Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon

[Sofia]

43 minutes ago, Dhanyel said:

Even though I’m a bit discouraged with the current situation, I keep preaching, I don’t miss the meetings, I’m always with the brothers, and I continue following the directions from the faithful slave, including maintaining my emergency bag. Although it’s not for the great tribulation, the world is strange, and everything changes very quickly. I will persevere and try to live one day at a time

 

If you keep thinking like this… the Great Tribulation will come sooner than you expect

When we least expect: rulers from

every country will strengthen UN to solve major issues in the world and to

achieve the 17 SDG

then it will be a ROLERCOASTER!!!

 

[jps]

i read somewhere that what kept shipwreck survivors alive was actually focusing or thinking of an imminent rescue

 

that mindset seem to be what keep many friends from perishing

 

 

 

 

[mjcabz]

I really love this Indian sign language convention music presentation "It will not be late". It helps me to be more patient especially in these critical times. 

 

5:48 time mark is the song

 

https://www.jw.org/finder?srcid=jwlshare&wtlocale=ASL&lank=pub-jwbcov23_34_VIDEO

[Doug]

12 hours ago, ChrisW said:

I love this thought...I think (speaking about myself only) that mentally I use the knowledge of the end being close as my reasoning for not really planning to far in advance (I'm talking about past 1 yr). It's like a restriction I've put on myself to think of the here and now and stay in the here and now unless I'm thinking about the New World. 

 

I get you.  Keeping in expectation can result in suspended animation.  In other words, we can put our life on hold.

 

Personally, I  have a dream of working with dogs.  I love dogs.  But the idea of going to a school for grooming just didn't feel right.  I mean the time involved.  But, now I'm thinking I will.  It's 320 hours at my own pace.  Could be just one day a week.

 

And, this will not be a wasted education even if the end comes soon.  Such knowledge will be useful in the NW.

[GoldAussieGirl]

17 hours ago, vern said:

If we die. Its just an express ticket.

True. Good attitude to have. 

 

I guess it's hard when you just never imagined yourself as getting old and/or dying. I want to be living my eternal life now, already & each of us might be already living it, we just dont know. I dont want to have to face dying or anymore of my loved ones dying. I think we all feel that way. 

 

"For if we live, we live to Jehovah,j and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8 💜

[Honeyflake]

I would be interested in what plans you have for your life if you plan as if Armageddon will never come? For me, Armageddon has always been a reality. I live as if I were waiting for the train at the station. I pass the time with goals in the service of Jehovah. I have no other plans in this world.

[Dhanyel]

I can't make future plans in this system, such as developing a career, building, demolishing, or moving house. I’ve simplified my life a lot, and this has become a one-way path because I’m no longer interested in buying things and accumulating more possessions. I know it’s important to maintain this same pace, not look back, and not get discouraged.

 

[cme]

Its interesting to read these comments on the future.  My husband and I have thought about this and are preparing for "if we are still here" reality.

 

We plan to relocate where my daughter lives because life is getting quite expensive and, we are moving on in years.

 

Where she lives its more affordable.  But, we are not going just yet.  We are making plans and getting ready to move on if within the next few years the end has not come.  We are saving money and really pulling back on expenses.

 

So, if Jehovah's Day is not yet here, then we will relocate.  Its all in prayer to Jehovah.  For the moment we are good and still busy in our ministry and bible studies. 

[Honeyflake]

19 minutes ago, Dhanyel said:

In diesem System kann ich keine Zukunftspläne schmieden, wie etwa eine Karriere aufbauen, bauen, abreißen oder umziehen. Ich habe mein Leben sehr vereinfacht, und das ist zu einer Einbahnstraße geworden, weil ich nicht mehr daran interessiert bin, Dinge zu kaufen und mehr Besitz anzuhäufen. Ich weiß, dass es wichtig ist, dieses Tempo beizubehalten, nicht zurückzublicken und sich nicht entmutigen zu lassen.

