Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SIMPLIFIED EDITION
STUDY ARTICLES
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MARCH 3-9
Worship Jehovah,
the King of Eternity
PAGE 3 SONGS: 106, 46
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MARCH 10-16
100 Years of
Kingdom Rule
—How Does It
Affect You?
PAGE 8 SONGS: 97, 101
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MARCH 17-23
Making Wise
Choices During
Youth
PAGE 14 SONGS: 41, 89
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MARCH 24-30
Serving Jehovah
Before the Days
of Distress Come
PAGE 20 SONGS: 54, 17
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MARCH 31–APRIL 6
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Making Wise Choices During Youth
1,737 congregations and 373
groups in 15 languages, including
Serving Jehovah Before the Days
Hungarian, Romanian, Russian,
of Distress Come
Russian Sign Language, and What will I do with my life? This is a very important question
Ukrainian for anyone who has decided to serve Jehovah. First, we will
discuss what options young Christians have if they want to
serve Jehovah with all their heart. Then, we will discuss
what unique opportunities are available to older Christians
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE who want to serve Jehovah more fully.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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quotations are from the modern-language New World Secretary-Treasurer; 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. 5 2014 Watch Tower Bible
Translation of the Holy Scriptures. NY 11201-2483, and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in Canada.
Society of Canada, PO Box 4100, Georgetown,
Worship Jehovah,
the King of Eternity
“To the King of eternity . . . be honor and glory forever.”
—1 TIMOTHY 1:17.
KING SOBHUZA II of Swaziland ruled for almost 61 years. HOW WOULD YOU
Even though it is impressive that a man ruled for so long, ANSWER?
there is a king who does not live for only a short time, as hu- ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
mans do. The Bible says that he is “the King of eternity.” Why are we drawn to
(1 Timothy 1:17) One of the psalms gives us the name of Jehovah’s way of ruling?
this Sovereign. It says: “Jehovah is King forever and ever.”
—Psalm 10:16.
2The length of time that God has been King makes his
rule different from that of any human. But it is the way Je- ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
hovah rules that draws us to him. A king who ruled over Is- How has Jehovah always
rael for 40 years praised God by saying: “Jehovah is merci- shown love for his human
ful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal family?
love. Jehovah has firmly established his throne in the heav-
ens; 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 Why do you want to worship
been in control since the rebellion in Eden? The answers to the King of eternity?
these questions will draw us closer to Jehovah and strength-
en our confidence in him.
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?
4 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
angel who had rebelled against God. hovah, as a loving Father, protected and
(Genesis 3:1-6) The result was pain, suf- guided those eight loyal people. When
fering, and death for themselves and Jehovah brought the Flood, he removed
their children. (Genesis 3:16-19; Ro- the rebellious humans and wicked an-
mans 5:12) So God had no obedient ser- gels and showed that he was definitely
vants left on earth. But did this mean in control.—Genesis 7:17-24.
that he had lost control and that he had
JEHOVAH’S RULE AFTER THE FLOOD
given up his sovereignty over the earth?
Absolutely not! Jehovah expelled Adam
9 After Noah and his family came out
and Eve from the garden of Eden, and of the ark, they must have been very
to prevent them from coming back, he grateful to Jehovah for his care and pro-
assigned cherubs to guard the entrance. tection. Immediately, Noah built an al-
(Genesis 3:23, 24) At the same time, he tar and offered sacrifices to worship Je-
showed his fatherly love. He promised hovah. God blessed Noah’s family and
that he would still have a family of faith- told them to “be fruitful and become
ful angels and humans and that one of many and fill the earth.” (Genesis 8:20–
Adam’s descendants would destroy Sa- 9:1) Again, mankind had an opportuni-
tan and remove the damage done by ty to unite in worship to Jehovah and to
Adam’s sin.—Read Genesis 3:15. fill the earth.
7In the hundreds of years that fol- 10However, people were still imper-
fect after the Flood. They still had to
lowed, some men such as Abel and
live with the invisible influence of Sa-
Enoch chose to be loyal to Jehovah.
tan and the demons. Soon, people were
However, most humans did not accept
again rebelling against Jehovah’s lov-
Jehovah as their Father and King. By
ing rule. One person who opposed Je-
the time of Noah, the earth had become
hovah was Noah’s great-grandson Nim-
“filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11)
rod. Nimrod was “a mighty hunter in
Did this mean that Jehovah was no lon-
opposition to Jehovah.” He built large
ger in control of the earth? What does
cities, such as Babel, and made him-
the Bible say?
self king “in the land of Shinar.” (Gen-
8The Bible says that Jehovah gave
esis 10:8-12) What would Jehovah do
Noah detailed instructions to build a about this rebel king? How would Jeho-
huge ark that would save him and his vah react to Nimrod’s efforts to oppose
family. God also showed his love for hu- God’s will? God confused the people’s
mans when he appointed Noah to be language so that Nimrod’s followers
“a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter would scatter all over the world. Wher-
2:5) Noah likely invited people to re- ever they went they brought their false
pent and warned them of the coming religion and their way of human rule
destruction, but no one listened. For with them.—Genesis 11:1-9.
many years, Noah and his family lived
in a violent and very immoral world. Je- 9. What opportunity did Jehovah give man-
kind after the Flood?
