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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Revelation 7:3


What is the sealing referred to at Revelation 7:3?

Revelation 7:1-3 states: “I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’”

When “the four winds” are released, the result will be “the great tribulation,” the destruction of false religion and the rest of this wicked world. (Revelation 7:14) The slaves of our God” are Christ’s anointed brothers on earth. (1 Peter 2:9, 16) Hence, this prophecy indicates that the sealing of Christ’s brothers will have been completed when the great tribulation breaks out. However, other Bible verses indicate that there is an earlier sealing of anointed ones. Therefore, at times, we speak of an initial sealing and a final one. What is the difference between those two?

Let us consider the meaning of the word “sealed.” In ancient times, a seal was an instrument used to make an impression on a document. The word can also refer to the impression itself. In those days, it was common to attach a seal to a document or other items to indicate authenticity or ownership.—1 Kings 21:8; Job 14:17.

Paul compared holy spirit to a seal when he stated: “He who guarantees that you and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) Hence, Jehovah anoints these Christians with his holy spirit to indicate that they are his possession.

However, there are two phases in the sealing of anointed ones. The initial sealing differs from the final sealing (1) in purpose and (2) in time. The sealing in an initial sense serves to select a new member who is added to the number of anointed Christians. The sealing in a final sense serves to confirm that this chosen and sealed individual has fully demonstrated his loyalty. Only then, at the final sealing, will the seal be permanently placed ‘in the forehead’ of the anointed one, identifying him conclusively as a tried and faithful ‘slave of our God.’ The sealing mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 refers to this final phase of the sealing.—Revelation 7:3.

Concerning the timing of the initial sealing, the apostle Paul wrote to anointed Christians: “You also hoped in him after you heard the word of truth, the good news about your salvation. By means of him also, after you believed, you were sealed with the promised holy spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14) In many cases, the Bible record shows that first-century Christians were indeed sealed shortly after they heard the good news and became believers in Christ. (Acts 8:15-17; 10:44) Such sealing demonstrated God’s approval of them. However, it did not show God’s final approval. Why not?

Paul stated that anointed Christians are “sealed for a day of releasing.” (Ephesians 4:30) This indicates that the passing of time, usually many years, is involved after that initial sealing. Anointed ones need to remain faithful from the day they are sealed with holy spirit until the ‘day they are released’ from their fleshly bodies—that is, until their death. (Romans 8:23; Philippians 1:23; 2 Peter 1:10) Therefore, only at the very end of Paul’s life could he say: “I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8) Moreover, Jesus said to a congregation of anointed Christians: “Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10; 17:14.

The word “crown” gives further evidence that time passes between the initial sealing and the final one. Why? In ancient times, it was the custom to give a crown to the runner who won a race. To receive the crown, he had to do more than merely enter the race. He had to run all the way to the finish. Similarly, only if anointed Christians persevere all the way to the end of their course—from the initial sealing to the final one—will they be crowned with immortal life in heaven.—Matthew 10:22; James 1:12.

When will the remnant of anointed Christians who have initially been sealed receive their final sealing? Any still alive on earth will be sealed “in their foreheads” before the outbreak of the great tribulation. When the four winds of tribulation are unleashed, all of spiritual Israel will have been sealed in finality, even though a few will still be alive in the flesh and must yet finish their earthly course.

Why? Matthew 24:36


You Know Neither the Day Nor the Hour” – Why? Matthew 24:36

What would you do if you knew the date of Armageddon? There are five benefits to not knowing:-

1 Not knowing allows us to reveal what is in our heart; Jehovah gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our love for him.
2 Pro 27:11. We can make Jehovah’s heart glad by demonstrating our love in the choices we make.
3 Not knowing helps us to set aside selfish goals so we are not investing in this system.
4 We can rely fully on Jehovah.
5 Not knowing refines us, particularly when we are going through difficult times

End Is Near


Know That the End Is Near.

Jehovah’s people are not fearful. One of the signs of the last days is found at Matt 24:7 (happening in one place after another). Events are happening with growing intensity and magnitude.
We are going to look at four key areas – world events, attitudes, political circumstances and finally, activity.

