1, 2. (a) Who is “the King of eternity,” and why can we say that? (See opening picture.) (b) Why do we want Jehovah to rule over us?

KING SOBHUZA II of Swaziland ruled for almost 61 years. Even though it is impressive that a man ruled for so long, there is a king who does not live for only a short time, as humans do. The Bible says that he is “the King of eternity.” (1 Timothy 1:17) One of the psalms gives us the name of this Sovereign. It says: “Jehovah is King forever and ever.”​—Psalm 10:16.

² The length of time that God has been King makes his rule different from that of any human. But it is the way Jehovah rules that draws us to him. A king who ruled over Israel for 40 years praised God by saying: “Jehovah is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love. Jehovah has firmly established his throne in the heavens; and his kingship rules over everything.” (Psalm 103:8, 19) Jehovah is more than our King. He is also our loving heavenly Father. But in what way has Jehovah been a Father? How has Jehovah shown that he is still King and that he has been in control since the rebellion in Eden? The answers to these questions will draw us closer to Jehovah and strengthen our confidence in him.

THE KING OF ETERNITY CREATES A UNIVERSAL FAMILY

3. Who was the first member of Jehovah’s universal family? Who were also created as God’s “sons”?

³ What pleasure Jehovah must have had when he created his firstborn Son! God did not treat him like an unimportant citizen. Rather, he loved him as a Son and invited him to share in the joyful work of creating millions of perfect angels. (Colossians 1:15-17) The Bible says that these angels serve Jehovah with joy as “ministers who do his will.” Jehovah honors them by calling them his “sons.” They are part of his universal family.​—Psalm 103:20-22; Job 38:7.

4. How did humans become part of Jehovah’s universal family?

⁴ After creating the physical heavens and the earth, Jehovah made his universal family larger. How? After he prepared the earth as a beautiful home, he created the first man, Adam, in His own image. (Genesis 1:26-28) Because Jehovah created Adam, He expected him to be obedient. As a Father, Jehovah instructed Adam with love and kindness. He did not give Adam rules that unnecessarily limited his free will.​—Read Genesis 2:15-17.

5. How would the earth be filled with humans?

⁵ Unlike many human kings, Jehovah treats his servants as family. He trusts them so much that he is pleased to give them many responsibilities and the authority to do their work. For example, he assigned Adam the enjoyable and challenging job of giving the animals names. (Genesis 1:26; 2:19, 20) God did not personally create every human who would live on the earth. Rather, he chose to create one perfect woman, Eve, as a wife for Adam. (Genesis 2:21, 22) Then he gave them the opportunity to fill the earth with their children. Under ideal conditions, Adam and Eve would, over time, make the whole earth a paradise. Then all humans and angels as members of Jehovah’s universal family could worship him forever. Jehovah truly showed his fatherly love by giving Adam and Eve such a wonderful hope for the future!

REBELLIOUS SONS REJECT GOD AS THEIR KING

6. (a) How did rebellion in God’s family begin? (b) How do we know that Jehovah is still in control?

⁶ Sadly, Adam and Eve were not willing to accept Jehovah as their Ruler. Instead, they chose to follow Satan, an angel who had rebelled against God. (Genesis 3:1-6) The result was pain, suffering, and death for themselves and their children. (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12) So God had no obedient servants left on earth. But did this mean that he had lost control and that he had given up his sovereignty over the earth? Absolutely not! Jehovah expelled Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, and to prevent them from coming back, he assigned cherubs to guard the entrance. (Genesis 3:23, 24) At the same time, he showed his fatherly love. He promised that he would still have a family of faithful angels and humans and that one of Adam’s descendants would destroy Satan and remove the damage done by Adam’s sin.​—Read Genesis 3:15.

7, 8. (a) How bad had the world become by the time of Noah? (b) What did Jehovah do to cleanse the earth and to protect the human family?

⁷ In the hundreds of years that followed, some men such as Abel and Enoch chose to be loyal to Jehovah. However, most humans did not accept Jehovah as their Father and King. By the time of Noah, the earth had become “filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11) Did this mean that Jehovah was no longer in control of the earth? What does the Bible say?

⁸ The Bible says that Jehovah gave Noah detailed instructions to build a huge ark that would save him and his family. God also showed his love for humans when he appointed Noah to be “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5) Noah likely invited people to repent and warned them of the coming destruction, but no one listened. For many years, Noah and his family lived in a violent and very immoral world. Jehovah, as a loving Father, protected and guided those eight loyal people. When Jehovah brought the Flood, he removed the rebellious humans and wicked angels and showed that he was definitely in control.​—Genesis 7:17-24.

JEHOVAH’S RULE AFTER THE FLOOD

9. What opportunity did Jehovah give mankind after the Flood?

⁹ After Noah and his family came out of the ark, they must have been very grateful to Jehovah for his care and protection. Immediately, Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices to worship Jehovah. God blessed Noah’s family and told them to “be fruitful and become many and fill the earth.” (Genesis 8:20–9:1) Again, mankind had an opportunity to unite in worship to Jehovah and to fill the earth.

10. (a) After the Flood, where and how did people start rebelling against Jehovah? (b) What did Jehovah do to make sure that his will was done?

¹⁰ However, people were still imperfect after the Flood. They still had to live with the invisible influence of Satan and the demons. Soon, people were again rebelling against Jehovah’s loving rule. One person who opposed Jehovah was Noah’s great-grandson Nimrod. Nimrod was “a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah.” He built large cities, such as Babel, and made himself king “in the land of Shinar.” (Genesis 10:8-12) What would Jehovah do about this rebel king? How would Jehovah react to Nimrod’s efforts to oppose God’s will? God confused the people’s language so that Nimrod’s followers would scatter all over the world. Wherever they went they brought their false religion and their way of human rule with them.​—Genesis 11:1-9.

11. How did Jehovah show that he was loyal to his friend Abraham?

¹¹ Many worshipped false gods after the Flood, but there were still some faithful men who worshipped Jehovah. One of them was Abraham. He had a comfortable home in the city of Ur, yet he obeyed Jehovah, left the city, and lived in tents for many years. (Genesis 11:31; Hebrews 11:8, 9) Abraham did not trust in the protection that a human king or a city wall might give him. Instead, it was Jehovah who protected Abraham and his family. The psalmist wrote about Jehovah’s fatherly protection: “[God] did not allow any man to oppress them, but on their account he reproved kings.” (Psalm 105:13, 14) Because he was loyal to his friend, Jehovah promised Abraham: “Kings will come from you.”​—Genesis 17:6; James 2:23.

