The Watchtower — January 1, 1987

Proclaim Liberty!

THE FIVE BILLIONTH person on earth is said to have been born on July 7, 1986. What kind of future must this five billionth human, and indeed all humans, face? Is there any possibility that billions of mankind may someday enjoy true liberty? Confidently, we say yes. But what are we to understand by “liberty”? Does it mean license to do anything that one pleases? No, for as the 19th-century English novelist Charles Kingsley wrote: “There are two freedoms, the false where one is free to do what he likes, and the true where he is free to do what he ought.”

Man will gain true liberty only by doing “what he ought.” And what ought he to do? When Jesus was here on earth, he stated simply that there are two great commandments​—the first, to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second, to love one’s neighbor as oneself. (Mark 12:29-31) Real liberty is to be attained only by those who in truth demonstrate such genuine love​—love of God and of fellow humans.​—John 8:31, 32.

Does the world today display that kind of love? Sadly, no. Without love, the false kind of liberty prevails. It breathes a selfish, independent spirit. It insists on ‘doing its own thing,’ with no regard for God or neighbor. This spirit extends beyond the individual to communities, races, and nations. While the me-first attitude persists, the foundation for any liberty, any peace, any happiness on this earth, must be a shaky one. Remember, Jesus said, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” Such neighbor love is essential to the enjoyment of true liberty.

The United Nations organization was formed to liberate mankind by replacing the scourge of war with “peace and security.” On its 40th anniversary, the UN proclaimed 1986 to be the International Year of Peace. But has this amounted to a proclamation of liberty with sure guarantees of peace? Have the appalling expenditures on armaments (amounting now to more than $1,000 billion a year) been curtailed? Have terrorism and car bombings decreased? Have the religion-based slaughters in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and Asia abated? Religious leaders are getting into politics and talking much about peace. But the dove of true peace appears to have flown far out of reach of the UN and the world’s religions.

Is there any group today that has renounced the violent, me-first ways of the world? Yes, there is! The foretold “Prince of Peace,” Jesus Christ, has gathered lovers of peace ‘out of all tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations.’ (Isaiah 2:3, 4; 9:6, 7; Revelation 5:9; 7:9) They rejoice that God’s Kingdom by Christ is about to wipe out all wickedness and bring in an earth-wide paradise of peace, where true liberty will prevail. This group is known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Daniel 2:31-35, 44; Isaiah 43:10, 12; 65:17-25) Unitedly, these Christians share in a jubilant proclamation foreshadowed by features of the Jubilee arrangement in ancient Israel. In each of 200 and more lands around the globe, they joyfully obey God’s command: “Proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 25:10) Have you heard and heeded that jubilant shout?

Jubilation Among God’s People

THE words of King David, recorded at Psalm 68, verses 2-4, include a warm invitation to all lovers of true liberty: “Sing you to God, make melody to his name; raise up a song to the One riding through the desert plains as Jah, which is his name; and jubilate before him.” What greater privilege could there be than to jubilate before our God? (Isaiah 12:2, 3) Throughout the year 1986, Jehovah has sustained his witnesses marvelously as they have continued to proclaim liberty to the peoples of earth.

The following pages give a summary of the worldwide activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses during 1986. What reason for jubilation! As the figures show, the peak number of active Witnesses in the 208 lands reporting has risen to 3,229,022, a 6.8-percent increase during the year. The number baptized was 225,868.

Memorializing Jesus’ Death

Attendance at the principal meeting of the year, the Memorial of Jesus’ death, rose to at least 8,160,597, though some reports were not received because of worsening world conditions. The number partaking of the Memorial emblems fell to 8,927 as older anointed ones completed their earthly service.​—Revelation 2:10.

Many of those who assembled in obedience to Jesus’ command showed exemplary courage. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 16:33) In an African land where Jehovah’s work is banned, the congregation had gathered at a sister’s home to celebrate the Memorial. Just eight minutes into the talk, local authorities showed up to arrest the brothers. They ordered them to stop the meeting. The brothers kindly but firmly insisted that they must honor this Memorial to Jesus’ sacrificial death. After reasoning and pleading with the police, they were allowed to continue in the hearing of the officers. The meeting was concluded in peace, and all were then arrested. After a period of interrogation, five were detained. They remained in prison for a time but were then released, happy that they had been able to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal!​—1 John 5:3, 4.

Nigeria, where the number of Witnesses has increased to 128,461, had a Memorial attendance of 394,370​—the highest ever. One Memorial meeting was held at the construction site of the new Bethel complex at Igieduma, and over 700​—almost the entire local village—​were there!

From Mexico comes the report: “Everywhere we go in the country, the publishers are just bubbling over with enthusiasm, and the whole country seems to be on fire with the truth. The truth envelops the brothers, and their lives revolve around the truth. Whole families are coming into the truth. A good percentage of the people that study start to attend meetings at the same time. This helps them to make rapid progress.” Mexico reported a Memorial attendance of 838,467. In August the 198,003 Kingdom publishers in that land were conducting 327,664 Bible studies in the homes of the people. What a potential they have for continued increase!

Further Global Expansion

From the heart of Christendom come similar reports of expansion. Italy reached a new peak of 139,570 publishers in August, and 301,009 were present for the celebration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. Jehovah’s Witnesses are indeed ‘letting their light shine before men.’ (Matthew 5:16) For example: “A sister was putting money into a ticket machine on a bus when an acquaintance told her that there was no need to pay for a ticket as the ride was so short. The sister explained that it was right to pay the ticket, even for just one stop. After that, her friend got off the bus. At that, the bus driver turned to her and said: ‘Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the sister, ‘what made you ask?’ ‘I heard your conversation about paying the bus ticket, and I know that Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the very few people who do so and are honest in all things.’ A few months later, a man approached the sister at a meeting and said, ‘Do you know me? I’m the bus driver who talked to you about paying for the ticket. Observing your conduct, I decided to begin studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses.’”

Britain had a peak of 107,767 Kingdom publishers, including this newly baptized brother: “George is now 84 years of age. After 50 years as a lay preacher in the local church, he came to a knowledge of the truth. Initially, when he would finish his home Bible study, he would hasten into another room to smoke a cigarette. He had been a regular smoker for 70 years. But after studying chapter 26 of the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, he has never smoked again. George has now been baptized for over a year and is very zealous in field service, telling others of the blessings Jehovah will bring in His new system of things.”

