Arauna

I do not think it a complete "mess" when people use scriptures in different places in the Bible to come to a solid conclusion... We would not understand who the 'harlot' in Revelation is if we did not link it to many of the prophets of the Hebrew scriptures who used this imagery. Similarly, we would not understand who the beast is - if we did not link it to the several "messy" beasts in Daniel. So too with the rightful owner of the throne... the theme and several timelines can be linked throughout the bible. So the tree is (according to some on this forum) just an image of Nebuchadnezzar - who was a no-body regarding a role in the ultimate purpose of Jehovah. Why would Jehovah go to the trouble of telling us a story that is not related to his purpose? - a king that went beastly. Was it not used to portray something linked to Jehovah's ultimate purpose? The Kingdom of God? Most things we read in the Bible are all related to Jehovah's outworking of his ultimate purpose throughout the ages. Do you really think that Jehovah would leave his servants in the dark? While we do not know the exact day and time of the end (like the day and time of a birth) there are visible signs of things that have already happened invisibly in heaven. Jehovah gave us a brain and he knows that we need to know more about our situation... that is why he wrote the Bible....and gave us timelines. So why would he withhold information from us that could strengthen us to remain "ready". For those people who search - there is ample information available. Of course there are people who resist the slave and like to remain with their own dogma - and this is what is going on in these contributions which is about people pushing their personal agendas....... people who think they are smart and use ancient "Greek" type of debate to spread their ideas. I have checked the secular dates (not the ones given above) and I have checked the scriptures used for the invisible ruling (Parousia) of Christ BEFORE THE END (even my Muslim friends I preach to - see the connection immediately when I read them Rev 12) so why would certain "intellectual" Christians friends not see it? Arrogance maybe? I have no doubt that Jehovah is using the slave for the preaching of his Kingdom government world-wide and to give us "food" to keep us strong. No other Christian religion understands the kingdom government of Jehovah and the neutrality we are to show now regarding world affairs - so like Paul said:- remember where you learnt these things. Muslims are the only ones who have some understanding of a government! Satan took the idea of a world-wide kingdom and gave it some twists and turns - and voila! ,,, We have Islam who believe they have to take over the world (with the sword) and bring an earthly caliphate/government to the earth under Sharia law! ISIS does not vote... and they kill people who show loyalty to democracy - did you guys know that? This is how close Satan is imitating the Bible in his teachings - a false government. I always show Muslims the scriptures that Jesus is ruling invisible in heaven and that Christ will not return in the flesh. Many will say (even Muslims) "there is Christ - there is Christ" - but it will be false. Muslims are waiting of Isa/Jesus to come back as a Muslim....(I have mentioned some of these scriptures in comments above but it fell on deaf ears.... People stick to their agenda and their nitpicking of old information in the WT...) So how would 'Christians' who do not believe in the 'Parousia' explain to a Muslim that he must stay neutral and not fight? Because many believe that the escalation of the jihad will bring Jesus back much faster. The Bible shows that we can refute every bad idea by means of the bible... 2TIM 3:16 - and believe me the scriptures in the Bible are potent! if you have/understand the truth! All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The teaching of the 'parousia' is in several places - Luke and Matthew - and Christians can negate it as much as they like - it is still there. I have not heard one good argument that has convinced me otherwise in this forum....We are in the Parousia and the end (which includes that destruction of all false religion and human government oppression) is the next step in the timetable of God.

