Table of Contents

August 1, 2008

Are Better Times Just Ahead?

IN THIS ISSUE

3 Is Time Running Out for Planet Earth?

5 Critical Times Now

6 Just Ahead​—A Paradise Earth!

9 Draw Close to God​—Can Anything “Separate Us From God’s Love”?

13 Why Show Appreciation?

18 Should the Name Jehovah Appear in the New Testament?

24 Teach Your Children​—Samuel Stuck to What Was Right

26 Did You Know?

27 The Bible Changes Lives

31 Our Readers Ask

Keys to Family Happiness​—Communicating With Adolescents

PAGE 10

What We Learn From Jesus​—About How to Treat Others

PAGE 16

Is Time Running Out for Planet Earth?

How would you answer the following multiple-choice question?

In the near future, will conditions on earth

(a) improve?

(b) stay the same?

(c) become worse?

DO YOU try to maintain a positive outlook regarding the future? There are many benefits to doing so. Studies have shown that people with an optimistic outlook perform better both academically and physically. One long-term study even found that men who were optimists were far less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than were those with a pessimistic view of life. These findings are in harmony with a statement made in the Bible centuries ago: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”​—Proverbs 17:22, The Holy Bible—​New International Version.

However, in light of what scientific experts are forecasting about the future of planet Earth, many find it hard to remain cheerful and optimistic. Consider just some of the dire predictions that are making the news.

A Planet in Peril

In 2002 the respected Stockholm Environment Institute warned that a business-as-usual approach to economic development is likely to trigger “events that could radically transform the planet’s climate and ecosystems.” The report further stated that global poverty, continued inequity, and the degradation of environmental resources could cause society to reel “from one environmental, social and security crisis to the next.”

In 2005 the United Nations released the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report. This was a result of a four-year global study of Earth’s environment, involving more than 1,360 experts from 95 countries. The report contained a stark warning: “Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.” Averting calamity would require “significant changes in policies, institutions, and practices that are not currently under way,” states the report.

Anna Tibaijuka, executive director for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, expresses what is a growing consensus among researchers. She says: “If we continue as usual, a disastrous future beckons.”

A Reason for Optimism

Jehovah’s Witnesses, who publish this magazine, also believe that dramatic, earth-changing events are near. However, they are convinced that rather than leading to a disastrous future, these events will pave the way for the most wonderful conditions the world has ever experienced. Why such optimism? Because they trust the promises made in God’s Word, the Bible. Note one of these promises: “Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”​—Psalm 37:10, 11.

Is such a hope mere wishful thinking? Before answering that question, contemplate this claim: Thousands of years in advance, the Bible accurately foretold many of the major problems we now see afflicting the earth and mankind. Please read the scriptures cited in the following article, and compare what they say with what you see happening in the world. As you do so, your trust that the Bible accurately foretells future events will grow.

Critical Times Now

THE Bible foretold that mankind would experience “critical times hard to deal with.” It describes this period as “the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:3-7) Jesus Christ spoke of this same era when answering a question posed by his disciples regarding “the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 24:3) Are we now living during the last days? Compare what the Bible foretold with the recent reports quoted below, and then judge for yourself.

What the Bible foretold: global conflict​—Luke 21:10; Revelation 6:4.

What recent reports say: “War-related deaths in the 20th century were more than three times greater than in all previous centuries combined, back to the birth of Christ.”​—Worldwatch Institute.

What the Bible foretold: food shortages and disease​—Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:5-8.

What recent reports say: In 2004 an estimated 863 million people on earth were undernourished, 7 million more than in 2003.​—United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Some one billion people live in slums; 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation; 1.1 billion people are without safe drinking water.​—Worldwatch Institute.

Malaria affects 500 million people; 40 million people live with HIV-AIDS; tuberculosis killed 1.6 million people in 2005.​—World Health Organization.

What the Bible foretold: the ruining of the earth​—Revelation 11:18.

What recent reports say: “Human activities have taken the planet to the edge of a massive wave of species extinctions.” “Nearly two thirds of the services provided by nature to humankind are found to be in decline worldwide.”​—Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

“Human-made greenhouse gases have brought the Earth’s climate close to critical tipping points, with potentially dangerous consequences for the planet.”​—NASA, Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

What the Bible foretold: the good news of God’s Kingdom preached earth wide​—Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6, 7.

