The Librarian

According to the National Weather Service, snow rollers sometimes called snow doughnuts need just the right combination of light, sticky snow, strong (but not too strong) winds and cold temperatures to form. It’s been about 10 years since snow rollers were reported in western Pennsylvania, but snow rollers appeared in near Spokane, Wash., in 2009.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND HAVE YOU SEEN THESE BEFORE?
Like a snowball spinning downhill in a cartoon, picking up size, snow rollers grow layer by layer as they’re rolled along by the wind. Sometimes they do roll downhill, but in this case, wind created the mysterious, hollow snow tubes. Pictures posted online show tracks in the snow left behind as the snow rollers swept across snowy yards and golf courses.
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Towers residence building at Brooklyn Bethel. Photo shared by @sheahawaii
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My nieces and daughters enjoying making the memorial bread #jw #memorial2016 #cousins @viv0579 thank you
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Greeting from Thailand. @pritsanamook thank you
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If I were the householder with this proposal as an objection and you were the Witness, then I guess you just offered the initial line of defense. Maybe two lines of defense.
COUNTERPOINT #1: I think the first line of defense is that "to secure a kingdom" implies a process.
COUNTERPOINT #2: The second line of defense is in the wording of the version of the "royal procession" found in Luke 19:38 says: “Blessed is the One coming as the King in Jehovah’s name!"
 
Response to COUNTERPOINT #1:
So let's take them one at a time. Does "to secure a kingdom" imply a process? Maybe. It doesn't say. If you secure your house it might be locking the door. If you secure a title or office, and you were already someone of royal lineage, then it may be because it was now time, and you merely accepted the title offered.
So yes, it may be a process. But how long does that process take? 3 days? 10 seconds? 40 days? The Watchtower says that it took 1881 years. (That's 1,881 years from 33 C.E. to 1914 C.E.)
At a minimum, it was the amount of time it took from the time Jesus died, was resurrected, and possibly counted only from his ascension 40 days after his resurrection. At any rate, according to the Scriptures quoted in the first post and several others, it was when he was raised to sit at the right hand of God. Paul says "sit at the right hand of God" is the equivalent of "rule as king." This is obvious, not just from the verses quoted but from the contexts of entire paragraphs in the Scriptures: I'm thinking of the speeches in Acts 2, the discussion in Hebrews 5-8 about Melchizedek "King of Righteousness" and "King of Peace," etc. Even the opening of Hebrews offers a view of the current royal power of Jesus Christ. 
Let's go ahead and add that to the list of passages to overcome. A close look at the context shows that it already answers the question about when Jesus "secured" the kingdom. It's the equivalent of being "appointed heir of all things" using similar language to that which Jesus used in the parable:
(Hebrews 1:2-2:14) 2 Now at the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs. 5 For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; today I have become your father”? And again: “I will become his father, and he will become my son”? 6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.” 7 Also, he says about the angels: “He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. . . . 13 But about which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all spirits for holy service, sent out to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation? . . .  5 For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. . . . 8 All things you subjected under his feet.” By subjecting all things to him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than angels, now crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, so that by God’s undeserved kindness he might taste death for everyone. . . . 14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.
So, even if we accept that "securing" is a process -- and we have no real Scriptural or linguistic reason to do so -- then we still have to attempt to overcome the many Scriptures that state that Jesus was already the King, king of kings, sitting on a throne of royal power, with a kingly scepter, with all things already subjected to him, where all authority had already been granted to him in heaven and on earth, where Jehovah left nothing that is not subject to him.
But we have a bigger problem if we claim that when Jesus returns with royal power that this is a long period of time. In fact, the long passage that you quoted from Luke gives us the Scriptural view that Jesus returns to judge and appoint his slaves over his belongings. Even the parable of the "faithful and unfaithful slaves" in Matthew 24:45 which is actually quite similar, is no longer considered to be a viable parable about appointing the faithful slave in 1919 as the Watchtower once did. That appointment over all his belongings is still future, right?
Response to COUNTERPOINT #2
It's not very useful to point out that Luke's version uses the term "as the King" instead of "as King." I assume that the argument intended to compare the phrase "as the King" instead of saying "the King" so that the word "as" implies someone who is not yet fully King. This particular scene was repeated in all four of the gospel accounts, and I'd say each one of them actually points to something that's potentially a bit future. So the term King-designate is just fine for describing the situation during the processions to Jerusalem. But pay special attention to the final one in John, where the point was made specifically that it didn't fully make sense until Jesus was glorified.
 
