The Watchtower, January 1, 1971

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The Watchtower — January 1, 1971

Source: jw.org

Contents

What Is the Kingdom of God?

Make Friends with Those Who Love God

Have You Entered the Great Contest of Faith?

Do You Remember?

Accept the Implanting of the Soul-saving Word

Questions From Readers

Announcements

What Is the Kingdom of God?

What Is the Kingdom of God?

ASK men and women in the street this question and you will get a great variety of answers.

Some will say the kingdom of God is “in your hearts.” Others insist it is a spiritual realm reached only after one dies. Many persons will even scoff at the question, claiming that the whole idea of a kingdom of God is unreal, impractical, that man, in effect, is in complete charge of his own destiny.

But what would your answer be?

You may say, “Well, what difference does it make anyway? I’ll leave that to the theologians to argue about. What concerns me is that today I’m almost afraid to send my children to school or let my wife walk down the street alone. I’m concerned about the shakiness of the economy, the problem of pollution, and a dozen other things. But ‘the kingdom of God’​—well, after these immediate problems are straightened out, then I’ll think about that.”

But really, for those very reasons you should want to know about God’s kingdom. Yes, the very fact that you are concerned about the crime and violence in the schools and on the streets, the shaky economy, the threat of spreading wars, the dangers of pollution, should make truthful information about the kingdom of God of great interest to you. Why?

Because​—when a person clears his mind of political propaganda, cleans out preconceived notions and prejudices, and honestly faces up to what man has been doing or failing to do with life on earth, not just in recent years but for decades, even centuries—​it can be appreciated that the kingdom of God is the only realistic and practical solution to mankind’s problems.

This is because God’s kingdom is, not just a feeling in people’s hearts, not something that only benefits persons after death, but a government. And it is a government with power and purpose, especially fitted to correct the bad conditions that right now rob human life of so much of its joy.

GOD’S KINGDOM​—REALLY A GOVERNMENT?

Does it sound strange to speak of the kingdom of God as a government? Perhaps so, yet that is what the Bible teaches. The very word “kingdom” means a government ruled by a king. The Bible speaks of the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and other ancient kingdoms. What were they? Governments ruled by kings. The second chapter of the prophecy of Daniel 2 deals with such national kingdoms and their rule and strength and then says:

“And 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. 2:37-44.

So God’s kingdom is also a government and one with power far superior to any or all governments that men have produced. According to the prophecy, it is going to do away with all such governments and permanently replace them.

Jesus’ disciples understood that the kingdom he taught them about was a government. (Acts 1:6) In fact, prior to Jesus’ birth the prophetic promise was: “This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:32, 33) That David’s kingdom was a government is a fact of history. The kingdom of Christ Jesus, who descended from David, is also a government, though far greater than David’s. This is because it is a heavenly government.​—Acts 2:29-36.

A HEAVENLY GOVERNMENT BOTH REAL AND PRACTICAL

More than thirty times the “kingdom of God” is referred to in a parallel phrase as the “kingdom of the heavens.” (Luke 8:1; Matt. 10:7) Does that mean that to enjoy its benefits you must go to heaven? No, for Christ Jesus said that persons should pray: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matt. 6:10) True, the Bible does teach that some persons are selected to reign with Christ Jesus in his heavenly government. But what does Revelation 5:10 say about their rule? It states that they are made to be “a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”

However, some may say that to talk about the earth’s being ruled by a government based in heaven, and therefore invisible to men, is not being “practical,” not being “realistic.” Still, today most people live some distance, and often hundreds of miles, from the executive offices of the government that rules them. The majority have never personally met the chief executive. Still they must admit that their government has force and effect in their daily lives.

No less so with God’s kingdom. Its seat of authority in the courts of heaven in no way impairs its efficiency of administration. Really, in a time when men have received messages broadcast from the moon’s surface, should space be viewed as a barrier to communication by God’s kingdom? Today pragmatic political rulers of the world’s great powers are willing to spend huge sums of money on space efforts. Why? Because they see definite advantages in being able to survey the earth’s surface from greater heights than their capitol buildings. Their interest in “space platforms” or even “moon stations” is certainly not “purely scientific.” Back in 1958 when he was a senator of the United States Congress, Lyndon B. Johnson said:

“There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position​—the position of total control over earth lies somewhere out in space. This is the future, the distant future, though not so distant as we may have thought. Whoever gains that ultimate position gains control, total control, over the earth, for purposes of tyranny or for the service of freedom.”​—New York Times of January 8, 1958.

The Bible shows that, despite recent space successes, no political government will ever gain that “ultimate position.” It is already taken by God’s kingdom in the hands of Christ Jesus. And that government is even now using such ultimate position for the benefit of persons who truly love what is right. Its promise is that, not the tyrannical, the proud, the violent, or the greedy, but “the mild-tempered ones . . . will inherit the earth.”​—Matt. 5:5.

What would you say is the greatest problem that governments today must cope with? You may think of war, crime, corruption, pollution, economic instability or other similar problems. But what causes these things? Do they just happen​—or is there something that leads to them, motivates them? The answer may sound simple, yet no one can honestly deny that selfishness is the basic cause, a lack of respect, consideration, yes, love for one’s neighbor.

While many will acknowledge that this is so, they may say: “True, but what can be done about it? How could laws requiring men to love their neighbor ever be enforced? To do that a government would have to be able to read men’s hearts.”

Exactly. And that is why the kingdom of God is the only practical government that can solve earth’s problems. Its king, Christ Jesus, showed that he could read men’s hearts when on earth, and his analyses consistently proved right. Take the time to read what he said and did as recorded in the Bible and you will see that he really “knew what was in man.” (John 2:25) You may, in fact, find yourself searching your own heart as a result of what you read.

