ptr040

What the Near Future Holds!
040 - Reference Material

(Matthew 24:3,34) While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "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?" 34 Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.

(Matthew 24:3) While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "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?"

(Isaiah 42:9) "The first things-here they have come, but new things I am telling out. Before they begin to spring up, I cause YOU people to hear [them]."

(Isaiah 46:9,10) Remember the first things of a long time ago, that I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me; 10 the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, 'My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do';

(Matthew 24:3,7-14) While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: "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?" 7 "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. 9 "Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. 10 Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; 12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. 13 But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. 14 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.

(1 Thessalonians 5:3) Whenever it is that they are saying: "Peace and security!" then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape.

(Revelation 7:14) So right away I said to him: "My lord, you are the one that knows." And he said to me: "These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

(Revelation 17:16) And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire.

(Revelation 18:8,21) That is why 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. 21 And a strong angel lifted up a stone like a great millstone and hurled it into the sea, saying: "Thus with a swift pitch will Babylon the great city be hurled down, and she will never be found again.

(Ezekiel 38:11,16) and you must say: "I shall go up against the land of open rural country. I shall come in upon those having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them dwelling without wall, and they do not have even bar and doors." 16 And you will be bound to come up against my people Israel, like clouds to cover the land. In the final part of the days it will occur, and I shall certainly bring you against my land, for the purpose that the nations may know me when I sanctify myself in you before their eyes, O Gog."'

(Ezekiel 38:18-22) "'And it must occur in that day, in the day when Gog comes in upon the soil of Israel,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, 'that my rage will come up into my nose. 19 And in my ardor, in the fire of my fury, I shall have to speak. Surely in that day a great quaking will occur in the soil of Israel. 20 And because of me the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the wild beasts of the field and all the creeping things that are creeping on the ground and all mankind that are upon the surface of the ground will be bound to shiver, and the mountains will actually be thrown down and the steep ways will have to fall, and to the earth even every wall will fall.' 21 "'And I will call forth against him throughout all my mountainous region a sword,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. 'Against his own brother the sword of each one will come to be. 22 And I will bring myself into judgment with him, with pestilence and with blood; and a flooding downpour and hailstones, fire and sulphur I shall rain down upon him and upon his bands and upon the many peoples that will be with him.

(Revelation 12:5,10) And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught away to God and to his throne. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!

(Psalm 110:1,2) The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: "Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." 2 The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, [saying:] "Go subduing in the midst of your enemies."

(Zephaniah 2:2,3) Before [the] statute gives birth to [anything], [before the] day has passed by just like chaff, before there comes upon YOU people the burning anger of Jehovah, before there comes upon YOU the day of Jehovah's anger, 3 seek Jehovah, all YOU meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably YOU may be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger.

(James 1:2,3) Consider it all joy, my brothers, when YOU meet with various trials, 3 knowing as YOU do that this tested quality of YOUR faith works out endurance.

(James 5:8) YOU too exercise patience; make YOUR hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close.

(Matthew 24:36-42) "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 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; 39 and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; 41 two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned. 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.

(Habakkuk 3:17,18) Although [the] fig tree itself may not blossom, and there may be no yield on the vines; the work of [the] olive tree may actually turn out a failure, and the terraces themselves may actually produce no food; [the] flock may actually be severed from [the] pen, and there may be no herd in the enclosures; 18 Yet, as for me, I will exult in Jehovah himself; I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.

(2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) This takes into account that it is righteous on God's part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for YOU, 7 but, to YOU who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength,

(Ezekiel 39:9-13) And the inhabitants of the cities of Israel will certainly go forth and burn and build fires with the armor and bucklers and large shields,-with the bows and with the arrows and with the handstaves and with the lances; and with them they will have to light fires seven years. 10 And they will not carry sticks of wood from the field, nor will they gather firewood out of the forests, for with the armor they will light fires.' "'And they will certainly make spoil of those who had been making spoil of them, and plunder those who had been plundering them,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. 11 "'And it must occur in that day that I shall give to Gog a place there, a burial place in Israel, the valley of those passing through on the east of the sea, and it will be stopping up those passing through. And there they will have to bury Gog and all his crowd, and they will be certain to call [it] the Valley of Gog's Crowd. 12 And those of the house of Israel will have to bury them for the purpose of cleansing the land, for seven months. 13 And all the people of the land will have to do the burying, and it will certainly become for them a matter of fame in the day that I glorify myself,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

(Revelation 20:5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

(Revelation 21:5) And the One seated on the throne said: "Look! I am making all things new." Also, he says: "Write, because these words are faithful and true."

(James 1:2,3) Consider it all joy, my brothers, when YOU meet with various trials, 3 knowing as YOU do that this tested quality of YOUR faith works out endurance.

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g80 1/22 5-6 What Is Happening to Prices?

A MAN and his wife stopped at a grocery store to buy just a few small items. The clerk took the $10 bill (U.S.) that the couple gave her in payment, but returned only 40 cents. The wife, expecting much more change, exclaimed: "Oh, Miss, you've given us the wrong change! We gave you a 10-dollar bill!" The clerk answered: "But that IS the right change! Those items now cost $9.60."

The husband held the small bag of items in the palm of one hand, shook his head in disbelief and muttered: "What's happening to prices anyway?"

If you shop on any regular basis, you well know what has happened to most prices: they have been on a relentless surge upward. True, prices have been rising for many years, especially since World War II. But never has the increase been so persistent and so much as it has recently.

Nor is the situation confined to just a few nations. The entire world, practically without exception, is plagued by this phenomenon, including even the tightly controlled economies of Communist lands. And this is unique, because never before have all nations undergone such inflation at the same time.

Of course, wealthier persons are not bothered much by most price increases. They can afford to pay more. But the overwhelming majority of people in the world are not wealthy, and many of them are suffering because of what is happening.

In country after country, polls show that people consider their greatest problem to be inflation. They feel as though they are in a trap that is closing in, with no way out. Many husbands work overtime, or on a second job. Many wives also work now; in some lands more than half of them do. Family life is affected, because one of the major reasons for family breakdowns is the fighting over money.

An American housewife lamented: "I wonder whether we'll ever get ahead." But while she was wondering about 'getting ahead,' others were wondering about survival. A truck driver in Brazil commented: "I'm getting panicky these days with the absurd cost of living. It seems as though there is no way out." In that same land, not unusual is the situation of one husband who has two jobs, works 12 hours a day, six days a week. His wife teaches sewing and also works as a seamstress at home. They stated: "Caring for a family becomes increasingly difficult." Indeed, one janitor in Brazil said: "We are not sure whether we are living or just existing."

It should not be thought that this situation exists only in poorer countries. In the United States, an Atlanta woman works 40 hours a week as a hair stylist and then as a waitress on weekends. She says: "I'd starve to death if I didn't hold down two jobs; there's no way I could pay my rent." Her situation, too, is not all that unusual.

In an African country, a report states that the following is happening due largely to runaway inflation: "More and more people turn to stealing, embezzlement, bribery and any other way they can get money to meet their daily needs."

In highly industrialized Japan, in one period of about seven months nearly 100 people killed themselves because of troubles caused by sarakin (loan sharks). These people had gone deeply into debt, borrowed at high-interest rates, and could not pay the money back. Unable to face life, they committed suicide.

Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., asserted regarding the economic situation: "The party's over." He said that the days of unparalleled prosperity in some places must now be changed for discipline, sacrifice and a lower standard of living.

In France, a commentator declared: "The dream of a 'new society' of abundance promised toward the end of the 1960's and extolled during the early 1970's has died out as inflation has made a lethal attack on the purchasing power in France." Similarly, in the United States the Encyclopedia Americana Annual for 1979 observed: "The American dream, people said, had become a nightmare."

Citicorp, a large bank in the United States, concluded: "The unpleasant fact is that the persistent inflation afflicting most countries will, if allowed to continue, ultimately have consequences that go far beyond what is narrowly defined as economic."

Yes, unchecked inflation can mean much more than just a matter of some people having less. It can threaten the entire way of life of a nation. In fact, in the past it has destroyed the economies of nations. This time, inflation threatens the whole world, and not just economically, but with staggering political and social consequences as well.

Just how much inflation is being experienced now? Why is it happening? What can you do about it? And where

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g80 1/22 6-9 Inflation Tightens Its Grip

"WE HAVE to recognize that we are at war . . . with inflation," declared Business Week magazine. It added: "We are, moreover, losing that war."

The "war" against inflation was being lost in the sense that, regardless of the measures taken so far, inflation has tightened its grip on the world's economy.

As a result, there is a loss of confidence in money-that is, paper money. This can be seen from the price of gold. Historically, gold has been the "money" of last resort, most valued in times of trouble. So it is a kind of "barometer" of economic conditions. Less than 10 years ago the price of gold was $35 (U.S.) an ounce. But in 1979 it went over $444 an ounce! This represents a large measure of lost confidence in paper money, and is an indication of how savage inflation has been.

All during the 19th century prices were relatively stable. But after World War I they became more erratic. Then, after World War II inflation became a part of everyday life. In recent years it has become more pronounced than ever, so that even during recessions inflation persists.

During one month in 1979 inflation in the United States registered 12 percent above the previous year, 15 percent in Japan, 18 percent in Britain and over 10 percent in France. The Federal Republic of Germany, with one of the more stable economies, experienced a 10-percent jump that month.

The Philippines reports that since 1966 the price of food, clothing and fuel has more than quadrupled. The price of Japan's staple food, rice, increased over 500 percent in two decades. Brazil admitted that inflation in 1979 would be about 40 percent, as in 1978. There, the magazine Administracão e Servicos observed, "68 million Brazilians are not able even to think about buying a simple electric iron" because of having to spend their money for necessities.

Some African countries have inflation rates of over 100 percent for just one year. Israel's rate was near that last year, and since its founding over 30 years ago the consumer price index there has risen over 5,000 percent!

The situation in the United States demonstrates what can happen over the years because of inflation. The dollar that was worth 100 cents in 1898 is now worth only 12 cents.

Workers whose wages just keep pace with inflation are being hurt two ways

However, have not wages also increased? Yes, they have. And for many workers wage increases have been greater than the inflation rate, so their standard of living has improved.

That is not the case with many other workers, though. In the United States, for example, about half of all workers find that inflation grows faster than their incomes, meaning a decline in their living standards.

Further, many poor people and persons on fixed incomes have fallen far behind. Note just one sample of this, a retired schoolteacher in New York city, who said:

"My present annual City pension is $4,439 [below the poverty level in the United States]. That we find it difficult to get along despite our heroic efforts at economy will, we are sure, not surprise you.

"We have no car. We do not own our own home. We rent the same small apartment we have lived in for more than 35 years. We take no vacations. We do not travel. We do not eat out. We consistently shop only [at] sales, and only for the most important necessities.

"We use no tobacco. We never indulge in liquor-not even in an occasional beer. We have not been to the theater or even to a neighborhood motion picture since my retirement more than 21 years ago.

"We do not entertain. We spend no money on gifts to friends or relatives. We content ourselves with the occasional good will postcard for important occasions. We do not regularly buy a daily newspaper anymore.

