represents the religious leaders who are favored with spiritual privileges and opportunities, and Lazarus pictures the common people who hunger for spiritual nourishment. Jesus continues his story, describing a dramatic change in the men’s circumstances.
“Now in course of time,” Jesus says, “the beggar died and he was carried off by the angels to the bosom position of Abraham. Also, the rich man died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, he existing in torments, and he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in the bosom position with him.”
Since the rich man and Lazarus are not literal persons but symbolize classes of people, logically their deaths are also symbolic. What do their deaths symbolize, or represent?
Jesus has just finished pointing to a change in circumstances by saying that ‘the Law and the Prophets were until John the Baptizer, but from then on the kingdom of God is being declared.’ Hence, it is with the preaching of John and Jesus Christ that both the rich man and Lazarus die to their former circumstances, or condition.
Those of the humble, repentant Lazarus class die to their former spiritually deprived condition and come into a position of divine favor. Whereas they had earlier looked to the religious leaders for what little dropped from the spiritual table, now the Scriptural truths imparted by Jesus are filling their needs. They are thus brought into the bosom, or favored position, of the Greater Abraham, Jehovah God.
On the other hand, those who make up the rich-man class come under divine disfavor because of persistently refusing to accept the Kingdom message taught by Jesus. They thereby die to their former position of seeming favor. In fact, they are spoken of as being in figurative torment. Listen now, as the rich man speaks:
“Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this blazing fire.” God’s fiery judgment messages proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples are what torment individuals of the rich-man class. They want the disciples to let up on declaring these messages, thus providing them some measure of relief from their torments.
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you received in full your good things in your lifetime, but Lazarus correspondingly the injurious things. Now, however, he is having comfort here but you are in anguish. And besides all these things, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you people, so that those wanting to go over from here to you people cannot, neither may people cross over from there to us.’”
How just and appropriate that such a dramatic reversal take place between the Lazarus class and the rich-man class! The change in conditions is accomplished a few months later at Pentecost 33 C.E., when the old Law covenant is replaced by the new covenant. It then becomes unmistakably clear that the disciples, not the Pharisees and other religious leaders, are favored by God. The “great chasm” that separates the symbolic rich man from Jesus’ disciples therefore represents God’s unchangeable, righteous judgment.
The rich man next requests “father Abraham”: “Send [Lazarus] to the house of my father, for I have five brothers.” The rich man thus confesses he has a closer relationship to another father, who is actually Satan the Devil. The rich man requests that Lazarus water down God’s judgment messages so as not to put his “five brothers,” his religious allies, in “this place of torment.”
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to these.’” Yes, if the “five brothers” would escape torment, all they have to do is heed the writings of Moses and the Prophets that identify Jesus as the Messiah and then become his disciples. But the rich man objects: “No, indeed, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them they will repent.”
However, he is told: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.” God will not provide special signs or miracles to convince people. They must read and apply the Scriptures if they would obtain his favor. Luke 16:14-31; John 9:28, 29; Matthew 19:3-9; Galatians 3:24; Colossians 2:14; John 8:44.
▪ Why must the deaths of the rich man and Lazarus be symbolic, and what is pictured by their deaths?
▪ With the beginning of John’s ministry, what change does Jesus indicate takes place?
▪ What is to be removed after Jesus’ death, and how will this affect the matter of divorce?
▪ In Jesus’ illustration, who are represented by the rich man and by Lazarus?
▪ What are the torments suffered by the rich man, and by what means does he request that they be relieved?
▪ What does the “great chasm” represent?
▪ Who is the rich man’s real father, and who are his five brothers? |
Happiness (hp)
1980 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/hp | Chapter 6
Money Problems—What Help?
“FEASTING makes you happy and wine cheers you up, but you can’t have either without money.”—Ecclesiastes 10:19, Good News Bible.
2 Money is a major concern in every land. One reason is inflation. Every day it costs more to live. Many persons cannot even afford to buy the food they need. A growing number of men have to work at two jobs, and more wives go off to work. Families suffer. Health suffers. The money problems are usually compounded when credit buying comes into the picture. Relying on credit, many persons who are deeply in debt keep on spending for items they really do not need. This is true not only in advanced lands but also in areas where people have few resources.
3 What practical help does the Bible offer? Can it aid you to find or hold a job? Can it ease your family’s worry about money, leading to a happier life?
DO HONESTY AND HARD WORK HELP?
4 “People who work hard don’t get a fair break. Do you agree?” In a survey, 85 percent agreed. It often seems as if success depends on cheating, stealing, bribery and influential connections. Yet the Scriptures stress the value of honesty and industriousness. For example, the Bible says:
“Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work.”—Ephesians 4:28.
“The lazy man has longings, but gets nothing: the diligent man is amply supplied. You see a man skilful at his work? He shall enter the service of kings.”—Proverbs 13:4; 22:29, Moffatt.
“Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need.”—1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12, Good News Bible.
5 Both time and wide experience have proved that this advice is practical. Oh, it is true that some lazy persons seem to get ahead. But in general and in the long run, if you apply the Bible’s counsel you are going to do better than those who ignore it.
6 Employers frequently complain that workers come in late, loaf a lot, are dirty and cannot be trusted. So a person who, following Bible principles, is punctual, careful, clean, trustworthy and diligent will usually find work. And he likely will earn more, for employers are often willing to pay for a well-done job. There are many reports from Jehovah’s Witnesses of this happening.
7 But are not lying and cheating almost necessary nowadays? Christians who, because of applying Bible principles, have refused to steal, lie or cheat have seen that Scriptural counsel works.
A Johannesburg, South Africa, firm that sold electrical appliances was not doing well. One reason was that many employees stole. One day the manager called the African staff together and fired them all. Yet the next morning an employee was on his usual train to work and met a fellow worker. ‘How is it that you are going to work?’ he asked. The other employee said that the manager had told him privately that, since he was honest, his case was an exception. The first man said that it was the same with him. On arriving at the job they met a third employee who also had been told privately to come to work as usual. All were true Christians.
Robert worked for a British road-building firm. One day a director said that if anyone called, Robert should explain that he was not in. Yet when Robert answered a call he explained that the director was occupied. Hearing that, the director criticized him. But the matter was dropped when Robert explained that as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses he could not lie. (Ephesians 4:25) Later, when Robert was in line for a promotion, a greedy colleague tried to raise doubts about his honesty. Now the director spoke up about Robert’s honesty. He got the promotion.
8 Is honesty possible if you are in business for yourself? In some cases being honest may seem impractical. But it still is the best course. It helps you to have a clear conscience with God and peace of mind. Furthermore, many people prefer to do business with someone whom they feel will not cheat. It is just as the Bible says—you “win the respect of those who are not believers.”
HELP WITH HOUSING
9 Finding decent housing is another major problem. In some lands whole families are forced to live crammed into one room. Or, the difficulty may be to locate clean housing that one can afford. Can the Bible help with these problems?
10 When you rent (or lease) a home, you are dealing with someone else’s property. It is noteworthy that God urged the Israelites to respect and care for others’ property. (Deuteronomy 22:1-4) He also encouraged physical cleanness. (Deuteronomy 23:12-14; Exodus 30:18-21) Accordingly, conscientious Christians try to avoid damaging property and they keep clean any home that they rent. For this reason, and because they ‘live quietly,’ they are widely appreciated as tenants and have found it easier to get housing.
A Christian family rented a house from the ex-mayor of one African capital. They kept his building clean and paid the rent on time. (Romans 13:8) When they were about to move away they introduced the owner to another family from the congregation. The owner mentioned that normally the rent “would be raised,” which meant doubling it. But because he knew these Christians would be reliable, clean people, he left the rent the same, about half of what was charged for similar houses around there.
11 Even when circumstances beyond a person’s control prevent him from finding nicer housing, he still benefits. He will keep his home clean and neat. That makes for a healthier, happier life.
USING YOUR MONEY WISELY
12 Wealthy King Solomon wrote: “Wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners.”—Ecclesiastes 7:12.
13 Solomon realized, as we must, that money provides a defense against the troubles that poverty can bring. So money is not to be wasted; it should be managed wisely. What practical counsel does the Bible offer us on managing our funds?
14 Jesus asked: “Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, he might lay its foundation but not be able to finish it, and all the onlookers might start to ridicule him.”—Luke 14:28-30.
15 That can be applied to family finances. Many couples have found it good to sit down and calmly calculate a budget to see if a major purchase is possible and wise. They have been further aided by the Bible reminder that unexpected events do occur. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) This has helped them to avoid impulse buying and long-term debts.
16 Also, note this insight: “The borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, Revised Standard Version) While the Bible does not forbid borrowing or lending, it alerts us that borrowing needlessly can, in effect, enslave a person to a bank or a lender. Wise is the person who remembers that in these days so many are tempted to buy on credit, only to wind up in debt, paying high interest.
17 The Bible has helped many families to ease money problems through cutting down on waste. Jesus set a fine example. After providing a meal for a large crowd, he directed that the leftovers be gathered. (John 6:10-13) Following such an example, old and young Christians can be more conscious about avoiding waste.
18 Learning to apply Bible counsel about money may require a considerable change in viewpoint, but the results will be beneficial, as the following illustrates:
Soon after marrying, a young couple in Zimbabwe began having money problems. His wages were low; she wanted many new things and special foods. She also started working, but that did not seem to help much. The strain on their marriage was so great that it seemed questionable whether they would stay together. Some Christian elders offered to help. Using the Bible, they discussed the importance of a budget. (Luke 14:28-30) The couple saw the usefulness of preparing a shopping list with approximate prices and of buying foods for the whole week at a quantity saving. (Proverbs 31:14) The elders shared Scriptural counsel about outputment and the need to avoid desiring luxuries that could not now be afforded. (Luke 12:22-31) What a help this Scriptural counsel was! Being more settled about money, the couple was happier. Even the neighbors commented on the improvement in their marriage.
19 Those on a fixed income also have benefited from practical Bible advice. This was true of a retired couple in Spain:
Francisco and Maria’s limited income simply is not enough. Yet they explain they get along fine by applying what they learn from the Scriptures. For example, Proverbs 6:6-8 says: ‘Go to the ant. See its ways and become wise. It prepares its food even in the summer; it has gathered its food supplies even in the harvest.’ Maria says that she learned to do this, buying things when they are readily available and therefore cheaper, such as fruit in season. She also waits for clearance sales to buy next year’s clothing. They ‘prepare their food in the summer’ by cultivating a garden on a small piece of land that is a 45-minute walk from their home. The words at 1 John 2:16 also help. They have learned to be satisfied with home furnishings even if such are out of style. And rather than expensive entertainment, they enjoy helping others to learn about God.
AVOID HURTING YOUR POCKETBOOK
20 Indulging in such practices as drug or alcohol abuse, smoking and gambling can drain your pocketbook. The Bible helps in these areas, too.a
21 Consider liquor. The Bible does not prohibit the moderate use of alcoholic beverages. But it does advise:
“Pleasure-lovers stay poor, he will not grow rich who loves wine and good living.”
“Do not be one of those forever tippling wine . . . for the drunkard and glutton impoverish themselves, and a drowsy head makes a wearer of rags.”—Proverbs 21:17; 23:20, 21, Jerusalem Bible.
22 Heavy drinking hurts the pocketbook in various ways. Alcoholic beverages themselves are expensive, some persons spending up to half their weekly wage on liquor. In just the one Canadian province of Quebec over a billion dollars a year is spent on liquor. Another billion goes for things associated with heavy drinking—absenteeism from work and alcohol-related accidents.
In southern Chile a shoe salesman lost his job because of drunkenness. He then tried repairing shoes in a shed alongside the dilapidated house the family rented. Still, most of his money went for drink and his wife often had to get him from the jail. She also had to work late into the nights making wigs so they would have food money. But she began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, which moved her to be a more understanding and supportive wife. This led her husband to sit in on the study. He learned that one cannot be a drunkard and a Christian, so he stopped drinking. The family then could eat better. In time they even bought a small home and a store where he carried on a successful shoe-repair business.
23 What about gambling, whether large betting at a racetrack or a casino or the constant betting with lottery tickets? Many persons have money problems because of compulsive gambling. They keep hoping to make a “big killing,” but what they are really doing is squandering their funds, often with great hardship to their family.
24 An Australian man says that for years with him “gambling was an absolute obsession. I would gamble seven days a week, and more if there had been the days.” He borrowed from friends until they avoided him. “Sometimes after losing I would bang my head on the wall and plead with my wife, ‘Just give me 50 cents. I know I’ll win.’”
25 When he began to study the Bible, he was impressed with Jesus’ counsel: “Keep your eyes open and guard against every sort of covetousness.” (Luke 12:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) Concluding that his gambling reflected extreme greed, this man forced himself to quit. Being then able to use his pay to benefit his family, he could more fully appreciate the proverb: “Wealth got by scheming [“wealth from gambling,” Living Bible] will diminish; but he who gathers little by little will increase his store.”—Proverbs 13:11, An American Translation.
BEING output IS A KEY
26 Concerning money, an area in which the Bible can provide some of the greatest help involves one’s personal outlook. At 1 Timothy 6:7-10 we read:
“What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires. . . . Some have been so eager to have [money] that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.”—Good News Bible.
27 Whether they are poor or rich, those who love money are never satisfied. A hard-driving executive in California told his wife: “I want to become rich . . . and if I have to choose between you and [the company], you lose.” He became head of a large corporation, a millionaire, and lives in a $700,000 home. Yet he says: “Whatever I have, it’s not enough.” The fact is that money does not assure happiness. Two years before he died, millionaire oilman J. P. Getty said: “Money doesn’t necessarily have any connection with happiness. Maybe with unhappiness.”
28 The Bible, while not condemning the having of money or possessions, strongly warns against developing a love for them. It reminds us that life does not come from what we possess.—Luke 12:16-20.
29 So rather than fill your life with anxiety by striving for wealth, be output with what you have or can reasonably obtain. Jesus’ words at Luke 12:22-31 can aid us to have that view:
“Quit being anxious about your souls as to what you will eat or about your bodies as to what you will wear. For the soul is worth more than food and the body than clothing. Mark well that the ravens neither sow seed nor reap, and they have neither barn nor storehouse, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more worth are you than birds? . . . So quit seeking what you might eat and what you might drink, and quit being in anxious suspense; for all these are the things the nations of the world are eagerly pursuing, but your Father knows you need these things.”
30 An expensive wardrobe, rich food and a luxurious house may give some pleasure, but they will not add a year to your life—they may take years from it. Yet you can find much happiness in life without riches.
31 Nor do you need wealth in order to have friends. Anyone who depends on his money to attract friends is making a mistake. “Friends” of that sort eat your food and share your possessions, but when the money runs out so do they.—Ecclesiastes 5:11; Proverbs 19:6.
32 But when you accept the Bible’s balanced view regarding work, rejoicing in life and doing good things for others, you will have a “gift of God.” As Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13 expresses it: “There is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one’s life; and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.”
33 So sound is God’s counsel on these matters that a person might well wonder: Will God someday open the way for a complete end to poverty, undernourishment and poor housing, which are so often associated with money problems? He will! And later we will consider the evidence providing the basis for such conviction. But, first, let us look at some other problems that seriously affect people’s lives now.
[Footnotes]
a See also Chapter 10, “Better Health and Longer Life—How?”
[Study Questions]
Why is there need for help about money? (1-3)
The Bible offers what different and practical view of work? (Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13) (4-6)
Of what value is honesty? (Romans 2:14, 15) (7, 8)
How can applying the Bible help with housing? (9-11)
What practical counsel is available about money? (12-16)
How have persons put Bible advice to good use? (17-19)
Why is Bible counsel about drinking of help? (20-22)
How has gambling contributed to problems? (23-25)
Why is Biblical advice on outputment useful? (26, 27)
Jesus offered what sound counsel about wealth? (28-30)
How can Scriptural counsel help you to have a richer life? (31-33)
[Box on page 53]
A SOUTH AMERICAN BUSINESSWOMAN
In Georgetown, Guyana, 48-year-old Norma owned produce stalls at one of the largest markets. She cheated when weighing with her pan scales. If someone ordered 4 ounces of salt fish, she set the scales at 3, and so on. Also, the metal weights for the scales were short. Hence, her customers never got the full measure.
One Sunday a relative gave her a copy of “The Watchtower” that discussed Bible principles in business. What it said about dishonest practices seemed to be speaking right to her. (Proverbs 20:23; Leviticus 19:35, 36) On Monday Norma threw out her false weights and got accurate ones. She began attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and having a Bible study. Despite family ridicule, she became more convinced that she did the right thing.
How did it go with her business? She could not make a profit on some items without cheating, so she had to quit handling them. But with the remaining items customers saw a change and remarked, ‘Since you became a Christian you are giving us more for our money.’ As a result, business actually got better. Making an honest profit, Norma was able to pay off the mortgage on her home, put some money in the bank and make charitable contributions. And her health has improved, for she no longer gets the nervous headaches that she did when in fear of being caught cheating.
[Box on page 59]
“Eighty-seven per cent of Australians have taken part in some form of gambling over the last three months.”—“The Sunday Mail” (Brisbane).
“We’d Rather Gamble than Eat! Queenslanders are spending an estimated $12 million a week on gambling—almost as much as they spend on groceries and meat.”—“The Sunday Mail” (Brisbane).
[Picture on page 57]
Bible counsel has helped with the family budget
[Picture on page 60]
How practical are Bible principles about drunkenness, smoking and gambling? |
Paradise Restored (pm)
1972 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/pm | Chapter 18
Consequences of Rejecting God’s Shepherd Ruler
1. Why is it not strange that Jehovah should compare rulers lesser than Himself with shepherds?
THE GREATEST Ruler of all repeatedly compared himself to a shepherd. Take, for example, this beautiful comparison that He makes when foretelling how tenderly he would lead his exiled people back to their homeland: “Look! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself will come even as a strong one, and his arm will be ruling for him. Look! His reward is with him, and the wage he pays is before him. Like a shepherd he will shepherd his own drove. With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them. Those giving suck he will conduct with care.” (Isaiah 40:10, 11) It would not be strange, then, that he should compare lesser rulers on earth to shepherds.
2. To what plants does Jehovah liken outstanding worldly rulers, and to what does he similarly liken the remnant liberated from Babylon?
2 He also likened outstanding rulers to trees, tall in stature. The royal Pharaoh of ancient Egypt is thus compared to a stately tree. (Ezekiel 31:1-18) Even the exiled remnant whom Jehovah uses his Messiah or Anointed One to liberate and lead out of symbolic Babylon back to their God-given native land he compares to trees. He does so when he speaks of the assignment of work that He gives to his Messiah, namely: “To comfort all the mourning ones; to assign to those mourning over Zion, to give them a headdress instead of ashes, the oil of exultation instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the downhearted spirit; and they must be called big trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, for him to be beautified.”—Isaiah 61:1-3.
3, 4. (a) How does Zechariah draw a contrast between those “big trees of righteousness” and worldly “trees”? (b) According to Zechariah 11:1-3, why is there to be a howling and roaring?
3 Those symbolic “big trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah,” are referred to in the preceding tenth chapter of Zechariah’s prophecy, Zec 10 verses 3-12. How great a contrast is now drawn between them and the symbolic trees on elevated levels of our oppressive world! In Zechariah’s day the majestic mountains of Lebanon were clothed with forests of its world-famous “cedars of Lebanon” and other fragrant evergreen trees. How sad to think of such forests being ravaged by an inextinguishable conflagration! It is enough to make one howl. A suchlike howling by the world must yet come, for, almost like a sequel to chapter ten of Zechariah’s prophecy, chapter eleven opens up with the divine command to give vent to such howling. We read:
4 “Open up your doors, O Lebanon, that a fire may devour among your cedars. Howl, O juniper tree, for the cedar has fallen; because the majestic ones themselves have been despoiled! Howl, you massive trees of Bashan, for the impenetrable forest has come down! Listen! The howling of shepherds, for their majesty has been despoiled. Listen! The roaring of maned young lions, for the proud thickets along the Jordan have been despoiled.”—Zechariah 11:1-3.
5. When must such plantations of symbolic trees burn down, causing whom to howl?
5 No fire-prevention doors are provided for Lebanon. When Jehovah’s fixed time comes for his consuming fire to sweep through the majestic land, the doors of symbolic Lebanon must open up at His command to admit the fire. Even the tremendous cedars of Lebanon must fall before the divinely kindled flames, and that is why the associated juniper tree needs to howl. The massiveness of the tree does not make it fire resistant. That is why there must be a howling on the part of the impenetrable forests of massive trees on the highlands of Bashan to the east of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. These too must burn down in the world conflagration during the coming “great tribulation,” the tribulation of all tribulations for mankind. This will be a time of howling for shepherd rulers.
6. Why will the shepherd rulers howl because of the consuming of symbolic “trees,” and also roar like lions of the Jordan thickets?
6 If we listen in by faith to the clear-sounding message of Bible prophecy we can hear the howling of those worldly shepherd rulers. In the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at the battleground of Har–Magedon, they will be despoiled of their majesty of appearance and of office. (Revelation 16:14-16) They themselves are pictured by those majestic trees of Lebanon and massive trees of Bashan. They are also, symbolically, the “maned young lions.” Just as the maned young lions roar because there has been a burning down of the proud thickets along the banks of the Jordan River, in which these lions used to lurk, so will these lionlike shepherd rulers roar in consternation as they find themselves deprived of lurking places from which they used to pounce upon their unwary victims, the public, the people.
7. How does Malachi 4:1 refer to the same fiery day, and what will be the outcome of it to the shepherd rulers?
7 The time of fiery consumption that will despoil these worldly shepherds of their imposing dignity, stature and powerful position was also foretold by the prophet Malachi, who came on the scene some decades after Zechariah. Likening the presumptuous and wicked ones to plants, Malachi (4:1) says: “‘Look! the day is coming that is burning like the furnace, and all the presumptuous ones and all those doing wickedness must become as stubble. And the day that is coming will certainly devour them,’ Jehovah of armies has said, ‘so that it will not leave to them either root or bough.’” These political shepherds have claimed to rule because, by means of a democratic election, they have received a “mandate from the people” or because they have been born into the line of descent of some royal family, or because the clergy of Christendom have assigned to them the “divine right of kings.” However, this does not make them theocratic shepherds, or rulers appointed by the Great Theocrat through his Messiah. Hence the coming fiery day for executing God’s judgment will devour all their false claims. Neither root nor bough of them will remain.
DIVINELY APPOINTED SHEPHERD
8. How have the shepherd rulers sold the “sheep” to be killed or slaughtered, and who is it that can raise up an unselfish shepherd?
8 Since the governmental rulers are compared to shepherds, then their subjects, the people, are compared to a flock of sheep. The shepherdlike rulers have treated the sheep as if they belonged to them and have been willing to sell them into the hands of those selfish persons who could exploit and misuse the sheeplike people. They have, in effect, delivered them over to be killed, slaughtered for the sake of ambitious men who pay the price to get control or the advantage of the people. More than that, the governmental shepherds have led the people in a course that will at last result in their being slaughtered in the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at the world situation called Har–Magedon. (Revelation 16:14-16; 19:11-21) Is there, however, no real “shepherd” who really has the interests of all the people at heart, and who is willing to expend himself rather than to exploit the sheep? Who can raise up such a shepherd, so that the individual sheep can put themselves under his care and guidance and be spared from the terrible killing? It is Jehovah.
9. In enacting a prophetic drama, what flock is Zechariah told to shepherd?
9 To picture this fact, the prophet Zechariah was used in enacting an allegory or prophetic drama. The prophet Zechariah himself describes it, in these words: “This is what Jehovah my God has said, ‘Shepherd the flock meant for the killing, the buyers of which proceed to kill them although they are not held guilty. And those who are selling them say: “May Jehovah be blessed, while I shall gain riches.” And their own shepherds do not show any compassion upon them.’”—Zechariah 11:4, 5.
10. Who are the symbolic “flock,” to whom does the ownership belong, and why was Zechariah appointed to be the shepherd of the “flock meant for the killing”?
10 How pitiful the state of the “flock meant for the killing”! Back there this “flock” was the nation of Israel. The psalmist addressed the One who really owns this flock, saying: “O Shepherd of Israel, do give ear, you who are conducting Joseph just like a flock.” Acknowledging the ownership of that One, the psalmist said: “He is our God, and we are the people of his pasturage and the sheep of his hand.” (Psalm 80:1; 95:7) In view of His ownership, he had the right to appoint a faithful shepherd over them. This he did, by appointing the prophet Zechariah. This new earthly shepherd did not get a “mandate from the people,” democratically. He was theocratically appointed by the God Ruler, Jehovah. This heavenly Owner had in mind the saving of some individuals of this “flock meant for the killing.” He had already said: “Jehovah their God will certainly save them in that day like the flock of his people; for they will be as the stones of a diadem glittering over his soil.” (Zechariah 9:16) In furtherance of that purpose the Great Theocrat appointed Zechariah to shepherd the flock.
11. In what way did the “shepherds” selling them show no compassion for the sheep, and how were they accomplices in the slaughter of them?
11 Zechariah was unlike the shepherd rulers who felt authorized to sell Jehovah’s sheep for personal gain. By thus enriching themselves, they felt that God was making them rich. After the heartless sale, these traitorous shepherd rulers hypocritically said: “May Jehovah be blessed, while I shall gain riches.” By so doing the shepherds to whom the sheeplike people entrusted themselves did not “show any compassion upon them.” Those shepherds knew that the buyers to whom they sold the “sheep” would kill them off in pursuit of ambitious, self-seeking schemes. Worse still, these buyers would not be “held guilty” for such slaughter. At least the shepherds who did the selling would not hold the buyers guilty. They were in that way accomplices in the slaughter. To them the sheep were merely a “flock meant for the killing.”
12. Whose sheep do people of Christendom claim to be, and are their earthly religious shepherds appointed theocratically?
12 All this calls to mind a similar situation existing in Christendom in this twentieth century. The people, professing to be Christians, claim to be God’s sheep. They will apply to themselves Psalm 95:7 (quoted above) and recite in unison at church Psalm 23:1 (Authorized Version): “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” But these church people also look to earthly “shepherds.” In a religious sense especially, the clergymen of Christendom claim to be the shepherds of these sheep, each one of the hundreds of religious sects having its own flock. However, these shepherds are not theocratically appointed like Zechariah, for they are ordained each one by the ruling group of his own sect or denomination, or by a bishop or other ranking church dignitary, or by a congregation. Do such clergymen imitate those shepherds of Zechariah’s day?
13. How have such clergymen imitated the shepherds of Zechariah’s day in selling the “sheep” to be slaughtered?
13 It has been courageously pointed out that the clergy of Christendom, with their hundreds of millions of church members under their spiritual control, could have prevented world war in the year 1914 C.E. But they did not do so.a Without protest they surrendered their flocks to more than four years of the most brutal warfare till then in all human history. They, in fact, sold their flocks, in order that they might escape persecution for insisting on strict Christianity, and in order to gain favor with the military and the governmental shepherds. This was no less the case with World War II, which, like the first, started right in the heart of Christendom. The “killing” in this second world combat was still more horrible than that of the first one. Moreover, the religious clergy have catered to the commercial profiteers and to the politicians. They have meddled in politics and have sold their flocks to office-seekers who have no conscientious qualms about exploiting the people.
14. Who do the “shepherds” claim has thus enriched them, and why do the buyers of the sheep have no conscientious qualms at exploiting the sheep or causing their slaughter?
14 By gaining riches in this way, as far as material goods and popularity with the ruling class of this world is concerned, they feel that God has blessed them. And so they piously say: “Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich.” (Zechariah 11:5, AV) Because the “buyers” of the poor sheep have the blessing of the religious clergy they have no sense of guilt at exploiting the sheep or even causing the violent, mass slaughter of the sheep. “They are not held guilty” by the clergy of Christendom, but continue to be retained as full church members in good standing. It is very manifest, therefore, that the “shepherds,” religious and governmental, “do not show any compassion” upon the “sheep” of Christendom.
15. As to being exploited by traitorous shepherds, how do we know that the people have loved to have it that way?
15 In spite of all that, it has been just as God said, in Jeremiah 5:31: “The prophets themselves actually prophesy in falsehood; and as for the priests, they go subduing according to their powers. And my own people have loved it that way; and what will you men do in the finale of it?” And how do we know that those who profess to be God’s people “have loved it that way”? By observing that God’s professed people have not followed the leading of the faithful shepherd whom God has raised up, as pictured by the prophet Zechariah. They continue to let the traffickers in “sheep,” the buyers and the sellers, lead them on to the “killing.” Hence, when they have the consequences of their course come upon them, do they deserve any compassion?
16. As to that question about compassion, what is the divine answer in Zechariah 11:6?
16 The divine answer is given to the prophet Zechariah, the theocratic shepherd: “‘For I shall show compassion no more upon the inhabitants of the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah. ‘So here I am causing mankind to find themselves, each one in the hand of his companion and in the hand of his king; and they will certainly crush to pieces the land, and I shall do no delivering out of their hand.’”—Zechariah 11:6.
17. To what self-seeking, loveless state will Jehovah let the “flock meant for the killing” come, and why will their calling out be in vain?
17 So, too, with reference to modern-day Christendom. The time must come when Jehovah will cease to show compassion upon the “flock meant for the killing.” He will let the loveless sheeplike people prey upon one another, the shepherds (religious and governmental) upon the sheep, the king or royal shepherd upon the sheep, and the sheep upon one another. It will be a state of anarchy. What could result from this but a general state of collapse for organized human society? The system of things will no longer hold together, things not being done systematically any longer according to worldly wisdom. Symbolically speaking, the anarchistic, chaotic victimizers of one another will unavoidably “crush to pieces the land,” that is, their organized earthly estate. Call as loudly and as long as they then will, Jehovah will “do no delivering out of their hand.” Why should he? They had repeatedly refused to follow his own appointed shepherd.
THE SHEPHERD’S WAGES—THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER
18. What kind of appointment was Zechariah’s appointment to shepherd the “flock” of Israel, and what question arises as to his services?
18 To what extent do those who merely claim to be God’s people appreciate the spiritual “shepherd” whom he has raised up and sent to them? This is prophetically pictured for us in the experience of the prophet Zechariah. Not by a popular mandate, but by a theocratic appointment he was sent to “shepherd” the flock of Israel. How much was he appreciated? How highly were his services valued? He is very frank in telling us:
19. How many staffs did Zechariah take, how many shepherds did he efface in one month, and how did he show that he was breaking his covenant with the people?
19 “And I proceeded to shepherd the flock meant for the killing, in your behalf, O afflicted ones of the flock [or, possibly, ‘in behalf of the tradesmen of the flock,’ margin]. So I took for myself two staffs. The one I called Pleasantness, and the other I called Union [literally, Binders], and I went shepherding the flock. And I finally effaced three shepherds in one lunar month, as my soul gradually became impatient with them, and also their own soul felt a loathing toward me. At length I said: ‘I shall not keep shepherding you. The one that is dying, let her die. And the one that is being effaced, let her be effaced. And as for the ones left remaining, let them devour, each one the flesh of her companion.’ So I took my staff Pleasantness and cut it to pieces, in order to break my covenant that I had concluded with all the peoples. And it came to be broken in that day, and the afflicted ones of the flock who were watching me got to know in this way that it was the word of Jehovah.”—Zechariah 11:7-11.
