The “Nation” That Fills Earth’s Surface With Fruit

“In the coming days Jacob will take root, Israel will put forth blossoms and actually sprout; and they will simply fill the surface of the productive land with produce.”​—ISAIAH 27:6.

1. How did the apostle Peter refer to the nation of spiritual Israel?

CONCERNING the birth of the congregation of Christ’s disciples as a “nation” in 33 C.E., the apostle Peter wrote these words shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 C.E.: “But you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. For you were once not a people, but are now God’s people; you were those who had not been shown mercy, but are now those who have been shown mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9, 10) How gracious on God’s part that was!

2, 3. As the special possession of Jehovah God, what obligation devolves upon spiritual Israel, and to what are they likened by Jesus Christ in John chapter 15?

² Today, 19 centuries after Peter wrote those words, there is still on earth a remnant of that spirit-begotten “nation.” They are reduced now to less than ten thousand in number, according to the reports of the annual celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. They are ‘a people for Jehovah’s special possession,’ and as such they must declare abroad the excellencies of Jehovah God, who called them out of worldly “darkness into his wonderful light.” This “light” has been shining especially since the end of “the times of the Gentiles,” or “the appointed times of the nations,” in the year 1914.a (Luke 21:24, King James Version; NW) As the “special possession” of the Divine Giver of that wonderful light, they are prized by him. To him they are like a spiritual vineyard.

³ Here we recall what Jesus Christ said to his apostles, who represented all who would be his spirit-begotten followers: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. Every branch in me not bearing fruit he takes away, and every one bearing fruit he cleans, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in union with me, and I in union with you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, in the same way neither can you, unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that remains in union with me, and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing at all.”​—John 15:1-5.

4. (a) Jesus’ illustration reminds us of what description in Isaiah chapter 27? (b) When does this prophecy have its modern fulfillment, and upon whom? (c) What attitude does God no longer have toward his people?

⁴ That comparison, or parable, made by Jesus Christ reminds us of Jehovah’s words in Isaiah 27:2-4, where we read;

“In that day sing to her, you people: ‘A vineyard of foaming wine! I, Jehovah, am safeguarding her. Every moment I shall water her. In order that no one may turn his attention against her, I shall safeguard her even night and day. There is no rage that I have.’”

The “vineyard of foaming wine” today on earth may be compared to the remnant of the branches in that symbolic “vine” in which the spirit-begotten Christians of the “holy nation” are productive members. Consequently, there rests upon them the obligation to bear much fruit. (John 15:5) According to Isaiah’s prophecy, it was to be in the time of restoration of Jehovah’s people to his favor that the song about the “vineyard of foaming wine” was to be sung. (Compare Isaiah 27:13.) This would locate the modern fulfillment of this glowing prophecy as going into effect with the postwar year of 1919, and the facts of history verify its fulfillment down till now. Today Jehovah has no “rage” against his people, neither against the remnant of his “holy nation,” his “people for special possession,” nor against the loyal Christians who look forward to eternal life on earth. Mercifully he has turned his favor to them, which accounts for their spiritual prosperity and fruitfulness.

5. By what from this figurative vineyard have people been gladdened, and what can they recount about it?

⁵ This spiritual “nation,” along with its hardworking associates, has been like a productive vineyard that has produced much “foaming wine.” It is a spiritual wine that has made the heart of Jehovah and of man glad. (Judges 9:13) For this valid reason the people who have been gladdened by drinking this spiritual beverage can joyfully sing and can recount all that the Divine Cultivator of the “vineyard” has done for this symbolic “vineyard.” Figuratively speaking, he has indeed ‘watered’ this “vineyard” for its constant refreshment, so that juicy, luscious fruit has been produced, with gladdening effect.

A Contrast​—“The Vine of the Earth”

6. What, however, will be the experience of “the vine of the earth,” according to Revelation chapter 14?

⁶ This has not been the case with what the last book of the Bible calls “the vine of the earth.” Shortly, the divine command will be given to the heavenly executional forces: “Put your sharp sickle in and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes have become ripe.” Then, as the prophetic Revelation goes on to show, “the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great winepress of the anger of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress as high up as the bridles of the horses, for a distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs.” (Revelation 14:18-20) So it will happen to the governmental part of the Devil’s visible organization on earth; it is something of which he is the cultivator, and it is in opposition to “the true vine” of which Jehovah God is the Cultivator. There will be no restoration of “the vine of the earth” at all!

