1. Like the apostles, what do we want to know?

NEAR the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, his disciples wanted to know what would happen in the future. A few days before he died, four of his apostles asked him: “When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3) To answer their question, Jesus gave a prophecy with many details. We can read this prophecy in Matthew chapters 24 and 25. There Jesus foretold many things, and what he said is very important for us because we too want to know what will happen in the future.

2. (a) Through the years, what have we tried to understand more clearly? (b) Which three questions will this article answer?

² For a long time, Jehovah’s servants have studied Jesus’ prophecy about the last days and prayed for God’s help to understand it. They wanted to understand more clearly when the events in Jesus’ prophecy would happen. This article will answer these three questions: When does the “great tribulation” begin? When does Jesus judge “the sheep” and “the goats”? When does Jesus ‘arrive,’ or come?​—Matthew 24:21; 25:31-33.

WHEN DOES THE GREAT TRIBULATION BEGIN?

3. In the past, what did we believe about the great tribulation?

³ In the past, we thought that the great tribulation began in 1914 when World War I started. We thought that Jehovah “cut short” those days in 1918 when the war ended so that the remaining anointed ones on earth could preach the good news to all nations. (Matthew 24:21, 22) After that preaching work would be completed, we expected that Satan’s world would be destroyed. So we thought that there were three parts to the great tribulation. It would begin in 1914, it would be interrupted in 1918, and it would finish at Armageddon.

4. What did we realize about Jesus’ prophecy?

⁴ Then we realized that a part of Jesus’ prophecy about the last days has two fulfillments. (Matthew 24:4-22) It was fulfilled in the first century in the district of Judea. And in our day there would be a much larger fulfillment that would happen in the whole earth. So we needed to change the way we understood some parts of the prophecy.a​—See endnote.

5. (a) What began in 1914? (b) During what years were there similar “pangs of distress” to those in the first century?

⁵ For example, the great tribulation did not begin in 1914. How do we know this? Because the Bible’s prophecies show that the great tribulation will begin with an attack on false religion. It will not begin with a war among nations. So the war that began in 1914 was not the beginning of the great tribulation. It was the “beginning of pangs of distress.” (Matthew 24:8) These “pangs of distress” were similar to what happened in Jerusalem and the district of Judea from the year 33 to the year 66.

6. How will we know that the great tribulation has started?

⁶ How will we know when the great tribulation has started? Jesus foretold: “When you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15, 16) The first fulfillment was in the year 66 when the Roman army attacked Jerusalem and its temple. The army was “the disgusting thing” that was “standing in a holy place,” that is, a place that the Jews viewed as holy. This prophecy will have a second and larger fulfillment. The United Nations is “the disgusting thing,” and Christendom is viewed as “a holy place” by its followers. The United Nations will attack Christendom and the rest of Babylon the Great, as also foretold at Revelation 17:16-18. This attack on Babylon the Great will be the beginning of the great tribulation.

7. (a) How was ‘flesh saved’ in the first century? (b) What will happen in the future?

⁷ Jesus also foretold: “Those days will be cut short.” In the first fulfillment, the days were “cut short” in the year 66 when the Roman army stopped its attack on Jerusalem. Then the anointed Christians in Jerusalem and Judea escaped from the city, which allowed their “flesh,” or lives, to “be saved.” (Read Matthew 24:22; Malachi 3:17) What will happen during the second fulfillment? Jehovah will “cut short” the attack of the United Nations on religion so that true religion is not destroyed with the false. His people will be saved.

8. (a) What will happen after the first part of the great tribulation? (b) At what point, apparently, will the last member of the 144,000 receive his heavenly reward? (See endnote.)

⁸ What happens after the great tribulation is cut short? Jesus explained that several events will happen before Armageddon begins. These events are mentioned at Ezekiel 38:14-16 and Matthew 24:29-31. (Read.)b (See endnote.) Then we will see Armageddon. The battle of Armageddon is the climax of the great tribulation, just as the destruction of Jerusalem was the climax of the first fulfillment of the prophecy. (Malachi 4:1) The great tribulation, with Armageddon as its climax, will be an event such as has not happened “since the world’s beginning.” (Matthew 24:21) After it happens, Christ will rule as King for 1,000 years.

9. How does Jesus’ prophecy about the great tribulation make us feel?

⁹ This prophecy about the great tribulation gives us strength. Why? Because it tells us that no matter what happens during the great tribulation, Jehovah’s people, as a group, will survive. (Revelation 7:9, 14) And at Armageddon, Jehovah will prove that he has the right to rule and is the best Ruler, and he will sanctify his holy name.​—Psalm 83:18; Ezekiel 38:23.

WHEN DOES JESUS JUDGE THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS?

10. In the past, what did we believe about the timing of Jesus’ judgment of the sheep and the goats?

¹⁰ Another part of Jesus’ prophecy was the illustration of the sheep and the goats. When does Jesus judge the sheep and the goats? (Matthew 25:31-46) In the past, we thought that Jesus was judging people as sheep or goats from 1914 on. We thought that those who did not accept the Kingdom message and who died before the start of the great tribulation would already be judged as goats and would not have a hope of a resurrection.

11. Why could Jesus not have begun judging people as sheep or goats in 1914?

¹¹ In 1995, The Watchtower gave a new explanation of Matthew 25:31. That verse states: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.” The Watchtower said that Jesus became King of God’s Kingdom in 1914, but he did not at that time become the Judge of “all the nations.” (Matthew 25:32; compare Daniel 7:13.) Keep in mind, though, that the illustration of the sheep and the goats is mainly about the work Jesus will do as Judge. (Read Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46.) Since Jesus was not the Judge of all the nations in 1914, he could not have begun judging people as sheep or goats in 1914.c (See endnote.) When will Jesus begin judging all the nations?

12. (a) When will Jesus for the first time judge all the nations? (b) What events are described at Matthew 24:30, 31 and Matthew 25:31-33, 46?

¹² Jesus’ prophecy about the last days shows that he will for the very first time judge all the nations only after false religion is destroyed. As mentioned in paragraph 8, some of the events that will occur during that time are described in Matthew 24:30, 31. Notice that the events Jesus mentions here are similar to the ones that he mentions in the illustration of the sheep and the goats. For example, the Son of man comes with glory and with angels; all tribes and nations are gathered; those judged as sheep ‘lift their heads up’ because they will receive “everlasting life.”d (See endnote.) Those judged as goats “beat themselves in lamentation” because they realize that they will receive “everlasting cutting-off,” that is, destruction.​—Matthew 25:31-33, 46.