 

That's how it is with us and that's how we raised our children. To be satisfied with the necessary, not to aspire to a career and to be diligent in service until the end. This is what we learn from the faithful slave.  If I planned as if Armageddon would never come, my life would look very different.

[Dolce vita]

No long-term plans other than waiting with happiness, calm and patience for the big day. My only objective is to remain in the full time service whatever the cost, because I know that it is necessary for the people of the territory and for me. I have survived many trials thanks to this inking, and I enjoy even more because I know that some friends would like to be in the service and are not, for very good reasons.

 

I especially try to concentrate on what the GB says because that's especially where I hear that the end is very very near. World events can reflect an emergency but it is above all the GB which is the rudder of our boat towards the New World.

 

However, should we stop living, moving, planning a personal project in our life? Should we neglect our aging parents because we are absorbed in preaching, LDC and so on? Of course not. We do all this but without settling into the system. We are nomads, foreign residents. Jehovah is soon going to say move and we'll have to. Soon we will become Abraham, Moses and so many other beautiful friends of Jehovah. We will be beautiful too.

[Shawnster]

1 hour ago, Honeyflake said:

I would be interested in what plans you have for your life if you plan as if Armageddon will never come?

 

Let's not lose sight of the whole quote. 

 

Plan ahead as if Armageddon will not come in your lifetime, but lead your life as if it will come tomorrow (w 2004 Dec. 1 page 29)

 

There are 2 parts to the quote. "Plan ahead as if Armageddon will not come in your lifetime." How does a mature Christian do that? By make sound decisions about health, finances, employment, relationships, and all secular areas of life. Don't amass a huge debt you can't pay off. Don't neglect your health by putting off that medical procedure by assuming Jehovah's day is tomorrow and he will cure you. It's better to purchase quality products that last for years, even if that might cost more up front, than purchasing cheap products that you will need to constantly replace. Be happy where you live and what job you have because you might be there for decades. Choose good close friends and marriage mates because you might need them for decades. 

 

"Lead your life as if it will come tomorrow." How? By drawing close to Jehovah and becoming his friend. Put away fleshly desires and worldly pursuits. Don't rely on this world's power or wealth to be your salvation. Reach out in the congregation. Pioneer. Be in the center of Jehovah’s organization. Fully accomplish your ministry. Do all things for Jehovah's glory. 

 

So, don't fall into the trap that has ensnared others. Some who lived for a date made huge purchases and went into debt because they thought they would never need to pay them back. Some have neglected their health thinking Jehovah would care for them or Armageddon will come before they need to worry about it. Others have put fame in this system of things first and pursued careers and hobbies that pushed Jehovah aside. 

 

Well meaning Witnesses should stop telling people they will never get married in this system, or have children, or that those children will never enter school or graduate before the end comes. Instead help them endure in this system by making sound decisions while they keep Jehovah's day close in mind. 

 

 

Edited October 17 by Shawnster

[Honeyflake]

Ok that sounds reasonable. In my eyes, this quote is often used as an excuse to make a nice life in this system, so I don't like it very much. But your arguments are understandable.

[franceml]

On 10/16/2024 at 3:48 AM, jdcarlson said:

I am fourth generation witness.

 

I started field service in October, 1949. So, I have been active in Jehovah's organization for several years.

 

I "bought in" to the 1975 "frenzy" about four years before the society published the Life Everlasting book in 1966, which published the chronology showing Adam's creation in 4004 BCE, and thus 6,000 years of mankind's existence would end in 1975. Presuming that the seventh "day" would be 7,000 years long (including the 1,000 years of Jesus rule per Revelation), then 1975 had to be when everything would happen.

 

I was convinced that the fall of 1975 would mean the end of Satan's system on earth.

 

Well - it did not happen the way I expected. I was surprised and a little disappointed, but I did not let it cause me to slack off in doing what I could in Jehovah's organization.

 

Having been with Jehovah's organization for all these years, I have heard of those who looked to 1914, then to 1918, and some to 1925. There were other individuals who came up with their own dates based on their own reasoning.