I think you have the right spirit - we should research everything and make sure of it - so that our hearts are 100% committed and focused and we should regularly investigate ourselves inside to see if we are still staying " in the love of Jehovah".. However, I am not one to put emphasis on what people said or did in the past. I am very much interested in present things. Hence my impatience with people who insist on bringing up the past.... and expecting people to answer for it in the present time and culture... . I myself have said things in the past, on which I have made a 180 degree turn about when I gained a different perspective. I also view things in the time period they were said. Good example is the 1950s - 60s in America: High ranking officials said race related things that would be considered totally outrageous after the year 2000.... but back then these people were viewed by their piers as being "too liberal" and were targeted for being to liberal! I am a baby boomer and I remember finding the truth in early 70s. At this time the books we studied were so into history and gave lengthy, complicated explanations (I loved it but a lot of friends hated it - one of my favorite books is the 'ancient' Daniel book which came out in the 1950s and Babylon the great has fallen). Many 'comparisons' were made at the time which would not be done today by the governing body. Some things said, by todays standards, could be labeled "cringe-worthy". But we all are cringe-worthy in our infancy....and then we grow up. All of us are "growing up" in our spiritual stature - even the anointed are growing up all the time, becoming more mature. In fact, we have had a lot of material recently in our meetings where the Governing body has said they are going out of their way to simplify explanations.. For example they explained how there was a tendency to go into minutest detail in the past when discussing the illustrations given by Jesus ...... which can make one so engrossed in the details that one can lose the point. They have given us recently some illustrations which take one almost immediately to the point - I almost felt cheated out of something - because I was going back to the old familiar pattern of doing things- the way things were done in the past.... We lose the 'youth' if we stick to the past and do things like we did in the past. We have to move on and find new ways to explain things, simplify things. I love the new app which explains the truth. I have found so many wonderful illustrations on there to teach the truth effectively... As you must have gathered - I worked in PR for a very long time. I learnt early on in my career, as a reporter and in PR, that materials which are simple, attract people - this was before the advent of internet. In fact I worked on the internet long before other people because the press usually adapted to the newest technology faster than other business sectors. At this time I was looking at the materials we as Witnesses presented to people and thought, they are way too complicated for the average busy person who wants to get to the core of the matter much quicker.. You can imagine my joy when they not only started the new formatting but the way in which the truth is presented - the simplified language.. Angle is very important in any story. I remember collecting information and writing an article - then my boss would reject it.... I would then go and rethink the exact same material with a new angle .... and it would be accepted. The understanding of scripture is becoming so much clearer... and the angles are very much geared to the difficult times we are living in. Technology has helped a lot. Explanations are not cluttered with unnecessary data and the presentations are short so as to keep the attention of the reader.. Our meetings are also more focused on teaching new ones - because so many are coming in at present. Us older ones have to get our kicks from studying privately at home. I have also learnt to think about things a lot...... so I sometimes get sustained for long periods of time thinking how incredible the Bible really is, consistent and logical.... and its message right on target for the times we are living in.... I also watch world events - the dire culmination of man's ruling over themselves to their own detriment - which is eminent. To me it is sad that people cannot look at their own experience and see how they themselves have changed and how the era's change (the way that society collectively thinks.) Collectively, Jehovah's people have also changed. I love how the Governing body is now emphasizing our development of the Christian personality - much more than before. Look at me rambling on.... Looking back cannot get one engaged in the present or the future...

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Interesting article - thanks

Dear girl - believe what you want - I am sure in what I believe. ... and soon we all will know the truth shall we not? because the time is coming for all the nations to know that I am Jehovah! And he says that 70 times in Ezekiel. You are obviously stuck on one idea only and the whole bible revolves around this one idea for you. It is frustrating to speak to people with so little scope...and so little answers. I received very little positive information from this discussion... Thanks but I am done and I just hope that no other people on this forum run into this kind of nastiness. You sure win this discussion but I fear you do not win the battle for everlasting life!

Why do you quote from apocryphal scripture that was written 'after' the holy scripture was already completed - so as to push the conversation again into another debate?. I am not going into another debate about apocryphal scripture because you do not even believe in the bible... This conversation is about the Bible and its prophecies. I think you are deliberately misleading this conversation to give smart sounding soundbites. On average, the moon revolves around the Earth in about 29½ days and some hours. To accommodate certain ritual requirements, the Jewish calendar consists of 12 or 13 months of 29 or 30 days. Most nations that worked according to the moon such as the Arabs had the same calendar. To remove all doubt about the number of prophetic days in a month - God removes all doubt - because he gives us the number to use. He gives u the number of days for 3 and half times - so it is easy to calculate 7 times. The bible is consistent - even if you do not believe in it....

