9. From the occurring of the “sign,” the disciples were to know that what was near, and why were they to quit any dejectedness?

⁹ This kingdom is assigned to destroy the present wicked system of things. In Jesus’ prophecy that sets out the things that make up the portentous “sign,” he referred to the Kingdom when it was about to carry out this destructive work, saying to his apostles: “In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31) By carrying out its assigned work, this kingdom will deliver the faithful disciples of Christ yet on earth from further oppression by the Gentile nations. This explains why Jesus said to his disciples: “As these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near.”​—Luke 21:28.

10. When does the “deliverance” of the spirit-begotten remnant take place, and what does it include?

¹⁰ The remnant of spirit-begotten disciples of Christ yet on earth saw “these things” start to occur back in 1914 C.E. Their deliverance from the present wicked system of things occurs when the royal “stone” that was cut out of the mountain of God’s sovereignty strikes the “image” of worldly political rulership of the earth and destroys it in the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon. (Dan. 2:44, 45; Rev. 16:14, 16) Their “deliverance” also includes their later being taken from the earthly scene and being ushered into “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” by the “first resurrection” from the dead. (2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 20:4, 6) This will enable them to rule as kings with Jesus Christ during the millennium when Satan the Devil and his demons are bound and confined in the abyss, no longer able to dominate mankind’s affairs invisibly.​—Rev. 20:1-3.

11. Who else will then enjoy deliverance, but for ignoring what “decree” will the Gentile nations not share in that deliverance?

¹¹ Deliverance also nears for the “great crowd” of sheeplike people who are now taking their stand with the spirit-begotten remnant in favor of “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” But the Gentile nations have ignored the Kingdom “decree” about which they have been given notice, as set out in Psalm 2:1-9: “Why have the nations been in tumult [since 1914 C.E.] and the national groups themselves kept muttering an empty thing? The kings of earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one [his Christ], . . . Let me refer to the decree of Jehovah; he has said to me [Christ]: ‘You are my son; I, today, I have become your father. 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.’”​—Rev. 7:9, 10; 11:15.

13. So why did the end of the Gentile Times and the start of Christ’s millennial reign not take place simultaneously?

¹³ This Kingdom witness has to be done before this system of things ends and Christ’s 1,000-year reign begins. Hence, the birth of God’s kingdom in the heavens in 1914 did not mean the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign. According to Bible prophecies, much has to take place before this system of things ends, making way for Christ’s reign of 1,000 years with his 144,000 spirit-begotten disciples.​—Rev. 20:4, 6.