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

 Jesus warned of the kind of pressures that this world, saturated with propaganda, would put on Christians. He said: "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be upon you as a snare . . . keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man." (Luke 21:34-36) "That day" is "the great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14) as "that day" of the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty approaches, it becomes ever more difficult to cope with the anxieties of life. Christians need to be alert and watchful, staying awake until that day arrives.

What, though, is implied by the warning that those found sleeping would be shamed by losing their "outer garments"? In ancient Israel, any priest or Levite on guard duty at the temple had a heavy responsibility. Jewish commentators tell that if anyone was caught sleeping on such duty, his garments would be stripped from him and burned, so that he was publicly shamed. 

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

From the jw.org publications

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

 With so much satanic propaganda around, the next words that John records are indeed timely: "Look! I am coming as a thief. Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments, that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness."  (Revelation 16:15) Who is coming "as thief"?  Jesus himself, coming at an unannounced time as Jehovah's Executioner. (Revelation 3:3; 2 Peter 3:10) While still on earth, Jesus also likened his coming to that of a thief, saying: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. On this account you too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming." (Matthew 24:42, 44; Luke 12:37, 40) Echoing the warning, the apostle Paul said: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever, it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security! then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them. "Satan even now maneuvering the nations toward making that false proclamation of "Peace and security!!" -THESSALONIANS 5:2, 3. 

Next time: Chapter Thirty-Two/God's Anger is Brought to a Finish - The Gathering to Armageddon -Continue

From the jw.org publications 

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

 The propaganda comes from "the dragon" (Satan) and "the wild beast" ("Satan's earthly political setup), creatures that we have already met up with in Revelation. What, though, is "the false prophet"?  This is a newcomer in name only. Previously, we were shown a wild beast with two horns like a lamb that performed great signs before the seven-headed beast. This deceptive creature acted like prophet for that wild beast, even causing an image to be built to it.  (Revelation 13:11-14) This wild beast with two horns like a lamb must be the same as "the false prophet" mentioned here. Confirming this, we read later that the false prophet like the symbolic wild beast with two horns, "performed in front of the [seven-headed wild beast] the signs with which he misled those received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image." - REVELATION 19:20. 

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

From the jw.org publications