The Watchtower — January 1, 1985

Why So Much Talk About Armageddon?

“ARMAGEDDON”​—what does this Bible name signify? Introduced each time by a meaningful cover, a series of informative articles on this topic is being featured in the four issues of The Watchtower for January and February 1985. It is hoped that these Scriptural discussions will comfort you with knowledge as to what is the real ARMAGEDDON.

“You know, I turn back to your ancient prophets in the Old Testament and the signs foretelling Armageddon, and I find myself wondering if​—if we’re the generation that is going to see that come about.”​—Ronald W. Reagan, president of the United States, October 18, 1983.

“Apocalypse is today not merely a biblical depiction but it has become a very real possibility. Never before in human experience have we been placed on the narrow edge between catastrophe and survival.”​—Javier Perez de Cuellar, secretary-general of the United Nations, June 8, 1982.

“ARMAGEDDON” has become the talk of the world. The ominous-sounding word is heard more and more frequently from the lips of clergymen, politicians, statesmen, military generals, scientists, and even economists. In the United States alone, the word Armageddon is found in the titles of at least 15 books in circulation during 1983. It has become the subject matter of numerous other books, some of which have sold into the millions of copies.

It may seem strange that this word has skyrocketed to popularity, for the first recorded use of the word Armageddon is found in the Bible​—and there it is used only once. (Revelation 16:16, King James Version) Yet the clergy have not had the sole claim on use of the word. In the 1800’s the word Armageddon began to be used in a non-Biblical sense as well. However, it was not until the early 1900’s that “Armageddon” became synonymous with “any great slaughter” or “final conflict.”

Since then the word Armageddon has slowly crept into the vocabulary of diverse groups of professions, each one coloring it with a different shade of meaning. In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, campaigning for a further term as president of the United States, gave the word a political twist. He boasted: “With unflinching heart and undimmed eye, we stand at Armageddon and we battle for the Lord.” Roosevelt lost that political battle for reelection.

Nowadays it is a bad case of world jitters that is causing all this talk about Armageddon: threats of global nuclear annihilation, a long nuclear winter due to detonating those fearsome weapons, a great war in the Middle East, or a sudden collapse of the world’s economic foundation. The word Armageddon is thus popping up today even in the most unexpected places:

◆ A full-length Japanese animated feature cartoon film entitled “Armageddon in Kichijoji” depicts cartoon figures that represent good and evil in a battle to the finish.

◆ The expected 1986 reappearance of Halley’s Comet caused the Frankfurter Neue Presse to say that it “could well again presage Armageddon” for the superstitious.

But not one of these is the Armageddon. Today another voice proclaiming Armageddon is being heard​—one soaring in intensity and sounded by more than two and a-half million people. Have you heard it? By listening to this voice, you will be able to learn not only what Armageddon is not but, more importantly, what it really is.

Armageddon​—What It Is Not

Your destination is only a short ride from Haifa. Under the blaze of the Middle Eastern sun, your car speeds along south of the meandering Kishon River until the valley tapers. Through the narrow gap between the towering Carmel range and the Galilee hills you go, until suddenly the valley opens out before you like a wide, flat saucer​—the Plain of Esdraelon. You are motoring on the south side of the plain when your eye catches sight of one hill with an unnaturally level plateaulike top. This is what you are looking for! The tell, or mound, of Megiddo, the source of the word Armageddon.

ARMAGEDDON is shrouded in mystery and misconceptions. Ideas as to its meaning abound. The word Armageddon, though, is derived from Har–Magedon, or Mountain of Megiddo.a It is a Bible word found at Revelation 16:16, which states: “And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har–Magedon [or, Armageddon].”

Who are gathered to Armageddon and why? Revelation 16:14 answers: “The kings of the entire inhabited earth” muster “to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”

Those answers raise a host of other questions. With whom do “the kings” battle, and over what issue? Where will they fight? Will they use nuclear weapons? Can the war be prevented? Really, what is Armageddon?

Not a Geographic Spot

Armageddon could not be a geographic location. No mountain by that name actually exists​—though a mound called Megiddo remains to this day. The real meaning of Armageddon casts its shadow back in history to warfare that centered in that area of Megiddo.

Megiddo has been the site of some of the most fierce and decisive battles in Middle Eastern history. It all began during the second millennium B.C.E. with Egyptian ruler Thutmose III’s smashing victory over Palestinian and Syrian rulers, and stretched through the centuries to the year 1918 when British field marshal Viscount Allenby inflicted a stinging defeat on the Turks.

But more important to Bible students, Megiddo witnessed the magnificent victory of the Israelite forces under the command of Judge Barak over King Jabin’s mighty Canaanite army led by war chief Sisera. Jehovah God intervened and provided the Israelites with a resounding triumph.​—Judges 4:7, 12-16, 23; 5:19-21.

Therefore, Armageddon begins to take the form of a crucial battle, with only one clear victor.

Not a War Between Earthly Nations

The issue surrounding the battle of Armageddon​—world rulership—​is the great issue of today. But, although two opposing superpowers are now grappling for world domination, Armageddon will not be a world war, pitting one of these against the other. True, the world is in the most expensive and frenzied arms race in all history, prompting this comment from India Today: “All this is pushing the planet grimly to the edge of Armageddon​—the ultimate war among nations.” But Revelation 16:14 indicates that “the kings of the entire inhabited earth” mobilize a united front at “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”

Therefore, Armageddon is not man’s war. It is God’s war. Armageddon will find all earthly nations united in battling ‘the armies of heaven’ under the military command of the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” Christ Jesus. He is the rightful ruler of the world because God also “subjected all things under his [Christ’s] feet.”​—Revelation 19:14, 16; Ephesians 1:22.

Not a Nuclear Holocaust

For many people, nuclear war is too chilling to think about. A 1983 joint study by 40 scientists estimates that in an all-out nuclear war one third to one half of the total world population would suffer immediate death. Their report, published in Science magazine, predicts a grim future for the survivors. It warns: “In any large-scale nuclear exchange between the superpowers, global environmental changes sufficient to cause the extinction of a major fraction of the plant and animal species on the Earth are likely. In that event, the possibility of the extinction of Homo sapiens cannot be excluded.”

Would Almighty God Jehovah allow such a horror? No! He did not create the earth “simply for nothing,” but as he reassures us, he “formed it even to be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:18) At Armageddon God will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth,” not scorch it in a nuclear holocaust.​—Revelation 11:18.

Not a Continuous Battle Between Good and Evil

Some religious leaders believe Armageddon to be a running struggle between the forces of good and evil, whether worldwide or in the mind. “Armageddon is occurring in some part of the world every day,” notes one Bible commentary. How could this be when the Bible promises that Armageddon will bring swift doom for all evil nations and people? Christ, as God’s anointed King at Armageddon, “will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter’s vessel [he] will dash them to pieces.”​—Psalm 2:9; see also Proverbs 2:21, 22; Revelation 19:11-21.

Not a World Economic Collapse

The world’s most powerful governments fear that a Third World default on debt would propel the global economic situation into what Business Life magazine calls an “Economic Armageddon.” A collapse of the world’s banking institutions would truly be tragic, but it would not be Armageddon. The Bible Armageddon is a worldwide situation involving war, not economics. The prophet Jeremiah describes it in these graphic terms: “There is a controversy that Jehovah has with the nations. He must personally put himself in judgment with all flesh. As regards the wicked ones, he must give them to the sword.”​—Jeremiah 25:31.

