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"?

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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.

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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.

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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! 

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

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

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

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

 How do individuals of the great crowd qualify for survival? The elders tells John that they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." In other words, they have exercised faith in Jesus as their Ransomer, have made a dedication to Jehovah, have symbolized their dedication by water baptism, and "hold a good conscience" by their upright conduct. (1 Peter 3:16, 21; Matthew 20:28) Thus, they are clean and righteous in Jehovah's eyes. And they keep themselves "without spot from the world." - JAMES 1:27. 

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

 Through the divine channel, John receives further information regarding this: "And he [the elder] said to me: 'These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.' " - REVELATION 7:14b, 15. 

On an earlier occasion, Jesus had said that his presence in the Kingdom glory would culminate in "in great tribulation such as not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." (Matthew 24:21, 22) In fulfillment of that prophecy, the angels will unleash the four winds of the earth to devastate Satan's world system. First to go will be Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. Then, at the peak of the tribulation, Jesus will deliver the remaining ones of the 144,000 on earth, together with the multitudinous great crowd. - REVELATION 7:1; 18:2. 

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Chapter Twenty/ A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Great Crowd Makes Its Appearance - Conclusion

 The harvesting of God's people during the Lord's day has thus been in full harmony 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, now "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 22:4; 65:17, 18) God is gathering "all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things in the earth." (Ephesians 1:10) The anointed heirs of the heavenly Kingdom-chosen over the centuries 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 on the earth." Your serving in harmony with that arrangement can mean eternal happiness for you. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Great Crowd Makes Its Appearance - Continue

 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, president of the Watch Tower Society, was heard to say: "Well . . .it looks as though the great multitude is going to be so great after all." But divine blessing directed otherwise! By 1946 the number of Witnesses ministering worldwide had jumped to 176,456-most of these being the great crowd. In 1987 there were 3,395,612 Witnesses who were serving Jehovah faithfully in 210 different lands-truly a Great Crowd! And the number keeps on increasing. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd -The Great Crowd Makes Its Appearance - Continue

 During the 1920's and early 1930's, the John class has stressed the heavenly hope, both in the publications and in the preaching work. Apparently, the full number of the 144,000 had yet to be fulfilled. But increasing numbers of those who heeded the message and who showed zeal in the witness work came to profess an interest in living forever on the Paradise earth. They had no desire to go to heaven. That was not their calling. They were no part of the little flock but rather of the other sheep. (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Their being identified in 1935 as the great crowd of other sheep was indication that the choosing of the 144,000 was then about complete. 

Do statistics support this conclusion? Yes, they do. In 1938, worldwide, 59,047 witnesses of Jehovah shared in the ministry. Of these 36,732 partook of the emblems at the annual celebration of the Memorial of Jesus's death, thus indicating that they had a heavenly calling. In the years since then, the number of these partakers has progressively decreased, principally because faithful witnesses of Jehovah finished their earthly course in death in 1987 only 8,808 partook of the Memorial emblems-just 0.1 percent of the 8,965, 221 attending that global observance. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - The Great Crowd Makes Its Appearance

 From the time of the apostle John and on into the Lord's day, anointed Christians were puzzled as to the identity of the great crowd. It is fitting, then, that one of the 24 elders, representing anointed ones already in heaven, should stir John's thinking by raising a pertinent question. "And in response of the elders said to me: 'Those who are dressed in white robes, who are they and where did they come from?' So right away I said to him: 'My lord, you are the one that knows.' " (Revelation 7:13, 14a) Yes, that elder could locate the answer and give it to John. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today. For their part those of the John class on earth got to learn the identity of the great crowd by closely observing what Jehovah was performing in their midst. They were quick to appreciate the dazzling flash of divine light that emblazoned the theocratic firmament in 1935, at Jehovah's due time. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - A Universal Shout of Praise

 The great crowd is praising Jehovah, but others are also singing his praises. John reports:  "And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell upon their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.' " - REVELATION 7:11, 12.

