The Watchtower — January 1, 1992

Worship Which God?

UNLIKE the animals, we humans have the capacity to worship. This is part of our makeup from birth. We also have a moral sense, a conscience to guide us as to what is right and what is wrong. In various ways all of us follow that conscience, and in doing so, many look to a god or gods for guidance.

During the past century or two, some worldly intellectuals have disputed the existence of an almighty God and Creator. In 1844, Karl Marx declared religion to be “the opium of the people.” Later, Charles Darwin brought forth the theory of evolution. Then came the Bolshevik revolution. In Eastern Europe atheism became official state policy, and it was claimed that religion would die out with the generation of 1917. But those atheists could not change the way humans are made. This is evidenced in the resurgence of religion in Eastern Europe at this time.

However, as the Bible says, there are many who “are called ‘gods,’ whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords.’” (1 Corinthians 8:5) Through the ages mankind has worshiped a multitude of gods. There have been gods of fertility, of love, of war, and of wine and revelry. In the Hindu religion alone, gods number into the millions.

Trinities of gods have flourished in Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt, as well as in Buddhist lands. Christendom too has its “holy” Trinity. Islam, rejecting the Trinity, has “no god but Allah.” Moreover, even those who scoff at the concept of an invisible, almighty God have their own gods. For example, at Philippians 3:19, the Bible says of humans who are snared in materialistic pursuits: “Their god is their belly.”

Most people worship the god or gods of the land or society into which they happened to be born. This raises questions. Do all forms of worship lead to the same place​—like roads up to a mountain peak? Or do many of religion’s mystic roads lead to calamity​—like pathways to a precipice? Are there many proper ways to worship or is there just one? Are there many praiseworthy gods or is there just one Almighty God who is worthy of our exclusive devotion and worship?

The Rise of False Gods

The above questions merit our close examination. Why? Because the oldest written authority on religion, the Bible, describes how a false god, operating through a serpent, enticed our first ancestors into a disastrous course. We are experiencing the distressing results of his strategy to this day. (Genesis 3:1-13, 16-19; Psalm 51:5) Jesus, “the Son of God,” spoke of that rebel god as “the ruler of this world.” One of Jesus’ apostles called him “the god of this system of things.” (John 1:34; 12:31; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4) At Revelation chapter 12, verse 9, he is described as “the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” A world empire of false religion lies under Satan’s control.

Satan is the archdeceiver. (1 Timothy 2:14) He plays upon mankind’s inborn desire to worship by promoting many kinds of deities​—ancestral spirits, idols, icons, Madonnas. He even sponsors worship of human gods, such as mighty rulers, victorious generals, and movie and sports stars. (Acts 12:21-23) We do well to keep on guard, resolved to seek out and worship only the true God, who really “is not far off from each one of us.”​—Acts 17:27.

Who, then, is this unique God that we should worship? Some 3,000 years ago, the Bible psalmist described him as “the Most High . . . , the Almighty One . . . , my God, in whom I will trust,” and called him by his illustrious name​—“Jehovah.” (Psalm 91:1, 2) Earlier, Moses had said of him: “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) And the prophet Isaiah quoted God himself as saying: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.”​—Isaiah 42:8.

Jehovah God purposes to clear his name of all the reproach that the false god Satan has smeared upon it. He illustrated how he would do this in the year 1513 B.C.E., when he used his prophet Moses to deliver the people of Israel from Egyptian oppression. On that occasion, God linked his name Jehovah with the words: “I shall prove to be what I shall prove to be.” (Exodus 3:14, 15) He would vindicate himself against Egypt’s Pharaoh, but first he told that wicked ruler: “For this cause I have kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and in order to have my name declared in all the earth.”​—Exodus 9:16.

The situation is similar today. Like Pharaoh of old, the god of this world, Satan, defies Jehovah God and craftily carries on spiritual warfare against those humans who love righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 6:11, 12, 18) Once again, God has purposed to magnify his name in the face of Satan’s opposition. However, before showing his power by destroying Satan and all his works, Jehovah sends forth his worshipers to declare His name in all the earth. This witnessing to his name is a vital part of true worship.

Appropriately, God himself has said that these worshipers would be his witnesses, Jehovah’s Witnesses, “the people whom I have formed for myself, that they should recount the praise of me.” (Isaiah 43:10-12, 21) How do they recount Jehovah’s praise? They preach and teach publicly and from house to house, declaring the good news that Jehovah’s Kingdom, ruled by his Son, Jesus Christ, will bring eternal blessings to obedient mankind on this earth. Thus, they worship God “without letup,” as did true Christians in the first century. (Acts 5:42; 20:20, 21) Have they enjoyed divine blessing in this? The following pages will answer.

Harvesting the Worshipers

THE apostle John was given a vision of world-shaking events that would take place “in the Lord’s day.” He saw the heavenly Lord Jesus Christ riding forth to righteous warfare, pictured by a white stallion​—“conquering and to complete his conquest.” The first thing he does is to hurl God’s archenemy, Satan, out of the heavens down to the vicinity of this earth. Satan responds by plaguing mankind with unprecedented slaughter, famine, and disease, pictured by the figurative riders and their horses​—red, black, and pale in color. (Revelation 1:10; 6:1-8; 12:9-12) These woes exploded first in the year 1914 and have escalated since that time. Shortly, they will be climaxed by what Jesus described as “great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.”​—Matthew 24:3-8, 21.

How will Jehovah’s worshipers fare at that time? Revelation chapter 7, verses 1 to 10, speaks of angelic forces “holding tight” the winds of destruction until these worshipers are gathered. During the period since 1914, the last ones on earth of spiritual Israel, numbering 144,000, are gathered. And then “look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” This great crowd already numbers into the millions. They stand approved before God’s throne because of exercising faith in the ransoming blood of Jesus, who was slaughtered like an innocent lamb. “And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” These zealous worshipers keep saying “Come!” to still others, who in turn are gathered for salvation through “the great tribulation.”​—Revelation 7:14-17; 22:17.

“Into All the Earth”

Of these devoted worshipers, it can be said: “Into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances.” (Romans 10:18) Their hard work has been blessed with remarkable fruitage. For example:

Mexico now reports 335,965 active worshipers of Jehovah, an increase of almost a hundred thousand in just three years! Why so great an expansion? The following account may help to explain. A young man named Aurelio was the sacristan in a Catholic church. Every time Jehovah’s Witnesses came into that village, he rang the church bells to discourage anyone from listening to them. In time he bought a Catholic Jerusalem Bible and started to read it, but he did not understand it. Then one day he saw a friend with a copy of the New World Translation under his arm. Aurelio chided his friend and, telling him that his Bible was false, took him to his own home to show him the “real” Bible. His friend said: “Read Exodus 20,” and then he left.

Starting with chapter 1, the sacristan read through Exodus until he came to Ex chapter 20, verses 4 and 5. He was shocked by what his Catholic Bible said about images. After Mass the next Sunday, he confronted the priest with the texts about images. At first the priest said that he himself just venerated the images; he did not worship them. Seeing that this did not satisfy Aurelio, the priest accused him of studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Aurelio denied this but added, “Now I will!”

