The Good News for everyone

Bible based information for everyday life

[jwgoodnews]

If you haven’t prayed before, the Bible’s examples of those who prayed, “God, help me,” can encourage you. For example: “O Jehovah my God, help me; save me according to Your mercy.”—Psalm 109:26, A Literal Translation of the Bible. “I am needy and poor: O God, help me.”—Psalm 69:6, Douay Version. The writers of these words had strong faith. The Bible says: “Jehovah is high, and yet the humble one he sees; but the lofty one he knows only from a distance.” (Psalm 138:6) In fact, Jesus once told his disciples: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” To read the rest of this article go to www.jw.org.

[jwgoodnews]

Bible Questions Answered Jesus told his followers to pray for the kingdom because it will restore righteousness and peace to the earth. No human government can completely eliminate violence, injustice, or disease, but God’s Kingdom can and will. God has chosen his Son, Jesus, to be King of the Kingdom. Do you want to know more about God’s Kingdom and what it will accomplish? Visit our website at www.jw.org.

[jwgoodnews]

Satan was a perfect angel. The desire to be worship was the cause for evil to begin on earth. John 8:44 “You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father.+ That one was a murderer when he began,*+ and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie”. This scripture supports how evil got started on this earth. Please read the article at www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/why-god-allows-evil-and-suffering/

[jwgoodnews]

Quiz: Am I obsessed? Why do I have a negative body image? Should I change the way I look? The best makeover ever! Julia’s story Quiz: Am I obsessed? Which statement best describes how you feel? I am never satisfied with how I look. I am sometimes satisfied with how I look. I am always satisfied with how I look. What would you like to change most about your body? Height Weight Body shape Hair Complexion Muscle size Other Complete the following sentence. I feel most insecure about my body . . . when I get on the scale. when I look in the mirror. when I compare myself with others (friends, fashion models, movie stars). Complete the following sentence. I weigh myself . . . daily. weekly. less often than once a week. Which expression best describes your feelings? Negative body image. (Example: “Every time I look in the mirror, I think that I see an obese, hideous figure. I’ve even starved myself in an effort to lose weight.”—Serena.) Balanced body image. (Example: “There’s always going to be something we don’t like about our appearance, but some things we just need to accept. It’s silly to be anxious about something we can’t change.”—Natanya.) The Bible tells us not to think more of ourselves “than it is necessary to think.” (Romans 12:3) So it’s proper—even necessary—to think about yourself to a degree. That’s why, for example, you brush your teeth and give attention to your hygiene. What, though, if you frequently get discouraged over your body image—perhaps to the point of being obsessed about it? If that’s the case, you might wonder . . . ‘Why do I have a negative body image?’ There could be several reasons. These include: Influence of the media. “Young people are bombarded with images that make us feel that we have to be superskinny and gorgeous at all times. As a result, if we’re anything less than perfect, we feel disgusting!”—Kellie. Influence of parents. “I’ve noticed that if a mother is obsessed with her body image, often the daughter views herself the same way. It can be the same with fathers and sons.”—Rita. Low self-esteem. “People who are obsessed with their body image constantly demand positive reinforcement from others about how they look. It gets tiring to be around that!”—Jeanne. Regardless of the cause, you might be asking . . . ‘Should I change the way I look?’ Consider what some of your peers say. “You can’t always change the things you don’t like about yourself, so it’s best to accept your flaws. If you do, other people are less likely to notice them.”—Rori. “Do what you can to be healthy. If you’re healthy, you’ll look the way you’re supposed to look. And if someone can’t appreciate you for who you are (rather than what you look like), that person isn’t your friend.”—Olivia. The bottom line: Do what you can to look your best. But don’t worry about the rest. Being overly concerned about how you look can be dangerous. (See “ Julia’s Story.”) On the other hand, a balanced attitude will help you view yourself realistically, as a young woman named Erin learned. “Sure, I have insecurities,” she says, “but I notice that I feel bad only when I focus on the wrong things. Now I just exercise regularly and eat right. The rest falls into place naturally.” The best makeover ever! When you have a balanced view of your body image, you will feel (and even look) your best. The Bible can help. It encourages you to cultivate the following: Contentment. “It’s better to enjoy what we have than to want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.”—Ecclesiastes 6:9, Contemporary English Version. A balanced approach to exercise. “Bodily training is beneficial for a little.”—1 Timothy 4:8. Inner beauty. “Man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.”—1 Samuel 16:7. “Our face shows how we feel about ourself. If a person is content, others can see that and they are automatically drawn to that person.”—Sarah. “Prettiness can get quick attention. But who you are on the inside and your good qualities are what people will remember about you the most.”—Phylicia. See also Proverbs 11:22; Colossians 3:10, 12; 1 Peter 3:3, 4. Julia’s Story When I was 16, I had major issues with my weight. I’ve never been overweight, but I’m not naturally skinny either. I was curvy. I thought that just maybe, if I were slender, guys would like me. So I almost starved myself in order to achieve the body I wanted. I got skinny, but I ended up with health problems as a result. These were addressed, but the emotional effects are still there. To this day, I have issues with food. I’ve slowly come to terms with my body. I eat right and exercise. But when I’m upset with myself about something, my automatic reaction is to punish myself by not eating. If I could, I would tell other young people to remember that everyone has a different perspective. No matter what you look like, there will always be some people who think you’re attractive and others who don’t. The important thing is that you’re healthy. That’s what matters to those who truly care about you.

