The Russian Brothers are Holding Up Well.

[TrueTomHarley]

What Witness of Jehovah could not think of their brothers in Russia when reviewing Philippians, this week’s Bible reading? 

 

The imprisoned Paul writes: “Now I want you to know, brothers, that my situation has actually turned out for the advancement of the good news,  so that my prison bonds for the sake of Christ have become public knowledge among all the Praetorian Guard and all the rest.  Now most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence because of my prison bonds, and they are showing all the more courage to speak the word of God fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:12-14)

 

It is the case with Witnesses in Russia, isn’t it? They are holding up pretty well, by all reports—it can be seen in the public support they give to ones punished by the state for their worship of God. As in the first century, “most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence,” trial-some though their circumstances are. We are proud of them, and even wonder whether we would do so well ourselves. ‘Don’t think that you can do it on your own strength,’ comes the answer, ‘and you will do fine.’

 

The anti-cultist mastermind, Alexander Dvorkin, did not foresee it happening this way. Just after the ban went into effect in April 2017, he was “absolutely convinced that after a few years, the number of members of the organization will decrease dramatically, two or three times, because, when one cuts off its financial foundation, its ability to freely, without hindrance, recruit other people, to rent large halls and so on, then, in fact, people will lose interest and will very quickly disperse.” Now, two years is not “just a few years,” but it is not so far apart. He did not say “generations.” He expected his results rather quickly, and it is not turning out that way at all.

 

One is reminded of Satan’s taunt: “Is it for nothing that Job has feared God?  Have you not put up a protective hedge around him and his house and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has spread out in the land. But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” (Job 1:9-11) It isn’t working out that way. Our brothers in Russia are doing us proud.

 

Human rights advocates widely predicted that this would happen—it is not a circumstance solely of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but of people in general who are concerned with spiritual things. Similar fortitude is shown in other faiths as well. It is Dvorkin who, fleshly man that he is, totally misjudges the power of spiritual things to motivate. “But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually,” says the apostle again at 1 Corinthians 1:14.

 

He drinks too much of his own Kool-Aid, and thus, when things fail to turn out as he anticipated, it is due to his own self-deluded assumptions. Dvorkin is playing the role outlaws of religion have played from before he was born, using state apparatus to squash enemies, and doing so under a guise of People’s Protector. His premise is wrong: that individual Witnesses are being “manipulated” by an evil corporate outside class. Instead, the ‘outside’ class IS them, merely in the organized form that members know is necessary to best implement the faith that they have chosen. They are not like the munchkins of his imagination, delighted that the wicked witch is destroyed. They recognize his attack as the attack on Christianity that it is.

 

We see this all the time—enemies impose their own standards on spiritual things, and then draw wrong conclusions when things do not turn out as they have anticipated. It is seen when they make the self-determination that religious things cannot change, as secular and scientific things do, and that should Witnesses see that some teachings have “flip-flopped,” they will be outraged at having been “misled.” How can people be so nuts? They change all the time—it is called “tacking” and the “ever brightening light”—completely above board and nobody has ever said otherwise. 

 

Still, the changes that are made are analogous to details, roughly akin to looking at the map anew and rereading it. It happens all the time with science. Somehow, physical people have decreed that it cannot happen with spiritual things. Of course it can. It is their own presumption of everything religious being autocratic, ironclad, and unyielding, that stymies them. It may not be so fluid—‘the each his own!—as the world they have chosen, but it is far from inflexible.  Moveover, the essential building blocks of the faith—defusing the ‘immortality’ of the soul, establishing the non-Trinitarian nature of God, the reason as to why he allows suffering and evil, along with the Name that he says he wants sanctified—these things have been firmly in place for over a century.

 

The Russian brothers are doing very well, thank you very much—“in no way being frightened by [their] opponents. This very thing is a proof of destruction for them, but of salvation for you; and this is from God.” (Philippians 1:28)

 

“Surely the people are but green grass. The green grass dries up, The blossom withers, But the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) So. Dvorkin thinks he will kill off the green grass, like a dog peeing on it? Time will tell. So far his dream is not coming true.

 

photo: persecution 2, by dr zoidberg 

[Miss Bea]

In Russia, it seems, “power is might”. 

They do not know Jehovah. Soon, they will.

[Ludwika]

Pharaoh said " who is Jehovah, that I should obey his voice... I do not know Jehovah at all.." Jehovah replied (paraphrased) : by now I could have squashed you like a bug, you're only still alive for one reason: " to show you my power and to have my name declared in all the earth". 

[Omoyeme]

2 hours ago, Ludwika said:

Pharaoh said " who is Jehovah, that I should obey his voice... I do not know Jehovah at all.." 

