IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY - " HE WAS WELL-REPORTED ON BY THE BROTHERS"

 "The "holy writings" that Timothy had been taught "from infancy" by his mother and grandmother included sound, practical counsel for young Timothy. (2 Timothy 3:15) Here is one example: "Remember, then, your Grand Creator in the days of your youth." (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Those words took on a deeper meaning after Timothy embraced Christianity. He saw that the best way for him to remember his Grand Creator included sharing the good news about God's Son. Timothy gradually learn to overcome any natural shyness that held him back and to be bold in telling others the good news about Jesus Christ. 

The men taking the lead in the congregation noticed Timothy's progress. No doubt they were touched to see how the youth built up and encouraged everyone around him. More important, though, is that Jehovah noticed Timothy. God inspired some prophecies to be made about him-perhaps relating to the kind of service he would one day render to many congregations. When Paul visited, he saw that Timothy could be a helpful traveling companion on missionary journeys. The brothers in Lystra agreed. They laid their hands on the young man, a gesture that signified that he was appointed to a special post of service to Jehovah Gd. - 1 TIMOTHY 1:18; 4:14.

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY - "HE WAS WELL-REPORTED ON BY THE BROTHERS"

 As mentioned earlier, Paul's next visit probably came two or three years later. Picture the excitement in Timothy's household when Paul arrived, this time accompanied by Silas. It was surely a joyful time for Paul too. He could see for himself what had come from the seeds of truth that he had sown in Lystra. There were Lois and Eunice, he daughter, now loyal Christian women, full of that unhypocritical faith" that Paul so admired. (2 Timothy 1:5) And what of young Timothy? 

Paul learned that the young man matured admirably since the previous visit. Timothy was "well-reported on by the brothers," not only in Lystra but also in Iconium, about 20 miles (32 km) to northeast. (Acts 16:2) How had he built up such a reputation? 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY - "THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS"

 Those who became Christian disciples in Lystra must have been thrilled to learn of the hope that was held out to Christ's followers. But they learned, too, that discipleship would exact a price. Fanatic Jewish opposers from Iconium and Antioch came to town, and they stirred up those volatile people, turning them against Paul and Barnabas. Before long, violent crowds came after Paul, hurling stones at him outside the city and left him for dead. - ACTS 14:19.

However, the disciples in Lystra went out to Paul, surrounding him. How relieved they must have been when he stirred, got up, and then courageously went back to Lystra! The next day, he and Barnabas left for the town of Derbe to continue to their preaching. After making new disciples there as well, they again braved danger and returned to Lystra. To what end? "They strengthened the disciples," the account tells us, "encouraging them to remain in the faith." Imagining young Timothy listening, wide-eyed, as Paul and Barnabas taught those Christians that their glorious hope for the future was well worth the present cost. They said: "We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations." - ACTS 14:20-22. 

Timothy had seen Paul live up to those words, facing tribulation bravely in order to share the good news with others. So Timothy knew that if he followed Paul's example, the people of Lystra would oppose him, and his own father might oppose him as well. But Timothy was not going to allow such pressures to influence his decision about how to serve God. Today, there are many young people like Timothy. Wisely, they seek our friends with strong faith, who will encourage and strengthen them. And they do not let opposition turn them away from serving the true God!

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY - "FROM INFANCY" -Conclusion

 To a few in Lystra, though, that occasion was no visit from mythical pagan gods; it was something real and wonderful. For instance, Eunice, a Jewish woman married to an unbelieving Greek man, along with her mother, Lois, surely listened to Paul and Barnabas with eagerness and joy. Here at last was the news that every faithful Jew longed to hear-the Messiah had come and had fulfilled many prophecies written about him in the Scriptures!

Imagine how Timothy was affected by Paul's visit. Timothy had been trained "from infancy" to love the holy writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:15) Like his mother and grandmother, he could see that Paul and Barnabas spoke the truth about the Messiah. And think of the crippled man that Paul healed. Why, from boyhood Timothy had probably seen that man countless times on the streets of Lystra. Now Timothy could see the man walking for the first time! No wonder Eunice and Lois became Christians, as did Timothy. To this day, grandparents and parents can learn much from Lois and Eunice. Can you influence for good on the young? 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY - "FROM INFANCY"

 Let us go back in time two or three years, let us assume -as seems probably-that Lystra was Timothy's hometown. It was a small, rustic town in a secluded, well-watered valley. The people may have understood the Greek language, but they still spoke in the local tongue. Lycaonian. One day, the quiet town was in an uproar. Two Christian missionaries, the apostle Paul and his traveling companion Barnabas, arrived from Iconium, a larger city nearby. As they preached in public, Paul caught sight of a crippled man who showed evidence of real faith. So Paul performed a miracle and healed the man! - ACTS 14:5-10.

