83 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
83 lines
6.3 KiB
Markdown
https://docs.jw.org/en/-/doc-1000019
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# **No. 20 Is It Time for God to Rule the World?**
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_Note to the speaker:_ Clearly present the Scriptural evidence that God’s Kingdom was established in 1914, and explain what the Kingdom will do in the near future
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## **MANKIND NEEDS BETTER RULERSHIP** (4 min.)
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Why do human governments fail to meet the needs of their subjects? ([Pr 29:2](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=20029002&wtlocale=E))
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Man has neither the right nor the ability to govern himself successfully ([Jer 10:23](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=24010023&wtlocale=E))
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His efforts to do so have led to much injustice and suffering ([Ec 8:9,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=21008009&wtlocale=E) [11](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=21008011&wtlocale=E))
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The Bible foretells that God’s Kingdom will soon replace human rule ([Da 2:44;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27002044&wtlocale=E) [7:13, 14](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27007013-27007014&wtlocale=E))
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When did God’s Kingdom begin ruling, and when will it take full control?
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## [**DANIEL CHAPTER 4**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004001-27004037&wtlocale=E)**—A PROPHETIC DREAM ABOUT RULERSHIP** (5 min.)
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Jehovah caused King Nebuchadnezzar to have a dream about rulership ([Da 4:10-17](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004010-27004017&wtlocale=E))
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God inspired Daniel to interpret the dream **[Read key portions of** [**Daniel 4:20-27**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004020-27004027&wtlocale=E)**]**
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The dream was initially fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar himself ([Da 4:28-37](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004028-27004037&wtlocale=E); [_dp_ 82-94](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-1101999025&lang=E&par=1-33))
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The dream emphasizes that Jehovah God has the right to determine who will rule mankind
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## **THE DREAM FORETELLS THE RULE OF GOD’S KINGDOM** (16 min.)
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The prophecy has a larger fulfillment in connection with the establishment of God’s Kingdom ([_it_-1 132-135](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-1200000316&lang=E))
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What reason is there to suggest that the dream is more than just an interesting story about the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar?
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(1) The dream was given at the _time_ when God had just allowed his earthly kingdom to be overthrown
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(2) The _person_ to whom the dream was given was the very one used by God to cut off rulership in Jerusalem
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(3) The _theme_ of the dream is God’s right to rule over the entire “kingdom of mankind” ([Da 4:17,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004017&wtlocale=E) [25,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004025&wtlocale=E) [32](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004032&wtlocale=E))
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(4) The dream’s _context,_ the book of Daniel, repeatedly points forward to the rule of God’s Kingdom
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(5) Daniel’s prophecies would not be fully understood until _“the time of the end”_ ([Da 12:4,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27012004&wtlocale=E) [8, 9](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27012008-27012009&wtlocale=E))
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In the larger fulfillment, the tree represents Jehovah’s rulership
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For a period of time, Jehovah’s rulership had been represented by the Israelite kings who ruled in Jerusalem ([1Ch 29:23](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=13029023&wtlocale=E))
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Jehovah promised David that one of his descendants would rule forever ([2Sa 7:16](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=10007016&wtlocale=E))
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Ezekiel foretold that the earthly representation of God’s rulership would be cut off and that God would later appoint a new Ruler **[Read** [**Ezekiel 21:26, 27**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26021026-26021027&wtlocale=E)**]**
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In 607 B.C.E., Jehovah used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem; this marked the beginning of the “seven times” during which God’s rulership would be interrupted ([Da 4:16](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004016&wtlocale=E))
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How long would this time period last?
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**[Read** [**Luke 21:24**](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=42021024&wtlocale=E)**]** Jesus said that Jerusalem, representing God’s rulership, would “be trampled on . . . until the appointed times of the nations” were fulfilled ([_w06_ 7/15 6 ¶1-4](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2006521&lang=E&par=16-19))
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“The appointed times of the nations” are the same period as the “seven times” of [Daniel chapter 4](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=27004001-27004037&wtlocale=E)
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Jesus indicated that “the appointed times of the nations” were still ongoing during his earthly ministry, so the “seven times” could not be seven literal years counted from 607 B.C.E.
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“Seven times,” or seven Biblical years, are equal to 2,520 days ([_w06_ 7/15 7 ¶1-2](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2006521&lang=E&par=20-21))
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Applying the rule of “a day for a year” and counting 2,520 years from 607 B.C.E. brings us to 1914 C.E. ([Nu 14:34;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=4014034&wtlocale=E) [Eze 4:6](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26004006&wtlocale=E))
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In 1914, Jesus began ruling in heaven as the appointed King of God’s Kingdom
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As a descendant of King David, Jesus is “the one who has the legal right” to rule ([Eze 21:27;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=26021027&wtlocale=E) [Lu 1:32, 33](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=42001032-42001033&wtlocale=E))
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## **GOD’S KINGDOM WILL SOON TAKE FULL CONTROL** (5 min.)
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Events since 1914 confirm that God’s Kingdom has been established ([Mt 24:3,](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=40024003&wtlocale=E) [7-14](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=40024007-40024014&wtlocale=E); [_w15_ 6/15 22-24 ¶12-14](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2015446&lang=E&par=21-23))
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Jesus is now ruling “in the midst of [his] enemies,” and he will soon “complete his conquest” ([Ps 110:2;](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=19110002&wtlocale=E) [Re 6:2](https://www.jw.org/finder?bible=66006002&wtlocale=E))
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Rule by God’s Kingdom will bring blessings to obedient mankind ([_w14_ 10/1 5-7](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-2014723&lang=E&par=9-34))
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Now is the time to take your stand in support of God’s Kingdom
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[Adhere closely to the outlined material, and observe the indicated timing of each section. Not all cited texts need to be read or commented on. See [_Ministry School_ book, pages 52-55,](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-1102001061&lang=E) [166-169](https://docs.jw.org/finder?lank=doc-1102001094&lang=E)]
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TO BE COVERED IN 30 MINUTES |