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Become United by the Pure LanguageThe Watchtower—1991 | May 1
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Become United by the Pure Language
“Then I shall give to peoples the change to a pure language,in order for them all to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder.”—ZEPHANIAH 3:9.
1. Have people ever heard Jehovah God speak?
JEHOVAH God’s language is pure. But have people ever heard him speak? Why, yes! That happened when his Son, Jesus Christ, was on the earth 19 centuries ago. For instance, when Jesus was baptized, God was heard to say: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.” (Matthew 3:13-17) That was a statement of pure truth, heard by Jesus and John the Baptizer in a human language.
2. What is indicated by the apostle Paul’s reference to “the tongues of . . . angels”?
2 Some years later the Christian apostle Paul spoke of “the tongues of men and of angels.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) What does this indicate? Why, it shows that not only humans but also spirit persons have language and speech! Of course, God and the angels do not communicate with one another by using voices and language audible and understandable to us. Why not? Because an atmosphere such as that surrounding the earth is needed to propagate vocal sound waves that humans can hear and understand.
3. How did human language originate?
3 How did human language originate? Some say that our ancestors struggled to communicate with one another by resorting to grunts and groans. Says the book Evolution (Life Nature Library): “An ape man of about one million years ago . . . possibly mastered a few speech sounds.” But renowned lexicographer Ludwig Koehler said: “Human speech is a secret; it is a divine gift, a miracle.” Yes, human speech is a divine gift, for God gave the first man, Adam, a language. It was evidently the one eventually called Hebrew. That language was spoken by the Israelite descendants of “Abram the Hebrew,” a faithful patriarch whose ancestor Shem was a son of the ark builder Noah. (Genesis 11:10-26; 14:13; 17:3-6) In view of God’s prophetic blessing on Shem, it is reasonable to conclude that his language was not affected by something Jehovah God did miraculously 43 centuries ago.—Genesis 9:26.
4. Who was Nimrod, and how was he used by Satan the Devil?
4 At that time ‘all the earth was of one language and one set of words.’ (Genesis 11:1) Living then was the man Nimrod, “a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah.” (Genesis 10:8, 9) Mankind’s invisible archenemy, Satan, especially used Nimrod to set up the earthly part of the Devil’s organization. Nimrod wanted to make a name for himself, and that arrogant attitude spread to his followers, who embarked on a special construction project in the land of Shinar. According to Genesis chapter 11, verse 4, they said: “Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth.” That venture in opposition to God’s command to “fill the earth” ended when Jehovah confused the language of the rebels. “Accordingly,” says the Bible account, “Jehovah scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth, and they gradually left off building the city.” (Genesis 9:1; 11:2-9) That city was named Babel, or Babylon (meaning, “Confusion”), “because there Jehovah mixed up the speech of all the earth.”—Byington.
5. (a) What was prevented when God confused the language of mankind? (b) What can we conclude about the language of Noah and Shem?
5 That miracle—the confusion of the one human language—led to filling the earth as God had commanded Noah, and it blocked any plan Satan may have had to establish united unclean worship of himself by humans who had rebelled against the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. True, by practicing false religion in any form, the people were victims of the Devil, and they were serving the demons when they made gods and goddesses, gave them names in their different languages, and worshiped them. (1 Corinthians 10:20) But the action taken by the only true God at Babel prevented the forming of one united false religion giving the Devil the worship he apparently craved. Of course, righteous Noah and his son Shem never got mixed up in that debacle in the land of Shinar. So it can reasonably be concluded that their language remained the one spoken by faithful Abram (or Abraham)—the tongue in which God talked to the man Adam in the garden of Eden.
6. On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., how did Jehovah show that he could impart ability to speak in tongues?
6 Jehovah, who confused mankind’s original language, can also impart the ability to speak in tongues. Why, he did that very thing on the day of Pentecost in the year 33 of our Common Era! According to Acts 2:1-11, about 120 followers of Jesus Christ were then assembled in an upper chamber in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:13, 15) Suddenly, there was a noise from heaven “just like that of a rushing stiff breeze.” “Tongues as if of fire” became visible and were distributed about. At that the disciples “became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.” In those divinely imparted languages, they spoke “about the magnificent things of God.” And what a miracle that was, as Jews and proselytes of different tongues, from such far-flung places as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Libya, and Rome, understood the life-giving message!
