1, 2. What will strengthen our confidence that by means of the Kingdom, God’s purpose for mankind will succeed, and why? (See opening picture.)

AS Jehovah’s Witnesses, we zealously preach that God’s Kingdom is the only solution for our problems. Are we truly convinced, though, that the Kingdom is real and that by means of it, God’s purpose will succeed? Why can we have solid faith in the Kingdom?​—Hebrews 11:1.

² By means of the Messianic Kingdom, Jehovah’s purpose for mankind will come true. The unshakable foundation of this Kingdom is Jehovah’s absolute right to rule. Who is the King of this Kingdom? Who else will rule with this King? Who and what will be under their authority? Jehovah has legally established these important elements of the Kingdom through covenants. These covenants are legal contracts, or agreements, made by Jehovah or his Son, Jesus Christ. By examining these covenants, we will better understand how Jehovah’s purpose will succeed and why we can be confident that the Kingdom is unshakable.​—Read Ephesians 2:12.

3. What will we examine in this article and in the one that follows?

³ In the Bible, six main covenants are connected to the Messianic Kingdom ruled by Christ Jesus. They are (1) the Abrahamic covenant, (2) the Law covenant, (3) the Davidic covenant, (4) the covenant for a priest like Melchizedek, (5) the new covenant, and (6) the Kingdom covenant. Let us examine how each covenant is connected to the Kingdom and works toward the accomplishment of God’s purpose for the earth and mankind.​—See the chart “How God Will Accomplish His Purpose.”

A PROMISE REVEALS HOW GOD’S PURPOSE WILL COME TRUE

4. As stated in the book of Genesis, what decrees did Jehovah make that affect humans?

⁴ Jehovah prepared our earth so that humans could live on it. Then, Jehovah made the following decrees: (1) God would create humans in his image. (2) Humans would make the earth into a paradise and fill it with their righteous children. (3) Humans were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. (Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:16, 17) These three decrees were a complete description of God’s purpose for man and the earth. So why did God have to make covenants?

5, 6. (a) How did Satan try to prevent God’s purpose from coming true? (b) How did Jehovah handle the rebellion in Eden?

⁵ Satan started a rebellion against God and his purpose. He focused on man’s obedience to God by tempting Eve to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. (Genesis 3:1-5; Revelation 12:9) By doing this, he challenged God’s right to rule over His creation. Later, Satan also accused humans of worshipping God for selfish reasons.​—Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5.

⁶ How would Jehovah handle this rebellion? He could destroy the rebels. But that would mean that God’s purpose to fill the earth with Adam and Eve’s children would not succeed. Jehovah chose not to destroy the rebels. Instead, he gave a great prophecy, the Edenic promise. It guaranteed that every detail of God’s promises for the earth and for humans would come true.​—Read Genesis 3:15.

7. What does the Edenic promise reveal about the serpent and its offspring?

⁷ By means of the Edenic promise, God condemned to death the serpent and its offspring, that is, Satan the Devil and those who would take his side against God’s right to rule. God gave the offspring of the woman the authority to destroy these rebels. So the Edenic promise revealed that Satan and the effects of his rebellion would be eliminated. The promise also identified how this would be done.

8. What do we learn about the identity of the woman and her offspring?

⁸ Who would be the offspring of the woman? The offspring would have to be a spirit person. Why? Because this offspring will “bring to nothing” Satan, who is an invisible spirit creature. (Hebrews 2:14) So the woman who gives birth to this offspring would also have to be invisible. While the serpent’s offspring multiplied, the identity of the woman and her offspring remained a mystery for about 4,000 years after the Edenic promise. During those years, Jehovah made several covenants that identify the offspring and reveal how God would repair the damage caused by Satan’s rebellion.

A COVENANT IDENTIFIES THE OFFSPRING

9. What is the Abrahamic covenant, and when did it become valid?

⁹ About 2,000 years after the Edenic promise was made, Jehovah told Abraham to leave his home in the city of Ur and go to the land of Canaan. (Acts 7:2, 3) God told him: “Go out from your land and away from your relatives and from the house of your father to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will become a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who calls down evil on you, and all the families of the ground will certainly be blessed by means of you.” (Genesis 12:1-3) God’s promise to Abraham is called the Abrahamic covenant. We do not know exactly when Jehovah first made his covenant with Abraham. But we do know that the covenant became valid in the year 1943 before Christ, when Abraham, who was 75 years old, left Haran and crossed the Euphrates River.

10. (a) How did Abraham prove that he had strong faith in God’s promises? (b) What details did Jehovah gradually reveal about the offspring of the woman?

¹⁰ Jehovah repeated his promise to Abraham several times and each time added more details. (Genesis 13:15-17; 17:1-8, 16) Abraham’s faith in God’s promises was so strong that he was even willing to sacrifice his precious son. So Jehovah was moved to strengthen the covenant by guaranteeing that his promise would come true. (Read Genesis 22:15-18; Hebrews 11:17, 18.) After the Abrahamic covenant became valid, Jehovah gradually revealed important details about the offspring of the woman. The offspring would come from Abraham’s family, would include many people, would serve as kings, would destroy all of God’s enemies, and would be a blessing for many humans.

11, 12. How do the Scriptures show that the promises of the Abrahamic covenant will come true in a second, greater way, and what does that mean for us?

¹¹ The promises of the Abrahamic covenant first came true when Abraham’s descendants inherited the Promised Land. Yet, the Bible reveals that this covenant would bring far greater benefits. (Galatians 4:22-25) The apostle Paul explained that the primary, or main, part of Abraham’s offspring is Jesus Christ. The secondary, or additional, part refers to the 144,000 anointed Christians. (Galatians 3:16, 29; Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1, 4) The woman in the Edenic promise is the heavenly part of God’s organization. This woman is called “the Jerusalem above” and is made up of loyal spirit creatures. (Galatians 4:26, 31) As the Abrahamic covenant promised, the offspring of the woman would bring lasting benefits to mankind.