World events. Matt 24:7. “Nation against nation”. People say, “we’ve always had wars”, or “governments do their best to avoid conflict”, and even “it isn’t that bad”. Let us consider some events, first of all, food shortages. According to the U.N. one billion people are going hungry and it is the first time in history that we have had so many hungry people. Earthquakes – more today are affected by earthquakes than before. One of the reasons for this is that more people are living in earthquake zones. Luke 21:11 regarding pestilences. AIDS, cancer, Sars, T.B. and now we can add swine flu to the list. Despite medical advances they occur in one place after another. It is wrong to live in denial that these things are taking place.

Attitudes. (Matt 24:12). The love of the greater number is foretold to cool off. This means love for God and His Word, the Bible. The home was formerly a place of tranquillity but now it isn’t. for many, it is no longer a haven. Violence is sweeping through all levels of society.

Political circumstances and national divisions. We are living in the time of the feet of clay and iron of Daniel’s image. There is a weakening of iron-like governments and they are becoming more fragile.

Activity and condition of God’s people in the final part of the days. Matt 24:34. What is “this generation”? It is the anointed as a class since 1914, therefore the anointed as a class make up this generation. A generation is people of various ages whose lives overlap. The anointed will see the end of this system (a generation has a beginning and an end). Matt 24:33. People know there are wars, pestilences etc. occurring around the world yet they carry on with their everyday lives.
As challenging as it may be, we must prove ourselves ready.

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What We Learn From Jesus About God’s Kingdom


What We Learn From Jesus

About God’s Kingdom

What is God’s Kingdom?

God’s Kingdom is a government that will rule the whole earth. Jesus said: “You must pray, then, this way: . . . ‘Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.’”—Matthew 6:9, 10; Daniel 2:44.

Who will be the rulers of God’s Kingdom?

Jesus was born to be the Ruler of God’s Kingdom. An angel told Jesus’ mother: “Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king.” (Luke 1:30-33) Additionally, Jesus chose some of his followers to rule with him. He said to his apostles: “You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom.” (Luke 22:28, 29; Daniel 7:27) A total of 144,000 of Jesus’ followers will rule along with him.—Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1.

Where will the government be located?

God’s Kingdom will rule from heaven. Jesus said to his disciples: “If I go my way and prepare a place for you [in heaven], I am coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also may be. . . . I am going my way to the Father.”—John 14:2, 3, 12; Daniel 7:13, 14.

What will God’s Kingdom do about evil?

Jesus will cleanse the earth of wicked people. Jesus said: “When the Son of man [Jesus] arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another . . . And these [wicked ones] will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”—Matthew 25:31-34, 46.

Who will live on earth as subjects of the Kingdom?

Jesus said: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:29; 72:8) The earth will be filled with people who are even now learning to love one another. Jesus said to his followers: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:34, 35.

What will God’s Kingdom do for mankind on earth?

Jesus will cure mankind of disease. While on earth, Jesus spoke to the crowds “about the kingdom of God, and he healed those needing a cure.” (Luke 9:11) After seeing the resurrected Jesus in a vision, the apostle John said: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind . . . And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more.’”—Revelation 21:1-4.

God’s Kingdom will restore Paradise to the earth. An evildoer who was executed with Jesus said: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:42, 43; Isaiah 11:4-9.

God &


God
Definition: The Supreme Being, whose distinctive name is Jehovah. The Hebrew language uses terms for “God” that convey the idea of strength, also of majesty, dignity, and excellence. In contrast to the true God, there are false gods. Some of these have set themselves up as gods; others have been made objects of worship by those who serve them.
Dios
Definición: El Ser Supremo, cuyo nombre distintivo es Jehová. El idioma hebreo emplea términos para “Dios” que expresan la idea de fortaleza, también de majestad, dignidad y excelencia. En contraste con el Dios verdadero, hay dioses falsos. Algunos de estos se han erigido a sí mismos en dioses; otros han sido hechos objeto de adoración por los que les sirven.

God

[god] Show IPA noun, verb, god⋅ded, god⋅ding,interjection
–noun
1.the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.
2.the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam.
3.(lowercase) one of several deities, esp. a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
4.(often lowercase) a supreme being according to some particular conception: the god of mercy.
5.Christian Science. the Supreme Being, understood as Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle.
6.(lowercase) an image of a deity; an idol.
7.(lowercase) any deified person or object.
8.(often lowercase) Gods, Theater.
a.the upper balcony in a theater.
b.the spectators in this part of the balcony.

