He commends them, saying: “I know your deeds​—look! I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut​—that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name.” (Revelation 3:8) The congregation has been active, and a door has opened before it​—doubtless a door of opportunity for ministerial service. (Compare 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12.) Therefore, Jesus encourages the congregation to take full advantage of the opportunity to preach. They have endured and shown that they have enough power, with help from God’s spirit, to continue doing further “deeds” in Jehovah’s service. (2 Corinthians 12:10; Zechariah 4:6) They have obeyed Jesus’ commands and have not denied Christ, either by word or by action.

As a result of the preaching of the John class, huge numbers of people have entered through the opened door into Kingdom service.b

Religious leaders of Christendom, who claimed to be spiritual Jews, slyly maneuvered the rulers to suppress true Christians. Nevertheless, these tried hard to ‘keep the word of Jesus’ endurance’; hence, with spiritual help, a significant “little power,” they survived and were aroused to enter the door that now opened before them. In what way?

“An Opened Door”

18. What appointment did Jesus make in 1919, and how did the appointee thus become like Hezekiah’s faithful steward?

¹⁸ In 1919 Jesus fulfilled his promise and recognized the small band of genuine anointed Christians as his “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) These entered into a privilege similar to that enjoyed by the faithful steward Eliakim in the time of King Hezekiah.d Jehovah said of Eliakim: “I will put the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he must open without anyone’s shutting, and he must shut without anyone’s opening.” Eliakim shouldered heavy responsibilities for Hezekiah, the royal son of David. Similarly today, the anointed John class has had “the key of the house of David” put upon its shoulder in that it has been entrusted with the earthly interests of the Messianic Kingdom. Jehovah has strengthened his servants for this privilege, boosting their little power into dynamic energy sufficient for a gigantic global witness.​—Isaiah 22:20, 22; 40:29.

19. How did the John class handle the responsibilities that Jesus gave it in 1919, and with what result?

¹⁹ From 1919 onward the anointed remnant, following Jesus’ example, launched into a vigorous campaign of declaring abroad the good news of the Kingdom. (Matthew 4:17; Romans 10:18) As a result, some of the modern synagogue of Satan, Christendom, came to this anointed remnant, repented and ‘bowed down,’ acknowledging the slave’s authority. They too came to serve Jehovah in union with the older ones of the John class. This continued until the full number of Jesus’ anointed brothers was gathered. Following this, “a great crowd . . . out of all nations” has come to “bow down” to the anointed slave. (Revelation 7:3, 4, 9) Together, the slave and this great crowd serve as the one flock of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

20. Why must Jehovah’s Witnesses today be especially strong in faith and active in God’s service?

²⁰ United like the Christians in Philadelphia in a bond of genuine brotherly affection, Jehovah’s Witnesses today appreciate that their work of preaching must be done urgently. Soon, the great tribulation will ring down the curtain on Satan’s wicked world. At that time, may each of us be found strong in faith and active in God’s service, so that our names will not be blotted out of Jehovah’s book of life. (Revelation 7:14) Let us take very seriously Jesus’ admonition to the congregation in Philadelphia so that we may hold fast to our service privileges and attain to the reward of everlasting life.

[Chart on page 64]

In 1919 the reigning King Jesus opened a door of opportunity for Christian service. An increasing number of devoted Christians have taken advantage of that opportunity.

1918 14 3,868 591

1928 32 23,988 1,883

1938 52 47,143 4,112

1948 96 230,532 8,994

1958 175 717,088 23,772

1968 200 1,155,826 63,871

1978 205 2,086,698 115,389

1988 212 3,430,926 455,561

1998 233 5,544,059 698,781

2005 235 6,390,022 843,234

[Footnotes]

[Chart on page 65]

The activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses is wholehearted. Consider, for example, the hours they have spent in preaching and teaching and the huge number of free Bible studies they have conducted in people’s homes.

1918 19,116 Not Recorded

1928 2,866,164 Not Recorded

1938 10,572,086 Not Recorded

1948 49,832,205 130,281

1958 110,390,944 508,320

1968 208,666,762 977,503

1978 307,272,262 1,257,084

1988 785,521,697 3,237,160

1998 1,186,666,708 4,302,852

2005 1,278,235,504 6,061,534