"My wife and I are both in our mid-seventies. Neither of us is well or able to work."

Workers whose wages just keep pace with inflation are also being hurt. Why? Because inflation's bite cuts two ways. Not only do increasing prices reduce the value of hard-earned money, but corresponding wage increases put workers into higher tax brackets, exposing them to heavier tax burdens. The result is a net loss of purchasing power.

Also, inflation often penalizes thrifty persons who put money in savings banks. In one country, the interest paid by the banks was only about half the inflation rate. So at year's end, the bank account, including interest, was worth less than at the start of the year. What made this worse was that the interest was taxable.

People carry heavier and heavier debt

The money squeeze has resulted in an enormous increase in personal debts of all kinds. One reason is that people do not want to try to save money before buying things they desire. So they go into debt to get them.

But another growing cause for this debt is that, due to inflation's relentless surge, more people now borrow money just to maintain what they have. And the American Annual for 1979 also noted: "Those who once borrowed rarely, and only for big ticket items, sometimes found their borrowings paying for necessities instead."

Then there are those who see no future ahead and so adopt the 'eat, drink and be merry' attitude, trying to enjoy all they can before it is too late. As one such person said: "I have a sort of doomsday-type attitude." Some others even borrow heavily with no intention of paying back, which amounts to stealing.

U.S. News & World Report called the trend in debt "a tidal wave" that is "throwing a new scare into economists." It also said: "Never before have people relied so much on borrowed money." Any severe economic setback would bankrupt millions of these people.

Why is there so much inflation today?

What is causing the type of inflation that is so rampant throughout the world today? Authorities do not agree on every aspect of the problem. But most of them do agree that one of the main culprits is the spending of more money than what is being made and going into debt to finance this spending. As the Times of London reported: "What is inflation, after all? . . . It's an economist's word for overconsumption; for living beyond your income; for taking more out of the kitty than you put in."

When governments spend more money than they take in from taxes, they must "create" money to make up the deficit. Harper's magazine put it this way: "The debt arising from the government expenditures that taxes won't pay for is covered by creating fresh new dollars." The Wall Street Journal also noted:

"By far the largest part of the upward pressure on prices, . . . has been inflation in the literal sense. That is, it's caused by a huge expansion of the money supply from years of excessive government deficits financed by the creation of money and credit, the modern equivalent of . . . running the printing presses."

An example of this source of inflation is the domestic debt of the United States. The government has had 17 years of deficits in the last 18. Whereas it took 167 years for the debt to reach the first $100 billion, it now increases by that amount every year! The total is expected to pass one trillion dollars soon. And the interest on this debt is about $60 billion a year now, the third largest government expense. All of this means more money chasing goods and services, pulling their prices up, as at an auction.

Making the situation worse is the oil problem. Only a handful of nations produce more oil than they use. These nations have banded together in OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. They have increased the price of oil to more than 10 times what it was a decade ago. Since so many things-gasoline, heating oil, plastics, chemicals and others-are petroleum-based, their prices rise accordingly.

Because of these factors, some nations now are so heavily in debt that they are being kept economically alive only by further massive infusions of credit. Some of these countries cannot even pay the interest on their debt from their own resources, much less the debt itself.

Some economists wonder if inflation has gone beyond curing

How can inflation be cured? A number of economists wonder if the situation has not gone beyond curing. They compare it to a heroin addict who is too far gone, demanding more and more heroin to produce diminishing effects. If he continues, the drug will kill him. If he withdraws, the consequences of his drug-taking may still shorten his life.

To stop inflation, the overspending by governments, businesses and individuals must be severely cut. But this would mean people buying less, and so businesses would produce less. This would throw many people out of work, hence a severe recession or depression. The world economic system is now geared to such a high state of production from overspending that some observers claim it already is too late to be cut back drastically without causing about as much harm as is caused by the inflation itself.

[Diagram on page 7]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

1898 1979

$1 = $.12

The U.S. Dollar Shrinks

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g80 1/22 9-13 What Can You Do About Inflation?

THERE is little that you, personally, can do to stop worldwide inflation. You cannot control government budgets, mounting debts of others or economic policies of nations. But there are things that you can do to help cope with the money squeeze.

For one thing, if you live in a more developed country, it may mean settling for a lower standard of living. That is, it may mean doing without certain things that you have come to take for granted, but which most people in poorer lands never had in the first place. While this prospect may seem very undesirable, it needs to be faced to prevent increasing frustration.

Too, as money becomes tighter, marriage mates need to talk openly and calmly about how their income will be used. Where the wife also works at a secular job, the need for communication over how family income is to be spent becomes greater. If the husband, or wife, spends without consulting the other mate, problems can mount.

Family food bills can be pared 20 percent if children are not allowed to go grocery shopping

The trend in food costs is up, up and up. How have some families saved money here, aside from the obvious way of cutting back on the more expensive foods? An Awake! correspondent in Japan says:

"Food is the biggest single expense on the budget of Japanese families. So the advertising sections in newspapers are carefully looked over so that all the bargains on shopping days can be taken advantage of.

"Also, at many supermarkets, just before closing, certain items are reduced in price in an effort to sell them before the day is over. Or, these same items, the first thing the next morning, are set out at the reduced prices to make them move before spoiling. Some housewives make an effort to shop at these times, and keep the family reasonably fed at moderate prices."

Joseph Coyle, a food editor in the United States, claims that people can save from 20 to 40 percent on purchases by making up a shopping list after studying advertisements on the best food-sales' days. In some places, 'no frill' stores sell at discounts because of having lower expenses.

In a recent year, grocery manufacturers in the United States issued 62 billion (thousand million) coupons offering price reductions, with an average value of 15 cents (U.S.) per coupon. These coupons are found in magazines, newspapers and sales brochures. The key here is not buying a product merely because it is advertised at a reduced price, but buying the product you need at such prices.

Newsweek magazine observed: "Family food bills . . . can be pared by 20 per cent if children are not allowed to go grocery shopping-and aren't able to wheedle extra purchases from their parents." Too, a shopping list of genuine needs (not just wants) is important to avoid 'impulse buying' in stores. And when shopping, look for unbranded products that have the same nutritional value as advertised brands, but that cost less.

A Brazilian husband whose family is being hurt by inflation comments: "We had to cut down on luxuries, and my wife cooperates in every possible way. She never throws away any leftovers from meals." Others save by having the husband take his lunch to work instead of eating out.

It makes sense to save by cutting nonessentials

When money is tight, it makes sense to save by cutting back on, or cutting out, nonessentials. One such is the tobacco habit. It is not only costly, but deadly, since about 90 percent of all lung cancers, and many other health disorders, come from smoking, truly a habit that is a "defilement of flesh." (2 Cor. 7:1) Those who have given it up by exercising self-control find that they save hundreds of dollars a year.

Similarly, alcoholic beverages are costly, and their excessive use can damage health, and even family life. While the moderate use of alcoholic beverages is not condemned in the Bible, overuse is. (Prov. 23:29-35; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10) Here, too, hundreds of dollars a year can be saved.

Another source of savings has to do with recreation. It is not really necessary to spend hundreds, or thousands, of dollars to enjoy a change of pace from work. Commercial advertisers may make it appear that traveling to faraway places and staying at luxurious hotels are musts, but that is not the case. Traveling to places of interest near home, going on family outings, visiting with friends and other inexpensive forms of recreation can be very enjoyable. Appropriate television programs can help fill the gap left by cutting down on expensive movies and theaters.

In the old days families did not have radios, stereo sets, television, movies or other modern forms of entertainment. And the average family back there rarely, if ever, 'ate out' at restaurants. Yet they had wholesome forms of recreation and a measure of enjoyment in life-perhaps even more than we do in today's complex world. True, times are different, but humans are not that much different. They can still enjoy simpler, less expensive forms of recreation.

Many women now save much money by making their own clothes. Initiative and practice really pay off here. As an example, a housewife saw a relatively simple dress that she liked in a department store, but it was priced at over $50 (U.S.). Instead of buying the dress, she purchased similar material and made the dress for less than $5.

Certain stores sell secondhand clothing in very good condition, so a considerable saving can be made. Some people cut costs by washing their own clothes instead of having them laundered. They wash items such as sweaters in lukewarm water by hand rather than having them dry-cleaned, sending out only those things they cannot do themselves.

An important factor in saving on clothes is not being too concerned about fashion. Many people throw away good clothing just because of style changes. But one man, noting that even men's styles were more swiftly changed now, declared: "Not this time! I'll never again be a slave to fashion designers trying to get me to part with my money. I wear what I have as long as it is neat, clean and respectable, regardless of what the fashion people say."

Another area that has resulted in much saving for some is learning how to make simple repairs at home. This not only saves repair costs, but gets much longer use out of appliances, furniture and other items.

One husband states that he has saved about $200 a year on haircuts. His wife agreed to learn how to cut his hair, and is getting better with experience. With such varied hairstyles these days, the haircut does not have to be perfect anyhow.

Medical costs can be reduced by comparing prices of doctors, treatments and medicines. A television news team, visiting a number of different drugstores within a few blocks of one another, found that the cost of the identical prescription drug varied from two to five times as much from one store to another.

Of course, the list of things that can be done to save money is much longer. But these samples show that a little thought and planning can help in this time of money pressure.

Too large an appetite for material things has wrecked many a family

One of the greatest sources of trouble these days is having too large an appetite for material things. It has been the financial ruination, and home wrecker, for all too many families.

Some want more material things to 'keep up with the Joneses.' But such false pride can be very costly. Appropriately, one wit already has noted that it simply does not make sense 'to spend money you do not have, to buy things you do not need, just to impress someone you may not even like.'

Regarding the need to control material desires, a family wrote the following to U.S. News & World Report:

"Our family lives happily on the amount many two-income parents pay day-care centers. We fight inflation by guarding against double-digit desire for material goods.

"We have a peace about raising our own children and find security in being a 'traditional family.' Full-time homemaking will never be obsolete because it is God's way for a woman to be perfectly fulfilled. 'Expectations about what marriage should be' have nothing to do with income. People, not combined incomes, make a marriage. People, not material goods, make a family."

The curbing of material desires is particularly helpful in avoiding a prime cause of unhappiness: an overload of debt. Borrowing too much money, and living with the frustration of trying to pay it back, is a sure path to trouble. Accurately the Bible states: "Borrow money and you are the lender's slave."-Prov. 22:7, Good News Bible.

According to interviews with families in serious credit trouble, many of their purchases were not needed. A young couple married only two years had already accumulated huge debts. Rather than pay those off first, they continued to borrow and spend. Their lack of self-control regarding material things soon took them into bankruptcy. Yet they told a credit counselor that they had spent money only "on necessities." When questioned, it was found that these "necessities" included very expensive vacations and costly clothes that they really did not need at all.

Debt advisers suggest analyzing your take-home pay to see what percent of it you use for debt repayments. If, aside from a home mortgage, it is much over 10 percent, you are heading for danger. Some of these credit managers relate that when their clients cannot control their use of credit cards, they ask for these cards and tear them up in their presence. They note, interestingly, that this often causes "emotional hurt" to those who viewed credit cards as friends instead of the potential destroyers that they are to those who cannot use them wisely.

