Prepared For Persecution

[Thomas Walker]

Can't believe I'm writing this post, but in light of events in Russia, and an expectation of things to come, I think it's prudent to prepare ourselves mentally for what may come.

 

Here are a few tricks that have been used before: (Note: The examples are based on experiences I remember, with some changes made to fit the point I'm making)

 

1) The Prisoners Dilemma. They know we hold onto each other, so it's not uncommon to split us up; and even claim that the other guy has turned on us. Cops use it all the time to trick a confession out of a criminal with accomplices.

Example: "It's okay, you can salute the flag. We talked to your parents, and they say it's alright to do that."

Protection: Have set in your mind where you stand.  Remember that they can't split you off from God. Bothers put in solitary confinement say that it's easier because it gives them time to pray, and protection from other prisoners.

 

2) "You Make Me Do This." Our brothers in Russia are being tormented for things like names, and phone keycodes. Every time they say 'no', they get asked the question again, rougher.  If someone ever tries to put the blame on you, just remember that it's the same reasoning every abusive husband has used on a battered wife. "This is your own fault."

Example: During WW2, a Gestapo man approached a, imprisoned JW with a gun, and then presents him with his wife and kid. Gestapo man orders the Brother to pick which one will get shot. Our brother refuses. The G Man says "Pick, or I shoot both." Our brother stays cool as ice and says "Double Homicide is your choice. Refusing to take the blame for the gun in your hand is my choice."

Protection: Remember that by trying to assign blame to us, they are also trying to absolve themselves. Remember that we don't sit in judgement on anyone; that's God's job. We aren't Judge or Jury; we're Witnesses.

 

3) "You've Been Brainwashed." They can quote a hundred scriptures, and twist anything you say, to poke a hole in your beliefs.

Example: When on trial in Russia, the NWT was banned for not conforming to the state sponsored religion, despite the fact that it was a bible, just like the ones the Russian Orthodox Church uses.

Protection: Remember, that even in countries where we're not being persecuted yet, we're being reminded not to bother with 'lukewarm' interest. If they're persecuting us outright, I think it's safe to say they aren't genuinely interested in debating the finer points of bible teaching. If they're putting the question to you in a prison cell, it's not a debate; nor is it a study. You don't have to defend yourself to them. Remember, Jesus Christ himself was silent before his accusers when he knew there was nothing worth saying.

 

4) "You're Going To Die In Here." Rule Number One in a high stress situation: Time is a weapon. If you're the one being held prisoner, they will use it against you. It takes less than 21 days to break a habit, or grow accustomed to new surroundings. I was once in hospital for a few months, and by the three week mark, I couldn't remember what my bedroom back home looked like.

Example: Too many to count. How long did Joseph spend in jail? Or Paul? Or any of the Apostles? How much of the bible was penned in a prison cell?

Protection: Persecution is bad. Death is bad. It's also temporary. Something the other side can't say. In some places, being in jail is safer than being on the streets. (And during GT, the world will be coming apart) Speaking for myself, the country I live in is unlikely to launch full scale persecution until GT; but seeing the Tribulation unfold will conquer any lingering doubts or uncertainties about the Truth that I could ever have. They can threaten us with a 30 year prison sentence after the Cry of Peace and Security, and then wonder why we're all laughing at them. Our brothers in the Camps didn't know when the war would end, or how; but if they had known at the time, it'd be a source of terrific endurance to know that they were likely to outlive their jailers by many years.

 

Other Important Points:

 

"Worthy to be Dishonored." Several brothers have stated that in some ways, it was easier to stay faithful under trial, because the choice was black and white. We've lost more people to the lure of Big Screen TV's than we ever did to the Nazis.

 

"Keep your eye simple." Don't be intimidated by numbers, or by the scale of what's coming. Military parades, national propaganda, even the design of cities is designed to humble opposition and intimidate us. But as overwhelming as the odds may be, the whole world put together is nothing compared to Jehovah. When Gideon marched with his army, God told him to trim down his army to 300 men. Going against thousands and thousands. At the last talk of the District last year, one speaker at my convention said: "JW's are outnumbered 850 to one by worldly people. Brothers, those are the kind of odds Jehovah can work with."

 

"God won't let you be tested beyond what you can bear." If you can't take it, you won't have to. Everything that happens to us happens at God's sufferance; down to, and including the amount of pain we feel. There have been multiple reports of that kind of protection. 

 

"Cross The Red Sea." This is a showdown between the world, and heaven. It has very little to do with us and our actions.  We don't have to win anything, because the winner was decided long before we came onto the scene. Every world power in Daniel's prophecy has come against God at some point, and none of them have prevailed. We aren't expected to fight back, to outsmart anyone, or to get the last word. We tell ourselves that we could never be like Moses. We don't have to be. A million Hebrews crossed the Red Sea, and that's all we need for ourselves.

 

"Fear No Evil." The GB has, quite correctly, made the point that a hundred Russian brothers are in detention. That leaves over a hundred thousand that are not. Sometimes it's scarier to be chased than to be caught. A black car parked outside your house can be more intimidating than a large cell with two dozen of your fellow brothers locked up alongside you. Remember that when facing trials and tests, you're never on your own. All you have to do is trust God to fix the problem, and in the interim we only have to say 'No, I won't' one time more than they say 'Yes, you will'.

