Organization for Kingdom-Preaching and Disciple-Making (1972)
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Organization FOR KINGDOM-PREACHING AND DISCIPLE-MAKING
"This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations." "Go . . and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them . . . teaching them."—Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
PAGE
CHAPTER PAGE
1 The Work of Preaching and Disciple-making 3
2 The Organization That Jehovah Is Using 7
3 Your Relationship with God 13
4 Shepherds of the Flock of God 53
5 Meetings at Which to Be Taught by Jehovah 91
6 Your Service to God 107
7 Serving Jehovah Whole-souled 132
8 Financing the Work of Preaching and Disciple-making 148
9 Safeguarding the Cleanness of the Congregation 154
10 Endurance That Results in Divine Approval 182
COPYRIGHT, 1972 by WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA Publishers WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
THE WORK OF PREACHING AND DISCIPLE-MAKING
JEHOVAH has provided good news for mankind, and it is his will that people everywhere be given opportunity to hear it. Now, as the wicked system of things nears its finish, the time left in which to reach people of all nations with this good news is short. There is much to be done. It is a work for everyone who truly loves God and who loves his neighbor. Will you share in it?
Of course, service to God has always included such basic matters as clean living, loving care for the members of one's family, obedience to divine law and prayerful expressions of gratitude to our Creator. But at various times Jehovah has also given special assignments of work to his servants. Noah, for example, was instructed to build an ark and to be a "preacher of righteousness" at a time when the earth was filled with violence. Israel's prophets served as God's spokesmen, announcing both good news and messages of judgment. 2 Pet. 2:5; Gen. 6:13, 14; Jer. 1:7-10.
The special work assigned to Christians was begun at Jehovah's direction nineteen hundred years ago. It was a twofold work: first, that of proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom along with God's judgment messages to peoples of all nations, and, second, that of teaching all those people responding favorably to that proclamation, making disciples of them.
God gave a splendid start to that work, using his own Son to initiate it and to set the right pattern for others to follow. Jesus personally "set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom."
(Matt. 9:35) Those who became his disciples were given needed instruction and then were themselves sent into cities and villages. Matt.10:5-15; Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-16.
Though confining his own activity mainly to the nation of Israel, Jesus showed that the ministry of his followers would reach out "to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations," he said, "and then the end will come." (Matt. 24:14) Before returning to the heavenly courts of his Father, Jesus commanded his disciples: "Go . . . and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things." Matt. 28:19, 20.
Rightly, this work would be intensified in our time, down here at the "conclusion of the system of things." The Scriptures, together with all the evidence in fulfillment of prophecy since 1914 C.E., show that Jehovah has 'taken his great power and begun to rule as king.' He has done so by conferring upon his Son Jesus Christ active ruling authority over the nations. (Rev. 11:15-18; Dan. 7:13, 14) The 'hour of judgment' has arrived, and people of all nations are being separated, with either survival or destruction in the coming "great tribulation" in view. God's angels have a share invisibly in directing this global work of separation, with its visible activity of Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making. Yes, God's universal family in heaven and on earth works unitedly to accomplish this mammoth task in harmony with the Father's will.—Rev. 14:6, 7; Matt. 13:40, 41, 49; 25:31-46.
This work and the limited time remaining for its accomplishment place a test upon all persons. How much does the kingdom of God's Son mean to us? Will we zealously publicize it, or will we show indifference? Will we boldly advocate it, or will we be shamefully silent about it? What we do will not escape the King's notice. (Luke 9:26) Jehovah is allowing us to show what the Kingdom means to us, and our response is decisive as to what the future holds for us individually.
WHY EACH SHOULD SHARE
We should each want to have as large a share as possible in this special work. On the one hand we should view it as a sacred duty, an obligation, a requirement on which our very lives depend. In view of our Lord's command, we can say as did the apostle Paul: "Necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news!" (1 Cor. 9:16) We rightly are guided by the "fear of Jehovah" in this, for the Bible definitely links our making public expression of what is in our hearts with our gaining salvation. Ps. 111:10; Rom. 10:8-10.
