A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Great Crowd Makes Its Appearance -Conclusion

When the second world war broke out, Satan put forth bitter efforts to stop the harvesting of the great crowd.  Jehovah's work was restricted in many countries.  During those dark days, and shortly before his death in January 1942, J.F. Rutherford was heard to say:  "Well . . . it looks as though the great multitude is not going to be so great after all."  But divine blessing directed otherwise!   In 1946 the number of Witnesses ministering worldwide had jumped to 176,456- most of these being of the great crowd.  In 2005 different lands-truly A GREAT CROWD!  and the number keeps on increasing. 

The harvesting of God's people during the Lord's day has thus been in full harmony7 with John's vision:   first the work of gathering the remaining ones of the 144,000; then the gathering of the great crowd. As Isaiah prophesied, no, "in the final part of the days," people of all nations  are streaming to share in Jehovah's pure worship.  And, indeed, we exult in appreciation of Jehovah's creation of "new heavens  and a new earth." (Isaiah 2:2-4;  65:17, 18)   God is gathering "all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth." (Ephesians 1:10)  The anointed heirs  of the heavenly Kingdom-chosen over the creatures since Jesus' day-are "the things in the heavens."  And now, the great crowd of the other sheep appear as initial ones of  "the things of the earth."  Your serving in harmony with that arrangement can mean eternal happiness for you. 

Next time: A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Blessings of the Great Crowd

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