20. What was the use for the staffs, and what did Zechariah name the staffs respectively, and why?
20 As a shepherd, Zechariah took as part of his equipment two staffs, the one for guiding the sheep and the other for protecting them. The former shepherd boy David makes reference to these in Psalm 23:1-4, saying: “Jehovah is my Shepherd. . . . Even though I walk in the valley of deep shadow, I fear nothing bad, for you are with me; your rod and your staff are the things that comfort me.” The one staff, evidently the one for guiding the sheep, Zechariah called Pleasantness, this referring to the favor that was shown to the sheep. The other staff, evidently the rod for beating off attackers of the sheep, he called Union (literally, Binders, for keeping a unity). It was a favor from Zechariah’s God, Jehovah of armies, toward the sheep that Jehovah assigned Zechariah to act as shepherd of the sheep. So one staff was named Pleasantness.
21. Of what kind of sheep was Zechariah made the shepherd, and of what nationalities were these made up, and whom did Zechariah represent as shepherd?
21 However, Jehovah’s prophet was not made a shepherd over literal sheep. They were symbolic sheep, namely, the house of Israel, made up then of a remnant from the kingdom of Judah and a remnant made up of members from the ten-tribe northern kingdom of Israel, the principal tribe of which was Ephraim. Accordingly Zechariah was theocratically appointed to take a spiritual supervision over the remnant of all the house of Israel, like a ruler or governor. In this office he really represented Jehovah, the heavenly Shepherd.
22. Was Zechariah obliged to do shepherding for nothing, why was his shepherding obligatory upon the Israelites, and what shows whether a contract was involved?
22 The prophet Zechariah was not to do shepherding for nothing. For services rendered he was eninputd to a wage. At the termination of his services he could rightly demand his pay. Inasmuch as he was the shepherd appointed by the Great Theocrat Jehovah, his shepherding was something obligatory upon the remnant of Israel to accept and to show appreciation for by the value that they placed upon it. Was there a specific contract or engagement made with the house of Israel that would allow for such shepherding? That there was such a contract or covenant is implied by what Zechariah tells us when explaining his resigning from the work, saying: “So I took my staff Pleasantness and cut it to pieces, in order to break my covenant that I had concluded with all the peoples.” (Zechariah 11:10) That is, with “all the peoples” of Israel.
23. Whose contract with Israel was it that was here involved, and why so?
23 Whose “covenant” or solemn contract was it, then? Seemingly, it was Zechariah’s personal covenant. But let us remember that it was Jehovah who said to him: “Shepherd the flock meant for the killing.” (Zechariah 11:4) This is what Jehovah did because the acting shepherds were selling for slaughter or killing the sheep of the flock that really belonged to Jehovah God. This meant that it was Jehovah’s covenant that was here involved; it was in the discharging of his covenant with Israel that he made this appointment of a prophet to be the nation’s shepherd. In harmony with this basic fact, the footnotes of Biblia Hebraica (Hebrew Bible), by Rudolf Kittel, Stuttgart, West Germany, says that, instead of “my covenant that I had concluded,” we should probably read: “the covenant of Jehovah that Jehovah had concluded.” This is because here the pronominal endings in the Hebrew text that are generally translated as “my” and “I” are really abbreviations for the divine name Jehovah.—See the footnotes on the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 1971 edition.
24. (a) How long did Zechariah shepherd the flock, and how do we know? (b) In whose behalf did he shepherd the flock?
24 There were other shepherds working at the time. It appears that they resented the intrusion of Jehovah’s prophet into their field of activity. Zechariah worked as a shepherd for at least one month, for he tells us: “I finally effaced three shepherds in one lunar month, as my soul gradually became impatient with them, and also their own soul felt a loathing toward me.” (Zechariah 11:8) Just who these three shepherds were, we are not told. But because he had been appointed by the Most High God, Zechariah had the superior authority among them, so that he could dismiss the three of them. How much longer after effacing those three shepherds he continued shepherding, we do not know. Why he tended the flock at all, at Jehovah’s command, was just as he explained: “I proceeded to shepherd the flock meant for the killing, in your behalf, O afflicted ones of the flock.” (Zechariah 11:7, NW; AV; Yg) This was more compassionate on Zechariah’s part than for him to “shepherd the flock meant for the killing in behalf of the tradesmen of the flock.” (NW, margin; JB; RS; AT; Ro) These sheep had in effect been abandoned to the tradesmen. (Mo) How heartless!
25. (a) What feeling developed between Zechariah and the three shepherds, and why? (b) At whose instance was the “covenant” with the flock broken, and how do we know?
25 Zechariah did not become impatient with the flock of afflicted sheep. His “soul,” his whole being, became impatient with the three delinquent shepherds. Because he was faithful and compassionate in shepherding the flock, those shepherds loathed Zechariah. He did not work along with their schemes. It was only after effacing them as shepherds that, at Jehovah’s due time, Zechariah gave up his job. Thus the “covenant” that had been “concluded with all the peoples” of Israel was broken. That this came about, not at his own inclination, but according to the Great Shepherd’s own direction and decision, Zechariah indicates. For, after cutting to pieces his staff called Pleasantness as an act symbolic of breaking the covenant, he goes on to say: “And it came to be broken in that day, and the afflicted ones of the flock who were watching me got to know in this way that it was the word of Jehovah.”—Zechariah 11:10, 11.
26. What did the breaking of the covenant mean for the flock of Israel as regards their welfare and unity?
26 What did this breaking of the covenant mean for the flock of peoples of Israel? Just what Zechariah said on discontinuing his shepherding: “I shall not keep shepherding you. The one that is dying, let her die. And the one that is being effaced, let her be effaced. And as for the ones left remaining, let them devour, each one the flesh of her companion.” (Zechariah 11:9) When Jehovah’s appointed shepherd was ordered to withdraw, who, then, would take care of the flock? Those who sought to make capital of the flock would let the dying ones die off, the ones being effaced or disappearing go without attention in order to bring them out of their lost condition, and the ones left remaining fight among themselves, devouring one another by showing no love but by taking selfish advantage of one another.
27. The covenant was broken due to a lack of further compassion on whose part, and what would be the result when the determination to break off compassion took effect?
27 So, then, did the breaking of the covenant result from mercilessness on Zechariah’s part? No, but it resulted because Jehovah’s time for showing compassion had run to its limit and had come to its end. That is why Zechariah was previously told: “‘For I shall show compassion no more upon the inhabitants of the land,’ is the utterance of Jehovah. ‘So here I am causing mankind to find themselves, each one in the hand of his companion and in the hand of his king; and they will certainly crush to pieces the land, and I shall do no delivering out of their hand.’” (Zechariah 11:6) Because of the peoples not heeding God’s appointed shepherd, whom he sent to them in his compassion, what anarchy was to result! What a clash of self-interests! What oppression! What insecurity! What ruin to the system of things under the crushing activities of the lawless, disorderly ones! What a terrible experience awaited the flock of Jehovah’s professed sheep when this divine determination went into effect!
WAGES AND THE VALUE PLACED UPON THE SHEPHERD
28. Whom did Zechariah here picture, and what kind of appointment did that one get, and what sign of it was given?
28 Zechariah was enacting a prophetic picture or allegory. He pictured a greater shepherd in the fulfillment of the prophecy. This one was Jehovah’s Messiah, Jesus the descendant and permanent heir of King David. (Matthew 1:1-6) After this one had worked as a carpenter in Nazareth of Galilee until he was thirty years of age, he was sent to be a spiritual shepherd of the nation of Israel. The rulers of the land, political and religious, did not ask him to become such. His shepherd appointment was not by a “mandate from the people,” but it was a theocratic appointment and it ranked him higher than all man-made “shepherds.” At Nazareth itself, his hometown, he pointed to his being anointed with Jehovah’s spirit to be the Messiah and hence to act as shepherd of the flock of God’s people. The prophet, John the Baptist, saw this Jesus being anointed with the holy spirit by a visible manifestation. This happened right after John had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River according to Jehovah’s will.—John 1:19-36.
29. How did Jesus, in a parable, show how the sheep were turned over to him by a symbolic “doorkeeper”?
29 John the Baptist, as the forerunner of the Messiah Jesus, acted as a “doorkeeper” to the sheepfold of Israel. Jesus Christ referred to this when he spoke in a parable and said: “Most truly I say to you, He that does not enter into the sheepfold through the door but climbs up some other place, that one is a thief and a plunderer. But he that enters through the door is shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has got all his own out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. A stranger they will by no means follow but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. . . . The thief does not come unless it is to steal and slay and destroy. I have come that they might have life and might have it in abundance. I am the fine shepherd; the fine shepherd surrenders his soul in behalf of the sheep.”—John 10:1-11.
30. (a) To whom did Jesus confine his shepherding, and how did he indicate this? (b) How and when did Moses foretell this prophet?
30 Confining his own efforts exclusively to the flock of Israel, he sent out his twelve apostles and said to them: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a Samaritan city; but, instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” (Matthew 10:5-7) Before he considered the request of a Phoenician woman to heal her badly demonized daughter, Jesus reminded her: “I was not sent forth to any but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:22-24) This was in accord with the covenant of divine law that Jehovah God had made with the house of Israel through his mediator Moses at Mount Sinai in 1513 B.C.E. In counseling the Israelites to be obedient to that covenant by shunning demonism of all kinds, Moses said to the Israelites shortly before his death: “A prophet from your own midst, from your brothers, like me, is what Jehovah your God will raise up for you—to him you people should listen.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) That promised prophet greater than Moses was the Messiah, Jesus.—Deuteronomy 18:16-19; Acts 3:22, 23.
31. How is it evident from the record that Jesus showed compassion on the sheep, but what about other shepherds?
31 That Jesus had real compassion on the flock of Israel just as the true Messianic shepherd should have is evident from the account: “Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity. On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35, 36) There is nothing else for us to conclude but that the others who should have been shepherds were failing in their duty.
32. Whom did the “three shepherds” whom Zechariah dismissed picture in Jesus’ day?
32 Who, then, in order to fulfill the prophetic picture, were the “three shepherds” whom Jesus Christ would efface, cut off, dismiss from their assumed positions? The record of Jesus’ life shows no three individual men as fulfilling the prophetic pattern. Evidently the three shepherds whom the prophet Zechariah discharged pictured three classes of men in Jesus’ time. Three classes do appear in the record, who had governmental as well as religious power in Israel. These were (1) the Pharisees and (2) the Sadducees, both of which classes were represented in the Jewish Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. That judicial body had governmental functions to some extent under the Roman governor as well as religious functions. Thus a certain Nicodemus, a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin, was a “ruler of the Jews.” (John 3:1, 2; 7:50-52) Joseph, a rich man of Arimathea, was also a member of the Sanhedrin. (Matthew 27:57-60; Luke 23:50-53) The Sanhedrin was quite divided between Pharisees and Sadducees. (Acts 23:1-9) Besides such Jewish sectarians, there were also (3) the Herodians, the “party followers of Herod.”—Mark 12:13.
33. How, as pictured in Zechariah’s case, did Jesus become “impatient” with those “three shepherds”?
33 Similar to the feeling of the “three shepherds” toward Zechariah as a shepherd, these three groups quickly “felt a loathing” toward Jesus Christ as the Messianic shepherd. They plotted or cooperated together against Jesus to discredit him in the eyes of the flock of Israel. (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 3:6) Jesus did not efface, cut off or dismiss these three hostile groups “in one lunar month” literally. The literal “lunar month” in Zechariah’s case would picture a short period of time in Jesus’ case. (Zechariah 11:8) From the very start of his ministry Jesus refused to have anything to do with those self-seeking ruling groups, that is, as far as joining in with them is concerned. Finally, at the close of his ministry his soul did become “impatient” with them. On public occasions he put all three groups to silence as far as government and doctrine are concerned. (Matthew 22:15-45) The result was, as stated in Matthew 22:46: “Nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day [Tuesday, Nisan 11 of 33 C.E.] on to question him any further.”
34. (a) What did Jesus say at the climax of his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees? (b) As if breaking the staff called Pleasantness, what did he say to Jerusalem?
34 Jesus Christ had just told them: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matthew 21:23-43; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-44) Shortly after that declaration he openly denounced the scribes and the Pharisees as oppressive shepherds and religious hypocrites. Said he at the climax of his denunciation: “Therefore you are bearing witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Well, then, fill up the measure of your forefathers. Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are you to flee from the judgment of Gehenna?” (Matthew 23:1-33; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47) Then, as if cutting to pieces the shepherd’s staff called Pleasantness, he added: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,—how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks together under her wings! But you people did not want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you.”—Matthew 23:37, 38.
35. By those words, what was Jesus announcing to the Jews concerning God’s Law Covenant with them, and what did the “afflicted ones” watching Jesus then know?
35 When Jehovah God abandoned the Jewish temple of his worship at Jerusalem that meant that he was breaking the covenant of law that he had made with the nation of Israel through Moses. So Jesus, as the shepherd foreshadowed by Zechariah, was announcing that the covenant that Jehovah had concluded with the peoples of Israel was about to be broken. The “afflicted ones” of the flock of Israel who were watching Jesus and hearing his words “got to know in this way that it was the word of Jehovah.”—Zechariah 11:11.
36. What did this mean regarding God’s pleasantness toward Israel, and finally what terrible consequences came for rejecting Jehovah’s Shepherd Ruler?
36 This meant that Jehovah was no longer to show pleasantness toward his disobedient chosen people. He was about to “show compassion no more” upon the inhabitants of the “land of Judah.” That land was to suffer all the horrors of the invasion of Judea and the destruction of its cities and strongholds, including Jerusalem and its temple, in the cruel years of 70-73 C.E. Jesus Christ foretold this tragedy on that same day of Nisan 11 of 33 C.E., in his prophecy regarding the “conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 24:1-22; Mark 13:1-20; Luke 21:5-24) This national calamity was, if nothing else, a painful indication that the Mosaic Law covenant between God and Israel had been broken. What terrible consequences for rejecting God’s Shepherd Ruler!
37. How was the value that was placed on Zechariah’s shepherding shown, what did Jehovah then tell him to do, and what did he now cut in pieces?
37 Just how highly was Jehovah’s appointed shepherd valued by the peoples of Israel? The prophet Zechariah illustrates it in his own experience and thereby foreshadows something of greater significance. He tells us: “Then I said to them: ‘If it is good in your eyes, give me my wages; but if not, refrain.’ And they proceeded to pay my wages, thirty pieces of silver. At that, Jehovah said to me: ‘Throw it to the treasury—the majestic value with which I have been valued from their standpoint.’ Accordingly I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the treasury at the house of Jehovah. Then I cut in pieces my second staff, the Union, in order to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”—Zechariah 11:12-14.
38. What was the value of that pay given to Zechariah, and how did Jehovah refer to this pay?
38 “Thirty pieces of silver”—thirty silver shekels—was the price of a slave according to the Mosaic Law covenant. (Exodus 21:32) Was the prophet Zechariah or the value of his shepherd services worth no more than a slave? And since Zechariah had been appointed by the Heavenly Shepherd Jehovah, the valuation placed upon his appointed representative Zechariah was the same as a valuation placed upon Jehovah as a Shepherd. Jehovah could speak of it as the “value with which I have been valued from their standpoint.” (Unless Zechariah were here making a parenthetical reference to himself!) True, Jehovah did speak of it as a “majestic value” instead of a slave’s value; but evidently this expression was used, not in satisfaction, but in sarcasm or in a cutting manner. It meant that the lack of appreciation was felt.
39. What did Zechariah’s cutting of the staff Union (or, Binders) to pieces indicate respecting the twelve-tribe nation of Israel?
39 At such devaluation of the shepherd who represented Jehovah the basis for unity in the flock of God’s professed people was taken away. There would not be a case of one shepherd, one flock. This would take away the protective power that unity raises up against attacks from outside. So it was with good timing that Zechariah cut to pieces the staff called Union (or, Binders) at this point. This was to illustrate that the foundation for “brotherhood” between those of the kingdom of Judah and those of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel was taken away. It was over the issue of having one Messianic king, one of the royal line of David, that the nation of twelve tribes was broken up into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, after King Solomon’s death in 997 B.C.E. So the breaking of the Mosaic Law covenant meant, not only the end of Jehovah’s “pleasantness” or favor to his once chosen people, but also that divine care and protection for keeping the nation together as a harmonious whole had ended. The spiritual bonds that make for brotherhood had been taken away, and the mere fleshly bond would not be strong enough to hold them together as brothers.
40. (a) Why was this undervaluing of Jehovah’s shepherd more serious in the case of the one pictured by Zechariah? (b) What should a shepherd ruler receive as pay from his subjects?
40 The undervaluing of God’s provisions and the rejecting of them always lead to sad consequences. Great as was the undervaluing of Jehovah as the Great Shepherd in the case of the prophet Zechariah, it was far surpassed in the case of the Messianic Shepherd pictured by Zechariah. That one was nobody else but the Son of God, whom God sent from heaven to become the Fine Shepherd to surrender his soul or lay down his perfect human life in behalf of all sheeplike human creatures. (John 10:14-18) Since the Messiah Jesus was acting as a shepherd in behalf of his heavenly Father, he could have exercised his right to ask for his wages in behalf of his Father. What wages or pay is it that a governmental shepherd asks of his subjects? It is that his subjects should render support to him and to his government whether in a material way or in loyal services rendered. The appointed officers under the governmental shepherd are the ones that should see to it that the shepherd gets such wages or pay from all his subjects. Just as Solomon, a theocratically appointed king, wrote: “My son, fear Jehovah and the king. With those who are for a change, do not intermeddle.”—Proverbs 24:21.
41. (a) Did Zechariah force the people to pay him his shepherd wages? (b) When could the Jewish representatives have paid Jesus as shepherd, but when were they forced to place a value upon him?
41 For almost three and a half years Jesus served faithfully as a spiritual shepherd over the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Toward the close of his shepherd work, during his last week of his life in human flesh on earth, he did not go directly to the shepherdlike representatives of Israel, as the prophet Zechariah did, and ask for his wages or pay. Zechariah told those in his day that if they did not want to pay they did not need to: “If it is good in your eyes, give me my wages; but if not, refrain.” (Zechariah 11:12) In Jesus’ case, when, in triumphal fashion, he rode on an ass’s colt into Jerusalem, the shepherdlike representatives of Israel could have paid him the wage of giving him their acceptance of him as the true Messiah sent and anointed by Jehovah. But they refrained from doing this. Nonetheless, they were forced, just three days later (Nisan 12, 33 C.E.), to place a money value on him as a spiritual shepherd. How? Let us read:
42. What value was stipulated to Judas Iscariot for Jesus, and when?
42 “Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said: ‘What will you give me to betray him to you?’ They stipulated to him thirty silver pieces. So from then on [Nisan 12] he kept seeking a good opportunity to betray him. On the first day of the unfermented cakes [Nisan 14] the disciples came up to Jesus, saying: ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the passover?’”—Matthew 26:14-17.
43. What was Jesus’ attitude toward the sale of him by his known betrayer, and when was the sale consummated?
43 Those religious shepherds gave Judas Iscariot the thirty silver shekels. (Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6) Jesus foreknew that he would be betrayed and that the betrayer was Judas Iscariot. (Matthew 17:22, 23; 20:17-19; 26:1, 2, 24, 25) Jesus did nothing to hinder the sale of him by betrayal. (Matthew 26:45-57) In fact, he expedited the betrayal, that it might occur at God’s due time, for, at the Passover supper he identified Judas Iscariot and dismissed him with the words: “What you are doing get done more quickly.” The betrayer immediately went out to carry out his bargain with the religious shepherds. (John 13:21-30) Hours later that Passover night the betrayal took place and Judas Iscariot had earned his money. (John 18:1-14) The evaluating of Jesus the Messianic Shepherd had been consummated. At thirty silver shekels, the price of a slave according to the Mosaic Law covenant! A majestic value!
44, 45. (a) What was done with the money at which Zechariah was priced? (b) What was done with the money that Judas Iscariot accepted for betraying Jesus?
44 Judas Iscariot accepted this price. He had been the treasurer of the twelve apostles, but he did not put the money into their money box. He kept it for himself—for a while! (John 12:4-6) In the ancient case of the prophet Zechariah, he did not keep the thirty silver shekels that had been paid to him as his wages. The money really belonged to his Master, Jehovah, and so Jehovah said to him: “Throw it to the treasury.” Zechariah did so. (Zechariah 11:12, 13) His action was a premonition of something. Not that Zechariah prefigured Judas Iscariot, but, just the same, like Zechariah, Judas did not keep his thirty silver shekels. What he did with them, or, rather, what resulted from his disposing of the betrayal money is reported to us:
45 “When it had become morning, all the chief priests and the older men of the people held a consultation against Jesus so as to put him to death. And, after binding him, they led him off and handed him over to Pilate the governor. Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing he had been condemned, felt remorse and turned the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and older men, saying: ‘I sinned when I betrayed righteous blood.’ They said: ‘What is that to us? You must see to that!’ So he threw the silver pieces into the temple and withdrew, and went off and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said: ‘It is not lawful to drop them into the sacred treasury, because they are the price of blood.’ After consulting together, they bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers. Therefore that field has been called ‘Field of Blood’ to this very day. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying: ‘And they took the thirty silver pieces, the price upon the man that was priced, the one on whom some of the sons of Israel set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, according to what Jehovah had commanded me.’”—Matthew 27:1-10.
46. (a) How did the apostle Peter later speak about Judas Iscariot and the disposal of the thirty shekels? (b) What inconsistency did the priests show respecting the blood that those thirty shekels represented?
46 Because the money used by the priests in the purchase of the potter’s field had been provided by Judas Iscariot, the apostle Peter speaks of Judas as having bought the field for the burial of Jews who died while visiting in Jerusalem or of proselytes. Peter said to the Christian congregation regarding Judas: “This very man, therefore, purchased a field with the wages for unrighteousness, and pitching head foremost [after hanging himself up high] he noisily burst in his midst and his intestines were poured out. It also became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their language A·kelʹda·ma, that is, Field of Blood.” (Acts 1:18, 19) The priests merely acted for Judas in taking the money out of the temple sanctuary where Judas had thrown the thirty silver shekels and conveyed it to the seller of the potter’s field. The priests saw the unfitness of dropping the “price of blood” into the temple treasury, but at the same time they thought themselves fit to serve in that temple in spite of their having caused that blood to be shed.
47. (a) How could it be that the apostle Matthew could say Jeremiah and yet really mean Zechariah? (b) How does the Aramaic Version dispose of the difficulty?
47 We notice that, in Matthew 27:9, 10, the apostle Matthew says that it was the saying of the prophet Jeremiah that was fulfilled. If Matthew was referring to that section of the Hebrew Scriptures known as The Prophets and this section in Matthew’s day was headed by the prophecy of Jeremiah, then the name Jeremiah would include all the other prophetic books, including that of Zechariah. In such a case Matthew would really be meaning Zechariah although using the name Jeremiah.b The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Peshitta) omits the name and reads: “Then what was spoken by the prophet was fulfilled, namely, I took the thirty pieces of silver, the costly price which was bargained with the children of Israel, and I gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (George M. Lamsa, 1957) The Syriac New Testament translated into English from the Peshitto Version, by James Murdock (copyrighted 1893), reads the same way, in omitting the prophet’s name.c
48. (a) How does Matthew’s loose translation of Zechariah’s prophecy show the disposal of the thirty shekels? (b) This fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy confirms that he pictured whom here?
48 Since Matthew 27:9, 10 corresponds with Zechariah 11:13 and with nothing in the book of Jeremiah, Matthew’s quotation must have been a loose translation of Zechariah 11:13. The way in which Matthew translated Zechariah 11:13 was evidently meant to show how the fulfillment of Zechariah 11:13 worked out, namely, that “they took,” the priestly representatives of Israel took, the thirty silver pieces from the floor of the temple, and “they [the priests, acting instead of the individual, Judas Iscariot] gave them for the potter’s field.” Zechariah 11:13 does not tell us how the thirty silver shekels that Zechariah threw into the treasury of Jehovah’s temple were particularly disposed of later. Matthew, however, does tell us how the fulfillment of the prophecy did dispose of the money, to fit the altered circumstances. This fulfillment would confirm that the shepherd Zechariah here pictured the betrayed and sold Messianic Shepherd, Jesus, so cheaply priced.
49. The fulfillment of Zechariah’s breaking of the staff called “the Union” took place when, and with what consequences to the Jews?
49 Just as Zechariah thereafter broke the second staff, called “the Union” or “Binders,” so the betrayal of Jesus for thirty silver shekels did lead to Jehovah’s canceling of the Mosaic Law covenant with Israel. When the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven and appeared in God’s presence and presented to Him the value of his perfect human sacrifice, then the Mosaic Law covenant was blotted out, and the promised new covenant was inaugurated with spiritual Israel, Christian Israel. (Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 2:14-17; Hebrews 9:24-28) This left the natural, circumcised Jews that refused the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ exposed to the false Jewish Christs. It left them without a true theocratic bond of union, and their disunity into a number of religious sects worked out disastrously for them at the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70 C.E.
50. How has Christendom, in effect, placed a cheap price on the Messianic Shepherd Jesus Christ, how is she guilty of covenant breaking, and how will failure to have God’s Pleasantness affect her?
50 Like ancient Israel, Christendom with her hundreds of sects has rejected the shepherdly care of the Messianic Shepherd, the heavenly Jesus Christ. How so? Not according to her pious professions, of course, but according to her acts. She has betrayed him by betraying his true disciples, whom she has persecuted, even to the death in many cases. She has refused the services of the spiritual shepherds whom the heavenly Messianic Shepherd has sent to her. What she has done to them, she has, in effect, done to him. (Matthew 25:40, 45; Mark 9:37; John 15:20, 21) Thus she has placed a cheap price on his shepherdly services, rejecting them. This reveals that she is not in harmony with the new covenant, which she claims applies to her; and so, by taking her at her word, she has broken that new covenant. So she does not enjoy the Pleasantness or favor of Jehovah God, and He does not protect her to keep her in unity. She too is exposed to all the false Christs. Her disunity will continue until the coming “great tribulation” that was pictured by Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E.—Matthew 24:21, 22.
“A USELESS SHEPHERD”
51. (a) Christendom’s rejection of the Messianic Shepherd leaves the people to the leadership of whom? (b) Instead of accepting the Messianic Shepherd whom Jehovah provided, Christendom has chosen what organization?
51 When Jehovah’s Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and his true undershepherds are rejected by people who profess to worship the God of the Holy Bible, there is nothing left for such people but to come under the leadership of selfish, worldly-minded shepherds. (1 Peter 5:1-4) Jehovah denounced the self-seeking governmental shepherds and reassured the sheeplike people by saying: “I will raise up over them one shepherd, and he must feed them, even my servant David. He himself will feed them, and he himself will become their shepherd. And I myself, Jehovah, will become their God, and my servant David a chieftain in the midst of them. I myself, Jehovah, have spoken.” (Ezekiel 34:23, 24) Jesus Christ, the son of ancient King David, is that promised Shepherd. In the year 1919 C.E. Christendom discounted the value of his pastoral care and rejected him and his kingdom. Instead, she chose a man-made international organization for world peace and security, the League of Nations, the successor to which, the United Nations, has 132 member nations in 1972. She has reaped the consequences of this.
52. What consequences has Christendom reaped from rejecting the Messianic Shepherd and his leadership?
52 What consequences? A crop of ambitious, self-exalting governmental shepherds, together with their religious associates. Through the prophet Zechariah Jehovah God illustrated such consequences: worldly shepherds as prefigured by “a useless shepherd,” a foolish, incompetent, worthless class of leaders. After all these decades of experience with such leaders since 1919 C.E., we can see how they conform to the type of shepherd that Jehovah God prophetically described, as recorded by Zechariah, who writes:
53. Whose implements was Zechariah told to take for himself, and how would the shepherd raised up carry on, and what would happen to him?
53 “And Jehovah went on to say to me: ‘Take yet for yourself the implements of a useless shepherd. For here I am letting a shepherd rise up in the land. To the sheep being effaced he will give no attention. The young one he will not seek, and the broken sheep he will not heal. The one stationing herself he will not supply with food, and the flesh of the fat one he will eat, and the hoofs of the sheep he will tear off. Woe to my valueless shepherd, who is leaving the flock! A sword will be upon his arm and upon his right eye. His own arm will without fail dry up, and his own right eye will without fail grow dim.’”—Zechariah 11:15-17.
54. The conditions in the nations today prove that the people have what kind of “shepherds,” and why have such leaders been allowed to rise up?
54 Are not the people today, even those of Christendom, not to speak of those of heathendom, like sheep effaced or lost out of the picture, broken and unhealed, hungry or threatened with world famine, fed upon by corrupt, graft-taking, parasitical valueless shepherds, who devour them even to their “hoofs” or who lead them over ways so rough as to tear their “hoofs”? The conditions in the nations, both so-called Christian and pagan, give eloquent answer to that question. How much longer can the “sheep” keep going? But this is the consequence of refusing Jehovah’s Messianic Shepherd. Since they have chosen it that way, he has let a useless, valueless, hurtful shepherd class rise up in the land even of Christendom.
55. Why did Zechariah, though taking for himself the implements of a useless shepherd, not suffer the woe that Jehovah pronounced against a valueless shepherd of that kind?
55 The prophet Zechariah was told to illustrate the rising up of such a “useless shepherd” class in our time, as well as in the time of Jesus Christ and his apostles in the first century C.E. Zechariah did not himself become such a useless, foolish shepherd; he was merely told to take the implements or equipment of a shepherd and picture the presence and faulty conduct of such kind of shepherd. Consequently, Zechariah did not suffer the woe that Jehovah pronounced upon such a delinquent, valueless, heartless shepherd.
56. How has a “sword” been upon the “arm” and the “right eye” of such a “valueless shepherd” class?
56 The whole world of mankind may expect no relief or deliverance from such governmental shepherds of human choice and appointment. Jehovah’s executional sword of authority is against such shepherd rulers, who themselves have long borne the “sword” of executional power. (Romans 13:4; Acts 12:1, 2) Because of not having Jehovah’s blessing in this their “time of the end,” their “arm” of power and ability is already withering up; their “right eye,” their best eye for discerning remedies and for governmental oversight, grows dimmer and dimmer. But in the world’s coming “great tribulation” Jehovah will destroy that “useless shepherd” class, eyes, arms and all.
