1. What will help us to keep on the watch and to endure trials?

SHOCKING things will soon happen on earth. We can believe this because Bible prophecies prove this to be true. So we need to keep on the watch. What will help us to do that? The apostle Paul encourages us to “keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen.” We need to remember that Jehovah will give us everlasting life, whether in heaven or on earth. Paul wrote these words to encourage Christians at his time to focus on the reward they would get for being faithful to God. Doing this would also help them to endure trials and persecution.​—2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, 16-18; 5:7.

2. (a) What must we do to keep our hope strong? (b) What will we discuss in this article and in the next article?

² Paul’s counsel teaches us an important lesson: If we want to keep our hope strong, we must pay attention to more than just what we can see. We also need to focus on important events that we cannot see now. (Hebrews 11:1; 12:1, 2) We will discuss ten future events that have to do with our hope of everlasting life.a​—See footnote.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN JUST BEFORE THE END?

3. (a) What future event is described at 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3? (b) What will political leaders do? Who might do the same?

³ Paul wrote about one of these future events in his letter to the Thessalonians. (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3.) In his letter, Paul mentioned “Jehovah’s day.” This period of time will start with the destruction of false religion and will end in the war of Armageddon. Just before the day of Jehovah begins, world leaders will be saying “Peace and security!” This could be one event or even several events that happen one after the other. Nations may think that they are close to solving some of their big problems. What will the religious leaders do? They are part of the world. So it is possible that they will say “Peace and security!” along with the political leaders. (Revelation 17:1, 2) By doing this, the religious leaders would be acting the same way as the false prophets of ancient Judah did, who were saying: “There is peace! There is peace!” But Jehovah said there was no peace.​—Jeremiah 6:14; 23:16, 17.

4. What do we understand that most people do not?

⁴ No matter who says “Peace and security!” it will mean that Jehovah’s day will begin. That is why Paul could say: “Brothers, you are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5) We understand what the Bible says about the events that are happening today, although most people do not. How will this prophecy about saying “Peace and security!” be fulfilled? We must wait and see. So let us be determined to “stay awake and keep our senses.”​—1 Thessalonians 5:6; Zephaniah 3:8.

FALSE RELIGION DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT WILL BE DESTROYED

5. (a) How will the “great tribulation” begin? (b) Who is like “a queen” who thinks that nothing bad will happen to her?

⁵ What will happen next? Paul said: “Whenever it is that they are saying: ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.” The destruction begins with the attack against all false religion in the world. The Bible calls false religion “Babylon the Great,” or “the harlot.” (Revelation 17:5, 6, 15) That attack against all false religion, including Christendom, is the beginning of the “great tribulation.” (Matthew 24:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:8) Many people will be surprised when this happens. Why? Because until that time, the harlot will think that she is “a queen” who will “never see mourning.” She thinks that nothing bad will happen to her. But she will suddenly find out that she has made a mistake. She will be destroyed very quickly, as if “in one day.”​—Revelation 18:7, 8.

6. Who will destroy false religion?

⁶ The Bible says that a “wild beast” with “ten horns” will attack the harlot. When we study the book of Revelation, we learn that this wild beast means the United Nations (UN). “The ten horns” mean all the governments that now support this “scarlet-colored wild beast.”b (See footnote.) (Revelation 17:3, 5, 11, 12) How destructive will this attack be? The nations that belong to the UN will take away all the harlot’s wealth, reveal how bad and immoral she really is, devour her, and “completely burn her.” So false religion will be destroyed forever.​—Read Revelation 17:16.

7. How will the attack by the “wild beast” begin?

⁷ Bible prophecy also shows how this attack will begin. In some way Jehovah will cause the political leaders “to carry out his thought,” or to do what he wants them to do, which is to destroy the harlot. (Revelation 17:17) Religion spreads war and continues to cause many problems in the world. So the nations may think that it will benefit them if they destroy the harlot. In fact, when the rulers attack the harlot, they will think that they are doing what they want to do. But God will be using them to destroy all false religion. So one part of Satan’s system will attack another part of his system, and Satan will not be able to do anything to stop it.​—Matthew 12:25, 26.

AN ATTACK ON GOD’S PEOPLE

8. What is the attack by “Gog of the land of Magog”?

⁸ After false religion is destroyed, God’s servants will still be “dwelling in security” and “without wall.” (Ezekiel 38:11, 14) What will happen to this group of people who worship Jehovah and who look as if they have no protection? It seems that they will be attacked by “many peoples.” God’s Word describes this situation as the attack by “Gog of the land of Magog.” (Read Ezekiel 38:2, 15, 16.) How should we feel about this attack?

9. (a) What is most important to a Christian? (b) What should we do now to strengthen our faith?

⁹ We know that God’s people will be attacked, but this does not make us too anxious. The sanctification of Jehovah’s name and the vindication of his sovereignty are more important to us than whether we will be saved. Jehovah said more than 60 times: “You will have to know that I am Jehovah.” (Ezekiel 6:7; see footnote.) We are very interested to see how that important part of Ezekiel’s prophecy will be fulfilled. And we trust that “Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial.” (2 Peter 2:9) At the same time, we want to do all we can to strengthen our faith so that we will be able to keep our integrity to Jehovah no matter what we may have to endure. What should we do? We should pray, study God’s Word and meditate on it, and tell others about the Kingdom message. That will keep our hope of everlasting life strong. This hope will be like “an anchor” that helps us to remain faithful to God.​—Hebrews 6:19; Psalm 25:21.

THE NATIONS WILL HAVE TO KNOW WHO JEHOVAH IS

10, 11. How will Armageddon begin? What will happen at that time?

¹⁰ What shocking event will happen when Jehovah’s servants are attacked? Jehovah will use Jesus and the armies in heaven to help God’s people. (Revelation 19:11-16) This will be “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” which is called Armageddon.​—Revelation 16:14, 16.

¹¹ About this war against Gog, Jehovah said: “‘I will call forth against him throughout all my mountainous region a sword,’ is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. ‘Against his own brother the sword of each one will come to be.’” Those on Satan’s side will be confused and frightened, and they will start killing one another. Jehovah said: “Fire and sulphur I shall rain down upon [Gog] and upon his bands and upon the many peoples that will be with him.” (Ezekiel 38:21, 22) What will be the result when God does this?

