MAY 2 024

34567
LARGE PRINT EDITION

STUDY ARTICLES FOR:

JU LY 8 –AUGUST 11 , 2024
 STUDY
ARTICLE 18

Trust in the Merciful

“Judge of
All the Earth”!
“Will the Judge of all the earth not do what is right?”
—GEN. 18:25.

SONG 1
Jehovah’s Attributes

FOCUS
To deepen our understanding of Jehovah’s mercy and
justice regarding the resurrection of unrighteous people.
2
IT WAS a conversation that Abraham never forgot.
Through an angel, God told Abraham that He was
going to wipe out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
That faithful man was troubled. He asked: “Will you
really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? . . .
Will the Judge of all the earth not do what is right?”
Jehovah patiently taught his beloved human friend a
lesson that benefits and comforts us all: God will nev-
er destroy righteous people.—Gen. 18:23-33.
2 How can we be sure that Jehovah’s acts of judg-
ment are righteous and merciful? Because we know
that “Jehovah sees into the heart” of people. (1 Sam.
16:7) In fact, he knows “every human heart.” (1 Ki. 8:
39; 1 Chron. 28:9) That is an amazing truth. Jeho-
vah’s judgments are infinitely beyond our under-
standing. Fittingly, the apostle Paul was inspired to
say of Jehovah God: “How unsearchable his judg-
ments are!”—Rom. 11:33.
3Still, we may sometimes have questions similar to
the ones that Abraham raised. We may even won-
der: ‘Is there any future hope for such people as
those judged in Sodom and Gomorrah? Might any of
1. What comforting lesson did Jehovah teach Abraham?
2. What assures us that Jehovah’s judgments are righteous and
merciful?
3-4. What may we wonder about at times, and what will we consid-
er in this article? (John 5:28, 29)

MAY 2024 3
them be included in the “resurrection of . . . the un-
righteous”?’—Acts 24:15.
4
Let us review what we understand about the res-
urrection. Recently, we received a clarified under-
standing of the “resurrection of life” and the “resur-
rection of judgment.”1 (Read John 5:28, 29.) This
clarification has led to further adjustments, which
will be discussed in this article and in the one that
follows. Regarding Jehovah’s righteous judgments,
we will first consider what we do not know and then
what we do know.

WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW

5
In the past, our publications have considered the
question of what happens to those whom Jehovah
judges as unrighteous. We have said that for such in-
dividuals as those in Sodom and Gomorrah, there is
no hope of a future resurrection. But further prayer-
ful study has raised the question, Can we really say
that with certainty?
6 Consider a number of related questions. Several
1 See The Watchtower, September 2022, pp. 14-19.

5. What have our publications suggested in the past regarding

those who perished at Sodom and Gomorrah?
6. What are some examples of Jehovah’s judgments against un-
righteous people, and what do we not know?

4 THE WATCHTOWER
Bible accounts describe Jehovah’s judgments against
unrighteous people, such as the unknown numbers
who died in the Flood or the seven nations in the
Promised Land that Jehovah ordered his people to
devote to destruction or the 185,000 Assyrian sol-
diers slain by an angel of Jehovah in a single night.
(Gen. 7:23; Deut. 7:1-3; Isa. 37:36, 37) In these cas-
es, does the Bible give us enough information to de-
termine that Jehovah sentenced all those individuals
to eternal destruction, with no hope of a resurrec-
tion? No, it does not. Why can we say that?
7 We do not know how Jehovah judged each indi-
vidual; nor do we know whether those who were
killed had an opportunity to learn about Jehovah and
to repent. In regard to the time of the Flood, the Bi-
ble does say that Noah was “a preacher of righteous-
ness.” (2 Pet. 2:5) But it does not say that while he
was building a colossal ark, he was also attempting to
reach every individual on earth who would face de-
struction in the Deluge. Similarly, in the case of the
nations of Canaan, we do not know if all those wick-
ed people had an opportunity to learn about Jeho-
vah and change their ways.
7. What do we not know regarding the people who were destroyed
in the Flood or in the conquest of Canaan? (See cover picture.)

MAY 2024 5
 8
What of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah? A
righteous man named Lot lived in their midst. But do
we know that Lot preached to all of them? No. They
were certainly wicked, but did they all know any bet-
ter? Recall that a crowd of men in that city sought to
rape Lot’s guests. The Bible says that the mob ranged
“from boy to old man.” (Gen. 19:4; 2 Pet. 2:7) Do we
really know that the merciful God, Jehovah, con-
demned each one to death with no hope of a resurrec-
tion? Jehovah assured Abraham that there were not
even ten righteous men in that city. (Gen. 18:32) So
they were unrighteous, and Jehovah justly held them
accountable for their actions. Can we say for certain,
then, that none of them will rise in the “resurrection
of . . . the unrighteous”? No, we cannot say for sure!
9
On the other hand, we also read in the Bible of
righteous people who became unrighteous. King Sol-
omon is an example. He was thoroughly instructed in
God’s ways and greatly blessed by Jehovah; yet, he
later turned to worshipping false gods. His sins made
Jehovah furious and brought consequences that last-
ed for centuries. True, the Scriptures do say that
Solomon “was laid to rest with his forefathers,” in-
cluding such faithful men as King David. (1 Ki. 11:5-9,
8. What do we not know regarding the people of Sodom and Go-
morrah?
9. What do we not know regarding Solomon?

6 THE WATCHTOWER
43; 2 Ki. 23:13) But was the manner of his burial a
guarantee that he would be resurrected? The Bible
does not say. Some might reason, though, that “the
one who has died has been acquitted from his sin.”
(Rom. 6:7) True, but this does not mean that all who
have died will be resurrected, as if a new life were a
right that they have earned. Resurrection is a gift
from a loving God. He bestows it on those whom he
wants to give an opportunity to serve him forever.
(Job 14:13, 14; John 6:44) Will Solomon receive such
a gift? Jehovah knows the answer; we do not. We do
know, though, that Jehovah will do what is right.
WHAT WE DO KNOW
10 Read Ezekiel 33:11. When it comes to the way he
judges humans, Jehovah kindly reveals to us how he
feels. The apostle Peter was inspired to echo what the
prophet Ezekiel wrote, saying that “Jehovah . . . does
not desire anyone to be destroyed.” (2 Pet. 3:9) In the
light of that reassuring truth, we know that Jehovah
is not quick to destroy people once and for all. He is
profoundly merciful, and he shows mercy whenever
possible.
11 What do we know about the people who will not
10. How does Jehovah feel about destroying humans? (Ezekiel 33:
11) (See also picture.)
11. Who will not be resurrected, and how do we know that?

MAY 2024 7
be resurrected? The Bible offers only a few exam-
ples.1 Jesus indicated that Judas Iscariot will not be
resurrected. (Mark 14:21; see also John 17:12 and
study note.) Judas knowingly and willfully worked in
opposition to Jehovah God and His Son. (See Mark
3:29 and study notes.) Similarly, Jesus said that some
of the religious leaders who had opposed him would
die without a hope of resurrection. (Matt. 23:33; see
John 19:11 and study note “the man.”) And the apos-
tle Paul warned that unrepentant apostates would
not be resurrected.—Heb. 6:4-8; 10:29.
12
However, what do we know about Jehovah’s mer-
cy? How has he demonstrated that he “does not de-
sire anyone to be destroyed”? Consider his mercy to-
ward some who committed serious sins. King David
got involved in a series of gross sins, including adul-
tery and murder. Yet, David repented, so Jehovah
mercifully forgave him. (2 Sam. 12:1-13) King Manas-
seh was profoundly wicked for much of his life. Even
in that extreme case, however, Jehovah responded
favorably to that man’s repentance and found a basis
for extending mercy and forgiveness. (2 Chron. 33:
9-16) These examples remind us that Jehovah shows
1 Regarding Adam, Eve, and Cain, see The Watchtower, January 1,
2013, p. 12, ftn.