The next time the Witnesses came to the village, Aurelio contacted them and began studying the Bible with them. He stopped working in the church and in three months qualified to share in the public ministry with Jehovah’s Witnesses. The first home he visited was that of the priest, who could not believe his eyes when he saw the former sacristan in the role of a Kingdom preacher. The priest threatened him with excommunication, but Aurelio told him that this would not be necessary as he had already left the church. His bold course encouraged many of the villagers who were already studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Aurelio and 21 others from that village were baptized at the next district convention. So rapid is the growth in this area that there was only one elder available to review with this group the questions for baptismal candidates.

“Their Sound Went Out”

There is no escape from the Kingdom preaching. An Italian Catholic used to get annoyed every time Jehovah’s Witnesses called on him. So when his company transferred him to Singapore, he felt that at last he would not be bothered by them. But to his surprise, the Witnesses were there too. So he obtained two fierce dogs to attack the next Witnesses who came. When two Witnesses called at his home, out jumped those dogs. Terrified, the women ran for their lives, going in different directions at a road junction. As one of the dogs caught up with her, one of the Witnesses desperately grabbed two brochures from her bag and shoved them into the dog’s open mouth. At this, it stopped chasing her, turned around, and trotted home.

The following week, the same two Witnesses were making a return visit at a house across the street. The dogs’ owner was in his garden, and, surprisingly, he greeted the women and invited them into his house. He told them that he had never spoken to Jehovah’s Witnesses or read any of their publications. But he had been amazed to find the brochures in the mouth of one of his dogs. That evening he had read the brochures and was really impressed with them. Although he had been a Catholic all his life, he expressed a desire to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Since the man was being transferred back to Italy, arrangements were made for Jehovah’s Witnesses to study with him there. As he and his wife started to attend meetings, the parish priest angrily confronted them with threats. When someone set fire to their garden, the couple severed all ties with the church. This man now says: “I have already been witnessing to many of my family members because I want to let them know that Jehovah is the only true God.”

“To the Extremities of the Inhabited Earth”

Another experience from an extremity of the earth shows how the Kingdom message is appreciated and helps to change lives. While attending prenatal classes, a Witness in Australia met a woman who had many bad habits, even refusing to give up smoking during her pregnancy. The Witness was very disturbed by her attitude. It happened that they had their babies at the same time and in the same ward, so they had a chance to talk. It appeared that the woman had had many problems during her childhood, and now her marriage was on the verge of breaking up. So, after getting out of the hospital, the Witness called on the woman and started a Bible study with her, using the book Making Your Family Life Happy.

The woman’s husband had been praying to God that he would find the true religion, adding the proviso: “As long as it is not Jehovah’s Witnesses!” Nevertheless, when he found out that his wife was studying with the Witnesses, he began to ask questions and was invited to join in the study. This he did, and soon he began to attend congregation meetings. Now, both husband and wife have been baptized, and evidently their marital situation has improved immensely.

Home Bible studies based on such literature have resulted in the gathering of many new worshipers. In lands where Jehovah’s Witnesses have had to contend with revolutions, civil war, or governmental restrictions, home Bible study activity has increased. Civil war raged in Angola for many years, and the Witnesses suffered much persecution and hardship. Early last year, reports showed that, on the average, each publisher was conducting almost three home Bible studies, but the publishers had little Bible literature. Traveling overseers served a small group each day, arranging field service during the day and meetings each evening. What a joy when hostilities ended and 42 tons of much-needed Bible literature arrived from South Africa! Surely, the love of those brothers will “abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment,” as they are now able to “make sure of the more important things.” (Philippians 1:9, 10) What an incentive for those who have plenty of Bible study aids on hand to take full advantage of the provision that Jehovah so graciously makes!​—1 Timothy 4:15, 16.

The happiness of these faithful worshipers reminds us of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. . . . Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. . . . Rejoice and leap for joy, since your reward is great in the heavens.” (Matthew 5:3-12) What a harvest is already being gathered in Angola!

In other areas of the world, restrictions on the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses are also being eased or removed. Jesus commented in his day: “Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37) How true this is today! The need for more workers is always there. We are glad that our worship involves gathering in the harvest. There is no greater joy to be found on earth today than our fruitful dedicated service to Jehovah God.

What is it, though, that motivates Jehovah’s worshipers to show such joy and zeal? We shall see.

Love for Jehovah Stimulates True Worship

“This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments.”​—1 JOHN 5:3.

1, 2. With what motive should we serve Jehovah?

A GROUP of 80 visitors from Japan were touring an Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in California, U.S.A. Delightful surroundings, including a garden complete with blue jays, doves, and hummingbirds, made them feel even closer to their Grand Creator, Jehovah God. Their tour guide soon realized that almost everyone in the group was serving full-time as a pioneer. So, later, the group was asked a question that has often been posed: “Why are there so many pioneers in Japan?” For a moment there was silence. Then one young woman volunteered a response: “Because we love Jehovah.”

² Love for Jehovah​—how this impels us to be zealous in his service! True, not everyone can pioneer. Indeed, the majority of our more than four million Kingdom publishers have not been able to make room for this privilege. But many whose circumstances permit reach out for it. The rest of us can also “trust in Jehovah and do good,” showing our love by having some part in the disciple-making work. (Psalm 37:3, 4) And all dedicated worshipers of Jehovah can share in fostering the pioneer spirit, giving loving support to those who are pioneering.​—Matthew 24:14; 28:19.

3. What contrast is to be noted between most professing Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses?

³ In contrast with most professing Christians, who conveniently regard religion as a mere appendage to their lives, Jehovah’s Witnesses demonstrate an intense love for God that motivates them to keep on “seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” This has called for sacrifice, but how worthwhile that sacrifice has been! (Matthew 6:33; 16:24) It has been in line with the first great commandment, stated initially by Moses and repeated by Jesus Christ: “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.”​—Mark 12:29, 30; Deuteronomy 6:4, 5.

4, 5. Who are to be regarded as faithful, and how may faithfulness be shown?

⁴ One of the headquarters staff of Jehovah’s Witnesses remarked recently to F. W. Franz, the 98-year-old president of the Watch Tower Society who has spent more than 70 years in full-time service: “You have been a fine example of faithfulness, Brother Franz.” And Brother Franz replied: “Yes! You have to be faithful.” That sums up the matter. In whatever aspect of Kingdom activity we serve, we can be faithful.​—1 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 3:9.

⁵ True, many would like to do much more in Jehovah’s service, but Scriptural responsibilities or health problems may limit them somewhat. Those who are unable to pioneer, however, are not to be regarded as less faithful. Some have stayed loyal under the most trying conditions and often for a great many years. Yes, they have been faithful! They have shown love for Jehovah and served diligently in wholehearted support of his theocratic arrangements. They have taken a keen interest in the pioneers’ activity and have given encouragement to potential pioneers, often their own children, to work toward pioneering as a career in life that excels all others.​—Compare Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

6, 7. How does the precedent set out at 1 Samuel 30:16-25 apply today?