13. (a) When will Jesus judge the people as sheep or goats? (b) How does this understanding affect our view of the ministry?

¹³ Jesus will judge people of all nations as sheep or goats when he comes during the great tribulation. Then, at Armageddon, the goats will be ‘cut off’ forever, that is, destroyed. So this shows us how important our preaching work is. Before the great tribulation begins, people still have time to change their thinking and start living in a way that puts them on the road “leading off into life.” (Matthew 7:13, 14) It is true that some people may now have an attitude that might make us think that they are a sheep or a goat. But we should remember that it is during the great tribulation that Jesus will make the final judgment of the sheep and the goats. It is very important to keep preaching the Kingdom message to as many as possible so that they have an opportunity to accept it.

WHEN DOES JESUS ARRIVE, OR COME?

14, 15. Which four scriptures refer to Christ’s coming in the future as Judge?

¹⁴ As we continue to examine Jesus’ prophecy, will it be necessary to change our understanding about the timing of other important events in Jesus’ prophecy? The prophecy will give us the answer. Let us see how.

¹⁵ In the part of his prophecy that is recorded at Matthew 24:29–25:46, Jesus speaks mainly about what will happen during the last days and during the great tribulation. There, Jesus speaks eight times about his “coming,” that is, when he “arrives.”e (See endnote.) He says the following about the great tribulation: “They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds.” “You do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” “At an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.” And in his illustration of the sheep and the goats, Jesus states: “The Son of man arrives in his glory.” (Matthew 24:30, 42, 44; 25:31) Each of these four verses refers to the time in the future when Christ comes as Judge. Where in Jesus’ prophecy are the remaining four times he speaks about his “coming”?

16. Jesus’ coming is mentioned in what other scriptures?

¹⁶ Jesus says the following about the faithful and discreet slave: “Happy is that slave if his master on arriving [“having come,” footnote] finds him doing so.” In the illustration of the virgins, Jesus states: “While they were going off to buy, the bridegroom arrived [“came,” Kingdom Interlinear].” In the illustration of the talents, Jesus says: “After a long time the master of those slaves came.” In the same illustration, the master says: “On my arrival [“having come,” Kingdom Interlinear] I would be receiving what is mine.” (Matthew 24:46; 25:10, 19, 27) When does Jesus come, or arrive, as described in these verses?

17. In the past, what did we say about the arrival of Jesus, as described at Matthew 24:46?

¹⁷ In the past, we have stated in our publications that these last four scriptures apply to Jesus’ arriving, or coming, in 1918. For example, notice how the word “arriving” is used in Jesus’ statement about “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Read Matthew 24:45-47.) We understood that Jesus’ “arriving,” as described at Matthew 24:46, meant that he came to inspect the anointed in 1918 and that he appointed the slave over all the Master’s belongings in 1919. (Malachi 3:1) However, we need to change our understanding of when some of the events Jesus foretold would happen. Why?

18. What does Jesus’ prophecy help us to understand about his coming?

¹⁸ Each time the word “coming” is used in the verses before Matthew 24:46, it refers to the time when Jesus will come to judge the nations and execute his judgment during the great tribulation. (Matthew 24:30, 42, 44) Also, as we learned in paragraph 12, Matthew 25:31 describes the same time in the future when Jesus judges the nations. So there is good reason for us to understand Matthew 24:46, 47 to mean that Jesus will arrive to appoint the faithful slave over all his belongings at that time in the future during the great tribulation.f (See endnote.) Jesus’ prophecy shows that all eight of these scriptures that mention his coming refer to the time of judgment during the great tribulation.

19. What new things did we learn in this article? What questions will be answered in the following articles?

¹⁹ What have we learned in this article? We answered three questions about when certain events would happen. First, the great tribulation did not begin in 1914 but will start when the United Nations attacks Babylon the Great. Second, Jesus did not begin to judge the sheep and the goats in 1914. Instead, he will begin judging during the great tribulation. Third, Jesus did not appoint the faithful slave over all his belongings in 1919. He will do this during the great tribulation. So all three of the events mentioned at the beginning of this article will happen during the great tribulation. Does this change anything else about the way we understand the illustration of the faithful slave? Does it affect the way we understand other illustrations of Jesus that are being fulfilled during the time of the end? These important questions will be answered in the following articles.

1. (a) Summarize the illustration of the wheat and the weeds. (b) How did Jesus explain the meaning of the illustration?

ONE of Jesus’ illustrations about the Kingdom describes a farmer who sows wheat and an enemy who sows weeds in the same field. The weeds begin to overgrow the wheat, but the farmer tells his slaves to “let both grow together until the harvest.” During the time of the harvest, the weeds are destroyed and the wheat is gathered. Jesus explained what the illustration meant. (Read Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43.) What can this illustration teach us? (See the chart “The Wheat and the Weeds.”)

2. (a) What events does the illustration of the wheat and the weeds describe? (b) What part of the illustration will this article discuss?

² The events in this illustration show how and when Jesus would gather out of mankind the entire group of anointed Christians who will rule with him in his Kingdom. As a group, they are the wheat class, that is, they are the ones represented by the wheat. Jesus began to sow this seed at Pentecost of the year 33. The gathering of the wheat class will be complete when the anointed who are alive on earth at the end of this system of things receive their final sealing and then are raised to heaven. (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:1-4) When a person is at a lookout point on a mountain, he can see a full view of what is around him. In a similar way, the illustration of the wheat and the weeds helps us to get a better understanding of events that would happen during a period of about 2,000 years. The events are a time of sowing seed, growth of the seed, and harvesting the wheat. This article will mainly discuss the time of the harvest.a​—See endnote.

UNDER JESUS’ WATCHFUL CARE

3. (a) What happened after the first century? (b) As recorded at Matthew 13:28, what question was asked, and by whom? (See also endnote.)

³ About the year 100, “the weeds appeared.” These were false Christians. (Matthew 13:26) About the year 300, there were more “weeds” than there were anointed Christians. In the illustration, the slaves asked the master if they could pull the weeds out of the field.b (See endnote.) (Matthew 13:28) What did the master say?

4. (a) What did Jesus’ answer reveal? (b) When did it become possible to identify “the wheat”?

⁴ The Master, Jesus, said about the wheat and the weeds: “Let both grow together until the harvest.” This command tells us that from the first century until today, there have always been people who were “the wheat,” that is, anointed Christians. Jesus also said to his disciples: “I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28:20) So Jesus would protect the anointed Christians all the days up to the time of the end. But since the weeds, or false Christians, had overgrown the wheat, we do not know for certain who were part of the wheat class during all those years. However, about 40 years before the harvest, it again became possible to identify “the wheat.” How did that happen?