But the real question is, What is in our hearts? For out of the heart's abundance the mouth is bound to speak. (Luke 6:45) Do we see clearly how Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making relate to the supreme issue that Satan the Devil raised over the rightness of Jehovah's universal sovereignty? Do we see how God's name and honor are involved and the part that our keeping integrity and being wholeheartedly obedient to him serve in the vindication and sanctification of his name? Do we love the name of God, not just the name "Jehovah" itself but all that the name stands for—his righteousness, his justice, his power, his wisdom, his patience, his mercy and, above all, his love? Then our hearts will move us to stand up on behalf of this 'incomparable God' as Jehovah's Christian witnesses, not covering over his righteousness in our hearts nor hiding his lovingkindness and trueness from others.
Compare Psalm 40:5-10.
From our study of the Bible we have come to appreciate what God's kingdom really is—not an expression of God's power simply to display God's almightiness, but his provision for correcting injustices and removing all oppression. It will restore peace and unity in all God's universal family under his own Sovereign Headship, to the everlasting blessing of all who willingly submit to his Son's administration of matters and his carrying out of his Father's purposes. What righteous-hearted person would not be thrilled to share such good news with others? Isa. 11:1-5,9; Eph. 1:9,10.
Jehovah has been long-suffering and patient in allowing this time before the "great tribulation" in order that the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work can be carried out. He "does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." So, too, mercy and love for our neighbor should move us to do all we can to aid others to become reconciled to God before he expresses his anger by destroying the wicked. (2 Pet. 3:8-10, 15; 2 Cor. 5:20; 6:1, 2) But "how will they call on him in whom they have not put faith? How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach?" (Rom. 10:14) By responding to that need for preachers, making the life-giving message available to the greatest number possible, we can show that we are like our heavenly Father.—Eph. 4:32-5:2.
Feeling keenly the urgency of the times, we will proclaim Jehovah's "year of goodwill," urging persons to 'search for Jehovah while he may be found,' saying in effect: "Why should you die .. cause a turning back and keep living." (Isa.
61:2; 55:6, 7; Ezek. 18:31, 32) By so doing we shall be free of bloodguilt before God and shall have the great joy of helping many persons to gain life in Jehovah's righteous new order, all to his praise and honor through his Son and our King, Jesus Christ.—Acts 18:6.
CHAPTER 2
THE ORGANIZATION THAT JEHOVAH IS USING
EVEN before Jesus returned to heaven he made it plain how this work of preaching and disciple-making was going to be accomplished world wide. He told his disciples: "You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The work of witnessing was not going to be done in their own strength. Both the direction and the power to carry the work to its completion would come from Jehovah God through his Son.
It is noteworthy that when the holy spirit was poured out upon Jesus' disciples at Jerusalem at the time of the festival of Pentecost of 33 C.E. "they were all together at the same place." (Acts 2:1-4) And thereafter, as the preaching of the good news spread out to other lands, congregations of believers were formed. These congregations did not operate independently, each one setting up its own standards. There was a 'oneness of spirit' among them and a loving concern for believers in other places. (Eph. 4:3-6; Rom. 15:26; 16:16; Phil. 4:21, 22) They worked in close association with one another. Appropriately the apostle Peter could refer to the faithful followers of God's Son as "the entire association of your brothers in the world."—1 Pet. 5:9.
This "association of your brothers" belonged to God. They are spoken of at Acts 20:28 as "the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son." As they carried on their activity they were called on to give evidence of their appreciation of this relationship. Whom did they obey? They had been taught by Jesus to preach about "the kingdom of the heavens," but did they really look to God in heaven for direction? (Matt. 10:7) Called up before the Jewish high court and ordered to stop preaching on the basis of the name of Jesus, the apostles made their position clear when they said: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:29) Fittingly, in prayer they addressed Jehovah as their "Sovereign Lord." (Acts 4:24) The attitude of true Christians has not changed since then. Jehovah's Christian witnesses in these "last days" continue to look to Jehovah as their Supreme Ruler. They recognize that the Bible is his inspired Word and they conform their activity to what it says.—2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
The Scriptures show that no man is the head of the organization that Jehovah is using to accomplish the work of Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making. And those associated with that organization are not to look to any human as their leader. (Matt. 23:10) They recognize Jesus Christ as the Head of the congregation. He is such, not because they selected him for that position, but because God himself appointed his Son to that office. (John 15:16) As the apostle Paul explains: 'He also subjected all things under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, which is his body.'-Eph. 1:22, 23.
"THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE"
That congregation has been brought together for a purpose. And what is that purpose? It was readily apparent to observers in Jerusalem at the time of the formation of the Christian congregation.
The observers said: "We hear them speaking . . . about the magnificent things of God." (Acts 2:11) To these Christian speakers as the spiritual "Israel of God" the words applied: "'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even my servant whom I have chosen.''" (Isa. 43:10; Gal. 6:16) They were Jehovah's Christian witnesses. Collectively these witnesses are called God's "servant." Thus it is evident that they are the ones referred to by Jesus when he asked: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?" (Matt. 24:45) From the time of the outpouring of the holy spirit after Jesus' return to heaven, that "servant" or "slave" class, also called "the faithful steward," proceeded to care for its appointed responsibility. (Luke 12:42-44) Spiritual "food at the proper time" was provided under the direction of the Master, Jesus Christ. Of course, not all members of the "slave" class wrote counsel to the congregations, and not all gave admonition in public discourses. (1 Tim. 2:12) But all did contribute in various ways to the spiritual upbuilding of the "domestics," the individual members of the congregation.—Eph. 4:16.
The total number of those making up the membership of the "body"' of Christ, the spirit-begotten congregation, is stated to be 144,000 persons. These, when resurrected to the heavens, are to reign with Christ as kings and priests. (Rev. 7:4-8; 14:1-5; 20:4,6) Evidences show we are in the time of the "harvest," the conclusion of the present system of things. The remaining ones of this number on earth today are therefore few. (Matt. 13:37-43) They are the nucleus around which a much larger number of honest-hearted persons have gathered. These latter ones are called by Jesus his "other sheep."
(John 10:16) The Bible also designates them as a "great crowd," having the hope of everlasting life on earth as subjects of the Kingdom.—Rev.7:9-17.
The remaining ones of Christ's spirit-anoointed body members on earth constitute the "faithful and discreet slave" of today, and it is this class, as foretold at Matthew 24:47, that the Lord Jesus has appointed "over all his belongings" here on earth. So it is vital to work in close association with this "slave" class and to respond in a positive way to the counsel that you receive through it.
From among the members of that "faithful and discreet slave" class certain ones serve as a visible governing body. In the first century of our Common Era that visible governing body was made up of the apostles and other "older men" in the Jerusalem congregation. (Acts 15:2,6,23) When they were called on to make decisions affecting the lives and activity of God's people, they considered carefully what the Scriptures said about the matter, looked to God for the direction of his spirit, and then gave appropriate counsel. They also appointed men to responsible positions. (Acts 6:1-6) And they sent out members of the governing body and others on special assignments. (Acts 8:14,15; 11:22; 15:22) Response to such oversight provided by the Master Jesus Christ through this visible agency resulted in continued increase, with God's blessing.—Acts 16:1-5; 1 Cor. 3:6,7.
In order to carry out the work of preaching and disciple-making most effectively under modernday conditions, the "faithful and discreet slave" has organized various legal corporations, the principal one of which is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. This Society, made up of dedicated, baptized Christians, is nonprofit and is completely devoted to advancing the interests of true worship in the earth.
To facilitate its work world wide, the Society also has branch offices in various countries. All of these are subject to the "faithful and discreet slave" class and its governing body.
Throughout the territory supervised by the various branch offices of the Watch Tower Society are congregations of Jehovah's Christian witnesses. These are all organized in harmony with the arrangements set out in the Scriptures. These congregations have appointed elders, at present some of the anointed and some of the "other sheep," but all spiritually qualified men, who serve as overseers and spiritual shepherds of the flock of God entrusted to their care. (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5) None of these elders is looked to as the head of the congregation; that is the position to which God has appointed Jesus Christ. Rather, the elders as a body work together to care for the flock under the direction of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (1 Tim. 4:14; John 10:11) They well know that the flock is not theirs but God's, and they recognize their accountability to Jehovah. The result is a unified organization, one that upbuilds and refreshes its members and that serves for the accomplishment of the work that God has given it to perform.
