Arauna

I feel for you that you would like to physically "see" Jehovah but unfortunately we do have our physical and spiritual limitations - especially that of imperfection. Also, the 144,000 (24 elders) are so in awe of Jehovah when in heaven that they fall down before Jehovah. “And out of the throne there are proceeding lightnings and voices and thunders.” (Revelation 4:5a). They will be so grateful just to be allowed in his presence. We are imperfect and cannot even speak to Jehovah directly without mediation through the ransom of Christ. The ransom was paid and covers anyone who lived before Christ as well. Therefore Jesus was called the Word, as he was often the messenger between God and man... as well as between Moses and Jehovah. Acts 7: 53 you who received the Law as transmitted by angelsv but have not kept it.” Galations 3: |"19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the offspring should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator. This is an excerpt from a watchtower: " Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, John, and Paul are among those who were ministered to by angels. Righteous angels executed God’s judgments and transmitted prophecies and directions, including the Mosaic Law. (2 Ki. 19:35; Dan. 10:5, 11, 14; Acts 7:53; Rev. 1:1) Since we now have the complete Word of God, angels may not need to convey divine messages. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Behind the scenes, however, the angels are very busy carrying out God’s will and supporting his servants. 9 The Bible assures us: “The angel of Jehovah is camping all around those fearing him, and he rescues them.” (Ps. 34:7; 91:11) " Jesus came to earth because Jehovah cannot die; and Jehovah is so "almighty: that he cannot enter into a physical universe - even if it is as big as ours. He is a Spirit person and the highest heavens cannot contain him. " 1kings8:27 “But will God really dwell on the earth?h Look! The heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens, cannot contain you;i how much less, then, this house that I have built!j" Our earth is like a little speck of dust on His scale. It is like trying to climb into a Chikwawa dogbox which you have made for a small little adult dog. Jehovah uses his dynamic and "projected" spirit to do his bidding.... or his ministering angels, all who function by his Spirit. Jehovah's chariot is moving forward in any direction and between the four creatures and the wheels which are all full of eyes and there is something like lightnings going to and fro between then. As earthly creatures we just move with the chariot as Jehovah directs. BUT we can see Jehovah with eyes of faith - as if all his prophecies have already been fulfilled and we are so in awe of Him that we will just be happy to survive Armageddon- let alone feel that we have the right to literally see him. Paul said that flesh and blood cannot see God and live. Only those who have received the final seal, have died and resurrected with a heavenly body will have the opportunity to go into his presence/royal court. ..... So many of the scriptures which are quoted were just quoted without context.......Not deeply scrutinized.

All these comic pictures remind me of my early teenage years when I couln't wait to see my cousins. I would lie on my stomach and read the comics the whole day. It was a treat! We were not allowed to have them at home. I had to read real books at home - which I did. Now i find myself in discussions where comics are to convey deep spiritual thoughts. While it is good to convey some superficial slur or some joke maybe.... I have outgrown this type of communication unless it is really a good joke I can understand. I am not american and do not always get the American references to names, places and events. So it leaves people like me out in the cold........ it is freezing out here!

I was no referring to the poster but to your words that human intelligence is needed to understand the Word of God. I was also not criticizing, just bringing attention to the fact that we should be more humble about the source of our understanding of God's word. We do not need Jehovah's spirit to understand common sense or science or some worldly matters but I do think that we the help of God to understand the true message of the bible - the sacred secret of the kingdom and everything related to it.

I guess one can leave out the Spirit of God as the main source of understanding because man himself has now become God.

@pudgy : If the world is the same and has not changed - you have your pink glasses on or

Yes - you have it correct - even recently in this year the watchtower said as you quoted but I felt a little discomfort (not critical) when I read it because the scripture in revelation 17 says this: " And the wild beast that was but is not,(UN) it is also an eighth king, but it springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction.12 “The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast. 13 So watching the world and who is behind the UN, I assume the government heads together with the organizations/corporations who have taken over the UN, is part of these ten kings. They will then be those (10). Some whistleblowers say that the NGOs belonging to oligarchs (whom these magnate bil/trillionaires donate to) is part of WEF and their policies are enforced by coercion, bribes etc. Since they have "captured" the UN, member states and in lock step and not just this - the corruption has grown (tenfold- lol). https://www.weforum.org/press/2019/06/world-economic-forum-and-un-sign-strategic-partnership-framework/

This time before the flood marked the beginning of a specific time period of 120 years.... but 1914 marked the beginning of the time of the end......NO specific number of years is cited. And specific "signs" were given by Jesus in Mathew 24 which marked the progress of this time period of the last days. No-where does god give a specific time period for this time. Indications are it will be unexpected and sudden... but certain signs will tell us how far we are in the stream of time. One of the signs is the 8th king that will be suddenly set up in a ruling capacity with ten new kings. This is when the "Image of the beast" - the scarlet beast - calls peace and security and Babylon the great is attacked. rev 17:11 "And the wild beast that was but is not, it is also an eighth king, but it springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction.12 “The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast. 13 These have one thought, so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. 14 These will battle with the Lamb, but because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them." Above we see that these kings are involved in the final war of armageddon.