7, 8. (a) How bad had the world become by 10. (a) After the Flood, where and how did
the time of Noah? (b) What did Jehovah do people start rebelling against Jehovah?
to cleanse the earth and to protect the human (b) What did Jehovah do to make sure that his
family? will was done?
11Many worshipped false gods after over the earth? No! At his chosen time,
the Flood, but there were still some Jehovah proved his power and showed
faithful men who worshipped Jehovah. that he had much more authority than
One of them was Abraham. He had a stubborn Pharaoh. The Israelites put
comfortable home in the city of Ur, yet their faith in Jehovah, and he freed
he obeyed Jehovah, left the city, and them in a wonderful way by leading
lived in tents for many years. (Genesis them through the Red Sea. Clearly, Je-
11:31; Hebrews 11:8, 9) Abraham did hovah was still the ruler of the universe,
not trust in the protection that a hu- and as a Father who cares for his chil-
man king or a city wall might give him. dren, he used his great power to protect
Instead, it was Jehovah who protected his people.—Read Exodus 14:13, 14.
Abraham and his family. The psalmist
wrote about Jehovah’s fatherly protec- JEHOVAH BECOMES KING TO ISRAEL
tion: “[God] did not allow any man to 13Immediately after Jehovah freed
oppress them, but on their account he them from Egypt, the Israelites sang the
reproved kings.” (Psalm 105:13, 14) Be- song of praise recorded in Exodus chap-
cause he was loyal to his friend, Jehovah ter 15. Verse 18 says: “Jehovah will rule
promised Abraham: “Kings will come as king forever and ever.” Jehovah had
from you.”—Genesis 17:6; James 2:23. really become King over the new nation
12God promised Abraham’s son of Israel. (Deuteronomy 33:5) However,
Isaac and grandson Jacob that he would for the Israelites, it was not enough
bless them and that their descendants to have Jehovah as their invisible Rul-
would become kings. (Genesis 26:3-5; er. About 400 years after leaving Egypt,
35:11) However, before they became they asked God to give them a human
kings, Jacob’s descendants first became king, just as the pagan nations around
slaves in Egypt. Did this mean that Je- them had. (1 Samuel 8:5) Even so, dur-
hovah would not fulfill his promise or ing the reign of David, it became very
that he had given up his sovereignty clear that Jehovah was still King.
14 David brought the ark of the cove-
11. How did Jehovah show that he was loyal to
his friend Abraham? 13, 14. (a) What did the Israelites say in song
12. How did Jehovah show his sovereignty over about Jehovah’s rule? (b) What did God prom-
Egypt, and how did this help his people? ise David?
6 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
nant to Jerusalem. On this joyful day, fore his death, Jesus made a covenant
the Levites sang a song of praise to Je- “for a kingdom” with his followers. This
hovah and made this important state- meant that some of his faithful disci-
ment, recorded at 1 Chronicles 16:31: ples would become kings with Jesus in
“Declare among the nations: ‘Jehovah God’s Kingdom.—Read Luke 22:28-30.
has become King!’” But since Jehovah 17 When would Jesus begin to rule as
is the King of eternity, how is it that he King of God’s Kingdom? He could not
became King at that time? Jehovah be- do so immediately. The very next after-
came King when he selected David to noon, Jesus was executed and his fol-
represent him. Understanding how Je- lowers fled. (John 16:32) However, just
hovah becomes King is very important. as in the past, Jehovah was still in con-
Before David died, Jehovah promised trol. On the third day, he resurrected
him that his rule would continue for- his Son, and on the day of Pentecost in
ever: “I will raise up your offspring af- the year 33, Jesus began to rule over the
ter you, your own son, and I will firmly Christian congregation. (Colossians 1:
establish his kingdom.” (2 Samuel 7:12, 13) But Jesus, the promised son of Da-
13) This promise came true when the vid, would have to wait to have full pow-
“offspring,” or son, of David appeared er over the earth. So Jehovah told his
more than 1,000 years later. Who was Son: “Sit at my right hand until I place
he, and when did he become King? your enemies as a stool for your feet.”
—Psalm 110:1.
