True peace and security - How can you find it (1986)
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True Peace and Security
How Can You Find It?
True Peace and Security
How Can You Find It?
People everywhere want true peace and security. They long for relief from the many problems that press in on them. Is there a lasting solution to these problems? This book is published with the conviction that there is, and that soon true peace and security will be a reality earth wide. It is our sincere desire that by reading it you will gain a solid hope and heartwarming assurance about what the future holds for all who love righteousness.
The Publishers
Copyright © 1986
by
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Publishers
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
OF NEW YORK, INC.
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Revised in 1986
This Book Is Published in 68 Languages
Total Books Printed of All Editions
37,000,000 Copies
True Peace and Security—How Can You Find It?
English (tp-E)
Made in the United States of America CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
1 True Peace and Security Near! 5
2 Can Men Bring Lasting Peace and Security? 10
3 Are the World's Religions Giving the Right Lead? 22
4 World Destruction First—Then World Peace 34
5 An Issue That Involves You 43
6 What Has God Been Doing? 55
7 When Will the Foretold World Destruction Come? 69
8 Who Will the Survivors Be? 86
9 Peace and Security Earth Wide—A Reliable Hope 94
10 Are You Willing to Face the Truth in Your Life? 108
11 Survivors Must Be "No Part of the World" 117
12 Respect for Authority
Essential for Peaceful Living 129
13 Your View of Sex
—What Difference Does It Make? 142
14 Respect for the Gift of Life 152
15 Why Care About Other People? 163
16 The Choice Assuring Life
in True Peace and Security 175
References 187
The scriptures referred to in this book may be found in any translation of the Bible. However, unless otherwise indicated, direct quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 1984 edition (NW). Below are the abbreviations of names of other Bible versions quoted:
NE - The New English Bible (1970).
Ro - The Emphasised Bible (1897). Joseph B. Rotherham.
True Peace and Security Near!
SURELY you, like most persons, long for peace and security. People everywhere are tired of crime, violence, war, and the threatening nuclear nightmare. Too, many do not have decent jobs, adequate housing, or enough food. What a joy it would be if such problems could be solved and this earth would become a pleasant, secure home for its inhabitants!
2 Surprisingly, there is sound reason to believe that the longed-for relief is at hand, that peace and security earth wide is nearing reality! But who will bring this about? Will the nations of this world set aside their differences in order to accomplish it?
3An interesting Bible prophecy stated that the time would come when world leaders would actually proclaim "peace and security!"** In fact, when the United Nations declared 1986 an "International Year of Peace" it asked that organizations everywhere make a special effort from that year on to promote the goal of "peace, international security and cooperation." 1 TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
4 But would this be a true "peace and security"? Would it reach into your neighborhood and into your home and deal with the problems that affect you personally? Would it solve the problems of increasing crime and drug addiction, rising food costs, heavy taxation, spreading pollution, and the steady decay of family ties? As long as any of those situations continue, they threaten your personal peace and security.
5 True, men hope that they can overcome these difficulties. They say that, freed from the crushing financial burdens of war, they could redirect all that wealth, research, and manpower into solving such problems.
6 Do you really believe that? Is there any solid evidence to show that humans can ever bring lasting solutions? What does history show? Indeed, what does your own experience in life tell you?
'But if men do not have the solutions, what remains?' you may ask. Well, there is undeniable evidence that the earth and living things on it reflect intelligent design. (Hebrews 3:4) Is it possible that the One behind this design enters the picture? Will he take a hand in human affairs? Only the Bible offers answers to these questions.
8 In view of what is at stake, then, would it not be worth your while to consider what the Bible says on this matter?
You may be aware that it is the most widely translated and circulated book on earth. In its entirety or in part, billions of copies have been distributed in over 1,800 languages. 2 But did you know that this ancient book comes to grips with the matters of greatest concern to us in this 20th century?
9 Many know that the Bible foretells an 'end of the world.' But few know what it says as to when that will come, or what life on earth will be like afterward. (Matthew 24:21, 22; 2 Peter 3:11-13) They may even pray the Lord's Prayer, where they ask for 'God's kingdom to come.' (Matthew 6:9, 10) But few realize that God's Kingdom is a real government that will replace all present political systems. As the prophet Daniel stated: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. . . . It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite."
Daniel 2:44.
10 Interestingly, the Bible's prophecy about "peace and security" noted earlier includes these features: "Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security! then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.' (1 Thessalonians 5:3) So whatever peace and security human leaders proclaim will evidently be of very short duration. For the prophecies indicate that immediately thereafter all human rulerships will be crushed out of existence, to be replaced by one government for all the earth—God's Kingdom.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
11 Moreover, the Bible reveals many differences between the peace and security that God's Kingdom will bring and what human leaders promise. Today men speak in terms of reducing arms by treaties. The Bible, by contrast, declares that soon God will bring a complete end to all armaments and will remove the basic causes of war. (Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:2-4) And the security that God promises is not just from war between nations. It is from enemies of every kind, so that no one will ever again be in fear—day or night. (Micah 4:3, 4) Too, men are now concerned with bringing crime under control, but God's declared purpose is to root out even the attitudes and conditions that lead to crime. —Psalm 37:8-11; Galatians 5:19-21.
12 The nations also pride themselves in progress in medical research and improved care of the sick and aged. But the Bible explains how God's government will bring about full and lasting health, even overcoming aging and death! (Revelation 21:3, 4) In addition, under God's Kingdom a person's work will be truly meaningful, bringing real satisfaction. For how happy can you be if your work is frustrating or does not bring a true sense of accomplishment?—Isaiah 65:21-23; Romans 8:19-21.