Luke 19:37, 38) . . ., 38 saying: “Blessed is the one coming as the King in Jehovah’s name!. . .
(Mark 11:9, 10) . . .Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name! 10 Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David!. . .
(Matthew 21:5-9) . . .‘Look! Your king is coming to you, . . . Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name! . . .
(John 12:13-16) . . .“Save, we pray you! Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name, the King of Israel!” . . .  Look! Your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things his disciples did not understand at first, but when Jesus was glorified, they recalled that these things were written about him and that they did these things to him.
It should be pretty clear, even from this set of Scriptures, that Jesus actually was the King-designate, until his glorification in 33 C.E.  So now we have the timing that makes sense in all of the other verses mentioned in the first post.
 
Thanks for engaging. Good practice!
(1 Peter 3:15) 15 But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect.

11 While they were listening to these things, he told another illustration, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God was going to appear instantly.+ 12 So he said: “A man of noble birth traveled to a distant land+ to secure kingly power for himself and to return. 13 Calling ten of his slaves, he gave them ten miʹnas* and told them, ‘Do business with these until I come.’+ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent out a body of ambassadors after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to become king over us.’
15 “When he eventually got back after having secured the kingly power,* he summoned the slaves to whom he had given the money,* in order to ascertain what they had gained by their business activity.+ 16 So the first one came forward and said, ‘Lord, your miʹna gained ten miʹnas.’+17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because in a very small matter you have proved yourself faithful, hold authority over ten cities.’+ 18 Now the second came, saying, ‘Your miʹna, Lord, made five miʹnas.’+ 19 He said to this one as well, ‘You too be in charge of five cities.’ 20 But another one came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your miʹna that I kept hidden away in a cloth. 21 You see, I was in fear of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow.’+ 22 He said to him, ‘By your own words I judge you, wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I am a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?+ 23 So why did you not put my money* in a bank? Then on my coming, I would have collected it with interest.’
24 “With that he said to those standing by, ‘Take the miʹna from him and give it to the one who has the ten miʹnas.’+ 25 But they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten miʹnas!’— 26 ‘I say to you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.+ 27 Moreover, bring these enemies of mine here who did not want me to become king over them and execute them in front of me.’” - Luke 19
 
"to secure" implies a process. A period of time. 
 
36 As he moved along, they were spreading their outer garments on the road.+ 37 As soon as he got near the road down the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice because of all the powerful works they had seen, 38 saying: “Blessed is the one coming as the King in Jehovah’s* name! Peace in heaven, and glory in the heights above!”+ 39 However, some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”+40 But in reply he said: “I tell you, if these remained silent, the stones would cry out.” - Luke 19
 
"AS the King" is the phrase used... not "as king"
 
------------------------------------------------------------------
 
An often used phrase we heard 30 years ago was "King-designate" 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This inspired psalm gave the Hebrews reason to regard the promised Messiah as the one in whom the office of priest and king would be combined. The apostle Paul, in the letter to the Hebrews, removed any doubt about the identity of the one foretold, speaking of “Jesus, who has become a high priest according to the manner of Melchizedek forever.”
 
Ps 110
Jehovah declared to my Lord:   
“Sit at my right hand+                    (10 days after Jesus' ascension on Pentecost 33 C.E)
Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”+ 
 2 Jehovah will extend the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying:               (1914)
“Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”+
 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force.*    (1914 ...)
In splendid holiness, from the womb of the dawn,                               (Birth of a nation....)
You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.         
 4 Jehovah has sworn an oath, and he will not change his mind:*                   (29 B.C.E.)
“You are a priest forever+                                             
In the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek!”+
 5 Jehovah will be at your right hand;+
He will crush kings on the day of his anger.+                                          (ARMAGEDDON)
 6 He will execute judgment against* the nations;+    
He will fill the land with dead bodies.+        
He will crush the leader* of a vast land.*                                           (SATAN in the abyss)
 7 He* will drink from the stream along the road.                                           (New World)
Therefore, he will hold his head high.                                            
 
So to @JW Insider Your proposed scenario would make verses 1,2,3, 4 all happen simultaneously?  