7-9. What double fulfillment does Isaiah 27:7-13 have, and at what times?

⁷ However, this prophecy of Isaiah chapter 27 is really a prophecy of restoration, first of the nation of natural Israel and then of spiritual Israel in our own 20th century. This is evident from what the prophecy says in Isa 27 verse 7-13 down to verse 13, with which the chapter closes. Those verses read:

⁸ “As with the stroke of one striking him does one have to strike him? Or as with the slaughter of his killed ones does he have to be killed? With a scare cry you will contend with her when sending her forth. He must expel her with his blast, a hard one in the day of the east wind. Therefore by this means the error of Jacob will be atoned for, and this is all the fruit when he takes away his sin, when he makes all the stones of the altar like chalkstones that have been pulverized, so that the sacred poles and the incense stands will not rise up. For the fortified city will be solitary, the pasture ground will be left to itself and abandoned like a wilderness. There the calf will graze, and there it will lie down; and he will actually consume her boughs. When her sprigs have dried up, women coming in will break them off, lighting them up. For it is not a people of keen understanding. That is why its Maker will show it no mercy, and its own Former will show it no favor.

⁹ “And it must occur in that day that Jehovah will beat off the fruit, from the flowing stream of the River to the torrent valley of Egypt, and so you yourselves will be picked up one after the other, O sons of Israel. And it must occur in that day that there will be a blowing on a great horn, and those who are perishing in the land of Assyria and those who are dispersed in the land of Egypt will certainly come and bow down to Jehovah in the holy mountain in Jerusalem.”

10. What world power was prominent in the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, and how did it fare in its intended attack upon the capital of the kingdom of Judah?

¹⁰ In the days of this prophecy of Isaiah, Assyria had become the dominant world power in the earth, displacing the first of the series of seven world powers, although Egypt was still functioning but as a subsidiary power. The ten-tribe kingdom of Israel had broken away from the rule of the royal house of King David of the tribe of Judah. So it was against the city of Jerusalem that the king of Assyria came to demand its complete surrender, if it did not want to be destroyed. However, Jehovah fought for the kingdom of Judah and sent haughty King Sennacherib reeling back homeward in disgraceful defeat.​—Isaiah, chapters 36 and 37.

11. By the emperor of what world power was the overthrow of the kingdom of Judah effected, and how does Isaiah 27 refer to this event?

¹¹ Hence, an emperor of a succeeding world power, the Babylonian World Power, was authorized to destroy the holy city of Jerusalem and its temple. According to Biblical indications, this occurred in the year 607 B.C.E., at the hand of Emperor Nebuchadnezzar. He was the one that carried off captives into the land of Babylonia, to spend 70 years of exile there. It was in view of the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the taking of exiles into Babylonian captivity for 70 years that the questions were properly raised:

“As with the stroke of one striking him [the nation of Israel] does one have to strike him?” (Isaiah 27:7)

As never before in its national history since 1513 B.C.E., God’s nation was struck with a calamitous blow in 607 B.C.E., a stroke that almost spelled its destruction. Great was the mortality of the besieged city of Jerusalem. Yes, Jehovah saw that the need for this drastic action was vital, and it had to take place. He saw the dire need for contending with those who should have remained his friends, his own befriended ones, with whom he had entered into the Law covenant through the mediator Moses.

12. So what question could Jehovah inspire the prophet Isaiah to ask with reference to Israel’s experience, and thus what was the effect on Israel’s relationship with Jehovah?

¹² Jehovah could thus ask further:

“Or as with the slaughter of his killed ones does he [the nation of Israel, or Jacob] have to be killed?” (Isaiah 27:7)

Ah, yes, for now it had become necessary for Jehovah to contend with his once favored people, raising a frightful cry, a “scare cry,” from the martial forces of the Babylonian World Power, the third in Bible history. Hence the divine statement:

“With a scare cry you will contend with her when sending her forth. He must expel her with his blast, a hard one in the day of the east wind [to indicate the direction from which the scary war cry would come].” (Isaiah 27:8)

With such a preliminary he would send forth the unfaithful nation that had once been like a typical wife to him as his visible organization on earth. Now he was dismissing her from her God-given homeland and sending her off at the hands of the Babylonian captors to a distant land, as if temporarily divorced.​—Compare Isaiah 50:1.

13. How, according to Isaiah’s prophecy, was the nation of Israel going to make atonement for its violation of God’s covenant?