 

I remember a conversation with a very mature brother from Bethel (a department overseer) when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet system. We both decided there were at most six months left.

 

35 years later prove that we were absolutely "out of our minds" trying to determine a date.

 

Jehvah's organization has told us many times and in many ways that we do not want to be serving him with a date in view. It might be tomorrow. It might be some other date far into the future. We do not know.

 

All we can do is remember Jesus said "no one knows" and continue doing everything we can every day to advance kingdom interests.

 

A very dear brother once told me to "live your secular life as if the system will go for another 1,000 years, but live your spiritual life as if Armageddon is tomorrow."

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

Image we are the children of a man that loves us and takes good care of us. We are in the middle of a ward and He and his helper are conducting us to a place were we will be saved. The journey is a very long drive and difficult at many times. But during this journey, us (as little children) keep asking our parents : How fare as we? Our father understand  us because as little children the journey  feels to far and hard  but He doesn´t  panic because He knows very well the way and which roads  need to be taken to drive us save. He just wants us to try enjoy the roadway when is possible to enjoy it or to remember positive moments in our lives when during the night everything looks dark (or not possible to enjoy the moment). that is all, SIMPLE:  we just need to trust and wait. PROVERBS 3:5,6 

But Jesus overheard their words and said to the presiding officer of the synagogue: “Have no fear,* only exercise faith. Mark 5:36 and just enjoy when you can and pray and be grateful for every single thing you received from our Creator AND KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT, you will be more interested in seeing the day when God´s Kingdom will be stablished in earth rather that keep asking: HOW FARE ARE US? But for achieved this there are few things VERY IMPORTANT to do from our side: the strength to uphold God’s laws, the wisdom to avoid tempting circumstances, and the love to look out for our neigboard.

Hope to see you soon.

 

[cme]

2 hours ago, Honeyflake said:

Ok that sounds reasonable. In my eyes, this quote is often used as an excuse to make a nice life in this system, so I don't like it very much. But your arguments are understandable.

I totally understand why you reason this way.  Some friends go from extreme to extreme and neither is good. Jehovah does not want us to live in poverty or to be rich in this system of things less we focus on material things.

 

Modesty is what is called for.  That is all Jehovah is asking from us.  To walk modestly with him.

 

I have seen friends buying expensive homes and...adding additions and expanding.  They are buying real-estates and renting homes to friends and/or public.

 

One brother has renovated and is still renovating his home.

 

In these last hours we want to make sure what is more important for each and everyone of us.

 

My go to scripture is: Joshua 24:15 .....but as for me and my household we shall serve Jehovah.

 

We might not agree with others but, they have freedom of choice and are responsible for those choices whether for condemnation in view or everlasting life. 

[computerwiz]

9 hours ago, jps said:

focusing or thinking of an imminent rescue

 

Hope is very important!!!

 

 

During a study at Harvard in the 1950s, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.
 

On average they'd give up and sink after 15 minutes.
 

But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes - and put them back in for a second round.
 

In this second try - how long do you think they lasted?
 

Remember - they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago...
 

How long do you think?
 

Another 15 minutes?
 

10 minutes?
 

5 minutes?
 

No!
 

60 hours!
 

That's not an error.
 

That's right! 60 hours of swimming.
 

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.
 

I will leave you with this thought:
 

If hope can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could hope in Jehovah & hope for the future, do for you?

Remember what we're looking forward to! Remember why you’re here!
 

Keep swimming.
 

https://worldofwork.io/2019/07/drowning-rats-psychology-experiments/

[ChrisW]

17 hours ago, Dhanyel said:

I will persevere and try to live one day at a time

Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. Rom 12:12

Your comment reminded me of this scripture. We just all need to do this.  You're not alone in your feelings.

[trottigy]

6 hours ago, Honeyflake said:

I would be interested in what plans you have for your life if you plan as if Armageddon will never come? For me, Armageddon has always been a reality. I live as if I were waiting for the train at the station. I pass the time with goals in the service of Jehovah. I have no other plans in this world.

