Who Really Have the Truth?

“Make me walk in your truth and teach me, for you are my God of salvation.”​—Ps. 25:5.

1. What is the meaning of the word truth, and why can it be said that Jehovah is the foundation of truth?

THE word truth is defined as that which conforms to the facts, to reality. It signifies that which is right and genuine. The source, or foundation, of truth is the Almighty Creator of the universe, Jehovah God. He knows the truth about every aspect of his creation. He knows what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. He knows the truth about what has happened in the past and why, as well as the meaning of present world conditions. He also knows the truth about the future, since he already has determined what it will be.​—Isa. 14:24.

2. How does the Bible describe Jehovah’s truthfulness?

² For such reasons the psalmist describes the Creator as “Jehovah the God of truth.” (Ps. 31:5) So when God speaks, his words are always trustworthy: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) When he issues instructions for human behavior, these are always right: “All your commandments are truth.” (Ps. 119:151) When he promises something, we can rely on it: “Not a promise failed out of all the good promise that Jehovah had made . . . it all came true.” (Josh. 21:45) Thus, the Bible declares of God: “Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity.”​—Rev. 15:3.

WALKING IN THE TRUTH

3, 4. (a) How does a person walk in the truth? (b) Why does Jehovah want humans to walk in the truth?

³ It is logical that the God of truth would want his human creation to walk in the truth. How is this to be done? By getting an accurate knowledge of who God is and what his purposes are; then by learning what he wants us to do, and doing it. (John 17:3; 1 John 2:3, 4) This really means that walking in the truth becomes a way of life, “The Way,” as the Bible puts it.​—Acts 9:2.

⁴ One reason why God wants humans to walk in the truth is that it brings glory and joy to the Creator when his human creation reflects his fine qualities. (Compare Genesis 1:26, 27; Proverbs 23:24, 25.) Another is that, since God made humans, he knows what is best for them. Therefore, those who follow his instructions bring the greatest benefits, even eternal benefits, to themselves and to others. (Isa. 48:17) An additional reason is that by walking in the truth, humans can be privileged to be associated with the people that God uses to inform truth seekers about his purposes. It is like the Bible times of which Amos wrote: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.”​—Amos 3:7.

5. What other vital reason is there for walking in the truth?

⁵ There is another vital reason for walking in the truth. A person who does so goes on record as upholding the rightfulness of Jehovah’s universal rulership. That has been challenged by the spirit creature who turned rebel, Satan the Devil. (Gen. 3:1-4; Rev. 12:9) Included in his challenge was the taunt that God could not produce persons who would stay loyal to him and his truths. (Job 1:6-12) So standing firm for the truth under any pressure shows that there are people of integrity who will not compromise what is right. (Prov. 27:11) On the other hand, a person who does not walk in the truth does much more than merely walk in error. Intentionally or unintentionally he allows himself to become aligned with Satan, the “father of the lie,” “the god of this system of things” who has “blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”​—John 8:44; 2 Cor. 4:4.

6. How will truth become firmly established earth wide? Read Proverbs 12:19.

⁶ However, the God of truth has set a time limit for the permission of untruth and its resultant wickedness. (Prov. 12:19; Eccl. 3:1) God has purposed that, when the time limit expires, he will crush this Satanic system out of existence, along with those who promote it and prefer it. (Dan. 2:44; Rev. 19:17-21) “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted,” Jesus foretold. (Matt. 15:13) This will pave the way for God’s new system ‘in which righteousness is to dwell.’ (2 Pet. 3:13) That will mean an earthly society founded on truth, an earth inhabited only by truth-loving people!

7. If we love the truth, what should our attitude be?

⁷ Therefore, if we love what is right and want to live in God’s new order, it is imperative that we walk in the truth. We should have the attitude of the psalmist who prayed: “Make me know your own ways, O Jehovah; teach me your own paths. Make me walk in your truth and teach me.” (Ps. 25:4, 5) Similarly, we should heed the prophet Samuel’s counsel to ancient Israel: “You must not turn aside to follow the unrealities that are of no benefit and that do not deliver, . . . Only fear Jehovah, and you must serve him in truth with all your heart.”​—1 Sam. 12:21, 24.

