HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD!-Mankind's Future Foretold in God's Prophetic Word

What are the prospects of loyal supporters of the anointed?  They too have faith in God's prophetic word, and their hope rests on entering the earthly Paradise. (Luke 23:39-43)  There they will drink from a life-sustaining "river of water of life" and will find healing from "the leaves of the trees" planted alongside it.  (Revelation 22:1, 2) If you have such a wonderful hope, may you continue to demonstrate deep love for Jehovah and faith in his prophetic word. May you be among those who experience the unbounded joy of everlasting life in the Paradise earth.

Imperfect humans are at a loss to describe life in the coming earthly Paradise, but God's prophetic word gives us insight into the blessings then in store for obedient mankind.  When God's Kingdom rules unopposed and his will is done on earth as it is in heaven, no vicious humans-no, not even animals-will "do any harm or cause any ruin." (Isaiah 11:9; Matthew 6:9, 10)  The meek will inhabit the earth, and "they will not indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11) Starving masses will not exist, for "there will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow ." (Psalm 72:16) No longer will tears of sorrow be shed. Sickness will be gone, and even death will be no more. (Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4)  Can you imagine-no doctors, no medicines, no hospitals or mental institutions, no funerals. What splendid prospects!

Even the common grave of mankind will be emptied as deaths give way to resurrections.  The righteous man Job had such a hope. (Job 14:14, 15) So did the prophet Daniel, for Jehovah's angel gave him the comforting assurance:  "As for you yourself, go toward the end; and you will rest, but you will stand up for you lot at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:13) Daniel served God faithfully until the end of his life.  Now he is resting in death, but he will "stand up" in the resurrection of the righteous ones" during Christ's Millennial Reign.  (Luke 14:14) What will be Daniel's "lot"?  Well, in its Paradise fulfillment, Ezekiel's prophecy suggests that all of Jehovah's people will have a place, even the land being apportioned in a just and orderly way.  (Ezekiel 47:13-48:35) So Daniel will have a place in Paradise, but his lot there will involve more than land. It will include his place in Jehovah's purpose. 

What about you and your lot? IF you have faith in God's Word, the Bible, very likely you yearn for life in the earthly Paradise. You may even imagine yourself there, enjoying its many blessings, caring for the earth, and joy fully welcoming back the dead. After all, Paradise is where mankind belongs. God created the first human pair  to live in such a place. (Genesis 2:7-9) And he wants obedient humans to live forever in Paradise. Will you act in accord with the Scriptures so that you can be among the billions  who will eventually live on the Paradise  earth? You can be there if you have true  for our heavenly father, Jehovah, and enduring faith in God's prophetic word.

Next time: "SAFEGUARD YOUR HEART"

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD!-Maintain Faith in God's Prophetic Word

Surely we were thrilled when we first learned about fulfillment s of God's prophetic word. But since then has our faith diminished and our love cooled off?  May we never become like the Christians in Ephesus who 'left the love they had at first.' (Revelation 2:1-4) Regardless of how long we have served Jehovah, we can suffer such loss unless we 'keep seeking first God's kingdom and his righteousness so as to store up treasures in heaven.  (Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33) Diligent Bible study, regular participation  in Christian meetings, and zealous Kingdom-preaching activity will help us to maintain  our love for Jehovah, for his Son, and for the Scriptures.  (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 10:24, 25) In turn, this will keep alive our faith in God's word. -Psalm 106:12.

Just as God's prophetic word was fulfilled in the past, so we can have faith in what it foretells for the future.  For instance, Christ's presence in Kingdom glory is now a reality, and anointed Christians who were faithful to death have experienced the fulfillment of the prophetic promise:  "To him that conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7, 10; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)  Jesus grants these victorious ones the privilege  "to eat of the tree of life" in the heavenly "paradise of God." In their resurrection and by means of Jesus Christ, they partake of immortality and in-corruption granted by Jehovah, "the King of eternity, incorruptible, invisible, the only God."  (1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54;  2 Timothy 1:10) What a grand reward for their undying love of God and unwavering faith in his prophetic word!

Shortly after faithful dead anointed ones were resurrected into the heavenly "paradise of God," the remnant of spiritual Israel on earth was liberated from "Babylon the Great," the world empire of false religion.  (Revelation 14:8; Galatians 6:16) In them the foundation of the "new  earth" was laid.  (Revelation 21:1) "A land" was thus  brought forth, and it was built up into a spiritual paradise that flourishes earthy wide today.  (Isaiah 66:8) Into it the multitudes of sheep-like associates of spiritual Israel are streaming right now, "in the final part of the days." Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 8:23; John 10:16; Revelation 7:9. 

Next time: Conclusion of HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD -Mankind's Future Foretold in God's Prophetic Word

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD-Hail the Messianic King!

In the first year of Babylonian King Belshazzar, Jehovah granted his prophet Daniel a dream and remarkable visions.  The prophet first saw four huge beasts. God's angel identified them as "four kings," thus indicating that they symbolized successive world powers. (Daniel 7:1-8, 17)  Daniel next beheld Jehovah, "the Ancient of Days," sitting gloriously enthroned.   Judging the beasts adversely, he took rulership away from them and destroyed the fourth beast. Lasting rulership over "the  peoples, national groups and languages" was then vested in "someone like a son of man." (Daniel 7:9-14) What a wonderful prophecy relating to the enthronement of "the Son of man," Jesus Christ, in the heavens in the year 1914~ -Matthew 16:13. 

Daniel knew that God is "removing kings and setting up kings." (Daniel 2:21)  With faith in Jehovah the "Revealer of  secrets,"  the prophet disclosed the meaning of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of an immense image.  Its various parts pointed to the rise and fall of such world powers as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. God also used Daniel to outline world events down to our time and beyond. -Daniel 2:24-30. 

"In the days of those kings," said the prophecy,  "the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin.  And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people.  It will crush and put an end to all these  kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite." (Daniel 2:44)  When "the appointed times of the nations"  ended in 1914, God established the heavenly Kingdom under Christ.  (Luke 21:24; Revelation 12:1-5) By divine power the Messianic Kingdom "stone" was then cut out of the  "mountain" of God's universal sovereignty.  At Armageddon that stone will strike the image and grind it to powder. As a governmental mountain affecting "the whole earth," the Messianic Kingdom will stand forever. -Daniel 2:35, 45; Revelation 16:14, 16. 

