The Witchtower 11/2009 1
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The Witchtower 11/2009 2
The Witchtower
Downloadable in 194 countries
3 Who is the King of the North?
6 The Sermon on the Mount – A Source of Encouragement
12 Snow – The White Snare
14 Let Us Stay Awake!
16 When Will Armageddon Come?
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The Witchtower 11/2009 3
KING OF THE NORTH?
WHO IS THE
Sincere Bible students have always been in-
terested in Bible prophecies and made many
efforts to find out their meaning. But even
thousands of years ago, Joseph realized: “Do
not interpretations belong to God?” – Genesis
40:8.
One of the prophecies whose interpretation
had been locked for a long time is the one about
the “king of the north” from the book of Daniel.
Not even Daniel himself could understand it.
Yet he must have meditated about its meaning,
for he asked: “What will be the final part of
these things?” The angel replied: “Go, Dan-
iel, because the words are made secret and
sealed up until the time of the end. … No
wicked ones at all will understand; but the
ones having insight will understand.” –
Daniel 12:8-9.
A King from the North
According to the book Pay Attention to Dan-
iel’s Prophecy!, the term “king of the north”
refers to a king who reigned north of Daniel‟s
people which was freed from Babylonian cap-
tivity and returned to Israel. But is it reasona-
ble to think that the origin of the “king of the
north” would depend only on the location of
Israel? We have to consider that Jehovah gath-
ers his modern people “out of all nations and
tribes and peoples and tongues.” (Revelation
7:9) Hence the residence of the “king of the
north” must be north from “all nations”.
Who is dwelling at the most northern point
of the earth? According to Encyclopaedia Wik-
ipedia, Santa Claus “lives in the far north … at
his house in the North Pole.” Hence there can
be no doubt that the “king of the north” is San-
ta Claus.
He stands up only once a year, but “when
he will have stood up, his kingdom will be
… divided toward the four winds of the
heavens.” (Daniel 11:4) While he only rules
over the North Pole for most of the time, each
year at Christmas time his “kingdom” is ex-
tended to all the earth.
Daniel continues: “And the king of the
south will become strong. … At the end of
some years they will ally themselves with
each other.” (Daniel 11:5, 6) The “king of the
south” is Saint Nicholas who lived in Myra,
part of modern-day Turkey, south from the
North Pole. Originally, Santa Claus and Saint
Nicholas were two separate figures. But in the
meantime, the differences are disappearing
more and more. Many children mention Saint
Nicholas when they refer to Santa Claus and
the other way round, especially in Europe.
Santa Claus is the “king of the north”
The Witchtower 11/2009 4
Annual Recurrence
The king of the north “will actually come
into the kingdom of the king of the south
and go back to his own soil.” (Daniel 11:9)
Year after year, Santa Claus comes for a num-
ber of weeks “into the kingdom of the king of
the south,” Turkey and other countries south
from the North Pole. After handing out his
presents, he goes “back to his own soil” at the
North Pole.
Of course, he alone cannot take care of all
children. “As for his sons, they will … actu-
ally gather together a crowd of large mili-
tary forces. And in coming he will certain-
ly come and flood over and pass through.”
(Daniel 11:10) The “sons” of Santa Claus are
his deputies in the respective regions, like
Father Frost in Russia or Father Christmas in
Britain. All those “actually gather together a
crowd of large military forces,” put them into
costumes and have them “flood over and pass
through” pedestrian areas and shopping malls.
When Christmas time is over, “he will go
back” to his home. (Daniel 11:10) But the
next year he will reappear: “The king of the
north must return and set up a crowd
larger than the first.” (Daniel 11:13) In-
deed, due to the population boom and the in-
creasing wealth, Santa Claus and his “sons”
have to set up a „larger crowd‟ of their deputies
each year.
Gifts
Daniel says regarding the king of the north:
“And at the end of the … years, he will
come, doing so with a great military force
and with a great deal of goods.” (Daniel
11:13) Actually he comes „at the end of the
years … with a great military force‟ of auxiliary
Santas. Without doubt, these carry along “a
great deal of goods” to distribute to well-
behaved children.