The Federal Republic of Germany reports a peak of 118,645 publishers. There are also thousands of faithful Witnesses ‘letting their light shine’ in the neighboring German Democratic Republic. In Germany faithful oldsters refuse to lay down “the sword of the spirit.” (Ephesians 6:16, 17) A congregation reports: “We have a sister who is 103 years old and still lives alone. The elders arranged for a group of seven to eight sisters to take turns in caring for her each week. They have been doing this now for the past three to four years. Social workers, who are paid by the community, come to care for the bathing and changing. But when they are ill or on vacation, our sisters take over the work. This evidence of Christian love and sacrifice has served as a good witness to outsiders. Our 103-year-old sister is mentally alert and considers the social workers to be her ‘territory.’ She preaches zealously to them while they are bathing her and gives them literature.” Truly, “gray-headedness is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness.”​—Proverbs 16:31.

However, the invitation to praise Jehovah goes out to people of all ages​—“you young men and also you virgins, you old men together with boys.” Many young people are ‘remembering their Grand Creator in the days of their young manhood.’ (Psalm 148:12; Ecclesiastes 12:1) In Brazil, where there was a splendid new peak of 196,948 publishers, the Watch Tower Society received a letter from an out-of-the-way town where two young brothers witnessed for some months. It read in part: “I would like to commend you for the fine young people you have in your religion. I am a schoolteacher and deal with youth, and I know they are not what they used to be. Your youths are really an example. They respect their elders, are polite and modestly dressed. And how they know their Bibles! That truly is religion! It’s a pity they have to leave.” Families of our brothers are now moving permanently into some of these isolated areas to take care of the interest.

What progress is the truth making in non-Christian areas? The Wall Street Journal of July 9, 1986, published a lengthy article under the headline “Barren Ground​—Christian Missionaries Sow the Seed in Japan But Find Little Grows.” A missionary of the United Church of Christ was reported as saying, “There is no way that Christianity will ever really take root in Japan,” and a Franciscan priest as stating, “The day of the foreign missionary in Japan is finished.” Both had labored in vain for more than 30 years. The article said: “Less than 1% of the population is Christian, and despite all the missionary work, the percentage is dropping.” So much for Christendom’s religions! But what of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who teach the pure Christianity in that land? For the past 92 months in a row, they have increased their number of active ministers to a peak of 113,062 (including an average of 46,390 pioneers each month). In Japan 146,316 home Bible studies are being conducted with newly interested people. This is surely a harbinger of further grand increase. Here, we see a living fulfillment of Isaiah 65:13, 14.

The Field of Pioneering

What about the hub of all this dynamic activity​—the United States of America? There, 744,919 Kingdom publishers were in the field as a peak. But are such ‘home missionaries’ really needed? Truly they are, as crime, drugs, immorality, disease, and corruption escalate to a far worse degree than in most so-called pagan lands. People who desire better things need comfort and hope, and Jehovah’s Witnesses have such a message. (Isaiah 61:1, 2; Matthew 24:14) In the United States, during 1986, these ministers devoted 146,673,490 hours to declaring the good news of the Kingdom. That amounts to a 12.6-percent increase, or 16,449,229 more hours than last year. That time was profitably spent, as 6,138,938 books were distributed, which is a 23.2-percent improvement over the last year. In April alone, the total was over 1,000,000 books explaining the true hope for peace and security.

One of the most exciting features of the United States report is the expansion of pioneer service. In April there was a peak of 45,786 regular pioneers, an increase of 23 percent over last year. When you combine that figure with the average of 43,369 auxiliary pioneers and the average of 279 special pioneers, it means that each month nearly 90,000 were declaring abroad the Kingdom of God in the pioneer work. These are young people and older folk, too, who are wisely making use of their time in praising Jehovah.

Giving a Thorough Witness

In teaching publicly and from house to house, the apostle Paul “thoroughly bore witness” to the good news. (Acts 20:20, 21) A similar witness is being given in many territories today. For example, this report comes from Guadeloupe: “By the end of the service year, we had one publisher for 72 people. Needless to say, we are more than well known throughout the country! In fact, in many places, we go into the same territory each week. Some could say that certainly people are tired of seeing us, or that it is a source of discouragement to be in the same territory week after week. But on the contrary, the more we work the territory, the more interest is aroused. And the proof? Well, it is the peak last April of 7,136 home Bible studies conducted by our 4,558 publishers! Recently a magazine carried a headline: ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses​—Kings From Door to Door’! We consider that an honor. During the service year, 458 new brothers and sisters were baptized.” Steadfastness and joy displayed in working our territory over and over, getting to know and befriend the people, lovingly breaking down their prejudices​—this can lead to finding many sheeplike ones.

Jehovah is richly blessing his servants in an African country where the work is banned and civil war rages. In that land many of our brothers suffer in prisons, and some youthful Witnesses have been executed. Yet, April had an outstanding report, with ten all-time peaks. The new publisher figure is an increase of 29 percent over last year. What zeal these dear brothers manifest! Average hours in April were over 18 per publisher, and home Bible studies were 2.6 per publisher.

A cryptic message received by the branch office caring for this territory is sufficient to convey some idea of existing conditions. It reads: “The heat continues to beat down on us. The effort required to move around and see someone is proof we are having a heat wave. But we know we are made in such a way as to adapt to any temperature and any environment. In spite of everything, we persevere and trust we will survive.” Such integrity!

Individual integrity keepers make an integrity-keeping organization. The global organization of 3,229,022 witnesses of Jehovah is just that! They look forward to surviving the coming “great tribulation” and to sharing, under Christ’s Kingdom, in the grand work of transforming earth into a paradise. (Revelation 7:14; 21:3, 4; Isaiah 65:17, 21-23, 25) They are jubilant about the way Jehovah is even now blessing their zealous activity, whether they are preaching the word “in favorable season” or “in troublesome season.” (2 Timothy 4:2) The following pages show how they have obeyed the theme of their 1986 yeartext: “Go . . . , declare abroad the kingdom of God.”​—Luke 9:60.

[Box/​Picture on page 7]

Some Features of the Global Report of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Increase:

Peak of publishers: 3,229,022 6.8%

Monthly average of pioneers: 391,294 21.2%

Total hours of preaching: 680,837,042 15.3%

Average monthly home Bible studies: 2,726,252 14.6%

Total number baptized 1986: 225,868 19 %

[Chart on page 10-13]

1986 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See bound volume)

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

WITNESSING “PUBLICLY AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE” “TO THE MOST DISTANT PART OF THE EARTH”

Davao Philippines

Venice Italy

Castle Combe England

Gålå Norway

Kowloon Hong Kong

Taipei Taiwan

Queenstown New Zealand

Bolgatanga Ghana

Paris France

Quetzaltenango Guatemala

Kerala India

Banff Canada

“They Will Be Certain to Fight Against You, but They Will Not Prevail Against You”

THE Sovereign Lord Jehovah told youthful Jeremiah that He would make him “a fortified city and an iron pillar and copper walls” against any who might seek his destruction. In modern times, we as Jehovah’s Witnesses have like assurance from our God. Yes, under Satan’s influence, ‘they will be certain to fight against us,’ but they will not prevail. “For ‘I am with you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘to deliver you.’”​—Jeremiah 1:18, 19.