De Dios [Dios] Mostrar nombre de la API, verbo, ⋅ dios DED, Ding ⋅ Dios, inciso
-Nombre
1. el Ser Supremo, creador y señor del universo.
2. el Ser Supremo consideró en referencia a un atributo particular: el Dios del Islam.
3. (en minúsculas), una de varias deidades, esp. una deidad masculina, presidiendo una parte de los asuntos mundanos.
4. (a menudo en minúsculas), un ser supremo, de acuerdo a una concepción particular: el dios de la misericordia.
5. La Ciencia Cristiana. el Ser Supremo, entendida como vida, verdad, amor, la mente, alma, espíritu, Principio.
6. (en minúsculas) una imagen de un dios, un ídolo.
7. (en minúsculas) cualquier persona u objeto deificado.
8. (a menudo minúsculas) Dioses, Teatro.
a. el balcón superior en un teatro.
b. los espectadores en esta parte de la terraza.

Rev. 4:11 & Rev. 4:11


Sábado 30 de enero
Digno eres tú, Jehová, nuestro Dios mismo, de recibir la gloria y la honra y el poder, porque tú creaste todas las cosas (Rev. 4:11).
Saturday, January 30
You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things.—Rev. 4:11.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Terrence_Howard's_Interview_on_JW's_2009 - Terrence_Howard's_Interview_on_JW's_2009.mp3 on FileSocial

Terrence_Howard's_Interview_on_JW's_2009 - Terrence_Howard's_Interview_on_JW's_2009.mp3 on FileSocial

THE FOX AND THE RABBIT


THE FOX AND THE RABBIT

There once was a fox and a rabbit. Naturally, the fox fancied the rabbit for a bit of a meal so he hid, waiting for the rabbit to come by, which is what eventually happened.

The fox jumped out of his hiding place and said with a smile, “Good afternoon, Dinner!”

Without a word, the rabbit turned and was away in a flash.

The fox, not to be done out of his plan so easily, immediately gave chase. The rabbit ran as he had never run before. He ran under fences, he ran through bushes, he ran in and out of hollow logs, he even ran through the culvert under the road.

The fox ran right behind the rabbit, so close that several times the rabbit felt the fox’s hot breath on his tail.

Eventually, the fox began to tire out, and consequently gave up the chase. But the rabbit ran until he was well out of sight, and then he ran a little further. Without a doubt, the rabbit was also very tired. In fact, he had never been so tired in all his life. But you see, the rabbit was running for his life – the fox was only running for his next meal.

So, next time you feel tired out, remember that Satan is running for a meal, but you are running for your life!

Marriage


Marriage is of divine origin and that success is dependent on applying the instruction found in God’s Word, the Bible.

“The head of every man is the Christ.”—1 CORINTHIANS 11:3.

HOW would you measure the success of a husband? By his mental or physical abilities? By his ability to make money? Or is it especially by the loving and kind way he treats his wife and children? As to the latter measurement, many husbands rate poorly, for they are governed by the spirit of the world and by human standards. Why? Largely because of their failure to recognize and apply the guidance of the Originator of marriage—the One who “proceeded to build the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and to bring her to the man.”—Genesis 2:21-24.

Jesus Christ confirmed this Bible account of the divine origin of marriage, saying to critics of his day: “Did you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together [in marriage] let no man put apart.” (Matthew 19:4-6) The fact is that the key to realizing a successful marriage is to recognize that marriage is of divine origin and that success is dependent on applying the instruction found in God’s Word, the Bible.

A Key to a Husband’s Success

An aid to success as a husband is studying what Jesus said and applying what He did. His knowledge on the subject is profound, for he was present at the creation of the first human pair as well as at their marriage. Jehovah God said to him: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26) Yes, God was speaking to the One whom He created before anyone or anything else and who “came to be beside him as a master worker.” (Proverbs 8:22-30) This One is “the firstborn of all creation.” He is “the beginning of the creation by God,” existing even before the creation of the material universe.—Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14.

Jesus is called “the Lamb of God,” and he is figuratively depicted as a husband. An angel once said: “Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (John 1:29; Revelation 21:9) Who, then, is that bride, or wife? “The Lamb’s wife” is made up of Christ’s faithful spirit-anointed followers, who will share with him in his heavenly rulership. (Revelation 14:1, 3) Therefore, the way that Jesus treated his disciples when he was with them on earth provides a model for husbands as to how to treat their wives.