11 While they were listening to these things, he told another illustration, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God was going to appear instantly.+ 12 So he said: “A man of noble birth traveled to a distant land+ to secure kingly power for himself and to return. 13 Calling ten of his slaves, he gave them ten miʹnas* and told them, ‘Do business with these until I come.’+ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent out a body of ambassadors after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to become king over us.’
15 “When he eventually got back after having secured the kingly power,* he summoned the slaves to whom he had given the money,* in order to ascertain what they had gained by their business activity.+ 16 So the first one came forward and said, ‘Lord, your miʹna gained ten miʹnas.’+17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because in a very small matter you have proved yourself faithful, hold authority over ten cities.’+ 18 Now the second came, saying, ‘Your miʹna, Lord, made five miʹnas.’+ 19 He said to this one as well, ‘You too be in charge of five cities.’ 20 But another one came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your miʹna that I kept hidden away in a cloth. 21 You see, I was in fear of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow.’+ 22 He said to him, ‘By your own words I judge you, wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I am a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?+ 23 So why did you not put my money* in a bank? Then on my coming, I would have collected it with interest.’
24 “With that he said to those standing by, ‘Take the miʹna from him and give it to the one who has the ten miʹnas.’+ 25 But they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten miʹnas!’— 26 ‘I say to you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.+ 27 Moreover, bring these enemies of mine here who did not want me to become king over them and execute them in front of me.’” - Luke 19
 
"to secure" implies a process. A period of time. 
 
36 As he moved along, they were spreading their outer garments on the road.+ 37 As soon as he got near the road down the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice because of all the powerful works they had seen, 38 saying: “Blessed is the one coming as the King in Jehovah’s* name! Peace in heaven, and glory in the heights above!”+ 39 However, some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”+40 But in reply he said: “I tell you, if these remained silent, the stones would cry out.” - Luke 19
 
"AS the King" is the phrase used... not "as king"
 
------------------------------------------------------------------
 
An often used phrase we heard 30 years ago was "King-designate" 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This inspired psalm gave the Hebrews reason to regard the promised Messiah as the one in whom the office of priest and king would be combined. The apostle Paul, in the letter to the Hebrews, removed any doubt about the identity of the one foretold, speaking of “Jesus, who has become a high priest according to the manner of Melchizedek forever.”
 
Ps 110
Jehovah declared to my Lord:   
“Sit at my right hand+                    (10 days after Jesus' ascension on Pentecost 33 C.E)
Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”+ 
 2 Jehovah will extend the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying:               (1914)
“Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”+
 3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force.*    (1914 ...)
In splendid holiness, from the womb of the dawn,                               (Birth of a nation....)
You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.         
 4 Jehovah has sworn an oath, and he will not change his mind:*                   (29 B.C.E.)
“You are a priest forever+                                             
In the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek!”+
 5 Jehovah will be at your right hand;+
He will crush kings on the day of his anger.+                                          (ARMAGEDDON)
 6 He will execute judgment against* the nations;+    
He will fill the land with dead bodies.+        
He will crush the leader* of a vast land.*                                           (SATAN in the abyss)
 7 He* will drink from the stream along the road.                                           (New World)
Therefore, he will hold his head high.                                            
 
So to @JW Insider Your proposed scenario would make verses 1,2,3, 4 all happen simultaneously?  

1 year old Mara Jean out with her favorite service partner, daddy, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She even placed her first tract! Photo shared by @sair___
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1 year old Mara Jean out with her favorite service partner, daddy, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She even placed her first tract! Photo shared by @sair___
View the full article

