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The US has now deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group to CENTCOM's Area of Responsibility.

The week ICE was in our state the Spanish congregations were instructed to meet on zoom.

My favorite is black rice and red rice! 😃

I love rice, but not that kind of RICE 😄

All the same!

While the methods and tactics would look similar, there would be no need to use ICE or create a new police agency in the US when that time comes. Current police have the authority to arrest and detain criminals. In fact, the police have already been used against religions throughout history. Not only Witnesses, but other religions and cults have felt the boot of authority. It's not like they will deport us to another country when we will be outlawed in all countries. On the other hand, governments love to make new agencies. It's fun, keeps people employed, and gives the populace the impression something is being done. So, yeah, they could easily create a new police agency specifically directed to enforce anti-religious policies.

I was thinking the goddess Isis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Maybe even closer to it? ah well ....

Would that make it RICE.😎 Religion, Immigration and customs enforcement

Just my opinion and thoughts. Not being dogmatic but exactly my thinking. I see them as in beginnings of the federal police. Immigration is simply their training for what's to come when they're push local and city PDs aside and going all out.

I can imagine this ICE authority turning into the Anti religion enforcement during the GT.

Agree, why would he send us somewhere (Paradise) to be free from his influence? This is the only time he has to break us before the Final Test, which will be relatively brief.

human servants, but I don't think it would serve his interests. Demonstrating Jehovah is wrong is his goal. Killing his servants instead of making them sin is basically making Jehovah's servant win, being safe in Jehovah's memory.

I think it means that Satan has the power to wipe out every single servant of Jehovah, but Jehovah does not allow Satan to destroy his people as a whole, though he can kill some of us individually like he did with Stephen and many other martyrs

We could list other restraints. Satan and his demons can't materialize human bodies. They can't have sex relations and bring about Nephilim. They can't enter heaven amongst the other angels. They can't foresee the future (other than explained by God). They have great power but they can't prevent or deflect God's purpose from occurring on time and in place. They can't force you to stop serving Jehovah.

The 2015 Watchtower commented on this. *** w15 5/15 p. 10 par. 6 Be Watchful—Satan Wants to Devour You! *** Satan uses his power for evil. And what power and influence he has! The Scriptures refer to him as “the ruler of this world” and “the god of this system of things.” (John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4) Satan the Devil even has “the means to cause death.” (Heb. 2:14) This does not mean that he kills all people directly. However, his murderous spirit has permeated this world. Moreover, because Eve believed Satan’s lie and Adam disobeyed God, sin and death spread to all mankind. (Rom. 5:12) In that sense, the Devil has had “the means to cause death.” He is what Jesus called him—“a murderer.” (John 8:44) What a powerful enemy we have in Satan!

ISIS = Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Militant Islamic activists bent on creating and controlling an Islamic state. ICE = Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One of the federal police agencies in the United States. Anything else could be taken as a non-neutral expression.

Romania on the list too

Very sobering, thank you for sharing. I agree with Jennifer, 'rejoicing' isn't what I'd classify it under. It put me more in mind of an old publication titled, "The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah"—How? And that's because it's neither here nor there what I think about the wicked who refuse our message of Good News, for whatever reason they contrive and why they still insist on clinging to that losing position clear to the end. Rather, it's about the vindication of Jehovah as the only Sovereign and the sanctification of his beautiful name, Jehovah. That's what I keep going back to. I will not be happy to see people lose their lives, when I've been trying for decades to appeal to them. That part will be sad, but not for lack of trying. But it's not over yet and we carry on!

Real time airspace only 3 aircraft’s heading Teheran All comercial flights are cancelled

I trust Jehovah on whatever he decides. I do not rejoice over the fact that people will lose their lives, but Jehovah gives everyone the most opportunity to escape judgment. It will be unfortunate for those who are incorrigible. Jehovah will have no choice, and the fault will only lie with those who choose not to recognize his Sovereignty. That being said, in my heart I've prepared myself to accept his decision regarding my daughter who has left the truth. I hope she chooses differently before the end comes. Because I cannot make that choice for her and I cannot tell Jehovah that his decision was wrong. ❤️

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum I hope you find the answer you are looking for

Thursday, January 15 Jehovah has sent me.—Num. 16:28. At one point in the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, prominent men challenged Moses and the role that Jehovah had assigned him. They said: “The whole assembly [not just Moses] is holy, all of them, and Jehovah is in their midst.” (Num. 16:1-3) Although it was true that in God’s eyes “the whole assembly” was holy, Jehovah had chosen Moses to take the lead among His people. By criticizing Moses, the rebels were really criticizing Jehovah. They did not focus on what Jehovah wanted; they focused on what they wanted—more power and recognition. God struck down the leaders of the rebellion as well as thousands more who sympathized with them. (Num. 16:30-35, 41, 49) Today we can be sure that Jehovah disapproves of those who disrespect his organizational arrangements. w24.07 11 ¶11

What great points! I think of it, not as rejoicing over the deaths of those people, but more as a deep gratitude for the removal of the wicked, and as the song says..."peace at last"!