‘PATTERNS’ FOR OUR TIME

8, 9. (a) In contrast to surrounding nations, how did Israel benefit by walking in the truth? (b) What happened when Israel failed to continue walking in the truth?

⁸ God’s dealings with people in the past provide ‘patterns,’ or examples, for us. From these we learn how God actually deals with those who walk in the truth and those who do not. (1 Cor. 10:11; Rom. 15:4) One pattern that we can learn from is that of ancient Israel. That nation was favored by being given God’s laws. As long as the Israelites walked in his truths, they were richly blessed. For example, they did not fall prey to enemy nations. (Deut. 28:7) Their crops and flocks were abundant. (Deut. 11:8-15) Their social system was so orderly and highly developed that there was no need for prisons. (Ex. 22:1-15) Disease epidemics that struck ungodly nations did not come on them. (Deut. 7:15) And if they continued to walk in the truth​—“the most blessed of all the peoples you will become,” Jehovah promised them. (Deut. 7:14) In contrast, note the debased condition of the surrounding Canaanite nations, as the Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley observes:

“Canaanites worshipped, by immoral indulgence, as a religious rite, in the presence of their gods; and then, by murdering their first-born children, as a sacrifice to these same gods.

“It seems that, in large measure, the land of Canaan had become a sort of Sodom and Gomorrah on a national scale . . . Did a civilization of such abominable filth and brutality have any right longer to exist? . . .

“Archaeologists who dig in the ruins of Canaanite cities wonder that God did not destroy them sooner than he did.”

⁹ However, Israel failed to keep walking in the truth. As a result, God withdrew his backing from the nation. That is why Jesus at the temple said to Israel: “Look! Your house is abandoned to you.” (Matt. 23:38) He also declared: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matt. 21:43) No longer would they be God’s favored nation, his witnesses.

10. How did a new spiritual nation manifest itself in the first century?

¹⁰ In the first century of our Common Era, God developed a new spiritual nation. This was the Christian congregation, an organization made up of people of many different nationalities. (Acts 10:34, 35; 13:46) God’s appointed spokesman, Jesus, laid the foundation for it, saying: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) By what he taught and accomplished, he proved that he really had the truth, and had God’s backing. (Matt. 3:16, 17; 15:30, 31; Acts 2:22) The first-century Christians proved the same, being identified clearly as God’s Christian witnesses. (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 43) Of the truths that now flowed through those Christians, the apostle Paul said: “It is to us God has revealed them through his spirit.” In contrast, he noted: “This wisdom not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know.” (1 Cor. 2:8, 10) It had come to pass just as Jesus said: “You [God] have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.”​—Matt. 11:25.

11, 12. (a) How did the Bible foretell the restoration of true worship in our time? (b) For what purposes was this restoration?

¹¹ By the end of that first century, God had accomplished something else. He had finished the inspired written record that would later be used as the basis for determining the truth. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Included in the completed Scriptures were many prophecies, history written in advance. (2 Pet. 1:21) Those prophecies showed that after the death of the apostles a period of falling away from the truth would set in. (Acts 20:29) But they also showed that later, during the “final part of the days” just before this system’s end, there would be a restoration of true worship. (Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 3:12 through 4:5) Jesus noted that people would be gathered into two groups: those who do good to Christ’s brothers who walk in the truth would be rewarded with “everlasting life”; those not doing so would go into “everlasting cutting-off.”​—Matt. 25:31-46; 2 John 4; 3 John 3, 4.

¹² The gathering and reorganizing of the Christian congregation in modern times would be for several purposes. This congregation would, for one thing, receive unified instruction from God: “He will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths,” says the prophecy of Isaiah 2:3 (also, Mic. 4:2). By walking in the truth, these servants of God would uphold the rightfulness of his universal rule, bringing glory and pleasure to him, and many benefits to themselves. (Prov. 12:22) In turn, God would use them as his modern-day witnesses, equipping them to deliver his message to this present generation.