[Footnotes]
a See The Bible Students Monthly, Volume VI, No. 7, which said under the input “Rabbi Wise Blames Churches for War,” the following: “‘Failure of the churches and synagogues to maintain leadership over the people was the cause of the present war,’ said Rabbi Stephen S. Wise at the Free Synagogue in Carnegie Hall yesterday. Rabbi Wise characterized the present attitude of the churches as ‘feeble, faltering, halting and timid.’ He said the State has conquered the church and that the latter has become a follower instead of a leader of public opinion.
“‘They have enthroned a war devil,’ he said, ‘in the place of God. The churches do not take themselves seriously. They are satisfied to be a mere item of the social organization and to defend their countries and rulers—just or unjust. The church is muzzled and throttled into submission. It is like a dumb dog, old and toothless, that can no longer bite.
“‘Many of us expected the Socialist power to avert such a war as this, and were bitterly disappointed in the Socialists of Europe when they failed to do so. But we never looked to the churches, mosques and synagogues to prevent war. None of us expected such a thing from them, and we know what would happen to any leader of the Church of England who would dare raise his voice against his country’s part in the present strife.
“‘Franz Josef goes through the empty form of washing the feet of a dozen pilgrims every Easter and the church is satisfied with him. The Czar is the head of his church on Sunday and the head of his army during the week.
“‘And when the nations were preparing for this war they never consulted the churches because they knew that just as they relied upon their ambulance corps and their commissaries they could rely upon the churches to uphold them.
“‘It would be better for missionaries to teach Christianity at home first.’
“The rabbi concluded:
“‘Our souls are wounded when we read of the destruction of cathedrals at Rheims and elsewhere, yet these cathedrals were destroyed long ago and it is only their outer walls that have now fallen.
“‘War gods, money gods and power gods have been destroying these edifices century after century.’”—New York American, October 12, 1914, page 4.
b The Syriac Version (Philoxenian Harkleian, a seventh-century revision) uses the name Zachariah, instead of Jeremiah.
c In Matthew 27:9, 10 the Sinaitic Manuscript of the fourth century C.E. reads “I” instead of “they.” So do the Syriac Versions, the Philoxenian Harkleian, the Peshitta, and the Sinaitic Codex. This agrees with Zechariah 11:13, which says “I took.” |
Bible Topics (td)
1997 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/bible-topics-td | input Page/Publishers’ Page
Bible Topics For Discussion |
God’s Sovereignty (og)
1975 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/gods-sovereignty-og | One World, One Government, Under God’s Sovereignty
1. What is sovereignty defined as being, and how has it affected our earth?
FOR CENTURIES it has been argued that the sovereignty of a government has its basic source in the people governed.a In the realm of political science sovereignty is said to be “the supreme power in a State by which the government is administered.”b In recent times more and more lands have gone over to the idea that sovereignty resides with the people.c However, in some lands it is still recognized that the supreme power in the State is possessed by the sovereign, such as the king or the emperor. Whatever be the case, there is today no one man or one national group of people that exercises sovereignty over all the earth. Rather, our earth is the location of many sovereignties. This is a major cause for strife and conflict. The earth has no rest, no global peace.
2. Why are all of us affected by the national sovereignties around the earth, and what patriotic stand do some take toward their national government?
2 All of us are affected by the sovereignties that are exercised around the earth. Relatively few of us individuals are what may be called “a man without a country.” The most of us are members of some nation, citizens of some country. As such, we are expected to have a national pride. We are made very sensitive of our nationality, so that we resent and take offense at any slur that is made against the nation that we represent. During international disputes many devotees of a national government take the patriotic position expressed in the words, “My country—right or wrong!”
3. What internal sovereignty and what external sovereignty do the nations today exercise?
3 Today more nations than ever before in human history command the loyalty of their citizens. In that world body known as the United Nations there are at present one hundred and thirty-eight member nations of diverse political complexions. There are yet other nations that are still outside the United Nations organization. Each of these nations, whether inside or outside the United Nations, is jealous of its internal sovereignty and of its external sovereignty. Each nation claims and safeguards those governmental powers that a political State possesses internally over its own citizens and even over foreigners dwelling within the national borders and over private ships of its citizens on the high seas. In the exercise of external sovereignty, each nation insists and acts upon its right to enter into relations with any foreign political state, either by making a peaceful treaty or by declaring war. From the present-day human standpoint, all of this seems right and natural. Patriotic!
4. During this century, what political movement became epidemic, and what question is raised as to brotherhood between nations and individuals?
4 The facts of modern history show that nationalism has come to the fore in this twentieth century, since the first war that was fought on a global scale. According to the winning side, it was fought to make the world safe for democracy. The striving of the peoples everywhere for national sovereignties by the creation of new political states became epidemic. Nationalism became a plague to all mankind. Instead of pacifying world conditions by the satisfying of local peoples wanting nationhood, it led to the multiplying of problems national and international. After nineteen years of operation by the now dead League of Nations and, then, thirty years of operation by the United Nations, there is today no brotherhood of the nations, just as there is no “brotherhood of man.” And yet, are not all men brothers “under the skin”? Are not all nations brother nations, made up of citizens who are brothers “under the skin”? Why, then, this absence world wide of brotherhood that should make all men everywhere act like loving brothers of one big human family?
5. Do we have on earth “one world” under “one government,” and to whom would this be a desirable thing?
5 We are obliged to confess that mankind today is not “one world” and that, despite the existence of the United Nations, it is not under “one government.” Would we like to have all living mankind to be “one world” and under “one government”? In the face of human experience for the past six thousand years, that would be a most desirable thing for all those of us who desire harmony, peace, justice, security, human fellowship and the joy of living.
6, 7. (a) Why were the peoples of earth never before so close together, so interdependent? (b) How many would be affected by another world war, and why?
6 All of us people, regardless of where we live on this planet, are held captive to this earth. It is true that six space flights have landed men on the moon, but these men, in order to survive, have had to return to this earth. They have been glad to get back to this earth. Here is where they were meant to live, and here only is where human creatures, as human beings, can live forever. Men, wherever they may live on this planet, are neighbors of one another, for they are all inhabitants of the one earth. They are, in general, subject to the same necessities of life. And now the means of rapid communication by telephone, telegraph, radio and television, and the various means for travel on land, on sea and in the skies, have brought all peoples closer together than ever before. Never before were the peoples of the earth so interdependent.
7 Like in one big human body, every other part of human society is affected by what happens to one particular part of the human family. In the face of the advances in the science of modern warfare, another world war, a war employing nuclear weapons with intercontinental ballistic missiles, would have disastrous effects upon all creatures, human and animal, upon our earth.
8, 9. (a) What danger is common to all mankind, and what is needed on the part of all nations to prevent the worst? (b) What warning of doom came from the Far East last January, calling for cooperation by whom?
8 Danger of extinction is now common to all mankind. It is now recognized that one common human effort globally is needed to ward off such a world calamity. An outright self-interest on the part of the people demands such a thing. But where among the self-seeking people of the day is there the feeling of a dire need to cooperate together to prevent the worst? A call for it comes from the Far East:
9 Under the headlines “Miki: Mankind Is Doomed Without Co-operation,” the Times of Singapore, Asia, under date of January 26, 1975, reports: “TOKYO, Sat. — Prime minister Tako Miki warned yesterday that the world is doomed if individual national interests are carried out ‘in a narrow, short-term sense.’ Mr. Miki said in a keynote speech delivered at the Diet (parliament): ‘The world is becoming smaller and smaller and the whole of mankind shares the same fate aboard the same ship.’ He stressed the need for international co-operation and interdependence among nations. . . . ‘To our regret, however, the world has not yet reached a stage where this interdependence is fully realized. If this situation persists, it is clear that in the not-too-distant future we will be doomed. In this age, no single nation or individual can get along successfully by themselves any longer. The ultimate objective of diplomatic endeavor for any country is, of course, to ensure its national interests. This expression, however, should not be construed in a narrow, short-term sense.’”
WHAT IS MISSING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
10. What would impair the unifying strength of the international cooperation that was recommended?
10 This was indeed a solemn warning for the Japanese premier to make. He remains strongly convinced that mankind must now choose between full international cooperation and doom! In his view, however, the national sovereignty of each political state is not to be sacrificed, even while this cooperation obtains. Accordingly, the “ultimate objective of diplomatic endeavor” is to be that of ensuring the national interests of each country. In this way the national groups everywhere would be holding on to their national sovereignty. This would allow for national pride with all its divisive effects to remain. So this would work against true inner unity between national groups. It would be a weakness impairing the strength of international cooperation. Never would the result be “one government”! Neither “one world”!
11. What is the highly important thing that would be missing from such international cooperation?
11 So, then, is it merely the cooperation between sovereign political states that is needed to save the world of mankind from doom? Evidently something more is needed, something highly important. The now defunct League of Nations did not supply that need. The now functioning United Nations does not supply it either. Political scientists of the world might ask, What is the thing needed, that is missing from such organizations for international cooperation? We answer, It is unselfish cooperation with the One whom many nations claim to worship. Who that One is we can determine from the song that used to be treated as a national anthem in a North American country. It is eninputd “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” or, simply, “America.” The last verse of this song, at the playing of which the audience would rise to its feet, reads as follows:
“Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light.
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.”
12. (a) How does an associated nation also claim that God is its heavenly Sovereign? (b) How does such a singing nation prove whether God is its Sovereign or not?
12 Furthermore, this anthem was sung to the tune of the British national anthem, eninputd “God Save Our Gracious King (Queen).” In agreement with that last verse of “America,” the Supreme Court of the nation has ruled that the United States is a Christian nation. Also, in England there is still a union of Church and State, the Church of England being the established State Church. The God of the Holy Bible is the deity here meant. All the nations of Christendom profess to worship this God of the Holy Scriptures. By singing to him the words “Great God our King,” the Americans who can join in that patriotic song are tunefully acknowledging God, “our fathers’ God,” as the sovereign, higher than the chief executive of the United States of America. But do the singers of the anthem say more than they mean? Do they really let him be the Sovereign of their own nation as well as the rest of the universe? The singers prove whether He is their real Sovereign by submissively cooperating with him or failing to do so.
13. (a) Whom does the King James Authorized Version Bible show to be the Sovereign of the Universe? (b) So, how only can “one world” under “one government” come about?
13 The translation of the Holy Bible into English that was authorized by King James I of Great Britain in 1611 to be read in the churches of the country points to the sovereignty of this God. In Psalm 83:18 it reads: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” In fulfillment of the prayer contained in that Psalm, all men, all human inhabitants of the earth, will yet know that the God whose name is Jehovah is the Highest Sovereign of all and, hence, the Sovereign over our earth also. Today the larger number of the political nations do not worship Jehovah as their God, as the nations of Christendom claim to do. But, whereas the so-called “Christian” nations profess to worship the God whose name the Bible says is Jehovah, they do not in fact cooperate with Him. So, in actuality, not one of the nations that are members of the United Nations organization is cooperating with the Most High God, Jehovah. Only when all living mankind obediently cooperates with this Universal Sovereign can there come about “one world” under “one government.”
FOR WHOSE SOVEREIGNTY SHALL WE DECIDE?
14. Why is it now necessary for each one of us to make a personal decision on the issue that must be settled for all the earth?
14 Is such a thing what we want with all our hearts? Since the political states do not want such a thing in God’s way and since they refuse to cooperate with Him, then it is left to each one of us to make his own personal decision on the issue that must shortly be settled for all the earth. Shall we each one pay due respects to Jehovah’s universal sovereignty and live in harmony with it? Only by doing so shall we be privileged to enjoy the “one world, one government, under God’s sovereignty.”
15. What explains why the projects of the nations have failed despite international cooperation?
15 When all of us cooperate and act as a united body, we can generally get things done. When we work together with the Sovereign Lord God Jehovah, we can be sure of working for success. This fact helps us to understand why the nations have failed to have success in their international projects. It is true that the nations, in their desperate plight today, are seeking to unify the world under one single world arrangement. Why, there is even talk of handing over world sovereignty to the United Nations organization. However, as regards the “one world” of mankind under “one government” that the nations would like to bring about for the sake of world peace and security, is it the “one world” under “one government” that the Sovereign Lord God has in mind? Is it what He has foretold in his infallible written Word, the Holy Bible?
16, 17. (a) How did nations cooperate together in a bad way nineteen centuries ago at Jerusalem? (b) How did those who prayed and mentioned this evil cooperation address God, and what did they ask Him to do?
16 We know that human creatures and nations can cooperate in a bad work as well as in a good work. It was not quite two thousand years ago that nations got together in a bad work. They cooperated together, but not in cooperation with the Most High God of heaven. This was called attention to in a very solemn way in the city of Jerusalem, after a couple of men had been arrested for preaching in the city temple, had been tried in the Supreme Court and had been released under threats. Concerning the clash of sovereignties that was then and there involved, the historic account tells us, in the following words, according to The New English Bible:
17 “As soon as they were discharged they went back to their friends and told them everything that the chief priests and elders had said. When they heard it, they raised their voices as one man and called upon God: ‘Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and sea and of everything in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of David thy servant, didst say, “Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples lay their plots in vain? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers made common cause against the Lord and against his Messiah.” They did indeed make common cause in this very city against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou didst anoint as Messiah. Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel to do all the things which, under thy hand and by thy decree, were foreordained. And now, O Lord, mark their threats, and enable thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness.’”—Acts 4:23-29; also The New American Bible; Revised Standard Version; Moffatt; NW.
18. What did those praying Christians ask God to help them to do, and what was the result of the answer to their prayer?
18 Those disciples of Jesus the Messiah made their individual decisions and took their stand on the side of the universal sovereignty of the Creator of heaven and earth. That is why they prayed to Him to help them to ignore the ruling and threats of the national Supreme Court and go right ahead with the forbidden preaching of God’s message about his anointed Servant, Jesus the Messiah. They exposed the political conspiracy of King Herod Antipas, who represented the national group of the Idumeans, and Governor Pontius Pilate, who represented the Roman Empire and Tiberius Caesar, and the unchristianized Jews. Their prayer was answered, and the preaching of the good news by these upholders of the sovereignty of the Lord God Jehovah went on, both among the Jews and, later, among the Gentile nations. As a result, thousands of believers took their stand upon the side of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, to cooperate with him in his Messianic purpose.
19. In contrast with the situation nineteen centuries ago, we today have reached what fulfillment of David’s words in Psalm Two, and why should we be careful about the decision we make?
19 Today we have reached the climax in this divinely guided course of events that leads to “one world” under “one government” over which God is the Universal Sovereign. The prophetic words of David that were included in the prayer offered by the disciples of the Messiah nineteen centuries ago in Jerusalem had only an initial or a miniature fulfillment. It had involved King Herod and Governor Pontius Pilate and the Jewish people and the Roman soldiers whom these used in nailing Jesus the Messiah to a torture stake. In our twentieth century, the world events since the outbreak of World War I in the year 1914 furnish the proof that we have reached the final and full-scale fulfillment of those words of David found in Psalm Two. Now, more than at any time in the past, the issue of divine sovereignty is up for settlement. Our personal decision on the issue will be most serious in consequences to each one of us.
20, 21. (a) For guidance in making the right decision, to whom can we go with success? (b) According to Psalm 73:24, 25, 28, to whom did the psalmist turn for counsel?
20 In order to aid us to make the decision that will lead to our enjoyment of “one world, one government,” under divine sovereignty, we need guidance. Can we go to the worldly nations for guidance in this respect? No, for they are bewildered, sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of perplexity because of not knowing the way out of their mounting difficulties. We cannot with success turn to the religious institutions of the nations, for the religious counsel that these have given to the political rulers has led the nations to the present international impasse. For the needed up-to-date, realistic, practical counsel that guides us in the right way, we must go to the written Word provided for us by the very One who long ago foretold this world distress. This was the wise course taken by the inspired psalmist of ancient times. Addressing himself to the divine Author of that prophetic Word, the psalmist said:
21 “With your counsel you will lead me, and afterward you will take me even to glory. Whom do I have in the heavens? And besides you I do have no other delight on the earth. But as for me, the drawing near to God is good for me. In the Sovereign Lord Jehovah I have placed my refuge, to declare all your works.”—Psalm 73:24, 25, 28.
22. So, of what can we be certain, according to the psalmist’s words?
22 By now choosing the Sovereign of all the universe to be our refuge, we, too, can be certain that he will lead us with his counsel and afterward bring us to unfading glory.
THE ONE GOVERNMENT FOR ONE WORLD UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
23. To what conclusion about government of mankind are world counselors being forced?
23 Counselors and advisers on world affairs are continually being frustrated. Whether they like the thought or not, they are being forced to the conclusion that the human family, although now six thousand years old, is unable to govern itself. It has not of itself brought forth the type of government that has made or can make all mankind one world.
24. According to the start that God gave to mankind, why is he not to blame because mankind is not “one world” today?
24 Who is to blame? Not the Creator of the human family and hence not their heavenly Father. All mankind started from the one original man whom the Sovereign Lord God, Jehovah, brought into existence on earth. Afterward, from part of this man’s perfect body that the Creator used as a base, he made the first, original woman, that all mankind might be one flesh, the descendants of this original human pair. This fact was plainly stated to the philosophers of the Grecian High Court of the Areopagus in Athens, Greece, nineteen hundred years ago. To these eminent judges the Christian apostle Paul said: “He [God] made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of the dwelling of men, for them to seek God.”—Acts 17:22-27; Genesis 2:7-25; 1:26-31.
25, 26. (a) From the start, what was God’s purpose for mankind? (b) How was it shown to Adam that submission to God’s sovereignty was a way of life with eternity in view?
25 God meant for the human family to be “one world” of mankind, one human society all of the same bone, flesh and blood. This united human society was to dwell over all the surface of the earth, this being converted to a parklike garden or paradise as their home forever. Mankind was to have in subjection the fish, the birds and the land animals, but mankind itself was to be in subjection to the sovereignty of the Universal Ruler and Creator, the Most High, “whose name alone is JEHOVAH.” (Psalm 83:18, AV) As man’s Sovereign, Jehovah God stated to the first man the divine law, by obedience to which the perfect man could live on earth forever.
26 This law commanded perfect obedience to the Universal Sovereign, for God said to the man, Adam: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17) For a time the man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, kept that divine command of loyal obedience. The human family was off to a perfect start. Submission to the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah God, was the way of life with eternity in view. The principle there set forth applies to us today. Shall we follow it?
27. The lack of oneness in the world of mankind today indicates that what took place, and when, and under what inducement?
27 Everybody will have to agree that the human family is not “one world” today, not an undivided human society, in spite of being of one flesh and blood. There are many self-assertive human sovereignties on earth at present, and these are dividing the loyalties of men. It is undeniable that in the distant past, before a son was born to Adam and Eve, there must have been a breakaway from the universal sovereignty of the Most High God, the Creator. What induced this breakaway? Only the Holy Bible, God’s written Word, gives the valid answer. The wrong inducement came from the realm of the unseen, from the spirit world. There one of the spirit subjects of Jehovah’s sovereignty saw an opportunity of setting up an independent sovereignty of his own.
28. The designations given to that spirit rebel harmonize with what course that he took to lead human revolt against God’s sovereignty?
28 Satan became a fitting name for this rebel, for the name means “Resister,” that is to say, to Jehovah God. Devil became a fitting designation for him, for the word means “Slanderer,” and Satan used slander against his Sovereign Lord in order to deceive and mislead. So to the woman Eve the Devil presented her heavenly Father as being a selfish liar to whom strict obedience was not due. Believing this lie, Eve ate from the forbidden fruit and broke her submission to the sovereignty of her heavenly Father. In line with the Devil’s scheme, she went farther than this: she prevailed upon her husband Adam to join her in a revolt against submission to the rightful sovereignty of his God and Father. It has turned out just as Satan the Devil figured it would: To this day the world of mankind has been born in sin against God, in nonsubmission to the sovereignty of the Most High God Jehovah.—Genesis 3:1 through 4:16; Romans 5:12.
29, 30. (a) How has mankind since been divided on the matter of submission to a sovereignty? (b) How did God exercise foreign sovereignty in his relations with the rebel sovereign?
29 Since that rebellion back there in the Garden of Eden, the descendants of Adam and Eve have been divided between submission to the universal sovereignty of Jehovah God and submission to the sovereignty of Satan the Devil, whom Jesus the Messiah called “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) Jehovah God did not enter into any treaty with this newly established inferior sovereignty. Exercising his power as Rightful Sovereign in control of his dealings with foreign governments, Jehovah God declared war upon the enemy sovereign. Showing supreme contempt for this Satanic sovereign, Jehovah God likened him to an earth-hugging serpent and said to him, as if speaking to the serpent whom the Devil had used to deceive Eve:
30 “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head [like treading on the head of a serpent to crush its brains] and you [like a serpent lying in wait] will bruise him in the heel.”—Genesis 3:1-15.
31. Warfare of what length did God declare against the foreign sovereign, and how did Paul indicate this in Romans 16:20?
31 Perpetual warfare Jehovah God there declared against the rebel sovereign and all those adhering to the sovereignty of this crafty rebel, who from the start tried to hide his identity from human creatures. Jehovah God has not forgotten his “foreign policy” of warfare against the enemy of both Him and mankind. More than four millenniums after the Great Adversary set up the foreign sovereignty at Eden, Jehovah God inspired the Christian apostle Paul to write to the congregation located at the seat of the Roman Empire: “The God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. May the undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus be with you.”—Romans 16:20. Compare Exodus 17:14; Isaiah 45:7.
32. (a) Who will be used to crush the Great Serpent underfoot, and how soon? (b) How was the bruising of the “heel” of God’s promised Seed accomplished, and how was there a healing?
32 The time for the crushing of the Great Serpent Satan the Devil and his “seed” “shortly” should now be near, after the passing of over nineteen hundred years. The principal one of the promised “Seed” of God’s “woman,” Jesus Christ, is now clothed with adequate power to crush this Satanic author of all earthly sovereignties foreign to Jehovah God, the only Giver of peace. Back in the first century of our Common Era, this “Seed” of God’s “woman” was bruised in the heel. This took place as the outcome of that conspiracy between the “peoples of Israel” and King Herod Antipas and the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. The “heel” wound inflicted by the Great Serpent did cause the death of Jesus Christ on Passover Day of 33 C.E., but only a physical death. And, at any rate, Jesus, had to die a sacrificial death, according to God’s purpose. But the sacrificing course did not go unrewarded. On the third day of Jesus’ death, the Almighty God raised him from the dead to immortal spirit life in the heavens. God seated him at His own right hand, to await the time for the Great Serpent to be crushed in the head.—Hebrews 10:12, 13; 12:2; Luke 12:4, 5.
33. What government did Jesus as a man publicly preach, and from when on?
33 While Jesus the Messiah was still a perfect man on earth, he ceaselessly preached the Government that, under God’s sovereignty, will rule all mankind and make the obedient ones “one world.” He took up where his forerunner, John the Baptist, had left off, for the account tells us: “Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into [the province of] Galilee. . . . From that time on Jesus commenced preaching and saying: ‘Repent, you people, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’”—Matthew 4:12-17.
34. Because of what choice when he was under temptation by the Devil did Jesus prove worthy to preach that Kingdom message?
34 Never would Jesus have been worthy to take up preaching that message if he had not made the right decision some months earlier. On that crucial occasion Jesus was out in the wilderness of Judea, where he had fasted in solitude for forty days. Then the invisible rebel sovereign approached him to tempt him away from his Messianic course. With respect to the third and last temptation, the record tells us: “Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him: ‘All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.’” What the Devil here offered Jesus was not the “one government” that would make all obedient mankind “one world.” It was not a world government under God’s sovereignty, but was one under the Devil’s sovereignty. For whose sovereignty Jesus made his unequivocal decision, the account goes on to tell us, saying: “Then Jesus said to him: ‘Go away, Satan [Resister]! For it is written, “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.”’”—Matthew 4:1-10.
35, 36. After miraculously feeding the multitude, why did Jesus not let the people make him king, and yet why did he formally offer himself in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9?
35 In deciding for the sovereignty of his God, Jehovah, Jesus was the perfect example for all of us today. But we must persist in our decision for God’s sovereignty, as Jesus did. On a later occasion, after he had fed an audience of five thousand men and their families in a miraculous way, many wanted to make this miracle-working provider of food their earthly king. But Jesus thwarted their efforts by getting away from them. He knew that the time had not yet come for him to offer himself in a formal way to the Jews as their Messianic king, in fulfillment of prophecy. (John 6:1-15) At God’s due time, on Sunday, Nisan 9, 33 C.E., Jesus rode, as foretold by Zechariah 9:9, into Jerusalem and went to its temple, where the nation’s high priest officiated. Jesus did not stop the great multitude that was accompanying him from loudly recommending him as king by shouting out:
36 “Save, we pray! Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah’s name! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Save, we pray, in the heights above!”—Mark 11:1-11, NW; Diaglott.
37. When did “the peoples of Israel” plainly declare publicly their decision on sovereignty, and how did Pilate go along with their decision?
37 Then it was the time for “the peoples of Israel,” as represented by their religious leaders, to decide and show the sovereignty to which they adhered. Five days later they plainly declared publicly whose sovereignty they chose. When Passover celebrators under the coaching of their priests clamored for the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate to have the prisoner Jesus killed on a stake, Pilate asked them to reconsider the matter by saying: “Shall I impale your king?” The issue of sovereignty was now squarely before “the peoples of Israel.” Whose sovereignty would they choose? The Bible account indicates, when it says: “The chief priests answered: ‘We have no king but Caesar.’” Caesar’s representative, Pilate, went along with their decision, for the account says: “At that time, therefore, he handed him over to them to be impaled.”—John 19:12-16.
38. By means of whom will the Great Serpent soon be crushed, and how does Psalm 2:8, 9 picture the crushing of the Serpent’s “seed” on earth?
38 That was the miniature fulfillment of the prophetic words of King David in Psalm 2:1, 2. (Acts 4:24-28) It set the pattern for the major fulfillment, which occurs in our day, when the paramount issue of world domination and universal sovereignty must be settled once and for all time. Satan the rebel sovereign has had his day in the bruising of the heel of the promised “Seed” of God’s “woman.” Now this Great Serpent, the heel bruiser, must have his own head bruised, and that affects all the “seed” of this Serpent at the same time. The same Second Psalm indicates how the crushing of the visible “seed” of the Great Serpent would be done. In Ps 2 verses eight and nine, Jehovah addresses his Anointed Son, Jesus Christ, and says: “Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession. You will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces.”
39. The book of Revelation pictures what as God’s agency for smashing the sovereign nations on earth, and what part is Jesus Christ pictured as having therein?
39 The last book of the Holy Bible (Revelation 12:5) speaks of God’s kingdom of his Messiah as the divine agency that will “shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.” The nineteenth chapter, which describes the coming war with the earthly nations at Har–Magedon, speaks of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as the one who “will shepherd them with a rod of iron,” and adds that “he treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 19:15; 16:14, 16) This crushing of the nations with their claims to national sovereignty is vividly pictured for us in the prophecy of Daniel, chapter two.
40. How does Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream picture the violent end of the system of things that has featured world powers, and how do we know that the end of the system is near?
40 In that chapter Daniel interprets the prophetic dream that the God of the heavens sent to Nebuchadnezzar, emperor of the Babylonian World Power, in the second year after he had destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple built by David’s son, King Solomon. The succession of world powers that began with the Babylonian and ran down through the Medo-Persian, the Grecian, the Roman and the Anglo-American, was pictured as a large, unusually bright image of several materials, with feet of iron and of clay. Then a stone that was cut out of a distant mountain, without the aid of human hands, struck the image on those feet and finally ground the whole fallen image to powder, which a strong wind blew away. If nothing else, that crushing of the symbolic image to powder pictured the end of a system of things by some supernatural agency that is not produced by human hands under the direction of human brains. The fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus Christ gave concerning the “conclusion of the system of things” shows that the smashing of the system is at hand!—Matthew 24:3-22.
41. According to Daniel 2:44, what happens to the nations lined up with the United Nations, but what about the sovereignty of God’s Messianic kingdom?
41 Today, by being lined up with the unchristian organization of the United Nations, the worldly rulers display where they stand on the issue of sovereignty. So it is with regard to these political rulers, Communist and non-Communist, that the interpretative words of the prophet Daniel apply: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven [not human hands] will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever.”—Daniel 2:1-44, Revised Standard Version Bible.
42, 43. (a)Who will share with the Messiah in that heavenly kingdom? (b) Daniel 7:26, 27 pictures the sovereignty over the earth as being given to what people?
42 This is the heavenly Messianic kingdom that Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have been proclaiming world wide since the year of its birth in the heavens at the end of the Gentile Times in the year 1914. (Luke 21:24; Matthew 24:14) Footstep followers of the Messiah, anointed like him with God’s spirit, are to share with the Messiah in that heavenly kingdom. This was spoken of prophetically in a dream that was sent to Daniel himself. In this prophetic dream the series of Gentile world powers from the Babylonian onward was pictured by four wild beasts. Concerning the divine judgment that was executed by the Supreme Court of the universe upon that fourth symbolic beast, Daniel 7:26, 27 explains:
43 “Then the court shall sit, and he shall be deprived of his sovereignty, so that in the end it may be destroyed and abolished. The kingly power, sovereignty, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. Their kingly power is an everlasting power and all sovereignties shall serve them and obey them.”—NE; The Bible in Living English.
“ONE WORLD” UNDER IT
44. To whom will the sovereignty over the world of mankind be given in order that there may be “one government” over them?
44 The fulfillment of that prophecy is now about to take place. All the present-day national sovereignties on earth will shortly have to bow before the Messianic kingdom in the hands of the heavenly Son of God. (Daniel 7:1-12) That will make room for just the “one government” for all mankind. As Daniel 7:14 says: “On him [the Messianic Son of man] was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.”—The Jerusalem Bible.
45. (a)What will fulfillment of that prophecy mean for this generation of mankind? (b) What favorable opportunity is held out to us?
45 What will fulfillment of that prophecy mean for this generation of mankind? This: Present-time national sovereignties and the patriotic upholders of them will suffer extermination in the world’s greatest trouble that rapidly approaches, but the upholders of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty will be miraculously preserved and emerge alive from that “great tribulation.” (Matthew 24:21, 22; Mark 13:19, 20; Revelation 7:14, 15) Shall we be among these favored survivors of the “conclusion of the system of things”? The opportunity to be among such is held out to us by God’s written Word. What is now required of us is to take our stand immovably on the side of God’s sovereignty and of his Messianic kingdom and to stick to these in spite of all the future political, religious and social efforts to pull us away.
46. For how long now will the suffering upon us for sticking to Jehovah’s sovereignty last?
46 This may result in some suffering for us for as long as our persecutors are permitted to remain. Under such affliction we can remember the cry of earlier witnesses of the Lord God Jehovah who suffered, even to the death: “How long, sovereign Lord, holy and true, must it be before thou wilt vindicate us and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?” They were assured that it would be only “a little while longer” before this would occur.—Revelation 6:10, 11, NE; Moffatt; RS; NW.