A MESSENGER ‘CLEARS UP A WAY’

5. How was Malachi’s prophecy fulfilled in the first century?

⁵ Long before Jesus gave the illustration of the wheat and the weeds, Jehovah inspired Malachi to foretell some of the same events. (Read Malachi 3:1-4.) John the Baptizer was the ‘messenger who cleared up the way.’ (Matthew 11:10, 11) The nation of Israel would be judged soon after John’s arrival in the year 29. Jesus was the second messenger mentioned in Malachi’s prophecy. He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem twice. The first time was at the start of his ministry, and the second was at the end of his ministry. (Matthew 21:12, 13; John 2:14-17) So the cleansing of that temple happened over a period of time.

6. (a) What is the larger fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? (b) During what time period did Jesus inspect the spiritual temple? (See also endnote.)

⁶ What is the larger fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? For many years before 1914, C. T. Russell and the brothers working with him did a work like that of John the Baptizer. They studied the Bible to discover what it really teaches. For example, they taught the true meaning of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, showed that hellfire did not exist, and declared when the Gentile Times would end. There were many other religious groups who claimed to be Christ’s followers. But who among these groups were the wheat? To answer that question, Jesus began to inspect the spiritual temple in 1914. Jesus’ work to inspect and cleanse that temple lasted from 1914 to the early part of 1919.c​—See endnote.

INSPECTING AND CLEANSING THE ANOINTED

7. What did Jesus find when he began his inspection in 1914?

⁷ When Jesus began his inspection, what did he find? A small group of zealous Bible Students who had been using their strength and their money to spread the good news for more than 30 years.d (See endnote.) Jesus and the angels must have been very happy to see that the few who were part of the wheat class had remained strong and had not been choked by the weeds. But the “sons of Levi,” that is, the anointed, needed to be cleansed. (Malachi 3:2, 3; 1 Peter 4:17) Why?

8. What happened after 1914?

⁸ Near the end of 1914, some Bible Students were discouraged because they had not gone to heaven. During 1915 and 1916, opposition from people outside the organization slowed down the preaching work. And after Brother Russell’s death in October 1916, people inside the organization started to oppose those taking the lead. Four of the seven directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society rebelled when Brother Rutherford was chosen to take the lead. They tried to cause division, but in August 1917, they left Bethel. This is one way that the organization was cleansed. Also, because of fear of man, some Bible Students stopped serving God. But many of the Bible Students were willing to make changes to become clean from God’s point of view. So Jesus judged them as true Christian wheat. He rejected all false Christians in the congregation and those in the churches of Christendom. (Malachi 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:19) What happened next? To find out, we will again discuss the illustration of the wheat and the weeds.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE HARVEST SEASON BEGINS?

9, 10. (a) What will we now discuss? (b) What happened first during the time of the harvest?

⁹ Jesus said: “The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things.” (Matthew 13:39) That time of the harvest began in 1914. We will now discuss five events that Jesus said would happen during the time of the harvest.

¹⁰ First, collecting the weeds. Jesus says: “In the harvest season I will tell the reapers, First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles.” After 1914, the angels began to “collect” the weeds, or false Christians, by separating them from the anointed “sons of the kingdom.”​—Matthew 13:30, 38, 41.

11. What work has especially made true Christians different from false Christians?

¹¹ As the collecting work progressed, it became easier to see the difference between the wheat and the weeds. (Revelation 18:1, 4) By 1919, it was clear that Babylon the Great had fallen. What especially made true Christians different from false Christians? The preaching work. Those who took the lead among the Bible Students began to make clear that all in the congregation must preach about the Kingdom. For example, a booklet called To Whom the Work Is Entrusted was published in 1919. It urged all anointed Christians to preach from house to house. It explained that even though it seemed impossible to do all that work, the Lord would give his people the strength to do it. Then the booklet said: “You have the privilege of sharing in it.” What did the Bible Students do? The Watch Tower in 1922 said that they put more effort than ever into their preaching. It soon became the work that those faithful Christians came to be known for, and it still is.

12. Since when has the wheat been gathered?

¹² Second, gathering the wheat. Jesus commands his angels to start gathering the wheat into his storehouse. (Matthew 13:30) Since 1919, anointed ones have been gathered into the cleansed Christian congregation. What about those anointed Christians who are alive at the end of this system of things? Their final gathering will happen when they go to heaven.​—Daniel 7:18, 22, 27.

13. What do we learn from Revelation 18:7 about the attitude of the harlot, who is Babylon the Great, and includes Christendom?

¹³ Third, weeping and gnashing. After the angels bundle the weeds, what happens? Speaking about the condition of “the weeds,” Jesus says: “There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.” (Matthew 13:42) Is that happening right now? No. Christendom is part of the harlot described in Revelation chapter 18. Even today, Christendom says about herself: “I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.” (Revelation 18:7) She still feels she is in control and even tries to be “a queen” with power over political leaders. So false Christians represented by the weeds are still boasting today. They have not started to weep. But that will soon change.

14. (a) When will false Christians ‘gnash their teeth’? Why? (b) How does our new explanation of Matthew 13:42 agree with what is said at Psalm 112:10? (See endnote.)

¹⁴ After false religion is destroyed, the ones who used to follow those religions will run for cover. But they will not be able to find a safe place to hide. (Luke 23:30; Revelation 6:15-17) When they realize that they cannot escape, they will weep over their situation and will gnash, or grind, their teeth because they are so angry. As Jesus’ prophecy about the great tribulation shows, they will at that time “beat themselves in lamentation.”e (See endnote.)​—Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7.

15. What will happen to the weeds? When will this happen?

¹⁵ Fourth, pitched into the furnace. What will happen to the bundles of weeds? The angels “will pitch them into the fiery furnace.” (Matthew 13:42) This means that they will be completely destroyed. So the ones who belonged to those organizations teaching false religion will be destroyed during the final part of the great tribulation, Armageddon.​—Malachi 4:1.

16, 17. (a) What is the last event that Jesus foretells in his illustration? (b) How do we know that this event will happen in the future?

¹⁶ Fifth, shining brightly. Jesus ends his prophecy by saying: “At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43) When and where will they shine brightly? This part of the prophecy will be fulfilled in the future. And it will be fulfilled in heaven, not on earth.f (See endnote.) We will now discuss two reasons for understanding the prophecy this way.