But not all children are good. “The sons of
the robbers belonging to your people will,
for their part, be carried along to try mak-
ing a vision come true; and they will have
to stumble.” (Daniel 11:14) It surely is an old
childhood dream to mug Santa Claus and take
all the gifts for oneself. But such children –
called “the sons of the robbers” to blame their
parents for their misbehavior – “will have to
stumble.” No one has ever succeeded in mug-
ging Santa Claus.
His Prevalence
No one can escape Santa Claus. “The king
of the north will come and throw up a
siege rampart and actually capture a city.
… There will be no one standing before
him.” (Daniel 11:15, 16) Indeed, especially
the „cities‟ are „besieged‟ by Santa Claus and his
fellows at Christmas time. Where they are not
present in person, merchants sell Christmas
decoration or play Christmas songs.
Daniel says regarding Santa Claus: “As re-
gards the daughter of womankind, it will
be granted to him to bring her to ruin.”
(Daniel 11:17) How should we understand
that? The German edition of Encyclopaedia
Wikipedia says: “Today Santa Claus more and
more ousts the Christ Child which is prevalent
in southern Germany, Austria and Switzer-
land” and is “traditionally depicted as a girl.”
Yes, the position of the Nuremberg Christ
Child and her companions is endangered by
Santa Claus.
Despite his market-dominating position in
winter, Santa Claus hides at his home all
summer. “He will not be found.” (Daniel
11:19) But even in winter, not everyone wear-
ing a Santa costume has been authorized by
Santa Claus. Daniel says: “There must stand
up in his position one who is to be despised
… and he will actually come in during a
freedom from care.” – Daniel 11:21.
The Witchtower 11/2009 5
Sometimes criminals masquerade as Santa
Claus and break into houses, taking advantage
of the Christmassy “freedom from care.” The
Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper reported on
November 27, 2004 that police shot a bank
robber who was disguised as Santa Claus.
The real Santa Claus however does not rob
anyone, but he will “do what his fathers and
the fathers of his fathers have not done. …
Goods he will scatter among them.” (Dan-
iel 11:24) He brings gifts to the people, and
every year you can see him and his fellows
„scattering‟ candies and other small gifts in the
pedestrian areas.
His business methods include being not ab-
solutely honest. “As regards these two kings
… at one table a lie is what they will keep
speaking.” (Daniel 11:27) Indeed, Santa
Claus as well as Saint Nicolas tell the children
that they were well-behaved, though they usu-
ally know it better.
But “the end is yet for the time appoint-
ed.” (Daniel 11:27) The end of Christmas time
comes at the same date every year, and Santa
Claus “will go back to his land with a great
amount of goods,” the undeliverable gifts.
(Daniel 11:28) Santa Claus will “certainly go
back to his land,” but “at the time appoint-
ed he will go back … south.” – Daniel
11:28, 29.
“Goods he will scatter among them”
Far Reaching Influence
Related to Globalization, Santa Claus keeps
extending his reach. “He will keep thrusting
out his hand against the lands; and as
regards the land of Egypt, she will not
prove to be an escapee.” (Daniel 11:42)
Even in Islamic countries like Egypt, you can
meet Santa Claus in December.
But the fulfillment is not limited to the lit-
eral land of Egypt. “The entire world” except
Jehovah‟s Witnesses is “symbolized by Egypt”
in the Bible. (The Watchtower, March 1, 1993,
page 20) Accordingly the following prophecy is
fulfilled at all nations: “He will actually rule
over the hidden treasures of the gold and
the silver and over all the desirable things
of Egypt.” (Daniel 11:43) Indeed, the people
spend a major amount of their “treasures” for
purchasing Christmas gifts. People often link
the acquisition of “desirable things” with
Christmas.
The End of Santa Claus
Daniel foretold an unexpected turn: Santa
Claus “will have to come all the way to his
end, and there will be no helper for him.”
(Daniel 11:45) We don‟t know yet what will
cause this development. Maybe the people
won‟t have money for Christmas gifts due to
the financial crisis, or Islam will take over
world rule and put a ban on all Christian holi-
days. In any case “there will be no helper” for
Santa Claus, i. e. no auxiliary Santas in the
pedestrian areas.
Rather than thinking only about gifts at
Christmas time, people will return to winter-
time‟s original contemplation: “Many will
cleanse themselves and whiten them-
selves.” (Daniel 12:10) Indeed, people will
“cleanse themselves” from material desires and
“whiten themselves” by a walk through the
snow. Let‟s look forward to this time!