 

Before I read this in the Watchtower we never saved any money - as the new system was just a few years away. My father had built an add-on to our house in the '90s and did it with materials that were CHEAP, but sadly NOT intended to last - as the new system was just a few years away.

 

Since that article, I started saving as much as we could and made sure we lived under our means. We also slowly started to tear out the old already breaking down materials from the house and after 10 years were able to replace all of it with materials intended to last, but more expensive than the cheap stuff.

 

Here we are almost 20 years later, and the house is NOT falling apart and requires little maintenance and we have a nice nest egg with the possibility of not having to work much longer. Meanwhile to the other half of the quote that far too many overlook - we have stayed spiritually alert and have pioneered for a few of those 20 years, and have worked at Warwick, on RBC and now LDC projects for many years. I have also served as an elder since 1994 and have assisted quite a few over the years to stay focused, but NOT obsessive.

 

But that's just me. 

 

EDIT: I should add - future plans -> Over the last 20 years I have been taking one college class a semester (mostly - some I have had to skip due to RBC/ LDC projects). I am almost finished with getting my civil engineering degree - 30 -35 credits more to go. Our hope is to continue to assist in the LDC work, but with the engineering side instead of the harder physical electrical side I have done over the last 30 years  ( note: that includes the 4 years we spent at Patterson during it's construction). I am not getting younger, but I still want to help.

 

EDIT2: I would have done none of that with the previous mindset. I also find it has helped me understand why the Slave has that same mindset - as I see building projects and now new video projects. They just keep planning and moving ahead with each new project - as if things are going to keep going as they are. Me too.

Edited October 17 by trottigy

[ChrisW]

8 minutes ago, computerwiz said:

Keep swimming.

[computerwiz]

5 hours ago, Honeyflake said:

I would be interested in what plans you have for your life if you plan as if Armageddon will never come?

 

All I'm doing is saving for retirement & spreading my finances around so I have diversity for financial growth.

 

Beyond that, I have no solid plans for the future sans Armageddon.

 

If things don't kick off by the end of the US election or shortly thereafter (talking months) that lead to the GT, I will be thoroughly surprised.  But I'm prepared to keep on trucking along...

[cme]

So the leader of Hamas has been killed!  Yayau Sinwar.  What will come of all of this?  Watching news closely.

[Doug]

5 hours ago, Dolce vita said:

No long-term plans other than waiting with happiness, calm and patience for the big day. 

However, should we stop living, moving, planning a personal project in our life?  We do all this but without settling into the system. We are nomads, foreign residents. Jehovah is soon going to say move and we'll have to. Soon we will become Abraham, Moses and so many other beautiful friends of Jehovah. We will be beautiful too.

 

I like the way you express yourself  

 

I recently read (probably here) that the anointed are living in tents, as it were.  No roots in this system.

 

Found it:  w01 11/15  pp. 15-20:  Anointed Christians are like alien residents living in tents apart from this system of things.  Not even a plague draws near their tent".

 

w07 12/15 pp. 21-25:  The expression "the tents of Judah" indicates that the anointed remnant in our time are out in the open field, not in fortified cities.  The historical record proves that Jehovah is defending these anointed ambassadors of the Kingdom in their "tents" out in the field."

[Doug]

1 hour ago, computerwiz said:

 

If things don't kick off by the end of the US election or shortly thereafter (talking months) that lead to the GT, I will be thoroughly surprised.  But I'm prepared to keep on trucking along...

 

Just imagine  .   .    .   months.     

Regarding this election.   Apparently very tight race.    Could get very ugly after 11/5.

[vern]

Balancing spirit if you mefitate on mercy.

 

Jehovah asks us to be merciful. He also will have a merciful example.

[Dhanyel]

44 minutes ago, cme said:

So the leader of Hamas has been killed!  Yayau Sinwar.  What will come of all of this?  Watching news closely.

Yes

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel confirms

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-gaza-lebanon-10-17-24-intl-hnk/index.html

[Tortuga]

13 minutes ago, Dhanyel said:

Sinwar

What an interesting name...