Many people of Lystra evidently believed in local legends about gods disguised as human coming to the regions in times past. so the people mistook Paul for Herme and Barnabas for Zeus! The two humble Christians could barely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. - ACTS 14:11-18. 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/TIMOTHY/"My Beloved Child in the Lord"

 TIMOTY strode steadily along the road leading away from home, his eyes eagerly focused on what lay ahead. His companions led the way as they traversed the fields Timothy knew so well. Slowly receding behind was the city of Lystra, which set atop a low hill on the valley floor. Timothy smiled as he thought of his mother and grandmother, beaming with pride and hiding their tears as they watched him go. Should he turn and wave-one last time?

Now and again, the apostle Paul would turn to Timothy and smile encouragingly. He knew that Timothy still had a measure of shyness to overcome, but he was pleased to see the young man's enthusiasm. Timothy was quite young, perhaps still in his late teens or early twenties, and he had a tremendous respect and affection for Paul. Now Timothy was following this dynamic and faithful man on a journey that would take him hundreds of miles from home. They would travel on foot and by ship, facing countless dangers on the way. Timothy could not really know whether he would ever see him home again. 

What led the young man to pursue such a course of life? What rewards could make such sacrifices worthwhile? And how can Timothy's faith influence our own? 

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of the Armageddon - Conclusion

 In the face of all this, do not miss the point that is vital for you. Your frail life, sinful as it is, is as nothing compared with justifying Jehovah God to his rightful place in the universe. At Armageddon your life will count for nothing if you are against His sovereignty over all creation. If you want to survive that most terrific war of al time you must love Jehovah's universal sovereignty just as his Son Jesus Christ does; you must uphold  it and proclaim it and remain true to it at all costs until it is vindicated. Only then may you survive Armageddon, receiving this consideration from the victorious Fighters there. 

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 Christendom's armies have fought for world domination as regards the earth, but not for universal sovereignty of Jehovah God. There is no inspired record that either Jehovah God of ancient Israel or Jesus Christ his Son had taken part in any of the wars of Christendom and fought for any of her nations. The prophetic Scriptures of the inspired Bible declare that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ his glorified Son have reserved their fighting for the field of Armageddon, when Satan the Devil and all his spirit demons and the kings of the entire inhabited earth and all their armies and peoples are unitedly challenging the universal sovereignty of Jehovah God and rejecting the kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ. Concerning that time the prophecy says: "Then shall Jehovah go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And Jehovah shall be King over the earth: "In that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one." (Zechariah 14:3, 9, AS) Past wars of man have settled nothing, but Armageddon will settle the biggest issue before all creatures in heaven and earth, universal sovereignty and that in favor of Jehovah. Then the new world, in which His will is to be done everywhere, will follow.

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 Sentimental Christian religionists pretend to recoil in horror and disgust at the historic fact of Jehovah's fighting with such destruction to the enemies of loved people. They call him a "tribal God," a "big bully," "cruel," "blood-thirsty," and "vengeful." They indulge in all such blasphemy of Jehovah God only till their political government and nation gets into war with another nation.  Then what do these same Christian religionists do? Led by their clergymen, Catholic and Protestant, they pray to God that He should be with their armies and help them to shed the blood and destroy the lives and property of their enemies to gain the victory, even though these national enemies are of the same religious faith, Catholic or Protestant. They will even offer such prayers to God after they have called in heathen armies and ungodly Communists to help them as allies to gain the victory. What kind of God is it that such war-mad Christian religionists then worship? And do they then look upon Jesus Christ as a warrior fighting at the head of their armies with weapons of wholesale destruction?

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 Nineteen centuries ago God's love was so great that he gave his only-begotten Son that the believers in him might not perish but have everlasting life. It was these believers that God loved so much as to make this unselfish provision for them, and at Armageddon Jehovah God by his Son Jesus Christ will fight for those he loves. Jehovah God has long been known as a Fighter. From the time that he fought to rescue the nation of Israel from slavery in ancient Egypt down till the religious leaders of Israel called for Jesus Christ to be killed on a torture stake outside Jerusalem, Jehovah loved that chosen people of his and he was their God. During those fifteen centuries he fought violently for the people of Israel out of love for them, so that his victories in war are recorded in these words: "Jehovah the God of Israel it was who was fighting for Israel." They heard that Jehovah had fought against the enemies of Israel." - JOSHUA 10:42 and 2 CHRONICLES 20:29, NW.

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of Armageddon -- Continue

 At that battle the once self-sacrificing Son of God must, our of  his supreme love of God, play a different part, that of a Fighter bruising the original Serpent in the head and destroying the "kings of the entire inhabited earth "and all their patriotic backers. Then will occur the "revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings due punishment upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. These very ones will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones." The fight at Armageddon will be righteous on the part of God and of Jesus Christ, even if it does mean the greatest tribulation since the world's beginning.  "It is righteous on God's part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation to you." - 2 THESSALONIANS1:6-10, NW; MATTHEW 24:21.