12. What will the nations be forced to do?

¹² The nations will have to realize that they are being destroyed because Jehovah has ordered it. Then the people who are on Satan’s side may say the same as did the ancient Egyptians who chased after the Israelites at the Red Sea. They cried out: “Jehovah certainly fights for them”! (Exodus 14:25) The nations will be forced to know who Jehovah is. (Read Ezekiel 38:23.) How soon will these events begin to happen?

THERE WILL BE NO OTHER WORLD POWER

13. What do we know about the fifth part of the image that Daniel describes?

¹³ A prophecy in the book of Daniel helps us to understand in what period of time we are living. Daniel describes an image that looks like a human and is made of different metals. (Daniel 2:28, 31-33) It represents world powers that have had a great influence on God’s people, in the past and at the present. They include Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. And the last world power exists in our time. In Daniel’s prophecy, we learn that the feet and toes of the image represent this world power. During World War I, Britain and the United States started working together in a special way. So the fifth part of Daniel’s image is the Anglo-American World Power. The feet are the last part of the image. This shows that there will be no human world power after it. The feet and the toes are made of iron and clay. This represents the weak state of the Anglo-American World Power.

14. Which world power will be ruling when Armageddon comes?

¹⁴ In this prophecy, God’s Kingdom is represented by a large stone that was cut from a mountain in 1914. The mountain represents Jehovah’s sovereignty, or right to rule. That stone will soon hit the feet of the image. At Armageddon, the feet and the rest of the image will be smashed. (Read Daniel 2:44, 45.) So the Anglo-American World Power will still be ruling when Armageddon comes. How exciting it will be to see this prophecy fulfilled!c (See footnote.) But what will Jehovah do to Satan?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO GOD’S CHIEF ENEMY?

15. After Armageddon, what will happen to Satan and his demons?

¹⁵ First, Satan will see his organization on earth being completely destroyed. Then, something will happen to Satan himself. The apostle John tells us what it is. (Read Revelation 20:1-3.) The “angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss,” who is Jesus Christ, will throw Satan and his demons into the abyss and keep them there for a thousand years. (Luke 8:30, 31; 1 John 3:8) In this way, the serpent’s head will begin to be bruised, or crushed.d (See footnote.)​—Genesis 3:15.

16. What will it mean for Satan to be in “the abyss”?

¹⁶ What is “the abyss” into which Satan and the demons will be thrown? The word used means very deep, or like a bottomless pit. So the abyss is a place where no one can go except Jehovah and his angel who has “the key of the abyss.” Satan will be kept there so that “he might not mislead the nations anymore.” The Bible says that Satan is like “a roaring lion.” But when he is in the abyss, he will be silenced.​—1 Peter 5:8.

EVENTS THAT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE A TIME OF PEACE

17, 18. (a) What events have we discussed so far that have not yet happened? (b) What will begin after these events have happened?

¹⁷ Important and shocking events will soon happen. We look forward to seeing how the saying of “Peace and security!” will come about. Then we will see the destruction of Babylon the Great, the attack by Gog of Magog, and the battle of Armageddon. Satan and his demons will be thrown into the abyss. After these events, all wickedness will be gone. Our lives will be completely different during Christ’s Thousand Year Rule. During that time, we will enjoy an “abundance of peace.”​—Psalm 37:10, 11.

¹⁸ In this article, we have learned about five “things unseen,” or events that have not yet happened. There are also other “things unseen” that we need to “keep our eyes” on. These events will be discussed in the next article.

1. What exciting things will the “great crowd” enjoy?

IMAGINE all the good things that a powerful government with a kind and fair ruler could do for people in one thousand years. The “great crowd” will enjoy such good things. They are the ones who will survive “the great tribulation,” which will bring a complete end to the present wicked system of things.​—Revelation 7:9, 14.

2. What have humans experienced during the past 6,000 years?

² During the past 6,000 years, humans have tried to rule themselves. This has caused much pain and suffering to mankind. Long ago, the Bible said: “Man has dominated man to his injury.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9) What is happening today? There are wars and rebellions. There are such problems as poverty, sickness, the destruction of the environment, climate change, and more. Government officials have warned that the results will be very bad if we do not make big changes and stop damaging the earth.

3. What will happen during the Thousand Year Reign?

³ Under the rule of Jesus, God’s Messianic King, and the 144,000 who will rule with him, God’s Kingdom will undo all the damage that has been done to humans and the earth. During the Thousand Year Reign, the comforting promise of Jehovah God will come true: “I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” (Isaiah 65:17) What wonderful events will happen in the future? Bible prophecy can help us understand what these marvelous events will be, even though they are “unseen,” or have not yet happened.​—2 Corinthians 4:18.

THEY WILL BUILD HOUSES AND PLANT VINEYARDS

4. Where do many people live today?

⁴ Everybody wants to have his own home, a place where he can feel safe and secure with his family. But in today’s world, it is difficult to find a place to live. Many people are packed into crowded cities. They may have to live in shantytowns or in old, dirty buildings. They can only dream of having their own home.

5, 6. (a) How will Isaiah 65:21 and Micah 4:4 come true? (b) How can we receive that blessing?

⁵ When the Kingdom rules the earth, everyone will have his own home. Isaiah prophesied: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.” (Isaiah 65:21) However, they can look forward to more than just having their own home. Today, some people live in their own home, and some even have a very big house. But they worry that they will not be able to afford it anymore. Or they worry that burglars or other criminals will break in. When the Kingdom rules, no one will worry about these things. The prophet Micah wrote: “They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble.”​—Micah 4:4.

⁶ What should we do if we want to live under Kingdom rule? Of course, all of us need a place to live. But we should not try to get our dream home now and go deep into debt to get it. We would be wise to live in a way that shows we are focused on Jehovah’s promise. Jesus said of himself: “Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.” (Luke 9:58) Jesus could have built or bought the best house that anyone could ever have. Why did he not do that? Jesus did not want to get involved in anything that would stop him from putting the Kingdom first in his life. Can we follow his example and not allow material things to become the most important part of our life and cause us anxiety?​—Matthew 6:33, 34.

THERE WILL BE PEACE BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS

7. What did Jehovah command about the relationship between humans and animals?

⁷ When Jehovah began to create things on earth, he created humans last. He told his Master Worker, Jesus, why he created humans: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every moving animal that is moving upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) God commanded Adam and Eve to take care of the animals and have authority over them. Eventually all humans were to have that authority.