I received this link from a non-witness cousin a little while back. He told me, it scared him. Pity, that most Christians do not take notice of what is behind Xmas and the spiritism behind it.

That is why we now have this crazy philosophy driving the "great reset". Driven by ideology of the World economic Forum. They are now burning old books and independent thought is no longer allowed. The "critical " part of critical theory is gone amok.

Yes - one had to write long essays about each subject..... you could not fluff through an exam.

I received this joke today from my sister in Afrikaans - I hope it translates ok. Peter passed his driver's license and said to his father that he would like to have his own car. His father said: "fine", if you push up all your school marks from a symbol C to an average of B; read the bible daily; and have a haircut. A few months later his son comes back and says that he had pushed up his school marks and read the bible daily. So his dad said: what about the haircut? Peter started talking about his bible studies and mentioned all the Bible characters who had long hair: Samson, Absalom, Moses, John the Baptist and said that he is just about sure the disciples of Jesus also had long hair..... so could he now have the car? The father replied: Did you notice in your bible studies that all of them walked where they wanted to go?🤣

Super fine apostles - or those who are a cut above the other with research skills? While those lowly individuals who have a little of Jehovah's spirit are not good enough? Just saying.... I have been reading the 1974 yearbook as I told you guys a few days ago - all about Germany. Similar events are happening now as happened then - in the political arena and in the congregation. Some members of the congregation were locked out of receiving spiritual food because they had family members who opposed JWs. Fear ran amok but in the end we see the survival of Jehovah's people. There were those who allowed their fear to overcome them and those who became bastions one can rely on. We better get ready - I listened to a podcast this morning of a draft of the new WHO legal treaty...... and the expert in international treaties (he drew up treaties under Raegan and Busch) has read the new WHO Treaty which overrules all government's and state's authority and sets itself up as a dictatorship -of course being manipulated from behind the scenes by powerful entities (who I guess will be the ten new kings according to prophecy) in Rev 17: And the wild beast that was but is not,o it is also an eighth king, but it springs from the seven, and it goes off into destruction. “The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast. 13 These have one thought, so they give their power and authority to the wild beast." Early next year we can start to expect new lockdowns and mandates without regard for their safety as the treaty indicates a dictatorship. people will be sent to the "showers by the new mandates". We should be happy because our deliverance is near but we will be tested before our deliverance comes.... and many will die just as many were executed in the time of the Third Reich. I hope that Jehovah locks us into his love when he has decided who are sheep or goats. Anyone have scriptures to prove this thought? I know that Ezekiel 9 shows that we will have the mark of Christ (Christian personality), but is there anything else?

The Sanhedrin was gone but the Rabbis kept their position by becoming very powerful and the Mishnah and Torah was written - a book that is more quoted in Synagogues today that the Torah. And the traditions instituted by these rabbis live on until today. They have tremendous power - so that the entire life of the community is adversely affected - even today. I usually to not reply to your hate-OCD aberrations but this person (now answering you), does not know that you are known to most of us as a person to avoid due to the fact that you are set one one goal.. to destroy....

Very true!

I guess you havent tried it. There are many countries where there is still many responses.... and in those where there are not significant responses... jehovah sees the faithfulness of the sisters and the public are reminded when they see the stands. Every time they ignore us they are making a choice! You see nothing we do for jehovah is vanity or in vain. Wasting time on other pursuits is vanity as Solomon said.

Just to be seen, this is in itself a Witness. Also, those who are really interested, they find a way to come and take literature.

We let the ones with fertile hearts come to us! We talk to them only if they are interested in something they see on the cart.

Thanks for the correction. I had a memory lapse. I often write very late at night due to our time difference. I also have bad eyes and do not see spelling mistakes.

You are supposed to know it: Revelation 19: 19 onward " And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.+ 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet+ that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast+ and those who worship its image.+ While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur.+ 21 But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse.+ And all the birds were filled with their flesh." 1Sam 17: 46 " This very day Jehovah will surrender you into my hand,+ and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and on this day I will give the corpses of the camp of the Phi·lisʹtines to the birds of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the earth; and people of all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel." Birds of prey is a symbolic way of saying: real living corpses that can be eaten - meaning literal death. Jer 7: 33 "And the dead bodies of this people will become food for the birds of the heavens and for the beasts of the earth, with no one to frighten them away". These are figurative depictions of literal events that will take place = people will lose their lives and be viewed as eaten by unclean birds.