¹² The Abrahamic covenant provides a legal guarantee for the Kingdom of the heavens and opens the way for the King and his corulers to inherit that Kingdom. (Hebrews 6:13-18) How long will this covenant last? Genesis 17:7 states that it is “an everlasting covenant.” It will exist until the Kingdom destroys God’s enemies and until all the families of the earth have been blessed. (1 Corinthians 15:23-26) But the benefits of this covenant are everlasting. God’s covenant with Abraham proves that Jehovah’s purpose for righteous humans to “fill the earth” will succeed.​—Genesis 1:28.

A COVENANT GUARANTEES THAT THE KINGDOM WILL LAST

13, 14. What does the Davidic covenant guarantee?

¹³ The Edenic promise and the Abrahamic covenant teach us that Jehovah’s rulership is always based on his righteous standards. So the Messianic Kingdom that God established is also based on those righteous standards. (Psalm 89:14) Will the Messianic Kingdom ever become corrupt? Will this Kingdom government need to be replaced? Another legal covenant guarantees that this will never happen.

¹⁴ Jehovah made a promise to King David of ancient Israel. That promise is called the Davidic covenant. (Read 2 Samuel 7:12, 16.) Jehovah promised that the Messiah would be one of David’s descendants. (Luke 1:30-33) In this way, Jehovah gave more specific information about the family line of the Messiah. Jehovah said that this descendant of David would have “the legal right” to be King of the Messianic Kingdom. (Ezekiel 21:25-27) David’s kingship will rule forever because Jesus, the descendant of David, “will endure forever; his throne will endure like the sun.” (Psalm 89:34-37) We can be confident that the Messiah’s rule will never become corrupt and that the benefits that come from this rule will last forever!

A COVENANT FOR A PRIEST

15-17. According to the covenant for a priest like Melchizedek, what additional assignment would the offspring have, and why?

¹⁵ The Abrahamic covenant and the Davidic covenant guarantee that the offspring of the woman would rule as a king. But in order for all mankind to fully benefit, the offspring would need to be more than just a king. The offspring would also need to be a priest. Only a priest can offer the sacrifice needed so that humans can be freed from sin and become part of Jehovah’s family of loyal servants in heaven and on earth. To make sure that the offspring would be a priest, Jehovah made another legal agreement, the covenant for a priest like Melchizedek.

¹⁶ God revealed through King David that He would personally make a covenant with Jesus. That agreement involved two things: first, Jesus would “sit at [God’s] right hand” and have the authority to conquer all of his enemies; and second, Jesus would be “a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.” (Read Psalm 110:1, 2, 4.) Why, though, would Jesus be a priest “in the manner of Melchizedek”? Before Abraham’s offspring conquered the Promised Land, Melchizedek was the king of the city of Salem and was a “priest of the Most High God.” (Hebrews 7:1-3) Jehovah directly appointed him as king and priest, and Melchizedek was the only person before Jesus to have both positions. Also, because there is no record of anyone having this position before or after Melchizedek, it is as if he is “a priest for all time,” or forever.

¹⁷ By means of this covenant, Jesus is directly appointed by God to be a priest. Jesus will remain “a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:4-6) This covenant clearly shows that Jehovah guarantees that he will use the Messianic Kingdom to make his purpose for humans and the earth come true.

THE KINGDOM IS BASED ON LEGAL COVENANTS

18, 19. (a) How are the covenants that we discussed connected to the Kingdom? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

¹⁸ So far we have learned how each covenant is connected to the Messianic Kingdom and how the Kingdom is solidly based on legal agreements. The Edenic promise guarantees that Jehovah will use the offspring of the woman to make his purpose for the earth and mankind succeed. The Abrahamic covenant explains who the offspring would be and what role that offspring would have.

¹⁹ The Davidic covenant gives more details about the family line of the Messiah. That covenant also gives Jesus the right to rule over the earth forever. The covenant for a priest like Melchizedek guarantees that the offspring would serve as a priest. But Jesus will not be alone in helping humans to become perfect. There are others who have been appointed to serve as kings and priests. Where would they come from? That will be discussed in the next article.

1, 2. What protection did the offspring of the woman need, and why?

THE first prophecy in the Bible is vital to understanding how God’s purpose will succeed. When God made the Edenic promise, he said: “I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring.” How fierce would this enmity, or hatred, be? Jehovah said: “He [the offspring of the woman] will crush your [Satan’s] head, and you will strike him in the heel.” (Genesis 3:15) The enmity between Satan and the woman would be so fierce that the Devil would use all his power to destroy this offspring.

² No wonder the psalmist prayed about God’s people: “Look! your enemies are in an uproar; those who hate you act arrogantly. With cunning they secretly plot against your people; they conspire against your treasured ones. They say: ‘Come, let us annihilate them as a nation.’” (Psalm 83:2-4) Satan’s goal was to destroy and corrupt the family line of the offspring. To protect the offspring and guarantee that the Messianic Kingdom would be successful, Jehovah made additional covenants.

A COVENANT THAT PROTECTS THE OFFSPRING

3, 4. (a) When did the Law covenant become valid, and what did the nation of Israel agree to do? (b) What was the Law covenant designed to protect?

³ After the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob multiplied into the millions, Jehovah made them into the nation of ancient Israel. With Moses as the mediator, God made a unique covenant with this nation. Jehovah gave them the Law, and Israel agreed to obey it. The Bible says that Moses “took the book of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said: ‘All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do, and we will be obedient.’ So Moses took the blood [of the sacrificed bulls] and sprinkled it on the people and said: ‘This is the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you in harmony with all these words.’”​—Exodus 24:3-8.

