Lesson 32
God’s Kingdom Now Rules!
God’s Kingdom started ruling in heaven in the year 1914. That is also when the last days of human rule began. How do we know? Consider Bible prophecy and the conditions and attitudes that have been evident since 1914.
1. What does Bible prophecy indicate?
The Bible book of Daniel indicated that God’s Kingdom would begin ruling at the end of a period called “seven times.”
Centuries later, Jesus referred to that same time period as “the appointed times of the nations,” and he taught that it had not yet ended.
As we will see, the seven times ended in the year 1914.
2. What conditions and attitudes have been evident since 1914?
Jesus’ disciples asked him: “What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”
In answer, Jesus foretold many things that would happen after he began ruling in heaven as King of God’s Kingdom. Some of these include war, food shortages, and earthquakes.
Read Matthew 24.7: “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.
The Bible also foretold that people’s attitudes in “the last days” would make life “hard to deal with.”
These conditions and attitudes have especially been evident since 1914.
3. Why have conditions become so bad since God’s Kingdom began ruling?
Shortly after Jesus became King of God’s Kingdom, he went to war in heaven against Satan and the demons. Satan lost that war. The Bible says that “he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.”
Satan is very angry because he knows he will be destroyed. So he causes pain and suffering all over the earth. No wonder world conditions are so bad! God’s Kingdom will undo all these problems.
DIG DEEPER
Examine how we know that the Kingdom started ruling in 1914 and what this should mean for us.
4. The Bible’s chronology points to 1914
Play the VIDEO.
AD))) Video Title: God’s Kingdom Began Ruling in 1914 (with Audio Description and Transcript) (Duration: 5:03).
God caused King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon to have a prophetic dream. That dream and the interpretation Daniel gave indicate that it applies both to Nebuchadnezzar’s rulership and to God’s Kingdom.
Read Daniel 4.17: This is by the decree of watchers, and the request is by the word of the holy ones, so that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he gives it to whomever he wants, and he sets up over it even the lowliest of men.”
Read Daniel 4:20-26, and then use the chart to answer the following questions:
Read Daniel 4.20-26: “‘The tree that you saw that grew great and became strong, whose top reached the heavens and was visible to all the earth, which had beautiful foliage, abundant fruit, and food for all, beneath which the beasts of the field would dwell and on whose branches the birds of the heavens would reside, it is you, O king, because you have grown great and become strong, and your grandeur has grown and reached to the heavens, and your rulership to the ends of the earth. “‘And the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was saying: “Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field. And let the dew of the heavens make it wet, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field until seven times pass over it.” This is the interpretation, O king; it is the decree of the Most High that must befall my lord the king. You will be driven away from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls; and you will become wet with the dew of the heavens, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants. “‘But because they said to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be yours again after you come to know that the heavens are ruling.
(A) What did Nebuchadnezzar see in his dream?
(B) What would happen to the tree?
(C) What would happen at the end of the “seven times”?
How the Tree Dream Relates to God’s Kingdom
THE PROPHECY
In the first fulfillment of this prophecy...
(D) Whom did the tree represent?
(E) How was his rulership interrupted?
Read Daniel 4.29-33: Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king was saying: “Is this not Babylon the Great that I myself have built for the royal house by my own strength and might and for the glory of my majesty?” While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from the heavens: “To you it is being said, O King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘The kingdom has gone away from you, and from mankind you are being driven away. With the beasts of the field your dwelling will be, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants.’” At that moment the word was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from mankind, and he began to eat vegetation just like bulls, and his body became wet with the dew of the heavens, until his hair grew long just like eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.
(F) What happened to Nebuchadnezzar at the end of the “seven times”?
Read Daniel 4.34-36: “At the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to the heavens, and my understanding returned to me; and I praised the Most High, and to the One living forever I gave praise and glory, because his rulership is an everlasting rulership and his kingdom is for generation after generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there is no one who can hinder him or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ “At that time my understanding returned to me, and the glory of my kingdom, my majesty, and my splendor returned to me. My high officials and nobles eagerly sought me out, and I was restored to my kingdom, and even more greatness was added to me.
FIRST FULFILLMENT
In the second fulfillment of this prophecy...
(G) Whom did the tree represent?
Read 1 Chronicles 29.23: And Solomon sat on Jehovah’s throne as king in place of David his father, and he was successful, and all the Israelites were obedient to him.
(H) How was their rulership interrupted? How do we know that it was still interrupted while Jesus was on earth?
Read Luke 21.24: And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.
(I) When and where was this rulership restored?
SECOND FULFILLMENT
How long are the seven times?
Some portions of the Bible help us to understand other portions. For example, the Bible book of Revelation says that three and a half times equal 1,260 days.
Seven times is double that number, or 2,520 days. Sometimes the Bible uses a day to represent a year.
That is the case with the seven times mentioned in the book of Daniel—they represent 2,520 years.
5. The world has changed since 1914
Play the VIDEO.
AD))) Video Title: The World Has Changed Since 1914 (with Audio Description and Transcript) (Duration: 1:10).
Jesus foretold world conditions that would be evident after he became King.
Read Luke 21.9-11: Furthermore, when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. For these things must take place first, but the end will not occur immediately.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.
Discuss this question:
Which of these conditions have you observed or heard about?
The apostle Paul described what people would be like in the last days of human rule.
Read 2 Timothy 3.1-5: But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.
Discuss this question:
Which of these attitudes have you noted in people today?
6. The rule of God’s Kingdom should motivate us
Read Matthew 24.3: While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”
Read Matthew 24.14: And 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.
Discuss these questions:
What important work shows that God’s Kingdom is now ruling?
How can you have a share in this work?
God’s Kingdom is now ruling, and the day when it takes full control of the earth is near.
Read Hebrews 10.24, 25: And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.
Discuss this question:
What should each of us do as we “see the day drawing near”?
SOMEONE MAY ASK: “Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses talk so much about 1914?”
What would you say?
SUMMARY
Bible prophecy, chronology, and world conditions prove that God’s Kingdom is now ruling. We show that we believe this by preaching about it and attending congregation meetings.
Review
What happened at the end of the seven times foretold in the Bible book of Daniel?
What convinces you that God’s Kingdom began ruling in 1914?
How can you show that you believe the Kingdom is ruling now?
Lesson completed on:
Goal
Qualify to become a publisher of the good news.
Other: Memorizing Bible scriptures is vital for blind individuals to defend the truth using the Bible, build faith, provide comfort during difficult times, and keep God’s principles firm in heart and mind.
From lesson 32, memorize Daniel 4:17: This is by the decree of watchers, and the request is by the word of the holy ones, so that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he gives it to whomever he wants, and he sets up over it even the lowliest of men.”
EXPLORE
1. Consider what historians and others say about changes in the world since 1914.
“When Morals Declined Dramatically” (Awake!, April 2007) Open explore 1 in new page
2. Read how the prophecy found at Matthew 24:14 affected one man’s life.
“I Loved Baseball More Than Anything!” (The Watchtower No. 3 2017) Open explore 2 in new page
3. How do we know that the prophecy recorded in Daniel chapter 4 applies to God’s Kingdom?
“When Did God’s Kingdom Begin Ruling? (Part 1)” (The Watchtower, October 1, 2014) Open explore 3 in new page
4. What indicates that the “seven times” mentioned in Daniel chapter 4 ended in 1914?
“When Did God’s Kingdom Begin Ruling? (Part 2)” (The Watchtower, November 1, 2014) Open explore 4 in new page
[End of lesson 32.]