Not a War in the Middle East

“Somewhere in time, the last conflagration will take place in the Middle East,” preaches world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham. On this matter, he echoes the views of many of his religious colleagues. Graham also believes that Armageddon can be delayed. “I think that the world is heading right now toward Armageddon,” he says, “and that unless there is a spiritual awakening and we turn to God, the world may face its Armageddon in this decade.”

The region of Megiddo could not begin to hold all “the kings of the earth and their armies.” (Revelation 19:19) Therefore, would this not rule out any fundamentalist teaching that Armageddon will be a world war squeezed into the literal plain of Megiddo? The prophet Jeremiah indicates that Armageddon will encompass “the remotest parts of the earth” and that the casualties will be seen “from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth.”​—Jeremiah 25:32, 33.

And since Armageddon means “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” no one can prevent it. There is nothing that humans can do that will delay it. Jehovah has set an “appointed time” for the battle to start. “It will not be late.”​—Revelation 16:14; 11:18; Habakkuk 2:3.

Basis for Hope

Armageddon is not to be feared by people who love righteousness. To the contrary, it can be a basis for hope. The Bible says: “And I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness.” (Revelation 19:11) The battle of Armageddon will wipe the earth clean of all wickedness and pave the way for the restoration of righteous conditions.​—Isaiah 11:4, 5.

For more than a hundred years, the voice of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been heard proclaiming God’s future victory over the corrupt, unyielding rulers of this system. Especially since the year 1925 the Witnesses have had a clear view of what Armageddon is and they refuse to keep silent about it. Their desire is to help people to become Armageddon survivors, not casualties. So they urge all who listen to follow the advice of Joel 2:31, 32, which speaks of “the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah,” and adds: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe.”

Some, though, may still wonder: Although Armageddon is global in scope, will it start in the Middle East? How could a God of love allow an Armageddon? Will true peace follow Armageddon? Read the next three issues of The Watchtower, for they will address those questions.

[Footnotes]

[Box on page 6]

What Is Armageddon?

Armageddon IS NOT. . .

◆ a geographic location

◆ a battle between nations

◆ a nuclear holocaust

◆ a global economic collapse

◆ a struggle between good and evil

◆ a Middle Eastern conflict

Armageddon IS. . .

◆ the worldwide situation where all earthly nations will battle against God’s Son, Christ Jesus, and his angelic army in “the war of the great day of God the Almighty”

[Picture on page 4]

[Picture on page 7]

At Armageddon God’s King, Jesus Christ, ‘will break all evil nations with an iron scepter, as though a potter’s vessel he will dash them to pieces.’​—Psalm 2:9.

“The Watchtower” Steps Into Simultaneous Publication

In July 1879 the first issue of this magazine stated: “As its name indicates, it aims to be the lookout from whence matters of interest and profit may be announced to the ‘little flock.’” Today, The Watchtower serves spiritual food also to “a great crowd” of sincere persons who look forward to gaining everlasting life here on earth.​—Luke 12:32; Revelation 7:9-17.

As the circulation of The Watchtower increased so did the number of languages in which it appeared. Today, these languages total 102. Reports show that new subscriptions to The Watchtower and its companion magazine, Awake!, have increased remarkably over the past 70 years. So also has the field placement of individual copies. Here are some available figures:

Year New Subscriptions Magazines Placed

1914 2,746 95,973

1944 292,258 9,293,913

1964 1,551,436 127,055,165

1984 1,812,221 287,358,064

Now we reach another milestone in the 105-year history of The Watchtower​—its simultaneous publication in 20-and-more languages. A joyful development indeed! May Jehovah continue to use this magazine mightily in announcing his Kingdom by Christ Jesus!

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

Swedish

Danish

Norwegian

Finnish

Portuguese

German

Sepedi

Sesotho

Tsonga

Zulu

Dutch

French

Spanish

Italian

Afrikaans

Japanese

Tswana

Venda

Xhosa

Cibemba

Unified In Publishing the Word of Jehovah

“Have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”​—ROMANS 15:5, 6.

1. (a) What is Jehovah’s arrangement for unifying his people? (b) What do the Scriptures indicate as to the order of this unification?

JEHOVAH has gathered his witnesses into a precious global unity. This is in line with God’s household arrangement that the apostle Paul describes at Ephesians 1:10: “An administration at the full limit of the appointed times, namely, to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.” First to be gathered are those of the “little flock” of anointed heaven-bound Christians and afterward those of the “great crowd . . . out of all nations” who look forward to surviving into the righteous “new earth” of God’s promise.​—Luke 12:32; Revelation 7:3, 4, 9, 13-17; 21:1, 5.

2. What makes it possible for Jehovah’s Witnesses to speak “with one accord”?

² “With one accord”​—that is the way these witnesses of Jehovah speak forth his Kingdom message. Why are they able to do this? It is because, around our globe, they display “the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had” while on earth. He was no part of this proud world. Rather, he humbled himself in doing God’s will and in building up a warm, loving unity among his disciples. This was the start of a global unification that distinguished true Christians during the centuries to follow.​—Philippians 2:5-8; John 13:34, 35; 17:14.

3. (a) What sharp contrast is to be seen on earth today? (b) How do the Scriptures help in identifying the global society of true Christians?

³ This unity of organization has reached its most wonderful expression during these “last days,” standing out in sharp contrast with the divisions afflicting Satan’s system of things, where hatred and lawlessness are rampant. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13; Matthew 24:3, 12) Never before in the history of mankind has there existed around our earth, in 203 lands, an organization that is in full accord as to belief, purpose and activity. This global society of Jesus’ disciples may be recognized by the fruit that it bears.​—John 15:8; Hebrews 13:15; Galatians 5:22, 23.

Unity of Action

4. (a) What controversy arose in the first-century congregation? (b) According to Acts 15:1-6, what theocratic action was initiated?

⁴ Unity of action in Jehovah’s organization is illustrated for us at Acts chapter 15. Picture in your mind’s eye a gathering of mature witnesses of Jehovah​—the 11 apostles, other older men of the Jerusalem congregation and Paul and Barnabas, elders from the Antioch congregation. In Antioch, and also in Jerusalem, some converts from among the Jews have been insisting that people of the nations must be circumcised and must observe the Law of Moses in order to be saved. So the apostles and the older men have “gathered together to see about this affair.”​—Acts 15:1-6.

5-7. (a) In what sense was there “much disputing”? (b) What testimony was presented? (c) How were the Scriptures brought to bear on the matter? (d) What mature determination did James make, leading to what final decision? (e) What kind of action followed?

⁵ There is open-minded discussion of the problem, with those devoted men airing all the pros and cons. They do not have their minds made up ahead of time. They are willing to examine the matter from all angles. There is “much disputing,” but obviously they maintain good order and listen respectfully to one another’s views. The apostle Peter bears witness to the fact that God has given holy spirit to uncircumcised people of the nations​—surely powerful testimony that physical circumcision is no longer a requirement for those being saved. Barnabas and Paul add to this testimony, describing the many wonderful things that God has accomplished through their ministry to the nations.​—Acts 15:7-12.

⁶ Next, James quotes the Scriptures in support of the argument that has just been presented. He explains that Amos 9:11, 12 points forward to the restoration of divine favor under the Greater David, Jesus Christ, and to Jehovah’s extending undeserved kindness to “all the nations upon whom [his] name has been called.” James sees no need to trouble converts from the nations by insisting that they be circumcised and observe all the rules embodied in the Law of Moses. However, a few things are necessary: They must abstain from idolatry, from partaking of blood in any form and from sexual immorality.​—Acts 15:13-21.

⁷ The governing body in Jerusalem comes to a unanimous decision. It dispatches messengers to the Antioch congregation with a letter that concludes with the encouragement: “If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”​—Acts 15:22-29.