The Witchtower 11/2009 6
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep.” (Matthew 7:15, AMP)
The Sermon on the Mount is the most fa-
mous sermon ever preached. Phrases from it
are in the hearts and on the lips of hundreds of
millions of persons throughout the earth. In-
deed it contains timeless principles which can
lead to great happiness for worldlings, for Je-
hovah‟s Witnesses and for apostates.
Jesus directed his advice especially to peo-
ple who are no Jehovah‟s Witnesses: “Beware
of false prophets, who come to you dressed
as sheep.” (Matthew 7:15, AMP) “Be wary
of false preachers who smile a lot, drip-
ping with practiced sincerity.” – Matthew
7:15, MSG.
Who are the “false preachers who smile a
lot” while they “come to you” and ring the
doorbell? This description applies to Jehovah‟s
Witnesses. They are quasi “dressed as sheep”
by considering themselves as “other sheep.”
But in actual fact they are “false prophets” and
“false preachers.”
“Beware of false prophets, who come
to you [usually on Saturday morning]”
“Take care. There are prophets who are not true.”
(Matthew 7:15, World English)
They prophesied for example that “1914 …
will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect
men” and “that there will be a resurrection of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and … we may expect
1925 to witness the return of these faithful men
of Israel from the condition of death, being res-
urrected and fully restored to perfect humanity.”
(The Time is at Hand, page 77; Millions Now
Living Will Never Die, page 88) In the May 22,
1969 Awake! issue they foretold that “a young
person” then would “never grow old in this pre-
sent system of things.” (page 15) No other organ-
ization is so distinctly marked as “false prophet”
as Jehovah‟s Witnesses.
They are also “false teachers,” for every
time they get “brighter light” they abrogate a
former doctrine. Until January 2008 they
propagated a wrong understanding of the “gen-
eration” of Matthew 24:34. Wasn‟t it audacious
to call the “generation” – the anointed Chris-
tians – falsely “the wayward people who make
up this contemporary „wicked and adulterous
generation?‟” – The Watchtower, November 1,
1995, page 15; February 15, 2008, page 24.
The Witchtower 11/2009 7
In the book The Finished Mystery they even
confused Jesus Christ, the “Rider on the white
horse,” with the Pope and claimed that he was
“the personal representative of Satan.” (page
106) In this context Jesus said: “Keep on seek-
ing, and you will find. … Everyone seeking
finds.” (Matthew 7:7, 8) Indeed, “everyone
seeking [for mistakes in the Watchtower publi-
cations] finds” a lot of them.
The instruction to “keep on seeking [for
false teachings]” is not primarily directed to
worldlings of course but rather to Jehovah‟s
Witnesses. But both groups should consider an
important principle from the Sermon on the
Mount: “By their fruits you will recognize
them. Never do people gather grapes from
thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Like-
wise every good tree produces fine fruit,
but every rotten tree produces worthless
fruit.” – Matthew 7:16, 17.
What other “fruits” have Jehovah‟s Wit-
nesses been bringing forth? Jerry R. Bergman,
Ph. D., a leading expert on psychology and
sociology, says: “Suicide is a serious problem
among the Witnesses.” (Jehovah's Witnesses
and the Problem of Mental Illness, page 147)
Time and again, Jehovah‟s Witnesses die be-
cause they obey men as rulers rather than God
and refuse a blood transfusion out of obedience
to the “faithful and discreet slave.”
“By their fruits you will recognize them”
Who seeks for mistakes in the Watchtower
publications will find a lot of them
There can really be no doubt that Jehovah‟s
Witnesses are the “false prophets, who come to
you.” Of course it would be the best to give
them a wide berth and avoid a “Bible Study”
with them. But even if you are already a Jeho-
vah‟s Witness, you can still make something of
your life. Jesus gave the emphatic advice:
“Stop storing up for yourselves treasures
upon the earth, where moth and rust con-
sume, and where thieves break in and
steal.” (Matthew 6:19) What did he mean?
For sure, this warning is not to be under-
stood literally, for no one‟s assets are threat-
ened by “moth and rust” today. Rather the
“earth” stands for God‟s alleged earthly organi-
zation, the Watchtower organization of Jeho-
vah‟s Witnesses. Their followers “lay up treas-
ures … by engaging in the Christian ministry.”