⁴ The Law covenant became valid in the year 1513 before Christ. By means of that covenant, Jehovah chose the ancient nation of Israel for a special purpose. God would be their Judge, Lawgiver, and King. (Isaiah 33:22) The history of Israel shows what happens when people either obey or disobey God’s righteous standards. Obedience to God’s Law meant that the Israelites were not allowed to marry pagans or worship other gods. The Law was designed to protect Abraham’s offspring from corruption.​—Exodus 20:4-6; 34:12-16.

5. (a) What opportunity did the Law covenant give to the nation of Israel? (b) Why did God reject Israel?

⁵ Under the Law covenant, priests were appointed to serve in Israel. Those priests were a symbol of another group of priests who in the future would serve humans in a better way. (Hebrews 7:11; 10:1) In fact, the Law covenant gave the nation of Israel the opportunity to become “a kingdom of priests.” To have this privilege, the Israelites had to obey Jehovah’s laws. (Read Exodus 19:5, 6.) However, they failed to obey. Israel did not accept the Messiah, the main part of Abraham’s offspring. Instead, they rejected Jesus, and God rejected them.

6. What was the purpose of the Law?

⁶ Because they did not remain faithful to God, the nation of Israel did not become a kingdom of priests. But this does not mean that the Law had failed. The Law protected the offspring and helped people to identify the Messiah. Once Christ came to the earth and was identified, the Law had succeeded. The Bible states: “Christ is the end of the Law.” (Romans 10:4) So, what group would have the opportunity to become a kingdom of priests? Jehovah made another legal contract to form a new nation.

A NEW NATION IS FORMED

7. What did Jehovah foretell through Jeremiah?

⁷ Long before the Law covenant was canceled, Jehovah foretold through the prophet Jeremiah that He would make “a new covenant” with the nation of Israel. (Read Jeremiah 31:31-33.) That covenant would be different from the Law covenant because it would not require animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. How was that possible?

8, 9. (a) What is possible by means of Jesus’ blood? (b) What opportunity became available to those in the new covenant? (See opening picture.)

⁸ Hundreds of years later, on Nisan 14 in the year 33, Jesus started a new observance, the Lord’s Evening Meal. Speaking of the cup of wine, Jesus told his 11 faithful apostles: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.” (Luke 22:20) According to Matthew’s account, Jesus said: “This means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.”​—Matthew 26:27, 28.

⁹ The blood of Jesus’ sacrifice makes the new covenant valid. That blood was given once, and it makes it possible for many to receive forgiveness of sins forever. Jesus is not included in the new covenant. He is without sin, so he does not need forgiveness. But God can use the value of Jesus’ sacrifice to benefit humans. He can also use his holy spirit to anoint some faithful humans and adopt them “as sons.” (Read Romans 8:14-17.) Jehovah is able to view them as he does his Son, Jesus, who has no sin. These anointed ones would become “joint heirs with Christ.” They would also have the opportunity and privilege that the nation of Israel lost, that is, to become “a kingdom of priests.” The apostle Peter said about them: “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Clearly, the new covenant is vital! It allows disciples of Jesus to become the additional part of Abraham’s offspring.

THE NEW COVENANT BECOMES VALID

10. When did the new covenant become valid, and why was it not valid until then?

¹⁰ The new covenant did not become valid at the Lord’s Evening Meal. Why not? In order for the covenant to become valid, Jesus had to return to heaven and present to God the value of his sacrifice. Also, those who would be “joint heirs with Christ” needed to be anointed with holy spirit. So the new covenant became valid at Pentecost in the year 33 when Jesus’ disciples received God’s spirit.

11. How did the new covenant make it possible for both Jews and Gentiles to become part of spiritual Israel, and how many would be in the new covenant?

¹¹ When Jehovah announced through Jeremiah that a new covenant would be made with Israel, this indicated that the Law covenant would eventually not be needed. The Law ended when the new covenant became valid. (Hebrews 8:13) By means of the new covenant, both Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles would have an equal opportunity to be heirs of God’s Kingdom, because their “circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code.” (Romans 2:29) God would put his laws in their mind and in their hearts. (Hebrews 8:10) The new covenant includes 144,000 anointed ones. They make up a new nation that is called “the Israel of God,” or spiritual Israel.​—Galatians 6:16; Revelation 14:1, 4.

12. How do the Law covenant and the new covenant compare?

¹² How do the Law covenant and the new covenant compare? The Law covenant was between Jehovah and the nation of Israel, and the new covenant is between Jehovah and spiritual Israel. Moses was the mediator of the Law covenant, and Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. The Law covenant became valid by means of the blood of animals, and the new covenant became valid by means of the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice. Under the Law covenant, Moses was the leader of the nation of Israel. Jesus, the Head of the congregation, is the Leader of those who are under the new covenant.​—Ephesians 1:22.

13, 14. (a) How is the new covenant connected to the Kingdom? (b) What is necessary for spiritual Israel to be able to rule with Christ in heaven?

¹³ How is the new covenant connected to the Kingdom? This covenant creates a holy nation that has the opportunity to become kings and priests in the Kingdom in heaven. That nation makes up the additional part of Abraham’s offspring. (Galatians 3:29) So the new covenant confirms that the Abrahamic covenant will come true.

¹⁴ The new covenant creates the nation of spiritual Israel and is the legal basis for anointed ones to become “joint heirs with Christ.” But how can anointed ones rule with Jesus as kings and priests in heaven? Another legal agreement allows for that.

A COVENANT THAT ALLOWS OTHERS TO RULE WITH CHRIST

15. What personal covenant did Jesus make with his faithful apostles?

¹⁵ After instituting the Lord’s Evening Meal, Jesus made a covenant with his faithful disciples called the Kingdom covenant. (Read Luke 22:28-30.) Unlike the other covenants, Jehovah is not included in this covenant. Instead, this is a personal covenant between Jesus and the anointed. When Jesus said “just as my Father has made a covenant with me,” he may have been referring to the covenant that Jehovah made with him to be “a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.”​—Hebrews 5:5, 6.