I am definitely not an innocent victim - I have made sure of my facts and I am not as stupid as you assume I am. I can say the same for you... you think you are free but you are captive to this system of things....to the Trinitarian churches...who are really the ones who are cult-like because they stick to a doctrine that was laid out in the 4th century after Christ by Constantine the Great....a political leader who forced everyone to his brand of Christianity by the sword - just like Mohammad and ISIS. These pagan teachings of the 4th century were the teachings that the Bible students / Russell were trying to break away from in the 19th century. They did not have all correct.... as I said before.... and we accept this as part of our history. I have thought through everything I believe and I am not a smarty-pants .... I have been through all of that.... in my life. I had a world-class opera voice and the world was my oyster... then I found Jehovah........I found a treasure and went to buy the field to obtain it... I gladly serve Jehovah... because I am sure I have not given myself up for nothing. I had to make sure that I am not on the wrong track. I do not believe everything I hear.... Jehovah's promises of a new world government under Jesus is a reality because Jesus is already ruling! Only the end is awaiting the world when we have reached a point of no return..... then Jesus will receive the direction from God to step in....to rectify mankind's affairs. The day and hour is not known to us although we can see the signs of the Parousia...... Humans are making a mess of the earth since Adam chose independence from Jehovah.... and God will step in when it has been proven without a reasonable doubt that we cannot rule ourselves successfully if we choose independence from his moral standards. (Jehovah's "good and bad".) I am not quoting scriptures because you have already made up your mind.... but this is how it fits into the bigger picture. I happened to work as a reporter for many years (not in English), then I worked for a University and I became a senior publicity officer for a national orchestra.... and then worked in supply chain management and PR again.... Did a lot of stuff and worked in many fields.... saw it all.... I am definitely not a cultish type of person to follow people blindly.... I research what I believe.... so don't assume I do not know what I am doing. And by the way - Egypt was not the first world power but it was the first world power which dominated Jehovah's people- according to the Bible. The Bible itself goes far back to the time just after the flood. If you read your Bible....and read secular history one sees that the Sumerians were living in the fertile crescent.... and the "newest secular info" is that they may have been Hamitical..... which the bible tells you if you study it closely to follow the movement of Peoples. (In 1928 the Witnesses did not put it this way- which is the time of your quote....) So you see, our organization moves forward - we do not stick to old things if they can be improved upon - otherwise God cannot give the new understanding / new light to move forward!! . The Sumerians were replaced by the First Babylonian empire. Babylonian worship spread to India, to Canaan, to Greece and from there via Greek philosophy into Rome and from Rome into most Western religions. This is why so many of the teachings found in Christendom and most religions on the earth (such as the immortality of the soul) is the same - everywhere.... The Bible in revelation calls this the harlot : Babylon the Great - the world empire of false religion because ancient teachings is entrenched in most religions of the world....Revelations 17 + 18.... If you quote old things to me from our organization - it is futile - because in most cases we have already moved on from these "old Interpretations....

This "food" replies to spiritual food that will be served AFTER they become the slave. It does not refer to the food they served up BEFORE they became the slave. It was only in 1919 - AFTER they were cleansed of some of the wrong ideas we are debating about - that they became the slave. Jehovah saw people who would take his discipline and were humble enough to do his will, face opposition and preach, preach, preach! Many witnesses start off humble - like Saul - and then start searching for "greater' things for themselves like Baruch. So far I have resisted this. I do not want to lose my focus... I have seen so many Witnesses fall into this trap. Once they start seeking great things for themselves they end up thinking their own ideas more important than that of the slave. My dear - you guys think you know it all and you twist the scriptures to give it the meaning to your own ideas..... thinking you can have the truth without the slave.... Moses was the channel Jehovah used in the time of Israel - and Jehovah destroyed those who came up in opposition to Moses - who at the time was the humblest man on earth. He must have appeared like a bumbling fool to them - especially when he led them into an illogical situation where Pharaoh could annihilate Israel.... but Jehovah provided the way out... the red sea opened. Similarly - if we do not recognize the channel Jehovah is using - we can face the same eventuality. And you make fun of my analogy - so you need not think about the "historic" point? I think I will say farewell to this website because it has become a lurking place for all kinds of "unclean" things. I made an innocent comment above and I was dragged into a debate with people who are like "wormwood". I like to draw people to Jehovah.... not have debates with Jehovah's opposers. Do you go to a meeting where they use the name of Jehovah, the only true God? And do they organize preaching work throughout the earth to talk about the kingdom / a future government which is the only hope for mankind? The bible shows we must "meet with our brothers and sisters in order to strengthen them.... so where do you go to do this? Or do you sit at home and serf websites like this to catch the inexperienced? Then - even though you profess to be a Christian - you are not doing the things that Jesus said his true slaves would be doing when he brings the destruction on mankind. Where will you go to be organized in this work with free literature available etc in many languages.... I wonder...? I have heard so many of these same arguments before "from apostates" who push their own ideas....so I signing off now.