12. How did Jehovah show his sovereignty over Egypt, and how did this help his people?

¹² God promised Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob that he would bless them and that their descendants would become kings. (Genesis 26:3-5; 35:11) However, before they became kings, Jacob’s descendants first became slaves in Egypt. Did this mean that Jehovah would not fulfill his promise or that he had given up his sovereignty over the earth? No! At his chosen time, Jehovah proved his power and showed that he had much more authority than stubborn Pharaoh. The Israelites put their faith in Jehovah, and he freed them in a wonderful way by leading them through the Red Sea. Clearly, Jehovah was still the ruler of the universe, and as a Father who cares for his children, he used his great power to protect his people.​—Read Exodus 14:13, 14.

JEHOVAH BECOMES KING TO ISRAEL

13, 14. (a) What did the Israelites say in song about Jehovah’s rule? (b) What did God promise David?

¹³ Immediately after Jehovah freed them from Egypt, the Israelites sang the song of praise recorded in Exodus chapter 15. Verse 18 says: “Jehovah will rule as king forever and ever.” Jehovah had really become King over the new nation of Israel. (Deuteronomy 33:5) However, for the Israelites, it was not enough to have Jehovah as their invisible Ruler. About 400 years after leaving Egypt, they asked God to give them a human king, just as the pagan nations around them had. (1 Samuel 8:5) Even so, during the reign of David, it became very clear that Jehovah was still King.

¹⁴ David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. On this joyful day, the Levites sang a song of praise to Jehovah and made this important statement, recorded at 1 Chronicles 16:31: “Declare among the nations: ‘Jehovah has become King!’” But since Jehovah is the King of eternity, how is it that he became King at that time? Jehovah became King when he selected David to represent him. Understanding how Jehovah becomes King is very important. Before David died, Jehovah promised him that his rule would continue forever: “I will raise up your offspring after you, your own son, and I will firmly establish his kingdom.” (2 Samuel 7:12, 13) This promise came true when the “offspring,” or son, of David appeared more than 1,000 years later. Who was he, and when did he become King?

JEHOVAH APPOINTS A NEW KING

15, 16. When was Jesus anointed as future King? While on earth, what did Jesus do to prepare his Kingdom?

¹⁵ In the year 29, John the Baptizer began preaching that “the Kingdom of the heavens [had] drawn near.” (Matthew 3:2) When Jesus was baptized by John, Jehovah anointed Jesus as the Messiah and future King of God’s Kingdom. Jehovah showed his fatherly love for Jesus by saying: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”​—Matthew 3:17.

¹⁶ During his ministry, Jesus gave glory to his Father. (John 17:4) He did this by preaching about the Kingdom of God. (Luke 4:43) He even taught his followers to pray for that Kingdom to come. (Matthew 6:10) As the future King, Jesus could say to his opposers: “The Kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21) Later, on the evening before his death, Jesus made a covenant “for a kingdom” with his followers. This meant that some of his faithful disciples would become kings with Jesus in God’s Kingdom.​—Read Luke 22:28-30.

17. In what way did Jesus begin to rule in the year 33, but for what would he have to wait?

¹⁷ When would Jesus begin to rule as King of God’s Kingdom? He could not do so immediately. The very next afternoon, Jesus was executed and his followers fled. (John 16:32) However, just as in the past, Jehovah was still in control. On the third day, he resurrected his Son, and on the day of Pentecost in the year 33, Jesus began to rule over the Christian congregation. (Colossians 1:13) But Jesus, the promised son of David, would have to wait to have full power over the earth. So Jehovah told his Son: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”​—Psalm 110:1.

WORSHIP THE KING OF ETERNITY

18, 19. What are we moved to do? What will we learn in the next article?

¹⁸ For thousands of years, angels and humans have rebelled against Jehovah’s rule. But Jehovah has always been in control and has never given up his sovereignty. As a loving Father, he has protected and cared for such loyal servants as Noah, Abraham, and David. We are glad to obey such a King, and we want to draw close to him.

¹⁹ But we may ask: How has Jehovah become King in our day? How can we be loyal servants of Jehovah and become perfect sons in his universal family? What does it mean when we pray for God’s Kingdom to come? These questions will be answered in the next article.

1, 2. What will God’s Kingdom do, and how do we know that the Kingdom will come?

IN THE spring of the year 31 on a mountain close to the town of Capernaum, Jesus Christ taught his followers to pray: “Let your Kingdom come.” (Matthew 6:10) Today, many doubt if the Kingdom will ever come. However, we are confident that Jehovah will answer our prayers for his Kingdom to come.

² Jehovah will use the Kingdom to unite his family in heaven and on earth. Jehovah’s purpose will be fulfilled. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) The exciting events of the last 100 years prove that Jehovah is already King and that he is doing wonderful things for the millions of his servants. (Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 15:3) However, Jehovah’s becoming King is different from the coming of God’s Kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray for. How are these two events different, and how do they affect us?

JEHOVAH’S APPOINTED KING TAKES ACTION

3. (a) When was Jesus enthroned as King, and where? (b) How would you prove that Jesus began ruling in 1914? (See footnote.)

³ About 20 years before 1900, God’s servants began to understand a prophecy that was written by Daniel over 2,500 years ago: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44) For more than 20 years, the Bible Students preached that 1914 would be a very important year. Many people at that time were very optimistic about the future. One writer says: “The world of 1914 was full of hope and promise.” However, later that year, World War I began, and Bible prophecy came true. The food shortages, earthquakes, diseases, and other Bible prophecies that were fulfilled proved that Jesus Christ began ruling in heaven as King of God’s Kingdom in 1914.a (See footnote.) By enthroning his Son as the Messianic King, Jehovah had become King in a new way.

4. What was the first thing that Jesus did when he became King? What did he do next?

⁴ The first thing that God’s new King did was to fight a war against his Father’s main enemy, Satan. Jesus and his angels threw the Devil and all his demons out of heaven. This brought great joy in heaven but brought more suffering than ever before on earth. (Read Revelation 12:7-9, 12.) After that, the King began to refine, teach, and organize his servants on earth to do God’s will. Let us see how their obedience to Jesus’ direction sets a good example for us today.

THE MESSIANIC KING REFINES HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS

5. What cleansing happened between 1914 and the beginning of 1919?

⁵ After Jesus cleansed the heavens of the bad influence of Satan and his demons, Jehovah had Jesus inspect and refine his followers here on earth. The prophet Malachi described this as a cleansing. (Malachi 3:1-3) History shows that this cleansing happened between 1914 and the beginning of 1919.b (See footnote.) If we want to be a part of Jehovah’s universal family, we must be clean, or holy. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) We must keep our worship clean from the contamination of false religion or politics.