More than this, though, God’s kingdom government is solemnly committed to cleansing this earth of all persons who prefer to live in selfishness, and it has the power to do this. (2 Thess. 1:6-8) It takes this action because, as Jesus’ disciples stated: “If anyone makes the statement: ‘I love God,’ and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20) Yes, the kingdom by Christ Jesus gives highest importance to love of God and love of neighbor. That is why it alone holds the key to the elimination of earth’s problems.

Do you sincerely want to see an earth free from riots, strikes, poverty, oppression, crime and violence? Then begin now to learn about God’s righteous government. Why not write the publishers of this magazine for more information. They will be happy to see that you receive help in learning what your Bible says about the kingdom of God, the real solution to mankind’s problems.

[Picture on page 5]

God’s kingdom will forever rid the earth of crime, drug addiction, pollution and every form of corruption

Make Friends with Those Who Love God

Make Friends with Those Who Love God

An article specially designed for parents to read with their children

I AM thinking of the very best friend you can have. This one has done more for you than any other person. Do you know who it is? It is Jehovah God.

It is true that Jehovah is in heaven and we cannot see him. But he cares for us. He wants to be our friend. And the Bible shows that we can be friends of Jehovah. It tells us that the man Abraham, who lived long ago, was called “Jehovah’s friend.”​—Jas. 2:23.

But how can we be friends of Jehovah God? Can we be his friends if we do things that he does not like? Jesus is a friend of God, and he said: “I always do the things pleasing to him.” So if we want to be God’s friends, we also need to do what pleases God.​—John 8:29.

Many persons today do not love Jehovah. They do not want to study the Bible or do what God says. If you play with persons like that, will it help you to love God more? Or could it cause you to love God less? What do you think?

It does not please Jehovah if we make friends with persons who do not love him. Those persons can cause us to become just like them. Jesus did not make friends with people like those. His friends were persons who loved Jehovah God and wanted to serve him. Let’s see who some of them were.

Jesus’ closest friends were his apostles. They were men like Peter and John who traveled with him and helped him in doing the preaching work. Jesus spent much of his time with these men. They ate together. They talked about God together. And they did many other things together.

But Jesus had many other friends. In towns that Jesus and his apostles visited, there were families who loved Jehovah God. These people were Jesus’ friends too. He would stay with them. And they had good times together.

One family Jesus liked to stay with lived in the small town of Bethany. Do you remember them? There were Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus in this family. Jesus called Lazarus his friend. And the Bible says that Jesus loved all three of them.​—John 11:5, 11.

Do you know why Jesus loved this family and enjoyed being with them? It is because these sisters and their brother loved Jehovah God and served him. And they also respected Jesus as the Great Teacher.

One time Jesus showed what is needed to be his friend. He told his followers: “You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:14) So could a person be Jesus’ friend if he did not obey him? What do you think? No, Jesus made friends only with those who were willing to do what he said.

Many persons liked to listen to Jesus speak. But not all of them would do everything Jesus said. They may not have been persons who told lies or killed people. But still Jesus did not become their friend.

There is the example of a young man who came to Jesus one day. This man told Jesus: ‘I have kept the laws of God. What else must I do to get everlasting life?’

Jesus told him: ‘Go sell the things that you own, and come be my follower.’

When Jesus said this, the man became very sad. This is because he was rich and owned many things. He loved these things more than he loved God. So the man went away and did not do what Jesus told him to do. He did not sell his many things and become a follower of Jesus.

This rich young man was not a person who most people would say was bad. The Bible even says that Jesus felt love for him. But still Jesus did not become one of his friends.​—Mark 10:17-22.

This does not mean that Jesus was not kind to persons who did not serve God. He was. He would even go to their homes and eat with them. This caused men to ask Jesus’ disciples one day: ‘Why is it that your teacher eats with persons that do bad things?’ (Matt. 9:10, 11) What would you have said? Could you have answered that question?

Jesus visited with these persons so that he could talk to them about God. He tried to help them to change from their bad ways and to serve God. Jesus did not go to their homes because he liked the things that those people did. These people were not really his friends.

Once Jesus visited the home of Zacchaeʹus. Zacchaeus was a rich man who had done bad things. When Jesus came to his town, a crowd of people were there. Zacchaeus, who was a small man, climbed a tree so he could see Jesus as he went by. When Jesus came to that tree he looked up and told Zacchaeus: ‘Hurry and get down. Today I will come to your home.’

Why did Jesus go to the home of Zacchaeus? Do you know? It was so he could preach to Zacchaeus. And the result was that Zacchaeus changed from his bad ways. He gave back the money he had no right to take, and he became a follower of Jesus. It was then that Jesus made friends with Zacchaeus.​—Luke 19:1-10.

So Jesus made friends only with persons who loved and served God. He was kind to other people. He would even visit their homes to talk to them about God. But he did not make friends with them unless they became his followers. He did not even make friends with that rich young man who did good things but who would not serve God completely.

To be like Jesus, you and I must follow Jesus’ example. We should be kind to all persons. But we should not make friends with everyone. We must not make friends with persons who do not love God and serve him.

Why is it wrong to make friends with persons like that? What could happen if we did? We could become like those persons. We could lose our love for Jehovah God. So, let’s be wise and follow the example of Jesus, shall we? Let’s make friends only with those who really do love God.

“He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.”​—Prov. 13:20.

Have You Entered the Great Contest of Faith?

Have You Entered the Great Contest of Faith?

“Fight the fine fight of the faith, get a firm hold on the everlasting life.”​—1 Tim. 6:12.