"The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things," the Bible states. "And by reaching out for this love," it adds, many people "have stabbed themselves all over with many pains." (1 Tim. 6:10) Those truths are becoming more evident with each passing day.

What happens to those who make the materialistic view the main force in their lives? Our correspondent in Japan notes:

"In Japan, the average family simply takes on more work. The husband and wife work full time, plus overtime. Although they may feel that they are coping with inflation, it is the family that suffers because there is no mutual, upbuilding association.

"The whole effort is very shortsighted. It only concentrates on NOW, TODAY. The future is not brought into the picture and hope is not part of the daily life."

But without upbuilding association, and without a genuine hope for the future, what will happen if the wife loses her income, or the husband does, or both of them do? When this world's economic systems are brought to ruin, what will happen to people who make the acquiring of material things their chief aim in life?

Will this really happen? Yes, without fail! And this is what makes your view toward inflation, toward money and toward material things not just an exercise in coping with temporary economic difficulties. What you need to prepare for is the coming annihilation of all of today's economic systems.

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g80 1/22 13-15 The End of Today's Economic Systems

IF YOU designed a machine and it did not work well, what would you do? You would likely try one modification after another to see if it would work better. But what if you found that after each repair it got worse? Would it not be time to consider that the machine itself was unsatisfactory, and that a different kind was needed?

Today's economic systems are not working for the good of all mankind. There are enormous injustices in them. Hardworking people see their money eaten away by inflation. Hundreds of millions live in poverty. Other hundreds of millions do not even have the necessities of life. The New York Times reported of some lands: "For many poor people the price of a single meal now exceeds a day's income," which is a striking fulfillment of the Bible prophecy, "A whole day's wage for a loaf of bread."-Rev. 6:6, Weymouth, Fifth edition.

Really, today's economic and money systems cannot bring the peace, security and prosperity mankind so desires. Selfishness, greed, pride and a heartless lack of concern for others are built into them.

What does all of this mean? Why the worldwide inflation, as well as food shortages, wars and other unprecedented troubles since 1914?

All these things are a sign of the times. They are conditions that were foretold to be a part of the "last days" of the present system of things. And included in the foretold conditions is that people would be "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, . . . without self-control, . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God." All these things are part of today's political, economic, social and religious systems.-2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Hence, today's money instability and hard economic times for so many are part of the evidence that this system of things is rushing toward its finish, as Jesus himself foretold. (Matt. 24:3-14) Any patchwork improvements to try to keep today's economic systems going will be very short-lived. No repair can undo the selfishness, greed and injustice that are built into them.

So what all these things really mean is that this present unsatisfactory system is moving toward its greatest crash ever, but by divine action, not human failure. As Jesus put it: "For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again."-Matt. 24:21.

Comfortingly, though, God's prophetic Word promises that this time of coming trouble will be followed by "a new earth" in which "righteousness is to dwell." (2 Pet. 3:13) That "new earth" means a new human society, which will include a new economic system, one that will work for the good of every person. The promise is: "The LORD Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world-a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations."-Isa. 25:6-8, Good News Bible.

"In order to clear up the present economic problems everything must be set back to zero"

What will soon happen, then, is similar to what a Japanese businessman answered when asked about a solution to today's economic turmoil. He remarked: "In order to clear up the present economic problems everything must be set back to zero." He rightly saw the hopelessness of ever repairing the system. And God's Word agrees: it is too far gone. Hence, it will not be repaired, but will be demolished.

The possibility of today's economic systems crashing has been a more frequent topic of discussion among economists lately. For instance, American financial commentator Sylvia Porter spoke of the real possibility of an "inflationary blowoff in this nation and the world, destroying the confidence in any investment in 'paper' [money], and so undermining the functioning of our international monetary system that trade among nations would grind to a near standstill." The columnist added:

"The blowout would then ripple out to cause a rash of bankruptcies among businesses, a collapse of the dangerously swollen credit bubble, an upsurge in unemployment, foreclosures of vastly overextended mortgage credit, and repossessions of goods bought on installment loans the debtors could not repay.

"The scenario becomes more scary even as I write it."

"Nations cannot go on borrowing to improve living standards"

Political commentator Jack Anderson similarly commented on the shaky money situation, stating:

"Nations cannot go on borrowing to improve living standards. The money can never be paid back unless it is invested in production instead of consumption. For many countries, the debt is already greater than they can absorb without a financial breakdown. . . .

"Skyrocketing prices keep adding to the bad debts until the whole banking system is threatened with collapse."

The American Institute for Economic Research makes the following observations:

"During the next several years, the following economic developments seem highly probable:

"A severe and prolonged worldwide depression. . . .

"During a prolonged depression, social disorder might well become extreme. . . .

"Any person or family who appears to be substantially better off than those who are most adversely affected may become the target for mob violence."

When people rob, rape, mug and murder in such increasing numbers now, in a time of relative peace and prosperity, they would do much worse if a breakdown occurred. An evidence of this is what happened during the blackout in New York city in 1977. In certain areas anarchy prevailed. Looting, vandalism and robberies were epidemic. The police admitted that they were helpless.

Similarly, in an African country, a one third increase in the price of rice sparked rioting and looting in the capital city. The streets looked as if a war had just been fought. Martial law was declared and a strict curfew imposed.

"Into the streets they will throw their very silver, and an abhorrent thing their own gold will become"

Concerning what lies ahead for the entire world, the Bible speaks of a "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." During that time, paper money will be worthless. Why, Bible prophecy even says: "Into the streets they will throw their very silver, and an abhorrent thing their own gold will become. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah's fury."-Ezek. 7:19.

No human leader, nor any form of human government, will be able to forestall the coming "great tribulation," since it is God's judgment against this present wicked system. That is why his Word warns: "Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs." (Ps. 146:3) What, then, is the right course to take? The Bible answers: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding."-Prov. 3:5.

Those who trust in Jehovah now he promises to help even in an economic way. No, God will not provide his servants with luxuries, but he has promised them the necessities of life. (Matt. 6:24-34; Ps. 37:25) Nor does this mean that those who trust God will have an easy time in life, since they too are affected by bad conditions in the world. But they will certainly have more success than others do in coping with today's troublesome times.

In addition, such ones will have the assurance of God's protection during the coming crash, and of surviving into a righteous new system. (1 John 2:15-17; Ps. 37:27, 34, 37) That is why a family in Brazil who learned to trust Jehovah states: "Although beset by economic problems, we are a happy family because we know Jehovah, the happy God, and we know his purposes."

"Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near"

So, regardless of how severe the money squeeze becomes, there is the sure hope of the best of times directly ahead in God's new order. Hence, persons who have the right hope based on accurate knowledge, and who trust in God and not in material wealth, can 'raise themselves erect, and lift their heads up, because their deliverance is getting near.'-Luke 21:28.

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g90 5/22 28 Watching the World - GLOBAL CLIMATE PACT

After difficult negotiations, all 159 member nations of the UN unanimously agreed to draft a treaty on stabilizing the earth's climate. They are to meet in Brazil in 1992 to discuss ways to prevent warming of the atmosphere and reduce the impact of economic development on the environment. But there the agreement ends, and many delicate issues still need to be resolved. According to journalist Paul Lewis, the developing countries see the concern of the industrialized world over the environment as a chance to press for economic concessions. In return for their cooperation, they want access to new environmentally safe technologies, as well as debt relief and higher prices for their exports. The United Nations has warned that a thousand million people-almost a fifth of the world's population-could become refugees in the upcoming century if the greenhouse effect makes sea levels rise dramatically.

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g90 9/8 7 Today's Youth-The Challenges They Face

What Kind of Future?

Young people have another nagging concern. The prospect of inheriting a ruined earth-its atmosphere depleted of ozone, its temperatures soaring under a global greenhouse effect, its lush forests stripped away, its air and water unfit for breathing and drinking-worries many youths. Although diminishing at present, the threat of nuclear war makes some wonder if mankind will even have a future!

It is clear, then, that young people today face enormous challenges. Without help, direction, and guidance, their present and future happiness is at serious risk. And without hope for the future, no sense of security can be attained. Fortunately, help for today's youth is readily available.

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tp 70 7 When Will the Foretold World Destruction Come?

(1) The Marked Year-1914 C.E.

5 As far back as 1876, Jehovah's Witnesses realized that Bible prophecy marked the year 1914 C.E. as a time when major events would take place that would have far-reaching effects on human affairs. They gave the reason for this fact wide publicity.

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g89 7/8 20 1914-A Watershed Year

IT WAS 75 years ago this summer that a single gunshot snuffed out the life of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Simultaneously, it set off a chain of events that resulted in our planet's first global war-July 28, 1914.

Writers and historians point again and again to that dreadful war (and to the year that saw it ignite) as a watershed, turning point, or dividing line in human history. Was 1914 really such a year for humanity?

Note what John Wilson writes in The Globe and Mail of Toronto, Ontario, Canada: "The First World War stands as a landmark in modern history." Though all that remains of that global conflagration are grass-grown trenches, rusty shells, memorials, and cemeteries, Mr. Wilson observes that time has done nothing to soften the importance of 1914 as a watershed year.

"The Victorian idea of an orderly progression toward the best of all possible worlds collapsed in the horror of 10 million dead," says Wilson. "Today's pragmatism and cynicism grew out of the futility and mud of Vimy and Flanders [in northern France and Belgium]. We can relate to the flappers of the twenties or the dispossessed farmers of the thirties with much greater ease than we can [to] the empire builders or moralists of pre-1914. The Great War is a watershed, . . . the other side of which is a foreign past stretching back into history."

But it is what has happened since 1914 that proves its status as a watershed year. Far from being "the war to end all wars" that it purported to be, World War I merely introduced the world to a new kind of warfare. From its embers blazed forth World War II-yet another anniversary for 1989. Fifty years ago, on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and the second world war began. Killing as many as 55 million people, it actually dwarfed World War I and introduced new, awesome fears to the human psyche; nor did it end war. Since 1945 some 150 wars have killed nearly 20 million people!

In 1914 humanity entered a grim age. As writer Wilson puts matters: "It is sobering to remember that, for all the horror of the trenches, society after 1918 was concerned with burying the dead in orderly rows and memorializing them. We live under the threat of a global destruction unimaginable to the soldiers who stormed up Vimy Ridge. If there is another world war, who will build the memorials to its dead?"

Long before 1914, faithful Bible Students (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known) were already pointing ahead to that year as a watershed in human history. According to the most reliable Bible chronology, this entire world system of things entered a new phase in 1914, the climactic era that the Bible refers to as "the last days."-2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:1-14.

However, the Bible marks this "last days" period as more than just a time of trouble. It is also a time of hope. Far from allowing man to destroy himself in a final world war, God promises to step in and wage war against all who fill the earth with violence. All weapons of war will then be permanently destroyed. From then onward, all mankind will learn the ways of peace, not war. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Luke 21:28; Revelation 16:14) What a change! Surely, that will be the greatest watershed in all human history.

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w90 5/15 3-7 Armageddon-When?