12. What do we know about Jehovah’s mercy? Give examples.

8 THE WATCHTOWER
 In the resurrection of
the unrighteous, a wide
variety of people will
receive an opportunity
to learn about Jehovah
(See paragraph 10)

mercy whenever he sees that there is a basis for do-

ing so. He will resurrect such individuals because
they realized that they had committed terrible sins
and they repented.
13 We also know about Jehovah’s mercy toward the
Ninevites. God told Jonah: “Their wickedness has
come to my attention.” But when they repented of
their sins, Jehovah kindly forgave them. He was far
more merciful than Jonah was. God had to remind
his angry prophet that those Ninevites did “not even
know right from wrong.” (Jonah 1:1, 2; 3:10; 4:9-11)
Later, Jesus used that example to teach about Jeho-
vah’s justice and mercy. Jesus said that the repentant
Ninevites would “rise up in the judgment.”—Matt.
12:41.
13. (a) Why did Jehovah show mercy to the Ninevites? (b) What did
Jesus later say about the Ninevites?

MAY 2024 9
 14 In what “judgment” would the Ninevites “rise
up”? Jesus taught about a future “resurrection of
judgment.” (John 5:29) He was referring to his Thou-
sand Year Reign, during which both “the righteous
and the unrighteous” will be resurrected. (Acts 24:
15) For the unrighteous, this will be “a resurrec-
tion of judgment.” That is, Jehovah and Jesus will
observe and evaluate their behavior and how they
respond to divine teaching. If a resurrected Nin-
evite refuses to join in pure worship, his judgment
will be one of condemnation. (Isa. 65:20) But for
all those who choose to worship Jehovah faithfully,
their judgment will be favorable. They will have the
prospect of living forever!—Dan. 12:2.
15When speaking of the people of Sodom and Go-
morrah, Jesus said that they would fare better “on
Judgment Day” than would the people who rejected
him and his teachings. (Matt. 10:14, 15; 11:23, 24;
Luke 10:12) What did he mean? We might assume
that Jesus was using hyperbole on this occasion. But
that does not seem to be the case, any more than
14. What will the “resurrection of judgment” mean for the Nin-
evites?
15. (a) Why should we avoid saying that none of those destroyed
at Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected? (b) How may we un-
derstand the words recorded at Jude 7? (See the box “What Did
Jude Mean?”)

10 THE WATCHTOWER
when he was speaking of the Ninevites.1 Rather, it
seems that Jesus meant what he said. The “Judgment
Day” he referred to in both instances was surely the
same. Like the Ninevites, the people of Sodom and
Gomorrah did bad things. But the Ninevites had an
opportunity to repent. Further, remember what Je-
sus said about the “resurrection of judgment.” It will
include “those who practiced vile things.” (John 5:
29) So it seems that there may be some hope for the
people of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is possible that at
least some of those people will be resurrected, and
we may have the opportunity to teach them about Je-
hovah and Jesus Christ.
16Read Jeremiah 17:10. That verse helps us to
summarize what we do know: Jehovah has always
been the one “searching the heart, examining the in-
nermost thoughts.” When it comes to the future res-
urrection, he will, as always, “give to each one ac-
cording to his ways.” Jehovah will be firm when
necessary but merciful whenever possible. So we
1 Hyperbole is the intentional and obvious use of overstatement, or ex-
aggeration, in order to make a point. But Jesus’ comment about the
people of Sodom and Gomorrah could well be literal, so it is not hy-
perbole.

16. What do we know regarding how Jehovah will decide whom to

resurrect? (Jeremiah 17:10)

MAY 2024 11
should not assume that a person has no hope of a res-
urrection unless we know that to be the case!

“THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH”

WILL “DO WHAT IS RIGHT”
17 Ever since Adam and Eve joined Satan and re-
belled against Jehovah God, billions of humans have
died. The “enemy, death,” has reaped an enormous
harvest! (1 Cor. 15:26) What lies ahead for all those
people? A limited number, 144,000 in all, of Christ’s
faithful followers will receive a resurrection to im-
mortal life in heaven. (Rev. 14:1) A vast number of
faithful men and women who loved Jehovah will be
part of the “resurrection of . . . the righteous,” and
they will live forever on earth if they remain righ-
teous during Christ’s Millennial Reign and during the
final test. (Dan. 12:13; Heb. 12:1) Also during the
Millennium, “the unrighteous”—including those who
never served Jehovah or who even “practiced vile
things”—will be given an opportunity to change their
ways and become faithful. (Luke 23:42, 43) However,
some humans were so wicked, so determined to rebel
against Jehovah and his purposes, that he has decid-
ed that there will be no resurrection for them at all.
—Luke 12:4, 5.
17. What does the future hold for humans who have died?

12 THE WATCHTOWER
 What Did Jude Mean?
Decades after Jesus died, his half brother Jude wrote
that Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them
had undergone “the judicial punishment of everlasting
fire.” (Jude 7) What did Jude mean? Was he contradict-
ing Jesus’ message? (Luke 10:12) No. Jesus did not say
that everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah would be resur-
rected. Rather, he suggested that there was hope for at
least some of them. It seems that the cities themselves,
rather than all their inhabitants, were everlastingly de-
stroyed as a dramatic warning against immoral conduct.
What Jude wrote was in harmony with what the prophet
Jeremiah had said when he explained that those wicked
cities were just like ancient Edom and Babylon, which
were destroyed forever, never to be rebuilt or inhabited
again. (Jer. 49:17, 18; 50:35, 39, 40) Additionally, both
Jude and the apostle Peter allowed for the possibility
that some of those people whom God had destroyed will
not be resurrected.—2 Pet. 2:6.

18Do we have good reason for confidence regard-

ing all of Jehovah’s judgments, both favorable and
unfavorable? Yes! As Abraham understood so well,
Jehovah is the perfect, all-wise, merciful “Judge of
18-19. (a) Why can we be confident about Jehovah’s judgments of
those who have died? (Isaiah 55:8, 9) (b) What will we consider in
the next article?

MAY 2024 13
all the earth.” He has trained his Son and delegated
all judging to him. (John 5:22) Both Father and Son
can read what lies in each human heart. (Matt. 9:4)
In every case, they will do “what is right”!
19
Let us be determined to trust that Jehovah
knows best. We recognize that we are not qualified to
judge—but he is! (Read Isaiah 55:8, 9.) So we confi-
dently leave all the judging to him and his Son, the
King who perfectly reflects his Father’s justice and
mercy. (Isa. 11:3, 4) What, though, can we say about
divine judgments relating to the great tribulation?
What do we not know? And what do we know? Our
next article will take up those questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Cover: Noah and his family are working on
the colossal ark. It is not known if Noah led an organized preaching
campaign during that time of construction to reach all the peoples of
the earth before the Flood came.

REGARDING THE FUTURE RESURRECTION OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS, . . .

˛ what do we not ˛ what do we know? ˛ why can we be
know? confident
that Jehovah’s
judgments will
be righteous?

SONG 57
Preaching to All Sorts of People
STUDY
ARTICLE 19

What Do We Know
About Jehovah’s
Future Judgments?
“Jehovah . . . does not desire anyone to be destroyed.”
—2 PET. 3:9.

SONG 22
The Kingdom Is in Place—Let It Come!

