They sense that great things lie ahead of them in the immediate future. Yes, they will see the remainder of God’s prophecies about these “last days” fulfilled before their very eyes. Down through the years Jehovah has been preparing his organization to care for the crowd of persons that are now coming into it. He has strengthened it to care for their spiritual needs. Would you like to associate with this society of Christian ministers and assist in this great preaching work? Why not seek them out?—Gal. 6:10.

Those who respond to the influence of God’s spirit today will in the future look back with joy and no regret. How inexpressibly happy they will be in knowing that they helped others to gain eternal life in God’s new order! Yes, those who feel the urgency and work in harmony with it will be rewarded with marvelous blessings.

Questions From Readers

● The Bible tells that Samson killed men and animals. How could he touch dead bodies in view of his being a Nazirite?—M.G., Australia.

According to the Mosaic law an Israelite could take a vow to live as a Nazirite for a time. While under his vow he was not supposed to touch dead bodies. We read: “All the days of his keeping separate to Jehovah he may not come toward any dead soul. Not even for his father or his mother or his brother or his sister may he defile himself when they die, because the sign of his Naziriteship to his God is upon his head.” (Num. 6:6, 7) If such a one did accidentally touch a dead body, he would have to go through a purification ceremony and make certain offerings. The time already elapsed would not count, and he would start the Nazirite period over again. (Num. 6:8-12) So one thus serving for a temporary period would be careful not to defile himself by touching a dead body.

Before Samson was born Jehovah’s angel told his mother: “A Nazirite of God is what the child will become on leaving the belly.” (Judg. 13:5) Samson was to be a Nazirite all his life. Hence, if he accidentally touched a dead body, he could not start a set period of Naziriteship over. While Samson undoubtedly had respect for the Nazirite requirements, the fact that he was a lifelong Nazirite made his situation somewhat different from those serving as Nazirites for only a short time.

Though Samson was a Nazirite, God selected him to be a judge and to “take the lead in saving Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judg. 13:5) It is understandable that he would, in line with his assignment, come in contact with dead bodies, and he did. He struck down thirty Philistines and stripped them of their outfits. Later he went smiting the enemy, “piling legs upon thighs with a great slaughter.” And with a moist jawbone of a male ass he killed a thousand Philistine men. Did Jehovah disapprove of Samson, a Nazirite, striking down Israel’s enemies like that? No, for just before the third slaughter “Jehovah’s spirit became operative upon” Samson, giving him superhuman strength. And when Judge Samson was exhausted from the battle, “God split open a mortar-shaped hollow” and miraculously provided water to revive him.—Judg. 14:19–15:19.

Another time Samson demonstrated his God-given strength by bare-handedly and in self-defense killing a roaring maned young lion. (Judg. 14:5-9) We cannot be certain whether the Nazirite restriction about touching dead bodies applied to animal carcasses. The Israelites in general, and the priests in particular, were already under certain regulations that made touching dead unclean animals a thing to be avoided, for it resulted in temporary uncleanness. (Lev. 11:24, 25; 22:2-7) Possibly Nazirites were not restricted further in regard to animals. If Nazirites were to avoid touching all dead animals, that would have made them vegetarians, and there is nothing in the Scriptures saying that they were such.