rAnDom nOTes fr0m tHe eDGe

Watchman

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Since I can remember I have been a walker. Used to walk in the woods at my grandma's farm when I was a kid. Magical. Lived in cities most of my life and I would always gravitate to parks, golf courses and railroad tracks for a little solitude. But city streets can be interesting too, back alleys especially. Sunday morning is prime walking time. Hardly any traffic or people about.

Snapped this photo yesterday as the rising sun was burning off the mist hanging over the swamp. It is interesting, that in the Bible, the act of walking is used in relation to a course of life; hence, the Bible uses the expression walking with God. I had a walk with God yesterday. Wasn't much of a breeze though.

Was reading Isaiah the other day. When I was originally writing the Isaiah series I didn't grasp the meaning of the fourth chapter, which starts off: "And seven women will grab hold of one man in that day, saying: “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by your name to take away our disgrace.”

"Seven women" ought to tip us off that this is a high symbolic prophecy. Seven is used throughout the book of Revelation, seven eyes, seven spirits, seven thunders, seven trumpets, etc. Women are used in a symbolic way too. Jesus has a bride - a woman. Seven women represent the bride of Christ, at least those on earth when the bridegroom arrives. Except, their engagement to him will not necessarily be a happy time of flowers and friends and champagne, as most human weddings. Jesus comes during the bleakest period in human experience. Christians will be scattered to the four winds and humiliated. Salvation will not be an ordinary, pedestrian affair. We will have to beg God to save us. No other way. Those chosen to be with Christ will have to plead for their salvation.

How do we know the seven women are the wise virgins in Christ's illustration? Because the fourth chapter of Isaiah goes on to say: "In that day what Jehovah makes sprout will be splendid and glorious, and the fruitage of the land will be the pride and beauty of the survivors of Israel. Whoever remains in Zion and is left over in Jerusalem will be called holy, all of those in Jerusalem written down for life."

The Kingdom of God is splendid and glorious and when the full number has been brought in the heavenly Jerusalem will be holy.

Even more interesting, considering that the Governing Body has made themselves bloodguilty by their claim that the vaccines are a gift from Jehovah, even as untold numbers (Jehovah knows) of trusting souls have already perished, the next verse says: "When Jehovah washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinses away the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning..."

I think the fourth chapter of Isaiah is the shortest chapter in the book, but there is a lot packed in there.
 

BagdadBill

Well-known member
I appreciated this. Another good reminder that I don't read enough of God's word. Was a time that every Witness could say they've read the bible all the way through, at least once. That is, following the structure that we used to have. I guess that's gone now too. For the life of me, I do not recall this chapter so now I have another goal.
 

PJ54

Well-known member
I appreciated this. Another good reminder that I don't read enough of God's word. Was a time that every Witness could say they've read the bible all the way through, at least once. That is, following the structure that we used to have. I guess that's gone now too. For the life of me, I do not recall this chapter so now I have another goal.
I remember when I was studying, I made it a resolve to read the entire Bible once before baptism. At the time it was the KJV (it's what I had on hand) & the friends indirectly discouraged using it & to use the NWT (I read that on the third round). Many of the friends seem to push baptism before gaining an firm understanding on what the bible said. Instead they rely on the magazines & publications. It's a similar mentality to Christendom.
 
K

KevinB

Guest
View attachment 1487

Since I can remember I have been a walker. Used to walk in the woods at my grandma's farm when I was a kid. Magical. Lived in cities most of my life and I would always gravitate to parks, golf courses and railroad tracks for a little solitude. But city streets can be interesting too, back alleys especially. Sunday morning is prime walking time. Hardly any traffic or people about.

Snapped this photo yesterday as the rising sun was burning off the mist hanging over the swamp. It is interesting, that in the Bible, the act of walking is used in relation to a course of life; hence, the Bible uses the expression walking with God. I had a walk with God yesterday. Wasn't much of a breeze though.

Was reading Isaiah the other day. When I was originally writing the Isaiah series I didn't grasp the meaning of the fourth chapter, which starts off: "And seven women will grab hold of one man in that day, saying: “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by your name to take away our disgrace.”

"Seven women" ought to tip us off that this is a high symbolic prophecy. Seven is used throughout the book of Revelation, seven eyes, seven spirits, seven thunders, seven trumpets, etc. Women are used in a symbolic way too. Jesus has a bride - a woman. Seven women represent the bride of Christ, at least those on earth when the bridegroom arrives. Except, their engagement to him will not necessarily be a happy time of flowers and friends and champagne, as most human weddings. Jesus comes during the bleakest period in human experience. Christians will be scattered to the four winds and humiliated. Salvation will not be an ordinary, pedestrian affair. We will have to beg God to save us. No other way. Those chosen to be with Christ will have to plead for their salvation.