13 Which do you believe offers the kind of peace and security that will improve every part of your life—the promises of humans, or God's promises as implemented by his Kingdom government? By going along with
what the world in general has to offer, have you found what you really want in life? What if you let yourself be carried along with what may currently be popular, but then realize that you have been taken in by misleading promises, leaving you without genuine peace and security? On the other hand, can you be confident that what the Bible promises is believable, practical, and realistic? Surely, the answers to such questions deserve thoughtful examination.
Can Men Bring Lasting Peace and Security?
FOR HOPE to have any meaning, it must be founded on reality, on truth. False hopes only blind people to reality. Therefore, we need to ask: Do we appreciate just how big the problems are that must be solved to bring genuine peace and security? Do we realize how urgent the situation has become? Is there any evidence that human solutions would be equal to the immensity of the task?
2 For thousands of years men have sought lasting peace and security, without success. But now the situation is most urgent because of the threat of nuclear war. A Canadian report warned: "There's no such thing as a winnable nuclear war because its aftermath would be so appalling that the survivors would envy the dead."3 Showing why, astronomer Carl Sagan stated: "There are now more than 50,000 nuclear weapons, . . . enough to obliterate a million Hiroshimas." He added: "There is little question that our global civilization would be destroyed."4
3 In addition, other threats imperil life on earth. One is the worldwide pollution of land, air, and water.
Another is the population explosion with its associated hunger, disease, and unrest.
4 Regarding the various threats mankind now faces, a peace institute in Norway said: "Today's international situation is characterized by a profound crisis pervading almost all spheres of human activity: economic and social, political and military, spiritual and moral." It added: "Violence is on the increase and the use of force as an instrument of policy and diplomacy has become widespread. . . . The balance between peace and war is becoming ever more precarious." Where is this leading? The secretary-general of the UN warned: "We are perilously near to a new international anarchy."
A Warless World by Men's Efforts?
5 Is there any reason to believe that men can bring an end to war? Historically, there have been only a few scattered years when this earth was totally free from war. In this 20th century alone, about 100 million people have been killed in war! Neither yesterday's League of Nations nor today's United Nations has been able to stop this slaughter.
But will not the fear of destruction from nuclear weapons change this? Was not sufficient fear of nuclear weapons aroused back in 1945 when atom bombs annihilated two Japanese cities? Well, since then stockpiles of vastly more powerful nuclear weapons have grown a thousandfold. And just since 1945 an estimatTRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
ed 35,000,000 people have been killed in wars and rebellions involving more than 100 countries. In one recent year 45 nations were involved in conflicts! 7 No, fear of nuclear weapons has not stopped war.
7 Granted, nations do and probably will continue to sign disarmament pacts or peace treaties. Over the centuries literally thousands of these have been signed. Yet, whenever war sentiment became strong enough, those treaties became worthless scraps of paper. The United Nations also has failed to stop war, because although nearly all countries today are part of the UN, they ignore it at will. So is it realistic to hope that future world leaders will keep their word any more than those of the past?
8 On the other hand, the Bible's position is in harmony with the lessons of history. It does not recommend putting our hope in human efforts to bring peace. On the contrary, it foretold long ago that human efforts would never bring lasting peace. It forewarned that just before the end of this system of things, wars and disorders would escalate worldwide, with "nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Luke 21:9, 10, 31; Revelation 6:1-4) World events since 1914 have fulfilled those prophecies. So rather than arousing false hopes, the Bible truthfully declares: "To earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." —Jeremiah 10:23.
Throughout history humans have been staggering blindly from one calamity to another—war, rising crime, pollution, poverty, and many others. As the Bible truthfully states: "It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step" TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
Can Men Cope With the Population Bomb?
9 Earth's population reached one billion in the 19th century. Now it is about five billion, with each new billion coming faster and faster. Every year, about 90 million more people are added! And most of this growth merely adds to the suffering in areas where poverty, hunger, and disease already prevail. This population increase has been called the population bomb with good reason. The New York Times commented: "It is as possible that large portions of the earth will be turned into desert by the pressures of unmanageable population and poverty as by a nuclear holocaust."9
10 Regarding the scope of world hunger, Time magazine said: "The hunger problem today is vastly different from that of the past . . . Now there is so little food in so many parts of the world, year after year, that fully 25\% of the globe's population is hungry or undernourished."10 One source estimates that each year 11 million babies die before their first birthday due to the effects of malnutrition and disease.
11 The same report states: "At least one person in five is trapped in absolute poverty, a state of destitution so complete that it is silent genocide."11 And this, noted The Toronto Star, was after a world food conference in Rome over a decade ago "pledged that, within a decade, no child would go to bed hungry, no family would fear for its next day's bread and no human being's future would be stunted by malnutrition."12 How hollow such promises proved to be!
The reality is as England's Guardian observed: "The world is on the verge of a human catastrophe. . . . Whole continents have seen their hopes for the future disappear." 13
12 Much of the problem lies, not with the earth, but with the rulers and the people and their attitudes. For example, the nations now spend about a trillion (thousand billion) dollars on armaments each year while millions starve. But even if this enormous military buildup was abandoned, the world's divided economic systems would work against any true solution to the problem. Often, when food is available, the desire for huge profits prevents its distribution to those in need. In some places, governments have paid farmers not to plant certain crops because overproduction would decrease prices too much. Vast amounts of food have even been destroyed because of surpluses.
13 Thus, despite all of its scientific advancements, modern society has not been able to avoid the very conditions the Bible foretold. It accurately foretold the arrival of severe "food shortages" during this "conclusion of the system of things."—Matthew 24:3, 7; Revelation 6:5-8.
Can Men Make Peace With the Earth?