JEHOVAH APPOINTS A NEW KING
15In the year 29, John the Baptizer WORSHIP THE KING OF ETERNITY
began preaching that “the Kingdom of 18 For thousands of years, angels and
the heavens [had] drawn near.” (Mat- humans have rebelled against Jehovah’s
thew 3:2) When Jesus was baptized by rule. But Jehovah has always been in
John, Jehovah anointed Jesus as the control and has never given up his sov-
Messiah and future King of God’s King- ereignty. As a loving Father, he has pro-
dom. Jehovah showed his fatherly love tected and cared for such loyal servants
for Jesus by saying: “This is my Son, the as Noah, Abraham, and David. We are
beloved, whom I have approved.”—Mat- glad to obey such a King, and we want
thew 3:17. to draw close to him.
16During his ministry, Jesus gave 19But we may ask: How has Jeho-
glory to his Father. (John 17:4) He did vah become King in our day? How can
this by preaching about the Kingdom we be loyal servants of Jehovah and be-
of God. (Luke 4:43) He even taught come perfect sons in his universal fam-
his followers to pray for that Kingdom ily? What does it mean when we pray
to come. (Matthew 6:10) As the future for God’s Kingdom to come? These
King, Jesus could say to his opposers: questions will be answered in the next
“The Kingdom of God is in your midst.” article.
(Luke 17:21) Later, on the evening be-
17. In what way did Jesus begin to rule in the
15, 16. When was Jesus anointed as future year 33, but for what would he have to wait?
King? While on earth, what did Jesus do to pre- 18, 19. What are we moved to do? What will
pare his Kingdom? we learn in the next article?
CAN YOU ANSWER? IN THE spring of the year 31 on a mountain close to the
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ town of Capernaum, Jesus Christ taught his followers to
How did Jehovah become pray: “Let your Kingdom come.” (Matthew 6:10) Today,
King in 1914? What were many doubt if the Kingdom will ever come. However, we
some of the first things that are confident that Jehovah will answer our prayers for his
the Kingdom did?
Kingdom to come.
2Jehovah 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
How has Jesus used the prove that Jehovah is already King and that he is doing
Messianic Kingdom to refine, wonderful things for the millions of his servants. (Zecha-
educate, and organize God’s riah 14:9; Revelation 15:3) However, Jehovah’s becoming
loyal servants on earth? King is different from the coming of God’s Kingdom that
Jesus taught us to pray for. How are these two events dif-
ferent, and how do they affect us?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JEHOVAH’S APPOINTED KING TAKES ACTION
When will our prayer “let your About 20 years before 1900, God’s servants began to
3
Kingdom come” be answered understand a prophecy that was written by Daniel over
completely, and what will that
2,500 years ago: “In the days of those kings the God
mean?
1, 2. What will God’s Kingdom do, and how do we know that the King-
dom will come?
3. (a) When was Jesus enthroned as King, and where? (b) How would
you prove that Jesus began ruling in 1914? (See footnote.)
8 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
of heaven will set up a kingdom that demons, Jehovah had Jesus inspect
will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2: and refine his followers here on earth.
44) For more than 20 years, the Bible The prophet Malachi described this
Students preached that 1914 would as a cleansing. (Malachi 3:1-3) Histo-
be a very important year. Many peo- ry shows that this cleansing happened
ple at that time were very optimis- between 1914 and the beginning of
tic about the future. One writer says: 1919. (See footnote.) If we want to
“The world of 1914 was full of hope be a part of Jehovah’s universal fami-
and promise.” However, later that ly, we must be clean, or holy. (1 Peter
year, World War I began, and Bible 1:15, 16) We must keep our worship
prophecy came true. The food short- clean from the contamination of false
ages, earthquakes, diseases, and oth- religion or politics.
er Bible prophecies that were fulfilled
proved that Jesus Christ began ruling
in heaven as King of God’s Kingdom Jehovah will use
in 1914. (See footnote.) By enthron-
ing his Son as the Messianic King, Je- the Kingdom to
hovah had become King in a new way.
4The first thing that God’s new
unite his family
King did was to fight a war against in heaven and on
his Father’s main enemy, Satan. Je- earth
sus and his angels threw the Dev-
il and all his demons out of heaven.
This brought great joy in heaven but 6Jesus then used his authority as
brought more suffering than ever be- King to appoint a “faithful and dis-
fore on earth. (Read Revelation 12: creet slave.” This slave would regular-
7-9, 12.) After that, the King began ly provide good spiritual food to all
to refine, teach, and organize his ser- those who are part of the “one flock”
vants on earth to do God’s will. Let us under Jesus’ care. (Matthew 24:45-47;
see how their obedience to Jesus’ di- John 10:16) Since 1919, a small group
rection sets a good example for us to- of anointed brothers have loyally han-
day. dled the important responsibility of
THE MESSIANIC KING feeding the “domestics.” The faithful
REFINES HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS and discreet slave provides us with an
5After Jesus cleansed the heavens abundance of spiritual food so that we
of the bad influence of Satan and his can grow in our faith. It makes us even
more determined to keep our wor-
See the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? ship, our actions, and our thinking,
pages 88-92.
See the July 15, 2013, issue of The Watchtower,
4. What was the first thing that Jesus did when pages 22-23, paragraph 12.
he became King? What did he do next?