Theocratic Procedure

8. (a) How is the modern-day Governing Body guided in making decisions? (b) What are some matters that have been clarified recently?

⁸ In modern times, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, representing the Master’s “faithful and discreet slave” on earth, follows the same apostolic pattern. (Matthew 24:45-47) Thus, Christian experience, guidance from the Bible, and the leadings of Jehovah’s spirit direct this group of anointed Witnesses to theocratic conclusions on matters of great concern to the congregation. For example, in recent years the Governing Body has followed the Scriptural procedure in clarifying such matters as the Bible’s view of “ministers,” the God-given conscience, the carrying of lethal weapons, and the extent to which features of Isaiah’s prophecy apply to the future Paradise on earth.​—Compare John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10.

9. What procedure must elders follow in handling problems today?

⁹ The procedure of Acts chapter 15 must be followed also by congregation elders in handling problems today. First, let the problem and related facts be plainly stated. Next, let reliable witnesses give clear, factual evidence bearing on the matter. Search the Scriptures to get Jehovah’s viewpoint, making use also of help that may be available in the Watch Tower Society’s publications. Prayerfully work toward reaching a unanimous solution, in harmony with the teaching of Jehovah’s Word, that will benefit the congregation.​—Isaiah 48:17; 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Rejoicing​—Then and Now

10. (a) As in the first-century congregation, how should theocratic decisions affect us today? (b) How have modern developments led to strengthening and increasing God’s people?

¹⁰ When they heard of the governing body’s decision, members of the congregation in Antioch “rejoiced over the encouragement.” Similarly today, Jehovah’s Witnesses rejoice to learn of organizational decisions and clarifications of doctrine that promote the spiritual health of God’s people and the advancement of Jehovah’s work. (Compare Titus 2:1.) But it is no longer necessary for the Governing Body to write letters of instruction by hand and to circulate these by messengers traveling on foot. Modern means of communication and printing facilities in more than 30 Watch Tower branches around the earth have made it possible to convey “the good news of the word of Jehovah” to the millions of God’s people in a minimum of time. This is done principally through the Watchtower magazine. Thus, the congregations worldwide continue “to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day.”​—Acts 15:30–16:5.

11. How has Jehovah used The Watchtower in fulfilling Isaiah 30:18-21?

¹¹ Those who have read The Watchtower over the years have rejoiced also to see its increasing circulation. In 105 years of publication, this expanded from 6,000 copies in English once a month to 11,150,000 copies in 102 languages, all major editions being semimonthly. Unquestionably, The Watchtower has been used mightily by our Grand Instructor, Jehovah God, in fulfilling the promise: “Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him. . . . Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: ‘This is the way. Walk in it, you people,’ in case you people should go to the right or in case you should go to the left.”​—Isaiah 30:18-21.

12. (a) Why do we now have further cause for rejoicing? (b) How should this new arrangement benefit us?

¹² Now there is further reason to rejoice. Starting into the year 1985, The Watchtower is being published simultaneously, as to contents, in 23 languages!a All these editions have the same cover design. They contain the same series of opening articles and the same articles for study. This provides for a simultaneous “feeding” program that will unite Jehovah’s people in growing spiritually “until we all attain to the oneness in the faith.” It should stimulate us the more, that ‘with one accord we may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’​—Ephesians 4:13; Romans 15:6.

13. (a) How extensive is this program? (b) What application of 1 Corinthians 1:10 may therefore be made?

¹³ When you hold this magazine in your hand at the weekly congregation study of The Watchtower, does it not thrill you to know that most of your brothers worldwide will be unified in partaking of this same spiritual food on the same day? Yes, this will be happening in all of North and South America, in most of Europe, in Japan and in many places in southern Africa! It is estimated that already more than 90 percent of those attending the Watchtower study around the earth​—some 2,500,000 persons each week—​are now sharing in this simultaneous “feeding” arrangement. Together, these are being “fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) As circumstances permit, other languages will be added.

14. How will families be benefited?

¹⁴ Hitherto, because of language differences, members of one family may have been months apart in studying particular Watchtower articles. But now they can be united in this respect. For example, immigrant parents better acquainted with another language may sit down with their English-speaking children to prepare together the same week’s Watchtower lesson in both languages. In bilingual families, parents will be better equipped to carry out the instruction of Ephesians 6:4 and; 2 Timothy 3:14, 15.

15. (a) In our public ministry, what can we now do in line with Isaiah 52:8, 9? (b) What is made possible for early 1985, and for the future?

¹⁵ Consider, too, our public ministry with the magazines. In this additional way, Kingdom publishers around the globe can now “cry out joyfully in unison” as they present identical information to the world public at the same time. (Isaiah 52:8, 9) In doing magazine street witnessing in multilanguage territories, publishers can display magazines with the same cover theme in two or more languages. Think of it! During the early part of 1985, Kingdom publishers all over the earth will be giving a rousing, united testimony concerning Armageddon! In due time, Jehovah may direct his people to make other powerful, unified declarations worldwide as they serve “side by side for the faith of the good news.” (Philippians 1:27) The simultaneous publication of The Watchtower in many languages will make possible such pronouncements.​—Compare Daniel 11:44.

Looking Ahead

16. (a) What does this Watchtower tell us about magazine activity on pages 8, 9, and 25? (b) Why do people need our magazines today?

¹⁶ During the year 1984, Jehovah’s Witnesses have given wide distribution to the companion magazines The Watchtower and Awake! This activity has been richly blessed by Jehovah, as can be seen from the statistics published on pages 8, 9, and 25 in this magazine. Worldwide, the field distribution of our magazines during 1984 increased by 11.1 percent to a grand total of 287,358,064, while placements of magazine subscriptions increased by 3.2 percent to 1,812,221. There is no question that more and more people are wanting to know why the nations are in anguish, “not knowing the way out.” (Luke 21:25, 26) Parents want a happy future for their children​—something better than an earth roasted in a nuclear war. Our magazines hold out a living hope!​—Matthew 12:18, 21; Romans 15:4.

17. How will our magazines help us to resist the Devil?

¹⁷ What, then, of 1985? The message in The Watchtower and Awake! is becoming ever more pointed. This is to be expected as the last days for Satan’s world wind down. (Revelation 12:12) Make no mistake! The Devil would like to discourage us from sharing regularly in Jehovah’s service. Yes, Satan would like to separate us from the body of God’s people and its activity, and so devour us. (1 Peter 5:8) But we can resist him by regularly meeting to take in accurate knowledge, and by using this increased knowledge in serving Jehovah.​—Ephesians 6:11, 14-16; Colossians 1:9-11.

18. (a) How great is your responsibility as a Kingdom publisher? (b) How can we apply the counsel of Romans 12:10, 11 and Ro 15:5, 6?

¹⁸ Are you a Kingdom publisher? If so, you hold the key position in the modern-day theocratic society. As a dedicated Christian, you may have other responsibilities in the congregation. Yet, in living up to Jehovah’s name, you must be a zealous minister in the field. United in brotherly love and in having tender affection for one another, let all of us continue to be aglow with the spirit as we “slave for Jehovah.” (Romans 12:10, 11) No matter what pressures we experience from Satan and his world, we must continue as one body, yes, ‘with one accord and with one mouth,’ to glorify Jehovah by making known his Kingdom purposes.

19. (a) How can we successfully contend with persecutions and other problems? (b) What counsel does Zephaniah 3:8, 9 provide for us?

