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Video above © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

00:00:02 Welcome, brothers and sisters. 00:00:04 In this month’s program, 00:00:07 we’ll review who the May 2020 Watchtower 00:00:10 identified as “the king of the north,” 00:00:13 and we’ll learn how knowing this 00:00:15 affects each one of us. 00:00:18 We’ll also see how perseverance helps us 00:00:21 reach our spiritual goals. 00:00:24 And we’ll debut an exciting new series 00:00:28 made especially for teenagers. 00:00:33 This is JW Broadcasting for May 2021. 00:00:58 My theme is “‘The King of the North’ in the Time of the End.” 00:01:03 In recent years, the Russian government 00:01:06 has persecuted our brothers and sisters 00:01:09 who live in that country. 00:01:11 You’ve heard reports about the police invading Kingdom Halls 00:01:15 and breaking up meetings. 00:01:17 The government has labeled Jehovah’s Witnesses 00:01:20 as an “extremist group.” 00:01:22 It has seized our properties and imprisoned our brothers. 00:01:27 Please watch a brief video 00:01:29 that reviews some of the trials 00:01:31 Jehovah’s people in Russia have faced. 00:01:36 On April 20, 2017, 00:01:38 the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation criminalized 00:01:41 the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:01:46 As of July 4, 2019, 00:01:49 authorities have progressively seized 131 of the properties 00:01:53 owned by Jehovah’s Witnesses, 00:01:56 with an additional 60 properties subject to confiscation. 00:01:58 One of the seized properties 00:02:00 was the former Russia branch complex in Solnechnoye. 00:02:05 At the time of filming, the Russian authorities continue 00:02:08 their aggressive attack on Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:02:11 As of August 17, 2020, 00:02:14 there were 42 Witnesses who were in pretrial detention 00:02:16 or sentenced to prison, 00:02:19 32 who were under house arrest, 00:02:22 and 169 who were not allowed to leave their hometown. 00:02:25 All have been charged with organizing, 00:02:28 participating in, or financing the activity 00:02:31 of a so-called “extremist” organization. 00:02:34 At least 380 Witnesses were, at the time, under investigation 00:02:38 —ranging in age from 19 to 89 years old. 00:02:43 What has this meant for the individuals affected? 00:02:46 As an example, 00:02:48 on June 3, 2018, 00:02:50 Brother Sergey Klimov was arrested. 00:02:54 Local authorities initiated 00:02:55 criminal charges against him, 00:02:57 placing him in pretrial detention for two months. 00:03:00 This detention was extended seven times, 00:03:04 separating him from his wife and family 00:03:06 for a year and five months, 00:03:08 before he was finally tried and sentenced. 00:03:12 On November 5, 2019, 00:03:14 he was sentenced to six years in prison. 00:03:22 Two of our dear young people in Russia, 00:03:24 Brother Yegor Baranov and Sister Darya Dulova, 00:03:27 are courageously facing criminal conviction 00:03:29 and potential long-term imprisonment. 00:03:33 Brother Baranov is only 19 years old. 00:03:35 When the authorities raided her home, Sister Dulova was only 18 years old. 00:03:43 By means of the Newsroom on jw.org, 00:03:45 we are informed of updated news events. 00:03:47 This page includes links to name lists 00:03:49 of Witnesses currently imprisoned for their faith, 00:03:52 which can help us include them specifically in our prayers. 00:03:56 Our brothers and sisters in Russia are resolved to remain loyal to Jehovah 00:03:59 despite any opposition, 00:04:02 and they put their confidence in him in the assurance 00:04:05 that Jehovah is on their side! 00:04:20 It shouldn’t surprise us 00:04:22 that this powerful government has been persecuting 00:04:25 our peaceful, law-abiding brothers and sisters. 00:04:29 Why not? 00:04:31 Because that government is fulfilling Bible prophecy! 00:04:36 Please find Daniel chapter 11. 00:04:40 In verse 40, it refers to what the Bible calls 00:04:44 “the king of the north.” 00:04:46 Of that “king,” Daniel 11:41 says: 00:04:50 “He will also enter into the land of the Decoration, 00:04:55 and many lands will be made to stumble.” 00:05:00 Today, Russia and its allies 00:05:03 are filling the role of the king of the north. 00:05:07 Daniel foretold that this king would enter 00:05:10 “the land of the Decoration,” 00:05:12 meaning that he would interfere in a significant way 00:05:16 with the activities of God’s people. 00:05:19 As discussed in the May 2020 Watchtower, 00:05:22 Russia and its allies are not the first political power 00:05:26 to act as the king of the north, 00:05:28 but they may well be the last. 00:05:32 In this program, we will do three things: 00:05:36 First, 00:05:36 we’ll briefly trace the fulfillment of the prophecy 00:05:40 recorded in Daniel chapter 11. 00:05:44 Second, we’ll look at how that prophecy 00:05:47 is being fulfilled today. 00:05:50 And third, we’ll discuss how knowing this information 00:05:54 should affect the decisions that we make. 00:05:58 Brother Herman van Selm, a helper to the Writing Committee, 00:06:02 will help us review some of the key points of the prophecy 00:06:06 recorded in Daniel chapter 11. 00:06:10 Thank you, Herman, for helping me with this presentation. 00:06:14 It’s a pleasure to be with you, Ken. 00:06:16 Thank you for inviting me. 00:06:20 First, let’s briefly trace 00:06:22 how the prophecy has been fulfilled so far. 00:06:27 The prophecy in Daniel chapter 11 mentions 00:06:29 “the king of the north” and “the king of the south.” 00:06:32 Now, why are they described like that? 00:06:35 Well, initially, 00:06:37 these powers were located north and south 00:06:41 of the literal land of Israel, 00:06:43 thus the names king of the north 00:06:46 and king of the south. 