When Jehovah created the earth, all of his holy angels "joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause." (Job 38:7) Each new revelation of Jehovah's purpose must have evoked similar angelic shouts of praise. When the 24 elders -the 144,000 in their heavenly glory-cry aloud in recognition of the Lamb, all others of God's heavenly creatures chime in with praises for Jesus and for Jehovah God. (Revelation 5:9-14) Already, these creatures have been overjoyed to observe the fulfillment of Jehovah's purpose in his resurrecting faithful and anointed humans to a glorious place in the spirit realm. Now, all of Jehovah's faithful heavenly creatures burst into melodious praise as the great crowd appears. Truly, for all of Jehovah's servants, the Lord's day is a thrilling time in which to be living. (Revelation 1:10) Here on earth, how privileged we are to share in the song of praise by witnessing to Jehovah's Kingdom. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - In Heaven or on Earth? -

 Additionally, we read: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory . . . all nations will be gathered before him." The whole human race is not in heaven when this prophecy is fulfilled. Certainly, those who "depart into everlasting cutting-off" are not in heaven. (Matthew 25:31-33, 41, 46) Instead, mankind stands on earth in Jesus' view, and he turns his attention to judging them. Similarly, the great crowd is "before the throne and before the Lamb" in that it stands in the view of Jehovah and his King Christ Jesus, from whom it receives a favorable judgment. 

The 24 elders and the anointed group of 144,000 are described as being "round about the throne" of Jehovah and "upon the [heavenly] Mount Zion." (Revelation 4:4; 14:1) The great crowd is not a priestly class and does not attain to that exalted position. True, it is later described in Revelation 7:15 as serving God "in his temple." But this temple does not refer to the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy. Rather, it is the earthly courtyard of God's spiritual temple. The Greek word na-os', here translated "temple" conveys the broad sense of the entire edifice erected for Jehovah's worship. Today, there is a spiritual structure that embraces both heaven and earth. - Compare MATTHEW 26:61; 27:5, 39, 40; MARK 15:29, 30; JOHN 2:19-21, New World Translation Reference Bible, footnote.

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - In Heaven or on Earth?

 How do we know that "standing before the throne" does not mean that the great crowd is in heaven. There is much clear evidence on this point. For example, the Greek word here translated "before" (e-no'pi-on) literally means "in [the] sight [of]" and is used several times of humans on earth who are "before" or "in the sight of" Jehovah. (1 Timoth5:21; 2 Timothy 2:4; Romans 14:22; Galatians 1:20.) On one occasion when the Israelites were in the wilderness, Moses said Aaron: "Say to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, 'Come near before Jehovah, because he has heard y0ur murmurings.' " (Exodus 16:9) The Israelites did not have to be transported to heaven in order to stand before Jehovah on that occasion. (Compare Leviticus 24:8) Rather, right there in the wilderness they stood in Jehovah's view, and his attention was on them.

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Confirming the Identity of the Great Crowd - Conclusion

 Modern technology has helped to make the loud voice of the united great crowd sound even louder. No other religious group on earth has need of publishing Bible study aids in more than 200 languages, since no other group is interested in reaching all people of earth with one united message. As further aid in this, under the supervision of the anointed Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Multilanguage Electronic Phototype Setting System (MEPS) was developed. At the time of this writing, various forms of MEPS are used i more than 60 of the Watchtower Society's branches around the earth, and this has helped to make possible publication of their principle semi-monthly journal. The Watchtower, in 39 languages simultaneously. Jehovah's people also simultaneously publish books, such as this one, in a number of languages. Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses, of whom the great crowd make up the vast majority, are able yearly to distribute hundreds of millions of publications in all the better-known languages enabling additional throngs out of al tribes and tongues to study God's Word and joi8n their voices to the loud voice of the great crowd. - ISAIAH 42:10, 12. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Confirming the Identity of the Great Crowd - Continue

 This great crowd is part of the only truly united multinational organization on earth today. They do not have different standards for different countries but apply the Bible's right principles consistently wherever they live. They are not involved in nationalistic, revolutionary movements but have truly 'beaten swords into plowshares." (Isaiah 2:4) They are not divided into sects or denominations, so they shout confused or mutually contradicted messages as do the religionists of Christendom, nor do they leave it to a profession clergy class to do their praising for them.  They do not cry out that they owe salvation to the holy spirit, for they are not servants of a trinitarian god. In some 200 geographical territories around the earth, they are at one in calling upon the name of Jehovah as they speak the one pure language of truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) Properly, they publicly acknowledge that their salvation, through Jesus Christ, His Chief Agent of salvation. -PSALM 3:8; HEBREWS 2:10. 