In outlying villages of the Solomon Islands, strangers enter at the risk of their lives, especially if they bring a new religion. That was the experience of two special pioneers of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Fierce-looking villagers trained bows and arrows on them. They had orders to shoot! As the situation became tense, an old man suddenly intervened, saying: “These are my visitors. Don’t harm them.” To the dismay of the villagers, he led them to his home. This man had heard of the Witnesses; now he obtained the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, and a Bible study was started. He immediately began to travel to the meetings. Today the brothers can witness freely in that area, thankful for Jehovah’s initial deliverance.

Deliverance has often come through being identified as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because of the house-to-house preaching, people get to know who the Witnesses are and what their position is on issues of the day. In a small village in Peru, terrorists accused the villagers of having betrayed them. They rounded up the men of the town and put them in a line to be shot. (In similar situations entire villages had been wiped out.) But at this point, one of the terrorists recognized a brother and said to the executioners: “That man is not one of them. I know him to be a Jehovah’s Witness, and they don’t meddle in politics.” The brother was released. Certainly, Jehovah protects his own!

The island territory of Cyprus reports that the Greek Orthodox Church has been very active in trying to undermine the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The church distributes leaflets accusing the Witnesses of many things and discourages its people from having any discussions with the Witnesses. Some theologians have even organized themselves to visit people who have been studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses, trying to discourage them. Characteristic is what happened in Paphos, where Paul and Barnabas once overcame similar opposition. (Acts 13:6-12) A priest-theologian tried to convince three different persons to stop examining the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. They, in turn and separately from one another, arranged for a brother to join them in a discussion with this theologian. As a result, all three are now actively associated with the Witnesses. The priest commented, ‘I will never have another discussion with Jehovah’s Witnesses.’

Some priests went so far as to hit the Witnesses while these were doing house-to-house work in one of the villages. Strangely enough, a few days later, a whirlwind struck the village, destroying the roofs of many houses. Some villagers commented: ‘This is a punishment from God for what the priests did to Jehovah’s Witnesses.’ In this village, honesthearted persons are still accepting our brothers at their homes. In one instance, while a brother was presenting the current magazines to an interested person, one of the priests who had hit the brothers happened to pass by and told the brother to leave ‘his flock’ alone. The interested person said to the priest, ‘I am old enough to know what I am doing.’ So the clergy do not prevail against Jehovah’s Witnesses; their efforts backfire on them, and more people take their stand for Jehovah.

In a war-torn country in Central Africa, a circuit overseer was stopped for a routine check by soldiers. They objected to something in a letter that he was carrying and took him to police headquarters, where he was whipped and tortured by three soldiers. Although no charge was made against him and no trial was held, he was put in detention for one year. For six months he was kept in an overcrowded cell with 40 other prisoners. Because of the cramped quarters, they had to take turns sleeping, three hours at a time. The rest of the time, they had to remain standing. While our brother was there, 137 prisoners died, and he was given the work of putting their bodies in sacks for burial.

This circuit overseer kept up his spiritual strength by spending much time witnessing to fellow prisoners. His reports show over 30 hours a month spent in preaching; he conducted four Bible studies while in prison. One of his students even started witnessing to others. Through all his trials, Jehovah cared for this brother, who gives this advice to others: “When in prison, just leave everything in Jehovah’s hands. Wait on him. Trust in him. Don’t worry too much. Be faithful.”

In one area in Zimbabwe, children of Jehovah’s Witnesses were expelled from school for not participating in political exercises. Not satisfied with this, local gangs even burned down the homes of the parents and destroyed their crops. Witness families were forced to flee for their lives, leaving behind cattle and other possessions. However, the matter was taken to higher governmental authorities who kindly arranged for the families to return to their homes. Their cattle were restored, and the government has taken steps to reimburse the brothers for their losses. Jehovah’s Witnesses truly appreciate it when “superior authorities” thus show themselves to be ‘God’s ministers for good.’ (Romans 13:1-4) Through it all, a fine witness was given, and local people are now showing much interest in the Kingdom message. As one of the brothers put it, ‘We know that Jehovah can make such situations work out as a witness to his name.’

The past service year saw Jehovah’s blessing on the work in Malawi. It was only in areas where local villagers harbor hatred that the Witnesses experienced harassment. The following report testifies to this: “In many parts of the field, the situation is quiet. But in one congregation, two Witness families were badly molested by the youth leagues. The head of one of these families was so severely beaten that he was unconscious for four hours. Thereafter, he was taken to the police station, where the policeman on duty also continued to beat him and the others that were taken in with him. Later, however, a different policeman came on duty. This one was kind. He released the brothers and sent them back home, and they thanked Jehovah for this unexpected deliverance. It was later found that the cause of this incident was personal hatred by close relatives. Our Memorial attendance this year was encouraging. We had 23,476. This shows that there are still sheeplike persons who must be helped to become disciples of Jesus Christ here in Malawi.”

A country in Eastern Europe sent this message of appreciation: “We are thankful for the close contact we are experiencing with the Governing Body through all the channels of Jehovah’s earthly organization. By this we are allowed to see how our heavenly Father is gathering, through his Son and all the angels, his sheep today, and how we may have a small share in it. What a privilege this is! Our Father has blessed our efforts with increase. More time spent in the field, more auxiliary pioneers zealously preaching the good news, and the highest number of bound books ever loaned or placed in the field are the results of this blessing.”

The modern-day Jubilee horn has sounded loud and clear. The preceding tabulated report shows how Jehovah’s Witnesses in all parts of the earth are answering that call.

Jesus’ Life and Ministry

Did John Lack Faith?

JOHN the Baptizer, who has been in prison about a year now, receives the report about the resurrection of the widow’s son at Nain. But John wants to hear directly from Jesus regarding the significance of this, so he sends two of his disciples to inquire: “Are you the Coming One or are we to expect a different one?”

That may seem a strange question, especially since John saw God’s spirit descend upon Jesus and heard God’s voice of approval when baptizing him nearly two years before. John’s question may cause some to conclude that his faith has grown weak. But this is not so. Jesus would not speak so highly of John, which he does on this occasion, if John has begun to doubt. Why, then, does John ask this question?

John may simply want a verification from Jesus that He is the Messiah. This would be very strengthening to John as he languishes in prison. But apparently there is more to John’s question than that. He evidently wants to know if there is to be another one coming, a successor, as it were, who will complete the fulfillment of all the things that were foretold to be accomplished by the Messiah.

According to Bible prophecies with which John is acquainted, God’s anointed One is to be a king, a deliverer. Yet John is still being held prisoner, even many months after Jesus was baptized. So John evidently is asking Jesus: ‘Are you the one to establish the Kingdom of God in outward power, or is there a different one, a successor, for whom we should wait to fulfill all the prophecies relating to the Messiah’s glory?’

