of Jesus’ warning: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-22) Suddenly, shortly thereafter, the armies of General Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian, closed in on Jerusalem. During the siege those who had felt so safe in Jerusalem’s walls endured starvation and fear of destruction. Finally, the walls of Jerusalem were breached in the summer of 70 C.E. and the Roman armies poured in and slaughtered 1,100,000 and carried away 97,000 miserable captives to be sold in the slave markets throughout the Roman Empire.

Therefore, no matter what you may be doing, no matter how well you may like what you are doing or no matter how secure you may feel in your situation, do not fail to give attention to this worldwide warning from the Creator of the universe. Listen to it. Learn what steps to take to flee from Great Babylon and act at once, for her destruction is alarmingly imminent. It is not just a matter of escape, but release from religious bondage to a future of life in perfection in a new order under God’s kingdom. Jehovah’s witnesses will freely help you to get Bible understanding so that you can act quickly, with wisdom from God.

“A Theatrical Spectacle to the World, Both to Angels and to Men”

As told by Maxwell G. Friend

“COME, listen, all you who fear God, and I will relate what he has done for my soul.” (Ps. 66:16) This is what I want to do now.

My forefather was Abraham. Like him, my most ardent desire has been to have Jehovah as my eternal Friend and to remain forever close to him.

I was born in Austria in 1890 to devoted Jewish parents of nine children, was brought up in the Jewish orthodox religion and learned to read Hebrew before I became of school age. I was drawn to God by my devout parents at an early age, not by my strict religious teachers. All that those teachers taught me were formalistic and mechanical Hebrew prayers and nonsensical rituals.

In 1897 my family moved to Zurich, Switzerland. There, during my first school year, I heard for the first time the story of the birth of Jesus. I was fascinated by it. I had hardly learned to read German, when a mutilated religious book, written and illustrated for children, found its way