Shedding Light on Christ’s Presence

“When the Son of man arrives in his glory, . . . he will separate people one from another.”​—MATTHEW 25:31, 32.

1. What have Christendom’s clergy interpreted the words at Matthew 24:3 to mean?

THREE days before Jesus’ death, four of his disciples approached him and earnestly asked: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [Greek, pa·rou·siʹa], and of the end of the world?” For centuries Christendom’s clergy and writers have interpreted these words spoken to Jesus at Matthew 24:3 (King James Version) to mean that he would again be visible in the flesh to be viewed by all mankind. Hence, they have taught that Christ’s return would be with great display and visible pomp. They refer to it as Christ’s second coming. But are their assumptions correct?

2, 3. (a) What distinction did Volume 2 of Studies in the Scriptures make between the words “coming” and “presence”? (b) What did Jehovah’s people come to understand regarding the meaning of the pa·rou·siʹa of Christ?

² By 1889, Jehovah’s anointed ones, as 19th-century light bearers, had already received correction on the matter of Christ’s return. In Volume 2 of Studies in the Scriptures, pages 158 to 161, Charles T. Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, wrote: “Parousia . . . signifies presence, and should never be translated coming, as in the common English Bible . . . The ‘Emphatic Diaglott,’ a very valuable translation of the New Testament, renders parousia properly, presence . . . , not that of coming, as being on the way, but presence, as after arrival [Jesus] says, ‘As the days of Noah, so shall also the parousia [presence] of the Son of man be.’ Notice, that the comparison is not between the coming of Noah and the coming of our Lord . . . The contrast, then, is between the time of the presence of Noah among the people ‘before the flood,’ and the time of the presence of Christ in the world, at his second advent, ‘before the fire’​—the extreme trouble of the Day of the Lord [Jehovah] with which this age ends.”​—Matthew 24:37.

³ So Jehovah’s people of the 19th century correctly understood that the pa·rou·siʹa of Christ would be an invisible one. They had also come to an understanding that the end of the Gentile Times would occur in the autumn of 1914. As spiritual enlightenment progressed, they later understood that Jesus Christ was enthroned in heaven as King of the Kingdom in that same year, 1914.​—Proverbs 4:18; Daniel 7:13, 14; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:15.

“The Presence of Our Lord”

4. “The presence of our Lord Jesus Christ” refers to what?

⁴ In our day, then, what is meant by the Biblical expression “the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ”? (1 Thessalonians 5:23) One authority comments that the term “presence,” pa·rou·siʹa, “became the official term for a visit of a person of high rank, esp[ecially] of kings and emperors visiting a province.” So this expression refers to the royal presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as King, from and after 1914, following his enthronement in heaven. He is present invisibly to ‘go subduing in the midst of his enemies,’ actively ruling as King to fulfill this prophetic command. (Psalm 110:2) For some 79 years, humans on earth have been experiencing the effects of Christ’s invisible royal presence.

5. What developments during the pa·rou·siʹa will be discussed in the three study articles of this magazine?

⁵ In this series of three articles, we will review the striking evidence of Christ’s Kingdom accomplishments during this period. First, we will present several Bible prophecies foretelling events that have already occurred or are even now taking place. Second, we will describe the great work being accomplished by the faithful and discreet slave class that Jesus is using during this entire period of his royal presence. (Matthew 24:45-47) The third article will describe for us the grand conclusion, the period of the “great tribulation.” That is the time when Jesus comes as Jehovah’s Executioner to destroy unrighteous humans and deliver the righteous. (Matthew 24:21, 29-31) That time of destruction is described by the apostle Paul as bringing “to you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.”​—2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8.

The Sign

6. What composite sign is described in Matthew chapters 24 and 25?

⁶ Nineteen hundred years ago, Jesus’ light-bearing disciples asked him for a sign, or evidence, of his future presence in Kingdom power. His reply, recorded in the 24th and 25th chapters of Matthew 24-25, provided a composite sign, all the elements of which are now being fulfilled on an international scale. The fulfillment of that sign marks a time of distress and great testing. Jesus warned: “Look out that nobody misleads you; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet.”​—Matthew 24:4-6.