14 For decades men have been making war with the very earth on which they live. They have caused TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
poisonous wastes to back up into the water, air, and soil. A Toronto Star headline declared: "Pollution Puts Earth in Danger." The article said: "Planet Earth is under a deadly assault. And the aggressor is man." It noted that "the poisons of his progress" now threaten his very existence, and it also observed: "Scientists consider the degradation of the environment every bit as serious as the threat of nuclear war."14
15 For example, of the United States, Discover magazine says: "Hazardous chemicals and metals seeping into the earth threaten the nation's buried reserves of water. Some hydrologists fear that it may already be too late to save a quarter of them."15 In England The Observer said that chemical pollution had contaminated "most of England's drinking water."16 And New Scientist reported: "The World Health Organisation says that diseases associated with dirty water kill 50,000 people every day."17
16 In the United States a congressional investigation revealed high levels of poisonous materials in the air. The New York Times reported: "Thousands of tons of cancer-causing agents and other very hazardous materials are being released into the atmosphere from hundreds of factories."18 Added to this are the hazardous chemicals put in the soil, for example, as pesticides, and into the food chain as animal feed.
17 Can technology come to the rescue? Is that likely, since it created many of the problems? The book Environmental Ethics notes: "Technology is a servant of only limited usefulness, and highly unreliable. When it CAN MEN BRING LASTING PEACE AND SECURITY?
does solve a problem, it often creates two new ones and their side effects are usually hard to foresee."19
18 Again, the Bible foretold man's lack of wisdom in using earth's bounties. A prophecy at Revelation 11:18 spoke of the time when God would have to take action "to bring to ruin those ruining the earth." Men admittedly do not fully understand the complex ecology of the earth. But God does, having created it. Is it not wise to look to this Source for a solution to the problems?
Security by the Removal of Crime
19 Pollution endangers the very essentials for human existence. But it is the increase of crime that causes the greater number of people to be in fear. Crime is robbing more and more persons of their personal security not only in big cities but also in small towns and rural areas. Not just possessions but often a person's body and life are in jeopardy.
20 Can men bring true security from these dangers, perhaps by new legislation? There are already thousands of laws on the lawbooks of the world. Yet, these have not stopped crime. Also, deep-rooted corruption often develops within law-enforcement agencies themselves. Dishonesty in high places may nullify the efforts of honest law-enforcement.
21 Does the answer lie in new methods of detecting TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
and thwarting crime? For every new method produced, criminals devise new ways to overcome it. Then will increased prosperity solve the problem? It would be a mistake to conclude that crime is characteristic only of lower-income groups. White-collar crime also is soaring. For instance, in the United States each year at least $80 billion is lost because of such crime. About 30 percent of all businesses that fail do so because of it. South Africa reports that employee theft bankrupted about 1,500 businesses in one year.[20]
22 Rising crime is not limited to just a few nations. It is everywhere. Note some headlines from around the world. Brazil. "Soaring Crime Rate." Canada: "Female Crime Rate Soaring." England: "Ever-Rising Child Crime." India: "Organized Crime a Growth Industry." Soviet Union: "Soviet Alarm at Increasing Crime."21 Maclean's magazine stated: "Violent crime in Detroit is so common that even murders sometimes rate only a brief mention in the back pages of newspapers."22 Thus, rising crime is an international problem, and human efforts alone cannot solve it. If a human solution had been possible, after all this time and effort crime should no longer be a problem.
23 What is happening is just as the Bible long ago foretold: "In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, . . . without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God."
CAN MEN BRING LASTING PEACE AND SECURITY?
(2 Timothy 3:1-4) Jesus also foretold that an "increasing of lawlessness" would characterize the period just before God's Kingdom would make the earth a place to be inhabited only by 'mild-tempered persons.' That "increasing of lawlessness" is a fact of life in our day. —Matthew 24:12; 5:5; Psalm 37:29.
The Greatest Problems of All
24 Suppose men could solve the problems of war, poverty, hunger, pollution, and crime. Would this bring you full peace and security? No, something would still be lacking. Sickness and death would still remain as unconquered enemies. Indeed, what does relief from other problems matter when you watch a loved one sicken and die, or you find your own body attacked by a fatal illness?
25 While medical advances have been made, has this brought us freedom from sickness and death? A medical authority answers: "Infectious diseases have not been licked. They are still the world's leading cause of death and, here [in the United States], the leading cause of illness."23 In Africa a report says that disease is so rampant "that of 1,000 children born about 500 will die before the age of 5."24 Throughout the world hundreds of millions are affected by malaria, sleeping sickness, cholera, leprosy, and other diseases. In some advanced countries, heart ailments cause about half of all deaths, and cancer one death out of five. And The TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
Lancet, a British medical journal, states: "Throughout the world there are something of the order of 250 million new cases of gonorrhoea and 50 million new cases of syphilis annually. Other sexually communicable conditions may be even more common."25
26 A scientist stated that if cures are found for cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease, other illnesses would become bigger killers. He noted: "There is little chance that we will greatly increase life expectance or postpone aging in the near future."26 And doctors in the Soviet Union say: "Despite all successes of medicine, within recorded history the biological span of human life has remained unchanged."27
27 How true the words of the Bible at Job 14:1, 2 continue to be today: "Man, born of woman, is short-lived and glutted with agitation. Like a blossom he has come forth and is cut off, and he runs away like the shadow and does not keep existing." The Bible also shows the reason for this, and it identifies the cause of all man's problems, as we shall see later.
In What Will You Hope?
28 In all honesty, is it realistic to trust in humans to solve the problems facing mankind? Or is it more realistic to put trust in the solution to which the Bible points, namely, action by God himself by means of a righteous heavenly government?
