Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts - Continue

 Is it not shocking to identify the ruling political powers with a wild beast? That is what some opposers claimed during World War II, when the status of Jehovah's Witnesses, as an organization and as individuals, was being challenged in law courts around the earth. But stop and think! Do not the nations themselves adopt beasts or wild creatures as their national symbols? For example, there are the British lion, the American eagle, the Chinese dragon, and the Russian bear. So why should anyone object if the divine authority of the Holy Bible also uses beasts to symbolize world powers? 

Moreover, why should anyone object to the Bible's saying that it is Satan who gives the wild beast its great authority? God is the Source of that statement, and before him, 'the nations are a drop from a bucket as film of dust.' Those nations would do better to court Gods favor than to take offense at the way his prophetic Word describes them. (Isaiah 40:15, 17; Psalm 2:10-12) Satan is no mythical person assigned to tormenting departed souls in a fiery hell. No such place exists. Rather, Satan is described in Scripture as "an angel of light"-a master deception who exercises powerful influence in general political affairs. - 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3, 14, 15; EPHESIANS 6:11-18.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts - Continue

 By the end of the first century C.E., however, many in this early congregation had fallen away from the truth, and true Christian wheat, 'the sons of the kingdom," had been largely choked out by weeds, "the sons of the wicked one." But when the conclusion of the system of things arrived, anointed Christians again appeared as an organized group. During the Lord's day, the righteous ones were due to "shine as brightly as the sun." Hence, the Christian congregation was organized for work. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) By then, the Roman Empire, was no more. The huge British Empire, along with the powerful United States of America, held the center of the world stage. This dual world power proved to be the seventh head of the wild beast.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts - Continue

 It is clear, therefore, that the Author of the inspired Bible regards the political powers of the earth as beasts. What kind of beasts? One commentator calls the wild beast of Revelation 13:1, 2 a "brute," and adds: "We accept all connotations that [the~ri'on, the Greek word for "beast"] conveys, such as that of a cruel, destructive, frightful, ravenous, etc., monster. How well that describes the bloodstained political system by which Satan has dominated mankind! The seven heads of this wild beast stand for six major world powers featured in Bible history up to John's day-Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome-and a seventh world power prophesied to appear later. - Compare REVELATION 17:9, 10. 

True, there have been other world powers in history besides the seven-just as the wild beast John saw was made up of a body as well as of seven heads and ten horns. But the seven heads represent the seven major powers that have, each in its turn, taken the lead in oppressing God's people. In 33 C.E., while Rome was ascendant, Satan used that head of the wild beast to kill the Son of God. At that time, God abandoned the faithless Jewish system of things and later, in 70 C.E., allowed Rome to execute his judgment on that nation. Happily, the true Israel of God, the congregation of anointed Christians, had been forewarned, and those in Jerusalem and Judea had fled to safety beyond the Jordan River. - MATTHEW 24:15, 16; GALATIANS 6:16. 

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Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts - Continue

 What is this freakish beast? The Bible itself gives the answer. Before the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C.E., the Jewish prophet Daniel saw visions involving ferocious beasts. At Daniel 7:2-8 he describes four beasts coming out of the sea, the first resembled a lion, the second a bear, the third a leopard, and "see there! a fourth beast m fearsome and terrible and unusually strong . . . and it had ten horns." This is remarkably similar to the wild beast seen by John about the year 96 C.E. That beast also has the characteristics of a lion, a bear, and a leopard and it has ten horns. What is the identity of the huge beasts seen by Daniel? He informs us: "These huge beasts . . . are four kings that will stand up from the earth." (Daniel 7:17) Yes, those beasts represent "kings," or political powers of the earth. 

In another vision, Daniel sees a two-horned ram that is struck down by a goat with a great horn. The angel Gabriel explains to him what it means: "The ram . . . stands for the kings of Media and Persia. And the hairy he-goat stands of the king of Greece. " Gabriel goes on to prophesy that the great horn of the he-goat would be broken and be succeeded by four horns.  This actually happened more than 200 years later when Alexander the Great died and his kingdom was split into four kingdoms ruled over by four of his generals. - DANIEL 8:3-8, 20-25. 

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Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts

 The great dragon has been cast down to the earth! Our study of Revelation makes it clear that never again will the original serpent or his demon followers be allowed back into heaven. But we are not yet finished with "the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth. The account next identifies in greater detail the means used by Satan, to fight against 'woman and her seed.' (Revelation 12:9, 17) John says of that serpentine dragon: "And it stood still upon the sand of the sea." (Revelation 13:1a) So let us pause to examine the dragon's means of operation. 