RECOGNIZING GOD'S ARRANGEMENT
If you desire to serve Jehovah and to share in the work that he gives his people to do today, you need to associate with those whom God approves. Are you convinced that Jehovah is using an earthly organization of disciples of Jesus Christ, that the Christian congregation of anointed ones is indeed the appointed "slave" that has been entrusted with all the earthly interests of the Master Jesus Christ?
From your study of the Bible, you have come to know that, in order to please God, persons must imitate God's people ('my people') and 'get out of Babylon the Great,' the world empire of false religion. (Rev. 18:4) Honest-hearted persons also must follow the counsel written to the congregation of anointed Christians that says: "Get out from among them, and separate yourselves ... and I will take you in." (2 Cor. 6:17) And where is he going to take them? Into association with "the congregation of the living God," which is referred to at 1 Timothy 3:15 as "a pillar and support of the truth." Those who make up this congregation of anointed Christians are also said to be a 'people for God's name,' and, as we have already noted from the Scriptures, they look to Christ as their heavenly Head.—Acts 15:14.
Which organization fits this description? Well, who are the people that hold firmly to the Bible, drawing all their beliefs from its pages and using it as their guide in all affairs of life? Who have truly proved themselves to be the 'people for God's name,' treating his name Jehovah with respect and making it known around the globe? Who really show their subjection to Jesus Christ as Head by doing the things that he commanded: preaching the good news of the Kingdom, making disciples of people of all nations, and loving one another as he loved them? (John 13:34, 35) You know the answer. It is the "faithful and discreet slave" class of anointed Christians, to whom the "great crowd" of "other sheep" are now being gathered by the "fine shepherd" Jesus Christ. John 10:16.
So, if it is your sincere desire to serve our loving God and Father, Jehovah, you will want to show appreciation for the "faithful and discreet slave" class that he is using and work wholeheartedly under its direction.
CHAPTER 3
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
BY BIRTH we are creatures that have descended from Adam and Eve, who were created by Jehovah God through his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. What life we now have, even though accompanied by imperfection, we owe to God the Creator, the Universal Life-giver. God does not owe us a single thing. We do not have the right to demand from him a single thing. All the good things that we now possess we owe to him, and many or most of these things he has bestowed upon us without his first asking us to accept them. Other things, although God offers them to us out of his own generosity and mercy, it remains for us to accept or refuse. One of these things that we are allowed to accept or refuse is relationship with Him as God and Father. This is because we were not born into God's universal family of recognized children.
None of us can assume relationship as something that belongs to us by right in view of our being creatures for whose existence God is responsible. Relationship with Him calls for certain qualifications on our part. God does not force relationship with Himself upon us. He offers to us the opportunity to enter into recognized rela tionship with him, according to his own philanthropy or love of mankind. It is plainly stated: "When the kindness and the love for man on the part of our Savior, God, was manifested, owing to no works in righteousness that we had performed, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit. This spirit he poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, that, after being declared righteous by virtue of the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life."
(Titus 3:4-7, Int) * Thus God took the initial steps in opening the way for mankind to return to relationship with Him.
In order to avail itself of this divine provision for the restoration of mankind to relationship with God, mankind has to come to a knowledge of this provision. Knowing this, Jehovah God lovingly sends forth the knowledge by means of his approved proclaimers of the good news. "This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—this is what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times." 1 Tim. 2:3-6.
What is the first step to be taken by one who comes to a knowledge of God's provision and thereby receives an invitation to take advantage of it? It is the step of repentance over one's sins. The apostle Paul mentioned this initial step. When speaking to pagan Greeks in their heathenish ignorance, he said: "True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance, yet now he is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent. Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead." (Acts 17:30, 31) Since that inspired statement, God has continued to exercise patience in permitting wickedness among mankind. The apostle Peter tells us God's reason for such unusual patience, saying: "Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance."—2 Pet. 3:9.