Today was one of those frigid Wisconsin winter days where the wind howled against the side of my work van...pushing it side to side as I struggled to keep it between the white lines. Frigid outside...the cab of my van was warm and cozy as I made my way throughout my route. I was in the middle of an old time radio episode of You Bet Your Life, starring Groucho Marx, when out of the blue a brother called and asked if I would like to have lunch with him when I made it up to his neck of the woods. Eagerly I agreed, suddenly filled with visions of a hot bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich dancing around in my brain. Making my way up to his Kingdom Hall, I parked my van, got into his SUV and rode with him over to a local family restaurant where we sat in a booth at the back of the restaurant and sipped on a strong cup of cafe coffee as we waited on our orders of soup and sandwiches. Our conversation was light and casual; an older elder just talking to a brother he met by chance one day when that brother showed up at his Kingdom Hall with 150 lbs of free cheese. We've become very good friends now, and it's a relationship that I treasure very much. It wasn't until after lunch and we had returned to the Kingdom Hall parking lot that he suddenly turned in his seat and hit me with the following question: "How would you respond if someone at the door said that you were heartless because Jehovah's Witnesses are going to rejoice when Jehovah kills billions of people at Armageddon?" (Those may not have been his exact words, but that's the question he was asking) To everyone reading this, you may be very shocked that he would ask me such a thing. But we have had many such conversations over the past couple of years, so instead of trying to figure out any hidden motive that he might have, I simply paused, sat back in his heated leather seat...and really THOUGHT about his question. Did I think it was okay...did I REALLY think it's okay to be happy about people who are going to be destroyed? Or who have been destroyed? As the wind howled around us, pressing against the frosted side windows...I started picturing what that scene might actually look like...and I won't lie...I was actually conflicted. Perhaps he saw that, because suddenly he interrupted my train of thought, reached down between the seats and extracted his tablet. Flipping open the magnetic cover, he pulled up the Pure Worship book, turned to Chapter 18...and scrolled down to paragraph 21...and read it aloud: "Before they are destroyed, our enemies will see the sign of the Son of man, likely a supernatural manifestation of the power of Jehovah and Jesus. The opposers will see things that cause them extreme anxiety. As Jesus foretold, “people will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” (Luke 21:25-27) To their horror, they will realize that they miscalculated when they attacked Jehovah’s people. They will be forced to know the Creator in his role as military commander, Jehovah of armies. (Ps. 46:6-11; Ezek. 38:23) Jehovah will no doubt unleash heavenly armies and natural forces in such a way that he protects his loyal servants but eliminates his enemies.—Read 2 Peter 2:9." He stopped, allowing me to soak in those words. For a moment we didn't talk, we just sat there, listening to the wind...watching snow dance in miniature whirlwinds all across the parking lot. Finally he faced me again and asked what had stood out to me...if anything at all? I said the power of Jehovah and how everyone would know once and for all who he really is. He nodded as I talked...then ran his eyes back over the paragraph until they settled on a single spot...and looking up at me...he reread a single word: Miscalculated!! He explained that word doesn’t just describe a careless mistake. It implies careful thought, planning, and confidence. They ASSESSED the situation. They believed they understood the balance of power. They moved forward anyways...CONVINCED the outcome was going to be in their favor. But they left Jehovah out of the equation. Then he explained how Jesus described this moment at Luke 21:26, saying that people would “become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” He told me how the Greek expression in that verse can convey the idea of being drained, losing breath...not from sudden panic, but from the crushing realization that everything they thought was solid...was actually dead wrong. And then he took me over to Psalm 46:10–11 to show me why: “Let go and know that I am God… Jehovah of armies is with us.” Jehovah doesn’t need to rush to prove that he's the strongest. He allows events to unfold until the thinking of his enemies is fully exposed...until they are so dead set in their ways there is no turning back...then, at the right moment, they are forced to know HIM...not as the abstract ideas they THINK he is, but as Jehovah of armies! And now...for some weird reason...that word MISCALCULATED has been replaying over and over again in my head...encouraging me deeply all day as I drive. Especially right now...more than ever before...the world is busy measuring threats, power, and outcomes. But all the while...Jehovah is never reacting. He is allowing. He is waiting. He is...as he has always been...simply and fully...in total control. Jehovah NEVER miscalculates. But for anyone who thinks they can move against his people without consequence...they already have miscalculated...they just haven't realized it yet. So while I may be conflicted on how I'm going to FEEL when that time comes...I'm going to remain calm, keep my head up and get ready...because Jehovah was never PART of the equation...he IS the equation!