Most of Jehovah’s witnesses are familiar with the explanation given by the WT society regarding the four horsemen of Revelation. Although the explanation seems logical, we can ask questions...
So there has been an announcement published to our congregation.
It's regarding the update for reporting hours as publisher.
So it starts with the October report.
Beginning with your report for October 2023, if you are a
publisher, you will now simply indicate (1) whether you shared in any form of the ministry
during the month and (2) the number of different Bible studies you conducted
The Scriptural basis for these adjustments will be shared with the worldwide brotherhood
in the Nove... moreSo there has been an announcement published to our congregation.
It's regarding the update for reporting hours as publisher.
So it starts with the October report.
Beginning with your report for October 2023, if you are a
publisher, you will now simply indicate (1) whether you shared in any form of the ministry
during the month and (2) the number of different Bible studies you conducted
The Scriptural basis for these adjustments will be shared with the worldwide brotherhood
in the November 2023 JW Broadcasting program. We know you will want to watch that pro-
gram as soon as possible.—Read Isaiah 60:17.
Last Sunday we had our assembly with branch representative. Enter into God's rest.
I took some brief notes which I will share below. If you don't want to read it until you get your own assembly, please skip the notes.
CABR 20230917
Enter Into God’s Rest!
HEBREWS 4:11
Morning 9:40
Music 9:50 Song No. 87 and Prayer
10:00 Enter Into God’s Rest—How?
Heb 4:11
Gen 2:2,3 7th day rest blessed that day
We are still in that 7th day of rest
Gen 1: creative days, evening and morning
Gen 2: the ... moreLast Sunday we had our assembly with branch representative. Enter into God's rest.
I took some brief notes which I will share below. If you don't want to read it until you get your own assembly, please skip the notes.
CABR 20230917
Enter Into God’s Rest!
HEBREWS 4:11
Morning 9:40
Music 9:50 Song No. 87 and Prayer
10:00 Enter Into God’s Rest—How?
Heb 4:11
Gen 2:2,3 7th day rest blessed that day
We are still in that 7th day of rest
Gen 1: creative days, evening and morning
Gen 2: the seventh day no end, we're still in this day
Heb 4:1 promise of entering his rest
It takes effort to enter God's rest
We can enter or leave God's day of rest
By being obedient and by making priority to do God's will
10:15 “The Word of God Is Alive”—In What Sense?
Heb 4:12 word of God is alive
Jehovah is still working
Am I fully focused on doing God's will
1 thess 2:13
Heb 4:14-16
Jehovah's promises are alive
We just allow God's word to reveal who we are and to transform us
10:30 Keep Looking to Jehovah for Direction
Jehovah has our best interests at heart
Jehovah is motivated by love
Following Jehovah's direction is vital now and during the GT
Example of Jeremiah, old nation of Israel didn't trust in Jehovah
Isa 26:7-9
We will obey it we trust in Jehovah
Trust in Jehovah and channel even if you don't understand
Do we look to Jehovah for making decisions and follow direction
Heb 5:14 solid food, perceptive powers trained
Base decisions on principles acceptable to God
Ministry, preaching, making disciples
Tools provided by the organization, from photo drama to digital
Isa 26:15,20
We might receive direction that seems impractical. It's from Jehovah so being obedient is important
We will make good decisions and contribute to the growth of the organization and ready to obey direction received during GT
10:55 Song No. 89 and Announcements
11:05 Jehovah Blesses Obedient Ones
John 14:23 Jehovah loves obedience from heart
God connects obedience to His sovereignty
Fight against our imperfections
Fight against spirit of world
Fight against devil
Qualities that help obedience
1 John 5:3 love, not mechanical obedience
1 Cor 10:31 confidence in Jehovah and organization
Old Israel was following pattern of disobedience.
Numb 14:40-45
Angels who materialized, Adam and Eve, Esau… they served God but lacked love and confidence
1 Sam 15:22 obedience more important than sacrifice
Heb 3:8,15 do not harden your years. Hearts should stay receptive. Gradually it can harden.
