Melinda Mills

Agreed, Jehovah is shaking the nations by preaching work (not literally shaken). ...And this preaching work is upsetting the Russian government and the Mighty Orthodox church.....because we are effective!
However, I think Jehovah is allowing satan to literally shake the nations due to the activities of man (wars, poverty etc.) which is causing stress in societies in many parts of the world. We are observing an influx of people to other areas and these have not had opportunity to get a good witness because they live in areas where the work has been banned or restricted.
 

I agree with your views expressed very well here. Just to add that whilst indeed the movement of people is due to the "shaking" of this world system, Jehovah's "shaking" of the nations (Hag.2:7) is by means of the preaching that we do. Personal focus and involvement in that activity as much as we can at this time will serve greatly in our endeavour to keep ourselves in Jehovah's love. 

I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO GO OUR WAY!  Here are my reasons:
I have been watching Russia for more than 12 years and saw its sincere "human rights lawyers and reporters" mysteriously killed on the streets with no-one being brought to justice.  In the past I have called it a thugocracy! They killed dissidents in other countries too - think of the polonium-210  killing in London which grabbed some headlines! (please watch the video link I put in my previous comment about Russia.)
Putin has made the Russian Orthodox religion his bedfellow in creating a new Russian-religious Nationalism.  Russian pride is at an all-time high and this is their food at present which unites them against all else /anything different. Many people are joining the orthodox church because Putin is the equivalent to a pop-star god and he seen as a strong leader.  He is dangerous, shrewd and a killer!  No-one stands in his way - totalitarian.... and his bedfellow church is the same! 
By shrewd selling of weapons and assistance his influence is increasing in the world  (especially the middle east). The Russians love him for it.
Satan is blinding the eyes of the world leaders.  Putin is also keeping the lid on the 27 million Muslims in his country by brutal oppression. Searches and Indiscriminate jailing of these people have made them live in fear of the government.... 
Like his cold war predecessors - Putin and the Russian government is putting on a façade - allowing this high supreme court case, just to make this ban on JWs legal in the eyes of the people - justice has been through the process..... the quality of the process does not matter.  There was never an intention to listen to arguments in a fair /just way..... It was a set decision beforehand and the entire country is in a trance propagated by the Russian propaganda machine. All "feel" the same in their nationalism.   (Remember the Nazi machine of pride and nationalism?  A modern version of it...no right and wrong standards with injustices perpetrated and victims with no rights.)
It is therefore not a surprise that Russia is the first country to stand in the "holy place" - I expect more and more to join this stance against Jehovah's defenseless people.   We do believe that it is the time of the end, don't we?  Then expect more to come. 
We will suffer - but Jehovah will cut it off at the right time.  We will be dragged before governors and give our witness.  And our enemies will be deriding us - where is your god now?  Why does he not save you?  
The propaganda of Satan (expressions of demons) is everywhere - going out to divide the earth as never before ! to get them ready for Armageddon. Rev 16:14-16.  Religious hate (religions hating each other and weapons training in religious nationalism is something new), hard-core racial hatred, and political party hatred (militant far-left and militant far-right) are getting people worked up for violence and fierceness to perpetrate unthinkable things against their fellow man in future. (brother killing brother).
In the world there is not a place where there is not one or other form of hatred being propagated.  The values of right and wrong have disappeared.  Most Christians nations (especially Europe) are Christians at face value only because philosophies of humanist nature have taken its place....All religions are equal they say.... there is no right and wrong....  
In this moral confusion the pressure pot is building - and the longer it builds- the bigger the explosion.  Whether we will see another world war - I do not know.  Whether we will see an ISIS-like organization take over in Europe and Canada - I do not know.   All I can see is signs of a building hatred amongst people which is directly from Satan.
Satan wants to control the world completely and stamp out Jehovah's worship.  He is using imperialistic false religion and political systems to do this.  In previous generations there were decent people who held back this overwhelming control of satan but now there are very little wise people left with a sincere love for god.  In many countries there is an inordinate surge in Spiritism  - practiced on a daily basis with druids and witch doctors....  I saw this while living in Africa and England and have been watching the trends.
Jehovah is now allowing the nations to be shaken (refugees moving everywhere) so that we can bring them the message and they receive an opportunity to choose... so keep busy while we have freedom to do so.
I see signs of Jehovah's Witness enemies using Facebook and false news to perpetuate and spread vile lies about us and build a hatred against us.... Who is behind this?  Satan of course.  
So my brothers....and sisters. Keep yourself in Jehovah's love..... do not stray and keep the eyes simple and focussed.  Do not collect material things or influence for yourself ..... it is not the time to contemplate these things... because they can be taken away from you in one minute....
Jesus did not say without reason it will be the worst tribulation ever! 
 