⁶ The loving unity of action of all of God’s people today may be illustrated by the account at 1 Samuel 30:16-25. In battle against the Amalekites, “David went striking them down from the morning darkness until the evening” and took much spoil. Upon returning to camp, some of David’s fighting men asked that none of the spoil be given to those who had not advanced with them into the heat of battle. But David answered: “Who will listen to you as to this saying? For as the share of the one that went down into the battle even so will the share of the one that sat by the baggage be. All will have a share together.”

⁷ The same principle applies today. Pioneers are out in the forefront of our spiritual warfare. But all others in the congregation give wholehearted, loyal support. And the grand result of their combined activity during 1991 is portrayed in the chart that now follows.

An Outstanding Report

8. (a) What does the worldwide report reveal as to total publishers and the hours they spent in Jehovah’s service? (b) What points of interest do you note for countries newly appearing in the report?

⁸ Yes, the preceding four pages of this magazine show how the united efforts of all of Jehovah’s zealous worshipers have contributed to a thrilling worldwide expansion during 1991. A splendid new peak of 4,278,820 Kingdom publishers is recorded​—a 6.5-percent increase. These devoted 951,870,021 hours (almost one billion!) to the service. And note the sterling effort put forth by our brothers in countries newly appearing in the worldwide report​—Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, and U.S.S.R.

9, 10. (a) How have the pioneers responded to the challenge of hard times? (b) What encouragement is provided for entering the pioneer service?

⁹ In recent years the pioneer spirit has spread throughout the world. Even in lands where freedom of worship has been granted only recently, the pioneer ranks are swelling. Harsh economic conditions are not deterring these stalwart Witnesses from devoting their all to the worship of Jehovah. (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23, 27.) On a monthly average, 14 percent of all Kingdom publishers have been pioneering. The peak number of pioneers is 780,202, which is an excellent 18 percent of all publishers.

¹⁰ On observing the joys experienced by the pioneers, others too are encouraged to take up this service. If you are not yet pioneering, could your love for Jehovah spur you on to say, as we read at Isaiah 6:8, “Here I am! Send me”? Or through your diligent Bible study, might God’s Word ignite a burning desire in your heart, so that you just have to take the further step of entering pioneer service? Even in a time of trial, the word of Jehovah stimulated Jeremiah, so that he could not hold back.​—Jeremiah 20:9.

Loving Service to Mankind

11. How has the home Bible study activity prospered?

¹¹ One of the outstanding features of the year’s report is the growth in the number of free home Bible studies, 3,947,261, being conducted regularly each month worldwide. This is a loving arrangement whereby Jehovah’s Witnesses follow up the interest that they locate in their house-to-house work. We are happy to conduct Bible studies with people of all nationalities and racial backgrounds, working with the same earnestness that the apostle Paul showed. His ‘thoroughly bearing witness both to Jews and to Greeks’ no doubt called for many hours of teaching the truth. (Acts 20:20, 21) It is the same today. Jehovah’s Witnesses are helping “all sorts of men [to] be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.”​—1 Timothy 2:4.

12-14. What joyful reports are coming out of Europe?

¹² How exciting the reports of increased Bible study activity in Eastern Europe! For decades our brothers there had to meet in small groups, with perhaps just one well-worn, mimeographed copy of an old Watchtower for all in the group. But now an abundance of Bibles and Bible literature is flooding into those lands. It reminds one of Song of Solomon 2:4, King James Version: “He [Christ Jesus] brought me to the [spiritual] banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” Having their personal copies of the magazines, many are becoming well equipped to handle “the word of the truth aright.”​—2 Timothy 2:15.

¹³ A congregation of 103 publishers in St. Petersburg, Russia, recently reported over 300 home Bible studies. As fruitage of this Bible study effort, 53 new Witnesses were baptized in just eight months. More than half the congregation have been in the truth eight months or less! And they have no elders​—just one ministerial servant to care for their spiritual advancement.

¹⁴ A Kingdom publisher in Estonia was asked by a Bible student whether she might invite some of her friends to the study. When the Witness arrived at the home the following week, she found over 50 persons assembled! Of course, special arrangements were needed for continued care of all that interest.

15. What is to be said about Memorial attendance and baptisms?

¹⁵ Many who are studying get their first taste of Christian fellowship by attending the Memorial of Jesus’ death. This past year, attendance exceeded 10,000,000 for the first time, 10,650,158 assembling worldwide in 66,207 congregations for this joyful occasion. In numerous Latin-American, African, and Eastern European countries, there were attendances three or four times the number of Kingdom publishers. Now we must start preparing for the Memorial to be held this year on Friday, April 17. It is hoped that a large number of new Bible students who attend the Memorial will continue to make progress toward baptism. As for baptisms, in 1991 we again saw more than 300,000 symbolizing their dedication to Jehovah God by water immersion.

Lovers of Godly Freedom

16. What thrilling reports are coming from the “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions?

¹⁶ A noteworthy feature of the 1991 service year has been the series of “Lovers of Freedom” District Conventions, now completed in the Northern Hemisphere but continuing into 1992 in the Southern Hemisphere. For the first time, the complete convention program was presented in a number of Eastern European countries, where our brothers are rejoicing to use their newfound freedoms to Jehovah’s praise. In October 1991 the total attendance reported at the first 705 conventions in 54 countries was 4,774,937.

17, 18. (a) What freedoms do Jehovah’s worshipers enjoy and anticipate? (b) How does godly freedom differ from worldly freedoms?

¹⁷ Jesus told his disciples: “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Today, Bible truth has set millions free from the dogmas of Christendom. These millions have learned that Jehovah’s provision of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice will make it possible for mankind to “be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-22) What grand freedom that will be​—living forever in a paradise earth within the proper bounds that Jehovah lovingly determines!​—Isaiah 25:6-8; compare Acts 17:24-26.

¹⁸ The freedoms that Jehovah’s Witnesses now enjoy, and expect to enjoy more abundantly in God’s new system of things, are from our God, Jehovah. (2 Corinthians 3:17) They are not dependent on any political or revolutionary movement. (James 1:17) To guard against any misunderstanding on this point, 1991 convention badges worn by Jehovah’s Witnesses in some Eastern European lands bore the wording “Lovers of Godly Freedom” rather than simply “Lovers of Freedom.”

Intense Love for Jehovah

19. How can prayerful intimacy with Jehovah sustain us?

¹⁹ Our love for Jehovah and our trust in him will cause us to stay close to him in prayer. It is this intimacy with Jehovah that has helped our brothers to endure many hardships and persecutions. (Psalm 25:14, 15) In his hour of greatest trial, Jesus maintained intimacy with his Father through prayer. (Luke 22:39-46) Such prayerful intimacy with Jehovah sustained Stephen through the agony of his martyrdom. Gazing into heaven as he was about to be stoned to death, he said: “Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man [Jesus] standing at God’s right hand.”​—Acts 7:56.

20-22. How does an experience illustrate that God hears prayers?

²⁰ As Jehovah’s worshipers have so often experienced, Jehovah answers prayers that are in harmony with his will. For example, in an African country where the work of the Witnesses is banned, a special pioneer traveling to the north by bus had a large sack of Kingdom literature and envelopes to deliver. The attendant who was loading the bus asked the brother: “What does the sack contain?” The brother said the first thing that came to mind: “Mail.”