6. How is spiritual food provided, and why is this food so important?

⁶ Jesus then used his authority as King to appoint a “faithful and discreet slave.” This slave would regularly provide good spiritual food to all those who are part of the “one flock” under Jesus’ care. (Matthew 24:45-47; John 10:16) Since 1919, a small group of anointed brothers have loyally handled the important responsibility of feeding the “domestics.” The faithful and discreet slave provides us with an abundance of spiritual food so that we can grow in our faith. It makes us even more determined to keep our worship, our actions, and our thinking, as well as our bodies, clean according to God’s standards. This spiritual food also educates us and prepares us to work hard in the most important assignment on earth, the preaching work. Do you regularly partake of this spiritual food?

THE KING EDUCATES HIS FOLLOWERS TO PREACH WORLDWIDE

7. What important work did Jesus start when he was on the earth, and until when would it continue?

⁷ When Jesus began his ministry on earth, he said: “I must also declare the good news of the Kingdom of God to other cities, because for this I was sent.” (Luke 4:43) For three and a half years, this ministry was the most important work in Jesus’ life. He taught his disciples: “As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” (Matthew 10:7) After his resurrection, Jesus foretold that his followers would take this message “to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) He promised them that he would personally support this vital work until the end of this system.​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

8. How did the King motivate his followers on earth to preach?

⁸ By 1919, the “good news of the Kingdom” included a new meaning. (Matthew 24:14) The King was ruling in heaven, and he had gathered a small group of cleansed followers on earth. This group eagerly obeyed Jesus’ clear command to preach in all the earth the good news that God’s Kingdom was ruling in heaven! (Acts 10:42) For example, in September 1922, close to 20,000 supporters of the Kingdom were at the international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. Imagine how excited they must have been when Brother Rutherford gave the talk “The Kingdom” and declared: “Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.” The next day, two thousand of them went out in the field service, and some even traveled as far away as 72 kilometers (45 miles) from the convention site to preach. One brother said: “Never will I forget the call to advertise the Kingdom and the zeal of the assembled throng!” Many others felt the same way.

9, 10. (a) What schools train us for the ministry? (b) How have you personally benefited from this training?

⁹ By 1922, there were more than 17,000 publishers preaching in 58 lands around the world. However, they needed training. In the first century, the chosen King gave his disciples clear instructions about what, where, and how to preach. (Matthew 10:5-7; Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11) In a similar way today, Jesus makes sure that all who preach get instructions and have the tools they need to be good teachers. (2 Timothy 3:17) Jesus is using the Christian congregation to train his followers for the ministry. One way he trains them is by using the Theocratic Ministry School in the more than 111,000 congregations worldwide. This school is instructing more than seven million publishers how to preach and teach in a way that will help “people of all sorts.”​—Read 1 Corinthians 9:20-23.

¹⁰ There are also additional Bible schools to train congregation elders, pioneers, single brothers, Christian couples, Branch Committee members and their wives, traveling overseers and their wives, and missionaries.c (See footnote.) The students of one class of the Bible School for Christian Couples said with appreciation: “The specialized training we received has deepened our love for Jehovah and has better equipped us to help others.”

11. How has it been possible for Jesus’ followers to continue preaching despite Satan’s attacks?

¹¹ The enemy Satan sees all these great efforts to preach and teach the good news. He wants to stop the preaching work and will use any way he can to attack the Kingdom message and those who preach it. But Satan’s attacks will not succeed. Jehovah has put his Son “far above every government and authority and power and lordship.” (Ephesians 1:20-22) As King, Jesus uses his authority to protect and guide his disciples to make sure that his Father’s will is done.d (See footnote.) The good news continues to be preached, and millions of honest people are being taught to worship Jehovah. It is truly an honor for us to be a part of this wonderful work!

THE KING ORGANIZES HIS FOLLOWERS TO DO MORE

12. Since 1914, how have God’s servants been better organized?

¹² Ever since Jesus began ruling in 1914, he has refined the way God’s servants are organized to do his Father’s will. (Read Isaiah 60:17.) In 1919, a service director was appointed in each congregation to take the lead in the preaching work. In 1927, the congregations began preaching regularly on Sundays. In 1931, Jehovah’s servants began using the name Jehovah’s Witnesses, which motivated them to do even more in the Kingdom work. (Isaiah 43:10-12) Starting in 1938, those taking the lead in the congregation were no longer elected by vote. Instead, they were appointed. In 1972, the responsibility of overseeing the congregation was given to a group of elders instead of to only one brother. All who qualified to be elders and ministerial servants were encouraged to be willing to help shepherd the congregation. (1 Peter 5:2) In 1976, the Governing Body was organized into six committees to supervise the Kingdom work worldwide. Since then, Jesus has continued to organize his followers progressively to do things God’s way.

13. How have you been affected by what the Messianic King has accomplished during his rule?

¹³ Think of how much the Messianic King has accomplished during the first 100 years of his rule. He has cleansed a group of people to represent Jehovah. He has directed the preaching of the good news in 239 lands and has taught millions to worship Jehovah. He has united more than seven million loyal followers who are willing to give of themselves to do his Father’s will. (Psalm 110:3) Jehovah has used the Messianic Kingdom to do truly amazing things. But even more exciting events will happen in the future!

FUTURE BLESSINGS OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM

14. (a) What are we asking God to do when we pray: “Let your Kingdom come”? (b) What is our yeartext for 2014, and why is it appropriate?

¹⁴ Although Jehovah crowned his Son, Jesus Christ, as the Messianic King in 1914, this was not the complete answer to our prayer “let your Kingdom come.” (Matthew 6:10) The Bible foretold that Jesus would “go subduing in the midst of” his enemies. (Psalm 110:2) Human governments under Satan’s control still oppose the Kingdom. When we pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are asking God that the Messianic King and the other 144,000 kings in heaven remove human rule and those on earth who oppose the Kingdom. When this happens, the prophecy at Daniel 2:44 will be fulfilled. There it says that God’s Kingdom “will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms.” It will destroy governments that are enemies of the Kingdom. (Revelation 6:1, 2; 13:1-18; 19:11-21) Since this will happen very soon, it is appropriate that our yeartext for 2014 is Matthew 6:10: “Let your Kingdom come.” It has now been 100 years since Jesus started to rule in heaven!