13. Has Jehovah ever used more than one organization on earth at any one time?

¹³ Would God use more than one organization to dispense his truths in these “last days”? Well, has God ever used more than one during any other period of judgment? In Noah’s day, did any other boats with people in them, aside from Noah’s ark, have God’s protection and survive the flood? No, only the ark and its occupants did. (1 Pet. 3:20) Were there two Christian organizations in the first century? No, God dealt with just the one. So, too, in our day, there is still “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph. 4:5) That there could be only one united congregation is made clear from Paul’s words that “you should all speak in agreement, and . . . there should not be divisions among you.”​—1 Cor. 1:10.

“BY THEIR FRUITS”

14. How can a person determine who really has the truth today?

¹⁴ How can we determine who really has the truth today, thus qualifying to be used by God as his witnesses in the earth? A basic principle in determining the true from the false was laid down by Jesus when he said: “By their fruits you will recognize them. . . . Every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit.” (Matt. 7:16, 17) Yes, there would have to be “fruitage,” or evidence that God’s powerful holy spirit was indeed backing this people. And what kind of fruitage would that power of God produce in his servants? His Word answers: “The fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.”​—Gal. 5:22, 23.

15. Love for God is connected with his name in what way?

¹⁵ Note, especially, the “fruit” listed first, that of love. One way that God’s true servants must manifest this is as Jesus stated: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Matt. 22:37) Love for God is shown in a number of ways. One of these ways is in loving the name of God. (Heb. 6:10; Ps. 69:36; 119:132) Indeed, those Christians taken out from this world must become “a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14-18) Who are they today who uphold God’s name (Jehovah, in English) and make it known through the earth?​—Isa. 43:10-12.

16. How is love for God displayed in connection with Kingdom interests?

¹⁶ Love for God would also mean believing in, and talking about, his incoming government for all the earth, his heavenly Kingdom. Jesus taught us to pray: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matt. 6:9, 10) Who among mankind today make God’s kingdom the central doctrine of their teaching and preaching as did Jesus? Who call on people in their homes to tell them what God’s kingdom will accomplish on earth? Who fulfill the commission Jesus mentioned when he foretold: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come”?​—Matt. 24:14.

17. In what other way does love for God manifest itself?

¹⁷ Love for God is manifest in still another way​—by obeying all of his laws. (1 John 5:3) When there is a conflict between God’s laws and the laws of men, the Bible rule for those who really have the truth is: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Only those who do this get the backing of “the holy spirit, which God has given to those obeying him as ruler.” (Acts 5:32) For example, in obeying God’s laws, Christians today are “no part of the world,” being neutral in this world’s political affairs, as Jesus and the first-century Christians were. (Luke 4:5-8; John 6:15; 15:19; 17:14-16) Who are the ones who in our day maintain this separateness from the world, with its political corruption, its violence and its immorality, being willing even to suffer imprisonment or death because of following in Jesus’ footsteps?​—1 Pet. 2:21; see also Hebrews chapter 13.

18. Give another clear identifying mark of those who really have the truth.

¹⁸ There is another aspect of this “fruit” of the spirit, love. Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) Many other scriptures show also that such love would be a clear identifying mark of God’s true servants. For example:

“The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother. . . . we should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother.”​—1 John 3:10-12.

“If anyone makes the statement: ‘I love God,’ and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen.”​—1 John 4:20, 21.

What international group of people demonstrates this type of love for one another, not just by words, but by deeds? Over the past century, what group has refrained, in time of war, from slaughtering fellow believers of other nations, and from allowing racial, nationalistic, cultural or economic prejudices to come between them?

WHO REALLY HAVE THE TRUTH TODAY?

19. Who really have the truth today, and why would you say so?

¹⁹ What does the evidence show regarding this vital fruit of God’s spirit, love? Who measure up? Where do we see a great crowd of people of all different nationalities and races united together in Jehovah’s name to serve him loyally and to tell others about his kingdom? Yes, where do we find a genuine worldwide brotherhood bonded by love? (Rev. 7:9, 10; Col. 3:14) The religious publication Interpretation, in a chapter entitled “The Bible and Modern Religions, Jehovah’s Witnesses,” observes the following:

“In their organization and witnessing work, they [Jehovah’s Witnesses] come as close as any group to approximating the primitive Christian community.