²¹ En route, the bus sped through a routine road checkpoint, and the traffic police gave chase and stopped it, suspecting that it carried contraband. They ordered that all passengers get off the bus and that all luggage be inspected. This was a crisis! The brother walked a short distance away from the murmuring crowd and, sinking to his knees, prayed to Jehovah. When he rejoined the crowd, each traveler’s luggage was being opened and examined with meticulous care. When the brother’s sack was to be opened, he silently called upon Jehovah for help.

²² “Whose sack is this, and what does it contain?” the policeman yelled. Before the brother could open his mouth, the bus attendant answered and said: “It is mail from ​——​——​ post office to ​——​——​ post office.” “Very well,” the officer said. He picked up the sack and handed it to the attendant. “Make sure you keep it in a very safe place for the journey,” he charged him. The special pioneer again fell on his knees to thank the Hearer of prayer.​—Psalm 65:2; Proverbs 15:29.

23. What has Jehovah demonstrated, and yet why does he at times let persecution run its course?

²³ This does not mean, however, that Jehovah’s worshipers are entirely free from calamitous happenings. In certain situations, both in Bible times and today, Jehovah has demonstrated that he can deliver his people. But in line with settling the issue of integrity, he at times appears to let persecution run its full course. (Compare Matthew 26:39.) Further, Jehovah does not automatically protect his people from accidents, civil strife, or crime, though the exercise of Bible-based practical wisdom can be of value. (Proverbs 22:3; Ecclesiastes 9:11) We can be confident, though, that whether we are delivered from trying situations or not, our faithfulness will be rewarded, even by a resurrection if necessary.​—Matthew 10:21, 22; 24:13.

24. What loving gifts has Jehovah provided, and how may we respond to his love?

²⁴ How marvelous are Jehovah’s loving gifts! His gift to mankind of this earth and everything on it is an outstanding expression of his love. (Psalm 104:1, 13-16; 115:16) And God’s compassionate gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, to ransom mankind from sin and death is the most loving gift ever made. “By this the love of God was made manifest in our case, because God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9, 10) In response to that love, may we be convinced “that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”​—Romans 8:38, 39.

Reviewing This Article

◻ What does it mean to be faithful?

◻ In what spheres of activity may we display love for Jehovah?

◻ What features of the service-year report interested you most?

◻ How may we show appreciation for Jehovah’s loving gifts?

[Box on page 15]

WHY SO MANY PIONEERS?

Reportedly, for 2,600 years the Japanese were fervent worshipers of their emperors. In the wars of this 20th century alone, more than three million Japanese fighting men sacrificed their lives, for they thought there was no greater honor than to die for their emperor-god. But Buddhist-Shinto militarism failed in World War II, and thereafter the emperor renounced his godship. What could fill this religious vacuum? Happily, home Bible studies conducted by missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses and later by native Witnesses helped many to find the true God, Jehovah, and to dedicate their lives to him. This dedication means much to those Japanese Witnesses. If in former times they would have sacrificed their lives for an emperor-god, with how much greater zeal they now devote their energies as pioneers in worshiping the living God and Creator of the universe​—the Sovereign Lord Jehovah!

[Chart on page 10-13]

1991 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE

(See bound volume)

[Picture on page 16]

Lovers of godly freedom​—Jehovah’s worshipers in convention in Prague, August 9-11, 1991

Fear Jehovah and Glorify His Holy Name

“Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?”​—REVELATION 15:4.

1, 2. (a) How did Jehovah open heavenly floodgates during 1991? (b) What life experience prompted a faithful missionary to give the advice: “Fear Jehovah”? (See also 1991 Yearbook, pages 187-9.)

JEHOVAH ‘opened the floodgates of the heavens and actually emptied out a blessing until there was no more want.’ Those words could be applied over and over again to Jehovah’s Witnesses in recent times. (Malachi 3:10) For example, during the 1991 service year, the enthusiasm of visiting Witnesses and local conventioners overflowed in Christian fellowship at special conventions held around the earth​—from the “Pure Language” Conventions in Buenos Aires in South America; and Manila, Taipei, and Bangkok in the Orient; to the “Lovers of Freedom” Conventions in Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb (August 16-18, 1991) in Eastern Europe.

² What a joy it was for delegates from overseas to meet longtime faithful Witnesses in those places! For example, in Bangkok, Frank Dewar​—at one time the only Kingdom publisher in Thailand—​told of his 58 years of missionary service. His activities ranged from the islands of the Pacific to Southeast Asia, and even into China. He had faced dangers from shipwreck, wild animals in the jungles, tropical diseases, and the cruel regime of the Japanese warlords. When asked what advice he would give to conventioners, his reply was a simple one: “Fear Jehovah!”

3. Why should we display godly fear?

³ “Fear Jehovah!” How important it is for all of us to cultivate that wholesome fear! “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10) This fear is no morbid dread of Jehovah. Rather, it is a profound respect for his awesome majesty and godly qualities, based on the insight we receive through a study of God’s Word. At Revelation 15:3, 4, the song of Moses and of the Lamb declares: “Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity. Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?” In loyalty to his worshipers, Jehovah has “a book of remembrance . . . written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.” They are rewarded with everlasting life.​—Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12, 15.

Godly Fear Triumphs

4. What ancient deliverance should encourage us to fear Jehovah?

⁴ When Israel marched out of Pharaoh’s Egypt, Moses showed clearly that he feared only Jehovah. Soon, the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and Egypt’s mighty military machine. What could they do? “Moses said to the people: ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will perform for you today. For the Egyptians whom you do see today you will not see again, no, never again. Jehovah will himself fight for you, and you yourselves will be silent.’” Miraculously, Jehovah parted the waters. The Israelites marched across the seabed. Then the waters came crashing down again. Pharaoh’s army was obliterated. Jehovah saved that God-fearing nation, while at the same time executing judgment on God-dishonoring Egypt. Likewise today, he will exhibit his loyalty in delivering his God-fearing Witnesses from Satan’s world.​—Exodus 14:13, 14; Romans 15:4.

5, 6. What events in Joshua’s time show that we should fear Jehovah rather than man?

⁵ After the Exodus from Egypt, Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land. Ten were terrified at seeing the giantlike inhabitants and tried to dissuade Israel from entering the land. But the other two, Joshua and Caleb, reported: “[It] is a very, very good land. If Jehovah has found delight in us, then he will certainly bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. Only against Jehovah do not rebel; and you, do not you fear the people of the land, for they are bread to us. Their shelter has turned away from over them, and Jehovah is with us. Do not fear them.”​—Numbers 14:7-9.

⁶ However, those Israelites succumbed to fear of man. As a result, they never reached the land of promise. But Joshua and Caleb, together with a new generation of Israelites, were privileged to enter that choice land and cultivate its vineyards and olive groves. In his farewell speech to the assembled people of Israel, Joshua gave this advice: “Fear Jehovah and serve him in faultlessness and in truth.” And Joshua added: “As for me and my household, we shall serve Jehovah.” (Joshua 24:14, 15) What encouraging words for family heads and all others to fear Jehovah as we prepare to cross over into God’s righteous new world!