There is no 'assumption' that the year has 360 days. The Israelites used the "moon year" with a short 13th month every 4th year... However, revelation clearly gives the number of days for 3 and a half. So one only needs to double this number to get to 7. Quite simple...

If I give an illustration - it is to get a point across..... I do not expect a person to apply every minute detail to such a degree that the illustration is no longer relevant and loses its power.... that is nitpicking. Similarly, I do not understand what you are trying to say - because you are trying to see things that are not there so you can refute the "beasty" time of Nebuchadnezzar to not be compared with gentile times..... but you are finding obscure things to reason upon. I think it is shortsighted of you that you cannot see a correlation. It fits in perfectly with the central theme of the bible (which is about human rule versus direct sovereignty by god) and it also fits into a perfect timeline ..... but I guess you have never thought of it that way... Ephesians 1:8-10New King James Version (NKJV) 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Dictionary: NW translation uses the word - administration.... managing his purpose throughout the ages.... Dispensation (Gr. oikonomia, "management," "economy"). The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (See COVENANT, Administration of in Insight of Scriptures.) There were so many stages in God's unfolding of his purpose of grace toward men. The word is not found with this meaning in Scripture. I see the purpose unfolding in a timeline throughout the ages - just a few mentioned below.... 4026 B.C.E. Adam created 1943 B.C.E. Abrahamic covenant validated 1513 B.C.E. Israelites leave Egypt 1513 B.C.E. Mosaic Law covenant - 1512 B.C.E. Tabernacle completed 1473 B.C.E. Israel enters Canaan - united under one God 1467 B.C.E. Major conquest of the land completed 1467 B.C.E. Tribes receive land after conquest 1117 B.C.E. Saul anointed as king 1026 B.C.E. Temple inaugurated 1077-1038 B.C.E. David’s reign c. 1070 B.C.E. Davidic covenant 1037-998 B.C.E. Solomon’s reign 607 B.C.E. Babylon destroys Jerusalem Jehovah uses Nebuchadnezzar to predict the next 5 world powers - to understand timeline and to recognize the powers as they come on the world scene. Daniel: 70 week prophesy indicating when Jesus would arrive and how he would be cut off - (central part of the purpose of God ) and how the gentiles would later be included) Gentile times and prophesy about the time when Jesus would receive his future kingship - given before the birth of the Christ. He would not receive an earthly Kingdom but would take up rule in heaven - " my kingdom no part of this world" 2 B.C.E. Birth of Jesus Jesus gives last days prophecies of Jewish system and indicates that it would have a greater fulfillment. 33 C.E. Death of Jesus - 33 C.E. Outpouring of holy spirit Pentecost Paul explains to Hebrews how Jesus fulfilled the law and how he is the Passover lamb. John completes the Bible and give us indication of 1000 year reign and how the government will function. Events in the final days before the final destruction. Events after the destruction.... From earliest times of man - the Bible states that the “luminaries in the expanse of the heavens” were to serve in making “a division between the day and the night; and . . . as signs and for seasons and for days and years.” (Ge 1:14, 15; Ps 104:19) Human reckoning and recording of time periods has continued from Adam’s day till the present hour.—Ge 5:1, 3-5. After the flood - most pagan cultures kept extremely busy with record keeping of the position of the stars, the sun and moon (birth of Zodiac and mathematical calculations of the stars) - and advanced measurements of time in Sumer and Egypt and many other cultures. (360 degrees come from ancient Sumer, 60 minutes in an hour, 365 days in a sun-year. Towers/ziggurats were viewed as gateways to the heavens for the soul to traverse on a journey through the stars after death. Many pyramids have passageways with exact dimensions of the earth in relation to positions to certain stars.... in many cultures all over the earth this is the case. Ancient cultures on earth calculated an built towers to the gods in similar way with dimensions depicting the stars. If the rest of mankind was so busy calculating time - why would god keep his own people backward? Would it not be logical that he would give them a few prophecies regarding important steps in his purpose so they could realize that his purpose is moving forward? .... This could give them more faith... especially as the final days of this system is drawing closer.