5. What cleansing happened between 1914 6. How is spiritual food provided, and why is
and the beginning of 1919? this food so important?
as well as our bodies, clean accord- drawn near.’” (Matthew 10:7) After
ing to God’s standards. This spiritu- his resurrection, Jesus foretold that
al food also educates us and prepares his followers would take this mes-
us to work hard in the most impor- sage “to the most distant part of the
tant assignment on earth, the preach- earth.” (Acts 1:8) He promised them
ing work. Do you regularly partake of that he would personally support this
this spiritual food? vital work until the end of this system.
—Matthew 28:19, 20.
THE KING EDUCATES HIS FOLLOWERS 8By 1919, the “good news of the
TO PREACH WORLDWIDE
Kingdom” included a new meaning.
7 When Jesus began his ministry on (Matthew 24:14) The King was rul-
earth, he said: “I must also declare ing in heaven, and he had gathered a
the good news of the Kingdom of God small group of cleansed followers on
to other cities, because for this I was earth. This group eagerly obeyed Je-
sent.” (Luke 4:43) For three and a half sus’ clear command to preach in
all the earth the good news that
God’s Kingdom was ruling in heaven!
Jesus promised that (Acts 10:42) For example, in Septem-
ber 1922, close to 20,000 supporters
he would personally of the Kingdom were at the inter-
support the preaching national convention in Cedar Point,
Ohio, U.S.A. Imagine how excited
work until the end they must have been when Broth-
of this system er Rutherford gave the talk “The King-
dom” and declared: “Behold, the King
reigns! You are his publicity agents.
years, this ministry was the most im- Therefore advertise, advertise, adver-
portant work in Jesus’ life. He taught tise, the King and his kingdom.” The
his disciples: “As you go, preach, say- next day, two thousand of them went
ing: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has out in the field service, and some even
traveled as far away as 72 kilometers
7. What important work did Jesus start when
he was on the earth, and until when would it 8. How did the King motivate his followers on
continue? earth to preach?
10 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
(45 miles) from the convention site to Couples said with appreciation: “The
preach. One brother said: “Never will specialized training we received has
I forget the call to advertise the King- deepened our love for Jehovah and
dom and the zeal of the assembled has better equipped us to help oth-
throng!” Many others felt the same ers.”
way. 11The enemy Satan sees all these
9 By 1922, there were more than 17,- great efforts to preach and teach the
000 publishers preaching in 58 lands good news. He wants to stop the
around the world. However, they preaching work and will use any way
needed training. In the first centu-
ry, the chosen King gave his disciples
clear instructions about what, where, Jesus uses his
and how to preach. (Matthew 10:5-7;
Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11) In a similar way
authority to protect
today, Jesus makes sure that all who and guide his
preach get instructions and have the
tools they need to be good teachers.
disciples to make
(2 Timothy 3:17) Jesus is using the sure that his Father’s
Christian congregation to train his fol-
lowers for the ministry. One way he will is done
trains them is by using the Theocratic
Ministry School in the more than 111,- he can to attack the Kingdom mes-
000 congregations worldwide. This sage and those who preach it. But Sa-
school is instructing more than sev- tan’s attacks will not succeed. Jeho-
en million publishers how to preach vah has put his Son “far above every
and teach in a way that will help “peo- government and authority and power
ple of all sorts.”—Read 1 Corinthians and lordship.” (Ephesians 1:20-22) As
9:20-23. King, Jesus uses his authority to pro-
10There are also additional Bible tect and guide his disciples to make
schools to train congregation elders, sure that his Father’s will is done.
pioneers, single brothers, Christian (See footnote.) The good news con-
couples, Branch Committee members tinues to be preached, and millions
and their wives, traveling overseers of honest people are being taught to
and their wives, and missionaries. worship Jehovah. It is truly an honor
(See footnote.) The students of one for us to be a part of this wonderful
class of the Bible School for Christian work!
See the September 15, 2012, issue of The Watch- See the December 1, 1998, issue of The Watch-
tower, pages 13-17, “Theocratic Schools—Evidence of tower, pages 19-22, for examples of legal victories in
Jehovah’s Love.” different countries.
9, 10. (a) What schools train us for the min- 11. How has it been possible for Jesus’ follow-
istry? (b) How have you personally benefited ers to continue preaching despite Satan’s at-
from this training? tacks?
12 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
1976 7,224,930
The Governing Body
is organized into Organization
six committees 6,035,564
mies. (Psalm 110:2) Human govern- it will completely erase the effects of
ments under Satan’s control still op- Adam’s sin. The King will resurrect
pose the Kingdom. When we pray for millions of people and will organize
God’s Kingdom to come, we are ask- a program of worldwide education to
ing God that the Messianic King and teach them about Jehovah. (Revela-
the other 144,000 kings in heaven re- tion 20:12, 13) The whole earth will be-
move human rule and those on earth come a paradise just like the garden of
who oppose the Kingdom. When this Eden, and all faithful humans will be-
happens, the prophecy at Daniel 2: come perfect.
