Wednesday, April 7 All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. —2 Tim. 3:12. In 2018, more than 223,000 publishers of the good news lived in lands where our spiritual activities were banned or severely restricted. This is not surprising. True Christians expect to be persecuted. No matter where we live, secular authorities may suddenly and unexpectedly ban us [...]
Jeremiah was originally commissioned by Jehovah to serve as a prophet to the nations and Jerusalem. In the opening chapter, God informed Jeremiah that He had sanctified him even before he was born. In that, we are reminded that those chosen to be in union with Jesus were foreordained before the founding of the world. There is no evidence that Jeremiah personally conveyed denunciatory messages to [...]
Wednesday, March 24 Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? —Matt. 24:45. In 1919, Jesus appointed a small group of anointed brothers as “the faithful and discreet slave.” That slave takes the lead in the preaching work and gives Christ’s followers “food at the proper time.” Satan and his world have done much to make the work of that faithful slave challenging, even impossible, to carry [...]
Tuesday, March 16 In the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule. —2 Pet. 3:3. As Satan’s system nears its end, we can expect to face ever more difficult tests of loyalty to God and his Kingdom. We will likely continue to be the target of ridicule. This may especially happen as our neutrality is tested more and more. We must strengthen our loyalty now so that [...]
For the past 150 years the Watchtower has boldly interpreted Bible prophecy in an attempt to reveal the things to come and place itself as the city of light. Consequently, the flock has been convinced that Christ has already returned and we are living deep in the time of the end, which is believed to have begun in 1914. In reality, because the seers have [...]
Human progress has been the normal trend for a long time. Over the past 250 years, the world has been transformed by countless inventions and especially advances in energy production. For thousands of years burning wood was the sole method used to stay warm and cook food. An oil lamp or candle was the only way to produce light. Food production was limited to the [...]
This article has been revised from it originally posting in 2014 When Jesus walked through the land of Palestine he healed the sick and the lame. He opened the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf and expelled the demons from their victims with just a word. He even raised the dead. Yet, although God enabled him to perform all manner of jaw-dropping [...]
I recently watched Kenneth Cook’s revised view on the judgment of the sheep and the goats. It has changed four times only to revert back to Russell’s teaching. Would you give your interpretation as to when the judgment begins? (Video is part of the Annual Meeting program) It has been a quarter of a century since the Watchtower last revised their understanding of the parable, [...]
Sunday, February 21 The plans of the diligent surely lead to success. —Prov. 21:5. Jesus likened our time to “the days of Noah,” and there is no doubt that we are living in “critical times hard to deal with.” (Matt. 24:37; 2 Tim. 3:1) With that reality in mind, some couples have concluded that they would like to postpone having children so that they can devote more time [...]
Friday, February 19 Come . . . into an isolated place and rest up a little. —Mark 6:31. Jesus knew that at times he and the apostles needed some rest. However, many people back then and many today can be likened to the rich man in Jesus’ illustration. That man convinced himself: “Take it easy, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.” (Luke 12:19; 2 Tim. 3:4) He set his heart on rest and [...]