I do not confuse gentile rule with messianic rule. The period that the tree was stumped depicts Nebuchadnezzar's rule (gentile rule) and when the band is removed it depicts the Messianic rule when Jehovah gives the rulership to Jesus at the end of the gentile times - Jesus is the one who has the right to the throne...

To reply to Holly - Jehovah chose the slave after 1914 - not because they were perfect and had everything right. He chose them because he could work with them.... But as Malachi 3 indicates - they went through a difficult period of cleansing because they were not completely acceptable to Jehovah - the unclean state they were in. When the organization uses pictures of Russell it is because of the "historic" nature of our history. This is part of our history (something that is past) so we acknowledge the past - but most of our teachings have moved on since then and new light has been shed on many things. So he is part of our history - not a cult figure. If I was an opera star 40 years ago - and there are pictures of me in a newspaper now.... people will understand that this is part of my history - but I do not sing as beautiful as I did at that time. So if there are any recordings available - then I can listen to it as part of history - to use this as an illustration. I often listen to Caruso, Callas and many of these artists and compare their performances with the new ones offered today.... so I see it in its historical context. But I also realize that these artists are "dead" and cannot contribute any more to society. Similarly - Russell has been dead 100 years - so all of us understand that he cannot contribute any more to new thoughts on the Bible. He is part of our "history".. So it is in this context that our new publications have references to him.

Thank you dear brother for the above. I always remember 1 Cor 1: 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. (also read verse 20 - 25) Satan developed an ego - and thought he could do things better than god.... ... Adam and Eve chose independence - which is also related to ego. One can (as you quoted above) trace all problems that people have to this one problem - ego and subsequent independent thinking. Yes, I have to watch myself on this..... Whenever there are problems between people - one can trace it to the root cause : independent thinking, ego and hence non-cooperation in some way. May humility before Jehovah safeguard us all. When we serve others and show self-sacrificing love it is harder to be prideful and egotistical but with our inclination to independence (treacherous hearts) we musty constantly measure ourselves by reading the words of Jehovah...and stay in Jehovah's love - and not move away....

