Sounding the Divine Warning

“For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.”​—Matt. 24:21, 22.

1, 2. (a) How has the world become one big neighborhood? (b) What are the dangerous consequences of all peoples being close neighbors?

Today all the world is one big neighborhood. By our speediest means of travel we could fly around the globe at its equator or over both the north and the south poles in less than one day. By international telephone lines or by radiophone we could, in a matter of minutes, be speaking with a neighbor in almost any other part of the earth. We can eat so many foreign kinds of foods, and for these we depend upon so many people in distant parts of the earth.

² Because of being so closely knit together, all humanity shares common dangers. Just 66 years ago, that is to say, within this one century, people in all quarters of the earth woke up to the reality of such a catastrophic thing as a world war. Twenty-one years after the worst global conflict ended the world entered into a wartime nightmare far worse. And now, 36 years after coming through that world upheaval, we are menaced with something even far more horrendous. No one can, for a fact, say: ‘Oh, what happens over there, so far away, cannot affect me here!’ To reason and speak in that way is a self-deception. We are now all close neighbors, but our acting so unneighborly is what creates a problem, yes, world danger. Voices are being raised in solemn warning.

3. (a) Why do observant persons believe the world to be in moral danger? (b) What is the attitude of worldly-wise persons about God?

³ Because of the bigness of it all, some doubters may ask, Is the whole world really in mortal danger? To this question observant persons who are by no means calamity howlers answer Yes! Their gloomy answer is based not just on what mankind of itself can do to itself. There is something vastly more serious than that for us to take into account. Is that really possible? Yes. How so? It is because of the Person to whom this earth and all animal and human life upon it belong. True, very few today care to take him into consideration. Worldly-wise persons of this scientifically advanced century think themselves to be too independent in thought as to believe in a Creator or to ask themselves, What does he have in mind? But the Creator is not so hardhearted as not to care about man’s plight. However, they brush him aside as if he did not exist or as being so far away as not to be involved or even interested.

4. (a) As earth’s owner, what concern does Jehovah have for his property? (b) What needs to be done to make the earth a pleasant place in which to live?

⁴ But should not a property owner be concerned about what belongs to him? He should want to keep it in the best state of repair. Especially so if his property is really valuable. That is the way our Creator feels about it. As to a state of repair, there is no denying the fact that the earth is being ruined today and is in danger of being ruined to a horrifying extent. It seems as if the time is already overdue for him to get rid of all those responsible for ruining his originally perfect property. By now the time when he should do this cleansing work ought to be near. He has had a book written about this. According to it, what does he purpose to do?

AN EARLIER SITUATION LIKE TODAY’S

5. When in the past were humans in a situation like that existing today?

⁵ It may surprise many to know that once before all mankind then living was in a like situation as all earth’s population finds itself today. At that time something occurred on a global scale. This was in the days of a man from whom all of us living today trace our descent. This common ancestor of ours was the man named Noah, the son of Lamech. Regarding Noah’s days the Creator’s inspired Book says: “In time Noah became father to three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. And the earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence. So God saw the earth and, look! it was ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.”​—Gen. 6:10-12.

6, 7. (a) In Noah’s day, what warning was sounded to the world? (b) How was it that the earth again became a peaceful place in which to live?

⁶ What occurred then to make this earth a peaceful, safe location in which to live? Did those violent ruiners of the earth engage in a global war and thus blot one another out? Was the warning that Noah was then commanded to give a warning about a man-made calamity that would be impossible for humanity to outlive? No! Instead, he sounded to mankind a divine warning, one that God had instructed him to give. It put all men on notice as to what God the Creator was about to do for the sake of a calm, safe earth on which decent people could enjoy living. God indicated to Noah that the people were not going to listen to him, and so Noah should build an ark, or floating chest, for himself and his family, eight human souls. On the foretold day of the year 2370 B.C.E., the global flood began. It was an “act of God.” Drowned mankind paid the penalty.

⁷ That ancient “act of God” worked good for all mankind. It gave the human race a fresh start from a righteous, God-fearing family, and this in an earth peaceful and safe for the time being.

A SIMILAR GLOBAL DESTRUCTION NEAR

8. (a) How did Jesus Christ draw a comparison between the days of Noah and today? (b) What event is close at hand, and so what needs to be done about it?

