Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Fervent Prayer

 The sincere Christians of the John class were perplexed. What did God want them to do next? When they would be taken up to heaven? An article entitled "The Harvest Ended-What Shall We Follow?" appeared in the May 1, 1919 issue of the Watch Tower. It reflected this state of uncertainty and encouraged the faithful to continued endurance, adding: "We believe it is now a true saying that the harvest of the kingdom class is an accomplished fact, that all such are duly sealed and that the door is closed." During this difficult period, the fervent prayers of the John class were ascending, as though in the smoke of a large quantity of incense.  And their prayers are being heard!

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 Can we determine when this happened? Yes, we can, by examining the context, together with the historical developments early in the Lord's day. (Revelation 1:10) During 1918 and 1919 events on earth harmonized remarkably with the scenario described at Revelation8:1-4. For 40 years before 1914, the Bible students-as Jehovah's Witnesses were then called-had been announcing boldly that the times of the Gentiles would end in that year. The distressful events of 1914 proved them correct. (Luke21:24; King James Version; Matthew24:3, 7, 8) But many of them also believed that in 1914 they would be taken from this earth to that heavenly inheritance. That did not happen. Instead, during the first world war, they endured a time of severe persecution. On October 31, 1916, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, Charles T. Russell, died. Then, on July 4, 1918, the new president, Joseph F. Rutherford, and seven other representatives of the Society were transported to the Atlantic Georgia penitentiary, wrongly sentenced to long years in prison. 

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This reminds us that under the Jewish system of things, incense was burned daily at the tabernacle and, in later years, at the temple in Jerusalem. (Exodus 30:1-8) During the incense burning, the non-priestly Israelites waited outside the sacred area, praying-no doubt silently in their hearts-to the One to whom the incense smoke was ascending. (Luke 1:10) John now sees something similar happening in heaven. The incense offered by the angel is associated with "the prayers of the holy ones." In fact, in an earlier vision, incense is said to represent such prayers. (Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:1, 2) Evidently, then, the symbolic silence in heaven is to allow the prayers of the holy ones on earth to be heard. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom

 "The four winds" have been held back until the 144,000 of spiritual Israel are sealed and the great crowd is approved for survival. (Revelation 7:1-4, 9) However, before that tempestuous storm breaks over the earth, Jehovah's adverse judgments against Satan's world must also be made know! As the Lamb proceeds to open the seventh and final seal, John must be watching keenly to see what will unfold. Now he shares his experience with us: "And when he [the Lamb] opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in heaven for about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them." - REVELATION 8:1, 2. 

A Time for Fervent Prayer

A significant silence this! Half an hour can seem a long time when you are waiting for something to happen. Now, even the constant heavenly chorus of praise is no longer heard. (Revelation 4:8) Why? John sees the reason in vision: "And another angel arrived and stood at the altar, having a golden incense vessel; and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones upon the golden altar that was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the hand of the angel with the prayers of the holy ones before God. - REVELATION 8:3, 4. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Making the Calling Sure Conclusion

 There is no evidence that any apart from these two groups will "stand" in the day of Jehovah's wrath. What does this mean for the millions who each year show a certain respect for Jesus' sacrifice by attending the celebration of the Memorial of his death but who have not yet exercised faith in Jesus' sacrifice to the point of becoming dedicated, baptized servants of Jehovah active in his service? Further, what about those who were once active but who have allowed their hearts to "become weighed with . . . anxieties of life"?  May all such awaken, and stary awake, in order to "succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man"-Jesus Christ. The time is short! - LUKE 21:34-36. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Making the Calling Sure

 What a magnificent vista these words open up to us! Jehovah himself is on his throne, and all his servants, heavenly and earthly, unite in praising him. His earthly servants appreciate what an awesome privilege it is to share in this swelling chorus of praise.  Very soon, Jehovah and Christ Jesus will execute judgment, and the cry will be heard: "The day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17) The answer? Only a minority of mankind, including those of the sealed 144,000 still remaining in the flesh and a great crowd of other sheep who will "stand," that is, survive with them. - Compare JEREMIAH 35:19; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:13. 

In view of this face, anointed Christians of the John class exert themselves vigorously in "pursuing down toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus." (Philippians3:14) They are fully aware that events during these days call for special endurance on their part. (Revelation 13:10) After loyally serving Jehovah for so many years, they hold fast to their faith, rejoicing that their names are "inscribed in the heavens." (Luke10:20; Revelation 3:5) Those of the great crowd too know that only "he that has endured to the end is the one that will saved." (Matthew 24:13) While the great crowd as a group is marked to come out of the great tribulation, individuals thereof must exert themselves to remain clean and active. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Blessings of the Great Crowd - Conclusion

 If you are one of that great crowd, your good condition of heart will make you "cry out joyfully," no matter what you have to endure in the way of privations and pressures during the twilight years of Satan's system. (Isaiah 65:14) In that sense, even now, the Lamb can 'wipe out every tear from your eyes." No longer does torrid "sun" of adverse judgment threaten you, and when the four winds of destruction are unleased, you may be spare the scorching heat" of Jehovah's displeasure. After that destruction is over, the Lamb will guide you to benefit fully from the revitalizing "fountains of water of life," these representing all of the provisions that Jehovah makes for your gaining everlasting life. Your faith in the blood of the Lamb will be vindicated in that you will gradually be raised to human perfection. You of the great crowd will be unique among mankind as the "millions" that did not even have to die! In the fullest sense, every tear will have been wiped from your eyes. - REVELATION 21:4. 

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 What application did the promise about not getting hungry or thirsty or suffering parching heat have back then? Certainly, Christians in the first century did suffer literal hunger and thirst at times. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) In a spiritual way, though, they had an abundance. They were richly provided for, so that they did not go hungry or thirsty for spiritual things. Moreover, Jehovah did not cause the heat of this anger to blaze against them when he destroyed the Jewish system of things in 70 C.E. the words of Revelation7:16 have a similar spiritual fulfillment for the great crowd today. Along with the anointed Christians, they enjoy bounteous spiritual provisions. - ISAIAH 66:13; Nahum 1:6, 7. 

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 The elder continues: "They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:16, 17) Yes, Jehovah is truly hospitable! But what depth of meaning is there to these words? 

Let us consider a similarly worded prophecy: "This is what Jehovah has said: 'In time of goodwill I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you . . .They will not go hungry, neither will they go thirsty, nor will parching heat or sin strike them. For the One who is having pity upon them will lead them, and by the springs of water he will conduct them.' (Isaiah 49:8, 10; see also Psalm 121:5, 6) The apostle Paul quoted part of this prophecy and applied it to the "day of salvation" that began at Pentecost 33 C.E. He wrote: "For he [Jehovah] says: 'In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you.' Look! Now is especially acceptable time.  Look! Now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 6:2.

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 Further, they have become more zealous witnesses of Jehovah-'rendering him sacred service day and night i his temple." Are you one of these dedicated great crowd? If so, it is your privilege to serve Jehovah without letting up in the earthly courtyard of his great spiritual temple. Today, under the direction of the anointed ones, the great crowd is performing by far the greatest part of the witness work. Despite secular responsibilities, hundreds of thousand of them have made room for the full-time ministry as pioneers. But whether you are in that group or not, as a dedicated member of the great crowd, you can rejoice that because of your faith and works you are declared righteous as a friend of God and are welcomed as a guest in his tent. (Psalm 15:1-5; James2:21-26) Jehovah thus spreads 'his tent over those who love him, and, as a good host, protects them. - PROVERBS 18:10.

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