00:06:48 These powers could be viewed as two thrones. 00:06:52 Over time, those thrones have been occupied 00:06:55 by various political powers 00:06:57 and these rival kings compete for world domination. 00:07:01 And what about Jehovah’s people? 00:07:03 They are right at the center of this conflict. 00:07:09 But let’s start at the beginning. 00:07:12 Ken, 00:07:13 what is the origin of the kings of the north and of the south? 00:07:18 The kings of the north and of the south 00:07:21 both rose from the empire 00:07:23 established by Alexander the Great. 00:07:26 One line of kings ruled over Egypt, 00:07:29 which is south of Israel. 00:07:31 And that dynasty was the first 00:07:33 to fill the role of king of the south. 00:07:37 During this period, another line of kings 00:07:39 ruled an area north of Israel 00:07:42 and those kings filled the role 00:07:45 of king of the north. 00:07:47 Then the Roman Empire took over 00:07:50 as king of the north. 00:07:53 As discussed in the May 2020 Watchtower, 00:07:57 God’s people are the focal point 00:07:59 of the prophecy recorded in Daniel chapter 11. 00:08:03 The angel who spoke with Daniel said that the prophecy 00:08:07 would help him “understand what will befall your people” 00:08:12 —that is, the nation of Israel. 00:08:16 And what, in fact, happened? 00:08:19 Well, the Jewish nation was God’s people until 33 C.E. 00:08:24 But after that, a change occurred. 00:08:26 Jehovah poured out his holy spirit 00:08:29 on Christ’s followers. 00:08:30 And from then on, 00:08:32 the congregation of true Christians 00:08:34 became God’s people. 00:08:38 Galatians 6:16 refers to them 00:08:41 as “the Israel of God.” 00:08:45 That point is significant 00:08:47 because the kings of the north and south can only be identified 00:08:52 when there is a clearly defined group of God’s people on earth. 00:08:57 Why is that the case? 00:08:59 Because, as we just considered, 00:09:02 the angel had told Daniel 00:09:04 that the prophecy centers on God’s people. 00:09:08 In the second century C.E., 00:09:11 true Christians were overgrown 00:09:14 by weedlike false Christians. 00:09:17 In his illustration of the wheat and the weeds, 00:09:19 Jesus foretold that this would happen. 00:09:22 That illustration is recorded 00:09:24 at Matthew 13:36-43. 00:09:29 So from the second century onward, 00:09:33 we can no longer identify an organized group of true Christians. 00:09:37 And, as we considered, for that same reason, 00:09:40 we also cannot identify 00:09:42 the king of the north and the king of the south. 00:09:45 But in the 1870’s, a group of Bible students 00:09:50 began to separate itself from false Christians. 00:09:53 This group, 00:09:54 which included Charles T. Russell, 00:09:57 rejected teachings 00:09:58 that were not based on the Bible. 00:10:01 And like the first-century Christians, 00:10:03 they promoted the truths 00:10:05 taught in God’s Word. 00:10:07 Now this group underwent a development 00:10:11 that is foretold at Malachi 3:1. 00:10:15 They were the “messenger” 00:10:18 who would “clear up a way” before Jehovah. 00:10:21 And as events that followed prove, 00:10:24 this group clearly had God’s backing. 00:10:28 So from the 1870’s onward, 00:10:30 when true Christians began to organize themselves as a group, 00:10:34 we can again identify the political powers 00:10:38 that fill the roles of the king of the north 00:10:41 and king of the south. 00:10:43 At that time in history, 00:10:46 Britain was the dominant political force 00:10:49 and it filled the role 00:10:51 of the king of the south. 00:10:53 Amazingly, it was also in the 1870’s 00:10:57 that the German Empire emerged 00:11:00 and soon began to challenge Britain 00:11:02 for world domination. 00:11:04 This political power now filled the role 00:11:07 of the king of the north. 00:11:09 Daniel 11:25, 26 indicate 00:11:14 that the two kings would clash 00:11:17 and that the king of the north would lose many soldiers in the battle. 00:11:21 And that is exactly what happened 00:11:25 during World War I. 00:11:26 And it was during that war 00:11:28 that Britain and its close ally, 00:11:31 the United States, 00:11:33 forged a special bond. 00:11:35 So from this point on, 00:11:38 during these last days, 00:11:39 the Anglo-American power 00:11:42 has been the king of the south. 00:11:45 That brings us to our second point: 00:11:48 How has Daniel chapter 11 been fulfilled 00:11:52 from that time onward 00:11:54 until recent times? 00:11:57 During World War I, 00:11:59 the king of the north and the king of the south 00:12:02 persecuted those of God’s people who refused to fight in the war. 00:12:07 The king of the south even threw into jail 00:12:10 those who were taking the lead in the preaching work. 00:12:13 But let’s take a closer look at the king of the north. 00:12:17 Has the political power filling that role 00:12:20 changed during the last days? 00:12:23 And how has it treated God’s people? 00:12:26 The identity of the king of the north 00:12:29 has changed three times during the last days. 00:12:32 Starting in the 1870’s through to the end of the second world war, 00:12:37 the German Empire 00:12:39 filled the role of the king of the north. 00:12:42 In the period leading up to and including World War II, 00:12:47 it persecuted God’s people without mercy, 00:12:50 imprisoning thousands of our brothers 00:12:53 and killing hundreds of them. 00:12:56 Who replaced the German Empire as the king of the north? 00:13:00 That’s an important question, Herman. 00:13:03 After World War II, 00:13:05 the Soviet Union took on that role. 00:13:08 It also attacked God’s people, 00:13:10 imprisoning them or sending them into exile. 