“Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven …

… but the one who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, so that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life.” (John 3:13, 14)

Jesus usually spoke of himself in the third person; instead of, “I will be killed,” he said, “the Son of man must be lifted up.” (John 3:14) Instead of “wine” he mentioned “the product of the vine.” (Mark 14:25) Why did he use such complicated language? Did he want to imitate those who think they would “get a hearing for their use of many words?” (Matthew 6:7) No, the actual reason was the following: “I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that … they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11, 12, NLT) Thus Jesus intentionally used intricate “parables” so that the people would not understand him and not believe in him, and he would not have to save them on the day of judgment.

Christians of today must ‘imitate Jesus’ expert preaching methods,’ of course. (The Watchtower, June 1, 1997, page 29) Hence we should no longer use the simple suggestions from the Reasoning book but rather prepare a sophisticated presentation. Instead of, “I’m looking for people who would like to live in a world free from war,” we could say, for example: “The Son of man was sent by the faithful and discreet slave to look for those who are deserving it because they have the right inclination of the heart by sighing and groaning and longing for a system of things in which nation will no longer rise against nation and kingdom and against kingdom, but in which humans will give up their animallike characteristics and will for time indefinite dwell together and not do any harm or cause any ruin in all God’s holy mountain, just like the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken.”

Rather than, “We’ve been talking with your neighbors about what can be done to assure that there will be employment and housing for everyone,” we could use the following introduction: “The Son of man and the one walking near him want to confront all redeemable mankind that came into existence at Abel’s birth with a question of universal importance, that is, how can it be achieved that all human creatures of God always have plenty to do and have a place to lay down their heads, so that they can rest from their labors in all the places where the Lord has dispersed them?” If we choose our words carefully, we will preach in a way that no one does what we say. Then Jehovah can destroy more humans at Armageddon, Jesus needs to save fewer people, and we will have more space in paradise!

“God loved the world so much.”

(John 3:16)

Soon “Jesus Christ as King will take over rulership.” (Awake!, April 22, 2000, page 11) Then he will be “crushing his enemies both far and near,” and “only those who truly are his disciples will survive.” (Sing Praises to Jehovah, song 53; Survival Into a New Earth, page 37) Thus one must be a Christian to survive, and Christians “must not love the world.” (The Watchtower, January 15, 2006, page 25) The apostle Paul wrote in Jesus’ name to all Christians: “Do not love … the world.” – 1 John 2:15.

Must we worry about “Jesus Christ … [as] God’s Chief Executioner of vengeance” and “Great Annihilator?” (Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page 1150; Sing Praises to Jehovah, German Edition, song 53) Not necessarily, for “Jesus himself indicated that some people will survive.” (The Watchtower, August 1, 2010, page 5) “Rather, peril awaits those … who refuse to obey Jesus Christ.” (Awake!, August 2008, page 9) This definitely applies to many humans who love the world. But “not only will wicked men be destroyed.” (True Peace and Security – How Can You Find It?, page 53) Jehovah also “loved the world,” even “so much.” – John 3:16.

When “Christ … will come to destroy his enemies,” Jehovah will be among the victims, too. (Psalm 110:2) In this way, Jesus must not “hand over the Kingdom” to him after a thousand years; rather he can “rule as King over … forever, and there will be no end to his Kingdom,” just as foretold in the Bible. – 1 Corinthians 15:24; Luke 1:33.

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise be destroyed.”

(Luke 13:3)

Jehovah claims to be “a righteous God and a Savior.” (Isaiah 45:21) But how did he save his worshippers of old? He saved Noah and his family from the deluge that he himself brought upon the earth. (Genesis 6:13, 14) He saved Lot and his daughters from the destruction that he himself brought upon Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:23, 24) He saved Joseph and his family from the famine that he himself brought upon the land. (Psalm 105:16) In Elijah’s day he also saved a widow from the famine that he himself brought upon Israel. (2 Kings 8:1) God saved Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech from the Babylonians that he himself sent to Jerusalem. – Jeremiah 25:8, 9; 45:5.