I have seen so many precedents in the Bible where Jehovah instructed people to act out certain events to portray an actual event that would take place in future. When Abraham offered up Isaac it was a future portrayal of the willing ransom sacrifice of Jesus. Isaac was young and could have pushed his old father away. The aversion we feel when we read this event is actually the aversion that Jehovah felt when he had to allow the offering up of his son and go the full way. Abraham was fortunate - he did not have to go the full way. The physical temple was also a picture of the future events as were all the Jewish festivals. All have specific meaning for us today - a greater fulfillment There is the incident where a prophet had to marry a harlot and produce children - to demonstrate how Jehovah felt about Israel and their future. There is another incident where a prophet had to lie on one side for a particular number of days and then again on the other.... this was in literal obedience of what Jehovah ordered him to do - and fellow country men would have noticed it and commented on it..... and the word spread.... So it was a picture of how Jehovah felt and what he would do. These prophets could not have obeyed these instructions fully if they did not receive help from Jehovah to maintain what they were doing. Believe me - Jehovah - does NOTHING if it does not serve a purpose. He is logic and his thoughts are way above ours.... and if we meditate upon it we see how it fits in with everything else. My name for instance - a family name from 18th century- comes from the place where Isaac was offered up on mount Moriah (next to Zion). Later on this ground belonged to a Jebusite, named Araunah. Jehovah ordered David to buy this ground on the mount from Araunah/Ornan... and later the temple of Solomon was built on this exact same site. This demonstrates the consistency of Jehovah - that the same place Abraham offered up Isaac, became the same place where the temple was built... and now an Islam dome is built on the rock so the Jews cannot rebuild the temple... to fulfill prophesy.... This is "physical" proof that the temple and its way of worship is no longer valid to Jehovah. Jesus predicted its destruction and when Jesus died - the physical curtain to the most holy tore open. These are all 'physical' things that happened which were related to each other even though they were thousands of years apart - and prove the consistency of Jehovah in fulfilling certain events. Small details that people do not notice until they look at it closely. Jehovah in some cases also used foreigners to do his will. Cyrus the Great was an anointed person to do the will of Jehovah..(predicted 200 years ahead of time). Thereafter Cyrus went on with his wars and was killed by a woman warrior. The gentile times being portrayed by a very proud 'pagan' ruler who became 'beastly' is a good way to describe beastly rule - especially if one reads the scriptures in Daniel and realizes that it is all about the right of Jehovah to give the power to whom he chooses - and of course we know that Jesus is the ultimate one who has the "right to the throne" that Jehovah will give him. One realizes that there is more to these events than meets the eye. In Nebuchadnezzar's day, most kings in ancient times were paranoid because they could not hold onto their thrones. History is full of rulers who killed their own sons or family because of challenges to the throne. Both Harrods did this (Antipas and the Great) and Sennacherib was murdered by his sons. Nebuchadnezzar would not have lasted off the throne for 7 years if Jehovah did not protect his throne for him in this "beasty" time... and as the scripture indicates - Jehovah gives the throne to whom he pleases. Nebuchadnezzar and his children were totally vulnerable in this time as well as his wife. Neriglissar - 2nd successor after Nebuchadnezzar - was found in a fountain - murdered. (Jehovah is the one who allows for rulership) What was the purpose of giving a pagan king this lesson and have it written for us in the Bible? To teach humiliation by Jehovah? Or that Jehovah is the one the preserves and he can give the rulership to whom he wants. He allows pagan rulers to rule... but when the time comes for his choice to come on the throne - no one will stop him...... It was written down for our benefit- to serve a purpose for Jehovah's faithful followers. Was it not for the reason that his people would later investigate (Daniel 12 ) in "end of the days" and understand what it was all about? The time has come - those who search - will find....

I see the debate still going on. Frankly - I think people should not care much about what one person (Russell) believed or if he had the date correct about the "times of the nations". We should not be making a cultish adherence to any person even if he proved to be an "infant" - at a starting point of something that would grow large in the good fruit it produces. As the point in the comment above demonstrates - Russell and his friends started looking into it at this time (many study groups did) - and in line with the new 'scientific' field of archeology - they thought there was something in the pyramids - like everyone else! So as I said before ... why debate about unimportant things.... We must evaluate everything said by Russell within the time period it occurred. We now understand the "times of the gentiles" and it was only AFTER 1919 that Jehovah appointed this group of people for the work they are now doing world-wide: the life-saving preaching work.... They have a job to do.... and they are presently doing it to the best of their ability. Jehovah gives imperfect people the opportunity to demonstrate their love for Him. He gives us dignity through this work!