00:13:15 But, Ken, Daniel 11:34 says 00:13:18 that they—that is, God’s people— 00:13:21 would be “given a little help.” 00:13:24 What’s the significance of that statement? 00:13:27 This passage points forward to the time 00:13:30 when the Soviet Union collapsed. 00:13:33 Although God’s people suffered terribly under that government, 00:13:36 they were “given a little help.” 00:13:39 In what way? 00:13:41 After the USSR collapsed, 00:13:44 God’s people there could worship freely for a number of years. 00:13:48 In time, though, Russia and its allies 00:13:51 took on the role of the king of the north. 00:13:55 And like the other powers that filled the role of king of the north, 00:13:59 this government has continued to oppress God’s people. 00:14:04 Let’s watch the following video 00:14:07 that outlines what has happened. 00:14:14 Daniel received a prophecy 00:14:16 about the coming of two rivals: 00:14:18 “the king of the north” 00:14:20 and “the king of the south.” 00:14:23 How has it been fulfilled? 00:14:31 In the late 1800’s, the German Empire 00:14:34 became the king of the north. 00:14:36 That government brought 00:14:38 its “power and . . . heart 00:14:39 “against the king of the south 00:14:40 with a large army.” 00:14:43 In fact, its navy was 00:14:45 the second largest on earth. 00:14:50 Who became the king of the south? 00:14:53 The alliance between Britain 00:14:55 and the United States. 00:14:57 He fought during World War I 00:14:59 “with an exceedingly large 00:15:01 and mighty army.” 00:15:03 He “swept away” and “humbled” 00:15:05 the king of the north. 00:15:09 But that was not the end 00:15:10 of the king of the north. 00:15:12 He turned his attention to and then hurled 00:15:14 “denunciations against the holy covenant.” 00:15:19 He removed “the constant feature” 00:15:21 by limiting the freedom of God’s people 00:15:23 to preach, 00:15:26 imprisoning many, 00:15:28 and even killing hundreds 00:15:30 of God’s anointed ones 00:15:31 and their fellow workers. 00:15:36 After Germany was defeated in World War II, 00:15:38 the Soviet Union 00:15:40 became the king of the north. 00:15:42 It worked with the king of the south 00:15:44 to “put in place the disgusting thing 00:15:47 that causes desolation” 00:15:49 —the United Nations. 00:16:01 Beginning in the early 1900’s, 00:16:03 the Soviet government tried to eliminate 00:16:06 religion in the lands under its control, 00:16:10 fulfilling the words 00:16:11 that he would “show no regard 00:16:13 for the God of his fathers.” 00:16:19 He gave glory, not to the God of heaven, 00:16:22 but “to the god of fortresses.” 00:16:26 As prophesied, 00:16:28 he used this military might 00:16:29 against the king of the south 00:16:31 by engaging “with him in a pushing.” 00:16:35 Anglo-America competed 00:16:36 with the Soviet Union 00:16:37 for world domination, 00:16:39 fighting in and supporting wars 00:16:41 and political struggles around the globe. 00:16:48 After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, 00:16:51 it was unclear who would fill the role of the king of the north. 00:16:55 For a time, God’s people there 00:16:57 had been able to preach and worship peacefully. 00:17:01 But in recent years, Russia and its allies 00:17:04 have pushed back at the king of the south. 00:17:07 Both kings have accused each other 00:17:09 of destructive cyber and economic attacks. 00:17:13 But the king of the north has not limited 00:17:16 his attacks to the king of the south. 00:17:18 As foretold, he also entered 00:17:20 “into the land of the Decoration” 00:17:23 —our realm of spiritual activity. 00:17:27 Today, Russian authorities continue 00:17:29 to attack true worship. 00:17:33 We expect such persecution, 00:17:36 but we also expect it to end. 00:17:58 Our King, Jesus Christ, 00:18:00 is more powerful than any human government. 00:18:05 Soon he will destroy not only the kings of the north and the south 00:18:10 but all of his enemies, 00:18:13 and he will deliver God’s loyal people. 00:18:47 That was a powerful and touching video! 00:18:51 How are our brothers and sisters coping with the current persecution? 00:18:55 Let’s take a look. 00:18:57 And what you’re going to see will break your heart 00:19:01 but also strengthen your faith. 00:19:06 At 6:00 a.m., 00:19:08 my husband and I were woken up 00:19:10 by a loud bang on the door. 00:19:13 As soon as my husband had opened the door, 00:19:15 people burst in shouting, 00:19:17 “Everyone on the floor!” 00:19:19 I saw them taking my husband into the kitchen 00:19:21 and heard them 00:19:23 very aggressively ordering him to do something. 00:19:25 Then I heard some noise, and I realized 00:19:27 that he was being beaten. 00:19:30 My husband, Feliks, and I 00:19:32 were on our way back from the shopping mall 00:19:35 to the car park. 00:19:36 A jeep with tinted windows 00:19:38 blocked our path, and people 00:19:40 with weapons jumped out, shouting: 00:19:42 “On the ground! Don’t move!” 00:19:45 We were thrown against the vehicle. 00:19:47 Feliks was sent to a pretrial detention facility, 00:19:50 where he spent a year. 00:19:54 From the very first bang on the door, 00:19:57 I began praying to Jehovah for wisdom, calmness, 00:20:01 and for holy spirit so that I could make the right decisions 00:20:04 and act in the right way. 00:20:05 And for the whole day, I was praying. 00:20:07 Jehovah answered all my prayers, 00:20:09 and I felt that he was close at my side. 00:20:16 Before each court hearing when I was very afraid 00:20:19 and felt overwhelmed by emotion and couldn’t calm myself down, 00:20:22 it was prayer 00:20:24 that helped me to settle down. 00:20:28 When they took us for interrogation, 00:20:30 I started panicking and, at that moment, 00:20:34 I realized that I needed to meditate on something positive. 