47. When and how will Satan, the Great Serpent, be crushed under the feet of Christ’s disciples “shortly”?
47 It will be only a little while longer before the faithful upholders of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty will be vindicated in their position by His decisive victory over all the national sovereignties represented inside and outside the United Nations. Immediately thereafter the original rebel against Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, namely, Satan the Devil, and all his demon angels, will be given deserved treatment. Isolation in chains in an abyss out of communication with this earth will be their portion. (Revelation 20:1-3) Thereby the Great Serpent will be bruised in the head, as it were; and the loyal “Seed” of God’s “woman” will be the one by whom God will thus crush the Great Serpent and his demon seed under the feet of the faithful joint heirs of Christ.—Romans 16:20.
48. How is it that God’s “new order” will start out with “one world” under “one government”?
48 The human survivors of these momentous events will all be those adhering to the one Messianic kingdom of Jehovah’s victorious Son Jesus Christ. Consequently, at the very start of God’s righteous new order of things, there will be “one world” on earth, under “one government,” regardless of the tribes, peoples, races, nations and languages to which the “tribulation” survivors belonged. They will all be one human society on a cleansed earth, all of them worshiping the one living and true God, Jehovah, and all of them submitting to his Son, Jesus Christ, upon whose shoulder the princely rule will be laid. What a unifying force that will be!
49. That situation will be a force for what condition among mankind, under what one sovereignty?
49 What a force, too, that will be for worldwide peace! No more interreligious wars! No more territorial boundary disputes! No more interracial and international wars! No more political rivalries and contests! Bible prophecy says: “Jehovah must become king over all the earth. In that day Jehovah will prove to be one, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9) At the same time the “one government” under him, the Messianic kingdom of his enthroned Son Jesus Christ, will be an expression of His universal sovereignty.—Isaiah 9:6, 7.
50. In what good work will all mankind then cooperate, in fulfillment of what promise of Jesus to a dying wrongdoer?
50 “Shoulder to shoulder” all living mankind will serve the Sovereign Lord God, Jehovah. (Zephaniah 3:8, 9) As “one world” the new human society will cooperate together in a good work. They will cooperate in transforming the battered surface of this earthly globe to the state that its Creator originally purposed for it, that of a garden of Eden, a paradise of pleasure. (Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:7-15) Then there will be an answer to the request made by the sympathetic wrongdoer dying alongside Jesus Christ on a torture stake: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.” Yes, then the reigning King will fulfill to him the promise: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:42, 43, NW; Rotherham.
51. (a) How may mankind become Christ’s eternal children? (b) How will he lead them as an example in submitting to God’s sovereignty?
51 Not alone that kindly disposed criminal, but also all the rest of the human dead are involved, all for whom Jesus Christ died as a perfect human sacrifice. These also will come forth at his call to a resurrection from the dead. (Matthew 20:28; John 5:28, 29; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6; Acts 24:15) All the submissive ones will be incorporated into that “one world.” All will be brothers and sisters, for they will become the ransomed, adopted children of the one Eternal Father, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his human life for them. (Isaiah 9:6, 7; Hebrews 2:9) By obedience to him they can become his eternal children. He himself will lead them in the way of submission to the universal sovereignty of his own heavenly Father, Jehovah God. After the accomplishment of his work of uplifting obedient mankind to human perfection in an earthly paradise, he himself will express his own subjection to the sovereignty of his God by turning over the kingdom to him. Why? “That God may be all things to everyone.”—1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
52. What exhortation is there for those who have become disillusioned by the disastrous division caused by national sovereignties?
52 All these wonderful things being so, then take courage, all you who have become frustrated and disillusioned by the disastrous division of the world, by conflicting national sovereignties independent of divine sovereignty! Take firm hold, now, of the glorious hope of “one world, one government, under God’s sovereignty”! Live for it from now on till its blessed realization.
[Footnotes]
a The American Declaration of Independence, which was passed by the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776, stated in its second paragraph: “. . . That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
b See the Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 25, page 317, 1959 edition.
c Since the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. new republics and democratic governments have been established, to the number of over 60 at this writing. |
Why Worship God (wj)
1993 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/wj | Glossary
Agni God of fire
Atharva-Veda Hymns containing spells, charms, and remedies
Avatar A manifestation or an incarnation of a Hindu deity
Bhagavad Gita A part of the Mahabharata
Bhakti The path of devotion that leads to salvation
Brahma The Creator God, the principle of creation in the universe
Brahman A member of the priestly caste
Brahman, or Brahm The supreme, all-pervasive entity of the universe. Some Hindus view Brahman as an impersonal Divine Principle or Ultimate Reality. Also referred to as Atman
Dharma An individual’s duty fulfilled by observance of custom or law
Epics The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which contain theology, rituals, moral statements, ethics, and statecraft
Ghee Purified butter
Guru A spiritual guide or teacher
Guru Granth Sahib Sikh holy book
Jains Followers of an Indian religion that is akin to Hinduism
Jnana Knowledge
Karma The principle that every action has its good or bad consequences for the next life of the transmigrated soul
Krishna The eighth incarnation of Vishnu and the deity of the Bhagavad Gita
Kundalini Occult energy said to exist in every person
Mahabharata A Hindu epic containing the Bhagavad Gita
Mandala A diagram representing gods and their abodes
Mantra A sacred formula, believed to have magical power, used in initiation into a sect and repeated in prayers and incantations
Manu Ancestor of the human race; saved from the Flood’s destruction by a great fish
Moksha Release from cycle of rebirth; union of the individual with the Supreme Entity, Brahman
Parvati Goddess consort of Siva
Puranas A class of scriptures containing Hindu mythology
Radha Consort of Krishna
Rama The seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana
Ramayana Epic narrative relating the story of Rama
Ravana Archenemy of Rama in the Ramayana
Rig-Veda Hymns in praise of Vedic deities
Rishi Hindu seer
Sama-Veda Melodies for Vedic sacrifices
Sanatana Ancient, eternal. Hindus refer to their faith as “sanatana dharma,” meaning “eternal law or order”
Sikh A follower of Guru Nanak and his nine successors
Siva God of fertility, death, and destruction
Smriti Scripture from human tradition
Sruti Scripture from divine revelation
Swami Hindu religious teacher
Tantra Hindu writings containing mysticism and magic
Tilak A sectarial mark on the forehead
Upanishads Early sacred poetic writings. A class of scriptures containing Hindu philosophy
Vedas Earliest sacred poetic writings of Hinduism
Vishnu God as the preserver of life
Yajur-Veda Priestly manual for performing sacrifices
Yama God of death
Yantra A mystical pattern believed to possess occult powers of the deity who resides in it during worship
Yoga Meditation or physical exercises to achieve union of self with a divine being
Yoga Sutra A manual on Yoga attributed to Patanjali
Yogi One who practices a form of Yoga |
Examining the Scriptures—2023
2022 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/examining-the-scriptures/examining-the-scriptures-2023 | Our Christian Life and Ministry Bible Reading Schedule for 2023
January
2 2 Kings 22-23
9 2 Kings 24-25
16 1 Chronicles 1-3
23 1 Chronicles 4-6
30 1 Chronicles 7-9
February
6 1 Chronicles 10-12
13 1 Chronicles 13-16
20 1 Chronicles 17-19
27 1 Chronicles 20-22
March
6 1 Chronicles 23-26
13 1 Chronicles 27-29
20 2 Chronicles 1-4
27 2 Chronicles 5-7
April
3 Week of Memorial
10 2 Chronicles 8-9
17 2 Chronicles 10-12
24 2 Chronicles 13-16
May
1 2 Chronicles 17-19
8 2 Chronicles 20-21
15 2 Chronicles 22-24
22 2 Chronicles 25-27
29 2 Chronicles 28-29
June
5 2 Chronicles 30-31
12 2 Chronicles 32-33
19 2 Chronicles 34-36
26 Ezra 1-3
July
3 Ezra 4-6
10 Ezra 7-8
17 Ezra 9-10
24 Nehemiah 1-2
31 Nehemiah 3-4
August
7 Nehemiah 5-7
14 Nehemiah 8-9
21 Nehemiah 10-11
28 Nehemiah 12-13
September
4 Esther 1-2
11 Esther 3-5
18 Esther 6-8
25 Esther 9-10
October
2 Job 1-3
9 Job 4-5
16 Job 6-7
23 Job 8-10
30 Job 11-12
November
6 Job 13-14
13 Job 15-17
20 Job 18-19
27 Job 20-21
December
4 Job 22-24
11 Job 25-27
18 Job 28-29
25 Job 30-31 |
Why Did God Wage War Against the Canaanites? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010006 | Why Did God Wage War Against the Canaanites?
“Completely destroy all the people: the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the LORD ordered you to do.”—DEUTERONOMY 20:17, TODAY’S ENGLISH VERSION.
“Be peaceable with all men.”—ROMANS 12:18.
DO THOSE Bible verses seem contradictory to you? Many struggle to reconcile God’s command to destroy the Canaanites with the Bible’s admonition to be peaceable.a (Isaiah 2:4; 2 Corinthians 13:11) To them, these instructions seem morally inconsistent.
If you could discuss this subject with God, what would you ask him? Consider five common questions and the Bible’s answers.
1. Why were the Canaanites displaced? The Canaanites were, in a sense, squatters in a land that did not belong to them. How so? Some 400 years earlier, God had promised the faithful man Abraham that his descendants would possess the land of Canaan. (Genesis 15:18) God kept that promise when he caused the nation of Israel, which descended from Abraham, to occupy the region. Of course, some might protest that the Canaanites already lived there and therefore had a right to the land. But surely, as the Sovereign of the universe, God has the ultimate right to determine who will live where.—Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 10:26.
2. Why did God not allow the Canaanites to coexist with the Israelites? “They should not dwell in your land,” God warned regarding the Canaanites, “that they may not cause you to sin against me. In case you should serve their gods, it would become a snare to you.” (Exodus 23:33) The prophet Moses later told Israel: “It is for the wickedness of these nations that Jehovah your God is driving them away.” (Deuteronomy 9:5) Just how wicked were those nations?
Immorality, pagan worship, and child sacrifice were widespread in Canaan. Bible historian Henry H. Halley notes that archaeologists excavating the area “found great numbers of jars containing the remains of children who had been sacrificed to Baal [a prominent god of the Canaanites].” He adds: “The whole area proved to be a cemetery for new-born babes. . . . Canaanites worshipped, by immoral indulgence, as a religious rite, in the presence of their gods; and then, by murdering their first-born children, as a sacrifice to these same gods. It seems that, in large measure, the land of Canaan had become a sort of Sodom and Gomorrah on a national scale. . . . Archaeologists who dig in the ruins of Canaanite cities wonder that God did not destroy them sooner than he did.”
3. Were there not other wicked people on earth at the time? Why single out the Canaanites? God has selectively executed sinners on many occasions. When “the earth became filled with violence” in Noah’s day, God caused a deluge that wiped out all but one family—Noah’s family. (Genesis 6:11; 2 Peter 2:5) God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when the sin of their inhabitants became “very heavy.” (Genesis 18:20; 2 Peter 2:6) And he pronounced judgment against the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, “the city of bloodshed,” although he spared that city when its inhabitants repented from their bad ways. (Nahum 3:1; Jonah 1:1, 2; 3:2, 5-10) As for the Canaanites, God destroyed them in order to protect Israel, the nation that would eventually produce the Messiah.—Psalm 132:11, 12.
4. Did not the Canaanites’ destruction conflict with God’s love? On the surface, God’s exterminating the Canaanites might seem inconsistent with his love. (1 John 4:8) However, that love becomes quite apparent when we take a closer look.
God knew long beforehand that Canaan’s inhabitants were headed in the wrong direction. Yet, instead of immediately wiping them out, he patiently allowed 400 years to pass until their error had “come to completion.”—Genesis 15:16.
When the sin of the Canaanites reached the point where all hope of improvement was gone, Jehovah brought their end. Even so, he did not blindly execute all Canaanites. Why? Because not all were beyond reform. Those willing to change, such as Rahab and the Gibeonites, were shown mercy.—Joshua 9:3-11, 16-27; Hebrews 11:31.
5. How could a God of love destroy any humans? That question is understandable, for the destruction of human life is not pleasant to contemplate. Really, though, it was God’s love that impelled him to take such drastic measures against the wicked. To illustrate: When a patient develops gangrene, doctors often have little choice but to amputate the infected limb. Few would enjoy performing such a procedure, but a good doctor knows that the alternative—the spread of infection—is worse. Because he cares, he carries out this unpleasant task for the good of his patient.
Similarly, Jehovah did not enjoy destroying the Canaanites. He himself says: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” (Ezekiel 33:11, Darby) At the same time, he purposed for the nation of Israel to produce the Messiah, the one who would open the way to salvation for all those exercising faith. (John 3:16) Thus, God simply could not allow Israel to become infected by the disgusting practices of the Canaanites. He therefore ordered the Canaanites to be cut off, or evicted, from the land. In so doing, God demonstrated outstanding love—love that moved him to perform an unpleasant task for the benefit of his faithful worshippers.
Value for Us
Does the record of the Canaanites’ destruction have value for us today? Yes, for Romans 15:4 states: “All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” How does what happened in Canaan instruct us and give us hope?
These accounts teach us much. For example, God mercifully spared Rahab and the Gibeonites when they turned to him in faith. This reminds us that anyone who truly wants to please God can do so, regardless of his background or past sins.—Acts 17:30.
Accounts of the destruction in Canaan also give us hope by providing us with a preview of what God will do in the near future. They assure us that he will not allow evil to snuff out good completely. Rather, the Bible affirms that he will soon act to destroy all wicked ones, whereas he will deliver those who love him into a righteous new world. (2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 21:3, 4) At that time, these comforting words will be fulfilled: “Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it.”—Psalm 37:34.
[Footnote]
a In this article, the term “Canaanites” refers to all the nations God ordered Israel to displace.
[Box on page 14]
Does the Bible Condone Human Warfare?
Does God’s commanding Israel to destroy the Canaanites justify human warfare today? No, for at least three reasons:
▪ No earthly nation today has special favor with God. When the Israelites rejected Jesus as the Messiah, they ceased to represent God in any official capacity—including that of executioners. (Matthew 21:42, 43) Jehovah thus held the Israelites to the same standard as other nations. (Leviticus 18:24-28) From that time on, no earthly nation could rightly claim to have God’s backing in warfare.
▪ Jehovah no longer assigns his worshippers to any specific land or geographic region. Rather, his servants can be found in “all nations and tribes” of the earth.—Revelation 7:9; Acts 10:34, 35.
▪ Jesus clearly indicated that his followers would not engage in warfare. When warning of an impending attack on Jerusalem, he instructed his disciples not to stay and fight but, rather, to flee, which they did. (Matthew 24:15, 16) Instead of taking up arms, true Christians put their complete trust in God’s Kingdom, which will soon remove all wickedness from this earth.—Daniel 2:44; John 18:36.
[Picture on page 15]
Rahab’s example shows that anyone who truly wants to can please God |
Revelation Climax (re)
1988 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/re | Chapter 37
Mourning and Rejoicing at Babylon’s End
1. How will “the kings of the earth” react to the sudden destruction of Babylon the Great?
BABYLON’S end is good news for Jehovah’s people, but how do the nations view it? John tells us: “And the kings of the earth who committed fornication with her and lived in shameless luxury will weep and beat themselves in grief over her, when they look at the smoke from the burning of her, while they stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and say, ‘Too bad, too bad, you great city, Babylon you strong city, because in one hour your judgment has arrived!’”—Revelation 18:9, 10.
2. (a) Since the symbolic ten horns of the scarlet-colored wild beast destroy Babylon the Great, why do “the kings of the earth” grieve over her end? (b) Why do the grief-stricken kings stand at a distance from the doomed city?
2 The nations’ reaction may seem surprising in view of the fact that Babylon was destroyed by the symbolic ten horns of the scarlet-colored wild beast. (Revelation 17:16) But when Babylon is gone, “the kings of the earth” will evidently realize how useful she was to them in keeping the people pacified and in subjection. The clergy have declared wars to be sacred, acted as recruiting agents, and preached the youth into the battle lines. Religion has provided a screen of holiness behind which corrupt rulers have operated in oppressing the common people. (Compare Jeremiah 5:30, 31; Matthew 23:27, 28.) Notice, however, that these grief-stricken kings now stand at a distance from the doomed city. They do not get close enough to come to her aid. They are sad to see her go but not sad enough to take risks in her behalf.
Merchants Weep and Mourn
3. Who else regret the passing of Babylon the Great, and what reasons for this does John give?
3 The kings of the earth are not the only ones to regret the passing of Babylon the Great. “Also, the traveling merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over her, because there is no one to buy their full stock anymore, a full stock of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet; and everything in scented wood and every sort of ivory object and every sort of object out of most precious wood and of copper and of iron and of marble; also cinnamon and Indian spice and incense and perfumed oil and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and horses and coaches and slaves and human souls. Yes, the fine fruit that your soul desired has departed from you [Babylon the Great], and all the dainty things and the gorgeous things have perished from you, and never again will people find them.”—Revelation 18:11-14.
4. Why do “the traveling merchants” weep and mourn over the end of Babylon the Great?
4 Yes, Babylon the Great was a close friend and a good customer of wealthy merchants. For example, the monasteries, nunneries, and churches in Christendom have over the centuries acquired huge amounts of gold, silver, precious stones, valuable woods, and other forms of material wealth. Further, religion’s blessing has been bestowed on the lavish buying sprees and drunken orgies that accompany the celebration of the Christ-dishonoring Christmas and other so-called holy days. Christendom’s missionaries have penetrated distant lands, opening up new markets for “the traveling merchants” of this world. In 17th-century Japan, Catholicism, which had come with the traders, even became involved in feudal warfare. Reporting on a decisive battle under the walls of Osaka castle, The Encyclopædia Britannica states: “The Tokugawa troops found themselves fighting against a foe whose banners were emblazoned with the cross and with images of the Saviour and St James, the patron saint of Spain.” The victorious faction persecuted and practically wiped out Catholicism in that land. The church’s participation in worldly affairs today will likewise bring her no blessing.
5. (a) How does the voice out of heaven further describe the mourning of “the traveling merchants”? (b) Why do the merchants also “stand at a distance”?
5 The voice out of heaven says further: “The traveling merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and will weep and mourn, saying, ‘Too bad, too bad—the great city, clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and richly adorned with gold ornament and precious stone and pearl, because in one hour such great riches have been devastated!’” (Revelation 18:15-17a) With the destruction of Babylon the Great, the “merchants” mourn at the loss of that commercial partner. Truly, it is “too bad, too bad” for them. Notice, though, that their reasons for mourning are entirely selfish and that they—like the kings—“stand at a distance.” They do not get close enough to be of any help to Babylon the Great.
6. How does the voice out of heaven describe the mourning of ship captains and sailors, and why do they weep?
6 The account goes on: “And every ship captain and every man that voyages anywhere, and sailors and all those who make a living by the sea, stood at a distance and cried out as they looked at the smoke from the burning of her and said, ‘What city is like the great city?’ And they threw dust upon their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning, and said, ‘Too bad, too bad—the great city, in which all those having boats at sea became rich by reason of her costliness, because in one hour she has been devastated!’” (Revelation 18:17b-19) Ancient Babylon was a commercial city and had a great fleet of ships. Similarly, Babylon the Great does much business by the “many waters” of her people. This provides employment for many of her religious subjects. What an economic blow the destruction of Babylon the Great will be for these! There will never be another source of livelihood like her.
Rejoicing Over Her Annihilation
7, 8. How does the voice out of heaven climax its message regarding Babylon the Great, and who will respond to those words?
7 When ancient Babylon was overthrown by the Medes and the Persians, Jeremiah prophetically said: “And over Babylon the heavens and the earth and all that is in them will certainly cry out joyfully.” (Jeremiah 51:48) When Babylon the Great is destroyed, the voice out of heaven climaxes its message, saying of Babylon the Great: “Be glad over her, O heaven, also you holy ones and you apostles and you prophets, because God has judicially exacted punishment for you from her!” (Revelation 18:20) Jehovah and the angels will be delighted to see the annihilation of God’s ancient enemy, as will the apostles and early Christian prophets, who by now are resurrected and have taken their position in the 24-elders arrangement.—Compare Psalm 97:8-12.
8 Indeed, all the “holy ones”—whether resurrected to heaven or still surviving on earth—will cry out for joy, as will the associated great crowd of other sheep. In time, all the faithful men of old will be resurrected into the new system of things, and they too will join in the rejoicing. God’s people have not tried to avenge themselves on their false religious persecutors. They have remembered Jehovah’s words: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.” (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35, 41-43) Well, Jehovah has now repaid. All the blood spilled by Babylon the Great will have been avenged.
Hurling a Great Millstone
9, 10. (a) What does a strong angel now do and say? (b) What act similar to that performed by the strong angel of Revelation 18:21 took place in Jeremiah’s time, and what did it guarantee? (c) What does the action taken by the strong angel seen by John guarantee?
9 What John next sees confirms that Jehovah’s judgment of Babylon the Great is final: “And a strong angel lifted up a stone like a great millstone and hurled it into the sea, saying: ‘Thus with a swift pitch will Babylon the great city be hurled down, and she will never be found again.’” (Revelation 18:21) In Jeremiah’s time, a similar act with powerful prophetic meaning was performed. Jeremiah was inspired to write in a book “all the calamity that would come upon Babylon.” He gave the book to Seraiah and told him to travel to Babylon. There, following Jeremiah’s instructions, Seraiah read a declaration against the city: “O Jehovah, you yourself have spoken against this place, in order to cut it off so that there may come to be in it no inhabitant, either man or even domestic animal, but that she may become mere desolate wastes to time indefinite.” Seraiah then tied a stone to the book and threw it into the river Euphrates, saying: “This is how Babylon will sink down and never rise up because of the calamity that I am bringing in upon her.”—Jeremiah 51:59-64.
10 The throwing of the book with the attached stone into the river was a guarantee that Babylon would plunge into oblivion, never to recover. The apostle John’s seeing a strong angel perform a similar act is likewise a powerful guarantee that Jehovah’s purpose toward Babylon the Great will be fulfilled. The completely ruined condition of ancient Babylon today testifies powerfully to what will befall false religion in the near future.
11, 12. (a) How does the strong angel now address Babylon the Great? (b) How did Jeremiah prophesy concerning apostate Jerusalem, and what did it signify for our day?
11 The strong angel now addresses Babylon the Great, saying: “And the sound of singers who accompany themselves on the harp and of musicians and of flutists and of trumpeters will never be heard in you again, and no craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again, and no sound of a millstone will ever be heard in you again, and no light of a lamp will ever shine in you again, and no voice of a bridegroom and of a bride will ever be heard in you again; because your traveling merchants were the top-ranking men of the earth, for by your spiritistic practice all the nations were misled.”—Revelation 18:22, 23.
12 In comparable terms, Jeremiah prophesied concerning apostate Jerusalem: “I will destroy out of them the sound of exultation and the sound of rejoicing, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the hand mill and the light of the lamp. And all this land must become a devastated place, an object of astonishment.” (Jeremiah 25:10, 11) As the principal part of Babylon the Great, Christendom will become a lifeless ruin, as so vividly depicted by Jerusalem’s desolate condition after 607 B.C.E. The Christendom that once rejoiced lightheartedly and bustled with everyday noise will find herself conquered and abandoned.
13. What sudden change overtakes Babylon the Great, and what is the effect on her “traveling merchants”?
13 Indeed, as the angel here tells John, all of Babylon the Great will change from a powerful, international empire to an arid, desertlike wasteland. Her “traveling merchants,” including top-ranking millionaires, have used her religion for personal advantage or as a cover-up, and the clergy have found it profitable to share the limelight with them. But those merchants will no longer have Babylon the Great as their accomplice. No more will she be hoodwinking the nations of earth with her mystic religious practices.
An Appalling Bloodguilt
14. What reason does the strong angel give for the severity of Jehovah’s judgment, and what did Jesus similarly say when he was on the earth?
14 In conclusion, the strong angel tells why Jehovah judges Babylon the Great so severely. “Yes,” says the angel, “in her was found the blood of prophets and of holy ones and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (Revelation 18:24) When on earth, Jesus told the religious leaders in Jerusalem that they were accountable for “all the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel” onward. Accordingly, that crooked generation was destroyed in 70 C.E. (Matthew 23:35-38) Today, another generation of religionists bears bloodguilt for its persecution of God’s servants.
15. How was the Catholic Church in Nazi Germany bloodguilty on two counts?
15 In his book The Catholic Church and Nazi Germany, Guenter Lewy writes: “When Jehovah’s Witnesses were suppressed in Bavaria on April 13 [1933] the Church even accepted the assignment given it by the Ministry of Education and Religion of reporting on any member of the sect still practicing the forbidden religion.” The Catholic Church thus shares responsibility for consigning thousands of Witnesses to concentration camps; its hands are stained by the lifeblood of hundreds of Witnesses who were executed. When young Witnesses, such as Wilhelm Kusserow, showed that they could die courageously by a firing squad, Hitler decided that the firing squad was too good for conscientious objectors; so Wilhelm’s brother Wolfgang, at 20 years of age, died by the guillotine. At the same time, the Catholic Church was encouraging young German Catholics to die in the army of the fatherland. The bloodguilt of the church is plain to see!
16, 17. (a) What bloodguilt must be charged to Babylon the Great, and how did the Vatican become bloodguilty regarding the Jews who died in Nazi pogroms? (b) What is one way in which false religion is to blame for the killing of millions of people in hundreds of wars in modern times?
16 However, the prophecy says that the blood of “all those who have been slaughtered on the earth” must be charged to Babylon the Great. That has certainly been true in modern times. For example, since Catholic intrigue helped to bring Hitler to power in Germany, the Vatican shares in a terrible bloodguilt with regard to the six million Jews that died in Nazi pogroms. Further, in our time, well over a hundred million people have been killed in hundreds of wars. Is false religion to blame in this connection? Yes, in two ways.
17 One way is that many wars are related to religious differences. For example, the violence in India between Muslims and Hindus in 1946-48 was religiously motivated. Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost. The conflict between Iraq and Iran in the 1980’s was related to sectarian differences, with hundreds of thousands being killed. Violence between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland has taken thousands of lives. Surveying this field, columnist C. L. Sulzberger said in 1976: “It is a dismal truth that probably half or more of the wars now being fought around the world are either openly religious conflicts or involved with religious disputes.” Indeed, it has been so throughout the turbulent history of Babylon the Great.
18. What is the second way in which the world’s religions are bloodguilty?
18 What is the second way? From Jehovah’s viewpoint, the world’s religions are bloodguilty because they have not convincingly taught their followers the truth of Jehovah’s requirements for his servants. They have not convincingly taught people that God’s true worshippers must imitate Jesus Christ and show love toward others regardless of their national origin. (Micah 4:3, 5; John 13:34, 35; Acts 10:34, 35; 1 John 3:10-12) Because the religions making up Babylon the Great have not taught these things, their adherents have been drawn into the vortex of international warfare. How evident this was in the two world wars of the first half of the 20th century, both of which started in Christendom and resulted in fellow religionists’ slaughtering one another! If all who claimed to be Christians had adhered to Bible principles, those wars could never have taken place.
19. What appalling bloodguilt does Babylon the Great carry?
19 Jehovah lays the blame for all this bloodshed at the feet of Babylon the Great. Had the religious leaders, and particularly those in Christendom, taught their people Bible truth, such massive bloodshed would not have occurred. Truly, then, directly or indirectly, Babylon the Great—the great harlot and world empire of false religion—must answer to Jehovah not only for “the blood of prophets and of holy ones” whom she has persecuted and killed but for the blood “of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.” Babylon the Great does indeed carry an appalling bloodguilt. Good riddance when her final destruction takes place!
[Box on page 270]
The Price of Compromise
Guenter Lewy writes in his book The Catholic Church and Nazi Germany: “Had German Catholicism from the start adhered to a policy of resolute opposition to the Nazi regime, world history might well have taken a different course. Even if this struggle had ultimately failed to defeat Hitler and prevent all of his many crimes, it would in this view have raised the moral prestige of the Church immeasurably. The human cost of such resistance would undeniably have been great, but these sacrifices would have been made for the greatest of all causes. With the home front unreliable, Hitler might not have dared going to war and literally millions of lives would have been saved. . . . When thousands of German anti-Nazis were tortured to death in Hitler’s concentration camps, when the Polish intelligentsia was slaughtered, when hundreds of thousands of Russians died as a result of being treated as Slavic Untermenschen [subhumans], and when 6,000,000 human beings were murdered for being ‘non-Aryan,’ Catholic Church officials in Germany bolstered the regime perpetrating these crimes. The Pope in Rome, the spiritual head and supreme moral teacher of the Roman Catholic Church, remained silent.”—Pages 320, 341.
[Picture on page 268]
“Too bad, too bad,” say the rulers
[Picture on page 268]
“Too bad, too bad,” say the merchants |
COVER SUBJECT
Attitude Makes a Difference! | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102016002 | COVER SUBJECT
Attitude Makes a Difference!
Which of the following do you think has the biggest effect on your happiness?
your circumstances
your genes
your attitude
SOME would choose “circumstances,” perhaps saying, “I would be happy . . .
“if only I had more money”
“if only I had a great marriage”
“if only I had better health”
In reality, though, attitude often trumps circumstances and genes when it comes to happiness. And that is good news. Why? Because unlike your circumstances or your genes—over which you have little or no control—you can control your attitude.
“GOOD MEDICINE”
A Bible proverb states: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit saps one’s strength.” (Proverbs 17:22) In other words, your attitude makes a difference! It can affect whether you attain a goal or give up or whether a tragic event brings out the best in you or the worst.
Some people might be skeptical of that idea. They might reason:
‘Why hide my hardships behind a mask of optimism?’
‘No amount of positive thinking will change my situation.’
‘I would rather be a realist than a dreamer.’
Those thoughts might seem valid. Still, there are benefits to adopting a positive outlook. To illustrate, consider the following scenarios.
At their place of employment, Alex and Brian each work hard on separate projects. After analyzing their work, the supervisor points out key errors in each project.
Alex: “I put so much time and effort into this project, and I still didn’t get it right! I’ll never succeed at this job. No matter how hard I work, it’s never good enough. Why do I even try?”
Brian: “My boss highlighted aspects of my work that he liked, but I made a few fundamental mistakes. I’ve learned some valuable lessons that will help me do better next time.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Six months from now, which one will be a more capable employee—Alex or Brian?
If you were an employer, which of those two men would you be more likely to hire or keep on your payroll?
When you face disappointment, which of those two men do you react like?
Andrea and Brittney suffer from bouts of loneliness. Each of them has a different way of coping with the situation.
Andrea focuses most of her attention on herself. She refuses to do things for others unless they do things for her first. She reasons, ‘Why should I waste my time on people who give me nothing in return?’