No longer are the holy heavens afflicted by the presence of Satan and his demons. Those wicked spirits have been ousted from heaven and confined to the vicinity of the earth. This no doubt accounts for the tremendous growth of spiritistic practices in this 20th century. The wily Serpent still maintains a corrupt spirit organization. But does he also use a visible organization in order to mislead mankind? John tells us: "And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names. Now the wild beast that I saw was like  a leopard, but its feet were as those of a bear, and its mouth was a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave the beast its power and its throne and great authority." - REVELATION 13:1b, 2. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation - Conclusion

 In this way, the earth has provided sufficient relief to God work to spread to more than 200 lands and produce over three million faithful preachers of the good news. Along with the remaining ones of the woman's seed, a great international crowd of new believers is observing the commandments of God as to separateness from the world, clean morals, and love of the brothers, and they are witnessing to the Messianic Kingdom. Their integrity answers Satan's reproachful challenge, so that the death knell is sounded for Satan and the system of things.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God"s Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation - Continue

 Relief arrived from an unexpected source: "But the earth came to the woman's help, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon disgorged out of its mouth. And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." (Revelation 12:16, 17) "The earth" -elements within Satan's own system of things-began to swallow up "the river," or "flood." During the 1940's the Witnesses gained a series of favorable decisions in the United States Supreme Court, and from ruling powers in some other lands that upheld freedom of worship. Finally, the Allied Nations swallowed up the Nazi-fascist juggernaut, to the relief of the Witnesses who had suffered under cruel dictatorships. Persecutions did not stop altogether, for the wrath of the dragon has continued until today, and he keep up with the war of those who "have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." In many lands, loyal Witnesses are still in prison, and some die because of their integrity. But in some of these lands, the authorities from time to time relax their pressure, and the Witnessed enjoy a greater measure of freedom. Thus, in fulfillment of the prophecy, the earth continues to swallow up the river of persecution. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation - Continue

 This vicious flood of persecution reached a high point during World War II. In Europe, some ten thousand Witnesses were incarcerated in Nazi concentration camps, and thousands died. Under the warlords that ruled Italy, Korea, and Taiwan, faithful Witnesses suffered similar cruel treatment. Even in so-called democratic lands, the Witnesses were assaulted by Catholic Action groups, tarred and feathered and run out of town. Christian assemblies were broken up and Witness children were expelled from school. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation -Continue

 The dragon did not give up! "And the serpent disgorged water like a river from its mouth after the woman, to cause her to be drowned by the river." (Revelation 12:15) What is meant by "water like a river," or "a flood of water"? (The New English Bible) Ancient King David spoke of the wicked men who opposed him as "a flash flood of good-for-nothing men" ["streams of the worthless," Young].  (Psalm 18:4, 5, 16, 17) What Satan now unleashes is likewise persecution by worthless or "good-for-nothing men."  After 1922 Satan spewed out a flood of persecution against the Witnesses. (Matthew 24:9-13) This came to include physical violence, "framing trouble by decree," imprisonments, and even executions by hanging, shooting, and beheading.  (Psalm 94:20) The debased Satan, having been denied direct access to God's heavenly woman, set out wrathfully to attack her remaining seed on earth and to destroy them, either directly or by causing them to lose Gods favor through breaking their integrity. But their resolve proved to be like that of Job: "Until I expire shall I not take away my integrity from myself! " - JOB 27:5. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A New Nation

 In the wilderness, Jehovah brought forth the Israelites as a nation, providing for them spiritually and physically. Similarly starting in 1919, Jehovah brought forth the seed of the woman as a spiritual nation. This is not to be confused with the Messianic Kingdom that has been ruling from the heavens since 1914. Rather, this new nation is made up of the remnant of anointed witnesses on earth, who were brought into a glorious spiritual estate in 1919. Being provided now with "their measure of food supplies at the proper time," these were strengthened for the work that lay ahead. - LUKE12:42; ISAIAH 66:8. 

How long did this respite for the seed of the woman last? Revelation 12:14 calls the period a time, time, and a half time. In fact, both expressions stand for three and half years, extending in the Northern Hemisphere from the spring of 1919 to the autumn of 1922. This was a period of refreshing recuperation and reorganization for restored John class.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A New Nation

 While the first world war was being fought, Jesus' brothers faithfully kept on with their witnessing to the extent possible. This was done in the face of intensified opposition from Satan and his vicious henchmen. Finally, the Bible Students' public witnessing was virtually stopped. (Revelation11:7-10) That was when they had an experience quite similar to that of the Israelites in Egypt who also endured under great oppression. It was then that Jehovah brought them swiftly, as if on wings of eagles, to safety in the desert of Sinai. (Exodus 19:1-4) Likewise, after the bitter persecution of 1918-19, Jehovah delivered his witnesses, as representing his woman, into a spiritual situation that was as safe for them as the desert for the Israelites. This came as an answer to their prayers. - Compare PSALM 55:6-9.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Rival Woe! - Conclusion

 Since Satan's catastrophic ouster, Christ's brothers still one earth have borne the brunt of his wrath. John reports: "Now when the dragon saw that it was hurled down to the earth, it persecuted the woman that gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman that she might fly into the wilderness to her place; there is where she is fed for a time and times and a half a time away from the serpent." -REVELATION 12:13, 14. 

