Evacuated

If by this you are implying that the present system will end later rather than sooner, then surely Paul's words to the Hebrews at 11:13 would continue to apply to many currently alive who do not live to see God's intervention in human affairs: "In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land." In fact, many who truly serve Jehovah will continue to have an experience similarly to Abraham (Gen.25:8) : "Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, old and satisfied, and was gathered to his people." These scriptures hold good regardless of when the Gentile Times end and would do so even if we had never heard the expression in our lives.

What if the Gentile Times did not end in 1914? What would it mean for the WTS and JWs if 1914 was not the end of the Gentile times? What teachings hinge on this date and would need to be understood differently when and if the Governing Body changes JW's belief about 1914? Are we getting too many questions in one posting here?

What! You didn't even get a class photo??

One of many thousands of course but regardless of that, Luke 15:10 applies.

Nothing new here. Watchtower of April 15, 1988, pages 26-31; September 15, 1981, pages 26-31

Taiwan magpie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_blue_magpie One of their characteristics: "When flying in a group, the birds tailgate each other. Sometimes they may be seen strung out as if in line". Could this this be a photo of this really happening?? Amazing if it is!!!

Helps us to appreciate why Jehovah is allowing an extended "time of the end" (2 Peter 3:9) "Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." Let's continue to do our utmost in that work along with Jehovah and Jesus wherever we are!

Opinion again. Completely a matter of personal conscience.

Looks more like a Crisis of Parking!!

Matter of individual conscience, I can't see any difference in deciding to accept medical care from "Caesar" myself.

This maybe a common dictionary definition, but is just inadequate when dealing with the biblical concept. This is clear, for example, when looking at Heb 2:10; Heb 5:9 relating to Jesus. Also, in considering the application of Jesus words at Matt 5:48 and Matt 19:21. So any argumentation using this rather narrow English definition in discussing the biblical concept is, quite simply,.....flawed.

That's better. I am reassured.

Now here's a thing @JW Insider. Do I detect a note of cynicism in your post here? Not up to your usual well researched responses as the participants in this video appear to be bona fide medical professionals: http://anest.ufl.edu/about-us/faculty/bruce-davis-spiess-md-faha/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryeh_Shander I suspect too that there may well be a difference in the effect on your own system of the ingestion of the flesh, (I presume), of the multitude of animals that you list above as opposed to having been transfused with the blood of that same menagerie.

Wow! Where did you get this statistic from???

Means "fit for purpose"

Was this in 2015?

Do you not think Adam was perfect when he rebelled against Jehovah and attempted to destroy his own offspring? They do not have an excuse. That's why "... fire came down out of heaven and consumed them" Rev 20:9

Yes, this is a sad and shameful fact. But we are not taught this by Jesus are we? Matt. 21:15-16 "When the chief priests and the scribes saw the marvelous things he did and the boys who were shouting in the temple, “Save, we pray, the Son of David!” they became indignant and said to him: “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them: “Yes. Did you never read this, ‘Out of the mouth of children and infants, you have brought forth praise’?”

"Rare video footage of Judge Rutherford"? Don't really know how clips from Youtube could ever be considered as "rare"??

I agree with this statement. If anyone wants a really meaty example of attempting to use numerology to underpin the Bible's authenticity, try Ivan Panin's work. I would be interested in anyone's response to the paper attached below. Ivan Panin.pdf

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rnb-star-marques-houston-reveals-he-has-become-jehovahs-witness-1571588

http://www.breitbart.com/faith/2016/07/10/putin-signs-measure-revoking-religious-freedom/

Interesting to read of all these hypotheses around the moral dilemna faced by one who wants to leave Jehovah's Witnesses on theological grounds. He fears the consequence of such a step and justifies a hypocritical position because he wishes to retain the connection with all those... I personally experienced the loss of 3 who were dear to my heart. The brother who conducted my Bible study, my wife, and my best friend, all walked away from the Witnesses around the same time for a variety of belief-based reasons, (unconnected incidents I might add). Whatever their reasons for doing this, in the case of all three, they took the action of completely shunning me, even to the point of ignoring me, refusing to respond to any of my attempts to communicate, even face-to-face. The actions attributed to the organisation to leavers in the incidents or scenarios related above, were applied by those who left the organisation, to me, who remained inside. I think some basic peculiarity of human behaviour is being overlooked in this discussion.

Galatians 3:28 has a relevant statement on this question: "....there is neither male nor female.....". The Watchtower has commented over the years: WT 15 Mar 1964 p179-80 8 In the days of the nation of Israel the privileges of women in connection with worship at Jehovah’s temple were very limited. For example, no woman could serve as a Levite priest or take up duties in connection with temple service. No woman was to sit on the throne as ruler in Israel, the only woman to do so being the usurper Athaliah who died because of her presumptuousness. (Num. 3:1-10; 2 Ki. 11:1-20) But, in connection with spiritual Israel, the apostle Paul wrote, addressing his remarks equally to the dedicated women as well as to the dedicated men: “You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus. Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.”—Gal. 3:26, 28, 29. 9 This meant that women could now share with men the wonderful hope of becoming joint heirs with Christ Jesus in the heavenly kingdom. Some women were now in line to become kings and priests and reign with Christ Jesus along with the rest of the 144,000 Kingdom associates. This, however, would not be as women, but as glorious spirit creatures in the heavens. (Rom. 8:16, 17; Rev. 20:6; 14:1) WT 15 Sep 1971 p570 Furthermore, God has lovingly drawn a sizable portion of these spiritual heirs with Christ from among women. As to their spiritual standing with God and Christ, there was “neither male nor female” while they were on earth, and in heaven there is no sex principle or distinction. (Gal. 3:28) Nonetheless, those among the Kingdom heirs who have been women know by experience the problems, vicissitudes and thinking of women, and they have maintained integrity under test as women. This is comforting to women who desire to be faithful to God and who seek life under that Kingdom government. How wise our Creator is! WT 1 July 1991 p19 20 It is patently clear from the Scriptures that “there is no partiality with God” with regard to race or sex. (Romans 2:10, 11; Galatians 3:28) And this holds true also in the way Jehovah selects those who are to be associated with his Son in the Kingdom government. (John 6:44) How thankful the great crowd of other sheep can be that faithful women, such as Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Priscilla, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and a host of others in the early Christian congregation, now share in the Kingdom rule, enriching that government with their intimate understanding of the feelings and experiences of womenfolk! What loving foresight and wisdom on Jehovah’s part!—Romans 11:33-36.

I agree wholeheartedly.