I remember from March 1963, at the beginning of the elementary school year at Gbatala, Bong, Liberia, that on the first day of classes many of my schoolmates from the previous year were not in attendance. We were told that they and their parents were among Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) who had been arrested at the City of Gbarnga, Bong, Liberia during the previous week while gathered for their JW Convention. We learned that the Jehovah's Witnesses - both Liberian and foreign members - men, women and children - were being beaten while under Liberia Frontier Force (LFF) detention because of refusal to sing the "All Hail, Liberia Hail" national anthem or pledge allegiance to the Lone Star Liberia flag. I remember that when my Jehovah's Witnesses school mates eventually returned to Feju Elementary School at Gbatala, for the remainder of the school year at beginning of each school day, as we gathered at the school's courtyard, we were separated into Jehovah's Witnesses on one side and non-Jehovah's Witnesses on the other side. While most of us were singing the national anthem or pledging allegiance to the flag, the Jehovah's Witnesses students were "...pumping tire..." (deep knee bends while holding one's earlobes), or being rattan-whipped and heckled by the LFF soldiers who were wearing tasseled red fez caps.
Concurrently, adult Jehovah's Witnesses were expelled from civil service jobs, dozens were held and tortured at Belleh Yellah maximum security prison, a scheme of intense security surveillance was imposed on members of the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses), and after 1963 there ensued high level negotiations which involved the worldwide Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, as well as United States and Great Britain diplomats, in talks with the Tubman Administration. It should be noted that the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Liberia was not only done to Liberia-citizen Jehovah's Witnesses, but also to many foreign-nations-resident Jehovah's Witnesses. Notably, Milton Henschel (member of the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide Governing Body), had his scalp split open by a soldier's gun butt at Gbarnga, Liberia during his visit to the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention convening there during March 1963.
Such were the times...
Interestingly, many years later when I was elected to the Liberia House of Representatives, Speaker Richard Henries appointed me to chair the House Standing Committee on Culture. Considering that it had been the usual practice since the founding of the Republic that all "philanthropic" organizations - which includes religious groups/institutions - submit an annual report to the Government of Liberia, my Standing Committee on Culture was tasked by Speaker Henries to receive annual reports from all religious groups/institutions, including Jehovah's Witnesses as well as all foreign religious missionary associations. Note also that, as both a General Secretary of the ruling/majority True Whig Party (TWP) and House Chair for Culture, it was my privilege to determine whether a religious missionary's request for immigration approvals would be granted.
Remarkably, and perhaps ironically, President WVS Tubman's Vice President, William Tolbert, was President of the worldwide Baptist World Alliance from 1965 to 1971 during the height of the Government of Liberia's persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses during the years following 1963. Imagine - the Liberian society/nation was, simultaneously, enmeshed both in religious dignity and religious intolerance.
NOW,.... I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant. (John 6:44)
- Ijoma Robert Flemister
Source

I remember from March 1963, at the beginning of the elementary school year at Gbatala, Bong, Liberia, that on the first day of classes many of my schoolmates from the previous year were not in attendance. We were told that they and their parents were among Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) who had been arrested at the City of Gbarnga, Bong, Liberia during the previous week while gathered for their JW Convention. We learned that the Jehovah's Witnesses - both Liberian and foreign members - men, women and children - were being beaten while under Liberia Frontier Force (LFF) detention because of refusal to sing the "All Hail, Liberia Hail" national anthem or pledge allegiance to the Lone Star Liberia flag. I remember that when my Jehovah's Witnesses school mates eventually returned to Feju Elementary School at Gbatala, for the remainder of the school year at beginning of each school day, as we gathered at the school's courtyard, we were separated into Jehovah's Witnesses on one side and non-Jehovah's Witnesses on the other side. While most of us were singing the national anthem or pledging allegiance to the flag, the Jehovah's Witnesses students were "...pumping tire..." (deep knee bends while holding one's earlobes), or being rattan-whipped and heckled by the LFF soldiers who were wearing tasseled red fez caps.
Concurrently, adult Jehovah's Witnesses were expelled from civil service jobs, dozens were held and tortured at Belleh Yellah maximum security prison, a scheme of intense security surveillance was imposed on members of the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses), and after 1963 there ensued high level negotiations which involved the worldwide Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, as well as United States and Great Britain diplomats, in talks with the Tubman Administration. It should be noted that the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Liberia was not only done to Liberia-citizen Jehovah's Witnesses, but also to many foreign-nations-resident Jehovah's Witnesses. Notably, Milton Henschel (member of the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide Governing Body), had his scalp split open by a soldier's gun butt at Gbarnga, Liberia during his visit to the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention convening there during March 1963.
Such were the times...
Interestingly, many years later when I was elected to the Liberia House of Representatives, Speaker Richard Henries appointed me to chair the House Standing Committee on Culture. Considering that it had been the usual practice since the founding of the Republic that all "philanthropic" organizations - which includes religious groups/institutions - submit an annual report to the Government of Liberia, my Standing Committee on Culture was tasked by Speaker Henries to receive annual reports from all religious groups/institutions, including Jehovah's Witnesses as well as all foreign religious missionary associations. Note also that, as both a General Secretary of the ruling/majority True Whig Party (TWP) and House Chair for Culture, it was my privilege to determine whether a religious missionary's request for immigration approvals would be granted.
Remarkably, and perhaps ironically, President WVS Tubman's Vice President, William Tolbert, was President of the worldwide Baptist World Alliance from 1965 to 1971 during the height of the Government of Liberia's persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses during the years following 1963. Imagine - the Liberian society/nation was, simultaneously, enmeshed both in religious dignity and religious intolerance.
NOW,.... I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant. (John 6:44)
- Ijoma Robert Flemister
Source

