God's Kingdom Is Born!

 About eight centuries earlier, Jehoah 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 Jerusalem above."

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

John sees this woman as being robed with the sun ad 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 her 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 needed 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.

Next time: God's Kingdom Is Borne! - A Great Fiery-Colored Dragon 

From the jw.org publications

God's Kingdom Is Born!

 Vision 7 - REVELATION 12:1-17

Subject:  The heavenly woman gives birth, Michael battles with Satan and casts him to earth 

Time of fulfillment:  From the enthronement of Christ Jesus in 1914 up to the great tribulation

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 out doom for Satan 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 taht woe and in bringing God's sacred secret to a finish.

John now sees a great sign - one of outstanding  interest to God's people. It 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 historic marker in the advanccment 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 pains and in her agony to give birth." -REVELATION 12:1, 2.

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 aat 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 spoke 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 wife. 

Next time: God's Kingdom Is Born! 

From the jw. org publications

God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Ruining the Earth

 "Every three seconds a portion of original rainforest the size of a football field disappears. . . . The loss of primary forest is destroying thousands of plant and animal species." - Illustrated Atlas of the World (Rand McNally).

"In two centuries of settlement,  [the Great Lakes] have also become the world's biggest sewer." The Globe and Mail (Caada).

In April 1986 an exploson and fire at a nuclear plant in Chernobyl, U.S.S. R., "was the most significant nuclear even . . . since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,"  emitting "as much long-term radiation into the world's air, topsol and water as all the nucleasr  tests and bombs ever exploded." - JAMA; The New  York Times.

In Minamata, Japan, a chemical plant discharged methylmercury int the bay.  Eating fish and shellfish contaminated wsith the discharge caused Minamata disease (MD) a "chronic neurologica disease. . . . To date [1985], 2578 people go throughout Japan have officially been verified to have MD." - Internation Journal fo Epidemology.

Next time: God's Kingdom Is Born! 

From the jw.org publications

God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Highlights of Jehovah's Trumpetlike Judgment Proclamations

 1. 1922 Cedar Point, Ohio:  A challenge to Chrisrtendom's leaders in religion, politics, and big business to justify their failure to bring peace, prosperity, and happiness.  Messiah's Kingdom is the panacea.

2. 1923 Los Angeles, California:  The public talk,  "All Nations Now Marching to Armageddon, but Millions Now Living Will Never Die," called on peace-loving "sheep to abandon the death-dealing sea of humanity.

3. 1924 Columbus, Ohio:  Ecclesiastes  indicted for self-exaltation and refusal to preach Messiah's Kingdom.  True Christias must preach God's vengeance  and comfort mourning humanity.

4. 1925 Indianapolis, Indiana:  A message of hope contrasting the spiritual darkness in Christendom with the bright Kingdom promise of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty, and eternal happiness. 

5. 1926 London, England: : A locustlike plaguing of Christendom and its clergy, eposing their rejection of God's Kingdom, and hailing the birth of that heavenly government. 

6. 1927 Toronto, Canada: An invitation, carried by armies of cavalry, calling on people to forsake "organized Christianity and give heart to allengience to Jehovah God and to his King and Kingdom.

7. 1928 Detroit, Michigan:  A declaration against Satan and for Jehovah, making plain that God's anointed King, enthroned in 1914, will destro Satan's organization and emancipate mankind.

Nex time:  Gods Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! Ruining the Earth

From the jw.org publications 

God's Sacred Secret -It's Glortious Climax! - Behold the Ark of His Covenant -Conclusion

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

Snce 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 pubicized.  A hard pounding "hail"  of divine judgmens has been unleased against Christendom and false religion in general. All of this should have caught peolple's attention.  Sadly, though, the majority - like the people of Jerusalem in Jesus' time - have failed to discern the fulfillment of these Revaltion signs.

The seven angels continue to sound their trumpets, signaling historic events here on 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 the 20 years from 1986 to 2005, they almost doubled the hours spent yearly in the ministrt-from 680,837,042 to 1,278, 235, 504. Truly "the sacrd secret of God according to the good news" is being made known "to the extremities of the inhabited earrth." - REVELATION 10:7; ROMANS 10:18.

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

Next time: God's Sacred Secret -It's Glorious Climax! - Highlights of Jehovah's Trumpetlike Judgment Proclamations

From the jw.org publications

God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Behold the Ark of the Covenant!

 Jehovah rules!  Through his Messianic Kingdom, he is exercising his sovereignty toward manind in a marvelous wat=y.  This is confirmed by what John sees next: "And the temple sactuary of God that is in heaven was opened, adn the ark of his covenant was seen in his  temple sanctuary.  And there occurred lightnings and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail." (Revelation 11:19) This is the only mention in Revelation and the ark of God's covenant.  The ark had been the visible symbol of Jehovah's presence with his people Israel.  In the tabernacle, and later in the temple built by Solomon, it was kept Most Holy.  But when Israel went into captivity in Babylon in 607 B.C.E., Jerusalem was desolated and the ark of the covenant  disappeared.  That  was when the representatives of the house of David ceased "to sit upon Jehovah's throne as king. " - 1 CHRONICLES 29:23.  

