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Weird question (Yeah i know, what else is new from me). What would happen to a series/drama if like a main character or someone was excommunicated or left the organization? I know with some people they like removed their talks or something like that, but what if, like a main character from the Good News drama was like "Peace out yall! By the way, dont use my likeness anywhere." What happens at that point?

It (The Story Of Everything) can now be streamed on Amazon Prime.

NASA’s Roman Telescope Will Spot Distant Black Holes That Shred Stars Release date: 14 July 2026 10am ID: 2026-203 Roman’s large tally will help illuminate the origins of supermassive black holes Summary Roman’s large tally will help illuminate the origins of supermassive black holes. Supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies can be messy eaters. Sometimes when a wandering star gets too close, it will get shredded before it is consumed. In the process, the region around the black hole brightens and may outshine its entire galaxy. In that way, otherwise hidden black holes become detectable. Once it launches as early as Aug. 30, 2026, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to observe up to 100 of these star-shredding events every year. That data will lead to a new understanding of how supermassive black holes first formed, and how they grow and evolve. Article Link: https://www.stsci.edu/contents/news-releases/2026/news-2026-203/ Pic Description: This artist’s concept portrays a Sun-like star being shredded by a supermassive black hole — a phenomenon known as a tidal disruption event. During these events, the region around a black hole can brighten and become visible across great distances. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be able to spot and study tidal disruption events that occurred early in the universe’s history. By characterizing an earlier population of supermassive black holes, astronomers can learn about their origins. Image Credit: NASA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

Can you imagine the words the GB or Bible writers would have used? John writes down the Revelation and adds, "...don't take it too seriously because you have to wait another 2000 years for fulfillment". He didn't know that and would not have said it unless directed to by holy spirit. Proverbs 13:12 reminds us..."Expectation (or hope ftn) postponed makes the heart sick" But Paul expresses the thought of "a little while" to encourage his fellow Christians...in Hebrews 10:36-37..."For you need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise. For yet “a very little while,” and “the one who is coming will arrive and will not delay.” The footnote adds: "Paul likely refers to these faith-strengthening accounts in order to assure his readers that it would be for a limited time only that they would need to endure trials and persecutions." The included danger of researching the nearness and being so convinced that you say it (and you are wrong) is easily seen by our mad dash for the 'end' in the 1975 era.

They are using the same types of words as the Bible when they say "soon". Can you imagine being told in the 1st Century that the end was soon, but that really meant 2000+ years? Every Christian has had to hear this since its inception. If they can endure it, then surely the ones most likely to see the end can. 💜

Thanks

Back on topic - the GT hasn't started yet.

Saying 99.99% is one way of saying the vast majority. Its hyperbole, an illustration. It's not a literal number, although it could be very close. Don't let it distract you from the intent and content of the brothers comment. Meanwhile, back on topic....

I've talked to Jehovah about how I feel many times but he keeps "upping the ante" on the terms so I figure that I am in the minority in feeling this way and that most others like to hear those terms - it spurs them on to continue forward in their momentum. To each their own!

for years now i have felt exactly this way....these terms are well meant....but i try to not take them literally.

The brother made a generalized calculation based on what we can only assume are facts. We assume that everyone who is baptized loves Jehovah. We don't automatically assume he is baptized and doesn't love Jehovah. You are obviously focused on those who aren't baptized but perhaps have shown a love for Jehovah in the past or could still have that love lurking deep in their heart. Those are numbers we cannot count - that is all there is to it - those are the facts. Like I said before, the brother made his calculations with the current FACTS on hand without assuming bad motives to anyone. Only Jehovah knows how many will survive Armageddon and we won't truly grasp the extent of his mercy until that day is over and done. So just accept that this brother was just stating the facts we have on hand (just like you can't calculate the exact population of the earth on any given day because people are born and die everyday) so his calculation about the population of the earth wasn't completely correct either but he went with the current facts on hand but in the end - it's Jehovah that determines who will survive and who will not based on their hearts. From the current information we have been receiving about what will happen after the Great Tribulation starts, it appears that one does not have to be baptized to survive Armageddon - they just need to show their heart aligns with Jehovah and his earthly organization. But there is no way of calculating at this point how many more that will add to our current number of dedicated and baptized witnesses until after Armageddon. Either way, the point the brother was making still holds true - compared to the entire population of the earth on any given day, the amount of people who will demonstrate that they truly love Jehovah will be a very tiny percent. Probably less than 1 or 2% (although we hope for higher), it just goes to show how massive Satan's influence has been on this entire world.

