Here is the bridegroom!

[jay]

same here. About where do you live, jay? what general locale?

I live somewhere near Bro Robert and Bro Carl. Chelsea Michigan. You are always invited.

 

[Back to True Worship]

Sorry if I come across , well , for a lack of better word, preachy, lol. I do not intend this , my zeal and training as a shepherd in the organization sometimes comes back in my personality , and yes we are as sunflower said maybe a bit shell shocked...or suffering from ptsd.
The bible does say that this time of distress and especially when Jehovah brings his celestial army to the battle lines, 'every living thing will shiver in fear.' I believe it may be a very fear inspiring event for all.

 

[MickHewitt]

So who then are the sons of light?

Rom 8:19 "For the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God"

 

[jay]

Sorry if I come across , well , for a lack of better word, preachy, lol. I do not intend this , my zeal and training as a shepherd in the organization sometimes comes back in my personality , and yes we are as sunflower said maybe a bit shell shocked...or suffering from ptsd.
The bible does say that this time of distress and especially when Jehovah brings his celestial army to the battle lines, 'every living thing will shiver in fear.' I believe it may be a very fear inspiring event for all.

I don't find you preachy maybe Fred Franz was preachy when giving assembly talks.

 

[SusanB]

I have never been able to resolve in my mind the conundrum to prepare for physical need and to trust in Jehovah. The tribulation is going to last far longer than any foodstuffs we may buy - unless one is considering stocking up on 1150 cans of beans and hoping no one will take them, or that they can carry them. The day must come when we have no alternative in survival, than to trust in Jehovah. Should we only trust in Him to provide when we have nothing? It is not a question of availability, but of procurement when the storm breaks. There will be rationing, then mobs, then breakdown followed by anarchy, followed by mob rule. Is it wrong to assume we will be fed and watered as were those faithful Israelites. They asked the question “Were we delivered from our masters simply to die in the desert?” At what juncture do we divide between the practicable provision for self and the strength and reliance upon faith. Is saying, “ I will depend on Jehovah“ a folly? Is buying in foodstuffs for x amount of days prudence and is this the primary issue of the foolish virgins, or do we understand that incorrectly to salve our consciences in preserving our own lives. After all, the Context is faith, not food. Is the “go-bag” scenario, really then, just a failsafe against commitment to faith - then why Is the advice to “not go back down from the roof to fetch outer clothing…” at the time of crisis? Surely, the last thing that the faithful and discreet Christian would do is to put body before faith? I find it very difficult to rationalise food against faith, when every fibre in my body says ‘survive’. Then, just to add more, “He who looses his life for my sake, will gain life.” So the very thing we need, is not food, but faith…so why the “go bag”? The example in my mind is that of the Jews, taking all their food and possessions with them (what there was of it) to the death camps, only to be murdered as soon as they got off the train. There seems to be a lesson in there somewhere.

I think being reasonably prepared for what the bible foretold is coming is an act of faith.

 

[SusanB]

(Isaiah 26:20) 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.

Hi Brother Zane, I think the instruction to go into the inner rooms will apply at Armageddon not the Great Tribulation. But that is just my understanding at this time.

 

[SusanB]

So who then are the sons of light?

1 Thessalonians 5:3-5: “Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape. But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness.”

John 12:35-36: “So Jesus said to them: “The light will be among you a little while longer. Walk while you still have the light, so that darkness does not overpower you; whoever walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, exercise faith in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said these things and went off and hid from them”.

From these scriptures it appears that Jesus is the light and so his anointed followers are the sons of light and what I understand is that they are the TRUE followers of Christ putting faith in him and because of their active faith they are not fooled by the false “peace and security”. It also appears the warning is for a reason because some will be overtaken by the darkness and they are described as not knowing where they are going.

 

[jay]

Hi Brother Zane, I think the instruction to go into the inner rooms will apply at Armageddon not the Great Tribulation. But that is just my understanding at this time.

Darn, it would be tough to spend 42 months in the closet.

 

[SusanB]

Darn, it would be tough to spend 42 months in the closet.

Thankfully Isaiah 26:20 tells us that the time in the inner room is a brief moment. The 42 months is a different time period and we would not want to be in the inner room since we want to hear what the chosen have to say during the 42 months.

 

[BagdadBill]

When do we put our full faith in Jehovahs' ability to take care of us? Sorry I'm confused. I don't have a to go bag because I'm afraid someone will clobber me and take it away. If I have a basement full of food how do I protect it from thieves that will break in? What are your thoughts? I have read all of the information on here about what to have stored up for the future but what happens if the hungry mob kicks me out of my house? I Have been begging Jehovah for more faith to deal with the hard times ahead.

No matter how much we prepare, it can all disappear in seconds. Naturally or by human hand. Most of my comments are me trying to give myself advice hoping Ill listen eventually. This thread was posted this morning and look at it take off. A sign of what people are concerned with right now. My perception of time has been ruined. I can’t decide if things feel like they are moving too fast or too slow.

 

[a watcher]

...I can’t decide if things feel like they are moving too fast or too slow.

Things have always moved too slow for me.

 

[BagdadBill]

What do we take when we are told to run to the mountains? Our "to go bag" and a jar of peanut butter? The scripture said not to take your coat.

Where are the mountains? Military and law enforcement have the kind of toys that make actual hiding ineffective.

 

[SusanB]

What do we take when we are told to run to the mountains? Our "to go bag" and a jar of peanut butter? The scripture said not to take your coat.