True, Jesus is presented in the Bible as an example for all his followers, as we read: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Peter 2:21) Yet, he is, in particular, a model for men. The Bible says: “The head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3) Since Christ is man’s head, husbands need to copy his example. Hence, the headship principle must be applied if the family is to find success and happiness. To this end, husbands need to deal with their wives in the loving way that Jesus deals with his figurative wife, his anointed disciples.

The Great Crowd


Counted Worthy to Be Guided to Fountains of Waters of Life

“The Lamb . . . will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life.”—REV. 7:17.

GOD’S WORD identifies anointed Christians who are caring for Christ’s interests on earth as “the faithful and discreet slave.” When Christ inspected the “slave” in 1918, he found those anointed ones on earth to be faithful in providing spiritual “food at the proper time.” Hence, Jesus, the Master, was pleased thereafter to appoint them “over all his belongings.” (Read Matthew 24:45-47.) In this way, before receiving a heavenly inheritance, anointed ones serve other worshippers of Jehovah here on earth.

2 A master has authority over his belongings, or possessions, and he can use them as he chooses. The belongings of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s enthroned King, embrace all Kingdom interests on earth. That includes “a great crowd” seen by the apostle John in vision. John describes the great crowd as follows: “Look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands.”—Rev. 7:9.

3 Members of that great crowd are among those referred to by Jesus as his “other sheep.” (John 10:16) Their hope is to live forever on a paradise earth. They are confident that Jesus “will guide them to fountains of waters of life” and that “God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.” With that in mind, they have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14, 17) They exercise faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, and thus in God’s eyes they have ‘white robes.’ They are declared righteous as friends of God, like Abraham.

4 Moreover, since the growing great crowd of other sheep are viewed by God as righteous, they can hope to survive the destruction of this system of things at the great tribulation. (Jas. 2:23-26) They can draw close to Jehovah, and as a group, they have the wonderful prospect of surviving Armageddon. (Jas. 4:8; Rev. 7:15) They are not independent but willing to serve under the direction of the heavenly King and his anointed brothers on earth.

5 Anointed Christians have met and will continue to meet severe opposition from Satan’s world. Nevertheless, they can rely on the support of their companions of the great crowd. While anointed Christians are now few in number, the great crowd yearly increases by hundreds of thousands. The anointed are unable to oversee personally each of the over 100,000 Christian congregations throughout the world. Thus, one aspect of the support that the anointed receive from the other sheep is that qualified men of the great crowd serve as congregation elders. They help care for the millions of Christians now entrusted to “the faithful and discreet slave.”

6 The willing support given to anointed Christians by their companions of the other sheep was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. He wrote: “This is what Jehovah has said: ‘The unpaid laborers of Egypt and the merchants of Ethiopia and the Sabeans, tall men, will themselves come over even to you, and yours they will become. Behind you they will walk.’” (Isa. 45:14) In a symbolic way, Christians with an earthly hope today walk behind the anointed slave class and its Governing Body, following their leadership. As “unpaid laborers,” the other sheep willingly and wholeheartedly expend their strength and their resources in support of the worldwide preaching work that Christ assigned to his anointed followers on earth.—Acts 1:8; Rev. 12:17.

7 As they lend their support to their anointed brothers, members of the great crowd are being trained as the foundation of the new human society that will exist after Armageddon. That foundation must be solid and stable, and its members must be willing and able to carry out the direction of the Master. Each Christian is being given the opportunity to demonstrate that he can be used by the King, Christ Jesus. By exercising faith and displaying loyalty now, he shows that he will respond well when the King gives him directions in the new world.

The Great Crowd Prove Their Faith

8 The other sheep companions of the congregation of anointed Christians prove their faith in various ways. First, they support the anointed in proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Second, they willingly submit themselves to the direction provided by the Governing Body.—Heb. 13:17; read Zechariah 8:23

Stand Firm


“Stand Firm and See the Salvation of Jehovah”

“Jehovah is on my side; I shall not fear. What can earthling man do to me?”—PSALM 118:6.

TODAY, mankind faces events of a magnitude never previously experienced. Foretelling this about our day, Jesus warned his followers: “There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.”—Matthew 24:21, 22.