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 It is fitting, then, that the great crowd, though no part of spiritual Israel, should wave palm branches, since they joyfully and gratefully ascribe to the victor and salvation to God and to the Lamb, as John here observes: "And they keep crying out with a loud voice, saying: 'Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:10) Although they have been separated out of all ethnic groups, the great crowd cry out with just one 'loud voice." How can they do this, despite their diversity of nations and languages? 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Confirming the Identity of the Great Crowd - Continue

 As he looks on in his vision, John's thoughts must be taking him back more than 60 years to Jesus' last week on earth. On Nisan 9, 33 C.E., when the crowds flocked to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem they "they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. And they began to shout: "Save, we pray you! Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name, even the king of Israel!" (John 12:12, 13) In like fashion, the waving of palm branches and crying out on the part of the great crowd shows their unbridled joy in accepting Jesus as Jehovah's appointed King. 

Doubtless, the palm branches ad exulting cries also remind John of the ancient Israelite Festival of Booths. For this festival Jehovah commanded: "And you must take for yourselves on the first day of splendid trees, the fronds of palm trees and the boughs of branchy trees and poplars of the torrent valley, and you must rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days. "The palm branches were used as a mark of rejoicing. The temporary booths were a reminder that Jehovah has saved his people out of Egypt, to live in the wilderness. "The alien resident and the fatherless by and the widow" share in this festival. All Israel were to "become nothing but joyful." - LEVITICUS 23:40; DEUTERONOMY 16:13-15.

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Confirming the Identity of the Great Crowd

 How can we state so positively that the great crowd is this modern-day group of dedicated Christians who hope to live forever on God's earth? Previously, John had seen in vision the heavenly group "bought . . . for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." (Revelation 5:9, 10) The great crowd have a similar origin but a different destiny. Unlike the Israel of God, their number is not predetermined.  No man can tell in advance how many there will be. Their robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, symbolizing that they have a righteous standing before Jehovah by virtue of their faith in Jesus' sacrifice. (Revelation 7:14) And they are waving palm branches hailing Messiah as their King.

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 The understanding of Revelation 7:9-17 was now about to burst forth in all its sparkling brilliance! (Psalm 97:11) The Watchtower magazine had repeatedly expressed the hope of a convention scheduled for May 30, to June 3, 1935, in Washington D.C., U.S.A., would be "a real comfort and benefit " to those pictured by Jehonadab. That it proved to be! In a stirring talk on "The Great Multitude," delivered to about 20,000 conventioners, J. F. Rutherford, president of the Watch Tower Society, gave Scriptural proof that the modern-day other sheep are identical with the great crowd of Revelation 7:9. All the climax of this talk, speaker asked: "Will all those who have the hope of living forever on earth please stand?" As a large part of the audience stood up, the president declared: Behold! The great multitude!" There was a hush, followed by thunderous cheering. How elated was the John class- and the Jehonadab group! On the follow day, 840 new Witnesses were baptized, most of these professing to be that great crowd. 

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - Continue

 Some years later, in 1931, Vindication, Book One, discussed Ezekiel chapter 9, Identifying those those persons marked on the forehead for preservation at the world's end as the sheep of the above parable. Vindication, Book Three, released in 1932, described the upright heart attitude of the non-Israelite man Jehonadab, who joined Israel's anointed King Jehu in his chariot and went along to see Jehu's zeal in executing false religionists. (2 Kings 10:15-17) The book commented "Jehonadab represented or foreshadowed that class of people now on the earth during the time that the Jehu work [of declaring Jehovah's judgments] is in progress who are of good will, are out of harmony with Satan's organization, who take their stand on the side of righteousness, and are the ones whom the Lord will preserve during the time of Armageddon, take them through  that trouble, and give them everlasting life on the earth. These constitute the "sheep class." In 1934 the Watchtower made it clear that these Christians with earthly hopes should make a dedication to Jehovah and be baptized. The light regarding this earthly class was shining ever brighter. - PROVERBS 4:18. 