During 1994, in my first-ever sit-down discussion on theocratic issues with one of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), Albert Schroeder, of the Watchtower Society Governing Body, put me to school with the Christian Gospel of Saint John, chapter 6, verse 44, to wit:
"... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day....' (kjv)
Albert Schroeder said to me: "...go home and ...study this verse..."
And so,... the most unlikely person - me - is now a Disciple of Christ, a Bible student, one of Jehovah's Witnesses in vindication of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
Albert Schroeder had tagged along with JW Elders from Liberia who were before my United Nations/New York committee which was assessing effects of the then ongoing Liberia civil conflict on Liberia's religious groups. At the end of the review with the Liberia JW delegation, Albert Schroeder introduced himself to me. Of course, I did not then know who he was, but I did notice that the Liberia JW group was according him deference, so I inquired of him his role with the Watchtower Society. Still not knowing exactly what the Watchtower Society Governing Body did, I presumed he was some sort of "head honcho".
Considering that I was of the Catholic Church's Seraphic Order, a Worthy Sir of the Holy See, as well as an active participant in many other religious groups because of my political and diplomatic connections, I asked Albert Schroeder if I could acquire honorary membership in the Watchtower Society. His reply was, "...do you have a Bible?... go home and study the sixth book and forty-fourth verse of the Gospel of John, study this verse ...". I did so; and, at the following United Nations review meeting three months later, Albert Schroeder and I began an exchange of notes which guided my work in establishing the modalities of the peace process in Liberia.
Note that between 1994 and 1998, I did not attend a Kingdom Hall, associate with a JW Congregation, or begin a formal study of the Holy Scriptures, until two JW sisters came knocking on my door while out in field service distributing invitations to the Memorial of 1998 to be held on 14 Nisan (10 April 1998, ironically the day before my birthday of 11 April). Interestingly, these two JW sisters appeared at my door exactly as I was in the midst of praying to Jehovah God, "...please show me women who love you...". My prayer was in reaction to the immense and stiff opposition of very close female relatives to my quest of seeking a true association with the love of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
I have steadily progressed in my theocratic dedication and am now both a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant in the Watchtower Society.
BTW,... I am of the persuasion that Albert Schroeder - more than anyone else - tremendously impacted the solid placement of instruments of peace in the cessation of civil conflict throughout Liberia.
Ijoma Robert Flemister
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jwinternational/permalink/1650901681827311/
 

During 1994, in my first-ever sit-down discussion on theocratic issues with one of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), Albert Schroeder, of the Watchtower Society Governing Body, put me to school with the Christian Gospel of Saint John, chapter 6, verse 44, to wit:
"... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day....' (kjv)
Albert Schroeder said to me: "...go home and ...study this verse..."
And so,... the most unlikely person - me - is now a Disciple of Christ, a Bible student, one of Jehovah's Witnesses in vindication of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
Albert Schroeder had tagged along with JW Elders from Liberia who were before my United Nations/New York committee which was assessing effects of the then ongoing Liberia civil conflict on Liberia's religious groups. At the end of the review with the Liberia JW delegation, Albert Schroeder introduced himself to me. Of course, I did not then know who he was, but I did notice that the Liberia JW group was according him deference, so I inquired of him his role with the Watchtower Society. Still not knowing exactly what the Watchtower Society Governing Body did, I presumed he was some sort of "head honcho".
Considering that I was of the Catholic Church's Seraphic Order, a Worthy Sir of the Holy See, as well as an active participant in many other religious groups because of my political and diplomatic connections, I asked Albert Schroeder if I could acquire honorary membership in the Watchtower Society. His reply was, "...do you have a Bible?... go home and study the sixth book and forty-fourth verse of the Gospel of John, study this verse ...". I did so; and, at the following United Nations review meeting three months later, Albert Schroeder and I began an exchange of notes which guided my work in establishing the modalities of the peace process in Liberia.
Note that between 1994 and 1998, I did not attend a Kingdom Hall, associate with a JW Congregation, or begin a formal study of the Holy Scriptures, until two JW sisters came knocking on my door while out in field service distributing invitations to the Memorial of 1998 to be held on 14 Nisan (10 April 1998, ironically the day before my birthday of 11 April). Interestingly, these two JW sisters appeared at my door exactly as I was in the midst of praying to Jehovah God, "...please show me women who love you...". My prayer was in reaction to the immense and stiff opposition of very close female relatives to my quest of seeking a true association with the love of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
I have steadily progressed in my theocratic dedication and am now both a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant in the Watchtower Society.
BTW,... I am of the persuasion that Albert Schroeder - more than anyone else - tremendously impacted the solid placement of instruments of peace in the cessation of civil conflict throughout Liberia.
Ijoma Robert Flemister
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jwinternational/permalink/1650901681827311/
 