The question is, who are those instructions addressed to? Answer, those in Judea. Those already outside of Judea are told not to enter Jerusalem. And, we can also reason on the fact that although the first century fulfillment was literal, the fulfillment in the time of the end cannot be literal because as BagdadBill points out, the mountains are not literal for our time.

 

[יהוה_saves]

No it's not just you.

i know, jay. WT has traumatized countless of Jehovah’s precious sheep. Also, i was thinking about Matt 24v48 where it says the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, how brilliant is that? WT believes the master already came (is that right? it changes so much i lose track) but never did it occur to Gov Body that it is completely oblivious to things that are yet to come as they are preoccupied with meaningless signs from the distant past. Only Jehovah could come up with such a brilliant fulfillment of prophesy like this.

@Back to True Worship

I love that verse because the hairs on our head change everyday throughout the day. So Jehovah must have to count them everyday.

I had a dog that i adore- i love him so much. I always count his little beauty spots even though i already know he only has six. haha

 

[יהוה_saves]

I live somewhere near Bro Robert and Bro Carl. Chelsea Michigan. You are always invited.

thank you jay. I wish i could say the same. i live in an extremely small rental cabin out in the middle of nowhere in southern oregon. I worry every month if this is the month they kick us out. Lately i’m trying not to worry so much. That’s why i pray for more faith every day and Jehovah provides abundantly.

 

[Patricia]

i think the waiting and the anticipation is the hardest part. There is even a song written about that. But it’s true, and because of WT’s many false predictions we’ve been in anticipation of this our whole lives (expectation, notwithstanding) perhaps to the point we’ve created a complex post traumatic stress disorder for ourselves. or maybe i should just say myself.

Not just you my sister, I feel safe in saying that there are more than a few of us with some sort of PTSD. Keep busy with study and prayer. One day at a time. You are not alone. I feel we (I use the word we loosely, not leaving anyone out) are together in spirit. And Jehovah is always watching over us and Jesus said he is with us. I like to remind myself that there was another in the fire, another in the lion's den, 2 were with Stephen when he was stoned, 2 took Lot's family by the hand, etc. We are never alone.
I think, now that I've lost my religion and found the real truth in on the road to sanity, maybe....🤪🙃😜

 

[w_stone]

I am confused. Before the Day of the Lord starts these thing must occurred first.1: the men of lawlesses the apostasy must come first 2: the constant feature must be removed.3 War breaks out in heaven 4 the king of fierce countence comes on the scene There prophectic time must be fulfilled the 1290 days the 2300 days and nights and the 1335 days.in Danield chapter 12 .And how is that the call of peace and security made evident ?.Then we come to be in the lords day the42 months begin..And the events in Revelation begin to unfold..

 

[SusanB]

I am confused. Before the Day of the Lord starts these thing must occurred first.1: the men of lawlesses the apostasy must come first 2: the constant feature must be removed.3 War breaks out in heaven 4 the king of fierce countence comes on the scene There prophectic time must be fulfilled the 1290 days the 2300 days and nights and the 1335 days.in Danield chapter 12 .And how is that the call of peace and security made evident ?.Then we come to be in the lords day the42 months begin..And the events in Revelation begin to unfold..

Some of the events in Revelation will happen in the Great Tribulation and some will happen at Armageddon. So those things need to be separated. The call of peace and security still has a lot of unknowns about it in my understanding. Regarding the time periods mentioned in Daniel, i.e. 1290 days, 1150 days aka 2300 evenings and mornings & 1335 days, I don’t see scriptural evidence of when those begin or if some are concurrent. The 42 months, which by the way is 1260 days, starts after the anointed become sealed or chosen. The separating of the wheat and weeds happens in the Great Tribulation so I would guess that is when they are sealed.

 

[יהוה_saves]

thanks @Driven. ^^^^^

 

[Lisa-Lisa]

I was just thinking about Matt 25:35 where it talks about " I became hungry and you gave me something to eat, I became thirsty and you gave me something to drink, naked and you clothed me, stranger and you received me, fell sick and you looked after me. We all know this wonderful scripture. I think preparing or " prepping " is not about a lack of faith, To me it's an opportunity to be in a position to extend help to others who might not be able to be as prepared. How can one apply this scripture to offer food and drink and clothing if you don't have those things ? I also think of Noah. Knowing what Jehovah had instructed him to do and what would happen, Noah could have just said..." Oh well Jehovah will provide" He told his wife to "get her house aboard the ark and then told his sons to load supplies for the animals. That seems to me that they prepared due to their faith in Jehovah, NOT a lack of faith. Yes our salvation will be in Jehovah's hands at some point. Until then pray for faith, understanding, patience, holy spirit, wisdom. Jehovah knows what we need, but I don't see how just sitting back, doing nothing, not even putting back some provisions.... and then saying "Jehovah will provide" solves anything? Does that mean that you can not put forth any pro-active preparation and just wait for Jehovah to deliver 4 sacks of groceries to your front door and ring the bell for you....... ? as for the scriptural advice of not going back to pick up your outer garment.... could that be the same as when the angels told Lot's wife to "not look back"? Not looking back was not for curiosity sake, but the longing for the things left behind? I don't know? just a thought? Another scripture comes to mind, 1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for those who are his own and for members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worst than a person without faith. If I can prepare and provide for persons in my household and members of my family (physical or spiritual) according to this , then I am demonstrating faith. Not providing shows lack of faith. No one will ever be totally prepared and it would be foolish to think one could survive without Jehovah and Jesus. I will use my faith to do what I can do be able to feed, clothe, and be hospitable to those who need my help at some time in the very near future. Come Lord Jesus!