Congregation Book Study, Week of January 3-9, 2022, Chapter 18, Paragraphs 9-15, Box 18A and Underlined Answers.

Congregation Book Study, Jan 3-9, 2022, Chapter 18, Paragraphs 9-15, Box 18A and Underlined Answers.

Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 18 paras. 9-15 and Box 18A.

9, 10. What examples reveal how Jehovah acts when his faithful servants are in danger?

Reason: When Jehovah's faithful servants are in danger. Jehovah feels great indignation when his loyal servants, those who take refuge in him, are attacked. For example, after the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh and his mighty army cornered his people, who seemed so helpless there, on the shore of the Red Sea. But when that mighty army chased the Israelites across the bottom of the sea, Jehovah left their chariots without wheels and disposed of the Egyptians by causing the sea to swallow them up. "Not a single one of them survived" (Ex. 14: 25-28). Because of Jehovah's “loyal love” for his people, he unleashed his fury against the Egyptians. --Read Exodus 15: 9-13.

And that same love for his people was what prompted Jehovah to take action in the time of King Hezekiah. The Assyrians, the most cruel and powerful military power of the moment, were at the gates of the city of Jerusalem. Jehovah's loyal servants faced the threat of a siege that would lead to their slow and gruesome death. --2 Kings 18:27. At this, Jehovah sent a single angel, who killed 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night. --2 Kings 19:34, 35. Imagine the Assyrian camp the next morning. Everything is in its place: spears, shields, swords ... There are no trumpets or voices giving orders. A chilling silence runs through the tents of that camp full of corpses.

11. Why do the biblical examples we have reviewed give us encouragement and courage?

Lessons: These examples of how Jehovah reacts when his people are in danger represent a clear warning to our enemies : “It is terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31) . On the other hand, these same examples give us encouragement and fill us with courage. It is a relief to know that our worst enemy, Satan, will not be victorious. The "little time" he had is going to run out very soon(Rev. 12:12). Meanwhile, we serve Jehovah courageously, confident that no person, organization, or authority can stop us from doing God's will. --Read Psalm 118: 6-9. That same conviction was expressed by the Apostle Paul when he wrote these inspired words: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).

12. What will move Jehovah to unleash his fury in the great tribulation?

In the near great tribulation Jehovah will protect us, just as he protected the Israelites cornered by the Egyptians and the Jews of Jerusalem threatened by the Assyrians. Because Jehovah loves us so much, his fury will explode when our enemies try to destroy us. Those fools who dare to attack us will be, as it were, touching the pupil of Jehovah's eye; his reaction will be immediate and definitive (Zech. 2: 8, 9). The result will be the biggest carnage in history. But when Jehovah unleashes his wrath on his enemies, they will not be able to say that he has taken them by surprise. Let's see why.

What warnings has Jehovah given?

FACT BOX 18A: Jehovah's Warnings of the Future Great Battle.

Ezekiel proclaiming a warning from Jehovah.

Jehovah's Warnings Regarding the Future Great Battle

In the Bible we find many prophecies that warn of the coming of a decisive battle in which Jehovah will destroy all those who oppose him and his people. The following list contains some of those prophecies. You will see that these warnings are alike and that Jehovah has ensured that all mankind has the opportunity to hear and heed them

IN THE AGE OF ANCIENT ISRAEL

EZEKIEL: "I will summon a sword against Gog in all my mountains," affirms the Sovereign Lord Jehovah— "(Ezek. 38: 18-23)

JEREMIAH: “Jehovah... Will personally judge all mankind. And he will deliver the wicked to the sword ”(Jer. 25: 31-33)

DANIEL: "The God of heaven will establish a kingdom that [...] will shatter and put an end to all those kingdoms" (Dan. 2:44)

IN THE FIRST CENTURY

JESUS: “There will be great tribulation. From the beginning of the world until now, there has been no such tribulation ”(Matt. 24:21, 22)

PAUL: "Jesus [...] with his mighty angels" will execute "vengeance against those who do not know God" (2 Thess. 1: 6-9)

PETER: “The day of Jehovah will come like a thief... And the earth and the works that are in it will be laid bare” (2 Pet. 3:10)

JUAN: “From his [Jesus] mouth comes a long and sharp sword to attack the nations” (Rev. 19: 11-18)

NOWADAYS

The Bible is the most widely translated and distributed book in history

JEHOVAH'S SERVANTS TODAY ...

... distribute millions of Bible publications in hundreds of languages

... spend hundreds of millions of hours preaching each year

13. What warnings has Jehovah given?

Jehovah is patient and has warned many times that he will destroy those who oppose him and threaten his people. --Ex. 34: 6, 7. Through prophets such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jesus Christ, and the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John, he warned that a great and decisive battle was coming (see the box “Jehovah's Warnings on the Future Great Battle”).

14, 15. What has Jehovah been doing, and why?

Jehovah made these warnings written in his Word. In addition, thanks to him, the Bible has become the most translated and distributed book in history. Throughout the world, he has assembled a battalion of volunteers who help others to reconcile with God and who warn of the approaching “great day of Jehovah” (Zep. 1:14; Ps. 2: 10-12; 110: 3) . He has prompted his people to translate publications into hundreds of languages ​​to study the Bible. It has also motivated him to spend hundreds of millions of hours a year speaking the promises and warnings recorded in his Word.

Jehovah has been behind all this “because he does not want any to be destroyed, but for all to come to repent” (2 Pet. 3: 9). It is an immense honor to represent our patient and loving God and do our bit to spread his message. But time will soon be running out for those who ignore the warnings.

ILLUSTRATION:

An angel with a sword in his hand.

In the time of Hezekiah, an angel protected God's people from the Assyrians; in the future, angels will protect us. (See paragraphs 10 and 23).