29 Long ago the inspired psalmist wrote these words: "Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish. Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah his God, the Maker of heaven and earth."—Psalm 146:3-6.
30 Never forget that no matter how sincere men may be or how influential or powerful world leaders are, they are all dying creatures. Since they are unable to save themselves, how can they save others? They cannot. Only God can, through his Kingdom government.
Are the World's Religions Giving the Right Lead?
"RELIGION has been one of the most powerful forces in history,"28 stated The World Book Encyclopedia. But have the world's religions been a genuine force for peace and security? Have they taught their followers that brotherly love should surmount national boundaries and racial differences? Also, have the churches of Christendom, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, proved true to their claim to follow Jesus Christ as the "Prince of Peace"? Or have they actually contributed to the hatreds that imperil man's future? A look at the record will give the surprising answer.
2 In this regard, Parade Magazine said: "History teaches lessons to those who are willing to learn. One of the most primary lessons is that conflicts based on religious and sectarian differences are almost always the most vicious, most enduring and most difficult to solve."29 And as the Chicago Tribune stated: "Every major religion preaches peace and brotherhood and mercy, yet some of the cruellest and most intolerant repressions in history have been committed in the name of God."30 With such historical facts in mind, newspaper editor C. L. Sulzberger appropriately asks: "Disagreeable as the subject may be, should it not be realized that in addition to other causes—imperialism, racism, ARE THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS GIVING THE RIGHT LEAD?
militarism—religion has developed into a persistently greater threat to human life?"31
3 Yes, history is stained with the blood of religiously backed strife. Just in our century, during the two world wars and after, we have witnessed the shameful practice of fellow religionists slaughtering each other—Catholic killing Catholic, Protestant killing Protestant, Muslim killing Muslim, and others. And the clergy on opposing sides, though of the same religion, blessed the troops that would soon be killing their religious brothers.
4 Among the most reprehensible in this matter are the churches of Christendom. Why? Because they claim to represent the God of the Bible and his Son Jesus Christ, who said: "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." (John 13:35) Yet the worst slaughters of all have occurred right in the heart of Christendom. As an editorial in the Waterloo Courier of Iowa declared: "Nor have Christians ever been squeamish about waging wars on other Christians. If they had been, most of the liveliest wars in Europe would never have occurred. . . . World Wars I and II, which set the all-time records for Christians killing Christians, could never have occurred."32
5 On this matter, the Bible is clear: Those who truly TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
serve God are told to "seek peace and pursue it," to "beat their swords into plowshares," and not to "learn war anymore." (1 Peter 3:11; Isaiah 2:2-4) "We should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one [Satan the Devil] and slaughtered his brother." (1 John 3:10-12) But followers of this world's religions continue to slaughter their brothers, as did Cain, and their clergy have supported those pursuing that course. Thus, if you belong to a religion, ask yourself: 'If everybody on earth belonged to my religion, would wars have stopped and would this earth now be a place of genuine peace?'
6 The divided and warring state of the world's religions prove that God is not their backer. This may come as a surprise to those who think that all religion must be good since it claims to represent God. Yet the Bible clearly shows that "God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33) It also shows that there is both true religion and false religion. And it states that only worship founded on truth, free from hypocrisy, has God's backing.—Matthew 15:7-9; John 4:23, 24; Titus 1:16.
7 Because the world's religions have, in effect, prostituted themselves for political, commercial, and social gain, the Bible pictures them as being like a harlot. Describing this "harlot," it says: "In her was found the blood of . . . all those who have been slaughtered on the earth." (Revelation 17:1-6; 18:24) Yes, this world's
religions bear a heavy bloodguilt in relation to all the slaughter of world history! For this they will be called to account.
8 Clearly, any religion whose practices are contrary TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
to the Bible could never succeed in leading mankind to true peace and security. That is why Jesus said of the false religious leaders in his day: "Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:14) Similarly, the world's religions today are "blind guides" in the matter of war and in other vital aspects of life as well.
Do the World's Religions Promote Morality?
9 Can anyone enjoy true peace with his neighbors or real security if true standards of morality are not maintained? Where there are no such standards, lying, stealing, adultery, and similar practices are commonplace. On the other hand, genuine love of neighbor should promote morality.
10 The Bible expresses God's view on morality in this way: "He that loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. For the law code, 'You must not commit adultery, You must not murder, You must not steal, You must not covet,' and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does not work evil to one's neighbor." —Romans 13:8-10.
11 More important than this, however, do you believe that a person can be at peace with God, having the assurance of His favor and protection, if he does not practice God's standards of morality?
Could you even respect a God who did not require such morality from those who profess to serve him?
12 For God to require adherence to his standards, he would have to make clear what those standards are. That he has done in his Word, the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) To say that each person should make up his own moral standards and go by them is no more reasonable than to say that each person should make up his own traffic laws and go by them. You know what the result would be. The Bible logically shows that there is only one way that brings God's approval. As Jesus said, all other roads lead only to destruction.—Matthew 7:13, 14; Luke 13:24.
13 Do Christendom's churches, especially, uphold God's standards of morality and so set a lead for the rest of the world? What do the lives of many who belong to those churches reveal? Do you belong to a church? Then ask yourself: 'If everyone on earth lived like the members of my religion do, would that put an end to crime, dishonest business practices, strife, and sexual immorality?'
14 The Bible warns that "a little leaven ferments the whole lump" and that "bad associations spoil useful habits." (Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 15:33) For this reason it also commands Christians to "quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. . . . 'Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.'"—1 Corinthians 5:11-13.