(The Watchtower, March 1, 1970, page 145)
They think that they could “make a good name
with God” by their efforts in the field ministry.
– Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!, page 314.
The Witchtower 11/2009 8
They do not consider that their asserted
“righteous standing before God” is constantly
threatened by “moth and rust” and “thieves.”
(The Watchtower, December 1, 1985, page 7)
What exactly are these dangers? According to
the German edition of Encyclopaedia Wikipe-
dia, the Clothing Moth is “lashed” and usually
found near “woolen materials, plumes, furs and
upholstery.” Therefore the moth class consists
of women inside and outside of the congrega-
tion who can be a serious hazard to spiritually-
minded brothers.
Spiritually mature men who did not get in-
volved with a vocational training but rather
started pioneering right after school and still
live with their parents at 40 years of age some-
times have a hard time finding a zealous sister
to take for their wife. But if they allow mem-
bers of the moth class to distract them from
Jehovah‟s principles and finally “are disfellow-
shipped from the congregation because of sex-
ual immorality,” all their “treasures” they had
laid up for decades become worthless. (The
Watchtower, December 15, 1989, page 18) “For
his sin he will die, and his righteous acts that
he did will not be remembered.” – Ezekiel 3:20.
Most disfellowshippings are caused by the moth class
The rust class can take away all
“treasures” by disfellowshipping
Women are not the only threat to the sym-
bolic “treasures.” Rust usually attacks older
items; hence the rust class consists of the “old-
er men” or elders. (Acts 15:4) “The eyes of Je-
hovah,” represented by the rust class and their
informants, “are in every place, keeping watch
upon the bad ones and the good ones.” (Prov-
erbs 15:3) If “a man takes some false step,” e. g.
by „meeting together to engage in Scriptural
research or debate‟ or „exploring scientific sub-
jects related to the Bible,‟ they can disfellow-
ship him and thus take away all his hard-won
“fortune.” (Galatians 6:1; Our Kingdom Minis-
try, September 2007, page 3) Surely, Jehovah‟s
Witnesses are “thieves” who “break in” their
territory assignments and “steal” the people‟s
lives.
To those who are already trapped in the
Watchtower organization, Jesus directed the
following advice: “Stop being anxious about
your souls as to what you will eat or what
you will drink, or … what you will wear.”
– Matthew 6:25.
The Witchtower 11/2009 9
Jehovah‟s witnesses are constantly „anxious
about their souls,‟ that is, their eternal life.
Regardless of the topic, they permanently have
to ask themselves: “How does God feel about
this?” (The Watchtower, August 1, 1988, page
3) And day after day they are busy with „what
they will eat or what they will drink,‟ the “spir-
itual food” and the “water of life” that can al-
legedly be found in their magazines.
Furthermore, they always think about
„what they will wear,‟ especially in the field
ministry and at the congregation meetings.
How short can the skirt be? What is the formu-
la to calculate the maximum length of the slit
from the length and style of a skirt? How hot
must it be so that a brother can enter the stage
without a jacket? Under what temperature are
sisters allowed to wear trousers in the field
ministry?
Jesus made it plain that all these anxieties
are in vain. He asked: “Who of you by being
anxious can add one cubit to his life
span?” (Matthew 6:27) The field ministry, the
reading of the Watchtower and other religious
activities cannot extend one‟s life. Someone
who dedicated his life to God and someone who
lived for himself – “as the one dies, so the other
dies.” – Ecclesiastes 3:19.
“Stop being anxious about … what you will wear”
Jehovah‟s Witnesses are not on the „cramped road„
Hence it is futile to lead a life of godly devo-
tion. Aside from that, Jehovah‟s Witnesses
should consider Jesus‟ statement: “Broad and
spacious is the road leading off into de-
struction, and many are the ones going in
through it; whereas narrow is the gate and
cramped the road leading off into life, and
few are the ones finding it.” (Matthew 7:13,
14) The Watchtower admits that “almost six
million people today are walking in Jehovah‟s
way, and millions of others are studying the
Bible to learn how to do so.” – May 15, 1999,
page 18.