7. What features of the sign have we seen fulfilled since 1914?

⁷ Jesus further prophesied that there would be wars on an unprecedented scale. In the fulfillment, two of these have been classified as world wars, one from 1914 to 1918 and the second from 1939 to 1945. Further, he said that there would be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. Genuine Christians would be severely persecuted. True to the prophecy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the modern light bearers, have suffered persecution for the past eight decades while preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.” (Matthew 24:7-14) Each Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses adds to the evidence that these aspects of the sign are being fulfilled.

8, 9. (a) What does Jesus’ regal presence involve? (b) What does Jesus’ prophecy concerning false Christs indicate as to the place and manner of his presence?

⁸ Since Jesus’ kingship embraces the whole earth, true worship is expanding on all continents. His regal presence (pa·rou·siʹa) is a time of global inspection. (1 Peter 2:12) But is there a capital city, or center, where Jesus can be consulted? Jesus answered this by foretelling that in expectation of his presence, false Christs would arise. He warned: “If people say to you, ‘Look! He [Christ] is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of the Son of man will be.”​—Matthew 24:24, 26, 27.

⁹ Better than anyone else on earth, Jesus, “the Son of man,” knew where he would be located when his presence actually began. He would not locate himself either here or there or in any particular spot on the earth. He would not put in an appearance in some isolated place, “in the wilderness,” so that those who would seek the Messiah could consult with him away from observation by the governmental authorities of the land, a location where followers could train under his leadership, preparing to strike a political blow and install him as the Messianic Ruler of the world. Further, he would not conceal himself in some “inner chambers,” his location being known to only a select few, that there, unobserved and undetected, he might conspire and draw up secret plans with accomplices for overturning the governments of the world and having himself anointed as the promised Messiah. No!

10. How have lightnings of Bible truth flashed out in a global way?

¹⁰ On the contrary, there would be nothing to hide about Jesus’ having come as King, at the beginning of his royal presence. As Jesus foretold, in a global way, lightnings of Bible truth continue to flash over broad areas from eastern parts to western parts. Truly, as modern light bearers, Jehovah’s Witnesses prove to be “a light of the nations, that [Jehovah’s] salvation may come to be to the extremity of the earth.”​—Isaiah 49:6.

Angelic Activity

11. (a) In what way are angelic hosts used in shedding forth Kingdom light? (b) When and into what group have members of the wheat class been gathered?

¹¹ Other texts relating to Jesus’ presence describe him as being accompanied by, or ‘sending forth,’ angelic hosts. (Matthew 16:27; 24:31) In the illustration of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus stated that “the field is the world” and that “the harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels.” This does not mean, however, that during his presence in Kingdom power and glory, he uses solely angelic messengers on earthly missions. Starting in 1919, angels under Jesus’ direction separated the wheat class of spirit-begotten anointed ones on earth, who had been scattered by events of World War I, and these were prepared for further activity in the King’s name. (Matthew 13:38-43) In the 1920’s other thousands of humans took their stand for God’s established Kingdom and were anointed with God’s spirit. These anointed ones were effectively added to the ranks of the original remnant. Collectively, they make up the faithful and discreet slave class for our day.

12. In what cleansing have the angels participated, and with what result to the earth?

¹² Another example of angelic participation during Jesus’ presence following his enthronement in 1914 is recorded at Revelation 12:7-9: “Michael [Jesus Christ] and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So 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.” Thus, the heavens above have now been cleansed, leaving only the earthly realm of the Kingdom yet to be completely purified for the sanctification of Jehovah’s name. In this year of 1993, the divine warning continues to apply: “Woe for the earth . . . because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”​—Revelation 12:12.

Heavenly Resurrection

13, 14. (a) What do the Scriptures indicate has been proceeding from 1918 onward? (b) What do Paul and John reveal concerning the anointed remnant today?

¹³ Another amazing happening during Christ’s presence is the start of the heavenly resurrection. The apostle Paul indicated that those anointed Christians long asleep in their graves would be the first to be made alive and live with Christ Jesus in the spirit realm. Evidence has been presented over the years to show that this appears to have happened from 1918 onward. Paul writes: “In the Christ all will be made alive. But each one in his own rank: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence [pa·rou·siʹa].” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 23) The resurrection of the anointed during Christ’s presence is confirmed at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17: “This is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death . . . Those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” There are 144,000 who belong to Christ as anointed ones who eventually receive this marvelous reward.​—Revelation 14:1.

¹⁴ As Paul shows, those of the anointed remnant alive today do not get into the Kingdom ahead of those earlier faithful anointed Christian martyrs and disciples. The apostle John further describes those of the anointed who die today as follows: “Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the things they did go right with them,” that is, in their resurrected existence. (Revelation 14:13) And Paul says: “Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52) What an amazing miracle!