8. How do animals behave today?

⁸ Is it possible for humans to have authority over all the animals and to be at peace with them? Many people love their pets, such as dogs and cats. But what about wild animals? Scientists who have lived close to wild animals and studied them have found that all mammals have emotions. We know that animals become frightened and angry when they are threatened, but can they show affection? The scientists said that when mammals raise their young, they show great tenderness.

9. How will animals be different in the future?

⁹ So we should not be surprised that the Bible says there will be peace between humans and animals. (Read Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25.) Why should we not be surprised? Remember that when Noah and his family came out of the ark after the Flood, Jehovah told them: “A fear of you and a terror of you will continue upon every living creature of the earth.” Now many animals run away from humans to protect themselves. (Genesis 9:2, 3) But Jehovah can remove some of that fear, so that the relationship between humans and animals will be exactly as he had commanded in the beginning. (Hosea 2:18) What an enjoyable time that will be for everybody who will live on earth!

“HE WILL WIPE OUT EVERY TEAR”

10. Why do humans cry?

¹⁰ Solomon saw that many bad things were being done on earth and that many people had no one to help them. So he said with great sadness: “Look! the tears of those being oppressed, but they had no comforter.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) Today things are similar, or even worse. Who of us has not cried for some reason? Sometimes we cry because we are happy. But most of the time, we cry because our heart is full of sorrow.

11. Which story in the Bible especially moves you?

¹¹ Think about the many stories we read in the Bible of people who cried. When Sarah died at the age of 127, “Abraham came in to bewail Sarah and to weep over her.” (Genesis 23:1, 2) When Naomi said good-bye to her two daughters-in-law, “they began to raise their voices and weep,” and then “they raised their voices and wept some more.” (Ruth 1:9, 14) When King Hezekiah was very sick and it seemed that he would die, he prayed to God and “began to weep profusely.” Jehovah saw his tears and healed him. (2 Kings 20:1-5) And we are all moved by what happened when the apostle Peter denied Jesus. When Peter heard the cock crow, he “went outside and wept bitterly.”​—Matthew 26:75.

12. How will the Thousand Year Reign bring relief to mankind?

¹² Because so many sad things happen to people, humans need comfort and relief. During the Thousand Year Reign of Christ, God “will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” (Revelation 21:4) It is wonderful to think that there will be no more pain and suffering. It is even more wonderful that God promises to take away death. How will that happen?

“ALL THOSE IN THE MEMORIAL TOMBS” WILL COME BACK TO LIFE

13. How has death affected humans since Adam sinned?

¹³ Ever since Adam sinned, death has ruled over humans like a king. It has been an enemy that no one can fight successfully. No sinful human can escape it, and it has caused great sorrow and grief. (Romans 5:12, 14) Millions of people are afraid that they will die, so they are “subject to slavery all through their lives.”​—Hebrews 2:15.

14. What will happen when death no longer exists?

¹⁴ The Bible talks about the time when “death is to be brought to nothing,” or when death will no longer exist. (1 Corinthians 15:26) This promise will benefit two groups of people. The “great crowd” of Jehovah’s people, who are alive now, will be able to survive into the new world. Then it will be possible for them to live forever. It will also be possible for the billions of people who have died to come back to life. Can you imagine how happy and excited everyone will be when those of the great crowd welcome back the resurrected ones? If we carefully read Bible stories about people who were resurrected, we will understand what it may be like when people are resurrected in the future.​—Read Mark 5:38-42; Luke 7:11-17.

15. How would you feel if you saw one of your dead loved ones come back to life?

¹⁵ Think of the words “they were beside themselves with great ecstasy” and “they began to glorify God.” If you had been there when those people were resurrected, perhaps you would have felt the same way. It will make us very happy and excited to see our dead loved ones come back to life in the resurrection. It will be marvelous! Jesus said: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28, 29) None of us have ever seen such a thing happen. It will really be one of the greatest of “the things unseen,” that is, one of the greatest events that we have yet to see.

GOD WILL BE “ALL THINGS TO EVERYONE”

16. (a) Why should we be eager to speak about the blessings that we have not yet experienced? (b) What did Paul say to encourage the Christians in Corinth?

¹⁶ People who remain faithful to Jehovah in these difficult times have a wonderful future! Even though we have not yet experienced the blessings that will come, we need to think about them. This will help us to focus on what is really important. Then we will keep serving Jehovah and avoid being distracted by the things in this world. (Luke 21:34; 1 Timothy 6:17-19) Let us be eager to speak about our hope for the future when we have our family study and worship, when we talk to our brothers and sisters, and when we have discussions with Bible students and interested people. This will keep our hope real to us. This is how the apostle Paul encouraged his fellow Christians. His words helped them to think about the things that would happen at the end of Christ’s Thousand Year Reign. Try to imagine the full meaning of Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 15:24, 25, 28.​—Read.

17, 18. (a) In what way was Jehovah “all things to everyone” at the beginning of human history? (b) What will Jesus do to bring back peace and unity?

¹⁷ There is no better description of how life will be at the end of the thousand years than the words “that God may be all things to everyone.” What does that mean? Think back to the time in Eden when Adam and Eve were a part of Jehovah’s peaceful family. Jehovah, the Universal Sovereign, ruled directly over all those he created, whether they were in heaven or on earth. They could communicate with Jehovah, worship him, and be blessed by him. He was “all things to everyone.”

¹⁸ That peaceful relationship was damaged when Satan influenced humans to rebel against Jehovah. But since 1914 the Kingdom has been taking steps to bring back that peace and unity. (Ephesians 1:9, 10) During the Thousand Year Reign, wonderful things that are “unseen” because they have not yet happened will become a reality. Then comes “the end,” that is, the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. What will happen then? Even though Jesus has been given “all authority” in heaven and on earth, he does not want to be equal to Jehovah. He humbly “hands over the kingdom to his God and Father.” He will use his special position and authority “to the glory of God the Father.”​—Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-11.

19, 20. (a) How will all who live under the authority of the Kingdom show whether they accept Jehovah’s sovereignty? (b) What wonderful things will we enjoy in the future?

¹⁹ By then, all who live on earth under the authority of the Kingdom will be perfect. They will follow Jesus’ example. And because they are humble, they will be happy to accept Jehovah’s right to rule over them. They will pass the final test if they show that they want Jehovah to rule over them. (Revelation 20:7-10) After that, all rebels, whether they are angels or humans, will be destroyed forever. What a joyful time that will be! Everyone in Jehovah’s family, in heaven and on earth, will praise him. And Jehovah will be “all things to everyone.”​—Read Psalm 99:1-3.