¹⁷ First, when will this happen? Jesus said: “At that time the righteous ones will shine.” Evidently, the expression “at that time” is connected to the event Jesus had just described, that is, the time when the weeds are ‘pitched into the fiery furnace.’ That happens during the final part of the great tribulation. So the anointed must “shine as brightly as the sun” at that future time as well. Second, where will this happen? Jesus said that the righteous ones will shine “in the kingdom.” What does that mean? All faithful anointed ones who are still on earth after the first part of the great tribulation has passed will already have received their final sealing. Then they will be gathered to heaven, as Jesus foretold. (Matthew 24:31) There they will shine “in the kingdom of their Father.” They will be part of Jesus’ joyous bride in “the marriage of the Lamb.” This happens soon after the battle of Armageddon.​—Revelation 19:6-9.

HOW WE BENEFIT

18, 19. In what ways do we benefit from understanding Jesus’ illustration of the wheat and the weeds?

¹⁸ How do we benefit from what we have learned about this illustration? There are three ways. First, the illustration helps us to understand why Jehovah has not yet destroyed wicked people. He has tolerated them long enough to prepare the “vessels of mercy,” that is, the faithful ones represented by the wheat.g (See endnote.) (Romans 9:22-24) Second, it gives us more confidence. As the end gets closer, our enemies will fight harder against us. “But they will not prevail.” (Read Jeremiah 1:19.) Jehovah has protected the wheat class for many years. Our heavenly Father, along with Jesus and the angels, will be with us “all the days” until the end.​—Matthew 28:20.

¹⁹ Third, the illustration helps us to know who are represented by the wheat. Why is that so important? Because we need to know who the wheat are if we want to find the answer to another question Jesus asked in his prophecy about the last days. He asked: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?” (Matthew 24:45) The following two articles will give us a clear answer to that question.

1-3. How did Jesus feed a large crowd near Bethsaida? (See opening picture.)

IMAGINE the scene. (Read Matthew 14:14-21.) It was just before the Passover of the year 32. A crowd of about 5,000 men, along with women and young children, had followed Jesus and his disciples to an isolated place near Bethsaida, a village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

² When Jesus saw the crowd, he felt sorry for the people, so he healed the sick among them and taught them many things about God’s Kingdom. When it got late, the disciples asked Jesus to send the people away so that they could buy food for themselves in nearby villages. But Jesus told his disciples: “You give them something to eat.” Jesus’ words must have puzzled them. They had very little food, only five loaves of bread and two small fish.

³ Motivated by compassion, Jesus performed a miracle. It is the only miracle included in all four Gospels. (Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13) Jesus had his disciples tell the crowd to sit down on the green grass in groups of 50 and of 100. After saying a prayer, he broke the bread and divided up the fish. Instead of giving the food to the people directly, Jesus gave it to the disciples, and then the disciples gave it out to the crowd. They had more than enough food to feed everybody. Just think: Jesus fed thousands through the hands of a few, his disciples.a​—See endnote.

4. (a) Jesus was even more concerned about giving his followers what kind of food? Why? (b) What will we discuss in this study article and in the next one?

⁴ Jesus was even more concerned about giving out spiritual food to his followers, that is, teaching them the truths in God’s Word. He knew that if they learned those truths, they could have everlasting life. (John 6:26, 27; 17:3) The compassion that motivated Jesus to feed bread and fish to the crowds also motivated him to spend many hours teaching his followers. (Mark 6:34) But he knew that he would soon return to heaven. (Matthew 16:21; John 14:12) From heaven, how would Jesus continue to give out spiritual food to his followers on earth? Just as he did when he fed the crowds, he would feed many through the hands of a few. Who, though, would be the few? Let us learn how Jesus used a few to give out spiritual food to his many anointed followers in the first century. Then, in the next article, we will discuss a question that is extremely important to each one of us: Who are the few Jesus uses to give us spiritual food today?

JESUS CHOOSES THE FEW

5, 6. (a) What very important decision did Jesus make so that his followers would have the direction they needed after his death? (b) How did Jesus prepare his apostles to care for an extremely important assignment after his death?

⁵ A responsible family head makes sure that his family will be cared for in case he dies. Similarly, Jesus, who would become Head of the Christian congregation, made sure that his followers would have the instruction and direction they needed after his death. (Ephesians 1:22) For example, about two years before he died, Jesus made a very important decision. He began choosing those few he would later use to feed the many. Let us discuss what happened.

⁶ After praying all night, Jesus chose the 12 apostles from among his disciples. (Luke 6:12-16) For the next two years, he spent a lot of time teaching these 12 men, both by what he said and by what he did. He knew that they had much to learn. In fact, during that time they were still called “disciples,” or students. (Matthew 11:1; 20:17) Jesus gave each of them valuable counsel and thorough training in the ministry. (Matthew 10:1-42; 20:20-23; Luke 8:1; 9:52-55) Clearly, he was preparing them for an extremely important assignment after his death and return to heaven.

7. How did Jesus show what the main responsibility of the apostles would be?

⁷ What assignment would the apostles have? As Pentecost of the year 33 got closer, it was clear that the apostles would take the lead in the congregation. (Acts 1:20) What, though, would be their main responsibility? After Jesus was resurrected, he said something to the apostle Peter that gives us the answer. (Read John 21:1, 2, 15-17.) In front of some of the other apostles, Jesus told Peter: “Feed my little sheep.” With these words, Jesus showed that the few he would use to give spiritual food to the many would include the apostles. These words also show how much Jesus loves his “little sheep”!b​—See endnote.

FEEDING THE MANY FROM PENTECOST ON

8. How did new Christians at Pentecost show that they clearly knew whom Christ was using?

⁸ Starting at Pentecost of the year 33, the resurrected Christ used his apostles to give out spiritual food to the rest of his anointed disciples. (Read Acts 2:41, 42.) Jews and proselytes who became anointed Christians that day clearly knew whom Christ was using. With complete trust, they “continued devoting themselves,” or stayed loyal, “to the teaching of the apostles.” The new Christians were eager to learn the truths in God’s Word, and they knew exactly who could teach these truths to them. They trusted in the apostles to explain the things that Jesus said and did as well as the meaning of the scriptures that applied to him.c (See endnote.)​—Acts 2:22-36.

