Melinda Mills

"Without reinventing the wheel, it is clear from Scripture that Jehovah has called out individuals and groups from amongst those worshipping him for a variety of specific purposes on a number of occasions throughout the Bible record. This did not result in condemnation for any worshippers who did not get a specific calling. Neither did any faithful ones from gaining Jehovah's recognition. An outstanding example of this is recorded at 1Kings 19. Elijah, whose specific calling is attested to throughout Scripture, felt he was the only one left serving Jehovah (IKi.19:14). But he was enlightened by Jehovah who was aware of many others, numbered at 7000, unnoticed by Elijah, but recognised by Jehovah. (1Ki.19:18)." - Gone Away The point about Jehovah's representative, Elijah, feeling that only he was left as a true worshipper of Jehovah [this was also alluded to in JWInsider's post when he quoted Roman's 11:4,5. Paul used it to show that there would have been many more anointed chosen according to Jehovah's undeserved kindness] also shows that none of Jehovah's servants can say dogmatically that they know the true status of any group or individual who worships Jehovah. They really can't know. Jehovah had to tell Elijah about them and their integrity. "To his own master he stands or falls". (Romans 14:4) I wanted to mentioned this point before and I forgot both times; and it also goes to show that Jehovah's spirit is one spirit. At the meetings too we often hear the identical comment we wanted to give.

Whether the brother was asked point blank or otherwise, it is not a question for him to answer. He answered to the best of his knowledge. The hope of a resurrection is a gift from Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. They are the ones that read hearts and can distinguish between the righteous, the unrighteous and the wicked. God has given the work of judging to Jesus. So we can leave that with him.

The Scriptures show that weeds were sown among the wheat and then the two were indistinguishable until the last days. Jesus said not to trouble them until the harvest time. However, as Gone Away has said there was a gap in understanding and in information on this era. My own belief is that were always true Christians at every point in time. True Christians are Jehovah's Witnesses like Jesus (Rev 3:14), and I believe for the True God not to be able to furnish Witnesses at every point in time is unthinkable. Bible translators and other Christians were fiercely persecuted by the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. There might have been millions as JWI said or there might have been just a remnant but I believe they were there. The point is we don't really know for certain but we are allowed to think.

It could be that swine were kept by or sold to Gentiles living among the Israelites. See research below for some good points relating to pigs/swine. *** it-2 p. 1049 Swine *** The Israelites generally seem to have viewed swine as especially loathsome. Hence the ultimate degree in disgusting worship is conveyed by the words: “The one offering up a gift—the blood of a pig!” (Isa 66:3) To the Israelites, few things could have been more inappropriate than a pig with a gold nose ring in its snout. And it is to this that Proverbs 11:22 compares an outwardly beautiful woman who is not sensible. Although apostate Israelites ate pork (Isa 65:4; 66:17), the Apocryphal books of First Maccabees (1:65, Dy) and Second Maccabees (6:18, 19; 7:1, 2, Dy) show that during the foreign domination of Palestine by the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his vicious campaign to stamp out the worship of Jehovah, there were many Jews who refused to eat the flesh of swine, preferring to die for violating the decree of the king rather than to violate the law of God. Whereas some other nations did not eat pork, to the Greeks it was a delicacy. Hence, likely as a result of Hellenistic influence, by the time of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, there were apparently quite a number of pigs in Palestine, particularly in the Decapolis region. In the country of the Gadarenes there was at least one herd of about 2,000 pigs. When Jesus permitted the demons that he had expelled to enter this large herd, every last one of the animals rushed over a precipice and drowned in the sea.—Mt 8:28-32; Mr 5:11-13. The Cast-Out Demons Who Entered Swine. No fault can be found with Jesus for allowing the demons to enter the swine, especially since certain unstated factors may very well have been involved, such as whether the owners of the swine were Jews, thus being guilty of disrespect for the Law. It was, of course, not required that Jesus exercise foreknowledge as to what the demons would do once they entered the unclean animals. And the demons may have wanted to take possession of the swine in order to derive therefrom some unnatural sadistic pleasure. Also, it might reasonably be argued that a man is worth more than a herd of swine. (Mt 12:12) Furthermore, all animals actually belong to Jehovah by reason of his Creatorship, and thus Jesus as God’s representative had every right to permit the demons to take possession of the herd of swine. (Ps 50:10; Joh 7:29) The demons’ entering the swine manifested their ouster from the men in a very forceful way, thus also making very apparent to observers the harm that came to creatures of flesh that became demon possessed. It demonstrated for such human observers both Jesus’ power over the demons and demonic power over fleshly creatures. All of this may have suited Jesus’ purpose and may explain why he allowed the unclean spirits to enter the swine. Illustrative Use. The inability of swine to recognize the value of pearls was employed by Jesus in illustrating the unwisdom of sharing spiritual things with those having no appreciation whatever of spiritual thoughts and teachings. (Mt 7:6) And in Jesus’ illustration of the prodigal son, the degradation to which a young man had sunk was accentuated by his having to hire himself out as a swineherd, a most despicable occupation for a Jew, and by his willingness even to eat the food of these animals.—Lu 15:15, 16. The apostle Peter compared Christians who revert to their former course of life to a sow that returns to its wallow after having been washed. (2Pe 2:22) However, it is evident that, as relates to the pig, this illustration is not intended to apply beyond the surface appearance of things. Actually, the pig, under natural conditions, is no dirtier than other animals, although it indulges in wallowing in the mud from time to time in order to cool off in the heat of the summer and to remove external parasites from its hide.