7. How did David emphasize the importance of fear of God?

⁷ The shepherd boy David also displayed exemplary fear of Jehovah when he challenged Goliath in the name of God. (1 Samuel 17:45, 47) On his deathbed, David could declare: “The spirit of Jehovah it was that spoke by me, and his word was upon my tongue. The God of Israel said, to me the Rock of Israel spoke, ‘When one ruling over mankind is righteous, ruling in the fear of God, then it is as the light of morning, when the sun shines forth, a morning without clouds.’” (2 Samuel 23:2-4) This fear of God has been signally absent among this world’s rulers, and how tragic the result! How different it will be when Jesus, “the Son of David,” rules the earth in the fear of Jehovah!​—Matthew 21:9.

Acting in the Fear of Jehovah

8. Why did Judah prosper under Jehoshaphat, indicating what for today?

⁸ About a hundred years after David’s death, Jehoshaphat became king in Judah. Here again was a king who served in the fear of Jehovah. He restored theocratic order in Judah, stationed judges throughout the land, and gave them these instructions: “It is not for man that you judge but it is for Jehovah; and he is with you in the matter of judgment. And now let the dread of Jehovah come to be upon you. Be careful and act, for with Jehovah our God there is no unrighteousness or partiality or taking of a bribe. . . . This is how you should do in the fear of Jehovah with faithfulness and with a complete heart.” (2 Chronicles 19:6-9) Thus, Judah prospered in the fear of Jehovah, just as God’s people benefit by the service of compassionate overseers today.

9, 10. How did Jehoshaphat triumph in fear of Jehovah?

⁹ However, Judah had enemies. These resolved to wipe out God’s nation. The combined military forces of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir swarmed into Judean territory and threatened Jerusalem. It was a mighty army. Jehoshaphat turned to Jehovah in prayer “while all those of Judah were standing before Jehovah, even their little ones, their wives and their sons.” Then, in answer to that prayer, Jehovah’s spirit came upon the Levite Jahaziel, who said: “Here is what Jehovah has said to you, ‘Do not you be afraid or be terrified because of this large crowd; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. . . . You will not need to fight in this instance. Take your position, stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah in your behalf. O Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid or be terrified. Tomorrow go out against them, and Jehovah will be with you.’”​—2 Chronicles 20:5-17.

¹⁰ Next morning, the men of Judah rose early. As they obediently went out to meet the enemy, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Put faith in Jehovah your God that you may prove yourselves of long duration. Put faith in his prophets and so prove successful.” Marching ahead of the armed men, singers to Jehovah sang in chorus: “Give praise to Jehovah, for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness.” Jehovah expressed that loving-kindness by throwing the enemy ranks into such confusion that they annihilated one another. As the men of Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, only the enemies’ dead carcasses remained.​—2 Chronicles 20:20-24.

11. With regard to fear, how do the nations differ from God’s people?

¹¹ When neighboring nations heard of this miraculous deliverance, “the dread of God” came to be upon them. On the other hand, the nation that obeyed in the fear of Jehovah now had “rest all around.” (2 Chronicles 20:29, 30) Similarly, when Jehovah executes judgment at Armageddon, the nations will be in dread of God and his Executioner Son, Jesus Christ, and they will be unable to stand in the great day of divine wrath.​—Revelation 6:15-17.

12. How has fear of Jehovah been rewarded in earlier times?

¹² Wholesome fear of Jehovah brings rich rewards. Noah “showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” (Hebrews 11:7) And as for the first-century Christians, it is recorded that, following a period of persecution, the congregation “entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit it kept on multiplying”​—much as it is doing in Eastern Europe today.​—Acts 9:31.

Love the Good, Hate the Bad

13. How only may we experience Jehovah’s blessing?

¹³ Jehovah is altogether good. Hence, “the fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad.” (Proverbs 8:13) It is written of Jesus: “You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation.” (Hebrews 1:9) If we, like Jesus, desire Jehovah’s blessing, we must detest the badness, the immorality, the violence, and the greed of Satan’s proud world. (Compare Proverbs 6:16-19.) We must love what Jehovah loves and hate what he hates. We must fear to do anything that would displease Jehovah. “In the fear of Jehovah one turns away from bad.”​—Proverbs 16:6.

14. How does Jesus provide us a model?

¹⁴ Jesus left us a model that we should follow his steps closely. “When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23) In the fear of Jehovah, we too can endure the reproaches, the scoffings, the persecutions, that Satan’s world heaps upon us.

15. Why should we fear Jehovah rather than those who can kill the body?

¹⁵ At Matthew 10:28, Jesus admonishes us: “Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” Even if one who fears Jehovah should be killed by the enemy, the pangs of death are but momentary. (Hosea 13:14) Upon being resurrected, that one will be able to say: “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”​—1 Corinthians 15:55.

16. How did Jesus show fear of Jehovah and glorify him?

¹⁶ Jesus himself provides a splendid example for all who love Jehovah’s righteousness and hate what is bad. His fear of Jehovah is reflected in his final words to his disciples, as found at John 16:33: “I have said these things to you that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you are having tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” John’s account continues: “Jesus spoke these things, and, raising his eyes to heaven, he said: ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your son, that your son may glorify you . . . I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world.’”​—John 17:1-6.

Fear Jehovah and Praise Him

17. In what ways can we imitate Jesus’ example?

¹⁷ Can we today imitate Jesus’ courageous example? Surely we can in the fear of Jehovah! Jesus has made known to us Jehovah’s illustrious name and qualities. Fearing Jehovah as our Sovereign Lord, we exalt him far above all other gods, including the nameless, mystic Trinity of Christendom. Jesus served Jehovah with a healthy fear, refusing to be entrapped in the snare of fear of mortal man. “In the days of his flesh Christ offered up supplications and also petitions to the One who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.” Like Jesus, may we too fear Jehovah as we continue to learn obedience from the things we suffer​—always with everlasting salvation as our goal.​—Hebrews 5:7-9.

18. How may we render God sacred service with godly fear?

¹⁸ Later in that letter to the Hebrew Christians, Paul exhorts anointed Christians: “Seeing that we are to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to have undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably render God sacred service with godly fear and awe.” Today, the “great crowd” share in that sacred service. And of what does it consist? After discussing the undeserved kindness of Jehovah in providing the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, Paul says: “Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” (Hebrews 12:28; 13:12, 15) In appreciation of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, we should want to devote every hour possible to his sacred service. As loyal companions of the remaining anointed Christians, the great crowd today are accomplishing by far the major part of that service. These attribute salvation to God and Christ, as they stand figuratively before the throne of God, “rendering him sacred service day and night.”​—Revelation 7:9, 10, 15.

Glorify Jehovah for Eternity

19, 20. What two kinds of fear will be apparent in the “day of Jehovah”?

¹⁹ The glorious day of Jehovah’s vindication fast approaches! “‘Look! the day is coming that is burning like the furnace, and all the presumptuous ones and all those doing wickedness must become as stubble. And the day that is coming will certainly devour them,’ Jehovah of armies has said.” That catastrophic time is “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.” (Malachi 4:1, 5) It will strike “terror” into the hearts of the wicked, and these “will by no means escape.”​—Jeremiah 8:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

²⁰ Jehovah’s people, however, are inspired by a different kind of fear. The angel entrusted with “everlasting good news” has summoned them with a loud voice, saying: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived.” (Revelation 14:6, 7) We will stand in awe of that judgment as the scorching heat of Har–Magedon incinerates Satan’s world. Wholesome fear of Jehovah will be inscribed indelibly on our hearts. May we be favored then to find ourselves among the ‘saved ones who have called on the name of Jehovah’!​—Joel 2:31, 32; Romans 10:13.