15, 16. (a) What exciting events will happen during the thousand years of Christ’s rule? (b) What will be the last thing Jesus does as Messianic King? What will that mean for Jehovah’s purpose?

¹⁵ After Jesus destroys God’s enemies, he will throw Satan and his demons into an abyss for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-3) Without that evil influence, the Kingdom will move quickly to help people benefit from Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, and it will completely erase the effects of Adam’s sin. The King will resurrect millions of people and will organize a program of worldwide education to teach them about Jehovah. (Revelation 20:12, 13) The whole earth will become a paradise just like the garden of Eden, and all faithful humans will become perfect.

¹⁶ After the thousand years of Christ’s rule, Jehovah’s purpose for the earth will be fulfilled. Then Jesus will give the Kingdom back to his Father. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.) We will no longer need anyone to represent us before Jehovah. All of God’s sons in heaven and his children on earth will be united with their heavenly Father as part of his universal family.

17. What are you determined to do for the Kingdom?

¹⁷ The exciting events during these 100 years of Kingdom rule show us that Jehovah is in control and that his purpose for the earth will come true. Let us continue to serve him loyally and advertise the King and his Kingdom. We are confident that Jehovah will soon answer our prayer: “Let your Kingdom come”!

1. What wonderful experiences are many young people enjoying?

WE LIVE in exciting times. As never before in history, millions from all nations are choosing to worship Jehovah. (Revelation 7:9, 10) Many young people are having thrilling experiences inviting others to “take life’s water free.” (Revelation 22:17) These young ones help people to study the Bible and to improve their lives. Some zealously accept the challenge of learning a new language and share the good news in foreign-language territories. (Psalm 110:3; Isaiah 52:7) What must you do to have a part in this satisfying work?

2. How does Timothy’s example show that Jehovah wants to give young people responsibilities? (See opening picture.)

² You can make decisions now that will later open the door to further opportunities for serving Jehovah. For example, Timothy made good decisions while he was young, and by his late teens or early 20’s, he was already qualified to be a missionary. (Acts 16:1-3) It may have been only a few months later when Paul asked Timothy to go to the new congregation in Thessalonica where the brothers were violently persecuted. Paul was forced to leave there, but he trusted that Timothy would strengthen the brothers. (Acts 17:5-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 2, 6) Imagine how excited Timothy must have been to be given that assignment!

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DECISION

3. What is the most important decision you will make in life, and when should you make it?

³ The time to make important decisions is now, while you are young. What is the most important decision you will make? Your decision to serve Jehovah. When is the best time to make that decision? Jehovah tells you to remember him while you are young. (Ecclesiastes 12:1) The only way to remember Jehovah is to serve him with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 10:12) It is the most important decision you will ever make. It will affect the rest of your life.​—Psalm 71:5.

4. What important decisions will affect how you serve God?

⁴ Of course, your choice to serve Jehovah is not the only choice that affects your future. You will also need to decide if you will get married, whom you will marry, and what job you will have. These are very important decisions, but you must first decide to serve Jehovah with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Why? Because all these decisions are closely connected. What you decide about marriage and work will affect how you serve God. And your desire to serve God will affect the choices you make about marriage and work. (Compare Luke 14:16-20.) So decide what will be most important in your life.​—Philippians 1:10.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG?

5, 6. How does Yuichiro’s experience show us that making right decisions can open the door to further opportunities for serving Jehovah? (See also the article “What I Chose as a Child” in this issue.)

⁵ Decide to serve Jehovah, find out what he wants you to do, and then decide how you will live your life. A Japanese brother writes: “When I was 14, I was out preaching with a congregation elder who noticed that I was not enjoying the ministry. Gently, he said to me: ‘Go home, Yuichiro. Sit down at your desk and think carefully about what Jehovah has done for you.’ I did as he said. In fact, I continued thinking and praying for some days. Gradually, my attitude changed. Soon, I found that I enjoyed serving Jehovah. I enjoyed reading about missionaries, and I began to think about serving God more fully.”

⁶ Yuichiro started making good decisions. Because of this, he later was able to serve Jehovah in another country. He says: “For example, I chose to take a course in English. When I left school, I chose part-time work teaching English so that I could pioneer. When I was 20, I started learning Mongolian and I had a chance to visit a Mongolian group of publishers. Two years later, in 2007, I visited Mongolia. When I went out preaching with some of the pioneers and saw that many people were seeking the truth, I wanted to move there and help. I returned to Japan to make my plans. I have been pioneering in Mongolia since April 2008. Life is not easy here. But people are responding to the good news, and I am able to help them to draw close to Jehovah. I feel that what I chose is the very best way of life.”

7. What decisions must you make for yourself, and what can we learn from Moses?

⁷ You must make your own decisions about how you will use your life in serving Jehovah. (Joshua 24:15) We cannot tell you if you should marry or whom you should marry. We cannot tell you what work you should do. Will you get a job requiring only a little training? Some of you live in poor villages, and others live in wealthy cities. You have different personalities, skills, training, interests, and faith. In ancient times, the young people who served Jehovah also had different backgrounds. For example, Moses, who grew up in Egypt, was wealthy, but the other young Hebrews were slaves. (Exodus 1:13, 14; Acts 7:21, 22) Like you, they lived in very exciting times. (Exodus 19:4-6) But each one had to decide what he would do with his life. Moses made the right decision to do Jehovah’s will.​—Read Hebrews 11:24-27.

8. Where can you find help to make good decisions?

⁸ Jehovah gives you advice to help you make right decisions. How does he do this? He teaches you Bible principles that you can use no matter what your circumstances are. (Psalm 32:8) If you are not sure how to apply these principles, you can ask your parents or the elders to help you. (Proverbs 1:8, 9) Let us look at three Bible principles that can help you make good decisions now.

THREE BIBLE PRINCIPLES TO HELP YOU

9. (a) How does Jehovah honor us by giving us the freedom to make decisions? (b) How will you benefit if you seek the Kingdom first?

⁹ Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness. (Read Matthew 6:19-21, 24-26, 31-34.) Jehovah honors you by giving you the freedom to decide what you will do with your time. He does not tell you that you must spend all your time preaching. However, Jesus did teach us the importance of seeking the Kingdom first. When you seek the Kingdom first, many doors will be opened to you. For example, you will have many opportunities to show your love for Jehovah and your neighbors and to show that you are thankful for the hope of everlasting life. Will your decisions about marriage and work show that you worry more about your possessions than about “seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness”?