At the end of the "seventy weeks" of years as foretold by Daniel the prophet, Jehovah God in his mercy opened the way for the non-Jews or Gentiles to enter into relationship with him as Christians. (Dan. 9:24-27) Jehovah was the One who sent the apostle Peter to the home of the Gentile Cornelius at Caesarea to preach the good news to him and to those gathered in the home. There, by the outpouring of his holy spirit, Jehovah gave evidence of his acceptance of believing Gentiles into relationship with himself. (Acts 10:1-48) It is evident that those believing Gentiles who received the holy spirit and got baptized in water had repented of their sins. That the Christianized Jews were surprised at the fact that Jehovah took the initiative and cleared the way for the uncircumcised Gentiles to receive the message of salvation and act upon it is indicated by the record. We read concerning what happened after the apostle Peter reported to his Christian brothers in Judea who were in a questioning attitude: "Now when they heard these things, they acquiesced, and they glorified God, saying: 'Well, then, God has granted repentance for the purpose of life to people of the nations also.'"—Acts 11:1-18.
Of course, those repentant Gentiles had to turn around in their course or be converted just as the believing Jews had been obliged to do. Prior to the end of the seventieth week of years, the apostle Peter had declared to natural circumcised Jews at the temple in Jerusalem: "In this way God has fulfilled the things he announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the person of Jehovah." (Acts 3:18, 19) After the end of the seventieth week of years in 36 C.E.
the turning around or conversion of many Gentiles who heard the good news took place. The apostle Paul was largely used in this regard. We read, concerning the time that the congregation at Antioch of Syria sent Paul and Barnabas up to Jerusalem to get a decision on the question of circumcising believing Gentiles: "Accordingly, after being conducted part way by the congregation, these men continued on their way through both Phoenicia and Samaria, relating in detail the conversion of people of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brothers."—Acts 15:3.
As in the case of the Jews, the repentance of the Gentiles was toward Jehovah God. As Paul said: "I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus." (Acts 20:20, 21) The repentance is toward God, and likewise the conversion or turning around is to God. "Turn around and I should heal them." (John 12:40; Acts 28:27; Isa. 6:9, 10) It is therefore apparent that repentance and conversion are necessary steps that a person who accepts the message of salvation must take toward entering into relationship with Jehovah God. But now a definite action must take place. What?
On the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. the apostle Peter said to thousands of inquiring Jews: "Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." (Acts 2:38) In the preceding year Jesus Christ had told other inquiring Jews: "This is the work of God, that you exercise faith in him whom that One sent forth." (John 6:29) So the repentant, converted one needs to make a definite acceptance of Jesus as Jehovah's Messiah in order to do the "work of God."
He must do this before he can be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. What this accepting of Jesus Christ as one's Leader means, he himself told his apostles, saying: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me." (Matt. 16:24) When anyone disowns himself, he discontinues claiming possession of himself. He renounces his claim upon himself in favor of someone else.
Whom does the prospective follower of Christ choose to be his owner and thenceforth confess, acknowledge and adhere to as his sole owner? It is Jehovah God, the heavenly Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. By thus disowning oneself in order to become a disciple and follower of the Son of God one hands oneself over to Jehovah God. One commits the ownership of oneself to Jehovah God. This, since the end of the seventy weeks of years in 36 C.E., is what we today call "dedication." One makes this dedication of oneself to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ, for it is through Jesus Christ that God takes over ownership of the dedicating one. Hence it is said to Christians in relationship with God: "You do not belong to yourselves, for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of you people." (1 Cor. 6:19, 20) That is why Christian overseers are commanded "to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son."—Acts 20:28.
Only after a believer had made such a dedication of himself to Jehovah God and taken up the discipleship of Jesus Christ is the believer qualified to get baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son" as well as of the holy spirit. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 19:5) Thus water baptism is a symbol of this dedication of oneself to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ, preceded by repentance and conversion.
By pursuing this course, the dedicated baptized believer comes into possession of a "good conscience" toward God. (1 Pet. 3:21) Such a one who has thus symbolized his disowning of himself now becomes a slave owned by God and a disciple of His Christ. He must continue to obey the command, of Romans 6:13: "Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your members to God as weapons of righteousness." Moffatt's Bible translation here uses the words "dedicate yourselves" instead of "present yourselves."
