Perry---in case what Shelby said sounds outrageous, you can believe partakers in the Watchtower can be persecuted. I've seen it myself in person.
The Watchtower has been bragging for a long time that the numbers of the anointed are diminishing---but for sure the numbers of partakers stayed virtually unchanged and last year jumped a few and I expect this coming Memorial will increase even more.
The Watchtower is panicking---we have had several talks IN A ROW about "not partaking--not partaking-not partaking". "Jehovah is only taking on new ones for replacements right now, that would be very few--very few--" (not the estimated 50+ new partakers every year) "and that would be only be from among those that have served Jehovah faithfully for many many years."
Not one scripture to back up these claims mind you. And more and more, we are hearing of Witnesses partaking in a private ceremony at home, and not reporting it. A think a lot of anointed are 'coming out of the closet' in the Watchtower organization. They were as of a few years ago. It seems to be picking up steam, and of course the only means the Watchtower knows to handle any crises is force-force-and more force.
Ho hum, another day among the UNIFIED Jehovah's Witnesses