44 will be fulfilled. There it says that 16After the thousand years of
God’s Kingdom “will crush and put Christ’s rule, Jehovah’s purpose for
an end to all these kingdoms.” It will the earth will be fulfilled. Then Jesus
destroy governments that are enemies will give the Kingdom back to his Fa-
of the Kingdom. (Revelation 6:1, 2; 13: ther. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.)
1-18; 19:11-21) Since this will happen We will no longer need anyone to rep-
very soon, it is appropriate that our resent us before Jehovah. All of God’s
yeartext for 2014 is Matthew 6:10: “Let sons in heaven and his children on
your Kingdom come.” It has now been earth will be united with their heav-
100 years since Jesus started to rule in enly Father as part of his universal
heaven! family.
15After Jesus destroys God’s ene- 17The exciting events during these
mies, he will throw Satan and his de- 100 years of Kingdom rule show us
mons into an abyss for a thousand that Jehovah is in control and that his
years. (Revelation 20:1-3) Without purpose for the earth will come true.
that evil influence, the Kingdom will Let us continue to serve him loyally
move quickly to help people bene- and advertise the King and his King-
fit from Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, and dom. We are confident that Jehovah
15, 16. (a) What exciting events will happen
will soon answer our prayer: “Let your
during the thousand years of Christ’s rule? Kingdom come”!
(b) What will be the last thing Jesus does as
Messianic King? What will that mean for Jeho- 17. What are you determined to do for the
vah’s purpose? Kingdom?
14 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
the brothers were violently persecut- what will be most important in your
ed. Paul was forced to leave there, life.—Philippians 1:10.
but he trusted that Timothy would
strengthen the brothers. (Acts 17:5-
15; 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 2, 6) Imagine The time to make
how excited Timothy must have been
to be given that assignment! important decisions is
YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DECISION now, while you are young
3The time to make important de-
cisions is now, while you are young. WHAT WILL YOU DO
What is the most important deci- WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG?
sion you will make? Your decision to 5Decide to serve Jehovah, find out
serve Jehovah. When is the best time what he wants you to do, and then
to make that decision? Jehovah tells decide how you will live your life. A
you to remember him while you are Japanese brother writes: “When I was
young. (Ecclesiastes 12:1) The only 14, I was out preaching with a congre-
way to remember Jehovah is to serve gation elder who noticed that I was
him with all your heart. (Deuterono- not enjoying the ministry. Gently, he
my 10:12) It is the most important de- said to me: ‘Go home, Yuichiro. Sit
cision you will ever make. It will affect down at your desk and think careful-
the rest of your life.—Psalm 71:5. ly about what Jehovah has done for
4 Of course, your choice to serve Je- you.’ I did as he said. In fact, I con-
hovah is not the only choice that af- tinued thinking and praying for some
fects your future. You will also need days. Gradually, my attitude changed.
to decide if you will get married, Soon, I found that I enjoyed serving
whom you will marry, and what job Jehovah. I enjoyed reading about mis-
you will have. These are very impor- sionaries, and I began to think about
tant decisions, but you must first de- serving God more fully.”
6 Yuichiro started making good de-
cide to serve Jehovah with all your
heart. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Why? cisions. Because of this, he later was
Because all these decisions are close- able to serve Jehovah in another coun-
ly connected. What you decide about try. He says: “For example, I chose to
marriage and work will affect how take a course in English. When I left
you serve God. And your desire to school, I chose part-time work teach-
serve God will affect the choices ing English so that I could pioneer.
When I was 20, I started learning
you make about marriage and work.
Mongolian and I had a chance to visit
(Compare Luke 14:16-20.) So decide
5, 6. How does Yuichiro’s experience show us
3. What is the most important decision you that making right decisions can open the door
will make in life, and when should you make it? to further opportunities for serving Jehovah?
4. What important decisions will affect how (See also the article “What I Chose as a Child”
you serve God? in this issue.)
16 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
ever, Jesus did teach us the impor- knew this, so he served his Father by
tance of seeking the Kingdom first. doing His will and served others by
When you seek the Kingdom first, teaching them the good news. This
many doors will be opened to you. made him happy. (Luke 10:21; John 4:
For example, you will have many op- 34) You probably have felt that same
portunities to show your love for Je- happiness when you serve others. So
hovah and your neighbors and to base your decisions on the princi-
show that you are thankful for the ples that Jesus taught. Doing this will
hope of everlasting life. Will your make you happy, and it will make Je-
decisions about marriage and work hovah happy too.—Proverbs 27:11.
show that you worry more about 11The greatest happiness comes
your possessions than about “seeking from serving Jehovah. (Proverbs 16:
first the Kingdom and his righteous- 20) It seems that Baruch, the secre-
ness”? tary of Jeremiah, lost his joy at one
10Find happiness in serving oth- point in his life. Baruch started to
ers. (Read Acts 20:20, 21, 24, 35.) think more about what he wanted
This is a basic principle of life. Jesus than about what Jehovah wanted.