FOR THOSE CONSIDERING BAPTISM
If you have dedicated your life to the doing of Jehovah's will and are now contemplating baptism, you will be greatly aided by reading recent publications of the Watch Tower Society in addition to the book that you are currently studying. The elders of the congregation with which you are associated will gladly make recommendations to you of material that will be most helpful.
Before each assembly of Jehovah's Christian witnesses, the presiding overseer of the congregation will ascertain whether any associating with the congregation have dedicated their lives to Jehovah and now need to get baptized. He will arrange for meetings to be held with these candidates for immersion so that he probably with the assistance of others of the local body of elders, can review with them the eighty questions presented in this chapter. The purpose of this is to help them to be sure that they really understand what the step of dedication and baptism means and includes. This also gives the congregation the assurance and confidence that those getting baptized truly understand what it means to be one of Jehovah's Christian witnesses and that they meet the Scriptural requirements.
If you are arranging to be immersed, get your affairs in order so as to be able to attend all these preliminary meetings for baptismal candidates. Review beforehand the questions provided, with their accompanying texts, looking up all scriptures cited but not quoted. Think about each question and the way the Scriptural information affects your life.
The material outlined on pages 19 to 52 may be divided among three or more sessions, as the presiding overseer, the chairman of the body of elders, considers best. Usually he will conduct one or more of the sessions, with others of the elders conducting the remaining ones. These meetings provide a fine opportunity for some of the body of elders to become acquainted with you, and you with them. They will be glad to help you with any points you do not fully understand, so feel free to ask them questions.
Review, now, the basic teachings of the Bible that follow, one at a time, and also try to express in your own words what these scriptures mean to you.
Who is the true God?
The Bible answers: "You, whose name is Jehovah you alone are the Most High over all the earth." (Ps. 83:18) "Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29) "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:24) [Consider how this differs from local popular beliefs, whether of Christendom or of other religions.]
\textcircled{2} What kind of God is Jehovah?
"God is love." (1 John 4:8) "The Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he." (Deut. 32:4) "O the depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are!" (Rom. 11:33) "O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Here you yourself have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. The whole matter is not too wonderful for you yourself." (Jer. 32:17) "No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him." (John 1:18) "Jehovah went passing by before his face and declaring: 'Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin, but by no means will he give exemption from punishment.'" (Ex. 34:6, 7) ORGANIZATION FOR KINGDOM-PREACHING, DISCIPLE-MAKING
"Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9) "Before the mountains themselves were born, or you proceeded to bring forth as with labor pains the earth and the productive land, even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God." (Ps. 90:2)
What does it mean to know God?
"You have been shown, so as to know that Jehovah is the true God; there is no other besides him." (Deut. 4:35) "If, please, I have found favor in your eyes, make me know, please, your ways, that I may know you." (Ex. 33:13) "Those knowing your name will trust in you." (Ps. 9:10) (Compare 1 John 2:3-6.)
What does the Bible mean when it says that Jehovah requires our exclusive devotion?
"Jesus said to him: 'It is written, "It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service."' (Luke 4:8) "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion." (Ex. 20:4, 5)
How will Jehovah God sanctify his name? How can we have a share in it?
"I will bring myself into judgment with him, with pestilence and with blood; . . . And I shall certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah." (Ezek. 38:22, 23) "You must pray, then, this way: 'Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.'" (Matt. 6:9) "Jehovah of armies—he is the One whom you should treat as holy." (Isa. 8:13) "I have glorified you on the earth ... I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world." (John 17:4, 6) "Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, that, in the thing in which they are speaking against you as evil-doers, they may as a result of your fine works of which
they are eyewitnesses glorify God in the day for his inspection."
(1 Pet 2:12) [Consider how one's conduct reflects on Jehovah's name.]
Who is Jesus Christ, and what is his position in relation to Jehovah God?
"Peter said: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'" (Matt. 16:16) "I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am." (John 14:28) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all other things and by means of him all other things were made to exist." (Col. 1:15-17) "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. 2:5) "Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave's form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake. For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:5-11)
Why did Jesus die a sacrificial death?