10. What made Jesus happy, and what must you do to be happy?

¹⁰ Find happiness in serving others. (Read Acts 20:20, 21, 24, 35.) This is a basic principle of life. Jesus knew this, so he served his Father by doing His will and served others by teaching them the good news. This made him happy. (Luke 10:21; John 4:34) You probably have felt that same happiness when you serve others. So base your decisions on the principles that Jesus taught. Doing this will make you happy, and it will make Jehovah happy too.​—Proverbs 27:11.

11. Why did Baruch lose his joy, and what counsel did Jehovah give him?

¹¹ The greatest happiness comes from serving Jehovah. (Proverbs 16:20) It seems that Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah, lost his joy at one point in his life. Baruch started to think more about what he wanted than about what Jehovah wanted. Jehovah saw this, so he told Baruch to stop “seeking great things” for himself. If he obeyed, he would survive the destruction of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 45:3, 5) What would have made Baruch happier? Doing what he wanted and being destroyed, or doing what Jehovah wanted and surviving Jerusalem’s destruction?​—James 1:12.

12. What decisions did Ramiro make that helped him to be happy?

¹² One brother who found happiness in serving others is Ramiro. He says: “I come from a poor family living in a village in the Andes Mountains. So when my older brother offered to pay for my university education, it was a big opportunity. But I had recently been baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I had received another offer​—a pioneer invited me to preach with him in a small town. I went there, learned how to cut hair, and opened a barbershop to support myself.” Many people in that town accepted Bible studies. Later, a new congregation was started in a local language. So Ramiro decided to join the congregation and has been serving there for ten years. He says that no other work could give him more joy than helping people learn the Bible in their own language.

13. Why is now a good time for you to serve Jehovah with all your heart?

¹³ Enjoy serving Jehovah. (Read Ecclesiastes 12:1.) Do not feel that you must first get a good job before you can start pioneering. The best time to start serving Jehovah with all your heart is now, before you have family responsibilities. You have the health and energy to tackle challenging assignments. What would you like to do for Jehovah? Maybe your goal is to pioneer, or maybe you want to preach to people in another language. Maybe you can do more in your own congregation. Whatever your goal is, you need to earn a living. Ask yourself: ‘What job will I choose, and how much training do I need for it?’

USING BIBLE PRINCIPLES TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS

14. What must you be careful of when looking for a job?

¹⁴ The three Bible principles we have talked about will guide you when you decide which jobs may be acceptable for you. Your school counselors or government agencies probably know what jobs are available in your area or in the area where you hope to serve. These people may be helpful, but be careful. People who do not love Jehovah may try to plant love for the world in your heart. (1 John 2:15-17) When you look at what the world offers, do not forget that your heart can easily mislead you.​—Read Proverbs 14:15; Jeremiah 17:9.

15, 16. Who can give you wise advice about employment?

¹⁵ Once you know what jobs are available to you, you need practical advice. (Proverbs 1:5) Who can help you to evaluate your job options using Bible principles? Listen to people who love Jehovah, love you, and know you and your circumstances well. They will help you to be honest with yourself about what you can do and what you want to do. Maybe what they say will help you to rethink your goals. If your parents love Jehovah, they can be a great help to you. Also, the elders in your congregation will give you good advice. Ask pioneers and traveling overseers why they decided to serve Jehovah full-time. How did they get started? What did they do for work? What blessings have they received?​—Proverbs 15:22.

¹⁶ Those who really know you well can give you wise advice. For example, what if you want to quit high school and start pioneering because you do not like the hard work that school requires? A person who loves you may clearly see why you want to quit school. So he can help you to understand that persevering in school will help you to learn not to give up easily. This quality is necessary if you want to serve Jehovah forever.​—Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 6:6-10.

17. What kind of work should you avoid?

¹⁷ Everyone who serves Jehovah will face situations that can weaken his faith and draw him away from Jehovah. (1 Corinthians 15:33; Colossians 2:8) Some types of employment may be more dangerous to your faith than others. You probably have noticed that some have lost their faith after choosing a particular type of employment. (1 Timothy 1:19) It is wise to avoid any kind of work that could damage your friendship with Jehovah.​—Proverbs 22:3.

ENJOY BEING A YOUNG CHRISTIAN

18, 19. If you do not yet want to pioneer, what can you do?

¹⁸ If you have a sincere desire to serve Jehovah, use the opportunities offered to you while you are young. Make the kind of decisions that will allow you to enjoy serving God in these exciting times.​—Psalm 148:12, 13.

¹⁹ What if you do not yet feel like serving Jehovah? Do not give up trying to build strong faith in Jehovah. Paul explained what he did to have Jehovah’s blessing. He said: “If you are mentally inclined otherwise in any respect, God will reveal the above attitude to you. At any rate, to the extent we have made progress, let us go on walking orderly in this same course.” (Philippians 3:15, 16) Remember that Jehovah loves you. His advice is the best. Let him help you to make the best decisions now while you are young.

1, 2. (a) What advice was Solomon inspired to write to young people? (b) Why should Christians in their 50’s and older also be interested in Solomon’s advice?

JEHOVAH inspired King Solomon to tell young people: “Remember . . . your Grand Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of distress come.” What are “the days of distress”? This expression refers to old age. Solomon used poetic words to describe the difficulties older ones have: trembling hands, unsteady legs, loss of teeth, poor eyesight, poor hearing, white hair, and a bent and stiff body. No wonder Solomon told us to remember our Grand Creator while we are young!​—Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-5.

² Many Christians in their 50’s and older still have a lot of energy. They may have some gray hair, but they probably do not have all the health problems that Solomon described. Could these experienced Christians also apply Solomon’s advice to young people: “Remember . . . your Grand Creator”? First of all, what does that advice mean?

3. What does it mean to remember our Grand Creator?

³ You may have been serving Jehovah for many years, but it is good from time to time to stop and think about how grand our Creator is. Life is a remarkable gift. The design of creation is so complex that we cannot fully understand it. The variety of wonderful things that Jehovah made makes it possible for us to enjoy life in an endless number of ways. When we meditate on Jehovah’s creation, we remind ourselves of how loving, wise, and powerful he is. (Psalm 143:5) When we remember our Grand Creator, it also means that we remember what he requires of us. Meditating on all these things motivates us to show our thankfulness by doing all we can in his service for as long as we live.​—Ecclesiastes 12:13.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE ARE OLDER

4. What can Christians with many years of experience ask themselves, and why?

⁴ If you have many years of experience, ask yourself, ‘What will I do with my life now while I still have some energy and strength?’ As an experienced Christian, you have opportunities that others do not have. For example, you can teach younger ones what you have learned from Jehovah. You can share with others the wonderful experiences you have had serving God. King David prayed for opportunities to do this. He wrote: “O God, you have taught me from my youth . . . Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me. Let me tell the next generation about your power and about your mightiness to all those who are to come.”​—Psalm 71:17, 18.