¹³ Now the time had come for the nation of Israel, or Jacob, to make atonement for its “error” by more costly means than animal sacrifices offered up on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem. This is what Jehovah prescribed in behalf of his wifelike organization, saying:

“Therefore by this means the error of Jacob will be atoned for, and this is all the fruit when he takes away his sin, when he makes all the stones of the altar like chalkstones that have been pulverized, so that the sacred poles and the incense stands will not rise up.” (Isaiah 27:9)

What an expression of divine fury, or rage, the fulfillment of this prophecy would be, justifiably so! No more would the idolatrous sacred poles and the incense stands rise up again within his chastised nation.

14. To what sort of desolation was the land of Israel to be reduced, and how was her development as a figurative tree to be dealt with?

¹⁴ Indicating the desolation that was to be brought upon this typical wifelike nation of ancient Israel, Jehovah adds:

“For the fortified city will be solitary, the pasture ground will be left to itself and abandoned like a wilderness.”

The once populous land will be deserted, to become a mere grazing place for the time being.

“There the calf will graze, and there it will lie down; and he [Jehovah, by his agency] will actually consume her boughs. When her sprigs have dried up, women coming in will break them off, lighting them up [to burn].” (Isaiah 27:10, 11)

Thus Jehovah’s typical wifelike nation would be reduced to mere fuel for the fire, for the feminine sex would without hardship be strong enough to avail themselves of what was left of it. What a sorry state to which to be reduced this would be for the typical wifelike organization of Israel! But why would such crushing steps have to be taken by such a husbandlike Deity as Jehovah? Listen:

15. In view of Jehovah’s special treatment, what kind of people should the nation of Israel have proved to be, but why did they come to be like the idol-worshiping nations?

¹⁵ “For it is not a people of keen understanding. That is why its Maker will show it no mercy, and its own Former will show it no favor.” (Isaiah 27:11)

With all the provision that Jehovah had made for the education and enlightenment of his wonderfully formed organization, the Israelites should have proved to be a people with great intelligence. They should have been sharp and discerning enough to see the vanity of idol worship, yes, discerning enough to see through the senselessness of idolatrous worship, practiced by the ignorant nations outside of covenant relationship with the one living and true God, Jehovah. But in view of the invisibility of their heavenly Maker and Former, they lost faith and chose to turn to visible man-made gods, to their own downfall. That was why further favor and divine mercy were withdrawn from such self-willed people.

Deliverance From Exile

16. In behalf of restoring his people, to what would Jehovah have to direct his attention?

¹⁶ So now, to restore them to his worship in their homeland, it would be necessary for Jehovah to turn his attention to the land of Babylonia through which the great “River,” the Euphrates, flowed. He would give attention down southward even toward the land of Egypt, for in such localities his people had come to be exiled from him for their discipline. In this behalf Jehovah had to fulfill his next statement of purpose:

“And it must occur in that day that Jehovah will beat off the fruit, from the flowing stream of the River [Euphrates] to the torrent valley of Egypt [the wadi at the southwestern border of the Promised Land], and so you yourselves will be picked up one after the other, O sons of Israel.”​—Isaiah 27:12; compare Numbers 34:2, 5.

17. How did Jehovah break off his people from their exiled state, and by what means?

¹⁷ In order for Jehovah to repatriate his people to their homeland of Judah, he would have to break off the exiled people like fruit, thus loosing them. This he effected by overturning the world power of Babylonia and ushering in the Medo-Persian Empire, the fourth world power of Bible history. The decree of the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great at the beginning of his reign was issued for the liberation of Jehovah’s exiled people and for their return to the site of ancient Jerusalem to rebuild Jehovah’s temple. This return came at the close of the 70 years of Jewish exile, in 537 B.C.E.​—Isaiah 45:1-7.

18. What must have been the reaction of the exiles at the decree for their liberation?

¹⁸ The disciplined Israelites in Babylonia, and also in Assyria and Egypt, were Jehovah’s property, and he was entitled to break them off like symbolic fruit from involuntary exile and dispersion and thus to show them mercy, undeserved kindness. Oh, how those ancient Israelites must have rejoiced over that decree of Cyrus, and how zealous they must have displayed themselves in taking full advantage of the glorious opportunity afforded them! What, then, was there to be said about that auspicious “day”?

19. (a) To whom were the Israelites who were dispersed in Assyria and in Egypt foretold to bow down? (b) What would this mean respecting the worship of Jehovah at the original temple site, and this with overtones for what modern spiritual nation?