Instead of telling John’s disciples, ‘Of course I am the one who was to come!’ Jesus in that very hour puts on a remarkable display by healing many people of all kinds of diseases and ailments. Then he tells the disciples: “Go your way, report to John what you saw and heard: the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are being told the good news. And happy is he who has not stumbled over me.”

In other words, since John’s question may imply an expectation of Jesus’ doing more than he is doing, such as freeing John himself, Jesus is telling John not to expect more than all of this.

When John’s disciples leave, Jesus turns to the crowds and tells them that John is the “messenger” of Jehovah foretold in Malachi 3:1 and is also the prophet Elijah foretold in Malachi 4:5, 6. He thus extols John as being the equal of any prophet who lived before him, explaining:

“Truly I say to you people, Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is. But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it.”

Jesus is here showing that John will not be in the heavenly Kingdom, since a lesser one there is greater than John. John prepared the way for Jesus, but his death occurs before Christ sealed the covenant, or agreement, with his disciples to be corulers with him in his Kingdom. That is why Jesus says that John will not be in the heavenly Kingdom. John will instead be an earthly subject of God’s Kingdom. Luke 7:18-30; Matthew 11:2-15.

◆ Why does John ask whether Jesus is the Coming One or whether a different one should be expected?

◆ What prophecies does Jesus say that John fulfilled?

◆ Why will John the Baptizer not be in heaven with Jesus?

Jehovah’s Jubilee​—Time for Us to Rejoice

“And you must sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants. It will become a Jubilee for you . . . It should become something holy to you . . . Then you will certainly dwell on the land in security.”​—LEVITICUS 25:10-12, 18.

1. What inscription appears on the Liberty Bell, and from where are the words taken?

WHEREVER you live, you may have heard of the famous Liberty Bell, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The World Book Encyclopedia says that this bell “was rung July 8, 1776, with other church bells, to announce the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Its inscription, ‘Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,’ is from the Bible (Leviticus 25:10).”

2. How do you feel about the prospect of liberty, but what problems may come up about it?

² Liberty continues to have great appeal, does it not? Likely you would rejoice at the prospect of genuine liberty​—from false concepts, from political pressure or oppression, from the debilitating effects of old age and sickness, resulting in death. If so, there is good reason for you to rejoice, and there will be greater reason soon. ‘How can that be so?’ you may ask, since no government has yet provided full freedom, and neither scientists nor doctors can prevent aging, sickness, and eventual death. But, we repeat, there is a basis for you to rejoice over true liberty. To understand how, consider important background information that can involve you​—now and in the future.

3. What was the Jubilee, and what happened during that year?

³ The above-cited passage uses the word “Jubilee.” The Jubilee was a yearlong Sabbath-keeping period for the land of Israel. It followed a series of seven agricultural Sabbath years that altogether covered 49 years. The 50th year, the Jubilee, was the culmination of this series of Sabbath observances for the land that Jehovah had given his people, fulfilling the promise made to their forefather Abraham, “Jehovah’s friend.” (James 2:23; Isaiah 41:8) On the occasion of the Jubilee, liberty was proclaimed throughout the land. This meant freedom for all Israelites who had sold themselves into servitude because of debt. Another feature of the Jubilee was that all hereditary land possessions that had been sold (likely because of financial reverses) were returned.​—Leviticus 25:1-54.

4. When was the Jubilee announced, and how?

⁴ With that background, you can appreciate why the Jubilee was a festive year of liberty. It was announced by sounding a horn on the Day of Atonement.a As Moses wrote in Leviticus 25:9, 10: “You must cause the horn of loud tone to sound in the seventh month on the tenth of the month; on the day of atonement you people should cause the horn to sound in all your land. And you must sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants. It will become a Jubilee for you, and you must return each one to his possession and you should return each one to his family.” In 1473 B.C.E., Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, where they were to observe the Jubilee.

An Initial Freedom Proclaimed

5. What aspects of liberation and Jubilee will we consider?

⁵ The foregoing might seem to be ancient history having little bearing on our lives, especially if we are not of Jewish descent. However, Jesus Christ gave us valid reason to expect a grander Jubilee. It is this that constitutes the basis for our rejoicing over liberty, or freedom. In order to appreciate why, we need to see how Jesus in two ways provided for liberation in the first century. Then we will consider how those correspond to two liberations in our lifetime, but liberations on a much grander scale and providing us with much greater reason for rejoicing.

6, 7. (a) Isaiah 61:1-7 foretold what wonderful developments? (b) How did Jesus indicate that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled?

⁶ Though not speaking directly of the ancient Jubilee year, a prophetic reference to a coming type of liberation was made at Isaiah 61:1-7: “The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God; to comfort all the mourning ones . . . Rejoicing to time indefinite is what will come to be theirs.” But how and when would that prophecy find fulfillment?

⁷ After the celebration of the Passover in the year 30 C.E., Jesus Christ went into a synagogue on the Sabbath day. He there read part of Isaiah’s prophecy and applied it to himself. Luke 4:16-21 says, in part: “He opened the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor, he sent me forth to preach a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away with a release, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year’ . . . Then he started to say to them: ‘Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.’”

8. (a) What preliminary liberation did Jesus provide? (b) How is this illustrated at John 9:1-34?

⁸ The good news that Jesus declared provided spiritual liberation for Jews accepting it. By having their eyes opened to what true worship really meant and required, they were freed from many mistaken notions. (Matthew 5:21-48) This freedom had greater value than physical cures that Jesus performed. Hence, though Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind, more lasting good resulted to the man from his recognizing Jesus as a prophet from God. That man’s new freedom contrasted with the condition of religious leaders who were enslaved to their traditions and mistaken beliefs. (John 9:1-34; Deuteronomy 18:18; Matthew 15:1-20) Yet this was just an initial or preliminary freedom. Even in the first century, Jesus was to assist with another sort of liberation that paralleled the Jubilee in ancient Israel. Why is it reasonable to conclude that?

9. Even for those spiritually liberated, what form of enslavement remained?

⁹ Jesus said to the formerly blind man: “For this judgment I came into this world: that those not seeing might see and those seeing might become blind.” Then he told the Pharisees: “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Your sin remains.” (John 9:35-41) Yes, sin leading to death was still a major problem, even as it is now. (Romans 5:12) The Jews, including the apostles, who benefited from the initial liberation, the spiritual liberation that Jesus provided, remained imperfect humans. They continued enslaved to sin and resulting death. Could Jesus change that? Would he? And if so, when?

10. Jesus promised that he would provide what additional freedom?

¹⁰ Earlier, Jesus had said: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” His Jewish listeners replied: “We are Abraham’s offspring and never have we been slaves to anybody. How is it you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, Every doer of sin is a slave of sin. Moreover, the slave does not remain in the household forever; the son remains forever.” (John 8:31-36) Therefore, fleshly descent from Abraham could not liberate the Jews from slavery to sin. Jesus made this historical declaration regarding freedom to call attention to something that was coming and that would be greater than what Israelites experienced in any Jubilee.