FOCUS
We can be certain that Jehovah’s future judgments will be
righteous and just.
15
WE ARE living in exciting times! Each day, Bible
prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. For ex-
ample, we see “the king of the north” and “the king
of the south” engaged in a struggle for world dom-
inance. (Dan. 11:40, ftn.) We see the good news of
God’s Kingdom being preached on an unprecedent-
ed scale, with millions responding favorably. (Isa.
60:22; Matt. 24:14) And we are receiving an abun-
dance of spiritual food “at the proper time.”—Matt.
24:45-47.
2 Jehovah continues to help us to have a clearer
understanding of the major events that lie just
ahead. (Prov. 4:18; Dan. 2:28) We can be certain
that by the time the great tribulation starts, we will
know all we need to know in order to endure faith-
fully and even prosper during that challenging pe-
riod. However, we must recognize that there are
some things that we just do not know about the near
future. In this article, we will first discuss why we
have reconsidered what we have said about some of
those events. Then we will review some of the
things that we do know about the future and the
way that our heavenly Father will act.
1. Why can it be said that we are living in exciting times?
2. Of what can we be certain, but what must we recognize?

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW
3 In the past, we said that once the great tribula-
tion begins, no unbelievers will be able to take their
stand for Jehovah and survive Armageddon. We
came to that conclusion because we understood
that the account of the Flood was a prophetic type.
For example, we reasoned that just as Jehovah shut
the door of the ark prior to the start of the Flood,
he would, at the beginning of the great tribula-
tion, “shut the door” on Satan’s system of things,
thus preventing any more people from being saved.
—Matt. 24:37-39.
4 Should we view the account of the Flood as a
prophetic type? The answer is no. Why? Because
there is no direct Scriptural support for doing so.1
Jesus did compare “the days of Noah” to the time
of his presence, but he did not imply that the Flood
was a prophetic type, with each person and each
1 For an explanation of why this change was made, see the article “This
Is the Way You Approved” in the March 15, 2015, issue of The Watch-
tower, pp. 7-11.

3. What have we said regarding when Jehovah will cut off the op-
portunity for people to join us, and why did we reach that conclu-
sion?
4. Do we now view the account about the Flood as being a prophet-
ic type? Explain.

MAY 2024 17
event having a corresponding antitype; nor did he
say that the closing of the door of the ark had any
prophetic significance. This does not mean, how-
ever, that we cannot learn from the account of
Noah and the Flood.
5 When Noah heard Jehovah’s warning message,
he proved that he had faith by building the ark.
(Read Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20.) Similarly, peo-
ple who hear the good news about God’s Kingdom
must act on what they hear. (Acts 3:17-20) Peter
called Noah “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Pet.
2:5) However, as discussed in the preceding article,
we do not know whether Noah led a preaching cam-
paign to reach everyone living on earth before the
Flood. Today we are involved in a global preaching
work, and we endeavor to have a zealous share in
it. Still, try as we might, we cannot possibly reach
everyone on earth with the good news before the
end comes. Why not?
6Consider what Jesus said about the scope of our
preaching work. He foretold that the good news
5. (a) What action did Noah take before the Flood? (Hebrews 11:7;
1 Peter 3:20) (b) With regard to the preaching work, how does our
situation today compare with that of Noah’s day?
6-7. Why can we conclude that we will not reach everyone on earth
with the good news before the end comes? Explain.

18 THE WATCHTOWER
would be preached “in all the inhabited earth for
a witness to all the nations.” (Matt. 24:14) That
prophecy is being fulfilled today as never before.
The Kingdom message is published in more than
1,000 languages, and by means of the jw.org web-
site, it is available to the majority of the world’s
population.
7 However, Jesus also told his disciples that they
would not “complete the circuit of the cities,” or
preach to everyone, before he would come. (Matt.
10:23; 25:31-33) Jesus’ words will prove to be true
in our day as well. Millions of people today live in
areas where the preaching work is severely restrict-
ed. In addition, hundreds of babies are born every
minute. We do our best to reach people from “every
nation and tribe and tongue” with the good news.
(Rev. 14:6) But the fact is that we will not be able
to share the good news with each individual on
earth before the end comes.
8 Thus, a question arises: What about those who
may not have a chance to hear the good news be-
fore the great tribulation strikes? How will Jehovah
and his Son, whom he has entrusted to do the judg-
ing, deal with them? (John 5:19, 22, 27; Acts 17:31)
8. What question might we ask about Jehovah’s future judgments?
(See also pictures.)

MAY 2024 19
 How will Jehovah deal with those who may not have a chance
to hear the good news before the great tribulation strikes?
(See paragraph 8)

The theme text of this article states that Jehovah

“does not desire anyone to be destroyed.” Instead,
he wants “all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9;
1 Tim. 2:4) That said, we must acknowledge that Je-
hovah has not yet revealed to us what he will do in
answer to this question. Of course, he is not obli-
gated to tell us anything about what he has done or
will do.
9 In his Word, Jehovah has revealed to us some
of the things he will do. For example, the Bible tells
us that Jehovah will bring back to life “unrigh-
teous” people who have not had the opportunity to
respond to the good news and change their ways.
(Acts 24:15; Luke 23:42, 43) That raises other im-
portant questions.
9. What has Jehovah revealed to us in the Bible?

20 THE WATCHTOWER
 10 Will all who die during the events of the great
tribulation be destroyed forever with no hope of a
resurrection? The Scriptures make it clear that out-
right opposers whom Jehovah and his forces will
destroy at Armageddon will not be resurrected.
(2 Thess. 1:6-10) But what about others, for exam-
ple, who may die from natural causes, from acci-
dents, or at the hand of other humans? (Eccl. 9:11;
Zech. 14:13) Could some of these people be among
the “unrighteous” who will be resurrected in the
new world? We simply do not know.
WHAT WE DO KNOW
11 We do know several things about future events.
For example, we know that at Armageddon, peo-
ple will be dealt with on the basis of how they
have treated Christ’s brothers. (Matt. 25:40) Those
judged as sheep will have shown their support for
the anointed and for Christ. We also know that
some of Christ’s brothers will still be on earth after
the great tribulation starts and will not be taken to
heaven until shortly before the outbreak of Ar-
mageddon. As long as the brothers of Christ are
still on earth, it is possible that honesthearted
10. What other questions arise?
11. On what basis will people be judged at Armageddon?

MAY 2024 21
 Some who will see the destruction of “Babylon the Great”
will recall that Jehovah’s Witnesses had long spoken of this event
(See paragraphs 12-13)

individuals will have the opportunity to support

them and the work they are doing. (Matt. 25:31, 32;
Rev. 12:17) Why are those facts significant?
12 Even after the great tribulation starts, it is pos-
sible that some who see the destruction of “Bab-
ylon the Great” will recall that Jehovah’s Witness-
es had long spoken of this event. Might some who
see these events have a change of heart?—Rev. 17:5;
Ezek. 33:33.
13Such an outcome would be similar to what oc-
curred in Egypt in Moses’ day. Recall that “a vast
mixed company” joined Israel in the Exodus. Some
of these individuals may have started to develop
12-13. How might some react after seeing the destruction of “Bab-
ylon the Great”? (See also pictures.)

22 THE WATCHTOWER
faith when they saw that Moses’ warnings about the
Ten Plagues came true. (Ex. 12:38) If a similar de-
velopment should occur following the destruction
of Babylon the Great, would we be disappointed
that people were able to join us shortly before the
end comes? Of course not! We want to reflect the
personality of our heavenly Father, “a God merciful
and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in
loyal love and truth.”1—Ex. 34:6.
14At times, we hear someone say, “It would al-
most be better if my relative dies before the great
tribulation begins so that there is hope for his
resurrection.” There are surely kind motives be-
hind such expressions. But a person’s eternal future
does not depend on when he happens to die. Jeho-
vah is the perfect Judge—he renders just and righ-
teous decisions. (Read Psalm 33:4, 5.) We can be
confident that “the Judge of all the earth” will do
what is right.—Gen. 18:25.
15It is also reasonable to conclude that a person’s
eternal future does not depend on where he happens
1 After Babylon the Great is destroyed, all of Jehovah’s servants will be
tested during the attack of Gog of Magog. Any who side with God’s
people after the destruction of Babylon the Great will also be tested.