A God-Given Language Today!
7. What prospects would there be if only one language was spoken and understood worldwide?
7 Since God can impart different tongues miraculously, would it not be wonderful if he made it possible for only one language to be spoken and understood worldwide? That would promote greater understanding within the human family. As The World Book Encyclopedia puts it: “If all peoples spoke the same tongue, cultural and economic ties would be much closer, and good will would increase between countries.” Well, at least 600 universal languages have been proposed over the years. Of these, Esperanto has had the most impact because about 10,000,000 people have learned it since its creation in the year 1887. Yet, human efforts to unify mankind by means of a universal language have never been successful. In fact, more and more problems are causing division in this world as ‘wicked men advance from bad to worse.’—2 Timothy 3:13.
8. Even if a universal language were adopted in today’s world, what would still exist, and why?
8 Religiously speaking, there is great confusion. But should we not expect this, since the Bible book of Revelation calls the world empire of false religion “Babylon the Great”? (Revelation 18:2) Yes, for “Babylon” means “Confusion.” Even if an artificial language or a natural tongue such as English, French, German, or Russian were to be adopted as a universal language in today’s world, disunity would still exist religiously and otherwise. Why? Because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil. (1 John 5:19) He is the very epitome of selfishness, and he greedily yearns to be worshiped by all mankind, just as he did in the days of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. Why, a universal language spoken by sinful humans could even give Satan the opportunity to set up united Devil worship! But Jehovah will never permit that; indeed, he will soon bring an end to all false, Devil-inspired religion.
9. How are people of all nations and races now being unified?
9 Yet, an amazing fact is that good people of all nations and races are being unified right now. This is happening on God’s terms and for the sake of his worship. Today, God is making it possible for humans to learn and speak the only pure language on earth. And it really is a universal language. Indeed, Jehovah God is teaching this pure language to many people out of all nations of the earth today. This is in fulfillment of God’s prophetic promise through his prophet and witness Zephaniah: “Then I shall give to peoples the change to a pure language [literally, “a clean lip”], in order for them all to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9) What is this pure language?
The Pure Language Defined
10. What is the pure language?
10 The pure language is the truth of God found in his own Word, the Holy Scriptures. It is particularly the truth regarding God’s Kingdom, which will bring peace and other blessings to mankind. The pure language does away with religious error and false worship. It unites all who speak it in the pure, clean, wholesome worship of the living and true God, Jehovah. Today, some 3,000 languages act as a barrier to understanding, and hundreds of false religions confuse mankind. So how glad we are that God is giving to peoples the change to this wonderful, pure language!
11. What has the pure language done for people of all nations and races?
11 Yes, the pure language is being mastered by people of all nations and races. As the only spiritually pure tongue on earth, it serves as a mighty unifying force. It enables all those speaking it “to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder,” or literally, “with one shoulder.” They thus serve God “with one consent,” “with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder.” (The New English Bible; The Amplified Bible) The translation by Steven T. Byington reads: “Then I [Jehovah God] will turn the lips of all the peoples clean, that they may all call on Jehovah’s name and cooperate in his service.” Such worldwide multilingual cooperation in God’s service exists only among Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 212 lands today, over four million of these Kingdom proclaimers are preaching the good news in many human languages. Yet, the Witnesses “speak in agreement” and are “fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) This is so because, no matter where they are on the earth, all of Jehovah’s Witnesses speak the one pure language, to the praise and glory of their heavenly Father.
Learn the Pure Language Now!
12, 13. (a) Why should you be concerned about speaking the pure language? (b) Why are the words at Zephaniah 3:8, 9 so significant today?
12 Why should you be concerned about speaking the pure language? For one thing, because your life depends on learning and speaking it. Just before God promised to “give to peoples the change to a pure language,” he warned: “‘Keep yourselves in expectation of me,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘till the day of my rising up to the booty, for my judicial decision is to gather nations, for me to collect together kingdoms, in order to pour out upon them my denunciation, all my burning anger; for by the fire of my zeal all the earth will be devoured.’”—Zephaniah 3:8.