5. How can older Christians share what they have learned with others?

⁵ How can you share the wisdom that you have gained over the years? Can you invite younger ones to your home to enjoy encouraging association? Can you plan to preach with them and allow them to see the joy that you have in serving Jehovah? Elihu said: “Let age speak, and let a multitude of years declare wisdom.” (Job 32:7) The apostle Paul told experienced Christian women to encourage others by their words and by their example. He wrote: “Let the older women be . . . teachers of what is good.”​—Titus 2:3.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP OTHERS

6. Why are Christians with many years of experience needed?

⁶ If you are an experienced Christian, there is much you can do to help others. Think about what you understand now that you did not know 30 or 40 years ago. You know how to apply Bible principles in a variety of situations in life. You have the ability to touch the hearts of others with Bible truth. If you are an elder, you know how to help brothers who have made unwise decisions. (Galatians 6:1) Perhaps you have learned how to oversee congregation activities, assembly departments, or Kingdom Hall construction. You may know how to encourage doctors to use methods that do not require blood when they operate. Even if you are newly baptized, you have gained valuable experience in life. For example, if you have raised children, you have developed skills that are very useful. Older Christians have the ability to be valuable to Jehovah’s people by teaching, guiding, and encouraging the brothers and sisters.​—Read Job 12:12.

7. What useful training can older ones give to younger ones?

⁷ In what other ways can you use your abilities to help others? Perhaps you can show younger ones how to start and conduct Bible studies. If you are a sister, can you help young mothers learn to balance their service to Jehovah while caring for small children? If you are a brother, can you teach young brothers to give talks with enthusiasm and to be better preachers of the good news? Can you show them how you encourage elderly brothers and sisters when you visit them? Even if you do not have the strength you used to have, you still have wonderful opportunities to train younger ones. The Bible says: “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray hair.”​—Proverbs 20:29.

SERVING WHERE THE NEED IS GREATER

8. What did the apostle Paul do as he got older?

⁸ The apostle Paul stayed very busy in Jehovah’s service even as he got older. By the time he was released from prison in Rome about the year 61, he had already worked very hard and endured many trials as a missionary. He could have chosen to have an easier life by preaching in Rome. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) The brothers in Rome would certainly have loved for Paul to stay and support them. But Paul saw that the need was even greater in other countries. Along with Timothy and Titus, he traveled to Ephesus, then to Crete, and probably to Macedonia. (1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:5) We do not know if he visited Spain, but he did plan on going there.​—Romans 15:24, 28.

9. When did Peter move to serve where the need was greater? (See opening picture.)

⁹ The apostle Peter may have been over the age of 50 when he moved to where the need was greater. How do we know? If he was about the same age as Jesus or a little older, it would mean that he was about 50 years old when he met with the other apostles in Jerusalem in the year 49. (Acts 15:7) Some time after that meeting, Peter went to live in Babylon, likely to preach to the many Jews who lived in that area. (Galatians 2:9) He was living there when he wrote his first inspired letter, about the year 62. (1 Peter 5:13) Moving to where the need is greater can be challenging, but Peter did not allow his age to keep him from experiencing the joy of serving Jehovah fully.

10, 11. What did Robert and his wife do later in life?

¹⁰ Today, many Christians in their 50’s and older find that their circumstances have changed and that they are able to serve Jehovah in new ways. Some have moved to where the need is greater. This is what Robert and his wife did. They were about 55 when they realized that they had many new opportunities to serve Jehovah. Their only son had moved away from home, and they no longer had to care for their aging parents. They had received a small inheritance and realized that if they sold their house, they could pay off their debt and have enough money until Robert received his retirement pension. They heard that many people in Bolivia were accepting Bible studies and that it was cheaper to live there. So they decided to move. Robert says: “Adapting to our new home was not easy. Everything was so different from what we were accustomed to in North America. But our efforts were well rewarded.”

¹¹ Robert adds: “Our whole life now revolves around congregation activities. Some of the people with whom we studied the Bible got baptized. One family we studied with lives in humble circumstances in a village several miles away. But each week, the members of that family make the difficult journey into town for the meetings. Can you imagine our joy at seeing the family’s progress and the eldest boy even taking up the pioneer service?”

THE NEED IN FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FIELDS

12, 13. After Brian retired, what did he and his wife do?

¹² Foreign-language congregations and groups can benefit greatly from the example of older brothers and sisters. Also, such territory can be very enjoyable to work. For example, Brian from Britain wrote that after he retired at the age of 65, he and his wife felt that life had become dull. He said: “Our children had left home, and we rarely found interested people with whom we could conduct Bible studies. Then I met a young Chinese man who was doing research at the local university. He accepted an invitation to our meeting, and I started studying the Bible with him. After a few weeks, he began bringing a Chinese colleague with him. Two weeks later, he brought a third, and then a fourth.

¹³ “About the time a fifth Chinese researcher asked for a Bible study, I thought, ‘Just because I am 65 does not mean that I should retire from Jehovah’s service.’ So I asked my wife, who is two years younger than I am, if she would like to learn Chinese. We used a recorded language course. That was ten years ago. Preaching in a foreign-language field made us feel young again. So far, we have studied the Bible with 112 Chinese people! Most of them have attended meetings. One of them now serves with us as a pioneer.”

ENJOY DOING WHAT YOU CAN

14. What should older Christians not forget? How can Paul’s example encourage them?

¹⁴ Not all Christians in their 50’s have the circumstances to do new things in Jehovah’s service. Some have poor health, and others care for children or aging parents. But do not forget that Jehovah values whatever you do in his service. So even if you are sometimes frustrated by what you cannot do, enjoy what you can do. Think of the apostle Paul. For years, he was a prisoner and could not continue his missionary journeys. But whenever people visited him, he spoke to them about the Scriptures and helped them to keep serving God faithfully.​—Acts 28:16, 30, 31.

15. Why are elderly Christians truly valuable?

¹⁵ Jehovah also truly values what elderly ones can do to serve him. Solomon admits that “the days of distress” are not the easiest time in life. But the Bible reminds us that Jehovah notices what elderly Christians do to praise him. (Luke 21:2-4) Congregations cherish the beautiful example of faith and endurance that these older brothers and sisters show.