Unseen to human eyes, heavenly forces are now holding back that great tribulation. The apostle John was privileged to see the reason for this restraint in a revelation given to him by Jesus. Here is how the aged apostle described it: “I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth . . . And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels . . . ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’”—Revelation 7:1-3.

The final sealing of the anointed “slaves of our God” is approaching completion. The four angels are ready to release those destructive winds. When they do, what will happen first? An angel answers that question: “With a swift pitch will Babylon the great city be hurled down, and she will never be found again.” (Revelation 18:21) What heavenly rejoicing there will be when this happens, when the world empire of false religion is destroyed!—Revelation 19:1, 2.

All the nations of the earth will have aligned themselves against Jehovah’s people. Will the nations succeed in wiping out those faithful Christians? It may seem as if they could. But look! Heavenly armies following Christ Jesus will see to it that these human forces are destroyed. (Revelation 19:19-21) Finally, the Devil and his angels will be cast into an abyss of inactivity. They will no longer be able to mislead man because they will be bound for a thousand years. Oh, what a relief that will be to the great multitude of survivors!—Revelation 7:9, 10, 14; 20:1-3.

We are about to experience these wonderful and awe-inspiring events. They all have to do with vindicating Jehovah’s right to rule, his universal sovereignty. And think of this: If we remain loyal to Jehovah and if we stand firm for his sovereignty, we shall have the opportunity of sharing in the sanctification of Jehovah’s name and the fulfillment of his purpose. What an inestimable joy that will be!

Stress


Stress Management

A speaker, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. 'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.' 'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.
Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, why not take a while to just simply RELAX.
Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Our ministry


Our ministry plays a role in the outworking of God’s purpose. In connection with the coming destruction of Satan’s world,

Jehovah says: "The nations will have to know that I am Jehovah." (Ezek. 39:7) For the nations to know this, it is imperative that God’s servants continue declaring his name and purpose "to every nation and tribe and tongue and people."—Rev. 14:6, 7.

Basis for Judgment: The preaching of the good news also serves as a basis for judgment. The apostle Paul stated that Christ Jesus will bring vengeance upon "those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." (2 Thess. 1:8, 9)

People will be judged by their response to the good news. What a serious responsibility this places upon God’s servants! In order to avoid bloodguilt, we must not hold back from making known the lifesaving Kingdom message.—Acts 20:26, 27.

Man’s Slide From Perfection


Man’s Slide From Perfection

According to the Bible, Jehovah made the first man perfect. It is impossible for God to make things any other way. The creation account says: “God proceeded to create the man in his image . . . After that God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27, 31) What is a perfect man like?
A perfect man has free will and is able to imitate God’s qualities completely. The Bible says: “The true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29) Adam chose to rebel against God. By his rebellion, Adam lost perfection for himself and his offspring. Man’s fall from perfection explains why we often disappoint ourselves, even though we want to do what is good. The apostle Paul wrote: “What I wish, this I do not practice; but what I hate is what I do.”—Romans 7:15.

A perfect man would live forever in perfect health, according to the Bible. It is evident from what God said to Adam that if the first man had not disobeyed God, he would never have died. (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:22, 23) Jehovah would not have declared the creation of man to be “very good” if the man had a tendency to get sick or to rebel. The fall from perfection explains why the human body, though marvelously designed, is susceptible to deformities and disease. Evolution is therefore incompatible with the Bible. Evolution presents modern man as an improving animal. The Bible presents modern man as the degenerating descendant of a perfect man.
The idea that God directed evolution in order to produce man is also incompatible with what the Bible says about God’s personality. If God guided the process of evolution, it would mean that he guided mankind into its present diseased and distressed state. However, the Bible says of God: “The Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he. They have acted ruinously on their own part; they are not his children, the defect is their own.” (Deuteronomy 32:4, 5) Therefore, mankind’s present suffering is not the result of God-directed evolution. It is the result of one man’s losing perfection for himself and his offspring by rebelling against God.

Adam and Eve.


The Search for Adam and Eve.