²⁰ Will the wonderful things that the Kingdom will soon bring motivate you to focus your attention and efforts on doing Jehovah’s will? Can you make sure that the false hope and comfort that Satan’s world offers does not make you forget that you should be serving Jehovah? Has your decision to support Jehovah’s right to rule been strengthened? Let your actions prove that you want to do that forever. Then you will be able to enjoy peace and prosperity, not only for a thousand years but for all eternity!

1. What do some faithful ones ask?

A SISTER who has been faithfully serving Jehovah for a long time and has endured many difficult situations asked, “Will I see the end before I die?” Some who have served Jehovah for many years ask the same thing. We long for the day when God will make all things new and remove the problems we now have. (Revelation 21:5) Even though we have many reasons to believe that the end of Satan’s system is very near, it can be difficult to wait patiently for that day.

2. What questions about patience will we answer?

² The Bible shows that we must have patience. Like God’s servants in the past, we will receive what God has promised if we have strong faith and wait patiently for his time to fulfill those promises. (Read Hebrews 6:11, 12.) Jehovah himself has been patient. He could have ended wickedness at any time, but he is waiting for the right time. (Romans 9:20-24) Why is he so patient? How has Jesus imitated his Father’s patience and set an example for us? Why is it good for us to learn to wait patiently like Jehovah? The answers to these questions can help us have patience and stronger faith, even if it might seem to us that Jehovah is taking too long to act.

WHY DOES JEHOVAH SHOW PATIENCE?

3, 4. (a) Why has Jehovah shown patience? (b) When Adam and Eve disobeyed, what did Jehovah do?

³ No one has more authority over the universe than Jehovah, and he does not need to wait to end all problems. But Jehovah has good reason for showing patience. Because of the rebellion in Eden, some very important questions needed to be answered for the benefit of all in heaven and on earth. Jehovah has been patient because he knew that it would take time to answer those questions perfectly. Since he knows very well what every person in heaven and on earth does and thinks, he certainly is doing what is best for us.​—Hebrews 4:13.

⁴ Jehovah’s purpose was that the descendants of Adam and Eve fill the earth. When Satan deceived Eve and then Adam disobeyed, God did not panic. He did not act without thinking or give up on humans. Instead, he decided in advance the way he would fulfill his purpose for humans and the earth. (Isaiah 55:11) Because Jehovah has shown great self-control and patience, he can fulfill his purpose and prove that his rule is best for all. He has even waited thousands of years to fulfill some parts of his purpose in the best way.

5. What is a good reason to wait on Jehovah?

⁵ Another reason why Jehovah has waited patiently is so that more people can have everlasting life. Right now, he is doing what is needed to save “a great crowd.” (Revelation 7:9, 14; 14:6) Through our preaching work, Jehovah is inviting people to learn about his Kingdom and his righteous requirements. The Kingdom message is “good news” for people. In fact, it is the best possible news! (Matthew 24:14) Each person Jehovah invites becomes part of a worldwide organization of true friends who love what is right. (John 6:44-47) Our loving God is doing all these things to help people to have his approval. He has also been choosing some humans to become members of his heavenly government. When they go to heaven, they will help obedient humans on earth to become perfect and to have everlasting life. So even while he is patiently waiting, Jehovah has been working to fulfill his promises. And all of this is for our good.

6. (a) How did Jehovah show patience in Noah’s time? (b) How is Jehovah showing patience in our time?

⁶ Jehovah is patient even when others do terrible things to insult him. For example, think of what he chose to do about the wickedness before the Flood. Jehovah was “hurt at his heart” because people had filled the earth with sexual immorality and violence, and they wanted to do only what was bad. (Genesis 6:2-8) Of course, he was not going to allow wickedness to continue forever. So he decided to bring the Flood to destroy disobedient humans. While Jehovah waited, he did what was needed for Noah and his family to be saved. (1 Peter 3:20) At the right time, Jehovah told Noah about the Flood and instructed him to build an ark. (Genesis 6:14-22) Jehovah also wanted Noah to warn others of the destruction that was soon to come. The Bible says that Noah was “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5) Jesus said that our time is like the time of Noah. Jehovah has already decided when he will destroy this wicked system, but no human knows the “day and hour” when that will happen. (Matthew 24:36) Today, God has given us the work of warning people and telling them how they can be saved.

7. Is Jehovah taking too long to fulfill his promises? Explain.

⁷ Clearly, Jehovah’s patience does not mean that he is simply waiting for time to pass. And we should never think that he is not paying attention to us or that he does not care! But it may be easy to think this way as we get older or suffer in this wicked system. We might become discouraged or feel that God is taking too long to fulfill his promises. (Hebrews 10:36) Never forget that he has good reasons for being patient and that he is using this time in a way that benefits his loyal servants. (2 Peter 2:3; 3:9) Let us now consider how Jesus imitated the patience of his Father.

HOW IS JESUS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE?

8. In what situations did Jesus show patience?

⁸ Jesus is doing the will of God and has happily done so for thousands of years. When Satan rebelled, Jehovah decided that his Son would come to earth and become the Messiah. Think of the patience Jesus showed while he was waiting for thousands of years for that time to come. (Read Galatians 4:4.) During that time, he was not just waiting and doing nothing. He was very busy with the work that his Father gave him. And when he came to earth, he knew that Satan would cause his death, as prophesied. (Genesis 3:15; Matthew 16:21) He patiently suffered extreme pain because he knew that it was God’s will for him to die that way. Jesus did not think about himself. He was humble and willing to suffer even though he was God’s Son. Jesus was a perfect example of loyalty to God, and we should imitate him.​—Hebrews 5:8, 9.

9, 10. (a) What has Jesus been doing while he waits for Jehovah to act? (b) How can we imitate Jesus’ attitude?

⁹ After his resurrection, Jesus received authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18) He has always used that authority to fulfill Jehovah’s purpose and has always acted at Jehovah’s chosen time. So Jesus patiently waited at God’s right hand until 1914, when God gave Jesus authority over his enemies. (Psalm 110:1, 2; Hebrews 10:12, 13) Soon, he will destroy Satan’s system. While he waits, Jesus patiently helps people to have God’s approval and leads them to “waters of life.”​—Revelation 7:17.