Brittney makes a concerted effort to be kind to people and to do things for others, whether they seem appreciative or not. She lives by the Golden Rule—to treat others as she would like to be treated. (Luke 6:31) For Brittney, doing good is its own reward.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Which of these two women would you rather have as a friend?
Which one is more likely to feel satisfied with her relationships?
If you suffer from bouts of loneliness, is your approach more like Andrea’s or more like Brittney’s?
You probably know people who fit the profile of Brian and Brittney. You might even feel that you are like them. If so, undoubtedly you can see that your attitude can make a difference in your life. On the other hand, what if you are more like Alex or Andrea? Consider three ways the Bible can help you to adopt a more positive view of life’s struggles.
1 AVOID PESSIMISM
THE BIBLE SAYS: “If you become discouraged in the day of distress, your strength will be meager.”—Proverbs 24:10.
WHAT IT MEANS: Pessimism will sap you of the strength you need to improve your situation or to help you deal with it.
EXAMPLE: Juliza’s childhood was anything but happy. Her father was an alcoholic, and her family was poor. They moved from place to place. At first, Juliza was pessimistic about her lot in life. But that changed. What helped? “Even before my parents overcame their difficulties,” Juliza says, “the Bible helped me to improve my outlook. And to this day, thoughts from the Bible keep my thinking from spiraling downward. Now, when people display traits I don’t like, I try to understand why they behave the way they do.”
As Juliza learned, the Bible is a book of sound principles. Its advice can help you to cope with negative circumstances. For example, Ephesians 4:23 says: “Continue to be made new in your dominant mental attitude.”
As that verse implies, your outlook is not set in stone. You can “be made new” in your thinking. However, making such a change is an ongoing process. That is why the verse says that we should “continue to be made new.”
2 FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
THE BIBLE SAYS: “All the days of the afflicted one are bad, but the one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”—Proverbs 15:15.
WHAT IT MEANS: If you see everything negatively, you will feel “afflicted” and every day will appear “bad,” or gloomy. But if you focus on positive things, you will have “a cheerful heart” and even feel joyful. The choice is yours.
EXAMPLE: After several surgeries to remove a brain tumor, Yanko had physical limitations that affected his movement and speech. Feeling that these would stop him from reaching his goals, Yanko was deeply discouraged for years. Then he changed. How? “Instead of focusing on my limitations,” he says, “I learned to occupy my mind with encouraging subjects.”
One way Yanko does this is by reading passages from the Bible. “This keeps my thoughts positive,” he says. “I haven’t totally put aside my long-term goals, but I’m focusing on the smaller goals that I can reach now. When discouraging thoughts creep into my mind, I reflect on the many reasons I have to be happy.”
Like Yanko, you can confront your pessimistic thoughts and replace them with something positive. If you are dealing with negative circumstances—perhaps a health problem, as was the case with Yanko—ask yourself: ‘Is the situation really hopeless? Have I reached a dead end, or is this merely a roadblock?’ Learn to keep negative thoughts out by concentrating on something constructive.
3 DO THINGS FOR OTHERS
THE BIBLE SAYS: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”—Acts 20:35.
WHAT IT MEANS: Unselfish giving brings deep satisfaction to the giver. Why? Because we were created to do more than simply look after our own needs. (Philippians 2:3, 4; 1 John 4:11) Experiencing the joy of giving can do much to help us cope with negative circumstances in life.
EXAMPLE: Josué suffers from spina bifida, a severe defect in his spinal column. He is often racked with pain. But Josué enjoys a productive life helping others. “Rather than say, ‘I can’t do that,’” says Josué, “I enjoy thinking of practical ways to help people with their daily needs. I find ways to do things for others, and this fills my life with happiness.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Look for opportunities to be self-sacrificing. For example, can you prepare a meal for a sick neighbor? Do you know elderly ones who need help with tasks around the home?
Care for your attitude in the same way you would cultivate a garden. Root out the poisonous weeds of pessimism and negativity. Sow seeds of realistic optimism, and fertilize your life with actions that produce positive emotions. You will reap an emotional crop that will make your life much more rewarding. And it will confirm the fact that attitude makes a difference!
For the sake of their health, some people learn to say no to certain foods; you can do the same with negative attitudes |
Paradise Restored (pm)
1972 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/pm | Chapter 2
Why Highest Hopes Were Disappointed
1. Off what do all of us live, but what disappointing situation might develop with regard to this?
WE ALL live off the land. We are all dependent on what grows out of the ground. Suppose, now, all of us were gardeners or farmers. What if you sowed a lot of seed, and you looked for much, but you got very little from it? You pruned your grapevines and cultivated them, but you collected little fruit. You planted your flax and took good care of it, but there was little that you brought in with which to have linen made for clothing. Your olive trees were given all due attention, but there were few olives to send to the press to make oil. You came to your storehouse and wanted to collect twenty measures of grain, but, look! there proved to be only ten measures there actually. You came to your winepress vat after crushing all the available grapes, and in order to entertain or to sell you needed to carry away fifty measures, and, see there! all you could draw off was twenty measures. Suppose this kept up for year after year! What would you think?
2. What other bad agricultural conditions might there be, and social conditions, and where should we look to place the blame?
2 Oh, you might blame it upon the continual dry seasons—the drought. In the rainless season there was not even the fall of dew to moisten things up to save the growth from the ground. The earth became scorched. Besides, the grains were blasted with mildew. Not only that, there was the hail that beat down fruit from the trees and smashed the vegetation to the earth. Then, too, if you tried to get a job off the land and earn some extra money to make ends meet, there were no jobs available, or what was paid for services was very small. On top of that, social conditions were very disturbed, and there was no peace for anyone going out or coming in. Yes, it would seem reasonable to look at matters from a natural, materialistic viewpoint and blame it on the weather and the lack of security. Weather, yes! But what is behind the weather? Who is responsible for the weather? Might the real reason for crop failure lie there? If so, why?
3. Is the case just presented imaginative, and why can we today learn a lesson from the distant past?
3 Seemingly, we are here just imagining a disastrous case for an agricultural community. But really we are presenting the features of an actual historical case. It was specially recorded in the sacred history to serve as a useful, practical lesson to us today who have come into a far worse state of affairs than existed back there in the illustrative case. (Haggai 1:6, 9-11; 2:15-17; Zechariah 8:9, 10, 13) The lesson is not out of date for us who live in these “advanced times,” just because the historical case presented itself about two thousand five hundred years ago. Principles, that is, rules of operation with respect to the affairs of nations and with respect to cause and effect, do not change.
4. Though the people in that case are now long gone, who remains, and so what should we endeavor to learn and apply?
4 More than that, although those people involved away back there are now long off the world stage, the Immortal Theocrat, the Creator who is behind the weather, is still on hand to reckon with as the Restorer of Paradise to mankind. He does not change as to his manner of dealing with his human creatures. We cannot afford to ignore him without unpleasant consequences for ourselves. Wisely, then, in a teachable frame of mind, let us examine this actual case history and apply the beneficial lesson of it to ourselves.
BACK TO THE YEAR 520/519 BEFORE OUR COMMON ERA
5. When and by whom had ancient Babylon been put down, and how did Jerusalem come to be reoccupied?
5 Time of our historical setting is back in the sixth century before our Common Era. For more than eighty years the destruction of the internationally known city of Jerusalem by the powerful armies of Babylon is in the past. As a well-deserved retribution Babylon itself has had the humiliation of bowing to a conqueror, Cyrus, and ceasing to be the Third World Power of Bible history. That was in the world-shaking year of 539 B.C.E. The Persian Empire is now the dominant world power, the fourth in succession in Bible history. However, Greece is beginning to assert itself strongly and threatening in due time to seize the dominant world position. Some years before this it was even predicted to become the next succeeding world power. (Daniel, chapters 7, 8, 11; Zechariah 9:13) Never did the city of Jerusalem become a world power, but it proved to be the city where the most important events of all human history took place. It began to be rebuilt and reoccupied by the exiles whom the Persian conqueror, Cyrus the Great, released from captivity in Babylon in the year 537 B.C.E.—Ezra 1:1 to 3:2.
6. How were the highest hopes of the returned exiles from Babylon disappointed, and when was it decided that there had been enough of this, and by whom?
6 Thus the sacred city of Jerusalem was reestablished and the province of Judah was formed as one of the many jurisdictional districts of the expanding Persian Empire. An ancestor of Jesus Christ, namely, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, was the governor of the province, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak the son of Seraiah was the high priest of the national religion. Shortly after the returned exiles got settled in the land and tried to fulfill the real purpose of their return, they ran into difficulties with their pagan neighbors on their borders. Their major project came to a standstill and was finally banned by the central Persian government. The prosperity of the province of Judah ceased. The highest hopes of the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, with which they had left Babylon, were disappointed. Time wore on for about seventeen years of this. Then the Main One involved in this situation, which appeared to be a cursed one, decided that there had been enough of this. That One was the Great Theocrat, the invisible God Ruler of the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7, 8. What was the year of this theocratic intervention, and by the raising up of what mouthpiece of Jehovah was it marked?
7 The year of theocratic intervention in the affairs of Judah and Jerusalem is definitely dated. It is the year that the Great Theocrat raised up his visible human spokesman, the prophet named Haggai. He was one of the exiles that had returned from Babylon, if not in the year 537 B.C.E., then in a later year. His name means “Festive, or, Festal”; or, if the final “i” of his name is an abbreviation for “Yah,” then his name means “Festival [Hhag] of Yah,” this “Yah” being the abbreviation for Jehovah. He is traditionally thought to have been an old man by this time. To make for historical accuracy, he dates his prophecies. His book of prophecies bearing his name Haggai is the third last book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, or the third last book of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures as listed in the Authorized Version of the Bible. In the opening verse of his dated book he writes:
8 “In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of Jehovah occurred by means of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest, saying.”—Haggai 1:1.
9. (a) How do we differentiate between this Darius the king of Persia and “Darius the Mede”? (b) So, when did Haggai begin to prophesy?
9 This Darius the king is different from “Darius the Mede,” who was associated with King Cyrus the Persian in the overthrow of Babylon in the year 539 B.C.E., he being then sixty-two years old. (Daniel 5:30, 31; 6:1-28) After Darius the Mede the throne of the fallen Babylon was taken over solely by King Cyrus the Persian. He was succeeded by his son Cambyses. After him a reputed usurper, the Magian Gaumata, seized the throne of the Persian Empire. He was overthrown by Darius the Persian, who thus became the Persian Darius I. He is generally given the surname Hystaspis. As the regnal year of the Persian kings began in the spring of the year, the second year of this Persian Darius the king would continue to the following spring, and so it would correspond with 520/519 B.C.E., according to our dating. The sixth month of that year would be reckoned from the spring of 520 B.C.E., and would be Haggai’s lunar month known as Elul. (Nehemiah 6:15) That lunar month would correspond with our August-September. Since the day on which the word of Jehovah occurred to the prophet Haggai was the first day of that lunar month, it was the day of the new moon.
10. Why was that day of Elul 1, 520 B.C.E., a time for Haggai to reach with his message a larger crowd of Jews than usual?
10 According to the theocratic law given through the prophet Moses, that day of the new moon was a day for blowing the sacred trumpets over sacrifices offered to Jehovah God on that day. (Numbers 10:10) Also, special offerings by fire were made to Jehovah. (Numbers 28:11-15) The custom also arose of making religious visits on that day to where Jehovah’s altar was located. (2 Kings 4:23) This would draw many devout persons to Jerusalem. Hence the prophet Haggai should have had a larger crowd than usual to which to address the “word of Jehovah” on that day of Elul 1, 520 B.C.E. Haggai was doubtless at Jerusalem on that day, for his prophetic word was addressed to Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua who officiated at Jerusalem. Haggai’s message affected the whole nation and deserved to be heard.
THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF WORSHIP INVOLVED
11. That word of Jehovah by Haggai opened up by saying what?
11 What, now, did the word that occurred by means of the prophet Haggai say? Haggai 1:2 tells us: “This is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘As regards this people, they have said: “The time has not come, the time of the house of Jehovah, for it to be built.”’” The people whom Haggai addressed had to admit this fact.
12. With what designation did God refer to himself, and of what value should this have been to those Jews?
12 Who, though, told “Jehovah of armies” what “this people” had been saying? Why, Jehovah of armies himself had heard it with his marvelous means of hearing from heaven. It was a striking way in which he referred to himself, namely, as “Jehovah of armies” (Yeho·wahʹ Tseba·othʹ, in Hebrew). Throughout the inspired Hebrew Scriptures, from Genesis to Malachi, this designation “Jehovah of armies” occurs 281 times, the prophet Samuel being the first to use it in writing, (1 Samuel 1:3) Even the inspired Christian writers, Paul and James, used it. (Romans 9:29; James 5:4) Was this reminder of Jehovah as being a Commander in Chief of heavenly armies a consolation to the then inhabitants of Jerusalem and the province of Judah?
13. Why should this have been of encouragement to the Jews under the circumstances of that time?
13 It should have been. At that time they had no standing army, such as the mightily armed nations of the world have today. When they left the Babylonish land of exile to return to their homeland, they had no army to accompany them for protection against marauders along the way. Even in the year 468 B.C.E., the scribe-priest Ezra refused to have a military force and horsemen from King Artaxerxes of Persia to accompany him to Jerusalem.—Ezra 8:22, 23.
14. What expressed personal opinion of those unarmed Jews excited Jehovah so greatly, and what was objectionable about it?
14 Now, what was it that this unarmed “people,” the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of Judah, had been saying that excited Jehovah of armies so greatly? This personal opinion of theirs: “The time has not come, the time of the house of Jehovah, for it to be built.” Such a “house” would be a building for the worship of Jehovah of armies at Jerusalem, where the high priest Joshua the son of Jehozadak could officiate along with all the other priests of the ancient family of Aaron. It would be a temple. Properly, such a house of worship or temple would be of interest to Jehovah of armies. “This people” of Jerusalem and Judah were worshipers of Jehovah. Why, then, were they saying, “The time has not come, the time of the house of Jehovah, for it to be built”? What was objectionable about that? At least, it showed a lack of interest in the fullest worship of their God. It also betrayed a lack of faith in the unconquerable “Jehovah of armies.” Consequently, “this people” was missing out on its prime purpose in being back there in Jerusalem and Judah. What was that?
DELINQUENCY TOWARD THE HOUSE OF DIVINE WORSHIP
15. (a) When were the Jewish exiles released from Babylon, and how? (b) What was the real purpose of releasing them to go back to their homeland?
15 Seventeen years before this, in the spring of the year of 537 B.C.E., these now residents of Jerusalem and Judah had been released from exile in Babylon. It was really Jehovah of armies who was repurchasing them and ransoming them that they might come over the Way of Holiness and return to Zion, as Jerusalem is also called. (Isaiah 35:8-10) Was the repurchasing of “this people” just to give these exiles a place to live away from idolatrous Babylon, preferably the beloved land of their forefathers? Or what really was the principal purpose of returning to this land that had lain desolate without man or domestic beast for seventy years, from the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. onward? (2 Chronicles 36:17-21) This is plainly stated in the imperial decree issued in 537 B.C.E. by Cyrus the Great, the Persian conqueror of Babylon on the Euphrates River. (2 Chronicles 36:22, 23) This decree is fully set out by the scribe-priest Ezra, in these words:
“And in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia, that Jehovah’s word from the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah roused the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia so that he caused a cry to pass through all his realm, and also in writing, saying: ‘This is what Cyrus the king of Persia has said, “All the kingdoms of the earth Jehovah the God of the heavens has given me, and he himself has commissioned me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God prove to be with him. So let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of Jehovah the God of Israel—he is the true God—which was in Jerusalem. As for anyone that is left from all the places where he is residing as an alien, let the men of his place assist him with silver and with gold and with goods and with domestic animals along with the voluntary offering for the house of the true God, which was in Jerusalem.”’ . . .
“Also, King Cyrus himself brought forth the utensils of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out from Jerusalem and then put in the house of his god. And Cyrus the king of Persia proceeded to bring them forth under the control of Mithredath the treasurer and to number them out to Sheshbazzar the chieftain of Judah. . . . All the utensils of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Everything Sheshbazzar brought up, along with the bringing up of the exiled people out of Babylon to Jerusalem.”—Ezra 1:1-11.
16. (a) Who was “Sheshbazzar the chieftain of Judah”? (b) That the restored exiles realized what the real mission of their return to their homeland was is shown by what historical fact?
16 This “Sheshbazzar the chieftain of Judah” is apparently the same one as Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel the governor of Judah. (Ezra 2:1, 2; 5:1, 2, 14-16; Haggai 1:1, 14; 2:2, 21) Zerubbabel the governor of Judah and the rest of the returned exiles realized that their main mission in returning to their homeland was to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem for Jehovah’s worship. This is shown by a historical fact: At the end of the seventy years of desolation of Jerusalem and of Judah these repurchased exiles built an altar to Jehovah on the same location as that of the former temple altar, and later laid the foundation for building a new temple. We read:
“When the seventh month [Tishri] arrived the sons of Israel were in their cities. And the people began to gather themselves as one man to Jerusalem. And Jeshua the son of Jehozadak and his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers proceeded to rise up and build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer up burnt sacrifices upon it, according to what is written in the law of Moses the man of the true God. So they established the altar firmly upon its own site, for fright came upon them because of the peoples of the lands, and they began offering up burnt sacrifices to Jehovah upon it, the burnt sacrifices of the morning and of the evening. Then they held the festival of booths [Tishri 15-22] according to what is written, with the burnt sacrifices day by day in number according to the rule of what was due each day. . . . From the first day of the seventh month [Tishri] on they started to offer up burnt sacrifices to Jehovah, when the foundation of Jehovah’s temple itself had not yet been laid. . . .
“And in the second year [536 B.C.E.] of their coming to the house of the true God at Jerusalem, in the second month [Ziv, or Iyyar; April/May], Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jehozadak and the rest of their brothers, the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem started; and they now put in positions the Levites from twenty years of age upward to act as supervisors over the work of the house of Jehovah. . . . When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, then the priests in official clothing, with the trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph, with the cymbals, stood up to praise Jehovah according to the direction of David the king of Israel. And they began to respond by praising and giving thanks to Jehovah, ‘for he is good, for his loving-kindness toward Israel is to time indefinite.’ As for all the people, they shouted with a loud shout in praising Jehovah over the laying of the foundation of the house of Jehovah.
“And many of the priests and the Levites and the heads of the paternal houses, the old men that had seen the former house, were weeping with a loud voice at the laying of the foundation of this house before their eyes, while many others were raising the voice in shouting for joy. Hence the people were not distinguishing the sound of the shout of rejoicing from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound itself was heard even to a great distance.”—Ezra 3:1-13.
17, 18. When and why did the building activities on the temple stop?
17 At that time those repatriated Israelites were not saying: “The time has not come, the time of the house of Jehovah, for it to be built.” (Haggai 1:2) But soon there came opposition from the outside to those “sons of the Exile.” This was because the religiously purified Israelites would not let the outside pretending worshipers of Jehovah join with them in building the temple to the God of Israel. So these resentful rebuffed neighbors became adversaries and kept interfering with the temple rebuilding during all the rest of the reign of King Cyrus and the reigns of the succeeding kings of the Persian Empire down into the reign of King Darius Hystaspis the Persian. Before the reign of this Persian Darius I, those Palestinian adversaries succeeded in having the imperial ruler ban the work of rebuilding the temple of Jehovah by accusing the repatriated “sons of the Exile” of being seditionists.—Ezra 4:1-22.
18 The Bible calls the Persian emperor who issued the ban by the name of Artaxerxes, and says: “Now after the copy of the official document of Artaxerxes the king had been read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in a hurry to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force of arms. It was then that the work on the house of God, which was in Jerusalem, stopped; and it continued stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia.”—Ezra 4:23, 24.
19. (a) About how many years did the temple work continue stopped? (b) Why did the ban put the temple builders in a quandary, but who finally pushed the case in the right direction?
19 The second year of the reign of King Darius I coincided with 520/519 B.C.E., and this meant that the stoppage of the work of building a new temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem lasted for about sixteen years, from the time that the foundation of this temple had been laid by Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua (or, Jeshua; Jesus, in the Greek Septuagint Version). This ban imposed by the Persian emperor, Artaxerxes, must have left the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah quite confused, in a quandary. They may have wondered how the ban of this later emperor could countermand the decree of King Cyrus the Great that was issued in 537 B.C.E. as part of the “law of the Medes and the Persians, which is not annulled.” (Daniel 6:8, 12) They did not think to put the matter to a test in the law courts of the Persian Empire, carrying the case even to the Supreme Court of the empire, to the court of last instance, which was with the emperor himself. The coming in of a new emperor, a successor to Artaxerxes, would allow for that. But who, now, would push the case? No one else but “Jehovah of armies” Himself.
20. Because of what previous prophecy by Isaiah was Jehovah unwilling to have the building decree by King Cyrus annulled?
20 Two centuries previously, by means of his prophet Isaiah, the Great Theocrat Jehovah had spoken of himself as “the One saying of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and all that I delight in he will completely carry out’; even in my saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘You will have your foundation laid.’ This is what Jehovah has said to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue before him nations.” (Isaiah 44:28–45:1) Consequently, it was not the will of Jehovah of armies that the decree of Cyrus concerning the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem should be annulled. Jehovah is not the kind of God that has the foundation of a building laid and then finds himself unable to complete the building, so that all the onlookers should “start to ridicule him, saying, “This [God] started to build but was not able to finish.’” (Luke 14:29, 30) No, Jehovah completes what he begins; his word never returns to him unfulfilled, “without results.”—Isaiah 55:11.
POPULAR OPINION AND IMPERIAL BAN CHALLENGED
21. How and in what year did Jehovah begin to correct the long-expressed misimpression of the Jews about temple building?
21 So now the time had come for Jehovah of armies to correct the long-expressed misimpression of the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah that the time had not yet come for the house of Jehovah to be rebuilt. What, then, did he do? He raised up prophets who were not afraid to speak out contrary to popular opinion. Ezra 5:1 tells us who these prophets were, saying: “And Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the grandson of Iddo the prophet prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.” The opening verses of the recorded prophecies of Haggai 1:1 and Zechariah 1:1 give us the year when they started prophesying, namely, “in the second year of Darius the king” of Persia. But Haggai started off before Zechariah by having the word of Jehovah occur by means of him on the first day of the lunar month Elul, the day of the new moon when Jerusalem might have many pilgrims from the cities of Judah outside.
22. Of what did Haggai at the start need to notify the people, and as a challenge to popular opinion, what did they need to be shown?
22 First of all, the prophet Haggai notified the people there at Jerusalem that Jehovah of armies knows what they are saying about the time for building His house of worship, the building of which was authorized by the Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great. Divine patience had been exercised long enough with the Jews who were of that frame of mind. Now, when the situation seemed to be at its worst, when the steady opposition of the pagan religious adversaries had been reinforced by an imperial ban, even now was the time for the popular opinion of this repurchased people to be challenged. They needed to be shown what they were guilty of and the reason why things had been going so badly with them.
23. How did the challenge presented show a connection between the condition of Jehovah’s house then and their economic condition?
23 Now comes the challenge! “And the word of Jehovah continued to come by means of Haggai the prophet, saying: ‘Is it the time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house is waste? And now this is what Jehovah of armies has said, “Set your heart upon your ways. You have sown much seed, but there is a bringing of little in. There is an eating, but it is not to satisfaction. There is a drinking, but not to the point of getting intoxicated. There is a putting on of clothes, but it is not with anyone’s getting warm; and he that is hiring himself out is hiring himself out for a bag having holes [and the wage-earner earning into a pocket with a hole in it].”’”—Haggai 1:3-6, NW; By.
24. What unbalanced state of affairs was there between their personal houses and Jehovah’s house, and what questions did this raise?
24 There was a vital reason for their faring so poorly in a material way. Those repatriated Jews were saying that it was not the time for them to build the temple of Jehovah, and so “this house” of divine worship was lying “waste,” with just a foundation laid back in 536 B.C.E., but with no superstructure thereon. At the same time they themselves were living in their well-roofed houses with a ceiling and with their walls nicely paneled with fine woods. What a marked contrast there was between their private homes for fleshly comforts and the sacred house of Jehovah for the spiritual interests of the whole nation! Was this not an unbalanced state of affairs? Did this not betray that they were putting more emphasis on material things, comforts of their own flesh, than on their spiritual needs and their obligations to the Great Theocrat, Jehovah? Was this without consequences to them, not only to them in a spiritual way but also in a material way? Were they hurting themselves, not only religiously, but also economically? Yes!
25. What was the vital reason for it that they hurt themselves, not just religiously, but economically, in a material way?
25 Why also economically, in a material way? Because theirs was a God-given land. Jehovah had also repurchased them from Babylon and brought them back as his ransomed people to that land. “So,” as He had long ago told their forefathers, “the land should not be sold in perpetuity, because the land is mine. For you are alien residents and settlers from my standpoint.” (Leviticus 25:23) As the land was His, he could make the land prosper and he could hold back his blessing from the land. He thus became responsible for its productivity. If he was displeased with his ransomed people, would he not logically withhold his blessing? And through his prophet Haggai did He not indicate divine displeasure because his house, the most important house in the whole land of Judah, was lying waste, and that for so many years?
26. The connection between Jehovah’s house being waste and their bad economic condition was due to what things?
26 Under the circumstances, there must have been some connection between the “waste” condition of Jehovah’s house of worship and the fact that these ransomed Jews were sowing much seed on the God-given land and yet they were bringing in little in the way of crops. They were reaping something to eat, indeed, but it was not enough to satisfy their desires or needs. They were drinking wine made from the juice of their vineyards, but they did not have a large enough vintage so as to make sufficient wine that they could go as far as getting themselves intoxicated thereon. They were able to manufacture something to put on the outside of their bodies, but not enough, or not of such quality, as to keep them warm during cold weather. And if any needy ones hired themselves out to earn a living or to help in meeting expenses, it seemed as if the money they earned was put into a money bag full of holes to let the coins drop out and be lost with no benefit to the wage earners. In view of the relationship of these occupants of the land to the heavenly Owner of the land and their religious obligations to Him, there must have been some vital connection between his “waste” house and their economic depression.
27. How did Jehovah’s earlier prophecy at Ezekiel 36:33-36 indicate that there was such a connection?
27 This connection must have been real in view of what Jehovah their God had promised by means of his prophet Ezekiel shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolating of the land of Judah more than seventy years ago: “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘In the day of my cleansing you from all your errors I will also cause the cities to be inhabited, and the devastated places must be rebuilt. And the desolated land itself will be cultivated, whereas it had become a desolate waste before the eyes of every passerby. And people will certainly say: “That land yonder which was laid desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the cities that were a waste and that were laid desolate and that were torn down are fortified; they have become inhabited.” And the nations that will be left remaining round about you will have to know that I myself, Jehovah, have built the things torn down, I have planted what has been laid desolate. I myself, Jehovah, have spoken and I have done it.’”—Ezekiel 36:33-36.
28. Why was it that by the year 520 B.C.E. that prophecy through Ezekiel had not been fulfilled upon the Jews, and why should we today apply the point of this to ourselves?
28 When the ransomed remnant of God-fearing Jews returned to the desolated land in 537 B.C.E., they had the highest hopes of having such a glowing prophecy fulfilled. But now, by the year 520 B.C.E., their highest hopes had been disappointed. Why? Yes, why were not the pagan peoples round about saying: “That land yonder which was laid desolate has become like the garden of Eden”? The reason why is obvious: The ransomed remnant of Jews were neglecting the worship of the One who had made such a grand promise through the prophet Ezekiel. Is there not a point in this that we today, who hope in the transformation of the whole earth into a Paradise, should take to heart? Yes. But what was the remedy that needed to be applied back there? It should be an advisory example for us now. |
Creation (ce)
1985 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/ce | outputs
Page Chapter
7 1 Life—How Did It Start?
14 2 Disagreements About Evolution—Why?
25 3 What Does Genesis Say?
38 4 Could Life Originate by Chance?
54 5 Letting the Fossil Record Speak
71 6 Huge Gulfs—Can Evolution Bridge Them?
83 7 “Ape-Men”—What Were They?
99 8 Mutations—A Basis for Evolution?
115 9 Our Awesome Universe
129 10 Evidence From a Unique Planet
142 11 The Amazing Design of Living Things
152 12 Who Did It First?
160 13 Instinct—Wisdom Programmed Before Birth
168 14 The Human Miracle
179 15 Why Do Many Accept Evolution?
188 16 Why Would God Permit Suffering?
199 17 Can You Trust the Bible?
216 18 The Bible—Is It Really Inspired by God?
232 19 An Earthly Paradise Soon to Come
247 20 What Choice Will You Make?
252 References
255 Credits |
Paradise Restored (pm)
1972 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/pm | Chapter 19
The Kingdom Withstands International Assault
1. By what force uncontrolled by scientists has the pronouncement from beyond outer space been communicated to us, being made available to most of us also by what means?
INTERNATIONAL communications—by cablegram, by telegram, by telephone, by radio, by television—have carried the pronouncements of shepherdlike rulers to the ends of the earth. The seeming importance of such pronouncements made them deserving of such widespread newscasting. But, by a force that the scientists of this twentieth century have been unable to harness, a pronouncement of the highest importance has been communicated from beyond outer space to our earth. That high rating of this pronouncement is not too high, for it is the pronouncement of the Creator of earth and heaven, and it has been communicated by means of his invisible active force, namely, his holy spirit. Also, by means of hundreds of millions of printed copies of the Holy Bible, in hundreds of languages, that pronouncement has been made available for consultation by the vast majority of the population of the earth. As we read this pronouncement bearing the name of the Creator, let us judge for ourselves whether it is of international importance now:
2. According to that pronouncement, what will Jehovah make Jerusalem resemble to the nations, and like what will He make his people to the attacking nations?
2 “A pronouncement: ‘The word of Jehovah concerning Israel,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, the One who is stretching out the heavens and laying the foundation of the earth and forming the spirit of man inside him. ‘Here I am making Jerusalem a bowl causing reeling to all the peoples round about; and also against Judah he will come to be in the siege, even against Jerusalem. And it must occur in that day that I shall make Jerusalem a burdensome stone to all the peoples. All those lifting it will without fail get severe scratches for themselves; and against her all the nations of the earth will certainly be gathered. In that day,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘I shall strike every horse with bewilderment and its rider with madness; and upon the house of Judah I shall open my eyes, and every horse of the peoples I shall strike with loss of sight. And the sheiks of Judah will have to say in their heart, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a strength to me by Jehovah of armies their God.” In that day I shall make the sheiks of Judah like a fire pot among trees and like a fiery torch in a row of newly cut grain, and they must devour on the right hand and on the left all the peoples round about; and Jerusalem must yet be inhabited in her own place, in Jerusalem.’”
3, 4. Why have the natural, circumcised Jews been unable to come up with an explanation of Zechariah 12:1-6 that applies to the history of their nation?