15, 16. (a) What illustration did Jesus give at Luke 19:11-15, and for what reason? (b) How has this prophecy been undergoing fulfillment?

¹⁵ Once when Jesus was preaching to a group of his followers about God’s Kingdom, he used an illustration to help them correct their wrong ideas. The account reads: “They were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display itself instantly. Therefore he said: ‘A certain man of noble birth traveled to a distant land to secure kingly power for himself and to return. Calling ten slaves of his he gave them ten minas and told them, “Do business till I come.” . . . Eventually when he got back after having secured the kingly power, he commanded to be called to him these slaves to whom he had given the silver money, in order to ascertain what they had gained by business activity.’”​—Luke 19:11-15.

¹⁶ Jesus was that “man” who went to heaven, the “distant land” where he was to receive a kingdom. That Kingdom he obtained in 1914. Soon after, Christ as King held an accounting with his professed followers to see what they had done in caring for the Kingdom interests entrusted to them. A faithful few were chosen to receive the master’s commendation: “Well done, good slave! Because in a very small matter you have proved yourself faithful, hold authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:17) This period of Christ’s presence involved continued intense Kingdom-preaching activity, including the declaration of God’s judgments against the wicked, and overseeing this work was included in the authority entrusted to the “good slave.”

Worldwide Preaching

17. What joy marks the pa·rou·siʹa?

¹⁷ What else would happen during this pa·rou·siʹa? It would be a time of great joy in the preaching work and in helping new ones to prepare for survival through the coming great tribulation. These ones of the “great crowd,” who assist the remnant, become “letters of recommendation.” (Revelation 7:9; 2 Corinthians 3:1-3) Paul mentions the joy of this harvest work when he says: “What is our hope or joy or crown of exultation​—why, is it not in fact you?​—before our Lord Jesus at his presence [pa·rou·siʹa]?”​—1 Thessalonians 2:19.

Keep Clean and Blameless

18. (a) What prayer of Paul has reference to the pa·rou·siʹa? (b) What spirit must all of us display during this time, and in what ways?

¹⁸ Paul also prayed for the sanctification of those alive during this time of Christ’s presence: “May the very God of peace sanctify you completely. And sound in every respect may the spirit and soul and body of you brothers be preserved in a blameless manner at the presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Yes, today, whether we are of the anointed remnant or of the great number of the other sheep, the spirit of cooperation binds us loyally together that we may continue to be clean and blameless at this unique time. Similarly, we need to exercise patience. James wrote: “Exercise patience, therefore, brothers, until the presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of the Lord. . . . Make your hearts firm, because the presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of the Lord has drawn close.”​—James 5:7, 8.

19. What warning did Peter sound concerning the pa·rou·siʹa, and how should we respond?

¹⁹ The apostle Peter also had something to say to us who are alive in this present period. He warned us against ridiculers, of whom there are many in all parts of the earth. Peter says: “You know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence [pa·rou·siʹa] of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.’” (2 Peter 3:3, 4) Despite the prevalence of ridiculers during Christ’s presence, Jehovah’s people continue to shine as the light of the world, for the salvation of many.

Expanded Activities During Christ’s Presence

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.’”​—MATTHEW 25:34.

1. In what way has Christ’s pa·rou·siʹa been just as “the days of Noah”?

CHRIST’S presence​—the long-awaited event! The time like “the days of Noah,” which Jesus spoke of in connection with “the conclusion of the system of things,” arrived in the year 1914. (Matthew 24:3, 37) But what would Christ’s presence, or pa·rou·siʹa, mean for the anointed remnant of “the faithful and discreet slave”? (Matthew 24:45) Why, that they would have to become increasingly more active as light bearers! Marvelous things were due to happen! An unprecedented gathering work was about to begin.

2. What cleansing has taken place in fulfillment of Malachi 3:1-5?

² First, though, these anointed Christians needed cleansing. As Malachi 3:1-5 had foretold, Jehovah God and his “messenger of the covenant,” Jesus Christ, came to inspect the spiritual temple in the spring of 1918. Judgment was to begin with “the house of God.” (1 Peter 4:17) Malachi 3:3 foretold: “He [Jehovah] must sit as a refiner and cleanser of silver and must cleanse the sons of Levi; and he must clarify them like gold and like silver.” It was a period of refining and cleansing.

