Awake from Sleep! (1951)
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AWAKE FROM SLEEP!
Is today's world awake? Or is it asleep to the most vital news? Critical times need your notice!
"AWAKE FROM SLEEP!"
It has become a byword to say, "It is later than you think!" But bywords are too often shoved aside or taken for granted. It becomes too easy therefore to laugh off a weighty truth. Our times are generously heaped with scoffers anxious to ignore critical conditions. They feed on propaganda aimed at proving the permanency of man's rule. International crises are disregarded; moral collapse is passed with a wink. But nineteen centuries ago a warning was sounded against such sleepy attitude: "You know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers." The writer was the inspired apostle Paul; the citation is recorded in the Bible, at Romans 13:11.
Showing that he had in mind a time future from the date of writing, the same apostle wrote to the young Christian overseer, Timothy: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away."—2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Upheavals Since 1914
Even the most careless glance at current newspapers convinces that the multiplied recurrence of these acts of violence against a background of world upheaval has caught up with our times. None who have lived through the period will deny the sweeping changes overtaking human society since the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
Along with total war, food shortages and pestilence hit panic proportions; and the trembling earth shook literally in the throes of mighty 'quakes. While such surface violence multiplied from 1918 until 1939, men paid lip service to peace while preparing for war. Then the holocaust exploded that was destined to dwarf even World War I. Its aftereffects have affected man's whole life.
Have these events found you fast asleep or on the alert? Furthermore, when the offspring of World War I, the League of Nations, died under the guns of World War II, were you shaken? Now that its successor, the U. N., has plunged madly to the brink of a yet uncertain cataclysm, do you hear the alarm? When you read of murders without motive, of untamed juvenile delinquency, even unnatural hatred of children for parents, of sexual immorality and perversion in floodlike proportions, does it stir you? When crime probes unveil trusted political heads as base, conniving criminals; when bribery is found corrupting college youths, do you wince? Are you moved, excited, awake to the significance of these things? Or do you sleep on, gripped by the sedatives
of propaganda for a fairer tomorrow?
Religious organizations seek to quiet fears. But their own political affiliations, sectarian confusion,
Bible ignorance and spiritual lethargy convict them before they get started.
Then science rushes to the rescue, offering the atomic bomb as the weapon to make war unthinkable. Instead, it makes it all but unavoidable and "peace" unbearable. Similar attempts to quiet the restless sleepers come from the schools, the newspapers, newsreels, radio and television.
World news agencies are good reporters. An event occurs in a remote corner of the globe. In seconds it is on the wire; in minutes it is international news, and an hour can see it in print. But these sources choose to ignore news of modern significance from God's Word. Concerning the "last days" of violence, Jesus Christ told his disciples to look for nation and kingdom rising against one another, food shortages, pestilence, earthquakes, global political organizations and wide-spread fear along with the announcement of God's established kingdom.-Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21.
Do Not Be Blinded to Christ's Presence
Rose-colored propaganda, ignoring these facts while consoling human schemes, forwards the blindness about which Paul warned: "If, now, the good news we declare is in fact veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through."—2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.
Concerning his second presence, Jesus used a similar comparison to literal light: "For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matthew 24:27) The light of his second presence is not kept secret for only a few, but as lightning is seen by all, so the message of his invisible second presence is declared to enlighten men of all nations.
World events make up a part of the visible sign of his presence. But scoffers still bleat that 'history is only repeating itself', and never do see the light. Referring to those in his day that heard and refused to believe, then contrasting them with his true disciples, the Master said:
"This is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations, because, looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it . . . However, happy are your eyes because they behold, and your ears because they hear. For I truly say to you, Many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things you are beholding and did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing and did not hear them."—Matthew 13:13-17.
Now the facts can be matched to prove the truly significant news of this age, that the Lord has been enthroned, that he reigns! To appreciate this, the ears must be kept tuned to properly understand. This great truth must be segregated from the tides of propaganda that flood the world. The eyes must be sharp and alert, anxious to scan the pages of God's Word, to compare, thus to recognize fulfillment of vital prophecles when world events unfold them before us in these unparalleled times.
Now, indeed, it is 'later than you think'! It is much later in this world's allotted lifetime than it dares realize. Such is the proper conclusion to draw from comparison of the foretold sign with modern news reports. It is a sure sign of finish to the old system of things that cries peace, but is stricken with wars, professes godliness, yet reeks with immorality, boasts of wakefulness while it is sound asleep. Observe all these world happenings, then, "as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." (Luke 21:28) So sleep no longer, but rejoice that 'it is already the hour to awake from sleep', and to likewise alert others. Jehovah God's kingdom by Jesus Christ is destined to end man's every affliction and woe.
Extension of its power to the earth inside this generation will be the greatest blessing in man's history. Already it is his most thrilling news. Learn this good news and be truly awake to the times!
Scriptures quoted herein are from the "American Standard Version" or the "New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures".
The semimonthly, 32-page news magazine Awake! accurately reports on global affairs and matters of broadest interest. It employs neither commercial advertising, censorship nor propaganda. Awake's conclusions are honest, up-to-date and hopeful because critical modern times are viewed with the Bible's description of these days in mind. It finds welcome in homes and offices world-wide, in numerous languages. The subscription rate is $1.00 a year, twenty-four copies. Send your subscription to the address below.