3 Those words of Zechariah 12:1-6 are a puzzle to the natural circumcised Jews of today. They have tried to find a fulfillment of those prophetic words in the ancient history of their nation between the time of this “pronouncement” in the sixth century before our Common Era (about 518 B.C.E.) and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman legions in the year 70 C.E. But they have been unable to come up with anything authentic in verification of the prophecy. Why not? It is because the fulfillment of the “pronouncement” reaches its culmination or climax in an Israel and Jerusalem of a higher order than that of natural, fleshly Israel and earthly Jerusalem. Thus when the earthly Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 70 C.E. there was a Jerusalem that then remained. Not an earthly one, of course. It was the one of which the writer of Hebrews 12:22-24 speaks. Although writing about 61 C.E., about nine years before earthly Jerusalem was demolished in 70 C.E., he writes to Christianized Hebrews:
4 “But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.”
5. What was the “congregation of the firstborn” to which those Christianized Hebrews had approached by about 61 C.E., and what city did this “congregation” have?
5 “The congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens” to which those Hebrew Christians had approached was not the congregation of natural, fleshly Israel, of which they had been a part until their conversion to Christianity. Rather, it was the “congregation” of spiritual Israel and it had been brought into the “new covenant” that Jesus the mediator had validated with his own “blood of sprinkling” that speaks in a better way than did the blood of Abel the first martyr of Jehovah. In a perfect match with these facts, this spiritual Israel had a higher Jerusalem, the “city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem.”
6. What did earthly Jerusalem as Jehovah’s throne city picture, and when and to what was there a transfer of the thing thus pictured?
6 The earthly Jerusalem was where the line of kings in David’s royal family had had its throne, which was called “Jehovah’s throne” because the occupant thereof represented Jehovah God who was the real and invisible King of Israel. Since Jehovah had covenanted with King David for an everlasting kingdom with a permanent heir of him in the throne, Jerusalem as the throne city stood for the God-given right to a kingdom in the hands of a descendant of King David. (1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Samuel 7:14-16) Jesus Christ, “son of David, son of Abraham,” was that Permanent Heir. Consequently, when Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead, made his ascent to heaven and appeared in God’s presence and sat down at his right hand, his heirship and his unforfeited right to the kingdom went along with him. Thus that Kingdom right was transferred from the earthly Jerusalem to the “heavenly Jerusalem” in the year 33 C.E.—Acts 2:29-36; Psalm 110:1, 2; Hebrews 10:12, 13.
7. In view of the overturning of the Davidic kingdom in earthly Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., when was it that Jehovah made Jerusalem a “bowl causing reeling to all the peoples” (Zechariah 12:2)?
7 In the year 607 B.C.E. the Babylonians overturned the kingdom of David at earthly Jerusalem, and the kingdom was to become no one else’s “until he comes who has the legal right,” at which time God would give it to that one. (Ezekiel 21:25-27) When did that one with the “legal right” come and receive the kingdom from Jehovah the great Theocrat? It was in 1914 C.E., at the end of the Gentile Times about October 4/5 (Tishri 15). Then Jehovah enthroned his Son Jesus Christ in the “heavenly Jerusalem.” Then, too, in fulfillment of Psalm 110:1, 2 Jehovah sent the rod of Christ’s strength out of the heavenly Mount Zion, saying: “Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.” By that act and at that time the Great Creator of heaven and earth carried out his pronouncement and made Jerusalem, the “heavenly Jerusalem,” to be a “bowl causing reeling to all the peoples.”—Zechariah 12:1, 2; Revelation 11:15.
8. (a) When King David made Jerusalem his throne city, what did the Philistines try to do, and with what result? (b) When and how did notice begin to be served on Christendom as regards Christ’s enthronement at the end of the Gentile Times?
8 Two thousand nine hundred and eighty-three years before that, King David had captured earthly Jerusalem and made it his capital city. On hearing that, his bitter enemies the Philistines came up against Jerusalem and tried to unseat David. Two successive miraculous defeats sent the assailants reeling back to Philistia. (2 Samuel 5:17-25; Psalm 2:1-6) What, then, do we find in the case of the “heavenly Jerusalem” with its newly enthroned King Jesus Christ, the Permanent Heir of David? For decades prior to 1914 C.E., even since the year 1876 C.E., the nations and peoples of the world had been notified that the Gentile Times would close in that year.a Dedicated, baptized Christians, like Charles Taze Russell who became president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, were used to serve this notice, especially upon the nations of Christendom. These professed Christian nations spurned the notification and launched their first world war July 28, 1914.
9. During World War I, how did those embattled nations gather around “heavenly Jerusalem” as around a drinking “bowl” for their pleasure?
9 During this war the embattled nations took advantage of martial law and wartime hysteria and nationalistic fervor to persecute these dedicated, baptized, spirit-anointed Christians who had served notification upon them and who had taken their stand for Jehovah’s established Messianic kingdom. Thus the nations gathered around them as around a drinking bowl, to take draughts of pleasure and glee at venting their opposition to God’s Kingdom representatives. As these dedicated, anointed Christians were part of the “congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens,” those nations were, in effect, gathered around the “heavenly Jerusalem” as around a drinking “bowl.” For a time those nations did experience great exhilaration, as foretold in Revelation 11:7-10.
10, 11. How, after World War I, did “heavenly Jerusalem” come to be under siege by the nations, and were these also “against Judah”?
10 After World War I ended on November 11, 1918, the worldly nations did not cease their hostility to God’s established Messianic kingdom as set up in the “heavenly Jerusalem.” In the following years they adopted the League of Nations as a substitute for God’s heavenly kingdom. They thus began a figurative siege of the “heavenly Jerusalem.” This siege expressed itself in the nations’ opposition and persecution against the anointed remnant of the “congregation of the firstborn” who proclaimed the Messianic kingdom of the “heavenly Jerusalem.” Inasmuch as these disciples of Jesus Christ upheld him as “the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David,” they were spiritual Judeans, or spiritually of the tribe of Judah. So, along with the heavenly Jerusalem, these spiritual Judeans were under siege by the anti-Kingdom nations. It was just as it had been foretold, in Zechariah 12:2:
11 “Here I am making Jerusalem a bowl causing reeling to all the peoples round about; and also against Judah he will come to be in the siege, even against Jerusalem.” (NW) “Lo, I am about to make Jerusalem an intoxicating bowl unto all the peoples around. Moreover, the cities of Judah will be under siege along with Jerusalem.” (AT) “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a fearful place to all the people round about her, also there shall be a siege both against Judah together with Jerusalem.” (Lamsa) “Lo, I am making Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the peoples round about, and also against Judah it is, in the siege against Jerusalem.”—Yg.
12. How did the spiritual Judeans manifest a different spirit from what they had shown during World War I, thus taking what apostolic stand?
12 Whereas in 1919 C.E. the worldly nations adopted the League of Nations as an international organization for world peace and security, the anointed remnant of the spiritual Judah started proclaiming as never before the good news of the kingdom of the “Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David.” So from then on the worldly nations began laying siege against this spiritual Judah on earth, prolonging and persisting in their endeavors to overpower the resistance and nonconformity of these spiritual Judeans. Quite differently from their general course of action during World War I, these spiritual Judeans refused to be put in fear by the nations. They discerned their commission from the Most High God more clearly than previously, and they chose the apostolic course: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) They stuck to this course even amid World War II. They stuck to an absolute Christian neutrality toward the international controversies, such as they had openly declared on November 1, 1939. The nations were quite stunned at the strictly neutral stand of these Christian witnesses of Jehovah.—See The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom, as of November 1, 1939, pages 323-333.
13. By what course have the nations got “severe scratches for themselves,” and why?
13 The intransigent stand of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses for neutrality, their courageous resort to the legal courts of the land to maintain their civil rights, their steadily increasing preaching of the good news of Jehovah’s Messianic kingdom, all this has sent the nations reeling. The Kingdom right, as represented by the “heavenly Jerusalem,” has become a “burdensome stone” to the nations. For trying to lift it out of the way of their ambitious worldly schemes for global domination by tampering with the Kingdom preachers, the meddling nations have got “severe scratches for themselves.” No satisfaction for themselves, but smarting pains of humiliating failure. Their reputations have been hurt. They cannot remove or nullify the Kingdom’s right to be preached, nor can they silence the remnant who obey Jehovah’s command to preach it world wide.
14. How has Jehovah fulfilled even already his pronouncement regarding the enemy horses and their riders, and upon whom does he open his eyes, and why?
14 Already, in a figurative way, Jehovah of armies has done according to His pronouncement. He has bewildered those who fight against the spiritual Judeans, the ambassadors for His kingdom. The riders of the war machine have been made to act madly, as in the case of frustrated dictators who have become blind with fury. Their war strategists know no more what direction to take, as if for loss of sight. But Jehovah opens his eyes and keeps them open in order to direct the strategy of the spiritual “house of Judah.”
15. How have the spiritual Judean sheiks been inflammatory “like a fire pot among trees and like a fiery torch in a row of newly cut grain,” to the right and to the left?
15 As for the “sheiks of Judah,” spiritually speaking, the governing body of the “house of Judah” and the overseers of the congregations of the spiritual Judeans, Jehovah fills these with a fiery zeal in behalf of the earthly interests of the Kingdom of the “heavenly Jerusalem.” “Like a fire pot among trees and like a fiery torch in a row of newly cut grain,” they set things aflame in a spiritual way, causing great religious discussions and controversies to flare up and consuming the influence of many shepherd rulers so that they are exposed as “fighters actually against God” and many of their “sheep” turn away to God’s kingdom. To the right and to the left this occurs among the peoples. In consequence of this fiery activity and positiveness of these “sheiks of Judah,” the spiritual Judeans keep remaining in their God-given spiritual estate, inhabiting it with increased numbers. They do not abandon the cause of the “heavenly Jerusalem.”
16. The “sheiks of Judah” acknowledge that their strength to do this under siege comes from what source, and what does that source employ in their behalf?
16 It is not in their own strength that these “sheiks of Judah” and their fellow Judeans accomplish this spiritually devastating work among those who besiege hostilely the cause of God’s reigning kingdom. In their hearts of appreciation they confess that the strength to do this under siege by all the world comes from a superhuman, supernatural source. It comes from the “heavenly Jerusalem,” where the enthroned King Jesus Christ reigns and has gone forth subduing among his enemies. He has associated with him the holy angels. “Are they not all spirits for public service, sent forth to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13, 14; Matthew 25:31) Those anointed Christians who were approaching the “city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem” and who ended their earthly course in death and were resurrected to life and immortality in the heavens, these also could afford invisible strength to the courageous, energetic “sheiks of Judah” and fellow Judeans on earth. (Revelation 2:26-29) Behind all this assistance from heavenly Jerusalem is “Jehovah of armies their God.”
ANNIHILATION IN STORE FOR ATTACKING NATIONS
17, 18. (a) Why will the nations not be able to crown their long siege with victory? (b) According to his pronouncement, what will Jehovah do to those nations coming against “Jerusalem”?
17 The worldly nations cannot crown with victory their long, persistent siege against God’s kingdom and those who serve as its ambassadors throughout the earth. The Almighty God will give these spiritual Judeans renewed powers of endurance to withstand the anti-Kingdom siege, but he will weaken and finally obliterate the God-defying besiegers. This is the significance of the further words of the divine “pronouncement,” in Zechariah 12:7-9:
18 “And Jehovah will certainly save the tents of Judah first, to the end that the beauty of the house of David and the beauty of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not become too great over Judah. In that day Jehovah will be a defense around the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the one that is stumbling among them must become in that day like David, and the house of David like God [or, ‘godlike ones’], like Jehovah’s angel before them. And it must occur in that day that I shall seek to annihilate all the nations that are coming against Jerusalem.”
19. (a) What is indicated by the expression “the tents of Judah”? (b) Why will the “beauty” of others involved not become “too great over Judah”?
19 That expression “the tents of Judah” indicates that the spiritual Judeans are not withdrawn behind the protective walls of cities but are out in the open field, fearlessly defending the interests of the Messianic kingdom as represented by Jerusalem, the throne city. Reasonably, then, before the attackers could come directly against the city, they would have to clear away all the “tents of Judah” that are ringed about the city in its defense. That is why Jehovah of armies has to save the “tents of Judah” first, because these are the first and direct target of attack. For that reason they will be able to boast of Jehovah’s salvation of them the same as will the inhabitants of the “heavenly Jerusalem,” the Kingdom location. These “tents of Judah” will have the beauty of Jehovah’s salvation just the same as the “house of David” represented by the royal Son of David, Jesus Christ, and the same as the “inhabitants of Jerusalem,” the resurrected joint heirs of the Messianic kingdom, Christ’s already resurrected and glorified disciples.—Romans 8:15-17; 2 Timothy 2:11, 12.
20. (a) How has Jehovah made the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” to be like David, and David’s house to be like Jehovah’s angel? (b) How has Jehovah defended the “inhabitants of Jerusalem”?
20 If, in the case of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Jehovah defends them and keeps them from stumbling to a fall in that he makes them strong and courageous like David the fighting king, he will do likewise with the spiritual Judeans in their “tents” out in the field. The historical record that the anointed remnant of spiritual Judeans has made for itself till now shows that He has done this. And he will continue to do this in the future, to the full carrying out of his promise. Also, because of the larger responsibility that is involved, Jehovah has done still more for the “house of David,” which “house” is represented by the Permanent Heir of David, Jesus Christ. Jehovah has made him “like God, like Jehovah’s angel before them.” No, not like Jehovah himself, but like Jehovah’s “angel,” who led the sons of Israel out of slavery in Egypt in 1513 B.C.E. (Exodus 14:19; 23:20, 23) Jehovah of armies has already defended the inhabitants of the “heavenly Jerusalem” by authorizing his reigning King Jesus Christ to cast Satan the Devil, “the god of this system of things,” out of heaven and to keep him out.—Revelation 12:7-13; 2 Corinthians 4:4.
21. (a) In harmony with the house of David’s acting like Jehovah’s angel, what is one of the appropriate inputs of the Representative of that “house”? (b) How long will the enemy keep up the siege of Jerusalem, and why till then?
21 So the godlike Son of David, Jesus Christ, acts like Jehovah’s angel in behalf of spiritual Judeans in their “tents” on earth. Appropriately one of the names by which he has been called is Mighty God. (Isaiah 9:6, 7) How, then, could all the nations of this world, backed by Satan the Devil, triumph against him and against the “tents of Judah” before whom he serves as Jehovah’s angel? By force of circumstances their siege of the Messianic kingdom is bound to fail. In their lust for world domination they will never lift the siege and withdraw in admission of defeat or failure. They will keep up the siege down to the last!
22. (a) Why will Jehovah not have to look far when seeking to annihilate the nations? (b) When will be the occasion for him to annihilate them?
22 Will Jehovah of armies have to seek far in that day when seeking to “annihilate all the nations that are coming against Jerusalem”? By no means! By their persistent opposition to his Messianic kingdom and their support of the man-made international organization for world peace and security and their harassment and persecution of the spiritual Judeans, those nations are piling up a condemnatory record against themselves. The Supreme Judge of all is aware of the account that has to be settled in full measure against them. When their final attack upon the “tents of Judah” takes place, producing the world situation figuratively called Har–Magedon, they will fill up their allowed account to the full.
23. To what will Jehovah reduce those nations, and by means of whom, and with “beauty” for whom?
23 On examining that account, the searching Jehovah of armies will find every justification for him to annihilate those nations coming against the Kingdom of his “heavenly Jerusalem.” By means of his reigning King, who is “like God, like Jehovah’s angel,” he will reduce those nations absolutely to nothing. (Revelation 16:13-16) O with what “beauty” that will crown the “house of David” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” and the “tents of Judah”!
THE ONE “PIERCED THROUGH” WHO BECAME KING
24, 25. (a) Will there be a wailing for those annihilated nations? (b) A wailing over whom is it that Jehovah foretells as being outstanding?
24 There will be no wailing and lamentation over those presumptuous nations whom Jehovah of armies annihilates in the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon. But there was wailing and lamentation at a mournful event that paved the way for the “beauty of the house of David and the beauty of the inhabitants of Jerusalem” in that glorious day of divine salvation. As the “pronouncement” of Jehovah the Creator of heaven and earth continues on, we learn what that event was, for we hear Him say:
25 “And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and entreaties, and they will certainly look to the One whom they pierced through, and they will certainly wail over Him as in the wailing over an only son; and there will be a bitter lamentation over him as when there is bitter lamentation over the firstborn son. In that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be great, like the wailing of Hadadrimmon in the valley plain of Megiddo. And the land will certainly wail, each family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their women by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their women by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their women by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their women by themselves; all the families that are left remaining, each family by itself, and their women by themselves.”—Zechariah 12:10-14; NW; JB; Mo; RS; AT.
26. To the question of who was the one whom they pierced through, we turn to what apostle’s writing for the answer, and how does he answer our question?
26 Who is that “One whomb they pierced through” and to whom “they will certainly look”? Cutting through the entanglement of human guesses, we go direct to the inspired answer furnished by the One who made this prophetic “pronouncement.” From the record written down by the Galilean John, who was an eyewitness of the impalement of Jesus Christ between two impaled evildoers on Friday, Nisan 14, 33 C.E., we quote these inspired words:
Then the Jews, since it was Preparation, in order that the bodies might not remain upon the torture stakes on the Sabbath, (for the day of that Sabbath was a great one,) requested Pilate to have their legs broken and the bodies taken away. The soldiers came, therefore, and broke the legs of the first man and those of the other man that had been impaled with him. But on coming to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Yet one of the soldiers jabbed his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he that has seen it has borne witness, and his witness is true, and that man knows he tells true things, in order that you also may believe. In fact, these things took place in order for the scripture to be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be crushed.” And, again, a different scripture says: “They will look to the One whom they pierced.”—John 19:31-37.
27. In his writings, what other connections does John make of Jesus with that one “pierced through”?
27 There is also another connecting of this Jesus Christ with the ‘piercing through’ when the same apostle John writes:
To him that loves us and that loosed us from our sins by means of his own blood—and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen.—Revelation 1:5-7.
28. What does the medical doctor Luke write, to indicate that Jesus was “pierced through” after, not before, he died?
28 Thus the piercing of Jesus’ side occurred sometime after he had expired, not before, concerning which Doctor Luke writes:
Well, by now it was about the sixth hour [12 o’clock noon], and yet a darkness fell over all the earth until the ninth hour [3 o’clock in the afternoon], because the sunlight failed; then the curtain of the sanctuary was rent down the middle. And Jesus called with a loud voice and said: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” When he had said this, he expired. Because of seeing what occurred the army officer [centurion] began to glorify God, saying: “Really this man was righteous.” And all the crowds that were gathered together there for this spectacle, when they beheld the things that occurred, began to return, beating their breasts. Moreover, all those acquainted with him were standing at a distance. Also, women, who together had followed him from Galilee, were standing beholding these things.”—Luke 23:44-49; also, Mark 15:33-41.
29. How, as in Thomas’ case, did that pierced side of Jesus enter into the proof that he had been resurrected from the dead?
29 The pierced side of Jesus Christ was also an important item that entered into the proof that Jesus was later raised from the dead. The apostle Thomas, who did not get to see Jesus on the day of his resurrection (Sunday, Nisan 16, 33 C.E.), said to those who had seen him materialized in the flesh that day: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe.” A week later, Jesus again materialized in flesh, in a body like that of his impalement, and said to Thomas: “Take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop being unbelieving but become believing.”—John 20:24-27.
30. (a) How was the wailing by Jesus’ disciples of greater seriousness than the “wailing of Hadadrimmon in the valley plain of Megiddo”? (b) What more was needed than the mere wailing in grief in order for the “spirit of favor and entreaties” to be poured out on them?
30 In fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10-14, the faithful apostles and other disciples of Jesus Christ must have wailed and lamented, there at earthly Jerusalem. Their lamenting was over the death of the “only-begotten Son” of God, “the firstborn of all creation,” “the beginning of the creation by God.” (John 3:16; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) So the lamenting over him was of greater seriousness than the previous “wailing of Hadadrimmon in the valley plain of Megiddo.” (Zechariah 12:11; compare 2 Kings 23:28-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-25.) Jehovah did pour out upon those faithful disciples the “spirit of favor and entreaties.” Especially so, since those disciples “were hoping that this man was the one destined to deliver Israel.” (Luke 24:21) But, in order to gain divine favor, more than mere grief must be expressed in such wailing and bitter lamentation. There must be belief in the one who was pierced through and belief in the value of his sacrificial death. On the basis of such belief or faith, divine favor can be extended to the grieved one and then his entreaties due to faith will be answered.
31, 32. (a) To receive the “spirit of favor and entreaties,” how must one look at him who was pierced through, even though one was of “the house of David”? (b) Even if of the “inhabitants of Jerusalem,” what would one have to do besides wail in order to receive the “spirit of favor and entreaties”?
31 To prove worthy of receiving that divine “spirit of favor and entreaties” a person must look with eyes of faith, “look to the One whom they pierced through.” A person might be of “the house of David,” but, just one’s being of that royal rank according to fleshly descent by no means guarantees that one will be with the Messiah in the heavenly kingdom as one of his joint heirs.
32 A person might be one of the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” on earth; but his being of the earthly capital city of King David by no means guarantees him a place in the “heavenly Jerusalem.” Such a person should grieve because of any community responsibility that may be attaching to him for the death and piercing through of the Messiah Jesus. So the wailing and bitter lamentation must include sorrow over the fact that the Messiah had to die over our sins and must also include repentance over such sins. Then Messiah’s death will be of benefit to the one lamenting and he will receive the “spirit of favor and entreaties.”
33. (a) How did this rule apply also to a person even though he was of “the house of Levi,” or the “family of the Shimeites”? (b) Or, if one was of the “family of the house of Nathan,” as Jesus’ mother Mary was?
33 This would apply also to a person who, according to the flesh, was of the “house of Levi.” Although as a Levite he served at the earthly temple in Jerusalem, with its altar of animal sacrifices, he still needed the perfect human sacrifice of the One pierced through. The “house of Levi” also included the “family of the Shimeites.” (Exodus 6:16, 17; Numbers 3:17-21) So these also needed a sacrifice able to ransom sinful human creatures. The “family of the house of Nathan” belonged to the royal family of David. (2 Samuel 5:13, 14) Mary the earthly mother of Jesus Christ was born into the line of descent of this Nathan the son of David. (Luke 3:23-31) Despite their royal connections according to the flesh, those of this family needed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and that he was “pierced through” in order to fulfill divine prophecy and to prove worthy of the heavenly kingdom.
34. (a) From what standpoint must everyone, regardless of family, house, or sex, wail and lament over the pierced one? (b) How must we today do so in order to receive the “spirit of favor and entreaties”?
34 Everybody, no matter of what family or house, needed to wail and lament in repentant grief over the need for the Messiah to die as a ransom sacrifice for sins. Woman as well as man needed to do so. That is why the prophecy repeatedly says that there must be wailing on the part of “their women by themselves.” (Zechariah 12:12-14) Likewise each one of us today must look with repentance and in faith to Messiah Jesus, the One whom the enemies of Jehovah’s Messianic kingdom were permitted to ‘pierce through.’ If we do so, we shall receive the “spirit of favor and entreaties.”
35. When are our tears of wailing and lamentation over the ‘piercing through’ of the Messiah wiped away?
35 Our tears of wailing and lamentation are wiped away when we discern, also, that the Messiah Jesus was “pierced through” for the vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty. His finally being “pierced through” proved that he had maintained his perfect integrity to the Sovereign Lord Jehovah to the death. As a reward he was honored with being enthroned as Messianic King in heaven.
[Footnotes]
a “The seven times will end in A.D. 1914.” So it is stated in the special article eninputd “Gentile Times: When Do They End?” by Charles T. Russell, as published on page 27 of the monthly magazine called “Bible Examiner,” Volume XXI, Number 1 - Whole Number 313, under date of October, 1876, with mailing address at No. 72 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, New York, and the editor and publisher of which was George Storrs. The discontinuance of his magazine “Bible Examiner” due to his severe illness was announced under the heading “Brother Geo. Storrs,” in the January, 1880, issue of Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, and the use of part of the space of this latter magazine was offered to him. Sometime after his death, an article from his pen, eninputd “The Doctrine of Election,” was published in Zion’s Watch Tower, in June of the year 1884.
b On the words “the One whom,” the 1971 edition of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures carries this footnote: On this passage Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar, by E. Kautzsch and A. E. Cowley (1949 reprint), says on page 446, in footnote 1 belonging to section 138 (2) e, the following: “In Zechariah 12:10 also, instead of the unintelligible e·laʹi ēth a·sherʹ, we should probably read el-a·sherʹ, and refer the passage to this class.” In two Hebrew manuscripts the written text reads e·laʹi ēth a·sherʹ (“to me whom”), but the marginal note reads e·laʹiw ēth a·sherʹ (“to him [or, to the one] whom”). LXX reads: “to me for the reason that”; Vg, “to me whom”; Sy, “to me for him whom”; Th, “to him whom.” See German Bible translation by Emil F. Kautzsch (1890): “To that one whom”; also John 19:37. |
United in Worship (uw)
1983 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/uw | Chapter 12
The Meaning of Your Baptism
1, 2. (a) Why should water baptism be of personal interest to each of us? (b) Briefly, how would you answer the questions set out in paragraph 2?
IN THE year 29 C.E., Jesus was immersed in the Jordan River. Jehovah himself was watching and expressed approval. (Matt. 3:16, 17) Three and a half years later, following his resurrection, Jesus gave instructions to his disciples, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” (Matt. 28:18, 19) Have you been baptized in harmony with what Jesus there directed? Or are you preparing to do so?
2 In either event a clear understanding of baptism is important. Questions that deserve consideration include these: Does the baptism of Christians today have the same meaning as that of Jesus? Does everything that the Bible says about baptism apply to you? What is involved in living in harmony with what Christian water baptism signifies?
Baptisms Performed by John
3. To whom was John’s baptism limited?
3 About six months before Jesus was baptized, John the Baptist went into the wilderness of Judea, preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” (Matt. 3:1, 2) People from all that region heard what John said, openly confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan. That baptism was for the Jews.—Acts 13:23, 24; Luke 1:13-16.
4. (a) Why did the Jews need urgently to repent? (b) What was required if they were to avoid being ‘baptized with fire’?
4 Those Jews were urgently in need of repentance. In the year 1513 B.C.E. at Mount Sinai their forefathers had entered into a national covenant with Jehovah God. But they had not lived up to their responsibilities under that covenant and so were condemned by it as sinners. Their situation was critical. “The great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah” foretold by Malachi was near, and in 70 C.E. it came upon Jerusalem as swift destruction. John the Baptist, with a zeal for true worship like that of Elijah, was sent in advance of that destruction “to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.” They needed to repent of their sins against the Law covenant and be prepared in heart and mind to accept the Son of God, whom Jehovah was sending to them. (Mal. 4:4-6; Luke 1:17; Acts 19:4) As John explained, God’s Son would baptize with holy spirit (which baptism faithful disciples first experienced at Pentecost of 33 C.E.) and with fire (which came upon the unrepentant ones as destruction in 70 C.E.). (Luke 3:16) To avoid personally experiencing that ‘baptism with fire’ those first-century Jews needed to get baptized in water in symbol of their repentance, and they had to become disciples of Jesus Christ when that opportunity opened up.
5. (a) When Jesus came to be baptized, why did John question it? (b) What was symbolized by Jesus’ baptism in water? (c) How serious was Jesus about fulfilling God’s will for him?
5 Among those who came to John to be baptized was Jesus himself. But why? John knew that Jesus had no sins to confess, and so he said: “I am the one needing to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?” But Jesus’ baptism was to symbolize something different. So he replied: “Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous.” (Matt. 3:13-15) Jesus’ baptism could not symbolize repentance over sin; nor did he need to dedicate himself to God, because he was a member of a nation already dedicated to Jehovah. Rather, his baptism, on attaining to Jewish adulthood at 30 years of age, symbolized the presenting of himself to his heavenly Father to do His further will. God’s will for the “man, Christ Jesus,” involved activity in connection with the Kingdom, also the sacrifice of his perfect human life as a ransom and as the basis for a new covenant. (Luke 8:1; 17:20, 21; Heb. 10:5-10; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6) Jesus took very seriously what his water baptism symbolized. He did not allow himself to be diverted to other interests. To the end of his earthly life he stuck to the doing of God’s will.—John 4:34.
Baptism Into Death
6. What other baptism did Jesus undergo and over what period of time?
6 In harmony with what Jesus’ baptism in water symbolized, he also underwent another baptism. He knew that the assignment set before him by God would lead to his laying down his human life as a sacrifice but that he would be raised in the spirit on the third day. He spoke of this as being a baptism. This “baptism” began in 29 C.E. but was not completed until he actually died and was resurrected. So about three years after his water immersion he could appropriately say: “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how I am being distressed until it is finished!”—Luke 12:50.
7. (a) Who else are baptized into death? (b) Who performs this baptism?
7 Those who will reign with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom must likewise be baptized into death. (Mark 10:37-40; Col. 2:12) At their death they lay aside forever their human life, as Jesus did. And at their resurrection they join him in heavenly rulership. This is a baptism performed, not by any human, but by God through his heavenly Son.
8. What is meant by their also being “baptized into Christ Jesus”?
8 Those who are baptized into Jesus’ death are also said to be “baptized into Christ Jesus.” By means of holy spirit channeled through Christ they become united to him, their head, as members of his spirit-anointed congregation, his “body.” Because that spirit enables them to reflect Christ’s superior personality, it can be said of them that they all become “one person in union with Christ Jesus.”—Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27, 28; Acts 2:32, 33.
Water Baptism of Christian Disciples
9. (a) When did baptism in the manner directed at Matthew 28:19 first take place? (b) Using the questions and scriptures provided with this paragraph, analyze what Jesus was indicating that baptismal candidates must recognize.
9 Jesus’ first disciples were baptized in water by John and were then directed to Jesus as prospective members of his spiritual bride. (John 3:25-30) Under Jesus’ direction they also did some baptizing, which had the same significance as John’s baptism. (John 4:1-3) Starting with Pentecost of 33 C.E., however, they began to fulfill the commission to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.” (Matt. 28:19) You will find it very beneficial to review what that means, in the light of the scriptures cited with the following questions:
To be baptized “in the name of the Father,” what must a person recognize concerning the Father? (2 Ki. 19:15; Ps. 3:8; 73:28; Isa. 6:3; Rom. 15:6; Heb. 12:9; Jas. 1:17)
Baptism in the name “of the Son” calls for recognition of what? (Matt. 16:16, 24; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 5:9, 10)
What must a person believe in order to be baptized in the name “of the holy spirit”? (Luke 11:13; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 10:38; Gal. 5:22, 23; 2 Pet. 1:21)
10. (a) What is symbolized by Christian water baptism today? (b) How is this different from Jesus’ own baptism? (c) When Scripturally qualified persons are baptized, what do they become?