13 Those words of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah were first spoken 26 centuries ago in Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital. But that statement was especially meant for our day because Jerusalem was a type of Christendom. And our time, since God’s heavenly Kingdom was set up in 1914, is Jehovah’s day for gathering nations and assembling kingdoms. He has brought all of them together under his attention by means of a great witness work. In turn, this has stirred them up in opposition to his purpose. However, Jehovah God is mercifully enabling people out of all these nations to unite in speaking the pure language. With it, all seeking life in his promised new world may serve him in unison before all the nations are consumed in the fiery expression of divine wrath at “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” commonly called Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 2 Peter 3:13) Happily, those who speak the pure language and call upon Jehovah’s name in faith as united true worshipers will enjoy divine protection during the heat of that world disaster. God will bring them safely into the new world, where only the pure language will finally be on the lips of all mankind.
14. Through Zephaniah, how did God show that surviving the end of this system of things calls for immediate action?
14 Through his prophet Zephaniah, Jehovah makes it clear that those hoping to survive the end of the present wicked system of things must take immediate action. According to Zephaniah 2:1-3, God says: “Gather yourselves together, yes, do the gathering, O nation not paling in shame. Before the statute gives birth to anything, before the day has passed by just like chaff, before there comes upon you people the burning anger of Jehovah, before there comes upon you the day of Jehovah’s anger, seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”
15. (a) What was the initial fulfillment of Zephaniah 2:1-3? (b) Who survived God’s execution of judgment upon Judah, and what will parallel this survival in our day?
15 Those words had their initial fulfillment upon ancient Judah and Jerusalem. The sinful people of Judah did not respond favorably to God’s appeal, as shown by his execution of judgment upon them at Babylonian hands in the year 607 B.C.E. Even as Judah was the “nation not paling in shame” before God, so Christendom has been a shameless “nation” before Jehovah. Because of heeding God’s word, however, some Judeans and others survived, among them Jehovah’s faithful prophet Jeremiah. Other survivors were an Ethiopian named Ebed-melech and descendants of Jehonadab. (Jeremiah 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, 16-18) Similarly today, “a great crowd” of Jesus’ “other sheep” gathered out of all nations will survive Armageddon into God’s new world. (Revelation 7:9; John 10:14-16) Only those who learn and speak the pure language will be joyful survivors.
16. What must one do to be concealed “in the day of Jehovah’s anger”?
16 Just as it was Jehovah’s statute that Judah and Jerusalem should be wiped out, so Christendom must perish. Indeed, the destruction of all false religion is near, and those wishing to survive must act immediately. They must do so “before the day has passed by just like chaff,” quickly blown away by the wind, as when grain is thrown into the air at a threshing floor. To be delivered from God’s wrath, we must speak the pure language and respond to God’s warning before the day of Jehovah’s burning anger comes upon us. In Zephaniah’s day and today, meek ones seek Jehovah God, along with righteousness and meekness. Our seeking Jehovah means loving him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:29, 30) “Probably [those doing so] may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” But why does the prophecy say “probably”? Because salvation depends on faithfulness and endurance. (Matthew 24:13) Those who conform to God’s righteous standards and keep speaking the pure language will be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.
17. What questions remain for our consideration?
17 Since the day of Jehovah’s anger is near and salvation depends on learning and using the pure language, now is the time to be deeply involved in studying and speaking it. But how can a person learn the pure language? And how can you benefit from speaking it?
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Speak the Pure Language and Live Forever!The Watchtower—1991 | May 1
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Speak the Pure Language and Live Forever!
“Seek Jehovah . . . Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”—ZEPHANIAH 2:3.
1. (a) What methods do students use to learn a foreign language? (b) Why speak the pure language?
STUDENTS may learn a new tongue by using the grammar method or the spoken-language method. Under the grammar method, they generally use textbooks and learn grammatical rules. Under the spoken-language method, they imitate the sounds and word patterns spoken by their teacher. Both methods are used in learning the “pure language.” And it is vital that we speak this language if we hope to be “concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”—Zephaniah 2:1-3; 3:8, 9.