¹⁹ “And it must occur in that day that there will be a blowing on a great horn, and those who are perishing in the land of Assyria and those who are dispersed in the land of Egypt will certainly come and bow down to Jehovah in the holy mountain in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 27:13)

What else did that mean but the repopulating of the Promised Land and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, restored for the worship of the Former and Maker of the revived nation of Israel? This had to take place according to the earlier words of the prophet Isaiah set out in verse 6. The land of his repatriated people had to become a land teeming with inhabitants, unitedly engaged in his worship at his temple, even though this restored place of worship might not have the grandeur of the magnificent temple built by King Solomon. In this way it was to foreshadow the modern-day spiritual fulfillment involving “the Israel of God,” in filling all “the productive land” with life-giving fruit, or “produce.”​—Galatians 6:16; Isaiah 27:6.

[Footnotes]

The “Nation” That Feeds Famine-Stricken Millions

1, 2. (a) What genuine need should be felt by earth’s population? (b) To which people can we look in this regard?

THE billions of earth’s population should be hungering for “food” that will nourish them for life unending here on earth, when the earth is converted into a global paradise. But to whom or where will they turn? The Republic of Israel is not attempting to fulfill the Bible prophecy in Isaiah 27:6 about filling the earth with “produce” for the lasting benefit of mankind.

² The nation of Israel in the first century of our Common Era lost its commission to benefit all mankind. Thus it was merely to a small remnant of the natural Jews that the Messiah addressed his words: “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 . . . And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28:18-20) But what about 19 centuries later? Who in our time have in mind the fulfillment of Isaiah 27:6? And how are you and your loved ones involved?

3. Who in our century experienced God’s “rage” mentioned in Isaiah 27:4?

³ Even though we are decades removed from the specific events, we do well to examine briefly certain developments during the years of World War I. At that time Jehovah God had valid reason for feeling “rage” against the nations of Christendom because of their engaging in that blood-spilling conflict. (Compare Isaiah 27:4.) They did that rather than yield their national sovereignties to the Most High God when his Kingdom was set up in the heavens in 1914 in the hands of his glorified Son, Jesus Christ. They added fuel to his rage by persecuting the remnant of spiritual Israel, deliberately hindering these devoted Christian Bible Students from proclaiming freely his established Kingdom. But many of the remnant of spiritual Israel did, in fact, yield to the worldly pressures, thus coming short of their responsibility as chosen people taken out from this worldly system of things. They did not then see the issue of absolute neutrality toward the conflicts of this world, so they came under some bloodguilt, and for a time they merited a degree of God’s “rage” too.

4. How did God’s “rage” affect his Christian servants, and what lesson might we learn from this?

⁴ Had you lived back then, how do you think you would have reacted to those wartime pressures? You should consider such things, for by doing so you may firm up your resolve as to what you would do in the face of any future pressures. Back then it might have seemed to be a time to desist from Kingdom proclamation and to lie low. Many tended in that direction, feeling that they should simply wait for their early glorification to be with the enthroned Jesus Christ. (Luke 22:28-30) However, receiving some of Jehovah’s “rage” was a disciplinary experience that was not lost on true Christians of the period, and so it was not fruitless. It strengthened them for the oncoming work of declaring the day of vengeance of our God against the one whom the prophet Isaiah calls “Leviathan” in Isaiah 27:1, where we read:

5. In modern times, how has Jehovah turned his attention to “Leviathan” mentioned in Isaiah 27:1?

⁵ “In that day Jehovah, with his hard and great and strong sword, will turn his attention to Leviathan, the gliding serpent, even to Leviathan, the crooked serpent, and he will certainly kill the sea monster that is in the sea.”

Back in ancient times, Jehovah turned his attention to the captors of his people. As we have noted previously, that included the empire of Babylon, as well as Egypt and Assyria. (Isaiah 27:12, 13) Can you see a modern application of the symbolic words at Isaiah 27:1? In the period around World War I, God’s people were not captive to any one nation or empire. But Jehovah did need to give attention to a symbolic Leviathan, namely, Satan the Devil. He glides in a wily manner through the sea of humanity and uses things on earth to endanger or obstruct God’s servants.​—Compare Revelation 17:15.

6, 7. (a) What in modern times became like “thornbushes and weeds”? (b) What can we expect regarding them in the future?