[jwgoodnews]

Look at these words, and then answer the questions that follow. Column 1 Column 2 Immature Responsible Rebellious Law-abiding Immoral Virtuous Shallow Intelligent Gossipy Discreet Deceitful Honest Which words describe teenage girls as you usually see them depicted in the movies, on TV, or in magazines? Which words describe how you would like to be known? Likely, your answers to the first question came from column 1 and your answers to the second question came from column 2. If so, that means you aspire to be better than the “typical” teenager portrayed by the media—and you’re not alone! Consider why. “Movies portray the typical teenage girl as a rebel with an attitude problem. It makes it seem as if all of us are untrustworthy, image-focused drama queens.”—Erin. “The teenage girls in movies and on TV are attention-hungry and obsessed with their looks, clothes, popularity, and boys.”—Natalie. “Rarely do you see the ‘fun’ girl not drinking, not sleeping with guys, and not rebelling against her parents. When a girl isn’t shown doing those things, she’s depicted as either a religious fanatic or some kind of prude.”—Maria. Ask yourself: ‘Does the way I dress, act, and speak really reflect who I am, or am I merely mimicking the stereotype I see depicted in the media?’ What you should know Many who think they’re carving out their own identity are merely conforming to an identity that’s been handed to them. “I see it in my little sister,” says a young woman named Karen. “She pretends not to care about anything but clothes and boys. She’s smart, and I know that she has other interests, but she plays dumb because she thinks that’s the only way she can be like ‘all the other girls.’ And she’s only 12!” The Bible says: “Stop being molded by this system of things.”—Romans 12:2. The stereotype does not reflect what all teenage girls want to be. “In the media, girls are shown as self-obsessed, ditzy, and prone to do immature things, but I think most of us have fairly good judgment,” says 15-year-old Alexis. “We have other things in our lives besides daydreaming about some cute guy.” The Bible says: “Mature people . . . have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.”—Hebrews 5:14. Stereotyping serves the interests of marketers—not those of teen girls. Recognizing the potential for profit, powerful industries—including publishing, fashion, technology, and entertainment—start targeting young people before they reach their teens. “Advertisers suggest tweens who don’t have the latest clothes, jewelry, makeup, and electronic products won’t be popular,” says the book 12 Going on 29. “Tweens see seductive commercials on a constant basis, even before they understand what the seduction is about.” The Bible says: “Everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.”—1 John 2:16. To think about: Who benefits most if you think way too much about the most popular designer labels in fashion? Who really profits if you must have that latest cell phone just to be popular among your peers? What do marketers care more about—your well-being or their own? What you can do Learn to question the stereotype you see promoted by the media. As you grow up, you acquire the ability to see more than what appears to the eye. Use your perception to think about the effect that media stereotypes can have on you. “The media portrays a typical teenage girl as one who has more makeup on than clothes,” says 14-year-old Alana, “and many teens don’t realize that it doesn’t really make them look better—it makes them look desperate.” Develop your goals as to the type of person you want to become. For example, think back to the qualities you identified at the beginning of this article—the qualities for which you would like to be known. Why not start working now either to acquire them or to improve in them? The Bible says: “Clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it”—not according to the image promoted by advertisers.—Colossians 3:10. Find positive role models. Some might be in your family, such as your mother or your aunt. Others could be mature female friends or acquaintances. Jehovah’s Witnesses have the benefit of many exemplary women in the Christian congregation.—Titus 2:3-5. Suggestion: Use the book Imitate Their Faith to learn about Bible examples of excellent role models for women, including Ruth, Hannah, Abigail, Esther, Mary, and Martha. Imitate Their Faith is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses and is available at www.jw.org. WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY “A real woman knows who she is, and she is comfortable in her skin. She carries herself with dignity. In other words, a real woman knows her worth.”—Hadassa. “A mature young woman has self-respect. She is someone who can be in a crowd but not demand all the attention. And if the attention does focus on her, she doesn’t let it go to her head.”—Marissa. Did you know? In the United States, the word “teenager” became popular in the 1940’s when marketers began grouping people according to their buying characteristics. Teenagers “were largely in the same place—high school—sharing a common experience, and they were young and open to new things,” says the book The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager. “They were, in short, easy to sell to.” The English word “tween,” which describes boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 13, recently came into vogue in marketing circles. “There had been no such thing as a ‘tween identity’ until marketers made it up,” says the book Talk to Me First. “Once someone dreamed up the catchy and memorable moniker ‘tweens’ . . . , a brand-new marketing niche was born.”