⁸ That was the only occasion previous to our time when all humanity was in danger of extinction. It prefigured our day when a world of billions of people is threatened. That is not our pessimistic human reasoning on matters, an extremist idea. It is no more overdrawn than that of a world-famous figure, a prophet greater than Noah. This was Jesus Christ. Pointing forward to our day, he said: “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.” (Matt. 24:37-39) According to Christ’s own prophecy about world conditions during the time of his unseen presence at the earth, our world situation since the year 1914 is like that of Noah’s day. Correspondingly, a similar “act of God” must be at hand. It is the time for the God-given warning to be sounded out to all imperiled mankind. The personal question is, Who will be like those who entered into the ark with Noah?

9. (a) Why do we have reason to believe that the foretold “great tribulation” is near? (b) Although “great tribulation” came upon Jerusalem in 70 C.E., why must the major fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy about “great tribulation” yet be future?

⁹ Even aside from what the Creator’s inspired Book, the Bible, has to say, we have reason to believe that this system of things is in its “time of the end.” Its last days have about run out. Its full end can be expected to arrive with a time of trouble, a “great tribulation,” surpassing the flood of Noah’s day in its spectacularness and destructiveness. That reference of Jesus to Noah’s day was part of his final prophecy given in the year 33 C.E. It extended his predictions beyond the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70 C.E., yes, all the way down into our day. The destruction of that holy city was the climax of a “great tribulation” for the Jews in the Roman province of Judea in the Middle East. Evidently, though, Jesus must have had more in mind than Jerusalem’s destruction back there, when he said: “For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now [the year 33 C.E.], no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.”​—Matt. 24:21, 22; Mark 13:19, 20.

10, 11. (a) How did the apostle Peter describe a coming global destruction? (b) What is the general attitude nowadays regarding such a global destruction by God?

¹⁰ Jesus’ disciple, the apostle Peter, prophetically coupled the end of the world in Noah’s day with the end of today’s system of things at the climax of this “time of the end.” (Dan. 12:4) In contrast with the downpour of waters in Noah’s day, Peter foretold a “fire” that would envelop not only the symbolic earth but also the symbolic heavens. (2 Pet. 3:5-12) In his comparison Peter did not bring into the picture the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, which occurred shortly after his death as a martyr.

¹¹ Back in Peter’s day the Christians believed in what is generally spoken of as “the end of the world.” (Matt. 24:3, Authorized Version) But how about today, 19 centuries later, particularly so among those who claim to be Christians or who are members of the churches of Christendom? Do they believe in such a thing? Hardly so! We have only to look at the way they act in chasing after the material things of this doomed world.

12. (a) What world catastrophe do responsible persons today now fear? (b) How do men propose to prevent a world holocaust?

¹² Yet, there are responsible persons today who do not base their predictions on the Bible at all but who are foretelling what amounts to the “end of the world.” They are warning us of its likelihood. This has been the case since the explosion of two atomic bombs at the close of World War II in 1945. Today there are nuclear bombs in the hands of nations called “the nuclear powers,” and these in such quantity that there could be an overkill of all creature life on earth a number of times, if that were possible for them. Even radiological bombs are mentioned in subdued voice. These would kill off all humans but would leave their lifeless material properties standing. But what purpose do still-standing buildings serve if there are no living people to occupy them? They would make up merely a “ghost city” or a “ghost world.” And who relishes the thought of such a thing? The danger is very real. The United Nations, now having 153 members, is looked to for preventing such a holocaust. But the United Nations, which includes all the Nuclear Powers, is a vain hope for staving off the human race’s annihilation by its own means.

13. (a) What life-and-death question needs to be answered? (b) Why do nonreligious persons have no satisfying answer, and is there one?

¹³ Who really can save mankind from self-destruction, suicide? Men who are by no means religious are now obliged to give serious consideration to that question. Because of disbelief in the Bible they can come up with no satisfying answer. They cannot point us to any savior. Does this mean that there is none? Happily, No!