16. What does the Kingdom covenant make possible for anointed Christians?

¹⁶ The 11 faithful apostles remained loyal to Jesus during all his trials. The Kingdom covenant guaranteed that the apostles would sit on thrones and rule as kings and serve as priests with Jesus in heaven. But those 11 would not be the only ones to have that privilege. Jesus appeared to the apostle John in a vision and said: “To the one who conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21) So the Kingdom covenant is made with the 144,000 anointed Christians. (Revelation 5:9, 10; 7:4) This covenant is the legal basis for the anointed to rule with Jesus in heaven. This is similar to a bride who is chosen to marry a king. Once the two are married, it is possible for the bride to rule with the king. In fact, the Bible refers to the anointed as “the bride” of Christ, “a chaste virgin” promised in marriage to the Christ.​—Revelation 19:7, 8; 21:9; 2 Corinthians 11:2.

HAVE UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN GOD’S KINGDOM

17, 18. (a) Review six covenants that we have discussed and that are connected to the Kingdom. (b) Why can we have solid faith in the Kingdom?

¹⁷ All the covenants we have discussed in these two articles are connected to one or more vital elements of the Kingdom. (See the chart “How God Will Accomplish His Purpose” in the previous article.) It is clear that based on these legal agreements, the Kingdom is guaranteed to succeed. We can be fully convinced that God is going to use the Messianic Kingdom to make his purpose for humans and the earth come true.​—Revelation 11:15.

¹⁸ There is no doubt that the Kingdom is the only solution to mankind’s problems. We are absolutely confident that it will bring lasting benefits to all humans. So may we zealously tell others about this wonderful truth!​—Matthew 24:14.

1. How does Jehovah feel about work, and what does he do about it?

JEHOVAH enjoys his work. (Psalm 135:6; John 5:17) He wants angels and humans to enjoy their work as well, so he assigns them work that is enjoyable and satisfying. Jehovah involved his firstborn Son in His work of creation. (Read Colossians 1:15, 16.) The Bible tells us that before he came to earth, Jesus was with God in heaven “as a master worker.”​—Proverbs 8:30.

2. How do we know that angels have always had important and satisfying work?

² From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible explains that Jehovah has always assigned work to the angels. When Adam and Eve sinned and had to leave Paradise, God gave the angels an assignment. In Genesis, we read that God “posted at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning continuously to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24) And in Revelation, we learn that Jehovah “sent his angel to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place,” or to reveal the future.​—Revelation 22:6.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS FOR MANKIND

3. While he was on earth, how did Jesus imitate his Father?

³ When Jesus was on earth, he joyfully did the work Jehovah assigned him. And he imitated his Father by assigning important work to his disciples. He made them feel excited about their assignment by telling them: “Most truly I say to you, whoever exercises faith in me will also do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father.” (John 14:12) Jesus helped his disciples to see that their work was urgent when he explained: “We must do the works of the One who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work.”​—John 9:4.

4-6. (a) Why are we thankful that Noah and Moses did what Jehovah told them to do? (b) What two things result from God’s work assignments for humans?

⁴ Long before Jesus came to earth, Jehovah assigned satisfying work to humans. Even though Adam and Eve did not complete their assignment, many humans did finish what God asked them to do. (Genesis 1:28) Jehovah gave Noah specific instructions on how to build an ark so that he and his family could survive the Flood. Noah did exactly what Jehovah said. We are alive today because he carefully followed Jehovah’s instructions.​—Genesis 6:14-16, 22; 2 Peter 2:5.

⁵ Jehovah gave Moses specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle and how to organize the priesthood. Moses did exactly what Jehovah told him to do. (Exodus 39:32; 40:12-16) What do we learn today from Moses’ hard work and obedience? As the apostle Paul explained, the tabernacle and the priesthood symbolized “good things to come.”​—Hebrews 9:1-5, 9; 10:1.

⁶ As God’s purpose develops, his servants receive different assignments. But even though the work assignments may change, they have always glorified Jehovah and benefited humans. This is true of the work that Jesus did both before he came to earth and while he was on earth. (John 4:34; 17:4) Today, when we do what Jehovah assigns us, our work glorifies him. (Matthew 5:16; read 1 Corinthians 15:58.) Why can we say that?

KEEPING A POSITIVE VIEW OF WORK ASSIGNMENTS

7, 8. (a) Describe the work that Christians today have the privilege to do. (b) How should we respond to Jehovah’s direction?

⁷ It is an honor that Jehovah invites imperfect humans to serve with him as his fellow workers. (1 Corinthians 3:9) Some Christians have the privilege to do building work, as did Noah and Moses. Some may help build Assembly Halls, Kingdom Halls, and branch offices. Whether you are renovating a local Kingdom Hall or building the world headquarters at Warwick, New York, cherish your privilege! (See opening picture for artist’s rendering.) It is sacred service. While only some may do physical building work, all Christians share in a spiritual building work. This is the preaching work, which glorifies Jehovah and benefits humans. (Acts 13:47-49) God’s organization directs the preaching work. Sometimes this means that we will receive a new assignment.

⁸ Jehovah’s faithful servants have always been eager to follow his direction. (Read Hebrews 13:7, 17.) We may not understand all the reasons why we receive a new assignment or new direction. But we cooperate with Jehovah because we know that the changes come from him and that they will have good results.