[jwgoodnews]

“Too many students were crammed into a classroom! There were no fans, and the heat was suffocating.”—Luis, Bolivia. “Our school had few teachers, so students didn’t get personal attention. The school had no maps, no lab equipment, no library.”—Dorcus, Myanmar. “Most of my teachers struggled to control the class. At times, students were very unruly, which made studying that much more difficult.”—Nina, South Africa. AS THE statements above show, some schools are anything but a haven for learning. As a parent, how can you help your children get the most from their education despite the challenges? Here are some suggestions. Show initiative. Instead of focusing on the problems—many of which are likely out of your control—focus on what you can do. If your child seems unable to master a certain subject or is overwhelmed by the amount of homework he or she receives, try to brainstorm a few solutions together. For example, do you need to create a better study area at home? Does your child need help with setting up a schedule to get the most important tasks accomplished? Would he or she benefit by having the assistance of a tutor? For further suggestions, perhaps you could speak with your child’s teacher and guidance counselor. View these people as your allies, not your adversaries. Keep your child focused on the goal of education. Education should equip your child to grow into a well-rounded, responsible adult. The goal should not be merely to learn how to acquire wealth. Yet, research shows that many young people pursue education with that very goal in mind—to get rich. The Bible promotes a balanced view of material things. While it acknowledges that “money is for a protection,” it also warns that “those who are determined to be rich” will not find real happiness.—Ecclesiastes 7:12; 1 Timothy 6:9. Education should equip your child to grow into a well-rounded, responsible adult Let your child learn through adversity. Many schoolteachers say that as difficult as their students can be to deal with, parents can be even worse. Some parents are quick to intervene and protest when their son or daughter gets in trouble or performs poorly on a test. For example, a Time magazine report tells of one college professor who has had students who “call their parents from the classroom on a cell phone to complain about a low grade and then pass the phone over to her, in the middle of class, because the parent wanted to intervene. And she has had parents say they are paying a lot of money for their child’s education and imply that anything but an A is an unacceptable return on their investment.” Many schoolteachers say that as difficult as their students can be to deal with, parents can be even worse Such parents are doing their children no favors. In fact, instead of “rescuing” their children, they are preventing them from “having real experiences of decision making, failing, and cleaning up their own messes,” writes Polly Young-Eisendrath in her book The Self-Esteem Trap. She adds: “If parents run too much interference in problem solving for their children while the children sit back and do nothing, the parents will get stronger, but the children get weaker and fall over when they try to run on their own.” Be reasonable with regard to how much education to pursue. As mentioned earlier, education can help prepare your child for responsible adulthood. (Genesis 2:24) But how much schooling does reaching that goal require? Do not assume that your child must attend a university to make a decent living. There are other options that are less costly. In fact, in some cases those with trade skills can make as good a living as university graduates. The bottom line: Schools are not perfect, and children face challenges today that were unheard of just a few decades ago. But with your support, your child can succeed at school! As a family, why not discuss the suggestions found on pages 3 through 7 of the printed edition of this magazine?