What recent reports say: During 2007, a peak of 6,957,854 Witnesses of Jehovah spent more than 1.4 billion hours preaching the good news about God’s Kingdom in 236 lands.​—2008 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

As noted above, the Bible foretold that amid all the bad news, there would be reason for optimism. Jesus spoke of the “good news” of God’s Kingdom. What is God’s Kingdom? How is it linked to mankind’s hope for a better future? And how will God’s Kingdom affect you?

[Blurb on page 5]

The Bible foretold the world conditions we see today

Just Ahead​—A Paradise Earth!

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”​—Matthew 6:9, 10, The Jerusalem Bible.

THIS famous prayer, known to many as the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer, holds out hope to mankind. How so?

As the Lord’s Prayer reveals, God’s Kingdom will cause God’s will to be done on earth as surely as it now prevails in heaven. And it is God’s will that Paradise be restored. (Revelation 21:1-5) What exactly is God’s Kingdom, and how will it restore Paradise to the earth?

A Real Government

God’s Kingdom is a real government. For any government to function, it requires rulers, laws, and subjects. Does God’s Kingdom satisfy these requirements? Note the Bible’s answers to the following three questions:

Who are the rulers in God’s Kingdom? (Isaiah 33:22) Jehovah God has appointed his Son, Jesus Christ, to oversee the Kingdom. (Matthew 28:18) Under Jehovah’s direction, Jesus has selected a limited number of individuals from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” who will rule with him as “kings over the earth.”​—Revelation 5:9, 10.

What laws has God’s Kingdom established for its subjects to obey? Some of the laws or commandments require positive action. Jesus identified the most important of those laws, saying: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’”​—Matthew 22:37-39.

Other laws require that subjects of God’s Kingdom refrain from certain actions. For example, the Bible provides this clear statement: “Don’t fool yourselves! No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual will share in God’s kingdom. Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others.”​—1 Corinthians 6:9, 10, Contemporary English Version.

Who are the subjects of God’s Kingdom? Jesus likened the subjects of God’s Kingdom to sheep. He said: “They will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) To be a subject of God’s Kingdom, a person must not only say that he follows the Fine Shepherd, Jesus, but also do what he commands. Jesus said: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.”​—Matthew 7:21.

Therefore, those who are subjects of God’s Kingdom use and honor God’s name, Jehovah, just as did Jesus. (John 17:26) They obey Jesus’ command to teach others about “this good news of the kingdom.” (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) And they show genuine love for one another.​—John 13:35.

Bringing “to Ruin Those Ruining the Earth”

Current world conditions signify that God’s Kingdom will soon act to bring sweeping changes to the earth. How do we know that? Two thousand years ago, Jesus described a multifaceted sign that would indicate that “the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31) As shown in the preceding article, the features of that sign are now clearly evident worldwide.

What comes next? Jesus answers: “Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” (Matthew 24:21) This is no man-made catastrophe. Rather, it is God acting “to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” (Revelation 11:18) Wicked people, whose selfish actions have brought the planet to the brink of ruin, “will be cut off from the very earth.” But blameless ones, who serve God acceptably, “will be left over in it.”​—Proverbs 2:21, 22.

Jehovah God is justified in taking such drastic action. Why? Consider this illustration: Imagine you own a small apartment building. Some of the tenants are well-behaved and considerate; they pay their rent and take good care of their homes. However, other tenants are disruptive and selfish; they refuse to pay rent and badly damage the building. Despite repeated warnings, their bad conduct persists. What would you do? As the owner, you would surely evict those bad tenants.

Similarly, Jehovah God, as the Creator of the earth and all that is on it, has the right to decide whom he will allow to inhabit the planet. (Revelation 4:11) Jehovah’s stated purpose is to remove from this earth wicked people who ignore his will and encroach on the rights of others.​—Psalm 37:9-11.