Here the vision picks up the thought introduced in verse 6, which tells us that after the birth of her child, the woman flees into the wilderness away from the dragon. We may wonder how the dragon can persecute the woman since she is in heaven and the dragon has now been cast down to earth. Well, remember that the woman has children here on earth, her seed. Later in this vision, we are informed Satan expresses his rage toward the woman by persecuting her seed. (Revelation 12:17) What happens to the woman's seed here may be regarded as happening to the woman herself. (Compare Matthew 25:40) And the growing number of companions of the seed here on earth would also experience these persecutions. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Rival Woe!

 Chafing because of the third woe, Satan is now intent on afflicting mankind with his own particular brand of woe. It is: "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." (Revelation 12:12b) Satan's ouster from heaven does indeed mean woe for the literal earth, which is being ruined by selfish humans under his control. (Deuteronomy 3:25) Even more so, Satan's policy of  'rule or ruin' brings woe to the symbolic earth, the structure of human society, as well as to the symbolic sea, the turbulent mass of mankind itself. During the two world wars, Satan's wrath was reflected in the wrath subject to him, and similar explosions of demonic rage continue to this day-though not for much longer! (Mark 13:7, 8) But terrible as the Devil's devices be, they will never approach the woeful effect that the third woe-action by Gods Kingdom-will produce on Satan's visible organization!

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -"Be Glad, You Heavens - Conclusion

 Anointed Christians who are counted righteous "because of the blood of the Lamb," are continuing to bear witness to God and to Jesus Christ, despite persecutions. For more than a hundred years, this John class had been pointing to great issues involved with the ending of the Gentile times in 1914. (Luke 21:24, King James Version) And the great crowd are serving loyally by their side. None of these are "fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul," as real-life experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses have demonstrated over and over again during the 20th century. By word of mouth and by proper Christian conduct, they have conquered Satan, consistently proving him to be a liar. (Matthew 10:28; Proverbs 27:11; Revelation 7:9) On being resurrected to heaven, how happy anointed Christians must be, since Satan is no longer up there to accuse their brothers! It is the time indeed, for all the angelic host to respond joyously to the call: "Be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born1 - "Be Glad, You Heavens" - Continue

 The finish of the sacred secret of God calls for Jesus to take authority in Jehovah's Kingdom. The way is thus opened for God to carry out his great purpose to deliver faithful mankind. Jesus brings salvation not only to his God-fearing disciples now on earth but also to the countless millions of dead ones who are in God's memory. (Luke 21:27, 28) Satan's being called "the accuser of our brothers" shows that, even though his accusations against Job were proved false, he kept right on challenging the integrity of God's earthly servants. Evidently, he repeated on many occasions the charge that a man will give all he has in exchange for his soul. How dismally Satan has failed! - JOB 1:9-11; 2:4, 5. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born1 -"Be Glad, You Heavens"

 John reports a joyous heavenly reaction to this stupendous fall of Satan: "And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now has come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God1 And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them. -REVELATION 12:10-12a. 

Whose loud voice is it that John hears? The Bible does not say. But a similar cry reported at Revelation 11:17 came from the resurrected 24 elders in their heavenly position, where they can now represent the 144,000 holy ones. (Revelation 11:18) And since the persecuted anointed servants of God still on earth are here spoken of as "our brothers, "this statement could well come from the same source. No doubt these faithful ones can join their voice, since their resurrection would follow soon after Satan and his demon hordes had been thrown out of heaven. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -War in Heaven - Conclusion

 These and other scriptures lead us to the inescapable conclusion that Michael is no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ in his heavenly position. Now, in the Lord's day, he no longer merely says to Satan: "May Jehovah rebuke you." Since this is a time for judging, Jesus, as Michael hurls Satan and his demon angels down from heaven. (Jude 9; Revelation 1:10) It is most fitting that He should be the One to do this, as He is the newly installed King, Jesus is also the Seed promised back in Eden, who will ultimately crust the head of that original serpent, thus putting him out of existence for all time. (Genesis 3:15) By ejecting Satan from heaven, Jesus has moved toward that final crushing

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - War in Heaven! - Continue

 Who accomplished this great victory in Jehovah's name? The Bible says it is Michael and his angels. But who is Michael? The name "Michael" means "Who Is Like God?" So Michael must be interested in vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty by proving that no one is to be compared to Him. In Jude verse 9, he is called "Michael the archangel." Interestingly, the title "archangel" is used everywhere in the Bible with reference to only one person: Jesus Christ. Paul says of him: "The Lord himself will descend from heaven and a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet." (1 Thessalonians 4:16) The title "archangel" means "chief of the angels."  So it is not surprising that Revelation speaks of "Michael and his angels." Other places where the Bible mentions angels subject to a righteous servant of God have reference to Jesus. Thus, Paul speaks of "the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven and with his powerful angels." - 2 THESSALONIANS 1:7; see also MATTHEW 24:30, 31; 25:31. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -War in Heaven!