In the meantime there are even seven mil-
lion people. No one can seriously claim that so
many people could walk on a „cramped road.‟
No, Jehovah‟s Witnesses with their “great
crowd” and millions of people who “ascend to
the mountain of the house of Jehovah” are
walking on the “broad and spacious” road.
(Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind,
volume I, page 39) But “cramped [is] the road
leading off into life [in freedom], and few are
the ones finding it” by disassociating them-
selves.
Who is finally home and free and is consid-
ered an “apostate” by Jehovah‟s Witnesses can
apply Jesus‟ words to himself: “Happy are you
when people reproach you and persecute
you and lyingly say every sort of wicked
thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and
leap for joy, since your reward is great.” –
Matthew 5:11, 12.
The Witchtower 11/2009 10
Indeed, Jehovah‟s Witnesses “reproach”
apostates and “lyingly say every sort of wicked
thing” against them. The April 15, 2008 Watch-
tower said: “Apostates too speak valueless
words. … Apostates speak their own wisdom,
and their words are valueless, a stumbling
block to any who might listen.” (page 6) The
July 15, 1992 Watchtower requested Jehovah‟s
Witnesses that their “attitude toward apos-
tates should be that of David, who declared:
„Do I not hate those who are intensely hating
you, O Jehovah, and do I not feel a loathing for
those revolting against you? With a complete
hatred I do hate them. They have become to me
real enemies.‟” – page 12.
Another issue said: “Apostates are included
among those who show their hatred of Jehovah
by revolting against him. Apostasy is, in reali-
ty, a rebellion. … When they deliberately
choose such badness after knowing what is
right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that
it is an inseparable part of their makeup, then
a Christian must hate (in the Biblical sense of
the word) those who have inseparably attached
themselves to the badness. True Christians
share Jehovah‟s feelings toward such apos-
tates. … They „feel a loathing‟ toward those
who have made themselves God‟s enemies, but
they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance.”
– October 1, 1993, page 19.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus foretold
that apostates would use the Internet
Jehovah‟s Witnesses are not allowed to execute
apostates themselves, but they look forward to
seeing their corpses decompose after Armageddon
Who finally realizes from what slavery he
has been freed by disassociating himself really
has reason to “rejoice and leap for joy!” He
should express his appreciation by sharing the
truth about the “truth” with others. Jesus fore-
told this situation: “A city cannot be hid
when situated upon a mountain. People
light a lamp and set it, not under the
measuring basket, but upon the
lampstand, and it shines upon all those in
the house. Likewise let your light shine
before men.” – Matthew 5:14-16.
Jehovah‟s Witnesses stick to the outmoded
and inefficient method of spreading their news
by going from house to house. Their “lamp”
shines, so to speak, only for one person at a
time. That‟s why an average publisher in Ger-
many has to spend 58 years in the witnessing
work to lead one person to baptism. If we con-
sider that most baptismal candidates are not
found during field ministry (but rather are
members of the family), we come to more than
200 years of witnessing for one new member
from outside.
The Witchtower 11/2009 11
Unlike Jehovah‟s Witnesses, apostates
make use of modern means of communication,
such as the Internet, to spread the truth. This
way there “lamp … shines upon all,” that is, to
all people at the same time. But still Jesus
advised the apostates: “Do not give what is
holy to dogs, neither throw your pearls
before swine.” (Matthew 7:6) What did he
mean?
According to animal behaviorist Dr. Candy
d‟Sa, “the dog is a loyal and respectful crea-
ture.” (quoted from Awake!, December 22,
2005, page 28) Hence the dog class consists of
Jehovah‟s Witnesses with a respectful charac-
ter who are loyal to the “faithful and discreet
slave.” (Matthew 24:45) It would be futile to
discuss with them about the false doctrines
and prophecies of the Watchtower Society.
Who forms the swine class? According to
The American Heritage Dictionary of the Eng-
lish Language, the word “swine” describes “a
person regarded as brutish or contemptible.”
That can be applied to the leaders of the
Watchtower Society, especially to the Govern-
ing Body.
Writing letters to the swine class in Brooklyn is futile
Most apostates do not look down to their
former brothers, but rather view them as vic-
tims. They do feel contempt though for those
who put the inhuman doctrines about and keep
misleading millions of people with their fanta-
sies. Hence Jesus cautioned apostates against
the idea of writing letters to Brooklyn. He knew
that those would not accomplish their purpose.