Paradise Restored

Soon, God’s Kingdom in the hands of Jesus Christ will rule the earth. Jesus called this new beginning “the renewal of all things.” (Matthew 19:28, New International Version) What will conditions be like? Note the following Bible promises:

Psalm 46:9. “He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth.”

Isaiah 35:1. “The wilderness and the waterless region will exult, and the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron.”

Isaiah 65:21-23. “The work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance.”

John 5:28, 29. “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [Jesus’] voice and come out.”

Revelation 21:4. “[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”

Reasons to Believe

Do you believe the Bible’s promises? The Bible foretold that many would not. It states: “In the last days there will come ridiculers . . . proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.’” (2 Peter 3:3, 4) But such scoffers are greatly mistaken. Consider just four reasons why you can believe what the Bible says:

(1) God has intervened in earth’s affairs in the past. The Flood of Noah’s day is an outstanding example.​—2 Peter 3:5-7.

(2) God’s Word accurately predicted current global conditions.

(3) All things are not “continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.” On a scale unprecedented in history, our planet suffers from social, moral, and environmental degradation.

(4) The “good news of the kingdom” is now being preached throughout the earth, signaling that “the end will come” soon.​—Matthew 24:14.

Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to study God’s Word, the Bible, with them so that you can learn more about the hope of everlasting life under the rule of God’s Kingdom. (John 17:3) Yes, a wonderful future awaits mankind. The very best of times lies just ahead! Will you be a part of this future?

[Blurb on page 7]

Those who say that things will stay much the same as they have always been are greatly mistaken

[Picture on page 8]

Will you be a part of this future?

Draw Close to God

Can Anything “Separate Us From God’s Love”?

Romans 8:38, 39

WHO of us does not need to be loved? Indeed, we thrive when we feel loved by family and friends. Sadly, though, human relationships can be very fragile and uncertain. Loved ones may hurt us, abandon us, or even reject us. Yet, there is someone whose love is unfailing. The love that Jehovah God has for his worshippers is beautifully described at Romans 8:38, 39.

“I am convinced,” says the apostle Paul. Convinced of what? That nothing can “separate us from God’s love.” Paul speaks not just for himself but also for “us”​—that is, for all who serve God loyally. To emphasize his point, Paul lists a number of things that cannot prevent Jehovah’s love from reaching his devoted servants.

“Neither death nor life.” Jehovah’s love for his people does not cease when they die. In proof of his love, God keeps such ones in his memory, and he will restore them to life in the righteous new world to come. (John 5:28, 29; Revelation 21:3, 4) Meanwhile, God’s love for his loyal worshippers remains constant no matter what life in this system of things may bring them.

“Nor angels nor governments.” Humans can be susceptible to the influence of powerful individuals or authorities, but not so with Jehovah. Mighty spirit creatures, such as the angel who became Satan, cannot persuade God to stop loving his worshippers. (Revelation 12:10) Neither can governments, which may oppose true Christians, alter God’s view of his servants.​—1 Corinthians 4:13.

“Nor things now here nor things to come.” God’s love does not fade with time. There is nothing that can come upon his servants now or in the future that will cause God to stop loving them.

“Nor powers.” Paul has referred to heavenly and earthly forces​—“angels” and “governments”—​but now he mentions “powers.” The Greek word used here is broad in meaning. Whatever the precise meaning, one thing is certain: No power in heaven or on earth can keep Jehovah’s love from reaching his people.

“Nor height nor depth.” Jehovah loves his people regardless of the circumstances​—high or low—​in which they find themselves.

“Nor any other creation.” With these all-inclusive words, Paul is saying that absolutely nothing can separate loyal worshippers from Jehovah’s love.

Unlike the love of a human, which can change or fade, God’s love for those who keep looking to him in faith is unalterable; it is everlasting. Knowing this surely moves us to draw closer to Jehovah and to try our best to prove our love for him.

Keys to Family Happiness

Communicating With Adolescents

Why Show Appreciation?

“Dear Raquel,

Thank you so much for being a source of encouragement to me. Even though you may not know it, your upbuilding nature and kind words have meant a lot.”​—Jennifer.

HAVE you ever received an unexpected note of gratitude? If so, such an expression no doubt warmed your heart. After all, it is natural to want to feel valued and appreciated.​—Matthew 25:19-23.