With his Kingdom rule in mind, Jesus told his disciples:  "There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see  the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28)  Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James and John into a lofty mountain where he was transfigured before them, as a bright cloud covered the apostles, God declared:  "This is my Son, the beloved whom I have approved; listen to him." (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-9)  What a preview of Christ's Kingdom glory! No wonder Peter referred to that dazzling vision and said:  "Consequently  we have the prophetic word made more sure." -2 Peter 1:16-19. 

"The prophetic word" apparently includes not only Hebrew Scripture prophecies about the Messiah but also Jesus' statement that he would come "with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30) The transfiguration verified the prophetic word about Christ's glorious coming in  Kingdom power. Very soon, his revelation in glory will mean destruction for the faithless and blessings for those  exercising faith.  (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) The fulfillment of the Bible prophecy proves that these are "the last days." (2 Timothy 3:1-5m 16, 17; Matthew 24:3-14)  As Jehovah's Chief Executioner, Michael, who is Jesus Christ, stands ready to bring an end to this wicked system of things during  "the great tribulation." (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1) This, then, certainly is the time to demonstrate that we have faith in God's prophetic word. 

Next time: HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD! -Maintain Faith in God's Prophetic Word

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD! -The Messiah Appears!

The prophet Daniel recorded a vital Messianic prophecy. In the first year of Darius the Mede, he realized that Jerusalem's 70-year desolation was near its end.  (Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:1-4) While Daniel was praying, the angel Gabriel came and revealed that 'seventy weeks had been determined to finish off sin.'  The Messiah would be cut off in the middle of the 70th week.  "Seventy weeks of years" began in 455 B.C.E. When Persian King Artaxerxes I 'sent forth the word to rebuild Jerusalem.' (Daniel 9:20-27; Moffatt; Nehemiah 2:1-8) The Messiah would come after 7 weeks plus 62 weeks. These 483 years ran from 455 B.C.E. to 29 C.E., when Jesus was baptized and God anointed him as the Messiah, or Christ. (Luke 3:21, 22) Jesus 'finished off sin' by giving his life as a ransom in 33 C.E. (Mark 10:45) What sound reasons for having faith in God's prophetic word!" 

Faith in God's prophetic word makes it possible for us to identify the Messiah. Of the many Messianic prophecies recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, a  number were directly applied to Jesus by writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures.  To illustrate: Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem.  (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 2:4-11) He was called out of Egypt, and babes were killed after his birth.  (Jeremiah 31:15; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-18)  Jesus carried our sicknesses.  (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16, 17) As foretold, he entered Jerusalem on the colt of an ass.  (Zechariah 9:9; John 12:12-15) The psalmist's words were fulfilled after Jesus' impalement when soldiers apportioned  his clothing among themselves and cast lots for his inner garment.  (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23, 24)  The fact that Jesus' bones were not broken and that he was pierced also fulfilled prophecy.  (Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:33-37) These are but a few examples of Messianic prophecies applied to Jesus by divinely inspired Bible writers. 

Next time: Half the Messianic King! 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD!

Searching for the Seed

Unlike his father, godly Abel exercised faith in the first prophecy. Abel evidently realized that the shedding of blood would be needed to cover sin. Faith therefore moved him to offer an animal sacrifice that proved acceptable to God.  (Genesis 4:2-4) Yet, the identity of the promised Seed remained a  mystery. 

Some 2,000 years after Abel's day, Jehovah gave the patriarchy Abraham this prophetic promise: "I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens . . .And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves." (Genesis 22:17, 18)  Those words  linked Abraham with the fulfillment of the first prophecy.  They indicated that the Seed through whom Satan's works would be brought to nothing would appear in Abraham's lineage.  (1 John 3:8) "Because of the promise of God [Abraham] did not waver in lack of faith" and neither did other pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah who "did not get the fulfillment of the promise." (Romans 4:20, 21; Hebrews 11:39)   Instead, they maintained  faith in God's prophetic word.

The apostle Paul identified God's promised Seed when he wrote:  "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It says, not: 'And to seeds,' as in the case of many such, but as in the case of one:  'And to your seed,' who is Christ." (Galatians 3;16) The Seed through whom the nations were to bless themselves did not include all of Abraham's offspring. Descendants of his son Ishmael and of his sons by Ketura were not used to bless mankind.  The Seed of blessing came through his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob.  (Genesis 21:12;25:23, 31-34; 27:18-29, 37; 28:14)   Jacob showed that  "peoples" would be obedient  to Shiloh of the tribe of Judah, but the Seed was later restricted to David's  lineage.  (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:12-16) First-century Jews expected one person to come as the Messiah, or Christ.  (John 7:41, 42)  And God's prophecy of the Seed was fulfilled in his Son, Jesus Christ. 

Next time: HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD  -The Messiah Appears! 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD!

"We have the prophetic word made more sure." -2 PETER 1:19.

JEHOVAH was the Source of the first prophecy ever recorded. After Adam and Eve sinned, God told the serpent:  "I shall put enmity between your seed and her seed.  He will bruise you in the head and  you will bruise him in the heel." )(Genesis 3:1-7, 14, 15) Centuries would pass before those prophetic words were fully understood.

That first prophecy held out real hope for sinful mankind. The Scriptures later identified Satan the Devil as "the original serpent." (Revelation 12:9) But who would be God's Promised Seed?

Next time: Searching for the Seed

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Conclusion of: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Real Meaning for Our Day

Real Meaning for Our Day

Consider this significant point: All the prophecies in the book of Daniel have been fulfilled except for a few details. For example, we now see the world situation portrayed by the feet of the dream image of Daniel chapter 2. The tree stump of Daniel chapter 4 was unbanded by the enthronement of the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, in the year 1914. Yes, as foretold in Daniel chapter 7, the Ancient of Days then gave rulership  to the Son of man. -Daniel  7:13, 14; Matthew 6:27-17:9.  

The 2,300 days of Daniel chapter 8 as well as the 1, 290 and the 1, 335 days of chapter 12 are all past-behind us in the stream of time. A study of Daniel  chapter 11 shows that the conflict between "the king of the north" and "the king of the south" has reached its final stages. All of this adds to the Scriptural evidence that we are now deep in the time of the end. Considering our unique place in the stream of time, what should we be determined to do? Without question, we should pay attention to Jehovah God's prophetic word. 

Next time: HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD!