The Christian Jubilee Begins

11. Why does our interest in the Christian Jubilee focus on the year 33 C.E.?

¹¹ The Jews did not see that the Jubilee of the Mosaic Law covenant was typical of a greater Jubilee. (Colossians 2:17; Ephesians 2:14, 15) This Jubilee for Christians involves “the truth” that can set humans free​—that truth centering on the Son, Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) When did this greater Jubilee that could bring freedom even from sin and its effects begin to be celebrated? It was in the spring of 33 C.E., on the day of Pentecost. This was ten days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven to present the merit of his sacrifice to Jehovah God.​—Hebrews 9:24-28.

12, 13. What happened after Jesus’ death that soon brought a unique experience to his disciples?

¹² Before Jesus, no human creature had been resurrected from the dead to continue living forever. (Romans 6:9-11) Rather, all fell asleep in death and would continue sleeping until the time was due for the resurrection of the human family. By his resurrection through the power of God, Jesus Christ became what the inspired Scriptures call him, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death.”​—1 Corinthians 15:20.

¹³ Fifty days after his resurrection, there was evidence that the resurrected Jesus Christ had ascended into the heavens and had entered into the presence of Jehovah God with the value of his perfect human sacrifice and had applied it in behalf of mankind. This was on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E. In obedience to instructions from Jesus, about 120 disciples met together in Jerusalem. Then Christ poured out holy spirit on these disciples, in fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29. Tongues as if of fire hovered above their heads, and they began to speak in languages foreign to them. (Acts 2:16-21, 33) This was proof that the resurrected Jesus Christ had ascended into the heavens and had entered into the presence of God with the value of a perfect human sacrifice to apply in behalf of mankind.

14. (a) What was the situation of Christ’s disciples as regards covenants? (b) The new covenant involved what outstanding blessing?

¹⁴ What were the consequences for those disciples? For one thing, they were set free from the Mosaic Law covenant, which God had made with the nation of natural Israel but which he had now canceled, nailing it to Jesus’ torture stake. (Colossians 2:13, 14; Galatians 3:13) That covenant was superseded by a new covenant made, not with the nation of natural Israel, but with the new “nation” of spiritual Israel. (Hebrews 8:6-13; Galatians 6:16) This new covenant, foretold at Jeremiah 31:31-34, was arranged through a mediator greater than the ancient prophet Moses. Out of interest in liberation, we should especially note one feature of the new covenant. The apostle Paul called attention to this, writing: “‘This is the covenant that I shall covenant toward them after those days, . . . I shall by no means call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind anymore.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”​—Hebrews 10:16-18.

15. Why can we say that at Pentecost 33 C.E. the Christian Jubilee began for anointed ones? (Romans 6:6, 16-18)

¹⁵ Jesus was pointing to this liberation from sin when he said: “If the Son sets you free, you will be actually free.” (John 8:36) Imagine​—freedom from sin made possible on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice! Starting on the day of Pentecost, God declared believing ones righteous and then adopted them as spiritual sons having the prospect of reigning with Christ in heaven. Paul explains: “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons . . . If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:15-17) Unquestionably, the Christian Jubilee had begun for anointed Christians.

16. What additional blessings and prospects were involved for those celebrating the Christian Jubilee?

¹⁶ So on that day of Pentecost in the year 33 C.E., the new nation of spiritual Israel came into existence. It was made up of humans whose sins had been forgiven on the basis of Christ’s sacrificial blood. (Romans 5:1, 2; Ephesians 1:7) Who of us could deny that those first members of spiritual Israel taken into the new covenant experienced a marvelous liberation by having their sins forgiven? They were made by God into “‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that [they] should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) True, their fleshly bodies were still imperfect and they would die in time. Yet, now that God had declared them righteous and had adopted them as spiritual sons, their fleshly death was just a “releasing” that allowed for their resurrection to Christ’s “heavenly kingdom.”​—2 Timothy 4:6, 18.

17, 18. Why was the liberation of the Christian Jubilee more valuable than the preliminary freedom that Jesus proclaimed?

¹⁷ The initial or preliminary step of freeing believing Jews from mistaken notions and practices had much value. However, we have seen that Jesus went beyond that spiritual liberation. From Pentecost 33 C.E. onward, he liberated believing humans from “the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1, 2) Thus began the Christian Jubilee for anointed Christians. This truly was a much more valuable liberation, for it included the prospect of life in heaven as joint heirs with Christ.

¹⁸ We have so far considered two aspects of Christian freedom in the first century, which undeniably were a basis for rejoicing. And the first-century believers did rejoice. (Acts 13:44-52; 16:34; 1 Corinthians 13:6; Philippians 4:4) That was especially true regarding their share in the Christian Jubilee, which opened the way for them to receive everlasting blessings in the heavens.​—1 Peter 1:3-6; 4:13, 14.

19. What questions remain for Christians who are not spirit begotten, and what indicates that they will have a part in divinely provided liberation?

¹⁹ Where, though, do most true Christians today fit into this picture, since they have not been declared righteous for life and anointed with holy spirit? There is Scriptural reason to look for a large-scale liberation in their behalf as part of the Christian Jubilee. Call to mind Acts 3:20, 21: “Jesus, whom heaven, indeed, must hold within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time.” (Compare Acts 17:31.) In the same vein, John, an anointed apostle who was already enjoying the Christian Jubilee, wrote about Jesus Christ: “He is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.” (1 John 2:2) Does that mean that the many loyal Christians today who do not have the heavenly hope can rejoice in Christian freedom? Is that just in the future, or do we already have reason to rejoice? We can find that out by examining the aspects of Christian liberation and the Jubilee that have special meaning for true worshipers today.

[Footnotes]

What Are Your Thoughts?

◻ What were the benefits of the Jubilee in ancient Israel?

◻ How did Jesus proclaim an initial liberation, and what did it involve?

◻ When did the Christian Jubilee begin, and what is the basis for concluding that?

◻ Why do we have reason to look forward to liberation involving the millions of Christians who are not spirit anointed?

[Blurb on page 18]

“The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” (Proverbs 4:18) In line with that principle, this article and the following one present an updated and amplified explanation of the Jubilee.

[Picture on page 20]

Jesus proclaims liberty in 30 C.E.

[Picture on page 23]

The Christian Jubilee begins in 33 C.E.