Expressions of thanks tend to deepen the bonds between the giver and the recipient. Furthermore, a person who shows appreciation is following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who never failed to notice the fine works of others.​—Mark 14:3-9; Luke 21:1-4.

Regrettably, personal expressions of gratitude, verbal and written, seem to be increasingly rare. The Bible warned that during “the last days,” men would be “unthankful.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2) If we are not alert, the pervasive lack of gratitude evident today could smother any tender feelings of appreciation that may rise in us.

What practical steps can parents take to teach their children how to show appreciation? To whom should we express our gratitude? And why should we be appreciative, even if those around us are unthankful?

Within the Family Circle

Parents work hard to provide for their children. Sometimes, though, parents may feel that their efforts are unappreciated. What can they do to remedy this situation? Three ingredients are necessary.

(1) Example. As with most aspects of child training, example is an effective teacher. Regarding a hardworking mother in ancient Israel, the Bible says: “Her children speak well of her.” Where did these children learn to express gratitude? The remainder of the verse provides a clue. It says: “Her husband also praises her.” (Proverbs 31:28, New Century Version) Parents who express appreciation to each other show their children that such expressions give pleasure to the recipient, improve family relationships, and are a sign of maturity.

A father named Stephen says, “I have tried to set the example for my children by thanking my wife for dinner.” What has been the result? “My two daughters have noticed this, and it has helped them to be more aware of showing gratitude,” says Stephen. If you are married, do you regularly say thank you to your mate for doing daily chores that are easily taken for granted? Do you say thank you to your children, even when they do what is expected of them?

(2) Training. Feelings of thankfulness are like flowers. They need to be cultivated to produce the best results. How can parents help their children to cultivate and express appreciation? Wise King Solomon highlighted one key factor when he wrote: “The heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer.”​—Proverbs 15:28.

Parents, can you train your children to think about the effort and generosity behind any gifts they receive? This type of meditation is the soil in which appreciation grows. Maria, who has raised three children, says: “It requires time to sit down with your children and explain to them what is involved when someone gives a gift​—that someone thought about you personally and wanted to show how much they care about you. But I feel it’s worth the effort.” Such conversations help children to learn not only what they should say when expressing appreciation but also why they should say it.

Wise parents help their children to avoid feeling that all the good things they receive are somehow owed to them.a The warning found at Proverbs 29:21 about dealing with servants applies with equal force to children: “If one is pampering one’s servant from youth on, in his later life he will even become a thankless one.”

How can very young children be helped to show appreciation? Linda, a mother of three, says, “My husband and I encouraged our children to contribute to the thank-you notes we wrote by drawing a picture that could be included or by signing their name on the card.” True, the picture may be simple and the handwriting unrefined, but the lesson children learn from this act is profound.

(3) Perseverance. All of us have an inborn tendency to be selfish, and this inclination may stifle expressions of thanks. (Genesis 8:21; Matthew 15:19) Yet, the Bible urges servants of God: “You should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will.”​—Ephesians 4:23, 24.

Experienced parents know, however, that helping children to “put on the new personality” is easier said than done. Stephen, mentioned above, says, “Teaching our daughters to say thank you on their own, without prompting, seemed to take a long time.” But Stephen and his wife did not give up. “With much perseverance,” Stephen continues, “our girls learned the lesson. Now we are proud of the way that they show gratitude to others.”

What About Friends and Neighbors?

When we fail to say thank you, we may not be ungrateful, just forgetful. Is it really that important for us not only to feel appreciative but also to express our gratitude? To answer that question, consider an incident involving Jesus and some lepers.

While traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus encountered ten men who had leprosy. The Bible relates: “They raised their voices and said: ‘Jesus, Instructor, have mercy on us!’ And when he got sight of them he said to them: ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Then as they were going off their cleansing occurred. One of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. And he fell upon his face at Jesus’ feet, thanking him; furthermore, he was a Samaritan.”​—Luke 17:11-16.

Did Jesus overlook the failure of the others to express gratitude? The account continues: “In reply Jesus said: ‘The ten were cleansed, were they not? Where, then, are the other nine? Were none found that turned back to give glory to God but this man of another nation?’”​—Luke 17:17, 18.