Heb 3:13 sin has power to deceive
Heb 3:12 be careful to not lack faith. Example of higher education, risk to leave and lose spirituality
1 Pet 1:13,14,15 obedient stop doing this/that and become. Offensive mode in our spiritual war
We just put deep love for Jehovah into action by being obedient and put personal interests aside
11:35 Dedication and Baptism
501 attendees
Afternoon
1:20 Music
1:30 Song No. 49
1:35 Experiences
1:45 Summary of The Watchtower
2:15 Symposium: They Make Jehovah’s Heart Rejoice!
• Young People
Prov 27:11 be wise my son and make my heart rejoice
Allow Jehovah to mold us
Rom 12:2 stop being molded by this system of things
Satan uses world to mold us (compare with influencers)
Prove to yourself that Bible truths are true
Prov 2:10-12
Isa 48:17,18
• Sisters
Wife and mother
1 Pet 4:10
• Older Ones
Ps 71:5,18,14,15
Regardless of and age and circumstances we can zealously do Jehovah's will and bring him praise
3:00 Song No. 38 and Announcements
3:10 Find Joy in Your Service to Jehovah
Job 38:7
Prov 8:30,31
Jehovah is happy God
On earth there is a lot of trouble and cry
Example of Jesus. Jesus was happy
John 5:17 Jesus busy with doing his father's will
Contradiction with Jehovah keep working and 7th day work?
Jehovah is resting from creation, but still working on his purpose
3 things we can do to to collaborate with Jehovah purpose
Participating in preaching work
Be joyful when preaching
Luke 10:17,20
Don't be joyful for results but for doing God's will
By following God's direction and obey him
Jehovah didn't always give reasons for certain directions in old times
Now there is the FDS: give food, organize preaching work and to strengthen
Higher education
Secular work vs meetings
Entertainment
Have confidence in FDS. They're responsible for all Jesus belongings
Ps 32:8
During pandemic we received instructions to help us.
Jehovah knows best what is good for us
Jehovah will all things that will test our obedience
Rev 16:21 hailstone message
If we have habit to question everything now, we'll have difficulties obeying in future
Disfellowshipped person (family of loved one): obey God in this regard. Difficult to cut bridges with someone you love. Jehovah knows what is best for us and the person. Adam and Eve are disfellowshipped and same for Satan. Jehovah loves disfellowshipped person and isolation can help them to get reinstated. Bible has no exceptions regarding disfellowshipped persons. John 6:44
When hurt by brother or sister. Make peace with them
Having faith
1 Pet 5:9 everybody is going through same hardships
Target for the devil, temptations eg at school
Jehovah, GB, elders love you
Pleasure received from sin is temporary
When tempted talk to Jehovah
Listen how Jehovah answers your prayer
If we follow the above things, we'll enter into God's rest
Heb 4:12 its normal to see changes in organization gradually since his word experts power
In time of Jews they had difficulty accepting changes in eg regarding gentiles
We find joy when we cooperate with Jehovah regarding his promise and put faith and be ready to obey
Jehovah wants us to work with him in his rest
3:55 Song No. 118 and Prayer
AdminWhere in scripture does it say that this verse relates to a particular message? Yet marginal reference quotes scriptures of events which had literal hail?
Plus this hailstone message would be after the fall of Babylon the great, as it says they were gathered to the place called Armageddon, what’s the purpose of this message when the “two witnesses” would have already been prophesying before this event takes place. 🤔
Revelation 16:16
And they gathered them together to the place that is called i... moreWhere in scripture does it say that this verse relates to a particular message? Yet marginal reference quotes scriptures of events which had literal hail?
Plus this hailstone message would be after the fall of Babylon the great, as it says they were gathered to the place called Armageddon, what’s the purpose of this message when the “two witnesses” would have already been prophesying before this event takes place. 🤔
Revelation 16:16
And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Armageddon.
17 The seventh one poured out his bowl on the air. At this a loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying: “It has come to pass!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning and voices and thunders, and there was a great earthquake unlike any that had occurred since men came to be on the earth, so extensive and so great was the earthquake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and Babylon the Great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Also, every island fled, and mountains were not found. 21 Then great hailstones, each about the weight of a talent,* fell from heaven on the people, and the people blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for the plague was unusually great.
So we had our convention over the weekend and we had br David Splane giving the final talks each day.
Since I wasn't prepared to take notes, I only have some brief notes of the first talk and more extensive of the second talk.
The final talk I wasn't able to since I had parking duty....