15 True, a person may make a misstep and then recover. But what of those who make a practice of such things? If these persons claim to be serving God, they are hypocrites. Surely you detest hypocrisy, and the Bible shows that God also hates it and those who practice it. (Matthew 23:27, 28; Romans 12:9) What, then, of your religion? Does it follow the Bible's command to "remove" those who persist in breaking God's laws and who show no genuine repentance? Or does it allow such ones to remain in good standing, thus endangering others? Does it render mere lip service to morality while actually winking at wrongdoing, or even condoning it?—Matthew 15:7, 8.
16 More and more clergymen say that fornication, adultery, and homosexuality are not necessarily wrong. But they are not in harmony with God's thinking. His Word clearly states: "Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom." —1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.
The Results of Rejecting God's Word
17 The basic reason why this world's religions are in More and more clergymen accept what the Bible condemns as sexual im morality, as these sample headlines and news items show:
"When What's Bad Becomes Good the Clergy Will Tell Us." "[The Church of England] is now shedding its old-fashioned authoritarian image. Sex before marriage, with one or more partners. . . will henceforth be considered morally acceptable."—Alberta Report.33
"Pastors Silent on Premarital Sex." "The pastors of America have been sinfully silent in preaching on premarital sex . . . They are afraid they will lose some of their parishioners. Isaiah knew of such priests. In Chapter 1 of his book, he quotes the Lord as saying about them, 'I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.'"—Telegraph, North Platte, Nebraska.34
"Adultery in Softer Light." "The English cleric . . . raised eyebrows when he aired the Church's tempered eye towards the Seventh Commandment. . . . 'Our attitude is to be caring rather than judgmental,' he said."—The Sunday Times, Perth, Australia.[35]
"Unitarians Endorse Homosexual Marriages."—The New York Times. 36
"A task force of the United Church of Canada has supported the ordination of active homosexuals as ministers."—The Toronto Star.37
"Legalize Prostitution—It's the Saintly Solution."—Editorial by a Catholic monsignor in the Philadelphia Daily News.38 TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
such a divided, chaotic state is that they ignore God's laws as found in his Word, the Bible. Indeed, many clergymen reject the Bible as being the inspired Word of God. Yet, the inspired apostle Paul declared: "All Scripture is inspired of God." (2 Timothy 3:16) Paul also urged us to accept the Bible "not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Surely Jehovah God, the Almighty Creator of the awesome universe, could author a book and see to it that it maintained its integrity over the centuries!
18 Yet, the New Catholic Encyclopedia says: "Many Biblical statements are simply not true when judged according to modern knowledge of science and history."39 Writing in U.S. Catholic, a priest stated that earth's creation could not have happened the way it is described in Genesis. And of its account of the human creation, he stated: "The human race did not start that way."40 An Episcopal bishop said: "The Bible contains mistakes, inaccuracies and contradictions. It is therefore understandable why the major Christian churches do not view the Bible as infallible."41 In England, an Anglican bishop referred to Christ's resurrection as a "conjuring trick with bones."42
19 Thus, many of the clergy either belittle the Bible or do not teach their followers to respect it and follow God's laws contained in it. That is a principal reason for the appalling ignorance of God's Word throughout Christendom. Religious commentator M. J. McManus wrote this about church attenders: "Few trends in religion so threaten to undermine organized religion in the 1980s as does the sorry state of Biblical knowledge."
He noted that "the Bible remains an unread, foreign document" for most churchgoers. 43
20 What have been the results of all of this? Have the world's religions demonstrated that they can downgrade Bible teachings and still produce peace or good morals among their adherents? On the contrary, conditions worsen earth wide. The nations with non-Christian religions have become increasingly the scene of unrest, division, political corruption, and deteriorating morals. But Christendom especially has long been the hardest hit as to crime, immorality, drug addiction, racial strife, and war. It has come to pass just as God's reliable Word foretold: "They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have?"—Jeremiah 8:9.
21 The evidence is undeniable. It shows that this world's religions are not a true force for peace and security. And they have left their followers ignorant of the true hope—God's Kingdom. What, then, does all of this signify?
End of World's Religions Nears
22 Jesus Christ stated: "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted." (Matthew 15:13) The bad fruitage produced by this world's religions proves that they are not of God's planting. Thus, the Bible foretells the coming destruction of all false systems of worship.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
23 Speaking of these religious systems under the symbol of the harlotlike "Babylon the Great," God says the following regarding the worldwide empire of false religion: "Her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind . . . 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."—Revelation 18:2, 5-8.
24 Note that this destruction is to come with surprising suddenness, as "in one day." To the surprise and dismay of many persons, false religion will be brought to ruin, destroyed, by the very political nations with whom she has long played the harlot.—Revelation 18: 10-17, 21; 17:12, 16.
25 Therefore the divine call is: "Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4) Taking such action means that one sees false religion as God sees it. It means that one detests it for its rotten fruits, its hypocrisy, and its superstition. Disgust should be felt for the way false religion has misrepresented God before mankind and for the way it has contributed toward the suffering and oppression of the people. (Romans 2:24; Jeremiah 23: 21, 22) If you recognize this, you will withdraw all support from such religions, thus demonstrating your full support of God's judgment on them.
ARE THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS GIVING THE RIGHT LEAD?
26 However, it is not enough simply to withdraw. You must search out and find the true, unhypocritical worship that will bring you God's peace and protection when the foretold destruction comes. Those engaging in such true worship must be persons who have already 'beaten their swords into plowshares, not learning war anymore.' (Isaiah 2:4) They must be persons who believe God's Word and live it, letting it be the guiding force in their lives. (Psalm 119:105) They must show genuine, unhypocritical love for their fellowman. (John 13:35; Romans 13:8) Does any such worship exist today? Millions have found it among Jehovah's Witnesses. They are known the world over for their adherence to God's laws as found in the Bible. And the peace and security they enjoy even now vindicate the truthfulness and power of God's Word.