“Their aloofness from the world, urgency in witnessing, and imperviousness to the attacks of the world are such as come to those who firmly believe that they are among the elect and who have given their allegiance without reservation to God.

“Few other groups make as extensive a use of Scripture in their messages, both oral and written, as they do. Few other groups get from what we call the laity as much service in carrying forward the work of the organization as they do.”

20. What should all persons do who have a love for the truth?

²⁰ An impartial investigation of God’s Word, comparing it to the teachings and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will provide the evidence that God’s spirit is indeed backing them, and that he is using them as his instrument for proclaiming truth today. However, all persons who have a love for the truth are invited to examine this claim that Jehovah’s Witnesses really do have the truth. In doing so, they should imitate what those persons in the first century did who listened to the preaching of the apostles: “They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”​—Acts 17:11.

How Jehovah Guides His People

“For this God is our God to time indefinite, even forever. He himself will guide us until we die.”​—Ps. 48:14.

1. How does the Bible show that Jehovah guides those who love him?

THROUGHOUT the centuries, Jehovah has guided those who love him and who want to serve him. The psalmist was one of these, for he asked of God: “Send out your light and your truth. May these themselves lead me.” (Ps. 43:3) The prophet Daniel knew that “there exists a God in the heavens who is a Revealer of secrets,” and foretold that in our time, this “time of the end,” “the true knowledge will become abundant.” (Dan. 2:28; 12:4) Isaiah also prophesied that in this “final part of the days” true worship would “become firmly established” and that Jehovah would guide his people: “He will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” Thus, the invitation that is extended to people today is: “Come and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.”​—Isa. 2:2-5.

2. What does Jehovah take into consideration when guiding his people in his truths?

² Just how does Jehovah guide his people in his truths? For one thing, he takes into account that he created humans with a free will. Thus, the apostle Paul took note of Philemon’s “free will.” (Philem. 14) Since God created this free will, he does not counteract it by forcing persons to believe his truths or to act in a certain way, like robots. So, during this Christian era, he lovingly appeals to righteous-hearted persons to come and associate with his approved organization, and then guides them gently by means of holy spirit, his inspired Word and his truth-dispensing organization on earth.

3. What is it especially important to keep in mind as to how Jehovah guides his people?

³ Another consideration relative to God’s guidance of his people is that God gives the understanding of his truths in his own time, and in his own way. (Dan. 12:9) Too, Jehovah leads his people progressively in the truth. Having created the human mind, Jehovah knows that too little spiritual “food” will not sustain it properly, but too much at one time may be more than humans can absorb. At John 16:12 Jesus said to his faithful apostles: “I have many things yet to say to you, but you are not able to bear them at present.” To illustrate: When a person emerges from a long period of confinement in a dark room, it is best if he is exposed to light gradually. Too much light too soon can be shocking, perhaps even damaging. Similar is the need for progressive enlightenment with God’s truths. It corresponds with what the wise man says: “The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.”​—Prov. 4:18, Today’s English Version.

4. (a) What did Jesus indicate as to the need for progressive clarification of the truth? (b) Because Jehovah’s truths are clarified gradually, what must his servants be willing to do?

⁴ Jesus well knew that it was Jehovah’s way to make plain his truths progressively. He told his apostles that later God’s holy spirit would guide them into all the truth. (John 16:12, 13) And because previously established truths would be clarified step by step, there would be the corresponding need for God’s servants to correct and adjust their viewpoint on various Scriptural matters as time went on.

GUIDANCE REGARDING KINGDOM TRUTHS

5, 6. Regarding God’s kingdom, what shows that the disciples of Jesus had incorrect views?’

⁵ In guiding the first-century Christians, Jehovah did not make clear to them at one time all the truths related to his purposes. As an example, consider the Bible’s central doctrine, God’s kingdom. Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your kingdom come.” (Matt. 6:10) He urged: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matt. 6:33) But during those years that he was on earth, did his followers understand all the details about Kingdom rule? Could they accurately answer questions about it, such as: What is God’s kingdom? Who will rule in it, and how many rulers will there be? When will it come? What will it do for the earth and for humans?