9. How did the apostles show that they never forgot what their main responsibility was?

⁹ The apostles never forgot that their main responsibility was to teach and direct the congregation. For example, notice how they solved a difficult problem that could have caused division in the new Christian congregation. Interestingly, the problem was about food. Some were upset because the Greek-speaking widows were not receiving their daily food but the Hebrew-speaking widows were still receiving theirs. How did the apostles solve this problem? They appointed seven qualified brothers to make sure that all received the food they needed. Most of the apostles had probably helped to give out food to the people when Jesus miraculously fed the crowds. But they now felt that it was more important for them to give out spiritual food to the congregations. In this way, they were able to give all their time to “the ministry of the word.”​—Acts 6:1-6.

10. How did Christ use the apostles and older men in Jerusalem?

¹⁰ In the year 49, there was a governing body made up of the apostles who were still living and some other qualified elders. The Bible refers to them as “the apostles and older men in Jerusalem.” (Read Acts 15:1, 2.) As the Head of the congregation, Christ used this small group of qualified men to make decisions on questions involving Christian beliefs and to direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news.​—Acts 15:6-29; 21:17-19; Colossians 1:18.

11, 12. (a) What shows that Jehovah blessed the way his Son gave out spiritual food to the congregations in the first century? (b) How did people know whom Christ was using to feed the congregations?

¹¹ Christ used a governing body to give out spiritual food in the first century. Did Jehovah bless this? Most definitely! How can we be sure? The book of Acts tells us: “Now as they [the apostle Paul and others traveling with him] traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem. Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day.” (Acts 16:4, 5) Notice that those congregations became strong and grew because they loyally supported the governing body in Jerusalem. This is proof that Jehovah blessed the way spiritual food was given out to the congregations by means of his Son. Let us remember that it is only with Jehovah’s blessing that God’s people can have peace and become many.​—Proverbs 10:22; 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7.

¹² So far we have learned that Jesus gave out spiritual food to his followers in the same way he gave out physical food to the crowds: He fed many through the hands of a few. Back then, it was clear whom he was using to feed the congregations. For example, the apostles, who were the first members of the governing body, were able to perform miracles to prove that they had Jehovah’s blessing. Acts 5:12 says: “Through the hands of the apostles many signs and portents continued to occur among the people.”d (See endnote.) So there was no reason for those who became Christians to wonder, ‘Who really are the ones Christ is using to feed his sheep?’ But at the end of the first century, the situation changed.

WHEN THE WEEDS WERE MANY AND THE WHEAT FEW

13, 14. (a) What warning did Jesus give about an attack? When did his words begin to come true? (b) How would the congregation be attacked? (See endnote.)

¹³ Jesus foretold that the Christian congregation would be attacked. Remember, in his illustration of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus warned that weeds (false Christians) would be planted among the wheat (anointed Christians). He said that the two groups would be allowed to grow together until the harvest, which would happen at “a conclusion of a system of things.” (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) It did not take long for Jesus’ words to begin to come true.e​—See endnote.

¹⁴ The apostasy had already started in the first century, but the apostles were like “a restraint.” They prevented false teachings from infecting the Christian congregation. (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6, 7) However, once the last apostle died, the apostasy spread, and the wheat and the weeds grew together for many centuries. During that time, the weeds became many and the wheat became few. There was no organized group regularly giving out spiritual food. That would eventually change. But the question is, When?

WHO WOULD GIVE OUT SPIRITUAL FOOD DURING THE HARVEST?

15, 16. What were the results of the Bible Students’ careful study of the Scriptures? What question could be asked about the Bible Students?

¹⁵ As the time for the wheat and the weeds to grow together was coming to an end, some people started to show strong interest in learning Bible truths. Remember that in the 1870’s, a small group of people, then called Bible Students, got together and started Bible classes. These classes were no part of any church or religious group of Christendom. The Bible Students humbly and carefully studied God’s Word to find the truth.​—Matthew 11:25.

¹⁶ The Bible Students’ careful study of the Scriptures had very good results. These loyal men and women exposed false teachings and taught the truth of God’s Word to others. They published Bible literature and sent it around the world. Many who wanted to learn Bible truth read their literature and became convinced that this was the truth. So we might ask: In the years before 1914, were the Bible Students the group that Christ said he would use to feed his sheep? No. The wheat and the weeds were still growing together, and the group that Christ would use to give out spiritual food was not yet ready. The time had not come for false Christians to be separated from true Christians.

17. What important things happened starting in 1914?

¹⁷ As we learned in the previous article, the time of the harvest began in 1914. Starting in that year, several important things happened. Jesus became King, and the last days began. (Revelation 11:15) From 1914 to the early part of 1919, Jesus along with his Father inspected and cleansed God’s spiritual temple.f (See endnote.) (Malachi 3:1-4) Then, starting in 1919, it was time to begin gathering the wheat. Was it finally the time for Christ to appoint one organized group to give out spiritual food? Yes, it was!

18. What appointment did Jesus say he would make? What was the important question after the last days began?

¹⁸ In his prophecy about the time of the end, Jesus said that he would appoint a “slave” to give out spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Who would this “slave” be? Just as he did in the first century, Jesus would once again feed many through the hands of a few. But after the last days began, the important question was, Who will be the few? That and other questions about Jesus’ prophecy will be discussed in the next article.

1, 2. Whom is Jesus using to feed us today? Why must we know who this slave is?

“BROTHERS, I cannot begin to count the times you have put into my hands articles that contained just what I needed when I needed it most.” That is what one sister wrote in a letter to thank the brothers who work at our world headquarters. Have you ever felt this way? Many of us have. Should that surprise us? Not really.

² The fact that we receive spiritual food just when we need it proves that Jesus, the Head of the congregation, is keeping his promise to feed us. Whom is Jesus using to feed us? When Jesus told his disciples what the sign of his presence would be, he said that he would use “the faithful and discreet slave” to give “food at the proper time” to his “domestics.”a (See endnote.) (Read Matthew 24:45-47.) In this time of the end, Jesus is feeding his true followers through that faithful slave. It is extremely important that we know who the faithful slave is. Our friendship with God depends on receiving spiritual food through this faithful slave.​—Matthew 4:4; John 17:3.

3. What have our publications said about the illustration of the faithful slave?

³ What does Jesus’ illustration about the faithful slave mean? In the past, our publications have said the following: At Pentecost of the year 33, Jesus appointed the faithful slave to care for his domestics. Since then, the slave is all anointed Christians as a group who live on earth at any one time. The domestics are these anointed ones as individuals. In 1919, Jesus appointed the faithful slave “over all his belongings,” everything on earth that is used to support the Kingdom preaching work. But after carefully studying this subject, praying about it, and meditating on it, we realized that our understanding of Jesus’ words about the faithful and discreet slave needs to be changed. (Proverbs 4:18) Let us discuss the illustration and how it affects us, whether we have the hope of living in heaven or on earth.