2. How can we learn what might be called the rules of grammar for the pure language?
2 The principal textbook used to learn the pure language is the Bible. Diligent study of it and of Bible-based publications teach you what might be called the rules of grammar for the pure language. A home Bible study conducted by one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a good start. For those already dedicated to God, regular and diligent study of the Scriptures is essential. But are there especially effective ways to learn the pure language? And what benefits result from speaking it?
How to Learn the Pure Language
3. What is one way to learn the pure language?
3 One way to learn the pure language is to associate truths you are learning with points you already know, as a language student might progressively relate various grammatical rules. For example, at one time you may have known that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, but you knew little about his duties. Since then, study of the Bible may have taught you that Christ now rules as a heavenly King and that during his Thousand Year Reign, obedient mankind will be uplifted to perfection. (Revelation 20:5, 6) Yes, associating new thoughts with those already known improves your grasp of the pure language.
4. (a) What is another way to learn the ‘grammatical rules’ of the pure language, and what Bible account is used to illustrate this? (b) What happened as Gideon and his three hundred men took action? (c) The account about Gideon teaches what lesson?
4 Another way to learn the ‘grammatical rules’ of the pure language is to visualize Biblical events. To illustrate: Try to ‘see and hear’ the account recorded at Judges 7:15-23. Look! Israelite judge Gideon has divided his forces into three companies of a hundred men each. In the darkness, they quietly descend from Mount Gilboa and surround the camp of sleeping Midianites. Are they well armed, these three hundred? Not militarily. Why, they would draw scornful laughter from haughty militarists! Each man has only a horn, a large water jar, and a torch within the jar. But listen! At a given signal, the hundred men with Gideon blow their horns and smash their water jars. So do the two hundred others. As all raise flaming torches aloft, you hear them shout: “Jehovah’s sword and Gideon’s!” How this terrorizes the Midianites! They stumble out of their tents, their sleep-filled eyes widen in fright at the leaping flames that highlight shadowy shapes and ignite superstitious fear. As the Midianites begin to flee, Gideon’s men continue to blow their horns, and God sets their foes against one another. What a powerful lesson in the pure language! God can deliver his servants without a human military force. Moreover, “Jehovah will not desert his people for the sake of his great name.”—1 Samuel 12:22.
5. How can Christian meetings help to refine our speech?
5 When students are taught a foreign tongue through the spoken-language method, they try to repeat the teacher’s sounds and word patterns correctly. What fine opportunities there are to speak the pure language at Christian meetings! There we hear others express themselves in that language of Scriptural truth, and we may be privileged to comment ourselves. Are we afraid that we may say something wrong? Let that not be our prime concern, for an error kindly corrected by the elder presiding at such a meeting as the weekly Watchtower Study can refine our speech. Therefore, attend and participate in Christian meetings regularly.—Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Infiltration of Impurities
6. Why is there such a contrast between Jehovah’s Witnesses and the religious organizations of Christendom?
6 Those who declare Jehovah’s purpose and announce his heavenly Kingdom speak the pure language as his Witnesses. They make known his name and serve him “shoulder to shoulder,” or with one consent. (Zephaniah 3:9) Though Christendom’s religions have the Bible, they do not speak the pure language or call upon God’s name in faith. (Joel 2:32) They have no harmonious message based on the Scriptures. Why? Because they place religious traditions, worldly philosophies, and political loyalties above God’s Word. Their purposes, hopes, and methods are of this wicked world.
7. What differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and false religions are indicated at 1 John 4:4-6?
7 Christendom—in fact, the entire world empire of false religion—does not speak the same language as Jehovah’s Witnesses do. Interestingly, to those speaking the pure language, the apostle John wrote: “You originate with God, . . . and you have conquered those persons, because he that is in union with you is greater than he that is in union with the world. They originate with the world; that is why they speak what proceeds from the world and the world listens to them. We originate with God. He that gains the knowledge of God listens to us; he that does not originate with God does not listen to us.” (1 John 4:4-6) Jehovah’s servants have conquered false teachers because God, who is in union with his people, “is greater than [the Devil, who] is in union with the world,” unrighteous human society. Since apostates “originate with the world” and have its wicked spirit, “they speak what proceeds from the world and the world listens to them.” But sheeplike individuals listen to those originating with God, realizing that Jehovah’s people speak the pure language of Bible truth provided through his organization.