The Christian Jubilee Climaxes in the Millennium

1. What have the Jews in the Republic of Israel made no effort to reinstitute, and why?

EVEN in the Republic of Israel (founded in 1948), the many Jews who consider themselves to be under the Mosaic Law have not reinstituted the celebrating of the Jubilee year. And there would be many complications if they tried. Massive economic problems would result, for property rights are involved. The Republic of Israel does not occupy all the land inhabited by the ancient 12 tribes. There is also no temple with a high priest of the tribe of Levi, tribal identities of the people having been lost.

2. How have some Christians already begun to celebrate a Jubilee foreshadowed by that of ancient Israel?

² Where does that leave us, though, as to the blessings of a Jubilee celebration? We recall that the ancient Jubilee was a festival year of liberty​—Israelites who had sold themselves into slavery were freed and hereditary lands were returned. (Leviticus 25:8-54) In the previous article, we saw that this arrangement ended with the Mosaic Law covenant in 33 C.E. (Romans 7:4, 6; 10:4) Then a new covenant was put in force whereby God could forgive believers’ sins, anoint them with holy spirit, and adopt them as sons to be taken to heaven. (Hebrews 10:15-18) Yet those thus benefiting from this new covenant arrangement are a “little flock” of 144,000 “who have been bought from the earth.” So how can the millions of other loyal Christians obtain liberation foreshadowed by the Jubilee?​—Luke 12:32; Revelation 14:1-4.

A Sacrifice for All!

3. How effective and lasting is Jesus’ sacrifice?

³ In pre-Christian times, the benefits of the annual Day of Atonement lasted for only one year. The benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ’s ransom sacrifice are continuous, perpetual. Thus the antitypical High Priest, Jesus, does not have to become a man again, sacrifice himself, and then return to heaven to present the value of that sacrifice year after year in the Most Holy of Jehovah God. As the Scriptures state: “Christ, now that he has been raised up from the dead, dies no more; death is master over him no more.”​—Romans 6:9; Hebrews 9:28.

4, 5. (a) What has been the result of the application of Jesus’ sacrifice from Pentecost 33 C.E.? (b) We have what indication that his sacrifice is going to be applied more widely?

⁴ Hence, in the years since Pentecost 33 C.E., as believers have become spirit-begotten disciples of the glorified Lord Jesus, they have begun celebrating the Christian Jubilee. Once ‘set free from the law of sin and of death,’ they have enjoyed invigorating freedom. (Romans 8:1, 2) They have also proclaimed the Christian message so that yet others can have their sins forgiven, be anointed, and become spiritual sons of God. Does this mean, though, that if one is not of that group limited to 144,000, he cannot experience joyful liberation now?

⁵ Significant in this connection are the apostle Paul’s words at Romans 8:19-21: “The eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility [being sinful and unable to eliminate sin].” Paul then stressed that there is “hope that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Such freedom, therefore, is not limited to those becoming “children of God” in heaven. The familiar words at John 3:16 confirm that. And, as mentioned, the anointed apostle John said that Christ died “for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.”​—1 John 2:2.

1919​—An Initial Liberation

6, 7. Since 1919, what sort of liberation has been proclaimed, and why especially since then?

⁶ In modern times the anointed who are celebrating the Christian Jubilee have been declaring liberating good news, especially since 1919. ‘Why from that time?’ you may wonder if you have been born more recently. Let us see, keeping in mind that your enjoyment of liberation is involved.

⁷ For decades before that date, Jehovah’s anointed ones published Biblical truths, such as in the famous series Studies in the Scriptures (1886-1917). They also distributed many informative booklets and tracts. During World War I, there came opposition, testing and sifting, and a slackening of their activities. But in 1919 the anointed remnant went forth with renewed zeal to proclaim Bible truths. As Jesus in 30 C.E. could say that he was anointed to preach “a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind,” so could these modern-day anointed ones. After a thrilling convention September 1-7, 1919,a they vigorously surged ahead in preaching truths that liberated countless people.​—Luke 4:18.

8, 9. In what sense have many been set free, and what aids have been used in proclaiming such liberation?

⁸ Consider, for example, the Bible study aid The Harp of God (1921), which presented vital truths as if they were ten strings on a harp. The book acknowledged that “many have been frightened away from studying the Bible” by the doctrine that “the punishment for the wicked . . . is everlasting torment or torture in a hell burning with unquenchable fire and brimstone.” Readers of the nearly 6,000,000 copies of this book learned that this doctrine could “not be true for at least four separate and distinct reasons: (1) because it is unreasonable; (2) because it is repugnant to justice; (3) because it is contrary to the principle of love; and (4) because it is entirely unscriptural.” You can imagine how liberating that was for people who had grown up in fear of eternal torment in hell or of agony in purgatory!

⁹ Yes, the zealous preaching of Bible truth by these anointed ones freed people around the globe who had been enslaved to false teachings, superstitions, and unscriptural practices (such as ancestor worship, fear of ghosts or evil spirits, and financial exploitation by the clergy). The very titles of some Bible study aids reflect the liberating influence they had on millions.b Thus Jesus’ words have proved true, when he said that his disciples ‘would do works greater’ than he did. (John 14:12) Compared with the preliminary spiritual liberating work that Jesus did in preaching “a release to the captives,” God’s modern-day servants have done far more​—reaching many millions around the globe.

10. Why can we expect that an additional and greater liberation will be experienced?

¹⁰ Call to mind, however, that in the first century a further liberating began at Pentecost 33 C.E. There the Christian Jubilee began for the “little flock” who would have their sins forgiven, leading to their becoming “sons of God” in heaven. What about in our time? Could the millions of other devoted Christians be released from bondage to sin and thus celebrate a grand Jubilee? Yes, and the apostle Peter indicated this when he spoke of “the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time.”​—Acts 3:21.

A Jubilee for Millions

11. How does Leviticus chapter 25 suggest that we can look for a liberation that extends beyond spiritual Israel?

¹¹ It is noteworthy that twice in Leviticus chapter 25 the Israelites were reminded that from Jehovah’s standpoint they were his “slaves” whom he had liberated out of Egypt. (Le 25 Verses 42 and 55) This Jubilee chapter also mentions the “settlers” and the ‘aliens in their midst.’ Such ones find a parallel today in the “great crowd” who are sharing with the spiritual Israelites in proclaiming the Christian good news.

12. Since 1935, what happy development has been in progress?

¹² Since 1935 the “fine shepherd” Jesus Christ has brought into active association with the anointed remnant those whom he referred to as “other sheep.” These he had to “bring,” and they were to form “one flock” under “one shepherd.” (John 10:16) The “other sheep” now number in the millions. If you are of that happy multitude, you are already counted righteous as a friend of God, and as part of human creation, you are looking forward to being “set free from enslavement to corruption” during the coming “times of restoration of all things” on earth. This is no misplaced hope.​—Romans 8:19-21; Acts 3:20, 21.

13. What blessing in particular should we note as occurring after the “great tribulation”?

¹³ After the apostle John saw 144,000 who enjoy the Christian Jubilee with a heavenly destiny, he described a “great crowd,” saying: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple.”​—Revelation 7:14, 15.