Early contractions coming before or during the eighth month are a danger sign, indicating that something is wrong with the woman or the baby - e.g. the womb not expanding or some other ailment. There is nothing normal about that. That is premature and a hospitalization event, sometimes meriting a Caesarean section. So I don't think Jesus would be talking about that - he would be considering what is the usual thing.

Nice points from both of you. For my son I had an intuitive feeling that something was about to happen but no significant signs, e.g. broken amniotic sac or contractions. Since I was tired only, I checked myself in just before sunset and had the baby just after midnight , although the nurse told me I was not in labour. Just to show that sometimes one can't go by the normal signs. Still shows you have to be always ready, as you are expectant.

"Whenever it is that they are saying: ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape.” (1 Thess. 5:2, 3) "A woman is pregnant for 9 months, but pangs of distress or contractions usually start occurring during the last 3 months." The scripture above is more true to life. Pangs of distress usually come instantly and unexpectedly at the end of the last trimester - a day or two before or a few hours before. The metaphor in Matthew 24:8 is still fitting as the conditions were distressful ever since the beginning of the last days since 1914. Distressing things would be happening concomitantly with happy things like celebrations, etc. We had a joyous, sumptuous wedding last weekend but we also had a shooting, an ongoing volcanic eruption, a plane crash around the same time.

Had to caution a few brothers that were sending out thoughts on Facebook and a few places on the matter of looking for God's intervention in human affairs "whenever it is that they are saying "Peace and security!" around the time (a few weeks ago) America seemed to be making progress in securing peace between North Korea and the West. I reminded them about Jesus' words at Matthew 24:42-44, as follows: "(Matthew 24:42-44) Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it." At the transfiguration Jehovah told Jesus' disciples to "Listen to him". These sayings are from the same source, Jehovah, but we have to be sober and not run off with one but not weighing the other. We know the season we are in, but we will not be able to work out the precise period of the end. No matter what we see now, the end is going to take us by surprise. We should obey Jesus and prove ourselves ready. No one knows when a thief plans to come. Jesus stated that it was at an hour that "you do not think to be it", referring to his disciples. So let us to take note but be modest, sober and most of all, ready. So the question above is really timely.

*** dp chap. 12 pp. 204-205 Strengthened by a Messenger From God *** [Box on page 204, 205] Angelic Guardians or Demonic Rulers? WE CAN learn much from what the book of Daniel says about the angels. It tells us about the role they play in carrying out Jehovah’s word and the effort they put forth to fulfill their assignments. God’s angel said that on his way to speak to Daniel, he was hindered by “the prince of the royal realm of Persia.” After contending with him for 21 days, the angelic messenger was able to proceed only with the help of “Michael, one of the foremost princes.” The angel also said that he would again have to fight that enemy and possibly “the prince of Greece.” (Daniel 10:13, 20) No easy task, even for an angel! Who, though, were these princes of Persia and Greece? First of all, we note that Michael was called “one of the foremost princes” and “the prince of you people.” Later, Michael was referred to as “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people.” (Daniel 10:21; 12:1) This points to Michael as the angel assigned by Jehovah to lead the Israelites through the wilderness.—Exodus 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:2. Lending support to this conclusion is the disciple Jude’s statement that “Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body.” (Jude 9) Michael’s position, power, and authority made him truly “the archangel,” meaning “the chief angel,” or “the principal angel.” Most fittingly, this lofty position can be applied to none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, before and after his life on earth.—1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 12:7-9. Does this mean that Jehovah also appointed angels over such nations as Persia and Greece to guide them in their affairs? Well, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, openly stated: “The ruler of the world . . . has no hold on me.” Jesus also said: “My kingdom is no part of this world . . . my kingdom is not from this source.” (John 14:30; 18:36) The apostle John declared that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) It is clear that the nations of the world never were and are not now under the guidance or rulership of God or Christ. While Jehovah permits “the superior authorities” to exist and maintain control of earthly governmental affairs, he does not appoint his angels over them. (Romans 13:1-7) Any “princes” or “rulers” over them could be placed there only by “the ruler of the world,” Satan the Devil. They would have to be demonic rulers rather than angelic guardians. There are, then, invisible demonic forces, or “princes,” behind the visible rulers, and national conflicts involve more than mere humans. ===== Also we are certain the world powers get their power from Satan the ruler of the demons. Read Rev 13:1,2 (Revelation 13:1, 2) And it stood still on the sand of the sea. And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten diadems, but on its heads blasphemous names. 2 Now the wild beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave to the beast its power and its throne and great authority. Light and darkness do not cooperate together. Italics, mine.