3. Why was it essential that spiritual cleansing take place?

³ Passing through this judgment, which climaxed in 1918, the remnant of the slave class was cleansed from worldly and religious defilement. Why did Jehovah cleanse them? Because his spiritual temple was involved. This is the templelike arrangement for worshiping Jehovah on the basis of the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jehovah wanted his temple to be in a clean condition so that when large numbers of worshipers with earthly hopes were brought there, they would find a place where his universal sovereignty is respected, where his divine name is sanctified, and where his righteous laws are obeyed. Thus, they would appreciate Jehovah and join in making known his grand purposes.

Added Privileges

4, 5. (a) How does a question by Jesus Christ challenge each of the slave class today? (b) In what ways are the expressions “faithful and discreet slave” and “his domestics” to be understood? (c) What commission did Jesus give to the slave?

⁴ In 1919 the cleansed slave class could look forward to ever-expanding activities. Back in 1914, Jesus Christ, their Master, had obtained a heavenly Kingdom. When he returned to his household staff to inspect all his “domestics,” he was arrayed in royal dignity, which he had not possessed when he was down here on earth. What did he find? Was the slave class busy caring for the Master’s interests? As recorded at Matthew 24:45-47, Jesus asked a question that challenged each anointed disciple to examine his personal devotion to Jehovah’s Messiah: “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.”

⁵ Obviously, Jesus’ description of this faithful slave does not fit any individual human. No, but it does describe Christ’s faithful anointed congregation as a whole, as a group. The domestics are Christ’s anointed followers as individuals. Jesus knew that he was going to purchase these anointed ones with his own blood, so he fittingly referred to them collectively as his slave. First Corinthians 7:23 says of them: “YOU [speaking collectively] were bought with a price; stop becoming slaves of men.” Jesus commissioned his slave class to let their light shine to attract and make other disciples and to feed his domestics progressively by giving them their spiritual food at the proper time.

6. How was the slave rewarded as a result of Jesus’ inspection?

⁶ From the time Christ’s presence began and down to 1918, the slave class, despite unpopularity, persecution, and even some confusion, had been seeking to give timely food to the domestics. This is what the Master found when his inspection began. The Lord Jesus was pleased, and in 1919 he pronounced that faithful approved slave class happy. What was the slave’s delightful reward for doing what his Master had appointed him to do? A promotion! Yes, larger responsibilities were given in advancing his Master’s interests. Since the Master was now a heavenly King, why, then, his earthly belongings became even more precious.

7, 8. (a) What are ‘all the belongings’ of the Master? (b) What is demanded of the slave in taking oversight of these belongings?

⁷ So, what are “all his belongings”? These are all the spiritual assets on earth that have become Christ’s property in connection with his authority as heavenly King. This definitely included the commission to make disciples of Christ, with the grand privilege of acting as representatives of God’s established Kingdom to all the nations of the world.

⁸ Such a promotion to oversight of all the Master’s belongings demanded that the slave class give more time and attention to getting the Kingdom work done and, yes, develop larger facilities for that work. It now had a much greater field of work​—the entire inhabited earth.

Gathering the Sheep

9. What has resulted from the expansion of the slave’s activities?

⁹ Obediently, then, Christ’s faithful and discreet slave class expanded its activities. The result? The final ones of the anointed 144,000 were gathered in. Then John’s vision as recorded at Revelation 7:9-17 became a thrilling, heartwarming reality. Particularly since 1935 has the slave class enjoyed witnessing the steady unfolding of this vision’s fulfillment. From all over the earth, “a great crowd” of millions now throng the precincts of Jehovah’s spiritual temple as his worshipers. Jehovah’s angel told John that no man was able to number this great crowd. That means that there is no limit placed on the number of people whom the slave class is to bring to Jehovah’s spiritual temple. As long as the way is open, the work of gathering them will continue.

10. In what loving activity is the slave involved today?

¹⁰ The faithful slave class has a heavy responsibility in caring for the continually increasing number of “other sheep,” knowing that these sheeplike ones out of all nations are very dear to the Master, Jesus. They are actually his flock. (John 10:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-4) So with love for the Master and for the sheep, the slave class happily cares for the spiritual needs of the great crowd.

11-13. What appropriate comment did the then president of the Watch Tower Society make concerning the slave’s activity?