00:20:37 So I thought, 00:20:39 ‘I need to sing our songs.’ 00:20:41 And just one song came into my mind: 00:20:44 “He Will Make You Strong.” 00:20:46 It really strengthened me. 00:20:49 Those words about how Jehovah gave his Son for us 00:20:51 show he loves us and will never leave us. 00:20:56 Brothers and sisters 00:20:58 pray and tell me 00:21:01 that they are praying for me. 00:21:03 It gives me the feeling that I am part 00:21:05 of a large family. 00:21:09 After the interrogation, 00:21:12 he was sent home. 00:21:13 My husband and I 00:21:15 continue to stick to our spiritual routine. 00:21:19 We continue to conduct family worship, and we are always in the ministry. 00:21:24 Our brothers and sisters constantly support us. 00:21:27 They write kind words; 00:21:29 they commend us; 00:21:32 they send us encouraging scriptures from the Bible. 00:21:36 In September 2019, Feliks was found guilty 00:21:40 and sentenced to three years in a general regime colony. 00:21:45 When he and the other brothers arrived there, 00:21:48 they were beaten up by officers from the colony. 00:21:54 Feliks told me 00:21:55 that he prayed while he was being beaten, 00:21:59 and he noticed that at that moment, he stopped feeling the pain. 00:22:06 While he is behind bars, 00:22:08 Feliks tries to conduct family worship with me by letters. 00:22:13 He picks certain themes and some specific questions. 00:22:17 Then I do research 00:22:19 in the publications and send back what I find. 00:22:24 The scripture at Isaiah chapter 30 really strengthens me, 00:22:27 where it says that “your strength will be 00:22:30 in keeping calm and showing trust.” 00:22:34 Although I tend to worry, 00:22:37 I understand that calmness is expressed 00:22:40 by fully trusting in Jehovah. 00:22:44 I have become stronger because thanks to Jehovah, 00:22:47 in a way, I have developed almost a shell 00:22:51 against the difficulties 00:22:53 that used to scare me. 00:22:54 That confidence and faith help me. 00:22:56 Jehovah was with me, 00:22:58 and he will remain 00:23:00 close by me, 00:23:01 and we will be made stronger thanks to him, 00:23:03 and we will get through these trials. 00:23:10 How can we develop courage 00:23:13 like our brothers and sisters in Russia? 00:23:16 Well, we must be convinced 00:23:19 that the prophecies in the Bible are trustworthy. 00:23:24 That was a topic discussed 00:23:26 by Brother David Splane of the Governing Body 00:23:29 in the following Morning Worship program. 00:23:33 Now, if you’d just 00:23:35 take a look at today’s text, 00:23:38 it says: “Come and witness 00:23:42 the activities of Jehovah”—witness. 00:23:47 Now, according to a dictionary, 00:23:49 a witness is someone who has personal knowledge of something. 00:23:54 So how can we be Witnesses of Jehovah? 00:23:58 What personal knowledge 00:24:01 do we have of his activities? 00:24:04 Well, first of all, we can testify to the fact 00:24:08 that Jehovah can see into the future. 00:24:10 And when he does that, he is right 100 percent of the time. 00:24:14 And second, we know that no one can prevent 00:24:18 what Jehovah foresees from coming true. 00:24:21 All of Jehovah’s prophecies come true. 00:24:25 Now, to illustrate the first point, 00:24:28 that Jehovah can see into the future, 00:24:30 let’s consider two remarkable prophecies 00:24:33 concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. 00:24:38 Now, we know that through the prophet Jeremiah, 00:24:42 Jehovah foretold that Jerusalem and the temple 00:24:45 would be destroyed by the Babylonians. 00:24:47 Did it come true? 00:24:49 Absolutely—in 607 B.C.E. 00:24:53 But Jehovah went further. 00:24:55 He said that Jerusalem would be rebuilt. 00:24:58 “They will rebuild the ancient ruins; 00:25:02 “they will raise up the desolated places of the past, 00:25:05 and they will restore the devastated cities.” 00:25:09 And true worship would also be restored. 00:25:13 So that was quite a level of knowledge. 00:25:16 But there’s more. 00:25:18 Jehovah went further. 00:25:20 Jehovah also indicated 00:25:22 that the spiritual revival wouldn’t last. 00:25:26 Now, that is remarkable. 00:25:28 And it’s implied by what we read in the second part 00:25:31 of Daniel 9:26. 00:25:34 I’d like you to have a look at this. 00:25:36 We’re going to be reading 00:25:39 two parts of this verse, 00:25:42 and it’s quite interesting 00:25:44 —Daniel 9:26. 00:25:49 So now, what’s our objective here? 00:25:52 It’s to see that Jerusalem and its temple 00:25:56 would be destroyed a second time 00:26:00 and that true worship would not last. 00:26:02 It says in the second part of verse 26: 00:26:06 “And the people of a leader who is coming 00:26:11 will destroy the city and the holy place.” 00:26:15 Now, when these words were written, 00:26:18 Jerusalem and the temple were already in ruins. 00:26:22 But Jehovah doesn’t say, 00:26:24 ‘Nebuchadnezzar has destroyed the city and its temple.’ 00:26:27 He says: “The people of a leader who is coming.” 00:26:31 The Roman general Titus in 70 C.E. 00:26:35 “will destroy the city and the holy place.” 00:26:38 In order for that prophecy to be fulfilled, 00:26:40 Jerusalem and the temple would have to be rebuilt 00:26:44 and then destroyed a second time. 00:26:48 Now, that is quite a level of knowledge —quite a level of information. 00:26:53 But what would make this necessary? 00:26:55 Why, when the Jews came back to the Promised Land 00:27:00 and they were intent on restoring true worship, 00:27:04 why would this fail? 00:27:06 And why would Jerusalem and the temple be destroyed a second time? 00:27:10 Part of it is due to what we find in the first part of verse 26: 00:27:16 “Messiah will be cut off.” 00:27:20 So Jehovah foretold, foresaw, 00:27:25 that when the Messiah came, 00:27:27 the Jews would reject him. 00:27:30 He would be cut off. 00:27:32 And because of that, partly because of that, 00:27:35 Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed, 00:27:38 as it happens, in 70 C.E. 00:27:41 Now, wait a minute, wait a minute. 