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

Conclusion of Picking Up Prophetic Strands

The 7th chapter of Daniel's gripping prophecy also brings us into the time of the end. It relates an even in the first year of Babylonian King Belshazzar. Then in his 70's Daniel has "a dream and visions of his head upon his bed."  How those visions frighten him!  "See there!" he exclaims.  "The four winds of the heavens were stirring up the vast sea. And four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea, each one being different from the others." (Daniel 7:1-8, 15) What remarkable beasts!  The first is a winged lion, and the second is like  bear. Then comes a leopard with four wings and four heads!  The unusually strong fourth beast has large iron teeth and ten horns. In among the ten horns rises "a small" horn having "eyes like the eyes of a man" and "a mouth speaking grandiose things" What grotesque creatures!

Daniel's visions next turn heavenward.  (Daniel 7:9-14) "The Ancient of Days," Jehovah God, is seen sitting gloriously enthroned  as Judge.  'A thousand thousands minister to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand keep standing before him.'  Judging the beasts adversely, God takes rulership away from them and destroys  the fourth beast. Lasting rulership over "the peoples, national groups and languages" is vested in "someone like a son of man."  This points to the time of the end and to the enthronement of the Son of man, Jesus Christ, in the year 1914. 

Readers of the book of Daniel are sure to have questions. For instance, what do the four beasts of Daniel chapter 7 represent?  What is the explanation of the prophetic "seventy weeks" of Daniel 9:24-27? How about Daniel chapter 11 and the prophetic conflict of  "the king of the north" and "the king of the south"?  What can we expect of these kings in the time of the end?

Jehovah has granted insight into such matters to his anointed servants on earth, to "the holy ones of the Supreme One," as they are called at Daniel 7:18. Moreover, "the faithful and discreet slave" has made provision for us to gain further insight into the inspired writings of the prophet  Daniel.  (Matthew 24:45) This is not available  through the recent release of the book  Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!  This beautifully illustrated 320-page publication covers ever part of the book of Daniel. It deals with each faith-building prophecy and every narrative recorded by the beloved prophet Daniel.

Next time:  Conclusion of PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Real Meaning for Our Day

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

Continue with  Picking Up Prophetic Strands

In early May of 334 B.C.E., Alexander embarked upon a campaign of conquest. He had a small but efficient army of 30,000 foot soldiers and 5,000 cavalrymen. At the Granicus River in northwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey), Alexander won his first battle against the Persians in 334 B.C.E. By 326 B.C.E., this relentless conqueror had subdued them and had gone as far as to the east as the Indus River, located in modern-day Pakistan.  But Alexander lost his final battle while in Babylon. On June 13, 323 B.C.E., after living a mere 32 years and 8 months, he surrendered  to the most formidable enemy, death.  (1 Corinthians 15:55) Through his conquests, however, Greece had become a world power, as foretold by Daniel's prophecy.

What is represented by the iron legs of the immense image? Well, it was iron-like Rome that crushed and shattered the Grecian Empire. Showing no respect for God's Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ, the Romans put him to death on a torture stake in 33 C.E.  In an effort to shatter true Christianity, Rome persecuted Jesus' disciples. However, the iron legs of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image pictured not only the Roman Empire but also its political outgrowth-the Anglo-American World Power.

Careful study proves that we are deep in the time of the end, for we have reached the dream image's fee of iron and clay.  Some present-day governments are iron-like or authoritarian, whereas others are clay-like. Despite the fragile nature of clay, of which "the offspring of mankind" are made, iron-like rulerships have been obliged to let the common people have some say in governments ruling over them.  (Daniel 2:43; Job 10:9) Of course, authoritarian rule and the common people stick together no better than do iron  and clay. But God's Kingdom will soon bring an end to this politically fragmented world. -Daniel 2:44. 

Next time: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Conclusion of Picking Up Prophetic Strands

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Picking Up Prophetic Strands

Let us now pick up some prophetic strands in the book of Daniel. During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign as world ruler of Bible prophecy (606/605 B.C.E.), God sent him a terrifying dream. According to Daniel chapter 2, the dream involved an immense image with a head of gold, breasts, and arms of silver, belly and thighs of copper, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. What did the various parts of the image represent? 

God's prophet told Nebuchadnezzar:  "You, O king, . . .you yourself  are the head of gold." (Daniel 2:37, 38)  Nebuchadnezzar headed a dynasty that ruled over the Babylonian Empire. It was overthrown by Medo-Persia, represented by the image's breasts and arms of silver. Next came the Grecian Empire, signified by the belly and thighs of copper. How died that world power get its start?

In the fourth century B.C.E., a young man played a significant role in the fulfillment of  Daniel's prophecy. He was born in 356 B.C.E., and the world has come to call him Alexander the Great. Upon the Assassination of his father, Philip, in 336 B.C.E., 20-year-old Alexander inherited the throne of Macedonia. 

Next time: Continue with: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Picking Up Prophetic Strands

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with:PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY - On Trial

Conclusion of On Trial

Nebuchadnezzar's religious devotion went particularly to Marduk, the chief god of Babylon. The king credited Marduk with all his conquests. In Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar built and beautified the temples of Marduk and of numerous other Babylonian deities.  The image of gold that this Babylonian king set up on the plain of Dura may have been dedicated to Marduk. (Daniel 3:1, 2) And Nebuchadnezzar appears to have relied heavily on divination in planning his military moves.

By completing Babylon's massive double walls that his father had started to build, Nebuchadnezzar made the capital city seemingly impregnable. To satisfy his Median queen, who longed for the hills and forests of her homeland, Nebuchadnezzar reportedly built the hanging gardens-one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. He made Babylon the greatest walled city of the time.  And how proud he was of that seat of false worship!

"Is not this Babylon the Great, that I myself have built?"  boasted Nebuchadnezzar one day.  According to Daniel 4:30-36, however, "while the word was yet in the king's mouth," insanity struck him. Unfit to rule for seven years, he ate vegetation, just as Daniel had foretold. Then his kingdom was restored. Do you know the prophetic significance of all of this?  Can you explain how its major fulfillment bring us right to the time of the end?

Next time: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY -Picking Up Prophetic Strands

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

On Trial!

Imagine yourself in a court of law, attending a trial. The prosecuting attorney insists that the defendant is guilty of fraud. Well, the book of Daniel presents itself as an authentic work written by a Hebrew prophet who lived during the seventh and sixth centuries B.C.E. However, critics assert that the book is a fraud. So let us first see if the narrative portion of the book  harmonizes with historical fact.

