1 The first issue of Golden Age was published on October 1st, 1919. That magazine became an invaluable tool in the preaching work. Why? Because it was designed especially for the public. The case of Watchtower was different, as it was viewed for many as designed for the "little flock". (Luke 23:32) The publishers react with so much enthusiasm to the new publication that, for a long time, the circulation of Awake! was far greater than that of Watchtower.
2 Awake! magazine was published to show people that the real solution to mankind's problems is the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which will truly bring about a "golden age" to mankind. In the following decades, several adjustments were made to Golden Age to meet the different requirements of the changing times. In 1937, the name of the magazine was changed to Consolation. In 1946 it became Awake!, name by which is known to this day.
3 Since the beginning, that magazine has greatly contributed to the great witnessing given starting from 1919. (Mat. 24:14) However, due to the urgency of our times, it seems sensible to make further adjustments to Awake!.
4 Millions of people like to read Awake! because it has a captivating way of dealing with an ample variety of subjects of non religious nature. There is no doubt that the majority of those who attend the Memorial are regular readers of Awake!. Nevertheless, one who hopes to be preserved in the "day of Jehovah's wrath" needs to be helped to do more than simply be a regular reader of our publications. - Sop. 2:3; Rev. 14:6,7.
5 In view of that, starting from January 2006, Awake! will start giving more emphasis to the Kingdom of God. It will encourage readers in a more direct way to cling to the Bible for a solution to the problems, and will stress more clearly the biblical explanation of current events. That way, the readers will better understand the current events and perhaps be moved to learn more about Jehovah by what they read. - Zac. 8:23.
6 Awake! will continue to feature articles of general interest. However, it will give more emphasis to the Bible. (1 Tes. 2:13) Since Watchtower contains deep biblical information and Awake! will feature more articles of biblical nature, it doesn't seem necessary to continue to publish Awake! semimonthly. So, starting from the January 2006 issue, Awake! magazine will be published monthly. It will be a considerable simplification in preparation, translation and delivery of our publications.
7 This change will affect about 40% of the languages in which Awake! is published, since in the majority of languages it is already a monthly or quarterly publication. There will be no change in the publication of Watchtower.
8 Publishers will be able to offer the Awake! of the month along with any issue of Watchtower of the same month. Those who prefer calling attention to Awake! will be able to use the same issue during all month without having to change presentation every 15 days, as it is today.
9 Since its first issue, in 1919, the magazine known as Golden Age, Consolation and now Awake! has played an important role in the preaching work. We pray that Jehovah continues to bless the distribution of that magazine in its new form and that it helps even more people of all 'nations, tribes, peoples and tongues' to look to the Kingdom of God as their only hope. - Rev. 7:9
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