The other nine lepers were not wicked men. Earlier, they had openly expressed faith in Jesus and willingly obeyed his instructions, which involved traveling to Jerusalem to show themselves to the priests. However, although they no doubt felt deep appreciation for Jesus’ kind act, they failed to express that appreciation to him. Their conduct disappointed Christ. What about us? When someone treats us well, are we quick to say thank you and, where appropriate, to show appreciation by sending a written note?

The Bible says that “love is not ill-mannered or selfish.” (1 Corinthians 13:5, Today’s English Version) Therefore, sincere expressions of appreciation are not only a sign of good manners but also an evidence of love. As the incident involving the lepers teaches us, those who wish to please Christ owe such love and appreciation to all, regardless of their nationality, race, or religion.

Ask yourself, ‘When was the last time that I thanked a neighbor, a workmate, a schoolmate, a hospital-staff member, a storekeeper, or somebody else who helped me?’ Why not keep a record for a day or two, marking down the number of times that you actually do say thank you or write a thank-you note? Such a record may help you see where you can improve in expressing appreciation.

Of course, the one who deserves our thanks most is Jehovah God. He is the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect present.” (James 1:17) When was the last time that you sincerely expressed appreciation to God for specific things he has done for you?​—1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18.

Why Show Appreciation Even Though Others Do Not?

Others may not reciprocate when we show appreciation. Why, then, should we express gratitude even though others do not? Consider just one reason.

By doing good to those who lack appreciation, we will be imitating our gracious Creator, Jehovah God. The fact that many do not appreciate the love Jehovah shows does not stop him from doing good to them. (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9, 10) He makes “his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” If we endeavor to show appreciation despite living in a thankless world, we will prove ourselves to be “sons of [our] Father who is in the heavens.”​—Matthew 5:45.

[Footnote]

[Blurb on page 15]

Keep a record for a day or two, marking down the number of times that you actually do say thank you

[Picture on page 15]

Even young children can be trained to express appreciation

[Picture on page 15]

Set an example for your children in expressing appreciation

What We Learn From Jesus

About How to Treat Others

Why be kind?

Are you kind even when people are unkind to you? If we want to imitate Jesus, we must be kind even to those who hate us. Jesus said: “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. . . . To the contrary, continue to love your enemies . . . , and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked.”​—Luke 6:32-36; 10:25-37.

Why be forgiving?

When we make mistakes, we want God to forgive us. Jesus taught that it is proper for us to pray for God’s forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12) However, Jesus also said that God will forgive us only to the extent that we forgive others. He said: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”​—Matthew 6:14, 15.

How can families be happy?

Although Jesus never married, we can learn much from him about how to make family life happy. Both by his words and by his actions, he set a pattern for us to imitate. Consider the following three points:

1. A husband must love his wife as his own body. Jesus set the example for husbands. He said to his disciples: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another.” To what extent? “Just as I have loved you,” he said. (John 13:34) Applying this principle to husbands, the Bible says: “Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it . . . In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it, as the Christ also does the congregation.”​—Ephesians 5:25, 28, 29.

2. Marriage mates must be faithful to each other. To have sex relations outside of marriage is a sin against God and ruins families. Jesus said: “Did you not read . . . ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart. . . . I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery.”​—Matthew 19:4-9.

3. Children must be in subjection to their parents. Although Jesus was perfect and his parents were imperfect, as a child he obeyed them. The Bible says of Jesus when he was 12 years old: “He went down with them [his parents] and came to Nazareth, and he continued subject to them.”​—Luke 2:51; Ephesians 6:1-3.

Why apply these principles?

Regarding the lessons he taught his disciples, Jesus said: “If you know these things, happy you are if you do them.” (John 13:17) To be true Christians, we must apply the advice Jesus gave us about how to treat others. He said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”​—John 13:35.

For more information, see chapter 14 of the book What Does the Bible Really Teach?a

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 16, 17]

Jesus’ parable of the wasteful son teaches us the importance of kindness and forgiveness.​—Luke 15:11-32

[Picture on page 17]

Marriage mates should be faithful to each other

Should the Name Jehovah Appear in the New Testament?