⁶ That those who talked with Jesus did not have all this knowledge is evidenced by the question that they asked him after his resurrection: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” (Acts 1:6) Instead of answering by telling them about every aspect of Kingdom rule, Jesus declared: “It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.” (Acts 1:7) Why did Jesus handle the matter in this way? Because the disciples held deep-seated but erroneous views of the Kingdom. They believed that the Kingdom would be an earthly rule that would throw off Roman domination. Yet the truth was that the Kingdom was to be heavenly, and that those chosen to rule with Christ would be taken from the earth to heaven. (Rev. 5:9, 10; 14:3; 20:4) Further, their question shows that they expected the Kingdom to be established immediately. But that was not to be, for many centuries would pass instead.

7. (a) Despite their incorrect views about the Kingdom, what was Jesus’ attitude toward those disciples? (b) Do we understand everything about the rule of God’s kingdom?

⁷ Although his disciples held incorrect views, Jesus did not condemn them and cast them off. He knew that their gaining understanding of God’s truths would be gradual, and that holy spirit would progressively guide his followers so that they would get clear understanding in due time. Ultimately, complete knowledge concerning the Kingdom rule would be theirs. But, in the meantime, Jesus inculcated in those early followers a profound interest and zeal for seeking the Kingdom first, and a willingness to make adjustments in their views about it. So although limited in accurate knowledge about Kingdom truths, what they did know enabled them, as they waited, to ‘keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.’ (2 Pet. 3:12) Today, our knowledge of God’s Kingdom rule, what it is and what it will accomplish, is far more advanced, but still not entirely complete.

TRUTHS ABOUT THE GENTILES

8. What problem was there in connection with the Gentiles, and was this even raised at Pentecost?

⁸ Another issue that demonstrates how the understanding of God’s truth is progressive has to do with how the non-Jewish, or Gentile, converts from 36 C.E. onward were viewed by some Jewish converts to Christianity. For instance, should they be circumcised, as the natural Jews were? Was the matter even raised in 33 C.E. when God’s holy spirit was poured out at Pentecost? (Acts 2:1-4) No, for while that outpouring established that God was with those disciples and would henceforth guide them, it did not miraculously give them knowledge about every detail of God’s truths. This can be seen from the fact that the issue of circumcision was not set forth in decrees decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem until 16 years after Pentecost, in the year 49 C.E.​—Acts 16:4.

9-11. (a) After following Jehovah’s guidance over the years, why were his servants better able to handle a problem over circumcision? (b) How did the vision given to Peter help in adjusting to the proper understanding of the truth?

⁹ During all those years Jehovah allowed his people to experience how he was actually dealing with the Gentiles. In this way, their appreciation and understanding of the matter was deepened. Thus, when an issue arose that required decisive action, his servants had become well equipped to handle it with wisdom and insight. Take, for example, the adjustment that Peter had to make in his viewpoint. Over three years after Pentecost, the apostle Peter was guided by holy spirit to correct his view of the Gentiles, whom he had regarded as defiled, unclean.

¹⁰ In a vision, Peter was told to eat foods considered unclean under the Mosaic law. When he replied in astonishment that he did not eat such foods, a voice from heaven told him that what God calls clean can no longer be considered unclean. And at that very moment messengers came from the Gentile Cornelius. Cornelius had sent them to ask Peter to come to his home to tell him about God’s purposes. But Peter had just expressed horror at eating unclean foods, and now he was being asked to go into the home of a Gentile, whom he also considered unclean! What should he do? Holy spirit directed the answer: “Rise, go downstairs and be on your way with them, not doubting at all, because I have dispatched them.”​—Acts 10:9-20.

¹¹ Peter got the point. The vision about Jehovah’s making something clean that was formerly regarded as unclean was not merely about food, but, more importantly, it was about Peter’s attitude toward Gentiles. Showing that he understood, Peter later told Cornelius and his household: “Hence I came, really without objection, when I was sent for.” Then the holy spirit was poured out on that Gentile household, and they were baptized. Holy spirit had shown that God would now favor the Gentiles without their being circumcised.​—Acts 10:21-48.