WHEN IS THE ILLUSTRATION FULFILLED?

4-6. Why is it clear that Jesus’ illustration of the faithful slave began to be fulfilled only after 1914?

⁴ Other verses in Matthew chapter 24 show that the illustration of the faithful and discreet slave began to be fulfilled, not at Pentecost of the year 33, but in this time of the end. Let us see how the Scriptures help us to understand this.

⁵ The illustration of the faithful slave is part of Jesus’ prophecy about the sign of his presence and of the last days. (Matthew 24:3) The first part of the prophecy, recorded at Matthew 24:4-22, has two fulfillments. The first fulfillment was in the years from 33 through 70. The second and larger fulfillment is in our time. Does this mean that Jesus’ words about the faithful slave would also have two fulfillments? No.

⁶ Starting with the words at Matthew 24:29, Jesus spoke mainly about things that would happen in our time. (Read Matthew 24:30, 42, 44.) While speaking about what will happen during the great tribulation, he said that people “will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then, speaking to those living during the last days, he said: “You do not know on what day your Lord is coming” and, “At an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.”b (See endnote.) Right after Jesus spoke about what would happen in the last days, he gave the illustration of the faithful slave. So it is clear that Jesus’ words about that faithful slave began to be fulfilled only after the last days began in 1914. This understanding makes sense. Why is that?

7. What became an important question when the time of the harvest began, and why?

⁷ Think, for a moment, about the question: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?” In the first century, there was no reason to ask this question. As we saw in the previous article, the apostles could perform miracles and even pass on gifts of the spirit to others. This proved that the apostles were the ones whom God was using. (Acts 5:12) So no one needed to ask who really was appointed by Christ to take the lead. But in 1914, the situation was very different. The time of the harvest began in that year. The time had finally come to separate the weeds from the wheat. (Matthew 13:36-43) When the time of the harvest began, there were many false Christians who claimed to be Jesus’ true followers. So the important question was this: How could the wheat, or anointed Christians, be recognized? The illustration of the faithful slave gave the answer. Christ’s anointed followers would be the ones getting the spiritual food they needed.

WHO IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?

8. Why does it make sense that the faithful slave be made up of anointed Christians?

⁸ The faithful slave must be made up of anointed Christians on earth. They are called “a royal priesthood” and have been appointed to preach to others about the wonderful things God has done. (1 Peter 2:9) It makes sense that members of that “royal priesthood” would be the ones teaching the truth to their brothers.​—Malachi 2:7; Revelation 12:17.

9. Do all anointed Christians make up the faithful slave? Explain.

⁹ Do all anointed ones on earth make up the faithful slave? No. Not all anointed ones give out spiritual food to their brothers around the world. It is true that some of the anointed are ministerial servants or elders in the congregation. They teach from house to house and in their congregation, and they loyally support the direction from headquarters. But they do not actually give out spiritual food to their brothers around the world. There are also humble sisters among the anointed, who would never try to become teachers in the congregation.​—1 Corinthians 11:3; 14:34.

10. Who is the faithful and discreet slave?

¹⁰ Who, then, is the faithful and discreet slave? That slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who directly prepare and give out spiritual food during Christ’s presence. This is similar to how Jesus fed many through the hands of a few in the first century. Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served at headquarters. In recent years, that slave has been the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Note, though, that in his illustration, Jesus said that there would be one “slave.” So the members of the Governing Body make their decisions as a group.

WHO ARE THE DOMESTICS?

11, 12. (a) What two appointments does the faithful and discreet slave receive? (b) When did Jesus appoint the faithful slave over his domestics? Whom did he choose?

¹¹ Note that in Jesus’ illustration, the faithful and discreet slave receives two different appointments. The first is over the domestics. The second is over all the master’s belongings. Since the illustration is fulfilled only in this time of the end, both appointments would have to come after 1914, when Jesus’ presence as King began.

¹² When did Jesus appoint the faithful slave over his domestics? To answer that, let us talk more about what happened at the beginning of the time of the harvest in 1914. As we learned earlier, at that time many groups claimed to be Christian. From which group would Jesus choose and appoint the faithful slave? That question was answered after he and his Father came and inspected the temple from 1914 to the early part of 1919.c (See endnote.) (Malachi 3:1) They were pleased with a small group of loyal Bible Students who showed that they truly loved Jehovah and his Word. Of course, they needed some cleansing. But they humbly accepted correction during a period of testing and refining. (Malachi 3:2-4) Those faithful Bible Students were true Christians, the wheat in Jesus’ illustration. In 1919, Jesus selected qualified anointed brothers from among them to be the faithful and discreet slave and appointed them over his domestics.

13. Who are included in the domestics, and why?

¹³ Who, then, are the domestics? They are simply those who receive spiritual food. Early in the last days, the domestics were all anointed ones. Later, a great crowd of other sheep also became part of the domestics. Most of Christ’s “one flock” is now made up of the other sheep. (John 10:16) Both groups benefit from the same spiritual food that is given at the right time through the faithful slave. Are the members of the Governing Body who today make up the faithful and discreet slave also domestics? Those brothers also need to receive spiritual food. So they humbly recognize that as individuals they are domestics just like all other true Christians.

14. (a) What responsibility has the faithful slave been given? What does this responsibility include? (b) What warning did Jesus give to the faithful and discreet slave? (See the box “If Ever That Evil Slave . . .”)

¹⁴ Jesus gave the faithful and discreet slave an extremely important responsibility. In Bible times, a trusted slave, or steward, managed everything that belonged to his master. (Luke 12:42) In a similar way, the faithful and discreet slave has been given the responsibility to manage everything on earth that belongs to Christ. That responsibility includes caring for money, property, the preaching work, and assembly and convention programs. It also includes making Bible literature that we use in the field ministry, for personal study, and for congregation meetings. The domestics depend on all the spiritual food that is given out through the faithful slave.

WHEN IS THE SLAVE APPOINTED OVER ALL THE MASTER’S BELONGINGS?

15, 16. When does Jesus appoint the faithful slave over all his belongings?

¹⁵ When does Jesus make the second appointment, that is, the appointment “over all his belongings”? Jesus said: “Happy is that slave if his master on arriving [literally, “having come,” footnote] finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:46, 47) Note that Jesus makes the second appointment after he arrives and finds that the slave has been “doing so,” that is, faithfully giving out spiritual food. So there would be a period of time between the two appointments. To understand how and when Jesus appoints the slave over all his belongings, we need to know two things: when he arrives and what his belongings include.

