Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe -Locusts - The 20th-Century Plague

 Reasonably, we could expect Joel's prophecy to have a final fulfillment in the time of the end. How true this has proved to be! At the Bible Students convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. September 1-8m 1919, a notable outpouring of Jehovah's spirit activated his people to organize a global campaign of preaching. Of all professed Christians, they alone, recognizing that Jesus had been enthroned as heavenly King, spared no effort in publishing abroad that good news. Their relentless witnessing, in fulfillment of prophecy became as a tormenting plague to apostate Christendom. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts - A First Century Plague - Conclusion

 Was there a figurative plague during those days? Yes, indeed! It came as a result of the relentless preaching of the newly anointed Christians. Through, them, Jehovah invited those Jews who would listen to repent and enjoy blessings from him. (Acts 2:38-40; 3:19) The individuals who responded received his favor to a remarkable degree. But to the ones who refused the invitation, the first-century Christians became like a devastating swarm of locusts. Starting in Jerusalem, they spread through all Judea and Samaria. Soon they were everywhere, tormenting the unbelieving Jews by publicly proclaiming Jesus' resurrection with al that this implied. (Acts1:8; 4:18-20; 5:17-21, 28, 29, 40-42; 17:5, 6, 21:27-30) That plaguing continued until the "fear-inspiring day," in 70 C.E., when Jehovah brought the Roman armies against Jerusalem to destroy it. Only those Christians who in faith called on the name Jehovah were saved. - JOEL2:32; ACTS 2:20, 21; PROVERBS 18:10. 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe -Locusts -A First Century Plague

 There was a fulfillment of Joel chapter 2 in the first century. It was then, at Pentecost 33 C.E., that holy spirit was poured out, anointing the first Christians and empowering them to speak the "magnificent things of God" in many tongues. As a result, a large crowd assembled. The apostle Peter addressed those astonished onlookers, quoting Joel 2:28, 29 and explaining that they were witnessing its fulfillment. (Acts 2:1-21) But there is no record of a literal insect plague at that time, causing discomfort to some and leading others to repentance. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts -A First Century Plague - Conclusion 

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Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts

 The fifth angel prepares to blow his trumpet. Four heavenly trumpets have already sounded, and four plagues have directed to the third of the earth that Jehovah regards as most reprehensible-Christendom.  Her deathly sick condition has been uncovered. While angels sound the trumpet blasts, human heralds follow through on earth. Now the fifth angelic trumpet is about to announce the first woe, more fearsome even than what has gone before. It is related to a terrifying locust plague. First, though, let us examine other scriptures that will help us to understand the plague better.

The Bible book of Joel, written during the ninth century B.C. E., describes a plague of insects, including locusts, that is similar to the one that John sees. (Joel 2:1-11, 25) It was to cause much discomfort for apostate Israel but would also result in individual Jews' repenting and returning to Jehovah's favor. (Joel 2:6, 12-14) When that time arrived, Jehovah would pour out his spirit on "every sort of flesh," while fearful signs and alarming portents would precede "the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah." - JOEL 2:11, 28-32. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Flying Eagle - Conclusion

 An eagle flies high into the sky, so that people in a wide area can see it. It has exceptionally keen sight and can see a long wa7y ahead of itself. (Job 39:29) One of the cherubic living creatures around God's throne was pictured a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:6, 7) Whether it this cherub or another farsighted servant of God, it loudly proclaims a dynamic message: "Woe, woe, woe"! Let earth's inhabitants take note, as the three remaining blasts are heard, each of them linked to one of these woes.

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Two/The First Woe - Locusts

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - A Flying Eagle

 These first four trumpet blasts truly resulted in uncovering the desolate and death-dealing condition of Christendom. Her part of "the earth" was exposed as deserving of Jehovah's judgment. Revolutionary governments springing up in her hands and elsewhere were shown to be inimical to spiritual life. The fallen condition of her clergy was laid bare, and the general darkness   of her spiritual condition was exposed for all to see. Christendom is the most reprehensible part of Satan's system of things. 

What more is there to reveal? Before we find the answer to this question, there is a brief pause in the series of trumpet blasts. John describes what he sees next: "And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven say with a loud voice: 'Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling on the earth because of the rest of the trumpet blasts of the three angels who about to blow their trumpets!' " - REVELATION  8:13. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Darkness! - Conclusion

 In line with the heavenly proclamation, a capacity crowd of God's people assembled in convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., on August 29, 1925, and adopted for publication a forthright resolution entitled "Message of Hope." Again, some 50 million copies were distributed in a number of languages. It described the false light held out by the combine of commercial profiteers, political leaders, and the religious clergy, as a result of which "the peoples had fallen into darkness." And it pointed to God's Kingdom as the real hope for receiving "the blessings of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty, and eternal happiness." It took courage for the small band of anointed Christians to proclaim such messages against the giant organization of Christendom. But consistently, from the early 1920's until now, they have done so. In more recent time, in 1955, a further expose' of the clergy class was made by a worldwide distribution in many languages entitled Christendom or Christianity-Which one is "the Light of the World"?  Today, Christendom's hypocrisy has become so evident that many in the world can see it for themselves. But Jehovah's people have not let up in exposing her for what she is a kingdom of darkness.  

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom - Darkness! - Continue

 Jesus said that Christians would be recognized by their fruits and that many claiming to be his followers would "workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:15-23) No one looking at the fruits  of the third of the world occupied by Christendom can deny that she is groping in spiritual darkness. (2 Corinthians 4:4) She is most blameworthy, for she claims to be Christian. Hence, it is only proper that the fourth angel should trumpet the fact that Christendom's "light" is, in fact, darkness, and her sources of  "light" are Babylonish-non-Christian. - MARK 13:22, 23; 2 TIMOTHY 4:3, 4. 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -Darkness!

 "And the fourth angel blew his trumpet. And a third of the sun was smitten and a third of the moon and a third of the stars, in order that a third of them might be darkened and day might not have illumination for a third of it, and the night likewise." (Revelation 8:12) The ninth plague on Egypt was a plague on literal darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29) But what is this symbolic darkness that come to the plague of men in our 20th century ?

The apostle Peter told fellow believers that they had been in darkness, spiritually speaking, before they became Christians.  (1 Peter 2:9) Paul too, used the word "darkness" to describe the spiritual state of those outside the Christian congregation.  (Ephesians 5:8; 6:12; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5) But what about those in Christendom who claim to believe in God and who say they accept Jesus as their savior? 

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Chapter Twenty-One/Jehovah's Plagues on Christendom -A Star Falls From Heaven - Conclusion

 Since the third angel started to blow his trumpet, the clergy's position of dominance among mankind has been slipping until, in this day and age, very few of them retain the godlike powers they enjoyed in former centuries. Because of the preaching of Jehovah's Witnesses, great numbers of people have to realize that many doctrines taught by the clergy are spiritual poison-"wormwood." Furthermore, the clergy's power in northern Europe is almost spent, while in most Eastern European lands, as well as China, the government strictly curtails their influence. In Catholic parts of Europe and in the Americas, the clergy's scandalous behavior in financial reputation. From now on, their position can only get worse, since soon they will suffer the same fate as all other false religionists. -REVELATION 18:21; 19:2. 

Jehovah's plaguing of Christendom is not yet finished. Consider what happens after the fourth trumpet blast. 

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

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