Without doubt, we all can put Jesus‟ advice
into practice – whether we are worldlings,
Jehovah‟s Witnesses or apostates. Especially
let us beware of the rust class and the swine
class, and let us enjoy our freedom!
Discussing with the dog
class that is devoted to
the Watchtower Society
is not worth the effort
The Witchtower 11/2009 12
THE WHITE SNARE
SNOW
Have you ever gazed, mesmerized, at falling
snow? If so, no doubt you will agree that this is
one of the most beautiful and tranquil of sights
– particularly if you are safe and warm indoors
and have no pressing need to travel or to go
into the ministry. But snow can become a snare
when used the wrong way.
Jehovah asked Job: “Have you entered into
the storehouses of the snow, or do you see even
the storehouses of the hail, which I have kept
back for the time of distress, for the day of fight
and war?” (Job 38:22, 23) He pointed out that
the snow belongs to him and hence he can de-
cide how to use it.
The Origin of the Snowman
Especially Children are fascinated by the
white splendor. At many places in the world, it
is a common pastime to build a snowman. But
Christian parents surely wonder: How does
God view this issue? Should we allow our chil-
dren to participate in snowman-building?
Certainly the following commandment
comes to our mind: “You shall not make for
yourself an image in the form of anything in
heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the
waters below.” (Exodus 20:4, TNIV) Should this
passage be applied to snowmen?
Doubtless, for Matthew reports: “Jehovah‟s
angel had descended from heaven … His out-
ward appearance was as lightning, and his
clothing as white as snow.” (Matthew 28:2, 3)
Hence a snowman is an “image in the form of”
an angel which clearly is something “in heaven
above.” To make such an image – even for fun –
would be “a violation of what is natural.”
– compare Leviticus 18:23.
Pagan Symbolism
The German edition of Encyclopaedia Wik-
ipedia says about the snowman: “For the face
usually pebbles or pieces of coal as eyes, a car-
rot or a branch as nose and some small pebbles
as mouth are used.” The “pieces of coal as eyes”
remind of us the wicked queen Jezebel who
“proceeded to paint her eyes with black paint.”
(2 Kings 9:30) Do we want our children to hon-
or this pagan ruler who tried to extermine
Jehovah‟s worship from Israel?
But often the snowman has also “a branch
as nose.” Here we see a clear analogy to apos-
tate Israel of Ezekiel‟s time. Jehovah asked: “Is
it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do
the detestable things they are doing here?
Must they also … continually provoke me to
anger? Look at them putting the branch to
their nose!” (Ezekiel 8:17, NIV) Indeed, using a
branch as nose shows lack of respect for Jeho-
vah who created man with a wonderful nose.
The Witchtower 11/2009 13
The snowman is
a pagan symbol
Sometimes “a carrot” is used as nose in-
stead of a branch. Is this less bad? No, for a
reference book about the interpretation of
dreams says about the carrot: “It is often inter-
preted as phallic symbol, refers to sexual de-
sires.” Also the carrot is connected to the bunny
which is a symbol of the pagan Easter festival
and as such glorifies Astarte.
Finally, many snowmen hold a broom in
their hand. That reveals their connection to
witchcraft, and God commanded: “Never let a
witch live.” (Exodus 22:18, GWT) Christian
parents would be well advised to forbid their
children to take part in the building of a
snowman. They could offer other spare time
activities instead, such as singing Kingdom
songs of going into the ministry.
Skiing
While worldly children build snowmen,
their parents often go skiing. But that too
is dangerous, for the Bible warns: “Truly the
hills as well as the turmoil on the mountains
belong to falsehood.” (Jeremiah 3:23) Indeed,
though the snow looks soft, a skiing vacation
can be a deadly danger. Ken Payne reports that
his “14-year-old son, Ben, crashed into a boul-
der while skiing and died.” – Awake!, July 8,
2003, page 20.