 

"Nor will ever occur again." The brothers in the camps during WW2 were all free by 1946. They didn't know when the war would end. They couldn't be sure who would win. And they didn't know what would be left for them to go back to once the dust settled. The duration of their endurance was a lot longer than their persecution. Our generation has the unique privileged of knowing that once the dust settles from our trial, it'll be a thousand years before we ever have to face anything remotely like it again. Imagine being in those Camps in WW2, and being the only person who knows exactly when the war will end, and what will become of the guards beating you. What a source of endurance that would be.

 

"Eyes on the Prize." This one seems obvious, but remember that 'Enduring to the End' has a double meaning for us; because what's ending in our case isn't a war, or a government, or a prison term. it's so much bigger than that. Because once it's over, nobody in the world will ever be persecuted again. There won't be anyone left to try their hand at Totalitarianism or Fascism or Slavery. Not ever again.

 

We are, quite literally, the last people who will ever have to endure persecution.

Edited February 22, 2019 by Thomas Walker

[BibleSteve]

Very encouraging, thanks for taking the time to write that out.

[Saffron]

Thank you, brother, for taking the time to write this out. I feel like writing this down in a notebook and keeping it safe along with other encouraging thoughts and scriptures. 😊

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

Ty

 

Just Older

 

 

 

 

[Vinnie]

2 hours ago, Thomas Walker said:

Can't believe I'm writing this post, but in light of events in Russia, and an expectation of things to come, I think it's prudent to prepare ourselves mentally for what may come.

 

Well said, brother Walker and thank you. I forget what the scripture is but it says something like - If you have good words to say that are upbuilding or words of encouragement, don't hold back from saying them.-   So , don't hold back. The time is now for preparation for later is the time of test and endurance. 

 

 

[Miss Bea]

I’ve printed this out. I thank you, kind brother. Can ournassociates make a difference in our life? Yes, they can. This is a prime example.

[georider]

Thank you Brother Walker, your time was very well spent! This was so appreciated!

 

During this time, it would be good to review Watch Nov 2018, Trust in Jehovah and Live! Some pointers:

We must never stop praying to Jehovah, no matter what trials befall us.

We need to listen to what Jehovah tells us through his Word and organization.

We should patiently wait on Jehovah, fully trusting that he will relieve our pains in his own time. If we continue to talk intimately with Jehovah and listen to him with a waiting attitude, we will gain a calm heart, which will help us endure.

 

We need to take the time now to prepare ourselves. Do you have a favorite Kingdom Song that gives you courage or boost your spirits or faith? Remember those brothers who were in concentration camps who sang to keep their faith up? What about a scripture or two? What scriptures can you recall from memory to strengthen you? What about reviewing examples of faithful ones in the Bible? We can learn a lot.

 

We are in a war. Jehovah is putting us in battle formation in preparation for the New World! Let's take advantage of the tools he gives us to prepare for survival.

[Matthew]

Thank you Brother Thomas. This post is a keeper!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Meditate!]

On 2/22/2019 at 12:53 PM, Vinnie said:

Well said, brother Walker and thank you. I forget what the scripture is but it says something like - If you have good words to say that are upbuilding or words of encouragement, don't hold back from saying them.-   So , don't hold back. The time is now for preparation for later is the time of test and endurance. 

 

 

you reminded me of that beautiful scripture!

 

Acts 13:15  After the public reading of the Law and the Prophets, the presiding officers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying: “Men, brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, tell it.”

 

Matt certainly did that.. I just emailed myself and a few with the text.

 

Fear is its own enemy.. As he said prepare now to be loyal.. but being conscious of some of the tactics and the perception of them that can play on your mind is a big help. So please he posted this.

[booboo]

On 2/22/2019 at 4:56 AM, Thomas Walker said:

We are, quite literally, the last people who will ever have to endure persecution

Thank you for a wonderful and n ouraging post.  

We cannot ever forget that:”We are Jehovah Strong”

[tye]

Well said.

[Dages]

Matt, during the GT, I'd love to be jailed with you.  

[Omoyeme]

On 2/22/2019 at 4:56 AM, Thomas Walker said:

Here are a few tricks that have been used before: (Note: The examples are based on experiences I remember, with some changes made to fit the point I'm making)

 

 

I'll be sharing this with my family members...thank you Brother Matt. 

[tuntun]

thank you for your posting

[Meditate!]

18 hours ago, Dages said:

Matt, during the GT, I'd love to be jailed with you.  

LOL

 

I don't think the cell would contain the rest of us either! I'd hope to be able to help others by focusing attention on these things than the false perspective of the captors. 

 

[Tetteh]

On 2/22/2019 at 9:56 AM, Thomas Walker said:

Eyes on the Prize." This one seems obvious, but remember that 'Enduring to the End' has a double meaning for us; because what's ending in our case isn't a war, or a government, or a prison term. it's so much bigger than that. Because once it's over, nobody in the world will ever be persecuted again. There won't be anyone left to try their hand at Totalitarianism or Fascism or Slavery. Not ever again.

Thanks very much brother Thomas Walker, greatest thanks to Jehovah for drawing you to him that with also been privileged to benefit from your words of encouragement advice and faith strengthening. 

I would like to copy all your encouragement and share with other brothers not on this forum,citing you as the source. I will only do that after you have given me the go ahead. 

[Thomas Walker]

2 hours ago, Tetteh said:

I would like to copy all your encouragement and share with other brothers not on this forum,citing you as the source. I will only do that after you have given me the go ahead. 

Thanks for the kind words, Brother. And of course you can share this with anyone you feel could use it. That's rather the point of the Forum; and the Brotherhood in general.