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of Armageddon -Continue

 The all-transcending issue before all creation is the universal sovereignty of Jehovah the Most High and Almighty God. The foremost act of justice is to vindicate and justify, his universal sovereignty before not only this earth but all the universe. That overwhelming more important than the mere saving of earthly creatures who were justly condemned to death because of their imperfect sinful condition. Jesus Christ loves Jehovah God more any man or any other creature, for the commandment to love God with everything we are and have is first and the commandment to love our neighbor is the second. (Matthew 22:35-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18) Jesus Christ loves Jehovah God his heavenly Father. Although he knew he faced a cruel martyr's death her on earth he said to his loyal apostles: "In order for the world to know that I love the Father, I am even doing just the way the Father has give me commandment to do."  (John 14:31, NW) Jesus loves the vindication of his heavenly Father's universal sovereignty because that vindication is just and right and deserved; and Jehovah God has commanded Jesus Christ the Seed of His "woman" to the chief One in carrying out that vindication. Therefore the battle of Armageddon must come, although it means the greatest destruction of human life, for it is by this supreme conflict that the chief issue of all time will forever settle the universal sovereignty of Jehovah God the Creator and King of all eternity. 

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of Armageddon - Continue

 But that was nineteen centuries ago. Now in order to fulfill other prophecies that foretold the future work he had to do, Jesus comes in royal heavenly glory, no more as a self-sacrificing Son of man, but as mighty unconquerable Fighter accompanied by many legions of angels, to rid the universe of all the enemies of Jehovah God and his universal sovereignty. Christendom may no expect to escape. All the hypocritical Cristians in her will be executed along with all those who openly defy the universal sovereignty of the most High God. Christendom does not like to think of God and Christ from the standpoint of divine justice, which requires that the enemy and the hypocrite be executed. She prefers to view God and Christ his Son only from the standpoint of her favorite Bible verses: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn this world; but the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17) But God is just even as he is loving, and his love does not overstep or set aside his justice. He must be just with himself as well as his loving to undeserving sinners. "He cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) He cannot be untrue to the eternal facts about himself. He cannot deny or renounce the fact that he is Sovereign of all the universe of which he is the Creator. He cannot let any of his creatures to forever deny that all-important fact without finally being called to account for such willful denial.

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 There mankind will come to know Jesus Christ as they have not known him before. Christendom has no faith to look forward in the light of the Bible prophecy but prefers to look back nineteen centuries and remember the Son of God as the self-sacrificing Jesus, yielding himself to be slaughtered like an unprotesting lamb. In the garden of Gethsemane, when he was being betrayed by one of his own twelve apostles, and when Peter struck with a sword in his defense against the soldiers, Jesus miraculously healed the wounded man and said to Peter: "Return your sword to its place,  for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this a moment a legion of angels? In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must take place this way?"  (Matthew 26:48-54, NW) In order for the inspired prophecies to be fulfilled that foretold his sacrifical death, Jesus showed his unbreaking allegiance to Jehovah's universal Sovereignty and his loving submission to the universal's will. Thus he kept his integrity to his universal Sovereign down to the death, the shameful, painful death on a torture stake before the public eye at Calvary. His faithfulness until such a death in obedience to the divine will be served as vindication of Jehovah sovereignty and showed His sovereignty to be the rightful thing to govern our lives. At the same time his death served as a means to give up his perfect human life as repurchase price to buy back all obedient humans from the slavery of sin and its penalty death. 

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of Armageddon - Continue

 Associated with the Son of God, the Seed of God's woman, in that last issue-settling fight will be many angels. The will be a match for all the demons on the side of the "original serpent." This is made sure by a number of prophecies, Speaking of himself as "the Son of man," Jesus Christ prophesied of his coming into his heavenly kingdom and said: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory and the angels with him then he will sit down on his glorious throne." (Matthew 25:31, NW) In heaven he has always been known as "the Word of God," because of being God's Chief Spokesman. Therefore the following symbolic description of the forces of righteousness riding into battle applies to him and his angelic armies: The name he is called is the Word of God. Also the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may smite the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads, too, the press of the wine of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.  And upon, his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, Kings of kings and Lords of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16, NW) The taking part by Almighty God and his enthroned Son and the holy angels in the fight of Armageddon against the rebellious spirit hosts will make Armageddon a universal war, involving heaven as well as earth. Never will there ever be anything like it.

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 Since the "whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one," practically all of mankind are lining up at Armageddon in opposition to the universal sovereignty of Jehovah God. Invisibly behind them are the legions of demons under their ruler, Satan the Devil. However, the Almighty God has had an invisible, heavenly spiritual organization that has stood loyal and true to him, just like a faithful and devoted wife. Jehovah God speaks of this inseparable organization as his "woman," HIs wife, who acknowledges and obeys him as Sovereign Lord. To demonstrate to all intelligent creation that he commands the love and unswerving allegiance of the chief and highest member of it, Jehovah has called into combined action with him in the war of Armageddon his first and most beloved Son, now known as Jesus Christ. At his right side in the battle the great Sovereign Lord Jehovah will fight: "The Lord [A-do-nay'] at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath."(Psalm 110:5) Assigning this Chief Member or seed of his wifely organization to this foremost battle position at Armageddon, Jehovah said to the first rebel, "The original serpent," there in the garden of Eden almost six-thousand years ago: "I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between her seed and your seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." (Genesis 3:15, NW) In demonstration of his Sovereign, Jesus Christ as a heavenly Warrior will display his full enmity against the "original serpent" and his seed. He will bruise him in the head by a decisive victory over the enemy in vindication of Jehovah's universal sovereignty. Many battle survivors on earth will witness that glorious triumph. 