27 Jehovah's Witnesses are deeply concerned about the dangerous situation into which false religion has brought people. They are sincerely endeavoring to give God's Word first place in their lives. You are invited to observe their meetings in their local Kingdom Hall and investigate for yourself the extent to which they reflect God's spirit and enjoy the peace and security it brings. You will also see how they are learning and applying what God requires of those who are to survive the coming destruction and live in his righteous New Order under the rule of his heavenly Kingdom.
World Destruction First Then World Peace
ACCORDING to Bible prophecy, before mankind can ever enjoy enduring peace, a world destruction must first take place. (2 Peter 3:5-7) But why is that necessary? From where does the destruction come? And what does it mean for humans on this planet?
2 First we need to understand that the world destruction the Bible foretells is not the same as the global catastrophe that many world leaders, scientists, and others are warning about. The calamity they talk about would come in the form of some man-made disaster brought on by such things as pollution or the nuclear arms race, or both. But, of course, such a catastrophe would leave no hope for lasting peace and security on this planet.
3 Earth would be ruined for living creatures. For example, nuclear radiation or the speculated "nuclear winter" would leave survivors no better off—if not worse off—than those who had died. Survival would be largely a matter of chance, though the poor would likely be among the first to suffer. What hope would you have of being among the survivors of such a catastrophe? And even if you did survive, what hope WORLD DESTRUCTION FIRST—THEN WORLD PEACE
would there be that life would not drift back into the same strife-ridden uncertainty that now prevails?
What the Bible Foretells Gives Hope
4 What makes the world destruction that the Bible foretells different is that it will be selective, purposeful. It will not be some calamity that comes just as the culmination of man-made blunders. Rather than bring death indiscriminately, it will efface from the earth only those who really deserve to be destroyed. This kind of world destruction is in agreement with the divine principle at Proverbs 2:21, 22: "For the upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it."
5 What, then, will be destroyed? Many think the Bible predicts the total burning up of the planet Earth and everything on it. But this is not the case. Jesus Christ himself said: "Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) Surely that 'inheritance' is not to be a burned-up, lifeless cinder! The Bible also gives God's definite assurance that the earth will remain forever as a place for people to live.—Psalm 104:5; Isaiah 45:18; Matthew 6:9, 10.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
6 In harmony with this, the Bible speaks of survivors who will remain on earth after that "great tribulation" has passed. Jesus Christ said that "just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be." When global destruction took place in Noah's time there were also survivors.—Matthew 24:21, 37; 2 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 7:9, 10, 13, 14.
7 What is to be destroyed? It is the worldwide system of things that men have built up on earth—along with all those who uphold it rather than look to God and his promised rule for the earth. (Psalm 73:27, 28) That is why the phrase "the end of the world," found in some Bible translations, is more accurately rendered in other Bibles as "the end of the age" (NE), "the conclusion of the age" (Ro), "the conclusion of the system of things" (NW).—Matthew 24:3.
The source of the coming world destruction will be—not men—but Jehovah God. The modern blights of pollution, famine, nuclear terror, and similar things that have resulted from human ignorance, error, and corruption are not what will cause the destruction. Instead, these are proof of the selfishness and utter failure of the present world system. They provide just cause for Jehovah God to do away with that system completely. He promises to take such action before ever the present world reaches a state of collapse or carries out its own self-destruction. (Revelation 11: 17, 18) But is such drastic action really the only way?
Why This System Must End for True Peace to Come
Some might feel that God should simply make some changes in the present system, rather than destroy it. But the Bible shows that God realistically recognizes that it is beyond reform.
10 Consider for yourself the many changes that have been made by humans down through the centuries. Think of all the different kinds of government that men have developed. There have been city-states, monarchies, democracies, communistic and socialistic governments, and dictatorships. Remember how often the existing ruler or government has been replaced with a TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
new one—by election, coup d'etat, or revolution. Yet there has been no lasting solution to the problems of mankind. Even well-meaning men who try to improve man's lot find their efforts frustrated by the system of things into which they themselves are locked. As a wise ruler of ancient times discovered, by human efforts alone "that which is made crooked cannot be made straight."—Ecclesiastes 1:14, 15.
11 The world's cities, for example, are plagued with problems. But men cannot dismantle them and start afresh. The same is true of the whole economic and industrial system of the world. Self-interest and nationalism undermine and block any real change for the good of mankind as a whole.
12 The entire system of things is thus like a house built on a bad foundation, according to poor plans, and constructed with defective materials. What good will it do to rearrange the furniture or to remodel the house? As long as it stands, the problems will continue, and the house will keep deteriorating. The only sensible thing to do is to tear down the house and build another, on a good foundation.
13 Jesus Christ used a somewhat similar illustration in saying that people do not "put new wine into old wineskins." The old wineskin would burst from the new wine. (Matthew 9:17) He therefore did not try to reform the Jewish system of things under which he lived. Instead, he preached God's Kingdom as the only hope for peace and security.
(Luke 8:1; 11:2; 12:31) So, too, in our day Jehovah God will not simply adjust the present system of things, because that could bring no lasting benefit.
14 God's Word emphasizes the truth that it is impossible to legislate righteousness into people's hearts. If they have no love for what is right, no amount of legislation will ever put it there. At Isaiah 26:10 we read: "Though the wicked one should be shown favor, he simply will not learn righteousness. In the land of straightforwardness he will act unjustly and will not see the eminence of Jehovah."—Compare Proverbs 29:1.