In recent years, scientists have researched human genes extensively. By comparing human genetic patterns around the earth, they found clear evidence that all humans have a common ancestor, a source of the DNA of all people who have ever lived, including each of us. In 1988, Newsweek magazine presented those findings in a report entitled "The Search for Adam and Eve." Those studies were based on a type of mitochondrial DNA, genetic material passed on only by the female. Reports in 1995 about research on male DNA point to the same conclusion—that "there was an ancestral ‘Adam,’ whose genetic material on the [Y] chromosome is common to every man now on earth," as Time magazine put it. Whether those findings are accurate in every detail or not, they illustrate that the history we find in Genesis is highly credible, being authored by One who was on the scene at the time.......


What a climax it was when God assembled some of the elements of the earth to form his first human son, whom he named Adam! (Luke 3:38) The historical account tells us that the Creator of the globe and life on it put the man he had made in a gardenlike area "to cultivate it and to take care of it." (Genesis 2:15) At that time the Creator may still have been producing new animal kinds. The Bible says: "God was forming from the ground every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens, and he began bringing them to the man to see what he would call each one; and whatever the man would call it, each living soul, that was its name." (Genesis 2:19) The Bible in no way suggests that the first man, Adam, was merely a mythical figure. On the contrary, he was a real person—a thinking, feeling human—who could find joy working in that Paradise home. Every day, he learned more about what his Creator had made and what that One was like—his qualities, his personality................


Then, after an unspecified period, God created the first woman, to be Adam’s wife. Further, God added greater purpose to their lives with this meaningful assignment: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth." (Genesis 1:27, 28) Nothing can change this declared purpose of the Creator, namely, that the whole earth should be turned into a paradise filled with happy humans living at peace with one another and with the animals............................


The material universe, including our planet and life on it, clearly testify to God’s wisdom. So he obviously could foresee the possibility that, in time, some humans might choose to act independently or rebelliously, despite his being the Creator and Life-Giver. Such rebellion could disrupt the grand work of making a global paradise. The record says that God set before Adam and Eve a simple test that would remind them of the need to be obedient. Disobedience, God said, would result in their forfeiting the life that he had given to them. It was caring on the Creator’s part to alert our first ancestors to an erroneous course that would affect the happiness of the whole human race.—Genesis 2:16, 17................................


By the close of the sixth "day," the Creator had done everything necessary to fulfill his purpose. He could rightly pronounce everything he had made "very good." (Genesis 1:31) At this point the Bible introduces another important time period by saying that God "proceeded to rest on the seventh day from all his work that he had made." (Genesis 2:2) Since the Creator "does not tire out or grow weary," why is he described as resting? (Isaiah 40:28) This indicates that he ceased performing works of physical creation; moreover, he rests in the knowledge that nothing, not even rebellion in heaven or on earth, can thwart the fulfillment of his grand purpose. God confidently pronounced a blessing upon the seventh creative "day." Hence, God’s loyal intelligent creatures—humans and invisible spirit creatures—
can be certain that by the end of the seventh "day," peace and happiness will reign throughout the universe...................

We are still in the seventh day!

Cómo ver “el bien por todo su duro trabajo”


“Que todo hombre [...] vea el bien por todo su duro trabajo.” (ECLESIASTÉS 3:13.)
HOY, muchas personas consideran el trabajo como una especie de maldición, una auténtica carga. Efectúan día tras día labores que no les entusiasman y, para colmo, durante jornadas que les parecen interminables. Pero no tienen por qué resignarse a vivir con esa actitud. Pueden hallar la motivación necesaria para llevar a cabo sus tareas con interés y, lo que es más, con verdadera satisfacción.

La Biblia ofrece una imagen positiva del trabajo arduo. Señala que tanto la actividad laboral como los frutos que produce son una bendición. Así, el sabio Salomón escribió: “Que todo hombre coma y [...] beba y vea el bien por todo su duro trabajo. Es el don de Dios” (Eclesiastés 3:13). Jehová, que nos ama profundamente y quiere lo mejor para nosotros, desea que nos sintamos realizados en nuestro empleo y que disfrutemos de los beneficios que nos brinda. Si aprendemos a ver el trabajo como lo ve Dios, y nos guiamos por sus principios, podremos mantenernos en su amor (Eclesiastés 2:24; 5:18).