21. To what blessings will the fear of Jehovah lead?

²¹ Marvelous blessings will follow, including “years of life” stretching into all eternity! (Proverbs 9:11; Psalm 37:9-11, 29) Therefore, whether our hope is to inherit the Kingdom or to serve in its realm on earth, let us continue now to render God sacred service with godly fear and awe. Let us continue to glorify his holy name. And with what blessed result? Thankfulness forever that we took to heart the wise counsel always to fear Jehovah!

How Would You Answer?

◻ What is meant by “the fear of Jehovah”?

◻ How did fear of God benefit his ancient people?

◻ What model of godly fear did Jesus leave for us?

◻ How may we keep integrity in fear of Jehovah?

[Picture on page 18]

In the book of Revelation, Jesus’ brothers are seen singing “the song of Moses,” a song praising Jehovah

[Picture on page 20]

Jehoshaphat’s army triumphs in fear of Jehovah

[Picture on page 23]

Years of life stretching into all eternity will be the reward of those who fear Jehovah

Scenes From the Promised Land

Gennesaret​—‘Wonderful and Beautiful’

“Alongside Lake Gennesareth is a stretch of country with the same name, wonderful in its characteristics and in its beauty. Thanks to the rich soil there is not a plant that does not flourish there, and the inhabitants grow everything: the air is so temperate that it suits the most diverse species. . . . Not only does it produce the most surprisingly diverse fruits; it maintains a continuous supply. . . . It is watered by a spring with great fertilizing power.”

Thus historian Josephus described the triangular plain on the northwestern edge of what is commonly known as the Sea of Galilee. The photographs above may give you an idea of how productive this plain was, one of the most fertile in Galilee.a This area was so significant in ancient times that the Gospel writer Luke called the adjacent freshwater sea “the lake of Gennesaret.”​—Luke 5:1.

He used that expression when relating that Jesus came to this area and found four men who became apostles. Were they farmers who lived off the fertile soil, raising grapes, walnuts, olives, or figs? No. Such crops abounded on the Plain of Gennesaret, but these men were fishermen, and it is easy to understand why they were.

Likely the streams through the plain carried to the sea vegetation that could become a feast for fish. So the waters teemed with a variety of fish, leading to a sizable fishing industry. Peter and Andrew were commercial fishermen there, as were James and John, the sons of fisherman Zebedee.​—Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:2-11.

Often the fishing was done by spreading dragnets from a boat. That is what Peter and Andrew were doing when Jesus approached. A long seine, or dragnet, was spread in a semicircle. Wooden floats held up the top edge, while weights along the bottom kept the net stretched toward the seabed. Large numbers of fish could be caught in such a net. Then it was drawn into the boat or dragged into shallower water, to be emptied on shore. Fish fit for food would be separated from the unsuitable. Note the accuracy of detail at Luke 5:4-7 and John 21:6-11. Do you recall that Jesus mentioned this method of fishing in his illustration of the dragnet? (Matthew 13:47, 48) In addition, Matthew 4:21 highlights that often the fishermen had to spend time mending nets torn on rocks or by the fish.

If you traveled along this coastline of Gennesaret, you would probably see a couple of spots said to be where events in Jesus’ ministry occurred. One is a green hill on which, according to tradition, Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. This location does not conflict with the Gospel accounts, for Jesus was near the Plain of Gennesaret when delivering that sermon.​—Matthew 5:1–7:29; Luke 6:17–7:1.

Another spot claimed to be authentic does not match the Biblical facts. You will find a church supposedly built where Jesus fed 4,000 from seven loaves and a few fishes. (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9) Rather than placing this on the Plain of Gennesaret, Mark’s account mentions “the regions of Decapolis,” which was across the sea over seven miles [11 km] away.​—Mark 7:31.

Matthew and Mark say that after performing this miracle, Jesus traveled by boat to Magadan, or Dalmanutha. (Matthew 15:39; Mark 8:10) Scholars link this region with Magdala (Migdal), just south of the Plain of Gennesaret, toward Tiberias. According to The Macmillan Bible Atlas, Magdala was “famous for its fish-curing industry.” The bountiful fishing in this part of the lake certainly could make such an industry practical and profitable.

Interestingly, a drought in 1985/86 lowered the water level in the Sea of Galilee, exposing stretches of the lake bed. Near the Plain of Gennesaret, two men found the remains of an ancient boat. Archaeologists were able to recover this wooden fishing boat dating from around the time when Jesus visited the Lake and Plain of Gennesaret.

[Footnotes]

[Picture Credit Line on page 24]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Picture Credit Line on page 24]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Picture Credit Line on page 25]

Garo Nalbandian

[Picture Credit Line on page 25]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

Kingdom Proclaimers Report

Jehovah’s Witnesses Preach Informally With Good Results

MANY people were first introduced to Bible truth when one of Jehovah’s Witnesses preached to them informally. In this the Witnesses follow the example of Jesus Christ, who preached informally to a Samaritan woman at a well when she came to draw water. (John, chapter 4) In East Africa, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses preached informally to a Catholic nun. The Watch Tower Society’s branch office relates what resulted:

◻ Early one morning on her way to town, the Witness met a Catholic nun. She took the opportunity to ask the nun: “Where are you going at this time of the day?” The answer was: “I am going to pray to my God.” She then asked the nun: “Do you know the name of your God?” “Is not his name God?” the nun replied. The Witness offered to come to her home that afternoon to discuss God’s name. After the conversation the nun went to her church and asked one of the priests if he knew what “Jehovah” stood for. The answer was, “It is God’s name.” The nun was very surprised to hear that the priest knew this but had never taught it to her.

The Witness visited the woman for nine consecutive days and taught her the truth about the Trinity, the soul, hellfire, and the hope for the dead. The woman absorbed everything and then asked the Witness to give her some time to reflect on all these new teachings. After two weeks she contacted the Witness again and asked to have further discussions. By this time the nun had made up her mind to leave the church and had already destroyed her images, rosaries, and cross. The priest tried to persuade her to come back, but she was determined to pursue the truth. She was later baptized and has served as a regular auxiliary pioneer for many months in spite of her poor health and advanced age.

Since her house is large, she offered the congregation its use as a Kingdom Hall. The brothers replaced the old roof, tore down the inner walls, and made a large part of the building into an attractive meeting place. This former Catholic nun lives in a room behind the hall. She is very happy to have been able to make this contribution to Jehovah’s worship.