 John tells us: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angles battled but it did prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him." (Revelation 12:7, 9) So as a dramatic development in bringing the sacred secret of God to a finish, Satan is ejected, pitched out of heaven and his demons are cast down to the earth with him. The one who has misled the entire inhabited earth to the extent of becoming its god is finally restricted to the vicinity of this planet, where his rebellion first began. -2 CORINTHIANS 4:3, 4.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Son, A Male - Conclusion

 Never would Jehovah permit Satan to devour his wife or His newborn son! At birth, the male child is "caught away to God and his throne." He thus comes completely under the protection of Jehovah, who will take the fullest care his newborn Kingdom. HIs instrument for sanctifying His holy name. At the same time, the woman flees to a place that God has prepared for her in the wilderness. More details on that later! As for Satan the stage is now set for a momentous event that will make it utterly impossible for him to threaten the Kingdom in heaven. What is that event? 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Son, A Male

 Now, does that expression sound familiar? Yes, Jehovah promised prophetically regarding Jesus: "You will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter's vessel you will dash them to pieces." (Psalm 2:9) It was also prophesied regarding him: "The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, saying: Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.' " (Psalm 110:2) Therefore, the birth seen by John closely involves Jesus Christ. No, it is not just Jesus' being born of a virgin back before the first century of our Common Era; nor could it refer to Jesus' being raised again to spirit life in 33 C.E. Furthermore, it is no transmigration. Rather, it is the birth of God's Kingdom in 1914 as a reality, with Jesus-already in heaven for close to 19 centuries-not enthroned as King. - REVELATION 12:10.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Son, A Male

 The appointed time for the nations to rule without interruption by God came to an end in 1914. (Luke 21:24) Then, right on time, the woman bears her child: "And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught away to God ad to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days." (Revelation 12:5,6) The child is "a son, a male." Why does John use this double expression. He does it to show the child's suitableness, his competence for ruling the nations with adequate power. It also emphasizes how momentous, how joyous an occasion this birth is! It plays a key role in bringing the sacred secret of God to a finish. Why, this male child will even "shepherd all the nations with an iron rod"! 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - A Fiery-Colored Dragon - Conclusion

 Thus, two opposing organizations have come clearly into view-Jehovah's heavenly organization as pictured by the woman and Satan's demonic organization that challenges God's sovereignty. The great issue of sovereignty must be settled. But how? Satan, still dragging the demons along with him, is like a vicious beast of prey eyeing a potential victim. He is waiting for the woman to give birth. He wants to devour this expected infant because he knows that it poses an ominous threat to his continued existence and that of the world over when he exercises rulership. - JOHN 14:30. 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Great Fiery-Colored Dragon - Continue

 The dragon has authority also in the spirit realm. With his tail, he "drags a third of the stars of heaven." Stars can represent angels. (Job 38:7) Mention of "a third" would emphasize that considerable number of angels have been misled by Satan. Once these came under his control, there was no escape for them. They could not return to God's holy organization. They became demons, dragged along as it were, by Satan their king, or ruler. (Matthew 12:24) Satan also cast them down to the earth. This no doubt refers to Noah's day before the flood, when Satan induced his disobedient sons of God to go down to earth and cohabit with the daughters of men. As a punishment, these "angels that sinned" have been thrown by God into prisonlike condition called Tartarus. - GENESIS 6:4; 2 PETER 2:4; JUDE 6.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! -A Great Fiery-Colored Dragon

 What does John next observe? "And another sign was seen in heaven, and, look! a great fiery-colored dragon, with seven heads and ten horns upon its heads seven diadems; and its tail drags a third of the stars of the heaven, and it hurled them down to the earth. And the dragon kept standing before the woman who was about to give birth, that, when she did give birth, it might devour her child." - REVELATION 12:3, 4. 

This dragon is Satan, "the original serpent." (Revelation 12:9; Genesis 3:15) He is a ferocious destroyer-a seven-headed dragon or devourer, that can completely swallow his prey. How strange he looks! Those seven heads and ten horns indicate that he is the architect of the p0litical wild beast soon to be described in Revelation 13. This beast also has seven heads and ten horns. Since Satan has a diadem on each head-seven in all-we can be sure that the world powers represented in that wild beast have been under his rulership. (John 16:11) The ten horns are a fitting symbol of the completeness of power that he has exercised in this world.  

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born!