But much worse are the spiritual dangers
associated with skiing. Usually the skiers
spend the evenings in ski huts, eating and
drinking. According to the German edition of
Encyclopaedia Wikipedia, that includes heavy
use of “high-percentage spirits” while bands
perform “catchy melodies and partially frivo-
lous lyrics.” But regarding someone who “has
eaten also upon the mountains,” the prophet
Ezekiel said: “His companion‟s wife he has
defiled … He positively will not keep living …
He will positively be put to death.” – Ezekiel
18:11, 13.
Only someone who
“on the mountains …
has not eaten” will
survive. (Ezekiel 18:15)
Regarding those who go
down into the valley
with their skis, the
prophet rather says:
“They will certainly go
down; they must lie
down as the uncircum-
cised, slain by the
sword.” (Ezekiel 32:21)
Jehovah himself speaks
to the ski areas that
promote this kind of sin: “I will fill its mountains
with its slain ones; as for your hills and your
valleys … the very ones slain by the sword will
fall in them.” – Ezekiel 35:8.
Snow Can Become a Snare
The October 22, 1994 issue of Awake! men-
tioned another reason why Christians should
not go skiing. It asked: “‟Would there be a risk
of your becoming romantically involved with an
unbeliever?‟ Fourteen-year-old Yvonne turned
down going on a class ski trip. She explains: „I
would have spent a whole week with no one but
worldly youths and teachers. On top of that,
the companionship of my brothers, the preach-
ing work, and the meetings – those are things I
would really have missed.‟” – page 25.
Indeed, though snow looks beautiful, Satan
uses it as a snare. As Christians we have to be
on the guard, so that the devil does not betray
us into building a snowman or skiing. We
should better heed the advice given in the Feb-
ruary 8, 1996 issue of Awake!: “The next time
you watch the snow falling from the sky, you
may want to think of God‟s awesome power.”
(page 31) Yes, the thought of “God‟s awesome
power” will keep us from breaking his laws for
a short-term amusement.
The Witchtower 11/2009 14
LET US STAY AWAKE!
“At such a time as this you are sleeping and taking your rest!” (Matthew 26:45)
Most people spend about one third of their
lifetime in bed. Is that wise? Should we as
Christians sleep, especially in face of the ex-
ceptional urgency of our time?
The Bible warns: “Woe to those who are
scheming what is harmful, and to those prac-
ticing what is bad, upon their beds!” (Micah
2:1) Indeed, many sins are committed in bed.
Every year tens of thousands of Jehovah‟s
Witnesses are disfellowshipped, “the greater
number of them for practicing sexual immorali-
ty. And this does not include the even higher
number reproved for immorality but not disfel-
lowshipped.” (The Watchtower, September 15,
1987, page 13) Do not all these sins usually
happen in bed? How much suffering could have
been avoided if these Christians would have
abstained from sleeping!
Dangers
But acts of immorality are not the only sin
committed in bed. It was also reported that
some Christians lie awake in their beds, think-
ing about apostate ideas! David wrote regard-
ing such a person: “Hurtfulness is what he
keeps scheming upon his bed. He stations him-
self on a way that is not good.” (Psalm 36:4) He
actually fulfills Solomon‟s prophecy: “A little
sleeping, a little slumbering, a little folding of
the hands to lie down, and as a highwayman
your poverty will certainly come and your
neediness as an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33,
34) In fact, many of those incautious Christians
stop attending the meetings and going into the
ministry. They are stricken with spiritual
“poverty.”
Notice that Solomon advised against even
“a little sleeping!” On another occasion he
commanded: “Do not give any sleep to your
eyes, nor any slumber to your beaming eyes.”
(Proverbs 6:4) Even if we do not conduct im-
moral acts in our bed and do not think about
apostate ideas, our bed could become dirty –
especially if we imitate Jesus‟ disciples and do
not wash ourselves. (Matthew 15:2) But the
apostle Paul pointed out: “The marriage bed be
without defilement.” Those are only some of
the practical reasons why it would be wise to
give up sleeping and using a bed.
Our Examples
As Christians we want to become “imitators
of God.” (Ephesians 5:1) And regarding him,
the Bible says: “He will not be drowsy nor go to
sleep.” (Psalm 121:4) Jehovah “is one seeing no
sleep with his eyes, either by day or by night.”
(Ecclesiastes 8:16) Accordingly the temple
singers sang: “I will not give sleep to my eyes,
nor slumber to my own beaming eyes.” – Psalm
132:4.
