shali

Back on topic - the GT hasn't started yet.

I've talked to Jehovah about how I feel many times but he keeps "upping the ante" on the terms so I figure that I am in the minority in feeling this way and that most others like to hear those terms - it spurs them on to continue forward in their momentum. To each their own!

The brother made a generalized calculation based on what we can only assume are facts. We assume that everyone who is baptized loves Jehovah. We don't automatically assume he is baptized and doesn't love Jehovah. You are obviously focused on those who aren't baptized but perhaps have shown a love for Jehovah in the past or could still have that love lurking deep in their heart. Those are numbers we cannot count - that is all there is to it - those are the facts. Like I said before, the brother made his calculations with the current FACTS on hand without assuming bad motives to anyone. Only Jehovah knows how many will survive Armageddon and we won't truly grasp the extent of his mercy until that day is over and done. So just accept that this brother was just stating the facts we have on hand (just like you can't calculate the exact population of the earth on any given day because people are born and die everyday) so his calculation about the population of the earth wasn't completely correct either but he went with the current facts on hand but in the end - it's Jehovah that determines who will survive and who will not based on their hearts. From the current information we have been receiving about what will happen after the Great Tribulation starts, it appears that one does not have to be baptized to survive Armageddon - they just need to show their heart aligns with Jehovah and his earthly organization. But there is no way of calculating at this point how many more that will add to our current number of dedicated and baptized witnesses until after Armageddon. Either way, the point the brother was making still holds true - compared to the entire population of the earth on any given day, the amount of people who will demonstrate that they truly love Jehovah will be a very tiny percent. Probably less than 1 or 2% (although we hope for higher), it just goes to show how massive Satan's influence has been on this entire world.

He was referring to those who are currently dedicated and baptized. Those are the only true numbers we can go by and if you just use the numbers of those who have "proved" their love for Jehovah by getting dedicated and baptized, his calculations are correct. We won't know until after Armageddon what the true percentages will end up being.

I guess all I am saying is leave those terms out of it until it is noticeably apparent that those terms are going to be exactly true. The GB does kind of have an indication of when the GT will start (when all the body realizes all of them have had their final sealing for instance and can put out beacons to find out if others of the anointed around the world are experiencing the same thing, I imagine that in the GB they would inform others on the GB if they have had their final sealing because most die soon afterward and it's time to think about a replacement or helper to step in their place). To me the constant use of those terms without them coming true in what physical people feel is a reasonable amount of time for "imminent" or "on the verge of" or even "soon" would keep alot of us from feeling weary and like our hope has gone unfulfilled constantly. I would rather they leave those adjectives out until they become the truth.

Or maybe it's just a random date that has nothing to do with any other date because it will be a Day all it's own, like something that has never occurred before. And since it's the day Jehovah will sanctify his name and do away with all his opposers - he gets the right to choose that date. I have a feeling it as more to do with "hearts" than anything random though. Jehovah is searching for the right-hearted right now and still finding them. His love of people has always outweighed his own interests - if it didn't, none of us would be here.

I'm not asking for Jehovah to abandon his time table, just wish our definition of that one word (soon) was a little closer together in meaning between the fleshy and spiritual. That way, when the end really was coming " soon" (soon in our definition) - that's when we start using that word, not 50 years beforehand. I understand they want to keep our sense of urgency high and that it why they use words like "soon", "imminent", "on the verge" and "right around the corner" - but it can also lead to weariness of heart to hear it over and over again and we still have years to go. That's all I'm saying. Start using those terms when the time is appropriate. Does anyone remember the "Deliverance is Near" Convention? That was over 20 years ago. "Near" (at least to me) does not mean 20+ years from now, that's all I'm saying. Not sure if I'm making any sense to anyone else but myself.

Nice to know that Jehovah doesn't penalize you or him for not being able to follow through thoroughly in this case. No doubt, after this co worker is resurrected, you will be able to do what you could not in this system and teach that co worker the truth about your loving, wonderful God! I feel the same as you. Every talk, every Watchtower study reminds me I'm not good enough to survive Armageddon, and if I don't I am glad to of had the time I had serving Jehovah on this side of the new world. There are those in my congregation that have treated Jehovah's sheep terribly and then run away to another congregation (they are now back in my congregation again). Because of how serious and long and entangled the whole mess was, it seemed there was no justice but we did get relief when they left. Now that they are back, there is no accountability, no apologies. Just a pretense that they did nothing to no one. I trust in Jehovah (who saw and heard all their schemes) to provide justice and in the meantime, most of us in this congregation allow them their illusion of having done absolutely nothing wrong. We let them live their lie because if we didn't Satan could cause a lot more division and trouble in our congregation than he already has, so they are in Jehovah's hands. A very wise person once told me "you will be surprised who makes it (perhaps that will be those of us who aren't as confident!) and "surprised who doesn't" (those who think their sins are still concealed or forgotten by Jehovah). But I do feel, it won't be until after Armageddon that we won't realize how merciful (and perhaps, Just) Jehovah truly is.

I wish "soon" to Jehovah was the same as "soon" for us (sigh).

I noticed in this broadcast they used the term "we are on the verge" (meaning of the GT) several times. No more is it "close", or "around the corner" or "soon", we are now "on the verge" of it. It seems to me that in the last 6 to 9 months, we are discussing how to prepare for the GT, how important it is to keep our unity and especially how important it will be for us to be obedient and always trust in Jehovah. It comes up in every meeting and broadcast and in the new study editions of the Watchtower in a consistent manner IMO. (By the way, the term "on the verge" means on the "brink or border" of something.) Remember, the earth is also on the verge of being completely ruined (AI data centers of sealed that fate for sure now), so Jehovah will have to act very quickly to keep that from happening as well.

We are waiting . . . what I posted was "watching".

Even "the beginning" has to have a beginning!

Thanks for posting that Samira and Richard.

As much as I enjoy watching them now, I think that would increase by 100 fold to watch them in Paradise. Plus, once the original people are resurrected (those that didn't go to heaven) and can add more details about certain events, these current video's can be tweaked to make them more accurate or added to! The only problem will be that more make-up crew will be needed because we won't have any elderly to play certain parts!

Did anyone see the headline from PBS news :" HAMAS SAYS IT HAS DISSOLVED IT'S GOVERNMENT IN GAZA TO TRANSFER POWER TO A UN-BACKED COMMITTEE"? Just saw it today in my Google News feed. Thought it was very interesting considering what Jehovah's people know has to be fulfilled before the end can come! (Sorry I don't have the direct link, don't know how to do that)