four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. . . . These are the ones that keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were purchased from among mankind as a firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”—Rev. 14:1, 4.

33, 34. (a) What scripture shows that more than 144,000 benefit from Christ’s ransom provision? (b) How many more receive the blessing of life? Where? And how any nations are involved in this blessing?

³³ If only 144,000 dedicated, baptized Christians are purchased from among mankind to go to heaven to be with Christ, what is the hope for others? As we have noticed, the scripture just quoted speaks of the firstfruits of mankind going to heaven. However, the Scriptures also indicate final fruits from among mankind as being gathered for everlasting life on earth. Jesus spoke of these other fruits as “other sheep.” He said: “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [of the little flock]; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) Thus Jesus Christ as King and Commander must gather together these other sheep into a flocklike society, not in heaven but on earth.

THE BLESSINGS FOR EARTHLY SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM

³⁴ Is there any set number of these others, and where do they come from? The Bible answers by means of the apostle John’s prophetic vision: “I saw, and, 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. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ . . . ‘These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?’ . . . And he said to me: ‘These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.’” (Rev. 7:9, 10, 13, 14) Here we see that the number of these survivors of tribulation is great, left indefinite, and that these have to put on their robes of identification as advocates of the True God Jehovah and as accepting the leadership of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this great numberless crowd of believers come out on God’s side during the great tribulation of the last days upon Satan’s old world. And notice, they come out from all countries of the earth. So we see the one true religion of the Bible is actually the only universal religion in the earth.

35. What is the “blood of the Lamb,” and by whose terms is life offered?

³⁵ What is this “blood of the Lamb” that is mentioned? Jehovah God provided his Son from heaven to become man’s ransomer, to give his human lifeblood to recover from sin and death all the multitudes who put faith in Jesus’ atonement sacrifice made nineteen centuries ago. At that time the prophet John the Baptist introduced Jesus, saying: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) The Bible further says: “For God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) So we see that if anyone and his family desire to qualify as part of this great crowd of earthly survivors they must study God’s Book of Freedom, the Bible. They must get the full truth of God’s legal provision for their protection, which is tied to faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Those are God’s terms for life. We, as dying, fallen men, cannot set the terms. We are given a choice to accept or reject this loving, reasonable provision. We want to show appreciation by accepting it, that we may live forever in happiness.

36, 37. Is there a hope for the dead, and when will such hope be realized?

³⁶ But what about our dead loved ones? Is there any hope of their living on earth as part of the “other sheep” under Jesus Christ’s leadership? Yes, the resurrection from the dead is the great hope for the reformable dead ones in the memory of God, and this too is made possible through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures plainly speak on this matter: “Now Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:20-22) “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.”—John 5:28, 29.

³⁷ When can the resurrection of those to live on earth be expected to begin? The apostle John says in his vision of the new world: “And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne.” (Rev. 20:11, 12) There is the answer. Not until the old heaven and the old earth systems have “fled away” or have been destroyed as part of the enemies conquered by the Commander Christ Jesus, not until then will standing up again of the earthly dead by resurrection take place.

“NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH”

38. Which heavens and earth will be destroyed, and is such destruction near?

³⁸ What are these heavens and earth that are to be destroyed? Peter the apostle explains them to be the symbolic heavens and earth. The symbolic heavens are those making up Satan’s invisible organization of demons; the symbolic earth is his earthly visible arrangement of men and their rulers that keep mankind in darkness and in confusion. Peter says, when telling of the scoffing unbelievers of our time: “This fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens in ancient times and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God, and by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2 Pet. 3:5-7) Today the fulfillment of other Bible prophecies indicates that this time of destruction of the old heavens and earth is now imminent in God’s great battle of Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14, 16.

39. What did the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Peter show takes the place of the old heavens and earth?

³⁹ If the old heavens and earth systems are to pass away in Armageddon’s universal battle, what will take their place? Again Peter answers in the Bible: “But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Pet. 3:13) The prophet Isaiah captures the solemn assurance by Jehovah as to his creating the new heavens and a new earth, and says: “This is what the Lord Jehovah has said: . . . ‘For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come into the heart. But exult, you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating.’” (Isa. 65:13, 17, 18) This calls for great rejoicing by all people. As guaranteed by the God of the universe, this new world will last forever.