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 By the way men and nations carry on they deny Jehovah's sovereignty over the earth. If they could carry into reality their proposed spaceships and land on other planets they would extend their defiance of His sovereignty there also. There is one creature that has no spaceship and needs non an who had entry into the heavens, into the presence of God, and who has tried to stir up the defiance of Jehovah's sovereignty in all the heavens as well as in the earth. That rebellious creature is the "god of this system of things," Satan the Devil. It was here on earth that began his treason against the true and rightful Sovereign universe. He turned unfaithful to his trustworthy position in which the great Creator had placed him over man, and he incited the first man and woman rebelliously to break the commandment of God as not being their Sovereign. His universal sovereignty having first been in doubt here, and men and demons at this earth still challenging and defying the sovereignty of Jehovah, it is here that the chief issue must be put to rest and Jehovah's sovereignty be vindicated. The earth is now the "hot spot" of the universe, and the settling of the main question in dispute here will result in his vindication and glory and in the blessing of all men who take his side in the controversy. The six-thousand year-old issue will finally be settled at Armageddon, and that is why the battle there will outrank all previous battles. 

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 Jesus Christ quoted this psalm to his enemies and said: "Is it not written in your law, 'I said; You are gods'? If he called 'gods' those against whom the word of God came and yet the Scriptures cannot be nullified, do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and dispatched into the world, 'Blaspheme,' because I said I am God's Son?"  (John10:34-36, NW) Different peoples may have their particular gods, but to the adherent of the Holy Bible Jehovah is the one Most High and Almighty God.  "There is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called 'gods', whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many 'gods" and many 'lords', there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are and we for him, and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.(1 Corinthians 8:4-6, NW) So at Armageddon Satan the Devil, the mighty god of this system of things," with al his host of so-called "gods," will face Jehovah the Almighty God of the new world.

All the earth will be the scene of action. The more the astronomers with their mighty telescopes peer toward the outward reaches of our visible expanding universe, now reckoned to about 4,800,000,000 years old, the more our tiny planet earth shrinks in size by comparison; the more, too, its main inhabitant man shrinks in importance. How is it, then, that the Most High and Almighty God, who alone bears the name Jehovah, tangles with the mighty adversary Satan the Devil in battle with reference to our earth? It is not because earth or man up0n it is so important, but because the chief issue of all, the issue of universal sovereignty, is tied in this earth and must be settled one and for all time. "Sovereignty" means more than supremacy. It means supreme and independent in government and thus one's dominating all below as sovereign lord Jehovah Go dis the Creator of all things seen and unseen. The opening chapter of the Holy Bible says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and then goes on to give us a day-by-day description of the ordering of our planet and of all life upon it, including man. (Genesis, chapter 1, NW) The earth and its inhabitants belong to Jehovah God. So his universal sovereignty rightly extends to earth also, by reason of his being Creator. He is the great Sovereign, A-do-nay' or "Lord" over all, including this earth, no matter how small it is.

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 Does the Almighty God have a name? Yes, and at the showdown fight at Armageddon all men of the nations will come to know the name of Him against whom they are fighting. The prophetic psalm prays to God, saying: "Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; yea, let them be founded and perish; that they may know that thou alone, whose is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:17, 18, AS, Da; Yg; Ro) Jehovah comes out on top. 

Armageddon will therefore be a battle of gods, gods invisible and spiritual and persons among men who are addressed as "gods" or divinities. Besides bring the "ruler of this world," Satan the Devil is Scripturally called "the god of this system of things." This means that those who are a part of this world and who uphold this system of things worship, in fact, Satan the Devil, regardless of how religiously they may deny this. (2 Corinthians 4;4, NW; Romans 6:16) The sacrifices that many tribes and nations offer to idols and images the really offer to their ruler Satan the Devil Says an inspired writer on this: "I say that the things  which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers  with the demons." (1 Corinthians 10:20, NW) Besides demons gods, there are today men to whom are given the honors, praises, adulation and worship due only o the one living true God. Recognizing that are such are mighty ones among me, who claim to be the sons the Mose High God, the inspired psalmist said: "I say. 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you, nevertheless, you shall die like men and fall like any Prince.' "- PSALM 82:6, 7, RS. 