[jwgoodnews]

SOME time ago, criminal courts in a Western land accepted faulty evidence against two men accused of murder and sentenced them to death. Once the error came to light, lawyers worked hard and gained freedom for one of the convicted. But the best attorneys could do nothing for the other—he had already been executed. Since such travesties can arise in any legal system, the Bible urges: “Justice—justice you should pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) Where judges follow that injunction, citizens benefit. God’s Law gave ancient Israel a legal system based on impartiality and fairness. Let us look at that Law to see whether “all [God’s] ways are justice.”—Deuteronomy 32:4. JUDGES “WISE, DISCREET, AND EXPERIENCED” People’s interests are served when jurists are competent, fair, and above corruption. God’s Law to Israel placed a high value on judges of that caliber. Early in the wilderness trek, Moses was told to look for “capable men fearing God, trustworthy men hating dishonest profit,” to serve as judges. (Exodus 18:21, 22) Forty years later, he reemphasized the need for “wise, discreet, and experienced men” to judge the people.—Deuteronomy 1:13-17. Centuries later, King Jehoshaphat * of Judah commanded the judges: “Pay attention to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for Jehovah, and he is with you when you pass judgment. Now let the fear of Jehovah be upon you. Be careful about what you do, for with Jehovah our God there is no injustice, no partiality, no bribe-taking.” (2 Chronicles 19:6, 7) The king thus reminded the judges that if prejudice or greed affected their decisions, God would hold them responsible for any resulting harm. When Israel’s judges lived up to those high standards, the nation felt protected and secure. But God’s Law also provided a set of principles that helped judges to reach fair decisions, even in the most difficult cases. What are some of those principles? PRINCIPLES THAT LED TO FAIR DECISIONS Though the judges selected were to be wise and capable men, they were not left to make judgments by relying on their own abilities or ingenuity. Jehovah God gave them principles or guidelines by which they could reach correct decisions. Here are some directions that were given to the Israelite judges. Make a complete investigation. Through Moses, God instructed Israelite judges: “When you hear a case between your brothers, you are to judge with righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 1:16) Judges can render a fair verdict only if they have all the facts of a case. For that reason God instructed those handling judicial matters: “You should look into the matter, making a thorough investigation and inquiry.” Judges in court had to make sure that the charge in a criminal case was “confirmed to be true” before proceeding.—Deuteronomy 13:14; 17:4. Hear the testimony of witnesses. The statements of witnesses were vital to an investigation. God’s Law stipulated: “No single witness may convict another for any error or any sin that he may commit. On the testimony of two witnesses or on the testimony of three witnesses the matter should be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15) To the witnesses, God’s Law commanded: “You must not spread a report that is not true. Do not cooperate with a wicked one by becoming a malicious witness.”—Exodus 23:1. Require honesty in court proceedings. The penalty for lying in court gave pause to all involved: “The judges will thoroughly investigate, and if the man who testified is a false witness and has brought a false charge against his brother, you should do to him just as he had schemed to do to his brother, and you must remove what is bad from your midst.” (Deuteronomy 19:18, 19) So if a man lied in court to take another’s inheritance, he stood to lose an equal amount. If he lied to have someone that he knew was innocent put to death, he would forfeit his own life. This guideline was a strong motivation to speak the truth. Judge impartially. Once they had all the available evidence, the judges deliberated to reach a verdict. At this point, an outstanding detail of God’s Law became especially important: “You must not show partiality to the poor or show preference to the rich. With justice you should judge your fellow man.” (Leviticus 19:15) In all cases, judges were to decide a matter on its true merits, not on the outward appearance or social position of those involved. These principles, plainly stated centuries ago in God’s Law to Israel, can still be useful in courtrooms today. When they are followed, mistrials and miscarriages of justice can be avoided. Miscarriages of justice can be avoided when principles in God’s Law are followed THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFITED FROM TRUE JUSTICE To the Israelites, Moses posed this question: “What great nation has righteous regulations and judicial decisions like this entire Law that I am putting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8) Indeed, no other nation enjoyed those benefits. Under the reign of King Solomon, who in his youth sought to carry out Jehovah’s laws, the people “lived in security” and enjoyed peace and prosperity, “eating and drinking and rejoicing.”