9. What good example do the elders set for the congregation?

⁹ The elders show their strong desire to do Jehovah’s will by the way they take the lead in the congregation. (2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13) The elders are eager to work hard and follow direction, and they are quick to learn new methods of preaching. They see good results when they organize telephone witnessing, harbor witnessing, or public witnessing, even though some may have wondered how these new methods would work. For example, four pioneers in Germany decided to preach in business territory that had not been worked in a long time. One of them, Michael, said that they were very nervous because they had not tried this form of service for several years. He added: “Jehovah must have known this, for he gave us an unforgettably pleasant morning of service. How happy we were that we followed the direction given in Our Kingdom Ministry and relied on Jehovah for support!” Are you eager to try new methods of witnessing in your territory?

10. What adjustments in the organization have been made in recent years?

¹⁰ Sometimes changes are made at Bethel. For example, in recent years, some smaller branch offices have been closed and their work has been moved to larger branch offices. This has affected those who serve at these branches. They had to make adjustments, but they later saw the advantages. (Ecclesiastes 7:8) These willing workers are happy to have a part in the modern-day history of Jehovah’s people!

11-13. What challenges have some faced because of organizational adjustments?

¹¹ We can learn some important lessons from those who served at branch offices that were combined. Many of these brothers and sisters served in these branches for decades. One couple who served in a small Bethel were asked to move to Mexico, where there were almost 30 times more Bethelites. The husband, Rogelio, says: “Leaving family and friends was very hard.” Juan, another Bethelite who was asked to move to Mexico, felt as if he were starting life all over again. He says: “You must form new bonds. It requires adjusting to new customs and ways of thinking.”

¹² When some branches in Europe were combined, many Bethelites were asked to move to the branch office located in Germany. They too faced challenges, as it is not always easy to leave one’s homeland. Some who moved from Switzerland miss the beautiful Alps, and some who moved from Austria miss being part of a smaller Bethel family.

¹³ Brothers and sisters who move to a branch in another country have to make many changes. They have to get used to a new home, new workmates, and possibly a new work assignment. They also have to get used to a new congregation, a new territory, and maybe even a new language. Making these changes can be difficult, but many Bethelites have gladly made them. Why? Let us hear from some of them.

14, 15. (a) How have many shown that they cherish the privilege of working with Jehovah? (b) How are they a fine example for us?

¹⁴ Grethel says: “I accepted the invitation because it was my way of showing Jehovah that my love for him went beyond a country, a building, or a certain privilege.” Dayska says: “When I remembered that the invitation came from Jehovah, I accepted it gladly.” André and Gabriela agree, saying: “In this we saw a further opportunity of serving Jehovah by pushing personal desires into the background.” They feel that when Jehovah’s organization makes changes, it is better to embrace them happily than to resist them.

¹⁵ When branches are combined, some Bethelites are reassigned to serve as pioneers. This happened to many Bethelites when the branches in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were merged to form the Scandinavia branch. A couple named Florian and Anja say: “We view our new assignment as an exciting challenge. For us, it is wonderful to be used by Jehovah no matter where we serve. We can honestly say that we feel richly blessed!” Even though most of us are not in this situation, we can imitate the willing attitude of these brothers and sisters and put Kingdom interests first. (Isaiah 6:8) We can be sure that Jehovah will always bless those who cherish their privilege of working with him, wherever that may be.

CONTINUE ENJOYING YOUR PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH JEHOVAH!

16. (a) What does Galatians 6:4 tell us to do? (b) What is the greatest privilege we can have?

¹⁶ Because we are imperfect, we often compare ourselves with others. But God’s Word tells us to focus on what we personally are able to do. (Read Galatians 6:4.) Not all of us can be elders, pioneers, missionaries, or Bethelites. While these are fine privileges, the greatest privilege is one that all of us have. It is to be a publisher of the good news, a fellow worker with Jehovah. Let us cherish this privilege!

17. In this system of things, what is the reality? But why should we not be discouraged?

¹⁷ In this system of things, we may not be able to serve Jehovah in the way that we would like to. We may have circumstances we cannot control, such as family responsibilities or health problems. We should not be discouraged, though. No matter what problems we have, we can always preach about Jehovah’s name and Kingdom. The most important thing is that we do as much as we can for Jehovah, as we pray that he will help those who are able to do more than we can. Remember, every person who praises Jehovah’s name is precious in his eyes!

18. What can we look forward to in the future, but what great privilege do we already have?

¹⁸ Jehovah allows us to be his fellow workers even though we are imperfect. What a wonderful privilege it is to work with our God in these last days! We look ahead to the future, to “the real life,” when we will be able to enjoy life in ways not possible today. Soon, in his new world, Jehovah will bless us with everlasting life in happiness and peace.​—1 Timothy 6:18, 19.

19. What happy future does Jehovah promise us?

¹⁹ God’s promised new world will soon be here. We think of what Moses told the Israelites right before they entered the Promised Land: “Jehovah your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 30:9) After Armageddon, Jehovah will give the earth to those who have been working with him, just as he promised. Then, our new work assignment will be to make the earth a beautiful paradise!

1, 2. (a) Why was the congregation in Colossae in danger? (b) What counsel helped the brothers in Colossae to remain friends of God?

THE unity of the first-century Christian congregation in Colossae was in danger! Some brothers were saying that everyone should obey the Mosaic Law. Others were saying that it was wrong to enjoy the pleasures of life. Paul warned them about the danger of these different ideas: “Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.”​—Colossians 2:8.

² If those anointed Christians followed human ideas, they would be rejecting the privilege of being sons of God. (Colossians 2:20-23) To help them keep their precious friendship with God, Paul told them: “Keep your minds fixed on the things above, not on the things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Those Christians needed to remember their special hope of living forever in heaven.​—Colossians 1:4, 5.

3. (a) What hope do anointed Christians have? (b) What questions will we consider in this article?