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CHAPTER II/The Victorious Fighters of Armageddon

 No one can gain victory over an almighty fighter, nor can an almighty fighter ever lose. The prize of victory at Armageddon is so great, the issues that are to be fought out are so universal, that the war calls for the Almighty God of the universe himself to go into action. That explains why the war fought at Armageddon is Scripturally called "The war of the great day of God the Almighty." (Revelation 16:14, 16, NW) Those who are on the side3 can there say without national self-conceit, "God is with us." 

No one but the Almighty could take on a fight against all who array themselves against us and be certain to overcome all those who are against him. Against him they are now arraying themselves not only the "kings of the entire inhabited earth" but also the invisible demons who inspire the expressions that irresistibly gather  al the earth's political rulers and their armies to the battlefield. That means also the great rebel against all divine authority, who is called the "ruler of the demons." Religious men contemptuously called him "Be-el'ze-bub," but his God-given, names and titles ae "the great dragon . . .the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Matthew 9:34; 12:24-28 and Revelations 12:9, NW) He is not merely the "ruler of the demons. "He is even the "ruler of this world," for which reason he claims "all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth," and he whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (John 12:31; 14:30; LUke4:5-7 and 1 John 5:19, NW) The seven great world powers taken note of in Bible history have all been subject to his domination-Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persi, Greece, Rome, and the British American imperial power, together with  and eighth world power that stems from the preceding seven, the League of Nations. In his mighty position as world ruler Satan the Devil can use his super-human demons to maneuver the kings of the whole inhabited earth onto his side and against Almighty God.

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Conclusion

 It sharpens our interest to consider that unavoidable war from the standpoint of those who will through it into the grandeurs of God's new world. In fact. it becomes an absorbing, delightsome, thrilling consideration for us.  To share this delight with our readers, we hope in following pages to look into at least forty-five of these typical pictures, prophetic life-dramas and direct prophecies regarding the Armageddon survivors. All these are very instructive and vital for us to consider now, for they show us in one way or another things we should wisely do now in order to be of the favored class.  "For all things that were written aforetime were written for instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4, NW) "Consequently, we have the prophetic word made more firm, and you are doing it well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar rises, in your hearts." (2 Peter1:19, NW) For our part, we are thankful thus to carry forward the proclamation of the good news, in the hope that you, our reader, may be one of Armageddon's survivors, to enjoy forever God's new world afterward. 

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 "Inspired to write"? Yes; for its very writers confessed that they did not write of their own accord. Peter, a writer of two books of the Holy Scriptures bearing his name, reminds us: "You know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private release. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit." (2 Peter 1:20, 21 NW) King David of the ancient nation of Israel, who wrote many songs or psalms, showed where and how he got his information, saying: "The spirit of Jehovah it was that spoke by me, and his word was upon my tongue. The God of Israel said to me the Rock of Israel spoke." 2 Samuel 23:2, 3 NW) That is why the Bible tells the truth and give us information we can get from no other source. That is why it, above all other books, is worthy of our enjoyable study and of our fullest confidence. The more we know of it the more healthy we join in the confession to its great Author: "Your word is truth." -JOHN 17:17, NW.

We need not be filled with fear, dread and horror as we take up an examination of Armageddon and what will follow. Now matter how terrible that war will be, we can know its righteous purpose, and always we can let it ring in our inner consciousness the cheering though: "I may survive Armageddon into God's new world!" This thought is no self-deceiving dream. The same inspired Word that unerringly foretold many centuries ago the very situation that we face up to in this generation also drew many pictures, staged many prophetic dramas and presented many direct prophecies of the ones to be protected all through the war of Armageddon. 

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue

 Ordinarily. for us to think of trouble is not pleasant and we shrink from it. But the consideration of Armageddon, rightly understood, is inviting and beneficial.  No part of the earth will escape this war. There will be no neutrals in this war; each one will have to be on either the one side or the other. Happy will those be who find themselves on the winning side. Only those who favor and uphold the winning side may have any hope of surviving this greatest of all wars. It is possible now to know the winning side and take one's stand in advance on it. And this is why we are wise if are thoughtful and consider the overwhelming evidence of the nearness of it. The proverbs of wisdom advise us against acting hastily without knowledge and taking a disastrous course: "It is not good for a man to be without knowledge, and he who makes haste with his feet misses his way. A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on and suffer for it." (Proverbs 19:2; 22:3, RS) so do not consider this mere calamity-howling, scoff at it and go on in simplicity and suffer. "How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?" A scoffer is punished." (Proverbs 1:22; 21:11, RS) Face the facts, understand them, and then choose the way of survival. 

