Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Identifying the "Third"

 As we shall see, when the first four trumpets are blown, plagues are inflicted on "a third of the earth, or the sea, of the rivers and fountains of waters, and of the earth's sources of light. (Revelation 8:7-12) A third is a considerable part of something but not the whole. (Compare Isaiah 19:24; Ezekiel 5:2; Zechariah 13:8, 9) So which "third" would be most deserving of these plagues? The vast majority of mankind has been blinded and corrupted by Satan and his seed. (Genesis 3:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4) The situation is s described by David: "They have all turned aside, they are all alike corrupt, there is not one doing good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3) Yes, the whole of mankind is in danger of receiving an adverse judgment. But one section thereof is particularly guilty. One part-"a third-should have known better! What is that "third"?

Next time: Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Identifying the "Third" - Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets - Conclusion

To my readers: Sorry, the blog was so short, but I had to do my blogs on my phone for a couple days because someone was trying to get information through my website. It may happen again, not just because of that but because Cox may be working on it in the area.

    As we shall see, each of the trumpet blasts herald a dramatic scene in which terrible plagues affect portions of the earth. Some of these remind us of the plagues that Jehovah sent to punish the Egyptians in Moses' day. (Exodus 7:19-12:32) These were expressions of Jehovah's judgment on that nation, and they opened the way for God's people to escape from slavery. The Plagues seen by John accomplish something similar. However, they are not literal plagues. They are signs that symbolize Jehovah's righteous judgments. - REVELATION 1:1.

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets - Continue

 As the angels got ready to blow those Trumpets, no doubt they were also giving direction to a preparatory work on earth. From 1919 to 1922, the revitalized John class was busy in reorganizing the public ministry and building publishing facilities. In 1919 the magazine The Golden Age, known today as Awake!, had been brought forth as A journal of Fact, Hope, and conviction"-a trumpet like instrument that would play a key role in exposing false religion' political involvements.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets - Conclusion 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Preparing for the Blasts of the Trumpets

 John goes on to say: "And the seven angels with the seven Trumpets prepared to blow them." (Revelation 8:6) What does the blowing of those Trumpets mean? In the days of Israel, trumpet blasts were used to signal important day's or newsworthy events. (Leviticus 23:24; 2 Kings 11:14) Similarly, the blasts of the Trumpets that John is to hear will call attention to matters of life-and-death inportance.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Hurling Fire to the Earth - Conclusion

 Referring to the recent hard  experiences of God's people, the speaker said: "So pitiless was the onslaught of  the enemy that many of the Lords dear flock were stunned and stood still in amazement, praying and waiting for the Lord to indicate his will. . . . But notwithstanding the momentary discouragement, there was a burning desire to proclaim the message of kingdom" - See the September 15, 1919 issue of the Watch Tower, page 280.

In 1919 that desire was satisfied. This small but active group of Christians was set on fire spiritually speaking, to begin a worldwide preaching campaign. (Compare 1Thessalonians 5:19) Fire was hurled to the Earth in that God's Kingdom was made the burning issue, and so it continues to be! Strong voices replaced silence, sounding out the Kingdom message with clarity. Thunderous storm warnings from the Bible pealed forth. Like flashes of lightning, brilliant beams of truth shone from Jehovah's prophetic Word, and, as of by a mighty earthquake, the religious calm was shaken to its foundations. The John class lsaw that there was work to be done. And to this day, that work continues to expand gloriously throughout the inhabited earth! - Romans 10:18.

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ChapterTwenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Hurling Fire to the Earth - Continue

 On one occasion Jesus told his disciples: "I came to start a fire on the Earth." (Luke12:49) Truly, he did ignite a fire. By his zealous preaching, Jesus made God's Kingdom the paramount issue before the Jewish people, and this sparked heated controversy throughout that nation. (Matthew:17,25; 10:5-7,17, 18) In1919Kesus'spiritusl brothers on earth, the small band of anointed Christians who had survived the trialsome days of world war one, set light to a similar fire in Christendom. In September of that year, Jehovah's spirit was remarkably in evidence as his loyal Witnesses assembled from near and far at Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A.. Joseph F. Rutherford, recently released from prison and soon to be completely exonerated, boldly addressed that convention saying: "Obedient to the command of our Master, and r ecognizing our privilege and duty to make war against the strongholds of error which have so long held the people in bondage, our vocation was and is to announce the incoming glorious kingdom of Messiah. "That is the primary issue-God's Kingdom! 

next time: Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Hurling Fire to the Earth -Conclusion

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Hurling Fire to the Earth

 John tells us: "But right away the angel took the incense vessel, and he filled it with some of the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth. And thunders occurred and voices and lightnings and an earthquake." (Revelation 8:5) After the silence, there is sudden dramatic activity! This is evidently in response to the prayers of the holy ones, since it is triggered by fire taken from the incense altar. Back in 1513 B.C.E., at Mount Sinai, thunders and lightnings, a loud noise, fire, and a quaking of the mountain signaled Jehovah's turning his attention to his people. (Exodus 19:16-20) The similar manifestations reported by John likewise indicate Jehovah's giving attention to his servants on earth. But John observes is presented in signs. (Revelation 1:1) So how are the symbolic fire, thunders, voices, lightnings, and earthquake to be interpreted today?

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

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

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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