Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 16 paras. 14-20 and Box 16B.
14, 15. What examples show that Jehovah warns before bringing destruction?
So how is Ezekiel's prophetic vision fulfilled in our day? By paying attention to how the vision was fulfilled in the past, we will know what to expect now and in the future. Let's analyze some events in this vision that have already been or will be fulfilled.
Jehovah warns before bringing destruction. As we saw in chapter 11 of this book, Jehovah appointed Ezekiel "a watchman for the house of Israel" (Ezek. 3: 17-19). From 613 B.C.E., Ezekiel gave clear warnings to Israel of the approaching destruction. Other prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, also warned of the misfortunes that awaited Jerusalem (Isa. 39: 6, 7; Jer. 25: 8, 9, 11). Through Jesus Christ, Jehovah today uses a small group of anointed Christians to feed “the servants of the house” - that is, his faithful servants - but also to warn people that the great tribulation is coming. --Matt. 12:45 PM).
16. Why don't we mark those who will survive the destruction?
Jehovah's people do not mark those who will survive. Recall that Ezekiel was not asked to go through Jerusalem putting a mark on those who would survive. Likewise, those of us who make up Jehovah's people are not on a mission to mark those who deserve to survive. Rather, Christ's spiritual "house servants" have a mission to preach. And we show that we take this task very seriously by eagerly announcing the good news of God's Kingdom and by courageously warning that this wicked world has little left (Matt. 24:14; 28: 18-20). So our part is to help good-hearted people embrace pure worship (1 Tim. 4:16).
17. What do we have to do now to receive the mark in the future?
To survive the future destruction, everyone has to show their faith now. As we saw earlier, the survivors of the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BC demonstrated beforehand that they were totally against evil and that they clung to pure worship. And the same can be said of our days. Before destruction comes, each one has to "sigh and lament", that is, be deeply distressed by the evil of this world. And, instead of hiding what you think, you have to show by your words and actions that you hold on to pure worship. What does that involve? Accept the message of the preaching that is taking place; develop a new personality, like that of Christ; dedicate oneself to Jehovah and be baptized; and loyally support Christ's brothers (Ezek. 9: 4; Matt. 25: 34-40; Eph. 4: 22-24; 1 Ped. 3:21). Only those who have done this, and who are giving pure worship to Jehovah when the great tribulation breaks out, will have a chance to be marked for survival.
18. a) How and when will Jesus carry out the marking work? b) Why don't the anointed need to receive this mark?
The marking work will be done in the celestial region. In Ezekiel's time, angels were the ones who marked faithful Jews to survive. In the current fulfillment of the vision, the man with the secretary's inkwell represents Jesus Christ when he “comes in his glory” as Judge of all nations (Matt. 25: 31-33). The coming of Jesus will be during the great tribulation, after false religion is destroyed. * At that decisive moment, just before Armageddon begins, Jesus will judge people and determine whether they are sheep or goats. In judging those in the "great crowd," he will mark them as sheep, indicating that they "will go into eternal life" (Rev. 7: 9-14; Matt. 25: 34-40, 46). And what will happen to the anointed ones? They don't need to be branded to survive Armageddon. In your case, they will receive the final seal before they die or before the great tribulation breaks out. Then, sometime before Armageddon begins, they will receive life in heaven (Rev. 7: 1-3).
19. Who will be with Jesus in executing the sentence against this system? (See the box “Sigh and Wail, Mark, Smash: When and How Does It Happen?”).
King Jesus Christ and his heavenly army will execute the sentence against this system. In Ezekiel's vision, the six armed men began the destruction when the man in linen finished his marking work (Ezek. 9: 4-7). Likewise, future destruction will begin after Jesus has judged the people of all nations and marked the sheep to survive. Then, during the war of Armageddon, Jesus will lead his heavenly armies — both the angels and the 144,000 — against this wicked world. He will destroy it completely, and will save faithful servants and lead them to the righteous new world (Rev. 16: 14-16; 19: 11-21).
20. What good lessons does the vision of the man with the secretary's inkwell teach us?
How we appreciate the good lessons that the vision of the man with the secretary's inkwell teaches us! We can be sure that Jehovah will not eliminate the righteous with the wicked. --Psalm 97:10. The vision also teaches us what we have to do now so that we are marked in the future and we can survive. As servants of Jehovah, we are determined to participate to the fullest in declaring the good news and warning those who are sighing and mourning the wickedness of this world of future destruction. Only then can we have the honor of helping those with “the right attitude to obtain eternal life” to join us in pure worship. In this way, they too will have the opportunity to be marked to survive and pass into God's righteous new world (Acts 13:48).
INFORMATIVE BOX 16B: Sigh and wail, mark, crush | When and how does it happen?
The vision recorded in Ezekiel chapter 9 has a fulfillment in our day. Understanding how events will unfold will allow us to be calm when the end of this system comes.
Sigh and lament
ILLUSTRATION
A woman getting baptized.
WHEN: During the last days, before the great tribulation
HOW: Good-hearted people show by their words and actions that they detest the wickedness of this world. They accept the message of the preaching; they develop a new personality, like that of Christ; they dedicate themselves to Jehovah and are baptized; and loyally support the brothers of Christ
Mark
ILLUSTRATION
The man with the secretary's inkwell holding a writing pen.
WHEN: During the great tribulation
HOW: The man with the secretary's inkwell represents Jesus Christ when he comes as Judge of all nations. Those in the great crowd will be judged or marked as sheep, indicating that they will survive Armageddon
Smash
ILLUSTRATION
A man holding a gun to smash.
WHEN: At Armageddon
HOW: Jesus Christ and his heavenly armies - the angels and the 144,000 who will rule with him - will completely end this wicked world and save God's faithful servants to lead them to the righteous new world
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
How does Jehovah's mercy highlight the vision of the man with the secretary's inkwell?
Jesus is the one who judges people. He will handle the final judgment during the great tribulation, he shows mercy by separating when sheeplike people, who will survive, from goatlike people, who will be destroyed.
What do you need to do now in order to be marked and survive in the future?
We have to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. Jehovah's servants need to be determined to participate to the fullest in declaring the good news and warning of future destruction.
What are you determined to do after analyzing the vision of the man with the inkwell?
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