14, 15. Why do those of the “great crowd” have special reason to rejoice now?

¹⁴ Even now, before the great tribulation, these are exercising faith in Christ’s shed blood and thus benefit from his sacrificial death. They also rejoice at being liberated from Babylon the Great, at having a good conscience before Jehovah God, and in their privilege of sharing in the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14 by preaching the good news of the Kingdom before the end comes.

¹⁵ However, what of the prospect of the great crowd’s being liberated from inborn sin and imperfection? Is that time near? We have good reason to hold that there are still with us some of the generation of mankind that Jesus Christ foretold was not to pass away until all the things predicted would be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34) Hence, the grand finale of “the conclusion of the system of things” should be very close at hand.​—Matthew 24:3.

Crowning Features of the Christian Jubilee

16. Where do we stand in the outworking of God’s purpose, and what lies ahead?

¹⁶ “The war of the great day of God the Almighty” comes on apace, and the remnant of the “little flock,” as well as the “great crowd” of their faithful, loyal companions will keep integrity toward Jehovah God and look forward to having divine protection. They eagerly anticipate Jehovah’s crushing defeat of all the enemy forces, to the vindication of him as the Universal Sovereign. What a crowning feature this will be to their enjoyment of Christian freedom!​—Revelation 16:14; 19:19-21; Habakkuk 2:3.

17. How will millions yet receive liberation in a grand Jubilee?

¹⁷ The reign of the victorious King Jesus Christ over the cleansed earth will follow, with Jehovah’s universal sovereignty reaffirmed, and with Jesus Christ in full control of the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then he will directly apply the merit of his sacrifice to the millions of humans, including the resurrected dead, who exercise faith and who willingly accept the forgiveness of sins that God will provide through Christ. This will be evidenced by God’s wiping out “every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” (Revelation 21:3, 4) If that is not true liberation, what is?

18. Comparable to a feature of the ancient Jubilee, what will occur with the earth in the new system?

¹⁸ Moreover, the earth will no longer be controlled, polluted, and ruined by greedy individuals, corporations, and human governments. (Revelation 11:18) Rather, it will be returned to true worshipers. They will be charged with the delightful task of sharing in a literal fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating . . . They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 65:21-25) By the end of the Millennial Reign, all traces of inherited sin and imperfection will have been wiped out and God’s loyal ones on earth will be celebrating the full climax with which the Jubilee terminates. So the liberation foreshadowed by the Jubilee will have been accomplished.​—Ephesians 1:10.

After the Millennial Climax of the Jubilee

19, 20. How will Satan and the demons try to interfere with the blessings resulting from the Millennial Jubilee, but with what outcome?

¹⁹ Revelation 20:1-3 foretells that Satan the Devil, ruler of demon hordes, will be off the scene for the thousand years of Christ’s reign over mankind. When, at the end of the Millennium, the Devil and his demons will be allowed briefly to come forth, these wicked spirits will see the earth, not in the condition in which they left it, but as an indescribably beautiful, global paradise. They will see the earth occupied by the faithful “great crowd” and by the billions of resurrected human dead for whom Jesus Christ died as a ransom sacrifice. By the end of the Millennium, the Christian Jubilee will have achieved its purpose of fully releasing mankind from the effects of sin. (Romans 8:21) How diabolically disgraceful it would be for anyone to try to ruin that fine situation! But by almighty God’s permission, the Devil will make a last attempt to do this, and in desperate bitterness he will strike. To this effect it is written at Revelation 20:7-10, 14:

²⁰ “Now as soon as the thousand years have been ended, Satan will be let loose out of his prison, and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea. And they advanced over the breadth of the earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down out of heaven and devoured them. And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur.”

21. After the Christian Jubilee ends with the Millennium, what response by the heavenly sons of God will be reminiscent of Job 38:7?

²¹ True liberty, brought about by the Jubilee arrangement, will continue to be enjoyed everywhere; all creatures will be free and will be honoring the One who alone bears the name Jehovah. (Psalm 83:18) That will be true as Jehovah continues to carry out his purposes in all the universe. At the creation of the earth, before mankind was placed upon it, “the morning stars joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause” at the beautiful sight. (Job 38:7) How much more will they do so at seeing earth populated by men and women who have demonstrated and proved their total dedication and integrity to almighty God.

22. What should be our attitude, in harmony with the exhortation found at Psalm 150:1-6?

²² All things being taken into account in the light of the dazzling brilliance being shed upon the Scriptures, we cannot do otherwise than spontaneously jubilate with the heavens and say, Hallelujah! This is the exhortation to us with which the book of Psalms closes: “Hallelujah. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the sky, His stronghold. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His exceeding greatness. Praise Him with blasts of the horn; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with lute and pipe. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud-clashing cymbals. Let all that breathes praise the LORD. Hallelujah.”​—Psalm 150:1-6, Tanakh Bible (1985), Jewish Publication Society of America.

[Footnotes]

How Would You Answer?

◻ From what were Jesus’ disciples released at Pentecost 33 C.E., marking the start of what for them?

◻ Why is there reason to expect greater liberation than occurred in the first century?

◻ What sort of liberating has been going on since 1919?

◻ How and when will the “other sheep” benefit from a grand Jubilee?

◻ After the climax of the Jubilee, what will the earth be like?

[Picture on page 25]

Liberty proclaimed at Cedar Point, 1919

[Picture on page 26]

“Other sheep” share in the Millennial Jubilee

Kingdom Proclaimers Report

“Amazing District Convention”

THIS was the headline of a newspaper in Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz, Mexico, about a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses held in that city. The newspaper commented: “The large attendance at the district convention of [Jehovah’s Witnesses] held at the local Exposition Grounds is the most eloquent demonstration of an outstanding happening all over the world in our days: the increasing distrust people have in the doctrines of the so-called ‘Christian’ churches and the firm conviction that the magnitude of the problems alarmingly transcends the power of governments to solve them.

“Never has a political meeting or social event gathered such a crowd displaying such order and cleanliness. It was simply amazing to see 5,000 people carefully following a program built exclusively around information from the Bible and dealing with aspects of daily life from raising children and living together as a family to morality and spiritual health, along with Bible story dramatization and its application in modern times.”

After commenting on the “overwhelming demonstration of coordinated efficiency and organization,” the news report observed: “The importance of the activity carried out by the local Jehovah’s Witnesses can be measured by the results that have been obtained in just a few years. Today it is an association that grows by leaps and bounds, that worries not at all about the negative comments that usually surround them. Whatever negative thing that could be attributed to them becomes nonexistent when one observes their stand on the things that surround them, the orderly way in which they expand, their respect for authority, and the great appreciation they have for cleanliness and good speech.

