Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon

[Jimi-L]

I am so worried. I assume that the brothers and sisters living in Iran are and have been preparing, possibly for some time , no doubt they have already received guidance from the congregations.

And yet we must not forget those under difficult circumstances anywhere else. In a congregation near me, there was a sister who is now being deported back to Russia. Please remember her in your prayers, Jehovah knows who it is.

[Dustparticle]

 

 More to come https://www.cnn.com

[Tish Hues]

5 hours ago, Shawnster said:

I'm surprised they haven't by now. 

 

Back during the first Gulf war I noticed gas prices rose the very next morning after the war began. Literally mere hours later. 

Pure profiteering and mankind’s greed at its worse

[JennyM]

2 hours ago, Dustparticle said:

The same day USA went to war, I filled my tank up.

Not enough... Trump says the war will last a month or 5 weeks

[Sofia]

2 hours ago, Jimi-L said:

brothers and sisters living in Iran

Are there any??

 

meanwhile:

Edited 17 hours ago by Sofia

[Ysaias]

Wow! The TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD for this week is spot on.

 

1. “Do Not Be Afraid”

(10 min.)

Jehovah would raise up “someone from the sunrise” who would cause people to tremble (Isa 41:2, 5; ip-2 20 ¶10)

Jehovah’s worshippers would not need to be afraid (Isa 41:10; ijwbv article 5 ¶4-7)

Jehovah would help them (Isa 41:13)

---

FOR MEDITATION: How does the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 41 benefit Christians today?—w16.07 18 ¶4-5.

 

[Ysaias]

3 minutes ago, Ysaias said:

Wow! The TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD for this week is spot on.

 

1. “Do Not Be Afraid”

(10 min.)

Jehovah would raise up “someone from the sunrise” who would cause people to tremble (Isa 41:2, 5; ip-2 20 ¶10)

Jehovah’s worshippers would not need to be afraid (Isa 41:10; ijwbv article 5 ¶4-7)

Jehovah would help them (Isa 41:13)

---

FOR MEDITATION: How does the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 41 benefit Christians today?—w16.07 18 ¶4-5.

 

 

I asked ChatGPT to elaborate on this theme, and it brought some ideas:

 

 

Spoiler

1. “Do Not Be Afraid” (10 minutes)

Isaiah chapter 41 was recorded during a turbulent period. World powers were shifting. Armies were advancing. Smaller nations were terrified. Into that climate of anxiety, Jehovah repeatedly says:

“Do not be afraid.”

This was not poetic exaggeration. It was a legal declaration from the Sovereign of the universe.

---

1️⃣ Jehovah Raises Up “Someone From the Sunrise”

(Isaiah 41:2, 5)

The “someone from the sunrise” refers prophetically to Cyrus the Great.

• He came from the east.

• He conquered nations rapidly.

• He caused political powers to tremble.

• Ultimately, he overthrew Babylon in 539 B.C.E.

The nations reacted with fear (Isa. 41:5). They fortified themselves. They turned to idols. But their efforts were futile because Jehovah was directing history.

Key Point:

Jehovah was not reacting to world events. He was orchestrating them.

---

2️⃣ Jehovah’s Worshippers Had No Reason to Fear

(Isaiah 41:10)

While nations trembled, Jehovah told His people:

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you… I will fortify you, yes, I will help you.”

Notice the structure of the verse:

• Presence — “I am with you”

• Power — “I will fortify you”

• Support — “I will really help you”

• Stability — “I will hold on to you”

Fear thrives in uncertainty. Jehovah removes uncertainty by giving assurance of His active involvement.

He did not promise that Judah would never suffer consequences. They did go into exile. But He guaranteed:

• They would not be abandoned.

• Their identity as His people would remain intact.

• Restoration was certain.

---

3️⃣ Jehovah Personally Takes Hold of His Servants

(Isaiah 41:13)

“For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand.”

This is vivid covenant language. In ancient Near Eastern culture, taking someone’s right hand signified:

• Protection

• Legal support

• Personal commitment

Jehovah is not distant. He is depicted as physically steadying His servant.

The message is intimate:
You are not walking alone into intimidating circumstances.

---

FOR MEDITATION

(Watchtower 2016, July, p. 18 ¶4-5)

How does Isaiah 41 benefit Christians today?

1️⃣ Jehovah Still Directs World Powers

Just as Cyrus unknowingly fulfilled divine purpose, modern political developments unfold within limits Jehovah permits.

