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John was faithful in bearing witness to the message that God through Jesus Christ gave to him. He described in detail "all the things he saw." The John class has earnestly sought guidance from God and Jesus Christ in order to understand the prophecy fully and make known its fine points to God's People. For the benefit of the anointed congregation (and also of the international great crowd that God will preserve alive through the great tribulation), John writes: "Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near."- Revelation 1:3.

You will benefit greatly by reading Revelation and even more so by observing the things written in it. John explained in one of his letters: "This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, because everything that has been born from God conquers the world, our faith." (1John 5:3, 4) You can become supremely happy by building such a faith!

It is urgent that we observe the words of the prophecy, "for the appointed time is near." The appointed time for what? For the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation, including God's judgments. The time is near for God and Jesus Christ to executed final judgment on Satan's world system. When Jesus was here on earth, he stated that only his Father knew "that day or the hour." Looking ahead to the troubles that have multiplied on earth from World War I onward, Jesus also said: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen." So the appointed time for executing God's decision must be drawing perilously close. (Mark 13:8, 30-32) As Habakkuk 2:3 states: "The vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late." Our salvation through the great tribulation depends on our observing God's prophetic Word.- Matthew 24:20, 22.

Next time: Jesus Comes With Encouragement