“These Bible students are made up almost 100 percent of former activists of different religions, mostly Catholics, that have noticed religion’s drifting toward politics and its acceptance and approval of un-Biblical practices like interfaith, immorality, and violence. It has been a source of satisfaction for them to conform to Scriptural principles of conduct without resorting to idolatry or traditions of obscure origin. This has given them a praiseworthy unity of faith that seems to distinguish them wherever they are found.”

These comments remind us of the principle that Jesus stated: “By their fruits you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) Many honesthearted ones in Mexico are recognizing the Scripturalness of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, are associating with them, and are being richly blessed spiritually by Jehovah God.

[Picture on page 29]

A typical convention scene in Mexico

Questions From Readers

◼ In ancient Israel a cycle of 49 years was followed by a Jubilee year (50th year). Does that Jubilee correspond to the period following God’s creative week of 49,000 years?

Because the number 49 occurs in both cases, it might seem that the Jubilee would foreshadow the time following the end of a creative week of 49,000 years. But for mankind in general who receive God’s approval, what occurred during Israel’s Jubilee corresponds more with what will occur during the Millennium, the last thousand years of such creative week, not what follows after that week. Consider the basis for this:

First, the Mosaic Law required that every seventh year be a sabbath for the land; crops were not to be sown, cultivated, or harvested. After the seventh Sabbath year (the 49th year), there came a special Jubilee year, the 50th year. It was a sabbath during which the land was again to rest. More importantly, liberty was proclaimed. Hebrews who had sold themselves into slavery were freed from indebtedness and servitude. Also, hereditary land was returned to families who had been forced to sell it. So the Jubilee was a time of release and restoration for the Israelites.​—Leviticus 25:1-46.

Second, a study of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and of our location in the stream of time strongly indicate that each of the creative days (Genesis, chapter 1) is 7,000 years long. It is understood that Christ’s reign of a thousand years will bring to a close God’s 7,000-year ‘rest day,’ the last ‘day’ of the creative week. (Revelation 20:6; Genesis 2:2, 3) Based on this reasoning, the entire creative week would be 49,000 years long.

Noting the similarity in numbers, some have compared the 49 years of the ancient Jubilee cycle to such 49,000 years of the creative week. Reasoning this way, they have thought that Israel’s Jubilee (50th) year should prefigure, or foreshadow, what will come after the end of the creative week.

However, bear in mind that the Jubilee was particularly a year of release and restoration for people. The creative week largely relates to the planet Earth and its development. But with regard to the outworking of God’s purpose for man on earth, the globe itself has not been sold into slavery and thus is not in need of liberation. It is mankind that needs that, and humans have existed, not for 49,000 years, but for about 6,000 years. The Bible shows that some time after Adam and Eve were created, they rebelled against God, thus coming into captivity to sin, imperfection, and death. According to Romans 8:20, 21, Jehovah God purposes to liberate believing mankind from this slavery. As a result, true worshipers on earth “will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”​—See also Romans 6:23.

While the small group selected to be taken to heaven have had their sins forgiven from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward and thus already enjoy the Jubilee, the Scriptures show that the liberation for believing mankind will occur during Christ’s Millennial Reign. That will be when he applies to mankind the benefits of his ransom sacrifice. By the end of the Millennium, mankind will have been raised to human perfection, completely free from inherited sin and death. Having thus brought to an end the last enemy (death passed on from Adam), Christ will hand the Kingdom back to his Father at the end of the 49,000-year creative week.​—1 Corinthians 15:24-26.

Consequently, for believing mankind with earthly prospects, the liberation and restoration that marked the Jubilee year in ancient Israel will find a fitting parallel during the coming Millennial Sabbath. Then liberation and restoration will be experienced. That will be under Christ’s rulership, “for Lord of the sabbath is what the Son of man is.”​—Matthew 12:8.

“Gather Yourselves Together”

JEREMIAH spoke the above words as calamity threatened ancient Jerusalem and Judah. It was urgent that repentant, true worshipers of Jehovah be gathered for salvation. Likewise today, apostate Christendom is about to perish in “a great crash,” along with the entire world empire of false religion. Though the years have stretched out since 1914, when the clergy of Christendom gave full support to the bloodbath of World War I, “the burning anger of Jehovah has not turned back” any more than it did during the comparable time period that spanned the reigns of Judah’s kings from bloodguilty Manasseh to faithless Zedekiah. The meek of the earth must now seek Jehovah in order to survive.​—Jeremiah 4:5-8; 2 Kings 24:3, 4; Zephaniah 2:2, 3.

How has the modern-day warning been given? The magazine that you are now reading has been one effective instrument. Continuously since 1879, this journal, like a watchman on his watchtower, has called attention to the impending fall of false religion, as typified by Babylon, and the peaceful Millennial Reign of Christ that will follow. (Isaiah 21:6-12; Revelation 20:2, 3; 21:1-4) From its initial issue of 6,000 copies in English, it has expanded until The Watchtower​—Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom today enjoys a global circulation of 12,315,000 copies in 103 languages. Moreover, its format has been enhanced over the years. It is now printed in four colors in 21 languages, but other editions also appear in attractive form, as befits the magazine’s vital mission.

With the increase in production, it has become necessary to decentralize the printing, so that this is now handled by Society-operated factories in 35 branches outside the United States. Further, from January 1987, editions of our companion magazine Awake! printed in the United States, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Japan will be in four colors. In the United States this has been made possible by the installation of three MAN-Roland high-speed rotary magazine presses at the Watchtower Farms factory at Wallkill, New York.

The Society’s branch in Japan is also using three high-speed presses to produce Bibles, books, and magazines in a number of Asiatic languages. Moreover, this branch has given generous support to the Australian, Korean, and South African branches in equipping them with four-color presses, so that these three branches are now moving into four-color magazine printing.

Over the years, there has been a sharing of resources among the Society’s branches, with the headquarters organization setting the lead. Thus many have been assisted according to the need, whether it has been in constructing or extending branch buildings, equipping these, or in financing the all-important preaching work in the field. This “equalizing” process, made possible by the generous contributions of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the earth, has been richly blessed by Jehovah.​—2 Corinthians 8:12-15.

Examples That Encourage Faithfulness

Do day-to-day responsibilities of life ever wear on you, robbing you of joy and causing you to lose perspective? They can. What is a solution? A woman from Kentucky, U.S.A., writes:

“I had been so depressed, worrying about so many little things. After I read the Yearbook, I felt so guilty. All those Christian brothers and sisters went through so much more and remained faithful. It has helped me so much. Thank you, again!”

Now the 1987 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses is available with its many thrilling accounts of Christians maintaining faithfulness to God​—in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other lands around the globe. Don’t miss reading it! Send for your copy today.

Please send, postpaid, the 1987 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses; I enclose $1 (U.S.).