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 There were, however, other associates of the anointed Christians who later became more zealous in the preaching work. They had no aspirations of going to heaven. Indeed, their hope was in line with the title of a public talk featured by Jehovah's people from 1918 to 1922. Originally, this was "The World Has Ended-Millions Now Living Will Never Die."  Soon thereafter, the Watch Tower magazine of October 15, 1923, explained Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), stating: "Sheep represent all the people of the nations, not spirit-begotten but disposed toward righteousness, who mentally acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and who are looking for and hoping for a better time under his reign." 

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 Worldly commentators have interpreted this great crowd to be fleshly non-Jews converted to Christianity or to be heaven- bound Christian martyrs. Even the Bible Students in the past regarded them as a secondary heavenly class, as noted in 1986 in Volume I of Studies in the Scriptures, The Divine Plan of the Ages: "They lose the prize of the throne and the divine nature, but will finally reach birth as spirit beings of an order lower than the divine nature. Though these are truly consecrated, they are overcome by the worldly spirit to such an extent that they fail to render their lives in sacrifice." and as late as 1930, the thought was expressed in Light, Book One: "Those who make up this great crowd fail to respond to the invitation to become the zealous witness for the Lord."  They were described as a self-righteous group that had a knowledge of the truth but did little about preaching it,. They were to go to heaven as a secondary class that would not share in reigning with Christ.

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Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd

 Having described the sealing of the 144,000, John goes on to report one of the most exciting revelations in all Scripture. His heart must have leaped with joy as he reported it, saying: "After these things I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9) Yes, the holding back of the four winds allows for the salvation of another group besides the 144,000 members of spiritual Israel a multitudinous great crowd." - REVELATION 7:1. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God -The Israel of God Today - Conclusion

 In 1931 God's slaves on earth had received, with great joy, the name Jehovah's Witnesses. They could subscribe whole heartedly to the words of Psalm 97:11: "Light itself has flashed up for the righteous one and rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart." They could clearly discern that spiritual Israel alone had been brought into the new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15; 12:22, 24) Unresponsive natural Israel had no part therein, nor did mankind in general. This understanding cleared the way for a brilliant flash of divine light, outstanding in the annals of theocratic history. This would reveal how abundantly Jehovah extends his mercy, loving-kindness, and truth to all humans who draw close to him. (Exodus 34:6; James 4:8) Yes, others besides the Israel of God would benefit by the angel' holding back the four winds of destruction. Who would these be? Could you be one of them? Let us now see. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God - The Israel of God Today -Continue

 Following the first world war, Palestine became a mandated territory under Great Britain, the way opened for many Jews to return to that land. In 1948 the political state of Israel was brought forth. Did this not indicate that the Jews were in line for divine blessings? For many years, Jehovah's Witnesses believed that this was so. Thus, in 1925 they published a 128-page book, Comfort for the Jews. In 1929 they released an attractive 360-page book, volume, Life, designed to appeal to the Jews and dealing also with the Bible book of Job. Great efforts were made especially in New York City, to reach the Jews with this Messianic message. Happily, a few individuals responded, but the Jews by and large, like their forefathers of the first century, rejected the evidence of Messiah's presence. 

It was obvious that Jewry, as a people and as a nation, was not the Israel described in Revelation 7:4-8 or other Bible prophecies related to the Lord's day. Following tradition, the Jews continued to avoid using the divine name.  (Matthew15:1-3, 7-9) In discussing Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book Jehovah, published by the Watch Tower Society in 1934, stated conclusively: The covenant has nothing to do with natural descendants of Israel and with mankind in general, but . . . is limited to a spiritual Israel. "The Bible's restoration prophecies relate neither to the natural Jews nor to political Israel, which is a member of the United Nations and a part of the world that Jesus spoke of at John14:19, 30 and 18:36.

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God - The Israel of God Today

 Interestingly, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, Charles T. Russell, recognized the 144,000 to be a literal number of individuals making up a spiritual Israel. In the New Creation, Volume VI of his Studies in the Scriptures, published in 1904, he wrote: "We have every reason to believe that the definite number of the elect [chosen anointed ones] is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1); namely, 144,000 'redeemed from amongst men.'" In Light, Book one, published in 1930 by the Watch Tower Society's second president, J. F. Rutherford, it was likewise stated: "The 144,000 members of the body of Christ are thus in that assembly shown as selected an anointed, or sealed." Jehovah's Witnesses have constantly held to the view that literally 144,000 anointed Christians make up spiritual Israel. 