Suppose we consider what might be called the case of the missing monarch. Daniel chapter 5 shows that Belshazzar was ruling as king in Babylon  when that city was overthrown in 539 B.C.E. Critics have challenged this point because Belshazzar's name was found nowhere outside the Bible. Instead, ancient historians identified Nabonidus as the last Babylonian king. 

In the year 1854, however, some small clay cylinders were unearthed in the ruins of the ancient Babylonian city of Ur in present-day Iraq. These cuneiform documents included a prayer in which Nabonidus referred to "Bel-sar-ussur, my eldest son." Even critics had to agree: This was the Belshazzar of the book of Daniel. So the missing monarch was not missing after all, just not yet known in secular sources. This is only one of many proofs that the writings of Daniel are truly authentic. Such evidence shows that the book of Daniel surely is part of God's Word that merits our careful attention right now, in the time of the end.  

Woven into the fabric of the book of Daniel are prophecies involving the march of world powers and the acts of some of their rulers. One of the rulers might be called a warrior who built an empire. As Babylon's crown prince, he and his army shattered the forces of Egyptian Pharaoh Necho at Carchemish. but a  message compelled the victorious  Babylonian  prince to leave mopping-up operations to his generals. Learning that his father, Nabopolassar, had died, this young man name Nebuchadnezzar too the throne in 624 B.C.E. During his  43-years reign, he built an empire that embraced territories once occupied by Assyria, and he extended his domain into Syria and Palestine down to the border of Egypt.

Next time: Continue with: PAT ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-The Trial!

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

In this time of the end, many faithful Christians have 'roved about' in the pages of God's Word, the Bible.  The result?  With Jehovah's blessing on their efforts, true knowledge has become abundant. For instance, anointed Witnesses of Jehovah have been blessed with insight, enabling them to understand that Jesus Christ became heavenly King in the years 1914. In keeping with the apostle's words recorded at 2 Peter 1:19-20, such anointed ones and their loyal companions are 'paying attention to the prophetic word' and absolutely certain that this is the time of the end.

The book of Daniel is unique in a number of ways. In its pages, a king threatens to execute his wise men because they cannot reveal and interpret his puzzling dream, but God's prophet solves the puzzle. Three young men who refuse to worship a towering image are thrown into a super-heated furnace, yet they survive unsinged. During a festive celebration, hundreds behold a hand that writes mysterious words on a palace wall. Evil conspirators have an elderly  man thrown into a pit of lions, but he emerges without a scratch.  Four beasts are seen in a vision, and they are given prophetic significance that stretches right into the time of the end.

Clearly, the book of Daniel contains two very different threads. One is narrative, the other prophetic. Both can build our faith. The narratives show us that Jehovah God blesses those who maintain integrity to him. And the prophetic   portions build faith by showing that Jehovah knows the course of history centuries-even millenniums-in advance. 

Various prophecies recorded by Daniel direct attention to God's Kingdom. As we observe the fulfillment of such prophecies, our faith is strengthened and so is our conviction that we are living in the time of the end. But some critics  attack Daniel, saying that the prophecies in the book bearing  his name were really written after  the events that seemed to fulfill them. If such claims are true, that would raise serious questions about what the book of Daniel foretold regarding the time of the end. Skeptics also question the book's narratives. So let us investigate.

Next time: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY -On  Trial!

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

"Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end." -DANIEL 8:17.

JEHOVAH does not keep knowledge of future events to himself. Rather, he is the Revealer of secrets. In fact, he wants all of us to know that we are deep in  "the time of the end." What vital news that is for the six billion people now living on earth!

Is it any wonder that this world is near its end? Man can walk on the moon, but in many places he cannot without fear stroll on the streets of this planet. He can fill a home with modern appliances, but he cannot stem the tide of broken families. And he can bring about the information age, but he cannot teach people to live together peacefully. These failures support the abundant Scriptural evidence that we are living in the time of the end. 

Those  striking word-"the time of the end"-were first used on the earth some 2,600 years ago by the angel Gabriel. A terrified prophet of God heard Gabriel say:  "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end." -Daniel 8:17. 

This Is "the Time of the End"!

The expressions "the time of the end" and "the appointed time of the end" appear six times in the book of Daniel.  (Daniel 8:17, 19, 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9) They pertain to "the last days" foretold by the apostle Paul.  (2 Timothy  3:1-5) Jesus Christ referred to this period as his "presence" as enthroned King in heaven. -Matthew 24:37-39.

Daniel 12:4 states:  "As for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book until the time of the end.  Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant."  Much of what Daniel wrote was made secret and sealed up to human understanding for centuries. But what about today? 

Next time: Continue with: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000 

Conclusion of THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Does modern-day Christianity represent the Jesus of the Gospels?

The Jesus Seminar is "not bound by the dictates of the church councils."  But historian H.G.Wells realized that there is a huge gap between the teachings of Jesus as presented in the Gospels and those of Christendom. He wrote:  "There is no evidence that the apostles of Jesus ever heard of the Trinity-at any rate from him. . . .Nor did [Jesus] say a word about the worship of his mother Mary, in the guise of Isis, the Queen of heaven. All that is most characteristically Christian in worship and usage, he ignored."  Therefore, one cannot judge the value of the Gospels on the basis of the teachings of Christendom.  (Note: As your know, Christendom is false religion, which  is being preached in all churches,  temples etc., except one, and those are Jehovah's Witnesses. This is the truth.) 

WHAT IS YOUR CONCLUSION?

After considering the foregoing points, what do you think? Is there real convincing proof that the Gospels are mere myth? (NO! They are the truth)  Many find the questions and doubts raised about the authenticity of the Gospels to be shaky and unconvincing.  (note: Only to those who are unbelievers and ignorant)   To form a personal opinion, you need to read the Gospels with an open mind. (Acts 17:11) When you consider the consistency, honesty, and accuracy with which the Gospels present the personality of Jesus, you will realize that those accounts are definitely not a collection of fables.

If you carefully examine the Bible and apply its counsel, you will see how it can change your life for the better.  (John 6:68) This is especially true of Jesus' sayings recorded  in the Gospels. What is  more, therein you can learn about the wonderful future in store for obedient mankind. -John 3:16; 17:3, 17. 