Still today he demands people to “truly appreciate the salvation provided through Christ and God’s grace.” (Awake!, April 8, 1978, page 28) This is another “salvation” from a disaster that he himself wants to bring upon mankind. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) Jesus did the same; when he told people that they would “all likewise be destroyed” he actually meant that he himself would kill them. – Luke 19:27.

If a criminal would announce to murder others but spare us – would we revere him as our “savior?” If a burglar robs other houses but spares ours, would we go from house to house and proclaim his name? If someone takes everything from us and leaves a piece of bread, would we thank him for the ‘wonderful salvation?’

“How blessed will be the one …

… who seizes your young children and pulverizes them against the cliff!” (Psalm 137:9, ISV)

As described by the prophet Isaiah, God himself had charged the Babylonians with devastating the land of Israel and making it “an object of horror.” In the same prophecy he announced that after 70 years, he would punish Babylon for executing his order. (Jeremiah 25:9, 12) What would be the punishment?

He told the Babylonians through the psalmist: “How blessed will be the one who seizes your young children and pulverizes them against the cliff!” (Psalm 137:9, ISV) Obviously, God likes it when little children are killed barbarously, so he blesses and praises people who do so. The prophecy was originally fulfilled by Cyrus some 2,500 years ago, “but in the fullest sense, Cyrus was not the one meant in the closing words of Psalm 137: …  ‘O daughter of Babylon … Happy will he be that grabs ahold and does dash to pieces your children against the crag.’ … Who will be that ‘happy’ one?” – Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace”, page 148.

“In the near future happy will be the official service of the antitypical Cyrus, the glorified Jesus Christ, to see to it that accounts are settled with Babylon” and that in a spiritual sense its children are dashed to pieces. “Worshipers of Jehovah … take the divine view of justice and so can join the inspired psalmist” in his statement that pulverizing little children makes happy. – The Watchtower, May 15, 1980, page 20.

Since all people who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses will be killed, many of God’s worshippers will lose their mate, children, or other relatives, also dear friends. (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, pages 181, 255) But the Bible clearly shows that “God’s servants are told to exult” at their destruction. (The Watchtower, June 15, 1975, page 378) “Jehovah … fills the earth with dead bodies … It will be a feast to those who are on the Lord’s side.” – Light, volume II, pages 172, 173.

In heaven there will be “great joy over the eternal destruction” of all infidels. (The Watchtower, December 15, 1988, page 23) And “life on earth after the destruction of all” family members who had turned away from Jehovah’s Witnesses or had too few hours of field service “will be a delight.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 1974, page 719) Indeed, “it will be a wonderful thing to live in Paradise” without all these people. (Listening to the Great Teacher, page 182) Even today we can sense the pleasant anticipation of this time if we regard unbelieving relatives “as though dead.” – Revelation – Its Grand Climax at Hand!, page 50.

“Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be.”

(Matthew 24:27)

Jesus explained to his disciples that in Noah’s day “the Flood came and swept them all away” and added: “So the presence of the Son of man will be.” (Matthew 24:39) The apostle Peter confirmed that “the world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water” and hence the deluge foreshadowed “the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people.” (2 Peter 3:6, 7) “So the circumstances relating to the end of our world order at Armageddon will be similar to those associated with the ancient Deluge.” – From Kurukshetra to Armageddon – and Your Survival, page 18.

For a while after the flood, there had been only righteous people on earth. But very soon “after the flood of Noah’s day, his great-grandson Nimrod became a tyrant, ‘in opposition to Jehovah.’” (Good News to Make You Happy, page 91) “Then, 352 years after the Flood, Abraham was born,” and at that time most of the world was already “steeped in Babylonian idolatry.” – My Book with Bible Stories, Introduction to Part 2; Insight on the Scriptures, volume I, page 974.

After Armageddon – the antitypical deluge – the joy will be short-lived, too. After only 1,000 years the number of ungodly people will be “as the sand of the sea” again. (Revelation 20:8) God will destroy them another time, and once more only the righteous will survive. Then Jehovah will improve the security of his new capital, so that “anyone who does what is disgusting and deceitful will in no way enter into it.” (Revelation 21:27) But obviously such persons will exist again. Regardless how often “God will destroy the wicked” – he will not succeed in the long run. – The Watchtower, December 1, 2011, page 10.