³ Anointed Christians today also keep their minds fixed on God’s Kingdom and on their hope of being “joint heirs with Christ” in heaven. (Romans 8:14-17) But what about those who hope to live on earth? How do Paul’s words apply to them? How can they keep their minds fixed on “the things above”? (John 10:16) Abraham and Moses kept their minds fixed on the things above even during difficult times. How can we imitate them?

WHAT IT MEANS TO FIX OUR MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE

4. How can Christians who hope to live on earth keep their minds fixed on the things above?

⁴ Those who hope to live on earth must keep their minds fixed on the things above. They do this when they put Jehovah and his Kingdom first in their lives. (Luke 10:25-27) This is what Christ did, and this is what we need to do too. (1 Peter 2:21) The first-century Christians were surrounded by false reasonings, worldly philosophies, and materialism. We find these same things today in Satan’s system. (Read 2 Corinthians 10:5.) We need to imitate Jesus and guard against anything that can damage our relationship with Jehovah.

5. What can we ask ourselves about our view of money and possessions?

⁵ Have we allowed the world’s view of money and possessions to affect us? We show what we really love by what we think about and what we do. Jesus explained this when he said: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) We need to ask ourselves what is most important to us. Do we spend a lot of time worrying about money, thinking about getting a better job, or trying to have a more comfortable way of life? Or do we try to live a simple life and focus on our relationship with Jehovah? (Matthew 6:22) Jesus said that if we focus on storing up “treasures on the earth,” we may lose our relationship with Jehovah.​—Matthew 6:19, 20, 24.

6. How can we win the fight against our own imperfect tendencies?

⁶ We are imperfect, so it is easy for us to do things that are wrong. (Read Romans 7:21-25.) If we do not rely on God’s holy spirit, we might become involved in “wild parties and drunkenness,” immorality, or even “brazen conduct,” having no respect for God’s laws. (Romans 13:12, 13) We are constantly fighting our imperfect tendencies. We can win this fight only if we keep our minds fixed on the things above. This requires effort, which is why Paul said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) We too need to be strict with ourselves. Let us discuss the examples of two faithful men who did their best to please God.​—Hebrews 11:6.

ABRAHAM “PUT FAITH IN JEHOVAH”

7, 8. (a) What problems did Abraham and Sarah have? (b) What did Abraham think about constantly?

⁷ When Jehovah asked Abraham to move with his family to the land of Canaan, Abraham willingly obeyed. Jehovah rewarded Abraham for his faith and obedience by making a covenant with him. Jehovah told him: “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.” (Genesis 12:2) Many years went by, and Abraham and Sarah still did not have any children. Did Abraham wonder if Jehovah had forgotten his promise? At this time, life was not easy for Abraham. He had left behind his comfortable life in the wealthy city of Ur and had traveled more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the land of Canaan. He and his family lived in tents, did not always have enough to eat, and at times were in danger from thieves. (Genesis 12:5, 10; 13:18; 14:10-16) Yet, Abraham and his family did not want to go back to the comforts of Ur.​—Read Hebrews 11:8-12, 15.

⁸ Abraham “put faith in Jehovah” and did not focus on “the things on the earth.” (Genesis 15:6) He thought constantly about God’s promises to him. Jehovah saw Abraham’s faith and said to him: “‘Look up, please, to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to do so.’ Then he said to him: ‘So your offspring will become.’” (Genesis 15:5) When Abraham heard this, he knew that Jehovah had not forgotten him. Every time he looked up at the stars, he would remember Jehovah’s promise to give him many descendants. And when Jehovah’s time came, Abraham did have a son, just as Jehovah had promised.​—Genesis 21:1, 2.

9. How can we imitate Abraham?

⁹ Like Abraham, we too are waiting for Jehovah’s promises to come true. (2 Peter 3:13) If we do not keep our minds fixed on the things above, we might feel that these promises are delayed and we may not be as zealous for Jehovah as we used to be. Maybe in the past you made sacrifices for Jehovah so that you could be a pioneer or serve in some other special way. But what are you doing now? Are you like Abraham, who did as much as he could for Jehovah and looked ahead to future blessings? (Hebrews 11:10) Abraham “put faith in Jehovah” and was counted as God’s friend.​—Romans 4:3.

MOSES SAW “THE ONE WHO IS INVISIBLE”

10. How was Moses raised?

¹⁰ Moses was another man who kept his mind fixed on the things above. He was raised as part of the royal family of Egypt at the time when Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world. The Bible says that he was “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” This higher education made Moses “powerful in his words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22) Because of his background, Moses had many opportunities to be an important man in Egypt. But there was another kind of education that was more important to Moses.

11, 12. What education was most important to Moses? How do we know this?

¹¹ When Moses was a child, his mother, Jochebed, taught him about the God of the Hebrews. This knowledge of Jehovah was more important to Moses than anything else. He gladly gave up the opportunity for riches and power so that he could do God’s will. (Read Hebrews 11:24-27.) Moses’ early training and his faith in Jehovah helped him to fix his mind on the things above.

¹² Although Moses received the best education available in Egypt, he did not use it to become a powerful, famous, or rich man. In fact, the Bible says that he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin.” Much later, Moses used his knowledge of Jehovah to lead His people.

13, 14. (a) Before Moses could free Jehovah’s people, what did he need to learn? (b) What do we too need to learn?

¹³ Moses loved Jehovah and His people, who were slaves in Egypt at that time. When Moses was 40 years old, he felt that he was ready to free them. (Acts 7:23-25) But Jehovah knew that Moses was not ready to do this yet. He still needed to learn humility, patience, mildness, and self-control. (Proverbs 15:33) Moses needed training that would prepare him for the serious problems that were ahead. The 40 years Moses spent as a shepherd helped him to develop these qualities.