"WE STAND at Armageddon and we battle for the Lord." With those words, former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt applied the term "Armageddon" to a political battle in which he was involved. So, should we search for Armageddon in the political arena?

A few years ago, the Canadian magazine Business Life carried an article entitled "Economic Armageddon." A subtitle asked: "Could Third World default on debt trigger our economic collapse?" But should we think of Armageddon as a financial disaster?

According to the journal Newsweek, the world's end became a campaign issue during a 1984 presidential debate. On that occasion, then U.S. president Ronald Reagan "was asked if he truly believes that the world is headed for a 'nuclear Armageddon.' Reagan acknowledged 'philosophical discussions' about the coincidence between current events and Biblical signs portending the last days, but the commander in chief insisted that he has never said that 'we must plan according to Armageddon.'" Yet, should our search for the meaning of Armageddon focus on military action that threatens nuclear holocaust?

Many religious people say that Armageddon is a battle. But early in the 19th century, Bible scholar Adam Clarke wrote: "How ridiculous have been the conjectures of men relative to this point! Within the last twenty years this battle has been fought at various places, according to our purblind seers and self-inspired prophets! At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded."

Searching for the meaning of Armageddon clearly raises some vital questions. What is Armageddon? If it is a battle, who will be the participants? Why will it be fought? Where will it take place? And when will Armageddon occur?

What Is Armageddon?

The term "Armageddon" is derived from a word found in the Bible book of Revelation, known for symbolic language. Therein the apostle John wrote: "I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. . . . And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon."-Revelation 16:13-16.

Armageddon, or Har-Magedon, is a transliteration of the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew expression Har Meghid·dohn' meaning "Mountain of Megiddo," or "Mountain of Assembly of Troops." It is linked with "the war of the great day of God the Almighty." So Armageddon is not a political skirmish, an economic disaster, a nuclear holocaust, or a human conflict. Rather, Armageddon is God's war.

Who Will Be the Participants?

The three unclean froglike inspired expressions come out of the mouths of the dragon (Satan the Devil), the wild beast (his earthly political setup), and the Anglo-American false prophet. These expressions inspired by demons, or wicked angels, gather the earthly kings, or rulers, to Har-Magedon.-See chapter 32 of the book Revelation-Its Grand Climax At Hand! published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

On Jehovah's side in the war of Armageddon is a vast army of invisible spirit forces led by the King Jesus Christ. The apostle John reported: "I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he [Jesus] judges and carries on war in righteousness. . . . Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him. . . . And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:11-16) The sharp long sword represents Christ's authority to order the execution of all who refuse to support God's Kingdom. (Revelation 1:16; 2:16) Huge invisible forces are available for the war of Armageddon.

In opposition are Satan, his demon hosts, and the kings of the entire inhabited earth. But we should not think only of world rulers in the visible realm, for the people they govern are also involved. It was foretold: "Jehovah has indignation against all the nations, and rage against all their army."-Isaiah 34:2.

Why Will It Be Fought?

Armageddon will be fought because God is righteous and will no longer tolerate evil. (Psalm 11:7) Satan the Devil's organization, comprising both demons and rebellious humans, responsible for millenniums of wickedness and woe, must therefore be destroyed. (Compare Genesis 3:15.) Jehovah's universal sovereignty will be upheld at Armageddon, and that war will clear his name of the reproach heaped upon it for centuries. As God declared through his prophet Ezekiel: "I shall no more let my holy name be profaned; and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah."-Ezekiel 39:7.

God's war of Armageddon will actually prevent the destruction of all mankind. Jehovah created the earth to be inhabited, not destroyed in a thermonuclear war among humans or otherwise rendered unfit for life. (Isaiah 45:18) He will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth." (Revelation 11:18) But the psalmist declared: "Jehovah himself has become king. The productive land [Hebrew, te·vel'; the earth, as fertile and inhabited, the habitable globe] also becomes firmly established so that it cannot be made to totter."-Psalm 96:10.

What God does at Armageddon will be in complete harmony with his principal attributes of justice, wisdom, power, and love. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 12:13; Isaiah 40:26; 1 John 4:8) He will act against "ungodly sinners," not against the upright. (Jude 14, 15) Only 'the wicked ones will be given to the sword.' (Jeremiah 25:31) This will pave the way for the restoration of Paradise, fulfilling the divine purpose for the earth and humankind.-Luke 23:43.

Where Will It Take Place?

Since the term "Armageddon" comes from a Hebrew expression meaning "Mountain of Megiddo," some may conclude that this war will be fought on a lofty eminence bearing that name. However, there never was a mountain named Megiddo. Some 60 miles [100 km] northwest of Jerusalem there was a hill town, or city, called Megiddo, but only a mound about 70 feet [20 m] high now marks its site.-Joshua 17:11.

That ancient city overlooked "the valley plain of Megiddo." (2 Chronicles 35:22) Associating Armageddon (or Har-Magedon) with that vicinity is apropos because it was the location of decisive battles. For instance, there God enabled Judge Barak to inflict a crushing blow upon Canaanite king Jabin and his military forces commanded by Sisera. (Judges 4:12-24; 5:19, 20) In that vicinity Gideon and his small band routed the Midianites. (Judges 7:1-8:35) There too Kings Ahaziah and Josiah were killed.-2 Kings 9:27; 23:29, 30.

It is noteworthy, however, that this valley plain, also called the Plain of Esdraelon, is only 20 miles [32 km] long and 18 miles [29 km] wide at its eastern end. The kings of the entire inhabited earth and their military forces could never fit into such a small area. Besides that, neither a mound (the tell of Megiddo) nor a plain is a mountain. Clearly, then, Armageddon will not be confined to some mountainous location in the Middle East. Rather, Armageddon (or Har-Magedon) is symbolic of a worldwide situation, although it draws some of its significance from Megiddo and what took place in that area.

When Will Armageddon Occur?

Since Megiddo was in the land of God's ancient people, what happens at Armageddon relates to Jehovah's Witnesses in this "time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) Har-Magedon applies to "the place" to which the earth's political rulers are gathered in opposition to Jehovah and his Kingdom by Jesus Christ. (Revelation 16:14, 16) But that "place" (Greek, to'pos) denotes a world situation. Armageddon will occur when a certain situation develops that affects Jehovah's Witnesses around the earth.

The spiritual prosperity of Jehovah's Witnesses infuriates Satan the Devil, who will soon launch an all-out attack against these seemingly defenseless Christians. This worldwide assault by Satan, or Gog, is described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Under the Devil's influence, the nations will march against Jehovah's peace-loving people gathered out of all nations. Yes, satanic opposition will be manifested by global action against Jehovah's earthly servants, the visible representatives and proclaimers of God's Kingdom.

A battle is often known by the place where it is fought. Thus, God's mighty defense of his people can be called the battle, or war, of Armageddon. When Jehovah rises up to defend his servants against Gog's attack, Armageddon will be in progress! Human governments will collapse. Flooding cloudbursts, devastating hailstones, streaking fire and sulfur, raging pestilences-truly acts of God-will cause world panic outside the ranks of Jehovah's Witnesses. Their human foes will turn their weapons against their own ranks. And those whom this suicidal warfare does not kill off, Jehovah will annihilate.-Ezekiel 38:18-23; Daniel 2:44.

In terror, every man's hand will be turned against his neighbor in a frenzied but futile struggle for survival. (Zechariah 14:12, 13) "Those slain by Jehovah will certainly come to be in that day from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be bewailed, neither will they be gathered up or be buried. As manure on the surface of the ground they will become." (Jeremiah 25:33) Any attempt to remain neutral in God's war will cost you your life at Armageddon! And as so often proved Scripturally in this journal, the present generation will not pass away before Armageddon occurs!-Matthew 24:21, 34.

What Armageddon Will Accomplish

Armageddon will remove the last vestige of Satan's earthly organization. Moreover, the Devil and his demons will be abyssed. (Revelation 20:1-3) What blessings will then flow to Jehovah's people, the joyful survivors of his great war of Armageddon! They will happily proceed with reconstruction that will transform the entire earth into a paradise, free from pollution, pain, mourning, tears, and death. (Revelation 11:15, 18; 21:3, 4) And you can be there if you take to heart the psalmist's words: "Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it." (Psalm 37:34) Indeed, you may live to see the war of the great day of God the Almighty and become a happy survivor when Armageddon strikes!

"Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah."-2 Peter 3:11, 12

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tp 85 When Will the Foretold World Destruction Come?

(5) A Final Signal

30 Yet one more event will come as an unmistakable signal that world destruction is imminent. Of this the apostle Paul wrote: "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security!' then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them . . . and they will by no means escape."-1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3; Luke 21:34, 35.

31 The world's leaders know that a nuclear war means virtual extinction. Also, critical problems such as pollution, the population explosion, and domestic problems demand attention and money. So they want to relax the strained international relations. An evidence of this is the proclamation by the United Nations of 1986 as the 'international year of peace and security.' This, no doubt, is a step toward the fulfillment of Paul's above-quoted words. Of course, political negotiations and treaties are not making any real changes in people to cause them to love one another. They are not putting a stop to crime, nor are they eliminating disease and death. Yet the prophecy shows that the time will come when the nations will declare that they have achieved a measure of "peace and security." When that happens, then "sudden destruction" will come "instantly" upon those misleaders of mankind, along with all who put their trust in them.

32 But there will be survivors. Will you be one?

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g88 4/8 14 The Last Days-What's Next?

"Peace and Security" Soon?

"You yourselves know quite well that Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security!' then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them."-1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3.

Ever since the end of World War II in 1945, mankind has teetered on the brink of war as the two opposing powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, have contended with each other. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 was a dangerous direct confrontation. But the Soviet Union withdrew its missiles from Cuba, and the United States quietly removed its missiles from Turkey. This was just one of the many manifestations of the Cold War.

Disarmament has been a subject for debate for decades and has usually finished up as a propaganda exercise for both countries. Now, in the waning months of President Reagan's term and in the thawing atmosphere of Secretary Gorbachev's glasnost (openness) policy, there appears to be serious talk about defusing the nuclear arms situation. Whether this is a prelude to bring about a supposed peace and security for the world in general, we cannot foresee. But in accordance with Bible prophecy, that is what Christians are looking for. When it happens, then what?

Careful students of the Bible will not be fooled "whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security!'"-whether it emanates from the United Nations or independently from the great powers themselves. The Bible clearly shows that true peace and security can only come from righteous rulership, God's Kingdom government by Christ.

For that reason a future significant global announcement of peace and security by world leaders will be the signal for God to move into action, "exactly as a thief in the night," taking the unbelieving world by surprise. Yes, "sudden destruction" will then befall the ecclesiastical and political powers that have spurned Jehovah and his witnesses. How do we know this?

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w91 9/1 5-6 The Bible's View of Peace and Security

Many people take at face value the apparent trend toward greater world unity and the peace and security that this might bring. They hope that such a movement will lead to a better world. But the Bible indicates that more is involved than meets the eye.

THE subject of peace and security is especially of interest to Christians because of what the apostle Paul wrote under inspiration to a Christian congregation of the first century. His words are recorded in the Bible at 1 Thessalonians 5:3: "Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security!' then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape." This scripture raises important questions.