 

The arrogance of such men, (i.e., Pharoah). It was though Jehovah was saying:  You don't know me? Let me introduce myself to you! 

 

It's safe to say that our God left an indelible mark on him and his military forces!

 

[Bek]

On 7/1/2019 at 7:30 PM, TrueTomHarley said:

The anti-cultist mastermind, Alexander Dvorkin, did not foresee it happening this way.

Knowing how things are in Russia, I believe that Dvorkin was not the mastermind. Just to be clear: I am in no way defending him.

 

The FSB-Church is the mastermind that used Dvorkin as a frontman to whip up a movement against JWs. Dvorkin was only a paid lackey to do the dirty job. 

 

Today Russia is run by the FSB. The FSB always does things through the backdoor. They try to stay in the shadows letting their hirelings carry out their will. They can set up public/civic organisations, companies or hire activists to achieve their goals. 

 

They are truly a nasty bunch without any morals! 

 

In a news conference a few months ago, a lawyer defending our brothers in Russia said that investigators he was working with openly admitted that the persecution against JWs is "the political will" of the authorities. 

[TrueTomHarley]

On 7/3/2019 at 3:32 AM, Bek said:

The FSB-Church is the mastermind that used Dvorkin as a frontman to whip up a movement against JWs. Dvorkin was only a paid lackey to do the dirty job. 

With so many bad players it is admittedly hard to identify the ringleader. 

 

Of course, we all know who the chief Bad Player is.

[Bek]

1 hour ago, TrueTomHarley said:

With so many bad players it is admittedly hard to identify the ringleader. 

 

Of course, we all know who the chief Bad Player is.

It is just that I had never heard of Dvorkin before he started the movement and I have not heard about him since the ban. He appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared. He was not a known figure in Russia. As I understand, he is from France or the US or an American living in France. 

 

Public space in Russia is tightly controlled. Foreigners and even local Russians cannot do anything without authorisation from above. 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2019 by Bek

[TrueTomHarley]

2 hours ago, Bek said:

It is just that I had never heard of Dvorkin before he started the movement and I have not heard about him since the ban. He appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared. He was not a known figure in Russia. As I understand, he is from France or the US or an American living in France. 

 

Public space in Russia is tightly controlled. Foreigners and even local Russians cannot do anything without authorisation from above. 

 

 

This is my main source:

 

https://dailycaller.com/2017/07/23/the-french-connection-how-the-russian-orthodox-church-and-the-putin-administration-colluded-with-a-french-ngo-to-destroy-the-jehovahs-witnesses/

 

I included it as a prime factor in Dear Mr. Putin - Jehovah’s Witnesses Write Russia

[sunshine]

Whoever this Dvorkin person is he evidently doesn't know his history -  neither of the Witnessses in Stalinist Russia nor of God's people throughout history.  Those that believe oppression can wipe out Jehovah's people have simply not been paying attention!

Edited July 23, 2019 by sunshine

[retroHelen]

Dvorkin as part of an international organisation known as  FECRIS. It was behind our persecution in France a few years ago, having failed there it went to other countries esp Russia and continued it's fake news/propoganda there against us and others.

 

Human Rights groups have criticised FECRIS as it stands up for what they claim is the Traditional Religion of Russia - Russian Orthodox Church there and is paid for it's propaganda services to support them, yet claims to stand up for a different 'Traditional Religions in other countries. In other words it seems to use it's fake propaganda dissemination against anyone in any country that any organisation will pay them to do.

This article came out a few years ago in a Human Rights website: 

FECRIS Dvorkin.pdf

[Doug]

On 8/9/2019 at 2:41 PM, retroHelen said:

 

In other words it seems to use it's fake propaganda dissemination against anyone in any country that any organisation will pay them to do.

 

Fake News For Hire.

 

This world is awash in deception.

 

These people are the flesh-eating bacteria of society.

[Doug]

On 7/1/2019 at 6:30 AM, TrueTomHarley said:

 

 they make the self-determination that religious things cannot change, as secular and scientific things do, and that should Witnesses see that some teachings have “flip-flopped,” they will be outraged at having been “misled.” How can people be so nuts? They change all the time—it is called “tacking” and the “ever brightening light”—completely above board and nobody has ever said otherwise. 

 

AMEN.  I would be far more concerned if NOTHING changed !!!

 

The better our understanding the stronger our faith.

 

Who introduced the big changes?  Jehovah God himself. Through Moses he said "Let's get organized" .

And Jesus Christ. He taught the Law of Unselfish Love.  BIG change there.

 

Jehovah's people adapt to change and then see the blessings that result.

Listen - Obey - Be Blessed.