12. (a) What further problem arose with regard to the Gentiles, and when? (b) On what basis could the central body give a decisive answer?

¹² However, did this satisfy all Christianized Jews regarding the Gentiles? No, because 13 more years passed, and an issue as to whether Gentiles had to be circumcised was raised by some circumcised Jews who came to Antioch, Syria. (Acts 15:1, 2) So in the year 49 C.E. a meeting was arranged with the central body of apostles and other elders at Jerusalem. At that gathering, Peter, Paul and Barnabas related what God had accomplished among the uncircumcised Gentiles to whom they had preached. After examining how Jehovah had actually dealt with these Gentiles for many years, they unanimously confirmed the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, fortifying the truth that the Gentiles did not have to be circumcised.

13. How did some show a lack of appreciation for the way Jehovah guides his people, and likely with what results?

¹³ Not all of Christ’s followers were willing to correct outdated views. Some would take clarifications as an excuse to abandon the truth, instead of viewing them as evidence of Jehovah’s progressive guidance of his people. For instance, when Jesus introduced the illustration regarding the symbolic eating of his flesh and the drinking of his blood, the Bible record states that, “owing to this many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with him.” (John 6:53-66) How shortsighted that was! What a lack of appreciation as to how Jehovah leads his people! Thirty-eight years later likely some of them paid a heavy price, as those who did not continue walking in the advancing understanding of truth also doubtless may have rejected Jesus’ instructions to flee Jerusalem before it was destroyed. That cost them their lives, whereas those who continued to let Jehovah guide them fled and were spared.​—Luke 21:20-24.

GUIDANCE IN OUR DAY

14. To that extent has our viewpoint on basic truths been corrected during the past century?

¹⁴ When we look at what has been published by Jehovah’s organization through the pages of The Watchtower and other publications for the past century, we find wholesome spiritual food in abundance. Early in this period, basic Bible truths were made clear, and they remain clear until this day. Our viewpoint on hell, Trinity, purgatory, the soul, where the dead are, the ransom, the resurrection, earth’s destiny, the Kingdom and other key doctrines has undergone very little change during 100 years. The truth has always been truth, though, at times, our understanding of it has required adjustment.​—Compare John 16:13.

15. Has there been a need for Jehovah’s present-day servants to make adjustments in their views?

¹⁵ Jehovah has continued to guide his people step by step to a fuller appreciation of his truths, and this in his own time and in his own way. Because of this, Jehovah’s Witnesses from earliest times in the past century have understood that they must be willing to modify and correct their views of doctrine, practice and organizational procedure when it became apparent that Jehovah’s spirit was directing them toward such adjustments. As acknowledged by Bryan Wilson in the magazine New Society, Jehovah’s Witnesses have “always maintained that continued study of the Bible might lead to fuller knowledge, and on previous occasions errors in prophetic interpretation have been admitted.”

16. (a) Why is Bible prophecy an area that particularly requires a willingness to readjust views? (b) How have Jehovah’s servants responded to the information about the “last days,” and how have they been backed?

¹⁶ Perhaps the area in which it truly requires willingness to readjust is the field of Bible prophecy. Most prophecies are given only in general outline. Therefore, faith is required to await the outworking of the details. (Heb. 11:1) An example of this has to do with the Bible’s prophecies showing that this present wicked system under Satan will be destroyed and replaced by “new heavens and a new earth.” (2 Pet. 3:13) However, enough aspects of the overall “sign” of the impending end are given in the Bible to mark clearly the present time as the “last days,” “the time of the end.” (2 Tim. 3:1; Dan. 12:4) This has incited God’s servants to intensify the work of fulfilling Jesus’ words: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) They have had success in doing this and in surviving as an organization, also in prospering spiritually despite enormous persecution, likewise in putting on and displaying the new personality in this degraded world. All of this is testimony to the fact that Jehovah has indeed backed them up.​—Isa. 54:17.