Peace and Security-A Prelude to What?

If you read the context of Paul's words quoted above, you will see that the ones saying "peace and security" are not wide-awake Christians, but, rather, individuals who are asleep to what is really happening. They are in a dangerous situation but are not aware of it because they think things are looking up. Regarding Christians, though, Paul said: "As for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you." (1 Thessalonians 5:1) Yes, we should be aware of God's timetable of events. Why? Because Paul said that a time of sudden destruction, called "Jehovah's day," is coming "exactly as a thief in the night."-1 Thessalonians 5:2.

What does the foretold talk of peace and security involve? Clearly, it must be more than mere talk. Men have been talking of peace almost as long as they have been fighting wars. Paul's words must point to a time when the nations appear to be achieving peace and security in an outstanding way. But this amounts only to a surface appearance. An apparent peace and security that leads to sudden destruction is obviously neither real peace nor genuine security.

Jesus too spoke about this sudden destruction. He called it a "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." Several hundred years before Jesus, the prophet Daniel also spoke of it, and he described it as "a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time."-Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1.

Call it a great tribulation, call it a time of distress-in either case, according to the prophecies, it will wipe out every trace of Satan's earthly system. Rather than signifying divine approval, the prophesied talk of peace and security leads to the very opposite!-Compare Zephaniah 3:8.

Time Elements Revealed

Are the recent apparent moves toward greater world unity and the resulting hopes for peace and security a fulfillment of Paul's prophetic warning? Well, as this magazine has frequently pointed out, since 1914 we have witnessed the fulfillment of numerous Bible prophecies related to Jesus' heavenly presence in Kingdom power. (Matthew, chapters 24, 25; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 6:1-8) Jesus indicated that Jehovah's day, when sudden destruction will come upon the wicked, will arrive while members of the generation of people who witnessed the beginning of this time are still alive.-Luke 21:29-33.

The apostle Paul also introduced a time element. He said: "While they are talking of peace and security, all at once calamity is upon them." This rendering of Paul's words in The New English Bible shows clearly that the great tribulation takes place "while they are talking." Like a thief in the night-unforeseen-destruction will strike when it is least expected, when the attention of most humans is on their hoped-for peace and security. Hence, while at the moment we cannot say with finality that the present peace and security situation fulfills Paul's words-or to what extent talk of peace and security will yet have to develop-the fact that such talk is now being heard to an unprecedented degree alerts Christians to the need for staying awake at all times.

'Pushing' Between World Powers

When he spoke of the time of distress, the prophet Daniel also introduced a time element. He showed that the time of distress would occur at the end of long-standing conflict between two power blocs, one called "the king of the north" and the other, "the king of the south." (Daniel 11:5-43) Since the end of World War II, these power blocs have been represented by a capitalistic "king of the south" and a socialistic "king of the north."

Daniel foretold that the bitter rivalry between these two blocs, as noted during the past 45 years, would be as "a pushing," like two wrestlers striving for an advantage. Recently, the pushing appears to have diminished. Thus, in May last year, the Soviet foreign minister declared the Cold War over. In June, Time magazine referred to a summit conference between the United States and the Soviet Union and noted: "Some of the agreements on arms control and nuclear testing would have seemed a stunning accomplishment a few years ago. Now, even taken together, they appear anti-climactic."

Whether this seeming amity between the two superpowers is temporary or permanent, time will tell. One thing is clear, though. The time period mentioned by Jesus is well advanced. And things happening in the world indicate that we are close to the events foretold by the apostle Paul and the prophet Daniel. Even though recent political developments are to some degree due to the influence of Christendom's churches, they will not lead to lasting peace. The evidence is that they will lead to quite the opposite for the nations of this world.

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w89 4/15 14-15 The Infamous Harlot-Her Destruction

11 Noting John's wonderment, the angel said to him: "Why is it you wondered? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild beast that is carrying her and that has the seven heads and the ten horns." (Revelation 17:7) What is this "beast"? More than 600 years earlier, the prophet Daniel had seen visionary beasts, and it had been explained to him that these represented "kings," or political rulerships here on earth. (Daniel 7:2-8, 17; 8:2-8, 19-22) John here sees in vision a combination of such rulerships-"a scarlet-colored wild beast." This is the man-made League of Nations that appeared on the world scene in 1920 but plunged into an abyss of inactivity when World War II erupted in 1939. What, though, is "the mystery of the woman and of the wild beast"?

12 By divine providence, Jehovah's Witnesses received enlightenment on that mystery in 1942. World War II was then raging at its height, and many thought it would escalate into Armageddon. But Jehovah had a different thought! There was still much work for his Witnesses to do! At their New World Theocratic Assembly of September 18-20, 1942, with the key city Cleveland, Ohio, tied in with 51 other locations in the United States, Nathan H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society, gave the public talk, "Peace-Can It Last?" Therein he reviewed Revelation 17:8, which says of the "scarlet-colored wild beast" that it "was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction." He showed how the League of Nations "was" from 1920 to 1939. Then the "is not" stage was reached because of the League's demise. But after World War II, this combine of nations would ascend out of the abyss. Was that Bible-based forecast fulfilled? Truly it was! In 1945 the international "wild beast" emerged from its abyss of inactivity as the United Nations.

13 Babylon the Great, though weakened by her fall, has continued to pursue her harlotlike ways with the UN "beast." For example, in June 1965, dignitaries from the world's seven leading branches of religion, so-called Christian and non-Christian, said to represent one half of the world's population, assembled in San Francisco to celebrate the UN's 20th birthday. In that same year, Pope Paul VI described the UN as "the last hope of concord and peace," and later Pope John Paul II expressed his hope that "the United Nations will ever remain the supreme forum of peace and justice." In 1986 the world empire of false religion took the lead in sponsoring the UN's International Year of Peace. But did true peace and security come in response to their religious prayers? Far from it! More and more, member nations of the UN are showing that they have no real love for the great harlot.

Disposing of the Harlot

14 In due course, the "scarlet-colored wild beast" itself must go off into destruction. But before this happens, and even before its final beastly attack on God's people, that UN beast has a special service to perform. Jehovah puts 'his thought into the hearts of the wild beast and its militarized horns.' With what result? God's angel answers: "And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire." "She glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury," but now all of this is reversed. Her imposing religious edifices and vast property holdings will not save her. As the angel declares: "That is why 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 17:16, 17; 18:7, 8.

15 Her political paramours will lament her demise, declaring: "Too bad, too bad, you great city, Babylon you strong city, because in one hour your judgment has arrived!" Likewise, big-business magnates, who made dishonest profits with her, will "weep and mourn, saying, 'Too bad, too bad . . . because in one hour such great riches have been devastated!'"-Revelation 18:9-17.

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re 256-7 35 Executing Babylon the Great

Devastating the Harlot

15 God's people are not the only objects of the enmity of the ten horns. The angel now draws John's attention back to the harlot: "And he says to me: 'The waters that you saw, where the harlot is sitting, mean peoples and crowds and nations and tongues. And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire.'"-Revelation 17:15, 16.

16 Just as ancient Babylon relied on her watery defenses, Babylon the Great today relies on her huge membership of "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues." The angel appropriately draws our attention to these before telling of a shocking development: Political governments of this earth will turn violently upon Babylon the Great. What will all those "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues" do then? God's people are already warning Babylon the Great that the water of the river Euphrates will dry up. (Revelation 16:12) Those waters will finally drain away completely. They will not be able to give the disgusting old harlot any effectual support in her hour of greatest need.-Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 50:38; 51:36, 37.

17 Certainly, the immense material wealth of Babylon the Great will not save her. It may even hasten her destruction, for the vision shows that when the wild beast and the ten horns vent their hatred on her they will strip off her royal robes and all her jewelry. They will plunder her wealth. They "make her . . . naked," shamefully exposing her real character. What devastation! Her end is also far from dignified. They destroy her, "eat up her fleshy parts," reducing her to a lifeless skeleton. Finally, they "completely burn her with fire." She is burned up like a carrier of the plague, without even a decent burial! It is not the nations alone, as represented by the ten horns, that destroy the great harlot, but "the wild beast," meaning the UN itself, joins them in this rampage. It will give its sanction to the destruction of false religion. A majority of the 150-and-more nations within the UN have already displayed, by their voting pattern, a hostility toward religion, especially that of Christendom.

18 Why would the nations treat their former paramour so outrageously? We have seen in recent history the potential for such a turning against Babylonish religion. Official government opposition has tremendously reduced the influence of religion in lands such as the Soviet Union and China. In Protestant sectors of Europe, widespread apathy and doubt have emptied the churches, so that religion is practically dead. The vast Catholic empire is torn by rebellion and disagreement, which the itinerant pope has been unable to calm. We should not, though, lose sight of the fact that this final, all-out attack on Babylon the Great comes as an expression of God's unalterable judgment on the great harlot.

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re 259 36 The Great City Devastated

Babylon the Great Takes a Tumble

4 John continues the account, telling us: "After these things I saw another angel descending from heaven, with great authority; and the earth was lighted up from his glory. And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: 'She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen.'" (Revelation 18:1, 2a) It is the second time that John hears that angelic announcement. (See Revelation 14:8.) This time, however, its significance is emphasized by the magnificence of the heavenly angel, for his glory lights up the whole earth! Who can he be? Centuries earlier the prophet Ezekiel, reporting on a heavenly vision, stated that "the earth itself shone because of his [Jehovah's] glory." (Ezekiel 43:2) The only angel to shine with glory comparable to Jehovah's would be the Lord Jesus, who is "the reflection of [God's] glory and the exact representation of his very being." (Hebrews 1:3) In 1914 'the Son of man arrived in his glory,' and since that time Jesus, installed "on his glorious throne" in the heavens, has been exercising authority over the earth as Jehovah's associate King and Judge. It is fitting, then, that he should announce the fall of Babylon the Great.-Matthew 25:31, 32.

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kj 361 Defeat Awaits Attack by Nations under Gog

29 As Gog's attack is to occur "in the final part of the days," it must be in the final part of this "time of the end," in the final part of the "great tribulation" when the spiritual Israelites are still found to be "dwelling in security" after the antireligious forces destroy Christendom and all the remainder of Babylon the Great. Jehovah's judgment having in that way been executed upon all of Babylon the Great, the militarized nations under Gog will remain as the last part of this system of things that is to be put out of existence. Those nations, then being without the long-prevalent, traditional religions, will put God out of their minds and consider Jehovah as if he did not exist. Hence Jehovah will have to make them know him as a real, existing God. How will he do this? Before their eyes he will sanctify himself in this encounter with their invisible "head chieftain," Gog of Magog. In that way he will demonstrate that He is not to be profaned as unholy.

30 Jehovah is "the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done." (Isaiah 46:10) Therefore Jehovah is not left unprepared for the coming attack by Gog of Magog; He shows this by not leaving his dedicated witnesses on earth unprepared for this final attack by the enemy forces under Satan the Devil. In evidence of this he said, in further address to Gog of Magog: "This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, 'Are you the same one of whom I spoke in the former days by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, who were prophesying in those days-years-as to bringing you in upon them?'"-Ezekiel 38:17.