00:27:44 Let’s think about that a minute. 00:27:46 The Messiah comes first and Jerusalem and the temple 00:27:51 are destroyed after that in 70 C.E. 00:27:54 What does that mean? 00:27:56 It means that the Messiah comes before 70 C.E. 00:28:01 So we might ask our Jewish friends, 00:28:04 why are you still waiting for the Messiah? 00:28:07 70 C.E. has come and gone. 00:28:11 Well, the Messiah came, and he too proved to be a true prophet. 00:28:16 And a remarkable prophecy of Jesus is found in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:28:20 Let’s have a look at it and consider the implications of this prophecy. 00:28:25 This is Matthew chapter 7, 00:28:32 and we’ll read verses 22 and 23, 00:28:35 an amazing prophecy. 00:28:37 Now, imagine: At this point, Jesus’ teachings 00:28:41 have not spread beyond Israel. 00:28:45 But notice verses 22 and 23: 00:28:48 “Many will say to me on that day: 00:28:51 “‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, 00:28:55 “‘and expel demons in your name, 00:28:57 “and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 00:29:00 “And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! 00:29:03 Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’” 00:29:08 Now, isn’t that amazing? 00:29:09 If Jesus had simply predicted 00:29:11 that his teachings would spread throughout the earth, 00:29:13 you might say, “Well, there’s nothing remarkable about that.” 00:29:16 But Jesus is saying something different. 00:29:18 Jesus is foretelling 00:29:20 a great apostasy from his teachings. 00:29:25 Jesus is foretelling the birth of Christendom 00:29:28 300 years before the event. 00:29:33 So Jesus foresees that many 00:29:37 are going to turn away from the truth. 00:29:40 And by the end of the first century, 00:29:42 that apostasy was already at work, wasn’t it? 00:29:45 There were sects 00:29:47 —the sect of Nicolaus, for example, and other sects. 00:29:51 And now they’re on the cusp of the great darkness, 00:29:55 the great apostasy, that’s going to set in from the second century on. 00:30:00 And with this in mind, what does Jehovah do? 00:30:03 He makes an amazing statement 00:30:07 —Revelation 14— 00:30:10 ‘144,00 will be on Mount Zion with the Lamb.’ 00:30:15 There were nowhere near 144,000 in the truth in the first century. 00:30:20 And here Jehovah is saying there are going to be 144,000 in heaven 00:30:25 with the Lamb at the end. 00:30:27 But not only that, he goes further. 00:30:29 There’s going to be a ‘great crowd that no man can number.’ 00:30:32 How could that ever come true? 00:30:35 Ours is the God of true prophecy. 00:30:38 Well, that’s prophecy. 00:30:41 What about the second point? 00:30:43 And that is that no one can prevent prophecy from being fulfilled. 00:30:47 The Devil would love to prevent that from taking place. 00:30:50 Think about Revelation 14. 00:30:52 If the Devil could make the number 00:30:55 one short of 144,000, 00:30:58 he’d be happy because he would show 00:31:01 that Jehovah was inaccurate in what he foretold. 00:31:05 And so that’s one of the reasons why the Devil 00:31:07 has made war on the remnant of the seed of the woman, 00:31:11 if at all possible, to prevent that number 00:31:14 of 144,000 from coming to pass. 00:31:18 But, of course, he’s going to fail. 00:31:21 And what about the prophecy in the Bible 00:31:24 that America and Britain would become a dual world power? 00:31:29 Now, Britain wouldn’t become a world power 00:31:31 at all if France had anything to say about it. 00:31:33 France and Britain were sworn enemies. 00:31:36 And for many, many, years, 00:31:39 France was much richer and much more powerful 00:31:42 than Britain was. 00:31:45 And finally, at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, 00:31:49 France had one last chance 00:31:51 to prevent Britain from becoming a world power. 00:31:55 And France should have won that battle. 00:31:57 Everything was stacked against the British. 00:32:01 But there was a driving rain, 00:32:03 a fatal miscalculation on the part of Napoleon, 00:32:07 and a few other factors that foiled their attempt. 00:32:11 And Britain did become a world power. 00:32:13 And at the end of the 19th century, 00:32:16 it’s quite true that the sun never set on the British Empire. 00:32:21 But now, America and Britain were supposed to become a dual world power, 00:32:26 and Britain wasn’t the least bit interested in sharing its power with America. 00:32:30 It tried to prevent America from separating as a colony. 00:32:35 There was a long war, 00:32:38 and there were mistakes made on both sides. 00:32:41 But finally, America gained its independence from Britain. 00:32:44 Well, what do we find? 00:32:46 Some years after that, 00:32:48 Britain is sharing its power with America. 00:32:52 They are a dual world power. 00:32:55 Fighters against God will never prevail. 00:32:59 We serve “the God of true prophecy.” 00:33:03 And “what he foretells comes to be.” 00:33:09 As we’ve discussed, 00:33:11 each detail of the prophecy recorded at Daniel chapter 11 00:33:15 has come true so far. 00:33:18 We must have confidence 00:33:20 that the remaining events described in that prophecy 00:33:23 will also come true. 00:33:25 We are living in the last days of the time of the end. 00:33:30 Soon, the nations will fulfill the prophecy 00:33:34 at 1 Thessalonians 5:3: 00:33:37 “Whenever it is that they are saying, 00:33:40 “‘Peace and security!’ 