The “marriage bed” can only be
“without defilement” when not used
The Witchtower 11/2009 15
Jesus imitated his father‟s example in a
perfect way. He said to his disciples: “Foxes
have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but
the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his
head.” (Matthew 8:20) Instead of sleeping, he
rather spent “the whole night in prayer to
God.” (Luke 6:12) He expected his disciples to
show the same diligence and instructed them:
“Stay awake – for you do not know when the
master of the house will come, in the evening,
or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in
the morning – lest he come suddenly and find
you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all:
Stay awake.” – Mark 13:35-37, ESV.
Once they disappointed him, so that he had
to scold them: “At such a time as this you are
sleeping and taking your rest!” (Matthew
26:45) Due to the urgency of their period, it
was highly irresponsible to waste time with
sleeping. But at least they learned something
from that incident. Roman officials later said
regarding Jesus: “His disciples came in the
night and stole him while we were sleeping.”
(Matthew 28:13) While other people “were
sleeping,” Jesus‟ disciples were awake and
busy in the Lord‟s work.
The apostle Paul also mentioned that his
“endurance of … sleepless nights” qualified
him as one of “God‟s ministers.” (2 Corinthians
6:4, 5) He wrote: “Those who sleep are accus-
tomed to sleep at night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:7)
Hence he knew that there were people who
slept, but Christians should not be among
them. After all, even back then „the night was
well along, the day had drawn near.‟ (Romans
13:12) But now “the Lord‟s day” is already
here! – Revelation 1:10.
Let Us Not Sleep On
What should we do if we used to sleep to
date? Paul urges us: “Let us therefore put off
the works belonging to darkness” – and there
can be no doubt that sleeping is part of “the
works belonging to darkness.” (Romans 13:12)
He points out “that it is already the hour for
you to awake from sleep.” (Romans 13:11) “So,
then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let
us stay awake!” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 6.
The elders should regularly monitor if the
publishers in their congregation comply with
Paul‟s instruction. It would be wise to make a
schedule for the nightly inspection tours. When
they find someone sleeping, they should wake
him up with an appropriate Bible verse, such
as Proverbs 6:9: “How long, you lazy one, will
you keep lying down? When will you rise up
from your sleep?”
The End of Those Who Sleep
To what kind of end will those come who
waste their time with sleeping despite our “criti-
cal times?” The army chief Sisera was scarcely
“asleep” when his hostess “proceeded to take a
pin of the tent and to put the hammer into her
hand. Then she went to him stealthily and drove
the pin into his temples and beat it into the
earth. … So he died.” (Judges 4:21) Sleeping
Christians will come to a similar end: “They
must sleep an indefinitely lasting sleep, from
which they will not wake up.” – Jeremiah 51:39.
How important it is to heed Jesus‟ counsel:
“Keep awake, then, all the time making suppli-
cation that you may succeed in escaping all
these things that are destined to occur, and in
standing before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)
Let us never allow sleep to distract us from
Jehovah‟s service!
When Jesus „finds us asleep,‟ it will be too late
The Witchtower 11/2009 16
1914 “In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i. e., the
full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A. D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of
the rule of imperfect men. … The „Gentile Times‟ prove that the present governments must all be overturned
before the close of A. D. 1914.”
Millenial Dawn / Studies in the Scriptures, volume II “The Time is At Hand”, page 76, 77
1925 “What, then, should we expect to take place? … The great antitype must mark the beginning of restoration of
all things. … Since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and other faithful ones of old, …. we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of
Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the
visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.”
Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, page 88
1940’s “Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years,
until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone, and to then enter the marital relationship.”
Face the Facts, 1938
before 1965
“Armageddon is near. … Even if takes 10 or 20 more years until the final settlement of Armageddon – it has
not been said that it will really be so – the Gospel has to be proclaimed with all power.”
Trost (German edition of Consolation ), June 1, 1945
1975 „What about the year 1975? … Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be finished, with Satan bound, by
1975? It could! It could!”
The Watchtower, October 15, 1966, page 631
Would you welcome disappointment?
Even in this more or less secure world, you can become disappointed if you trust in the pre-
dictions of Jehovah‟s Witnesses and other religious fanatics. If you would welcome further
information, please deliver this magazine to an elder at the nearest Kingdom Hall.