10 The first ones to be baptized in harmony with those instructions given by Jesus were Jews (and Jewish proselytes), who as a nation were already dedicated to God and were shown special consideration by him down till 36 C.E. However, when the privilege of Christian discipleship was extended to the Samaritans and the Gentiles, before being baptized they personally had to make an unreserved dedication to Jehovah to serve him as disciples of his Son. For all, including Jews, this continues to be the significance of Christian water baptism down to our day. This “one baptism” applies to all who become true Christians. They thus become Christian witnesses of Jehovah, God’s ordained ministers.—Eph. 4:5; 2 Cor. 6:3, 4.
11. (a) To what does Christian water baptism correspond, and how? (b) From what is a Christian thus saved?
11 Such baptism has great value in the eyes of God. After mentioning Noah’s constructing of the ark in which he and his family were preserved through the Flood, the apostle Peter drew attention to this. He wrote: “That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 3:21) The ark was a tangible evidence that Noah had dedicated himself to do God’s will and had then faithfully done the work assigned by God. This led to his preservation. In a corresponding way, those who dedicate themselves to Jehovah on the basis of faith in the resurrected Christ, who get baptized in symbol of that and who then proceed to do God’s will for his servants in our day are saved from the present wicked world. (Gal. 1:3, 4) No longer are they headed for destruction with the rest of the world. They have been saved from this and have been granted a good conscience by God.
Living Up to Our Responsibilities
12. Why is one’s getting baptized not in itself a guarantee of salvation?
12 It would be a mistake to conclude that being baptized is in itself a guarantee of salvation. It has value only if a person truly has dedicated himself to Jehovah through Jesus Christ and thereafter carries out God’s will, faithful to the end.—Matt. 24:13.
13. (a) What is God’s will as to the way that baptized Christians use their lives? (b) How important should Christian discipleship be in our lives?
13 God’s will for Jesus included how he used his life as a human. It was to be laid down in death as a sacrifice. In our case our bodies are to be presented to God, to carry on a self-sacrificing life. They are to be used exclusively in the doing of God’s will. (Rom. 12:1, 2) Certainly we would not be doing that if, even occasionally, we deliberately conducted ourselves like the world around us or if we built our lives around selfish pursuits while giving only token service to God. (1 Pet. 4:1-3; 1 John 2:15-17) When a certain Jew asked what he must do to get everlasting life, Jesus reminded him of the importance of living a morally clean life, and then he pointed out the need to make Christian discipleship, being a follower of Jesus, the primary thing in life. It could not take second place to material pursuits.—Matt. 19:16-21.
14. (a) What responsibility in connection with the Kingdom do all Christians have? (b) As illustrated on page 101, what are some effective ways in which to do this work? (c) If we truly share in such activity wholeheartedly, of what does that give evidence?
14 It should also be remembered that God’s will for Jesus included vital activity in connection with the Kingdom. Jesus was himself anointed to be King. But while on earth he was also a zealous witness concerning the Kingdom. We have a similar witnessing work to do and we have every reason to engage in it wholeheartedly. By so doing we demonstrate our appreciation for Jehovah’s sovereignty and our love for fellow humans. Also we show that we are united with fellow worshipers worldwide, all of whom are Kingdom witnesses, in pressing on toward the goal of everlasting life in the realm of that Kingdom.
Review Discussion
● What similarities and what differences are there between Jesus’ baptism and water baptism today?
● For whom was John’s baptism? Who are baptized into death? And who get “baptized into Christ Jesus”?
● What is involved in living up to the responsibilities of Christian water baptism?
[Box/Pictures on page 101]
In What Ways Do You Proclaim the Kingdom?
From door to door
By returning to visit interested ones
At home Bible studies
On the streets
To schoolmates
To workmates |
YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
How Can I Prevent Burnout? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502018113 | YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
How Can I Prevent Burnout?
Are you a potential victim of burnout? If so, this article can help you!
Why it happens
Why it matters
What you can do
What your peers say
Why it happens
Overload. “In all areas of life,” says a young woman named Julie, “we are told to keep doing better, to keep improving ourselves, to keep setting higher goals and achieving better results. Being under this constant pressure is difficult!”
Technology. With smartphones, tablets, and other devices, we are “on” and available nearly 24/7—a fact that can make us stressed-out and, over time, burned-out.
Lack of sleep. “Between school, work, and recreation, many young people wake up early and stay up late, caught in a vicious circle,” says a young woman named Miranda. That pattern often leads to burnout.
Why it matters
The Bible praises industriousness. (Proverbs 6:6-8; Romans 12:11) But it does not endorse working to the extent that everything else in life suffers—including your health.
“At one point, I realized that I hadn’t eaten for an entire day because I was so focused on the many responsibilities I had taken on. I learned that it’s not good to be too eager to accept every assignment—not at the expense of my well-being.”—Ashley.
For good reason, the Bible says: “A live dog is better off than a dead lion.” (Ecclesiastes 9:4) Pushing yourself might make you think you have lionlike strength—at least for a while. But burning yourself out can have devastating consequences to your health.
What you can do
Learn to say no. The Bible says: “Wisdom is with the modest ones.” (Proverbs 11:2) Modest people know their limitations and don’t take on more than they can handle.
“A prime candidate for burnout is someone who can’t say no, someone who tries to take on every task that is offered to him. That isn’t being modest. And sooner or later, it leads to burnout.”—Jordan.
Get sufficient rest. The Bible says: “Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of hard work and chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6) Sleep has been called “food for the brain,” but most teenagers aren’t getting the eight to ten hours per night that they need.
“When my schedule was at its craziest, I had the tendency not to get enough sleep. But sometimes that extra hour of sleep is just what I need for increased productivity and happiness the next day.”—Brooklyn.
Get organized. The Bible says: “The plans of the diligent surely lead to success.” (Proverbs 21:5) Learning to manage your time and activity level is a skill that will serve you well all through your life.
“Much self-imposed stress can be avoided by using a planner. When your schedule is laid out in front of you, it’s easier to identify where you can make adjustments to help you avoid burnout.”—Vanessa.
What your peers say
“Some people burn out because they’re trying to make more money. But 1 Timothy 6:8 tells us to be output with the basic necessities of life. It’s a good reminder to live simply and not work so hard for things we don’t even need.”—Gianna.
“Making a weekly schedule helps me tremendously. Without it, I used to say yes to way more than I could handle. Then I would just get stressed out and wouldn’t be able to accomplish nearly as much.”—Waylon.
“You might think that you have to accept every invitation and that you will be unhappy if you don’t. But I’ve learned that the opposite is true. You are happier and less fatigued when you have enough downtime for yourself.”—Kara. |
Teach Us (bhs)
2015 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/bhs | What Can the Bible Teach Us? |
Scriptures for Christian Living (scl)
2023 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/scl | Money
Why is the love of money dangerous?
See “Materialism”
How does the Bible show that earning money to care for one’s family is not wrong?
Ec 7:12; 10:19; Eph 4:28; 2Th 3:10; 1Ti 5:8, 18
Relevant Bible account(s):
Ge 31:38-42—To provide for his family, Jacob works honestly for his father-in-law, Laban, who treats Jacob unfairly; yet, Jehovah blesses Jacob for his labors
Lu 19:12, 13, 15-23—Jesus gives an illustration that incidentally shows that it is normal practice in his day to invest money in order to make more money
What Bible principles offer guidance regarding borrowing and lending money?
Ps 37:21; Pr 22:7
Why is it best to avoid unnecessary debt?
Relevant Bible account(s):
Ne 5:2-8—Creditors among Governor Nehemiah’s people treat debtors with great harshness
Mt 18:23-25—Jesus’ illustration reminds us that a debtor who fails to repay a loan may be punished
What precaution should a person take before entering into a business arrangement, whether with an unbeliever, a fellow believer, or even a relative?
Relevant Bible account(s):
Ge 23:14-20—It seems that to prevent later misunderstandings and conflicts, Abraham uses witnesses to confirm the purchase of a field and a cave in which to bury Sarah
Jer 32:9-12—When the prophet Jeremiah purchases land from his cousin, he draws up a deed, makes a duplicate, and carries out the transaction in front of eyewitnesses
Why is it wise to budget money carefully?
Pr 21:5; Lu 14:28-30
Why would Christians avoid letting a dispute over money cause division in the congregation?
1Co 6:1-8
See also Ro 12:18; 2Ti 2:24
How can we use our money in a way that brings real happiness?
Pr 11:25; 19:17; Lu 16:9-13; Ac 20:35 |
Gestapo Tactics and Bans Fail | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101983014 | Gestapo Tactics and Bans Fail
The Portuguese secret police (P.I.D.E.) under the Salazar regime were patterned after the Nazi Gestapo and trained by them. The police agents constantly hounded Jehovah’s Witnesses, to stop their preaching of God’s Kingdom and their meeting together for Bible study. Like the persecuted early Christians, the Witnesses had to assemble in secret places, such as out in the woods. Read the thrilling story of how Gestapo tactics failed against these modern Christians in Portugal.
Send for your copy of the 1983 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Also included in this 384-page book is an inspiring report about the Kingdom-preaching work in the vast land of Australia, including the difficult World War II years when the Witnesses were under ban.
Please send me, postpaid, the 1983 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses; I enclose $1 (U.S.). |
True Christians Respect God’s Word | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2012042 | True Christians Respect God’s Word
“Your word is truth.”—JOHN 17:17.
LOOK FOR THESE POINTS:
How did a meeting that was held in Jerusalem in 49 C.E. contrast with subsequent church councils?
Who were some champions of God’s Word who lived during the Middle Ages?
What method for Bible study was used by faithful Christians in the late 1800’s, and why was it effective?
1. From personal experience, name one important respect in which Jehovah’s Witnesses are different from other religious groups.
THINK about the first time you had a meaningful discussion with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do you remember about it? Many would reply, ‘I was impressed by the fact that the Witness used the Bible to answer all my questions.’ How delighted we were to discover God’s purpose for the earth, what happens when we die, and what the future holds for our dead loved ones!
2. What are some of the reasons why you came to appreciate the Bible?
2 As we studied further, however, we realized that the Bible does much more than answer our questions about life, death, and the future. We came to appreciate that the Bible is the most practical book in the world. Its counsel is timeless, and those who carefully follow it will lead successful and happy lives. (Read Psalm 1:1-3.) Genuine Christians have always accepted the Bible, “not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.” (1 Thess. 2:13) A brief historical review will highlight the contrast between those who truly respect God’s Word and those who do not.
A THORNY ISSUE IS SETTLED
3. What issue threatened the unity of the first-century Christian congregation, and what was at stake?
3 During the 13 years that followed the anointing of the first uncircumcised Gentile, Cornelius, an issue arose that threatened the unity of the Christian congregation. Growing numbers of Gentiles were embracing the Christian faith. The question was, Should the men be circumcised according to the Jewish custom before presenting themselves for baptism? That was not an easy question for a Jew to answer. Jews who observed the Law would not even enter a Gentile’s home, let alone enjoy warm fellowship with one. Jewish Christians were already severely persecuted for abandoning their former religion. If they went so far as to welcome uncircumcised Gentiles into their midst, it would only widen the rift between practicing Jews and the Christians and expose the latter to further reproach.—Gal. 2:11-14.
4. Who were called upon to resolve the issue, and in this regard, what questions could have arisen in the minds of onlookers?
4 In 49 C.E., the apostles and older men in Jerusalem, themselves circumcised Jews, “gathered together to see about this affair.” (Acts 15:6) What followed was, not a mind-numbing theological debate over dry technicalities, but a lively doctrinal discussion. Strong opinions were expressed on both sides of the issue. Would personal preferences or prejudices rule the day? Would the responsible older men postpone the decision until the religious climate in Israel improved for them? Or would some sort of compromise be worked out, with advocates on each side modifying their position until a consensus of sorts was reached?
5. In what important ways did the meeting in Jerusalem in 49 C.E. differ from church councils held in later centuries?
5 Compromise and lobbying are common at church councils today. However, at that meeting in Jerusalem, there was no compromise; nor did any lobbying for votes take place. What is more, a unanimous decision was reached. How could that be? As strongly as each participant felt about his point of view, all present respected God’s Word, and those holy writings held the key to resolving the issue.—Read Psalm 119:97-101.
6, 7. How were the Scriptures used to settle the circumcision issue?
6 The passage that helped settle the matter was Amos 9:11, 12. As quoted at Acts 15:16, 17, it reads: “I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down; and I shall rebuild its ruins and erect it again, in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah.”
7 ‘But wait,’ someone may object, ‘that text does not say that it was unnecessary for Gentile believers to be circumcised.’ That is true; however, Jewish Christians would have got the point. They did not consider circumcised Gentiles as ‘people of the nations’ but as brothers. (Ex. 12:48, 49) For example, according to Bagster’s version of the Septuagint, Esther 8:17 reads: “Many of the Gentiles were circumcised, and became Jews.” Thus, when the Scriptures foretold that those remaining of the house of Israel (Jews and circumcised Jewish proselytes) together with “people of all the nations” (uncircumcised Gentiles) would become one people for God’s name, the message was clear. Circumcision was not required of Gentiles who wanted to become Christians.
8. What role did courage play in the decision that was made?
8 God’s Word and his spirit led those sincere Christians to “a unanimous accord.” (Acts 15:25) Even though the decision would likely expose Jewish Christians to more persecution, faithful ones lent their full support to the Bible-based decision.—Acts 16:4, 5.
A MARKED CONTRAST
9. What is one important factor that led to the defilement of true worship, and what significant doctrine came to the fore?
9 The apostle Paul foretold that after the death of the apostles, the Christian faith would be contaminated by false teachings. (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7.) Among those who would not put up with “the healthful teaching” were some in responsible positions. (2 Tim. 4:3) Paul warned elders in his day: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:30) The New Encyclopædia Britannica describes one major factor that led to twisted reasoning: “Christians who had some training in Greek philosophy began to feel the need to express their faith in its terms, both for their own intellectual satisfaction and in order to convert educated pagans.” An important doctrine that was given a pagan twist had to do with the identity of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls him the Son of God; the lovers of Greek philosophy insisted that he is God.
10. How could the issue of Christ’s identity have been settled?
10 The question was debated at a number of church councils. The issue could have been settled quite easily had the delegates given appropriate weight to the Scriptures, but most did not. In fact, the majority had made up their minds even before they arrived at the councils, and they left more deeply entrenched than ever in their positions. The canons and declarations that resulted from these meetings hardly even referred to the Scriptures.
11. What weight was given to the authority of the so-called Church Fathers, and why so?
11 Why were the Scriptures not more thoroughly considered? Scholar Charles Freeman answers that those who believed that Jesus is God “found it difficult to refute the many sayings of Jesus that suggested he was subordinate to God the Father.” As a result, church tradition and opinions of later authorities were substituted for the Gospels. To this day, many of the clergy elevate the uninspired sayings of so-called Church Fathers to a plane higher than the Word of God! If you have ever discussed the Trinity doctrine with a seminarian, you have likely noticed that.
12. What negative influence was exercised by the emperor?
12 A notable feature of the debates at those councils was the interference of the Roman emperors. In this regard, Professor Richard E. Rubenstein wrote respecting the Council of Nicaea: “Constantine had favored and enriched [the bishops] beyond their wildest dreams. In less than a year, the new emperor had returned or rebuilt virtually all their churches, given them back the jobs and honors taken from them . . . He had accorded Christian clergymen privileges formerly granted to pagan priests.” As a result, “Constantine was in a position strongly to influence—perhaps even to dictate—the course of events at Nicaea.” Charles Freeman confirmed: “The precedent had now been set that the emperor might intervene not only to strengthen the Church but to influence doctrine.”—Read James 4:4.
13. What factors, do you think, influenced church leaders of later centuries to ignore the Bible’s plain teachings?
13 While church dignitaries found it difficult to determine the exact identity of Jesus Christ, many of the common people had no such problem. Since they were not interested in lining their purses with the emperor’s gold or in furthering their careers in the church hierarchy, they were able to view matters more objectively, in the light of the Scriptures. And by all accounts, they did. A theologian of the period, Gregory of Nyssa, made this derisive comment regarding the common people: “Clothes dealers, money changers, and grocers are all theologians. If you inquire about the value of your money, some philosopher explains wherein the Son differs from the Father. If you ask the price of bread, your answer is the Father is greater than the Son. If you should want to know whether the bath is ready, you get the pronouncement that the Son was created out of nothing.” Yes, unlike the members of the hierarchy, many of the common people were supporting their conclusions by using God’s Word. Gregory and his associates would have done well to listen to them!
“WHEAT” AND “WEEDS” GROW TOGETHER
14. Why can we conclude that from the first century onward, there must always have been some genuine anointed Christians on earth?
14 In a parable, Jesus indicated that from the first century onward, there would always be some genuine anointed Christians on the earth. He compared them to “wheat” growing among “weeds.” (Matt. 13:30) Of course, we cannot say for certain which individuals or groups belonged to the anointed wheat class, but we can confirm that there have always been some who have courageously defended God’s Word and exposed the church’s unscriptural teachings. Let us consider a few examples.
15, 16. Name some who showed respect for God’s Word.
15 Archbishop Agobard of Lyons, France (779-840 C.E.), spoke out against image worship, churches dedicated to saints, and the church’s unscriptural liturgies and practices. One of his contemporaries, Bishop Claudius, also rejected church tradition and objected to prayers to saints and the veneration of relics. In the 11th century, Archdeacon Berengarius of Tours, France, was excommunicated for rejecting the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation. Moreover, he held that the Bible is superior to church tradition.
16 The 12th century saw the arrival of two lovers of Bible truth, Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne. Peter resigned from the priesthood because he could not reconcile with the Scriptures the Catholic teachings of infant baptism, transubstantiation, prayers for the dead, and worship of the cross. In 1140, Peter paid for his beliefs with his life. Henry, a monk, spoke out against corrupt practices in the church as well as the unscriptural aspects of church liturgy. He was arrested in 1148 and spent the rest of his life in prison.
17. What important steps were taken by Waldo and his followers?
17 About the time that Peter of Bruys was burned alive for daring to criticize the church, a person was born who would later have a powerful influence on the spread of Bible truth. His last name was Valdès, or Waldo.a Unlike Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne, he was a layman, but he valued God’s Word so much that he divested himself of his material goods and arranged for portions of the Bible to be translated into a language commonly spoken in southeastern France. Some were so thrilled to hear the Bible’s message in their own tongue that they too gave up their belongings and devoted their lives to sharing Bible truth with others. The church found this deeply disturbing. In 1184 these zealous men and women, later called the Waldenses, were excommunicated by the pope and banished from their homes by the bishop. This action actually served to spread the Bible’s message to other areas. Eventually, the followers of Waldo, Peter of Bruys, and Henry of Lausanne as well as other dissenters could be found in many parts of Europe. Other champions of Bible truth rose up in the centuries that followed: John Wycliffe (c. 1330-1384), William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536), Henry Grew (1781-1862), and George Storrs (1796-1879).
“THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND”
18. Explain the method of Bible study used by sincere Bible students in the 19th century and why it was effective.
18 Try as they might, enemies of Bible truth have been unable to prevent its spread. “The word of God is not bound,” says 2 Timothy 2:9. In 1870 a group of sincere Bible students began searching for the truth. Their method of study? Someone would raise a question. They would discuss it. They would look up all related scriptures on the point, and then, when they were satisfied with the harmony of these texts, they would finally state their conclusion and make a record of it. Does it not reassure you to know that like the apostles and older men of the first century, those faithful men, our “spiritual ancestors” of the late 1800’s, were determined to align their beliefs solidly with God’s Word?
19. What is the yeartext for 2012, and why is it appropriate?
19 The Bible is still the foundation for our beliefs. With that in mind, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has chosen as our yeartext for 2012 the confident statement of Jesus: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Since everyone who desires to gain God’s approval must walk in the truth, may all of us continually strive to be guided by God’s Word.
[Footnote]
a Valdès has sometimes been called Pierre Valdès or Peter Waldo, but his first name cannot be confirmed.
[Blurb on page 8]
Our yeartext for 2012: “Your word is truth.”—John 17:17
[Picture on page 7]
Waldo
[Picture on page 7]
Wycliffe
[Picture on page 7]
Tyndale
[Picture on page 7]
Grew
[Picture on page 7]
Storrs |
Examining the Scriptures—2019
2018 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/brochures-and-booklets/examining-the-scriptures/examining-the-scriptures-2019 | May
Wednesday, May 1
Hold on to discipline; do not let it go. Safeguard it, for it means your life.—Prov. 4:13.
While discipline may be painful, there is something that is even more painful—the harm that may result from rejecting discipline. (Heb. 12:11) Consider the example of Cain. When Cain developed a murderous hatred toward Abel, God admonished Cain: “Why are you so angry and dejected? If you turn to doing good, will you not be restored to favor? But if you do not turn to doing good, sin is crouching at the door, and its craving is to dominate you; but will you get the mastery over it?” (Gen. 4:6, 7) Cain did not listen. Then sin overwhelmed him. What needless pain and suffering Cain brought on himself! (Gen. 4:11, 12) The pain of Jehovah’s reprimand would have been mild by comparison. How Jehovah wants to spare us from such needless suffering! (Isa. 48:17, 18) So let us “listen to discipline and become wise.”—Prov. 8:33. w18.03 32 ¶18-20
Thursday, May 2
I, Daniel, discerned by the books the number of years.—Dan. 9:2.
How did Daniel come to know Jehovah? He was evidently well-instructed by his parents, who taught him to love Jehovah and his written Word. Moreover, that love stayed with Daniel all his life. Even in his old age, we find him poring over the Scriptures. Daniel’s intimate knowledge of God, including God’s dealings with Israel, is beautifully reflected in the prophet’s heartfelt and contrite prayer recorded at Daniel 9:3-19. Why not take a few moments to read that prayer and meditate on it? For a faithful Jew, life in pagan Babylon presented big challenges. For instance, Jehovah told the Jews: “Seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you.” (Jer. 29:7) Yet, at the same time, he required their exclusive devotion. (Ex. 34:14) What enabled Daniel to balance the two requirements? Godly wisdom helped him to grasp the principle of relative subjection to secular authorities. Centuries later, Jesus taught the very same principle.—Luke 20:25. w18.02 10 ¶11-12
Friday, May 3
Put a mark on the foreheads of the men.—Ezek. 9:4.
Are you dealing with trials, such as ill health, financial problems, or persecution? Do you at times find it hard to maintain your joy in Jehovah’s service? If so, take courage from the examples of Noah, Daniel, and Job. They were imperfect, and they faced many of the challenges we face, including some that were life threatening. Yet, they held on to their integrity, becoming models of faith and obedience in the eyes of God. (Ezek. 14:12-14) Ezekiel wrote the words of our text in Babylonia in 612 B.C.E. (Ezek. 1:1; 8:1) Apostate Jerusalem was nearing its foretold destruction, which occurred in 607 B.C.E. Only relatively few individuals reflected the qualities of Noah, Daniel, and Job and were thus marked for survival. (Ezek. 9:1-5) Likewise today, only those whom Jehovah considers blameless like them will be marked for survival when the present system of things comes to an end.—Rev. 7:9, 14. w18.02 3-4 ¶1-3
Saturday, May 4
Remember . . . your Grand Creator in the days of your youth.—Eccl. 12:1.
As a youth, ask yourself: ‘Am I participating in spiritual activities just because my parents expect me to? Am I drawing closer to God by nurturing a personal relationship with him?’ Of course, the counsel to have spiritual goals applies not just to youths. Having such goals will help all of us as Jehovah’s servants to deepen our spirituality. (Eccl. 12:13) Once we have identified areas for improvement, we need to take positive steps that will help us move forward. Becoming a spiritual person is very important. In fact, it is a life-and-death matter. (Rom. 8:6-8) However, for us to be spiritually mature does not mean to be perfect. Jehovah’s spirit can help us to make the needed progress. Still, we do need to put forth effort. Although Bible study can be enjoyable, we should not expect the Bible to read like a novel that is written just to entertain. We need to work at finding spiritual gems that will help us. w18.02 25 ¶10-11
Sunday, May 5
Why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized.—Acts 22:16.
An exhaustive knowledge is not required before a person can make a dedication to God and get baptized. After baptism, all disciples should keep on growing in accurate knowledge. (Col. 1:9, 10) So how much knowledge is initially required? The experience of a family in the first century offers us some insight. (Acts 16:25-33) While on his second missionary tour, about 50 C.E., Paul visited Philippi. While there, he and his companion Silas were arrested on false charges and thrown in jail. During the night, an earthquake shook the foundations of the jail and opened all the doors. The jailer, fearing that the prisoners had escaped, was on the verge of committing suicide when Paul called out to him. Paul and Silas were able to give a fine witness to the jailer and his family. Their appreciation for the truths they were learning about Jesus prompted them to take what step? They got baptized without delay. w18.03 10 ¶7-8
Monday, May 6
Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!—Ps. 144:15.
Jehovah is a happy God, and his people reflect that quality. Furthermore, unlike those who are lovers of themselves and who are interested only in receiving, Jehovah’s servants find delight in giving of themselves for the welfare of others. (Acts 20:35; 2 Tim. 3:2) How can we determine if our love of God is being eclipsed by love of self? Consider the admonition found at Philippians 2:3, 4: “Do nothing out of outputiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you, as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.” We might ask ourselves: ‘Do I apply that counsel in my life? Do I reach out to help others, both in the congregation and in the field ministry?’ Giving of ourselves is not always easy. It requires effort and self-sacrifice. But what could make us happier than knowing that we have the approval of the Sovereign of the universe? w18.01 23 ¶6-7
Tuesday, May 7
Keep testing whether you are in the faith.—2 Cor. 13:5.
To do that, we do well to ask ourselves: ‘Do I really believe that I am part of the only organization that Jehovah has approved to accomplish his will? Am I doing my utmost to preach and teach the good news of the Kingdom? Do my actions show that I truly believe that these are the last days and that the end of Satan’s rule is near? Do I have the same confidence in Jehovah and Jesus now that I had when I dedicated my life to Jehovah God?’ (Matt. 24:14; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 3:14) Pondering the answers to such questions will help us to keep proving what we ourselves are. Read and meditate on Scriptural material that discusses the significance of the Memorial. (John 3:16; 17:3) The only path to everlasting life involves “coming to know” Jehovah and “exercising faith” in Jesus, His only-begotten Son. To prepare for the Memorial, why not choose some study projects that will help you to draw closer to Jehovah and Jesus? w18.01 13 ¶5-6
Wednesday, May 8
No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him.—John 6:44.
When you read the Bible and our publications and when you attend Christian meetings, you hear encouraging experiences of how God has helped others to stay faithful. But as you grow spiritually, you need to see Jehovah’s hand in your own life. How have you personally tasted Jehovah’s goodness? There is one way that all Christians have tasted Jehovah’s goodness. It is by being invited to draw close to God and his Son. A youth might reason, ‘Jehovah drew my parents, and I merely followed.’ But when you dedicated yourself to Jehovah and got baptized, you showed that you had come into a privileged relationship with him. Now you are truly known by him. The Bible assures us: “If anyone loves God, this one is known by him.” (1 Cor. 8:3) Try always to treasure, to appreciate, your place in Jehovah’s organization. w17.12 26 ¶12-13
Thursday, May 9
Those whom Jehovah loves he disciplines.—Heb. 12:6.
The word “discipline” may make you think of punishment, but much more is involved. In the Bible, discipline is often presented in an appealing light, at times alongside knowledge, wisdom, love, and life. (Prov. 1:2-7; 4:11-13) That is because God’s discipline is an expression of his love for us and of his desire that we gain everlasting life. (Heb. 12:6) While his discipline may include chastisement, it is never abusive or cruel. Indeed, the meaning behind “discipline” primarily relates to education, such as that involved in raising a beloved child. As members of the Christian congregation, we are part of God’s household. (1 Tim. 3:15) We therefore respect Jehovah’s right both to set standards and to give loving discipline when we violate them. Moreover, if our actions caused unpleasant consequences, his discipline would remind us of just how important it is to listen to our heavenly Father.—Gal. 6:7. w18.03 23 ¶1; 24 ¶3
Friday, May 10
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm.—Prov. 17:27.
What if you are a teenager and feel misunderstood and restricted by your Christian parents? Your frustration might even make you doubt that serving Jehovah is the best way of life. But if you allow frustration to make you give up serving Jehovah, you would soon discover that no one else cares for you more genuinely than your God-fearing parents and your congregation. If your parents never corrected you, would you not wonder if they really cared about you? (Heb. 12:8) But perhaps it is the way your parents discipline you that upsets you. Rather than fret over the manner of discipline, try to recognize that there may be a reason for the way they act. So keep calm and do your best to avoid overreacting to criticism. Make it your goal to become a mature person who can take counsel calmly and benefit from it without worrying excessively about how it was given.—Prov. 1:8. w17.11 29 ¶16-17
Saturday, May 11
You have left the love you had at first.—Rev. 2:4.
Perhaps you have seen some youths get baptized but later question the wisdom of living by God’s standards. A number have even left the way of the truth. Hence, you might worry that your child will start out on the Christian course but then change and lose that original love of the truth. How can you try to avoid such an outcome and help your child to “grow to salvation”? (1 Pet. 2:2) The answer lies in what Paul wrote to Timothy: “Continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from whom you learned them and that from infancy you have known the holy writings [the Hebrew Scriptures], which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:14, 15) Note that Paul mentions (1) knowing the holy writings, (2) being persuaded to believe the things learned, and (3) becoming wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. w17.12 18-19 ¶2-3
Sunday, May 12
My servants will shout joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, but you will cry out because of the pain of heart.—Isa. 65:14.
Many religions turn people away from God by teaching hellfire, collecting tithes, or preaching politics. No wonder an increasing number of people feel that they can be happy without religion! Certainly an individual can be happy without false religion, but a person cannot be truly happy unless he has a relationship with Jehovah, who is described as “the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) Everything God does benefits others. His servants are happy because they focus on helping others. (Acts 20:35) For example, consider how true worship promotes family happiness. True worship teaches us to honor and respect our spouse, to treat marriage vows as sacred, to avoid adultery, to raise respectful children, and to practice true love. As a result, such worship unites people in happy congregations and a happy worldwide brotherhood. w17.11 21 ¶6-7
Monday, May 13
Miserable man that I am!—Rom. 7:24.
Many of God’s faithful servants have echoed those words of the apostle Paul. We all suffer from inherited sin, and when our actions do not reflect our keen desire to please Jehovah, we may feel miserable. Some Christians who have committed a serious sin have even felt that they are beyond God’s forgiveness. Nevertheless, the Scriptures assure us that those who take refuge in Jehovah do not need to feel overwhelmed by guilt. (Ps. 34:22) After Paul expressed his misery for failing to obey Jehovah perfectly, he exclaimed: “Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25) Yes, despite his struggle with sin and his past wrongdoing—for which he had repented—Paul was confident in God’s forgiveness through Jesus. As our Ransomer, Jesus cleanses our consciences and gives us inner peace. (Heb. 9:13, 14) As our High Priest, “he is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.”—Heb. 7:24, 25. w17.11 8 ¶1-2; 12 ¶15
Tuesday, May 14
Make your vows to Jehovah your God and pay them.—Ps. 76:11.