¹⁹ Many of us have to contend with persecution or with territories that are unresponsive to our preaching. However, let us continue to show the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had. (John 16:33; 1 Peter 4:1, 2) As a united body let us manifest true courage​—the internal spiritual strength that endures and does not crumble under pressure. (Psalm 27:14; Philippians 1:14) Let us never slack the hand in searching for sheeplike ones. Let us keep ourselves “in expectation” of Jehovah and his day of reckoning, serving him shoulder to shoulder as we call upon his name and speak the “pure language” of truth.​—Zephaniah 3:8, 9.

20. (a) How can we find true happiness? (b) Isaiah 11:6-9 has had what remarkable fulfillment?

²⁰ Unitedly, may all who glorify God “put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.” (Ephesians 4:24) This results in true happiness. It is illustrated at Isaiah 11:6-9, which tells of the spiritual paradise now existing among Jehovah’s restored people. What peace and harmony! What absence of greedy, harmful personality traits! As the finale of this paradisaic description, we note these words: “They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.” Jehovah’s “holy mountain” of united worship is firmly established today in all the earth. Why? It is because Jehovah has moved his witnesses to glorify his name ‘with one accord and with one mouth.’ Thus “the earth,” the spiritual estate of His people, has been filled with “the knowledge of Jehovah.”

21. Why should we give our magazines the widest possible distribution?

²¹ May we, in the strength that Jehovah provides, give The Watchtower and its companion magazine Awake! the widest possible distribution. And may we do so in the hope that all the ends of the earth and all the families of the nations, representatively, “will remember and turn back to Jehovah.”​—Psalm 22:27; Revelation 15:4.

[Footnotes]

Reviewing This Article—

◻ How did the first-century congregation function?

◻ What benefits should result from simultaneous publication of The Watchtower?

◻ What fine magazine effort was put forth in 1984?

◻ How may we prosper spiritually, even in times of trial?

Christians Must Witness

In recent years church leaders have been quite vocal about the need for a Christian witness. And so they should be, for the word “witness,” and its derivatives, as based on the Greek word martýs, occurs 47 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures (“New Testament”), King James Version. Let us examine some of the statements coming out of Christendom.

POPE JOHN PAUL II is quoted in L’Osservatore Romano (weekly edition in English) of April 30, 1984, as saying: “Witness, as my predecessor Paul VI stressed, ‘is an essential element of evangelization, and generally the first’ (Evangelii Nuntiandi, n. 21). It is particularly urgent in our era, in the disorientation of minds and in the eclipse of values that are shaping a crisis which is revealed ever more clearly as a total crisis of civilization.” A year earlier, another issue of the same journal reported on a papal audience under the headline “World of work needs Christian witnesses.”

Thus the need for witnessing is emphasized by the Roman Catholic Church. But what do Protestant spokesmen say about the importance of witnessing?

The sixth General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which now has 301 members, met in Vancouver from July 24 to August 10, 1983, and later published its International Review of Mission (October 1983) including a 36-page article entitled “Witnessing in a Divided World.” Under a subheading, “All Christians Are Called to Witness,” this article stated forthrightly: “For a Christian, the task and act of witnessing is a response to and an expression of loyalty to God. . . . Witnessing is by divine mandate. We witness to the supremacy and love of God the creator and giver of life.”

The Baptist theological journal Review and Expositor gives similar emphasis, saying: “A study of the book of Acts reveals that new believers were added to the church because Christians were witnessing. If new converts are not being brought in, then, most likely, Christians are not witnessing.”

Though the sects of Christendom are hopelessly divided as to ideology and doctrine, they appear to agree on the need for witnessing. But are their members living up to the obligation of witnessing?

On this point, Michael Green, rector of St. Aldgate’s Church, Oxford, England, writes: “Our forefathers in the faith were accused of ‘turning the world upside down’ with the good news they told people about Jesus (Acts 17:6). . . . That is where we differ so enormously from the early church, where every man and woman saw it as his task to bear witness to Jesus Christ by every means at his or her disposal.”

A Baptist booklet, Witnessing in Today’s World, states: “A dedicated Christian may say, ‘Why, I wouldn’t know where to start in trying to witness to someone else.’” It adds: “The immediate reaction of many Baptist church members when witnessing is mentioned is, ‘We pay the pastor to do that.’”

Further, a Westminster publication, The Christian as Communicator, confesses: “It is quite possible that the responsibility for communicating the gospel is being bypassed simply because Christians do not have very much to say.”10

True, members of Christendom’s sects “do not have very much to say.” And therein lies the crux of their problem. They have failed to recognize the modern-day fulfillment of “the sign” that Jesus gave concerning his “presence” in Kingdom glory and “the conclusion of the system of things.” Those who see that “sign” are impelled to witness about it. How happy we can be that true Christians today have a great deal to say, as they witness zealously concerning Jehovah’s incoming Kingdom by Christ Jesus.​—Matthew 24:3-14; Isaiah 43:12.

A Centennial to Remember

GOD’S people have been privileged to observe many modern-day miracles. Outstanding among these has been the growth of the global organization that Jehovah is now using to declare his name throughout the earth. It all started in Pittsburgh during the early 1870’s with a small group of earnest Bible students. These multiplied rapidly, so that it soon became necessary to form a legal corporation to care for the expanding organization. Thus, Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society was duly incorporated on December 13, 1884, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Recently, on Saturday, October 6, 1984, the 100th annual meeting of the members of the corporation​—known now as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania—​was held in Pittsburgh. A special occasion indeed! Just as important events in ancient times were memorialized, so it was appropriate that Jehovah’s Witnesses should mark this centennial of the Watch Tower Society by a special gathering. Thus they could render thanks and praise to the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, who has protected and shepherded this expanding organization through the troublesome years of the past century.​—Joshua 4:4-8, 20-24; Esther 9:20-22; Psalm 23:1-6.

Corporate Meeting

Promptly at ten o’clock on the morning of October 6, the annual corporate meeting of the Society was opened at the Coraopolis Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pittsburgh. Among worldly organizations, corporate meetings are usually cut-and-dried, business-only affairs. But this meeting was different.

Of the 429 members of the corporation, 259 were present in person, together with their guests​—an assembly totaling 1,615 persons. These had traveled to the meeting from 53 different countries​—from such widely scattered places as Alaska, Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Austria, and through the alphabet to Zimbabwe. The formal election of four directors of the Society was followed by a spiritually strengthening program of talks. One of these, based on the yeartext chosen by Jehovah’s Witnesses for 1985, 2 Timothy 4:5, exhorted everyone: “Fully accomplish your ministry.”

There followed a stirring address by the Society’s 91-year-old president, F. W. Franz. He stated that he had never been so thrilled as when, some 65 years ago, along with J. F. Rutherford, he first heard the phrase “God’s organization.” After tracing the development of the organization in the earth, he expressed thankfulness that this is the 100th year that Jehovah’s organization has used the incorporated Society to bring us life-saving Scriptural information. Brother Franz’ voice rose to a triumphant crescendo as he quoted the last verse of the Psalms 150:6, saying, ‘Every breathing thing​—let it praise Jah—​HALLELUJAH!’

‘Jehovah Is With His People’

Outstanding brotherly love and hospitality were displayed by the Pittsburgh congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Hebrews 13:1, 2) Self-sacrificing attention was given to provide fine meals, accommodations and transportation, and every organizational detail was cared for in readying Pittsburgh’s famous Three Rivers Stadium for the three-hour evening meeting that followed.

It was like a smile of approval from Jehovah that weather conditions for this autumn day were ideal. Thus, the crowd of 37,733 at the stadium could listen in comfort and with appreciation. Telephone tie lines carried the program to 34 Assembly Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States and in Canada, where another 59,715 listened​—making a grand total of 97,448 in attendance. All of these were provided with copies of a colorful 32-page brochure-style program as a memento of the happy event.