 John sees this woman as being robed with the sun and having the moon beneath her feet. When we add her crown of stars, she is completely surrounded by heavenly lights. God's favor shines upon her day and night. What a fitting symbol of Jehovah's magnificent heavenly organization! She is also pregnant, enduring labor pains. Her cries for divine help show that her time has come to give birth. In the Bible, labor pains often symbolize the hard work need to produce an important result.  (Compare Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 25:23; Isaiah 66:7, 8) No doubt labor pains of this kind were experienced as Jehovah's heavenly organization prepared for this historic birth.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born!

 Aboout eight centuries earlier, Jehovah had addressed his symbolic wife, saying: "All your sons will be persons taught by Jehovah." (Isaiah 54:5, 13) Jesus quoted this prophecy and showed that these sons were his faithful followers, who later formed the congregation of anointed Christians. (John 6:44, 45) So members of this congregation, spoken of as God's sons, are also children of God's symbolic wife. (Romans 8:14) The apostle Paul adds the final piece of information when he says: "The Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother." (Galatians 4:26) The "woman" seen by John, then, is "the new Jerusalem above."

Exactly what, though, is Jerusalem above? Since Paul spoke of her as "above," and John sees her in heaven, she is clearly not an earthly city; neither is she the same as New Jerusalem," since that organization is the bride of Christ, not Jehovah's wife. (Revelation 21:2) Notice that she is crowned with 12 stars. The number 12 is associated with completeness in an organizational setting. Hence, these 12 stars indicate that she is an organizational arrangement in heaven just as ancient Jerusalem was on earth. Jerusalem above is Jehovah's universal organization of spirit creatures that acts as a wife, both in serving him and in producing offspring. 

Next time: Chapter Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! 

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born! - Continue

 For the first time John beholds a woman in heaven. She is, of course, not a literal woman. Rather she is a sign or a symbol. (Revelation 1:1) What does she symbolize? In the inspired prophecies, women at times represent organizations "married" to outstanding personalities. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel was spoken of as a wife of Jehovah God. (Jeremiah 3:14) In the Greek Scriptures, the congregation of anointed Christians is spoken of as Christ's bride. (Revelation 21:9-14) The woman John here sees is also married to someone and she is about to give birth. Who is her husband? "Well, later her child is "caught away to God and to his throne." (Revelation 12:5) Jehovah thus claims the child as his own. Therefore, the woman that John sees must be Jehovah's symbolic wife.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born!

 THE sacred secret of God has been unlocked. (Revelation 10:7) Jehovah's Kingdom by his Messiah is now a dynamic reality. It rules!  Its presence spells doom for Satan and his seed and glorious victory for the Seed of God's heavenly organization. The seventh angel has not finished blowing his trumpet, however, for he has much more to reveal to us about the third woe. (Revelation 11:14) The signs described in Revelation chapters 12 to 14 will help us to broaden our appreciation of all that is involved in that woe and in bringing God's sacred secret to a finish. 

John now sees a great sign-one of outstanding interest for God's people. In introduces a thrilling prophetic vision, the meaning of which was first published in the March 1, 1925 issue of the Watch Tower in an article entitled "Birth of the Nation" and then again in 1926 in the book Deliverance. This brilliant flash of Bible understanding became a historical marker in the advancement of Jehovah's work. So let John describe the drama as it starts to unfold: "And a great sign was seen in heaven, a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon was beneath her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars, and she was pregnant. And she cries out in her agony to give birth." - REVELATION 12:1, 2. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax! - Behold the Ark of His Covenant - Conclusion

 The seven angels continue to sound their trumpets, signaling historic events here one earth. Dedicated Christians have a great responsibility to continue proclaiming these announcements to the world. How joyfully they are fulfilling that commission! This is indicated in that, during just ten years, from 1978 to 1987, they more than doubled the hours spent yearly in their global ministry-from 307,272,262 to 739,029,286- a 14o percent increase. Truly, "the sacred secret of God according to the good news" is being made known "to the extremities of the inhabited earth. -REVELATION 10:7; ROMANS 10:18. 

Other visions now await us as God's Kingdom purposes continue to be unveiled. 

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Seven/God's Kingdom Is Born!

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret- It's Glorious Climax - Behold the Ark of His Covenant! -Continue

 Those first ones who have been resurrected to heaven see this symbolic ark at close range, for they have taken their place as part of the 24 elders around Jehovah's throne.  And the John class one earth have been enlightened by Jehovah's spirit to discern His presence in His spiritual temple. There have also been signs to alert mankind in general to this wonderful development. John's vision speaks of lightnings, voices, and thunders, an earthquake, and hail. (Compare Revelation 8:5) What do these symbolize?