Next time: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with: THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

What about seeming contradictions in the Gospels? 

Critics have long claimed that the Gospels are full of contradictions. Historian Durant sought to examine the Gospel accounts from a purely objective standpoint-as historical documents. Though he says that there are seeming contradictions in them, he concludes:  "The contradictions are of minutiae [trivial details], not substance in essentials the synoptic gospels agree remarkably well, and form a consistent portrait of Christ."

Seeming contradictions in Gospel accounts are often easily resolved. To illustrate:  Matthew 8:5 says that "an army  officer came to [Jesus], entreating him" to cure a manservant. At Luke 7:3, we read that the officer "sent forth older men of the Jews to [Jesus] to ask him to come and bring [the]slave safely through." The officer sent the elders as his representatives.  Matthew says that the army officer himself entreated Jesus because the man made his request through the elders, who served as his mouthpiece. This is just one example showing that the alleged discrepancies  in the Gospels can be resolved. 

What are the claims of higher critics that the Gospels do not meet the criteria of real history?  Continues Durant:  "In the enthusiasm of it discoveries the Higher Criticism  has applied to the New Testament tests of authenticity so severe that by them a hundred ancient worthies-e.g., Hammurabi, David, Socrates-would fade into the legend. Despite the prejudices and theological preconceptions of the evangelists, they record many incidents that mere inventors would have concealed-the competition of the apostles for high places in the Kingdom, their flight after Jesus' arrest, Peter's denial . . .No one reading these scenes can doubt the reality of the figure behind them." 

Next time: Continue with; THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000 

Continue with THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Were the Gospels later edited to fit the needs of the early Christian community?

Some critics argue that the politics of the early Christian community caused the Gospel writers  to edit the story of Jesus or add to it.  However, a close study of the Gospels shows that no such doctoring took place.  If Gospels accounts concerning Jesus were altered as a result of their first-century Christian intrigue, why do negative remarks about both Jews and Gentiles still appear in the text?

(Note: These critics not only seem to be non-believers, but also they are ignorant to boot. I do not believe in critics. They only go on their own opinion; And I can't for the life of me, understand why people listen to them and not use their own brains to think with instead of depending on others to think for them.  This is why God put brains in our heads-to use them.  That is called independent thinking.   That is one of the things that is wrong with this world; depending on critics, society, the government or whoever else thinks they know anything, to tell them what to do, how to dress, what to think, how to feel etc.) 

A case in  point is found at Matthew 6:5-7 where Jesus is quoted as saying:  "When you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly, I say to you, They are having their reward in full."    Clearly, this was a condemnation of Jewish religious leaders, Jesus further said:  "When praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations [the Gentiles] do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words."  By quoting Jesus in this way, the Gospel writers were not trying to win converts.  They were simply recording statements actually made by Jesus Christ. 

Consider also the Gospel accounts regarding the women who visited Jesus' tomb and saw that it was empty.  (Mark 16:1-8) According to Gregg Easterbrook, "in the sociology of the ancient Middle East, testimony by women was considered inherently unreliable: for instance, two male witnesses were sufficient to convict a woman of adultery, while no woman's testimony could convict a man." Indeed, Jesus' own disciples did not believe the women! (Luke 24:11)  It is thus most unlikely that such a story would have been deliberately invented.

The absence of parables in the epistles and in the book of Acts is strong argument that those in the Gospels were not inserted  by early Christians but were spoken by Jesus himself. Additionally, a careful comparison of the Gospels with the epistles reveals that neither Paul's words nor those of other writers of the Greek Scriptures were artfully reworded and ascribed to Jesus. If the early Christians community had done such a thing, we should expect to find at least some of the material from the epistles in the Gospel accounts. Since we do not, we can surely conclude that the Gospel material is original and authentic.  

Next time: Continue with: THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

Continue with: THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

If the Gospels were legends, could they have been compiled so quickly after the death of Jesus?

According to available evidence, the Gospels were written between the years 41 and 98 C.E.  Jesus died in the year 33 C.E.  This means that the accounts of his life were put together in a comparatively short time after his ministry ended.  This poses a tremendous obstacle to the argument that the Gospel narratives are mere legends. Time is needed for legends to develop.   Take, for example, the Iliad and the Odyssey by the ancient Greek poet Homer. Some hold that the text of those two epic legends developed and became stabilized over hundreds of years. What about the Gospels? 

In his book, Caesar and Christ, historian Will Durant writes:  "That a few simple men should .  .  .  have invented so powerful and appealing a  personality, so lofty and ethnic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels. After two centuries of Higher Criticism the outlines of the life, character, and teaching of Christ, remain reasonably clear and constitute the most fascinating feature in the history of Western man."

Next time: Continue with THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

THE GOSPELS/History or Myth -QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Could the Gospels Be legends?

Author and critic C.S. Lewis found it difficult to view the Gospels as mere legends.  "As a literary historian I am perfectly convinced that whatever the Gospels are, they are not legends," he wrote:  "They are the life of Jesus unknown to us, and no people building up a legend would allow that to be so."  It is also interesting  that although noted historian H.G.Wells did not claim to be  a Christian, he acknowledged:  "All four [Gospel] writers] agree in giving us a picture of a very definite personality; they carry the . . .conviction of reality." 

Consider an instance when the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples. A good legend maker would likely have had Jesus stage a spectacular comeback, deliver a momentous speech, or be bathed in light and splendor. Instead the Gospel writers simply describe him as standing in front of his disciples.  Then he asked:  "Young children, you do not have anything to eat do you?" (John 21:5)  Scholar Gregg Easterbrook concludes: "These are the sorts of touches that suggest a genuine account, not myth-building." 

The accusation that the Gospels are legends also stumbles on the strict rabbinic method of teaching that was in fashion during the time of the writing of the Gospels. That method adhered closely to learning by rote-a memorizing process using routine or repetition.  This favors the accurate and careful rendering of Jesus' sayings and works as opposed to the creation of an  embellished version. 

Next time: Continue with: THE GOSPELS/History or Myth-QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

The GOSPELS/History or Myth?

AROUND the world the story of Jesus of Nazareth-a young man who changed the course of human history-is woven into the fabric of society. It is part of people's formal and informal education. Many consider the Gospels to be the fountain of timeless truths and adages, such as, "Let your yes mean Yes, your No, No." (Matthew 5:37) Indeed, the Gospel accounts may have been the basis for lessons that your parents taught you, whether they were Christian or not.  