Teach Your Children

Samuel Stuck to What Was Right

Did You Know?

What language did Jesus speak?

Scholars disagree as to what language Jesus spoke. However, as a man on earth, it appears that Jesus could well have used a form of Hebrew and a dialect of Aramaic. When Jesus came to Nazareth in Galilee and entered the synagogue there, he read from the prophecy of Isaiah, evidently as written in Hebrew. Nothing is said about Jesus’ translating this passage into Aramaic.​—Luke 4:16-21.

Concerning languages used in Palestine when Jesus Christ was on earth, Professor G. Ernest Wright states: “Greek and Aramaic were evidently the common tongues . . . Roman soldiers and officials might be heard conversing in Latin, while orthodox Jews may well have spoken a late variety of Hebrew with one another.” No wonder the sign that Pilate had posted on Jesus’ torture stake was written in three languages​—Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.​—John 19:20.

Alan Millard in his book Discoveries From the Time of Jesus says: “In the course of their daily duties the Roman governors certainly spoke Greek, and Jesus may have answered Pilate’s questions at his trial in Greek.” Although the Bible does not indicate whether this was the case, it is interesting to note that there is no mention of an interpreter being used for this conversation.​—John 18:28-40.

According to Professor Wright, “we have no certain way of knowing whether [Jesus] could speak Greek or Latin, but in his teaching ministry he regularly used either Aramaic or the highly Aramaized popular Hebrew.”​—Biblical Archaeology, 1962, page 243.

How large were the temple stones in Jerusalem?

When talking to Jesus about the temple in Jerusalem, the disciples said: “Teacher, see! what sort of stones and what sort of buildings!” (Mark 13:1) Just how large were some of those stones?

By the time that Jesus was on earth, King Herod had doubled the size of the Temple Mount as compared to that of Solomon’s time. It was the largest man-made platform in the ancient world, measuring about 1,575 feet [480 m] by 910 feet [280 m]. Some of the building stones, or ashlars, reportedly were 35 feet [11 m] long, 15 feet [5 m] wide, and 10 feet [3 m] high. A few weighed more than 50 tons each. One even weighed close to 400 tons and was “unequaled in size anywhere in the ancient world,” according to one scholar.

In reply to his disciples’ statement, Jesus said: “Do you behold these great buildings? By no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2) Many of these huge stones can still be seen lying where they landed after being pried loose and pushed down by Roman soldiers in 70 C.E.

[Picture on page 26]

Temple stones thrown down outside the temple mount, Jerusalem

The Bible Changes Lives

What could move a member of a Mexican youth gang called the Junior Satans to change and become an honest, hardworking citizen? Why would a successful Japanese businesswoman stop pursuing wealth as her main goal in life, and how does she feel about the changes she has made? What would motivate a Russian weapons dealer to renounce his lucrative but illegal trade? Consider what these individuals have to say.

PROFILE

NAME: ADRIAN PEREZ

AGE: 30

COUNTRY: MEXICO

HISTORY: GANG MEMBER

MY PAST: When I was about 13 years of age, my family moved to Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico State. At the time, the area was plagued by juvenile delinquency, vandalism, and drug addiction. I soon began abusing alcohol, vandalizing property, and engaging in immorality.

Later, we moved back to San Vicente, the town where I was born. However, drug addiction had become a big problem there. It was common to see youths lying dead in the streets. I joined a gang called the Junior Satans. We stole and used drugs, mainly sniffing thinner or glue. Often, I did not remember how I got home, and sometimes I would just lie unconscious in the street. Some of my friends ended up in prison for theft and murder.

In spite of everything, I believed in God. To salve my conscience, I would participate in religious ceremonies, such as the performing of the stations of the cross during Holy Week. Afterward, though, all of us, including the man who played the part of Christ, celebrated our participation in the event by getting drunk.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE: In my late teens, I started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was aware that my life had no real purpose and that if I continued in my course, things would not go well for me. What impressed me was the thought recorded at Galatians 6:8: “He who is sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit.” This scripture made me realize that if I wanted things to go well for me, I would have to sow with a view to the future.