16. What opportunities were probably not available to Anna, but what could she do to worship God?

¹⁶ In the Bible, we read of a faithful older woman named Anna. She was an 84-year-old widow when Jesus was born. Because of her age, she did not have the same opportunities to serve Jehovah that others had. She would not likely be able to become a disciple of Jesus, to be anointed with holy spirit, or to go preaching. But she did enjoy serving Jehovah in other ways. For example, every morning and evening she would go to the courtyard of the temple and pray silently for about half an hour while the priest offered incense to Jehovah. The Bible says that “she was never missing from the temple, rendering sacred service night and day.” (Luke 2:36, 37) It was during one of those visits to the temple that she saw the young child Jesus. She told everyone that he would become the Messiah and bring freedom to Jerusalem.​—Luke 2:38.

17. How might the congregation help Christians who are elderly or sick to share in true worship?

¹⁷ Today, we should look for ways to help brothers and sisters who are elderly or sick. There are many older ones who would love to be with us at meetings or assemblies but who are not able to attend. How can the congregation help? In some places, it may be possible to arrange for them to listen to the meetings by telephone. In other places, this may not be possible. Even if older ones cannot go to meetings, they can still share in supporting true worship. For example, they can pray for the success of the congregation.​—Read Psalm 92:13, 14.

18, 19. (a) How can elderly Christians encourage others? (b) Who can apply the counsel: “Remember . . . your Grand Creator”?

¹⁸ Elderly Christians may not realize how much they encourage others. Think of Anna, who faithfully went to the temple for many years. She probably did not realize that her example and love for Jehovah would be included in the Bible and would still be encouraging us today. In a similar way, your love for Jehovah will never be forgotten by your brothers and sisters. No wonder God’s Word says: “Gray hair is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness”!​—Proverbs 16:31.

¹⁹ There are limits to what all of us can do in Jehovah’s service. But while you still have some strength and energy, be determined to “remember . . . your Grand Creator . . . before the days of distress come.”​—Ecclesiastes 12:1.

1, 2. (a) What can cause a certain type of blindness? (b) What do we know about God’s Kingdom?

YOU may have noticed that people do not always remember the same details about an event. Similarly, it may be difficult for someone to remember exactly what the doctor said after he gave a diagnosis. Or a person may not find his keys or eyeglasses, even when they are right in front of him. Why do these things happen? Researchers say that a type of blindness happens when we try to do more than one thing at the same time. Apparently, our brain can fully concentrate on only one thing at a time.

² Many people today have a similar kind of blindness about what is happening in the world. They may admit that the world has changed very much since 1914, but they do not understand what this means. As Bible students, we know that God’s Kingdom came in 1914 when Jesus was made King in heaven. However, the prayer “Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth” has not yet been completely answered. (Matthew 6:10) This prayer will be fully answered when this wicked world is removed. Only when that happens can God’s will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

3. What does our study of the Bible help us to see?

³ Because we regularly study God’s Word, we can see that prophecies are being fulfilled right now. What a difference from most people! They are so busy with their lives that they do not see the clear evidence that Christ has been ruling since 1914 and will soon destroy this wicked world. Ask yourself this question: ‘Do I still believe that the end of this world is very near and that events on the earth prove this?’ Even if you have been a Witness for only a short time, on what is your attention focused? Whatever your answer is, let us discuss three important reasons why we know that soon God’s will for the earth will be done.

THE HORSEMEN HAVE ARRIVED

4, 5. (a) What has Jesus been doing since 1914? (See opening picture.) (b) What do the three horsemen following Jesus represent? How has this prophecy been fulfilled?

⁴ In 1914, Jesus Christ received a heavenly crown, that is, he became King of God’s Kingdom. The prophecy recorded in Revelation chapter 6 describes Jesus as riding a white horse. After becoming King, he immediately began his ride in order to defeat Satan’s wicked world. (Read Revelation 6:1, 2.) The prophecy foretold that after God’s Kingdom began ruling, the world would quickly become much worse. War, food shortage, disease, and other causes of death would happen more than ever before. These disasters are represented in the prophecy by three horsemen riding closely behind Jesus Christ.​—Revelation 6:3-8.

⁵ As the prophecy foretold, war took “peace away from the earth.” This happened even though many nations had promised to work together and keep peace. World War I was only the first of many destructive wars that would take peace away from the earth. Although much economic and scientific progress has been made since 1914, food shortages are still a threat to world security. No one can deny that diseases, natural disasters, and other tragedies take the lives of millions each year. These events are more dangerous, happen more often, and kill more people than ever before in human history. Do you realize what that means?

6. Who had been paying attention to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and what did they do when prophecy was fulfilled?

⁶ Many people were distracted because of the beginning of World War I and the Spanish flu. However, anointed Christians eagerly expected the Gentile Times, or “appointed times of the nations,” to end in 1914. (Luke 21:24) The anointed did not know exactly how Bible prophecy would be fulfilled, but they knew that in 1914 an important event would take place in God’s Kingdom. As soon as they understood how prophecy had been fulfilled, they courageously announced to others that God’s rule had begun. Many who preached the Kingdom message were cruelly persecuted. This persecution was also a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. For many years after that, enemies of the Kingdom used laws, violence, prison sentences, or even death to try to stop the preaching work.​—Psalm 94:20; Revelation 12:15.

7. Why do most people not see the importance of what is happening in the world today?

⁷ If there is so much evidence to prove that God’s Kingdom is now ruling in heaven, then why do most people not see it? Why do they not see that world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy exactly as God’s people have been saying for many years? Do they see only what they want to see? (2 Corinthians 5:7) Are they so busy with their own lives that they do not see what God is doing? (Matthew 24:37-39) Are some of them distracted by the ideas and goals of Satan’s world? (2 Corinthians 4:4) We need faith as well as the ability to see more than just what is in front of our eyes to understand what God’s Kingdom is doing. How happy we are that we can see what is really going on!

WICKEDNESS IS INCREASING

8-10. (a) How has 2 Timothy 3:1-5 been fulfilled? (b) Why can we say that wickedness is getting worse?

⁸ There is a second reason why we know that God’s Kingdom will soon rule the earth: The world is now more wicked than ever before, and it is getting worse. For almost one hundred years, we have seen the prophecy at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 come true. The behavior described in those scriptures is spreading into all parts of the world. Do you see that also? Let us discuss some examples.​—Read 2 Timothy 3:1, 13.