WATCHTOWER
117 ADAMS ST. BROOKLYN 1, N.Y.
of all nations.
World events make up a part of the world, and we are not alone in that 'history is only repeating itself, and never do see the light. Referring to those in his day that heard and refused to believe, then contrasting them with those who believed,
"This is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations, because, looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it. . . . However, happy are your eyes because they behold, and your ears because they hear. For I truly say to you, Many prophets and righteous men have heard these things, but did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing and did not hear them."—Matthew 13:13-17.
Now the facts can be matched to prove the truly significant news of this age, that the Lord has been enthroned, that he reigns! To appreciate this, the Lord must have sent a great message. This great truth must be segregated from the tides of propranganda that flood the world. The eyes must be sharp and alert, anxious to scan the pages of God's Word, to compare, thus to recognize fulfillment of his promises, to unfold them before us in unparalleled times.
Now, indeed, it is 'later than you think'. It is much later in this world's allotted lifetime than it dares realize. Such is the proper conclusion to draw from comparison of the forbid sign with modern language. The word 'dare' is a system of things that crie peace, but is stricter with wars, professors godliness, yet reeks with immorality, boasts of wakefulness while it is sound asleep. Observe all these world happenings, then, "as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and stand up," and "become near." (Luke 21:28) So sleep no longer, but rejoice that it is already the hour to awake from sleep', and to likewise alert others. Jehovah God's
kingdom by Jesus Christ is destined to end man's
life. Jesus will die on the earth inside this generation will be the greatest
bleaching in man's history. Already it is his most
thrilling news. Learn this good news and be truly
forgiven.
Scripterists question booklets are free from the "Annual Standard Christian Vignette" and the "World Translation of the Bible."
The semimonthly, 32-page news magazine Anawer accurately reports on global affairs and matters of broadest interest. It employs neither commercial advertising, censorship nor up-to-date information but up-to-date and hopeful because critical modern times are viewed with the Bible's description of these days in mind. It finds welcome in homes and offices world-wide, in numerous publications and in the press every year, twenty-four copies. Send your subscription to the address below.
WATCHTOWER
117 ADAMS ST. BROOKLYN 1, N.Y.
Is today's world awake?
Or is it asleep to the most vital news?
Critical times need your notice!
"AWAKE FROM SLEEP!"
It has become a browd to say, "It is later than you think!" But bywards are too often shoved aside or taken for granted. It becomes too easy therefore to laugh off a weighty truth. Our times are generous and we have the right conditions. They feed on propaganda aimed at proving the permanency of man's rule. International crises are disregarded; moral collapse is passed with ease. We are not sounded against such sleep attitude: "You know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, that now our curation is nearer than at the time when we became believers." The writer was speaking about the citation is recorded in the Bible, at Romans 13:11.
Showing that he had in mind a future time from the date of writing, the same apostle wrote to the young Christian overseer, Timothy: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with have been made possible by the lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slandersers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of money, self-sacrifice, without godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away."² - 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Upheavals Since 1914
Even the most carolina glance at current newspapers convinces that the multiplication of world upheaval has caught up with our times. None who have lived through the period will deny the sweep-up of the world.
break of World War I in 1914. Along with total war, food shortages and pestilence hit panic proportions; and the trembling earth stook literally in the throes of war. The German army tipped from 1918 until 1920; men paid lip service to pessue while preparing for war. Then the holocaust began. In 1937, Germany invaded World War I. Its afterfections have affected man's whole life.
Have these events found you fast asleep or on the alert? Furthermore, when the offspring of World War I, the League of Nations, died under the puns of the Nazi regime, the children succeeder, the U.N., has hung madly to the brink of a yet uncertain cataclysm, do you hear the alarm? When you read of murders without motive, of unnatural deaths, of children
of propaganda for a fairer tomorrow?
Bible ignorance and spiritual lethargy convict them before they get started. Then science rushes to the battlefield with a bomb made of weapon to make war unthinkable at it must be but unavoidable and "peace" unbeatable. Similar attempts to quiet the restless sleeper come from newspapers, the newspapers, newsreels, radio and television.
World news agencies are good reporters. An event occurs in a remote corner of the globe. In seconds it is on the wire; in minutes it is in international news, and an hour can see it in print. But these sources are often hard to find. God's Word, God's Word. Concerning the "last days" of violence, Jesus Christ his disciples to look for nation and kingdom rising against one another, food shortages, pestilence, earthquakes, global political organizations and wide-spread fear along with the announcement of established kingdom—Matthew 24, Mark 32, Luke 21.
Do Not Be Blinded to Christ's Presence
Rose-colored propagands, ignoring these facts while consoling human schemes, forwards the blindness about which Paul warned: "If, now, the good news we declare is in fact relied, it is velled among those who are perishing, among whom the god of God is watching over the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of our ancient good news about Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through." -2 Corinthians 4.3.4.
Concerning his second presence, Jesus used a similar comparison to literal light: "For just as the light comes out of earth and shines over it, so does the presence will be" (Matthew 24:27). The light of his second presence is not kept secret for only a few, but as a visible presence he is declared to enlighten men.