Themes Archive

World events from and after 1914, beginning with the first World War, fulfill the prophecies concerning the end of this world and thereby disclose themselves as the visible sign of the establishment of Jehovah’s kingdom by his Christ in that notable year. All this means that divine sovereignty as it was once exercised by God over the earth was due to be restored in fact in the year 1914. As foretold, momentous events did happen at that time and things continue to occur which greatly affect the destiny of all kinds of men on earth today.

Since the easting of Satan and his demons out of heaven after God's kingdom was born in 1914 (A.D.), as pictured at Revelation 12, all sin and wickedness in the universe have been confined to our earth and its vicinity. God never again allows place for it in the heavens. So, at the end of Christ's thousand-year reign, when all the wicked,-both demonic and human, are destroyed, it will result in not only a clean earth but also a clean universe. The new heavens over the new earth will rule forever, and God's will is certain to be done on the paradise earth for all time, even as it is done up in heaven. God's favor through Christ will evermore extend to the earth, and its inhabitants will be justified to eternal life. By ever worshiping and faithfully serving Him as Most High God and Universal Sovereign they will never have their names expunged from the "book of life".

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." —Rev. 20:11 and 21:1.

Is the Bible modern for today? To many persons its modern practicalness is limited to, movies, music, relaxation, business, political speeches, literary quality, birthday presents and crossword puzzles. What are the Bible’s answers to problems of living? Are they practical for today? How do we know?

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of theLamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The majority of people desire and love peace. If the question could be submitted to a vote of the people, there would never be a war. People with honest hearts, who love their fellow men, and who love righteousness and justice, abhor war.

Is that belief logical? What are the evidences for it? Why should we accept the Bible as being God’s Word?

It is nineteen centuries since the great Teacher of truth gave this parting instruction to his little band of disciples: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy [spirit] : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you ahvay, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:18-20) It is likewise nineteen centuries since the Roman governor asked that same Teacher, "What is truth?" and yet hundreds of millions in so-called "Christendom", of all nationalities, continue to ask the question, "What is truth?" Religion is responsible for the lack of the knowledge of the truth by the common people. The hundreds of religious systems have taken away the "key of knowledge" by teaching religion in place of truth, and as a consequence the people have been prevented from knowing either the sound of the truth or its life-saving value. Hence the urgency of Jesus' command to go forth and teach all nations whatsoever he has commanded becomes more pressing upon those now truly his followers.

Those who pin their hope on the promises of men or even on an organization of nations cannot with assurance say, "we were saved in this hope." Indeed, how could they have a saving hope? For man’s lofty promises for a safe world of tomorrow have failed miserably. If they lean upon their hopes, it will not stand. How could even an organization of the brainiest men be the sponsors of a saving hope when "surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity"?

The clergy of Christendom fall into two general classes: the fundamentalists and the modernists, or higher critics. They hold different views on the Bible. The fundamentalist takes it all literally; the higher critic takes it all apart. The fundamentalist contaminates it with paganism, by teaching such doctrines as trinity, eternal torment, purgatory, and other beliefs taught by pagans long before Christ. When apostate Christianity became catholic or universal from and after the fourth century it embraced pagan teachings, in order to appeal to pagans and convert them to a nominal Christianity. In a futile effort to avoid conflict with God’s Word, the fundamentalist clergy twist certain texts to fit in with their paganisms, as Peter said: “The meaning of which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (Matt. 15:6-9; 2 Pet. 3:16) Though claiming to build on Bible truth, fundamentalists found their faith on pagan myth. Their misrepresentations of God and Christ cause many to turn away from the Bible. They thus lend themselves as tools for tearing down faith in God and his Word.