Watchtower Study, Week 15-21 July 2024, What do we know about Jehovah's future judgments?, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, July 15-21, 2024, What do we know about Jehovah's future judgments?, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Response

Light Blue: Additional Points

“Jehovah […] does not wish that any should be destroyed” (2 PET. 3:9).

1. Why can we say that we are living in an exciting time?

 WE LIVE in an exciting time! Every day we are seeing with our own eyes how biblical prophecies are being fulfilled. For example, we see the struggle between “the king of the north” and “the king of the south” to control the world (Dan. 11:40, note). Furthermore, the good news of God’s Kingdom is being preached on an unprecedented scale, and millions of people are choosing to serve Jehovah. (Isa. 60:22; Matt. 24:14) And we are receiving abundant spiritual food “in due season” (Matt. 24:45-47).

2. What can we be sure of, and what should we recognize?

2 Jehovah continues to help us better understand the important events that will soon occur. (Prov. 4:18; Dan. 2:28) We can be sure that by the time the great tribulation begins we will have all the information we need to remain faithful and united in that difficult period. However, we must recognize that there are things we simply do not know about the future. In this article, we will first talk about why we have changed the way we understand some of these events. Then we will look at some of the things we do know about the future and how our heavenly Father will act.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

3. What were we saying before about what would happen to people once the great tribulation began, and why did we think this way?

3 In the past we said that once the Great Tribulation broke out, people would no longer have the opportunity to put their faith in Jehovah and survive Armageddon. We came to that conclusion because we thought that everything that happened during the Flood prophetically represented what would happen in the future. For example, we said that, just as Jehovah closed the door of the ark before the Flood began, so to speak, he would also close the door when the great tribulation began, and no one else could be saved (Matt. 24:37-39).

4. Why don't we no longer say that everything that happened in the days of Noah has a greater fulfillment today?

4 But should we think that the Flood story has prophetic meaning? No, because the Bible doesn't say so. It is true that Jesus compared “the days of Noah” with the time of his presence. Now, he did not imply that all the elements of the Flood story—such as Jehovah's closing the door of the ark—would have a greater fulfillment in the future. Still, we can learn a lot from this story.

5. a) What did Noah do before the Flood? (Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20). b) How is our preaching similar to that of Noah?

5 When a). Noah heard Jehovah's warning message and demonstrated his faith by building the ark (read Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20). Likewise, people who hear the good news of God's Kingdom must show their faith with actions (Acts 3:17-20). Peter called Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5). However, as we saw in the previous article, we do not know if Noah intended to warn each and every person living on Earth of the Flood. b).  Today, we try to preach all over the world, and we put all our efforts into that work. But no matter how hard we try, it will be impossible for us to reach everyone before the end comes. Why do we say it?

6, 7. Why can't we bring the good news to everyone before the end comes?

6 Let's look at what Jesus said about the scope of our preaching. He predicted that the good news would be preached “in all the inhabited earth as a testimony to all nations” (Matt. 24:14). And those words are being fulfilled now more than ever. We announce the Kingdom message in more than 1,000 languages, and thanks to our website, jw.org, the good news is available to most people in the world.

7 Now Jesus also said to his disciples: “There is no way you will finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” This means that they could not preach to all the people before he came (Matt. 10:23; 25:31-33). Today, millions of people live in places where there is no freedom to preach. Additionally, hundreds of babies are born every minute. So even though we strive to announce the good news “to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,” we will not be able to reach everyone in the world before the end comes (Rev. 14:6).

8. What might we ask ourselves? (See also images).

8 In view of the above, we may wonder: “What will happen to people who do not have the opportunity to hear the good news before the great tribulation breaks out? What are Jehovah and his Son, to whom he has entrusted the task of judging, going to do with them? (John 5:19, 22, 27; Acts 17:31). The topic text of this article reminds us that Jehovah “does not wish that any should be destroyed.” Rather, he wants “all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4). However, we recognize that Jehovah has not yet revealed to us what he will do with these people. Of course, he has no obligation to tell us.

ILLUSTRATION

What will Jehovah do with people who do not have the opportunity to hear the good news before the great tribulation comes? (See paragraph 8). c

9. What has Jehovah revealed to us in his Word?

9 In his Word, Jehovah has revealed to us some of the things he will do. For example, he tells us that he will resurrect the “unrighteous” who did not have the opportunity to learn about the good news and change their ways (Acts 24:15; Luke 23:42, 43). That may lead us to ask ourselves other important questions.

10. What else might we ask ourselves?

10 What will happen to all the people who die during the great tribulation? Will they be destroyed forever and therefore not have the opportunity to resurrect? The Bible makes it clear that those who will not be resurrected are the people whom Jehovah and his armies destroy at Armageddon for having openly opposed him (2 Thess. 1:6-10). But what about those who die during the great tribulation due to natural causes, accidents, or at the hands of other people? (Eccl. 9:11; Zech. 14:13). Could it be that some of them are among the “unrighteous” who will be resurrected in the new world? The truth is, we don't know.