—1 Kings 4:20, 25. Regrettably, the Israelites eventually turned their backs on their God. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared: “Look! They have rejected the word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have?” (Jeremiah 8:9) The result was that Jerusalem became “the bloodguilty city” full of “detestable things.” Finally it was brought to ruin and lay desolate for 70 years.—Ezekiel 22:2; Jeremiah 25:11. The prophet Isaiah lived through troublesome times in Israel’s history. Looking back, he was moved to declare a great truth about Jehovah God and His Law: “When there are judgments from you for the earth, the inhabitants of the land learn about righteousness.”—Isaiah 26:9. To his delight, Isaiah was inspired to prophesy about the rule of the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, saying: “He will not judge by what appears to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to what his ears hear. He will judge the lowly with fairness, and with uprightness he will give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:3, 4) What wonderful prospects for all who become subjects of the Messianic King under God’s Kingdom!—Matthew 6:10. Did God’s Law Authorize Revenge? The words “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” found in the Bible, have caused no little contention. (Exodus 21:24) To some people, it is nothing less than divine approval of revenge. But such thinking conflicts with God’s command: “You must not take vengeance nor hold a grudge against the sons of your people.” (Leviticus 19:18) How, then, are we to understand those words in Exodus? Exodus 21:22 presents a scenario in which two men are fighting and one of them strikes a pregnant woman, causing her to deliver prematurely. If mother and baby survived, the injured woman’s husband would not be authorized to strike back. Rather, the man who struck the new mother would have to “pay the damages imposed on him by the husband of the woman; and he must pay it through the judges.” In other words, the judges in court would make the striker pay a fine to the husband of the injured mother. If she or her child died because of injuries, those same judges would have the perpetrator put to death. In this case, the court, not the victim, applied “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth . . .” (Exodus 21:23, 24) That principle reminded judges that punishment should be neither excessive nor insufficient. Bible scholar Richard Elliott Friedman states: “The basic principle appears to be that punishment should correspond to the crime and never exceed it.” What gave rise to the idea that God’s Law authorized personal acts of revenge? It is noteworthy that at Matthew 5:38, 39, we find Jesus’ words: “You heard that it was said: ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ However, I say to you: Do not resist the one who is wicked, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him.” It seems that by Jesus’ day, some religious teachers had included the ‘law of retaliation’ in their oral tradition as approval for personal vengeance. Jesus, however, made clear that such a teaching had no support in God’s Law to Israel.

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Do you feel that man is ruining the earth beyond repair?

Although man is not capable of repairing the damage he has done, the Bible tells us that God can and desires to do so. We have this assurance at Psalm 65:9 says, “You care for the earth, making it abundantly fruitful and very rich. The stream from God is full of water, you provide grain for them. For that is how you prepares the earth.”

This issue of The Watchtower discusses how God will care for the earth and how we can enjoy these future blessings.

For more information visit: www.jw.org

http://www.jw.org/finder?locale=en&docid=2014642&prefer=lang

[jwpreach]

COVER SUBJECT

Will Man Ruin the Earth Beyond Repair?