14-15. Does a person’s eternal future depend on when he happens

to die or where he happens to live? Explain. (Psalm 33:4, 5)

MAY 2024 23
to live. It is unthinkable that Jehovah would auto-
matically label as “goats” millions of people who live
in lands where they never had an opportunity to
respond to the Kingdom message. (Matt. 25:46)
The righteous Judge of all the earth cares even
more about these individuals than we ever could. We
do not know how Jehovah will maneuver events dur-
ing the great tribulation. Perhaps some of these
people will have an opportunity to learn about Je-
hovah, put faith in him, and take their stand on Je-
hovah’s side when he sanctifies himself before all na-
tions.—Ezek. 38:16.

After the great tribulation starts,

. . . might some who see these
events have a change of heart?

16 Through our study of the Bible, we have come

to know just how much Jehovah values human life.
He gave his Son’s life so that all of us may have the
prospect of living forever. (John 3:16) We have
all felt Jehovah’s tender affection. (Isa. 49:15) He
knows each of us by name. In fact, he knows us so
16. What have we come to know about Jehovah? (See also picture.)

24 THE WATCHTOWER
 We can be confident that Jehovah will judge each individual
in a perfectly balanced, righteous, and merciful way
(See paragraph 16)

well as individuals that should we die, he can re-

create every unique detail and restore every memo-
ry that makes us who we are! (Matt. 10:29-31) Sure-
ly, we have good reason to be confident that our
loving heavenly Father will judge each individual in
a perfectly balanced, righteous, and merciful way.
—Jas. 2:13.
17These clarifications actually make our preach-
ing work more urgent than ever. Why can we say
17. What will we discuss in the next article?

MAY 2024 25
that? And what motivates us to keep preaching
the good news without letup? We will discuss the
answers to these questions in detail in the next arti-
cle.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 20: Three scenes showing why some
may not be reached by our global preaching work: (1) A woman living
where the prevailing religion makes it unsafe, (2) a couple living where
the existing political system makes it illegal and dangerous, and (3) a
man living where the geography makes it extremely remote and inacces-
sible. Page 22: A young woman who left the truth remembers what she
learned about the destruction of “Babylon the Great.” She has a change
of heart and returns to her Christian parents. If such developments oc-
cur, we want to reflect the merciful and compassionate personality of
our heavenly Father and rejoice that a sinner has returned.

REGARDING JEHOVAH’S FUTURE JUDGMENTS, . . .

˛ what are some ˛ what are some ˛ of what can we
things that we do things that we do be confident?
not know? know?

SONG 76
How Does It Make You Feel?
 STUDY
ARTICLE 20

Let Love Motivate You

to Keep Preaching!
“In all the nations, the good news has to be preached first.”
—MARK 13:10.

SONG 67
“Preach the Word”

FOCUS
How love motivates us to be zealous and whole-souled in
the preaching work.
27
AT THE 2023 annual meeting,1 we received thrilling
clarifications on some of our beliefs and we heard
some exciting announcements about our ministry. We
learned, for example, that some individuals may have
an opportunity to side with Jehovah’s people even af-
ter Babylon the Great is destroyed. We also learned
that as of November 2023, Kingdom publishers would
no longer be asked to report all their activity in the
ministry. Do such changes make our ministry less im-
portant, less urgent than before? Absolutely not!
2With each passing day, our ministry becomes
more urgent. Why? Because time is running out.
Consider what Jesus foretold about the preaching
work in the last days. (Read Mark 13:10.) According
to Matthew’s parallel account, Jesus said that the
good news would be preached in all the inhabited
earth before “the end” comes. (Matt. 24:14) That
expression refers to the complete end of Satan’s
wicked system of things. Jehovah has set the “day
and hour” for the events that will soon unfold.
1 The annual meeting was held on October 7, 2023, at the Newburgh
Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York, U.S.A. The entire
program was later presented on JW Broadcasting˙—Part 1 in Novem-
ber 2023 and Part 2 in January 2024.

1. What did we learn at the 2023 annual meeting?

2. Why does our ministry become more urgent with each passing
day? (Mark 13:10)

28 THE WATCHTOWER
(Matt. 24:36; 25:13; Acts 1:7) Each day brings us one
day closer to that time. (Rom. 13:11) Meanwhile, we
must keep preaching until the end comes.
3 As we reflect on our ministry, we do well to con-
sider a soul-searching question: Why do we preach
the good news? Put simply, love motivates us to
preach. What we do in the preaching work reflects
our love—our love for the good news, our love for
people and, above all, our love for Jehovah and his
name. Let us consider these one at a time.

WE PREACH BECAUSE
WE LOVE THE GOOD NEWS
4Can you recall how you felt when you received
some good news—perhaps the birth of a new family
member or even the offer of a much-needed job? No
doubt you were eager to share that good news with
your family and friends. Did something similar hap-
pen when you heard the best news of all—the good
news of God’s Kingdom?
5 Think back to how you felt when you first learned
the truth from God’s Word. You discovered that your
3. What motivates us to preach?
4. How do we react when we receive good news?
5. How did you feel when you first learned the truth from God’s
Word? (See also pictures.)

MAY 2024 29
heavenly Father loves you, that he wants you to be
part of his family of worshippers, that he has prom-
ised to end pain and suffering, that you can hope to
see your dead loved ones come back to life in a new
world—and much more. (Mark 10:29, 30; John 5:
28, 29; Rom. 8:38, 39; Rev. 21:3, 4) Those truths
warmed your heart. (Luke 24:32) You loved what you
were learning, and you could not keep those pre-
cious truths to yourself!—Compare Jeremiah 20:9.
6 Consider an experience. A brother named Er-
nest1 was about ten years old when his father died.
Ernest recalls: “I wondered: ‘Has he gone to heaven?
Or has he ceased to exist forever?’ I envied other
children who still had a father.” Ernest would regu-
larly go to the cemetery, kneel at his father’s grave,
and pray: “Please, God, I want to know where my dad
is.” About 17 years after his father died, Ernest was
offered a Bible study, which he readily accepted. He
was thrilled to learn that the dead are unconscious,
as if in a deep sleep, and that the Bible promises a fu-
ture resurrection. (Eccl. 9:5, 10; Acts 24:15) Finally,
he found the answers to the questions that had trou-
1 See the article “The Bible Changes Lives—I Was Impressed by the Bi-
ble’s Clear, Logical Answers,” published in the February 1, 2015, issue
of The Watchtower.

6. What do you learn from the experience of Ernest and Rose?

30 THE WATCHTOWER
 When we first learned the good news, we could
not keep those precious truths to ourselves!
(See paragraph 5)

bled him for so long! Ernest was very excited about

the Bible truths he was learning. His wife, Rose,
joined him in the study and shared his love for the
Kingdom message. In 1978 they got baptized. They
eagerly shared their treasured beliefs with family,
friends, and any others who would listen. As a result,
Ernest and Rose have helped more than 70 individu-
als to progress to baptism.
7 Clearly, when love for Bible truth takes root in
our heart, we cannot keep silent. (Read Luke 6:45.)
We feel like the first-century disciples of Jesus who
said: “We cannot stop speaking about the things we
have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) We love the truth
7. What happens when love for Bible truth takes root in our heart?
(Luke 6:45)