¹⁰ Do you see how you can imitate Jesus’ attitude? He knew that Jehovah had chosen a certain time to act. Of course, Jesus longed to do what his Father asked of him. But he was willing to wait for God’s time. While we wait for the end of Satan’s wicked system, we all need to be patient. We need to wait for God to act and not give up when we are discouraged. What can we do to have this kind of patience?

HOW CAN I LEARN TO BE PATIENT LIKE GOD?

11. (a) How is patience connected to faith? (b) Why do we have good reason to have strong faith?

¹¹ Before Jesus came to earth, the prophets and other faithful servants showed by their example that even imperfect humans can endure patiently. Their patience was connected to their faith. (Read James 5:10, 11.) If they did not have faith, or did not truly believe what Jehovah had promised them, they would not have waited patiently for his promises to come true. But they often endured very difficult or frightening situations because they had faith that God would do what he had promised. (Hebrews 11:13, 35-40) The Bible shows that we have even more reason to have strong faith today. Jesus has become the “Perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) He fulfilled many prophecies and helped us better understand God’s purposes.

12. What can we do to strengthen our faith?

¹² What can we do to strengthen our faith and, as a result, become more patient? One important thing is to follow God’s instructions. For example, think about why you should put the Kingdom first in your life. Can you make a greater effort to obey the command at Matthew 6:33? Perhaps you could spend more time in the ministry or make changes to simplify your lifestyle. Jehovah has already blessed the efforts you have made to obey his instructions. He might have given you a new Bible study or helped you to receive “the peace of God that excels all thought.” (Read Philippians 4:7.) As you focus on blessings like these, you will realize that it is good for you to be patient.​—Psalm 34:8.

13. What illustrates the way in which our faith can make us more patient?

¹³ An illustration can help us to understand how our faith can make us more patient. A farmer sows, cultivates, and reaps. Each time the farmer has a good harvest, he becomes more confident about sowing seed again. He may even sow seed in more fields the next time. He sows seed even though he knows that he will have to wait patiently for the harvest. He trusts that he will reap. In the same way, when we learn about Jehovah’s instructions, follow them, and have good results, our trust and faith in Jehovah grow. Then it is easier to have patience and to wait for the blessings we know will come.​—Read James 5:7, 8.

14, 15. How should we think of human suffering?

¹⁴ Something else we can do to become more patient is to try to think of the world and our own situation the way Jehovah does. For example, think of how Jehovah feels about human suffering. For a long time, Jehovah has seen humans suffer, and this causes him pain. But he has not allowed that pain to stop him from doing good. He sent his Son “to break up the works of the Devil” and remove all the suffering Satan has caused humans. (1 John 3:8) The truth is that soon God will end all suffering forever. So we do not want to allow the wickedness in this world to weaken our faith. We do not want to become impatient about when Jehovah will act. Let us have faith in God’s promises. Jehovah has decided exactly when to end wickedness, and he will act right on time.​—Isaiah 46:13; Nahum 1:9.

¹⁵ During these difficult last days, we may have to endure some very troubling situations that will test our faith. We or our loved ones may suffer because of violence or some other reason. Instead of acting in an angry way, we need to be determined to trust completely in Jehovah. We are imperfect, so it is not easy to do that. But remember what Jesus did, as we read at Matthew 26:39.​—Read.

16. While we wait for the end to come, what must we avoid doing?

¹⁶ A person who doubts that the end is near could start to have a wrong attitude. He could think that he needs to make his own plans in case Jehovah’s promises do not come true. He might think, ‘I will wait and see if Jehovah does what he has promised.’ This wrong thinking would make it hard for this person to be patient. As a result, he might try to become someone important in this world or start trusting in money and stop putting God’s Kingdom first. Or he might decide to go to a university to make sure he has a comfortable life now. But that person would really be showing a lack of faith. Remember that Paul told us to imitate those who had “faith and patience” and, because of that, received promises of blessings from Jehovah. (Hebrews 6:12) Jehovah has already decided to destroy this wicked world, and he will not be late. (Habakkuk 2:3) Until then, we must avoid doing only a limited amount in Jehovah’s service. Instead, we need to remember that we are living in the last days and do our best in the preaching work. This work can give us great joy right now.​—Luke 21:36.

WHAT BLESSINGS DOES PATIENCE BRING?

17, 18. (a) What opportunity do we have while we wait patiently? (b) If we are patient, what blessings will we receive?

¹⁷ Whether we have served God for a few months or for many years, we want to serve him forever. Patience will help us to endure until the end of this system, no matter how long we have to wait. Jehovah is now giving us the opportunity to prove that we have complete trust in his decisions and that we will stay faithful to him even if we have to suffer. (1 Peter 4:13, 14) God is also giving us training that can help us to endure patiently to the end and be saved.​—1 Peter 5:10.

¹⁸ Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, and nothing can stop him from protecting you if you stay faithful. (John 10:28, 29) There is no need to fear the future or even death. Those who patiently endure to the end will be saved. So we must make sure that we do not allow the thinking of the world to affect our thinking and make us stop trusting in Jehovah. Instead, while God is being patient, we must be determined to strengthen our faith and use our time wisely.​—Matthew 24:13; read 2 Peter 3:17, 18.

1-3. (a) What situations can help us understand the lesson in two of Jesus’ parables? (b) What questions do we need to answer?

IMAGINE that a government official asks you to drive him to an important appointment. A few minutes before you leave to meet him, you realize that there is not enough fuel in your car. You rush to buy some more. The official arrives while you are gone. He looks around but cannot find you. He cannot wait, so he asks someone else to drive him. You soon get back and realize that the official has left without you. How would you feel?

² Now imagine that you are the official. Before you go away on a trip, you choose three men to take care of some important work. You explain what you want them to do, and all three agree to do it. But when you come back some time later, you learn that only two of them have done what you asked. The one who did not do his job is making excuses. Actually, he did not even try to do the work. How would you feel?

³ The situations we just considered are similar to two of Jesus’ parables, the parable of the virgins and the parable of the talents. Both parables are about the time of the end and show why some anointed Christians would be faithful and discreet but others would not.a (See footnote.) (Matthew 25:1-30) Jesus emphasized the lesson in these parables by saying: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour.” Jesus was saying that his disciples would not know the exact time when he would destroy Satan’s world. (Matthew 25:13) We too must “keep on the watch.” Why is it good for us to do as Jesus said? Who have kept on the watch? And what must we do now to keep on the watch?