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sl 258-9 When Man's Old Order Makes Way for God's New Order

37 "After many days you will be given attention. In the final part of the years you will come to the land of people brought back from the sword, collected together out of many peoples, onto the mountains of Israel, that have proved to be a constantly devastated place; even a land that has been brought forth from the peoples, where they have dwelt in security, all of them. And you will be bound to come up. Like a storm you will come in. Like clouds to cover the land you will become, you and all your bands and many peoples with you."-Ezekiel 38:8, 9.

38 What will be the reason for this final attack upon the restored remnant of spiritual Israelites? It will be the fact that their prosperous spiritual estate on earth under divine blessing is a worldwide testimony to the universal sovereignty of Jehovah God. Added to that is the fact that they have boldly come forward as being no part of this world and as keeping absolute Christian neutrality toward worldly dissensions and are relying upon no deadly weapons of war for defense and protection. Also, they are enjoying the worship and active service of Jehovah in a spiritual paradise. That is why the following words are put into Gog's mouth:

39 "I shall go up against the land of open rural country. I shall come in upon those having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them dwelling without wall, and they do not have even bar and doors."-Ezekiel 38:10, 11.

40 Testifying to the spiritual paradise of his restored worshipers, Jehovah says to Gog of the land of Magog: "It will be to get a big spoil and to do much plundering, in order to turn your hand back upon devastated places reinhabited and upon a people gathered together out of the nations, one that is accumulating wealth and property, those who are dwelling in the center of the earth." This is why the worldly observers ask the invading Gog of the land of Magog: "Is it to get a big spoil that you are coming in? Is it to do much plundering that you have congregated your congregation, in order to carry off silver and gold, to take wealth and property, to get a very great spoil?"-Ezekiel 38:12, 13.

41 The restored remnant of spiritual Israelites and the "great crowd" of fellow inhabitants of the spiritual paradise do not have material wealth and property that Babylon the Great has accumulated over the centuries. They have followed the counsel of Jesus Christ and sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness rather than the material goods of this materialistic world. (Matthew 6:33) So what in the way of earthly goods would they have to invite such an international attack by the military forces under the invisible command of the modern-day Gog of the land of Magog?

42 Not material wealth, but what the spiritual paradise of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah represents is the valuable thing that invites a worldwide invasion by the visible earthly organization of Satan the Devil after Babylon the Great is reduced to ashes. Their spiritual paradise that Jehovah God has planted on the earth represents God's claim to sovereignty over all the earth. But sovereignty over the earth is what the worldly nations claim for themselves, each member nation in the United Nations still continuing to insist upon its own national sovereignty. The inhabitants of the spiritual paradise form the foundation for a "new earth," a new earthly society; hence, the worldly nations under modern-day Gog of Magog want to despoil that foundation of a "new earth" and thereby keep the old earthly society going for its own selfish benefit, independent of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. To accomplish this means more than silver and gold and material wealth and property to the self-governing nations.

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w88 9/15 25-6 "They Will Have to Know That I Am Jehovah"

Gog Attacks!

14 Next, a dramatic event was foretold. Hoping to profane God's name and destroy His people, Gog of Magog will attack the remnant of spiritual Israel, who represent Jehovah's "woman," or heavenly organization. (Revelation 12:1-17) Gog is "the ruler of this world," Satan the Devil. He received the name Gog after his ouster from heaven, following the Kingdom's birth in 1914. (John 12:31) "The land of Magog" is the location to which Gog and his demons are confined in the vicinity of the earth. After antireligious forces destroy Christendom and the rest of Babylon the Great, Jehovah will bring Gog against the seemingly defenseless remnant of spiritual Israel and their dedicated associates.-Ezekiel 38:1-17; Revelation 17:12-14.

15 What will happen when Gog attacks Jehovah's Witnesses? (Read Ezekiel 38:18-23.) Jehovah will rescue his people! His weapons will be flooding cloudbursts, huge hailstones, streaking fire, raging pestilence. In confusion, Gog's forces will turn their swords against one another. But before God wipes them out of existence, 'they will be made to know that he is Jehovah.'

16 When Satan and his demons are abyssed, "the land of Magog," their debased location at the earth, will be gone forever. (Revelation 20:1-3) Gog's war equipment will be so extensive that it will take some time to dispose of it. Birds and beasts will gorge themselves on the unburied bodies of Gog's crowd. How should knowledge of all of this affect us? Why, learning that Gog's attack is imminent but that Jehovah will rescue His people ought to increase our faith and make us rejoice that such events will result in sanctifying God's long-profaned name!-Ezekiel 39:1-29.

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kj 366-7 Defeat Awaits Attack by Nations under Gog

42 Gog desperately resorts to the "sword" of warfare against Jehovah's restored remnant of spiritual Israel and the "great crowd" of their fellow worshipers, and so Jehovah meets him with like for like. Jehovah's peace-keeping witnesses on earth do not take up the "sword" against Gog's hordes, but Jehovah does. This is His fight! And now at last the nations of this scientifically advanced world will see Him fight-no mistaking of it! And how He can fight! Listen, as He describes his war tactics and operations:

43 "'And I will call forth against him throughout all my mountainous region a sword,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. 'Against his own brother the sword of each one will come to be. And I will bring myself into judgment with him, with pestilence and with blood; and a flooding downpour and hailstones, fire and sulphur I shall rain down upon him and upon his bands and upon the many peoples that will be with him. And I shall certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.'"-Ezekiel 38:21-23.

44 At that point the battlefield of Har-Magedon is reached. The "war of the great day of God the Almighty" is on! (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-16, 20, 21) As weapons of warfare Jehovah wields the forces of creation, flooding cloudbursts of rain, hailstones of undeclared size, downpours of streaking fire and sulphur-all of which will release more destructive energy than all the atomic and nuclear energy that the nations hold in reserve in the oversupply of bombs that they have stockpiled for World War III. All their scientific devices for germ warfare and chemical warfare will be surpassed by the raging pestilence with which he can plague them, a pestilence that could kill off 185,000 in a single night in a given locality. (2 Kings 19:35, 36) The blood of Jehovah's Christian witnesses they are anxious to spill, but it will be their own blood that they will drink by the violent loss of their own lives.

45 Panic-world panic outside the ranks of Jehovah's Christian witnesses! Gog's hordes will be thrown into confusion. Instead of keeping united to strike down Jehovah's worshipers as their victims, they will turn their swords against their own ranks, brother warrior against brother warrior, not religionist against religionist, but radical against radical, Communist against Communist, anarchist against anarchist, nihilist against nihilist. Those whom this suicidal warfare among themselves does not kill off, Jehovah will execute as if going into a judicial court against them with all his supernatural means of wiping all opponents of His universal sovereignty out of existence. He must be vindicated at Court.

46 Almighty God thus becomes very much alive to all the nations and peoples under Gog's woeful control. The God of the global flood in Noah's day again goes into action on a global scale on this his "day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men." (2 Peter 2:5; 3:6, 7, 10-12) The "great tribulation" upon this worldwide system of things reaches its culmination, and the last vestiges of this ungodly system of things are destroyed as the entire human society of God-ignoring people is annihilated.

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sl 262 When Man's Old Order Makes Way for God's New Order

47 Just how far in depth Jehovah God the Almighty will permit the hordes under the modern-day Gog of Magog to penetrate, the alerted witnesses of Jehovah must wait and see. That there will be an invasion, the prophecy given through Ezekiel shows. "'And it must occur in that day, in the day when Gog comes in upon the soil of Israel,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, 'that my rage will come up into my nose. And in my ardor, in the fire of my fury, I shall have to speak. Surely in that day a great quaking will occur in the soil of Israel. And because of me the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the wild beasts of the field and all the creeping things that are creeping on the ground and all mankind that are upon the surface of the ground will be bound to shiver, and the mountains will actually be thrown down and the steep ways will have to fall, and to the earth even every wall will fall.'"-Ezekiel 38:18-20.

48 Although under violent attack by the "military forces" of Gog of Magog, the Christian witnesses of Jehovah will have spiritual security, they being within his love and under his approval. "Dwelling," according to the prophecy, "in security, all of them dwelling without wall," and not having "even bar and doors," these worshipers of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not raise a hand in violent action against the heavily armed forces of Gog of Magog. They will let their God manifest his protective power over them. They will remember and put faith in the words of the prophet spoken under stress of a similar invasion against Jehovah's worshipers: "Do not you be afraid or be terrified because of this large crowd; for the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15) Their trust in the Almighty God will not be misplaced. He will make it His battle, for the fight is really, not against them, but against Him their God. Now he is truly angry, and he is fully justified in expressing his anger!

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sl 265 When Man's Old Order Makes Way for God's New Order

52 Since the King of kings "treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty," this signifies that the nations will be squashed, as it were. To fit the picture, they will be dumped like ripe grapes into the tremendous "winepress" where the "anger of the wrath of God the Almighty" will be brought to bear upon them with crushing effect. The King of kings and his heavenly armies on horseback will join in the crushing work, the treading of this symbolic winepress. The form that the symbolic treading will take will correspond with how Jehovah God the Almighty says that he will express his wrath and fiery fury against the hordes of Gog of Magog, as it were with earthquake, pestilence, a flooding downpour, hailstones, fire and sulphur, with much bloodshed.-Ezekiel 38:18-22; compare Joel 3:9-16; Revelation 14:18-20.

53 How can the multination armies in battle array under their spiritual Gog of Magog expect to stand their ground against the King of kings and Lord of lords, who fights for the universal sovereignty of the Most High and Almighty God, Jehovah? Never, even as a United Nations organization and as nuclear-powered nations, can they possibly do so! Who the victor in the universal war at Har-Magedon will be is a foregone conclusion. The corpses of the enemy dead with which God the Almighty causes the battlefield to be strewn provide what is called "the great evening meal of God" for all the carrion-eating birds that fly in midheaven. Before ever the war is fought to a conclusion, a heavenly angel arrayed with sunlight is pictured as extending an invitation to all these birds to come to the grand meal that God spreads for them at Har-Magedon. Concerning this, our news reporter John says:

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w90 5/15 6 Armageddon-When?

When Will Armageddon Occur?

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w88 9/15 26 "They Will Have to Know That I Am Jehovah"

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w84 4/15 3-4 1914-A Focal Point

"EXACTLY what would occur in 1914 we did not then know, but of one thing we were certain: The year 1914 would see the beginning of the worst time of trouble the earth had yet known; for so many Bible prophecies foretold that. Our faith was strong and our hopes were based on much more than mere human speculation."

With these words, A. H. Macmillan, author of the 1957 best-seller Faith on the March, described his early conviction that 1914 would be a focal point of Bible prophecy. More than 40 years after 1914, his conviction had not waned.

When Events Converge

"Focal point" is defined as "a center of activity or of interest: the point of convergence of lines of action." Was 1914 a focal point in that sense? Yes. Consider what Macmillan and many other Bible Students expected of that year.