¹⁴ Did this practical training help Moses? Yes, the Bible says that he became “the meekest of all the men on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3) Because he had learned to be humble, he was able to be patient with different kinds of people and their problems. (Exodus 18:26) We too need qualities that will help us to survive “the great tribulation” and enter God’s new world. (Revelation 7:14) Do we get along with people, including those who we think get easily upset or hurt? The apostle Peter’s words can help us: “Honor men of all sorts, have love for the whole association of brothers.”​—1 Peter 2:17.

KEEPING OUR MINDS FIXED ON THE THINGS ABOVE

15, 16. (a) Why must we keep our minds fixed on the right things? (b) Why do Christians need to maintain good conduct?

¹⁵ We live in “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) That is why we must keep our minds fixed on the right things in order to stay close to God. (1 Thessalonians 5:6-9) Let us see three ways we can do this.

¹⁶ Our conduct: Peter explained that good conduct is very important when he said: “Maintain your conduct fine among the nations.” He added that those who do not know Jehovah may notice how we behave and may, “as a result, glorify God.” (1 Peter 2:12) We must do everything we can to glorify Jehovah through our conduct, whether we are at home, at work, at school, at play, or in the preaching work. Of course, we all are imperfect and we all make mistakes. (Romans 3:23) But we should not be discouraged. With Jehovah’s help, we can “fight the fine fight of the faith.”​—1 Timothy 6:12.

17. How can we imitate Jesus’ mental attitude? (See opening picture.)

¹⁷ Our mental attitude: To maintain good conduct, we need to have the right attitude. The apostle Paul said: “Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) What attitude did Jesus have? He was humble, and this made him want to give his best to Jehovah. Preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom was always on his mind. (Mark 1:38; 13:10) For Jesus, God’s Word was the most important guide. (John 7:16; 8:28) He carefully studied the Holy Scriptures so that he could quote them, defend them, and explain them. If we think like Christ, we too will be humble, zealous in our ministry, and diligent in our Bible study.

18. In what important ways can we support Jehovah’s work?

¹⁸ Our support: It is God’s purpose that “those in heaven and those on earth” submit to Jesus. (Philippians 2:9-11) Even though Jesus has a very important position, he humbly submits to his Father. We should do the same. (1 Corinthians 15:28) We share in Jehovah’s work when we “make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19) We also “work what is good toward all” when we do good things for our neighbors and for our brothers.​—Galatians 6:10.

19. What should we be determined to do?

¹⁹ We are so grateful that Jehovah tells us to keep our minds fixed on the things above! We need to “run with endurance” and stay focused on the right things. (Hebrews 12:1) Let us be determined to work “whole-souled as for Jehovah,” knowing that our heavenly Father will bless us richly.​—Colossians 3:23, 24.

TWO years before that mob attack, Evelyn Trabert and I finished our training in the fourth class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. At that time, Gilead School was held near Ithaca, New York. We were assigned to serve as missionaries in El Salvador, and I served there for almost 29 years. Before I tell you about my life as a missionary, let me explain why I decided to volunteer for that work.

HOW OUR FAMILY LEARNED THE TRUTH

I was born in 1923 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. My parents, John and Eva Olson, were Lutherans, but they did not accept the church teaching of hellfire. They could not believe that a loving God would torture people. (1 John 4:8) My father worked in a bakery. One night, one of the workers explained to him from the Bible that God does not torture people in hell. Soon after that, my parents began to study with Jehovah’s Witnesses. They learned what the Bible really teaches about life after death.

I was only nine years old at the time, but I still remember how excited my parents were about the things they were learning. They were thrilled to learn that God’s name is Jehovah and that there is no Trinity. (John 8:32) My parents also taught me what they were learning, and I absorbed these truths like a sponge. I never thought that reading the Bible was boring. I enjoyed studying God’s Word. Although I was shy, I joined my parents in the preaching work. In 1934, they were baptized, and in 1939, I was baptized at the age of 16.

In the summer of 1940, my parents sold their house and we moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There we began pioneering together. We lived in a rented apartment that was above a car-repair shop. Our home was also used for congregation meetings. At that time, only a few congregations had Kingdom Halls. Most met in rented rooms or in the homes of brothers and sisters.

In 1941, my parents and I attended an assembly in St. Louis, Missouri. The last day of that assembly was called “Children’s Day.” On that day, young ones between the ages of 5 and 18 were asked to sit close to the stage. Toward the end of one of the talks, Brother Joseph F. Rutherford spoke directly to us young ones. He asked all of us children to stand up if we agreed to “obey God and his King.” We all stood up. Then, Brother Rutherford announced, “Behold, more than 15,000 new witnesses to the Kingdom!” At that moment, I decided that I wanted to pioneer for the rest of my life.

OUR FAMILY’S ASSIGNMENTS

A few months after that assembly, our family was asked to move to the city of Oxnard in southern California. We were assigned to start a congregation there. We lived in a small mobile home with only one bed. Every night we had to set up my bed on top of our dining table. That was a big change from when I had my own bedroom!

On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the next day the United States entered the second world war. Right after that was when we arrived in California. At that time, Japanese submarines were in the waters nearby, so the authorities ordered all those near the coast to turn off their lights at night. The total darkness made it difficult for submarines to attack targets on land.

A few months later, in September 1942, we attended the New World Theocratic Assembly in Cleveland, Ohio. I especially remember the talk “Peace​—Can It Last?” which Brother Nathan H. Knorr gave. In it, he discussed the prophecy in Revelation chapter 17 about the “wild beast” that “was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss.” (Revelation 17:8, 11) Brother Knorr explained that “the wild beast” was the League of Nations that ceased its activities during the war. He then announced that a world peace organization would reappear and a more peaceful time would follow. That is exactly what happened. In 1945 the second world war ended. After that, the United Nations replaced the League of Nations. From that time on, Jehovah’s Witnesses began preaching the good news in many more places throughout the earth. What a great increase we have seen since then!