"The Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many." (Matt. 20:28) "We behold Jesus, who has been made a little lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God's undeserved kindness might taste death for every man. . . that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil; and that he might emancipate all those who for
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fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives." (Heb. 2:9,14,15) "He beheld Jesus coming toward him, and he said: 'See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)
How is the ransom an expression of God's love for mankind?
"God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) "By this the love of God was made manifest in our case, because God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9, 10) "God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
How does the ransom affect us as individuals?
"By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness." (Eph. 1:7) "My little children, I am writing you these things that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world's." (1 John 2:1, 2) "The love the Christ has compels us . . . he died for all that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them." (2 Cor. 5:14, 15) "He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." (John 3:36)
What is the holy spirit?
"God's active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters." (Gen. 1:2) "You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) "They all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just
as the spirit was granting them to make utterance."
(Acts 2:4)
How can we benefit from the operation of that spirit today?
"If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!" (Luke 11:13) "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16; see also 2 Peter 1:21.) "Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son." (Acts 20:28)
12 Whose ideas are recorded in the Bible? Does that mean that God personally spoke or wrote it all? Is all of it true?
"All Scripture is inspired of God." (2 Tim. 3:16) "That is why we also thank God incessantly, because when you received God's word, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God, which is also at work in you believers." (1 Thess. 2:13) "You know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit." (2 Pet. 1:20, 21) "Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)
Why should we pray, to whom, and how often?
"The end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers." (1 Pet. 4:7) "He went on to tell them always to pray and not to give up." (Luke 18:1) "Pray for one another ... A righteous man's supplication, when it is at work, has much force." (Jas. 5:16) "If you ask the Father for anything he will give it to you in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full." (John 16:23, 24) "To my sayings do give ear, O Jehovah; do understand my sighing. Do pay attention to the sound of my cry for help, O my King and my God, because to you I pray." (Ps. 5:1, 2)
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"Pray incessantly." (1 Thess. 5:17) "Persevere in prayer." (Rom. 12:12)
About what is it proper to pray?
"No matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14) "Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God." (Phil. 4:6) "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks always for all things to our God and Father." (Eph. 5:20) "You must pray, then, this way: 'Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. Give us today our bread for this day; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.'" (Matt. 6:9-13)
What is the kingdom of God?
"With the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin." (Dan. 7:13, 14) "Jesus answered: My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.'" (John 18:36) "They sing a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.'" (Rev. 5:9, 10)
What does it mean to 'seek first the kingdom'?
"Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves
break in and steal.
Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. . . No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches. . . So never be anxious and say, 'What are we to eat?' or, 'What are we to drink?' or, 'What are we to put on?' For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you." (Matt. 6:19-33) "So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such contrary talk by sinners against their own interests, that you may not get tired and give out in your souls." (Heb. 12:1-3) "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matt. 24:14)
7/ When Christ returns, is it visibly as a man, or how?
"When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne." (Matt. 25:31) "Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, that he might lead you to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit." (1 Pet. 3:18) "In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going my way to prepare a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also may be. A little longer and the world will behold me no more, but you will behold me, because I live and you will live." (John 14:2, 3, 19)
How can people know when his second presence occurs? Read in the Bible the entire chapters of Matthew 24, 25; Mark 13; Luke 21; Daniel 4; Revelation 6.
What is God's purpose for the earth?
"God blessed them and God said to them: 'Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.' " (Gen. 1:28) "He has founded the earth upon its established places; it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever." (Ps. 104:5) "As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men." (Ps. 115:16) "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." (Matt. 6:10)
How will this purpose be realized?
"In the days of those kings 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." (Dan. 2:44) "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. 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 to ruin those ruining the earth." (Rev. 11:17, 18)
21 What conditions will prevail on earth in God's new system of things?
"There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell." (2 Pet. 3:13) "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: 'Look! The tent of God is with
mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples.
And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.'" (Rev. 21:1-4) "There must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful. And upon him the spirit of Jehovah must
settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah; and there will be enjoyment by him in the fear of Jehovah. And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. And the wolf will ac-
tually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the
death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. And the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken it." (Isa. 25:8) "The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us." (Ps. 67:6) "Come, you people, behold the activities of Jehovah, how he has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth." (Ps. 46:8,9)
Who is the Devil? What is his origin?