You have shown what you are sir. You have been exposed as an egotistical..... puffed up.....human being. When someone does not agree with you .....you take the route of personal insults, false accusations and twisting of the others person's words to get a cheap "win"' at any cost. You protect your ideas asif they were the bible itself. Satan also quoted Jehovahs words and put a deceitful spin on it.... as he did with Eve. Quoting the bible and putting false reasoning with it - is not a truth. I have always been polite and put some reply on your "icons to your greatness " on this forum to get a conversation going.... but now I realized..... you are not interested in an honest discussion of your "not-so-well-thought out ideas" .... You do not want any discussion on this forum........of any of your teachings. You want your words hanging here untouched as a picture icon of your greatness. And if someone upsets your apple cart and finds a dent in your reasoning - you show a very ugly side to your personality.

You quote the scriptures with weird apostate explanations. Is the pot calling the kettle black?

You use tons of scriptures and make an independent (self-willed) conclusion. Your own conclusion is more important than Jehovahs word. Have you looked up the definitions of the words you misused.... or are you too proud? English is not my first language and I can tell you that you create the wrong impression by using the wrong words....no scriptures needed to tell you that!

There is no time in heaven but Jehovah puts everything in a timeline for us humans here on earth.... so I rephrase what I said above so that you can understand it: Jehovah allowed Moses to write down what happened in heaven about Job, so we know that this incident happened in the lifetime of Moses, or just before, in the area of Oz. Although events happen in the spiritual realm they are given to us in a certain earthly time frame - so we can understand it was real events in the spiritual realm. How do we know that Jesus was crowned in the spiritual realm and it was a literal event which really took place? - it is timed with other prophecies which came true on earth.. How do we know when "symbolic" Babylon the Great will be destroyed? Because we know that the "image of the beast" (which is a symbol which has been laterally identified by JWs) will be prompted by Jehovah to do this. There are literal events happening -even if it is depicted in a symbolic way. Literal events are written down for us to understand even they happen in the spiritual realm. Personal attacks are a sign of weakness on your part - You are NOT a judge for Jehovah... Jehovah is the ultimate judge. I think you should read the definitions of spiritual, literal, symbolic, before you write another article again. the meaning of spiritual means it is how it affects a person themself. So when you use this word in a sloppy way it could mean that the person only experienced the event within themself and it was not a real event outside the person. I tried to indicate to you there is a difference in the meanings but you are too stubborn to even look up if you could have been wrong. I could be wrong too....... but I am humble enough to acknowledge it if I make a mistake....... are you?

I do not believe any of the above - therefore, you are trying to slander me. Do you realize that? This is unchristian behavior. This is all slander without proof! I did not agree with your word choices about 1914 - that is all. I have have been on this forum much longer than you and have partaken in discussions about 1914 and the year 607....... and I can assure you I am one of the few who fully accepts 1914 as the year Jesus was crowned in heaven. So go and slander someone else.

The EVENT (the crowning of Christ) is literal but it takes place in the spiritual realm - in the realm where angels have spiritual bodies. Jesus was crowned in heaven but has a spiritual body. Jehovah has a spiritual body and spoke to Satan in heaven about Job. These were real (literal) events! Not symbolic events - they were literal events happening in earthly time - in the heavenly realm where Jehovah and the angels have spiritual bodies! The earthly time of Job was just before Moses came to Oz.... so we can place these literal events in a earthly time frame. (There is no physical time in heaven). You see - I am sensitive about the literal and symbolic use of words regarding this. I come from a country which has a religion which believes that the death of Christ was not a literal event but was symbolic. They believe that Christs rulership, appointment as king etc. are all symbolic events and not literal events in the spiritual realm. If Jehovah does the trouble to give us a scene from his heavenly realm and shows how Jesus comes up to the ancient of days to receive the crown it means that this "real or literal" event really happened and is described in terms which humans can understand. I do not set myself up as a teacher or a debater here - we have the slave to teach JWs and JWs should be able to discern right from wrong. But false prophets can come on here and use tons of scriptures and teach "almost" the truth but not the truth. We all know that Jesus is not coming back with a physical body - Armageddon will be fought by Jesus and his angels who come from the heavenly realm and have spiritual bodies. This does not make Armageddon a spiritual event because we will se literal dead bodies around.