10. What made Jesus happy, and what must 11. Why did Baruch lose his joy, and what
you do to be happy? counsel did Jehovah give him?
18 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
15Once you know what jobs are than others. You probably have no-
available to you, you need practical ticed that some have lost their faith af-
advice. (Proverbs 1:5) Who can help ter choosing a particular type of em-
you to evaluate your job options using ployment. (1 Timothy 1:19) It is wise
Bible principles? Listen to people who to avoid any kind of work that could
love Jehovah, love you, and know you damage your friendship with Jeho-
and your circumstances well. They vah.—Proverbs 22:3.
will help you to be honest with your-
self about what you can do and what
you want to do. Maybe what they say Make decisions that
will help you to rethink your goals. If
your parents love Jehovah, they can be will allow you to enjoy
a great help to you. Also, the elders in serving Jehovah in
your congregation will give you good
advice. Ask pioneers and traveling these exciting times
overseers why they decided to serve
Jehovah full-time. How did they get ENJOY BEING A YOUNG CHRISTIAN
started? What did they do for work?
18If you have a sincere desire to
What blessings have they received?
—Proverbs 15:22. serve Jehovah, use the opportunities
16Those who really know you well offered to you while you are young.
can give you wise advice. For exam- Make the kind of decisions that will
ple, what if you want to quit high allow you to enjoy serving God in
school and start pioneering because these exciting times.—Psalm 148:
you do not like the hard work that 12, 13.
school requires? A person who loves 19What if you do not yet feel like
you may clearly see why you want to serving Jehovah? Do not give up
quit school. So he can help you to un- trying to build strong faith in Jeho-
derstand that persevering in school vah. Paul explained what he did to
will help you to learn not to give up have Jehovah’s blessing. He said: “If
easily. This quality is necessary if you you are mentally inclined otherwise
want to serve Jehovah forever.—Psalm in any respect, God will reveal the
141:5; Proverbs 6:6-10. above attitude to you. At any rate, to
17Everyone who serves Jehovah the extent we have made progress,
will face situations that can weaken let us go on walking orderly in this
his faith and draw him away from Je- same course.” (Philippians 3:15, 16)
hovah. (1 Corinthians 15:33; Colos- Remember that Jehovah loves you.
sians 2:8) Some types of employment His advice is the best. Let him help
may be more dangerous to your faith you to make the best decisions now
while you are young.
15, 16. Who can give you wise advice about
employment? 18, 19. If you do not yet want to pioneer, what
17. What kind of work should you avoid? can you do?
CAN YOU EXPLAIN? JEHOVAH inspired King Solomon to tell young people:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “Remember . . . your Grand Creator in the days of your
How can experienced youth, before the days of distress come.” What are “the
Christians share what they days of distress”? This expression refers to old age. Sol-
have learned with younger
omon used poetic words to describe the difficulties older
ones?
ones have: trembling hands, unsteady legs, loss of teeth,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
poor eyesight, poor hearing, white hair, and a bent and
What examples in the Bible
stiff body. No wonder Solomon told us to remember our
can encourage older ones to Grand Creator while we are young!—Read Ecclesiastes
move where the need is 12:1-5.
greater? 2Many 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
How have some older
Solomon described. Could these experienced Christians
brothers and sisters started
serving Jehovah in new ways? 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?
20 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
also apply Solomon’s advice to young
people: “Remember . . . your Grand As an experienced
Creator”? First of all, what does that
advice mean? Christian, you have
3 You may have been serving Jeho-
to apply Bible principles in a variety of show them how you encourage elder-
situations in life. You have the abili- ly brothers and sisters when you vis-
ty to touch the hearts of others with it them? Even if you do not have the
Bible truth. If you are an elder, you strength you used to have, you still
know how to help brothers who have wonderful opportunities to train
have made unwise decisions. (Gala- younger ones. The Bible says: “The
tians 6:1) Perhaps you have learned glory of young men is their strength,
how to oversee congregation activi- and the splendor of old men is their
ties, assembly departments, or King- gray hair.”—Proverbs 20:29.
dom Hall construction. You may SERVING WHERE THE NEED IS GREATER
know how to encourage doctors to 8 The apostle Paul stayed very busy
use methods that do not require blood
in Jehovah’s service even as he got
when they operate. Even if you are
older. By the time he was released
newly baptized, you have gained valu-
from prison in Rome about the
able experience in life. For example,
year 61, he had already worked very
if you have raised children, you have
hard and endured many trials as a
developed skills that are very useful.