WHAT WE DO KNOW

11. What will the judgment that each person receives during Armageddon depend on?

11 There are several things we do know about future events. For example, we know that at Armageddon people will be treated according to how they treated Christ's brothers (Matt. 25:40). Those who have given their support to the anointed and to Christ will be treated like sheep. We also know that some of Christ's brothers will remain on Earth during the great tribulation and will be taken to heaven shortly before Armageddon. While they remain anointed on Earth, kind-hearted people may have the opportunity to support them and the work they do.​—Matt. 25:31, 32; Rev. 12:17. Why is all this so important?

12, 13. What might some people do when they see the destruction of “Babylon the Great”? (See also images).

12 Even after the Great Tribulation begins, some who see the destruction of “Babylon the Great” may remember that Jehovah's Witnesses had been announcing that this would happen for many years. Could it be that some decide to take Jehovah's side? (Rev. 17:5; Ezek. 33:33).

13 Let us think about what happened in the days of Moses. When the Israelites left Egypt, “a multitude of all kinds of people” also left with them (Ex. 12:38). Perhaps some of them began to put their faith in Jehovah when they saw that the 10 plagues that Moses announced were fulfilled. If something similar happens after Babylon the Great is destroyed, will it seem unfair to us that there are people who can join us just before the end comes? Of course not! We want to imitate our heavenly Father, who is “a merciful and compassionate God, patient and full of loyal love and truth” (Ex. 34:6). b

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. A young woman sees the news on television that religious activities are prohibited. She holds a photo in her hand and reflects on the time she served Jehovah with her parents. 2. Later she goes to her parents' house, who welcome her with affection. There are riots in the street. Some will see the destruction of “Babylon the Great” and may remember that Jehovah's Witnesses had been announcing that this would happen for many years. (See paragraphs 12 and 13). d

14, 15. Why do we know that someone's chance of living forever does not depend on when they die or where they live? (Psalm 33:4, 5).

14 We may have heard someone say something like this about a family member who does not serve Jehovah: “I would almost prefer that he die before the great tribulation, so that he may have the hope of being resurrected.” I'm sure he says it with the best intentions. But the truth is that the possibility of someone living forever does not depend on when he dies. Jehovah is the perfect Judge, and his decisions are always just and upright. (Read Psalm 33:4, 5.) We are sure that “the Judge of all the earth” will do what is right (Gen. 18:25).

15 The possibility of someone living forever also does not depend on where they live. Jehovah would never consider millions of people “goats” just because they live in places where they never had the opportunity to hear the Kingdom message. (Matt. 25:46) If we care about these people, surely the “Judge of the whole earth” cares much more about them. We do not know how Jehovah will handle matters during the great tribulation. Perhaps some of those people will have the opportunity to meet him and put their faith in him when he is sanctified before all nations (Ezek. 38:16).  After the Great Tribulation begins, might some decide to take Jehovah’s side as they see what is happening?

16. What things do we know about Jehovah? (See also the image).

 16 From the Bible, we have learned that Jehovah greatly values ​​human life. He gave his Son so that all of us would have the opportunity to live forever (John 3:16) . At some point in our lives, we have all felt that Jehovah treats us with tenderness and compassion .​—Isa. 49:15. He knows each of us by name. What's more, he knows us so well that if we die, he can recreate us just as we were, down to the smallest detail and with all our memories (Matt. 10:29-31). We have every reason to trust that our heavenly Father will judge each person in the best way, because he is wise, just, and merciful (James 2:13).

ILLUSTRATION

The young woman comes out of the great tribulation together with her parents and other people. We can be sure that Jehovah will judge each person in the best way, because he is wise, just, and merciful. (See paragraph 16).

17. What will we see in the next article?

17 Now that we understand all this better, we realize that preaching is more urgent than ever. Why do we say it? And what will motivate us to continue preaching the good news without stopping? The following article will answer these questions.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What don't we know about Jehovah's future judgments?

In the past there was a very blunt position, a fairly firm position and now there is a more modest and humble position, and we do not know, we do not know what will happen to the people who do not have the opportunity to hear the message before When the great tribulation breaks out, what are they going to do with them, we do not know, Jehovah and his son know what will happen to the people who die in the great tribulation due to natural causes, these are answers that we do not have, Jehovah and Jesus do. They know, and that is more than enough.

What do we know?

We know that in Armageddon people will be treated according to how they have treated the brothers of Christ and their neighbors in general. We know that those who have also given their support to the preaching will be like sheep. We also know that some of Christ's brothers will remain on earth during the great tribulation and will be taken to heaven shortly before Armageddon.

What can we be sure of?

We have learned that Jehovah greatly values ​​human life. And he demonstrated that by giving up his son so that all of us have the opportunity to live forever. And we can also be sure that Jehovah knows each of us by name and will judge each person in the best way, because he is wise, just and merciful.