15 The hard fact is that many people prefer to stay with this present system despite its failures and evils. They do not want to turn to righteousness and submit to rule from God. They may see the corruption of this world's political systems, the futility of its wars, the hypocrisy of its religions, and the clear evidence that its technology has created even greater problems than it has solved. But despite all of this, many prefer to be hulled into a false sense of security by religious and political leaders whose interests lie in maintaining the status quo. They are like the Israelites of whom God said: "The prophets themselves actually prophesy in falsehood; and as for the priests, they go subduing according to their powers. And my own people have loved it that way; and what will you men do in the finale of it?"—Jeremiah 5:31; Isaiah 30:12, 13.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
16 Likely you know of people who have habits that endanger their own health and security and that of their families. Yet they resist all efforts to help them change. But when people resist God's counsel and guidance, the matter is far more serious. Those who do this show that they really do not love truth and righteousness. Of such ones Jesus said: "For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and [God] heal them."—Matthew 13:15.
17 Rightly, God's patience and mercy have their limits. If not, where would his love for the righteous ones be? He cannot turn a deaf ear to their pleas for relief from the suffering that wickedness brings upon this earth. (Luke 18:7, 8; Proverbs 29:2, 16) So, the circumstances require world destruction. They oblige God to act if he is to remain true to what is right and if he is to show compassion for those who also love what is right. It is not a case of God's taking pleasure in bringing destruction upon mankind. "Do I take any delight at all in the death of someone wicked,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, 'and not in that he should turn back from his ways and actually keep living? . . . So cause a turning back and keep living, O you people.'"—Ezekiel 18:23, 32.
system of things, then, is the price that must be paid to redeem from insecurity and suffering those who love what is right. This is in agreement with the Bible principle: "The wicked is a ransom for the righteous one."—Proverbs 21:18; compare Isaiah 43:1, 3, 4.
Beneficial Results
19 The destruction of the present system and its supporters will allow for a righteous new system earth wide in which the survivors will be able to work together unitedly, not in selfish competition. Down will come divisive national frontiers and political boundaries. Gone will be the crushing burden of military spending. And gone too will be the social barriers that keep mankind from being a united family. A vital factor in all of this will be that everyone then living will speak the 'one pure language' of truth to one another, worshiping their Creator "with spirit and truth." This will keep them free from divisive religious superstitions, traditions, and man-made creeds. — Zephaniah 3:8, 9; John 4:23, 24.
20 With God's government by his Son Christ Jesus exercising the sole dominion over all the earth, the ancient psalm of the Bible will see fulfillment: "In his days the righteous one will sprout, and the abundance of peace until the moon is no more. And he will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."—Psalm 72:7, 8.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
21 The earth will benefit from the coming world destruction. It will no longer be marred by greedy polluters and ruthless destroyers. The lakes, rivers, oceans, and atmosphere will gain relief from the wastes poured into them and will soon cleanse themselves. God will thus demonstrate that he has not abandoned his purpose to have a clean, gardenlike planet filled with people who reflect their Creator's splendid qualities. —Genesis 1:26-28; Isaiah 45:18; 55:10, 11.
22 So, God's bringing world destruction is not contrary to his being the 'God of peace.' Nor is it contrary to Jesus' being the "Prince of Peace." It is because of their love of peace and justice that they take this action to restore earth to a clean, righteous state.—I Corinthians 14:33; Isaiah 9:6, 7.
23 As individuals, then, what should we do? Jesus showed that those ignoring God's instructions were building their hopes for the future on "sand," and that such building would never endure the coming destructive storms. He showed the vital need to build our hopes on obedience to God's Word if we are to have a peaceful and secure future.—Matthew 7:24-27.
24 But why has God waited so long to bring wickedness and suffering to an end? The Bible answers this question also, and it shows what God has been doing during all the centuries past in working out his purpose.
Chapter 5
An Issue That Involves You
DESPITE the common desire for peace and security, man's history has been marred by bloodshed and hurtfulness. Since the Bible shows that God detests such things, why has he not put a stop to these conditions before now? Surely it cannot be for lack of interest. The Bible, as well as the beauty of God's earthly handiwork, gives abundant evidence of his love and concern for mankind. (1 John 4:8) More importantly, the honor of God's own name is involved, since these conditions have caused people to reproach him. What reason could there be, then, for his putting up with thousands of years of unrest and violence?
2 The answer is found in the Bible's opening account about Adam and Eve. This is no mere allegory. It is historical fact. The Bible supplies a complete, documented record of genealogy reaching from the first century of the Common Era all the way back to the first humans. (Luke 3:23-38; Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-32) As our first ancestors, Adam and Eve had a definite influence on us. And what the Bible tells us about them helps us to understand the circumstances that affect our lives today.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
3 The Bible reveals that all of God's provisions for the first human couple were very good. They had everything for a happy life—a parklike home in Eden, abundant varieties of food, satisfying work, the prospect of seeing their family grow and fill the earth, and the blessing of their Creator. (Genesis 1:28, 29; 2:8, 9, 15) Who could reasonably have asked for more?
4 The inspired record in Genesis reveals that humans occupied a unique position on earth. Unlike the animals, they had a moral sense and were endowed with free will. That is why they were equipped with powers of reason and judgment. To guide them, God implanted in man and woman the faculty of conscience so that, as perfect humans, their normal inclination would be toward good. (Romans 2:15) Besides all of this, God told them why they were alive, what they were to do, and who had provided all the splendid things around them. (Genesis 1:28-30) How, then, do we explain why such bad conditions exist now?
5 The Scriptural record shows that an issue arose—one that involves each of us today. It came about through circumstances that developed not long after the creation of the first human pair. God gave the man and the woman the opportunity to demonstrate loving appreciation to their Creator by obedience to a requirement.