The March 1880 issue of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence described two events of earthshaking importance that were looked forward to as due to happen in 1914: "'The Times of the Gentiles' extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then." Hence, many Bible Students expected God's Kingdom to be fully established in that year. This would mean the beginning of the time for Christ to 'go subduing in the midst of his enemies.' It would, of necessity, also mean the beginning of "the conclusion of the [wicked] system of things."-Psalm 110:1, 2; Matthew 24:3; Revelation 12:10, 12.

These sincere Bible Students came to this conclusion after a searching review of Bible chronology. But Bible chronology was only one line of evidence-one witness, as it were. According to the Bible, God's Kingdom was to be heavenly, hence invisible. So how would Bible students know whether their hopes had been fulfilled or not? They would need visible proof, a sign.

Jesus' disciples had asked for such a sign when they said: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" (Matthew 24:3) By providing such a sign, Jesus added the testimony of a second witness to pinpoint 1914. This harmonized with the Bible principle "that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established."-Matthew 18:16.

Whereas the chronological indications point forward to 1914, the composite sign by Jesus was designed to point back to 1914 as the beginning of a new era. The year 1914 should thus have proved to be "the point of convergence of lines of action."

Was it? Can the sign that Jesus gave really be recognized in events since 1914? We invite you to investigate the matter and then answer for yourself.

[Footnotes]

The count of time indicating that "the Times of the Gentiles" expired in 1914 was discussed at length in the April 1, 1984, issue of The Watchtower.

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w78 1/15 8-10 A Kingdom "Sign" Fulfilled

WHAT A JOLT! In 1914 C.E. this earth was struck by a shock wave from which it has never recovered. For World War I catapulted mankind into critical times that continue till this day. As the English philosopher, Bertrand Russell, expressed it: "Ever since 1914 the world has been reeling drunkenly toward disaster." And more than 50 years after 1914, statesman Konrad Adenauer of Germany reflected: "Thoughts and pictures come to my mind, . . . thoughts from before the year 1914 when there was real peace, quiet and security on this earth-a time when we didn't know fear. . . . Security and quiet have disappeared from the lives of men since 1914."

What a turning point that year 1914 proved to be! As the leading nations of earth became locked in total warfare, existing forms of government were shaken to the foundations. Until that time, much of the earth had been ruled by kingdoms with real kings. But one after another these kingdoms tottered and fell. Russian czardom received its deathblow, and was soon replaced by atheistic Communism. Socialistic governments were on the ascendancy.

But what does all of this have to do with God's kingdom? When Jesus was here on earth, his disciples were most interested in that kingdom. On one occasion they asked him: "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?" This "presence" refers to his being present as reigning king for the purpose of judging the nations on earth. How do we know this? Because, in the course of replying to his disciples, Jesus said: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him." (Matt. 24:3; 25:31, 32) His "presence" is therefore in the spirit realm. That is why a visible "sign" is given to show men on earth that he has begun reigning as King.

Let us examine some of the features of the "sign" that Jesus gave. As we do so, we can ask ourselves, Do these things really pinpoint our times since 1914 as "the conclusion of the system of things"? First, Jesus spoke of international wars, "nation . . . against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Matt. 24:7, 8) Since 1914, the two world wars alone took 69 million lives. And now we stand at the brink of nuclear warfare. It is significant that former United States Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger stated on January 10, 1977, just before leaving office: "The American people must understand that strategic nuclear weapons confront all mankind with a new circumstance, namely that for the first time in history, mankind can literally destroy itself." What a fearful possibility! Truly, the fulfillment of still another feature of Jesus' "sign" is plain for all to see:

"There will be . . . on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth."-Luke 21:25, 26.

The turmoil in the earth shows that "the appointed times of the nations" for ruling independently of God ran out in 1914. Now we are living through the time of worldwide distress that immediately precedes the replacing of man-rule by God's kingdom, for the everlasting benefit of mankind.-Luke 21:24.

OTHER FEATURES OF THE "SIGN"

However, there are many more features of Jesus' "sign." He said that the "conclusion of the system of things" would be marked by great "food shortages." In the wake of World War I terrible famines took the lives of millions, and now the twentieth-century population explosion, coupled with administrative disunity and greed, leaves a half billion people undernourished or facing starvation. Jesus spoke also of "earthquakes in one place after another." (Matt. 24:7) These are certainly in evidence since 1914, being climaxed by that in Tangshan, China, in 1976, concerning which Communist Party chairman Huo Kua-feng said: "It caused a loss of life and property rarely seen in history." Casualties were more than 655,000 killed and 790,000 injured, bringing the total loss of life in earthquakes since 1914 to well over 1,500,000 persons. Truly, earthquakes have abounded since 1914-as part of the "sign."

Space does not permit us to recount today all the features of Jesus' "sign." But it is clearly to be seen. Why, even pontiffs of the Roman Catholic Church have noted the import of the "sign." In his encyclical of November 1, 1914, Pope Benedict XV declared World War I to be the "beginning of the world's death pangs." And his successor, Pope Pius XI, in the Encyclical "Miserentissimus Redemptor" reviewed the sad state of the world, and concluded: "Indeed, it is impossible to refrain from thinking that these are truly the signs of the last days, such as were announced by Our Lord." Then, why has not the Catholic Church given support to Jesus' further words in connection with the "sign"? Jesus said: "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.

Sadly, both Catholicism and Protestantism have failed to proclaim to the world that God's kingdom is now at hand. It has been left to the Christian witnesses of Jehovah to carry out that work. And as one modern-day historian stated: "Jehovah's Witnesses have literally covered the earth with their witnessing."

Now is the time to pay the most urgent attention to Jesus' prophecy. And why is that? It is because we are well along in the generation that saw the start of these "pangs of distress" upon mankind. (Matt. 24:8) We are fast approaching the culminating feature of the "sign," concerning which Jesus said:

"Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short."-Matt. 24:21, 22, 34.

Do you want to be among the favored ones when the final tribulation strikes? Then you must learn how God's Kingdom government can benefit you!

Commencing on page 12, we will examine more closely how the great need arose for this Kingdom government, what are the qualifications its King must meet, and why it has taken God thousands of years to make preparation for the Kingdom.

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g73 10/8 16-20 Mankind at the Crossroads by 1914-Why?

LIVING now in 1973, why should you be interested in the year 1914? Because-whether you were alive back then or not-you are affected by what took place in that year.

Since 1914 the whole world has become like a spaceship that has gone out of control, moving faster and faster toward grave danger. To know why this situation has come about we need to understand the chain of events that began in that year.

Compared with our violent twentieth century, the previous century is rightly described as "a century of peace." In 1914 World War I broke out and changed all this. To appreciate just how great the change has been, consider the way historian A. J. P. Taylor describes continental Europe before the start of World War I:

"In 1914 Europe was a single civilized community, more so even than at the height of the Roman Empire. A man could travel across the length and breadth of the Continent without a passport until he reached the frontiers of Russia. . . . He could settle in a foreign country for work or leisure without legal formalities except, occasionally, some health requirements. Every currency was as good as gold, though this security rested ultimately on the skill of financiers in the City of London. There were common political forms. . . . Nearly everywhere men could be sure of reasonably fair treatment in the courts of law. No one was killed for religious reasons. No one was killed for political reasons, despite the somewhat synthetic bitterness often shown in political disputes. Private property was everywhere secure."-"From Sarajevo to Potsdam."

Where can you find conditions like that today-in Europe or anywhere else on earth? As Joseph Wood Krutch states:

"World War I [1914-1918] . . . put an end to several centuries of increasing optimism, comfort, self-confidence, and the sense that the future of civilization was secure because it had at last found the right road."

Great Turning Point

The year 1914 marked far more than the end of the comparative peacefulness that had so long prevailed. It marked a crucial turning point in the history of the world of mankind, the start of a time of crisis that is finally nearing its climax. Looking back in history, this is what observers now say:

"As time has passed since the days of August, 1914, it has become increasingly clear that the outbreak of the First World War meant the end of an age."-"The Norton History of Modern Europe."

"World War I was a significant milestone on the highway of world events. It marked the end of one epoch and the beginning of another."-Colonel R. Ernest Dupuy, introduction to the book "World War I: A Compact History."

But what of the second world war, which ended in 1945 with atomic explosions? Does not this mark the real turning point for mankind? No! answer historians. And they show why not. Consider:

"The war of 1914-1918 is sometimes called the First World War and sometimes the Great War. The second is the proper title, for it was a turning point of history. The Second World War, and the Cold War, are only the heavings of the troubled earth as it tries to make a stable pattern out of the new emotions, new conditions, and new organisms thrown up by the Great War [of 1914-1918]."-John Masters, "Fourteen Eighteen."

"More and more historians look back upon World War I as the great turning point of modern history, the catastrophic collapse which opened the way for others."-D. F. Fleming, "The Origins and Legacies of World War I."

The Turning Point Foreseen-by Whom?

But did you know that, long before 1914-in fact, more than a quarter of a century before-persons were pointing ahead to that year as one to be of great significance for all mankind? History shows that sincere Bible students, known today as Jehovah's witnesses, did just that. Note this:

Back on August 30, 1914, the New York World, in its magazine section, said, "The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy." It went on to state:

"For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the 'International Bible Students' [Jehovah's witnesses] . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914.

"'Look out for 1914!' has been the cry of the hundreds of travelling evangelists who, representing this strange creed, have gone up and down the country enunciating the doctrine that 'the Kingdom of God is at hand.'"

Why did they point forward to 1914-the very year historians now say was the "turning point" of modern history-as a marked date? Bible prophecy led them to do so.

Seeing Jesus' reference to the "appointed times of the nations" at Luke 21:20-24, they wanted to learn how long these "times" were due to run and when God's kingdom by his Son would go into action, taking control of earth out of the hands of the political nations. (Dan. 2:44) They knew that God had long had a representative kingdom functioning on earth in the kingdom of Judah, its kings being said to sit 'on Jehovah's throne' as his representatives. (1 Chron. 29:23) But that kingdom had been overturned in the year 607 B.C.E. when the head of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Nebuchadnezzar (II), crushed it. Well, then, if the "appointed times of the nations" for exclusive domination of earth began then, how long would their time run? When would it end? And what would this mean for us today?

A further link in the chain of evidence was found in the prophecy of Daniel, to which Jesus twice referred when prophesying about the setting up of his kingdom. (Compare Matthew 24:15, 21 with Daniel 11:31; 12:1.) The evidence there was that the "appointed times" would be seven in number. (Dan. 4:16, 23) How much time would such "seven times" cover?

At Revelation 12:14 reference was made to "a time and times and half a time" or 'three and a half times' ("three years and a half," New English Bible; also The New American Bible; The Jerusalem Bible). This same chapter, verse 6, shows that these 'three and a half times' equal 1,260 days. Seven times, logically, would be double that: 2,520 days.

But after 2,520 days from the fall of God's representative kingdom in Judah nothing had changed. And, since Jesus stated that the "appointed times of the nations" were still in progress in his day, six centuries after Judah's overthrow, it is clear that more than 2,520 days are involved. What then?

Once more the Bible supplied the key. It revealed God's use in prophecy of a day to stand for a year. (See Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.) Applying this Biblical formula of "a day for a year," the seven times amount to 2,520 years. So counting from 607 B.C.E. when the Gentile nations gained exclusive domination of the earth, when do those "appointed times" end?