"Now the serpent proved to be the most cautious of all the wild beasts of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it began to say to the woman: 'Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?' At this the woman said to the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat. But as for eating of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, "You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it that you do not die."' At this the serpent said to the woman: 'You positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.'" (Gen. 3:1-5) "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." (Rev. 12:9) "Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil; because we have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but ... against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:11, 12)
Against what spiritistic practices employed by the Devil and his demons does the Bible warn us?
"There should not be found in you anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead." (Deut. 18:10, 11) "As we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction." (Acts 16:16) [List practices that are prevalent in your locality.]
How can we protect ourselves against the influence of these wicked spirits?
"Subject yourselves, therefore, to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you." (Jas. 4:7) "Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil ...
On this account take up the complete suit of armor from God, that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and, after you have done all things thoroughly, to stand firm.
Stand firm, therefore, with your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and with your feet shod with the equipment of the good news of peace. Above all things, take up the large shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the wicked one's burning missiles. Also, accept the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, that is, God's word, while with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit." (Eph. 6:11-18)
Why has God permitted wickedness to continue until now?
"What shall we say, then? Is there injustice with God? Never may that become so! For he says to Moses: 'I will have mercy upon whomever I do have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I do show compassion.' So, then, it depends, not upon the one wish ing nor upon the one running, but upon God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'For this very cause I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may show my power, and that my name may be declared in all the earth.' So, then, upon whom he wishes he has mercy, but whom he wishes he lets become obstinate. . . . God, although having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction, in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory." (Rom. 9:14-23; see also Job 1:9-12; 2:4-6.) "Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given him also wrote you."
(2 Pet. 3:9, 15)
By what means will God destroy the wicked?
"The ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will
completely burn her with fire.
For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought." (Rev. 17:16, 17) "In one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong." (Rev. 18:8) "I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur. But the rest were killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth. And all the birds were filled from the fleshy parts of them." (Rev. 19:11, 15, 19-21) "I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while. Now as soon as the thousand years have been ended, Satan will be let loose out of his prison, and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea. And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were." (Rev. 20:1-3, 7, 8, 10)
What is the human soul? Can it die?
"Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul."
(Gen. 2:7; see also 1 Corinthians 15:45.) "Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die." (Ezek. 18:4, 20) "Indeed, any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:23)
What is sin, and how did we all become sinners?
"Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, and so sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4) "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) "Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned." (Rom. 5:12) "If we make the statement: 'We have no sin,' we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us.' (1 John 1:8) "There is no man that does not sin." (1 Ki. 8:46)
What should be our attitude toward committing sins?
"Do not let sin continue to rule as king in your mortal bodies that you should obey their desires. Neither go on presenting your members to sin as weapons of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your members to God as weapons of righteousness. For sin must not be master over you, seeing that you are not under law but under undeserved kindness." (Rom. 6:12-14)
Do only those who have committed gross sins or flagrant violations of God's Word need to repent?
"God . . . is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent." (Acts 17:30) "Do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God." (Jas. 4:4) "The chief priests and the older men of the people came up to him while he was teaching ... Jesus said to them: Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the harlots are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God. For John came to you in a way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. However, the tax collectors and the harlots believed him, and you, although you saw this, did not feel regret afterwards so as to be-
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lieve him.'" (Matt. 21:23, 31, 32) "I went bringing the message that they should repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance." (Acts 26:20)
What is death?
"He said to them: 'Lazarus our friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep.' Therefore the disciples said to him: 'Lord, if he has gone to rest, he will get well.' Jesus had spoken, however, about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: 'Lazarus has died.' " (John 11:11-14) "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going." (Eccl. 9:5, 10) "In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Gen. 3:19)
Why do people die?
"The wages sin pays is death." (Rom. 6:23) "In Adam all are dying." (1 Cor. 15:22)
What future hope for life is there for one who dies?
"I have hope toward God, which hope these men themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15) "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." (John 5:28, 29) "The sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds." (Rev. 20:13)
How many from among mankind will be in heaven with Christ?
"I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four
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