Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon

[sully313]

5 minutes ago, Pjdriver said:

 

in an unusual sign of openness by the global Church toward the gay community.

lol, these people *face palm*

[Andrey]

4 hours ago, Dolce vita said:

The 1st one is staying alive

The 2nd which is similar : dance like Travolta when BTG is destroyed.😘

 

[Dolce vita]

37 minutes ago, Andrey said:

 

😁

[SheyZ]

8 hours ago, Ysaias said:

2025 is a "Jubilee" year for the Catholic Church. I wonder what this year means for other religions and/or cultures.

I don't think it means anything for them

[Dhanyel]

At least 2 dead and dozens injured in attack on German Christmas market, authorities say

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/magdeburg-germany-christmas-market-deaths-12-20-24/index.html

[Dolce vita]

2 minutes ago, Dhanyel said:

At least 2 dead and dozens injured in attack on German Christmas market, authorities say

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/magdeburg-germany-christmas-market-deaths-12-20-24/index.html

alas alas alas🥹

[Tortuga]

3 minutes ago, Dhanyel said:

At least 2 dead and dozens injured in attack on German Christmas market, authorities say

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/magdeburg-germany-christmas-market-deaths-12-20-24/index.html

Was it an intentional attack or an accident?

[Dolce vita]

1 minute ago, Tortuga said:

Was it an intentional attack or an accident?

Don't know yet. The driver is a doctor, an unusual profile which makes one doubt whether it is an attack or not. He is Saudi and has lived in Germany since 2006 if I don't make a mistake. So there is hesitation from the experts, we must wait for the cross-investigation of all the intelligence services. 

[SheyZ]

9 hours ago, Ysaias said:

2025 is a "Jubilee" year for the Catholic Church. I wonder what this year means for other religions and/or cultures.

I googled the question and it seems to be a roman Catholic thing only

[SheyZ]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

Was it an intentional attack or an accident?

They are still investigating 

[Sofia]

10 hours ago, Tortuga said:

Was it an intentional attack or an accident?

Intencional.

 

According to information from @welt, the suspect of the Magdeburg attack, Taleb Al A., appears in the X as a former Muslim critic of Islam. On Friday night, he posted several videos at the time of the crime, in which he says in English: "I blame the German nation for the murder of Socrates". And: "Another reason why I blame German citizens for the persecution I am targeted in Germany is the story of a UBS card stolen from my mailbox".

The text of the man's profile says in English: "Germany pursues Saudi asylum seekers inside and outside Germany to destroy their lives". E: "Germany wants to Islamize Europe". Your cover photo shows a shotgun.

In December 2023, he stated in a now deleted tweet that the German state was chasing refugees from Saudi Arabia to destroy their lives. He announced retaliation, writing: "I assure you that 100 percent revenge will come soon. Even if it costs me my life." And he continued: "Germany will have to pay the price. A huge price."

In May 2024, he published on X in English: "I seriously hope to die this year. Reason: I will guarantee justice at all costs. And the German authorities are blocking all peaceful paths to justice."

At that time, he wrote in Arabic about the "realization" of an "operation".

In August 2024, he published in Arabic: "I guarantee you: If Germany wants war, we will have it. If Germany wants to kill us, we slaughter them, we die or go to prison with pride. Because we have exhausted all peaceful means, we have only come across more crimes by the police, state security, the Public Prosecutor's Office, justice and the Ministry of the Interior. Peace is of no use to them."

200 injured 4 deaths

Edited Saturday at 09:07 AM by Sofia

[Jwanon]

Psyop

[truce]

On 12/20/2024 at 3:00 PM, Dolce vita said:

Very nice scenario, brother @Michał. Can you please tell us if your dreams usually come true, because episodes 2 and 3 are roughly next summer and it starts in May 2025, in some places, that is to say in about 5 months. I have plans, I want to know if I have time to carry them out😊

Mine is August 1-3 2025, so I have more time than some. Hahaha.

[truce]

On 12/20/2024 at 8:51 PM, Pjdriver said:

 

Every 25 years the Catholic Church has a “Jubilee”. This is supposed to be a time for spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and pilgrimage.  The tradition dates back to 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Christian jubilee. 

 

Wikipedia

The upcoming Jubilee Year, themed "Pilgrims of Hope," will commence on December 24, 2024, with Pope Francis opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. This act symbolizes the opening of a pathway to salvation and grace. Subsequent openings of Holy Doors at other major basilicas in Rome will follow, each marking significant moments in the Jubilee celebrations.

