Russia's Ministry of Justice Moves to Ban Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

[mserskine]

https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/russia/minjust-claim-to-ban-20170316/

[Good-O]

Continue to pray for our brothers and sisters.  

[Daniela]

They need our fervent prayers indeed!!

And if that will happen in Russia, I think other countries will follow. For example,  in Transnistria (a strip of land between the river Dniester and the border with Ukraine that on papers belongs to the Republic of Moldova, but controlled by Russia), our Brothers can preach with the Bible only, even if the constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and even if in the rest of the Moldovan territory our Brothers can meet and preach freely. Still....

[futurepromise]

This topic is also found at

 

[1gemstone]

This scripture came to mind when I read the article, Heb 4:13.  We have to praying that our brothers and sisters remain firm and strong during this critical time.

[timpin]

14 hours ago, mserskine said:

https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/russia/minjust-claim-to-ban-20170316/

see also all of the other ongoing recent Russian threads for the complete unfolding scenario   ...   

 

Edited March 17, 2017 by timpin

[Skye]

I pray that our family in Russia hold their "Never Give Up" convention before the ban (if Jehovah allows it to happen).

[Skye]

We won't forget you!

 

When the wind blows

When the rain comes

When the ground beneath you starts to slip away

God is always near

And he cares for you

You're not alone

Your friends are here

We'll help you find your way

 

We won't forget you

We are your family

We won't ignore you

We will not fail to see

We'll take your hand,

We'll help you stand

We'll help you carry on

We won't forget you

We are your family

 

When the storm's gone

When the day breaks

With our thoughts around you like a warm embrace

Then you come to know

That it's really so

Love is a bond

A perfect bond that time will not erase

 

We won't forget you

We are your family

We won't ignore you

We will not fail to see

We'll take your hand

We'll help you stand

We'll help you carry on

We wont forget you

We are a worldwide family

We wont forget you

We are your family

[Bluebell]

31 minutes ago, Skye said:

I pray that our family in Russia hold their "Never Give Up" convention before the ban (if Jehovah allows it to happen).

I am sure all our Brother's in Russia get the convention program in one way or the other,

even under ban....If Jehovah think they need it, he will make it possible...they get it...

Our prayer should include it.....

 

Sister Victoria said:  "We used to have forest conventions too:-) Now we have even home conventions in small appartments."

[Daniela]

8 minutes ago, Samira said:

I am sure all our Brother's in Russia get the convention program in one way or the other,

even under ban....If Jehovah think they need it, he will make it possible...they get it...

Our prayer should include it.....

 

Sister Victoria said:  "We used to have forest conventions too:-) Now we have even home conventions in small appartments."

I am sure Jehovah has everything under control. If he permits something, he has a reason for that. We will see... 

I love what Victoria said. It is very encouraging to see that a sister who lives in those circumstances is so positive!!! Years ago, under ban, we used to have forest conventions too. We used to have wedding conventions too.  ( a wedding party was the only occasion that you could have a "reunion" with more that 10 persons)

With Jehovahs help, our Brothers will find methods to strengthen their faith, even under difficult circumstances. 

[peper-eliot]

Russian supreme court schedules trial of Jehovah's Witnesses case for banning its activity and liquidation.

• It's scheduled for April 5th, at 10:00
• the anniversary of Jesus’ death falls on Tuesday, April 11...

I can't imagine Jehovah's anger if more than 170000 of his people will be impeach to celebrate the memorial!

[Doug]

Although it's a forgone conclusion what this court will decide,  the Watchtower still has the option of appealing ( to the very same court ).

But, it just may buy enough time to celebrate the Memorial !

[shali]

Jehovah's organization never gives up  fighting for the right to keep preaching! Even if things look bleak, remember that Jehovah i# leading the way, his thinking is much higher than ours so we can't even begin to imagine why what is happening is happening.  Just know that it's happening because Jehovah wants it too, and he has good reason!

 

[Tortuga]

1 hour ago, shali said:

Just know that it's happening because Jehovah wants it too, and he has good reason!

...wants it to happen? 

[New World Explorer]

Ok.. Big speculative thinking here so take it easy on me!

 

Daniel 11:44

“But reports out of the east and out of the north will disturb him, and he will go out in a great rage to annihilate and to devote many to destruction.

 

Let's assume that King of the North is Russia (quite possible in view of recent developments)

Let's say our dear brothers and sisters are Banned, activity etc (process already initiated)

Let's say in the meantime GT starts

Brothers in Russia obediently proclaiming judgment message (not discussing here timetable of the events of GT)

King of the North ..hears the reports ..says WHAT!??? I have banned their activity and they defy my orders by proclaiming this message? (rage)

Goes after God's people ..meets the end.

 

One thing we do know. Soon, the king of the north will conduct an offensive campaign that will be triggered by “reports that will disturb him, out of the sunrising and out of the north.” This campaign will immediately precede his “end.” We can learn more about these “reports” if we consider other Bible prophecies.
14 First, though, notice that these acts of the king of the north are not said to be against the king of the south. He does not come to his end at the hands of his great rival. Similarly, the king of the south is not destroyed by the king of the north W93 11/1

 

 

[shali]

20 hours ago, Tortuga said:

...wants it to happen? 