ONLY SOURCE OF TRUE HOPE

14. Why is it reasonable to believe that the Creator has a purpose for the earth?

¹⁴ Scientists cannot prove that our earth and mankind upon it made themselves. There had to be a Creator. So how about him? As early as the 16th century before our Common Era he inspired the man of integrity named Job to state the scientific truth that He has hung our earth upon nothing in space, and so did He hang it there for nothing? (Job 26:7) Is it accidental that we find ourselves by the billions upon it? Was this a mistake or without purpose on his part? By now he has let this earth fairly brim with living creatures. Did he have in mind that all of today’s billions of human creatures should kill themselves off and leave our earth floating around in space like a dead planet? We cannot assign such foolishness to him in view of what he tells us.

15. (a) What is God’s purpose regarding the earth? (b) So what can we be confident that God will do soon?

¹⁵ He inspired the wise man Solomon, the son of King David, to write down in the Bible: “A generation [of mankind] is going, and a generation is coming; but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.” (Eccl. 1:4) He also inspired Isaiah to write: “This is what Jehovah has said, . . . the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, . . . who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.’” (Isa. 45:18) Hence, he promises never to leave the earth uninhabited by man. So the thing that he will completely erase from the earth’s surface is this system of things that violent men have set up on God’s property. For this we can take up the words of thanksgiving written down in the last book of the Bible: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, . . . because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king. But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time . . . to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”​—Rev. 11:17, 18.

16. (a) What highly developed plans do the nations now have, and, in this regard, what warnings are being sounded? (b) To what warning, however, will we all wisely take heed?

¹⁶ For the sake of military advantage the nations have plans already highly developed for “ruining the earth” to the greatest extent and in the worst way imaginable. Germs, chemicals, as well as terrifying explosives are being held in readiness for instant use in the most strategic way against any enemy. No secret is being made of this. Here and there weak warnings are being sounded about the threat to human existence. Timely and justified though such warnings are, they do not have the backing of earth’s Creator, Jehovah God. His warning written down in the Bible is about his own action to “bring to ruin those ruining the earth,” his own creation. His action will be controlled. It will leave approved survivors. Lovers of life, especially eternal life in Paradise, want to be such.

The Time for a Watchman like Ezekiel

1. (a) Since when has God had his “watchman” class sounding the warning, and for what purpose? (b) Rather than sounding the warning, what has Christendom done?

More than 30 years before atomic bombs were exploded in the Far East Jehovah had mercifully posted his watchman to sound the warning of what is evidently now near, inside this generation. Even before World War I broke out in 1914 he had his “watchman” class posted to sound out the warning. This was done not only to warn those who wanted to know how to survive but also to put Jehovah’s willful enemies on notice. Thus such enemies will know from what source the destruction comes. No faultfinders will have any basis for complaining that He gave them no advance warning. Christendom, which has the Holy Bible in more than a thousand languages, should have been the agency to sound the warning, because of what she claims to be. But she has not served as such. Instead, she has joined in the two world wars and other wars of this century, which have measurably ruined the earth. Who, then, is the composite “watchman”?

2, 3. (a) Whom did God choose to sound the warning of the coming global flood, and whom has he used to sound a similar warning today? (b) Why can Jehovah not be blamed for any loss of life?

² In Noah’s day he not only preached but also built a huge ark in confirmation of his verbal message. So Noah was then Jehovah’s outstanding witness and watchman. His family of seven members joined Noah in duties of a watchman. Hebrews 11:1-7 tells us that Noah had witness borne to him that God was pleased with him. He was an approved witness of Jehovah God. He was “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Pet. 2:5) Today we are faced with an “act of God” just as global as the flood of Noah’s day. Whom do the records show him as using to serve notice of this upon the whole world? Devoted Christians, everywhere known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Consequently, Jehovah’s slate is clean till now. He has not failed to sound the divine warning by millions of his witnesses!

³ So the responsibility for the loss of human life worldwide during the coming end of the system of things will not rest upon Jehovah. It will rest squarely upon all who have failed to act upon the divine notification. Christendom herself has failed to heed the warning sounded by witnesses of Jehovah. What if she had joined Jehovah’s Witnesses in sounding the God-given warning? What a difference this would have made in human affairs!

WATCHMAN TO ANCIENT ISRAEL

4. (a) Whom did Jehovah raise up to be a prophet to his own people Israel, and whom did this prophet prefigure? (b) What commission was Ezekiel given?

