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rechap.13pp.69-71BuyGoldRefinedbyFire***Applying
SpiritualEyeSalve13
Jesus also sternly admonishes those Laodiceans: "Buy. . .whiteoutergarmentsthatyoumaybecomedressedandthattheshameofyournakednessmaynotbecomemanifested,andeyesalvetorubinyoureyesthatyoumaysee."(Revelation3:18b) They should seek a cure for their spiritual blindness by purchasing curative eye salve, not that of the local healers, but of the kind that only Jesus can provide. This would help them to get spiritual discernment, helping them to walk in "the path of the righteous ones" with their beaming eyes focused on doing God’s will. (Proverbs 4:18, 25-27) Thus, they may put on, not the costly garments of black wool made locally in Laodicea, but fine "white outer garments" that proclaim their privileged identity as followers of Jesus Christ.—Compare 1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3-5.
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Is spiritual eye salve available in modern times? Assuredly it is! In 1879 Pastor Russell, as he was affectionately called, began to publish in defense of truth the magazine that is known worldwide today as TheWatchtowerAnnouncingJehovah’sKingdom. In its second issue, he declared: "[This magazine] has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: ‘All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,’ fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication." Some 20th-century television evangelists have amassed vast fortunes and lived in shameless (and sometimes immoral) luxury. (Compare Revelation 18:3.) In contrast, the Bible Students, known today as Jehovah’s Witnesses, have used all the unsolicited contributions received to organize and advance the worldwide preaching of Jehovah’s incoming Kingdom. The John class to this day directs the publishing of TheWatchtower and Awake!, which magazines had a combined circulation in 1988 of more than 20 million. TheWatchtower is available in more than a hundred languages. It is the official journal of a congregation of more than three million Christians who have used such spiritual eye salve in getting their eyes opened to false religion and to the urgency of preaching the good news in all the nations.—Mark 13:10.