 

Wewwy?

Jehovah sees all and will use this and other events affecting his named people to further his will. We just need to have faith and rely on the blessings from Jehovah. Keep our eyes on the prize and pray for endurance for all the brotherhood.  

They already did with Dvorkin and the anti-cultists venom against us saying EXACTLY what you James just said. Except Putin unknowingly already destroyed that entire concept that we destroy families just last month with the award given to a Witness family for "family values". But they don't care as this is all political.

I prefer English my dear!  No time to improve the German.  I am learning Swedish at present and trying to improve my Arabic for field service.  I do field service in Arabic. 
The Swedes speak very good English and it suits my daily life to speak English at the  shops etc. BUT I have to learn the language to get value from the meetings.  I realized how important it is to hear the comments and understand them -to be built up by others!  So I have to apply myself now to understand the Swedish better.
The Watchtower this week is about this topic... understanding the meetings.  Children in their tender years need to learn the truth in the language they learn at school because this eventually becomes their first language.   I discovered this working in the Arabic communities.
The parents struggle to learn the new language and want the children to attend Arabic but it is actually good if the parents learn the truth in their language of the "heart"  (Arabic) but try to learn the language of the country they are in - so their children can grow spiritually in the language they speak better - the one they learn at school. So I have always maintained that the parents must attend the language meetings of the new country. 
The children can later help in the foreign language group when they are well established in the Truth.

Here is another graphic who shows the correct direction to read the names, both Jesus and Jehovah, in hebrew lang.
 

Yes. The graphic is written incorrectly because it labels the name of each Hebrew letter incorrectly.
Not to me. The mistake in the graphic is not a big deal. That's the reason that I said:
 

I visited a church in Sweden this weekend - massive church with tall glass windows..... and in the glass engraved is YOD HE WAW HE....  I took a picture but too unclear to paste here.   This church has many visitors because it is 700 years old..... and most do not see or understand this..... but I immediately understood the letters and what it stands for! I am so happy to know Jehovah!

This is picture of ancient letters in Hebrew and the bottom is the letters in Aramaic script - now used and recognized by everyone.    You will see far right letter (the short one) - this is Yod.......  they have it other way round on your diagram like "mirror image" because they think western people read from left... to right - this is why it is like it is.
As I said before - these four letters have the same meaning no matter what vowels you add.  If you add vowels it changes to a verb or noun or adjective..... but the meaning is basically the same.  So it does not really matter what vowels you put in .... it is the use of the name and acknowledging the name that is important. Jehovah chose this name because it has significant meaning in the outworking of his purpose  as the creator.  It is the causative form for "He causes to become" ...  He can fulfill his promises... he can prove to be by his actions....
Hope this de-confuses you...and thanks for sending the other stuff.....

This article was very good, but the graphic is wrong.
At the top the statement is correct that Hebrew is read from right to left, but then the Hebrew letters in the graphic are written from left to right. This means that:
the Hebrew letter just above the 1st 'He" (H) is actually not "He" but "Yod" the Hebrew letter just above the "Vav" (V) is actually not "Vav" but "He" the Hebrew letter just above the 2nd "He" (H) is actually not "He" but "Vav" the Hebrew letter just above the "Vod" [sic] is actually not "Yod" but "He"  Also, of course, there is no letter "Vod" where it should say "Yod"
Also, it is misleading to say at the top
Jehovah (English) Yehovah (Hebrew) We don't have a good idea how "Jehovah" was pronounced in Hebrew, but we are almost positive that it would not have been pronounced "Yehovah."

Very  good reasoning... is there any way i can save this to my profile so i can use it in field service?