WHY IT IS GOOD TO KEEP ON THE WATCH

4. To keep on the watch, why is it not necessary to know exactly when the end will come?

⁴ Sometimes it is important to know exactly what time it is. For example, if you work in a factory, have an appointment with a doctor, or need to take a bus or a train, you must make sure of the time so that you are not late. But a person who is fighting a fire or saving someone’s life after a disaster should not keep looking at the time. That could be distracting or even dangerous. In these situations, it is much more important to focus on the work than to know what time it is. Our preaching work helps people to learn about what Jehovah has done to save mankind. This work is especially important now because the end of this system is getting nearer. To keep on the watch and do what Jehovah expects of us, we do not need to know exactly when the end will come. Actually, the fact that we do not know the exact day or hour is good for us in at least five ways.

5. How does the fact that we do not know when the end will come allow us to show what is in our heart?

⁵ First, the fact that we do not know when the end will come allows us to show what is really in our heart. Jehovah shows us respect by allowing us to choose to be loyal to him. We serve Jehovah because we love him, not only because we want to survive the end of this system and have everlasting life. (Read Psalm 37:4.) We have joy when we do God’s will, and we realize that he is teaching us because he wants what is best for us. (Isaiah 48:17) We do not feel that his commandments are too difficult for us.​—1 John 5:3.

6. When we serve God because we love him, how does he feel? Why?

⁶ Second, the fact that we do not know the day or the hour gives us the opportunity to make Jehovah’s heart glad. When we serve him because we love him and not because the end is coming soon or only because we want a reward, we help Jehovah prove that his enemy, Satan, is a liar. (Job 2:4, 5; read Proverbs 27:11.) We know how much suffering Satan has caused, so we are happy to support Jehovah’s rule and reject Satan’s.

7. Why do you want to use your life to serve God and help others?

⁷ Third, the fact that we do not know the specific date of the end makes it easier for us to be unselfish and to use our life to serve God and help others. Some today who do not know God also believe in the end of the world. They are afraid that some disaster could destroy the earth at any time, so they have the attitude, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32) But we are not afraid. And we do not care only about ourselves. (Proverbs 18:1) On the contrary, we put Jehovah’s will first in our life, and we willingly use everything we have, including our time and energy, to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Read Matthew 16:24.) Our service to God gives us joy, especially when we help others to come to know him.

8. What Bible example shows that we need to trust completely in Jehovah and his Word?

⁸ Fourth, the fact that we do not know the day or the hour helps us to trust completely in Jehovah and to do our best to obey his Word. Because we are imperfect, it is very easy for us to trust in ourselves. Paul warned all Christians: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” He mentioned the 23,000 Israelites who disobeyed Jehovah and died just before they were going to enter the Promised Land. Paul said that “these things were written for a warning to us” who live so close to the end of this system.​—1 Corinthians 10:8, 11, 12.

9. How can trials strengthen our faith and our friendship with Jehovah?

⁹ Fifth, the fact that we do not know when the end will come allows us to learn from trials and to strengthen our faith. (Read Psalm 119:71.) The last days of this system are “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Many in Satan’s world hate us, so we may be persecuted for our faith. (John 15:19; 16:2) But just as fire can refine metal, trials can refine our faith and make it stronger. If we are humble and follow Jehovah’s direction, trials will not stop us from serving him. Instead, our friendship with him will become stronger than we ever imagined.​—James 1:2-4; 4:8.

10. What makes time seem to pass quickly?

¹⁰ Time can seem to pass quickly or slowly. If we are busy and not constantly looking at the clock, time seems to pass very quickly. In the same way, if we are busy doing the exciting work Jehovah has given us, the end may come more quickly than we imagine. Most anointed ones have been wonderful examples for us because they have stayed busy in God’s service. Let us briefly review what happened after Jesus became King in 1914 and see how some of the anointed were ready while others were not.

ANOINTED ONES SHOW THAT THEY ARE READY

11. After 1914, why did some of the anointed think that Jesus was late?

¹¹ Let us think again about Jesus’ parables of the virgins and the talents. If the virgins or the slaves in those parables had known when the bridegroom or the master was arriving, they would not have needed to keep on the watch. But they did not know, so they needed to keep ready. For many years, the anointed had known that 1914 would be a very special year, but they did not clearly understand what would happen. When things did not happen as the anointed expected, some of them thought that Jesus was late. Regarding October 1914, one brother later said, “A few of us seriously thought we were going to heaven during the first week of that October.”

12. How did anointed ones show that they were faithful and discreet?

¹² Just think how hard it could have been to expect the end and for it not to come! That was also a hard time for the brothers because of the opposition they suffered during World War I. The preaching work almost stopped completely. It was as if the anointed had gone to sleep. But in 1919, something woke them up! Jesus had come to inspect all those who called themselves Christians. Some of the anointed did not pass this inspection and could no longer work for the Master, Jesus. (Matthew 25:16) They were not alert; they were like the foolish virgins who did not refill their lamps with oil. And like the lazy slave who was not faithful to his master, they were not willing to make sacrifices for the Kingdom. But most of the anointed showed amazing loyalty and a strong desire to serve their Master even during those difficult years of war.

13. What was the attitude of the anointed right after 1914? What is their attitude today?

¹³ After 1914, The Watchtower explained what the attitude of most of the anointed was at the time. It said that those who had the right attitude were not disappointed. It continued: “We did not wish our own will to be done; so when we found out that we were expecting the wrong thing in October, 1914, then we were glad that the Lord did not change His Plan to suit us. We did not wish Him to do so.” They simply wanted to understand God’s purposes better. The anointed today show the same humble attitude and the same desire to do God’s will. They do not say that they are inspired. They just want to do the work that Jesus has given them to do on earth. And now Christians who have the hope of living forever on earth, “a great crowd” of “other sheep,” are imitating their example.​—Revelation 7:9; John 10:16.

WE SHOW THAT WE ARE READY

14. Why is it good for us to obey what Jehovah teaches through the faithful and discreet slave?

¹⁴ God chose the faithful and discreet slave to give his people spiritual food, or teach them how to benefit from his Word and spirit. Anointed Christians and those of the great crowd show that they are ready by obeying what Jehovah teaches through the faithful and discreet slave. It is like they are refilling their lamps with oil. (Read Psalm 119:130; John 16:13.) As a result, they too can stay ready for the end, when Christ returns. Also, they have the strength to stay faithful even in extremely hard situations. For example, in one Nazi prison camp, the brothers had only one Bible. So they prayed for more spiritual food. Not too long after that, they heard that a brother who had just arrived at the camp had brought some new issues of The Watchtower hidden inside his wooden leg. One of the survivors was an anointed brother named Ernst Wauer. He later said that Jehovah helped the brothers in a marvelous way to memorize encouraging thoughts in the articles. He also said: “Nowadays, it is so easy to get spiritual food, but do we always appreciate it? I am confident that Jehovah has abundant blessings in store for those who trust in him, stay loyal, and feed at his table.”