missionary. He could have chosen to
Older Christians have the ability to be
have an easier life by preaching in
valuable to Jehovah’s people by teach-
Rome. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) The
ing, guiding, and encouraging the
brothers in Rome would certainly
brothers and sisters.—Read Job 12:12.
have loved for Paul to stay and sup-
7In what other ways can you use
port them. But Paul saw that the
your abilities to help others? Perhaps need was even greater in other coun-
you can show younger ones how to tries. Along with Timothy and Titus,
start and conduct Bible studies. If you he traveled to Ephesus, then to Crete,
are a sister, can you help young moth- and probably to Macedonia. (1 Timo-
ers learn to balance their service to thy 1:3; Titus 1:5) We do not know if
Jehovah while caring for small chil- he visited Spain, but he did plan on
dren? If you are a brother, can you going there.—Romans 15:24, 28.
teach young brothers to give talks 9The apostle Peter may have been
with enthusiasm and to be better
preachers of the good news? Can you 8. What did the apostle Paul do as he got
older?
7. What useful training can older ones give to 9. When did Peter move to serve where the
younger ones? need was greater? (See opening picture.)
22 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
over the age of 50 when he moved to their aging parents. They had received
where the need was greater. How do a small inheritance and realized that if
we know? If he was about the same they sold their house, they could pay
age as Jesus or a little older, it would off their debt and have enough mon-
mean that he was about 50 years old ey until Robert received his retire-
when he met with the other apos- ment pension. They heard that many
tles in Jerusalem in the year 49. (Acts people in Bolivia were accepting Bible
15:7) Some time after that meeting, studies and that it was cheaper to live
there. So they decided to move. Rob-
ert says: “Adapting to our new home
Peter did not allow was not easy. Everything was so differ-
ent from what we were accustomed to
his age to keep him in North America. But our efforts were
from experiencing well rewarded.”
11Robert adds: “Our whole life
the joy of serving now revolves around congregation
Jehovah fully activities. Some of the people with
whom we studied the Bible got bap-
tized. One family we studied with
Peter went to live in Babylon, likely to lives in humble circumstances in a
preach to the many Jews who lived in village several miles away. But each
that area. (Galatians 2:9) He was liv- week, the members of that family
ing there when he wrote his first in- make the difficult journey into town
spired letter, about the year 62. (1 Pe- for the meetings. Can you imagine our
ter 5:13) Moving to where the need is joy at seeing the family’s progress and
greater can be challenging, but Peter the eldest boy even taking up the pio-
did not allow his age to keep him from neer service?”
experiencing the joy of serving Jeho-
vah fully. THE NEED IN FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FIELDS
10Today, many Christians in their 12Foreign-language congregations
50’s and older find that their circum- and groups can benefit greatly from
stances have changed and that they the example of older brothers and sis-
are able to serve Jehovah in new ways. ters. Also, such territory can be very
Some have moved to where the need enjoyable to work. For example, Brian
is greater. This is what Robert and his from Britain wrote that after he re-
wife did. They were about 55 when tired at the age of 65, he and his wife
they realized that they had many new felt that life had become dull. He said:
opportunities to serve Jehovah. Their “Our children had left home, and we
only son had moved away from home, rarely found interested people with
and they no longer had to care for whom we could conduct Bible studies.
10, 11. What did Robert and his wife do later 12, 13. After Brian retired, what did he and his
in life? wife do?
HOW WOULD YOU YOU may have noticed that people do not always re-
ANSWER? member the same details about an event. Similarly, it
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ may be difficult for someone to remember exactly what
How have world events the doctor said after he gave a diagnosis. Or a person
fulfilled Bible prophecies may not find his keys or eyeglasses, even when they are
since 1914?
right in front of him. Why do these things happen? Re-
searchers say that a type of blindness happens when we
try to do more than one thing at the same time. Appar-
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ently, our brain can fully concentrate on only one thing
Why is there more wicked- at a time.
ness in the world now than 2 Many people today have a similar kind of blindness
ever before?
about what is happening in the world. They may ad-
mit 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
How do you feel about the
end being so close? when Jesus was made King in heaven. However, the
prayer “Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place,
1, 2. (a) What can cause a certain type of blindness? (b) What do we
know about God’s Kingdom?