¹¹ Yes, the greater part of the slave’s light-bearing commission involves the gathering of these earthly subjects of God’s Kingdom. Discussing the ever-growing activities of the faithful slave, F. W. Franz, then president of the Watch Tower Society, said just before his death in December 1992:

¹² “Jesus Christ has used the organization more and more wonderfully all the time, according to my 99 years of life’s experience. It is not a mere man that is directing the organization, but it must be the Lord Jesus Christ. For it has worked out far more grandly and wonderfully than we ever thought. Today we have an organization that has expanded worldwide. It is working in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere, in the East and in the West. Only one person could be responsible for this noteworthy expansion​—the Son of God, who is in charge of the faithful and discreet slave class. He has been measuring up to his responsibilities, and that is what accounts for this grand expansion that we have witnessed.

¹³ “The matter does not rest with one man. We have an organization that is theocratic, and it operates in a theocratic manner, in a God-directed style. No man, not even the founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, can claim or be attributed with responsibility for what has been accomplished in a globe-embracing way. It is simply marvelous.” Are not all of those who are of the great crowd in wholehearted agreement with those sentiments of the late Brother Franz? Yes, indeed, they are most grateful for the expanded activities of the faithful slave.

Subjects of the Kingdom

14, 15. (a) What did Jesus illustrate in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)? (b) Appropriately, what follows in Matthew chapter 25?

¹⁴ In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus’ illustration of the sheep and the goats describes this great work of gathering the earthly subjects of God’s Kingdom. In the parable that precedes it, that of the talents, Jesus illustrates that the anointed disciples who hope to reign with him in his heavenly Kingdom must work to increase his earthly belongings. Quite appropriately, then, in the following parable, Jesus depicts what is required of those who want to become subjects of his heavenly Kingdom.

¹⁵ Notice his remarks at Matthew 25:31-33: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.”

16. How are the nations gathered and the people separated?

¹⁶ Jesus arrived in his glory in 1914. Going on the offensive, he, with all his angels, attacked and evicted his demonic enemies from heaven. What follows next in his parable helps us appreciate that Jesus’ sitting down on a glorious throne represents a posture of judgment during his presence. The gathering of all the nations before him means that Jesus acts toward the nations as his prospective flock, figuratively speaking. It is a flock made up of sheep and goats. While it may take part of a day to separate the sheep from the goats in a literal flock, the earth-wide separating of people who are free moral agents takes much longer. This is because the separation is based on each individual’s course of action.

17. Why is the situation today serious for all people?

¹⁷ In the parable, the Shepherd-King puts the sheeplike ones on his right hand and the goatlike ones on his left. The right-hand side turns out to be a judgment with a favorable outcome​—everlasting life. The left-hand side represents an unfavorable judgment​—that of everlasting destruction. The King’s determination of the matter has serious consequences.

18. Why does the King’s invisibility not excuse anyone?

¹⁸ The invisibility of the reigning Son of man during his presence, or pa·rou·siʹa, does not excuse anyone. More and more sheeplike ones today are joining the slave class in preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom worldwide, letting their light shine. Truly, their witnessing has reached the far corners of the globe.​—Matthew 24:14.

19. What qualities of the sheep class are illustrated in the parable of the sheep and the goats?

¹⁹ Why does the Shepherd-King reward those of the sheep class with a blessed future? Because of their wholehearted support of the Kingdom-preaching work and the kindness they show toward his anointed brothers, which Jesus regards as done to himself. Therefore, the royal Son of man says to them: “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.”​—Matthew 25:34; 28:19, 20.

Helping the King

20, 21. What evidence do the sheep give that they stand on the side of the Kingdom?

²⁰ Notice that when the King invites these sheep to inherit the earthly realm of God’s Kingdom, they express surprise. They ask him: ‘Lord, when did we do all these things for you?’ He replies: “Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene on his resurrection day, he spoke of his spiritual brothers when he said to her: “Be on your way to my brothers.” (John 20:17) During the time of his invisible presence, Jesus has only a small remnant of his 144,000 spiritual brothers still in the flesh on the earth.

²¹ Since Jesus is invisible in the heavens, it is only indirectly that sheeplike people do these loving things to him. They see him on his throne only with their eyes of faith. Jesus appreciates all the efforts they make to assist his spiritual brothers, who will become his heavenly joint heirs. What is done to his brothers he counts as being done to him personally. The sheeplike ones deliberately do good to Christ’s brothers because they recognize them to be such. They appreciate that Jesus’ spiritual brothers are the ambassadors of Jehovah’s Kingdom, and they want to give concrete evidence that they are taking their stand with them on the side of that Kingdom.