As I studied the Bible, I began to appreciate that Jehovah is a living God who is personally interested in me, and that he is willing to pardon the sins that I committed in the past. I learned firsthand that he listens to and answers prayers.

It was not easy to make changes in my lifestyle. Leaving the gang was difficult. Some territories were marked, and I could not pass through them, although I no longer belonged to the gang. At times, I had to hide from my former friends because they would seek me out and try to drag me back into my old habits.

By contrast, when I started attending meetings with the Witnesses at the Kingdom Hall, I found the congregation to be warm and loving. I was impressed that these people had genuine conviction and lived in harmony with what they taught. It was an entirely different environment from what I was used to.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED: I have been baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for ten years now. I try hard to apply Bible teachings in my life. As a result, I am gaining the respect of my family. Now they know me as an industrious worker, and I have even been able to help them out financially. My mother started studying the Bible and has now become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. My father is also making changes in his lifestyle. Most of my family are not Jehovah’s Witnesses, but after observing what happened with me, they acknowledge that the Bible can help a person to improve his life.

PROFILE

NAME: YAYOI NAGATANI

AGE: 50

COUNTRY: JAPAN

HISTORY: SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN

MY PAST: I grew up in a small country town full of friendly people. My father owned a big store in town that employed ten workers. Our home was next to the store, so even though Father and Mother were busy, I never felt lonely.

I am the oldest of three girls, and from an early age, I was trained to take over the family business. I married young. My husband quit his job at the bank and came to help in the family business. We had three children in quick succession. My mother looked after the children as she performed the household chores, while I worked from morning till night at the store. Even so, we still had some free time to spend together as a family.

Then the shopping district was hit by an economic decline, and our business started to suffer. In response, we decided to open a home-improvement store next to a main highway. On the day before the ceremony to start the construction, my father, who was president of our company, collapsed with a sudden brain disorder. He was left with severe speech loss, so the responsibility for the new store fell upon me. My husband remained at the old store. Our life became very busy.

Our new store was a big success. I was proud of my achievements and gave up hours of sleep to work. Although I loved my children, all I had on my mind was work. I hardly had time to talk to my husband, and when we did talk, we argued a lot. To cope with the stress, I started going out almost every night to drink with my friends and business associates. All I did was work, drink, and sleep. I was financially successful but was increasingly unhappy and couldn’t understand why.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE: When I started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, three Bible passages had a profound effect on me. I wept when I understood the meaning of Matthew 5:3: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.” This verse explained why I felt empty even though I was financially successful and had the admiration of my associates. I realized that it was only by being conscious of and satisfying my spiritual need that I could be truly happy.

At the time, Japan’s economy had suffered a severe downturn, and I saw among my associates the truth of 1 Timothy 6:9: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.” I felt that Jesus’ words recorded at Matthew 6:24, “you cannot slave for God and for Riches,” applied to me personally, so I decided to make some changes in my life.

I realized that I had been neglecting my parents, my husband, and my children. It also became apparent that I had developed some unpleasant personality traits. I had become arrogant. I had little patience with people. And I got angry easily. At first, I thought it would be impossible for me to change and become a Christian. However, I really loved my children and noticed that as I applied the Bible’s counsel when dealing with my family, my children responded very well. I spent more time with them and took them with me to Christian meetings.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED: Knowing the purpose of life and being able to serve God, living a life that is pleasing to him, has given me real joy and satisfaction. I no longer sacrifice my family for work, so I have been able to regain the self-respect that I lost.

Seeing how my personality changed for the better as I applied Bible principles moved my mother to study the Bible and become a Christian. Happily, neither my father nor my husband has opposed our decisions. My relationship with my children has become much closer, and I now enjoy a genuinely happy family life.

PROFILE

NAME: MIKHAIL ZUYEV

AGE: 51

COUNTRY: RUSSIA

HISTORY: ILLEGAL ARMS DEALER

MY PAST: My hometown, Krasnogorsk, is surrounded by rich greenery. The Moscow River runs to the south. To the west and north, the suburbs almost become buried in the forest.