Friday:
Theme: You know neither the day nor the hour
- referral was made to false religion pointing to different dates as the date of the end
- he said that we as JW's made similar mistakes
... moreSo we had our convention over the weekend and we had br David Splane giving the final talks each day.
Since I wasn't prepared to take notes, I only have some brief notes of the first talk and more extensive of the second talk.
The final talk I wasn't able to since I had parking duty....
Friday:
Theme: You know neither the day nor the hour
- referral was made to false religion pointing to different dates as the date of the end
- he said that we as JW's made similar mistakes
-1954: the idea came from 1914+40 which at that time JW's thought the end would come
-1975: he said that the original talk where this was mentioned (by br Fred Franz) made clear that 1975 would be the end of 6000 years human history but no further importance should be given to that date. He said that although that was the intention still some articles made some reference to that and hopes were set.
- He said that the GB learned from these mistakes.
- According to Rev 12, we are currently living under the 8th king, the last one.
- Than a whole part was spent talking about the overlapping generations
He explained that a generation exist of people in the same time period. Like if you and your grandparents have lived during the same period, we are part of the same generation (note of myself: I don't think many people consider themselves as the same generation as their grandparents)
Than he explained how this ties in with the concept of the Bible where this generation will not pass before all these things happen.
He said that friends who lived during 1914 period must have been anointed before 1914. Than these anointed who lived through 1914 must have spent time with newly anointed who are currently still alive.
Based on roughly how long people live, the current anointed persons to be considered of the same generation must have been anointed at least over 30 years to have been anointed during the lifespan of the first group of anointed that lived through 1914 (head spinning... I hope it's clear what I wrote down...). These are called contemporaries, being anointed during overlapping lifespan from 1914 to now
That was about what I got from my notes from the Friday talk
Frances Greist
When you listen to Amir Tsarfati from Behold Israel speak about this generation, it is the Jews who were restored to their homeland in 1948.
Our congregation are threatening to shut down zoom for those not attempting to attend in person. My friend and bible student has multiple medical conditions and one of which is spinal stenosis, is now not seeking baptism because of the unloving way she is being treated.
Last weekend we had the convention "Excercise patience" and now this week we have the circuit overseer.
His first talk on Tuesday was titled: Remain well established in the truth.
Part of that talk was about the food at the right time provided by the FDS.
He mentioned that was especially the case during the pandemic with regular updates, switching to zoom etc.
Than he mentioned the vaccines. He said that the FDS provided info regarding the vaccines and he emphasized "Yes, they were a choice"... moreLast weekend we had the convention "Excercise patience" and now this week we have the circuit overseer.
His first talk on Tuesday was titled: Remain well established in the truth.
Part of that talk was about the food at the right time provided by the FDS.
He mentioned that was especially the case during the pandemic with regular updates, switching to zoom etc.
Than he mentioned the vaccines. He said that the FDS provided info regarding the vaccines and he emphasized "Yes, they were a choice"....
The FDS provided us with the info that there were no blood products in the vaccines so we could make a well educated "choice"
I'm curious how many in the attendance really considered it as a choice
We were with 154 attendees at the meeting, 51 of them on zoom.:
John
Honestly, with the org's very disappointing performance in the recent plandemic that they do whatever Bill Gates and Fauci say... if they ever talk about crisis, pandemic, precautions, etc. again, I would take it with a pinch of salt. The're not even aware of the planned Great Reset, DNA manipulation, NWO, etc.
Here is a recent interview with prof Vanden Bossche. He is still convinced that we're currently experiencing silence before the storm.
He has written a book and because of his focus on that he's been more quiet.
He says that based on what's happening now, he was a bit wrong about the timing of when things would get bad but he's still convinced it will happen and it will result in a lot of casualties for the vaccinated. The unvaccinated should not have to worry too much as long as they're in go... moreHere is a recent interview with prof Vanden Bossche. He is still convinced that we're currently experiencing silence before the storm.
He has written a book and because of his focus on that he's been more quiet.
He says that based on what's happening now, he was a bit wrong about the timing of when things would get bad but he's still convinced it will happen and it will result in a lot of casualties for the vaccinated. The unvaccinated should not have to worry too much as long as they're in good health.
The interview is by compleetdenkers, which usually is in Dutch. But this interview is done in English.