How can we prove true to our dedication vow? Our stand during tests both large and small should show that we take seriously our pledge to praise Jehovah “day after day.” (Ps. 61:8) For example, when someone on the job or at school flirts with us, do we see this as an opportunity to “take pleasure in [Jehovah’s] ways” by rejecting such advances? (Prov. 23:26) If we live in a divided household, do we ask Jehovah for his help to maintain the Christian personality even when no one else around us is making such an effort? Do we daily approach our loving heavenly Father in prayer, thanking him for bringing us under his rulership and for loving us? Are we making time to read the Bible daily? Did we not, in effect, promise that we would do such things? It is a matter of obedience. Our full share in worship reveals that we love Jehovah and are truly dedicated to him. Our worship is a way of life, not a mere formality. w17.10 23 ¶11-12
Wednesday, May 15
It is good to sing praises to our God.—Ps. 147:1.
A popular lyricist once said: “Words make you think thoughts. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought.” What better thoughts could we “feel” than those that express praise and love for our heavenly Father, Jehovah? It is no wonder that singing is a prominent aspect of pure worship, whether we are alone when we sing or we are with the congregation of God’s people. How, though, do you feel about singing aloud with the congregation? Do you find it embarrassing? In some cultures, men may feel uncomfortable singing in public. This view can affect the whole congregation, especially if those taking the lead find reasons to hold back or to engage in other activities while the rest of the congregation is singing. (Ps. 30:12) If we truly consider singing as part of our worship, we certainly will not want to walk out on or be absent from that part of the meeting program. w17.11 3 ¶1-3
Thursday, May 16
Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword.—Matt. 10:34.
We all want peaceful lives, free from anxiety. How thankful we are that Jehovah grants us “the peace of God,” an inner calm that can protect us from disturbing thoughts and feelings! (Phil. 4:6, 7) Because of our dedication to Jehovah, we also enjoy “peace with God,” a good relationship with him. (Rom. 5:1) However, God’s time to bring about complete peace has not yet come. These critical last days are filled with conflict, and countless people have outputious attitudes. (2 Tim. 3:1-4) As Christians, we must wage a spiritual war against Satan and the false teachings that he promotes. (2 Cor. 10:4, 5) But the greatest threat to our peace may come from unbelieving relatives. Some might ridicule our beliefs, accuse us of dividing the family, or threaten to disown us unless we give up our faith. w17.10 12 ¶1-2
Friday, May 17
How I do love your law! I ponder over it all day long.—Ps. 119:97.
The reality that languages change over time also applies to the languages into which the Bible has been translated. A Bible translation that was easily understood when first produced may later become less effective. Consider an example involving a Bible translation into English. The King James Version was first produced in 1611. It became one of the most popular English Bibles, and it would come to have a significant impact on the English language. Even so, much of the wording in the King James Version became archaic over the centuries. The same is true of early Bible translations in other languages. Are we not grateful, then, to have the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures? This translation is available in whole or in part in over 150 languages, thus being available to a vast part of the population today. Its clear wording allows the message of God’s Word to reach our heart. w17.09 19 ¶5-6
Saturday, May 18
Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice.—Prov. 27:11.
Christian youths have important decisions to make. The wise decisions they make about good associations, wholesome entertainment, moral cleanness, and baptism all call for courage. That is because such young ones are going against the will of Satan, the one who taunts God. One important decision young ones must make involves their goals. In some lands, young ones are pressured to set goals that center on higher education and a well-paying job. In other lands, economic conditions may make young ones feel that they must focus on helping to provide materially for their families. Jehovah will bless young ones who courageously work at setting spiritual goals and putting Kingdom interests first in their lives. He will help them provide for the needs of their families. In the first century, the young man Timothy focused on spiritual goals, and you can too.—Phil. 2:19-22. w17.09 29-30 ¶10-12
Sunday, May 19
This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth . . . Observe carefully all that is written in it; for then your way will be successful and then you will act wisely.—Josh. 1:8.
Diligent and conscientious Bible study can help Christians to develop self-control. How so? The Scriptures contain accounts that vividly illustrate both the benefits and the consequences of our actions. Jehovah had these accounts recorded for a purpose. (Rom. 15:4) How wise it is to read them, meditate on them, and study them! Try to grasp how they apply to you and your family. Ask Jehovah to help you to apply his Word. If you discern that you are deficient in some aspect of self-control, admit it. Then pray about it, and strive to see how you can improve. (Jas. 1:5) No doubt, research in our Christian publications can help you to locate relevant material that will further help you. w17.09 6 ¶15-16
Monday, May 20
Clothe yourselves with the new personality.—Col. 3:10.
“The new personality” refers to a personality that is “created according to God’s will.” (Eph. 4:24) Developing such a new personality is within our reach. Why? Because Jehovah created humans in his image and thus made it possible for us to reflect his beautiful qualities. (Gen. 1:26, 27; Eph. 5:1) After exhorting us to put on the new personality, Paul goes on to describe impartiality as one striking characteristic of the new personality. He stated: “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, slave, or freeman.” In the congregation, why should there be no distinction based on race, nationality, or social status? Because true followers of Christ “are all one.” (Col. 3:11; Gal. 3:28) Those clothed with the new personality treat fellow believers and outsiders with dignity, regardless of their social or racial background.—Rom. 2:11. w17.08 22 ¶1; 23 ¶3-4
Tuesday, May 21
Jehovah is waiting patiently.—Isa. 30:18.
Jehovah does not expect us to do something that he is not willing to do himself. He has set the supreme example of being willing to wait. (2 Pet. 3:9) Jehovah has been waiting patiently for thousands of years so that the moral issues raised in the garden of Eden could eventually be settled beyond a doubt. He is “waiting patiently” and “keeping in expectation” of the time when his name will be fully sanctified. This will result in unimaginable blessings for those who are “eagerly waiting for him.” (Isa. 30:18; ftn.) Jesus likewise has been willing to wait. Although he passed the test of integrity here on earth and presented the value of his ransom sacrifice in 33 C.E., he had to wait until 1914 before commencing his rule. (Acts 2:33-35; Heb. 10:12, 13) It will not be until the end of his Thousand Year Reign that all his enemies will be completely destroyed. (1 Cor. 15:25) But we can be sure that the wait will be worth it. w17.08 7 ¶16-17
Wednesday, May 22
God . . . comforts us in all our trials.—2 Cor. 1:3, 4.
“For almost a year after the death of our son, we felt deep and excruciating pain,” said Susi. Another Christian said that when his wife died suddenly, he experienced “indescribable physical pain.” Sadly, countless others experience this kind of agony. Many in the Christian congregation may not have expected their loved ones to die this side of Armageddon. Whether you have personally lost a loved one in death or know someone who is bereaved, you may wonder, ‘How can grieving ones be helped to deal with their heartache?’ Perhaps you have heard it said that time is a great healer. However, does it really follow that time by itself will heal a broken heart? One widow observed, “I have found it more accurate to say that it is what one does with one’s time that helps one to heal.” Yes, like a physical wound, the pain of an emotional wound may gradually ease over time if it is given tender care. w17.07 12-13 ¶1-3
Thursday, May 23
Find exquisite delight in Jehovah, and he will grant you the desires of your heart.—Ps. 37:4.
What plans does Jehovah recommend for you? He created humans to find happiness by knowing him and by serving him faithfully. (Ps. 128:1; Matt. 5:3) This is in sharp contrast with the animals he created, which are output merely to eat, drink, and produce offspring. God wants you to find happiness by planning for things other than those that satisfy animals. Your Creator is “the God of love,” “the happy God,” who made humans “in his image.” (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Tim. 1:11; Gen. 1:27) You will be happy when you imitate our loving God. Have you ever experienced the truth of the scripture that says: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving”? (Acts 20:35) That is a basic truth about human life. Therefore, Jehovah desires that your plans focus on demonstrating love for others and for God.—Matt. 22:36-39. w17.07 23 ¶3
Friday, May 24
Jehovah will not hold back anything good from those walking in integrity.—Ps. 84:11.
God treats his human servants with dignity and respect. He cares for us better than we can care for ourselves. Jehovah’s concern extends beyond the welfare of his people as a whole. He also shows keen interest in each individual. Consider, for example, the three centuries during which Jehovah was raising up and empowering judges to deliver the nation of Israel from their oppressors. During that turbulent period, he did not fail to notice one non-Israelite named Ruth. At considerable sacrifice, she converted to true worship. Jehovah blessed Ruth with a husband and a son. But that is not all. When she is resurrected, Ruth will learn that her son was part of the line that led to the Messiah. And imagine how moved she will be to discover that her life story was preserved in a Bible book bearing her name!—Ruth 4:13; Matt. 1:5, 16. w17.06 28-29 ¶8-9
Saturday, May 25
The holy spirit . . . will . . . bring back to your minds all the things I told you.—John 14:26.
In 1970, a brother named Peter was 19 years old and had recently begun serving at Bethel in Britain. While preaching from door to door, he met a bearded middle-aged man. Peter asked the man if he would like to understand the Bible. Somewhat shocked, the man responded that this was a house of Jewish rabbis. To test Peter, the rabbi asked, “So, my boy, what language was the book of Daniel written in?” Peter replied, “Part of it was written in Aramaic.” “The rabbi,” Peter recalls, “was surprised that I knew the answer—but not as surprised as I was! How did I know the answer? When I went home and checked the Watchtower and Awake! magazines from the previous months, I found an article explaining that Daniel was written in Aramaic.” (Dan. 2:4, ftn.) Yes, the holy spirit can bring back to our mind thoughts we previously read.—Luke 12:11, 12; 21:13-15. w17.06 13 ¶17
Sunday, May 26
Those who [marry] will have tribulation in their flesh.—1 Cor. 7:28.
New anxieties often surface after a wife announces to her husband, “We are going to have a baby.” Usually, a couple’s joy over their prospective child is tinged with some apprehension about medical issues that may arise during the pregnancy or later. And there will be an economic impact to consider, both immediate and long-term. More adjustments become necessary when the baby arrives. The new mother’s time and attention may be focused on caring for her child. Many a husband has felt left out because his wife is occupied with her duties toward their baby. On the other hand, a new father has new responsibilities to shoulder. His duties increase because he has a new family member to care for and provide for. A different sort of tribulation confronts some married couples. They desperately want children but remain childless. When the wife does not become pregnant, she may feel much emotional distress. w17.06 4 ¶1; 5 ¶5-6
Monday, May 27
How sweet your sayings are to my palate, more so than honey to my mouth!—Ps. 119:103.
As Christians, we cherish and embrace truth. God’s Word is the ultimate source of truth. In prayer to his Father, Jesus said: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Therefore, love for truth starts with gaining an accurate knowledge of God’s Word. (Col. 1:10) However, more is involved than simply acquiring head knowledge. Note how the inspired writer of Psalm 119 helps us to understand what it means to love Bible truth. (Ps. 119:97-100) Do we take the time to ponder, or dwell on, Scriptural passages throughout the day? Our appreciation for Bible truth will grow when we meditate on ways we benefit from applying it in our lives. Also, we can savor the tasty Bible-based spiritual food that we receive from God’s organization. We can allow it to linger on our figurative palate so that we can recall the “delightful words” of truth and use them to help others.—Eccl. 12:10. w17.05 19-20 ¶11-12
Tuesday, May 28
God is really among you.—1 Cor. 14:25.
We want to help suffering people, including those who are not Witnesses. (Luke 10:33-37) The best way to do so is by sharing the good news with them. “It is important to make clear right away that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and that our primary mission is to help them spiritually, not materially,” notes an elder who has helped many refugees. “Otherwise, some may associate with us only for personal advantage.” Showing Christian love to “foreign residents” brings good results. (Ps. 146:9) A Christian sister related that her family fled the persecution in Eritrea. After four of her children made an exhausting eight-day journey across the desert, they arrived in Sudan. She said: “The brothers there treated them like close relatives, providing food, clothes, shelter, and transportation. Who else would welcome strangers into their home just because they worship the same God? Only Jehovah’s Witnesses!”—John 13:35. w17.05 7 ¶17, 19-20
Wednesday, May 29
You have not spoken the truth about me as my servant Job has.—Job 42:8.
“Can a man be of use to God? Can anyone with insight be of benefit to him? Does the Almighty care that you are righteous, or does he gain anything because you follow the course of integrity?” (Job 22:1-3) Have you ever wondered about the answers to questions such as these? When Eliphaz the Temanite first posed them to Job, Eliphaz no doubt believed that the answer was no. His associate, Bildad the Shuhite, even argued that a righteous standing before God is not possible for humans. (Job 25:4) These false comforters claimed that our efforts to serve Jehovah loyally are of no benefit to him at all, that our value to God is no more than that of a moth, a maggot, or a worm. (Job 4:19; 25:6) Jehovah made his feelings known when he reproved Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for speaking falsehood but took delight in Job, referring to him as “my servant.” (Job 42:7) Thus, a person can indeed “be of use to God.” w17.04 28 ¶1-2
Thursday, May 30
They will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.—Ps. 37:11.
We have lived in this old world so long that we may have stopped noticing how much stress we feel over world conditions. Similarly, people who live near a busy train station may no longer notice the noise, and those who live near a garbage dump may no longer notice the smell. Ah, but take away all those negative factors—what relief! What will replace the stresses we feel now? Note the promise found in today’s text. Do not those words touch your heart? That is what Jehovah wants for you. By all means, then, do everything in your power to stay close to Jehovah God and his organization during these stressful last days! Cherish your hope, ponder over it, make it real in your mind and heart—and share it generously with others! (1 Tim. 4:15, 16; 1 Pet. 3:15) That way, you can be sure that you will not pass away with this condemned old world. On the contrary, you will remain—alive and joyful—for all eternity! w17.04 13 ¶16-17
Friday, May 31
We all make mistakes many times.—Jas. 3:2, ftn.
We may readily acknowledge this fact, but the challenge is when we are personally affected by the imperfections of a brother. In such a situation, will we reflect Jehovah’s view of justice? For example, how will you respond if an elder makes a remark that hints at a degree of prejudice? Will you allow yourself to be stumbled if an elder thoughtlessly makes a statement that offends or hurts you? Rather than quickly concluding that the brother no longer qualifies as an elder, will you patiently wait on Jesus, the head of the congregation? Will you put forth the effort to see the bigger picture, perhaps reflecting on the brother’s many years of faithful service? If a brother who sins against you continues to serve as an elder or even receives additional privileges, will you rejoice with him? Your willingness to forgive may well reflect Jehovah’s view of justice.—Matt. 6:14, 15. w17.04 27 ¶18 |
Sing Praises (ssb)
1984 | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/Ssb | Song 63
Let the Light Shine
(Matthew 5:16)
1. God has now commanded
That there should be light
Banishing the darkness
Of mankind’s long night.
From God’s holy temple,
Lightnings flash and shine
That we may be guided
By his light divine.
2. With the Kingdom message,
We go forth to spread
Comfort for the mourners,
Hope for e’en their dead.
All our strength to witness
Comes from God alone.
He makes our commission
To us clearly known.
3. Faithful in his service
God helps us to be,
Keeping firm, unbroken,
Our integrity.
We, his favored people,
Joyfully proclaim
Glory, praise, and honor
To his holy name. |
The Library of Alexandria Lives Again | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102005004 | The Library of Alexandria Lives Again
IT WAS one of the most famous libraries of its time. It made its host city, Alexandria, Egypt, a mecca for the world’s greatest minds. When it disappeared—how, no one knows for sure—gone with it were priceless works whose absence adversely affected scholarship. Now, that grand library has, in effect, been brought back to life.
The rebuilding of Alexandria’s famous library has produced a structure of unusual shape. The main building of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, as the new library is officially called, resembles a giant tilted drum. The glass-and-aluminum roof (1)—which is nearly the size of two football fields—is slit with north-facing windows that illuminate the main reading room (2). The broad, truncated cylinder contains the main public spaces and extends partly below sea level. The building’s flat, shiny surface slopes gently down from a height of seven stories to carve out a deep well. From a distance, with sunlight reflecting off its metallic surface, the building looks like the rising sun.
The outside of the central drum presents a sheer, sweeping curve of gray granite, carved with rows of letters from ancient and modern alphabets (3). Arranged in tiers, the letters fittingly represent the building blocks of knowledge.
An open, multitiered reading room fills most of the cylinder’s interior (4). Storage space for 8,000,000 volumes is tucked into the building’s underground recesses. Other features include exhibition spaces, lecture halls, special provisions for the visually impaired (5), and a planetarium—a separate spherical structure resembling a satellite halted in mid-orbit (6). Sophisticated computer and fire-extinguishing systems complete this state-of-the-art institution.
The Making of a Legend
In ancient times the city of Alexandria was known for such lost marvels as the Pharos—a lighthouse said to be more than 350 feet [110 m] high and considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world—and the tomb of Alexander the Great. The Greek dynasty of the Ptolemies inherited Egypt from Alexander and ruled the country until Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra in 30 B.C.E. Under the Ptolemies, Alexandria was transformed. Indeed, it “became for a time commercially and culturally the center of the world,” states the Atlas of the Greek World. At its peak, Alexandria was home to some 600,000 people.
The city’s greatest attraction was its royal library. Founded early in the third century B.C.E. and lavishly patronized by the Ptolemy family, the library along with the Mouseion (Temple of the Muses) became a center of learning and invention in the Hellenic world.
It is believed that the library contained 700,000 papyrus scrolls. In comparison, in the 14th century, the library of the Sorbonne—which boasted the largest collection of its age—housed just 1,700 books. Egypt’s rulers were so intent on enriching their collection that they had soldiers search every incoming vessel for texts. If some were found, they kept the originals and returned copies. According to some sources, when Athens lent Ptolemy III the priceless original copies of the classical Greek dramas, he promised to pay a deposit and copy them. Instead, the king kept the originals, forfeited the deposit, and sent back copies.
The list of great thinkers who worked in the library and museum of Alexandria reads like a roll call of ancient genius. Scholars in Alexandria are credited with great works on geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy, as well as language, literature, and medicine. According to tradition, it was here that 72 Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, thus producing the famous Septuagint.
A Library Vanishes
Ironically, chroniclers felt little need to describe Alexandria’s institutions in detail. A statement of Athenaeus, a third-century historian, is typical: “Concerning the number of books, the establishment of libraries, and the collection in the Hall of the Muses, why need I even speak, since they are all in men’s memories?” Such comments frustrate modern scholars, who yearn to know more about this intriguing ancient library.
By the time of the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 C.E., the library of Alexandria probably was no more. Scholars still debate exactly how and when it vanished. Some say that many of its outputs were probably lost when Julius Caesar set fire to part of the city in 47 B.C.E. Whatever the cause, the library’s demise meant the loss of a wealth of knowledge. Forever gone were hundreds of works of the Greek dramatists, along with the first 500 years of Greek historiography with the exception of some works of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon.
Between the third and the sixth centuries C.E., the city of Alexandria was often in tumult. Pagans, Jews, and so-called Christians frequently battled one another and fought among themselves over arcane points of doctrine. On numerous occasions the church itself encouraged rioters to sack pagan temples. Countless ancient texts were destroyed in the process.
Living Up to Past Glory
The rebuilt library opened in October 2002, and it contains some 400,000 books. An elaborate computer system allows access to other libraries. The main collection focuses on eastern Mediterranean civilizations. With space for 8,000,000 books, the Library of Alexandria aspires to enhance the stature of this ancient city.
[Box on page 14]
A WHO’S WHO FOR ANCIENT ALEXANDRIA
ARCHIMEDES: Mathematician and inventor, third century B.C.E. Credited with numerous discoveries and early scientific efforts to compute the value of pi (π).
ARISTARCHUS OF SAMOS: Astronomer, third century B.C.E. First to speculate that the planets revolve around the sun. Used trigonometry in attempts to calculate the distance to and the size of the sun and the moon.
CALLIMACHUS: Poet and a chief librarian, third century B.C.E. Compiled the first index to the library of Alexandria, a work that established the canon of classical Greek literature.
CLAUDIUS PTOLEMY: Astronomer, second century C.E. His geographic and astronomical writings were standard texts.
ERATOSTHENES: Polymath and one of the first librarians of Alexandria, third century B.C.E. Calculated the earth’s circumference with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
EUCLID: Mathematician, fourth century B.C.E. The father of geometry and a pioneer in the study of optics. His work Elements was the standard geometry text until the 19th century.
GALEN: Physician, second century C.E. His 15 books on the science of medicine became the standard texts for over 12 centuries.
[Picture Credit Line on page 13]
All photos, both pages: Courtesy of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Mohamed Nafea, Photographer |
How Far East Could Missionaries Go? | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009007 | How Far East Could Missionaries Go?
LESS than 30 years after Jesus’ death, the apostle Paul wrote that the good news was being preached in “all creation” under heaven. (Colossians 1:23) His statement is not to be taken literally, as if meaning that every person alive at that time had heard the good news. Even so, Paul’s point is clear: Christian missionaries were preaching extensively in the then-known world.
Just how far might they have gone? The Scriptures relate that commercial shipping enabled Paul to extend his preaching activity as far westward as Italy. This intrepid missionary also wanted to preach in Spain.—Acts 27:1; 28:30, 31; Romans 15:28.
What, though, of the opposite direction? How far east did early Christian evangelizers go? We cannot say for sure, since the Bible does not comment on this. However, you might be surprised to learn just how far trade routes between the Mediterranean and the Orient extended in the first century C.E. At the very least, the existence of such routes indicates that there were good possibilities for travel to the east.
Alexander’s Legacy
Alexander the Great’s conquests took him eastward through Babylonia and Persia and as far as the Punjab, in northern India. Those expeditions enabled the Greeks to become acquainted with the coasts stretching from the mouth of the Euphrates, in the Persian Gulf, to the mouth of the Indus.
Spices and incense soon flowed into the Greek world from across the Indian Ocean, via the Red Sea. This trade was first controlled by Indian and Arab merchants. But when the Ptolemies of Egypt discovered the secrets of the monsoon, they too entered the Indian Ocean trade.
In that sea, winds blow steadily out of the southwest from May to September, allowing ships to sail from the mouth of the Red Sea either along the southern coast of Arabia or directly to southern India. Between November and March, the winds switch to the opposite direction, facilitating the return journey. Arab and Indian seamen had been exploiting knowledge of these winds for hundreds of years, traveling back and forth between India and the Red Sea with cargoes of cassia, cinnamon, nard, and pepper.
Sea Routes to Alexandria and Rome
When the Romans conquered the lands ruled by Alexander’s successors, Rome became the main market for precious goods from the East—ivory from Africa, incense and myrrh from Arabia, spices and precious stones from India, and even silk from China. Ships carrying such merchandise converged on two main ports on the Egyptian Red Sea Coast—Berenice and Myos Hormos. Both were served by overland caravan routes to Coptos, on the Nile.
From Coptos, goods descended the Nile, the main artery of Egypt, to Alexandria, where they were loaded onto ships bound for Italy and elsewhere. An alternative route to Alexandria was via a canal that joined the head of the Red Sea—close to modern Suez—with the Nile. Of course, Egypt and its seaports were relatively close to the lands where Jesus preached and could readily be accessed from there.
According to first-century Greek geographer Strabo, in his time, 120 Alexandrian ships sailed from Myos Hormos to engage in trade with India every year. A first-century handbook on navigation in this area has survived to our day. It was probably written by a Greek-speaking Egyptian merchant for the benefit of fellow traders. What can be learned from this ancient book?
The guidebook, often referred to by its Latin input, Periplus Maris Erythraei (Voyage Around the Erythraean Sea) describes maritime routes stretching thousands of miles south of Egypt, as far as Zanzibar. Looking eastward, the author lists distances, anchorages, emporiums, goods traded, and the disposition of local people along the south shore of Arabia, down the west coast of India to Sri Lanka and then back up the east coast of India as far as the Ganges. The book’s accurate and vivid descriptions lead to the conclusion that the author had visited the places he describes.
Westerners in India
In India western merchants were known as Yavanas. According to the Periplus, one of their regular destinations in the first century C.E. was Muziris, located close to the southern tip of India.a Tamil poems, dating to the early centuries C.E., refer to these traders continually. “The beautifully built ships of the Yavanas came with gold and returned with pepper, and Muziris resounded with the noise,” says one poem. In another, a prince of southern India is urged to drink fragrant wine brought by the Yavanas. Among other Western goods that found a ready market in India were glassware, metals, coral, and textiles.
Archaeologists have found much evidence of Western imports into India. For example, at Arikamedu on the southeastern coast of India, discoveries include fragments of Roman wine jars and dishes bearing the stamps of potters who produced these wares in Arezzo, central Italy. “The imagination of the modern enquirer kindles as he lifts from the alluvium of the Bay of Bengal sherds bearing the names of craftsmen whose kilns lay on the outskirts of Arezzo,” says one writer. Commerce between the Mediterranean and India is further attested to by numerous hoards of Roman coins, gold and silver, that have been found in southern India. Most of these coins date to the first century C.E. and bear the images of the Roman Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, and Nero.
The possibility that Roman citizens established permanent trading colonies in southern India is raised by the evidence of an ancient map, a medieval copy of which still exists. This map, known as the Peutinger Table—which is said to depict the Roman world as it was in the first century C.E.—indicates a temple of Augustus at Muziris. “Such a structure,” says the book Rome’s Eastern Trade: International Commerce and Imperial Policy, 31 BC–AD 305, “would have been built only by subjects of the Roman Empire, and presumably ones who were living in Muziris or who spent a significant proportion of their time there.”
Roman records mention the visits of at least three Indian embassies to Rome during Augustus’ reign, from 27 B.C.E. to 14 C.E. “These embassies had a serious diplomatic purpose,” says one study on the subject—that of agreeing where business between people of different lands could be transacted, where taxes could be imposed, where foreigners could reside, and so on.
In the first century C.E., then, travel between the Mediterranean basin and India was neither infrequent nor unusual. It would have been simple for a Christian missionary at the north of the Red Sea to board a ship bound for India.
Beyond India?
Just how far eastward Mediterranean merchants and other travelers ventured—and how early—is hard to establish. However, it is believed that by the first century C.E., some westerners journeyed as far as Thailand, Cambodia, Sumatra, and Java.
The Hou Han-Shou (Annals of the Later Han Dynasty), which cover the period from 23 C.E. to 220 C.E., fix the date of one such journey. In 166 C.E., an embassy from the king of Daqin, named An-tun, arrived at the Chinese court bearing tribute for the Emperor Huan-ti. Daqin was the Chinese name for the Roman Empire, while An-tun appears to be the Chinese rendering of Antoninus, the family name of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor at the time. Historians suspect that this was not an official embassy but merely an effort on the part of enterprising western traders to obtain silk directly from China instead of through middlemen.
Coming back to our original question, How far east could ancient ships have taken first-century Christian missionaries? To India and beyond? Perhaps. Certainly, the Christian message spread far enough so that the apostle Paul could say that it was “bearing fruit and increasing in all the world”—that is, to the far-flung reaches of the then-known world.—Colossians 1:6.
[Footnote]
a While the exact site of Muziris is unknown, scholars locate it close to the mouth of the Periyar River, Kerala State.
[Box/Picture on page 22]
An Emperor’s Complaint
In 22 C.E., the Roman Emperor Tiberius lamented the boundless excesses of his countrymen. Their reckless appetite for luxuries and the immoderate yearning of Roman matrons for jewels were dissipating the wealth of his empire, diverting it to “strange or hostile nations.” Roman historian Pliny the Elder (23-79 C.E.) also complained about similar expenditures. “At the very lowest computation,” he wrote, “India, the Seres, and the Arabian Peninsula, withdraw from our empire one hundred millions of sesterces every year—so dearly do we pay for our luxury and our women.”b
[Footnote]
b Analysts calculate that 100 million sesterces represented about 2 percent of the Roman Empire’s total economy.
[Credit Line]
Museo della Civiltà Romana, Roma; Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com
[Box/Picture on page 23]
Where Merchants Sought Their Goods
Jesus spoke of “a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls.” (Matthew 13:45) The book of Revelation likewise mentions “traveling merchants” whose stock included precious stones, silk, scented wood, ivory, cinnamon, incense, and Indian spice. (Revelation 18:11-13) The sources of these goods lay along trade routes to the east of Palestine. Fragrant timbers, such as sandalwood, came from India. Pearls of gem value could be found in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and, according to the author of the Periplus Maris Erythraei, in the vicinity of Muziris and in Sri Lanka. Indian Ocean pearls were likely of the best quality and the most costly.
[Map on page 20, 21]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
Some of the trade routes that existed between Rome and Asia in the first century
Arezzo
Rome
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
AFRICA
Alexandria
EGYPT
Coptos
Nile River
Myos Hormos
Berenice
Zanzibar
Red Sea
Jerusalem
ARABIA
Euphrates River
BABYLONIA
Persian Gulf
PERSIA
↓ Northeast monsoon
↑ Southwest monsoon
Indus River
PUNJAB
Ganges River
Bay of Bengal
INDIA
Arikamedu
Muziris
SRI LANKA
INDIAN OCEAN (ERYTHRAEAN SEA)
CHINA
HAN EMPIRE
THAILAND
CAMBODIA
VIETNAM
Sumatra
Java
[Picture on page 21]
Model of a Roman cargo ship
[Credit Line]
Ship: Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. |
A World in Turmoil—How You Can Cope | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102022002 | A World in Turmoil—How You Can Cope
No. 1 2022
© 2022 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To make a donation, please visit donate.jw.org. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. |
The Clergyman Gets Answers | https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502019285 | The Clergyman Gets Answers
One day when Eliso, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was conducting a Bible study in the home of an interested woman, the woman had unexpected visitors. There at the door, accompanied by his wife, was a clergyman. Eliso had heard that this couple had recently lost their only son in death.
When Eliso offered sincere condolences over the loss of their son, the clergyman and his wife began to cry bitterly. Then, angrily the clergyman said: “I can’t understand why God allowed such a trial! How could he take away my only son? I’ve been serving God for 28 years, doing a lot of good things, and this is how he has repaid me! Why did God kill my son?”
Eliso explained to the couple that God did not take their son. She also discussed such topics as the ransom, the resurrection, and reasons why God allows bad things to happen. Both the clergyman and his wife told Eliso that she had just given them the answers they had been praying for.
The following week the clergyman and his wife returned and joined the woman’s Bible study. Eliso was discussing the chapter “Real Hope for Your Loved Ones Who Have Died,” in the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? The couple eagerly participated in the discussion.
Both of them later attended the special convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tbilisi, Georgia, and they were deeply moved by the outstanding love and unity they observed—qualities that they had long tried to instill in their church members, but without success. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.