“A generation is going, and a generation is coming, but the earth remains forever.”—KING SOLOMON, 11TH CENTURY B.C.E. *

To the ancient Bible writer, the fleeting nature of man stood in sharp contrast with the permanence of the earth. Indeed, for thousands of years, generations have come and gone, and yet the planet Earth has proved to be remarkably resilient and stable in its ability to host life—until now.

The years since World War II have been dubbed by some as the Great Acceleration. In a single lifetime, people have seen remarkable advances in transportation, communication, and other technologies, which have brought unprecedented economic changes. Many enjoy a standard of living once thought impossible. In the meantime, the earth’s population has nearly tripled.

All of this, however, has not come without cost. Human activities are said to be pushing the earth beyond its natural cycles. In fact, some scientists say we have entered a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene—an age in which humans are making an increasingly notable impact on the planet.

The Bible foretold a time when man would ‘ruin the earth.’(Revelation 11:18) Some wonder if we are living in such a time. How much further damage will be done? Is there a point of no return? Indeed, will man ruin the earth beyond repair?

To read the entire bible-based article, select link: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20140901/ruined-earth/

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Zimbabwe international convention went front page on the news! :) @ohsototally

Thank you.Submit

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Everlasting love

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Yay, our hall got the sign! Awesome!👌😃 by ramon_mb

Submit

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Just an FYI for those who thought that no blood means more complications…

[jwgoodnews]