How do we know the seven women are the wise virgins in Christ's illustration? Because the fourth chapter of Isaiah goes on to say: "In that day what Jehovah makes sprout will be splendid and glorious, and the fruitage of the land will be the pride and beauty of the survivors of Israel. Whoever remains in Zion and is left over in Jerusalem will be called holy, all of those in Jerusalem written down for life."

The Kingdom of God is splendid and glorious and when the full number has been brought in the heavenly Jerusalem will be holy.

Even more interesting, considering that the Governing Body has made themselves bloodguilty by their claim that the vaccines are a gift from Jehovah, even as untold numbers (Jehovah knows) of trusting souls have already perished, the next verse says: "When Jehovah washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinses away the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning..."

I think the fourth chapter of Isaiah is the shortest chapter in the book, but there is a lot packed in there.
Only thanks to give you through Christ! You were a major part of the puzzle, more than a ligament!

Had it not been for some of your insights, I would not have thought the way I did, Thank you my brother!

You know what, some one else with come by and correct us both, God bless them! God Bless them!
 

BagdadBill

Well-known member
I remember when I was studying, I made it a resolve to read the entire Bible once before baptism. At the time it was the KJV (it's what I had on hand) & the friends indirectly discouraged using it & to use the NWT (I read that on the third round). Many of the friends seem to push baptism before gaining an firm understanding on what the bible said. Instead they rely on the magazines & publications. It's a similar mentality to Christendom.
I have a few audio bibles in addition to my hard copy collection. The King James version is my favorite to hear read aloud. When I was in my teens I was baptized Mormon. It was a common comment that some of the Elders had a dunk them fast mentality and some of the LDS frowned upon it. I see the point. One of the benefits that meeting attendance used to have was that you could build a lot of knowledge fast because of the comments and things said at the platform. I would estimate that a large portion of my grasp of the bible was built by the comments from the sisters. It occurs to me now, that some of them realized that their comments would in fact do just that.
At meeting you hear things that have a bearing on but may no necessarily be in the material being considered. As an example, facts about the Israelites that weren't exactly stated in the bible.
 

SusanB

Well-known member
I noticed the Isaiah Chapter 4 starts with “And” so I read Chapter 3 also, which starts out with verse 1: “For look! the true Lord, Jehovah of armies, Is removing from Jerusalem and Judah every kind of support and supply, All support of bread and water,”

and then even though the chapter contains a bleak description of the coming judgment there is hope in Isaiah 3:10: “Tell the righteous that it will go well for them; They will be rewarded for what they do.”

Then verses 16 -17: “Jehovah says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, Walking with their heads high, Flirting with their eyes, skipping along, Making a tinkling sound with their anklets, Jehovah will also strike the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And Jehovah will make their forehead bare.”

And then Chapter 3 ends with verse 26: “Her entrances will mourn and grieve, And she will sit on the ground desolate.

So, now we can see (in Chapter 4) why these 7 women grab hold of the one man saying they will be responsible for their own bread and clothing but they want to be called by the man’s name to take away their disgrace and the footnote says, “That is, the humiliation of being unmarried and childless”.

Brother King’s comments ring true.
 

Ms_ladyblue

Well-known member
View attachment 1487

Since I can remember I have been a walker. Used to walk in the woods at my grandma's farm when I was a kid. Magical. Lived in cities most of my life and I would always gravitate to parks, golf courses and railroad tracks for a little solitude. But city streets can be interesting too, back alleys especially. Sunday morning is prime walking time. Hardly any traffic or people about.

Snapped this photo yesterday as the rising sun was burning off the mist hanging over the swamp. It is interesting, that in the Bible, the act of walking is used in relation to a course of life; hence, the Bible uses the expression walking with God. I had a walk with God yesterday. Wasn't much of a breeze though.

Was reading Isaiah the other day. When I was originally writing the Isaiah series I didn't grasp the meaning of the fourth chapter, which starts off: "And seven women will grab hold of one man in that day, saying: “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by your name to take away our disgrace.”

"Seven women" ought to tip us off that this is a high symbolic prophecy. Seven is used throughout the book of Revelation, seven eyes, seven spirits, seven thunders, seven trumpets, etc. Women are used in a symbolic way too. Jesus has a bride - a woman. Seven women represent the bride of Christ, at least those on earth when the bridegroom arrives. Except, their engagement to him will not necessarily be a happy time of flowers and friends and champagne, as most human weddings. Jesus comes during the bleakest period in human experience. Christians will be scattered to the four winds and humiliated. Salvation will not be an ordinary, pedestrian affair. We will have to beg God to save us. No other way. Those chosen to be with Christ will have to plead for their salvation.