“Jehovah was with Judah.”

(Judges 1:19)

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that soon “Satan the Devil … [will use] his atheistic hordes to attack Jehovah’s people, to plunder and destroy them,” but then “Jehovah will step in and fight for his people.” (Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace”, page 153) They say, “Jehovah will fight for us as he did in the days of Joshua and other loyal leaders in Israel.” (The Watchtower, December 15, 1986, page 18) This leads to the question, How did Jehovah fight “in the days of Joshua and other loyal leaders in Israel?”

The inspired account says: “Jehovah was with Judah, and they took possession of the mountainous region, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had war chariots with iron scythes.” (Judges 1:19) Though Jehovah was successful in the rough “mountainous region,” he was powerless before the “war chariots with iron scythes” used in the lowland. Some time before, when fighting against the Egyptians, he had been walking across the battlefield and “taking wheels off their chariots.” (Exodus 14:25) But decades had passed; military technology had advanced. The iron scythes of the Canaanite war chariots deterred him from sabotaging their wheels. Yet this was not the first time that God lost a battle. Centuries before he had to admit to Jacob: “You have fought with God … and have won.” – Genesis 32:28, NLT.

3000 years have passed since the war against the Canaanites, and war technology has advanced substantially. Instead of “war chariots with iron scythes,” modern armies have atomic bombs, long-range missiles, and submarines at their disposal. In the upcoming “war of the great day of God the Almighty” his servants will be equipped only with “sword” and “bow,” and they will ride on horses. (Revelation 1:16; 6:2; 16:14) Maybe God will “call fire down from heaven,” but this will not be an issue for modern air defense systems. (Luke 9:54) Moreover, in the past God could never fight alone; though he supported them, the Israelites had to slaughter their enemies by their own hands. (Joshua 10:10; 1 Samuel 19:8; 1 Kings 20:21; 2 Chronicles 13:17) But since his modern worshippers “refuse to go to war” and to “do anything else that is in connection with the war,” they can not hope for victory. (The Watchtower, October 15, 1987, page 7; 1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 116) And even if they would get ‘brighter light’ and go to war, Jehovah’s fighters with bow and arrow could not compete with modern weapon systems. – Proverbs 4:18.

“Woe to those who yearn for the day of Jehovah!”

(Amos 5:18)

“Jehovah’s Witnesses have kept busy while awaiting Jehovah’s day.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 2004, page 22) They “are ‘awaiting … the day of Jehovah,’ looking forward to relief when he eliminates all ungodly men.” (The Watchtower, April 15, 2007, page 19) “At that time none of Jehovah’s faithful servants, the only ones surviving, will mourn over the destruction of the wicked. To the contrary, they will rejoice.” (The Watchtower, June 1, 1977, page 345) “When the wicked [all humans who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses, including their relatives] die,” they say, “certainly there would be no sorrow when Jehovah destroys these wrongdoers. Rather, there would be joy because they had been removed from the scene.” (The Watchtower, November 1, 1982, page 16) “Reason will there be for the surviving worshipers of Jehovah God on earth to rejoice and cry out ‘Hallelujah!’ when he gloriously completes the destruction of man’s old order.” – Man’s Salvation Out of World Distress at Hand!, page 280.

Jesus though had prophesied that some people would pose as God’s channel of communication: “’Master, we preached the Message … our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’” (Matthew 7:22, 23, MSG) Not for nothing, Jehovah instructed the prophet Amos to write down the warning: “Woe to those who yearn for the day of Jehovah!” (Amos 5:18) Eventually, Jehovah’s Witnesses will come to an inglorious end.

“As the one dies, so the other dies.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:19)

Wise King Solomon said that animals die just like humans. And as is known, “death … is a direct result of sin and rebellion against God.” (The Watchtower, August 1, 1996, page 7) Does this mean that animals sin too and die therefore?

