6) Imagine being told to leave your home, your friends, the country of your birth, and the security of your extended family to go to a land that you do not know. Abraham was told to do just that. He "went just as Jehovah had spoken to him," and for the rest of his life, he lived in tents as an alien and a migratory resident in the land of Canaan. (Genesis 12:4; Hebrews 11:8, 9) Though Jehovah had said that Abraham would become "a great nation," he died long before his offspring became numerous. Sarah, his wife, bore him but one son, Isaac, only after Abraham had sojourned in the land of promise for 25 years. (Genesis 21:2, 5) Yet, Abraham did not grow weary and return to the city from which he had come. What an example of faith and endurance!
Imagine--speculate
This is a reminder from the mind-control cult to DO AS YOU ARE TOLD BY THE LEADERS.
lived in tents--not a Coleman tent though but luxurious living.
We are supposed to picture thin walls of fabric with no plumbing, electricity, central heat and air, with sparse furniture.
Abraham left a structure with no plumbing, no electricity, no central heat and air. The furniture was possibly very
lavish in the tent, and living in tents was probably not much of a sacrifice from the permanent building.
16) .....Spirit-anointed ones have been eager to train their other sheep companions for increased responsibilities before leaving them to be glorified along with Jesus Christ.
Train their other sheep companions for increased responsibilities -- Known in WTS vocabulary as the "given ones" or the "Nethinim," non-anointed jw men taking over the duties of the GB on earth.
Cult paragraph that holds out the carrot of everlasting life on earth followed by cult words which mean "the best you
power-grabbers can hope for is to be totally obedient to the GB, then appointed as 'given ones.'
Do what we say to live forever, do what we say to climb the ladder.
18) Older servants of Jehovah, both anointed ones and those of the other sheep, are a living link to important historical events. A few still living were on hand for the original showings of the "Photo-Drama of Creation." Some personally knew the brothers taking the lead who were imprisoned in 1918.
Here's the reminder for the older ones who never really liked the 1995 doctrinal change that possibly their former
understanding is still right, that the 1914 generation won't totally pass away before the end, so hang on- don't leave
the organization in your late years. Stay faithful to the end, because the end might still be imminent. Why blow it
at the end? You did so much, you already gave up a real life, so don't give up everlasting life. That is the real purpose
of the article, as para. 20 shows:
20) Whether you are preserved through the "great tribulation" or you are brought back by resurrection, what a delight it will be to experience "the real life"! ...........Those who are blessed to live in God's new world will always be young in comparison with the eternity yet to be experienced.