MAY 2024 31
so much that we want to share it with as many as pos-
sible.
WE PREACH BECAUSE WE LOVE PEOPLE
8 Like Jehovah and his Son, we love people.
(Prov. 8:31; John 3:16) We feel deep compassion for
those who are “without God” and who have “no
hope.” (Eph. 2:12) They are drowning in life’s prob-
lems, and we have the life vest that they need—the
good news of God’s Kingdom. Our love and compas-
sion for such ones motivates us to make every effort
to reach them with the good news. That precious
message can fill their hearts with hope, help them
find the best possible life now, and give them the
prospect of “the real life”—everlasting life—in God’s
new world.—1 Tim. 6:19.
9 Our love for people also moves us to warn them
about the approaching end of this wicked world.
(Read Ezekiel 33:7, 8.) We have pity for our neigh-
bors and our unbelieving family members. Many go
about their daily lives unaware of what is coming—a
“great tribulation such as has not occurred since
the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur
8. What motivates us to reach others with the good news? (See the
box “Love People—Make Disciples.” ) (See also picture.)
9. What warning do we give about the future, and why? (Ezekiel 33:
7, 8)

32 THE WATCHTOWER
 Love People—Make Disciples
This new brochure features 12 qualities that we need to
cultivate in order to show love in the ministry and to
make disciples. Each lesson in the brochure helps us to
focus, not on what we want to say, but on the concerns
and interests of others. Ask yourself: ‘What is on their
mind? What are their needs?’ As stated in the introduc-
tion, “love, more than any specific technique, will help
you reach your goal of making disciples.”

again.” (Matt. 24:21) We want them to know what

will happen during that time of judgment—false reli-
gion will be removed and the destruction of the en-
tire wicked system will follow at Armageddon. (Rev.
16:14, 16; 17:16, 17; 19:11, 19, 20) We pray that as
many as possible will respond to the warning and
join us in pure worship now. But what about those
who do not heed the warning at this time, including
beloved family members?
10As explained in the preceding article, it may be
Jehovah’s will to save people who have a change of
10. Why is it urgent that we keep sounding the warning?

MAY 2024 33
Our love and
compassion for
people motivates us
to make every effort
to reach them with
the good news
(See paragraph 8)

heart when they see the destruction of Babylon the

Great. If so, then it is all the more urgent that we keep
sounding the warning. Consider this: What we tell
them now may give them something to remember then.
(Compare Ezekiel 33:33.) Perhaps they will reflect
back on the warning they heard from us and be
moved to join us in pure worship before it is too late.
Like the jailer in Philippi who had a change of heart
only after “a great earthquake occurred,” perhaps
some who do not respond now will have a change of
heart after the world-shaking destruction of Babylon
the Great.—Acts 16:25-34.

WE PREACH BECAUSE
WE LOVE JEHOVAH AND HIS NAME
11 The most important reason why we preach the
11. How do we give Jehovah glory, honor, and power? (Revelation
4:11) (See also pictures.)

34 THE WATCHTOWER
good news is that we love Jehovah God and his holy
name. We view our ministry as a way to praise the
God we love. (Read Revelation 4:11.) We whole-
heartedly agree that Jehovah God is worthy to re-
ceive glory, honor, and power from his loyal worship-
pers. We give him glory and honor when we share
with others the convincing evidence that he “creat-
ed all things” and that we owe him our very exis-
tence. We give him power—our power—when we use
our time, energy, and resources to share in the min-
istry as fully as our circumstances allow. (Matt. 6:
33; Luke 13:24; Col. 3:23) Put simply, we love to
speak about the God we love. We also feel compelled
to tell others about his name and what it stands for.
Why?
12 Our love for Jehovah moves us to sanctify his
name. (Matt. 6:9) We want to have a part in clearing
his name of the reproach that Satan has brought on
it by his malicious lies. (Gen. 3:1-5; Job 2:4; John 8:
44) In our ministry, we are eager to stand up for our
God, telling the truth about him to all who will lis-
ten. We want everyone to know that his greatest
quality is love, that his way of ruling is righteous and
just, and that his Kingdom will soon end all suffering
and bring peace and happiness to the human family.
12. How do we sanctify Jehovah’s name in our ministry?

MAY 2024 35
 We give Jehovah our power when we use our time, energy, and
resources to share in the ministry as fully as our circumstances allow
(See paragraph 11)

(Ps. 37:10, 11, 29; 1 John 4:8) When we defend

Jehovah’s reputation in our ministry, we sanctify his
name. We also have the satisfaction of knowing that
we are living up to our name. How so?
13 Jehovah has called us to be his “witnesses.”
(Read Isaiah 43:10-12.) Some years ago, a letter
from the Governing Body stated: “The greatest hon-
or that any of us could enjoy is that of being
called one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”1 Why is that so?
1 See the 2007 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 3.

13. Why are we proud to be called Jehovah’s Witnesses? (Isaiah

43:10-12)

36 THE WATCHTOWER
Consider an illustration. If you needed someone to
be a character witness for you in a court case,
you would choose someone you know and trust,
someone whose reputation would make his testimo-
ny trustworthy. By choosing us to be his Witnesses,
Jehovah shows that he knows us well and that he
trusts us to testify that he is the only true God. We
feel so honored to be his Witnesses that we seize
every opportunity to make his name known and to
combat the many lies that have been told about him.
By doing so, we live up to the name that we are
so proud to bear, Jehovah’s Witnesses!—Ps. 83:18;
Rom. 10:13-15.

WE WILL KEEP PREACHING UNTIL THE END

14What exciting prospects lie ahead of us! With
Jehovah’s blessing, we hope to see many more accept
the truth before the great tribulation begins. Also,
we are thrilled at the possibility that even during
the darkest time in human history—the great tribula-
tion—we may see still more people turn away from
Satan’s dying world and join us in praising Jehovah!
—Acts 13:48.
15 Meanwhile, we have work to do. We have the
14. What exciting prospects lie ahead of us?
15-16. What will we keep doing, and until when?

MAY 2024 37
privilege of sharing in a never-to-be-repeated proc-
lamation—the preaching of the good news of God’s
Kingdom throughout the earth. At the same time, we
must keep sounding the warning. People need to
know that the end of this wicked system of things is
rapidly approaching. Then when that time of judg-
ment arrives, they will know that the message we
preached came from Jehovah God.—Ezek. 38:23.
16 What, then, are we determined to do? Motivat-
ed by love—love for the good news, love for peo-
ple and, above all, love for Jehovah God and his
name—we will keep preaching with eagerness, urgen-
cy, and zeal until Jehovah says, “It is enough!”

HOW DO THE FOLLOWING MOTIVATE US TO PREACH?

˛ Love for the good ˛ Love for people ˛ Love for Jehovah
news and his name

SONG 54
“This Is the Way”
 STUDY
ARTICLE 21

How to Find a Potential

Marriage Mate
“Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more
than that of corals.”—PROV. 31:10.

SONG 107
The Divine Pattern of Love

FOCUS
Bible principles that relate to how someone can identify
a suitable marriage mate and how others in the
congregation can support single ones who would like
to get married.
39
WOULD you like to get married? While marriage is
not essential for happiness, many single Christians,
whether young or old, look forward to having a mar-
riage mate. Of course, before pursuing a courtship,
you should be financially, spiritually, and emotional-
ly ready for marriage.1 (1 Cor. 7:36) When that is the
case, you are more likely to have a successful mar-
riage.
2However, it is not always easy to find a suitable
marriage mate. (Prov. 31:10) And even when you do
find someone you would like to get to know better, it
may not be easy to start a courtship.2 In this article,
we will discuss what can help single Christians to find
a potential mate and begin a courtship. We will also
1 To help determine whether you are ready, see on jw.org the article
“Dating—Part 1: Am I Ready to Date?”
2 EXPRESSION EXPLAINED: In this article and in the next, “courtship”
refers to the time during which a man and a woman become better ac-
quainted in order to determine whether they would be compatible as
marriage mates. In some countries, it is also referred to as dating, get-
ting to know someone, or a romantic relationship. Courtship begins
when a man and a woman make clear that they are romantically inter-
ested in each other, and it continues until either they make a commit-
ment to get married or they end the courtship.