The requirement was nothing that would imply that they had depraved tendencies that had to be curbed. Rather, it involved something that in itself was normal and proper—the eating of food. As God told the man: "From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die." (Genesis 2: 16, 17) This requirement did not deprive the first pair of anything necessary for life. They could eat from all the other trees in the garden. Yet their life prospects for the future were definitely involved, and rightly so. Why? Because the One who asked obedience was the very Source and Sustainer of human life.
God's purpose was not for humans to die. No mention of death was made to Adam and Eve except for disobedience. Our first parents had before them the prospect of living forever in their peaceful, parklike home. To attain to this, what was required of them? They had to recognize that the earth on which they lived belongs to the One who made it, and that, as the Creator, God rightfully has authority over his creation. (Psalm 24:1, 10) Surely this One, who had given man everything he needed, including life itself, deserved obedience to anything that he asked of them. However, he did not wish that obedience to be forced. Rather, it must be from willing hearts, motivated by love. (1 John 5:3) But our first human parents failed to show such love. How did this come about?
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
The Origin of Resistance to Divine Rule
7 The Bible shows that resistance to God's rulership first began, not on earth, but in a realm invisible to human eyes. Should we, like many, doubt that such a realm exists simply because we cannot see it? Well, gravity cannot be seen, neither can the wind. Yet their effects are very real. So, too, the effects of the invisible realm can be observed. Though "God is a Spirit," his works of creation can be seen all around us. If we believe in him, we are obliged to believe in a spirit realm. (John 4:24; Romans 1:20) But does anyone else inhabit that realm?
8 According to the Bible, millions of spirit persons, angels, were brought into existence before man. (Job 38:4, 7; Psalm 103:20; Daniel 7:10) All of these were created perfect, without evil tendencies. Yet, like God's later creation, man, they were granted free will. They could therefore choose a course of faithfulness or of unfaithfulness toward God.
9 But the question asked by many is: How, as perfect creatures, could any of them even feel inclined to do wrong? Well, how many times in our own lives do circumstances arise that confront us with various possibilities—some good, some bad? Having the intelligence to discern the bad possibilities does not automatically make us bad, does it?
The real question is: On which course will we fix our mind and heart? If we focus on harmful thoughts, we could be drawn into cultivating wrong desire in our hearts. Such desire could move us eventually to commit wrong acts. This ruinous cycle was described by the Bible writer James: "Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death."—James 1:14, 15.
10 The Scriptures reveal that this happened to one of God's spirit sons. He was enticed by his own desires. He saw possibilities in God's human creation. Could they come into submission to him rather than to God? Evidently he began to crave at least a share in the worship belonging to God. (Luke 4:5-8) Acting on his desire, he became a resister of God. For that reason he is referred to in the Bible as Satan, which means Resister.—Job 1:6.
11 In this materialistic 20th century, belief in such a spirit person as Satan is not popular. But, then, has popular thinking ever been a sure guide to truth? Among those who study disease, it was once unpopular to believe that unseen germs were a factor. But now their influence is well known. Certainly, then, the unpopularity of something does not mean that it can be ignored. Jesus Christ had himself come from the spirit realm and so could speak with authority on life there. He definitely identified Satan as an evil spirit TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
person. (John 8:23; Luke 13:16; 22:31) Only by taking into account the existence of this spirit adversary is it possible to understand how such bad conditions got started on this earth.
12 The inspired record, in Genesis chapter 3, describes how Satan set about satisfying his wrong desire. In the garden of Eden he approached the woman Eve in a manner that concealed his real identity. He employed an animal commonly seen by the human pair—a serpent. Evidently using what we would call ventrilolquism, he made it appear that his words proceeded from this creature. Its naturally cautious manner fitted well with the impression that Satan wanted to make. —Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9.
13 Rather than make a direct bid for the woman to look to him as her ruler, Satan first sought to plant doubt in her mind, asking: "Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?" In effect, he was saying: 'It is too bad that God has said you may not eat from all the trees in the garden.' By this he implied that possibly God was holding back something good. Eve answered by quoting God's prohibition, which involved only one tree, as well as stating that the penalty for disobedience was death. At that, Satan attempted to undermine her respect for God's law, saying: "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." (Genesis 3: 1-5) Faced with such a situation, what would you have done?
14 Eve allowed herself to be drawn along by selfish desire. She ate what God had forbidden. Afterward, under her urging, her husband Adam also ate. He chose to cast his lot in with her rather than with his Creator. (Genesis 3:6; 1 Timothy 2:14) What was the outcome?
15 The entire human family was plunged into sin and imperfection. Now Adam and Eve could not pass on to their offspring the perfection that they once had. Just as copies produced from a defective pattern all have the same defect, so all of their offspring were born in sin, with an inherited tendency toward selfishness. (Genesis 8:21) This inclination, left unchecked, has led to the evils that have taken peace and security from mankind. It is this inheritance of sin that has also resulted in disease and death.—Romans 5:12.
The Issues Raised
16 In the light of these facts, our minds go back to the question of why God has put up with this situation, allowing it to develop to the extent that it has. It is because of a grave issue that was raised and its effect on the entire universe. How is that so?
17 By his argument that God's law to Adam and Eve was not good for them and by challenging God's stated TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY—HOW CAN YOU FIND IT?
outcome for disobedience, Satan was calling into question God's rulership. No, he did not question the fact that God is ruler. Rather, the issue that Satan raised centered on the rightfulness of Jehovah's rulership, His sovereignty, and the righteousness of His ways. Deceptively, Satan argued that humans would do better by acting independently, making their own decisions rather than submitting to God's direction. (Genesis 3:4, 5) In reality, however, by so doing they would be following the leading of God's adversary.
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