22. How is the sheep class rewarded? (Compare Revelation 7:14-17.)

²² Jehovah foresaw that this sheeplike class would appear during this time of his Son’s presence, and he has a wondrous reward in store for them! The great crowd will inherit the blessings of peace here on earth during the happy Millennial Reign by Jehovah’s King, Jesus Christ.

23. In what ways do the sheep knowingly help the King’s brothers?

²³ When we take into consideration Bible prophecies that apply at the time of Christ’s presence, along with Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, what do we see? This: It is not a case of unknowingly and by chance doing good to one of the King’s spiritual brothers that makes a person a sheep with a righteous standing before God and his King. Those of the sheep class know what they are doing, even though they do not see the reigning King with their literal eyes. They endeavor to help the King’s brothers not only in a material way but also in a spiritual way. How? By assisting them in the preaching of the good news of God’s Kingdom and in conducting Bible studies in order to make disciples for Christ. Thus, today there are over four million light-bearing proclaimers of God’s Kingdom.

Expanded Activities

24. What loving labors have made the slave class the happiest people on earth today?

²⁴ Let us enumerate some of the many fine works of the faithful slave class. First, the slave class has been appointed over all the Master’s belongings​—his Kingdom interests on earth—​and these belongings keep on increasing. Second, that class is feeding not only the anointed domestics but an ever-expanding great crowd of other sheep with spiritual food. Third, the slave class is taking the lead in spreading the Kingdom light. Fourth, its greatest expansion of activities is in the gathering of the great crowd of other sheep, bringing them to Jehovah’s spiritual temple. Fifth, the slave class, with the wholehearted support of sheeplike ones, is providing enlarged facilities for branch organizations around the globe, as well as at the headquarters in the United States. Such loving labors have made the slave class the happiest people on earth today, and they have made millions of other people happy too. All of these give thanks to Jehovah God and to Jesus Christ, who have directed the expanded activities of the discreet slave!

25. How may the sheep continue to support the slave class, with what prospect in view?

²⁵ The slave class is now working harder than ever at its God-assigned duties. The time left before the outbreak of the “great tribulation” is almost gone! (Matthew 24:21) How vital it is that these who are God’s sheep stay on the right side of favor of his Shepherd-King! So, then, let all continue zealously to support the faithful and discreet slave. It is only by doing this that someday very soon all sheeplike ones will be able to hear those happy words: “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.”

Deliverance at the Revelation of Jesus Christ

“Go on rejoicing . . . that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory.”​—1 PETER 4:13.

1. How has Jehovah enriched his servants?

JEHOVAH has enriched his Witnesses with many gifts. As our Grand Instructor, he has enlightened us with a fullness of knowledge concerning his will and purpose. Through his holy spirit, he has cultivated in us the ability to shed forth light with boldness. The inspired apostle Paul tells us at 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7: “The witness about the Christ has been rendered firm among you, so that you do not fall short in any gift at all, while you are eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. What joyful prospect does the “revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” hold forth?

² “The revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ”​—what does that mean? It refers to the time when Jesus is revealed as a glorious King, taking action to reward his faithful followers and to execute vengeance on the ungodly. As 1 Peter 4:13 indicates, it will be a time for integrity-keeping spirit-anointed Christians and their loyal companions of the great crowd to “rejoice and be overjoyed,” for it signals the end of Satan’s system of things.

3. How must we stand firm, as did our brothers in Thessalonica?

³ As that time draws close, Satan in his anger increases pressure on us. Like a roaring lion, he tries to devour us. We must stand firm! (1 Peter 5:8-10) Our brothers in ancient Thessalonica, when new in the truth, suffered tribulations similar to those experienced by many of Jehovah’s Witnesses today. Hence, the apostle Paul’s words to them are very meaningful for us. He wrote: “It is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you, but, to you who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8) Yes, relief will come!