En este capítulo analizaremos cuatro cuestiones: ¿Cómo consigue el cristiano ver “el bien por todo su duro trabajo”? ¿Qué empleos debe evitar? ¿Cómo puede equilibrar las actividades laborales y las espirituales? ¿Y cuál es la obra más importante que ha de realizar? Pero, antes de nada, hablemos de los dos mejores trabajadores que existen: Jehová y Jesucristo.


EL TRABAJADOR SUPREMO Y EL OBRERO MAESTRO

Jehová es el Trabajador Supremo. No en vano, Génesis 1:1 dice: “En el principio Dios creó los cielos y la tierra”. Más tarde, cuando concluyó sus obras en nuestro planeta, calificó de “muy bueno” todo lo que había hecho (Génesis 1:31). Dicho de otro modo, estaba plenamente satisfecho con su labor. Sin duda, al “Dios feliz” le causaba un gozo indescriptible ser tan productivo (1 Timoteo 1:11).

Jehová es sumamente industrioso; tanto, que nunca está inactivo. Por eso, muchos siglos después de que las creaciones terrestres quedaran terminadas, Cristo dijo: “Mi Padre ha seguido trabajando hasta ahora” (Juan 5:17). Pero ¿qué ha estado haciendo el Padre? Desde los cielos, ha estado muy ocupado cuidando del hombre y guiándolo. Además, ha producido “una nueva creación”: los cristianos engendrados por espíritu, los cuales van a reinar con Jesús en el cielo (2 Corintios 5:17). Nunca ha cesado de trabajar por el cumplimiento de su propósito para los seres humanos, a saber, que quienes le aman vivan eternamente en un nuevo mundo (Romanos 6:23). Y tiene que estar muy contento con los resultados, pues ha logrado que millones de personas escuchen el mensaje del Reino, sean atraídas a su lado y hagan los cambios necesarios para mantenerse en su amor (Juan 6:44).

Por largo tiempo, Jesús ha dado un magnífico ejemplo de diligencia. Mucho antes de venir a la Tierra fue el “obrero maestro” mediante el que Jehová creó todas las cosas “en los cielos y sobre la tierra” (Proverbios 8:22-31; Colosenses 1:15-17). Y durante su vida humana no dejó de ser un buen trabajador. Desde muy pequeño aprendió el oficio de la construcción, y llegó a conocérsele como “el carpintero” (Marcos 6:3). Recordemos que en aquellos días no había ni almacenes de materiales ni aserradoras ni herramientas eléctricas. Aquella profesión era completamente artesanal y exigía mucha fuerza y destreza. ¿Nos imaginamos a Jesús yendo a buscar madera, tal vez talando él mismo los árboles y arrastrando los troncos hasta donde los necesitaba? ¿Y luego preparando y colocando las vigas de las casas, instalando las puertas e incluso fabricando muebles? Sin duda, él conocía por experiencia propia el placer que produce hacer las cosas bien.

Jesús también fue muy aplicado al llevar a cabo su ministerio. Por tres años y medio estuvo absorto en esa misión crucial. Quería llegar al mayor número de personas, y por eso aprovechaba bien los días, levantándose muy temprano y afanándose hasta entrada la noche (Lucas 21:37, 38; Juan 3:2). Viajaba “de ciudad en ciudad y de aldea en aldea, predicando y declarando las buenas nuevas del reino de Dios” (Lucas 8:1). Abarcó centenares de kilómetros, caminando por senderos polvorientos, para llevar las buenas nuevas a la gente.

¿Vio Jesús los frutos de su trabajo? Claro que sí. Sembró tantas semillas de la verdad del Reino que dejó campos enteros listos para la cosecha. La obra de Dios lo fortalecía y sostenía a tal grado que no le importaba quedarse en ayunas por realizarla (Juan 4:31-38). Al final de su ministerio en la Tierra, ¡qué contento tuvo que sentirse al poder decir a su Padre: “Yo te he glorificado sobre la tierra, y he terminado la obra que me has dado que hiciera”! (Juan 17:4.)

Sin duda, nadie nos ha dado un mejor ejemplo de ver “el bien por todo su duro trabajo” que Jehová y Jesús. El amor que nos inspiran nos mueve a ser “imitadores de Dios” y a seguir los “pasos [de Cristo] con sumo cuidado” (Efesios 5:1; 1 Pedro 2:21).

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Christian view the Bible as the inspired Word of God, absolute truth, beneficial for teaching and disciplining mankind.