Chapter Seventeen/Earthquakes in the Lord's Day -Tremors in Human Society - Continue

World War II brought another wave of upheavals. And smaller wars continue to shake the earth as we approach the end of this century. But will the present system make it that far? The fearful threat of a nuclear holocaust has many people wondering. Happily, the answer rests not with man but with his Creator. - JEREMIAH 17:5. 

Other things besides wars, though, have shaken human society to its foundations since 1914. One of the most traumatic upheavals was triggered by the U.S. stockmarket crash of October 29, 1929. This brought on the Great Depression, which affected all capitalist countries. That depression bottomed out between 1932 and 1934, but we are still feeling its effects. Since 1929 an economically sick world has been patched up by makeshift schemes. Governments indulge in deficit financing. The oil crisis of 1973 and the stock market plunge of 1987 and added to the shakings of the financial empire. Meantime, millions of people buy largely on credit. Countless numbers are victimized by financial gimmicks, pyramid schemes, and lotteries and other gambling subterfuges, many of which are sponsored by governments that should be protecting the people. Even Christendom's television evangelists stretch out their hands for their multimillion-dollar share! - Compare Jeremiah 5:26-31. 

 

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Note: Look around! people have you seen any improvements in what man has done. No! you have not and neither have I, nor will we, because man -imperfect sinful man are not capable or intelligent enough to make anything better. Because man is not running the world without help from Satan and his demons. Jesus Christ threw him and his demon angels out of heaven because he was challenging God's Sovereignty and right to rule this world. He thought he could do better. Well, you see what happened don't you. This world is unfit for any human to live here. It is nothing but misery, violence, sickness, diseases, wars, and death and not to burst your bubble some of you are living in, but it not going to get any better.  Read the Bible if you truly want the truth. Or go to jw.org  website and read the Bible on there.  And may God help you if don't listen to his words in the Bible. AMEN! 

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Chapter Eighteen/Earthquakes in the Lord's Day - Tremors in Human Society - Continue

 Historians, philosophers, and political leaders have pointed to the year 1914 as the start of a new momentous epoch. seventeen years into the epoch, historian H. G. Wels commented: "Gladly would the prophet prophesy pleasant things. But his duty is to tell what he sees. He sees a world still firmly controlled by soldiers, patriots, usurers, and financial adventurers; a world surrendered to suspicion and hatred, losing what is left of private liberties very rapidly, blundering toward bitter class conflicts, and preparing for new wars." In 1953 philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote: "Ever since 1914, everybody conscious of trends in the world has been deeply troubled by what has seemed like a fated and predetermined march toward ever greater disaster . . . . They see the human race, like the hero of a Greek tragedy, driven on by angry gods and no longer the master of fate." In 1980 statesman Howard Macmillan, reflecting on the peaceful start of our 20th century, said: "Everything would get better and better. This was the world I was born in. . .  . Suddenly, unexpectedly, one morning in 1914 the whole thing came to an end." 

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Chapter Eighteen/Earthquakes in the Lord's Day - Tremors in Human Society

 From the mid-1870's, Jehovah's people had been anticipating that catastrophic events would start in 1914 and would mark the end of the Gentile Times. This is the period of "seven times" (2,520 years) running from the overthrow of the Davidic kingdom in Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. to Jesus' enthronement in heavenly Jerusalem in 1914 C.E. - DANIEL4:24, 25; LUKE 21:24; King James Version

Thus, when C.T. Russell, first president of the Watchtower Society, appeared for morning worship with the Brooklyn, New York Bethel family on the morning of October 2, 1914, he made the dramatic announcement: "The Gentile Times have ended; their kings have had their day." Indeed, the worldwide upheaval that began in 1914 was so far-reaching that many long-standing monarchies disappeared. The overthrow of czardom in Bolshevik revolution of 1917 led to the current confrontation between m   Marxism capitalism. Tremors of political change continue to disturb human society earth wide. Today, many governments fail to survive more than a year or two. Lack of stability in the political world is illustrated in the case of Italy, which had 47 new governments in just 42 years following World War II. But such advance tremors are only preliminary to a climatic governmental upheaval. The result? God's Kingdom will take over sole rulership of the earth. -ISAIAH 9:6, 7. 

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Chapter Eighteen/Earthquakes In the Lord's Day - Conclusion

Literal and figurative quaking of the earth are mentioned a number of times in the Bible. In his great prophecy about the signs of his presence in Kingdom power, Jesus forecast   "earthquakes in one place after another." These would part of "a beginning of pangs of distress." Since 1914, with earth's population exploding into the thousands of millions, literal tremblors have contributed to the distresses of our times. (MATTHEW 24:3, 7, 8) Nevertheless, even though they fulfill prophecy, those earthquakes have been natural physical disasters. They are preliminary to the great symbolic earthquake of Revelation 6:12. This indeed, comes as the devastating finale to a series of advance tremors that shake Satan's human earthly system of things to its foundations."