1. What timely questions are asked about the hundreds of millions of persons professing Christianity?

IT IS estimated that today 924,274,000 persons profess Christianity. Do you think that the majority of these persons are running the great race for the faith? Have they taken hold on everlasting life? Or, do you think that the majority of those in Christendom believe that they have gained what life they have through an evolutionary process? Many of Christendom’s schools teach evolution, not creation by God, as the Bible states. Which way do you lean?

2. How do many in the denominational systems of Christendom view Christ Jesus, as well as the Creation and Flood accounts?

2 In the denominational systems of Christendom it is generally understood that Jesus was the founder of Christianity, but today a number of the so-called modernists, and those of little faith, do not accept Jesus Christ as their redeemer from death. They look upon Jesus as an ordinary man who had a very fine philosophy, taught many good things and led an exemplary life. But as for his being the Son of God born of the virgin Mary, and providing the ransom price for all mankind, well, that is going too far for them. And then there is the creation of Adam and Eve by God, and the story of Noah with his ark. Does it take too much faith for you to believe all that also?

3, 4. (a) What was the apostle Peter’s view of the Flood account, and of what concern should that be to Roman Catholics? (b) How did Jesus show his faith in the Flood account and its significance to mankind?

3 Well, what about Peter, who many say was the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church? He believed the Holy Scriptures just as Christ Jesus did and he said: “I am arousing your clear thinking faculties by way of a reminder, that you should remember the sayings previously spoken by the holy prophets . . . For, according to their [that is, the scoffers’] wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; and by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.”​—2 Pet. 3:1-7.

4 Maybe you do not have faith like Peter’s, but Peter believed the things he wrote about the flood of Noah’s day because he had faith in what was “spoken by the holy prophets” and by Christ Jesus, who said: “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” (Matt. 24:37-39) Here Jesus was answering a question put to him by his disciples, namely: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matt. 24:3) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, described to his disciples the many things that would happen at the conclusion of this system of things, or, if you prefer the expression, the “end of the world.” Read the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. It may rekindle a fire in you and you may want to enter the great contest of faith. If you already believe God’s Word it will certainly help you to continue fighting a fine fight for the faith.

5, 6. In whose rule was Jesus primarily interested, and how did he show this?

5 Jesus declared that one of the big events that would take place world wide in the last days of this system of things would be a great preaching work concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus prophesied: “And 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.

6 Jesus startled people by saying something that millions of people are still saying: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9, 10, King James Version) Were you taught that prayer and have you prayed it once in a while in your life? But how many persons saying these words really want Jehovah God’s kingdom to come to take over the rulership of this earth? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did! Do you?

IN WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST?

7. How did Jesus school his disciples in showing interest in God’s kingdom?

7 Jesus’ whole interest in life was in God’s kingdom. It still is. In his Sermon on the Mount he said: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33) Jesus trained people to talk about this kingdom, and he sent his twelve disciples out to tell other persons about the Kingdom. He said: “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free.” (Matt. 10:7, 8) Jesus wanted his disciples to help people everywhere to understand that the only hope for mankind to get hold of everlasting life was through God’s kingdom. “Now when Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he set out from there to teach and preach in their cities.” (Matt. 11:1) After teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum and doing some wonderful works Jesus told his disciples: “‘Let us go somewhere else, into the village towns nearby, that I may preach there also, for it is for this purpose I have gone out.’ And he did go, preaching in their synagogues throughout the whole of Galilee and expelling the demons.”​—Mark 1:38, 39.

8. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, did the importance of God’s kingdom fade from the minds of his followers? Why?

8 For three and one half years Jesus devoted himself to teaching and preaching and his only theme was the kingdom of God and the blessings that it would bring to mankind. Then he died upon the torture stake. But he knew that the good news of the Kingdom had to be preached right on down to the end of this system of things. That is why Jesus, after being raised from the dead, said to his followers: “Go therefore 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.

9. At Pentecost what did Peter preach, and to whom and with what results?

9 We learn from the Holy Scriptures in the book of Acts, chapter two, that after Jesus ascended into heaven he sent the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost of the year 33 C.E., and the 120 disciples that Jesus taught and trained were all filled with this active force from God. It was on that day that Peter went out before the great crowds in the city of Jerusalem and eloquently spoke to thousands of persons. On hearing the message that Peter delivered on that day, many got saved from that crooked generation and they were baptized. From that day on, the good news of the Kingdom started to go on to the ends of the earth. There were in Jerusalem at that time “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the district of Asia, and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya, which is toward Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians.” (Acts 2:9-11) In fact, fifteen nationalities were represented, having come there from many parts of the then known world, and the record shows that many who heard Peter’s message that day were baptized. These Jews and proselytes believed in Jehovah God and now they accepted Christ Jesus and were glad to carry back to their different countries and lands the message that they had heard. They were Jehovah’s Christian witnesses now because they had faith in God’s Son, Christ Jesus, who redeemed them from death, and they believed in the kingdom of God. They, too, were now entering the great contest of faith and would have to stand up against many different religions that people in their lands believed. Christianity was off to a good start. These dedicated, baptized people must now be evangelizers, which meant they would try to convert others to Christianity, and Jesus’ words that “you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth” must have fulfillment.​—Acts 1:8.

THE EXPANSION BEGINS

10. Show how people in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria received the witness of the truth following Pentecost.