How do we know the seven women are the wise virgins in Christ's illustration? Because the fourth chapter of Isaiah goes on to say: "In that day what Jehovah makes sprout will be splendid and glorious, and the fruitage of the land will be the pride and beauty of the survivors of Israel. Whoever remains in Zion and is left over in Jerusalem will be called holy, all of those in Jerusalem written down for life."

The Kingdom of God is splendid and glorious and when the full number has been brought in the heavenly Jerusalem will be holy.

Even more interesting, considering that the Governing Body has made themselves bloodguilty by their claim that the vaccines are a gift from Jehovah, even as untold numbers (Jehovah knows) of trusting souls have already perished, the next verse says: "When Jehovah washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinses away the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning..."

I think the fourth chapter of Isaiah is the shortest chapter in the book, but there is a lot packed in there.
@Watchman
You explained Isaiah chapter 4 beautifully. Your walk probably gave you a lot of inspiration. Thanks….
If you don’t mind me asking, what is the meaning behind the title of your thread?
 

BARNABY THE DOG.

Well-known member
I remember when I was studying, I made it a resolve to read the entire Bible once before baptism. At the time it was the KJV (it's what I had on hand) & the friends indirectly discouraged using it & to use the NWT (I read that on the third round). Many of the friends seem to push baptism before gaining an firm understanding on what the bible said. Instead they rely on the magazines & publications. It's a similar mentality to Christendom.
Many whom I knew in watchtower would claim to read the bible daily. I never would have known. Some would read it over and again, a goal of a chapter a day. It made no discernible difference in their Christian etiquette. However, It is a rich source of inspiration and an insight into Jehovah’s mind. For me though, reading it to complete it, or reading it like a daily dose of medicine is an inequity of its meaning, just as eating from nature without appreciating its creation is only half the instruction and if left without appreciation, leaves one hungry in so many other ways. There is precious little to be gained from reading the bible, if for example, you can pass by a giant sequoia tree, without stopping to take in its meaning and all it has to say to those that pass it by. Few could translate into words, the essay that such a creation could write upon the heart of appreciation for Jehovah‘s magnificence of accomplishment. Yet appreciation of that accomplishment is the nutrition of love. It always seemed to me that the ethos of watchtower was academia. There was no heart in it. It consisted of a trinity, reading, right and wrong. Followed by doing and later, physical reward. As one of the GB said - I forget who - “Stick with us, you will be fine.” There is no love in such a life. And love can only grow through appreciation of its demonstration.
 

Watchman

Moderator
Staff member
MORE rAnDom nOTes fr0m tHe eDGe

I see a couple of watchful members have already posted links to the public service video on how to respond in the event of a nuclear blast. It appears that the protocol is to stay inside a house or building. Makes sense. Of course, that means that everyone's GO BAG will be useless. Hmm. The best-laid plans. But I guess it is the best advice, after all the scripture says: "Go, my people, enter your inner rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a brief moment until the wrath has passed by." - Isaiah 26:20

One has to wonder, though, why is there a growing danger of nuclear war now? Just because Putin invaded a country that used to be part of Russia to eliminate the NAZI battalions that NATO organized and armed? That doesn't make any sense. The US and NATO have invaded and wrecked a half dozen countries in the past 20 years. Nobody got into a twist over the million or so people who were murdered. Why the talk of nuclear war now?

No doubt what is driving the frenzied march to war is the growing recognition that the Trans-Atlantic financial system is finished. It is only a matter of a few weeks or months until one of the too-big-to-fail institutions fails. Somehow I don't think the bankers will be able to come up with the hundreds of trillions of dollars that will be required to plug the breach this time. And what's up with JP Morgan increasing its derivatives position by $14,000,000,000,000 in the first quarter? That's a lot of zeroes! Has one of the Big Boys already blown out? Derivates are, after all, financial weapons of mass destruction. That's what Warren Buffett said. In any case, there are various types of weapons of mass destruction. That is because war is the only way a dying empire knows.

But then there is the unseen. Humans are not the real rulers of the world, evil spirits are. You may be sure that Satan and the demons are not going to go quietly into the abyss. If there is war in heaven that precedes Satan and his angels being thrown to the earth it is inevitable that this relatively tiny speck of a planet is going to be rocked to the edge of oblivion when they carry on the war down here. It has to be that way. Jehovah has to get our attention somehow. That is what the day of Jehovah is.