⁴ By his divine powers Jehovah knew beforehand that even Christendom would need to have his final warning served upon her. He knew what the history of his chosen people of pre-Christian times indicated, or foreshadowed. In the year 613 B.C.E., he raised up a Jew named Ezekiel to be a prophet to his own people. So even though he was then an exile in the land of Babylon, Ezekiel was Jehovah’s watchman to Israel. His prophesyings were carried southwest to Jerusalem in the land of Judah. What Jehovah said to Ezekiel back there is of interest to us today, for he pictured Jehovah’s anointed witnesses of today. This anointed class has acted on what Jehovah said to Ezekiel with these words: “Son of man, a watchman is what I have made you to the house of Israel, and you must hear from my mouth speech and you must warn them from me. When I say to someone wicked, ‘You will positively die,’ and you do not actually warn him and speak in order to warn the wicked one from his wicked way to preserve him alive, he being wicked, in his error he will die, but his blood I shall ask back from your own hand.”​—Ezek. 3:17, 18.

5, 6. (a) In what time period was Ezekiel living? (b) Why could God not be accused of forcing a difficult commission on Ezekiel?

⁵ Why did Jehovah talk so seriously to this Jew Ezekiel? Because in that year 613 B.C.E. Ezekiel was living in the last days of the doomed kingdom of Judah with its capital at Jerusalem. His people down there in that kingdom had been brought into a national covenant with Jehovah by means of His mediator, the prophet Moses, and so as a member of that people Ezekiel was under lifelong obligation to Jehovah. He was also a priest, who should have been serving Jehovah in his temple at Jerusalem. So naturally he owed something to God. Hence, God could not be accused of improperly forcing a difficult mission upon Ezekiel, who had been born under the national covenant and under the duties of the Aaronic priesthood, then headed by high priest Seraiah.​—2 Ki. 25:18.

⁶ Ezekiel’s people were the ones to whom Jehovah had earlier said by his prophet Isaiah: “‘You are my witnesses,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant whom I have chosen.’” (Isa. 43:10-12) So Ezekiel pictured the organized body of Jehovah’s spirit-anointed witnesses at the present time, the spiritual Israelites. These anointed witnesses live in a time far more meaningful than Ezekiel’s day.

7. (a) What government was in peril in Ezekiel’s day, but what about today? (b) How long did Ezekiel sound the warning before the foretold destruction came?

⁷ Back there it was just the one government, the small kingdom of Judah, that was in peril. Today it is what that ancient kingdom pictured, namely, Christendom, that is imperiled, along with all her worldly associates. In fact, the entire system of things worldwide is on judgment, just as in Noah’s day it was the world that was doomed to destruction. There was more urgent need for God’s warning by Ezekiel, for Ezekiel began to sound the warning just four years before the Babylonian army invaded his homeland, or six years before they destroyed the besieged city of Jerusalem and its temple. Many inhabitants of beleaguered Jerusalem died of famine, pestilence and the sword of war. Many of the survivors were dragged off into exile to die in distant Babylon. So Ezekiel’s own generation was in danger of that calamity.

8. (a) What impending first-century destruction helps us to determine the timing of the coming world destruction by God? (b) Who sounded God’s warning then, and how important was their warning work?

⁸ How short a time we today may yet have, we can only infer from what has been happening on earth according to Bible prophecy. In Jesus’ prophecy, as recorded in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25, he warned those disciples of his who were to make up the first part of the “faithful and discreet slave” class about the destruction that was to befall Jerusalem inside their own generation. In that way he made his disciples aware of their responsibility toward the Jewish inhabitants of the province of Judea. They were in such grave danger due to the impending national calamity. If, at the critical time, the Christian “slave” class back there did not warn and urge the affected Jews to get out of the danger zone as fast as possible, then they would share in the responsibility for the loss of life and of liberty on the part of the unwarned Jews.

