I
understand that Jehovah's Witnesses are performing a
great preaching work, but even with best estimates we might have reached
half of the population of the world. The population is growing at a greater
rate than we can reach in our preaching work. I believe that others and not
just the JW are also taking part in this work. Am I wrong? If we are the
only ones then when will the end come?
Regarding the “conclusion of the system of things,” Jesus foretold that “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; Rom.
10:18) When we participate in the preaching work we are “public servants of
Christ Jesus to the nations, engaging in the holy work of the good news of God.”
(Rom. 15:16) Jesus trained his disciples as they accompanied him on his
preaching tours, and then in turn were themselves sent out with the instruction:
“Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a
Samaritan city; but instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
(Matt. 4:23; 10:5-7)
Some believe that the good news of the kingdom has to be preached to every
individual person before the end comes. If this were the case it would indicate
that either the end is still far off; or as you note, since Jehovah’s witnesses
have reached perhaps only half of the world’s population, “not just the JW are
taking part in this work.” But that is faulty reasoning, because not everyone
needs to be personally contacted with the good news. Jesus indicated that we
“will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of
man arrives,” indicating that God’s day of fury is not going to wait until we
have covered the entire world with our preaching. (Matt. 10:23; Zeph. 1:14-18)
Consider: Do you think that Jehovah has had anything to do with the availability
of his Word the Bible, which is accessible in whole or in part to about 95% of
the world's population? Is it your or my responsibility to make sure that everyone reads the
Bible?
You wonder if others,
besides Jehovah’s Witnesses, share in the preaching of "the good news of the
kingdom!" Preaching just any message would not fulfill the commission to preach,
would it? In order for someone to preach he would need to know and understand
what God’s kingdom is! For example, God’s government will destroy and replace
all human governments. Also, Jesus Christ, as “the Son of man,” is the King of
this government; and there are 144,000 “holy ones” who will rule with him. (Dan.
2:44; 7:13,14, 18, 27; Matt. 19:27,28; 25:31-33; Rev. 14:1, 4; 19:15,16; 20:6)
It is by means of this kingdom that God will bring blessings to obedient
mankind. How many really understand those basic truths about God’s kingdom?
The “good news of the kingdom” is being preached, not for the purpose of
converting the world, but according to Jesus, “for a witness to all the
nations.” Besides knocking on people’s doors to talk about the blessings of his kingdom, Jehovah
has other means of drawing the world’s attention to it, thereby reaching all
mankind.
(Acts 10:42; 20:20) Look, for example, at the many protest rallies that are sweeping the world, even
to the extent of overthrowing or unseating present rulerships. What is driving the demonstrators? What is it that people
have in common that they all want? When
protesters of the present widespread popular “occupation” rallies were interviewed by the
media many expressed the same concerns. Clutching signs of their various demands,
with some
having their young children present with them, these demands included: A steady job;
affordable housing; lower food costs; access to health care, especially for the
elderly; lower taxes; an
equalization or sharing of the wealth of the One Percent minority rich with the
Ninety-Nine percent poor majority; holding greedy financial corporations
accountable; an end to government corruption; etc.
etc.
Are these not the very things that Jehovah has promised he will provide by means
of his kingdom: A righteous government that genuinely cares for its subjects;
peace and justice for all the earth; meaningful work; building ones own house
and living in it; planting gardens and eating its fruitage; no more sickness,
and even death will be done away with; the resurrection of the dead back to
life; etc? (Isaiah 9:6,7; 26:19; 32:16-18; 33:24; 65:21-25; John 5:25,26, 28,29; Rev.
21:3,4) But what do you observe in peoples attitude? Do they want God in their lives? Suppose
you were to share the good news of God’s kingdom with these demonstrators, how
many would tolerate your message? The fact that so many are willing to sacrifice
their lives to bring about change, and yet at the same time refuse to accept
God’s kingdom, puts the whole world
on record that under no circumstances do they want to submit to God’s rulership.
The present troubles and consequent demonstrations bear witness to the fact that the nations
reject God's kingdom. (Psalms 2:6-12; Rev. 11:15, 17,18) To them God is not even real, and therefore his
kingdom is not a practical solution to the mess the world is in. Does
God excuse them because they are not personally contacted with the good news?
After all, as already mentioned, the vast majority do have access to his Word.
And with that availability comes responsibility, no matter what religion one may
belong to!
We must be careful not to judge Jehovah by our own standards. Jehovah says: "The
perversity of you men! Should the potter himself be accounted just like the
clay? For should the thing made say respecting its maker: 'He did not make me'?
And does the very thing formed actually say respecting its former: 'He showed no
understanding'?" (Isaiah 29:16; 55:8,9) If Jehovah's way of doing things is
different from the way we would, is he in the wrong? (Job 40:1,2) There are many
who feel that every living person needs to be contacted with the good news
(gospel) before Armageddon. Yet, Jesus expressed God's view when he said: "Do
not give what is holy to dogs, neither throw your pearls before swine, that they
may never trample them under their feet and turn around and rip you open."
(Matt. 7:6) That simply means that God does not "throw" his kingdom "pearl"
before people who have no appreciation for it. And neither should we when we
encounter persons who are argumentative, viewing God and his promises as an
unreality. (Matt. 13:45,46) It may sound unreasonable, perhaps even unjust to
us, but the fact is that God does not allow just anyone to understand things
pertaining to his kingdom. (Matt. 11:25; 13:11; Rom. 9:18) In fact, without his
holy spirit none of us would understand. (1 Cor. 2:10, 14) That is why you
should deeply appreciate the knowledge that you have. Jehovah wants us to do the
work he has assigned us to do, and that is to preach the good news of the
kingdom to the extent that we personally can; and leave the rest up to him. We
are not appointed to judge anyone, whether for good or for bad. That
responsibility has been given to his Son Christ Jesus. (Matt. 7:1,2; John
3:17,18; Acts 17:30,31)
Yet, anyone genuinely wanting to turn to God is not ignored by him. If we cannot
reach such a person in our preaching work we can take comfort in knowing that
God's angels are having a share in the proclaiming of the good news of God's
kingdom. (Rev. 14:6,7) If Jehovah sees a person who is fervently praying for
help, and is “rightly disposed for everlasting life,” he will certainly give
such a person every opportunity to get to know him, even with angelic help. (2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:19, 21, 27-28; Acts 13:48) Scriptural evidence
indicates that the time for God's intervention in man's affairs is close at
hand. Jehovah will shortly destroy Satan's entire
system of things, and replace it with his promised messianic kingdom that Jesus
taught us to pray for. (Matt. 6:10) There will be no place for anyone who does
not submit to God's rule! I'm sure you can appreciate
that it is not necessary for every individual to personally be visited with the message
of the good news of the kingdom, for everyone today is faced with the choice of
either looking to man for the solutions plaguing mankind, although his greed and
corruption has been responsible for it; or turning to God and
his kingdom. There is no third alternative! This will become increasingly
clearer in the days ahead, for it will be the all-important issue facing
mankind.