The evening session commenced with joyful song and prayer. Then ten members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses shared with many other long-time servants of Jehovah in developing the theme: “Jehovah Has Always Proved to Be With His People.” As the program brochure stated: “There is, indeed, much evidence that Jehovah has proved to be with his people and that he has blessed and established the work of their hands​—accomplished by the instrumentality of the Watch Tower Society. Therefore, in accord with the thoughts of Psalm 78:2-7, it is appropriate that we use this occasion to relate to the newer generation ‘the praises of Jehovah . . . and his wonderful things that he has done.’”

That is just what the program accomplished! Hitler and apostate religionists had tried to exterminate Jehovah’s Witnesses “like vermin,” but such opposers have gone, as always, “like snow in the sun.” Bible translator Goodspeed described the first century Christians as “a translating and publishing people.” And how true this is also of 20th-century Witnesses! During the 105 years ending in 1984, these Christians published, in 200 and more languages, 8.8 billion Bibles, books, booklets, magazines, and tracts. The New World Translation of the entire Bible, or at least the Greek Scriptures, was printed in 14 languages to a total of 51,034,000 copies. Very soon a pocket edition of this Bible, and also a large-print edition in four volumes, will become available. Thus the Watch Tower Society will continue to be a leader in Bible publication.

The brochure said: “A testimony to the caliber of faithful men who have served with the Watch Tower Society can be seen in the fact that during a period of 100 years only four different men have served in the responsible position of president of the Society.” Jehovah’s organization moves on grandly toward final victory. As Martin Poetzinger, who kept integrity through nine years in Nazi concentration camps, commented: “Stick to Jehovah and Christ Jesus and God’s organization, and you will see his triumphant victory over all opposers.”

The final speaker of the evening, president F. W. Franz, described this centennial day as “an occasion that will never be duplicated.” How true! Reviewing the thrilling history of the Society, Brother Franz recalled the words of J. F. Rutherford, the second president, who died in 1942. Shortly before his death, he said, “Well, Fred, it looks to me the great [crowd] is not going to be so great after all.” Brother Franz commented, “He died too soon.” At that time Jehovah’s Witnesses numbered fewer than 100,000 worldwide. Today, literally ‘millions of those who will never die’ have been added to the ranks of these loyal servants.

Brother Franz concluded with these words: “We are stirred to say in unison: ‘All hail to Jehovah God the Universal Sovereign.’” By thunderous applause all present expressed their wholehearted agreement. After final song and prayer they left for their home countries and congregations with joyful determination to go on in Jehovah’s work to the finish.

Witnessing Brings Kingdom Increase

“May Jehovah . . . increase you a thousand times as many as you are, and may he bless you just as he has promised you.”​—DEUTERONOMY 1:11.

1, 2. (a) What did Jehovah promise Israel? (b) How did he fulfill his promises, but depending on what?

A THOUSANDFOLD INCREASE! That is what Moses petitioned for Jehovah’s “holy nation,” Israel. Jehovah had promised great things for that nation. (Exodus 19:5, 6; see also Genesis 12:2, 3.) Did he fulfill those promises?

² Well, some 500 years after Moses spoke the above words, it was reported: “Judah and Israel were many, like the grains of sand that are by the sea for multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.” The queen of Sheba, coming from afar to behold the splendor of that kingdom, exclaimed to Solomon: “Look! I had not been told the half. You have surpassed in wisdom and prosperity the things heard to which I listened. . . . May Jehovah your God come to be blessed . . . because Jehovah loves Israel to time indefinite.” (1 Kings 4:20; 10:7-9) As long as that people served faithfully as Jehovah’s witnesses, he did indeed prosper and increase them.

3. (a) What did Peter testify as to God’s “people for his name”? (b) Why is the name Jehovah’s Witnesses appropriate for that people?

³ More than a millennium after Solomon’s day, the apostle Peter, while testifying before the Christian governing body in Jerusalem, “related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14) The Israelites had been a people for God’s name. But now, again, God was gathering out “a people for his name”​—the Christian congregation, spiritual Israel—​who also would witness for Jehovah, making known his Kingdom purposes. (Galatians 6:16) Appropriately, this people is recognized today earth wide by the name that Jehovah himself makes prominent at Isaiah 43:10-12, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses.’ What is involved in their being a people for Jehovah’s name?

“Witnesses of Me”

4. (a) Why must Jehovah’s Witnesses also be ‘witnesses of Jesus’? (b) According to the Scriptures, Jesus left us what example in witnessing for Jehovah?

⁴ Jesus himself commissioned this people, saying: “You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “Witnesses of me”​—do these words of Jesus mean that it is concerning Jesus only, and not Jehovah, that the witness must be given? Far from it! At that crucial time, when Jehovah’s favor was being transferred from fleshly to spiritual Israel, it was necessary to give a thorough witness concerning the Christ upon whom this new arrangement is built. However, Jesus remains always subject to his Father. He set the example for us in witnessing concerning Jehovah’s name and Kingdom.​—John 5:30; 6:38; 17:6, 26; 18:37.

5. (a) Concerning what features related to Jesus must we witness? (b) In this, how do we follow in Jesus’ steps?

⁵ Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the new covenant and anointed Christians in it are called to inherit the Kingdom. He is “the Chief Agent of life” whom Jehovah uses in redeeming mankind from death. Jesus “must rule as king” until all enemies of God and man are subdued and a glorious paradise is restored to this earth. He is “the Son of God” who calls the dead from their tombs in the resurrection. (Hebrews 9:15; Acts 3:15; Psalm 110:1, 2, 5; 1 Corinthians 15:25-28; Luke 23:42, 43; John 5:25-29) Hence, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, we witness also concerning the Son’s outstanding part in vindicating Jehovah’s name. In this, we follow in the steps of our Master, who was himself the preeminent witness for Jehovah​—“the Faithful Witness.”​—Revelation 1:5; 3:14; John 18:37; 1 Peter 2:21.

Who Is Witnessing?

6. (a) Who alone today are giving the Kingdom witness? (b) Why can it be said that these are doing ‘greater works’?

⁶ Today, a united people is witnessing “to the most distant part of the earth.” It is the people spoken of by the apostle Peter​—the ‘people for God’s name’—​that is bearing witness to Jehovah and his Kingdom by Christ Jesus. Concerning this, Jesus himself told his disciples: “He that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father.” (John 14:12) From his Father’s right hand in the heavens, the King Jesus Christ now directs the most extensive witness ever conducted here upon earth. As Jesus prophesied, when “this good news of the kingdom” has been “preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations . . . then the end will come.”​—Matthew 24:14.

7. (a) Why do Christendom’s sects fail to witness? (b) In contrast, why are Jehovah’s Witnesses so zealous in their service?

⁷ “This good news of the kingdom” is the most thrilling news that has ever been proclaimed to humans. It is the glorious good news concerning which the religious sects of Christendom are completely silent. They have no Kingdom hope for the future. No wonder that they fail to witness! They have failed to take note of the most exciting event in all history​—the arrival in Kingdom glory of the Son of man to sit down on his glorious throne and judge the nations and peoples of earth. That is something about which to witness! Hence, under angelic direction, witnesses for Jehovah and his Christ are now declaring “everlasting good news . . . as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.” Are you sharing zealously in this witness?​—Revelation 14:6, 7; Matthew 25:31-33.

Grand Witness in 1984

8. (a) Why should we be happy about the 1984 Service Year Report? (b) What attracts new disciples?