That prophecy helped me to understand that there was much work to be done. So when it was announced that Gilead School would begin the following year, I wanted to go to that school and become a missionary. In the meantime, in 1943, I was assigned to pioneer in Portland, Oregon. In those days, we used phonographs to play sermons for householders on their doorsteps, and then we offered them Bible literature about God’s Kingdom. All that year, I kept thinking about missionary service.

In 1944, my dear friend Evelyn Trabert and I received an invitation to attend Gilead School. I was so happy that we had been accepted! For five months, our teachers showed us how to study the Bible in a way that we truly enjoyed. We were very impressed by the humility of our teachers. For example, sometimes our teachers would work as waiters and serve our meals. We finished Gilead School on January 22, 1945.

MY MISSIONARY ASSIGNMENT

In June 1946, Evelyn and I, along with Leo and Esther Mahan, arrived in Santa Ana, El Salvador. The field there was “white for harvesting.” (John 4:35) Some months after we arrived, we had our first circuit assembly in Santa Ana. We invited people to attend, and we were so happy when nearly 500 came. Our preaching made the clergy furious, and one week later they arranged the mob attack mentioned at the beginning of this story. They tried to scare us and wanted us to leave. But that made us even more determined to stay and help the people. The clergy warned them not to read the Bible, and only a few had enough money to buy one. But many wanted to learn the truth. They were grateful that we were learning Spanish so that we could teach them about Jehovah and his promise to make the earth a paradise.

One of my first Bible students was Rosa Ascencio. She was living with a man, and they were not married. But after she began studying the Bible, she separated from him. Then he too began to study the Bible. They got married, were baptized, and became zealous Witnesses. Rosa was the first regular pioneer from Santa Ana.b​—See footnote.

Rosa owned a small grocery shop. Each time she went out in the ministry, she closed her shop and trusted that Jehovah would take care of her needs. Rosa always had enough customers. She saw that Jehovah was caring for her, just as Matthew 6:33 promises. Rosa was faithful to Jehovah until her death.

Six of us missionaries rented a house from a well-known businessman. One day, a priest visited the man and warned him that if he continued to rent the house to us, the man and his wife would be excommunicated. The man was not afraid of the priest and told him that he did not care if he was expelled from the church. He was already disgusted by some of the things that the clergy had done. He assured us that we could stay in the house for as long as we wanted.

A RESPECTED CITIZEN BECOMES A WITNESS

In the capital city, San Salvador, another missionary studied the Bible with the wife of an engineer named Baltasar Perla. He had lost faith in God because he saw that many religious leaders were hypocrites. But he was a very kind man. Even though he was not yet a Witness, he offered to design and help build the branch office in El Salvador, and he did not charge the Witnesses for his work.

During the construction of the branch office, Baltasar worked with many Witnesses and became convinced that he had found the true religion. He was baptized on July 22, 1955, and his wife, Paulina, was baptized soon after. Their two children are both serving Jehovah faithfully. Their son, Baltasar junior, has served in Bethel in New York for the last 49 years. There he supports the worldwide preaching work and serves on the United States Branch Committee.c​—See footnote.

When we began to have conventions in San Salvador, Brother Perla helped us to get the use of a large gymnasium where we could meet. The first time we met there, we did not fill many seats. But more and more people came each year, and soon we did not have enough seats in the gymnasium. We could see that Jehovah was blessing our efforts. At these conventions, I was able to see those with whom I had studied the Bible. And I was so happy when the students of my Bible students were baptized! I felt as if these new ones were my grandchildren.

At one assembly, a brother approached me and said he wanted to apologize. I did not know what he meant and did not recognize him. He said, “I was one of the boys who threw stones at you in Santa Ana.” It filled my heart with joy to know that he was now serving Jehovah with me. That conversation reminded me that the full-time ministry is the most satisfying way of life.

I MADE SATISFYING CHOICES

For nearly 29 years, I continued in the missionary work in El Salvador. I served in Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Santa Tecla, and finally San Salvador. During those years, my parents were getting older and eventually needed my assistance. So after many prayers, I decided to leave my missionary assignment and return to Spokane in 1975.

My father died in 1979, and I cared for my mother for another eight years. She could not do much without my help because she was so weak. She died at the age of 94. That was a very difficult time for me. The stress and emotions I felt exhausted me completely. I got shingles, which was very painful. But I felt the support of Jehovah’s loving arms around me. He answered my prayers and helped me to endure that difficult time. Jehovah has kept his promise to carry me even in my old age.​—Isaiah 46:4.

In 1990, I moved to Omak, Washington. There I was able to preach in the Spanish-language territory, and I felt useful again. Several of my Bible students got baptized. After a while, I could no longer take care of my house in Omak. So in November 2007, I moved into an apartment in the nearby town of Chelan, Washington. The Spanish congregation here takes good care of me, and I am grateful for that. Since I am the only elderly Witness here, they love me as their own grandmother.

I chose not to marry and have children so that I could serve Jehovah more fully. (1 Corinthians 7:34, 35) I reasoned that in this life I cannot have everything. So I have decided to focus on what is most important, that is, serving Jehovah with my whole heart. I have helped many to learn the truth, and they have become like my own children. And in the new world, I will have plenty of time to do everything I would like to do. My favorite scripture is Psalm 145:16, where Jehovah promises that he will “satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Now I am 91 years old and my health is still quite good, so I continue to pioneer. The pioneer service helps me to stay active and gives me a purpose in life. When I first arrived in El Salvador, the preaching work had just begun. But now, El Salvador has over 39,000 publishers. I know that Satan cannot stop our work, even though he keeps on trying. This growth really strengthens my faith. I have no doubt that Jehovah’s holy spirit is supporting his people.