Nevertheless, does not natural Israel today merit some special favor? In the period just prior to the Lord's day, when sincere  Bible students were rediscovering many of the basic truths of God's Word, it was thought that with the ending of the Gentile Times the Jews would again enjoy a privileged standing before God. Thus, C.T. Russell's book The Time Is At Hand (Volume II of Studies in the Scriptures), published in 1889, applied Jeremiah 31:29-34 to the natural Jews, and commented: "The world is witness to the fact that Israel's punishment under the dominion of the Gentiles has been continuous since B.C. [607], that it still continues, and that there is no reason to expect their national re-organization sooner than A.D.1914, the limit of their seven times' -2520 years." It seemed that the Jews would then experience a nation restoration, and this prospect apparently brightened in 1917, when the Balfour Declaration pledged British support for making Palestine a national home for Jews. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God - How Many Are Sealed? - Conclusion

 The Christian congregation is "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." (1 Peter 2:9) Replacing natural Israel as God's Nation, it becomes a new Israel that is "really Israel.' " (Romans 9:6-8; Matthew 21:43) For this reason, it was quite proper for Jesus' half brother James to address his pastoral letter "to the twelve tribes that are scattered about, that is, to the worldwide congregation of anointed Christians that in time would number 144, 000. - JAMES 1:1. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God -How Many Are Sealed? - Continue

 Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribe listing. (Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced.  There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation-12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests. - GALATIANS 6:16; REVELATION 20:4, 6.

Although the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes were given the first opportunity to be chosen for spiritual Israel, only a minority of that nation responded. Jehovah therefore extended the invitation to the Gentiles. (John 1:10-13; Acts 2:4, 7-11; Roman 11:7) As in the case of the Ephesians, who previously had been "alienated from the state of Israel," now non-Jews could sealed with God's spirit and become part of the congregation of anointed Christians. (Ephesians 2:11-13, 3:5, 6; Acts 15:14) It is appropriate, then, for the 24 elders to sing before the Lamb: "With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth." - REVELATION 5:9, 10. 

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Chapter NIneteen/Sealing the Israel of God - How Many Are Sealed?

 Jesus said to those in line for this sealing: ""Have no fear little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) Other scriptures, such as Revelation 6:11 and Romans 11:25, indicate that the number of this flock is indeed limited and, in fact, predetermined.  John's next words confirm this: "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of ever tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed: out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed." -REVELTION 7:4-8. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing of Israel of God - The Sealing of God's Slaves - Conclusion

 "Provided we suffer together"-what does this mean? In order to receive the crown of life, anointed Christians must endure, faithful even to death. (Revelation 2:10) It is not a matter of 'once saved, always saved.' (Matthew 10:22; Luke 12:34) Rather, they are admonished: "Do your utmost to make the calling and choosing of you sure for yourselves." Like the apostle Paul, ultimately they must be able to say: "I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith." (2 Peter 1:10, 11; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8) So here on earth the testing and shifting of the remaining spirit-begotten sons of God must go on until Jesus and his accompanying angels will have firmly implanted the seal in the forehead of all these, identifying them conclusively, irrevocably, as tried and faithful "slaves of our God." That seal then becomes a permanent mark. Evidently, when the four winds of tribulation are unleashed, all of spiritual Israel will have been sealed in finality, even though a few will still be alive in the flesh. (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 19:7) The entire membership will be complete! -ROMANS 11:25, 26. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing of Israel of God -The Sealing of God's Slaves - Continue