17. Does the nonfulfillment of our own premature expectations mean that Jehovah has altered his purposes?

¹⁷ However, during these “last days,” have erroneous views about this system’s end or telos (Greek) been held in advance by some of Jehovah’s servants? Yes, they have. Some of these views involve the length of time it would take for the end to come. Out of zeal and enthusiasm for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, Word and purposes, and the desire for the new system, some of his servants have at times been premature in their expectations. This is similar to the view that the disciples had as to the imminence of God’s kingdom in their day. (Acts 1:6) But because expectations have at times been premature and so have not been fulfilled, does this mean that God has somehow changed his purpose? Not at all. “My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do,” says Jehovah. (Isa. 46:10) Hence, Jehovah’s purposes, and time, for establishing a righteous new order are firmly fixed.

18. Why is it important to stay with “the things that are written”?

¹⁸ This certainly impresses on us our need to weigh carefully all Scriptural factors, not emphasizing some to the point of overshadowing others. As Jesus himself stated so plainly: “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows.” (Matt. 24:36) Always there is the need to pay strict attention to the apostle Paul’s counsel: “Do not go beyond the things that are written.”​—1 Cor. 4:6.

19. Although views have been readjusted, how does the evidence confirm the near end of this system?

¹⁹ Although many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have had to adjust their views in this matter, can we deny that we are in the “time of the end”? Surely the evidence of the impending end of this system grows daily, as we see the deepening breakdown of institutions such as marriage, family, government and worldly religion, as well as increasing crime and violence, and growing disrespect for God.​—2 Tim. 3:1-5.

20, 21. How will those who continue to walk in Jehovah’s advancing light be rewarded?

²⁰ While an undetermined length of time yet remains of these “last days,” one thing is certain. Those who continue to walk in Jehovah’s advancing light, and are willing to be readjusted, will be part of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd” who “come out of the great tribulation” into God’s righteous new order. “The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them [the great crowd], and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”​—2 Pet. 3:14, 15; Rev. 7:9-17.

²¹ Thus, those who look to Jehovah for guidance can look forward confidently to the establishing of a new system in which “the righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” There, “the wicked one will be no more.” But in his place, the meek and teachable will “find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”​—Ps. 37:10, 11, 29.

22. What confidence can Jehovah’s servants have now and for the future?

²² So, as has been the case for the past 100 years with the modern organization of Jehovah’s people, we today are confident it will also be during the remainder of these last days that, “God is our God to time indefinite, even forever. He himself will guide us until we die.” (Ps. 48:14) And then, in his new order, we can with equal confidence look forward to Jehovah’s continued guidance of his servants throughout eternity, without their having to die at all, because “he that does the will of God remains forever.”​—1 John 2:17.

Questions From Readers

● To what does “the crown of life” mentioned at James 1:12 refer, and who can be said to gain this crown?

James 1:12 reads: “Happy is the man that keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving him.”

The expression “the crown of life” has been explained to mean the highest form of life, immortal life, such as Christ’s anointed footstep followers receive at the first resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:53, 54; Rev. 20:4, 6) There is no doubt that such life will be a crown to those possessing it and that it is the highest form of life. But did James, in using the word “crown,” mean such superlative form of life?

It does not seem that we must attach the thought of something superlative to the term “crown of life.” The Greek word is stephanos. It is taken from a root meaning “to encircle,” and so it is used to refer to a crown, wreath, prize or reward that a victor in a race receives. Thus the apostle Paul at 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 writes: “I have run the course to the finish. . . . From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day.” He was not referring to superlative righteousness, but to the prize, the reward of righteousness that he would receive. (Compare Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20.) And so at James 1:12, “the crown of life” is the prize or gift of life received because of enduring tribulations. It can be said of the “great crowd” of tribulation survivors that, if enduring faithfully, they will gain “the crown of life,” theirs being eternal life on earth.​—Rev. 7:9, 10.

At Revelation 2:10 we have a similar expression that refers to the prize of life. Those receiving it are persons who have endured faithfully until death. In this instance, though, the ones being addressed are the anointed Christians who can gain immortal life in the heavens. (Rev. 2:26, 27) The words at James 1:12 might be said to state a general principle rather than referring to a specific class of people as does Revelation 2:10.