00:33:42 “then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, 00:33:47 “just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, 00:33:50 and they will by no means escape.” 00:33:54 Then “sudden destruction” 00:33:56 comes upon all parts of Satan’s system. 00:34:00 As you can see on the screen, 00:34:03 Daniel 12:1 says: 00:34:05 “During that time Michael will stand up, 00:34:09 “the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. 00:34:13 “And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred 00:34:18 “since there came to be a nation until that time. 00:34:21 “And during that time your people will escape, 00:34:26 everyone who is found written down in the book.” 00:34:31 That leads us into our third point: 00:34:34 How should knowing the information 00:34:37 that we have just discussed 00:34:39 affect the decisions that we make? 00:34:42 Well, what we have reviewed is not just interesting history; 00:34:46 it’s a dramatic prelude 00:34:49 to what will soon happen here on earth. 00:34:52 Jehovah has given his people this knowledge 00:34:56 so that we can act on it. 00:34:58 It should influence the choices we make. 00:35:02 In the following dramatization, 00:35:04 notice how one young brother makes decisions 00:35:08 based on his understanding of Daniel’s prophecy. 00:35:14 That was my best friend, Lucas, 00:35:18 when we were kids. 00:35:19 And that was me, Oscar. 00:35:22 We knew exactly what we wanted to do 00:35:25 when we grew up: 00:35:27 Pioneer! 00:35:28 Go to Bethel! 00:35:30 Build Kingdom Halls! 00:35:32 We kept those goals. 00:35:34 And when graduation came, 00:35:36 we were ready. 00:35:44 Our little business needed just a few more accounts. 00:35:48 Then we’d have enough for us and to help our families. 00:35:54 Finally! 00:35:55 Day one of the service year 00:35:59 —and two new pioneers! 00:36:04 Where we live, . . . 00:36:06 Please don’t call me ever again! 00:36:09 . . . finding spiritual interest is tough. 00:36:25 We already have cleaners. Thanks. 00:36:27 And finding enough work was harder than we thought. 00:36:31 A few months in, I was sure 00:36:34 Jehovah would help if we just stuck it out. 00:36:37 Sorry, Oscar. Can’t make it today. 00:36:40 Something came up. Lucas. 00:36:45 What came up was an opportunity for more money, 00:36:49 but at what cost? 00:36:55 Are you quitting, or what? 00:36:58 No, I’m not quitting. 00:37:01 Pioneering or our business? 00:37:05 Neither, but you know the struggle here. 00:37:07 Most brothers can afford to pioneer for a year, two tops. 00:37:11 Look, it’s not full-time while I’m training. 00:37:14 It’s a backup plan. 00:37:51 So Lucas stopped pioneering? 00:37:59 Maybe he’s right. 00:38:04 He’s just being practical. 00:38:09 I mean, is it wrong to quit if you think it’s not working? 00:38:15 I struggled with the same question when I pioneered. 00:38:20 Whatever you decide, 00:38:23 if you can tell Jehovah your reason 00:38:25 with a clean conscience, 00:38:28 then it’s the right decision for you. 00:38:32 Why would I keep going when it’s so difficult? 00:38:39 “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, 00:38:42 “consider what sort of people you ought to be 00:38:45 in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion.” 00:39:05 It really is “the last days,” 00:39:07 and people need “the good news.” 00:39:11 And they’ll only hear it 00:39:13 if we keep up our “deeds of godly devotion” 00:39:17 as best we can. 00:39:22 I prayed to endure and only stop pioneering 00:39:26 if my circumstances left no other choice. 00:39:30 And I prayed to see the blessings. 00:39:41 And after a while, 00:39:43 I learned that a little perseverance, 00:39:46 with Jehovah’s spirit, can be contagious. 00:39:57 So, what do you want to do when you grow up? 00:40:00 Pioneer. 00:40:02 And go to Bethel? 00:40:03 Yep! 00:40:04 And then maybe build Kingdom Halls. 00:40:05 You in? 00:40:06 Yeah. 00:40:17 That young brother was trying to figure out 00:40:19 what to do with his life. 00:40:21 He made a good decision because he allowed Bible prophecy 00:40:25 to influence his thinking. 00:40:27 We know that teens everywhere 00:40:30 face many challenges, and we feel for you. 00:40:33 Of course, I was once a teenager, 00:40:36 but I can’t even imagine some of the situations 00:40:39 that you find yourselves in. 00:40:41 But the Governing Body loves you, 00:40:44 and we want to help. 00:40:46 So I’m very happy to announce a new series 00:40:49 —“My Teen Life.” 00:40:52 You’ll hear from Witnesses 00:40:54 who share the challenges they faced in their teens 00:40:57 and how they overcame them with Jehovah’s help. 00:41:01 The interviews are candid; 00:41:03 the issues are real. 00:41:05 Here’s the first episode. 00:41:16 Well, when I was a teenager, 00:41:17 I didn’t see any benefit 00:41:19 in talking to my parents 00:41:20 because they liked different things than I liked. 00:41:25 So I thought, ‘Well, what’s the point?’ 00:41:27 And I also wanted to be an adult. 00:41:31 I wanted to feel like an adult and be treated like an adult. 00:41:33 I remember when my mom used to pick me up from school. 00:41:36 She wanted to show personal interest in me, 00:41:38 so she’d ask me: “Oh, how are your friends doing? 00:41:41 “How was school today? 00:41:42 Do you have a lot of homework?” 00:41:43 But I just thought that she was being nosy. 00:41:47 I always had my earphones on. 00:41:49 And whenever my parents were trying to talk to me, 00:41:52 that was my chance to just pop them in and ignore them. 00:41:57 The way my parents grew up wasn’t 00:41:59 the same way that I grew up. 00:42:00 They grew up in a different country; 00:42:01 they spoke a different language; they grew up in a different time. 00:42:07 When you’re talking to somebody who doesn’t speak your language natively, 00:42:11 oftentimes you won’t be able to explain things from your heart. 