9. How was Ezekiel an excellent example for God’s anointed “slave” today?

⁹ What if Ezekiel long ago had failed to discharge his assigned task of warning from a distance his endangered countrymen? He would not have survived the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., for Jehovah would have held him accountable for their blood. That Ezekiel faithfully discharged his divine commission as long as communication with doomed Jerusalem was possible is evident, for Jehovah was pleased to let him live on. Jehovah was pleased to use him to utter a prophecy in the 27th year of his exile in Babylon. That was 16 years after the horrible bloodbath at Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. (Ezek. 29:17; 40:1) In this respect he was an excellent example for the anointed “slave” class in our perilous times. True, if any individuals in the “slave” class withdraw from further sounding the warning and putting the wicked people on notice, such individuals will have to settle accounts with Jehovah. But, for the most part, the “slave” class will prove to be like Ezekiel. No bloodguilt will be able to be charged to them.

10. (a) How important is the position of watchman? (b) How does God show his concern for both those needing warning and his watchman?

¹⁰ Very plainly, the position of a watchman is a highly responsible one. In wartime, if a soldier goes to sleep at his sentry post he is put to death, because the lives of others were put at stake with also the risk of suffering defeat. (Judg. 7:19) So God is concerned, not only about the lives of those needing to be warned, but also about the life of his watchman. This is shown in his further words to Ezekiel: “But as for you, in case you have warned someone wicked and he does not actually turn back from his wickedness and from his wicked way, he himself for his error will die; but as for you, you will have delivered your own soul. And when someone righteous turns back from his righteousness and actually does injustice and I must put a stumbling block before him, he himself will die because you did not warn him. For his sin he will die, and his righteous acts that he did will not be remembered, but his blood I shall ask back from your own hand. And as for you, in case you have warned someone righteous that the righteous one should not sin, and he himself does not actually sin, he will without fail keep on living because he had been warned, and you yourself will have delivered your own soul.”​—Ezek. 3:19-21; 33:2-9.

11. How is the work of the “faithful and discreet slave” like that of a watchman?

¹¹ Psalm 127:1 says: “Unless Jehovah himself guards the city, it is to no avail that the guard has kept awake.” Still, a watchman on a wall of a city has entrusted to him the safeguarding of the lives of the people living in it. He is under obligation to warn the citizens of any endangerment to their lives and liberty. Rightly, he should not want their blood to be charged to him. For his keeping awake and watching he is to be credited with safeguarding the lives of other human souls. That is the situation of the “faithful and discreet slave” class in this time when the old system of things is about to end. Jehovah has appointed the “slave” class as his “watchman” to guard the eternal interests of all those who profess to be His people, as in Ezekiel’s case.

WARNINGS BY MODERN WATCHMAN

12, 13. (a) In having the warning sounded, what response does God desire to see? (b) What does sounding the warning make possible, but what about those who do not heed it?

¹² However, is it only those who claim to be Christian who are facing the threat of destruction at the end of this system of things? No, but all other religionists are, also those who refuse to join any part of organized religion. Earth’s Creator, Jehovah God, knows this. He would rather not destroy the world of mankind. His prime desire is that as many of them as possible should be saved from eternal destruction and should prove worthy of life in his righteous new system of things. In that behalf he has had his warning sounded out far and wide.

¹³ Mercifully he notified first the “slave” class, as pictured by Ezekiel. Thus he made this class his composite “watchman.” This “watchman” class is especially charged with sounding the divine warning. Because of their timely warning more and more people are being enabled to hear and to act upon what they hear, with hope of being spared clear through the old world’s end. As for those refusing to heed the God-given warning, their blood will be upon their own heads.

14, 15. (a) Who have unsuccessfully tried to silence those sounding the warning, but who have listened and responded? (b) When the period of “goodwill on the part of Jehovah” ends, what will it mean?

¹⁴ Jehovah’s “watchman” class has become known worldwide. Their enemies would like to silence their voice of warning. They view the warning as subversive to their system of things. But all in vain! The warning has been dinned into their ears, especially since 1919, the year when the world began trying to recover from the wounds inflicted upon it by World War I. The period of time from then on has been part of what Isaiah 61:2 calls “the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah.” This means that his wrath has not yet been poured out upon the God-defying system of things. What purpose has this served? It has allowed for Jesus’ prophecy to be carried out till now: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.” (Matt. 24:14) In consequence of this, many today who make up part of the remnant of heirs of that kingdom have responded to the Kingdom message. Thus they have taken advantage of the “goodwill on the part of Jehovah.” They have been made part of the “watchman” class. They have joined in sounding the divine warning.