The Bible is the only book on earth that tells us about the war of Armageddon and about God's new world to follow it. This is one of the many things that make the Bible the outstanding book among all ancient books that are reputed to be sacred. We are under sheer necessity to go to the Bible if we want to know the truth about this important subject. Although its sixty-six books were completed almost nineteen hundred years ago, the Bible is not old-fashioned and out of date. It is of practical use today. It is far in advance of any book on earth, no matter how recently written, and its prophecies that pierce into the edge of the future are actually history written in advance so certain of they being fulfilled. Its foreknowledge of the future, it sound rules for happy living, in view of life, its explanation of the cause of mankind's imperfect, dying condition and of the one remedy, and its showing us the road to salvation from the unsatisfying old world into a new world of endless life without torment of any kind. All this proves that the Holy Bible comes to us from a good and loving Mind far higher that that of the thirty-five or more men who were inspired to write its sixty-six books.

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You May Survive Into God's New World - Continue

 That revelation having been given and written down about A. D.96, it is now nineteen centuries since the warning of the war was given by name, and we are at least that much nearer it. But the passing of all of those centuries does not in itself argue that the surprise outbreak of Armageddon is near. Rather the conditions and the events of the world in fulfillment of the great prophet's predictions, the noticeable going forth of the unclean, froglike expressions inspired by the demons to the kings of the entire inhabited earth followed by the noticeable gathering of the kings to a modern Armageddon, and the irrepressible giving of a foretold witness concerning Armageddon on a globe-encircling scale, make it certain that this unequaled world catastrophe is not far off. It is a time of all times to consider the evidence at hand. 

This is not a calamity-howling. The Holy Scriptures or Bible, which contains the warning and description of the war of Armageddon, is not a calamity-howling book. God's new world, which it foretells as certain to follow Armageddon, is no calamity. Armageddon will be a calamitous catastrophe, not for the winners, but for the losers. The winners will enter into God's new world. In this sense those who examine into Armageddon need not fear like those who dread a third world war and for whom the question is, "not who will win a big war if ever there is one, but for who will be on hand-and in what condition-after such a war is over?" All will lose, they fear, winner as well as loser. But such is not the question and conclusion for those who inform themselves on the real Armageddon. They are assured that there will be people on earth after the war of Armageddon, and they will be in a blessed condition. 

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue

 Faced with what the world faces from its own mad course, even men of this world take seriously their ideas of what Armageddon means and talk about it without embarrassment. Into the pages of the very Congressional Record of the United States Congress there have gone these words uttered on the Senate floor by the junior senator from the state of Vermont under date if March 9, 1954: "In the very truth the world seems to be mobilizing for the great battle of Armageddon. Now is a crisis in the agelong war between God and the Devil for the souls of men." (Pages 2726-2727) 

Such men of this world, politicians, military men, and religious leaders, have not tole the true facts about Armageddon, but have merely made the people familiar with the name as meaning something frightful that is stealing up on human race. Long ago a prophet from heaven, the greatest prophet ever on earth, name this all-surpassing war and warned of its thief like coming in a revelation to his faithful follower, who wrote: "And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  They are, in fact expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. "Look! I am coming as a thief. . . And they gather them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har-mageddon [or, Armageddon]." That revelation was given in order to show "the things that must shortly take place." - REVELATION16:13-16; 1:1, NW. 

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue

 Toward the close of his speech the speaker emphasized this "hope of surviving" by these words: "Just a while ago we said that the vast majority of the subjects of the new world's King will be people restored to life on earth by the resurrection of the dead. Why only the vast majority,' and not all? Because there is a great crowd of people of good will today living who will survive the world catasprophe  of Armageddon and enter the world of new heavens and a new earth without going down into the grave or ever afterward having the need to need to die and cease to exist. That means that Armageddon is so near at hand it will strike the generation now living." Then after an explanation came the encouragement to be among the Armageddon survivors: Avoid perishing with this old world in the 'war of the great day of God the Almighty.' Get ready now to live after Armageddon in God's new world!" With these words the president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society closed his prepared speech to that 1953 international assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yankee Stadium, after which all the 165,829 in his visible audience were offered free printed copies if the speech.

Never before in these twenty centuries of the so-called "Christian era" had there been such a stupendous witness on one occasion concerning this war with the ominous name Armageddon and concerning what it really means to mankind, especially the generation in which we are living. With the passing of the years since then the warning witness regarding the real Armageddon has been greatly expanded world-wide. The seriousness of it deserves the greatest possible witness to all the nations. Its steady approach and its certainty to break forth in an unguarded hour for mankind inside this generation make it urgent that it be proclaimed on the greatest possible scale and that without letup. 

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue

 Many other conventioners were listening elsewhere. At the assembly's "Trailer City" forty miles to the west in the neighboring state of New Jersey they was another record crowd of 49, 027, to listen by direct wire connection with Yankee Stadium, making a total visible audience of 165,829. Besides that, by means of remote control, one of New York city's pioneer radio stations, WBBR, was daily broadcasting the convention's features over an area occupied by some fifteen million people, and it now stood ready to beam out to an uncountable invisible audience at their radio sets the good news to be proclaimed. Accountable for this record turnout was the tremendous advertising both before and during the convention-the millions of folders and handbills distributed, the thousands of window cards place to view, the thousands of placards worn by information walkers on the city streets, the thousands of signs on the bumpers and sides of automobiles, and two placards in each and every in each and every subway car of New York's three subway system. 