¹⁶ When does Jesus arrive? The answer is found in earlier verses of Matthew chapter 24. Remember that in these verses, Jesus’ “coming” refers to when he comes to judge and destroy the wicked at the end of this system of things.d (See endnote.) (Matthew 24:30, 42, 44) So Jesus’ “arriving,” or “coming,” in the illustration of the faithful slave happens during the great tribulation.

17. What do Jesus’ belongings include?

¹⁷ What do “all” of Jesus’ belongings include? Jesus’ belongings are not only on earth. His belongings include things in heaven. Jesus once said: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.” (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23) His belongings now include the Messianic Kingdom. This Kingdom has belonged to him since 1914, and he will share it with his anointed followers.​—Revelation 11:15.

18. Why will Jesus be happy to appoint the faithful slave over all his belongings?

¹⁸ So, what can we conclude? When Jesus comes to destroy the wicked during the great tribulation, he will find that the faithful slave has been loyally giving out spiritual food at the right time to the domestics. Jesus will then be happy to appoint that slave over all his belongings. Those who make up the faithful slave will get this appointment when they receive their reward in heaven and become rulers along with Christ.

19. Does the faithful slave receive a greater reward in heaven than the rest of the anointed? Explain.

¹⁹ Does the faithful slave receive a greater reward in heaven than the rest of the anointed? No. A reward can be promised to a small group at a certain time and then be shared by others later. For example, consider what Jesus said to his 11 faithful apostles the night before he died. (Read Luke 22:28-30.) Jesus promised that small group of men that they would receive a wonderful reward for their faithfulness. They would be kings with him in heaven. But years later, something he said showed that all of the 144,000 will be kings with him in heaven. (Revelation 1:1; 3:21) In a similar way, as Matthew 24:47 says, he promised that a small group of men, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave, will be appointed over all his belongings. Really, though, all of the 144,000 will share authority over Christ’s belongings.​—Revelation 20:4, 6.

20. Why did Jesus appoint the faithful slave? What do we always want to do?

²⁰ Just as Jesus fed many through the hands of a few in the first century, he is feeding many through the hands of the faithful and discreet slave today. Jesus appointed that faithful slave to make sure that his true followers, whether of the anointed or of the other sheep, would continue to receive spiritual food at the right time during the last days. So let us always show our gratitude by loyally supporting the anointed brothers who make up that faithful and discreet slave.​—Hebrews 13:7, 17.

On Wednesday morning, September 5, 2012, an announcement was made to the United States and Canada Bethel families. Starting September 1, 2012, Mark Sanderson began serving as a member of the Governing Body.

Brother Sanderson was raised in San Diego, California, U.S.A., by his Christian parents and was baptized on February 9, 1975. He began to serve as a pioneer in Saskatchewan, Canada, on September 1, 1983. In December 1990, he graduated from the seventh class of the Ministerial Training School (now called the Bible School for Single Brothers) in the United States. Brother Sanderson was appointed to serve as a special pioneer on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, in April 1991. After serving as a substitute circuit overseer, he was invited to become a member of the Canada Bethel family in February 1997. In November 2000, he was transferred to the United States branch, where he worked in Hospital Information Services and later in the Service Department.

In September 2008, Brother Sanderson attended the School for Branch Committee Members and was then appointed as a member of the Philippines Branch Committee. In September 2010, he was invited to return to the United States, where he served as a helper to the Service Committee of the Governing Body.

THAT happened in 1949. But my story begins many years before this. I was born in 1927 in north Drenthe, in the Netherlands. I was the fourth of seven children. My father, Hendrik, was a shoemaker and a gardener. Our house was on a dirt road in the country. Most of our neighbors were farmers, and I really enjoyed farm life. In 1947, I learned the truth from one of our neighbors. His name was Theunis Been. I did not like Theunis when I first met him. But after he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I noticed he was a friendlier person. I was interested in knowing why he had changed. So when he talked to me about God’s promise of a paradise earth, I listened to him. I accepted the truth quickly, and we became good friends.a​—See footnote.

I started preaching in May 1948 and was baptized one month later, on June 20 at a convention in Utrecht. I began pioneering on January 1, 1949 and was assigned to a small congregation in Borculo. I had to travel about 130 kilometers (80 miles) to get there, so I decided to ride my bicycle. I thought it would take me only six hours. But because of heavy rain and strong wind, it took 12 hours, even though I took the train part of the way! I arrived late in the evening at the home of a Witness family. This is where I lived while I pioneered in the area.

After the war, people owned very little. I had only one suit that was too big and one pair of pants that were too short. But Jehovah blessed me with many Bible studies even though preaching in Borculo was difficult. Later I was assigned to Amsterdam.

FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY

I moved from living in the country to living in Amsterdam, the largest city in the Netherlands. People showed a lot of interest in the good news. During the first month, I placed more literature than I had in the nine months I was in my first assignment. I soon had more than eight Bible studies. After I became the congregation servant (now called the coordinator of the body of elders), I was asked to give my first public talk. But I did not feel qualified for this assignment. So I was very happy when I was asked to move to another congregation just before I had to give the talk. At that time, I did not know that during my life I would give more than 5,000 talks!

In May 1950, I was assigned to Haarlem. Then I was invited to begin circuit work. I could hardly sleep for three days. I told Robert Winkler, one of the brothers working at the branch office, that I did not feel qualified. But he said: “Just fill out the papers. You’ll learn.” So after a month of training, I started in the circuit work. While visiting a congregation, I met a happy young pioneer sister named Janny Taatgen. She loved Jehovah very much and worked very hard in the ministry. But before I continue my story, my wife, Janny, will explain how she became a pioneer and how we served together after we got married.

SERVING TOGETHER AS A MARRIED COUPLE

Janny: My mother became a Witness in 1945 when I was 11 years old. She quickly learned that she needed to study the Bible with her three children. But my father was opposed, so she studied with us when he was not at home.

The first meeting I attended was a convention in The Hague in 1950, and one week later I went to my first meeting at the Kingdom Hall in Assen, Drenthe. My father was so angry with me that he made me move out of the house. But before I left, my mother said, “You know where you can live.” I knew she meant that I could go live with the brothers and sisters in the congregation. At first, I moved in with a family who lived close to my home. But my father was still causing me problems, so I moved to a congregation 95 kilometers (60 miles) away. However, my father then told me I could move back home. Why? He had got in trouble with the authorities for making me move out of the house before I was an adult. Although he never accepted the truth, he eventually allowed me to attend all the meetings and to go in the ministry.