 

This is not your grandmother’s Catholic Church.....Evidently, ”Tolerance" supersedes or overrules Jehovah’s laws and principles. In the “Woke” world Tolerance is now more important than Love.  Except they won’t tolerate anyone who won’t tolerate immorality. 

 

2Timothy 4:3 "For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome teaching,+ but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.+ 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth..."

"Vatican's Holy Year calendar includes event for LGBT Catholics"

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vaticans-holy-year-calendar-includes-event-lgbt-catholics-2024-12-06/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

VATICAN CITY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The Vatican has included an event organised by LGBT Catholics on its official online calendar for the upcoming 2025 Roman Catholic Holy Year, in an unusual sign of openness by the global Church toward the gay community.

While we know that there are definitely brothers and sisters with a homosexual orientation, it feels safe to know that Jehovah's Organization does not draw attention to these ones as if they were a special or exclusive group of Witnesses that needed validation. We are all one flock knowing that the same things are being experienced by the whole association of our brothers in the world. (1 Peter 5:9)

[SheyZ]

14 minutes ago, truce said:

While we know that there are definitely brothers and sisters with a homosexual orientation, it feels safe to know that Jehovah's Organization does not draw attention to these ones as if they were a special or exclusive group of Witnesses that needed validation. We are all one flock knowing that the same things are being experienced by the whole association of our brothers in the world. (1 Peter 5:9)

Great comment .... We are all brothers and sisters 

[Robinson]

11 hours ago, SheyZ said:

definitely brothers and sisters with a homosexual orientation, it feels safe to know that Jehovah's Organization does not draw attention to these ones as if they were a special or exclusive group of Witnesses that needed validation.

True. There was a sister who tried to convince me that those with homosexual orientation have it harder and therefore we need to show more understanding towards them (I'm not sure what she meant by "understanding"). I told her that Jehovah doesn't separate sexually immoral acts as one being so special over the other that one group needs more consideration than another. I told her that it's just as hard for a sister to refrain from immorality with a man as for a brother (attracted to the same-sex) to refrain from immorality with a man. At the end of the day, if you love Jehovah MORE than your selfish desire for sexual immorality, that is what Jehovah sees, your self-control because of your love for him. Self-sacrificing is not limited to one group of people. We are all human and must learn self-control when it comes to desires.

[ChrisW]

3 hours ago, Robinson said:

I told her that Jehovah doesn't separate sexually immoral acts as one being so special over the other that one group needs more consideration than another. I told her that it's just as hard for a sister to refrain from immorality with a man as for a brother (attracted to the same-sex) to refrain from immorality with a man. At the end of the day, if you love Jehovah MORE than your selfish desire for sexual immorality

What a wonderful answer.  I don't know why  people tend to feel sorry for those who have this leaning as though their struggle is MORE than someone who is  wanting a heterosexual relationship.  I was just talking to a co-worker about this subject.  She said she thought her church should have been more understanding to a gay couple that wanted to join.  I told her if they are sincere and want to do things Jehovah's way Jehovah's holy spirit will help them with their wrong desires.  In the end they left the church. I told her they will find what they are looking for, which is a church that will tell them God accepts the behavior and they don't need to change.

[Shawnster]

5 hours ago, ChrisW said:

What a wonderful answer.  I don't know why  people tend to feel sorry for those who have this leaning as though their struggle is MORE than someone who is  wanting a heterosexual relationship. 

Because the media has convinced us this is so. Because, as seen in the media, there is no struggle, no pressure in regards heterosexual attraction. Of course, the world's standard, even among church goers and homophobes is that heterosexual activity before/without marriage is normal and acceptable. 

 

Because homophobia is a real thing with sometimes violent consequences. Nobody has ever been lynched, beat, or drug behind a car because they wrte heterosexual. Straight bashing is not a thing but I would be confident in saying some Witnesses have engaged in gay bashing even if only in word. 

 

Because no Witness ever says "ew, they are in an unmarried heterosexual relationship? Gross! I would never want to be in the same restroom with that person. 

 

Feeling differently about a homosexual couple than a heterosexual couple is understandable. Heterosexual sex is how we were designed. All a heterosexual couple need do in order to be approved by Jehovah is get married. A homosexual couple does not have that option. Their relationship must end if they ever want Jehovah's approval. 