“Blow a horn in Zion! Shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Jehovah is coming! It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick gloom, like light of dawn spreading out on the mountains. There is a people numerous and mighty; never before has there been one like it, and never again will there be another through the years of all generations." - Joel 2:1-2

I feel sorry for JW's. The Watchtower's latest new light on Joel claims that it was fulfilled 25 hundred years ago when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. They claim there is no modern fulfillment. That is why there is going to be nuclear terror. I know I am sick and tired of the Watchtower lying and stealing and pretending to be a prophet. I am pretty sure God Amighty is too.

 
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Patricia

Well-known member
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I see a couple of watchful members have already posted links to the public service video on how to respond in the event of a nuclear blast. It appears that the protocol is to stay inside a house or building. Makes sense. Of course, that means that everyone's GO BAG will be useless. Hmm. The best-laid plans. But I guess it is the best advice, after all the scripture says: "Go, my people, enter your inner rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a brief moment until the wrath has passed by." - Isaiah 26:20

One has to wonder, though, why is there a growing danger of nuclear war now? Just because Putin invaded a country that used to be part of Russia to eliminate the NAZI battalions that NATO organized and armed? That doesn't make any sense. The US and NATO have invaded and wrecked a half dozen countries in the past 20 years. Nobody got into a twist over the million or so people who were murdered. Why the talk of nuclear war now?

No doubt what is driving the frenzied march to war is the growing recognition that the Trans-Atlantic financial system is finished. It is only a matter of a few weeks or months until one of the too-big-to-fail institutions fails. Somehow I don't think the bankers will be able to come up with the hundreds of trillions of dollars it will be required to plug the breach this time. War is the only way a dying empire knows.

But then there is the unseen. Humans are not the real rulers of the world, evil spirits are. You may be sure that Satan and the demons are not going to go quietly into the abyss. If there is war in heaven that precedes Satan and his angels being thrown to the earth it is inevitable that this relatively tiny speck of a planet is going to be rocked to the edge of oblivion when they carry on the war down here. It has to be that way. Jehovah has to get our attention somehow. That is what the day of Jehovah is.

“Blow a horn in Zion! Shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Jehovah is coming! It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick gloom, like light of dawn spreading out on the mountains. There is a people numerous and mighty; never before has there been one like it, and never again will there be another through the years of all generations." - Joel 2:1-2

I feel sorry for JW's. The Watchtower's latest new light on Joel claims that it was fulfilled 25 hundred years ago when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. They claim there is no modern fulfillment. That is why there is going to be nuclear terror. I know I am sick and tired of the Watchtower lying and stealing and pretending to be a prophet. I am pretty sure God Amighty is too.

Don't you wish you could see the faces of certain ones of these folks when they realize there really is a God (unbelievers and Jws alike).
 

Patricia

Well-known member
I appreciated this. Another good reminder that I don't read enough of God's word. Was a time that every Witness could say they've read the bible all the way through, at least once. That is, following the structure that we used to have. I guess that's gone now too. For the life of me, I do not recall this chapter so now I have another goal.
I know what you mean. I've read the Bible since I COULD read. And in the past few years it's like I have new eyes. Praise Jehovah for He it's good.🙌
 

BARNABY THE DOG.

Well-known member
MORE rAnDom nOTes fr0m tHe eDGe

I see a couple of watchful members have already posted links to the public service video on how to respond in the event of a nuclear blast. It appears that the protocol is to stay inside a house or building. Makes sense. Of course, that means that everyone's GO BAG will be useless. Hmm. The best-laid plans. But I guess it is the best advice, after all the scripture says: "Go, my people, enter your inner rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a brief moment until the wrath has passed by." - Isaiah 26:20

One has to wonder, though, why is there a growing danger of nuclear war now? Just because Putin invaded a country that used to be part of Russia to eliminate the NAZI battalions that NATO organized and armed? That doesn't make any sense. The US and NATO have invaded and wrecked a half dozen countries in the past 20 years. Nobody got into a twist over the million or so people who were murdered. Why the talk of nuclear war now?

No doubt what is driving the frenzied march to war is the growing recognition that the Trans-Atlantic financial system is finished. It is only a matter of a few weeks or months until one of the too-big-to-fail institutions fails. Somehow I don't think the bankers will be able to come up with the hundreds of trillions of dollars it will be required to plug the breach this time. War is the only way a dying empire knows.

But then there is the unseen. Humans are not the real rulers of the world, evil spirits are. You may be sure that Satan and the demons are not going to go quietly into the abyss. If there is war in heaven that precedes Satan and his angels being thrown to the earth it is inevitable that this relatively tiny speck of a planet is going to be rocked to the edge of oblivion when they carry on the war down here. It has to be that way. Jehovah has to get our attention somehow. That is what the day of Jehovah is.