During 1994, in my first-ever sit-down discussion on theocratic issues with one of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), Albert Schroeder, of the Watchtower Society Governing Body, put me to school with the Christian Gospel of Saint John, chapter 6, verse 44, to wit:
"... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day....' (kjv)
Albert Schroeder said to me: "...go home and ...study this verse..."
And so,... the most unlikely person - me - is now a Disciple of Christ, a Bible student, one of Jehovah's Witnesses in vindication of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
Albert Schroeder had tagged along with JW Elders from Liberia who were before my United Nations/New York committee which was assessing effects of the then ongoing Liberia civil conflict on Liberia's religious groups. At the end of the review with the Liberia JW delegation, Albert Schroeder introduced himself to me. Of course, I did not then know who he was, but I did notice that the Liberia JW group was according him deference, so I inquired of him his role with the Watchtower Society. Still not knowing exactly what the Watchtower Society Governing Body did, I presumed he was some sort of "head honcho".
Considering that I was of the Catholic Church's Seraphic Order, a Worthy Sir of the Holy See, as well as an active participant in many other religious groups because of my political and diplomatic connections, I asked Albert Schroeder if I could acquire honorary membership in the Watchtower Society. His reply was, "...do you have a Bible?... go home and study the sixth book and forty-fourth verse of the Gospel of John, study this verse ...". I did so; and, at the following United Nations review meeting three months later, Albert Schroeder and I began an exchange of notes which guided my work in establishing the modalities of the peace process in Liberia.
Note that between 1994 and 1998, I did not attend a Kingdom Hall, associate with a JW Congregation, or begin a formal study of the Holy Scriptures, until two JW sisters came knocking on my door while out in field service distributing invitations to the Memorial of 1998 to be held on 14 Nisan (10 April 1998, ironically the day before my birthday of 11 April). Interestingly, these two JW sisters appeared at my door exactly as I was in the midst of praying to Jehovah God, "...please show me women who love you...". My prayer was in reaction to the immense and stiff opposition of very close female relatives to my quest of seeking a true association with the love of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
I have steadily progressed in my theocratic dedication and am now both a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant in the Watchtower Society.
BTW,... I am of the persuasion that Albert Schroeder - more than anyone else - tremendously impacted the solid placement of instruments of peace in the cessation of civil conflict throughout Liberia.
Ijoma Robert Flemister
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jwinternational/permalink/1650901681827311/
 

During 1994, in my first-ever sit-down discussion on theocratic issues with one of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), Albert Schroeder, of the Watchtower Society Governing Body, put me to school with the Christian Gospel of Saint John, chapter 6, verse 44, to wit:
"... No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day....' (kjv)
Albert Schroeder said to me: "...go home and ...study this verse..."
And so,... the most unlikely person - me - is now a Disciple of Christ, a Bible student, one of Jehovah's Witnesses in vindication of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
Albert Schroeder had tagged along with JW Elders from Liberia who were before my United Nations/New York committee which was assessing effects of the then ongoing Liberia civil conflict on Liberia's religious groups. At the end of the review with the Liberia JW delegation, Albert Schroeder introduced himself to me. Of course, I did not then know who he was, but I did notice that the Liberia JW group was according him deference, so I inquired of him his role with the Watchtower Society. Still not knowing exactly what the Watchtower Society Governing Body did, I presumed he was some sort of "head honcho".
Considering that I was of the Catholic Church's Seraphic Order, a Worthy Sir of the Holy See, as well as an active participant in many other religious groups because of my political and diplomatic connections, I asked Albert Schroeder if I could acquire honorary membership in the Watchtower Society. His reply was, "...do you have a Bible?... go home and study the sixth book and forty-fourth verse of the Gospel of John, study this verse ...". I did so; and, at the following United Nations review meeting three months later, Albert Schroeder and I began an exchange of notes which guided my work in establishing the modalities of the peace process in Liberia.
Note that between 1994 and 1998, I did not attend a Kingdom Hall, associate with a JW Congregation, or begin a formal study of the Holy Scriptures, until two JW sisters came knocking on my door while out in field service distributing invitations to the Memorial of 1998 to be held on 14 Nisan (10 April 1998, ironically the day before my birthday of 11 April). Interestingly, these two JW sisters appeared at my door exactly as I was in the midst of praying to Jehovah God, "...please show me women who love you...". My prayer was in reaction to the immense and stiff opposition of very close female relatives to my quest of seeking a true association with the love of the Sovereign Jehovah God.
I have steadily progressed in my theocratic dedication and am now both a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant in the Watchtower Society.
BTW,... I am of the persuasion that Albert Schroeder - more than anyone else - tremendously impacted the solid placement of instruments of peace in the cessation of civil conflict throughout Liberia.
Ijoma Robert Flemister
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jwinternational/permalink/1650901681827311/
 