⁶ When in the year 1919 the remnant of spiritual Israel enthusiastically resumed their Kingdom preaching, it was the time for Jehovah to say:

“There is no rage that I have. Who will give me thornbushes and weeds in the battle? I will step on such. I will set such on fire at the same time.”​—Isaiah 27:4.

⁷ After the close of World War I, the League of Nations was set up in rejection of the Kingdom of God by Christ. We can liken this to “thornbushes and weeds” placed in the pathway of Jehovah God, as an obstruction or deterrent. Now the United Nations organization has replaced that League. By the United Nations the various member nations disclose their determination to hold out against the proclaimed Kingdom of Christ and their purpose to preserve their own world sovereignty. In “the war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon, he will figuratively step on all “thornbushes and weeds,” crushing them and finally setting them on fire, as it were, to reduce them to mere ashes. He thus will demonstrate who really is the Universal Sovereign. You can, then, see that even if you were not alive among the anointed Christians back around World War I, you may be affected​—for good or for bad—​in the final results of events paralleling Isaiah 27:1.​—Revelation 16:14-16; 17:1–18:4.

‘Taking Hold of Jehovah’s Stronghold’

8. On what do many nations today rely?

⁸ The members of the United Nations are relying on their own strength and trusting in their man-made stronghold. Yet, their confidence in it has not been strong enough to deter them from inventing the most deadly of weapons, the ultimate of war weapons, the nuclear bomb. Likely, fear of reprisal by use of the nuclear bomb is what deters them, not the United Nations.

9, 10. Why is it wise for us to rely on another “stronghold”?

⁹ As we noted, though, what really threatens the continued existence of the nations is “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” What can the nations hope to do against God the Almighty, the One who put the awesome power within the nucleus of each atom of matter? You may well be convinced that the Creator is incomparably more powerful than the nations with all their weapons. Those who appreciate this fact​—and Jehovah’s Witnesses do—​have only one recourse available. That is set forth in the further words of Jehovah:

“Otherwise let him take hold of my stronghold, let him make peace with me; peace let him make with me.” (Isaiah 27:5)

No human agency is the stronghold to which to resort for security or prevention of war on earth, and certainly not the stronghold for the families of the earth to flee to for keeping safe.

¹⁰ You likely know that many people today become emotionally involved with debates and movements concerned about nuclear weapons and disarmament. Sadly, that distracts them from the reality that the inevitable war of God the Almighty at Armageddon is what threatens destruction of all the nations. If you appreciate that reality, then the wise course for you involves turning to Jehovah. His “stronghold” is the thing upon which all safety seekers should take hold, namely, his own inexhaustible possession of strength. The entire organization of Satan the Devil will not be able to conquer the individual Christian who has taken hold of that “stronghold.”

11. How can we apply Jesus’ words at Luke 14:31-33 as we take hold of God’s “stronghold”?

¹¹ Jehovah and his armies under the Captain, Jesus Christ, are now, as it were, on the march. While they are yet some distance away, the course that common sense, if not real wisdom, dictates is for a person to send, figuratively speaking, a peace mission ahead and to sue for peace in the face of overwhelming odds. The undefeatable Captain of Jehovah’s hosts counseled such a course when he was down here on earth. (Luke 14:31-33) And if you examine closely what Jesus there said, you will see that he tied in our attitude toward our “belongings.” Whether we live in an advanced and prosperous land or we live in a Third World country where it takes a real struggle to gain financial security, we should scrutinize our outlook. Ask yourself: Am I really putting my reliance on Jehovah’s strength as my stronghold or letting “belongings” take the most prominent place? In this connection, please read Luke 12:15-21.

12. What evidence is there that many today are taking hold of Jehovah’s strength?

¹² Around the earth, many thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses have already turned unreservedly to Jehovah, seeking peace with him. Many are arranging their affairs to devote scores of hours each month to the disciple-making activity. Each one who truly exerts himself in serving Jehovah is in a position to experience the promised “peace of God” that surpasses all human thought and understanding. (Philippians 4:7) While there is still time, they keep helping others to enter into this peaceable arrangement of Jehovah of hosts. What place does such lifesaving work have in your life?

Filling “the Productive Land” with “Produce”

13. What does Isaiah 27:6 indicate could be expected in our time?

¹³ What was to be the world role of spiritual Israel after its being restored to divine favor following World War I? This is indicated for us in these heartening words of Isaiah 27:6:

“In the coming days Jacob will take root, Israel will put forth blossoms and actually sprout; and they will simply fill the surface of the productive land with produce.”