Jehovah in English  -  Basic  statement  by  Jehovah's Witnesses:
The Hebrew Name of God יהוה rendered generally as YHWH and thought to be pronounced in Hebrew something like Yahweh or perhaps Yahoweh is properly translated into English as Jehovah.
Argument by opposers:
That is not the correct way to do it,  because Someone from the US named John who visits Mexico or Spain is not Juan;  they are   still John.
Counter-argument by Jehovah’s Witnesses:
Jesus is not God’s Son’s name either; it is properly rendered in the Hebrew as Yeshua or Yehoshua, and even the Greek is Iesous, yet the opposers do not complain about it being rendered as “Jesus”  in English.
Other Hebrew names are rendered or translated into English with no complaint.
Bibles in English use John and in Spanish Juan, etc.
To settle this problem, what we need is Biblical example. That should settle the matter to the satisfaction of all.
“But in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, when translated, means Dorcas. She abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy that she was rendering.”—Acts 9:36.
(“Dorcas” is the Greek and corresponds with “Tabitha” which is the Aramaic;  both names mean “Gazelle.”)
So, which one is her name, Tabitha or Dorcas? Let’s continue reading in Acts 9:39 & 40:
“At that Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they led him up into the upper chamber; and all the widows presented themselves to him weeping and exhibiting many inner garments and outer garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter put everybody outside and, bending his knees, he prayed, and, turning to the body, he said: “Tabitha, rise!” She opened her eyes and, as she caught sight of Peter, she sat up.”
So, both names are used interchangeably!
Even the Apostle Peter, whose name means “A Piece of Rock,” is named in five different ways in the Scriptures: by the Hebrew “Symeon,” the Greek “Simon” (from a Hebrew root meaning “hear; listen”), “Peter” (a Greek name he alone bears in the Scriptures), its Semitic equivalent “Cephas” (perhaps related to the Hebrew kephim´ [rocks] used at Job 30:6; Jeremiah 4:29), and the combination “Simon Peter.”—Acts 15:14; Matthew 10:2; 16:16; John 1:42.
And need we even mention “Saul, who is also Paul” as stated in Acts 13:9 ?
Therefore, based upon these Scriptural precedents, the English Jehovah is as correct as the Hebrew יהוה when referring to our Almighty God, the Most High over all the earth.—Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18.
One thing for sure: יהוה is NOT LORD nor GOD, which is what most Bibles replace it with.
(  I  posted  that  for  our  mature  Brother's  and  Sister's....  maybe,  they  have  something  to  tell ?
 
 

Everyone has to live with his or her conscience but it is a protection to adhere to the advice of the faithful and discreet slave. Although someone could point to the violence in the world as a rational for why he should carry, the scriptures have consistently advised us to rely on Jehovah both spiritually and physically. When Peter attacked Malchus he must have been thinking: "Attack is the best form of defense. Look at the large crowd with swords and clubs from the high priest. If I attack first, it would be a signal for Jesus to use his power to help us." Jesus would have none of that. He relied on Jehovah. And we should do.
I heard of the story of a Kingdom Hall bombed in Australia. It was very sad. It's part of the signs of the last days but that would not be a rationale for us to take to arms. One of the fruitage of the spirit is self-control. That is what we need in occasions like this when we find ourselves under threat. Against the natural inclination to take arms and fight back, we prefer to leave it in the hands of the authorities. That is Godly wisdom. Remember King Hezekiah. Despite the fact that he was staring at death in the face when Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, he relied on Jehovah. We want to do the same.
Come to think of it. Would you say that because many politicians are corrupt that you'd go into politics because as a Christian you'd bring about the needed changes? That would be a natural inclination of every human. But the bible shows consistently that Christians should not engage in politics. As a Christian you'd want to follow bible principles. That is the same with the firearms issue. We want to follow bible principles rather than our natural inclination.

"I mean, why shouldn't this number increase? I know we have put date limiters on it in the past, but surely we have become less rigid about this in more recent years? (@Melinda Mills could substantiate this with numerous WT references!)
Anointed ones answer only to Jehovah as to the genuineness of their claim (1Cor 11:27-29)." -- Eoin Joyce
Agree with Eoin that we should not worry about genuineness of the claim to be of the anointed of persons who have caused this number to increase. Jehovah is the one choosing them and he is keeping the tally.  It is possible some are not genuine but it still doesn't matter because we still  won't be able to judge or disallow any, whether they might seem to have emotional problems or not.
I get the feeling also that we have not been stressing the date limit as in the past, but here is a fairly recent one I found.
*** w14 2/15 p. 11 par. 14 Rejoice Over the Marriage of the Lamb! ***
"Since 1935, millions of people have allowed the remnant to ‘bring them to righteousness.’ (Dan. 12:3) These loyal companions of the anointed Christians have purified their lives, becoming spiritual virgins. These “virgin companions” of the bride have dedicated themselves to Jehovah and have proved themselves to be faithful subjects of the Bridegroom-King."
In any case Jehovah is not limited by our understanding of the scriptures or to any time period that we may have in mind.  He is managing the big picture (gathering the ones who would be fitting companions for his Royal Son) and it could be that whereas we were expecting logically a dwindling of the number as the 1914 generation disappears it may be that Jehovah will have more persons representing the epoch wherein more persons are living on earth and wherein a greater shout of praise is being carried out on the earth.  Who knows? It could be too that more surprises might be in store for his servants including the faithful slave.
I also like Eoin's reference to Luke 15 because the increase in the anointed is concomitant with the increase in the average publishers worldwide. So although it is puzzling at first,  on re-examination it should indeed be an outcome deserving applause.
 