8. What is the identity of the man of lawlessness?
8 A great apostasy was foretold, and a ‘mystery of lawlessness’ was already at work in the first century C.E. In time, men who accepted—or seized—teaching positions in the congregation taught many false doctrines. Their language was far from pure. So there arose a composite “man of lawlessness,” the clergy of Christendom, bound to false religious traditions, worldly philosophy, and unscriptural teachings.—2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7.
Pure Language Heard Worldwide
9. What religious developments were there during the 19th century?
9 Only a small minority of God-fearing people ‘put up a hard fight for the faith delivered to the holy ones.’ (Jude 3) Where could such believers be found? For centuries, false religion kept the multitudes in spiritual darkness, but God knew those few who had his approval. (2 Timothy 2:19) And then, amid the commercial, industrial, and social changes of the 19th century, there arose voices that stood out from the general babel of false religious confusion. Small groups tried to read the signs of the times and predict Jesus’ second coming, but not all spoke the pure language.
10. Which “second coming” group did God choose to speak the pure language, and why is it evident that the hand of Jehovah has been with them?
10 In 1879, however, it became clear which “second coming” voice was being chosen by Jehovah to speak the pure language as his Witnesses. By then a small Bible-study group led by Charles Taze Russell was meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. They had become certain that Jesus’ second coming would begin his invisible presence, that a time of world distress was ahead, and that this would be followed by the Thousand Year Reign of Christ that would restore Paradise on earth, with eternal life for obedient humans. In July 1879 these Bible Students began to publish the magazine now known as The Watchtower. Only 6,000 copies were distributed of the first issue. But “the hand of Jehovah” was with those Witnesses, for this journal is now published in 111 languages, with an average printing of over 15,000,000 for each issue.—Compare Acts 11:19-21.
11, 12. What are some Scriptural truths understood by those speaking the pure language?
11 Through the Bible and the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and especially by these zealous Christians’ proclaiming the good news, the pure language has become known earth wide. And what grand benefits are enjoyed by those speaking it! Instead of saying that ‘God is God, Christ is God, and the Holy Ghost is God’ in the mysterious lingo of Trinitarianism, they agree with the Bible’s position that Jehovah is the Most High, Jesus Christ as a lesser one is His Son, and the holy spirit is God’s amazing active force. (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 3:16, 17) Speakers of the pure language know that man did not evolve from a lower form of life but was created by a loving God. (Genesis 1:27; 2:7) They realize that the soul ceases to exist at death—a fact that eliminates fear of the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Ezekiel 18:4) Hell is understood to be mankind’s common grave, not a place of fiery torment devised by a fiendish deity. (Job 14:13) They also know that the resurrection is the God-given hope of the dead.—John 5:28, 29; 11:25; Acts 24:15.
12 Those speaking the pure language show respect for blood and life. (Genesis 9:3, 4; Acts 15:28, 29) They realize that Christ’s earthly life is the ransom price paid for obedient humans. (Matthew 20:28; 1 John 2:1, 2) Never do they pray to “saints,” knowing that their prayers must be directed to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ. (John 14:6, 13, 14) Since God’s Word condemns idolatry, images are not used in their worship. (Exodus 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 10:14) And they avoid the perils of demonism because they reject spiritism, also condemned in the Bible.—Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Galatians 5:19-21.
13. Why are those who speak the pure language not bewildered?
13 Jehovah’s servants, who speak the pure language, are not bewildered about where they are in the stream of time. Jehovah has taught them that they are in “the time of the end,” with Jesus present as a glorious invisible spirit. (Daniel 12:4; Matthew 24:3-14; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Peter 3:18) With mighty heavenly forces behind him, Christ is about to ride into battle to execute God’s judgment against this system of things. (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 16:14, 16; 18:1-8; 19:11-21) Yes, and those speaking the pure language are busy declaring the good news that God’s Kingdom under Christ will soon bring grand blessings to all obedient mankind on a paradise earth. (Isaiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 6:9, 10; 24:14; Luke 23:43) All of that, and we have only skimmed the surface! Surely, the pure language is the richest, most precious tongue on earth!