15, 16. How were a couple blessed for their zeal in the ministry? What can you learn from such experiences?

¹⁵ The other sheep help Christ’s brothers by staying busy in the preaching work. (Matthew 25:40) They are not like the wicked and lazy slave in Jesus’ parable. They are willing to work hard and make sacrifices to put the Kingdom first in their lives. For example, Jon and Masako were invited to go to Kenya to help preach to Chinese people. At first, they were not sure they should go. But after considering their situation and praying about it, they decided to move there.

¹⁶ Because of their zeal in the ministry, Jehovah blessed them with many good results. They said that their ministry is amazing. They started seven Bible studies and have had many other exciting experiences. They added: “We thank Jehovah every day for allowing us to be here.” Many other brothers and sisters have shown that they want to be busy serving God when the end comes, no matter when that may be. Think of the thousands who have attended Gilead School and have served as missionaries. You can learn more about missionary work in the article “We Do the Best We Can!” in The Watchtower of October 15, 2001. As you read that interesting article about a day in the life of a missionary, think about how you can do more in God’s service. Your service will bring him praise and will give you more joy.

YOU TOO KEEP ON THE WATCH

17. How has it been a blessing for us not to know the day or the hour of the end?

¹⁷ The fact that we do not know the exact day or hour when this system will end is not frustrating or disappointing for us. Instead, it has clearly been a blessing for us. It has helped us to stay busy doing God’s will, and our friendship with our loving Father, Jehovah, has become stronger. Because we have focused on the work Jesus gave us to do and have avoided distractions, we have a happy life serving Jehovah.​—Luke 9:62.

18. Why do we want to stay faithful in our service to God?

¹⁸ The end of this system is very near, so we want to stay faithful in our service to God. We do not want to disappoint Jehovah or Jesus. They have given us a wonderful work to do in these last days. We are so grateful for the trust they have shown in us!​—Read 1 Timothy 1:12.

19. How can we be ready for the end of this system?

¹⁹ Whether our hope is to live in heaven or in Paradise on earth, we will continue to obey God’s command to preach and make disciples. We do not need to know the exact day or hour when Jehovah’s day will come. We can be ready for it, and we will be! (Matthew 24:36, 44) We are absolutely sure that as long as we fully trust in Jehovah and put his Kingdom first, we will not be disappointed.​—Romans 10:11.

1, 2. In this article, what will we learn about conventions?

FOR many years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have gathered together at international and district conventions. Many of us have attended these conventions, perhaps a great number of them over the years.

² Thousands of years ago, God’s people also had conventions. We will now learn about conventions of God’s people mentioned in the Bible and about how they are similar to our conventions today. We will also learn why it is good for us to attend them.​—Psalm 44:1; Romans 15:4.

IMPORTANT CONVENTIONS IN BIBLE TIMES AND IN RECENT TIMES

3. (a) What happened at the first convention of Jehovah’s people that is mentioned in the Bible? (b) How did the Israelites know when to meet together?

³ The first big convention mentioned in the Bible was when the Israelites all went to the foot of Mount Sinai to receive instructions from Jehovah. That was a special occasion in the history of pure worship. Jehovah showed the Israelites his power and gave them his Law. That was a day they would never forget. (Exodus 19:2-9, 16-19; read Exodus 20:18; Deuteronomy 4:9, 10.) On that day, the Israelites’ relationship with God changed. Not long after that convention at Mount Sinai, Jehovah told Moses how to call the people together. He instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets. When the two trumpets were blown, the Israelites knew that they had to go to “the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (Numbers 10:1-4) Try to imagine how excited the people must have been at these conventions!

4, 5. Why were the conventions that Moses and Joshua organized important?

⁴ When the Israelites had been in the wilderness for about 40 years, Moses organized a convention for the whole nation. This happened at an extremely important time in the history of the new nation of Israel. They would soon go into the Promised Land, so it was a good time for Moses to remind his brothers of all that Jehovah had done for them and all that he would still do for them.​—Deuteronomy 29:1-15; 30:15-20; 31:30.

⁵ It may have been on that same occasion that Moses told the people that there would be a special convention. Every seven years, during the Festival of Booths, all the men, women, children, and foreigners among them were to meet at the place Jehovah chose. There they would learn about Jehovah’s Law so that they would fear him and obey him. (Read Deuteronomy 31:1, 10-12.) It was clear that Jehovah wanted his people to meet together to learn about his commands and his will. Later, after the Israelites had conquered the Promised Land, Joshua told them to meet together. At that time, pagan nations lived all around them, so he knew that the Israelites needed encouragement to stay loyal to Jehovah. On that day, the people made a serious promise to serve God.​—Joshua 23:1, 2; 24:1, 15, 21-24.

6, 7. What especially important conventions have there been in more recent times?

⁶ In more recent times, there have also been especially important conventions. At these conventions, changes were announced in the way things are done in the organization as well as in the way we understand certain scriptures. (Proverbs 4:18) In 1919, the Bible Students had their first large convention after World War I. It was in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A., and 7,000 attended. At that convention, it was announced that God’s people would make a special effort to preach all over the world. In 1922, at the same place during a convention that lasted nine days, Joseph F. Rutherford gave a powerful talk and encouraged the audience to keep preaching everywhere until Babylon the Great is destroyed. He said: “The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.” The result was that those at the convention, as well as God’s people all over the world, began preaching even more zealously.

⁷ In 1931, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, the Bible Students were absolutely thrilled to accept the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. Then in 1935, in Washington, D.C., Brother Rutherford explained who the “great crowd” is that Revelation speaks of as “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-17) Later, in 1942, during World War II, Nathan H. Knorr gave the exciting talk “Peace​—Can It Last?” He explained what the “scarlet-colored wild beast” of Revelation 17 is and said that there would still be much preaching to do after the war.

8, 9. Why have certain conventions been emotional occasions for God’s people?