Since 1914 there has been a tremendous upheaval in the realm of religion. Happily, though, this "earthquake" has been accompanied by dedicated voices giving a clear message about God's established Kingdom. Thunderous 'storm warnings' from the Bible have been sounded. Like lightning, flashes of insight as to God's prophetic Word have been seen and publicized. A hard pounding "hail" of divine judgments have been unleashed against Christendom and false religion in general. All of this should have caught people's attention. Sadly, though, the majority-like the people of Jerusalem in Jesus' time-have failed to discern the fulfillment of these Revelation signs. -LUKE 19:41-44. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret -It's Glorious Climax! -Behold the Ark of the Covenant - Continue

 Now, after more than 2,500 years, the Ark is seen once more. But in John's vision the Ark in not in an earthly temple. It appears in the heavenly sanctuary of God. Once again, Jehovah rules by means of a king in the royal line of David. This time, however, the King, Christ Jesus, is enthroned in heavenly Jerusalem-the exalted vantage point from which he executes Jehovah's judgments. (Hebrews 12:22) The following chapters of Revelation will unveil these to us. 

In ancient earthly Jerusalem, the Ark was not seen by the Israelites in general, nor even the priests serving in the temple, for it was within the Most Holy which was screened off from the Holy Place by a curtain.  (Numbers 4:20; Hebrews 9:2, 3) Only the high priest got to see it when he entered the Most Holy on the annual day of Atonement. Nevertheless, when the temple sanctuary in the heavens   is opened, the symbolic ark is visible not only to Jehovah's High Priest, Jesus Christ, but also to his underpriests, the 144,000, including John. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax! - Behold the Ark of His Covenant!

 Jehovah rules! Through his Messianic Kingdom, he is exercising his sovereignty toward mankind in a marvelous way. This is confirmed by what John sees next: "And the temple sanctuary of God that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary. And there occurred lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail." (Revelation 11:19) This is the only mention in Revelation of the ark of God's covenant. The Ark had been the visible symbol of Jehovah's presence with his people Israe. In the tabernacle and later in the temple built by Solomon, it was kept in the Most Holy. But when Israel went into captivity in Babylon in B.C.E., Jerusalem was desolated and the ark of the covenant disappeared. That was when representatives of the house of David ceased to sit upon Jehovah's throne king. -1 CHRONICLES  29:23. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret/It's Glorious Climax! - Woe to the Ruinous Ones! -- Conclusion

 The third woe is accompanied by an ongoing series of happy events that will proceed progressively through the Lord's day. It is the time for the dead to be judged, and for God to give their reward to his slaves the prophets and to his holy ones and to those fearing his name. That means a resurrection from the dead! For the anointed holy ones who already fallen asleep in death, this takes place early in the Lord's day. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) In due course the remaining holy ones join these by an instantaneous resurrection. Others too are to be rewarded including God's slaves the prophets of ancient times and all others if mankind who have come to fear Jehovah's name, whether  they are of the great crowd who survive the great tribulation or of "the dead, the great and the small," who are being raised to life during Christ's Millennial Reign. Since God's Messianic Kingdom has the keys of death and of Hades, his Kingdom rule opens the way for him to dispense everlasting life to all who reach out for precious provision. (Revelation 1:18; 7:9, 14; 20:12. 13; Romans 6:22; John 5:28, 29) Whether it is immortal life in the heavens or eternal life on earth, this gift of life is an undeserved kindness from Jehovah, for which each recipient may be forever thankful. - HEBREWS 2:9.

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! -Woe to the Ruinous Ones!

 Here, then, is the third woe. It comes quickly! It is Jehovah's means of bringing ruination to those who desecrate his "footstool," this lovely earth on which we live. (Isaiah 66:1) It is set in motion by the Messianic Kingdom-the sacred secret of God. God's enemies, and Christendom's leaders in particular, have been tormented by the first two woes-resulting principally from the locust plague and the armies of cavalry; but the third woe, which Jehovah's Kingdom itself administers, brings more than torment. (Revelation 9:3-19) It provides the death stroke in ousting a ruinous human society and its rulers. This will come as the climax of Jehovah's Judging at Armageddon. It is just as Daniel had prophesied: "And in the days of those kings [rulers who ruining the earth] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite." Like an imposing mountain, God's Kingdom will rule over an earth made glorious, vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty and bringing eternal joy to mankind. -DANIEL2:35, 44; ISAIAH 11:9; 60:13. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret/It's Glorious Climax! - Jehovah Takes Power - Conclusion

 Throughout history nations have been ruining the earth by their incessant warfare and bad management.  Since 1914, however, this ruination has escalated to an alarming degree. Greed and corruption have resulted in expanding deserts ad tremendous loss of productive land. Acid rain and radioactive clouds have damaged large areas. Food sources have been polluted. The air we breathe and the water we drink are contaminated. Industrial wastes threaten life on land and in the sea. And the superpowers threaten complete ruination by way of nuclear annihilation of all humankind. Happily, Jehovah will "bring to those ruining the earth; he will execute judgment on those proud godless humans who are responsible for earth's sorry state. (Deuteronomy32:5, 6; Psalm 14:1-3) Therefore, Jehovah arranges for the third woe, to bring these wrongdoers to account. - REVELATION 11:14.

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 On the other hand, the blowing of the seventh trumpet brings no joy to the nations. The time has come for them to experience Jehovah's wrath.  As John relates: "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to b judged, and to give their reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth." (Revelation 11:18) From 1914 onward the nations of the world have fiercely expressed the wrath against one another, against God's Kingdom and especially against Jehovah's two witnesses. - REVELATION 11:3. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret -It's Glorious Climax - Jehovah Takes Power

 Christ enthroned in God's Kingdom -what joy this announcement calls forth! John reports:" And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.' " - REVELATIONS 11:16, 17. 

The ones that offer these thanks to Jehovah God are the 24 elders, symbolizing the anointed brothers of Christ in their heavenly positions. From 1922 onward a remnant on earth of those 144,000 anointed ones got busy in the work that was set in motion by the trumpet blasts. They came to realize the full import of the sign at Matthew 24:3-25:46. Even earlier in the Lord's day, however, their fellow witnesses who had already 'proved faithful even to death' had been resurrected to take their positions in heaven, so that they could now represent the entire group of 144,000 in falling upon their faces to render homage to Jehovah. (Revelation 1:10; 2:10) How thankful of all these that are their Sovereign Lord has not delayed in bringing his sacred secret to a climatic finish!

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret -It's Glorious Climax

 The trumpet blast of the seventh angel was reflected in highlights of the Bible Students' convention in Detroit, Michigan, July 30-August 6, 1928. At that time 107 broadcasting stations were tied in to what The New York Times described as the most extensive and expensive radio hook-up in history.' The convention enthusiastically adopted a powerful "Declaration against Satan and for Jehovah," pointing to the overthrow, at Armageddon, of Satan and his evil organization and the emancipation of all who love righteousness. Loyal subjects of God's Kingdom were delighted to receive a convention release, the 368-page book Government. This supplied the clearest proofs "that God set his Anointed King upon his throne in 1914. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax! - Continue

 When the sounding of the seven trumpets got underway in 1922, the Bible Students' convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, featured a talk by the president of the Watch Tower Society, J.F. Rutherford, based on the scripture "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17, King James Version) He concluded with these words: "Then back to the field, O ye sons of the high God! Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave, Be faithful true witnesses for the Lord. Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon likes desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King and Lord of lords. This is he day of all days. Behold the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore, advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom." God's King by Christ Jesus was brought to the fore, and that set off the great surge of Kingdom preaching that has included the judgments heralded by the sounding of all seven of the angelic trumpets.

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax! -Continue

 But how did "the kingdom of the world . . . become the kingdom of our Lord, "Jehovah? Has not Jehovah God always been King? That is true, for the Levite Asaph sang: God is my King from long ago." And another psalmist proclaimed "Jehovah himself has become King! . . . Your throne is firmly established from long ago; you are from time indefinite." (Psalm 74:12; 93:1, 2) In his wisdom, though, Jehovah has allowed other sovereignties to exist one earth. Thus the issue raised in Eden as to whether man can govern himself without God has been fully tested. Man-made rule has failed miserably. True, indeed, are the words of God's prophet: "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." (Jeremiah 10:23) Ever since the defection of our first parents, the entire habited earth has been under the domination of "the original Serpent, Satan. (Revelation 12:9; Luke 4:6) It is time now, for a dramatic change! To vindicate his rightful position, Jehovah begins to exercise his sovereignty over the earth in a new way, through his designated Messianic Kingdom. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/The Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax! -Continue

 The sacred secret comes to its happy climax! Gloriously, magnificently, it is brought to a triumphant finish in 1914 when the Lord Jehovah enthrones his Christ as associate King. Acting for his Father, Jesus Christ takes over active rulership in the midst of an enemy world of mankind. As the promised Seed, he receives Kingdom power in order to bring to nothing the Serpent and his brood and restore paradisaic peace to this earth. (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 72:1, 7) As Messianic King, Jesus will thus fulfill Jehovah's Word and vindicate his Father, "the King of eternity," who must rule as Sovereign Lord "forever and ever." - 1 TIMOTHY 1:17. 

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Chapter Twenty-Six/God's Sacred Secret-It's Glorious Climax!

 Do you recall the sworn declaration by the strong angel recorded at Revelation 10:1,6,7?  "There will be no delay any longer; but the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, which is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophet is indeed brought to a finish."  Jehovah's due time has arrived for the sounding of that final trumpet! How is it, then, that the sacred secret is brought to a finish? John is truly overjoyed to inform us! He writes: "And the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: "The Kingdom of the world did become the King of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.' " (Revelation 11:15) Those angelic angels hosts have reason to speak loudly, even in thunderous tones!  For this historic announcement is of universal importance. It is of vital concern to all living creation.

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Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses -Raised Again! - Continue

 But how did the rest [of Christendom] give glory to the God of heaven? Certainly not by abandoning their apostate religion and becoming servants of God. Rather, it is as explained in Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament, in discussing the expression "gave glory to the God of heaven." There it is stated: "The phrase signifies not conversion, nor repentance, nor thanksgiving, but recognition, which is its usual sense in scripture. Compare Joshua vii. 19 (Sept.) John ix. 24; Acts xii 23; Romans iv. 20." To her chagrin, Christendom had to acknowledge that the God of the Bible Students had performed a great act in restoring them to Christian activity. 

It may be that the clergy gave this acknowledgement only mentally, or themselves. Certainly, none of them went on record as publicly acknowledging the God of the two witnesses. But Jehovah's prophecy through John helps us to discern what was in their hearts and realizing the humiliating shock that they experienced in 1919. From that year onward, as the "seven thousand" left Christendom despite her determined effort s to hold on to her sheep, the clergy were forced to recognize that God of the John class was stronger than their god. In later years they would realize this even more clearly, as many more of their flock would depart, echoing the words of the people when Elijah triumphed over the Baal religionists at Mount Carmel: "Jehovah is the true God! Jehovah is the true God!" - 1 KINGS 18:39. 

But listen! John tells us: "The second woe is past. Look! The third woe is coming quickly." (Revelation 11:14) If Christendom is shaken by what has happened so far, what will she do when the third woe is announced, the seventh angel blows his trumpet, and the sacred secret of God if finally finished? - REVELATION 10:7. 

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Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses - Raised Again! - Continue

 The expression "a tenth of the city" reminds us that Isaiah prophesied regarding ancient Jerusalem that a tenth would survive the destruction of the city as a holy seed. (Isaiah 6:13) Similarly, the number 7,000 reminds us that when Elijah felt that he alone remained faithful in Israel, Jehovah told him that there were, in fact, still 7,000 who not bent down to Baal. (1 Kings 19:14, 18) In the first century, the apostle Paul said that these 7,000 pictured the remnant of the Jews who had responded to the good news about the Christ. (Romans 11:1-5) These Scriptures help us to understand that the "seven thousand" and the "the tenth of the city" in Revelation 11:13 are those who respond to the restored two witnesses and abandon the sinful great city. They die, as it were, to Christendom their names are taken off her membership roles. They no longer exist as far as she is concerned. 

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Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses - Raised Again! - Continue

 Christendom tried and tried again to repeat her triumph od 1918. She resorted to mob action, legal maneuvering, imprisonment, even executions-all to no avail! After 1919, the spiritual domain of the two witnesses was of out of her reach. In that year Jehovah said to them: 'Come on up here,' and they had ascended to an elevated spiritual state where their enemies could see them but not touch them. John describes the shocking effect their restoration had on the great city: "And in that hour a great earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave Glory to God of heaven." (Revelation 11:13) There were truly great convulsion in the realm of religion. The ground seemed to move under the leaders of the established churches as the body of revivified Christians got to work. One tenth of their city, figuratively 7,000 persons were so profoundly affected that they are spoken of as being killed. 

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Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses -Raised Again! - Continue

 What a shock for those persecutors! The corpses of the two witnesses were suddenly alive and active again. It was a bitter pill for those clergymen to swallow, the more so since the Christian ministers whom they had schemed to put in prison were free again, later to be fully exonerated. The shock must have been even greater when, in September 1919, the Bible Students held a convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. Here the recent president of the Watch Tower Society, J.F. Rutherford, stirred conventioneers with his talk "Announcing the Kingdom, based on Revelation 15:2 and Isaiah 52:7. Those of the John class began once again to "prophesy," or preach publicly. They advanced from strength to strength, fearlessly exposing Christendom's hypocrisy. 

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Chapter Twenty-Five/Reviving the Two Witnesses -Raised Again!

 The public press joined the clergy in vilifying God's people saying: "The finis of the Finished Mystery has been given."  Nothing, though, could have been further from the truth! The two witnesses did not stay dead. We read: "And after the three and a half days spirit life from God entered into them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell upon those beholding them. And they heard a loud voice out of heaven say to them: 'Come on up here.' And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them." (Revelation 11:11, 12) Thus, they had an experience similar to that of the dry bones in the valley that Ezekiel visited in vision. Jehovah breathed upon those dry bones, and they came to life, providing a picture of the rebirth of the nation of Israel after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. (Ezekiel 37:1-14) These two prophecies, in Ezekiel and Revelation, had their striking modern-day fulfillment in 1919, when Jehovah restored his "deceased" witnesses to vibrant life. 

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