⁸ The 1984 Service Year Report of Jehovah’s Witnesses Worldwide, appearing on pages 20-23 of this magazine, shows how abundantly our God, Jehovah, is blessing the efforts of his humble witnesses. In all, 203 lands are represented. Of these, 172 lands report a publisher increase. And happily, these Kingdom proclaimers also speak of how ‘the Lord has caused them to increase, yes, made them abound, in love to one another and to all.’ (1 Thessalonians 3:12) The loving unity among Jehovah’s people, together with the Kingdom witness, is attracting multitudes of new disciples. To these Jesus is saying: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”​—John 8:31, 32.

9. (a) How might you have been privileged to share in making this report? (b) What do the figures indicate as to Jehovah and his people?

⁹ How has this marvelous service report been compiled? It has been made up from the field service reports that you​—the individual Kingdom publisher—​have faithfully turned in each month. Do you not rejoice that you have had your own small part in this grand report? These figures show how wonderfully Jehovah has ‘emptied out a flood of blessings’ upon his Witnesses​—this “people for his name”—​whom he has united in a global bond of loving service.​—Malachi 3:10; Psalm 56:10, 11; Colossians 3:14.

10. (a) What emphasizes that witnesses must be self-sacrificing? (b) What do the Scriptures say about integrity keepers and their reward?

¹⁰ Much of this witnessing has been accomplished under persecution or hardship and at great self-sacrifice. This is to be expected, for the word “witness” as here used is a translation of the Greek martýs or martyr, from which is also derived the word “martyr,” meaning one who bears witness by his death. This emphasizes that we, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, should be self-sacrificing, determined always to expend ourselves and to keep integrity under all circumstances, even to the death if necessary.​—Luke 9:23; compare Job 2:3; 27:5; 31:6; Acts 22:20; Revelation 2:10.

Integrity-Keepers Blessed

11, 12. (a) Jehovah gives us what strengthening assurances? (b) How have his people triumphed over totalitarian oppressions?

¹¹ In times of persecution, Jehovah’s ‘name people’ have needed “power beyond what is normal” in order to overcome the vehement attacks of Satan and his demonic hordes. Jehovah supplies that power and delivers and prospers his faithful witnesses. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9; Isaiah 54:17; Jeremiah 1:19) Take for example the situation in the Axis powers of World War II, headed by Germany, Italy, and Japan. Using cruel dictatorial governments, the Devil ‘disgorged from his mouth a river’ of persecution, to drown out the witness work directed by God’s heavenly womanlike organization. But did Satan succeed in this? Not at all! Jehovah maneuvered events so that the democratic nations of earth swallowed up that flood. ‘The wicked ones were cut off’ and Jehovah’s loyal witnesses now prosper wonderfully in those lands.​—Revelation 12:15, 16; Psalm 37:28, 29.

¹² Recently, in those three countries, the Watch Tower Society has needed to build and equip large factories in order to send forth a different kind of flood​—millions upon millions of Bibles and related Kingdom publications for the edification of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other truth-hungry people. In Germany, Italy, and Japan, today more than 300,000 publishers of the Kingdom are carrying the witness to the homes of people. And throughout the world field Jehovah is blessing his integrity-keeping people with increase!​—Compare Psalm 115:12-15.

13. (a) What in the Year Report shows that faithful witnesses have lived up to the 1984 yeartext? (b) How should this stimulate us?

¹³ However, the Devil, knowing that his time is short, continues to wage war with those “who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.” (Revelation 12:12, 17) Satan’s opposition is particularly vicious in the lands listed in the accompanying report as “28 Other Countries.” Witnesses in these territories have faithfully lived up to our yeartext for 1984, “showing all the more courage to speak the word of God fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:14) Their publisher increase of 3.1 percent is most commendable. Stimulated by their example, may all of us zealously continue offering “to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.”​—Hebrews 13:15.

14. (a) What may turn out to us “for a witness”? (b) In spite of what situations should we continue to witness courageously, and why?

¹⁴ As world conditions worsen, others of us, no doubt, will be persecuted, haled into court and imprisoned. Jesus spoke of such experiences among the things “destined to occur” before the end, and added: “It will turn out to you for a witness.” In all situations, then, Jehovah’s Witnesses must continue to witness concerning God and Christ. Many continue to do this despite bitter family opposition, mockings by fellow employees or schoolmates, and reproaches heaped upon them in their preaching territory. Are you witnessing courageously despite trying circumstances? Then you are one of those to whom Jesus says: “By endurance on your part you will acquire your souls.”​—Luke 21:7, 9-19.

Kingdom Increase!

15. What are some outstanding points in the chart on this page?

¹⁵ “Kingdom Increase”​—what an appropriate theme for our district conventions of the summer of 1984! For this indeed has been our finest year of increase. Just look at the chart on this page! This has been compiled from the reports of the 95 Watch Tower Society branches that supervise the witness work in 203 lands.

16. Cite some typical, joyful expressions from around the globe.

¹⁶ Space does not permit us to publish all the written expressions of joy that have been received from those branch offices together with their annual reports, but here are some samplings from around the globe:

Alaska: The whole village of Metlakatla came to see 230 Jehovah’s Witnesses construct a beautiful Kingdom Hall in 32 hours; it was dedicated on Sunday of that same weekend.

Honduras: 3,663 publishers was our highest peak ever; with a Memorial attendance of 17,005 much more remains to be done.

Brazil: New peaks culminated in 160,927 publishers, with 474,450 persons attending the Memorial.

Thailand: The pioneer spirit is alive, with 22 percent of all publishers in this service in April.

Papua New Guinea: Peak auxiliary pioneers increased by 91 percent; Memorial attendance rose by more than 1,000​—to 7,704.

Austria: The pioneer spirit is catching on, and we had five consecutive peaks in that field; we had seven peaks of publishers, the latest being 15,618.

Zambia: We reached an all-time peak of 58,925 publishers: Memorial attendance was 393,431​—110,447 more than last year.

17. (a) How is the pioneer field expanding? (b) What practical goals are recommended, and for whom? (c) What is the new publisher peak, and what may have contributed toward this?

¹⁷ Reports show that faithful missionaries and pioneers continue to take the lead in carrying the witness to territories new and old. It is encouraging indeed to see the increase in pioneers. The total of auxiliary pioneers reporting in April mushroomed to an all-time peak of 323,644 for a 49-percent increase. Not a few of these have seen their privilege of advancing into the regular pioneer ranks. Further, many of our young Kingdom publishers are setting pioneer service as their goal and are making practical preparation to that end during their final years in high school. The overall result is shown in the splendid increase of pioneers. This has helped also to build a spirit of zeal in our congregations, contributing, no doubt, to the new worldwide peak of 2,842,531 publishers, a 7.2-percent increase over the 1983 peak. Do you not rejoice that you have shared in this forward surge?

18. (a) What other grand increases were there in 1984? (b) The Memorial report indicates what potential for expansion, and how can our readers respond?

¹⁸ The joyful witness given during 1984 is reflected also in the increased placements of magazines and other literature, the record number of field-service hours reported, the outstanding increase in return visits to interested persons and in home Bible studies conducted with these. How we look forward to further fruits from this zealous service! And there is great potential for a still larger ingathering! This is shown by the remarkable attendance at the Lord’s Evening Meal last April 15. In the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the earth, a total of 7,416,974 attended, of whom 9,081 indicated that they were of the Lord’s “little flock” by partaking of the bread and the wine. May all our readers continue to grow spiritually, in order to make room for sharing in the grand witness and ingathering that yet lies ahead.​—Compare Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 1:9-11.