Jehovah knows His timing. So the numbers of partakers is not relevant.  I know an anointed brother who made know to us that he had received his sealing.  That was some time 2008 or 2009, again Jehovah knows His timing, so if there is an anointed that has not been sealed it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with him.  If they were all sealed the Angels would let loose their symbolic winds and the tribulation would start, so we know at least one is not sealed.    There are no clues to be had in finding Gods timing!

"I mean, why shouldn't this number increase? I know we have put date limiters on it in the past, but surely we have become less rigid about this in more recent years? (@Melinda Mills could substantiate this with numerous WT references!)
Anointed ones answer only to Jehovah as to the genuineness of their claim (1Cor 11:27-29)." -- Eoin Joyce
Agree with Eoin that we should not worry about genuineness of the claim to be of the anointed of persons who have caused this number to increase. Jehovah is the one choosing them and he is keeping the tally.  It is possible some are not genuine but it still doesn't matter because we still  won't be able to judge or disallow any, whether they might seem to have emotional problems or not.
I get the feeling also that we have not been stressing the date limit as in the past, but here is a fairly recent one I found.
*** w14 2/15 p. 11 par. 14 Rejoice Over the Marriage of the Lamb! ***
"Since 1935, millions of people have allowed the remnant to ‘bring them to righteousness.’ (Dan. 12:3) These loyal companions of the anointed Christians have purified their lives, becoming spiritual virgins. These “virgin companions” of the bride have dedicated themselves to Jehovah and have proved themselves to be faithful subjects of the Bridegroom-King."
In any case Jehovah is not limited by our understanding of the scriptures or to any time period that we may have in mind.  He is managing the big picture (gathering the ones who would be fitting companions for his Royal Son) and it could be that whereas we were expecting logically a dwindling of the number as the 1914 generation disappears it may be that Jehovah will have more persons representing the epoch wherein more persons are living on earth and wherein a greater shout of praise is being carried out on the earth.  Who knows? It could be too that more surprises might be in store for his servants including the faithful slave.
I also like Eoin's reference to Luke 15 because the increase in the anointed is concomitant with the increase in the average publishers worldwide. So although it is puzzling at first,  on re-examination it should indeed be an outcome deserving applause.
 

Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door........
It is aways interesting (for me) to look at the partakers graph against the average publishers graph as shown here. (They will be included in these figures).
I mean, why shouldn't this number increase? I know we have put date limiters on it in the past, but surely we have become less rigid about this in more recent years? (@Melinda Mills could substantiate this with numerous WT references!)
Anointed ones answer only to Jehovah as to the genuineness of their claim (1Cor 11:27-29).
We are rejoicing at the increase, if we show the same spirit that the angels do when sinners repent:
Luke 15:10:  "I tell you, joy arises among the angels of God over one sinner who repents"

Thanks, JW Insider !  In my congregation was also a very young anointed Sinti brother. Maybe it will change all years...  Lets wait and see until its time.
But no discuss under my postings please !  Thank you.

The great tragedy of 'group' drowning deaths is that good swimmers often get tired out and pulled down by trying to save the ones who cannot swim. Survivors are often haunted by the fact that the only reason they survived is that they decided to swim away and not help their drowning friends.

Our congregation is beardless, bar one sister, she's been wearing one for years. She doesn't care about the peer pressure. She's one bold character with a backbone of steel. Besides, the elders have never counseled her about it as far as I know...

Why do you think there is to be a new system? Because God is enthralled over the noble independence-seekers of this one?
Rather than become focused over a trifle, it is good to consider Nathanial Hawthorne's take: "People who think the most bold of thoughts have no difficulty conforming to outward norms of society."
Nobody thinks thoughts more bold than Jehovah's Witnesses.
Actually, I think the reverse is also true. People who kick up a huge fuss over trifles tend to be the most conformist of all when it comes to bold things. Wear a beard if you want to. No one ever said you couldn't. You just would have to endure some peer pressure, and thus, might decide it was not worth it. That is the aspect that appears to be changing.
 

Were none of them able to swim even for a few minutes? I can understand dying by being pulled under by a huge ship sinking...but just falling off a boat? I've jumped off of more boats than I can think of for the sheer fun of swimming.

Life has ALWAYS been cheap ...
Sounds like new contestants for the 2017 "Darwin Awards" if they were over the age of 16.