1-2. (a) What factors should single Christians consider before pur-
suing a courtship? (b) What do we mean by “courtship”? (See “Ex-
pression Explained.”)

40 THE WATCHTOWER
learn how others in the congregation can support
those who want to get married.

FINDING A SUITABLE MATE

3If you would like to get married, it is best to
know what you are looking for in a mate before be-
ginning a courtship.1 Otherwise, you could overlook
a potential mate or you could pursue a courtship
with someone who is not well-suited for you. Of
course, any potential mate should be a baptized
Christian. (1 Cor. 7:39) But not every baptized per-
son will be a good marriage mate for you. So you
could ask yourself: ‘What are my goals in life? What
qualities in a marriage mate do I view as essential?
Are my expectations reasonable?’
4 No doubt, you have prayed about finding a mate
if that is your desire. (Phil. 4:6) Of course, Jehovah
does not promise anyone a marriage partner. But he
does care about your needs and feelings, and he can
help you with the process of finding a mate. So
1 For simplicity, in the following paragraphs, we will refer to the poten-
tial mate as a brother. Of course, these principles apply equally to sis-
ters.

3. What factors should a single Christian consider when looking for

a marriage mate?
4. What requests have some included in their prayers?

MAY 2024 41
continue sharing your desires and feelings with him.
(Ps. 62:8) Pray for patience and wisdom. (Jas. 1:5)
John,1 a single brother from the United States, ex-
plains what he includes in his prayers: “I tell Jeho-
vah the qualities I desire in a mate. I pray for oppor-
tunities to meet a potential mate. I also ask Jehovah
to help me develop qualities that will make me a
good husband.” Tanya, a sister from Sri Lanka, says:
“While I look for a potential mate, I ask Jehovah
to help me to stay faithful, positive, and happy.”
Even if you do not find a potential marriage mate
right away, Jehovah promises to continue caring for
your physical and emotional needs.—Ps. 55:22.
5 The Bible encourages us to have “plenty to do in
the work of the Lord.” (Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.)
As you keep busy in Jehovah’s service and spend
time with a variety of brothers and sisters, you will
not only enjoy upbuilding association but also have
opportunities to meet other single ones who, like
you, are focused on serving Jehovah. And as you do
your best to please Jehovah, you will experience true
happiness.
1 Some names have been changed.

5. What opportunities do single Christians have to meet someone

who loves Jehovah? (1 Corinthians 15:58) (See also picture.)

42 THE WATCHTOWER
 If you keep busy in Jehovah’s service
and spend time with a variety of fellow Christians,
you may meet others who are interested in marriage
(See paragraph 5)

6 A word of caution, though: Do not allow your

search for a mate to consume you. (Phil. 1:10) True
happiness depends, not on your marital status, but
on your relationship with Jehovah. (Matt. 5:3) And
while you are single, you may have more freedom to
expand your ministry. (1 Cor. 7:32, 33) Make the best
use of this time. Jessica, a sister from the Unit-
ed States who married in her late 30’s, says, “I stayed
busy in the ministry, and that helped me to be con-
tent despite wanting to get married.”
6. While looking for a mate, what should single Christians remem-
ber?

MAY 2024 43
 TAKE TIME TO OBSERVE
7 What if you think someone might make a good
marriage mate? Should you immediately express in-
terest in that person? The Bible says that a wise per-
son acquires knowledge before acting. (Read Prov-
erbs 13:16.) So you would be wise to observe
someone discreetly for a time before expressing
your interest in that person. “Feelings can develop
quickly but also disappear quickly,” says Aschwin
from the Netherlands. “So by giving yourself time to
observe someone, you won’t initiate a courtship
based on impulse.” Furthermore, as you observe the
other person, you may realize that the person is not
ideal for you.
8 How could you go about discreetly observing the
other person? At congregation meetings or at social
gatherings, you may notice things about this per-
son’s spirituality, personality, and conduct. Who are
his friends, and what does he talk about? (Luke 6:45)
Are his goals compatible with yours? You might
speak to his congregation elders or other mature
Christians who know him well. (Prov. 20:18) You
7. Why is it wise to observe a potential mate for a time before ex-
pressing interest in that person? (Proverbs 13:16)
8. How can a single person observe a potential mate? (See also
picture.)

44 THE WATCHTOWER
 Before expressing interest, discreetly observe the person for a while
(See paragraphs 7-8)

might ask about the person’s reputation and quali-

ties. (Ruth 2:11) As you observe this individual, be
sure to avoid making him feel uncomfortable. Re-
spect his feelings, privacy, and personal space.
9 How long should you observe the person before
you express your interest? If you approach some-
one too soon, you could come across as impulsive.
(Prov. 29:20) On the other hand, if you take too
long, you could come across as indecisive, especial-
ly if the other person has perceived your interest.
(Eccl. 11:4) Remember, before approaching some-
one, you do not need to be convinced that you will
marry that person. But you should be convinced that
9. Before approaching a potential mate, of what should you be
convinced?

MAY 2024 45
you are ready for marriage and that the other per-
son could be a suitable mate for you.
10 What, though, if you sense that someone is in-
terested in you? If the feeling is not mutual, try to
make that clear by your actions. It would be unkind
to make the person think that there is a possibility of
a relationship when that is not the case.—1 Cor. 10:
24; Eph. 4:25.
11 In some lands, parents or other adults may be
expected to choose a mate for their single relatives.
In other lands, family or friends find a potential
mate for a single person and then arrange for the
man and the woman to meet to see whether they are
compatible. If you are asked to arrange a courtship
or a marriage, consider the preferences and needs of
both parties. Once you identify a prospective mate,
find out as much as you can about the individual’s
personality, qualities and, above all, spirituality. A
close relationship with Jehovah is much more impor-
tant than money, education, or social status. Remem-
ber, however, that the single brother and the single
sister should make the final decision about whether
to get married.—Gal. 6:5.
10. What should you do if you sense that someone is interested in
you but the feeling is not mutual?
11. In lands where a courtship or a marriage is arranged by others,
what factors should be kept in mind?

46 THE WATCHTOWER
 STARTING A COURTSHIP
12 If you would like to begin a courtship with
someone, how might you go about expressing your
interest?1 You could arrange to have a conversation
with that person, either in a public setting or by tele-
phone. Clearly express your intentions. (1 Cor. 14:9)
If needed, give the person time to think about how
to respond. (Prov. 15:28) And if the person is not in-
terested in pursuing a relationship, respect his feel-
ings.
13 What if someone expresses interest in you? It
likely took courage for that person to approach you,
so be kind and respectful. (Read Colossians 4:6.) If
you need time to consider whether you agree to start
a courtship, say so. However, try to provide a re-
sponse as soon as possible. (Prov. 13:12) If you are
not interested, express that fact kindly and clearly.
Note how Hans, a brother from Austria, responded
1 In some cultures, a brother usually approaches a sister to begin a
courtship. However, a sister may rightly choose to approach a brother.
(Ruth 3:1-13) For more information, see the article “Young People Ask
. . . How Can I Tell Him How I Feel?” in Awake! of October 22, 2004.

12. If you are interested in pursuing a courtship with someone, how

can you make it known to that individual?
13. What can you do if someone expresses a romantic interest in
you? (Colossians 4:6)

MAY 2024 47
when a sister approached him: “I communicated my
decision tactfully but clearly. I did so right away be-
cause I did not want to give her false hope. For the
same reason, I was also careful about how I interact-
ed with her afterward.” On the other hand, if you are
interested in courting that person, discuss your feel-
ings and expectations regarding courtship. Your ex-
pectations may differ from the other person’s, de-
pending on your culture or on other factors.

