Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): rr chap. 22 paras. 23-31 and box 22A.
23. What situation will each person face?
Each person will face a situation similar to that experienced by Adam and Eve. Which was to accept Jehovah's standards or to reveal himself to him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
All people will face a test much like the one our first parents faced, they will have to choose between worshiping Jehovah or rebelling against him and siding with Satan.
When Satan tries to turn humans away from God in the final test, we will face a situation similar to that of Adam and Eve: choose to worship Jehovah and accept his Kingdom and his rules or rebel and side with Satan.
24. Why are the rebels called “Gog” and “Magog”?
Because they have characteristics very similar to those of the "Gog of the land of Magog". That group of rebels, made up of nations that are enemies of Jehovah's government, is the one that attacks the people of God during the great tribulation.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Because the rebels have characteristics similar to those of the "Gog of the land of Magog" of Ezekiel's prophecy. Those rebels will attack Jehovah's people in the great tribulation. And these "Gog and Magog" will also want to rebel after the 1,000 years and separate from the people of God.
It is also interesting that, as we have read in verse 8 of Revelation 20, they are called "nations." This makes us think that they will want to divide the people of God who are subjects of an idol government, the Kingdom of God. And, unfortunately, they will cause some to separate from God's people.
ILLUSTRATION:
A rebel inciting the crowds to protest. The protest occurs at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ.
Those who rebel after the 1,000 years are called "Gog" and "Magog." (See paragraph 24).
25, 26. (a) How many will join Satan?
They will be many, “like the sand of the sea”. Although it is a significant amount, it is actually only a small part of humanity.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The bible says the rebels will be like the sand of the sea, but this does not mean that they will be a huge number, because in the case of Abraham, Jehovah told him that his offspring would be like the grains of sand, but his offspring has been 144.00 In the same way, it will happen with those who join Satan, it will be an important amount, but not exaggerated.
As many will unite "as the sand of the sea." This means that there will be many, but few compared to all mankind who serve Jehovah faithfully. So they will not be much of a threat to Jehovah's loyal servants.
b) How will the rebels end?
They will end up being exterminated. The rebels will disappear with Satan.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They will be completely exterminated, since they will end up being destroyed forever along with Satan and his demons.
They will soon be exterminated. They will disappear forever, along with Satan and the demons. Only a bad memory of them will remain.
27-29. What life will lie ahead for those who pass the final test?
Those who pass the final test will be written forever in “the book of life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They will have a wonderful life ahead of them: in which we will not have to suffer again. Your work will be rewarding and you will be surrounded by real friends. We will be free from sin, we will be spiritually clean.
To be on that great day we must follow three teachings from the book of Ezekiel.
For they will have a wonderful life ahead of them, a life in which they will never suffer again, they will be surrounded by true friends, they will be perfect, and they will have a direct relationship with Jehovah.
And clearly if we want to be there, we must already give Jehovah exclusive devotion, remain united in the pure worship of Jehovah and show love to others.
We will have a wonderful life in which we will not suffer again, and we will live happily together with family and friends and unitedly serving Jehovah.
Furthermore, Jehovah will consider us righteous and we will be free from sin. We will have a direct relationship with him, and the most important thing is that the pure worship that will be given to Jehovah in heaven and on earth will be perfect.
And to achieve the goal of being there and seeing that great day, we must give exclusive devotion to Jehovah, remain united in pure worship to him, and show love to others.
ILLUSTRATION:
A woman who has achieved perfection. She is walking through the forest as the sun's rays shine through the trees.
When you are perfect, Jehovah will consider you righteous because you will be completely free from sin. (See paragraph 28).
ILLUSTRATION:
Angels in heaven and perfect human beings on earth happily worshiping Jehovah, who is seated in his heavenly chariot.
What happiness when all creation in heaven and on earth will finally be united in the pure worship of Jehovah! (See paragraphs 27 to 29).
“They will have to know that I am Jehovah”
30, 31. (a) What will the statement “they will have to know that I am Jehovah” mean to God's enemies?
These words will mean war and death.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
For to God's enemies, this will mean war and death, as they will not only have to acknowledge that Jehovah exists, but will also be forced to understand the meaning of his great name.
For his enemies it will mean war and death. In addition to acknowledging Jehovah's existence, they will be forced to admit and understand what his great name means: "he causes to come to be." They will understand that nothing can prevent him from fulfilling what he sets out to do, but for them it will be too late.
(b) What will that statement mean for God's servants?
For God's servants it will mean life and peace.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
This affirmation for them will mean life and peace, because Jehovah will make us be what he wanted us to be from the beginning; children who reflect their qualities to perfection.
For his servants it will be very different. It will mean life and peace. He created us in his "image and likeness" of him, as Genesis 1:26 says, and at last we will be able to reflect his qualities perfectly.
Furthermore, we must already demonstrate by our words and actions that we know who Jehovah is and what kind of God he is. This way we will be prepared and we will not be afraid when the great tribulation arrives. As Luke 21:28 says, "we will stand up, we will lift up our heads because we know that our deliverance is drawing near."
TOOLBOX 22A: Events surrounding the final test
Images of events of the time of the final test: 1. Perfect human beings looking towards the heavens. 2. Jesus giving his crown to Jehovah.
ILLUSTRATION:
Perfect human beings looking up to the heavens.
Human beings attain perfection (1 COR. 15:26)
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus giving his crown to Jehovah.
Jesus hands over the Kingdom to Jehovah (1 COR. 15:24)
ILLUSTRATION:
Two rebels inciting the crowds to protest.
Satan is released from the abyss and gathers the rebels for the last attack (REV. 20:3, 7, 8)
ILLUSTRATION:
The rebels being destroyed.
The destruction of all the rebels (REV. 20:9, 10, 15)
ILLUSTRATION:
In Paradise, perfect human beings praising Jehovah.
Eternal life in an environment of peace and unity (ROM. 8:19-21)
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
What lessons have we learned from studying the book of Ezekiel?
1) give Jehovah exclusive devotion, 2 ) remain united in the pure worship of Jehovah, and 3) show love to others.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The three main teachings we have learned are to give Jehovah exclusive devotion, remain united in pure worship of Jehovah, and show love to others.
As you think about life under the Thousand Year Reign of Christ, what do you long for the most?
During the Thousand Year Reign , Jesus will resurrect billions of people and remove the pain caused by our “enemy, death”. He will help us root out the root cause of our suffering, the sin we inherited from Adam.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
What I most personally long for is the resurrection, I long to see my family and friends that I have lost in death.
What we want most is to give pure worship to Jehovah in peace and united under one government: the Kingdom of God, without having the influence of Satan. In addition, we also long to see the promise that God has made fulfilled, such as being able to see our loved ones resurrected.
How can you now prepare for the final test?
Each person will face a situation similar to what Adam and Eve experienced: either worship Jehovah, accept his rules and support his rule, or rebel against God and side with the Devil. So we must prepare ourselves to make a decision and faithfully serve Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can prepare ourselves by giving Jehovah exclusive devotion, remaining united in pure worship of Jehovah, and showing love to others.
We must take seriously the teachings that we have seen in the book of Ezekiel and demonstrate every day with our words and actions that we know who Jehovah is and what kind of God he is. And, of course, we must help people to love Jehovah by preaching his Kingdom and making known his great name.
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