I can not fathom how much I heard this, and it always puzzled me the world NEAR. You see, when I use the word near, I say things like "I live near California" and I live about thirty miles from California. I say my in-laws live NEAR me, and they live about ten minutes away. I say, the weekend is NEAR and it is only three days away. NEAR in these comments make sense, as the things being referenced are in fact, NEAR.
NEAR : close; to a point or place not far away:
So I read scriptures like this and thing, what does near mean here? I get answers like, it is NEAR in the mind and yet when I think NEAR in my mind, it still comes out of something that should be close. When was this scripture written? Over two thousand years ago. When did Witnesses say the end was near, yesterday, last week or last year? No, since 1870's. Wow, what a stretch to the word NEAR, for it does make it sound like it is only days away and yet it was written thousands of years ago and has been warned about for over a century. Just not adding up. So in the spirit of trying to speak like a Witness, I felt I should reexamine how I use NEAR.
Where is Oregon? Oh, it is NEAR Europe.
Where is the Moon? NEAR the sun.
Where is New York? Very NEAR Hawaii.
Where is Disneyland? It is NEAR Iceland.
How would you like to get driving instructions from a person who used NEAR like a Witness? Wouldn't that make you frustrated to know the turn you were suppose to make, that was supposedly near McDonald's was actually seven blocks away from McDonald's. NEAR is what is said in definition, and other use of it to try and justify some scripture that is obvious another example of being misapplied writings and to use that whole NEAR the heart crap, is just reaching to try and put value to something that is obviously worthless. Yet, how often did you read something like this and think "Oh, it is so NEAR." It is just stupid, and I am NEAR the end of my post now. Finally, a proper use of the word NEAR.