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Chapter Eighteen/ Earthquakes in the Lord's Day

 Have you ever lived through a severe earthquake? It is not a pleasant experience. A big tremblor may start with sickening roll and a rumbling noise. The swaying may worsen by fits and starts while you dash for safety-perhaps under a desk. Or it may come as a sudden, shattering jolt, followed by the crashing of crockery, furnishings, even buildings. Damage may be catastrophic, with frequent aftershocks inflicting further damage and adding to the misery. 

Having this in mind, consider what John describes at the opening of the sixth seal: "    And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred." (Revelation 6:12a) This must fall within the same time frame as the opening of the sixth seals. Just when the Lord's day does this earthquake occur, and what kind of quake is it? - REVELATION 1:10. 

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Chapter Seventeen/'Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded - 'Those Who Are Dead Rise First' - Conclusion

 The opening of this fifth seal of the scroll has provided good news concerning anointed integrity keepers who have conquered, faithful to the death. But it provides no good news for Satan and his seed. The ride of the Conqueror on the white horse continues irresistibly and culminate in a time of reckoning for the world that "is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) This is made clear when the Lamb opens the sixth seal. 

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Chapter Seventeen/'Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded - 'Those Who Are Dead Rise First - Continue

 What a stirring story these verses tell! Those of Jesus' anointed brothers who survived to Jesus' presence, that is, are still alive on earth during his presence, are preceded into heaven by those who have already died. Such ones, dead in union with Christ, rise first. Jesus descends, that is, turns his attention to them and resurrects them to spirit life, giving them a "white robe." Afterward, those who are still alive as humans finish their earthly course, many of them dying violently at the hands of opposers.  They do not, however, sleep in death as their predecessors did. Rather, when they die, they are instantly changed-"in the twinkling of an eye" caught away to the heavens to be with Jesus and fellow members of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; compare Revelation 14:13) Thus the resurrection of anointed Christians starts soon after the four horsemen of the Apocalypse begin their ride.

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Chapter Seventeen/"Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded - "Those Who Are Dead Rise First

 The insight granted by the opening of the fifth seal agrees completely with other scriptures that have to do with the heavenly resurrection. For example, the apostle Paul wrote: "For this is what we tell you by Jehovah's Word, that we are the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord." - I THESSALONIANS 4:15-17.

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Chapter Seventeen/'Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded - A White Robe - Continue

 All the evidence indicates that this heavenly resurrection began in 1918, after Jesus' enthronement in 1914 and his riding forth to start his kingly conquest by cleansing the heavens of Satan and his demons. Yet, those resurrected anointed ones are told that they must "rest a little while longer, until the number . . . also of their fellow slaves" is filled. Those of the John class still on earth must prove their integrity under trial and persecution, and some of these may yet be killed. Finally, though, all the righteous blood shed by Babylon the Great and her political paramours will be avenged. In the meantime, resurrected ones are doubtless busy with heavenly duties. They rest, not by relaxing in blissful inactivity, in that they patiently await Jehovah's vengeance. (Isaiah 34:8; Romans 12:19) Their rest will end when hey witness  the destruction of false religion and, as "called and chosen faithful" ones, they accompany the Lord Jesus Christ in executing judgment on all other parts of Satan's wicked seed here on earth. - REVELATION 2:26,27; 17:14; Romans 16:20.

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Chapter Seventeen/'Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded - A White Robe

 After documenting the faith of integrity keepers of ancient times, the apostle Paul said: "And yet all these, although they had witness borne to them through their faith, did not get the fulfillment of the promise, as God foresaw something better for us, in order that they might not be made perfect apart from us." (Hebrews 11:39, 40) What is that "something better" that Paul and other anointed Christians anticipate? "And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled, also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had also been." (Revelation 6:11) Their receiving "a white robe" has to do with their resurrection to be immortal spirit creatures. No longer do they lie as slaughtered souls underneath the altar, but they are raised to be part of the group of 24 elders that worship before the heavenly throne of God. There, themselves have been given thrones, showing that they have entered into royal privileges. And they are "dressed in white outer garments," signifying that they have been adjudged righteous, worthy of an honored place before Jehovah in that heavenly court. This is also in fulfillment of Jesus promise to faithful anointed Christians in the congregations in Sardis: "He that conquers will thus be arrayed in white outer garments." - REVELATION 3:5; 4:4; 1 PETER 1:4.

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