¹⁵ The symbolic “year” that is allotted for “goodwill on the part of Jehovah” is a limited time. All present-day indications are that it is about to end. Its ending will mean not a “Happy New Year!” but the time for a change from Jehovah’s “goodwill” to his wrath. That means the arrival of “the day of vengeance on the part of our God.” (Isa. 61:1, 2) It will be the darkest day that this world of mankind will ever have experienced.

16. What is accomplished by the “watchman” class in sounding the warning?

¹⁶ This makes it urgent for the “watchman” class to sound the warning that the “year” of Jehovah’s goodwill is about to end and his “day of vengeance” is about to break. Their obediently sounding the divine warning will not save this patched-up old system of things and its devoted supporters from being destroyed in the coming “great tribulation.” But this fact is not disheartening to the “watchman” class. They are assured that if they turn back wicked persons from their wicked way to righteousness these will be saved from annihilation with this old world. Thus the “watchman” class will be spared from bloodguilt in the case of those who have been warned away from their deadly wickedness. The “watchman” class also has the assurance that by persistently keeping up their warning they will dissuade many righteous persons from going bad and joining the wicked world and thus dooming themselves to perishing with it in the “great tribulation.” This is something most gratifying to the “watchman” class. Their service is not to be in vain!

17. (a) What reward has the “watchman” class realized? (b) Who have now joined in sounding the warning?

¹⁷ Not yet has the “watchman” class worn out its voice in crying out the warning about the “day of vengeance on the part of our God.” Nor has it lowered its voice, and it is determined not to do so. In reward, what a spectacle glorifying to Jehovah greets their peering eyes! An unnumbered “great crowd” of responsive hearers of the warning looms up before the “watchman” class. (Rev. 7:9) The eyes of that “great crowd” have been opened to see the “sword” of Jehovah’s executional officer that is about to slash down the wicked opposers of his Messianic kingdom. Four years before World War II broke out this “great crowd” began to take definite form and to align itself with the “watchman” class. Mercifully World War II did not culminate in the “day of vengeance on the part of our God.” Nor did World War II and its aftermath stop or slow down the thronging of those of the “great crowd” to the side of the “watchman” class amid worldwide persecution. By this they have come under the obligation to join in with the “watchman” class in blaring out the divine warning fearlessly. They have not shunned to undertake this responsibility. In this way they want not only to express their loving obedience to Jehovah God but also to express their love for their neighbor, their fellowman.

18, 19. (a) For what activity now is there the greatest need, in keeping with the words of Isaiah 52:8? (b) What should motivate us to share in sounding the divine warning?

¹⁸ At this late date, in the closing days of Christendom and all the rest of this doomed system of things, there is the greatest need for united action. Long ago the prophet Ezekiel and the contemporary prophet Jeremiah, though many hundreds of miles apart, united their voices in warning their wayward nation of the “day of vengeance” that was about to break upon them. Now, in our century, since the end of World War I, the words of Isaiah 52:8 have applied to Jehovah’s dedicated people: “Listen! Your own watchmen have raised their voice. In unison they keep crying out joyfully; for it will be eye into eye that they will see when Jehovah gathers back Zion.” All of those who were regathered under the ‘heavenly Zion’ saw the same vision in the light of then fulfilling Bible prophecy; together they saw Jehovah’s hand in action in their favor. They raised up a united message to the whole world. Today, more than 60 years later, they must keep up their united witness, only now including the urgent warning about Jehovah’s “day of vengeance.” The “great crowd” from many nations and from many languages must blend their voices with those of the “watchman.”

¹⁹ Forward, then, unitedly with the warning of “the day of vengeance on the part of our God”! Let us keep ourselves free from bloodguilt. This is because we want to be spared during that “day of vengeance.” Many of our neighbors would like to enjoy the same salvation. May our supreme love for Jehovah and Christ and our humane love for our neighbor, our fellowman, move us irresistibly to sound the lifesaving warning. Tremendous joy will result to us! Best of all, Jehovah will be vindicated as having lovingly cared!

Lovers of God Resolve . . .