I appreciate the sincere comment of the JW insider above and the careful way you have put down your ideas.... I however wish to mention: My faith is NOT a blind faith because I am not just prepared to believe what the "slave" tells me. I have looked and "thought" it through carefully and I have come to the conclusion that they are being used by Jehovah. Each one must "identify" the slave class for themselves. This is why the question is asked in Matt 24: "WHO is the faithful and discreet slave." The timelines the JWs use, is not the reason I believe that the slave is teaching the truth....there are too many other things that are absolutely correct... but the fact that Jehovah has made many timelines available throughout the Bible can strengthen our faith tremendously. How the timeline fits in with what is happening in the world today and how the many timelines are fitting into the 'overall universal project of the restoration of peace in heaven and on earth" under the reign of Jesus - the chief agent appointed by Jehovah to do this. The final part of the timeline will soon come - the destruction of the wicked - the marriage of the lamb - and 1000 years judgment day. Humans have had thousands of years to rule the earth independently from God .... but Jehovah is going to restore 'everything' in only 1000 years under the reign of Jesus - to bring all his promises to a complete 'reality'. The timelines given have made his promises a "reality" for me.... and I understand the reason why he gave them. I urge all my fellow witnesses to study the prophecies and do the same - not just debate Matthew and Luke....

Useless debates: Cut and paste, cut and paste - reminds me of some of the school and adult debates I've seen here in America. People are "trained" in this form of debate in the school system and do not know any better... and I do not say this with distain - I have noticed this in all of American society - even in the work place - it is a form of social conformity. They "expect you to conform to this way of talking about a subject... One does not think about the positive points in the opponents discussion - one just hones in on the points that you don't like - no matter how logical they may be - because if you can score a point only for a moment - then you are a winner!!! America is full of these winners who cannot think for themselves... The justice system is a good example.... it is not about what is justice or injustice - it is about winning a case - even if the person really perpetrated the crime.... many examples of this. People each get time to give their opinions and not really consider what the opponent is really saying.. and then people get to choose. This is why American politics is in such a mess - same system - where the louder more aggressive person (and the one who appears to win the points for the present moment) walks away with the prize. People do not really "think" about things....it is about scoring points ... It is not about what is really right or wrong.... it is about the supremacy....

I have read articles before that show that clean water could in future reach the price of gold... Mankind is mismanaging fresh water... and climate change is accelerating the problems in dry countries. And some people do not perceive that we are reaching the time of the "end"? God will have to step into mankind's affairs to save us from ourselves. The suicide rate in India is very high.... people losing property that have been in their family possession for hundreds of years.

Some advances sound gruesome..... even though it is a dead rat..... Hope no scientist gets the idea to do this on living things...because some scientists are already participating in practices that are beyond ethics.

Politics are crazy these days! But not unpredictable.... Whomever has the responsibility of president is going to face a much more complicated international and national arena than say 8 years ago.

The theistic ones who believe in evolution are definitely not adherents of the Bible....the Bible clearly shows that god made the first human pair complete and functioning....they did not start of as a pig.... (see my top quote about human flesh). One cannot equate adaption to the environment as evolution. Darwin's finches - were still finches...the species did not change...only the beaks did....

Ann -- cut paste, cut paste - quoting things out of context. It seems you get your adrenalin rush by this kind of troll behavior... Russell did not understand everything we understand today....and even if he changed it? So what? We have proof today of the date of 1914 and guess what - the times of the nations - it checks out! What Russell said was more than 130 years ago - see his work in its time context - in its historical context... What is your interest in the 'toddler period' of this religion? .....when you do not believe in the Bible or an existing god? Why waste people's time and troll them if it is not for some ungodly purpose?.... Do not throw your pearls to pigs.. why? because they will not appreciate them... You have no intention of evaluating any of the "pearls' scattered in your direction.... so I think we leave this subject now..... you do as you please. At least you will one day "know" that you had more than enough opportunities. As Joshua said: "as for me and my household - we will serve Jehovah..".. and he also said (an I quote from memory) "Not one of Jehovah's promises did not come true......." I leave you with this final thought....

I recently read another study which showed that the effects of Zika are worse in socio-economically deprived locations...... it seems it could be a combination of bad nutrition and mosquito infections which makes the outcome worse... ...

Label people - and you can dismiss their ideas. You may label us as part of the creationists so you can dismiss us as 'the same' but we do not lump ourselves together with people who believe the creation was completed in 24 hour days.