4. Why do the clergy merit the judgment that will be executed at Jesus’ revelation?

⁴ In Paul’s time much of the tribulation was caused by the Jewish religious leaders. Similarly today, opposition to the peace-loving Witnesses of Jehovah has often been instigated by those who claim to represent God, in particular the clergy of Christendom. These pretend to know God, but they reject the “one Jehovah” of the Bible, replacing him with a mystic Trinity. (Mark 12:29) They do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus, looking to man-rule for relief and rejecting the good news of Christ’s incoming Kingdom of righteousness. All these religious opposers must perish at the time of “the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven”!

The “Coming” of Jesus Christ

5. How is Jesus’ revelation vividly portrayed at Matthew 24:29, 30?

⁵ That revelation is vividly portrayed by Jesus at Matthew 24:29, 30. In describing various features of the sign of his presence and of the conclusion of the system of things, he says: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” At that time “the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven.” The nations of the earth “will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man [God’s Messianic King] coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” This “coming,” er·khoʹme·non in Greek, refers to Jesus’ appearing as Jehovah’s Vindicator.

6, 7. How is it that “every eye will see him,” and who are included in this?

⁶ This “coming” is described also by the apostle John at Revelation 1:7, where he says: “Look! He is coming with the clouds.” Oh, those enemies will not actually see Jesus with literal eyes, for “the clouds” signifies that he comes invisibly to execute judgment. If mere humans were to behold his heavenly glory with the naked eye, they would be blinded, just as Saul, on the road to Damascus, was struck blind when the glorified Jesus appeared to him in a great flashing light.​—Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11.

⁷ The Revelation account states that “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.” This means that opposers on earth will discern in the destruction that Jesus rains down on them that he has come with power and great glory as Jehovah’s Executioner. Why are these enemies described as “those who pierced him”? It is because their attitude of bitterness toward Jehovah’s servants today is like that of Jesus’ persecutors. They will, indeed, ‘beat themselves bitterly in grief because of him.’

8. What warning do both Jesus and Paul sound regarding sudden destruction?

⁸ How will that day of Jehovah’s vengeance arrive? In the prophecy at Luke chapter 21, Jesus describes the catastrophic events that have served as the sign of his presence since 1914. Then, in verses 34 and 35, Jesus warns: “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.” Yes, that day of Jehovah’s vengeance comes suddenly, instantly! The apostle Paul confirms this at 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3, saying: “Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.” Even now the nations are talking about peace and security and proposing to strengthen the United Nations to police trouble spots by means of military power.

9. For whom does ‘light flash up,’ and why?

⁹ In 1Th 5 verses 4 and 5, the apostle goes on to tell us: “But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness.” We rejoice to be sons of light​—light bearers to others who yearn for true peace and security in God’s new world. At Psalm 97:10, 11, we read: “O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the souls of his loyal ones; out of the hand of the wicked ones he delivers them. Light itself has flashed up for the righteous one, and rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart.”

The Order of Events

10. What advance notice should we heed regarding God’s day of reckoning? (Revelation 16:15)

¹⁰ What will be the order of events when the great tribulation strikes? Let us turn to Revelation chapter 16. Notice, as described in verses 13 through 16, that unclean, demonic spirits gather the nations of the entire earth to Har–Magedon, the war of the great day of God the Almighty. Again, the thieflike approach of the day of reckoning is emphasized, and we are warned to stay awake​—to keep on the spiritual garments that mark us for salvation. The time has arrived for judging the peoples of earth, the nations, and​—someone else. Who is that?

11. How has the woman of Revelation 17:5 identified herself?

¹¹ It is a figurative woman who has really tried to make herself “someone.” She is described at Revelation 17:5 as “a mystery: ‘Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.’” But she is no longer a mystery to Jehovah’s Witnesses. She has clearly identified herself as the world empire of false religion, of which Christendom’s sects make up the dominant part. Disgusting in Jehovah’s eyes are her dabbling in political affairs, her becoming “drunk with the blood of the holy ones” by persecuting true Christians, and her being responsible for the blood “of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth,” including more than a hundred million killed in the wars of this 20th century alone.​—Revelation 17:2, 6; 18:24.

12. Why do Christendom’s sects stand condemned?

¹² Worst of all, Christendom’s sects have brought reproach on the name of the God whom they hypocritically claim to represent. They have taught Babylonian and Grecian philosophies instead of the pure Word of God and have contributed to the moral delinquency of entire nations by approving permissive life-styles that flout Bible principles. Greedy wheeler-dealers among them stand condemned by the words of James 5:1, 5: “Come, now, you rich men, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you. You have lived in luxury upon the earth and have gone in for sensual pleasure. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter.”