40. Who will constitute the citizens of the new earth and how do we know this?

⁴⁰ Who will make up the new earth that is to stand forever? Why, all people of good will, all meek and teachable ones from all nations who now learn the truth and take their stand for holy freedom. You meek ones should now seek to make peace with the great impartial God who holds open a way of salvation to peoples of every national origin. Hear the Bible’s words as to this time for freedom and as to the possibility of living on earth forever through the angry storm of Armageddon just ahead: “Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3) Again the Bible assuringly says: “Just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more, and you will certainly give attention to his place and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Ps. 37:10, 11, 29) Then the grand Jubilee era of release and of freedom will be ushered in to bathe this earth with peace forever. The Bible says concerning this Jubilee that was foreshadowed so long ago: “Proclaim liberty in the land to all its inhabitants.”—Lev. 25:10.

41. Who constitute the new heavens? Why is this new city called New Jerusalem, and what marvelous things will God perform through it?

⁴¹ There are yet the new heavens to consider. What are they? They are the new heavenly ruling group of 144,000 with Christ Jesus the King, who has been enthroned in heaven since 1914, as indicated by many prophecies and the physical facts of our time fulfilling the prophecies. They make up the city, the kingdom of heaven, that ancient Abraham was looking for. In the Bible this new city is called by the name New Jerusalem, taken from old Jerusalem, which long ago served as the capital city for ancient King David, who pictured the greater Davidic king, Christ Jesus. In prophetic vision the Bible describes the New Jerusalem’s control over the earth, bringing to the earth a paradisaic restoration, beauty and health. The apostle John says: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away . . . I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! the tent of God is with humankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.’ And the one seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’”—Rev. 21:1-5.

42, 43. What should everyone loving life now do, and what benefits will result now and in the future?

⁴² What a grand vision of paradise regained! Such vision is part of the closing theme of the Book of Freedom, the Bible. It is the full answer to the great prayer taught by Jesus: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matt. 6:10) However, here we have only begun to get a glimpse of the vast field of truth contained in the Bible and, oh, how grand it is! All this information it is impossible to get from nature. The time is now here for every lover of life and freedom to get a copy of the Bible and begin to make a study of its life-giving message. The Bible says plainly: “This means everlasting, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—John 17:3.

⁴³ Do you already have a Bible? Do you read it regularly? If not, take it down off your shelf of seclusion. Dust it off. Begin to use it daily to guide your life. It will help your family in the way of living now for the new world. See what happiness and unity have come to the New World Society of Jehovah’s witnesses in every part of the earth. You too can have that same joy, satisfaction and spiritual health. No other book or treasure you possess will produce such lasting joy of heart or give such freedom. Why deny yourself its help and profitableness? Take your stand for the true religion of the Bible. Get the truth. Follow it and be set free. Assure yourself of a happy future, everlasting life on this beautiful paradise earth under God’s kingdom.

Part 23—“Your Will Be Done on Earth”

Before World War I ended on November 11, 1918, American President Wilson proposed a League of Nations. Before the Paris Peace Conference opened in 1919 the executive committee of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America adopted a Declaration stating that the proposed League was “the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.” The executive committee also appointed a Special Commission to present officially the Declaration to the Peace Conference then soon to convene at Paris.

32. What record do we have that the Special Commission presented the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference?

³² Did this Special Commission present the Declaration to the Paris Peace Conference after it opened on January 18, 1919? In the annual report of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America for the calendar year of 1919 there appeared on page 11 this sentence:

At the Peace Conference in Paris a representative committee of the Federal Council was received by officials of the government and presented the actions of the executive committee which they were instructed to convey to the Peace Conference.

33. What further action was taken by the Federal Council of the Churches toward idolizing the League of Nations?

³³ More action than the above was taken. The Peace Treaty was signed on June 28,