10 There is much evidence in the Word of God to show that Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria received a very fine witness. Philip the evangelizer went down to the city of Samaria, and the crowds paid attention to what he had to say. Peter started things going with the Gentiles by talking to Cornelius, who got baptized and, being begotten by holy spirit, proved that he, too, was a Christian. We also read about Paul and Barnabas and their ministry in these words: “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) There was great expansion work going on in those early days of Christianity, and people who listened to the truth from the Word of God got together in congregations and became very active in doing God’s will. Acts 9:31 tells us: “Then, indeed, the congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up; and as it walked in the fear of Jehovah and in the comfort of the holy spirit it kept on multiplying.” This peaceful condition occurred before the conversion of Cornelius, and even though Gentiles were converted after this particular time it did not disturb the Jewish Christian congregations in any way because now they understood that a worldwide evangelizing work must be pushed forward.

11. What good advice did the apostle Paul give young Timothy concerning the preaching work?

11 The apostle Paul was the faithful Christian that helped the young man Timothy to take a firm stand for the truth and to “fight the fine fight of the faith.” It must have given Paul a lot of satisfaction to see a young man like Timothy become so zealous and reach out for the office of overseer in a congregation of God and do so well in his work. Being a man who had such a firm hold on everlasting life, Paul could also admonish Timothy to “preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season . . . keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:2-5) There were many men like Paul and Timothy preaching the good news of the Kingdom in those early days. Today likewise there are many dedicated men and women doing this work.

12. (a) How might some reply to the words of Jesus, “Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door”? (b) How only can one gain Christ’s approval?

12 What would you do if you were to meet Jesus journeying from city to city and village to village? Would you, like a certain man, say to him: “Lord, are those who are being saved few?” In reply to this man and those with him Jesus said: “Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able.” Would that answer disturb you and would you say, like many people today: “I know Christ Jesus. I go to church. I eat and drink at the Communion in remembrance of Christ.” That certain man heard Jesus say of those professing to know him: “I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!” (Luke 13:23-27) It takes a lot more than just talk and an outward appearance. A person must show his faith and works if he is going to get favor from Christ Jesus. He must exert himself vigorously to get in through the narrow door. He must “fight the fine fight of the faith” in order to get a “firm hold on the everlasting life.” Do you? Is your religion easy? James said: “Faith without works is dead.”​—Jas. 2:26.

13. What were Paul’s words regarding the need to exert oneself vigorously?

13 There are too many people in Christendom today who are begging off. They do not want to do the work that Christ Jesus was doing when he was on earth, nor that of his disciples. That is why the apostle Paul so emphatically said to the Hebrews in the letter he wrote to them: “See that you do not beg off from him who is speaking. For if they did not escape who begged off from him who was giving divine warning upon earth, much more shall we not if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens.” (Heb. 12:25) Do you beg off from what God’s written Word says, and still call yourself a Christian? You should thank God that not everyone has begged off and that there are still some people who are putting up a fine fight for the faith and warning the nations of the impending end of this system of things and announcing the kingdom of God, which is about to rule fully over this earth.

THE GOOD NEWS REACHES AFRICA

14, 15. (a) Why can it be said that Christendom is not vigorously preaching God’s kingdom in Africa today? (b) How did the Kingdom-preaching work of Jehovah’s witnesses get started in West Africa in our day?

14 In the early days of Christianity when Peter spoke on the day of Pentecost some who heard had come from Egypt and Libya. When we think of these nations we think of the continent of Africa. Is the good news of God’s kingdom being vigorously preached in Africa today? Surely Christendom is not declaring God’s kingdom as man’s only hope, because it says the United Nations organization is man’s only hope. But have Jehovah’s Christian witnesses been evangelizing in this continent, trying to establish faith in Christ Jesus and God’s kingdom? Let us take a look.

15 It was in 1923 that W. R. Brown, one of Jehovah’s witnesses who later became known as “Bible Brown,” left his native land of Trinidad in the West Indies, along with his wife and young family, and traveled to Africa. He had faith, faith in Jehovah God and his Son, Christ Jesus, and in God’s kingdom. He wanted the people of West Africa to know about God’s kingdom and he went there to preach the good news. He traveled in many countries of West Africa​—Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and others—​and endured many hardships.

16. For what reasons did the preaching activity move forward in Nigeria between the years 1931 and 1946?

16 In 1931 “Bible Brown” settled in Lagos, Nigeria, and established an office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. At their first convention, there were only ten delegates in attendance. This did not discourage “Bible Brown.” He realized that, while many people in Nigeria could speak English, no great impression could be made upon these people until literature was available in their native tongues. The Society arranged for the translation of some publications in the Yoruba language, as well as Ibo, Itsekiri, Hausa and Efik. With these publications in their languages the people could be reached and, by having Bible studies in their own homes, faith in God’s Word could be established. By 1939 Jehovah’s witnesses numbered 636. These Christians regularly preached along with “Bible Brown,” declaring the Kingdom good news. Then came the second world war. The government prohibited the importation of the Society’s publications. The ban was lifted in 1946, but during the years between 1939 and 1946, by just using the Bible, Jehovah’s Christian congregation in Nigeria had grown to 3,542 persons.

17, 18. How did graduates of Gilead School help the progress of the work?

17 During the second world war the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society opened the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. In 1943 the first graduates of this missionary school were ready to be sent out to carry on evangelizing work in all parts of the world. By 1947 the first graduates of Gilead School were allowed to enter Lagos, Nigeria.

18 Because of the high rate of illiteracy it was necessary to teach many Africans how to read and write, and in 1948 a literacy campaign was launched through reading classes in the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses. Literally thousands of West Africans have been taught to read and write through these free instruction classes in reading and writing. Now many more disciples have been added to the Christian ministry, preaching the good news of God’s kingdom.