⁹ Compare what shocked people in the 1940’s or 1950’s with what happens today in the workplace, in entertainment, in sports, and in fashion. Extreme violence and extreme immorality are seen everywhere. People try to shock others with their violent, immoral, and cruel behavior. Television programs that many thought were bad in the 1950’s are now viewed as good family entertainment. Many have noticed the strong influence that homosexuals have on entertainment and fashion and how they promote their lifestyle in public. Thankfully, we know how God feels about these things!​—Read Jude 14, 15.

¹⁰ Also, compare the rebellious behavior of young people in the past with what young people do today. For example, in the 1950’s, parents worried about their children smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, or dancing in an improper way. But today we often hear shocking news reports like these: A 15-year-old student shoots his classmates, killing 2 and injuring 13. A group of drunken teenagers cruelly murder a nine-year-old girl and attack her father and cousin. Another news report said that in one Asian country, young people were responsible for half of all crimes committed during a ten-year period. Can anyone deny that things today are getting much worse?

11. Why do many people not realize that things are getting worse?

¹¹ The apostle Peter accurately said: “In the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.’” (2 Peter 3:3, 4) Why do some people react this way? It seems that the more often we see something, the less we pay attention to it. If the behavior of a close friend changes suddenly, this may shock us. But if the attitudes and morals of people in general change slowly over a long period of time, we may not notice it. A change like this is very dangerous.

12, 13. (a) Why do we not need to be discouraged by what is happening in the world? (b) What will help us to endure these last days that are “hard to deal with”?

¹² The apostle Paul warned us that the last days would be “hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) But we do not need to hide from the world. We can overcome any disappointments or fears that we may have. With the help of Jehovah, his spirit, and the Christian congregation, we can stay faithful to him. God will give us “the power beyond what is normal.”​—2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

¹³ Paul began the prophecy about the last days with the words “know this.” Those words guarantee that this prophecy will be fulfilled. We know that this world will continue to get worse until Jehovah brings the end. We have learned from history that when standards of right and wrong become very low, societies or entire nations have collapsed. Never before have the standards of right and wrong been so low in the entire world. Many people may ignore what this means, but the events since 1914 should convince us that God’s Kingdom will soon end all wickedness.

THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY

14-16. What is a third reason why we believe that God’s Kingdom will “come” soon?

¹⁴ The history of God’s people gives us a third reason to have confidence that the end is near. For example, before God’s Kingdom began ruling in heaven, a group of faithful anointed ones were serving God. When prophecy was not fulfilled in the way that they expected in 1914, what did they do? Most of them continued serving Jehovah faithfully and endured trials and persecution. Over the years, most, if not all, of those anointed ones have remained faithful until death.

¹⁵ In his prophecy about the last days of Satan’s world, Jesus said: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.” (Read Matthew 24:33-35.) When Jesus mentioned “this generation,” we understand that he was speaking about two groups of anointed Christians. The first group was present in 1914 and understood that Christ began ruling as King in that year. Those who made up this group were not only alive in 1914, but they had also been anointed by holy spirit in or before that year.​—Romans 8:14-17.

¹⁶ All those in the second group included in “this generation” were not simply alive but were anointed with holy spirit during the time that some members of the first group were still alive on earth. So not every anointed person today is included in “this generation” whom Jesus spoke about. Today, those in the second group are getting older. Yet, Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:34 make us confident that at least some of “this generation will by no means pass away” before seeing the start of the great tribulation. This convinces us even more that soon the King of God’s Kingdom will destroy the wicked and bring in a righteous new world.​—2 Peter 3:13.

CHRIST WILL SOON HAVE THE VICTORY

17. What does the evidence we have discussed help us to understand?

¹⁷ Can you see how the Bible prophecies we have studied are being fulfilled right now? As Jesus warned us, we do not know the exact day or hour of the end. (Matthew 24:36; 25:13) But Paul mentioned that we do know when “the season,” that is, the last days, would be. (Read Romans 13:11.) We are living in that season right now. If we pay attention to Bible prophecy and to what Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are doing, we will see the clear evidence that the end of this wicked world is near.

18. What will happen to those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their King?

¹⁸ Soon, those who refuse to accept the authority of Jesus Christ, the Rider of the white horse, will have to admit that they are wrong. They will not be able to escape the judgment that is coming to them. When that happens, many will cry out in fear, saying: “Who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17) Chapter 7 of Revelation gives us the answer to that question. The anointed still on earth and the “great crowd” will “stand” because of being approved by God. Then the “great crowd” of other sheep will survive the great tribulation and enter into God’s new world.​—Revelation 7:9, 13-15.

19. As one who is confident that the end is near, what are you looking forward to?

¹⁹ If we keep paying attention to Bible prophecies that are being fulfilled in our day, we will not be distracted by Satan’s world. We will not be blind to the real meaning of world events. Christ will soon complete his victory and destroy this wicked world during the righteous war of Armageddon. (Revelation 19:11, 19-21) Imagine how happy we will be after that!​—Revelation 20:1-3, 6; 21:3, 4.

In 1985, I was ten years old. Children from Cambodia had arrived at my school in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. One of the boys knew a few words of English. By using pictures, he began to tell me horrible stories of torture and killings and of people who had to run away to save their lives. I cried at night when I thought of these children. I wanted to tell them about the Paradise and the resurrection, but they did not understand my language. Even though I was only a boy, I decided to learn Cambodian so that I could tell my schoolmates about Jehovah. I did not realize then how much this decision would affect my future.

Learning Cambodian was difficult. Twice I decided to give up, but Jehovah used my parents to encourage me. Later, my teachers and schoolmates started pressuring me to accept a well-paying job. But I wanted to pioneer, so I chose high school courses that would help me to find part-time work. After school, I would go preaching with some pioneers. I also volunteered to help students learn English. This decision helped me later on.

When I was 16, I heard about a Cambodian group in Long Beach, California, U.S.A. My parents allowed me to visit the group. These brothers and sisters taught me how to read Cambodian. As soon as I graduated from school, I became a pioneer. I preached to the Cambodian people near my home. By the time I was 18, I was thinking about moving to Cambodia. It was still a dangerous place, but there were ten million people living in Cambodia, most of whom had never heard the good news. At that time, there was only one congregation of 13 publishers in the whole country. When I was 19, I visited Cambodia for the first time. Two years later, I decided to move there. I found part-time work translating and teaching English. Later, I found a wife who had the same goals as I did. Together, we have enjoyed helping many Cambodian people become Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jehovah has given me the desires of my heart. (Psalm 37:4) Preaching is the most satisfying thing a person can do. During the 16 years I have been in Cambodia, that little congregation of 13 publishers has grown to become 12 congregations and 4 groups!​—As told by Jason Blackwell.