Actually, he Was the cadaver, He was embalmed already." A cadaver, also called Cait (singular) in medical, literary, and legal usage, or when intended for dissection, is a deceased body. "

This was in Spain. Actually, he Was the cadaver, He was embalmed already." A cadaver, also called Cait (singular) in medical, literary, and legal usage, or when intended for dissection, is a deceased body. "
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ann,
That's a very powerful combination of points. I remember when Brother Schroeder at Bethel was getting himself involved in the "generation" debate. He needed to look at all uses of "generation" in contexts that implied a time-frame. He was willing to go to Josephus, Philo, the Pseudepigrapha. He was not really satisfied with any of the solutions that went beyond 40 years. He was willing to go with either the solution that it meant the "wicked" generation or the "anointed" generation but, either way,he still wanted it to be within 40 years. 
So it shouldn't have been surprising that he came up with the idea that, because of Sputnik, October 4, 1957 was the new, updated start of the generation that saw the full sign, because it had to include the "signs in the 'heavens'" including the idea that men would become 'faint out of fear.' It's also interesting that even though we have never claimed that Jerusalem fell in October, or that Zedekiah was removed from his throne in October, we still love the idea of October as the start of the Gentile Times. Not just October, but October 4th. 
*** w79 9/15 p. 24 par. 11 The “Cup” That All Nations Must Drink at God’s Hand *** [1979]
But the reason simply is that about October 4/5, 1914, or 2,520 years from the desolating of Judah and Jerusalem after the Babylonian conquest, the Gentile Times of uninterrupted world domination ended.
Note the wording of the very first line on http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/
"History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I.".
1957 + 40 = 1997, and he was also sure that the end would come before the end of the 20th century. The proposal was in 1980, and therefore he was sure that we had less than 17 years left in this old system.
*** w80 7/1 p. 3 Keep Watching! *** [1980]
Truly, the possibility that the “unthinkable” could happen provides good reason for thinking about the world situation. And many people are thinking. A special report in the February 11, 1980, issue of U.S. News & World Report analyzed the military might of the leading nations on earth, with these opening words: “To a fearfully watching world, the Soviet Union today looks like a military juggernaut, driving relentlessly toward global domination.” This is indeed a fearfully watching world, for the kind of holocaust that would accompany a nuclear war simply beggars the imagination. And there is no question that global domination has in fact become a major issue of our times.
Is there any solution to this doomsday situation? Many persons watch in despair. They see the nations ‘beefing it up’ in terms of rockets, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, long-range bombers, nuclear warheads and the like. As they watch, they become painfully aware that fearful dangers now threaten from the heavens and the sea, even as the Master, Jesus, foretold for the final days of the wicked system of things on this earth. Jesus said:

“There will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs. Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”—Luke 21:11, 25, 26.
In this context, it's easier to understand why Brother Schroeder was able to propose the following, with the approval of two other members of the Governing Body and propose it to the entire Governing Body.on March 5 of the same year, 1980:

 
 
 

Short video of our experience at the Special Convention in Zagreb. It was awesome!
 