19. What changes did the honest-hearted ones in Nigeria make upon hearing the truth of the Bible?

19 Tens of thousands of people approached with the Bible message were Catholics and Protestants, but, even so, many were still living in polygamy. Before any of these could become Jehovah’s Christian witnesses they had to adjust their lives to become acceptable. The Bible says a man should be “a husband of one wife” and that each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Cor. 7:2) Why is it that Christendom’s religious denominations allow their members to live in polygamy when the Bible speaks against this practice for Christians? What a marvelous change has taken place in the lives of these Nigerians and peoples of other nations throughout Africa who made a similar decision to fight a fine fight for the faith. Even though their former religious leaders in Christendom ridiculed them, this did not make any difference to these true Christians because, like the apostle Paul, they wanted to say: “I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith.”​—2 Tim. 4:7.

20. What has happened in West Africa in the last fifty years because of the Kingdom proclamation?

20 Today, nearly fifty years after “Bible Brown” went to Africa to promote true Christian faith, we find that there are over 118,000 of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses declaring the good news of God’s kingdom in seven countries of West Africa.

21, 22. What problems have come upon Jehovah’s witnesses in Zambia, and how have these affected the activity of God’s servants?

21 Let us look at a country in Central Africa, Zambia. The preaching of God’s kingdom had its beginning there in 1924. For many years, due to unjust bans, persecution and harassment of Jehovah’s witnesses, things went slowly. It was not until 1947 that things really began to move forward, with 6,114 individuals preaching the good news of the Kingdom. The country was then known as Northern Rhodesia. In 1948 a branch office was established in Lusaka and in just one year the publishers increased to 11,606. The year 1948 also saw the arrival of the first graduates of Gilead School. These came to assist in the evangelizing activity and to aid in organizing the Christian work. They also assisted the congregations in their reading and writing program.

22 Recently the government asked the Watch Tower missionaries to leave the country, and the officials last year announced that Jehovah’s witnesses may no longer go from house to house to make converts to the Christian faith. Now Jehovah’s witnesses may speak about the Bible only to their own associates so as to build them up in the faith, and to those who inquire about their Christian work. In spite of these restrictions on going from house to house and village to village, the report from Zambia for the 1970 service year shows that the people of Zambia want to hear what Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have to say and thousands of newly interested persons are coming to their Kingdom Halls. The actual number of individuals and households interested in having Jehovah’s witnesses study the Bible with them every week this past year numbered 33,699, and 50,655 Christian witnesses of Jehovah shared in declaring this Kingdom good news during 1970. In fact, 157,013 Zambians attended the Memorial of Christ Jesus’ death on the night of March 22, 1970.

23. What outside testimony on how the Kingdom message changes people do we have from The African Weekly?

23 Directing the minds of the people of Zambia to the Bible has had a good moral effect. In The African Weekly of August 30, 1950, it was reported: “Watchtower Christians in the townships . . . are very active, but I am glad to report that their activities are very good indeed, and are reducing fighting among the Africans in these townships. Once they join the Watchtower . . . those Christians [Jehovah’s witnesses] do not fight among themselves. They do not go to beer halls to be mixed up with other fellows or women.” The moral standard of Jehovah’s witnesses in Zambia is based on the Bible and is the same as that of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world. Today, in Zambia, there is one witness of Jehovah for every 89 Zambians. It can truly be said that every family in Zambia has heard the good news of God’s kingdom. Whether they will fight the fine fight of the faith and get a firm hold on the everlasting life is for each one to decide. They can never say, ‘We did not have a chance to hear the good news.’

24. Show wherein progress has been made in Africa during the past thirty years.

24 Nineteen hundred years ago some Christians left Jerusalem after hearing Peter, and went to Egypt, Libya and perhaps other parts of that great continent. Philip talked to an Ethiopian eunuch who was returning to his homeland. Can it be said that the witness of Jesus has been given to the most distant part of the earth, including Africa? The chart below shows what Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have been doing.

AFRICA

Number of Number of

In the Lands where Jehovah’s witnesses Gilead

year work was done preaching graduates

1940 11 6,612 —

1950 29 53,787 46

1960 42 131,321 177

1970 51 250,915 328

ON TO ASIA

25. What problems do Christians face in bringing the Kingdom message to Asia?

25 On the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. people from Parthia, Media, Elam, Cappadocia and the district of Asia heard what Peter had to say. What about today? The greater part of Asia is non-Christian. The Moslem religion holds sway over a population of approximately 374,000,000, the Shintoists number 70,000,000, Taoists 54,000,000, Confucianists 371,000,000, Buddhists 176,000,000, and Hindus 435,000,000. Throughout all of Asia there are approximately 120,000,000 professing Christianity. But are these showing faith in God’s kingdom? Do they preach it? No! They just belong to a sect of Christendom and in most instances have a second non-Christian religion. But is the good news of God’s kingdom heard in Asia at all now? Yes it is!

26, 27. Despite what type of persecution did Jehovah’s Christian witnesses continue forward in Korea, resulting in what progress by 1970?

26 In 1949 the Watch Tower Society was able to send its first missionaries to Korea, when only thirteen persons in the whole country were doing the work that Jehovah’s witnesses do, namely, going from house to house to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. In those days the missionaries met five Christian women who had stood firm, even in a concentration camp. During the time that the Japanese controlled Korea these five Christian women, bound in chains, refused to bow to the emperor and accept his religion. Their torture was severe, but they continued fighting a fine fight for the faith. They were released following the second world war and were very anxious to continue on in declaring the Kingdom good news. They are doing so to this day.

27 How did the Koreans respond to the good news? By 1960 the Watch Tower Society had sent twenty-two missionaries, and more than 3,800 Koreans had joined them in the work. In 1970 there were 12,267 preaching and teaching the good news of God’s kingdom. It is truly remarkable to see that 6,575 Koreans were baptized during the past three years, which means that one half of all the witnesses of Jehovah in Korea have entered the great contest for the faith since 1967.