◻ Another experience that shows the wisdom of informal witnessing comes from Kampala, Uganda. On the way to a government office, a Witness missionary spoke informally to those with him in the elevator. One man, Mr. L​——​——, expressed a desire to accept the literature offered but could not take it at that moment. So he gave the missionary his name and the address of his office. Later the missionary went there and asked for Mr. L​——​——. He was called but to the missionary’s surprise, a different man appeared. There were two men with the same name working in that office. A brief witness was given to the second Mr. L​——​——, and he showed extraordinary interest. Whereas the first Mr. L​——​——​ lost interest, a Bible study was started with the second Mr. L​——​——. He is now a baptized Witness, and his wife and son are making good progress toward baptism.

Jesus Christ is the Fine Shepherd and knows the sheeplike ones whose hearts are righteously inclined. These experiences illustrate that he directs his followers to such ones. Informal preaching can be productive!​—John 10:14.

Maintaining Christian Integrity in War-Torn Liberia

As told by an eyewitness

“WHEN elephants fight, the grass too will suffer.” How well that West African proverb sums up what occurred during the recent war in Liberia! Some 20,000 people lost their lives, and half of the country’s population of 2.6 million were displaced. Most of those who suffered were not soldiers; they were “the grass”​—harmless men, women, and children.

When the war broke out in December 1989, the nearly 2,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Liberia were enjoying steady increases in numbers and were looking ahead to the future with confidence. Sadly, they were a part of ‘the grass that suffered.’

The Spread of War

The war started along Liberia’s border with Côte d’Ivoire, and soon refugees began fleeing to the capital, Monrovia, a city with more than a half million inhabitants. From March through May of 1990, as the fighting moved south, missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses were evacuated first from Ganta and then from Gbarnga. They were among the last of the population to leave these towns. The war reached a climax when armed forces moved into Monrovia on July 2, 1990.

Nobody was prepared for the horrors that followed. Three separate armies fought it out in the streets with heavy artillery, rockets, and grenade launchers. Those who were not killed because of being members of a hated tribe were subjected to constant harassment and searches. One August night more than 600 men, women, and children who had sought shelter in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church were executed by a war-crazed death squad.

Hundreds fled the fighting with only the clothes they were wearing. Families were separated and for months afterward were unable to reunite. The whole population of Monrovia seemed to shift, with empty houses being inhabited by soldiers and refugees who had fled other parts of the city. More than half of Monrovia’s population were displaced. Most lost everything they owned as well as at least one relative in death. Some lost many more.

The situation reached such a crisis point that five other West African countries sent in soldiers to try to restore peace. By the end of October 1990, most of the fighting had died down. But then the specter of famine settled over the burned-out city like a shroud. Relief agencies reported that at one point almost a third of Monrovia’s children under five were malnourished and more than a hundred people were dying every day. Things were not made any easier by profiteers; many stole relief rice and then sold it for 20 dollars and more a cup. Disease was ever present, especially cholera, since the city’s water, sanitation, and electricity services were completely destroyed.

The approximately one thousand Jehovah’s Witnesses who lived in Monrovia also suffered terribly. The majority fled the city and went to the countryside, while others left by ship for Ghana and Nigeria or by road for Côte d’Ivoire or Sierra Leone. From July to December 1990, over 30 Witnesses lost their lives. Some were killed by gunfire, while others died from the effects of sickness and hunger. Alan Battey and Arthur Lawson, American missionary graduates of the Ministerial Training School, were evidently among those killed. Oh, how the Bible-based hope of the resurrection is of comfort to those of us who lost relatives or friends during that terrible time!​—Acts 24:15.

Christian Brotherhood in Action

As the war raged on, many displaced Witnesses ran for refuge to the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses and to a missionary home on the other side of town. Some sought protection because they were members of a tribe that the soldiers in the area were killing. Most were given work assignments at the branch and were invaluable in helping with cooking and cleaning, while others were assigned to forage for edible greens in the swamps nearby when conditions outside permitted.

People were sleeping everywhere, in the missionaries’ bedrooms, in corridors, in the Shipping Department, and in offices. We dug and maintained latrines. Women were assigned to serve as nurses, and they successfully cared for many cases of malaria and fever. Diarrhea was often a problem.

We arranged special house procedures, including bomb drills. Thus, when opposing forces fired heavy artillery shells, we were trained to reach sheltered areas of the branch quickly. Although our ten-foot-high [3 m] wall was some protection, it was not enough to keep out ricocheting bullets. Our roof soon took on the appearance of a pepper shaker because of all the holes it sustained!

Many risked their lives to protect fellow Witnesses from those who were seeking to kill them because they belonged to a hated tribe. One day a tearful Christian sister arrived at the branch office with her surviving children, one a two-week-old baby. Her husband and teenage son had just been gunned down before her eyes. She and her other children had been successfully hidden by another Witness when the killers returned to look for them.

Another family arrived at the branch with an unbaptized publisher who had helped protect them from being killed by her tribespeople. Then, when the situation changed and the unbaptized publisher came to be in danger, the family saved her from their tribespeople.

Repeatedly, missionaries would speak with armed men at the gate to the branch office to try to keep them from searching or looting the premises. Once an angry group burst in, holding us at gunpoint and insisting that we were hiding members of a particular tribe. They were taken aback to see how calmly the local Witnesses behaved, sitting quietly and listening at the Christian meeting we were having. They searched the house but did not find what they were looking for. We were always able to assure the intruders that we were not hiding soldiers or any enemy of theirs. As Christians we were neutral.

Once during some heavy fighting, a group of Witnesses arrived at the branch carrying a brother with terminal cancer. Sadly, he died soon afterward. A grave was dug in the yard, and what an emotional funeral service we had! The brother had been one of our finest local elders, with many years of faithful service. About a hundred displaced persons gathered in the lobby for the memorial talk, which was given against a background of gunfire.

Obtaining Food and Water

Food supplies were very limited. Even before the war began, merchants had stopped importing goods. Thus, very little food was left in the city. Our supply of food at the branch would have lasted our 12 family members many months, but we sometimes had up to 200 people living with us, including non-Witness neighbors who were desperately in need of help. Everyone was restricted to one small meal a day; we survived on such rations for several months. Everybody was hungry. Babies were just skin and bones, hanging limp in their parents’ arms.

Soon our food supply was giving out. Where could we get more? No shops were open in Monrovia. Everywhere one looked, starving people were roaming the streets looking for food. People ate anything​—including dogs, cats, and rats. Two missionaries from the branch decided to try to go to Kakata, a town about 40 miles [60 km] away, where the fighting had stopped.

They stuck Watchtower magazines and signs in the windows of the car to identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses. After getting through various checkpoints, they were stopped and questioned by a big, burly man with grenades hanging on his chest and a revolver at his side. They identified themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses and told him they wanted to get to Kakata for some food.

“Follow me,” he said. “I’m the battle commander here.” He took them to his headquarters. Upon learning that they were sheltering displaced people, he ordered his men to deliver to our branch 20 bags of rice, each weighing 100 pounds [45 kg]! Also, a permit was issued for them to go to Kakata, and an armed guard was assigned to conduct them safely through the remaining checkpoints.

At Kakata they found our Christian brother Abraham who owned a store. He had stockpiled cartons of food for us, including powdered milk, sugar, canned vegetables, and other necessary items. It was truly wonderful to see the way that our brothers were cared for on their trip. Jehovah must have been pleased that we had shared our food with our friends and neighbors, for now our supplies were being replenished.​—Proverbs 11:25.