This Resolution was enthusiastically adopted this past summer by hundreds of thousands in attendance at the “Divine Love” District Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

1. What warning are Jehovah’s Witnesses sounding, and why?

For more than 100 years Jehovah God through his witnesses has been serving warning notice that this world or system of things cannot last. Out of consideration for our neighbors of whatever nation, tribe, people or tongue, we are motivated by divine love to point individuals to God’s way as the only solution to mankind’s problems.

2. What things have gone wrong with the world?

² With the entry of the 1980’s, what do we observe as a consequence of individuals and nations ignoring or defying God’s way and pursuing their own course of self-rule and independent living? Responsible persons everywhere are voicing grave concern over the world’s drifting and confused state of affairs. And no wonder​—so many things have gone wrong. In the fields of transportation, communication, medicine, science and technology, various things once acclaimed as a hope or blessing have all too often turned out to be disappointments and even death-dealing. Human society today is overwhelmed with endless problems​—crime, corruption, wicked perversions, social disorders, acts of terrorism and other menacing dangers. Truly, mankind’s present world scene is bewildering. From a purely human point of view, the continued existence of the present world order is now being seriously questioned. Yet how many persons today soberly consider the significance of these unparalleled conditions in the light of God’s Word, the Bible?

3. The fulfillment of what Bible prophecies convince Jehovah’s Witnesses that the end of this system is near? What do these prophecies say?

³ Jesus Christ gave a detailed composite sign concerning the conclusion of this system of things and the time for him to begin exercising his Kingdom power over the world of mankind. His prophetic commentary on our times is set out in the record at Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Luke chapter 21 and Mark chapter 13. In concert with his great prophecy, inspired descriptions of these last days are found at 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Revelation chapter 6 and related prophetic portions in the Hebrew and Christian Greek Scriptures. Keen Bible students among us have witnessed the fulfillment of most of these prophecies during this century.

4. What striking evidence is there ‘that all creation is now in pain’?

⁴ In every walk of life and at every level of society, there is striking evidence “that all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now.” (Rom. 8:22) We see individuals plagued with a host of physical, mental and emotional ailments and breakdowns despite widely acclaimed medical advancements. Marital bonds are disintegrating. Separations and divorce equal or surpass the number of marriages in many countries. Family life is in disarray, causing many to wonder whether this basic unit of society can survive much longer. Cities are under crushing financial burdens and are facing collapse. Nations are in anguish, torn within by divisive factions and threatened without by unfriendly and aggressive neighbors. The world at large agonizes over the economic and money crises, energy shortages, pollution and health hazards, overpopulation and starvation in many places. On top of all of this hangs the specter of an arms race that threatens to unleash incalculable misery and nuclear destruction upon mankind. Truly, men’s hearts are failing them for fear of what they see coming upon the inhabited earth.

5. (a) In the midst of the present turmoil, what are most of humankind doing? (b) By doing what can persons survive the approaching great tribulation, and what patterns for survival are there?

⁵ In the midst of such turmoil, many remain apathetic. Others drift with the degrading current and spirit of what is popular at the time. There are also those who are enemies of God, actually taking a stand against his righteous principles and universal sovereignty. As the world sows, it now reaps​—rotten fruitage. God’s appointed time draws near for its abrupt and violent destruction. Righteously inclined persons who sense the danger of mankind’s selfish, materialistic, pleasure-mad and heedless course are urged to heed the divine warning before it is too late. By so doing, they may, in keeping with God’s past dealings, be among those who have the prospect of surviving the approaching great tribulation. Forty-three centuries ago God spared Noah and his family from a global flood. Centuries later He delivered Lot and his two daughters when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. This provides a pattern of how God may deal with those who act in faith and respond to the everlasting good news which has been declared throughout this century.

6. (a) Why has there been so much world woe since 1914? (Rev. 12:7-12) (b) At the “great tribulation,” what will happen to false religion and then to worldly nations? (Rev. 18:9, 10, 21-24; 19:11-16)

⁶ Modern historians have recognized that 1914 was a turning point. Since that significant year, mankind has been living in a turbulent period of stupendous changes. What many do not realize is the fact that Bible prophecy shows it to be a period of woe for mankind “because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Rev. 12:7-12) A day of reckoning is fast approaching. It will break out upon this generation in what Jesus described as a “great tribulation” that will see the execution of God’s judgment upon Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion of which Christendom is the principal part. Thereafter, all the nations in opposition to God’s kingdom, his incoming world government, will become involved in the war of the great day of God the Almighty, Biblically called Armageddon, where they will suffer everlasting defeat.​—Rev. 16:14-16.