I like that possible explanation of the scripture. The first time I heard that it really added to the illustration for me.

Dungeons and Dragons?

Have any of you seen a d&d style Bible game. I'm thinking there could be some fun opportunities like Daniel, John on the Isle of Patmos, Joseph navigating his brother's issues, etc . Note; I really like the idea of Joseph. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have seen anything like that.

Saying that baptized individuals are the only ones who have publicly demonstrated their love for Jehovah is one thing. Saying that only they love Jehovah could be something different. The Bible itself gives examples of people who loved and sought Jehovah before baptism—or even before they had a full knowledge of the truth—such as Cornelius (Acts 10:1–4). Jehovah saw his heart before he was baptized. Also, remember that the Bible speaks of many people who loved Jehovah without being part of His covenant people. Maybe … Baptized individuals are the only group we can count objectively, but that does not mean they are the only ones who love Jehovah? Only Jehovah knows what is in each person’s heart isn’t? This is fully in harmony with the principle found at 1 Samuel 16:7: “Man sees what appears to the eyes, but Jehovah sees the heart.”

He was referring to those who are currently dedicated and baptized. Those are the only true numbers we can go by and if you just use the numbers of those who have "proved" their love for Jehovah by getting dedicated and baptized, his calculations are correct. We won't know until after Armageddon what the true percentages will end up being.

I can't tell if you are joking or if that is criticism or sarcasm. Can you please explain?

“So, according to you, 99.99% of the people in the world whom Jehovah loves do not love Him—or don’t even believe in Him. I had no idea you had the ability to see into people’s hearts…” 😳

I guess all I am saying is leave those terms out of it until it is noticeably apparent that those terms are going to be exactly true. The GB does kind of have an indication of when the GT will start (when all the body realizes all of them have had their final sealing for instance and can put out beacons to find out if others of the anointed around the world are experiencing the same thing, I imagine that in the GB they would inform others on the GB if they have had their final sealing because most die soon afterward and it's time to think about a replacement or helper to step in their place). To me the constant use of those terms without them coming true in what physical people feel is a reasonable amount of time for "imminent" or "on the verge of" or even "soon" would keep alot of us from feeling weary and like our hope has gone unfulfilled constantly. I would rather they leave those adjectives out until they become the truth.

I agree with you. And there's the expression "Cry: Wolf!". But cry Wolf! too many times, and no one will take you/it seriously ... The kingdom is soon to come, in our hearts ❤️ The end is near, in our hearts and minds, because we focus on it. Near us, in our hearts, but not in the calendar. In human terms, anyway. But one day it will be.

Agreed, however we know they don't know when the time is appropriate. Every year is "near" or "Imminent" until it isn't...

Or maybe it's just a random date that has nothing to do with any other date because it will be a Day all it's own, like something that has never occurred before. And since it's the day Jehovah will sanctify his name and do away with all his opposers - he gets the right to choose that date. I have a feeling it as more to do with "hearts" than anything random though. Jehovah is searching for the right-hearted right now and still finding them. His love of people has always outweighed his own interests - if it didn't, none of us would be here.

I'm not asking for Jehovah to abandon his time table, just wish our definition of that one word (soon) was a little closer together in meaning between the fleshy and spiritual. That way, when the end really was coming " soon" (soon in our definition) - that's when we start using that word, not 50 years beforehand. I understand they want to keep our sense of urgency high and that it why they use words like "soon", "imminent", "on the verge" and "right around the corner" - but it can also lead to weariness of heart to hear it over and over again and we still have years to go. That's all I'm saying. Start using those terms when the time is appropriate. Does anyone remember the "Deliverance is Near" Convention? That was over 20 years ago. "Near" (at least to me) does not mean 20+ years from now, that's all I'm saying. Not sure if I'm making any sense to anyone else but myself.

I should have been able to figure that out ...I may need to go back to bed for awile

I think you mean that it affects our relationship with Jehovah.