Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 18 paras. 16-25.
When will Jehovah's fury “break out”?
16, 17. How can Jehovah know when they will attack his people?
Jehovah has set the date for the final war. He already knows when his enemies will attack his people (Matt. 24:36). And how do you know?
As we saw in the previous chapter, Jehovah tells Gog: "I will put hooks in your jaws." He will drag the nations into a final showdown (Ezek. 38: 4). This does not mean that Jehovah is going to start this fight or that he is going to rob opponents of their choice. What he means is that Jehovah can read hearts and knows how his enemies will react under certain circumstances. --Ps. 94:11; Isa. 46: 9, 10; Jer. 17:10.
18. How is it that mere humans will fight the Almighty?
If Jehovah is not going to start the conflict or force his opponents to fight, how can mere humans dare to fight the Almighty? One reason is that, by now, his enemies will probably have convinced themselves that God does not exist or that he does not intervene in human affairs. Perhaps they think this way because by then they themselves will have already exterminated all false religions. They may conclude that if God existed, He would have done something to defend the organizations that claimed to represent Him. They will not realize that it was really God who put in their hearts the desire to end the religions that had so discredited him (Rev. 17:16, 17).
19. ¿Qué es muy probable que suceda después de la destrucción de la religión falsa?
Some time after the destruction of false religion, Jehovah will most likely command his people to convey a hurtful message. Revelation compares that message to hailstones weighing about 20 kilos (45 pounds) each (Rev. 16:21, footnote). We may have to declare that the political and commercial system is about to come to an end. People will be so tormented by this message that they will blaspheme God. Probably, that message is the spark that leads the nations to launch a total attack against the people of God to silence them once and for all. They will see us so defenseless that they will think that ending us is a piece of cake. They won't know what they're getting into!
How will Jehovah show his fury?
20, 21. Who is Gog, and what will happen to him?
As we saw in chapter 17, Ezekiel used the prophetic title "Gog of the land of Magog" to refer to the coalition or group of nations that will attack us (Ezek. 38: 2). But the unity of this coalition will be very fragile. Behind a facade of cooperation, nationalist ambition, rivalry and pride will live on. It will be very easy for Jehovah to make each one lift up the sword “against his own brother” (Ezek. 38:21). Even so, the destruction of the nations will not be the work of man.
Before its destruction, our enemies will see “the sign of the Son of Man,” which will likely be a supernatural manifestation of the power of Jehovah and Jesus (Matt. 24:30). Opponents will see things that will fill them with anguish and despair. As Jesus prophesied, “the people will faint from fear and anxiety about the things that are to come on the inhabited earth” (Luke 21: 25-27). How horrified they will be when they realize that attacking God's people was a grave mistake! They will have no choice but to meet the Creator in their role as military commander - Jehovah of armies(Ps. 46: 6-11; Ezek. 38:23). Without a doubt, Jehovah will give the green light to the armies of heaven and unleash natural forces to protect his loyal servants and, at the same time, eliminate his enemies. --Read 2 Peter 2: 9.
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus and angels watching from heaven as police and military surround a neighborhood. A brother is helping two Witnesses into a house.
When his people are in danger, Jehovah will use heavenly armies to unleash his fury. (See paragraph 21)
22, 23. a) Who will protect God's people? b) How will they surely feel when they fulfill their mission?
Think of how willing Jesus must be to lead the attack against God's enemies and protect those who love and serve his Father. Imagine also the emotion that the anointed will feel then. At some point before Armageddon begins, the last remaining anointed ones on earth will go up to heaven, so that the entire group of 144,000 can fight alongside Jesus (Rev. 17: 12-14). In recent days, many anointed ones have worked closely with members of the other sheep and, as a result, close friendships have formed with each other. At Armageddon, the anointed will have the authority and power to defend those who loyally supported them in difficult times (Matt. 25: 31-40).
Angels will also be part of Jesus' heavenly army (2 Thess. 1: 7; Rev. 19:14). In fact, they have already helped him cast Satan and demons out of heaven (Rev. 12: 7-9). And they have been participating in the work of gathering here on earth people who want to worship Jehovah. --Rev. 14: 6, 7. It stands to reason that Jehovah allows angels to protect these loyal servants. Most importantly, by participating in ending Jehovah's enemies, everyone in his army will have the honor of sanctifying and vindicating his name or reputation. --Matt. 6: 9, 10.
24. What will be the attitude of the great crowd of other sheep?
With an army that has so much power and so many reasons to protect them, those in the great crowd of other sheep will have no reason to fear. In fact, seeing that "their deliverance draws near," they will stand up and lift their heads (Luke 21:28). So it is of the utmost importance that before Jehovah's day comes, we help as many people as possible to know and love our merciful Father, a God who protects his own. --Read Zephaniah 2: 2, 3.
ILLUSTRATION:
A neighborhood during Armageddon. Policemen in the streets attacking each other with firearms while Jehovah's angel protects a group of God's servants.
Jehovah's people will not have to fight at Armageddon. Angels will protect you while your enemies attack each other (Ezek. 38:21). (See paragraphs 22 to 24).
25. What are we going to study in the next chapter?
Human wars leave a trail of chaos and misery. However, after Armageddon, order and happiness will reign. What will happen when Jehovah finishes unleashing his fury, his warriors sheathe their swords, and the last sounds of the great war fade away? In the next chapter we will see the magnificent future that awaits us.
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
What provokes Jehovah's fury?
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; your reaction will be immediate and definitive.
How will Jehovah show his fury?
Jehovah will give the green light to the heavenly armies and unleash natural forces to protect his loyal servants while eliminating his enemies. So Jehovah knows how to rescue people who are devoted to him from trials and reserve unjust people to be destroyed on the day of judgment.
Why should we courageously promote pure worship now?
With an army that has so much power and so many reasons to protect them. It is of the utmost importance that before Jehovah's day comes we help as many people as possible to know and love our merciful Father , a God who protects his own.
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