I remember from March 1963, at the beginning of the elementary school year at Gbatala, Bong, Liberia, that on the first day of classes many of my schoolmates from the previous year were not in attendance. We were told that they and their parents were among Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) who had been arrested at the City of Gbarnga, Bong, Liberia during the previous week while gathered for their JW Convention. We learned that the Jehovah's Witnesses - both Liberian and foreign members - men, women and children - were being beaten while under Liberia Frontier Force (LFF) detention because of refusal to sing the "All Hail, Liberia Hail" national anthem or pledge allegiance to the Lone Star Liberia flag. I remember that when my Jehovah's Witnesses school mates eventually returned to Feju Elementary School at Gbatala, for the remainder of the school year at beginning of each school day, as we gathered at the school's courtyard, we were separated into Jehovah's Witnesses on one side and non-Jehovah's Witnesses on the other side. While most of us were singing the national anthem or pledging allegiance to the flag, the Jehovah's Witnesses students were "...pumping tire..." (deep knee bends while holding one's earlobes), or being rattan-whipped and heckled by the LFF soldiers who were wearing tasseled red fez caps.
Concurrently, adult Jehovah's Witnesses were expelled from civil service jobs, dozens were held and tortured at Belleh Yellah maximum security prison, a scheme of intense security surveillance was imposed on members of the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses), and after 1963 there ensued high level negotiations which involved the worldwide Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, as well as United States and Great Britain diplomats, in talks with the Tubman Administration. It should be noted that the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Liberia was not only done to Liberia-citizen Jehovah's Witnesses, but also to many foreign-nations-resident Jehovah's Witnesses. Notably, Milton Henschel (member of the Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide Governing Body), had his scalp split open by a soldier's gun butt at Gbarnga, Liberia during his visit to the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention convening there during March 1963.
Such were the times...
Interestingly, many years later when I was elected to the Liberia House of Representatives, Speaker Richard Henries appointed me to chair the House Standing Committee on Culture. Considering that it had been the usual practice since the founding of the Republic that all "philanthropic" organizations - which includes religious groups/institutions - submit an annual report to the Government of Liberia, my Standing Committee on Culture was tasked by Speaker Henries to receive annual reports from all religious groups/institutions, including Jehovah's Witnesses as well as all foreign religious missionary associations. Note also that, as both a General Secretary of the ruling/majority True Whig Party (TWP) and House Chair for Culture, it was my privilege to determine whether a religious missionary's request for immigration approvals would be granted.
Remarkably, and perhaps ironically, President WVS Tubman's Vice President, William Tolbert, was President of the worldwide Baptist World Alliance from 1965 to 1971 during the height of the Government of Liberia's persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses during the years following 1963. Imagine - the Liberian society/nation was, simultaneously, enmeshed both in religious dignity and religious intolerance.
NOW,.... I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Pioneer and Ministerial Servant. (John 6:44)
- Ijoma Robert Flemister
Source

Take away the word beautiful and his statement would still be true. You are putting his emphasis on a certain word. What if his emphasis was on the word "wife" in the same sentence? The meaning would be different.
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say he is thankful for his wife. With the added plus that she is "beautiful". ;-)
 

SING  TO  JEHOVAH  -  LARGE  PRINT  NEW  SONG BOOK  *2016*
 ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫.♪ ♫ ♪ ♫.♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫.♪ ♫ ♪ ♫.♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫.♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

The above, from near the end of my last post should have started out, "From the time of the first Watchtower in 1879 until 1929, the only possible exceptions  . . . . "  (The other possible exceptions from 1929 until now had already been mentioned just above that.)
Just one more point to add is the fact that either method "Passover" or "Easter/Memorial" is consistent enough that you can always get the right date (within a day) by remembering that both methods "align" again every 19 years (Due to those 7 intercalary leap-months added every 19 years.) It's really amazing just how closely lunar 19 "lunar years" made up of 19 time 12 lunar months + 7 extra lunar months is almost exactly the same as 19 solar years.
You can check this by taking any year that we have had the memorial and dividing it by 19. If it divides evenly and the remainder is zero, then you can test every one of those years with the zero remainder and we will have the Memorial on that same day for each of those years. In fact it works for every possible remainder after dividing the year by 19.
For example, 2016 divided by 19 will have a remainder of 2. 19 years prior to that (1997 / 19) also has a remainder of 2, as does 1978 divided by 19, etc, etc. Look at the Memorial dates as announced in the Watchtower for each of these years:
1940: 3/23
1959 3/23
1978 3/23
1997 3/23
2016 3/23
You can almost always tell exactly what day the Memorial will be on by looking at what day it was on 19 years ago.