What was the good news to be proclaimed that brought such a crowd on a hot July afternoon? It was the good news summed up in the intensely advertised subject, "After Armageddon-God's New World." The president of an organization represented in 143 lands at the time, far more lands than the sixty-members of the United Nations. The speaker's very first words were applauded: "Armageddon will be the worst thing ever to hit the earth within the history of man. God's new world will be the best thing ever to come to distressed mankind and will never pass away: He went on: "For us to know that the best immediately follows the worst gives us courage to consider the subject of our discussion. . . . So if have yet to endure Armageddon, it will better for us to fact it with understanding, in the hope of surviving and entering into a new world of God's making, a world altogether different from the one mankind has known for thousands of years, to its sorrow. Armageddon will prove a great blessing in disguise." 

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You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue

 The number of visitors that afternoon to United Nations building paled into insignificance in comparison with the tremendous throng gathered six air-line miles to the northwest at the world's famous sports stadium. the Yankee baseball park. There it was the eighth and last day of an international assembly that had changed Yankee Stadium from a popular sports arena into assembly place for matters of far grander importance to all mankind. There that same Sunday morning words of the prophet Isaiah had rung out: "They should forge their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-knives: nation shall not life up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." The speaker applied them, not to the United Nations but to a New World society. 

But now four o'clock in the afternoon had come. Never had there been seen at Yankee Stadium the sight that now greeted the eye, from the ground, from the spectator stands and from the airplane that wheeled above taking pictures. The baseball diamond had been transformed into a small paradise-like scene around the speaker's stand. the three-level spectator stands and the bleachers surrounding the playing field on every side were filled to the last seat. Outside the stadium vast overflow tents were filled with 25,240 persons anxious to hear by loud-speakers. But the crowd that turned out to hear the good news was too large; there was not enough room in the tents and in the stadium stands. So a few minutes before the announced hour the gates were thrown open and thousands of men, women and children streamed in an onto the green playing field to seat themselves in well-ordered groups on the green grass to listen, swelling the crowds inside the stadium to 91,562 persons.

Next time: Chapter One/You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World - Continue 

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You May Survive Armageddon into God's New World

 Proclaiming the Good News

Sunday afternoon, July 26, 1953, the sun shone brightly on the home of the permanent headquarters of the United Nations at New York, city. On a marble wall that faces on the United Nations plaza stood carved in larger letters the words: "They shall their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 

Those words had not originated with any of the framers of the United Nations. They are words far older that have echoed down through the previous twenty-six centuries from the lips of the ancient prophet of the Near East, Isaiah the Hebrew. The designers of the United Nations buildings had merely taken the words to themselves from the prophet's book found in that sacred volume known as the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Bible. Without authority they had copied them and carved them into the marble of the United Nations structures as symbolizing the United Nations purposes "to maintain international peace and security; (What a joke and a bunch of phonies they are) and . . . develop friendly relations among nations and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace." (note: they wouldn't know universal peace if they had a note telling them what it is and means.) Halfway round the world at Panmunjom, Korea, Monday, July 27, was already dawning, and that day representatives of the United Nations amies were preparing to sign with the communist army representatives a truce to end the three-year-old Korean war that had come dangerously near to embroiling the nations in a third world war. However, it was not from this international organization's buildings there on the East River waterfront, between 42nd street and 48th street, of New York city that the good news was to be proclaimed to representatives from ninety-seven lands this memorable Sunday afternoon.

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Jesus Is Put to Death - Conclusion

 Standing before the Jewish high court, Jesus identified himself as the Son of God. The court considered him guilty of blasphemy and liable to death. Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. Although he found Jesus innocent of any crime, he turned Jesus over to the mob clamoring for his death.

Jesus was led to Golgotha, where Roman soldiers nailed him to a stake. Broad daylight miraculously turned to darkness. Later that afternoon, Jesus died, and a great earthquake occurred. His body was laid in a tomb cut into a rock. The next day, priests sealed the tomb and posted a guard at its entrance. Was Jesus to remain in that tomb? No. The greatest of all miracles was about to occur. - Based on MATTHEW chapters 26 and 27; MARK chapters 14 and 15; LUKE chapters 22 and 23; JOHN chapters 12to 19. 

JESUS' VITAL ROLE

The death of Jesus played a key role in the outworking of Jehovah's purpose. Because Jesus was conceived by means of God's holy spirit, he was born perfect, not subjected to inherit death. Yet, he gave his life so that mankind could have the opportunity to live forever and enjoy the kind of life that disobedient Adam lost for his descendants." - MATTEW 20:28; LUKE 2:34, 35; JOHN 3:16, 36; 2 PETER 3:13. 

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Jesus Christ Is Put to Death - Continue

 Jesus had much to say to his apostles that night. He gave them a new commandment-that they show unselfish love to one another. He said: "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." (John 13:34, 35) He urged them not to let their hearts be troubled by the tragic events that were about to unfold. Jesus prayed earnestly in their behalf. They sang praises together and went out into the night.