Yes, God’s word plainly shows that this is true. The Mosaic Law contained instructions for “donkeys” and “domestic animals,” for example, they were not allowed to work on the Sabbath. (Deuteronomy 5:14) But just as humans, so did the animals prove to be sinners. Eventually the prophet Jonah had to prompt the inhabitants of Nineveh: “Let them cover themselves with sackcloth, man and domestic animal; and let them … come back, each one from his bad way.” – Jonah 3:8, NWT 1984.

What should animals do to be saved? The psalmist invites them: “Praise Jehovah from the earth … you wild animals and all you domestic animals.” (Psalm 148:7, 10) Thus they should visit the congregation meetings with us, so that they have the opportunity “to praise Jehovah in the congregation.” (The Watchtower, April 15, 2007, page 23) Domestic animals must share in field service too; that’s why the Bible urges all homeowners: “Ask, please, the animals, and they will instruct you.” – Job 12:7.

In ancient times, God occasionally had to “cut off … earthling man and domestic animal.” (Ezekiel 14:19, NWT 1984) Hence, many domestic animals will be destroyed at Armageddon. Only those “who are sighing and groaning” will survive. (Ezekiel 9:4) When our “domestic animal has sighed” and had a regular share in field service and in the congregation meetings, it might be saved. – Joel 1:18.

“All of this befell King Nebuchadnezzar.”

(Daniel 4:28)

Some 2,600 ago, King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. He “slaughtered [King] Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all the princes.” (Jeremiah 52:10) Then “the Jews [were] deported as slaves from Jerusalem to Babylon.” (Awake!, July 8, 1994, page 27) Do these events have a meaning for our time?

Definitely, for “Nebuchadnezzar’s work … pictured the work of Jesus Christ during this ‘time of the end,’ where we are now.” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1980, page 17) Who, therefor, will soon “be destroyed by one greater than Nebuchadnezzar, the now reigning heavenly King, Jesus Christ?” (The Watchtower, March 1, 1980, page 21) Following Nebuchadnezzar’s example, Jesus will ‘slaughter the king’s sons’ in the first instance. Certainly the king today is not Zedekiah, because Jehovah’s Witnesses have been preaching “the good news that Jehovah had become King” since 1914. (Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind, volume II, page 187) Thus ‘the king’s sons’ to be slaughtered by Jesus are ‘the anointed,” since these are “called ‘sons of God.’” – The Watchtower, November 1, 2004, page 12.

Nebuchadnezzar “also slaughtered all the princes.” (Jeremiah 52:10) And obviously “does Isaiah’s description of ‘princes’ fit the role of Christian elders today.” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1993, page 14) “At any rate, the experienced elders and overseers will be available for the Messianic King to appoint as ‘princes’ … from the very start of his thousand-year reign,” so that he can “slaughter” them right after their appointment. – Man’s Salvation Out of World Distress at Hand!, page 363.

What about the remaining “Jehovah’s Witnesses” who “practice the true religion” in our day? (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, page 175) In Nebuchadnezzar’s time, “the Jews had … the true religion.” (Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page 474) Accordingly, “Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem … and carried most of the Jews off into exile in Babylon” and boasted about ‘having built Babylon the Great.’ (Daniel 4:30; The Watchtower, January 1, 2000, page 7) So the Jews became slaves of Babylon the Great – and the same will happen in our day, since “Nebuchadnezzar … pictures Jesus.” (Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985) All who practice the true religion will become slaves “of ‘Babylon the Great,’ the world empire of false religion” at Jesus’ instigation. (The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, page 16) “Yes, the day will come when the anointed remnant and their companions will become mute.” – The Watchtower, December 1, 2003, page 29.

In times of old, the Jews remained in Babylonian captivity even beyond the death of Nebuchadnezzar and the fall of his dynasty. Only after decades, when the Babylonian empire was overturned, they were released. (2 Chronicles 36:22, 23) But “Jesus, the Eternal Father, will live forever,” and “there will be no end to his Kingdom.” (Luke 1:33; Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind, volume I, page 131) Accordingly, “the visible theocratic organization of Jehovah God,” pictured by “the city of Jerusalem” in ancient times, will never be rebuilt after its destruction. – Paradise Restored To Mankind – By Theocracy!, page 148.