If he didn't want it to happen right now, it wouldn't be ( talking about his "will" being done)

[jwhess]

Remember that God allowed the Nazi persecution and that was not the lead up to the GT.  God allowed the Malawi persecution in the 1970's and that was not the lead in to the GT either.  Stalin persecuted the Russian brothers for decades and Russia is not even marked currently as the "King of the North".  So simply undergoing persecution, ban or imprisonment is not a direct sign that the Great Tribulation is due.  Jehovah has allowed this testing ever since Satan began. 

Edited March 19, 2017 by jwhess

[Tortuga]

14 minutes ago, jwhess said:

allowed

[bagwell1987]

Today our talk was given by Br. Dave Martin, I really enjoy his talks. He mentioned today about our brothers in Russia. In it he mentioned that if our work there isn't banned yet it most certainly will be. But not to worry at all. We looked up Romans 8:35, Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger or sword?  then vss 37, 38- On the contrary, we're coming off completely victorious. Neither death, life, angels, governments, things now here nor powers to come, height, dept, nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus.

He said for us to not be distressed, certainly our brothers there know things are difficult but are not distressed in any way. Jehovah is in  perfect control of events. Absolutely nothing in this world in satan's control can stop Jehovah and his people. Nothing can come between his love for us.

A very encouraging talk.

[New World Explorer]

16 hours ago, jwhess said:

Remember that God allowed the Nazi persecution and that was not the lead up to the GT.  God allowed the Malawi persecution in the 1970's and that was not the lead in to the GT either.  Stalin persecuted the Russian brothers for decades and Russia is not even marked currently as the "King of the North".  So simply undergoing persecution, ban or imprisonment is not a direct sign that the Great Tribulation is due.  Jehovah has allowed this testing ever since Satan began. 

 

Who said that Russia is KIng of the North? 

That was "speculative " thinking "  just for "fun" 

 

 

[Daniela]

On 3/18/2017 at 3:02 AM, Doug said:

Although it's a forgone conclusion what this court will decide,  the Watchtower still has the option of appealing ( to the very same court ).

But, it just may buy enough time to celebrate the Memorial !

Anyway...even under ban, they can celebrate the Memorial. 

[Doug]

3 hours ago, Daniela said:

Anyway...even under ban, they can celebrate the Memorial. 

True.   Good point.

[peper-eliot]

On ‎18‎/‎03‎/‎2017 at 2:02 AM, Doug said:

(...) the Watchtower still has the option of appealing (...)

last news from http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3246828

 

explanation given by the press service of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia :

 

(...)we have appealed all cases that preceded this large lawsuit to the end, as far as the European Court for Human Rights. And what do you think? The European Court for Human Rights communicated our appeals, that is, it found them acceptable and united them into one proceeding and sent questions to the Russian government about what has happened to freedom of religious confession. The Russian government has already sent to the ECHR its own official explanations in which, as far as I recall, it seems that there are no open calls for violence and incitement of hostility in materials of the Jehovah's Witnesses (...).

--What actions do you intend to take in response to the lawsuit in the Supreme Court?
 
--If this case is not deferred for consideration, then of course we will try to defend ourselves. We have already formulated, even before this lawsuit became known, our official objections to the document of that inspection that was conducted by the Ministry of Justice in March and the results of which, apparently, lie at the basis of this lawsuit. Of course, we will object to the lawsuit and we will insist that we are infinitely far from extremism and to accuse us of this is completely untrue, incorrect, and mistaken. We will insist that the plaintiff's demands of the Ministry of Justice be rejected.
 

[Cool Cat]

On 18/03/2017 at 5:23 AM, Gregexplore said:

Ok.. Big speculative thinking here so take it easy on me!

 

Daniel 11:44

“But reports out of the east and out of the north will disturb him, and he will go out in a great rage to annihilate and to devote many to destruction.

 

Let's assume that King of the North is Russia (quite possible in view of recent developments)

Let's say our dear brothers and sisters are Banned, activity etc (process already initiated)

Let's say in the meantime GT starts

Brothers in Russia obediently proclaiming judgment message (not discussing here timetable of the events of GT)

King of the North ..hears the reports ..says WHAT!??? I have banned their activity and they defy my orders by proclaiming this message? (rage)

Goes after God's people ..meets the end.

 

One thing we do know. Soon, the king of the north will conduct an offensive campaign that will be triggered by “reports that will disturb him, out of the sunrising and out of the north.” This campaign will immediately precede his “end.” We can learn more about these “reports” if we consider other Bible prophecies.
14 First, though, notice that these acts of the king of the north are not said to be against the king of the south. He does not come to his end at the hands of his great rival. Similarly, the king of the south is not destroyed by the king of the north W93 11/1

 

 

The Daniel book does say that the "King of the North" will campaign against Gods people. pg 282 par 25. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. If these letters of support for our brothers and sisters  just enrage Russia and make them even more determined to stamp us out. Jehovah might be maneuvering things into place for the final checkmate. 

 

There are are still quite a few more things that need to happen first but the fact Russia is so interested in blotting us out, even by unlawful and unconstitutional means is quite interesting and does hint at a few things. 

 

They are also one of the only world powers with enough firepower to think they can even attempt it on a global scale.

 

Edited March 27, 2017 by MentalProject
.

[On the huh]

I too think that Russia is the King of the North.  How the prophecy in Daniel will work out, we will have to wait and see.

It could be that other countries "learn" from Russia's example which in turn leads to the ban on all religion.

When you see what is going on in Russia at the moment, the protests, the news station being replaced, opposition leader jailed, why o why is the Russian government persecuting innocent peace-loving people!!  The world is now in cloud cuckoo land.