We may observe:

• Geopolitical instability

• Economic volatility

• Social fragmentation

But Isaiah 41 reminds us:
History is not random. It is moving toward Jehovah’s declared objective.

That perspective stabilizes us.

---

2️⃣ Fear Is Replaced With Theocratic Confidence

The command “Do not be afraid” applies to Christians because:

• We are spiritual Israel.

• We serve the same unchanging God.

• We are engaged in a global preaching work under divine backing.

The world may feel unstable, but our position is secure.

---

3️⃣ Jehovah Strengthens Individually

This prophecy is not only geopolitical—it is personal.

When facing:

• Opposition

• Health challenges

• Economic strain

• Responsibility in the congregation

Isaiah 41:10–13 assures us that Jehovah’s help is not symbolic. It is operative.

He fortifies.
He supports.
He holds.

---

Conclusion

The nations trembled.
Idol worshippers panicked.
But Jehovah’s servants were told:

“Do not be afraid.”

Why?

Because the decisive factor in any crisis is not the strength of the threat —
but the presence of Jehovah.

The prophecy in Isaiah 41 trains our thinking:

Instead of asking,
“What is happening in the world?”

We ask,
“What is Jehovah accomplishing?”

And when that becomes our framework, fear loses its authority.

 

[Todd komaniak]

Only 20% of the world's oil comes from there Europe relies heavily of oil from there the USA not so much

[Sackedbysapp]

7 hours ago, Shawnster said:

I'm surprised they haven't by now. 

 

Back during the first Gulf war I noticed gas prices rose the very next morning after the war began. Literally mere hours later. 

They did here in Florida. Yesterday went to $2.99 and this afternoon $3.19

Edited 16 hours ago by Sackedbysapp

[JennyM]

2 hours ago, Todd komaniak said:

Only 20% of the world's oil comes from there Europe relies heavily of oil from there the USA not so much

Merchants will take advantage for sure.

[vern]

here in california the state taxes so much its 530 or so in town where i live.

 

they taxed gasoline 25 cents because we could afford it and gas was to low under trumps first term. not even kidding.

[Dustparticle]

 I’m better store up on more chocolate. Times are getting tough.  I can feel it.

[chuck83]

2 hours ago, vern said:

here in california the state taxes so much its 530 or so in town where i live.

 

they taxed gasoline 25 cents because we could afford it and gas was to low under trumps first term. not even kidding.

 

My stations are 4.99 - 5.69. My Shell for mid-grade is 5.19 cash and 5.29 debit/cc. Arco/Mobil is 4.99 so I try to get a little better at Shell or Chevron.

[Jimi-L]

8 hours ago, Sofia said:

Are there any??

 

meanwhile:

 

I believe there are some, though i don't know how many!

[Pabo]

15 hours ago, Dustparticle said:

The same day USA went to war, I filled my tank up.

 

With munitions?

 

[Sofia]

9 hours ago, JennyM said:

Merchants will take advantage for sure.

As usual 😤

[Sofia]

The World is becoming even more dangerous 

Meanwhile maybe Libanon will be free from Hezbollah now that Iran s back up was cut

[Tish Hues]

I just ordered heating oil the last time we paid 94 a litre and lunchtime today it was 1.34 and expected to keep rising

 

 I think we will be using it very sparingly!

 

 They have also effectively closed the Straits of Hormuz as Iran has said that they will set fire to any tanker trying to go through…. So now insurance companies will remove any shipping insurance on tankers trying to pass through

 

 Just more of those critical times that come in many different forms!

[JennyM]

2 hours ago, Sofia said:

The World is becoming even more dangerous 

Meanwhile maybe Libanon will be free from Hezbollah now that Iran s back up was cut

Some experts say that WW3 has begun.

Scary time but we Christians lift our heads because our deliverance is getting near. 

[Doug]

28 minutes ago, JennyM said:

Some experts say that WW3 has begun.

Scary time but we Christians lift our heads because our deliverance is getting near. 

 

If this warfare doesn't shake-up the UN, I don't know what will.  We may see Rev 17:17 fulfilled by summer.

 

Will this Memorial be the last?

[ChrisC]

I’ve seen several posts on Bluesky that say this is an attempt to bring about armageddon or ‘the second coming of Jesus’ by supporting Israel.

 

Then you go to jw.org and the truth is plastered across the front page. The contrast is stark.

[Brandon]

https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for

Quote

A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer.

From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations, the MRFF told me Monday night.