00:42:14 And so I had that challenge. 00:42:15 I wasn’t able to talk directly to my parents heart to heart. 00:42:19 And so there was always this frustration 00:42:21 in trying to really convey how I felt. 00:42:24 And I felt like I wasn’t really getting through to my parents. 00:42:28 When I went to my first pioneer school, I learned a lot about Jehovah’s qualities. 00:42:31 And one of them was how he was a very approachable Person. 00:42:35 And I thought to myself, ‘Am I an approachable person?’ 00:42:40 And I thought about how I acted in the ministry 00:42:42 and then at the meetings and then at home. 00:42:45 And I realized that at home I had a lot of things I needed to fix. 00:42:49 I felt like it was two different worlds I was living in. 00:42:51 One was when I was at school with my peers; 00:42:54 I felt like I was understood. 00:42:57 And at home, I kind of just withdrew to myself. 00:43:00 I wouldn’t try to communicate with them because it didn’t seem worth the effort. 00:43:04 I tried to figure out problems in my own way. 00:43:06 It was kind of trial and error. 00:43:11 I developed a lot of bad habits 00:43:15 that today I’m still trying to overcome. 00:43:17 If I’d been able to communicate with them more, 00:43:20 if I’d been able to connect with them and ask for their help 00:43:23 and get their support and have them on my team, 00:43:26 things would have gone a lot better. 00:43:28 And I really wish I had. 00:43:31 Jesus, who was a perfect human being 00:43:33 and who had perfect judgment, didn’t make decisions on his own. 00:43:37 He always looked to his Father for guidance. 00:43:39 And that got me thinking, 00:43:41 ‘Well, if Jesus did that, 00:43:42 ‘there has to be something good 00:43:43 in it for me too.’ 00:43:45 What really helped me was Colossians 4:6. 00:43:48 I knew I needed to speak more graciously in the family. 00:43:52 And I realized that I was speaking very defensively 00:43:55 and that I needed to be more approachable to my parents. 00:43:58 When I first tried to talk with them, of course, 00:44:01 it was awkward and I didn’t want to talk about anything personal 00:44:04 because I wasn’t used to it. 00:44:06 So I thought I could maybe ask them about themselves 00:44:09 —ask them how their day was or what they liked from the meetings. 00:44:13 So I just tried to show more interest in them 00:44:15 instead of focusing on myself. 00:44:17 And I think that’s what got 00:44:18 the conversations going 00:44:19 and got me comfortable 00:44:20 to really talk with them. 00:44:22 I was so focused on how my parents weren’t understanding me 00:44:26 that I wasn’t really trying to understand them. 00:44:31 When I thought about my parents, 00:44:33 I thought about how much work it takes to be a parent. 00:44:36 From when I was a baby, for many years, 00:44:39 they were working day and night to try to care for me. 00:44:42 They never demanded a thank you or anything from me. 00:44:46 They were really self-sacrificing. 00:44:48 And I imagined: ‘If I had to work that much for somebody, 00:44:52 ‘how would I feel if they didn’t really say thank you? 00:44:56 ‘Or how would I feel 00:44:58 ‘if this person whom I worked so hard for 00:45:00 didn’t really view me as their friend?’ 00:45:03 Later on, as I got older and started 00:45:06 that communication going with my parents, 00:45:09 I realized that taking their advice and really listening to their opinions 00:45:13 and always letting them know 00:45:15 what I’m going to do and where I’m going to go 00:45:18 was a mature thing to do. 00:45:21 Our heart oftentimes 00:45:22 takes the driver’s seat, and it directs us 00:45:25 to where it thinks it should go. 00:45:27 And oftentimes it goes in the wrong direction, 00:45:30 and we sometimes get hurt. 00:45:33 Then we look back and say, “I wish I hadn’t done that.” 00:45:35 And our parents have been there. 00:45:37 What they’re trying to do for us now is to tell us, 00:45:42 “Don’t let your heart take the driver’s seat.” 00:45:44 If I could talk to my teenage self, 00:45:47 I would tell myself to see my mom and dad more like coaches, 00:45:51 because I used to think they were always trying to criticize me 00:45:54 and point out my faults. 00:45:56 But, really, they’re just trying to help me, 00:45:59 and they want me to have a happy life. 00:46:02 I really wish I knew that as a teenager. 00:46:05 But I’m glad I learned that now. 00:46:27 We hope that you’ll enjoy and benefit 00:46:29 from future episodes of “My Teen Life.” 00:46:32 This new series is another way 00:46:35 the Governing Body prepares Jehovah’s people 00:46:38 to cope with today’s challenges 00:46:40 and to be ready for what’s coming. 00:46:44 Bible prophecy shows that in the near future, 00:46:48 the nations will turn on all false religions and wipe them out. 00:46:53 Then, they will launch a final attack on God’s people. 00:46:57 And what a mistake that will be! 00:47:01 As discussed in the Pure Worship book, 00:47:04 Jehovah will respond to that attack 00:47:07 by unleashing his rage on the nations. 00:47:10 After the dust of Armageddon settles, 00:47:13 those with the earthly hope can look forward 00:47:16 to a thousand years of genuine peace and security, 00:47:20 working under the rule of God’s Kingdom. 00:47:24 Before that time comes, 00:47:26 we will continue to face trials and opposition, 00:47:30 but we can endure. 00:47:32 We have many modern-day examples 00:47:34 that we can imitate right now. 00:47:37 Those examples can help all of us 00:47:39 to be prepared, to stand firm, 00:47:42 and to remain fully united in the faith. 