When I was young, I loved fistfighting and playing with weapons. I spent a lot of time in physical training. I also made illegal firearms, ammunition, and knives. In time, I made this my business. I was well-organized and very successful at selling my products to criminals.

HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE: In the early 1990’s, I met Jehovah’s Witnesses, but at first I didn’t trust them. They asked too many questions for my liking.

One day, one of them read to me Romans 14:12: “Each of us will render an account for himself to God.” I wondered what I would say to God. This scripture moved me to learn what God required of me.

I worked hard at applying the Bible’s counsel recorded at Colossians 3:5-10: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of those things the wrath of God is coming. . . . Put them all away from you, wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth. Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality.”

I found it very difficult to make such changes. My former “business associates” kept offering me money for weapons, and I found it hard to restrain myself when people insulted me. Even so, I destroyed my large and valuable arsenal. As I learned of the love that God and Christ have shown for me, I was moved to love them. I persevered in my personal Bible study, attended meetings with the local congregation, and prayed for God’s help.

HOW I HAVE BENEFITED: Little by little, with much struggling and with the help of my Christian brothers, I have developed a better personality. Understanding that Jehovah God cares for each of us, even for people who have died, thrills me. (Acts 24:15) I value the sincerity and openness that I observe among Jehovah’s Witnesses. And I appreciate the genuine interest that they have shown in me and their loyalty to God.

At first, some of my family and friends opposed my new faith. But then they consoled themselves with the thought that it was better for me to be involved with religion than with organized crime. I am happy that my life no longer is dedicated to selling weapons of war but is devoted to helping others learn about the God of peace.

[Picture on page 27]

I participated in Catholic ceremonies to ease my conscience

[Picture on page 28]

I was financially successful but very unhappy

Our Readers Ask

Will the Earth Survive?

Our planet Earth will not be destroyed by any cataclysm. Why can we be sure of that? Because God promises that the earth “will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.” (Psalm 104:5) Although “generations come and generations go,” states the Bible, “the earth remains forever.”​—Ecclesiastes 1:4, New International Version.

At Psalm 104:5, the permanence of the earth is emphasized by two words used in the original Hebrew of that text​—ʽoh·lamʹ for “time indefinite” and ʽadh for “forever.” ʽOh·lamʹ may be translated “many years” or “perpetual.” According to Harkavy’s Students’ Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, ʽadh means “duration, everlastingness, eternity, for ever.” These two Hebrew words show the durability of the earth to be doubly certain. Consider three further Bible-based reasons to believe that the earth will remain forever.

First, God made the earth to be inhabited by humans​—to be a lush, global paradise of delight, not a wasteland. Isaiah 45:18 describes Jehovah as “the Creator of the heavens, He the true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited.”

Second, God has long promised that humans who choose to obey him would reside forever on this earth in peace. Micah 4:4 promises: “They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble; for the very mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken it.” Thus, according to God’s purpose, the earth must remain eternally as mankind’s home, or else his promises would be in vain.​—Psalm 119:90; Isaiah 55:11; 1 John 2:17.

Third, God has entrusted man with the care of this earth. “As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men,” says God’s Word. (Psalm 115:16) Can you imagine a loving father giving a beautiful gift to his child and then turning around and destroying it? Of course not! Likewise, neither will Jehovah do any such thing to the earth and its inhabitants, for “God is love.”​—1 John 4:8.

Jesus Christ gave this assurance regarding his Father’s sayings: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) And God, who cannot lie, promises: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”​—Psalm 37:29; Titus 1:2.

[Picture Credit Line on page 31]

Globe: Based on NASA photo

Page Thirty-Two

◼ What are four reasons why you can believe what the Bible promises for the future? See page 8.

◼ How can you talk to a teenager who will not answer your questions? See page 11.

◼ What steps can parents take to help their children express appreciation? See page 13.

◼ Did Jesus use God’s name when preaching to fellow Jews? See page 19.

◼ What motivated a member of a Mexican youth gang called the Junior Satans to make radical changes in his lifestyle? See page 28.

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 visit you to conduct a free Bible study, please write to Jehovah’s Witnesses, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, or to the appropriate address listed on page 4.