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus kneeled and poured out his heart in prayer. Soon, an armed mob of soldiers, priests, and others arrived to arrest. Judas approached and singled Jesus out by giving him a kiss. As the soldiers bound Jessu, the apostles fled. 

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Jesus Christ Is Put to Death

 After three and a half years of preaching and teaching, Jesus knew that his time on earth was drawing to an end. The religious leaders conspiring to kill him, but they feared an uproar among the people, who hold him to be a prophet. Meanwhile, Satan influenced one Jesus' apostles-Judas Iscariot-to turn traitor. The religious leaders offered Judah 30 silver coins to betray Jesus. 

On his final night, Jesus gathered with his apostle to observe the Passover. After dismissing Judas, he instituted a new observance, the Lord's Evening Meal. A took a loaf of bread, offered a prayer and passed the bread to the remaining 11 apostles. "This means my body which is to be given in your behalf," he said. "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." He did the same with a cup of wine, saying: "This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood." -LUKE 22:19, 20.

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CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, Then on to Pilate -Conclusion

 Professing ignorance of the facts about Jess but desiring to learn them, Pilate replies: "I am not a Jew, am I?" He adds: "Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What did you do?" -JOHN 18:35.

Jesus does not attempt to dodge the central issue-kingship. He answers in a way that no doubt greatly surprises Governor Pilate.

THE FIELD OF BLOOD

The chief priest are not sure what to do with the silver pieces that Judas throws into the temple. "It is not lawful to put them into sacred treasury," they say, "because they are the price of blood." So they used the money to purchase the potter's field in which to bury strangers. It comes to be called the "Field of Blood." - MATTHEW 27:6-8. 

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CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, Then on to Pilate - Continue

 The religious leaders do not tell Pilate that they had condemned Jesus for blasphemy. Now they trump the charges: "We found this man (1) subverting our nation, (2) forbidding the paying of taxes to Caesar, and (3) saying he himself is the Christ a king." - LUKE 23:2.

As a representative of Rome, Pilate has reason for concern about the charge that Jesus is claiming to be a king. So Pilate reenters the palace, calls Jesus to him, and asks: "Are you the King of the Jews?" In other words, Have you broken the law of the empire by declaring yourself to be a king in opposition to Caesar?' Perhaps to find out how much Pilate already has heard about him, Jesus says: "Are you asking this of your own originality, or did others tell you about me?" - JOHN 18:33, 34.

Next time: CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, Then on to Pilate - Conclusion

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CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, then on to Pilate -Continue

 It is still early in the morning when Jesus is taken to the palace of Pontius Pilate. But the Jews taking him there refuse to enter. They think that such contact with Gentiles will defile them. They disqualify them from eating the meal of Nisan 15, the first day of the Festival of unleavened Bread, which is viewed as part of the Passover period.

Pilate comes out and asks them: "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They respond: "If this man were not a wrongdoer, we would not have handed him over to you." Pilate may feel that they are trying to pressure him, so he says: "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews reveal their murderous intent, replying: "It is not lawful for us to kill anyone."  -JOHN 18:29-31. 

Actually, if they kill Jesus during the Passover festival, it will likely cause a public uproar. Yet, it they can get the Romans to execute Jesus on a political charge, which if the Romans are authorized to do, it will tend to absolve these Jews of responsibility before the people.

Next time: CHAPTE 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, then on to Pilate - Conclusion

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CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, Then on to Pilate -Continue

 Judas Iscariot may see Jesus being taken to Pilate. When Judas realizes that Jesus has been condemned, he feels a certain remorse and despair. However rather than turning to God in true repentance, he goes to give back the 30 pieces of silver. Judas tells the chief priests: "I sinned when I betrayed innocent blood." But he gets the heartless reply: "What is that to us? You must see to it!" - MATTHEW 27:4.

Judas throws the 30 pieces of silver into the temple and then adds to his wrongs by attempting self-murder. As Judas tries to hang himself, apparently the branch to which he ties the rop0 breaks. His body drops to the rocks below, where it bursts apart. -ACTS 1:17, 18.

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CHAPTER 127/Tried by the Sanhedrin, Then on to Pilate - Continue

 Again the court commands: "If you are the Christ, tell us." Jessus answers: "Even if I told you, you would not believe it at all. Moreover, if I questioned you, you would not answer." However, Jesus courageously indicates to them his identity as the one foretold at Daniel 7:13. He says: "From now on the Son of man will be seated at the powerful right hand of God." - LUKE 22:67-69; MATTHEW 26:63.

They persist: "Are you, therefore, the Son of God? Jesus replies: "You yourselves are saying that I am." This seems to justify killing Jesus on the charge of blasphemy. "Why do we need further testimony?" They ask. (Luke 22:70, 71; Mark 14:64) So they bind Jesus and lead him awake to Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. 

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