Confident and Watchful - Conclusion

 Again, Elijah set a powerful example for us. We too live at a time when God will soon act to fulfill his stated purpose. Elijah waited the end of a drought; God's servants today await the end of a corrupt world system of things. (1 John 2:17) Until Jehovah God acts, we must keep ever on the watch, as Elijah did. God's own Son Jesus advised his followers: "keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Mark 24:42) Did Jesus mean that his followers would be completely in the dark as to when the end would come? No, he spoke at length about what the world would like in the days leading up to the end. All of us can observe the fulfillment of this detailed sign of "the conclusion of the system of things." - Read MATTHEW 24:3-7.

Each facet of that sign furnishes powerful, convincing evidence. Is such evidence enough to move us to act with urgency in our service to Jehovah? One little cloud rising from the horizon was enough to convince Elijah that Jehovah was about to act. Was the patient prophet disappointed? Again, remember that Jehovah's view of time is nothing like ours. Keep in mind also that it took a while for Jehovah to start the flood to make sure as many people could be saved as possible. He waited that long as he is doing today to make sure that everyone who is on his side will be saved from Armageddon.  THINK! 

Next time: CHAPTER ELEVEN/He Watched, and He Waited - Jehovah Brings Relief and Blessings

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