 

It is harder for a homosexual to become a Witness than a heterosexual. Yes, both must resist immoral urges and desires, but the homosexual must reject the entire lifestyle. 

 

While not directed at homosexuals, Jesus did say it's harder for some to come to Jehovah than others. 

 

(Matthew 19:24) 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&pub=nwtsty&srctype=wol&bible=40019024&srcid=share

 

 

[Nom Chompsky]

6 hours ago, ChrisW said:

What a wonderful answer.  I don't know why  people tend to feel sorry for those who have this leaning as though their struggle is MORE than someone who is  wanting a heterosexual relationship.  I was just talking to a co-worker about this subject.  She said she thought her church should have been more understanding to a gay couple that wanted to join.  I told her if they are sincere and want to do things Jehovah's way Jehovah's holy spirit will help them with their wrong desires.  In the end they left the church. I told her they will find what they are looking for, which is a church that will tell them God accepts the behavior and they don't need to change.

Because their struggle IS greater than someone who's heterosexual as illustrated by the example you highlighted in your comment. They are discriminated against consistently and hated for their identity which they are powerless to change during this system and often relentlessly bullied from a young age. They are the target of violence and hate crimes regardless of whether they engage in non-heteronormative activity or not. Our beliefs shouldn't discount a marginalized group's lived experience especially considering there are many members of this community within our ranks whether we realize it or not. 

 

There is enough lack of understanding in the world for their plight but diminishing/dismissing it serves no one but Satan and is in opposition to Jesus' direction in Luke 6:32-38:

 

 32  “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. 33  And if you do good to those doing good to you, of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. 34  Also, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may get back as much. 35  On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. 36  Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37  “Moreover, stop judging, and you will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and you will by no means be condemned. Keep on forgiving, and you will be forgiven. 38  Practice giving, and people will give to you. They will pour into your laps a fine measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing. For with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you in return.”

Edited 18 hours ago by Nom Chompsky

[Luisabola]

True, a heterosexual person can just get married to avoid immorality, but a homosexual person will have to stay single until the paradise. I’d say it’s harder for a homosexual person in my opinion. 

[trottigy]

Harder or easier I don't know (as I have never been both), but I do know - that the Creator of the Entire Universe can help anyone overcome anything!

[ChrisW]

1 hour ago, Shawnster said:

It is harder for a homosexual to become a Witness than a heterosexual. Yes, both must resist immoral urges and desires, but the homosexual must reject the entire lifestyle.

That I can't disagree with.  There is a lifestyle or thinking that needs to be rejected. I'm not going to try and compare and measure difficulties and struggles.  I have seen women and men struggle with both sides of this coin.  Jehovah's holy spirit is the only thing that can help all those that struggle with desires that we need to control.  As far as the violence and hatred that many experience.  You are definitely correct.  We need to be sure we treat people with the respect and dignity that Jesus gave to all.  

[Shawnster]

48 minutes ago, ChrisW said:

There is a lifestyle or thinking that needs to be rejected. I'm not going to try and compare and measure difficulties and struggles. 

That is fair. As I shared above, Jesus said it was harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom than a poor one. 

 

Of course, that would also be true for all situations, no? Some homosexuals have an easier time to change than others. Some heterosexuals have a harder time than others. 

 

 

[SheyZ]

14 hours ago, Robinson said:

True. There was a sister who tried to convince me that those with homosexual orientation have it harder and therefore we need to show more understanding towards them (I'm not sure what she meant by "understanding"). I told her that Jehovah doesn't separate sexually immoral acts as one being so special over the other that one group needs more consideration than another. I told her that it's just as hard for a sister to refrain from immorality with a man as for a brother (attracted to the same-sex) to refrain from immorality with a man. At the end of the day, if you love Jehovah MORE than your selfish desire for sexual immorality, that is what Jehovah sees, your self-control because of your love for him. Self-sacrificing is not limited to one group of people. We are all human and must learn self-control when it comes to desires.

I guess thats where intense committed study of the Bible comes in for either heteralsexual or homosexual behaveior comes in. When you are convinced who God is and why he expects clean living behaviors it makes it easier to refrain from immorality because you love him more than your immoral desires.

Our hearts can be treacherous... 

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by SheyZ
Spelled word wrong

[SheyZ]

4 hours ago, Luisabola said:

True, a heterosexual person can just get married to avoid immorality, but a homosexual person will have to stay single until the paradise. I’d say it’s harder for a homosexual person in my opinion. 

Makes sense!