Not long after I returned home, my mother became very sick and I had to do all the cooking and cleaning. Although I had a lot of work, I continued to make progress in the truth. I was baptized in 1951 at the age of 17. One year later, when my mother was feeling better, I served as a vacation (auxiliary) pioneer for two months with three other sisters. We lived on a houseboat while we preached in the area. I later became a regular pioneer. One year later, a young circuit overseer visited our congregation. It was Markus. We wanted to serve Jehovah better and thought we could do this as a couple. So we got married in May 1955.​—Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Markus: After our wedding, we were assigned as pioneers to the town of Veendam. We lived in a tiny room. Every night, we had to move our table and chairs so that we could pull our wall bed down. But even though our home was small, Janny made it comfortable.

After being in Veendam for six months, we were invited to the traveling work in Flanders, which is in the north of Belgium. The people there speak the same language as in the Netherlands, but they speak it with a different accent. So when we first arrived, it took some time to understand the people. In 1955, there were only about 4,000 publishers in the country. Now there are over 24,000 publishers!

Janny: To be in the traveling work, a person has to be willing to serve God and help others. We rode our bicycles to visit each congregation and stayed in the homes of the brothers and sisters. Because we did not have our own place to live, we stayed until Monday and traveled to the next congregation on Tuesday morning. There were difficulties, but we always thought of our service as a blessing from Jehovah.

Markus: Even though we did not know any of the brothers and sisters when we first moved to Belgium, they were very kind and hospitable. (Hebrews 13:2, footnote) We visited all the congregations that spoke Dutch, and we received many blessings. We were able to get to know almost all the brothers and sisters, and they became very precious to us. We have seen hundreds of children grow up and make progress in the truth. They dedicated themselves to Jehovah and put his service first in their lives. And to see many of them serve Jehovah in full-time service has made us very happy. (3 John 4) This encouragement has made it easy for us to continue in our service to Jehovah with all our heart.​—Romans 1:12.

A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND A REAL BLESSING

Markus: Ever since we got married, we wanted to go to Gilead. We studied English every day for at least an hour. But it was not easy to learn the language just from books. So we went to England for vacation, and we practiced English while we preached. In 1963, we received two letters from the world headquarters in Brooklyn. One letter was for me, and one was for Janny. My letter was an invitation to attend Gilead. This ten-month course would teach mainly the brothers how to organize the preaching work. The class had 100 students, and 82 were brothers.

Janny: In the letter that I received, I was asked to pray about whether I would be willing to stay in Belgium while Markus was at Gilead. I must admit that I was disappointed about this at first. I felt that all my hard work was not being blessed. But then I remembered that the purpose of Gilead was to help students to do the preaching work worldwide. So I agreed to stay in Belgium and special pioneer in Ghent with two other sisters, Anna and Maria Colpaert.

Markus: Before school started, I was invited to go to Brooklyn for five months to improve my English. While I was there, I worked in the Shipping and Service departments. I helped prepare literature shipments to Asia, Europe, and South America. This helped me to understand how large the international brotherhood was and to value it more. One person who had a big effect on me was Brother A. H. Macmillan. He had been a traveling overseer in the days of Brother Russell. Although Brother Macmillan was old and could not hear very well, he attended all the congregation meetings. This taught me that we should always value association with our Christian brothers and sisters.​—Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Janny: We wrote each other letters every week. Markus and I missed each other very much! But he enjoyed everything he was learning at Gilead, and I was really enjoying my ministry. By the time Markus came home from the United States, I had 17 Bible studies. Although it was difficult to be separated for 15 months, we felt that Jehovah blessed us for doing what he wanted us to do. On the day Markus came back, the plane was delayed for many hours. When he finally arrived, we cried in each other’s arms. And we have always been together since that day!

THANKFUL FOR EVERY ASSIGNMENT

Markus: After I came back from Gilead in December 1964, we were assigned to Bethel. But this soon changed. Three months later, we were assigned to the district work in Flanders. When Aalzen and Els Wiegersma were sent as missionaries to Belgium, they were assigned to the district work and we returned to serve at Bethel. I worked in the Service Department. From 1968 to 1980, our assignment changed many times. We either served at Bethel or in the traveling work. Then from 1980 until 2005, I served again as a district overseer.

Although we had many changes, we never forgot our promise to Jehovah that we would serve him with all our heart. We really enjoyed every assignment that we received, and we were sure that the purpose of any change in our assignment was to help the preaching work.

Janny: I was very excited to go with Markus to Brooklyn in 1977 and to Patterson in 1997 when he received more training as a Branch Committee member.

JEHOVAH KNOWS OUR NEEDS

Markus: In 1982, Janny had surgery and it went well. Three years later, the congregation in Louvain offered to let us live in their Kingdom Hall apartment. For the first time in 30 years, we had our very own place to live. When we would leave to visit a congregation, I had to go up and down many steps to take our luggage down. So we were very thankful that in 2002, we were given an apartment on the ground floor. We were assigned as special pioneers in Lokeren when I was 78 years old. We are happy that we still serve as special pioneers and that we can still go out in the ministry every day.

Janny: Altogether we have been in the full-time ministry for a total of 120 years! We have seen that if we are faithful to Jehovah, he will never leave us and he will take good care of us.​—Deuteronomy 2:7; Hebrews 13:5.

Markus: When we were young, we dedicated ourselves to Jehovah. We did not want great things for ourselves. We have always accepted any assignment given to us. We strongly believe that it is not important where we serve or in what position we serve but whom we serve, our God Jehovah.

How many times have you said that to yourself or to others when you opened a new study edition of The Watchtower? It takes much time and work to prepare such beautiful pictures and photographs, and they are in the magazines for a reason. They are there to touch our hearts and to help us think about the lesson. They can especially help us when we prepare for and comment at the Watchtower Study.

For example, each time you prepare an article, think about the opening picture, the one next to the title. What does it show? Why was it chosen? What does it have to do with the title of the article or with the theme scripture? Then think of how the other pictures in the article help you to understand the subject being discussed and how they can help you in your own life.

The Watchtower Study conductor should give the brothers and sisters time to comment on each picture. They can explain how the picture applies to the lesson and how they feel about it. At times, the caption next to the picture includes a paragraph number. This helps the conductor to know when to discuss the picture. When there is no paragraph number in the caption, the conductor can decide when the picture should be discussed. In this way, all will benefit from the pictures that help us to visualize the lessons from God’s Word.

One brother said that the pictures in an article are like the icing on the cake. They make a wonderfully written article even better.