They Ran The Numbers...But Left Jehovah OUT Of The Equation

[Timl1980]

Today was one of those frigid Wisconsin winter days where the wind howled against the side of my work van...pushing it side to side as I struggled to keep it between the white lines. 

 

Frigid outside...the cab of my van was warm and cozy as I made my way throughout my route. 

 

I was in the middle of an old time radio episode of You Bet Your Life, starring Groucho Marx, when out of the blue a brother called and asked if I would like to have lunch with him when I made it up to his neck of the woods. 

 

Eagerly I agreed, suddenly filled with visions of a hot bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich dancing around in my brain.

 

Making my way up to his Kingdom Hall, I parked my van, got into his SUV and rode with him over to a local family restaurant where we sat in a booth at the back of the restaurant and sipped on a strong cup of cafe coffee as we waited on our orders of soup and sandwiches. 

 

Our conversation was light and casual; an older elder just talking to a brother he met by chance one day when that brother showed up at his Kingdom Hall with 150 lbs of free cheese.

 

We've become very good friends now, and it's a relationship that I treasure very much. 

 

It wasn't until after lunch and we had returned to the Kingdom Hall parking lot that he suddenly turned in his seat and hit me with the following question: 

 

"How would you respond if someone at the door said that you were heartless because Jehovah's Witnesses are going to rejoice when Jehovah kills billions of people at Armageddon?"

 

(Those may not have been his exact words, but that's the question he was asking)

 

To everyone reading this, you may be very shocked that he would ask me such a thing. But we have had many such conversations over the past couple of years, so instead of trying to figure out any hidden motive that he might have, I simply paused, sat back in his heated leather seat...and really THOUGHT about his question.

 

Did I think it was okay...did I REALLY think it's okay to be happy about people who are going to be destroyed? Or who have been destroyed?

 

As the wind howled around us, pressing against the frosted side windows...I started picturing what that scene might actually look like...and I won't lie...I was actually conflicted.

 

Perhaps he saw that, because suddenly he interrupted my train of thought, reached down between the seats and extracted his tablet. 

 

Flipping open the magnetic cover, he pulled up the Pure Worship book, turned to Chapter 18...and scrolled down to paragraph 21...and read it aloud: 

 

"Before they are destroyed, our enemies will see the sign of the Son of man, likely a supernatural manifestation of the power of Jehovah and Jesus. The opposers will see things that cause them extreme anxiety. As Jesus foretold, “people will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” (Luke 21:25-27) To their horror, they will realize that they miscalculated when they attacked Jehovah’s people. They will be forced to know the Creator in his role as military commander, Jehovah of armies. (Ps. 46:6-11; Ezek. 38:23) Jehovah will no doubt unleash heavenly armies and natural forces in such a way that he protects his loyal servants but eliminates his enemies.—Read 2 Peter 2:9."

 

He stopped, allowing me to soak in those words.

 

For a moment we didn't talk, we just sat there, listening to the wind...watching snow dance in miniature whirlwinds all across the parking lot.

 

Finally he faced me again and asked what had stood out to me...if anything at all? I said the power of Jehovah and how everyone would know once and for all who he really is. 

 

He nodded as I talked...then ran his eyes back over the paragraph until they settled on a single spot...and looking up at me...he reread a single word:

 

Miscalculated!!

 

He explained that word doesn’t just describe a careless mistake. It implies careful thought, planning, and confidence. They ASSESSED the situation. They believed they understood the balance of power. They moved forward anyways...CONVINCED the outcome was going to be in their favor.

 

But they left Jehovah out of the equation.

 

Then he explained how Jesus described this moment at Luke 21:26, saying that people would “become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”

 

He told me how the Greek expression in that verse can convey the idea of being drained, losing breath...not from sudden panic, but from the crushing realization that everything they thought was solid...was actually dead wrong.

 

And then he took me over to Psalm 46:10–11 to show me why:

 

“Let go and know that I am God… Jehovah of armies is with us.”

 

Jehovah doesn’t need to rush to prove that he's the strongest. He allows events to unfold until the thinking of his enemies is fully exposed...until they are so dead set in their ways there is no turning back...then, at the right moment, they are forced to know HIM...not as the abstract ideas they THINK he is, but as Jehovah of armies!

 

And now...for some weird reason...that word MISCALCULATED has been replaying over and over again in my head...encouraging me deeply all day as I drive.

 

Especially right now...more than ever before...the world is busy measuring threats, power, and outcomes.

 

But all the while...Jehovah is never reacting. He is allowing. He is waiting. He is...as he has always been...simply and fully...in total control.

 

Jehovah NEVER miscalculates.

 

 

But for anyone who thinks they can move against his people without consequence...they already have miscalculated...they just haven't realized it yet.

 

So while I may be conflicted on how I'm going to FEEL when that time comes...I'm going to remain calm, keep my head up and get ready...because Jehovah was never PART of the equation...he IS the equation!

Edited 3 hours ago by Timl1980

[Ludwika]

What great points! 

I think of it, not as rejoicing over the deaths of those people, but more as a deep gratitude for the removal of the wicked, and as the song says..."peace at last"!

[Patience87]

I trust Jehovah on whatever he decides. I do not rejoice over the fact that people will lose their lives, but Jehovah gives everyone the most opportunity to escape judgment. It will be unfortunate for those who are incorrigible. Jehovah will have no choice, and the fault will only lie with those who choose not to recognize his Sovereignty. That being said, in my heart I've prepared myself to accept his decision regarding my daughter who has left the truth. I hope she chooses differently before the end comes. Because I cannot make that choice for her and I cannot tell Jehovah that his decision was wrong. ❤️

[Watching and Waiting]

Very sobering, thank you for sharing. I agree with Jennifer, 'rejoicing' isn't what I'd classify it under. It put me more in mind of an old publication titled, "The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah"—How? And that's because it's neither here nor there what I think about the wicked who refuse our message of Good News, for whatever reason they contrive and why they still insist on clinging to that losing position clear to the end. Rather, it's about the vindication of Jehovah as the only Sovereign and the sanctification of his beautiful name, Jehovah. That's what I keep going back to. I will not be happy to see people lose their lives, when I've been trying for decades to appeal to them. That part will be sad, but not for lack of trying. 

 

But it's not over yet and we carry on!

Edited 2 hours ago by Watching and Waiting
Publication name corrected