CHAPTER THREE What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth? 00:0018:20 What is God’s purpose for mankind? How has God been challenged? What will life on earth be like in the future? 1. What is God’s purpose for the earth? GOD’S purpose for the earth is really wonderful. Jehovah wants the earth to be filled with happy, healthy people. The Bible says that “God planted a garden in Eden” and that he “made to grow . . . every tree desirable to one’s sight and good for food.” After God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, He put them in that lovely home and told them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28; 2:8, 9, 15) So it was God’s purpose that humans have children, extend the boundaries of that garden home earth wide, and take care of the animals. 2. (a) How do we know that God’s purpose for the earth will be fulfilled? (b) What does the Bible say about humans living forever? 2 Do you think that Jehovah God’s purpose for people to live in an earthly paradise will ever be realized? “I have even spoken it,” God declares, “I shall also do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11; 55:11) Yes, what God purposes he will surely do! He says that he “did not create [the earth] simply for nothing” but “formed it even to be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:18) What kind of people did God want to live on the earth? And for how long did he want them to live here? The Bible answers: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”—Psalm 37:29; Revelation 21:3, 4. 3. What sad conditions now exist on earth, and what questions does this raise? 3 Obviously, this has not happened yet. People now get sick and die; they even fight and kill one another. Something went wrong. Surely, however, God did not purpose that the earth should be as we see it today! What happened? Why has God’s purpose not been fulfilled? No history book written by man can tell us because the trouble started in heaven. THE ORIGIN OF AN ENEMY 4, 5. (a) Who actually spoke to Eve by means of a serpent? (b) How might a formerly decent, honest person become a thief? 4 The first book of the Bible tells of an opposer of God who showed up in the garden of Eden. He is described as “the serpent,” but he was not a mere animal. The last book of the Bible identifies him as “the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” He is also called “the original serpent.” (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9) This powerful angel, or invisible spirit creature, used a serpent to speak to Eve, even as a skilled person can make it seem that his voice is coming from a nearby doll or dummy. That spirit person had no doubt been present when God prepared the earth for humans.—Job 38:4, 7. 5 Since all of Jehovah’s creations are perfect, however, who made this “Devil,” this “Satan”? Put simply, one of the powerful spirit sons of God turned himself into the Devil. How was this possible? Well, today a person who was once decent and honest may become a thief. How does that happen? The person may allow a wrong desire to develop in his heart. If he keeps thinking about it, that wrong desire may become very strong. Then if the opportunity presents itself, he may act upon the bad desire that he has been thinking about.—James 1:13-15. 6. How did a powerful spirit son of God become Satan the Devil? 6 This happened in the case of Satan the Devil. He apparently heard God tell Adam and Eve to have children and to fill the earth with their offspring. (Genesis 1:27, 28) ‘Why, all these humans could worship me rather than God!’ Satan evidently thought. So a wrong desire built up in his heart. Eventually, he took action to deceive Eve by telling her lies about God. (Genesis 3:1-5) He thus became a “Devil,” which means “Slanderer.” At the same time, he became “Satan,” which means “Opposer.” 7. (a) Why did Adam and Eve die? (b) Why do all of Adam’s offspring grow old and die? 7 By using lies and trickery, Satan the Devil caused Adam and Eve to disobey God. (Genesis 2:17; 3:6) As a result, they eventually died, as God had said they would if they disobeyed. (Genesis 3:17-19) Since Adam became imperfect when he sinned, all his offspring inherited sin from him. (Romans 5:12) The situation might be illustrated with a pan used for baking bread. If the pan has a dent in it, what happens to each loaf of bread made in the pan? Each loaf has a dent, or an imperfection, in it. Similarly, each human has inherited a “dent” of imperfection from Adam. That is why all humans grow old and die.—Romans 3:23. 8, 9. (a) What challenge did Satan evidently make? (b) Why did God not destroy the rebels immediately? 8 When Satan led Adam and Eve into sinning against God, he was really leading a rebellion. He was challenging Jehovah’s way of ruling. In effect, Satan was saying: ‘God is a bad ruler. He tells lies and holds back good things from his subjects. Humans do not need to have God ruling over them. They can decide for themselves what is good and what is bad. And they will be better off under my rulership.’ How would God handle such an insulting challenge? Some think that God should simply have put the rebels to death. But would that have answered Satan’s challenge? Would it have proved that God’s way of ruling is right? 9 Jehovah’s perfect sense of justice would not allow him to put the rebels to death right away. He decided that time was needed to answer Satan’s challenge in a satisfying way and to prove that the Devil is a liar. So God determined that he would permit humans to rule themselves for some time under Satan’s influence. Why Jehovah did that and why he has allowed so much time to pass before settling these issues will be discussed in Chapter 11 of this book. Now, though, it is good to think about this: Were Adam and Eve right to believe Satan, who had never done anything good for them? Was it right for them to believe that Jehovah, who had given them everything they had, is a cruel liar? What would you have done? 10. How can you support Jehovah’s side in answer to Satan’s challenge? 10 It is good to think about these questions because each of us faces similar issues today. Yes, you have the opportunity to support Jehovah’s side in answer to Satan’s challenge. You can accept Jehovah as your Ruler and help to show that Satan is a liar. (Psalm 73:28; Proverbs 27:11) Sadly, only a few among the billions of people in this world make such a choice. This raises an important question, Does the Bible really teach that Satan rules this world? WHO RULES THIS WORLD? How could Satan have offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he did not own them? 11, 12. (a) How does a temptation of Jesus reveal that Satan is the ruler of this world? (b) What else proves that Satan is the ruler of this world? 