7. (a) After Armageddon, what will happen to the Devil and his spirit forces? (Rev. 20:1-3) (b) What future will humankind then enjoy, as indicated by Bible prophecies? (Rev. 21:3, 4; Ps. 37:9-11, 29; Isa. 11:6-9; 33:24; 65:21-24)

⁷ Finally, the Devil and his wicked spirit forces will be plunged into the symbolic abyss of immobility, this paving the way for the unhindered, earth-wide rule of God’s kingdom of a thousand years. (Rev. 20:1-3; 21:3, 4) How thankful we are for coming to a knowledge of God’s way of removing wickedness from the earthly scene! Do we not await such divine intervention with keen expectation? Yes, and joyfully we hail the governmental new heavens and a cleansed new earth society that he has promised!​—2 Pet. 3:13.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT

8. As loyal subjects of God’s kingdom, what course are we resolved to follow in imitation of Jesus Christ? (Mark 1:38; Luke 4:43; John 6:15; 15:19; 17:16; 18:36)

⁸ We, Jehovah’s Witnesses, intensify our efforts to proclaim zealously the good news of the Kingdom as well as boldly declare God’s judgment message within the time divinely allowed. We will continue to give our whole-souled allegiance to God’s kingdom and strive to be loyal subjects of it. This we are determined to do by following the faithful course of Jesus Christ, maintaining separateness from the world, avoiding its entanglements, refusing to become involved in its controversies and allowing no room for compromise. Even though this makes us unpopular and incurs the world’s hatred we are determined to be guided by the Scriptural principle that whoever wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.​—Jas. 4:4.

9. (a) What Scriptural warning are we resolved to press on in giving? (b) What is involved in abiding by our decision to produce the fruits of the Kingdom and the fruits of God’s spirit? (Mark 13:10; John 13:34, 35; Gal. 5:22, 23; Col. 3:12-14)

⁹ Having ourselves come out of Babylon the Great, we will press forward in giving the Scriptural warning: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4) In the spirit of self-sacrifice we are determined to go on aiding those multitudes of people who may yet take their stand on the side of the truth before divine judgment overtakes the world empire of false religion. Whereas Christendom’s reprehensible course has brought reproach upon God’s name, our decision is to prove ourselves genuine disciples of Jesus Christ by producing the fruits of the Kingdom as well as the fruitage of God’s spirit and thus glorify our heavenly Father, Jehovah.​—John 15:8.

10. (a) We are resolved to render to God sacred service by presenting the truth in what way? (Col 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:15) (b) What kind of example in boldness and courage, as well as respect for authority, did the apostles set that we are determined to follow?

¹⁰ Regardless of our individual circumstances and location, we will delight in rendering God sacred service, day and night. Without letup we will take advantage of all opportunities to give a thorough witness to God’s name and purpose, presenting the truth in an appealing way, ‘letting our utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt.’ (Col. 4:6) At the same time, we will seek to be courageous, speaking the Word of God with all boldness, especially in the face of threats, persecution or other forms of opposition. Like the apostles “we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19, 20) While giving due respect to the superior authorities, rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, yet, when issues arise involving our worship and service to God, we will imitate the apostles by ‘obeying God as ruler rather than men.’​—Acts 5:29.

11. (a) Our resolve is to complete what work? (Matt. 24:14) (b) To whom do we look for guidance, and is there real basis for expecting his support? (Phil. 4:13)

¹¹ By putting spiritual things first in our lives our resolve is to complete the work of proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and sounding the divine warning from God’s Word. To this end we will trust in Jehovah with all our hearts, always relying upon his direction and care and further manifestations of his love. In our earnest prayers we will ask our heavenly Father that this course of ours will be pleasing and acceptable in his sight, the One ‘who can do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive.’ (Eph. 3:20) May his will be done, resulting in unbounded joys and blessings to us and all other lovers of God, both now and forevermore.