19. For what can we thank Jehovah, and what is our prayer regarding the future?

¹⁹ Truly, we may repeat Moses’ words in saying of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the modern day “people for his name”: “Jehovah your God has multiplied you, and here you are today like the stars of the heavens for multitude.” (Deuteronomy 1:10) It is our prayer that our Sovereign Lord, Jehovah, will continue to prosper the Kingdom witness and add to the increase!

What Would You Say?

◻ Why must Jehovah’s Witnesses be ‘witnesses of Jesus’ also?

◻ What grand witness was given during 1984?

◻ What shows that Jehovah blesses faithful witnesses?

◻ In what ways should the 1984 report stimulate us?

[Box on page 26]

‘Joyful, Happy, Thankful’

From a land where the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been restricted for more than 40 years comes this report: “The greatest joy [we] have been experiencing is the increased preaching and teaching activity in the field. Many have been serving as auxiliary pioneers. One of them expressed his feelings in these words: ‘I am filled with joy, rejoicing and happiness, and with deep satisfaction.’ Another auxiliary pioneer said: ‘I am so happy that I do something that is pleasing to Jehovah. I was able to start five new home Bible studies.’ Another one added: ‘I am thankful to Jehovah who helped me to cultivate the love needed to help other people.’ In one congregation of 61 publishers 38 served as auxiliary pioneers in one month. As a result, 66 new Bible studies were started.”

[Chart on page 20-23]

1984 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See bound volume)

[Chart on page 25]

World Report Comparison

1984 1983 Increase

Watch Tower Branches 95 94

Lands Reporting 203 205

Peak of Publishers 2,842,531 2,652,323 7.2%

Average Publishers 2,680,274 2,501,722 7.1%

Average Pioneers 258,936 206,098 25.6%

Auxiliary Pioneers (April) 323,644 217,860 48.6%

Total Field Hours 505,588,037 436,720,991 15.8%

Literature Placed 36,639,925 36,039,400 1.7%

Subscriptions Placed 1,812,221 1,756,153 3.2%

Magazines Placed 287,358,064 258,698,636 11.1%

Return Visits 195,819,093 174,687,309 12.1%

Av. Bible Studies 2,047,113 1,797,112 13.9%

Memorial Attendance 7,416,974 6,767,707 9.6%

Memorial Partakers 9,081 9,292

Kingdom Proclaimers Report

Kingdom Increase Worldwide

ISAIAH the prophet aptly foretold the expansion of Kingdom interests in our day when he said: “Of the increase of [Christ’s] government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7, King James Version) Reports from over 200 countries where Jehovah’s Witnesses are preaching the good news show Jehovah’s blessing on the work done. Here are a few expressions from different parts of the earth.

◻ Africa: The Senegal branch says that “this service year has once again seen Jehovah’s rich blessing.” In the island of Mauritius, where the work started in 1951, the number of Witnesses reached 100 in 1964 and 679 in 1984. Ghana reports that Witnesses in that country have increased from 30 in 1938 to 25,755 today! The pioneer ministry is going very well in Africa too. A pioneer in Sierra Leone gives the reason why she is in full-time work: “I chose to pioneer because going to college or university would be a waste of precious time that could be used to aid honest-hearted ones to gain accurate knowledge about Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ, before the end comes.” Recent conventions held in South Africa manifested unity. The Watch Tower branch there states: “This year we had the first full-scale interracial conventions in this country . . . The multiracial baptism of 343 was an outstanding example of the unity of Jehovah’s sheep in this multiracial country.” In Zimbabwe a local politician accepted the truth and turned in his resignation to the party. “This caused a great disturbance and the matter was taken up with a visiting official at a public meeting. When asked what to do with this brother the official said, ‘You will do nothing. That is their policy everywhere in the world. If he continues as a party member he is not a real Jehovah’s Witness.’”

◻ Asia and the Pacific: The spirit of full-time pioneer service has been outstanding in Japan where 40 percent of all publishers were in full-time service during May. The Philippine branch states that it has enrolled close to 200 new pioneers each month. Australia says that “the pioneer spirit has been really outstanding this year.” India has new branch facilities and a new peak of 6,506 publishers. They held 14 conventions with 7 more being held for the first time in the local languages. Over 9,000 attended, and 246 were baptized. We are happy to see increase in this vast country. Expansion is very evident in Korea also. Their new branch was dedicated in 1982 but is now too small. They are building again to double their floor space. Regular pioneers have increased 56 percent in that country. Western Samoa is a branch newly formed to care better for the needs of the Samoan islanders. So Jehovah’s “field” in Asia and the Pacific is being harvested.

◻ Europe: Kingdom increase is evident in Europe. Portugal writes: “There has been an ‘explosion’ of interest on every front. No sooner is a peak reached than it is surpassed the following month.” Belgium echoes this sentiment, stating: “Everywhere expansion is taking place.” Selters, Germany, dedicated the second-largest branch complex in the world, with all but one member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses participating. One brother was moved to write: “Can you imagine how we felt after 60 years of service​—20 years of which we spent in prison due to two waves of persecution—​to be able to share in this wonderful spiritual banquet in a spiritual paradise?”

◻ Americas: Canada had an outstanding year of increase with 80,939 reporting service. The branch there makes this comment: “It is most encouraging that despite growing pressures and enticements from a decaying world . . . we continue to grow marvelously. This parallels the outstanding expansion of early Christianity during the decadent last days of the Roman world. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)” Belize, Central America, says that one of the highlights of the year was a “field trip to visit the Mayan Indian villages in the south of the country. To reach these remote villages (12 in number), one must walk 113 miles (180 km) along jungle paths.” Twelve brothers made the trip equipped with backpacks and briefcases, a six-volt slide projector, and motorcycle batteries. They showed slides of Jehovah’s Kingdom work worldwide. One person who had never before seen a slide showing described it as “big picture on wall with bright light.” Mexico has grown from 81 publishers in 1931 to a peak of 151,807 in 1984 (a 16-percent increase for the year), and 695,769 attended the Memorial last April. The United States had a grand new peak of 690,830 publishers.

The Kingdom increase continues worldwide.

Beginnings of Royalty in Israel​—The Two Books of Samuel

“SO YOU have not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? He went into the House of God and took the sacred bread to eat and gave it to his men, though priests alone are allowed to eat it, and no one else.” (Luke 6:3, 4, The New English Bible) With these words, Jesus silenced some Pharisees who had accused his disciples of Sabbath breaking because they had plucked a few grains to eat during the Sabbath day.

He also demonstrated something else. The historical account about David and “the sacred bread” is recorded in the first book of Samuel. (1 Samuel 21:1-6, NE) Jesus’ reference to it to refute an objection shows his familiarity with the book and suggests that we, too, would do well to become familiar with it. Along with its companion, Second Samuel, it contains information that was valuable to Jesus and is valuable to us today.​—Romans 15:4.

What are the two books of Samuel? They are historical books found in the Hebrew Scriptures that describe a turning point in the history of God’s people. Previously, the Israelites had been ruled by a succession of judges. These two books describe the end of that era and the beginning of rule by Israelite royalty. They are filled with exciting events and fascinating people. We meet Samuel himself, the last of the judges, and the first two kings, Saul and David. We also meet a host of other unforgettable characters: the sad figure of Eli, the wise and tactful Abigail, the valiant but kindly Jonathan, as well as the brothers Abishai and Joab, mighty for Jehovah but cruel in their personal vendettas. (Hebrews 11:32) The two books teach principles that are still important and describe events that had long-lasting effects on God’s people, in fact on all mankind.