11 Jesus never doubted that Satan is the ruler of this world. In some miraculous way, Satan once showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” Satan then promised Jesus: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” (Matthew 4:8, 9; Luke 4:5, 6) Think about this. Would that offer have been a temptation to Jesus if Satan was not the ruler of these kingdoms? Jesus did not deny that all these worldly governments were Satan’s. Surely, Jesus would have done that if Satan was not the power behind them. 12 Of course, Jehovah is the almighty God, the Creator of the marvelous universe. (Revelation 4:11) Yet, nowhere does the Bible say that either Jehovah God or Jesus Christ is ruler of this world. In fact, Jesus specifically referred to Satan as “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) The Bible even refers to Satan the Devil as “the god of this system of things.” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) Regarding this opposer, or Satan, the Christian apostle John wrote: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.”—1 John 5:19. HOW SATAN’S WORLD WILL BE REMOVED 13. Why is there a need for a new world? 13 With each passing year, the world is becoming more and more dangerous. It is overrun with warring armies, dishonest politicians, hypocritical religious leaders, and hardened criminals. The world as a whole is beyond reform. The Bible reveals that the time is near when God will eliminate the wicked world during his war of Armageddon. This will make way for a righteous new world.—Revelation 16:14-16. 14. Whom has God selected to be Ruler of His Kingdom, and how was this foretold? 14 Jehovah God selected Jesus Christ to be Ruler of His heavenly Kingdom, or government. Long ago, the Bible foretold: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7, King James Version) Regarding this government, Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matthew 6:10) As we will see later in this book, God’s Kingdom will soon remove all the governments of this world, and it itself will replace all of them. (Daniel 2:44) Then God’s Kingdom will usher in an earthly paradise. A NEW WORLD IS AT HAND! 15. What is the “new earth”? 15 The Bible assures us: “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 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17) Sometimes when the Bible speaks of “the earth,” it means the people who live on the earth. (Genesis 11:1) So the righteous “new earth” is a society of people who receive God’s approval. 16. What is a priceless gift from God to those whom he approves, and what must we do to receive it? 16 Jesus promised that in the coming new world, those approved by God would receive the gift of “everlasting life.” (Mark 10:30) Please open your Bible to John 3:16 and 17:3, and read what Jesus said we must do to receive everlasting life. Now consider from the Bible the blessings that will be enjoyed by those who qualify for that wonderful gift from God in the coming earthly Paradise. 17, 18. How can we be sure that there will be peace and security everywhere on earth? 17 Wickedness, warfare, crime, and violence will be gone. “The wicked one will be no more . . . But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth.” (Psalm 37:10, 11) Peace will exist because ‘God will make wars cease to the ends of the earth.’ (Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4) Then “the righteous one will sprout, and the abundance of peace until the moon is no more”—and that means forever!—Psalm 72:7. 18 Jehovah’s worshipers will live in security. As long as the Israelites in Bible times obeyed God, they lived in security. (Leviticus 25:18, 19) How wonderful it will be to enjoy similar security in Paradise!—Isaiah 32:18; Micah 4:4. 19. Why do we know that food will be abundant in God’s new world? 19 Food shortages will not exist. “There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth,” sang the psalmist. “On the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.” (Psalm 72:16) Jehovah God will bless his righteous ones, and “the earth itself will certainly give its produce.”—Psalm 67:6. 20. Why can we be sure that the whole earth will become a paradise? 20 The whole earth will become a paradise. Lovely new homes and gardens will occupy land that had once been ruined by sinful humans. (Isaiah 65:21-24; Revelation 11:18) As time passes, parts of the earth already subdued will expand until the whole globe is as beautiful and productive as the garden of Eden. And God will never fail to ‘open his hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.’—Psalm 145:16. 21. What shows that peace will exist between humans and animals? 21 There will be peace between humans and animals. Wild and domestic animals will feed together. Even a little child will have nothing to fear from animals that are now dangerous.—Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25. 22. What will happen to sickness? 22 Sickness will vanish. As Ruler of God’s heavenly Kingdom, Jesus will do healing on a far grander scale than when he was on earth. (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:40-42; John 5:5-9) Then “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”—Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6. 23. Why will the resurrection bring joy to our hearts? 23 Dead loved ones will be restored to life with the prospect of never dying. All those sleeping in death who are in God’s memory will be brought back to life. In fact, “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”—Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29. 24. How do you feel about living in Paradise on earth? 24 What a marvelous future awaits those who choose to learn about our Grand Creator, Jehovah God, and to serve him! It was to the coming Paradise on earth that Jesus pointed when he promised the evildoer who died alongside him: “You will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) It is vital that we learn more about Jesus Christ, through whom all these blessings will be made possible. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES God’s purpose to make the earth a paradise will be fulfilled.—Isaiah 45:18; 55:11. Satan now rules this world.—John 12:31; 1 John 5:19. In the coming new world, God will bestow many blessings on mankind.—Psalm 37:10, 11, 29. For more information go to www.jw.org