HOW CAN OTHERS

SUPPORT SINGLE CHRISTIANS?
14 How can all of us support single Christians who
want to get married? One way is by being careful
about what we say. (Eph. 4:29) We could ask our-
selves: ‘Do I tease those who want to get married?
When I see a single brother and a single sister talk-
ing, do I assume that they have a romantic interest
in each other?’ (1 Tim. 5:13) Additionally, we should
never make single Christians feel that they are some-
how incomplete because they are not married. Hans,
quoted earlier, states: “Some brothers say, ‘Why
don’t you get married? You’re not that young any-
more.’ Such comments make single ones feel un-
appreciated and only increase the pressure they may
14. How can we support single Christians with our words?

48 THE WATCHTOWER
 A large group
setting provides
an opportunity for
single Christians
to meet
(See paragraph 15)

feel to get married.” How much better to look for op-

portunities to commend single Christians!—1 Thess.
5:11.
15 What if we think that a certain brother and a
certain sister would make a good couple? The Bible
tells us to consider the feelings of others. (Read Ro-
mans 15:2.) Many single ones do not want others to
introduce them to a potential mate, and we should
respect their wishes. (2 Thess. 3:11) Others may ap-
preciate some help, but we should not intervene
without being asked.1 (Prov. 3:27) Some single ones
prefer a less direct approach. Lydia, a single sister
from Germany, says: “You could include the brother
and the sister in a large group. Simply create the
1 See on jw.org the video Successful Fighters for the Faith—Single
Christians.

15. (a) According to the principle found at Romans 15:2, what

should we consider before helping someone find a marriage mate?
(See also picture.) (b) What points from the video stood out to you?

MAY 2024 49
opportunity for the brother and the sister to meet
and leave the rest up to them.”
16 All of us—single or married—can live happy and
satisfying lives! (Ps. 128:1) So if you want to get mar-
ried but have not yet found someone, continue fo-
cusing on your service to Jehovah. A sister from Ma-
cao named Sin Yi says: “Compared with the time you
could spend with your spouse in Paradise, the time
being single is relatively short. Treasure that time,
and make good use of it.” But what if you have found
a potential mate and have begun courting? In the
next article, we will discuss how you can have a suc-
cessful courtship.
16. What should single Christians remember?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What can you do ˛ Why is it wise ˛ How can
if you would like to observe a others in the
to find a mate? potential mate congregation
before beginning support single
a courtship? Christians who
want to get
married?

SONG 137
Faithful Women, Christian Sisters
 STUDY
ARTICLE 22

How to Have a
Successful Courtship
“The secret person of the heart . . . is of great value.”
—1 PET. 3:4.

SONG 127
The Sort of Person I Should Be

FOCUS
What couples can do to have a successful courtship, and
how others in the congregation can support them.
51
COURTSHIP can be a joyful, exciting time. If you are
currently in a courtship, no doubt you want it to go
well. And for many couples, it does. Tsion,1 a sister
from Ethiopia, says: “One of the happiest times of
my life was when my husband and I dated. We had se-
rious discussions, and we also laughed. I was happy
when I realized that I had found someone I love and
who loves me.”
2 However, Alessio, a brother from the Nether-
lands, says, “It was enjoyable to get to know my wife
when we were dating, but our courtship also had
challenges.” In this article, we will discuss some po-
tential challenges and some Bible principles that can
help couples to have a successful courtship. We will
also consider how others in the congregation can
support courting couples.

THE PURPOSE OF COURTSHIP

3 Although courtship can be enjoyable, it is also a
serious step that may lead to marriage. On their
wedding day, a couple vow before Jehovah to love
and respect each other for as long as they both live.
1 Some names have been changed.

1-2. How do some feel about courtship?

3. What is the purpose of courtship? (Proverbs 20:25)

52 THE WATCHTOWER
Before making any vow, we should consider the mat-
ter very carefully. (Read Proverbs 20:25.) That is
certainly true of the marriage vow. Courtship al-
lows a couple to get to know each other and to
make a good decision. Sometimes that decision is to
get married; sometimes that decision is to end the
courtship. If a couple break up, this does not mean
that their courtship failed. Instead, the courtship
served its purpose—it helped them come to a good
decision.
4 Why is it important to have the right view
of courtship? When single people have the proper
viewpoint, they will not date someone they have no
intention of marrying. Single people, however, are
not the only ones who need to have the right per-
spective. All of us should develop it. For example,
some think that if a couple are dating, they must get
married. How does this attitude affect single Chris-
tians? Melissa, a single sister in the United States,
says: “There is a lot of pressure on Witnesses who
are dating. As a result, some courting couples avoid
ending a relationship that is not working. Other sin-
gle ones avoid dating altogether. The pressure can
be overwhelming.”
4. Why should we have the right view of courtship?

MAY 2024 53
 GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL
5 If you are in a courtship, what will help you de-
cide whether to get married or not? Get to know
each other well. You likely learned some things
about the other person before you began dating. But
now you have the opportunity to get to know “the
secret person of the heart.” (Read 1 Peter 3:4.)
This involves learning more about your prospective
mate’s spirituality, personality, and thinking. Over
time, you should be able to answer such questions
as: ‘Will this person be a good marriage mate for
me?’ (Prov. 31:26, 27, 30; Eph. 5:33; 1 Tim. 5:8) ‘Can
we fulfill each other’s emotional needs? Can we live
with each other’s shortcomings?’1 (Rom. 3:23) As
you get to know each other, remember: Compatibil-
ity is largely determined, not by how similar you
are, but by how adaptable you are to each other’s
differences.
6What other matters should you learn about the
other person during courtship? Before you become
too emotionally involved, you may want to discuss
1 For more questions to consider, see Questions Young People Ask
—Answers That Work, Volume 2, pp. 39-40.

5-6. What should a courting couple strive to learn about each oth-
er? (1 Peter 3:4)

54 THE WATCHTOWER
 Long-Distance Courtships
If you are in a long-distance relationship, you can apply
many of the suggestions in this article virtually or by
phone. You can still focus on talking and listening to
each other. Nevertheless, it may be difficult to learn
some things about each other without spending time
together in person. So visit each other when possible.
You will also have additional factors to consider. For
example: Are you willing and able to move and possibly
adapt to another culture or language? Can you handle
the expenses of traveling to see each other during
courtship and to visit the other person’s family and
friends even afterward?—Luke 14:28.

some important matters, such as the other person’s

goals. But what about such personal matters as
health issues, financial problems, or past trauma?
Not all topics need to be discussed at the beginning
of the courtship. (Compare John 16:12.) If you feel
that it is too soon to answer some particularly per-
sonal questions, let the other person know. Never-
theless, in time your prospective mate will need to
know this information in order to make a balanced
decision. So at some point, you will have to open up.
MAY 2024 55
 7 How can you get to know what the other person
is like deep inside? One of the best ways is to talk
openly and honestly, to ask questions and really lis-
ten. (Prov. 20:5; Jas. 1:19) To that end, you may find
it helpful to engage in activities that lend them-
selves to conversation, such as eating together, tak-
ing walks together in public areas, and preaching to-
gether. You can also learn about each other when
you spend time with friends and family. Additional-
ly, plan activities that will show you how the other
person acts in different circumstances and with dif-
ferent people. Note what Aschwin, from the Nether-
lands, tried to do. He says about his courtship with
Alicia: “We looked for activities that would help us
learn about each other. Often these were simple
things, such as preparing a meal together or doing
chores together. During such activities, we saw each
other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
8 You can also get to know each other by studying
spiritual topics together. If you get married, you will
need to make time for family worship, so that God is
an essential part of your marriage. (Eccl. 4:12) So
why not schedule time to study together now, during
7. How can a courting couple get to know each other? (See also the
box “Long-Distance Courtships.”) (See also pictures.)
8. How may a courting couple benefit by studying together?