Down With Babylon the Great!

13. How does the opening salvo of the great tribulation come, and what urgency is emphasized at Revelation 18:4, 5?

¹³ The opening salvo of the great tribulation comes with the execution of Jehovah’s judgment on Babylon the Great. Revelation 17:15-18 graphically describes God’s “thought”​—to maneuver “ten horns,” powerful forces from within the multinational UN “wild beast,” to dispose of her. “And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.” No wonder a heavenly voice sounds an urgent warning at Revelation 18:4, 5: “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. For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind.” The call continues to go forth: Cut all ties with false religion, before it is too late!

14. Who will mourn over the devastating of Babylon the Great, and why?

¹⁴ How will the world regard the devastating of Babylon the Great? From a distance, corrupt politicians​—“kings of the earth”—​grieve over her because they had for centuries found mutual pleasure in their spiritual fornication. Also weeping and mourning over her are greedy men of commerce, “traveling merchants . . . , who became rich from her.” These also distance themselves from her, 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!” All the finery of ecclesiastical garments and the magnificence of the world’s great cathedrals will be gone forever! (Revelation 18:9-17) But will everyone mourn over Babylon the Great?

15, 16. What cause for rejoicing will God’s people have?

¹⁵ Revelation 18:20, 21 answers: “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!” Like a great millstone hurled into the sea, “with a swift pitch will Babylon the great city [have been] hurled down, and she will never be found again.”

¹⁶ What cause for rejoicing! Revelation 19:1-8 bears this out. Four times the call, “Praise Jah, you people!” rings forth from heaven. The first three of these Hallelujahs praise Jehovah because he has executed righteous judgment on the infamous harlot, Babylon the Great. The world empire of false religion is no more! A voice issues from God’s throne, saying: “Be praising our God, all you his slaves, who fear him, the small ones and the great.” How privileged we will be to share in that song!

The Marriage of the Lamb

17. Comparing Revelation 11:17 and 19:6, in what two contexts does Jehovah begin to rule as King?

¹⁷ The fourth Hallelujah introduces another theme: “Praise Jah, you people, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king.” But was not a similar refrain taken up at Revelation 11:17? There we read: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, . . . because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.” Yes. However, the context of Revelation 11:17 refers to Jehovah’s bringing forth the Messianic Kingdom in 1914 “to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod.” (Revelation 12:5) Revelation 19:6 is in the context of the destruction of Babylon the Great. With the removal of harlotlike religion, Jehovah’s Godship stands vindicated. Worship of him as Supreme Sovereign and King will prevail now for all eternity!

18. The removal of Babylon the Great opens the way for what exultant announcement?

¹⁸ Hence, the exultant announcement may be made: “Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give [Jah] the glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself. Yes, it has been granted to her to be arrayed in bright, clean, fine linen, for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.” (Revelation 19:7, 8) Just when the anointed yet remaining on earth will receive their heavenly resurrection is not stated. But we are assured in the context here that their sharing in the marriage of the Lamb, Christ Jesus, will be a happy time, and all the more so since they will have witnessed firsthand the humiliation of the infamous harlot, Babylon the Great.

Satan’s World Destroyed

19. What other development is described at Revelation 19:11-21?

¹⁹ The white horse first mentioned at Revelation 6:2 comes to view again. We read at Revelation 19:11: “The one seated upon [the white horse] is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness.” Thus the “King of kings and Lord of lords” rides forth to strike the nations and to tread “the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.” In vain do “the kings of the earth and their armies” gather to wage the war of Har​—Magedon. The Rider of the white horse completes his conquest. Nothing remains of Satan’s earthly organization.​—Revelation 19:12-21.

20. What befalls the Devil himself?

²⁰ But what of the Devil himself? At Revelation 20:1-6, Christ Jesus is described as “an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.” He seizes the dragon, the original Serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, binds him, hurls him into the abyss, and shuts and seals it over him. With Satan out of the way and unable to mislead the nations anymore, the glorious Millennial Reign of the Lamb and his bride gets under way. No more tears of sorrow! No more Adamic death! No mourning, no outcry, no pain! “The former things have passed away.”​—Revelation 21:4.

21. As we eagerly await the revelation of Jesus Christ, what should be our determination?

²¹ While we eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us show zeal in telling others about God’s loving Kingdom promises. Deliverance is at hand! May we walk forward, ever forward, as enlightened children of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah!