Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Gathering to Armageddon

 John tells us: "And I saw three unclean inspire expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of the Almighty." (Revelation 16:13, 14) In Moses' day, Jehovah brought a loathsome plague of frogs on Pharaoh's Egypt, so that the land began to stink." (Exodus 8:5-15) During the Lord's day, there has also been a disgusting froglike visitation though from a different source. It consists of Satan's "unclean inspired expressions, "clearly symbolizing propaganda designed to maneuver all human rulers, "kings into opposition to Jehovah God. Satan thus makes sure that they are not swayed by the pouring out of the bowls of God's anger but are firmly on Satan's side when "the war of the great day of God the Almighty" begins.

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish -The River Euphrates Dried Up - Conclusion

 Who are these kings? In 539 B.C.E, they were Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian, who were used by Jehovah to conquer the ancient city of Babylon. In this the Lord's day, the false religious system of Babylon the Great will also be destroyed by human rulers. But again, this will be a divine judgment. Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, "the kings from the rising of the sun, will have put into the hearts of human rulers the "thought" to turn on Babylon the Great and destroy her utterly. (Revelation 17:16, 17) The pouring out of the sixth bowl proclaims publicly that this judgment is about to be executed! 

These first six bowls of Jehovah's anger carry a sobering message. God's earthly servants, supported by the angels, have been busy publicizing their contents on an earth-wide scale in this way, due warning has been served on all sectors of Satan's world system. And Jehovah has provided individuals an opportunity to turn to righteousness and keep living. (Ezekiel 33:14-16) Still, one more bowl of God's anger remains. But before telling us about it, Revelation reveals how Satan and his earthly agents are trying to counteract the publicizing of Jehovah's judgments. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The River Euphrates Dried Up - Continue

 Babylon the Great "sits on many waters." According to Revelation 17:1, 15, these symbolize "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues"-hordes of adherents that she has regarded as protection. But the "waters" are drying up! in Western Europe, where formers she had great influence, hundreds of millions have openly ignored religion. In some Eastern European lands, there is a declared policy to try to destroy the influence of religion. The masses in those lands have not risen up on her behalf. Similarly, when the time comes for Babylon the Great to be destroyed, the dwindling number of her adherents will prove to be no protection at all. (Revelation 17:16) Though she claims a membership of thousands of millions, Babylon the Great will herself defenseless against "the kings of the rising of the sun." 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The River Euphrates Dried Up

 The sixth trumpet blast heralded the releasing of the "four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates." (Revelation 9:14) Historically, Babylon was the great city that sat of the river Euphrates. And in 1919 the real release of the symbolic four angels accompanied a significant fall of Babylon the Great. (Revelation 14:8) It is noteworthy, then, that the sixth bowl of God's anger also involves the river Euphrates: "And the sixth one poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared from the kings of the rising of the sun." (Revelation 16:12) This too is bad news for Babylon the Great!

In ancient Babylon's heyday, the abundant waters of the Euphrates were a major part of her defense system. In 539 B.C.E. those waters dried up when they were diverted from their course by the Persian leader Cyrus. Thus, the way was open for Cyrus the Persia and Darius the Mede, the kings from "the rising of the sun" (that is, the east), to enter into Babylon and conquer it. In the hour of crisis, the river Euphrates failed in the defense of that great city.  (Isaiah44:27-455:7; Jeremiah 51:36) Something similar is due to happen to modern Babylon, the worldwide system of false religion.

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish -Darkness and Gnawing Pain

 As world ruler, Satan has caused much unhappiness and suffering. Famine, wars, violence, crime, drug abuse, immorality, sexually transmitted diseases, dishonesty, religious  hypocrisy-these and more are the hallmarks of Satan's system of things. (Compare Galatians 5:19-21.) Even so, the public exposure of Satan as the god of this system of things caused pain and embarrassment to those who live by his standards. "They began to gnaw their tongues for their pain," especially in Christendom. Many resent that the truth exposes their lifestyle., Some find it threatening, and they persecute those publish it. They reject God's Kingdom and revile Jehovah's holy name. Their religiously diseased, ulcerous condition is laid bare, so that they blaspheme the God of heaven. No, they do "not repent of their works." So we cannot expect a mass conversion before the end of this system of things. - ISAIAH 32:6.

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish -Darkness and Gnawing Pain - Continue

 The fifth trumpet blast is not exactly the same as the fifth bowl of God's anger, since the trumpet blasts heralded a plague of locusts. But notice that at the release of that plague of locusts, there was a darkening of the sun and the air.  (Revelation 9:2-5) And at Exodus 10:14, 15, we read concerning the locusts with which Jehovah plagued Egypt: 'They were very burdensome. Before them there had never turned up in this way locusts like them, and there will never turn up any in this way after them. And they went covering the visible surface of the entire land, and the land grew dark." Yes, darkness! Today, the world's spiritual darkness has become all too evident as a result of the sounding of the fifth trumpet and the pouring out of the fifth bowl of God's anger. The stinging message proclaimed by the modern-day locust swarm brings torment and pain to those wicked ones who "have loved the darkness rather than the light." - JOHN 3:19. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Darkness and Gnawing Pain

 The kingdom of this wild beast has been in spiritual darkness ever since its beginning.  (Compare Matthew8:12; Ephesians 6:11, 12.) The fifth bowl brings intensified public announcement of this darkness. It even dramatizes it, in that this bowl of God's anger is poured out upon the very throne of the symbolic wild beast. "And the kingdom became darkened, and they began to gnaw their tongues for their pain, but they blasphemed the God of heaven for their pains and for their ulcers, and they did not repent of their works." - REVELATION 16:10b, 11. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Throne of the Wild Beast - Conclusion

How is this relationship between Satan and the nations maintained? When Satan tempted Jesus, he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a vision and offered "all this authority and the glory of them." But there was a condition-Jesus first had to perform an act of worship before Satan.  (Luke 4:5-7) Can we imagine that the governments of this world received their authority at a lesser price? Not at all. According to the Bible, Satan is the god of this system of things, so that, whether the nations are aware of it or not, they serve him. (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) This situation is revealed in the makeup of the present world system, which is built on narrow nationalism, hatred, and self-interest. It is organized the way Satan wants it-to keep mankind under his control. The corruption in government, the lust for power, the lying diplomacy, the armaments race-these reflect Satan's debased personality. The world subscribes to Satan's unrighteous standards, thus making him its god. The throne of the wild beast will be overthrown when that beast suffers extinction and the Seed of God's woman finally abysses Satan himself. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Throne of the Wild Beast

 Upon what does the next angel pour his bowl? "And the fifth one poured out his bowl upon the throne of the wild beast." (Revelation 16:10a) "The wild beast" is Satan's governmental system. It does not have a literal throne, any more than the wild beast itself is literal. Mention of a throne, however, shows that the wild beast has exercised royal authority over mankind; this is in harmony with the fact that each of the beast's heads bears a royal diadem. In fact, "the throne of the wild beast" is the foundation, or a source, of that authority. The Bible reveals the true situation of the royal authority of the wild beast when it says that "the dragon gave to the beast its power and its throne and its authority. " (Revelation 13:1, 2;1 John5:19) Thus, the pouring out of the bowl upon the throne of the wild beast involves a proclamation revealing the true role that Satan has played and still plays in supporting and promoting the wild beast. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Scorching Men With Fire - Conclusion

 After the first world war, the rulers of this world formed a League of Nations in an effort to solve the problem of world security, but this failed. So other experimental types of rulership were tried, such as Fascism and Nazism. Communism continued to expand. Rather than improve mankind's lot, the sunlike rulers in these systems began to 'scorch mankind with great heat.' Local wars in Spain, Ethiopia, and Manchuria led up to the second world war. Modern history records that Musolini, Hitler, and Stalin as dictators become responsible directly and indirectly, for deaths of tens of millions, including many of their nationals. More recently, international or civil conflicts have "scorched " the people of countries such as Vietnam, Kampuchea, Iran, Lebanon, and Ireland, as well as countries in Latin America and Africa. Add to this the ongoing struggle between the superpowers, are those horrendous nuclear weapons are capable of incinerating all mankind. In these days, humanity has surely been exposed to a scorching "sun," its unrighteous rulers. The pouring out of the fourth bowl of God's anger has pinpointed these historic facts, and God's people have proclaimed them throughout the earth. 

Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently taught that the only solution to mankind's baffling problems is God's Kingdom, through which Jehovah purposes to sanctify is name. (Psalm83:4, 17, 18; Matthew 6:9, 10) Mankind, however, as a whole turned a deaf ear to this solution. Many who reject the Kingdom also blaspheme the name of God, even as Pharaoh did when he refused to acknowledge Jeehovah's sovereignty. (Exodus 1:8-10; 5:2) Having no interest in the Messianic Kingdom, these opposers choose to suffer under their own torrid "sun" of oppressive human rulership. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Scorching Men With Fire

 The fourth bowl of the anger of God has the sun as its target. John tells us: "And the fourth one poured out his bowl upon the sun; and to the sun it was granted to scorch the men with fire. And the men were scorched with great heat, but they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give glory to him." - REVELATION 16:8, 9.

Today, at the conclusion of the system of things, Jesus' spiritual brothers "shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matthew 13:40, 43) Jesus himself is "the sun of righteousness." (Malachi 4:2) Mankind, though, has its own "sun," its own rulers to try to shine in opposition to God's Kingdom. The fourth trumpet blast proclaimed that the 'sun, moon, and stars' in Christendom's heavens are really sources of darkness, not light. (Revelation 8:12) The fourth bowl of God's anger now shows that the world's "sun" would get unbearably hot. Those looked to as sunlike leaders would "scorch" mankind. This would be granted to the symbolic sun. In other words, Jehovah would allow this as part of his fiery judgment on mankind. In what way has this scorching taken place? 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Giving Them Blood to Drink -Conclusion

 In Moses' day, when the Nile River was turned into blood, the Egyptians were able to keep alive by seeking other sources of water.  (Exodus 7:4) Today, though, during the spiritual plague, there is nowhere in Satan's world that people can find life-giving waters. The pouring of this third bowl involves proclaiming that the world's "rivers and fountains of the waters" are as blood, bringing spiritual death to all who imbibe them. Unless people turn to Jehovah, they reap his adverse judgment. - Compare EZEKIEL 33:11. 

"The angel over the waters," that is, the angel who pours this bowl into the waters, magnifies Jehovah as the Universal Judge, who righteous decisions are absolute. Therefore, he says of this judgment: "They deserve it." Doubtless, the angel personally witnessed much of the bloodshed and cruelty fomented over thousands of years by the false teachings and philosophies of this wicked world. Hence, he knows that Jehovah's judicial decision is right. Even God's "altar" speaks out. At Revelation 6:9, 10, the souls of those who were martyred are said to be at the base of "the altar" adds powerful testimony as to the justice and righteousness of Jehovah's decisions. Certainly, it is fitting that those who have shed and misused so much blood should themselves be forced-fed with blood, in symbol of Jehovah's sentencing them to death. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Giving Them Blood to Drink - Continue

 Some tainted "waters" have led men to become bloodguilty, for example, in encouraging them to shed blood on a monumental scale in the wars of this century, which have now taken more than a hundred million lives. Particularly in Christendom, where the two world wars erupted, have men been "in a hurry to shed blood," and this has included the blood of God's own witnesses. (Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 2:34) Mankind has also incurred bloodguilt by its misuse of huge quantities of blood for transfusions, in violation of Jehovah's righteous laws. (Genesis9:3-5; Leviticus 17:14; Acts 15:28, 29) On this account, they have already reaped sorrow by the proliferation, through blood transfusions, of AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases. Full retribution for all bloodguilt will come shortly when transgressors pay the supreme penalty being trampled in "the winepress of the anger of God." - REVELATION 14:19, 20. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Giving Them Blood to Drink

 The third bowl of God's anger, like the third trumpet blast, has an effect on freshwater sources: "And the third one poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters. And they became as blood. And I heard the angel over the waters say: 'You, the One who is and who was, the loyal One, are righteous, because you have rendered these decisions, because you poured out the blood of holy ones and of prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserved it.' and I heard the altar say: Yes, Jehovah God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judicial decisions.' " - REVELATIONS 16:4-7. 

These "rivers and the fountains of waters" picture the so-called fresh sources of guidance and wisdom accepted by this world, such as the political, economic, scientific, educational, social, and religious philosophies that guide human actions and decisions. Rather than look to Jehovah, the Fountain of life, for life-giving truth, men have 'hewn out for themselves broken cisterns' and drunk deeply of the wisdom of this world [that] is foolishness with God." - JEREMIAH2:13; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:19; 2:6; 3:19; PSALM 36:9. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Sea Becomes Blood

 The second bowl of God's anger must now be poured out. What will it mean for mankind? John tells us: "And the second one poured out his bowl into the sea. And it became as blood as of a dead man, and every living soul died, yes, the things in the sea." (Revelation 16:3) Like the second trumpet blast, this bowl is directed against "the sea"-the seething, rebellious mass of humanity alienated from Jehovah. (Isaiah 57:20, 21; Revelation 8:8, 9) In Jehovah's eyes, this "sea" is like blood, unfit for creatures to live in. That is why Christian must be no part of the world. (John 17:14) The pouring out of the second bowl of God's anger reveals that all of mankind who inhabit this sea are dead in Jehovah's eyes. By reason of community responsibility, mankind is guilty of gross shedding of innocent blood. When Jehovah's day of anger arrives, they will literally die at the hands of his executional forces. - REVELATION 19:17, 18; Compare EPHESIANS 2:1; COLOSSIANS 2:13. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Jehovah's Wrath Against "the Earth" - Conclusion

 The contents of this bowl strongly emphasize the choice that lies before humans. They must suffer either the world's disapproval or Jehovah's indignation. Mankind has been put under compulsion to accept the mark of the wild beast, with the intent that "nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name." (Revelation 13:16, 17) But there is a price to pay for this! Jehovah regards those who accept the mark as being stricken with "a hurtful and malignant ulcer." Since 1922 they have marked in public as having rejected the living God. Their political schemes have no success, and they suffer anguish. Spiritually, they are unclean. Unless they repent, this "hurtful" illness will be terminated, for it is now Jehovah's day of judgment. There is no neutral ground between being a part of the world's system of things and serving Jehovah on the side of his Christ. - LUKE 11:23; compare James 4:4. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Jehovah's Wrath Against "the Earth" -Continue

 In these last days, many governments have demanded what amounts to worship from their subjects, insisting that the State must be exalted above God or any other loyalty. (2 Timothy 3:1; compare Luke 20:25; John 19:15) Since 1914 it has become common for nations to conscript their youth in order for them to fight, or be ready to fight, the kind of total warfare that so bloodied the pages of modern history. During the Lord's day, the nations have also produced, as a substitute for God's Kingdom, the image of the beast-the League of Nations, and it successor the Unted Nations. What blasphemy to proclaim, as recent popes have done, that this man-made body is the nation's sole hope for peace! (what a load of bologna! there has never been any true peace in this country) It staunchly opposes God's Kingdom (the real and only hope for us all.) Those who worship the wild beast become spiritually unclean, ulcerated, just as the Egyptians who opposed Jehovah in Moses' day were plagued by literal sores and ulcers. - EXODUS 9:10, 11. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish -Jehovah's Wrath Against "the Earth"

 The first angel goes into action! "And the first one went off and poured out his bowl into the earth. And a hurtful and malignant ulcer came to be upon the men that had the mark of the wild beast and that were worshiping its image." (Revelation 16:2) As in the case of the first trumpet blast, "the earth here symbolizes the stable-looking political system that Satan began to build here on earth back in Nimrod's time, over 4,000 years ago. - REVELATION 8:7. 

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Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger Brought to a Finish

 JOHN has already introduced the angels commissioned to pour out the seven bowls. He tells us that "these are the last ones, because by means of them the anger of God is brought to a finish." (Revelation 15:1; 16:1) These plagues, revealing Jehovah's sanctions for wickedness in the earth, must be poured out to a finality. When they are over, God's judgments will have been executed. Satan's world will be no more! What do these plagues portend for mankind and the rulers of the present wicked system? How can Christians avoid being plagued along with this doomed world? Vital questions, these, and now they are to be answered. All who long for the triumph of righteousness will have keen interest in what John next sees. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful -The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts - Conclusion

 The final three trumpet blasts were different, for they were called woes. (Revelation 8:13; 9:12) The first two of these consisted particularly of the locusts and the armies of cavalry, while the third introduced the birth of Jehovah's Kingdom. (Revelation 9:1-21; 11:15-19) As we shall see, the final three bowls of his wrath also cover some of these aspects, but they war are somewhat different from the three woes. Let us now pay close attention to the dramatic disclosures that result from the pouring out of the bowls of Jehovah's anger. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Powerful - The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts

 The bowls of Jehovah's anger reveals features of the world scene as Jehovah views them and warn of judgments that Jehovah will execute. The angels pour out the bowls through the agency of the congregation of anointed Christians on earth, the ones singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. While proclaiming the Kingdom as good news, the John class have boldly revealed the contents of these bowls of anger. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6, 7) Thus, their twofold message has been peaceful in proclaiming liberty to mankind but warlike in warning of "the day of vengeance on the part of our God." - ISAIAH 61:1, 2.

The targets of the first four bowls of God's anger correspond to those of the first four trumpet blasts, that is, the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains of water, and the heavenly sources of light. (Revelation 8:1-12) But the trumpet blasts announce plagues on "a third," whereas a entirety in afflicted by the pouring out of the bowls of God's anger. Thus, while Christendom, as "as a third," has received first attention during the Lord's day, not one part of Satan's system has been exempted from being plagued by Jehovah's vexatious judgment messages and the sorrows they bring.

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Powerful - Jehovah is His Sanctuary - Conclusion

 The awesome command thunders forth: "And I heard a loud voice out of the sanctuary say to the seven angels: 'Go and pour out the seven bowls of the anger of God into the earth." (Revelation 16:10) Who issues this command? It must be Jehovah himself, since the radiance of his glory and power prevented anyone else from entering the sanctuary. Jehovah came to his spiritual temple for judgment in 1918.  (Malachi 3:1-5) It must, then, have been shortly after that date that he gave the command to pour out the bowls of the anger of God. In fact, the judgments contained in the symbolic bowls started to be proclaimed with intensity in 1922. And their proclamation is increasing to a crescendo today. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful - Jehovah in His Sanctuary

 Finally, completing this part of the vision, John tells us: "And the sanctuary became filled with smoke because of the glory of God and because of his power, and no one was able to enter into the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished." (Revelation 15:8) There were occasions in Israel's history when a cloud covered the literal sanctuary, and this manifestation of Jehovah's glory prevented the priests from entering there. (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; compare Isaiah 6:4, 5) These were times when Jehovah was actively involved with developments of the earth. 

Jehovah is also deeply interested in things happening on earth now. He wants the seven angels to complete their assignment. It is a climatic time of judgment, as described at Psalm 11:4-6: "Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah -in the heavens is his throne. His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men. Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked ones, and anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates. He will rain down upon the wicked ones traps, fire and sulphur and a scorching wind, as the portion of their cup." Until these seven plagues are poured out upon the wicked ones, the seven angels will not return to Jehovah's lofty presence. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls --Conclusion

 These angels are well qualified for this work. They are clothed with clean, bright linen, showing that they are spiritually clean and holy, righteous in Jehovah's sight. Also, they wear golden girdles. Girdles are usually used when a person girds himself for a task to be accomplished.  (Leviticus 8:7, 13; 1 Samuel 2:18; Luke 13:4, 5) So the angels are girded to carry out and assignment. Moreover, their girdles are golden. In the ancient tabernacle, gold was used to represent divine heavenly things. (Hebrews 9:4,11, 12) That means that these angels have a precious diving commission of service to perform. Others too are involved in this great task. One of the four living creatures hands the actual bowls to them. Doubtless, this was the first living creature, which resembled a lion, symbolizing the boldness and indomitable courage needed to proclaim Jehovah's judgments. - REVELATION 4:7.

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Work-Great and Wonderful -The Angels With the Bowls

 It is fitting that we hear the song of these anointed conquerors. Why? Because they have publicized on earth the judgments contained in the bowls that were full of the anger of God. But the pouring out of the bowls involves more than mere humans, as John goes on to show: "And after these things I saw, and the sanctuary of the tent of the witness was opened in heaven, and the seven angels with the seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary, clothed with clean, bright linen and girded about their breasts with golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls that were full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever." -REVELATION 15:5-7. 

As respects the Israelite temple, which contained representations of heavenly things, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy, here called "the sanctuary." (Hebrews 9:3, 7) It represents the place of Jehovah's presence in heaven. In heaven itself, however. not only does the High Pries Jesus Christ have the privilege of entering in before Jehovah but the angels do also. (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 9:24-26) It is not surprising, then, that seven angels should be seen coming out from the sanctuary in heaven. They have a commission from Jehovah God himself; pour out the bowls full of the anger of God. - REVELATION 16:1. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb -- Conclusin

 Nevertheless, this is the song not only of Moses but also "of the Lamb." How so? Moses was Jehovah's prophet to Israel, but Moses himself prophesied that Jehovah would raise up a prophet like him. This one proved to be the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Whereas Moses was "the slave of God," Jesus was God's Son, in effect, the Greater Moses. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22, 23; Hebrews 3:5, 6) Hence, the singers also sing "the song of the Lamb." 

Like Moses, Jesus publicly sang God's praises and prophesied about his victory over all enemies. (Matthew 24:21, 22; 26:30; Luke 19:41-44) Jesus too looked forward to the time when the nations would come into praise Jehovah, and as the self-sacrificing "Lamb of God," he laid down his human life to make this possible. (John 1:29; Revelation 7:9; compare Isaiah2:2-4; Zechariah 8:23) And just as Moses came to appreciate God's name, Jehovah, and extol that name, so Jesus made God's name manifest. (Exodus 6:2, 3; Psalm 90:1, 17; John 17:6) Since Jehovah is loyal, his glorious promises are certain of fulfillment. Surely, then, we are as one with these loyal singers, with the Lamb, and with Moses, in subscribing to the words of the song: "Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name!" 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb - Continue

 These victors sing "the song of Moses," that its, a song similar to one that Moses sang in like circumstances. After the Israelites had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt and the destruction of the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea, Moses led them in such a song of triumphant praise to Jehovah, proclaiming: "Jehovah will rule as king to time indefinite, even forever." (Exodus 15:1-19) How fitting that the singers in John's vision, coming off victorious from the wild beast and bring involved in proclaiming the seven last plagues, should also sing "to the King of eternity"! - 1 TIMOTHY 1:17.

In another song, composed as Israel prepared for the conquest of Canaan, the aged Moses told that nation: "I shall declare the name of Jehovah. Do you attribute greatness to our God!" The last verse of this song also gave encouragement to non-Israelites, and Moses' inspired words reach right down to the great crowd of today: "Be glad, you nations, with his people. And why should they be glad? Because now Jehovah "will avenge the blood of his servants, and he will pay back vengeance to his adversaries." This execution of righteous judgment will bring jubilation to all who hope in Jehovah. - DEUTERONOMY 32:3, 43; ROMANS 15:10-13; REVELATION 7:9. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 These loyal overcomers have harps of God. In this, they are like the temple Levites of old, who worshiped Jehovag with song to the accompaniment of harps. Some also prophesied to a harp accompaniment. (1 Corinthians 15:16; 25:103) The beautiful strains of the harp embellished Israel's songs of joy and prayers of praise and thanksgiving to Jehovah. (Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 33:2; 43:4; 57:7, 8) In times of depression or captivity, the harp was not heard. (Psalm 137:2) The presence of harps of God in this vision should whet our anticipation for an exultant, triumphant song of praise and thanksgiving to our God."

That is what John reports: "And they are singing the song of Moses and of the slave of God and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity. Who will not really fear you, Jehovha, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal? For all nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous decrees have made been made manifest.' " - REVELATION15:3, 4.

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb - Continue

 The fact that the molten sea in Solomon's temple was for the use of the priests indicates that the singers standing before the heavenly glassy sea are a priestly class, They have "harps of God," and we therefore associate them with the 24 elders and the 144,000, since these groups also sing to harp accompaniment. (Revelation 5:8; 14:2) The singers that John sees "comes victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from the number of its name." So they must be those from among the 144,000 who live on earth during the last days. As a group, they do indeed come off victorious. Some 70 years since 1919, they have refused to accept the mark of the wild beast or look to its image as man's only hope for peace. Many of them have already endured faithful to the death, and these, now in heaven, doubtless to follow with special delight the singing of their brothers who are still on earth. - REVELATION 14:11-13. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful - The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 A remarkable panorama now comes into John's view: "And I saw what seemed to be a glassy sea mingled with fire, and those who come off victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from its name standing by the glassy sea, having harps of God." - REVELATION 15:2. 

The "glassy sea" is the same one that John saw earlier, positioned before the throne of God. (Revelation 4:6) It is similar to "the molten sea" (water container) of Solomon's temple, where the priests obtained water to cleanse themselves. (1 Kings 7:23) It is thus a fine representation of "the bath of water," that is God's Word, by which Jesus cleanses the priestly congregation of anointed Christians. (Ephesians 5:25, 26; Hebrews 10:22) This glassy sea is "mingled with fire," indicating that these anointed ones are tested and purged as they obey the high standard set for them. Further, it reminds us that God's Word also contains expressions of fiery judgments against his enemies. (Deuteronomy 9:3; Zephaniah 3:8) Some of these fiery judgments are manifested in the seven last plagues that are about to be poured out.  

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful -Conclusion

 Notice the important roles that angels again have in accomplishing God's will. This fact has long been known by Jehovah's servants. Why, under inspiration the ancient psalmist even spoke to such angels urging them: "Bless Jehovah, O you angels, his mighty power carrying out his word"! (Psalm 103:20) Now, in this new scene, angels are assigned to pour out the seven last plagues.

What are these plagues? Like the seven trumpet blasts, they are scathing judgment pronouncements publicizing Jehovah view of various features of the world and warning of the final outcome of these judicial decisions.   (Revelation 8:1-9:21) The pouring out of them points to the execution of those judgments, when the objects of Jehovah's wrath are destroyed in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9 13; Revelation 6:16, 17) Thus, by means of them "the anger of God is brought to a finish." But before describing the pouring out of the plagues, John tells us about some human who will not be adversely affected by them. Having refused the mark of the wild beast, these loyal ones sing praises to Jehovah as they proclaim his day of vengeance. -REVELATION 13:15-17. 

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Chapter Thirty-One/Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful

 A woman giving birth to a male child! A great dragon seeking to devour that child! Those two heavenly signs, so vividly portrayed in Revelation chapter 12, brought home to us that the agelong controversy involving the Seed of God's woman and Satan and his demonic seed is reaching its climax. In highlighting these symbols, John says: "And a great sign was seen in heaven . . . and another sign was seen." (Revelation12:1, 3, 7-12) Now John reports a third sign: "And I saw in heaven another sign, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues. These are the last ones, because by means of them the anger of God is brought to a finish." (Revelation 15:1) This third sign also has vital meaning for Jehovah's servants. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Treading the Vine of the Earth -

 This vivid vision has a parallel in the crushing of the kingdoms of the earth by the Kingdom stone described at Daniel 2:34, 44. There will be an extermination. The river of blood from winepress is very deep, up to the bridles of the horses, and it extends for a distance of 16 furlongs. This huge figure, produced by multiplying the square of four by the square of ten (4 x 4x 10 x 10), emphatically conveys the message that evidence of the destruction will be involve al the earth. (Isaiah 66:15, 16) The destruction will be complete and irreversible. Never, no never again, will Satan's vine of the earth take root! - PSALM83:17, 18. 

Living as we do deep in the time of the end, the vision of these two harvests is very meaningful. We have only to look around us to see the fruits of Satan's vine. Abortions, and other forms of murder; homosexuality, adultery, and other forms of immorality; dishonestly and lack of natural affection-all such things make this world vile in Jehovah's eyes. Satan's vine bears "the fruit of a poisonous plant and wormwood." its ruinous. idolatrous course dishonors mankind's Grand Creator. (Deuteronomy29:18; 32:5; Isaiah 42:5, 8) What a privilege it is to be actively associated with the John class in the harvest of wholesome fruitage that Jesus is bringing forth to Jehovah's praise! (Luke 10:2) May all of us be determined that will never be tainted by the vine of this world, and may we thus avoid being trampled with the vine of the earth when Jehovah's adverse judgment is executed. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Treading the Vine of the Earth - Continue

 The visionary treading done by horses, for the blood trodden out from the vine reaches "the bridles of the horses." Since the term "horses" usually refers to war operations, the must be a time of war. The armies of the heavens that follow Jesus into the final war against Satan's system of things are said to read "the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty." (Revelation 19:11-16) These are clearly the ones that do the treading of the vine of the vine of the earth. The "winepress is "trodden outside the city," that is, outside heavenly Zion. Indeed, it is fitting that the vine of the earth should be trodden on earth. But it will also be "trodden outside the city" in that no harm will come to the remaining ones of the woman's seed, who can represent the heavenly Zion on earth. These together with the great crowd will be safely hidden within Jehovah's earthly organizational arrangement. - ISAIAH 26:20, 21. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" -Treading the Vine of the Earth - Continue

 But what is "the vine of the earth"? In the Hebrew Scriptures the Jewish nation was spoken of as Jehovah's vine. (Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 2:21) Similarly, Jesus Christ and those who will serve him in God's Kingdom are spoken of as a vine. (John 15:1-8) In this setting, the significant characteristic of a vine is that it produces fruit, and the true Christian vine has produced abundant fruit to Jehovah's praise. (Matthew 21:43) "The vine of the earth," therefore, must be, not this genuine vine, but Satan's imitation of it, his corrupt visible system of government over mankind, with its various "clusters" of demonic fruitage produced over the centuries. Babylon the Great, in which apostate Christianity is so prominent, has exercised great influence over this poisonous vine. - Compare DEUTERONOMY 32:32-35. 

Judgment must be executed: "And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great winepress of the anger of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress as high up as the bridles of the horses, for distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs." (Revelation 14:19, 20) Jehovah's indignation against this vine has long since been announced. (Zephaniah 3:8) A prophecy in the book of Isaiah leaves no doubt that the whole nations will be destroyed when the winepress is trampled. (Isaiah 63:3-6) Joel too prophesied that huge "crowds," whole nations, would be trampled to destruction in the "winepress," In the low plain of the decision." (Joel 3:12-14) Truly, a stupendous harvest the like of which will never again occur! According to John's vision, not only are the grapes harvested but the whole symbolic vine is cut down and thrown into the winepress to be trampled. So the vine of the earth will be stamped out and will never be able to grow again.

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" -Treading of the Vine of the Earth

 With the harvest of salvation completed, it is time for another harvest. John reports: "And still another angel [the fifth] emerged from the temple sanctuary that is in heaven, he, too, having a sharp sickle. And still angel [the sixth] emerged from the altar and he had authority over the fire. And he called out with a loud voice to the one that had the sickle, saying: 'Put your sharp sickle n and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes have become ripe.' " (Revelation 14:17, 18) The angelic hosts are entrusted with much harvesting during the Lord's day separating the good from the bad! 

The fifth angel comes from Jehovah's presence in the temple sanctuary; hence, the final harvest also take place according to Jehovah's will. The angel is commanded to begin his work by a message relayed through another angel that "emerged from the altar." This fact is most significant, since faithful souls underneath the altar asked: "Until when, Sovereign Lord holy and true, ae refraining from judging and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9, 10) With the harvesting of the vine of the earth, this cry vengeance will be satisfied. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Harvest of the Earth - Conclusion

 Although he is a King and a Judge, Jesus waits for word from Jehovah his God before beginning to reap. That word comes from "the temple sanctuary" by means of an angel. Immediate, Jesus obeys. First, from 1919 on, he  has his angels complete the harvesting of the 144,000. (Matthew 13:39, 43) Next, the harvest ingathering of the great crowd takes place. (Matthew 25:31-33; John 10:16; Revelation 7:9) History shows that between 1931 and 1935 a goodly number of these other sheep began to appear in 1935 Jehovah opened to the understanding of the John class the real identity of the great crowd. By the year 1988, its number has far exceeded the three million mark, and it is still increasing. Surely, the one like the Son of man has reaped a bountiful joyous harvest during the time of the end.  - Compare EXODUS 23:16; 34:22. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen" - Harvest of the Earth

 Others are also to benefit in this day of judgment, as John goes on to tell us: "And I saw, and, look! a white cloud, and upon the white cloud some seated like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel [the fourth] emerged from the temple sanctuary, crying with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: 'Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is thoroughly ripe.' And the one seated on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped." -REVELATION 14:14-16.

The identity of the one seated on the white cloud is not in doubt. Seated on a white cloud, resembling son of man and with a golden crown, his is clearly Jesus, the Messianic King that Daniel saw in his vision. (Daniel 7:13, 14; Mark 14:61, 62) But what is the harvest prophesied? While on earth, Jesus likened the discipling work to the harvesting of the world field of humanity. (Matthew 9:37, 38; John 4:35, 36) The climax of this harvesting comes into the Lord's day, when Jesus is crowned as King and executes judgment on behalf of his Father. Thus, his time of ruling, since 1914, is also the joyful time for bringing in the harvest. - Compare DEUTERONOMY 16:13-15. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Endurance for the Holy Ones - Conclusion

 This promise harmonizes well with Paul's prophecy concerning Jesus' presence: "Those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving [those of the anointed ones who survive into the Lord's day] will, together with together, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) After Satan's ouster from heaven, those who were dead in union with Christ rose first. (Compare Revelation 6:9-11.) Afterward, those of the anointed ones who die during the Lord's day are promised a special privilege. Their resurrection to spirit life in heaven is instantaneous, "in the twinkling of an eye." (1 Corinthians 15:52) How marvelous this is! And their works of righteousness continue right on in the heaven realm. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Endurance For the Holy Ones - Continue

 Who deliver the tormenting message today? Remember, the symbolic locusts have authority to torment the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation 9:5) Evidently, these ones under angelic direction are the tormentors. Such is the persistence of the symbolic locusts that "day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." And finally, after their destruction of Jehovah's sovereignty, "the smoke of their torment," will ascend forever and ever. May the John class endure until that vindication: "Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones, those who observe the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." - REVELATION 14:12.

Yes, "endurance for the holy ones" means their worshiping Jehovah in exclusive devotion through Jesus Christ. Their message is not popular. It leads to opposition, persecution, even martyrdom. But they are strengthened by what John next reports: "And I heard a voice out of heaven say:' Write Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the things they did go right with them.' " - REVELATION 14:13.

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Endurance for the Holy Ones - Continue

 Was Edom hurled into some mythical hellfire to burn forever? Of course not. Rather, the nation completely disappeared from the world scene as if she had been totally consumed with fire and sulphur. The final result from the punishment was not everlasting torment but "emptiness . . . wasteness . . . nothing." (Isaiah 34:11. 12) The smoke ascending to time indefinity' vividly illustrates this. When a house burns down, smoke comes from the ashes for some times after the flames have died down, providing onlookers with evidence that has been destructive conflageration. Even today God's people remember the lesson to be learned from the destruction of Edom. In this way 'the smoke of her burning' is still ascending in a symbolic way. 

Those who have the mark of the wild beast will also be destroyed completely, as if by fire.  As the prophecy later reveals, their dead bodies will be left unburied for animals and birds to eat. (Revelation 19:17, 18) So, clearly, they are not being literally tortured forever! How are they "tormented with fire and sulphur"? In that the proclamation of truth exposes thema and warns them of God's coming judgment. Therefore they vilify God's people and, where possible, slyly persuade the political wild beast to persecute and even kill Jehovah's Witnesses. as a climax, these opposers will be destroyed as with fire and brimstone. Then "the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever" in that God's judgment of them will serve as a touchtstone if ever again Jehovah's rightful sovereignty is challenged. That issue will have been settled for all eternity. 

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Chapter Thirty/"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" -Endurance for the Holy Ones - Continue

 Even before that happens, however, those with the mark of the beast have to undergo the tormenting effects of Jehovah's disapproval. Speaking of the worshiper of the wild beast and its image, the angel informs John: "And he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night have they no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. - REVELATION14:10b, 11. 

Some have viewed the mention here of fire and sulphur ("fire and brimstone," King James version) as a proof of the existence of a hellfire. But a brief look at a similar prophecy shows the real import of these words in this context. Back in the days of Isaiah, Jehovah warned the nation of Edom that they would punished because of their enmity toward Israel. He said: "Her torments must be changed into pitch, and her dust into sulphur, and her land must become as a burning pitch. By night or by day it will not be extinguished to time indefinite its smoke will keep ascending. From generation to generation she will be parched; forever and ever no one will be passing across her." - ISAIAH 34:9, 10. 

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