For millions of sincere followers of Christ, the Gospels have provided the description of the man for whom they have been willing to suffer and die.  The Gospels  have also provided  the basis and inspiration for courage, endurance, faith and hope. Would you not, then, agree that  it should take irrefutable evidence to dismiss these accounts as mere fiction? Considering the immense influence that the Gospel accounts have had on human thought and behavior, would you not demand convincing proof if someone wanted to cast doubt on their authenticity?

We invite you to consider a number of thought-provoking questions regarding the Gospels. See for yourself what certain  students of the Gospels think about these issues, even though some of them do not profess to be Christians.  Then you can draw your own informed conclusions. 

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Could the Gospels be a masterful invention?

Robert Funk, the founder of the Jesus Seminar, says:  "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 'marketed the Messiah' to make him conform  to Christian doctrine that evolved after the death of Jesus.' While the Gospels were being written, however, many who had heard Jesus' sayings, had observed his deeds, and had seen him after his resurrection were still alive. They did not change the Gospel writers with any form of fraud.

Consider the death and resurrection of Christ. Not only do the Gospels contain reliable accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection but so does the apostle Paul's first canonical letter to Christians in ancient Corinth.  He wrote:  "I handed on to you, among the first things, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to  the Scriptures, and that he appeared to  Cephas, then to the twelve. After that he appeared to upward of five hundred  brothers at one time, the most of whom to remain  to the present, but some have fallen asleep in death. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles; but last of all he appeared also to me as if to one born prematurely." (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)  Such witnesses were custodians of historical facts regarding the life of Jesus.  

The inventiveness alleged by modern critics is not found in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Rather, it appears in documents of the second century C.E. So certain unscriptural narratives  about Christ were produced when an apostasy from true Christianity was developing among communities alienated from the apostolic congregation.  -Acts 20:28-30. 

Next time: Continue with: The GOSPELS/History or Myth -QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

The GOSPELS/The Debate Goes On -

Are the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ true? 

Did he give the Sermon on the Mount? 

Was Jesus really resurrected?

Did he actually say: "I am the way and the truth and the life?" -JOHN 14:6 

Matters of this kind have been discussed by some 80 scholars at the Jesus Seminar, which has been held twice a year since 1985.  This group of scholars has answered such questions in an unusual way. Seminar participants have cast ballots on each saying attributed to Jesus in the Gospels. A red ballot  indicates the opinion that the statement was indeed made by Jesus. A pink ballot means that a statement resembles something Jesus might have said.  A gray ballot show that the idea may  be close to those of Jesus, but the statement did not originate with him. A black ballot is totally negative, holding that the statement was derived from later tradition. 

Follow this method, the participants in the Jesus Seminar have dismissed all four points raised in question form at the outset. In fact, they have cast a black ballot for 82 percent of the words attributed to Jesus in the Gospels. According to them, only 16 percent of the events recounted about Jesus in the Gospels and other writings appear to be authentic.  

Such criticism of the Gospels  is not new. An attack on the Gospels appeared in 1774 when a 1,400-page manuscript by Hermann Reimarus, a professor of Oriental languages in Hamburg, Germany, was published posthumously. Therein Reimarus entertained profound doubts about the historicity of the Gospels. His conclusions were based on linguistic analysis and seeming contradictions found in the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' life. Since then, critics have often expressed doubts about the authenticity of the Gospels, to some extent undermining public confidence in these writings.  

The common denominator among such scholars is that they regard the Gospel accounts as religious fiction handed down by various individuals.  The usual questions raised by doubting scholars are: Might their beliefs have the caused the writers of the four Gospels to embellish actual fact? Did the politics of the early Christian community cause them to edit or add to Jesus' story? Which parts of the Gospels are likely to be straight reporting rather than myth-making?  

Note: Obviously, these scholars  are not believers of God or Jesus Christ, which is why they are doubting a Thomas 

Next time: The GOSPELS/ History or Myth?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/THE MESSIAH

How will the Messiah complete his work?

The Jews of Jesus' day expected the Messiah to liberate them from Roman rule and to reign over a restored kingdom of Israel.  (Acts 1:6) Only later did Jesus' Jewish followers understand that he would complete his role from heaven as a mighty spirit creature vested with vast authority. -Matthew 28:18. 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS in his second role, the Messiah would . . . 

* Rule as King of God's Kingdom, a world government. -Daniel 7:13, 14; Revelation 11;15. 

* Be a blessing to all humans who exercise faith in him. -Genesis 22:17, 18;Psalm 72:7, 8. 

* "Startle many nations" and their rulers when he crushes them for opposing him. -Isaiah 52:15; Revelation 19, 20. 

* Preserve an international "great crowd" of righteous humans into a peaceful new world. -Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-17.  

* Along with Jehovah God, resurrect the dead to life in Paradise on earth. -Luke 23:43; John 5:21, 28, 29.  

* Teach his subjects the ways of true peace. -Isaiah 11:1, 2, 9, 10. 

* Eradicate sin, the underlying cause of sickness and death.  -John 11:29; Romans 5:12. 

*Ultimately break up all of Satan's works and unite the human family under Jehovah God's rule. -1 Corinthians 15:25-28; 1 John 3:8. 

Jesus fulfilled his first role as Messiah. He will also complete his second. The wise, therefore, study him closely, for Jesus said:  "I am the way and the truth and the life." -John 14:6. 

Next time: The GOSPELS/The Debate Goes On

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/ THE MESSIAH

The Bible foretold that the Messiah would come into the world and deliver people from sickness, suffering, and death. Is Jesus Christ that one?

How would you recognize the Messiah?

According to Bible prophecy, the Messiah, or Christ, would come in two different roles, separated by a long period of time.  In his first role, he would be a human. So that he could be clearly recognized, Bible writers  foretold many aspects of his life and ministry. In fact, "the witness concerning Jesus" is a primary objective of Bible prophecy. -Revelation 19:10. 

 WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS The Messiah would be . . .

* A descendant of King David, -Isaiah 9:7; Luke 3:23-31. 

* Born in the town of Bethlehem. -Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7. 

* A humble proclaimer of "good "good news."-Isaiah 61:1;  Luke 4:43.

* Despised and held of no account. -Isaiah 53:2; Matthew 26:67, 68. 

* Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. -Zechariah 11:12, 13; Matthew 26:14, 15. 

* Silent before the accusers as they unjustly condemned him to death. -Isaiah 53:6, 7; Matthew 27:12-14. 

* A sacrificial  "lamb," who would annul sin and enable humans to have a clean standing before God. -Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29 34, 36.

* Killed without any of his bones being broken. -Psalm 34:20; John 19:33, 36. 

*Buried with the rich. -Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60. 

*Resurrected on the third day. -Matthew 16:21; 28:5-7. 

Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies and many more. He also healed the sick and raised the dead. He thus not only provided  us with further proof that he was the Messiah but also gave us a solid basis for faith in the Bible's promises that the will do those things on a global scale in the future.  (Luke 7:21-23; Revelation 21:3, 4) After his resurrection, Jesus sat at God's "right hand," awaiting the time for him to finish his Messianic work. -Psalm 110:1-6. 

Next time:Conclusion of  THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/THE MESSIAH-How will the Messiah complete his work?

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

INTERVIEW/ANTONIO DELLA GATTA

What did you do?

With tears streaming down from my eyes, I prayed for guidance. I also purchased a copy of the Catholic Jerusalem Bible, which had recently been published in Italian, and began reading it. Then, one Sunday morning as I was hanging up my robes after Mass, two men came to the seminary.  They introduced themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.  We talked for more than an hour about the Bible and what it says about the identifying marks of true religion.

What was your impression of the visitors?

I admired their conviction and the ease with which they referred to passages in a Catholic edition of the Bible. Later, another Witness, named Mario, began visiting me. He was patient and faithful-every Saturday morning, rain or shine, he rang the seminary doorbell at nine 0'clock. 

What did the other priests think of these visits?

I invited them  to join in our discussions, but none took Bible study seriously. I, however, enjoyed it. I was learning wonder things, such as why God tolerates evil and suffering-something that had long puzzled me. 

Did your superiors try to dissuade you from studying the Bible?  

In 1975, I visited Rome to explain my views. My superiors tried to change my thinking, but none used the Bible.  Finally, on January 9, 1976, I wrote to Rome stating that I no  longer  considered myself a Catholic. Two days later, I left the seminary and took a train to attend my first meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses, which turned out to be an assembly involving several congregations.  Everything was so different from what I was accustomed to! Each Witness had a Bible and followed along with the speakers as they discussed various topics. 

What did your family think about all of this?

Most of them bitterly opposed me. I found out, however, that one of my brothers was studying with the Witnesses in Lombardy, a region in northern Italy. I went to see him, and the Witnesses there helped me to find work and a place to live. Later that year, I was baptized  as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Do you have any regrets?

Not at all!  At last, I feel truly close to God, because what I know about him is based on the Bible, not philosophy or church tradition. And I can teach others with conviction and sincerity.

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/THE MESSIAH

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

INTERVIEW/ANTONIO DELLA GATTA

Why a Priest Left His Church

AFTER studying in Rome for nine years, Antonio Della Gatta was ordained as  a priest in 1969. Later, he served as the rector, or head, of a seminary near Naples, Italy. While there, after much study and meditation, he concluded that the Catholic religion is not based on the Bible. He spoke with AWAKE! about his spiritual journey.

Please tell us about your childhood. 

I was born in Italy in 1943. I grew up with my brothers and sisters in a small village where my father was a farmer and a carpenter. Our parents raised us to be good Catholics.

Why did you want to become a priest? 

As a  boy, I loved listening to the priests in church. I was enchanted by their voices, as well as the impressive rituals. So my heart was set on becoming a priest. When I was 13 years of age, my  mother took me to a boarding school that prepared boys for future, more-advanced studies for the priesthood. 

Did your training involve  Bible study? 

No really. When I was 15, one of my teachers gave me a copy of the Gospels-the historical accounts of Jesus' life and ministry-and I read the book several times. When I was 18. I went to Rome to study in the pontifical universities, which are directly under the pope's authority. I studied Latin, Greek, history, philosophy, psychology, and theology. Although we recited verses from the Bible and heard Bible readings in Sunday sermons, we did not actually study the Bible. 

You became a rector. Did that involve teaching? My work was mainly administrative. But I did teach classes on the decrees of the Second Vatican Counsel.

Why did you start doubting the church?

Three things troubled me. The church was involved in politics. Misconduct among the clergy and parishioners was tolerated. And certain Catholic teachings did not seem right.  How, for example, could a God of love punish people forever after death?  Also, does God really want us to repeat prayers hundreds of times with a rosary?" 

Next time: Conclusion of INTERVIEW/ANTONIO DELLA GATTA

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING-WHAT YOU CAN DO

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Take advantage of opportunities to talk about death. If your child sees a dead bird on the side of the road or if a beloved pet dies, use simple questions to encourage him to talk. For example,you could ask:  "Does a dead animal suffer? Is it cold or hungry?  How do you  know that an animal or a person is dead?" -Bible principle: Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7.

Do not hide the truth.  When an acquaintance or a relative has died, avoid using confusing euphemisms such as "He has gone away." Your child might wrongly conclude that the deceased will soon return home.  Instead, use simple and direct words. For example, you might say:  "When Grandma died, her  body stopped working.We can't talk to her, but we will never forget her." -Bible principle: Ephesians 4:25.

Reassure your child. He might think that his actions or thoughts caused  someone's death. Instead of just saying that  he is not responsible for what happened, you could ask,  "What makes you think that it is your fault?" Listen carefully, without belittling his feelings. Also, since a young child might think that death is contagious, assure him that he is safe. 

Draw out your child.  Talk freely about loved ones who have died, including relatives whom your child has never met. You might evoke fond memories of an aunt, an uncle, or a  grandparent and relate amusing anecdotes .  When you openly discuss such people, you help your child understand that he need not  avoid talking  or thinking about them. At the same time, do not force your child talk. You can always broach the subject later, when you feel the time is right. -Bible principle: Proverbs 20:5. 

Next time: Interview/Antonio Della Gatta-Why a Priest Left his Church

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING

When Your Child Asks About Death

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

* Children do not think about death.  Some even play games in which someone pretends to die. Therefore, death should not be considered a taboo subject, and you should welcome any questions your child may have about it. By occasionally talking openly about death, you help your child learn how to cope with the loss of a loved one. 