56 THE WATCHTOWER
 If as a couple you engage in activities that lend themselves to
conversation, you are likely to get to know each other better
(See paragraphs 7-8)

your courtship? Of course, a courting couple are not

a family yet, and the brother is not the sister’s head
yet. Nevertheless, by studying together regularly,
you can learn about each other’s spirituality. Max
and Laysa, a couple from the United States, found
another benefit. He says: “Early in our courtship, we
started studying publications on the subjects of dat-
ing, marriage, and family life. Those publications
opened the door to conversations on many impor-
tant matters that would not have come up naturally.”
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER
9 Whom should you tell about your courtship? That
is for you to decide as a couple. Early in the rela-
tionship, you may consider limiting the number of
people you tell. (Prov. 17:27) By doing so, you may
9. What factors should a courting couple consider when deciding
whom to tell about their courtship?

MAY 2024 57
avoid unnecessary pressure and questions. However,
if you do not tell anyone, you might end up isolating
yourselves for fear that others will find out. This can
be dangerous. So it would be wise at least to inform
those who can provide good advice and practical as-
sistance. (Prov. 15:22) For example, you could tell
certain family members, mature friends, or Chris-
tian elders.
10 How can you keep your courtship honorable? As
your feelings grow, you will naturally feel more at-
tracted to each other. What can help you to keep
yourselves morally clean? (1 Cor. 6:18) Avoid immor-
al conversations, being alone together, and heavy
drinking. (Eph. 5:3) These things can arouse passion
and weaken your resolve to do what is right. Why not
regularly discuss together what measures you can
take to keep your courtship honorable? (Read Prov-
erbs 22:3.) Note what helped Dawit and Almaz from
Ethiopia. They say: “We would spend time together
in places where there were plenty of people or in the
company of other friends. We were never alone in a
car or a house. Thus, we avoided situations that
could be tempting.”
10. What can a couple do to keep their courtship honorable? (Prov-
erbs 22:3)

58 THE WATCHTOWER
 11 What about displays of affection? Some may be
appropriate as your relationship progresses. How-
ever, if your passions are aroused, you will likely find
it hard to think objectively about the other person.
(Song of Sol. 1:2; 2:6) Displays of affection can also
easily escalate and lead to misconduct. (Prov. 6:27)
Therefore, early in your relationship, discuss what
limits you will set, in harmony with Bible principles.1
(1 Thess. 4:3-7) As a couple, ask yourselves: ‘How
would people where we live view displays of affection
between us? Could these actions arouse passion in
either of us?’
12How can you handle problems and disagreements?
What if you have disagreements from time to time?
Would this indicate that your relationship is not
working? Not necessarily; all couples have differ-
ences. A strong marriage is made up of two people
who can work together to overcome their differ-
ences. So how you work through problems now may
1 Fondling of another person’s genitals is a form of sexual immorality,
requiring that the congregation elders take judicial action. Fondling of
the breasts and immoral conversations by text or telephone could also
result in judicial action, depending on the circumstances.

11. What factors should a courting couple consider when deciding

on displays of affection?
12. What should a courting couple be aware of regarding problems
and disagreements during a courtship?

MAY 2024 59
reveal whether your marriage will be successful. As
a couple, ask yourselves: ‘Can we discuss matters
calmly and respectfully? Do we readily admit our
shortcomings and try to improve? Are we quick to
yield, apologize, and forgive?’ (Eph. 4:31, 32) Never-
theless, if you constantly disagree or argue during
courtship, the situation will not likely improve after
you get married. If you realize that the other person
is not right for you, ending the courtship would be
the best decision for both of you.1
13 How long should your courtship last? Hasty
decisions often bring negative consequences.
(Prov. 21:5) So your courtship should be long
enough for you to get well-acquainted with the oth-
er person. However, you should not prolong the
courtship unnecessarily. The Bible also says: “Expec-
tation postponed makes the heart sick.” (Prov. 13:
12) Additionally, as the courtship progresses, it may
get more difficult to resist sexual temptation. (1 Cor.
7:9) Instead of focusing on how long you have been
dating, you could ask yourself, ‘What do I still need
1 For additional information, see “Questions From Readers” in the Au-
gust 15, 1999, issue of The Watchtower.

13. What factors can help a courting couple determine how long
their courtship should last?

60 THE WATCHTOWER
to learn about the other person in order to make a
decision?’
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT
COURTING COUPLES?
14 If we know a courting couple, how can we help
them? We could invite them to join us for a meal, for
family worship, or for recreation. (Rom. 12:13) Un-
der those circumstances, they may get to know each
other even more. Do they need a chaperone, help
with transportation, or a place where they can talk
privately? If so, could we offer to help? (Gal. 6:10)
Alicia, mentioned earlier, recalls what she and Asch-
win appreciated. She says, “We found it heartwarm-
ing that some brothers said that we could visit them
if we needed a place to be together but not seclud-
ed.” If you are asked to chaperone, why not consid-
er it a privilege? Be careful not to leave the couple
completely alone, but also discern when they need
time and space to talk privately.—Phil. 2:4.
15 We can also support courting couples by what
we say or do not say. At times, we may need to con-
trol ourselves. (Read Proverbs 12:18.) For instance,
14. In what practical ways can others support a courting couple?
(See also picture.)
15. What else can friends do to help a courting couple? (Proverbs
12:18)

MAY 2024 61
If we know a courting
couple, we can find
practical ways to
support them
(See paragraphs 14-15)

we may be eager to tell others that a couple have

begun dating, but the couple may want to share
the news themselves. We should not gossip about a
courting couple or criticize them about personal
matters. (Prov. 20:19; Rom. 14:10; 1 Thess. 4:11)
Furthermore, the couple may not appreciate com-
ments or questions implying that they should or will
get married. A sister named Elise and her husband
recall, “We found it awkward when others asked us
about our wedding plans when we hadn’t discussed
them yet.”
16 What if a couple decide to end the courtship?
We should avoid prying into the matter or taking
sides. (1 Pet. 4:15) A sister named Lea says: “I heard
that others had been speculating about why a broth-
er and I broke up. I was really hurt.” As mentioned
earlier, a breakup does not necessarily mean that the
16. How should we react if a couple end their courtship?

62 THE WATCHTOWER
couple failed. Usually, it simply means that the court-
ship achieved its purpose—it helped the couple come
to a good decision. However, that decision may still
have caused them emotional pain and may have left
them feeling alone. So we can look for ways to sup-
port them.—Prov. 17:17.
17As we have seen, courtship can have its chal-
lenges, but it can also be enjoyable. Jessica recalls:
“Quite honestly, courtship was a lot of work. But it
was 100 percent worth the time and energy.” If you
are a courting couple, continue working on getting
to know each other well. If you do, you will have a
successful courtship—one that will help you both to
make a wise decision.
17. What should courting couples continue to do?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What is the ˛ How can a ˛ How can
purpose of courting couple others in the
courtship? get to know each congregation
other well? support a
courting couple?

SONG 49
Making Jehovah’s Heart Glad
34567 ˙
May 2024
Vol. 145, No. 5 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 18: July 8-14 2
Trust in the Merciful “Judge of All the Earth”!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 19: July 15-21 15
What Do We Know About Jehovah’s
Future Judgments?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 20: July 22-28 27
Let Love Motivate You to Keep Preaching!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 21: July 29–August 4 39
How to Find a Potential Marriage Mate
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 22: August 5-11 51
How to Have a Successful Courtship

This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide

Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To make
a donation, please visit donate.jw.org. Visit the jw.org website,
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the or scan code
modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

s
The Watchtower (ISSN 0043-1087) May 2024 is published by Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; Harold L. Corkern, Pres-
ident; Mark L. Questell, Secretary-Treasurer; 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill,
wlp24.05-E

NY 12589-3299, and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada,

240115

PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. ˘ 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in Canada.