A King Who Failed

The first one anointed by Jehovah to be king over Israel was Saul. He started well but later failed to show proper reliance on Jehovah in the face of an impending attack by the Philistines. Hence, Samuel told him that his sons would not inherit the kingship. Rather, said Samuel, “Jehovah will certainly find for himself a man agreeable to his heart; and Jehovah will commission him as a leader over his people.” (1 Samuel 13:13, 14) However, Saul continued as king for the rest of his life.

Later, this first king was commanded to wage punitive war against the Amalekites. Saul did not completely fulfill Jehovah’s orders and thus incurred further displeasure. Samuel is moved to say: “Does Jehovah have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Look! To obey is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) Here is a principle that is still vital for those who serve Jehovah in positions of leadership. Because Saul was not obedient, Samuel the prophet continued: “Since you have rejected the word of Jehovah, he accordingly rejects you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23) Later, Saul showed how far he had strayed from pure worship when he consulted a spiritist.​—1 Samuel 28:8-25.

A Royal Success

The one who succeeded King Saul was David, son of Jesse. David was different from Saul. In his youth, he had shown reliance on Jehovah when he slew the Philistine giant, Goliath. Then, when he had to flee for his life because of Saul’s jealousy, he nevertheless kept obeying Jehovah in all things. More than once, David could have killed Saul. But he refrained, waiting on Jehovah’s time for him to become king. It was during this difficult time that Ahimelech the priest gave him the showbread to eat in the incident mentioned by Jesus to the Pharisees.

In time Saul died and David started to rule. But at first only his own tribe, Judah, accepted him. The other tribes continued to follow a surviving son of Saul, Ish-bosheth. David, though, showed no vindictiveness toward his rival. When Ish-bosheth was eventually assassinated, David executed the assassins. And when Ish-bosheth’s great general, Abner, was murdered, he ordered public mourning. (2 Samuel 3:31-34; 4:9-12) Such humility, patience, forbearance and reliance on Jehovah are needed by Jehovah’s servants in any age.

The “Son of David”

When David finally became king over a reunited nation, one of his first thoughts was to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant, the symbol of Jehovah’s presence in Israel. Jehovah did not consent to this, but in recognition of David’s outstanding faithfulness he made a remarkable covenant with him: “Your house and your kingdom will certainly be steadfast to time indefinite before you; your very throne will become one firmly established to time indefinite.”​—2 Samuel 7:16.

David thus became a link in the long, unbroken chain of descent that led from Adam, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah down to the promised Messiah. (Genesis 3:15; 22:18; 26:4; 49:10) When the Messiah would finally arrive, he would be a descendant of David. This Jesus was, on both his foster father’s side and his mother’s side. (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38) In the Gospel accounts, he is frequently called the “Son of David.”​—Mark 10:47, 48.

As the official “Son of David,” Jesus was David’s heir. What did he inherit? The angel Gabriel told Mary: “This one [Jesus] will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:32, 33) David reunited all God’s people into one kingdom, as the book of Second Samuel describes. So Jesus inherited rulership over all of Israel.

Note, too, another fact about David as reported by the first book of Samuel: “Now David was the son of this Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah whose name was Jesse.” (1 Samuel 17:12) This statement is not just an interesting historical footnote. The Messiah, too, as “Son of David,” was to be born in Bethlehem: “And you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.” (Micah 5:2) Jesus, of course, fulfilled this requirement of Messiahship.​—Matthew 2:1, 5, 6.

Acts That Altered History

Many of David’s exploits had lasting effects. For example, David grew up only a few miles from Jerusalem. When he was a boy the city was in the hands of the Jebusites, and David must often have admired its almost impregnable position on a steep rocky outcrop known as Mount Zion. Now, as king, he was in a position to do more than admire it. The second book of Samuel tells graphically how, despite the taunting of the Jebusite inhabitants, “David proceeded to capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7) Thus Jerusalem moved to center stage in world history where it has been​—on and off—​ever since.

The city became David’s royal capital and remained the capital of God’s earthly kings for hundreds of years. In the first century, the “Son of David,” Jesus, preached there. It was into Jerusalem that Jesus rode on an ass to present himself as King to the Jews. (Matthew 21:1-11, Mt 21:42–22:13; John 7:14) And it was outside the gates of Jerusalem that he offered his life for mankind, after which he was resurrected and ascended into heaven, patiently waiting​—as David had before him—​for Jehovah to say when he should begin reigning as King.​—Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:23, 24, 32, 33; Hebrews 13:12.

David’s ruling in Jerusalem also reminds us that his descendant, Jesus, now also rules in a Jerusalem, the “heavenly Jerusalem.” (Hebrews 12:22) And the location of that heavenly Jerusalem in heaven is called “Mount Zion,” reminding us of the rocky outcrop that was the site of the original city.​—Revelation 14:1.

Toward the end of his reign David conducted an illegal census of the nation. In punishment Jehovah plagued the nation, and the plague-carrying angel finally stopped at a threshing floor belonging to a Jebusite landowner named Araunah. David bought the land from Araunah and built an altar to Jehovah there. (2 Samuel 24:17-25) This act, too, had lasting results. That stretch of land became the site of Solomon’s temple and, later, of the rebuilt temple. Thus, for centuries it was the world center of true worship. Jesus himself preached in Herod’s temple, which was also built around what was once the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.​—John 7:14.

Yes, the two books of Samuel introduce us to real people and explain important principles. They show why Israel’s first king was a failure and why her second king, despite some tragic mistakes, was an outstanding success. They carry us through an important juncture in history, the beginnings of human royal rule among God’s people. We watch Jerusalem become the capital city of that royalty and note the purchase of the site of what would become, for some centuries, the world center of true worship. And we learn an important clue to help identify the coming Messiah. He would have to be a “Son of David.”

Truly, these are remarkable books. Every Christian should read them for himself.

[Box on page 30]

“Behaving Like a Prophet”

What does the Bible mean when it says: “The spirit of God came to be upon [Saul], yes, him, and he went on walking and continued behaving like a prophet”?​—1 Samuel 19:23.

When the prophets of Jehovah were delivering God’s messages, they spoke under the influence of holy spirit that ‘filled them with power’ and doubtless led them to speak with an intensity and feeling that were truly extraordinary. (Micah 3:8; Jeremiah 20:9) Probably their behavior appeared strange​—perhaps even irrational—​to others. Nevertheless, once it was established that they were speaking from Jehovah, their messages were taken seriously by God-fearing persons.​—Compare 2 Kings 9:1-13.

Thus, on this occasion Saul began to act in an unusual way, which reminded onlookers of the agitation of a prophet about to deliver a message from Jehovah. While acting thus, he stripped off his clothes and lay naked all night. (1 Samuel 19:23, 24) This may have been to indicate that he was merely a man with no regal power or authority when he stood against Jehovah God’s purposes. On a previous occasion when King Saul “behaved like a prophet,” he tried to kill David with a spear.​—1 Samuel 18:10, 11.

[Box on page 31]

“A Bad Spirit From Jehovah”

“And the very spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and a bad spirit from Jehovah terrorized him.” (1 Samuel 16:14) Do you know what this means?

We do not have to understand that Jehovah literally sent an evil spirit to terrorize Saul. Rather, when Jehovah removed his holy spirit, Saul was possessed by a bad spirit, or an inward urge to do wrong. (Compare Matthew 12:43-45.) Why is Jehovah referred to as the source of this bad spirit? Because he made it possible for Saul to be possessed by wrong urges, or impulses, when he removed his holy spirit. This “bad spirit” removed Saul’s peace of mind and, on occasion, caused him to act irrationally.

[Pictures on page 29]

GOLIATH

DAVID

SAUL

SAMUEL

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