RebeccaChi, I was there during 9/11.
This is an embarassing fact for everyone there during the time, but the society FLAT OUT SAID that MOST LIKELY these attacks would lead to armageddon. Now, they never wrote anything like this in the publications. But I remember several comments made by the GB immediately after the attacks.
One of the most notrorious, at least in my opinion was from Carey Barber. He was going a bit senile at the time. But at one of the lunch meals, he interupted everything to tell everyone that these attacks would most likely lead to the Great Tribulation. His "speech" went on for much too long and everyone began looking at each other. It became really awkward. I don't think that this was on the tie line with any other facilities. I believe it was just for Patterson. But it started getting really embarassing when he started saying the same things OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER. I remember 1 line he repeated at least 20 times. AT LEAST. He said, "And I was sitting in my office, and lo and behold the plan was flying over the east river and slammed into those towers. How Satan must have rejoiced!"
It was a sad time for everyone in bethel. I was far away, in Patterson. But I was on the phone with my good friend in brooklyn as he was telling me about watching people jump from the buildings. He was in tears. They closed the factories for the day due to the smoke and reports of body parts being blown across the river to brooklyn.
I was home sick that day, and work basically stopped. A few days after the attacks we heard the "fine reports" of bethel giving water bottles to those that sought shelter in the lobbies during the day. Wow...what a fine people. No.....they were not going to go help with the rescue efforts. But if anyone made their way into their lobby...they would grace them with the blessing of bethels bottled water.