28, 29. Why has Kingdom witnessing in India required Jehovah’s servants to exert themselves vigorously?

28 We might look at another country of Asia, namely, India. What has happened there? In 1914 Jehovah’s witnesses had four representatives there. It was not until 1926, though, that the Watch Tower Society opened an office in Bombay. This was done by some very zealous young Christian men from England who believed that India should have evangelizing work done there. They found it very difficult to convince the Hindus that the Bible is truly the Word of God, for the Hindus have been steeped in their religious beliefs for centuries. But progress was made and by April of 1947 the first two graduates of Gilead School were able to enter the country to help those already putting up a fine fight for the faith.

29 India is a country of many gods, many languages, many customs and many ways of life. A missionary must adjust himself so as to reach different personalities. All kinds of people make up Jehovah’s creation. So no matter where they may be on earth they must be given the opportunity to hear about God’s kingdom, even though very few will accept it. Their work has been rewarding, because today there are 3,347 persons proclaiming the kingdom of God in spite of the greatest obstacles. Could you represent and be ‘substituting for Christ’ in a land like India? It certainly would test one’s fighting ability.​—2 Cor. 5:20.

30. (a) What was Brother Russell’s conclusion after visiting Japan? (b) What problems did Jehovah’s witnesses have to face once the preaching work got under way in Japan?

30 In comparison with many other parts of the earth, Japan had to wait longer to hear the good news of the Kingdom. In the year 1912 the first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Charles T. Russell, visited Japan as the head of a committee of the International Bible Students Association, investigating the religious field in the Orient. They noticed that the missionaries of orthodox Christianity were considerably discouraged and Pastor Russell concluded that what the Japanese people needed was the gospel of the Kingdom, the announcing of the second coming of Christ and the establishment of his righteous kingdom. However, it was not until 1927 that an American-Japanese person was sent to Japan to try to open up the work. With the aid of a number of pioneers working hard, a peak of 110 ministers was reached in 1938. In that year, 1,125,817 copies of the Golden Age magazine, forerunner of the Awake! magazine, were distributed among the Japanese people. Then, on June 21, 1939, all of Jehovah’s witnesses were arrested. Other members of so-called Christian organizations were not arrested, because the government did not object as long as those who belonged to their so-called Christian churches also worshiped the Shinto gods, of which there were eight million. However, Jehovah’s witnesses were frowned upon for their noncompliance in worshiping the Shinto gods. And so they were charged with “advocating a Jehovah monotheism.” Through a long trial, held behind closed doors, those who refused to renounce their God Jehovah were sentenced to prison for five years, and some were sentenced again after the first term expired. Those still in prison at the time of the American occupation in 1945 were released.

31, 32. (a) Give evidence to show that the work of Jehovah’s witnesses has moved forward since 1949. (b) Show wherein progress has been made in Asia in the past thirty years.

31 The Society had hopes of opening up its Christian work again among the more than 82 million people in Japan and did so in 1949, when a number of Japanese Hawaiians trained at the missionary school of Gilead reached Japan. By 1950 the Watch Tower Society sent twenty-six missionaries to Japan and by 1960 there were seventy missionaries. By 1970 there were eighty. Did those preaching the good news of the Kingdom have good success? Today the number of Japanese people doing the work Jesus said would be done totals 9,478.

32 The Society started printing the Watchtower magazine in Japanese in 1951 and then the Awake! magazine in 1956. And today we are printing upward of 7,400,000 magazines every year in Japan. There are now 228 Christian congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses there. Look at all of Asia by means of this chart and see what has happened in thirty years.

ASIA

Number of Number of

In the Lands where Jehovah’s witnesses Gilead

year work was done preaching graduates

1940 7 541 —

1950 15 1,485 69

1960 26 11,568 265

1970 28 30,693 257

ON TO EUROPE

33. To what extent is God’s kingdom being preached in Europe today, and how have Jehovah’s witnesses proved to be different from the denominations of Christendom?

33 On the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. there were some people in Jerusalem from Rome, and undoubtedly they took back the message of the Kingdom to others in Rome. But much later Paul and other disciples of Christ Jesus carried the message to Greece, Italy and perhaps Spain, as well as other parts of Europe. Today the good news of God’s kingdom is being preached throughout all of Europe, in all the countries of that continent. Even during World War I and throughout World War II when all religious denominations of Christendom were at war with one another, cutting one another’s throats, the true Christian witnesses of Jehovah were busy preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. They suffered for it because they would not join in killing their neighbors, and in Germany thousands were put in prisons or sent to Hitler’s concentration camps.

34. What position did Hitler and his government take toward Jehovah’s witnesses?

34 When Hitler took power in January of 1933 it became apparent that he was determined to wield his power ruthlessly against Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. He did ban their work in 1933, and thousands upon thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses were hunted down like animals and arrested. For many months special courts were busy sentencing people who prior to that time had never appeared before a court for any wrongdoing. Terms of imprisonment were for five and more years. Later many were sent to concentration camps, and from all outward appearances it looked as though Jehovah’s Christian witnesses were to become extinct.

35. (a) Between 1932 and 1946 what happened to Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany? (b) Since that time how has Jehovah blessed his people in that land on both sides of the Iron Curtain?