Examine the reality of those words today. Doing so will give you added reason to become one of God’s people or, if you already are, to become even more firmly resolved to remain among true worshipers no matter what tests or problems arise.

14. How has Isaiah 27:6 found a fulfillment on God’s people?

¹⁴ A situation such as prophesied in Isaiah 27:6 has increasingly been found among worshipers of Jehovah since the year 1919, when the first general convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses was held at Cedar Point, Ohio. For example, it was not long after this that the Watch Tower Society began printing its new magazine, The Golden Age, now called Awake! It was as though spiritual Judah was then taking root.

15. What thrilling prospect was presented to true worshipers starting in 1918?

¹⁵ Thus in the opening years of liberation and reinstatement in Jehovah’s favor, true Christians began to blossom as “the planting of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 61:3) In 1918, the final year of World War I, the astounding lecture “Millions Now Living May Never Die” was publicly delivered by J. F. Rutherford. With merely a small remnant of spirit-begotten disciples of the reigning King, Jesus Christ, left on earth to undertake the God-ordained work that then devolved upon them, was that an overestimation of matters?

16. (a) How did the remnant react to the prospects before them? (b) What “produce” did they rejoice in, and with what results?

¹⁶ How would Jehovah use such Christians to fill the surface of “the productive land with produce”? The remnant of spiritual Israel took the initiative, but what about the “produce” with which the productive land was to be filled? The remnant found the “produce,” which included the good news of Jehovah’s established Kingdom in the hands of Christ, so tasty and nourishing that they wanted to share it with their fellowmen. Jehovah had foretold that the little one would become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation, and this proved to be no miscalculation on God’s part. (Isaiah 60:22) Soon the remnant of spiritual Israel was joined by “a great crowd” of “other sheep” of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ.​—Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:16.

17, 18. What can you attest to regarding ‘filling the surface of the productive land with produce’?

¹⁷ You may be aware of the situation as to true Christianity today. The Watch Tower Society now has 94 branches all around the globe. The organized active congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses now number some 48,000, and these are to be found in 203 lands. To the true God goes all the credit for this, and these noteworthy developments stand in vindication of his infallible Word, whereas “the end,” as foretold in Matthew 24:14, is not yet.

¹⁸ Yes, there are nearly three million Christians working along with the Watch Tower Society around the globe. These millions are mainly those of Christ’s “other sheep,” who have long been carrying the brunt of the worldwide witnessing work, and ‘the joy of Jehovah has been their strength, or stronghold.’ (Nehemiah 8:10) Hence, each of us today has the opportunity to be well filled spiritually and to participate in ‘filling the surface of the productive land with produce.’

19. What might you enjoy as to “the productive land,” and how do you feel about that?

¹⁹ We can be sure that Jehovah will never permit the present “produce” of “the productive land,” the field of activity of his Witnesses, to be destroyed. The work of his preaching Witnesses will never have been done in vain! The spiritual fruit, or “produce,” as cultivated by true Christians is for the feeding of all who want to avail themselves of it. This will include, in time, the billions of the human dead that are to be resurrected under the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. Imagine what that may mean for you in the future! In time, many natural Israelites of the past will be resurrected. Some of them may have been involved in the initial fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 27. Would it not be fascinating for you to be alive then, enabling you to explain how you participated in the larger, present-day ‘filling of the productive land with produce’?​—Compare Revelation 22:2, 3.

The Course of “Leviathan” Brought to an End

20. What lies ahead for “Leviathan,” and with what result respecting God’s sovereignty?

²⁰ Then the figurative Egypt, the present wicked system over which Satan the Devil has dominated as its god, will not exist. Jehovah will have turned his attention to the symbolic Leviathan, the gliding, crooked serpent that is in the midst of the sea of humanity. He and the nations, and even unions of nations, will be gone. He will not be around as a free, active corrupter of mankind for whom Jesus Christ died. (Isaiah 27:1) Yes, Satan the Devil will be abyssed throughout the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the rightful Heir of the Kingdom. The 144,000 spiritual Israelites will be joint heirs in heaven with him, the figurative Lion of the tribe of Judah. (Romans 8:16, 17; Revelation 5:5, 9, 10; 7:1-4) Jehovah God the Most High will have been vindicated forever as the Sovereign Lord of the universe. Jehovah’s universal organization in heaven and on earth will joyously experience lasting peace and harmony. To endless time, even forevermore, Jehovah will rejoice over his unified universal organization.