* Talking about death will not cause your child to have morbid thoughts. Rather, it will help him alleviate fears. However, you may need to correct some misunderstandings. For example, some experts say that many children under the age of six do not view death as final, in  their games, a child will be "dead" one moment and "alive" the next.

When they get a little older, children begin to grasp the seriousness of death-a fact that may cause them to have questions, concerns, or even fears, especially if a loved one has died. Therefore, it is vital that you discuss the subject.  Mental-health expert Marion Haza points out:  " A child will develop anxieties related to death if he feels that he is not allowed to talk about this subject at home."

* You need not worry excessively about what to say. According to one study, children just want to "hear the truth expressed in kind words." Be assured that a child will usually not ask a question unless he is ready to hear the answer. 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING -WHAT YOU CAN DO

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

WISDOM THAT PROTECTS

"Riches are the ransom for a man's life, but the poor are not even threatened." -Proverbs 13:8.

WHILE being rich may have certain advantages, wealth is a mixed blessing, especially in our perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)  In some lands, the wealthy, including the tourists who look affluent, have become targets of thieves and kidnappers seeking a ransom. 

Concerning one developing country, a news report stated:  "Violent robberies, fraud and kidnappings pit the haves against the have-nots. Restaurants post armed guards; the homes of the wealthy have walls with razor-wire, floodlights, cameras and security guards." A similar situation exists in many other lands. 

Yet "the poor," the Bible says,  "are not even  threatened." How can you benefit from that gem of wisdom?  If you live in an area known for crime and violence or if you have to travel to such a place,do not attract attention to yourself by  appearing to be affluent.  Think carefully about what you wear and carry in public, especially if your possessions would be noticed.  "The shrewd one sees the danger," says Proverbs 22:3, "but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences." 

The wisdom recorded in the Bible reflects  our Creator's care for us. He wants us to be safe. Such "wisdom is a protection," says Ecclesiastes 7:12, for it  "preserves the life of its owner." 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

THE BIBLE IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE

Linh lives in Southeast Asia. She told AWAKE! how the Bible helped her to improve her quality of life. 

What is your religious background?

I come from a Buddhist family that follows tradition. I knew nothing of the true God. 

Were you satisfied with your life? 

On the contrary!  I had many problems. I was unable to budget money. I did not know how to find good friends, and I could not help my parents with their problems.

Then your life took a turn for the better. Tell us how.

Some young women who were Jehovah's Witnesses began teaching me the Bible. When I had problems, I sought their guidance. Even though they were  younger than I was, they gave me excellent advice-but not based on their own views.  They showed  me what the Bible says.

Now that I have experienced the benefits of apply Bible teachings, I am fully convinced that this book is from God and that it can help anyone who strives to live by it. Secular education-although having its place-cannot do that.

Can you enlarge on that?

My parents have a college education and a high station in society. Yet, they have not found answers to their problems. In fact, they are divorced and unhappy.  When I went to college, I was told that there are times when society can be improved only by violence.  The Bible, however, tells us that no human  efforts can have lasting success, for God gave us neither the ability to govern ourselves nor the authority to do so. That's why human rule in all its forms is flawed and prone to corruption. But when we subject ourselves to God, we can greatly improve our life and be a good influence eon others. 

How has the Bible helped you? 

In many practical ways. I have fewer worries, and I now have good friends. I have learned to budget money and can afford to travel a little. Most of all, I can help others when they are in need.  

Next time: WISDOM THAT PROTECTS

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

TAILOR-,MADE AND TIMELESS VALUES/LOVE

BIBLE PRINCIPLE:  "Clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union." -Colossians 3:14.

THE BENEFITS:  The love predominantly mentioned in the Bible is not the romantic or sexual kind. Rather, it is a principled love characterized by such qualities as compassion, forgiveness, humility, loyalty, kindness, mildness,  and patience.  (Micah 6:8; Colossians 3:12, 13) Unlike romantic infatuation, which usually fades with time, love can keep growing indefinitely. 

Brenda, who has been married for nearly 30 years, says: "The love newlyweds have for each other is nothing compared with the love you have as marriage grows through time." 

Same, a husband for over 12 years, observed:  "My wife and I have always been delighted-even surprised-at how effective Bible counsel is, and how simple!  You apply it, and things go smoothly.  However, as much as I want to say that I always apply it, on occasion I haven't, such as when I was feeling overly sensitive, a bit selfish, or tired. At those times, I ask Jehovah to help me dispel any negative feelings. Then I gave my wife  a hug, and before long, it's like nothing unpleasant happened!"

Jesus Christ said that  "wisdom is vindicated by its results."  (Matthew 11:19) In the light of that truth, the Bible has all the hallmarks of genuine wisdom. Its teachings and values work.  They are timeless.  They transcend culture and nationality.  And they reflect such deep insight into human nature that they point to a higher Source-our Creator, Jehovah God. The proof, of course, is in the application. Hence, the Bible invites us to "taste and see that Jehovah is good." (Psalm 34:8) Will you accept that invitation? 

Next time: THE BIBLE IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015

TAILOR-MADE AND TIMELESS VALUES/FIDELITY

 BIBLE PRINCIPLES: "Let marriage be honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be without defilement." -Hebrews 13:4. 

THE BENEFITS: Some people consider those words antiquated. But they are wrong-dead wrong. Unfaithfulness hurts as deeply as it did when the Bible when penned. -Proverbs 6:34, 35. 

Jessie, who is both a husband and a father, wrote:  "Marital faithfulness has contributed greatly to my strong relationship with my wife and to our happiness. Indeed, trust is very important in a marriage. Infidelity destroys that trust."-not to mention the further effects it has on children! 

Ligaya" put her marriage in jeopardy. "I began to associate with bad people," she says. "This led to my taking part in wild nightlife and to cheating on my husband." Did this way of life make her happy?  She and her husband constantly argued, and she was miserable. She adds:  "When I reflected on the embarrassing mess I had got myself into, I realized just how right my parents were when they used to say,  'Bad associations corrupt good morals.' "  -1 Corinthians 15:33.

Ligaya continues:  "Before things got worse, I decided to stop my bad ways and study the Bible-this time applying its teachings."  The results? She saved her marriage, and her husband began to treat her more kindly and respectfully.  "The Bible changed my life," she says,  "and I have no regrets about leaving my old ways and so-called friends." 

Next time: TAILOR-MADE AND TIMELESS VALUES/LOVE

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015