35 In 1932 when the last report was received from Germany and before the ban was placed on Jehovah’s witnesses, there were 14,453 sharing in the Kingdom declaration. By 1946, following the collapse of the German war machine and the opening of the gates of the concentration camps​—but not the graves—​there were 11,415 dedicated Christians still in the great contest for the faith. Ten years later this number grew to 50,530, and by 1970 in Western Germany there were 86,252 Christian witnesses of Jehovah. The survivors never gave up! They preached! There is another group in West Berlin, now numbering 5,396 Christian witnesses, going from house to house. And in East Germany, where the witness work is carried on behind the Berlin wall and Iron Curtain, there are many more thousands of Witnesses telling East Germans, now under Communistic rule, about God’s kingdom, but not with the same freedom of speech as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have west of the Iron Curtain. Proving faithful to right principles brought death to thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany, but the survivors brought salvation to tens of thousands, and they are still helping people to get a firm hold on everlasting life.

36. How have the people of France been helped to hear the good news of the Kingdom?

36 France has always been a staunch Catholic religious center. History shows how powerful cardinals often ruled in French politics. However, in the “last days” the good news of God’s kingdom had to be preached, and it began to be around the year 1904. It had a small beginning, and by August 27, 1919, the work of Jehovah’s witnesses was legally recognized. In 1940, because of Hitler’s take-over, the 320 publishers of the good news were forced underground. But after the war in 1947 when the ban was lifted, there appeared on the scene of action 2,380 persons. Even under years of difficult conditions the preaching had continued with fine success. At the first international assembly held in Paris, in the Palais des Sports in 1951, 10,456 persons came out to hear the Society’s president talk on the subject “Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?” In that year there were 7,136 of Jehovah’s witnesses preaching God’s kingdom throughout France. Today, just about twenty-three years after Jehovah’s witnesses were again legally recognized in 1947, we find a fast-growing organization, with 36,721 ministers giving a mighty witness to Jehovah God and his Son, Christ Jesus.

37. When did the preaching work begin to move forward in Italy, and what problems have Jehovah’s witnesses had to meet and surmount?

37 A new and flourishing era opened up in Italy for Jehovah’s witnesses immediately after World War II. Even while the second world war was on, the Society invited some Italian-Americans to attend Gilead School and to prepare themselves for service in Italy as soon as it was possible to send evangelizers in. The first one arrived in October 1946. There were only 120 of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses preaching in that land then. In this Catholic-dominated country where Communism is growing very rapidly the people are very unsettled and, strange as it may seem, are anxious to know what the Bible really teaches. In 1970 there were 372 congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses scattered throughout Italy from the tip of the boot up to the border of Switzerland, with 18,636 Christian witnesses of Jehovah telling the people the truth from God’s Word, and exposing the error of the crumbling organization of Christendom. It takes faith to stand for God’s kingdom and against the Hierarchy of the Vatican.

38. (a) What prophecy of Daniel is in course of fulfillment now? (b) How much progress has been made in Europe in the past thirty years?

38 Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are growing fast in three of the strongest Catholic countries of Europe. But this is true for all of Europe. Jesus said that the message he gave to his disciples should be preached to the most distant part of the earth. It is being done today and thousands upon thousands of persons now know that the prophecy of Daniel is having fulfillment wherein it states: “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) Do you believe what Jehovah God inspired Daniel to write? This chart should help you to see that hundreds of thousands of dedicated persons do.

EUROPE

Number of Number of

In the Lands where Jehovah’s witnesses Gilead

year work was done preaching graduates

1940 13 17,414 —

1950 24 142,675 101

1960 26 337,053 305

1970 30 442,707 339

ON TO THE ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN

39, 40. Where else has the Kingdom message gone in modern times, and why do Jehovah’s witnesses feel a heavy responsibility in this regard?

39 The disciples of Christ Jesus visited the islands of the Mediterranean. But as for the islands of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the western hemisphere, these were parts of the world unheard of. But today all these places are included in “the most distant part of the earth.”

40 Jehovah’s witnesses feel the responsibility to preach and teach and want to ‘make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all the things Christ commanded.’ (Matt. 28:19, 20) So a great preaching and teaching work must reach out to the islands.

41, 42. (a) How was interference brought to bear against the Kingdom preaching of Jehovah’s witnesses in the Dominican Republic? (b) To what extent were they persecuted in that land?

41 The Dominican Republic received its first missionaries from the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in the year 1945. When these missionaries arrived, there was no one known to be a witness of Jehovah. Up until 1949 there was very little opposition to their evangelizing work. But in that year a Roman Catholic priest opposed the activity and threatened to have some of the missionaries put out of the country. By this time there were twenty-two missionaries in various cities of this land. The Catholic priests were warning their parishioners not to have anything to do with Jehovah’s witnesses. Later they induced the police to take the names of those of their church attending the meetings of Jehovah’s witnesses. By June of 1950 the branch servant was called to the office of the Secretary of the Interior and given instructions to the effect that the propagating work of Jehovah’s witnesses was against the law of the land and was banned.

42 During the period of this ban the Witnesses met in private homes of interested people. For a short time in 1956 the opposition lessened, but then suddenly a great persecution fell upon all of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the Dominican Republic. The Witnesses were sought out, beaten and jailed. The Roman Catholic priests took the lead in heaping reproach upon them. They used sound cars, beginning early in the morning telling the people not to talk to Jehovah’s witnesses and to burn their literature or to give it to the priest to burn. Some of the homes of Jehovah’s witnesses were stoned by Catholic youths egged on by the priests. The missionaries were expelled. The reason​—telling the truths that Jesus spoke in his day.

43. Then what changes took place, resulting in an expanded witness?

43 After a few years the government changed, the Catholic church lost much of its hold and influence, not only with the government, but with the people. The Watchtower missionaries were allowed to return in 1960. Today there are thirty-five missionaries in the Dominican Republic and a fine Christian organization of 3,591, and the people are listening. In this little island of the Caribbean Jehovah’s witnesses suffered much, but the joy of returning and enlightening the people is worth it all. They entered the great contest for the faith and stayed with it. Jehovah blessed his witnesses, and today they are preaching the good news of God’s kingdom everywhere throughout the island.