26 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
as in heaven, also on earth” has not ruling, the world would quickly be-
yet been completely answered. (Mat- come much worse. War, food short-
thew 6:10) This prayer will be fully age, disease, and other causes of
answered when this wicked world is death would happen more than ever
removed. Only when that happens before. These disasters are represent-
can God’s will be done on earth as it ed in the prophecy by three horse-
is done in heaven. men riding closely behind Jesus
3 Because we regularly study God’s Christ.—Revelation 6:3-8.
Word, we can see that prophecies are
being fulfilled right now. What a dif-
ference from most people! They are so Many people do not see
busy with their lives that they do not
see the clear evidence that Christ has
the meaning of what is
been ruling since 1914 and will soon happening in the world
destroy this wicked world. Ask your-
self this question: ‘Do I still believe
that the end of this world is very near 5As the prophecy foretold, war
and that events on the earth prove took “peace away from the earth.”
this?’ Even if you have been a Wit- This happened even though many
ness for only a short time, on what nations had promised to work to-
is your attention focused? Whatever gether and keep peace. World War I
your answer is, let us discuss three was only the first of many destruc-
important reasons why we know that tive wars that would take peace away
soon God’s will for the earth will be from the earth. Although much eco-
done. nomic and scientific progress has
been made since 1914, food short-
THE HORSEMEN HAVE ARRIVED
ages are still a threat to world secu-
4In 1914, Jesus Christ received a rity. No one can deny that diseases,
heavenly crown, that is, he became natural disasters, and other trage-
King of God’s Kingdom. The proph- dies take the lives of millions each
ecy recorded in Revelation chap- year. These events are more dan-
ter 6 describes Jesus as riding a white gerous, happen more often, and kill
horse. After becoming King, he im- more people than ever before in hu-
mediately began his ride in order to man history. Do you realize what that
defeat Satan’s wicked world. (Read means?
Revelation 6:1, 2.) The prophecy fore- 6Many people were distracted be-
told that after God’s Kingdom began cause of the beginning of World
3. What does our study of the Bible help us to War I and the Spanish flu. However,
see? anointed Christians eagerly expected
4, 5. (a) What has Jesus been doing since
1914? (See opening picture.) (b) What do the 6. Who had been paying attention to the fulfill-
three horsemen following Jesus represent? ment of Bible prophecy, and what did they do
How has this prophecy been fulfilled? when prophecy was fulfilled?
the last days with the words “know ruling in heaven, a group of faith-
this.” Those words guarantee that ful anointed ones were serving God.
this prophecy will be fulfilled. We When prophecy was not fulfilled in
know that this world will contin- the way that they expected in 1914,
ue to get worse until Jehovah brings what did they do? Most of them con-
tinued serving Jehovah faithfully and
endured trials and persecution. Over
Events since 1914 the years, most, if not all, of those
anointed ones have remained faithful
should convince us until death.
that God’s Kingdom 15In his prophecy about the last
days of Satan’s world, Jesus said:
will soon end all “This generation will by no means
wickedness pass away until all these things hap-
pen.” (Read Matthew 24:33-35.)
When Jesus mentioned “this gen-
the end. We have learned from histo- eration,” we understand that he was
ry that when standards of right and speaking about two groups of anoint-
wrong become very low, societies or ed Christians. The first group was
entire nations have collapsed. Nev- present in 1914 and understood that
er before have the standards of right Christ began ruling as King in that
and wrong been so low in the entire
year. Those who made up this group
world. Many people may ignore what
were not only alive in 1914, but they
this means, but the events since 1914
had also been anointed by holy spir-
should convince us that God’s King-
it in or before that year.—Romans 8:
dom will soon end all wickedness.
14-17.
THIS GENERATION 16 All those in the second group in-
WILL NOT PASS AWAY cluded in “this generation” were not
14The history of God’s people simply alive but were anointed with
gives us a third reason to have con- holy spirit during the time that some
fidence that the end is near. For ex- members of the first group were still
ample, before God’s Kingdom began alive on earth. So not every anointed
14-16. What is a third reason why we believe
person today is included in “this gen-
that God’s Kingdom will “come” soon? eration” whom Jesus spoke about. To-
30 SIMPLIFIED EDITION
day, those in the second group are 18 Soon, those who refuse to accept
getting older. Yet, Jesus’ words at the authority of Jesus Christ, the Rid-
Matthew 24:34 make us confident er of the white horse, will have to ad-
that at least some of “this genera- mit that they are wrong. They will not
tion will by no means pass away” be-
fore seeing the start of the great trib-
ulation. This convinces us even more Soon, those who
that soon the King of God’s King-
dom will destroy the wicked and
refuse to accept
bring in a righteous new world.—2 Pe- the authority of Jesus
ter 3:13.
Christ will have to admit
CHRIST WILL SOON
HAVE THE VICTORY that they are wrong
17 Can you see how the Bible proph-
ecies we have studied are being ful- be able to escape the judgment that
filled right now? As Jesus warned us, is coming to them. When that hap-
we do not know the exact day or hour pens, many will cry out in fear, saying:
of the end. (Matthew 24:36; 25:13) “Who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:
15-17) Chapter 7 of Revelation gives
us the answer to that question. The
If we pay attention anointed still on earth and the “great
to Bible prophecy, crowd” will “stand” because of be-
ing approved by God. Then the “great
we will see the clear crowd” of other sheep will survive the
evidence that the great tribulation and enter into God’s
new world.—Revelation 7:9, 13-15.
end of this wicked 19 If we keep paying attention to Bi-
s
ws14 01/15-E
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