⁸ At the “Glad Nations” convention in 1946, Brother Knorr gave a very interesting talk entitled “The Problems of Reconstruction and Expansion.” One brother who was on the platform during that talk wrote about the reaction of the audience. He said that when Brother Knorr talked about the plans for enlarging the Brooklyn Bethel home and factory, the audience clapped again and again. Even from a distance, it was easy to see how excited everyone was. In 1950, at an international convention in New York City, the audience was delighted to receive the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. This later became part of a Bible in modern English that put God’s name back in his Word, as it should be.​—Jeremiah 16:21.

⁹ Conventions have also been organized in some countries where Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted or were not allowed to preach for some time. Those were very emotional occasions for those who were there. For example, Adolf Hitler had said that he would destroy Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany. But in 1955 in Nuremberg, 107,000 Witnesses had a convention in the same place where Hitler and his supporters used to gather. Many of those there cried because they were so happy! In 1989, 166,518 brothers and sisters came to Poland to attend three “Godly Devotion” conventions. Many came from what were then the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, and from other countries in Eastern Europe. For some, it was the first time they attended a gathering of more than 15 or 20 of God’s people. And imagine the joy at the 1993 “Divine Teaching” International Convention in Kiev, Ukraine, where 7,402 were baptized. This may be the largest number of Jehovah’s Witnesses baptized on one day.​—Isaiah 60:22; Haggai 2:7.

10. Which conventions have been special for you? Why?

¹⁰ Perhaps there are district conventions or international conventions that have been special for you. Do you remember your first convention or perhaps the one at which you were baptized? These were very important events in your worship to Jehovah, and you should never forget them. They are precious memories!​—Psalm 42:4.

REGULAR OCCASIONS FOR REJOICING

11. What festivals did God require the Israelites to attend every year?

¹¹ Jehovah required the Israelites to meet in Jerusalem for three festivals every year. These were the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, the Festival of Weeks (later called Pentecost), and the Festival of Booths. God told the Israelites: “On three occasions in the year every male of yours will appear before the face of the true Lord, Jehovah.” (Exodus 23:14-17) Many men knew how important these festivals were in their worship to Jehovah, so they attended with their entire family.​—1 Samuel 1:1-7; Luke 2:41, 42.

12, 13. What did many Israelites have to do to attend the festivals each year?

¹² Think about what it meant for an Israelite family to make that journey. For example, Joseph and Mary had to travel about 100 kilometers (60 miles) just to go from Nazareth to Jerusalem. How long do you think it would take you to travel that far if you were walking with small children? When we read about Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem as a boy, we learn that relatives and friends sometimes traveled together. Imagine what it must have been like for them to travel and prepare meals together and to find places for everyone to sleep. We know that the trip must have been safe because Jesus’ parents allowed him some freedom even though he was only 12 years old. Think how unforgettable these festivals would have been, especially for the young ones!​—Luke 2:44-46.

¹³ After the Israelites had been scattered to other parts of the world, those who attended the festivals came from many nations. At Pentecost of the year 33, Jews and other worshippers of Jehovah showed that they valued these festivals by traveling to Jerusalem from such places as Italy, Libya, Crete, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia.​—Acts 2:5-11; 20:16.

14. How did the Israelites feel when they attended the festivals each year?

¹⁴ For faithful Israelites, the most important and exciting thing about these trips was to worship Jehovah along with thousands of others who also loved him. How did those who attended feel? When Jehovah spoke to his people about the Festival of Booths, he said: “You must rejoice during your festival, you and your son and your daughter and your man slave and your slave girl and the Levite and the alien resident and the fatherless boy and the widow, who are inside your gates. Seven days you will celebrate the festival to Jehovah your God in the place that Jehovah will choose, because Jehovah your God will bless you in all your produce and in every deed of your hand, and you must become nothing but joyful.”​—Deuteronomy 16:14, 15; read Matthew 5:3.

WHY SHOULD WE VALUE OUR CONVENTIONS TODAY?

15, 16. What sacrifices have you had to make to attend conventions? Why are you happy to have made those sacrifices?

¹⁵ Those festivals in Jerusalem are excellent examples for God’s people today. In many ways, our conventions are similar to those occasions in the past. Like God’s people in Bible times, many of us have to make sacrifices to attend. But we are happy to make them because we know how much we will benefit from conventions. They are still very important in our worship. We need the information and understanding we receive there to keep our friendship with God strong. Conventions motivate us to use what we learn from the Bible and help us to avoid problems. They also encourage us to avoid things that can make us anxious and move us to put first in our life the things that will make us happy.​—Psalm 122:1-4.

¹⁶ Conventions have always brought joy to those who attend them. A report about a large convention in 1946 said that it was exciting to see the many thousands of happy Witnesses all together in one place. It was especially exciting to hear the large orchestra playing and the audience singing beautiful songs of praise to Jehovah. The report added that many volunteered to work in various departments. It gave them joy to serve their brothers and sisters. Have you too felt this kind of excitement at district conventions or international conventions?​—Psalm 110:3; Isaiah 42:10-12.

17. What has changed in the way conventions are organized?

¹⁷ Some things have changed in the way conventions are organized. For example, some remember when they lasted eight days! There were morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. Field service was a regular part of the program. Sometimes the program began at nine o’clock in the morning and ended at nine o’clock at night. Volunteers worked hard for many hours to prepare breakfast, lunch, and supper for everyone. Now conventions are not as long as they used to be. And most brothers and sisters can give more attention to the program because everyone prepares his own meal and brings it to the convention.

18, 19. What part of the conventions do you especially enjoy? Why?

¹⁸ There are some things on the program that we always look forward to and that have been part of our conventions for a long time. For example, we get “food at the proper time” from talks and from new publications that help us better understand Bible prophecies and teachings. (Matthew 24:45) Many of these are publications we can use to help people understand Bible truths. Dramas based on the Bible help all of us, young and old, to make sure we are serving Jehovah for the right reason and to protect ourselves against the thinking of the world. The baptism talk helps all of us to think about what is most important in our life. And we are happy to see others show their dedication to Jehovah by getting baptized.

¹⁹ Conventions have been a part of pure worship for thousands of years. They help us to be joyful and to stay faithful to Jehovah in difficult times, and they encourage us to do more in his service. They give us opportunities to meet new friends and help us to know what it means to be part of an international family. Conventions are a very important way Jehovah blesses and cares for his people. Each one of us wants to make sure not to miss even one session of each and every convention.​—Proverbs 10:22.