“Blow a horn in Zion! Shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Jehovah is coming! It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick gloom, like light of dawn spreading out on the mountains. There is a people numerous and mighty; never before has there been one like it, and never again will there be another through the years of all generations." - Joel 2:1-2

I feel sorry for JW's. The Watchtower's latest new light on Joel claims that it was fulfilled 25 hundred years ago when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. They claim there is no modern fulfillment. That is why there is going to be nuclear terror. I know I am sick and tired of the Watchtower lying and stealing and pretending to be a prophet. I am pretty sure God Amighty is too.

You are rarely mistaken Robert, but on this occasion, the witnesses Go-Bag is still of use. As you are aware, if they wear a mask, they are protected from any airborne molecules. This is certain to cover all manner of radioactive particles and so it is “Go-Bags at the ready” for everyone.
 

Watchman

Moderator
Staff member
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I was listening to the AM radio in my truck yesterday. I dialed in some evangelical giving his sermon. I could only handle a few minutes of it, but I must say, he was very well-spoken and persuasive. It is interesting how over the years evangelicals have gotten closer and closer to preaching what the Watchtower has been teaching. He was discussing the Lord's prayer, how it is a model for us. Of course, he glossed over "hallowed be thy name," leaving the Father in heaven nameless, but he spoke of Jesus ruling the world for 1,000 years. What I found funny is that he did not explain who Jesus will rule over. He claimed that all Christians will be raptured before seven years of tribulation begin. But he left his audience hanging there. I doubt if anyone has the brain power to ask: 'Then what?' Are there any earthly survivors of the seven years of hell-on-earth, as he called it? Obviously, he wouldn't go there because they would be getting too close to the truth and that ain't allowed.
 
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BARNABY THE DOG.

Well-known member
MORE rAnDom nOTes fr0m tHe eDGe

I was listening to the AM radio in my truck yesterday. I dialed in some evangelical giving his sermon. I could only handle a few minutes of it, but I must say, he was very well-spoken and persuasive. It is interesting how over the years evangelicals have gotten closer and closer to preaching what the Watchtower has been teaching. He was discussing the Lord's prayer, how it is a model for us. Of course, he glossed over "hallowed be thy name," leaving the Father in heaven nameless, but he spoke of Jesus ruling the world for 1,000 years. What I found funny is that he did not explain who Jesus will rule over. He claimed that all Christians will be raptured before seven years of tribulation begin. But he left his audience hanging there. I doubt if anyone has the brain power to ask: Then what? Are there any earthly survivors of the seven years of hell-on-earth, as he called it? Obviously, he wouldn't go there because they would be getting too close to the truth and that ain't allowed.
You made me realise how similar the speaker, as described, is to the watchtower system of selecting portions of scripture to suit their thinking. The theme of the watchtower as I knew it to be, has changed out of all recognition. There is no more continuity of thought. It’s all ‘crisis management’, finding a scripture to cover over what they are doing and have done, such as all this money for construction for the “HollyWatch” film studio in outback Oz.
 

Watchman

Moderator
Staff member
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JW's are familiar with 2Tim 3:1-5, perhaps too familiar. As I have pointed out numerous times, society has not always been characterized by all of those negative traits Paul listed. The apostle did not say that men will become this and that during the last days, but that the last days would be critical times hard to deal with because men will have become so evil. Well, I believe the beginning of the last days is imminent.

Take the situation in Europe. Most of the continent is dependent on Russian gas; oil, less so. Germany, with its massive industrial machine, is heavily dependent on Russian gas. In spite of that relationship, the nations of Europe are intent on punishing Russia. Evidently, they suppose that even though NATO is training Ukrainians to kill Russians and now the EU is moving to further seize Russian assets, Russia is supposed to keep pumping gas to the nations whose leaders have called for Russia's defeat and dismemberment. The war in Ukraine could easily have been avoided. After the invasion, it could easily be concluded. Instead, the West is pouring gasoline on the fire. And if Putin turns the gas off Europe will go back to the Dark Ages overnight. Maybe that is what someone wants.

It just underscores why the coming last days will be critical times hard to deal with. It is the leaders who are headstrong, betrayers, puffed up with pride, haughty, lovers of money, and open to no agreement. Call it peak evil. And it has reached critical mass. Think about it, the world is going to blow up, not because God finally flies off the handle and indiscriminately wipes everyone out, but because men have become so utterly stupid and wicked.
 
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