Who would want to resist and hold up an angel who was sent BY GOD on an urgent mission to an old man in need but a desperately wicked and strong spirit person?

Demons having remorse? You are greatly mistaken. They are willful in what they do, just like Satan. They are stored up for destruction for many centuries. Read the books of Genesis, Jude, and Revelation. However they may sometimes appear to be doing good things. They have many strategies to fool people: (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) 9 But the lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents 10 and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Peter 2:4) 4 Certainly God did not refrain from punishing the angels who sinned, but threw them into Tarʹta·rus, putting them in chains of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment. We are presently doing the Bible Reading in the Gospels. What did Jesus do when the demons sought to help by identifying Jesus as the Son of God (they know him of course - they used to be in heaven together at one time). He always rebuked them and did not accept help from them. The apostles did the same. (Mark 5:2-13) . . .And immediately after Jesus got out of the boat, a man under the power of an unclean spirit met him from among the tombs. 3 His haunt was among the tombs, and up to that time, absolutely no one was able to bind him securely, even with a chain. 4 He had often been bound with fetters and chains, but he snapped the chains apart and smashed the fetters; and nobody had the strength to subdue him. 5 And continually, night and day, he was crying out in the tombs and in the mountains and slashing himself with stones. 6 But on catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down to him. 7 Then he cried out with a loud voice: “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I put you under oath by God not to torment me.” 8 For Jesus had been saying to it: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.” 9 But Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” And he replied: “My name is Legion, because there are many of us.” 10 And he kept pleading with Jesus not to send the spirits out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of swine was feeding there at the mountain. 12 So the spirits pleaded with him: “Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.” 13 And he gave them permission. With that the unclean spirits came out and went into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the sea, about 2,000 of them, and were drowned in the sea. (Acts 16:16-18) 16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction. 17 This [girl] kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to YOU the way of salvation.” 18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, 11 anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable practices Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. A word to the wise.

"It is precisely what Jesus was referring to when when he said that we should look to specific persons as our leaders or teachers." You may wish to review this sentence in the context of what you are speaking about.

https://www.jw.org/en/news/jw/region/global/love-in-action-hurricane-irma-maria-relief-work/ Nice video report on JW.org website. Thanks for emailing me about this.

Strange way of thinking and expressing himself. Doesn't look like he was grounded in the faith, if he is a Witness. The children are sleeping in death . They are not in any new world. Eventually they will be resurrected in the new world and the former things will not be remembered or come into mind. Rev 21:3,4; John 5: 28,29, Isaiah 65:17. The murder brings reproach on Jehovah's name in every respect. The surviving father who is supposed to be a JW adds to the reproach by appearing to be callous and not representing the truth of the Bible accurately. His choice of words to say that the grandfather contributed to the children being taken away from him and now he has taken them all away (probably meaning is he good at it) is rather poor and shocking use of language. Put that together with one nation in Europe calling us extremists and see what that does.

A brother in the kingdom hall with 60 wives and 80 concubines? A brother of whom? How long was polygamy tolerated in Christianity? *** g74 2/8 p. 25 My Life as a Festival Singer in Africa *** The Bible Changes My Husband But throughout this period one of Jehovah’s witnesses came each week to conduct a Bible study with my husband. His visits began to affect my husband’s thinking in a favorable way, and this was reflected in what seemed a more tolerant attitude toward me. He became more gentle and soft with me and he seemed to find it easier to talk about the things he was learning in his newfound religion. Almost all of us living in our village were animists, so anything my husband would relate about what he learned from the Bible was quite new to me as well as others. The real turning point in my life, however, came one day when my husband called me to his side and explained that he had learned from the Bible that a man should be the husband of only one wife. (1 Tim. 3:2, 12) So he said that he had decided to send one of his wives back to her people. My heart sank, for my “mate” (his secondary wife) was younger than I. Would he send me, the senior wife, or the younger woman? My anxiety mounted when he went on to explain that this had been a difficult decision for him to make. But he then said: “Will you go with me to the Native Court so we can get papers for our marriage?” I was so relieved, and I readily agreed. I was even excited about the prospect of going to the Native Court to have our marriage solemnized and registered. What had brought about this important decision on his part? Jehovah’s witnesses had explained to him that if he wanted to be a real Christian, his marriage should be legally registered. So more was needed than just paying the dowry. Also, it was explained to him that he should take the ‘wife of his youth’ and her only. (Prov. 5:18) So he sent his second wife back to her people.