44. (a) When was the first congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses organized in Cuba, and what progress was made up until 1959? (b) What does the report show since then?

44 Cuba, too, has an interesting history as a Catholic country. As far back as 1918 the good news of the kingdom of Jehovah God reached this country. The first congregation was organized in 1922, and there was a convention attended by 100 persons in Palma Soriano, Oriente. The preaching of the good news continued to make steady progress, and by 1944 it was possible to send some of the graduates of the Watchtower School of Gilead to Cuba. By the end of that year there were 1,260 Witnesses. The work grew steadily, and by 1959 there were 12,140 of Jehovah’s witnesses in the island, with twenty-two missionaries. Then came a change in government, and for a few years there were no particular difficulties. Finally, however, the importation of all literature was held up and local printing was stopped. But the work of giving the witness to God’s kingdom continued in private homes through the Bible study work. Pressures grew against the preaching of God’s kingdom, and many Kingdom Halls were closed and some burned, but still the ministry continued. There are many more of Jehovah’s witnesses in Cuba today than there were back in 1965 when the last report of their activity appeared in the Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At that time there were 18,078 regular workers. From 1959 to 1965 the number of Witnesses grew from 12,000 to 18,000. No matter what the handicaps in a land may be, a true, live Christian is going to preach and teach and keep a strong grip on life.

45-47. (a) What early history do we have concerning Cyprus, and who went on their first missionary tour there? (b) What has happened in modern times? (c) Give a résumé of the preaching work in the past thirty years in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Caribbean islands.

45 Cyprus is in the Mediterranean and was visited quite often by early Christians. Congregations were established there. The persecution of Christians that followed the martyrdom of Stephen and the subsequent dispersion resulted in some disciples’ going to Cyprus, where they witnessed to the resident Jews. Certain Cypriot Christians went to the city of Antioch, opposite Cyprus near the Syrian coast, and preached with much success among people who, like themselves, were Greek speaking. (Acts 11:19, 20) When Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by John Mark, were sent out from Antioch on their first missionary tour, their initial territory was in the home island of Barnabas, namely, Cyprus.

46 Today eight evangelizers from Gilead School have been sent to the island. Twelve congregations are established and 562 ministers of God’s kingdom speak peace to the inhabitants of a troubled land.

47 Here is a progress report for the islands of the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean over a span of thirty years.

ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC, MEDITERRANEAN AND CARIBBEAN

Number of Number of

In the Lands where Jehovah’s witnesses Gilead

year work was done preaching graduates

1940 6 803 —

1950 16 12,938 148

1960 43 25,508 187

1970 42 49,337 163

ON TO THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

48. After Charles T. Russell preached in the Philippines in 1912, how did people respond?

48 The islands of the Pacific are numerous and Jehovah’s witnesses have not reached them all. Looking first at the Philippine Islands, we find this country made up of 7,100 islands extending 1,150 miles north and south and 682 miles east and west. Eleven of the islands comprise the bulk of the area. Only 462 islands have areas of more than one square mile. Going back to the year 1912, we find that Charles T. Russell visited Manila and delivered a public address in the Manila Opera House. The interest aroused by his lectures caused many persons to write the Watch Tower Society in America for literature for themselves and many of them, so convinced that what they heard was the truth, took up the distribution of the books to friends.

49. How did Jehovah’s witnesses preach in the Philippine Islands during World War II?

49 On December 7, 1941, war broke out in the Pacific. The Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands. The branch servant, an American citizen, was interned by the Japanese. The branch office was closed. Jehovah’s witnesses were hunted down. But many kept themselves free and continued to declare the good news of the Kingdom right straight through the war by preaching in small towns and in the mountains where many witnesses of Jehovah fled with the refugees. A good work was done.

50. What has contributed to the expansion of the Kingdom work in the Philippines since 1947?

50 In 1947 N. H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society, visited the newly reestablished branch office and gave a public talk to 4,200 persons. In that year 2,902 ministers were engaging in house-to-house work. It was not long before many of the Society’s publications were published in the numerous languages of the Philippine Republic. Then many Filipino brothers were called to Gilead School. These were trained and sent back to the Philippine Islands to help in better organizing the preaching work. By 1960 there were 31,608 associated with Jehovah’s witnesses in preaching the good news, and in 1970 there were 54,789. They are established in 1,309 congregations.

51, 52. (a) How were pressures brought against the work of Jehovah’s witnesses in the Fiji Islands? (b) What has been the situation since 1945?

51 The Fiji Islands of the South Pacific are well known, and travelers to the islands find Fijians to be a very interesting people. Some of Jehovah’s witnesses from Australia visited these islands in the “twenties” and it was not long before a healthy congregation was established. This small group of Christians did not pass unnoticed by the opposers of the Bible truth. Clergymen began denouncing the message. In 1932 the governor of the islands even jailed one of the Witnesses for being a Christian. Legislation was soon passed prohibiting the entry of Bible literature of the Watch Tower Society. Even books that had been shipped into the country were gathered up and burned. However, by January of 1941 the prohibition order against the importation of the Society’s literature was made even more stringent and severe penalties were imposed upon those found with literature in their possession.

52 After the end of the second world war the prohibition on literature was eased, and in 1945 the government proclamation was that literature approved by the government could be allowed in the country. Public meetings are now freely held. It proved to be a long, steady and persistent fight for the faith on the part of Jehovah’s witnesses in Fiji, but a good witness is being given, and November 9 to 12, 1969, an international assembly was held in Suva with 1,621 attending.

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