Devastating Earthquakes Strike Turkey and Syria—What Does the Bible Say?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

library.

article series.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Rescue workers assembling together on a mound of rubble from a collapsed building.

KEEP ON THE WATCH!

On Monday, February 6, 2023, devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria.

“A huge earthquake killed more than 3,700 people across a swathe of Turkey and northwest Syria on Monday, with freezing winter weather adding to the plight of the thousands left injured or homeless and hampering efforts to find survivors.”—Reuters, February 6, 2023.

Our hearts ache when we read of such tragedies. At times like this, we can look to Jehovah who is “the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) He provides “comfort from the Scriptures [that] we might have hope.”—Romans 15:4.

( Supposedly) God does not cause natural disasters. Natural disasters are one of the causes of suffering that God’s Kingdom will eliminate in the 'new system.' In the meantime, he is concerned about people who are affected by them. God provides comfort for those who are affected by natural disasters.

How does God provide comfort? Does God dig them out, does God provide medical care, does God provide shelter, does God rebuild new housing/ buildings? Or, is it volunteers, medical teams and rescue providers who provide comfort?

If God plans on eliminating earthquakes, why not now? I guess God only cares about Jehovah's Witnesses, and those who worship him ' in the new system.'

Bible Teachings
Bible Questions Answered

What Does the Bible Say About Natural Disasters?

How does God help victims of natural disasters?

God comforts victims with his Word, the Bible. The Bible assures us that God cares for us and that he feels for us when we suffer. (Isaiah 63:9; 1 Peter 5:6, 7) It also reveals his promise of a time when natural disasters will not happen anymore.—See “ Bible verses to comfort victims of natural disasters.”

14

spiritually sick

by enoughisenough in

i thought of this today.

when i first told a certain person i didn't believe the gb were the faithful slave, that person told me i was spiritually sick....even bought me flowers.

i threw the vase away because i couldn't look at it without thinking how i was judged spiritually sick.

RULES & REGULATIONS

I was considered ''spiritually weak'' by the elders after I came back to the meetings after being out for 2 years. They told me I needed a ''Bible study''. They thought by having a Bible study ( all the dirt I collected by being away from the meetings) would cleanse me and the congregation. They even had elders help me back to ''field service''.

They had me study a new book with a brother who just got out of Bethel. He would never show up. I told the elders that I didn't forget anything and having a Bible study was useless. They elders use the study to see where you're at as to the Society's control.

In 2004, I finally left! I feel the pressure is off my shoulders and don't have the heavy burdens the Society place on everyone's shoulders.

24

Exercise Patience Regional Convention

by Rattigan350 in

the theme of the in person convention this year is "exercise patience".

looking at the convention map, they are really using their assembly halls and they are using smaller civic centers or city arena.

no more huge stadiums.. are they not expecting a great crowd?

RULES & REGULATIONS

"Exercise Patience District Convention"

24

Exercise Patience Regional Convention

by Rattigan350 in

the theme of the in person convention this year is "exercise patience".

looking at the convention map, they are really using their assembly halls and they are using smaller civic centers or city arena.

no more huge stadiums.. are they not expecting a great crowd?

RULES & REGULATIONS

The theme of the in person convention this year is "Exercise Patience"

Next year's in person convention : ''Exercise Patients''

34

The Watchtower—Study Edition | April 2023

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

study article 19. how can we strengthen our faith in jehovah’s promise of a new world?.

17 many servants of jehovah have applied jehovah’s counsel to “keep in expectation”—even for decades.

louise, for example, began serving jehovah in 1939. she says: “at that time, i thought armageddon would come before i finished high school.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Of course WT has purged that Awake from it's past and only people who may have somehow kept an original will be able to prove they made those promises.

34

The Watchtower—Study Edition | April 2023

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

study article 19. how can we strengthen our faith in jehovah’s promise of a new world?.

17 many servants of jehovah have applied jehovah’s counsel to “keep in expectation”—even for decades.

louise, for example, began serving jehovah in 1939. she says: “at that time, i thought armageddon would come before i finished high school.

RULES & REGULATIONS

STUDY ARTICLE 19

How Can We Strengthen Our Faith in Jehovah’s Promise of a New World?