 What is this sealing, and who are these slaves of God? The sealing began at Pentecost 33 C.E. when the first Jewish Christians were anointed with holy spirit. Later, God proceeded to call out and anoint "people of the nations."(Romans 3:29; Acts 2:1-4, 14, 32, 33; 15:14) The apostle Paul wrote about the anointed Christians' having a guarantee that they "belong to Christ" and added that God "has also put his seal upon us and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; compare Revelation 14:1) Thus, when these slaves are adopted as God's spiritual sons, they receive a token in advance of their heavenly inheritance-a seal, or pledge. (2 Corinthians 5:1, 5; Ephesians 1:10, 11) They can then say: "The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children. If then, we are children, we are also heirs; heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together." - ROMANS 8:15-17. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God/The Sealing of God's Slaves - Continue

 Though this fifth angel is not named, all the evidence indicate that he must be the glorified Lord Jesus. In line with Jesus' being the Archangel, he is here shown to have authority over the other angels. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9) He ascends from the east, like "the kings from the rising sun" -Jehovah and his Christ-who come to execute judgment, as did kings Darius and Cyrus when they humbled ancient Babylon. (Revelation 16:12; Isaiah 45:1; Jeremiah 51:11; Daniel 5:31) This angel also resembles Jesus in that he in entrusted with sealing anointed Christians. (Ephesians 1:13, 14) Further, when the winds are unleashed, it is Jesus who leads the heavenly armies in executing judgment on the nations. (Revelation 19:11-16) Logically, then, Jesus would be the one to command that destruction of Satan's earthly organization be held back until God's slaves are sealed. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God -The Sealing of God's Slaves

 John goes on to describe how some will be marked for survival, saying: "And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, have a seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: 'Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.' " - REVELATION 7:2, 3. 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God - The Four Winds -Conclusion

 Can we be sure that God's judgments will ravage the entire earth? Listen again to his prophet Jeremiah: "Look! A calamity is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest itself will be r0used up from the remotest parts of the earth. And those slain by Jehovah will come to be in that day from end to the earth clear to the other end of the earth. (Jeremiah 25:32, 33) It is during this tempestuous storm that darkness will engulf this world. Its ruling agencies will be shaken into oblivion. (Revelation 6:12-14) But the future will not be dark for everyone. For whose sake, then, are the four winds held back? 

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God - The Four Winds

 Before Jehovah unleashes this fury, heavenly angels perform a a special service. John now beholds this in vision: "After this I saw four angels standing upon the four winds of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree." (Revelation 7:1) What does this mean for us today? These "four winds" are a vivid symbol of destructive judgment about to be let loose on a wicked earthly society, on the surging "sea" of lawless humanity, and on lofty treelike rulers that draw support and sustenance from the people of the earth. - ISAIAH 57:20; PSALM37:35. 36. 

No doubt these four angels represent four angelic groups, whom Jehovah uses to hold back the execution of judgment until the appointed time. When the angels release those winds of divine wrath to whirl at one time from north, south, east, and west, the devastation will be tremendous. It will resemble, but on a stupendous scale, Jehovah's use of the four winds to scatter the ancient Elamites, shattering and exterminating them. (Jeremiah 49:36-38) It will be a gigantic storm wind far more devastating than the "tempest" by which Jehovah annihilated the nation of Ammon. (Amos 1:13-15) No part of Satan's organization on earth will be able to stand in the day of Jehovah's fury, when he vindicates his sovereignty for all eternity to come. PSALM 83:15, 18; ISAIAH 29:5, 6.

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Chapter Nineteen/Sealing the Israel of God

 "Who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17) Yes, who indeed? When the great day of divine wrath devastates Satan's system, rulers and peoples of the world may well ask that question. To them it will appear that the impending cataclysm will snuff out all human life. But will it? Happily, God's prophet assures us: "Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe." (Joel 2:32) The apostles Peter and Paul confirm that fact. (Acts 2:19-21; Romans 10:13) Yes, those who call on the name of Jehovah will be survivors. Who are these ones? As the next vision unfolds, we shall see.

It is remarkable that anyone should come through Jehovah's day of judgment alive, for another of God's prophets describes it in these words: "Look! a windstorm of Jehovah's rage itself has gone forth, an onward-sweeping tempest. Upon the head of the wicked ones it will whirl. The burning anger of Jehovah will not turn back until he will have executed and until he will have carried out the ideas of his heart." (Jeremiah 30:23, 24) It is urgent that we take steps to weather that storm! - PROVERBS 2:22; ISAIAH55:6,6; ZEPHANIAH2:2, 3.

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