On the other side of Monrovia, missionaries in a missionary home were also caring for displaced ones, and they too received assistance from unexpected sources. For example, a missionary obtained three bags of rice from a soldier who remembered him from when he had served in the soldier’s area some 16 years earlier. Another missionary obtained four bags of rice after a personal interview with the leader of one of the warring factions.

At one point it seemed that we would have to evacuate the branch because of a shortage of water. Our well for a time was the only source of drinking water for many in the community. However, the fuel supply for the electric generator plant for our pump began to run out. When a man who had received protection at the branch during the first days of fighting heard of our problem, he found fuel for us out of appreciation for what we had done for him, so our water supply never did run out.

Maintaining Spiritual Strength

When the last of us missionaries were urged to leave Liberia in October 1990, uppermost in our minds was, How will our brothers and sisters cope? From the reports we have received since that time, it is evident that they have kept busy in the ministry.

Before the war the average number of hours each Witness spent in the ministry was about 17 each month. Yet, during the war, despite the constant need to forage in the bush for food, the Witnesses in some congregations averaged over 20 hours per publisher! Moreover, because of a shortage of Watchtower magazines, many of our sisters copied the study articles by hand so that there would be more copies to go around for the study on Sunday.

The four congregations nearest to Monrovia were overflowing with Witnesses who had fled the fighting in the city. These friends lost everything they owned, since they were unable to get back to their homes to pick up anything. In fact, for months many were even on opposite sides of the battle lines from their own children and parents! For the Memorial of Jesus’ death on March 30, these four congregations had a combined attendance of 1,473.

The 300 or so Witnesses remaining in Monrovia made a special effort to auxiliary pioneer during the month of the Memorial, even though only a few weeks before, they had been so physically weak from hunger that they could hardly walk. They worked very hard to invite people to the Memorial, and 1,116 were in attendance.

One Christian elder in Monrovia explained: “We decided to start meeting in our Kingdom Hall again beginning in December 1990. Our first attendance was 17. Later it went up to 40, and it remained in the 40’s for a while. Then on February 24, our attendance grew to 65 and a week later to 85. Also, almost all in the congregation responded to the call to auxiliary pioneer in March.”

Care for Others

“Our church brothers were busy killing one another [from opposing tribes] during the war,” a non-Witness relative of one of the Witnesses noted, “never having time for fellow believers.” But how different the situation was with Jehovah’s people!

The chairman of a neighborhood relief team, for example, wrote to the brothers who were taking care of the branch in February 1991: “This letter serves as a sign of thanks and appreciation to you and your institution for storage facilities you continue to give us during the distribution of food to our people. Your humanitarian gesture shows your willingness as a Society to bring peace and goodwill to the country. Please continue your good services.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in other countries were quick to respond to the needs of their Liberian brothers. Relief aid has been supplied from such countries as Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, the Netherlands and Italy in Europe, and the United States.

One little girl, whose mother was executed because she was a member of a hated tribe, expressed her gratitude for the aid she received. She wrote: “Thank you very much for all the things you send me. You make me feel like my mother is around me. I lost her and my little brother in the war. I ask Jehovah to bless you all. I am 11 years old.”

Also thankful for the aid he received, a brother with a family of six and whose wife had to hide for months due to her tribal origin wrote: “We have not broken into people’s homes to loot and sell their property and yet, unlike our neighbors, we have something to eat every day because we know how to use wisely the little we have. This we have learned from Jehovah.”

Very impressive also was the spirit of a brother who had fled to Côte d’Ivoire with his wife and two children. He had left behind a fine house that was subsequently burned to the ground. Yet he said that what hurt him most was the loss, not of his house, but of his theocratic library!

Valuable Lessons Learned

Looking back, I can appreciate that Jehovah taught us many valuable lessons. Knowing personally many who maintained their integrity and survived, as well as some who kept their integrity and died, I learned to appreciate the importance of having the mental attitude of the apostle Paul, who wrote: “Both if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. Therefore both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah.”​—Romans 14:8.

Another long-time missionary noted: “Through all of this, we learned that Jehovah is a Helper without equal. Just as Paul said: ‘We felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death. This was that we might have our trust, not in ourselves, but in the God who raises up the dead.’” (2 Corinthians 1:9; Psalm 30:10) He added: “The war drove home to us that Jehovah’s people are indeed a brotherhood, clothed with the self-sacrificing love that Jesus highlighted.”​—John 13:35.

A letter from a Liberian sister to some of us missionaries who had to leave the country during the fighting in October 1990 well illustrates the strength of our Christian brotherhood. “It is my prayer that you all come back to Liberia soon and we can have an assembly,” she wrote. “Oh! I can’t wait for that day. Just the thought of it makes me happy.”

Yes, it will be wonderful to see the usual routine of Christian activity fully restored in Liberia. Our sister is right; the first assembly in Monrovia after the return of the missionaries and other refugees will be a joyful one. There is no doubt about that!

[Map on page 27]

(For fully formatted text, see publication.)

LIBERIA

Monrovia

Kakata

Gbarnga

Ganta

SIERRA LEONE

GUINEA

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Atlantic Ocean

[Picture on page 28]

Children of displaced Witnesses at the branch office during the war

[Picture on page 31]

Liberian refugees sorting through items of clothing donated by Witnesses in Côte d’Ivoire

Releasing of the Last of the Dead Sea Scrolls

LAST September, a scholarly logjam that had lasted for decades finally broke. A bitter dispute between students of the Dead Sea Scrolls appeared to be ended, although a new dispute may have begun.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in caves near the Dead Sea in 1947 and in the years that followed. They were of great value in demonstrating the essential accuracy of the text of the Hebrew Scriptures and in shedding light on religious conditions in Palestine when Jesus was on earth. (Isaiah 40:8) While some manuscripts were published reasonably quickly, in 1991 almost 400 manuscripts were still unpublished and unavailable to most scholars. Many felt, like Professor Ben Zion Wacholder, “frustrated by the realization that at the current rate of publication we shall all be dead when the corpus of Dead Sea texts become available to the world.”

But that situation changed last September. First, Professor Wacholder and an associate, Martin Abegg, announced that they had ingeniously used a computer to reproduce the closely guarded texts. Then, the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, U.S.A., announced that they had photographs of the original manuscripts and would make these freely available to reputable scholars. Evidently, a number of photographic copies of the scrolls had been made to ensure their preservation. Sets of photographs had been stored in different locations, and eventually one ended up in the Huntington Library.

One scholar called this turn of events ‘the scholarly equivalent of breaking down the Berlin Wall.’ Official editors called both the publication of the computed text and the releasing of the photographs ‘stealing.’ Likely, the argument about ethics will rage for years. Meantime, it appears that many additional scholars will finally be able to consult the whole body of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

[Picture on page 32]

Representation of a commentary on Habakkuk, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Would You Welcome a Visit?

Even in this troubled world, you can gain happiness from accurate Bible knowledge of God, his Kingdom, and his wonderful purpose for mankind. If you would welcome further information or would like to have someone call to conduct a free home Bible study with you, please write to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or to the appropriate address listed on page 2.