17 Many servants of Jehovah have applied Jehovah’s counsel to “keep in expectation”—even for decades. Louise, for example, began serving Jehovah in 1939. She says: “At that time, I thought Armageddon would come before I finished high school. That didn’t happen. Over the years, I found it helpful to read what I call ‘the waiting accounts’—the Bible narratives of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and others who had to wait a long time before receiving the promised reward from Jehovah. Remaining in expectation has kept me and others focused on the certainty of the nearness of the new world.” Many other longtime worshippers of Jehovah agree!

Poor Louise! She's been serving Jehovah since 1939. That was 83 years ago. Louise is still trudging along, applying Jehovah's counsel to ''keep in expectation.''

She has read the Bible accounts of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and many others who waited a long time to receive a promise from Jehovah. If they waited, so can she.

So, who does Louise blame for the '' false expectations'' and the ''waiting accounts''? Does Louise blame the Watchtower Society throughout its history for writing false warnings in the Awake, Watchtower Magazines and Books that announced the promise of a new world?

No, she blames herself for reading into things. She says: “At that time, I thought Armageddon would come before I finished high school. That didn’t happen.''

20

mentally ill/delusional or con artist?

by enoughisenough in

maybe this has been discussed in the past and i wasn't here... what do you think?

are the gb members knowingly pulling a con, or do they have delusions of grandeur?

i will go out on a limb here to say that i think they are con artist.

RULES & REGULATIONS

It's all an act, no different to all the other TV evangelists who put on a show but clearly don't believe what they are selling - it's an act to take money from the sincere believers at the bottom.

I think while they are climbing the ladder in the organization, they actually believe that they are the true spokesman for God.

Then it becomes a business! They see that all this charade is just like any corporation. How much money comes in, how much money goes out, lay people off, buy buildings, sell buildings, hire Lawyers, settle lawsuits, shrink books and magazines, sell old inventory of books and sell Kingdom Halls to pay for pedophile lawsuits.

They know it's a con. They receive free room and board, food, health care and free travel. They are put on a pedestal by Jehovah's Witness members. They make videos, guest speakers at assemblies and leave only when they pass away. Why not pretend and enjoy the benefits?

7

Too busy?

by BoogerMan in

i went into a supermarket yesterday and said to the assistant, "i'd like to buy some herbs.

she said to me, "sorry, i don't have thyme.

" so i just walked out and went to a different store.

RULES & REGULATIONS

I went to a supermarket in the United Arab Emirates, but all the shelves were empty.

There was literally nothing Dubai.

22

Jehovah's Witnesses: Zoom Cancelled Love Jehovah Go Back to In Person Meetings

by HiddlesWife in

this is a new video posted by the exjw critical thinkers jt & lady cee:.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvmulzbczvm&t=1s.

i had a hunch that wt was going to do so, but this is happening quite soon.

RULES & REGULATIONS

No way! I would be shocked if they do that. About 1/3 of JWs are still on Zoom.

I agree! I was on Zoom yesterday listening in to my brother's public talk. There were 38 people on Zoom. Some were elderly, but there were some young people that are probably tired of traveling. They use Zoom to show that they are listening to the meetings. Some had their video screens off. Who knows if they put on Zoom and do something else while they are ( supposedly ) listening to the meeting?

15

Are there any new ideas coming from the Watchtower Society?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

my brother ( who is an elder ) tries very hard to get me back to the meetings.

he calls me every time he and his son ( he's also an elder) give a public talk.

they send me the zoom i.d.

RULES & REGULATIONS

With the Insight book (1988):

The Son’s share in the creative works
the Son was the agent or instrumentality through whom Jehovah, the Creator, worked.

Enjoy Life Forever! book (2022):

Jesus worked closely with his Father, Jehovah, helping Him to create all other things.

I think that in both books they have the same meaning. But, words like ''share,'' ''agent,'' or ''instrumentality through,'' and ''worked closely'' are vague words. They do not define what Jesus actually did in the beginning of creation.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Posts by RULES & REGULATIONS

What Does the Bible Say About Natural Disasters?

How does God help victims of natural disasters?

How Can We Strengthen Our Faith in Jehovah’s Promise of a New World?