14. What other benefits are enjoyed by those speaking the pure language?
14 Benefits enjoyed by those speaking the pure language include “the peace of God” that guards hearts and mental powers. (Philippians 4:6, 7) They obey Bible laws, which promote health, happiness, and the satisfaction that comes from pleasing Jehovah. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) Yes, and speakers of the pure language have the hope of life eternal in God’s promised new world.—2 Peter 3:13.
Use It or Lose It
15. How will you benefit from a fine grasp of the pure language?
15 If you are to speak the pure language in the new world, you must know it so well that it becomes the language in which you think. When a person is learning a language, he at first thinks in his native tongue and translates his thoughts into the new one. But as he becomes more proficient in the new language, he begins to think in it without needing the translation process. Similarly, through diligent study, you can get such a fine grasp of the pure language that you will know how to apply Bible laws and principles to solve problems and remain on “the path of life.”—Psalm 16:11.
16. What can happen if you do not use the pure language regularly?
16 You must use the pure language regularly, or you will lose the ability to speak it well. To illustrate: Years ago, some of us learned a foreign language. We may recall some words in that tongue but have likely lost our command of it because we have not put it to constant use. The same thing can happen with the pure language. If we do not use it regularly, we can lose our command of it, and that would have tragic consequences spiritually. Let us therefore speak it regularly at meetings and in the Christian ministry. These activities, coupled with personal study, will enable us to say things correctly in the pure language. And how important that is!
17. What illustrates that speech can be lifesaving or death dealing?
17 Speech can be lifesaving or death dealing. This was shown during a conflict between the Israelite tribe of Ephraim and Judge Jephthah of Gilead. To identify Ephraimites trying to flee across the Jordan River, the Gileadites used the password “Shibboleth,” which had an initial “sh” sound. The men of Ephraim betrayed themselves to the Gileadite sentries at the fords of the Jordan by saying “Sibboleth” instead of “Shibboleth,” mispronouncing the opening sound of the word. As a result, 42,000 Ephraimites were slain! (Judges 12:5, 6) Similarly, what Christendom’s clergy teach may sound close to the pure language to those not well acquainted with Bible truth. But speaking in a false religious way will prove fatal in the day of Jehovah’s anger.
Unified We Remain
18, 19. What is the significance of Zephaniah 3:1-5?
18 Referring to unfaithful Jerusalem of old and her modern counterpart, Christendom, it is said at Zephaniah 3:1-5: “Woe to her that is rebelling and polluting herself, the oppressive city! She did not listen to a voice; she did not accept discipline. In Jehovah she did not trust. To her God she did not draw near. Her princes in the midst of her were roaring lions. Her judges were evening wolves that did not gnaw bones till the morning. Her prophets were insolent, were men of treachery. Her priests themselves profaned what was holy; they did violence to the law. Jehovah was righteous in the midst of her; he would do no unrighteousness. Morning by morning he kept giving his own judicial decision. At daylight it did not prove lacking. But the unrighteous one was knowing no shame.” What is the significance of those words?
19 Both ancient Jerusalem and modern-day Christendom rebelled against Jehovah and polluted themselves with false worship. The wrongdoing of their leaders resulted in oppression. Despite God’s repeated warnings, they did not listen and draw near to him. Their princes have been like rapacious lions, arrogantly disregarding righteousness. Like ravenous wolves, their judges have ripped justice to shreds. Their priests have ‘profaned what is holy and done violence to the law’ of God. So Jehovah is about ‘to gather nations and collect together kingdoms, in order to pour out upon them his denunciation, all his burning anger.’—Zephaniah 3:8.
20. (a) What must be done to survive the day of Jehovah’s anger? (b) How can you hope to enjoy eternal blessings from God?
20 The day of Jehovah’s anger is approaching rapidly. To survive into God’s new world, therefore, learn and speak the pure language without delay. Only by doing so can you find protection from spiritual disaster now and from the fast-approaching global calamity. Jehovah’s Witnesses are declaring the day of God’s anger and the heartening message of his Kingdom. How they delight to talk about the glory of his kingship! (Psalm 145:10-13) Become united with them, and you can hope to enjoy eternal life and other blessings from the Originator of the pure language, the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.
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