The answer is 1914. Jehovah's witnesses pointed to that year as early as 1876 in an article written by C. T. Russell and published in the Bible Examiner. Thirty-eight years later that marked year of 1914 arrived. With it came the outbreak of World War I and the multitude of drastic changes accompanying it.

Before This Generation Ends

Nevertheless, what does that mean for us today? Why place such great importance on the fact that the date of this particular turning point was foreseen through Bible prophecy? After all, here we are almost sixty years later. Of the people living in 1914 of sufficient age to know what was going on, most are not even living now, and those who do remain are up in years, old.

This is precisely why these matters considered are so important, vitally important, to all of us. Not only was the date of the world's turning point foretold but the conditions that would follow were also foretold, and it was revealed just where mankind's present course is leading, what its final result will be. And, very important for us, it was foretold that such final result would take place within the lifetime of just one generation, the generation that was alive in 1914.

Christ Jesus, the most renowned prophet in human history, was the one foretelling this. His prophecy was twofold. It would have a first fulfillment in that time (the first century of the Common Era) and a far greater fulfillment coming at the time for God's Messianic kingdom to go into action on the world scene. In the prophecy, Jesus said: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all things occur." (Matt. 24:34; Rev. 21:2-4) What has been the result?

What he said proved true in the first century. The first fulfillment of the prophecy became a matter of historical record less than forty years later-in the lifetime of those hearing the prophecy.

Jesus had foretold Jerusalem's utter destruction and the scattering of the Jewish nation. (Luke 21:5, 6, 20-24; compare Luke 19:41-44.) That is precisely what happened in the year 70 C.E. when Rome's legions desolated Jerusalem.

We can be equally sure that, of the generation alive in 1914, some will see the major fulfillment of Christ Jesus' prophecy and the destruction with which it culminates. This means that mankind is now in the most crucial time of its history, when the rule of this earth and of all human affairs will pass from the hands of imperfect political rulers and come to rest with a righteous government of God's own making.

Why can we be sure of this? Again, is it simply because a certain date-1914-was foreseen as a point of world change? Is that all there is to guarantee that the "generation" foretold in Jesus' prophecy dates from that time? By no means. There is a host of other reasons for having solid conviction that this is the case.

This is because Christ Jesus included in his prophecy a sign,-a sign with numerous features that would positively identify the generation due to see his prophecy for our time fulfilled.

Do we today see that sign for our time? And, since the major fulfillment of the prophecy applies not to a single nation, but to all mankind everywhere, do we see this sign-all its features-on a global scale, earth wide?

[Footnotes]

For clear evidence as to why this prophecy has a later and greater fulfillment beyond its initial application to Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar II, please see the book "Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" God's Kingdom Rules!, pp. 174-181; also the book Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 94-96.

[Diagram on page 19]

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1914, START OF FORETOLD "LAST DAYS"

One Generation

END OF OLD ORDER

START OF GOD'S NEW ORDER

[Graph on page 18]

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SEVEN SYMBOLIC TIMES

2,520 YEARS

B.C.E. C.E.

607 B.C.E. 1914 C.E.

In 607 B.C.E. God's typical kingdom of Judah fell, and the Gentile kingdoms ruled the whole earth. In 1914 C.E. the "appointed times of the nations" ended, and "the kingdom of the world" was given to Christ

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g73 10/8 20-2 The Identifying "Sign" of Our Times

WE DO not need to be in doubt as to where we are on the stream of time or where this world is heading. There is a sign telling us this. It is, in effect, a huge signpost, big enough to be read the earth around.

This global sign is in fulfillment of a prophecy given by Christ Jesus and found in the Bible at Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Examine, now, what that sign is composed of and then compare its features with what your own eyes, ears and other senses tell you is taking place today.

This many-faceted prophetic sign embraces these features:

A period marked by "wars and reports of wars," by "great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences [disease plagues] and food shortages." Among the people, a significant "increasing of lawlessness," and "anguish of nations, not knowing the way out," yet with materialistic concerns so occupying people's attention that they show little if any heed to the warning signs around them.

Do we see this composite sign? Has it been visible since 1914? What are the facts?

Wars have erupted one after the other since 1914. The years from then till now are rightly called "The Age of Violence." In his book The First World War, French General Richard Thoumin shows how this war differed from all previous. He states:

"Never before had so many countries and such large armies faced each other in such gigantic battles; never had such high proportions of combatants been killed or maimed; never had man gone to war with such powerful weapons. . . .

"The First World War was the first 'total' war, and as such made a profound impact upon the minds of all participants . . . "

World War I brought some ten million fatalities; World War II produced another fifty-five million. And just since the end of World War II there have been one hundred or more wars fought in different parts of the earth. The bombing done by the United States alone in the Vietnam conflict exceeded that done in the second world war by all the combatant nations combined.

Disease epidemics mock mankind's twentieth-century medical advances. Just one plague, the Spanish influenza, killed 21,000,000 persons around the world in a matter of months during 1918-1919. The book 1918 Year of Crisis, Year of Change describes its disastrous effect:

"The influenza epidemic near the end of the war was so appalling that the medical world was 'in an uproar' . . .

"The fatally insidious part of the epidemic was that not only did the medical profession lack a cure, but there was no way to halt its spread-and no other disease had ever spread so far so fast, according to the authorities of the day. . . . the world was suffering the most calamitous epidemic in its history. . . . The epidemic far outstripped the war itself as a mass killer."

"In India alone, 12.5 million, or 4 percent of the total population, died in the epidemic. In the United States the disease took more than 500,000 lives."

Now, cancer, heart disease, mental ailments, venereal disease, drug addiction-all qualify as modern plagues of enormous proportions. Pollution poisoning is viewed by some authorities as a greater threat than even nuclear war.

Food shortages have made the specter of starvation or malnutrition a continuing part of the earthly scene since 1914. The war years of 1914-1918 saw famine in many parts of Europe; millions died of starvation in Russia. And The World Book Encyclopedia (1970) says that "after World War II, there occurred the greatest world-wide shortage of food in history." The shortage worsens as one out of every three persons on earth today suffers malnutrition or is slowly starving. Food prices skyrocket in many lands.

Earthquakes have been shaking this planet since 1914 with notable frequency and violence. They have cost over 700,000 lives and incalculable property damage, devastating entire cities, such as Managua, Nicaragua, and ripping huge mountains apart, burying whole towns under tons of earth.

Lawlessness spreads growing fear in city, town and countryside. The cost of crime in the United States alone has risen to fifty-one thousand million dollars a year! Especially notable is the growth of crime among so-called "respectable" people. Executives and "trusted" employees in the United States are stealing from their companies at the rate of eight thousand million dollars a year.

But lawlessness is not limited to thievery, murder and similar crimes. The period from 1914 onward has seen a surge of lawlessness due to the overthrow of more and more of mankind's moral standards. Religious organizations in growing numbers either ignore or set aside God's laws as found in the Bible, classifying them as "outdated" and "impractical."

The foretold "anguish of nations" is here. World leaders obviously do not 'know the way out' of the pressing problems and manifest growing confusion. More and more persons immerse themselves in materialistic pursuits, seeking to close their eyes to the evidence of the world's drift toward disaster.

Yes, perhaps the strongest evidence of all that we are now in the foretold crucial time is that seen in people themselves. Compare these words of the inspired apostle Paul with what you yourself observe today:

"You must face the fact: the final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. Men will love nothing but money and self; they will be arrogant, boastful, and abusive; with no respect for parents, no gratitude, no piety, no natural affection; they will be implacable in their hatreds, scandalmongers, intemperate and fierce, strangers to all goodness, traitors, adventurers, swollen with self-importance. They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God, men who preserve the outward form of religion, but are a standing denial of its reality."-2 Tim. 3:1-5, "The New English Bible."

Surely those words fit the generation living on earth since 1914 as they fit no other generation in history. Nor should we expect a reversal of that trend. Rather, we can be certain that, as this same prophecy warns, such persons "will make progress from bad to worse, deceiving and deceived."-2 Tim. 3:13, NE.

What our own eyes see and our own ears hear bear testimony to us that we are living in the "final age," the "last days." The last days of what? Not the last days for this earth nor for all humankind, but the last days for the present world order and all who prefer it and who continue with it in its downward course.

The prophetic sign identifying our times, therefore, is visible in all the earth. The facts clearly fulfilling these are staring us all in the face. They have come exactly at the foretold time and in the foretold way. World leaders cannot explain why the world is on its present troubled course or just where it is all leading. Why not, then, give serious consideration to the enlightening vision the Bible gives showing what is just ahead of us?

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w75 11/15 681-3 Events That Still Lie Ahead

THE ushering in of an earth free from unrest, crime, sickness and pain is at hand. Soon prisons, hospitals and medical staffs will no longer be needed.-2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:3-5.

The coming into existence of such a state of affairs in our day is no idle dream. It is based on the dependable promise of the One who is fully capable of bringing it about. That One is man's Creator, Jehovah God.

However, before he takes action to produce an earth filled with righteousness, other startling events must first take place. As they do, God-fearing persons will have added assurance that, despite increasing insecurity and troubles on earth, a righteous new order is near. Rather than give way to great anxiety and fear, they will heed the admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ: "Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near."-Luke 21:28.

But what world-shaking events will precede the deliverance from the troubles that have long plagued humankind?

PREACHING OF THE "GOOD NEWS"

One of these events is now in the process of reaching its culmination. It is the preaching of the "good news" of God's kingdom by his Christ. (Matt. 24:14) You yourself have seen repeated evidence that this "good news" is being proclaimed. Has not someone taken the time to speak to you about God's kingdom? And have you not noticed that Jehovah's witnesses are the only group of Christians that are making it a matter of personal concern to reach people privately and publicly so that they might hear this message? Jehovah's witnesses are doing this in 207 lands. Though persecuted, misrepresented and ridiculed in various parts of the earth, they have not stopped their activity. Even when faced with governmental bans, they have kept right on preaching, obeying "God as ruler rather than men."-Acts 5:29.

What has been the result of this activity? First of all, the disciples chosen by God to be united with his Son in rulership have been gathered from among earth's inhabitants. (Matt. 24:31) But that is not all. Each year tens of thousands of other believers have dedicated their lives to Jehovah God and, by conforming to the Bible's commands, have begun living in a way that reflects subjection to Jesus Christ as King. Today more than two million men, women and children earth wide are doing just that. Their course of action in repentantly accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord to the glory of his Father, Jehovah, was described to the apostle John in a prophetic vision. That vision portrays them as a "great crowd" of persons out of all nations who "have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."-Rev. 7:9, 14.

This "great crowd" is looking forward with eager anticipation to the prospect of surviving the end of the present ungodly system of things. They know that the destructive "day of Jehovah" will come right after men and nations reach the point where they are proclaiming "Peace and security!" (1 Thess. 5:3) Already there are indications in that direction. Not only are world leaders more frequently using the words "peace" and "security," but they are also developing a "détente," in which they view more tolerantly the nations that have completely different ideologi