Now, after more than 2,600 years, the Ark is seen once more. But in John's vision this Ark  is not 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 followig chapters of Revelation will unveil these to us. 

In ancient earthly Jerusalem, the Ark was not seen by the Israelites in general, nor even by the priests serving in the temple, for it was within the Most Holy that was sreened 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 smbolic ark is visible not only to Jehovah's High Priest, Jesus Christ, but also to his underpriests, the 144,000 including John. 

Next time: God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Conclusio of Behold the Ark of the Covenant!

From the jw.org publications

God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorioius Climax! - Woe to the Ruinous Ones!

Note: This blog is just in case i cannot get one done tomorrow, because it is running slow. 

 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, hae been tormented  by the first two woes-resulting in 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 Judgment at Armageddon.  It is just as Daniel prohesied:  "And in the days of those kings [rulers who are 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 enternal joy to mankind. - DANIEL2:35, 44; ISAIAH 11:9; 60:13. 

The third woe is accompanied by and ongoing series of happy events that will procedd 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 the holy ones and to those fearing his name.'   That means a resurrection  from the dead!  For the anointed  holy ones who had 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 instantaneous resurrection.  Others too are to be rewarded, including God's slaves the prophets of ancient times ad all others of mankind who came 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 raised to life during Christ's Millennial Reign.  Since God's Messianic King has the keys of death and of Hades, his Kingdom rule opens the way for him to dispense everlasting lfie to all who reach out for that 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. 

Next time: God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Behold the Ark of His Covenant!

From the jw.org publications

God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Jehovah Takes Power

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

The ones that offers these thanks to Jehovah God are the 24 elders, symbolizing the anointed brothers of Christ in their heavenly positions.  From 1922 onward remnant on earth of these 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 witneses  who 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  all of these are that their Sovereign Lord has not delayed in bringing his sacred secret  to a climatic finish!  

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 be 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 those to ruining  the earth." (Revelation 11:18) From 1914 onward the nations of the world have fiercely expressed their wrath against one another, against God's Kingdom, and especially against Jehovah's two witnesses. - REVELATION 11:3.

Throughout history the nations have been running 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 and tremendous loss of productive land. Acid rain and radioactive  clouds have damage 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 the sea. At one time, the superpowers threatened  complete ruination by way of nuclear anihilation of all humankind.  Happily, Jehovah will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth"; he will executed judgment of those proud, godless humans who are responsible for earth's sorry state.  (Deuteronomy 32:5, 6; Psalm 14:1-3) Therefore, Jehovah arranges for the third woe, to bring these wrongdoers to account. - REVELATION 11:14.

Next time: God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Woe to the Ruinous Ones!

From the jw.org publications

 

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?  He stated:  "There will be  no delay any longer; but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel. when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves  the prophets 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 sacrd secret  if brought to a finish?  John  is truly overjoyed to inform us! He writes:  "And the seven angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices from heaven, saying 'The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.'" (Revelation 11:15)  Those angelic hosts have reason to speak loudly, even in thunderous tones!  For this historic announcement is of universal importance.  It is of vital  conern to all living creation. 

The sacrd secret comest to its happy climax!  Gloriously, magnificently, it is brought to a triumphant finish in 1914 when  the Lord Jehovah enthrones his Christ as associat 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 the Kingdom power in order  to being 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 fufill Jehovah's Word and vindicate his Father,  "the Kin god eternity," who must rule as Sovereign Lord "forever and ever." - 1 Timothy 11:15. 

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 agpo; you are from time indefinite." (Psalm 74:12;93:1, 2) In his wisdom, though, Jehovah has allowed other sovereignties to exist on earth.  Thus the issue raised in Eden as to whether man can govern himself without God has been  fully tested.  Man-rule has failed miserably.  True, indeed, are the words of God's prophet: "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthly man his way to 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 inhabieed erath 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 soverignty over the earrth in a new way, through his designated Messianic Kingdom. 

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

The triumph blast of the seventh angel was reflceted   in  highlights of the Bible Student's covention 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 of proofs "That God set his Anointed King upon his throne in 1914. "

Next time: God's Sacred Secret - It's Glorious Climax! - Jehovah Takes Power

From the jw.org publications

Reviving the Two Witnesses - Raise Again! -Conclusion

 But how did 'the rest [of Christendom]give glorly to the God of heaven'? Certainly not by abandoning their apostate religion and becomign servants of God.  Rather, it is as explained in Vicent'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 thanksgivign, but recognition, which is the usual sense in scripture.  Compare Josh. vii. 19 (Sept). John.ix/. 24: Acts xii. 23: Rom. iv. 20." To her chagrin, Christendom had to acknowledge that the God of 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 to themselves. Certainly, none of them went on record as publicly acknowleding the God of the two witnesses.  But Jehovah's prophecy through John helps us to discern wha twas in their hearts and realize the humiliating  shock that they experienced  in 1919.  From that year onward, as the "seven thousand" left Christendom despite  her efforts   to hold on to her sheep, the clergy were forced to recognize tha the 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 religonists 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 seh do when the third woe is announced,  the seventh ange;l blows his trumpet, and the sacred secret of God is finally finished? - REVELATION 10:7.

Next time: God's Sacred Secret - Its Glorious Climax!

From the  jw.org publicatins