00:47:46 This month’s original song 00:47:49 entitled “One United People” 00:47:52 encourages us to do just that. 00:48:17 We watch the storm clouds gather. We’ve seen the signs before. 00:48:30 The wind of persecution Is no stranger to our door. 00:48:43 We will face each test with courage, With Jehovah standing near. 00:48:56 And ‘no weapon formed against us’ Will give any cause for fear. 00:49:09 We are one united people, 00:49:17 Though we come from ev’ry land. 00:49:23 We are standing firm together, 00:49:30 For Jehovah makes us stand, 00:49:36 For Jehovah makes us stand. 00:49:57 We wait with calm assurance For Jehovah, the Most High— 00:50:10 The God of our salvation Whose love will never die. 00:50:23 He will never leave his people, And his spirit makes us strong. 00:50:37 No, our enemies won’t break us. To Jehovah we belong! 00:50:51 We are one united people, 00:50:58 Though we come from ev’ry land. 00:51:05 We are standing firm together, 00:51:09 For Jehovah makes us stand. 00:51:18 We stand firm together; Unafraid we face the crowd. 00:51:24 And these hearts that beat within us We have given to our God. 00:51:39 We are one united people, 00:51:46 Though we come from ev’ry land. 00:51:52 We are standing firm together, 00:51:59 For Jehovah makes us stand, 00:52:06 For Jehovah makes us stand. 00:52:22 The stirring theme of this year’s convention 00:52:26 is “Powerful By Faith!” 00:52:30 We will learn what faith is, 00:52:32 why it is essential, 00:52:34 and how we can acquire it. 00:52:37 Here is a preview. 00:52:41 It can be hard to put faith in something you cannot see. 00:52:46 But real faith is not blind. 00:52:51 Real faith is based on facts, 00:52:54 on realities, 00:52:58 on truth. 00:53:02 It gives us courage and strength, 00:53:07 and it helps us to endure. 00:53:11 When life gets hard, it provides peace. 00:53:15 It reminds us of our purpose, 00:53:19 and it brings us real joy. 00:53:24 Learn how to build and strengthen your faith 00:53:26 at the 2021 “Powerful by Faith!” Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 00:53:46 Now it’s time for our video postcard, which comes to us 00:53:51 from our brothers and sisters in Belarus. 00:53:57 Belarus is an Eastern European nation that borders Russia. 00:54:02 It’s known as 00:54:04 the “blue-eyed” country because it is dotted 00:54:08 with more than 10,000 lakes. 00:54:11 Some of Europe’s most ancient trees, as well as 00:54:16 its largest mammal —the European bison— 00:54:19 can be found here. 00:54:22 Castles, some dating 00:54:24 from the 16th century, are popular sites. 00:54:28 This is Nesvizh Castle. 00:54:31 If you look up at the ceiling of its chapel, you’ll see Jehovah’s name 00:54:36 in the form of the Tetragrammaton. 00:54:40 When Belarus was part of the Soviet Union, 00:54:44 Jehovah’s Witnesses faced strong government opposition. 00:54:49 Some of our brothers were exiled to far-away Siberia. 00:54:54 Today, more than 6,000 publishers 00:54:58 in 84 congregations boldly declare the good news 00:55:02 in Belarus. 00:55:05 There is a zealous pioneer spirit here. 00:55:07 Twenty percent of the publishers 00:55:11 are in full-time service. 00:55:14 This is how our brothers share the good news 00:55:17 in the city of Brest. 00:55:18 They enjoy many aspects 00:55:21 of public witnessing. 00:55:23 Here are our brothers and sisters in the city of Kobryn. 00:55:28 Their territory includes both urban and rural areas. 00:55:33 The 78 publishers here conduct an average 00:55:37 of 74 Bible studies each month. 00:55:42 Our brothers and sisters in Belarus 00:55:44 send you their warm love and greetings. 00:55:50 Herman, it’s been a pleasure reviewing this exciting material 00:55:55 about the “king of the north” with you. 00:55:56 Thank you, Ken. 00:55:59 This information is so important. 00:56:03 It helps all of us 00:56:05 to face the future with confidence. 00:56:08 Before we say goodbye, we have a treat for you. 00:56:12 Here’s a preview of the video drama from this year’s convention. 00:56:17 Please enjoy. 00:56:36 You will receive training 00:56:39 in the house of the great King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:56:42 Wait! 00:56:44 Daniel! 00:56:49 Be strong, my son. 00:56:53 This is a new land with new laws. 00:56:55 Soon they’ll want us to worship their gods. 00:56:58 Jehovah is in Israel. 00:57:01 We’re in Babylon now. 00:57:08 What’s going to happen to us? 00:57:12 He had a dream, 00:57:13 and no one can tell him what it is. 00:57:14 Everyone is to be executed by dawn. 00:57:17 We have until morning. 00:57:19 To do what? 00:57:21 It’s Jerusalem. 00:57:24 They burned down Jehovah’s house! 00:57:27 As long as Jehovah exists, 00:57:30 we have hope. 00:57:32 Interpretations belong to my God, Jehovah. 00:57:35 He knows your dream and what it means. 00:57:38 Where is your God? 00:57:42 Kill them! 00:57:43 O Jehovah, 00:57:45 surely you didn’t bring us here to die. 00:57:48 Please, vindicate yourself. 00:58:01 As we’ve discussed in our program, 00:58:04 Daniel played an important role as Jehovah’s prophet. 00:58:08 And as we’ll see in our video drama, 00:58:11 there’s much we can learn from his life and example. 00:58:15 And now, before we sign off, 00:58:18 we have a special musical gift video 00:58:21 that closely relates to our monthly program theme. 00:58:25 You will be encouraged and inspired. 01:02:41 Please keep our brothers in Russia in your prayers. 01:02:45 Learn from their example of faith and courage. 01:02:48 See these events for what they are 01:02:51 —the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. 01:02:54 Let this knowledge move you to make wise decisions. 01:02:59 Stay faithful, and stay busy 01:03:02 as the end of this system draws close. 01:03:05 From the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 01:03:09 this is JW Broadcasting.