is bible prophecy now starting to come true regarding a prelude to the great tribulation?.
full disclosure: i still don't believe in the bible's claims about the existence of the supernatural, even of jehovah god (i'm an atheist and a scientific/philosophical naturalist), but i am asking this question because recent events are starting to seem (to me) to fit well the description of some prophecies in the bible.
consider the following.. several hours ago (on 11-26-2021) as i was about to enter a local fred meyer store of my city (in suburb or small city in the metro area of a large city) a person i know told me that a moment earlier a person left the store in a hurry with a cart load up with unpaid merchandise (i think i was told it was groceries but i don't remember that for sure).
Situation is not comparable with other times.
In the past, we could boast we have technology, but now technology is the culprit. (Financial Times)
Governments too are powerless because their main source of income is from fossil fuel or from taxes on it, and they want to exploit the same till its supply is exhausted. (The Glasgow summit left a huge hole in the world’s plans to curb climate change)
is bible prophecy now starting to come true regarding a prelude to the great tribulation?.
full disclosure: i still don't believe in the bible's claims about the existence of the supernatural, even of jehovah god (i'm an atheist and a scientific/philosophical naturalist), but i am asking this question because recent events are starting to seem (to me) to fit well the description of some prophecies in the bible.
consider the following.. several hours ago (on 11-26-2021) as i was about to enter a local fred meyer store of my city (in suburb or small city in the metro area of a large city) a person i know told me that a moment earlier a person left the store in a hurry with a cart load up with unpaid merchandise (i think i was told it was groceries but i don't remember that for sure).
It is true that JWs failed to identify them as they are now distracted. (Mathew 24:45-51)
But things are unfolding according to Bible prophecies. Jesus had foretold that people of "Last Days" would “faint out of fear” because of things such as "pestilence," “sea-level rise’ as part of “signs of Last Days” in Luke 21:11, 25. Bible Translators—including New World Translation of Jehovah’s Witnesses—missed the real meaning as they translated it as “roaring of the sea and its agitation.” (https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/nwt/books/luke/21/)
More careful Translations such as NIV put it: “roaring and tossing of the sea.” (https://biblehub.com/luke/21-25.htm) Word for “tossing” is σάλου (salou), from saino; i.e., billow,” (swell outwards). Thus underlying thought is like balloon swelling, or water flowing outwards, as though ready to roll over, thus points to the modern terminology “sea-level rise.” Biblos Interlinear Translation (INT:) translates it as “of [the] sea and rolling surge.” “Rolling Sea.” (A Greek Lexicon to the New Testament, Edward ROBINSON (D.D., page 416) (A Greek Lexicon to the New Testament on the basis of Dr. Robinson ... by C. Robson).
Jesus’ original use of the wording “tossing of the sea” is another way of saying “sea-level would rise” as a result of pollution of air. (Revelation 11:18)
The same word is used in the sense of being "shaken, unsettled" as happens during persecution. (https://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/3-3.htm)
That means sea-level rise was actually predicted, and was also being fulfilled in a monstrous way in our time.
first group characterized by saying...... .
“where is this ‘coming’ he promised?
ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”.
Jws have still time to correct themselves:
That means 70 years is like 120-year lifespan foretold for humans. (Genesis 6:3) Some will live less or more than 120 years.
the real preaching work:.
2 timothy 4:2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.. matthew 10:8.
“heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
JWs are struck in the literal reading of "seventy years" exile foretold for the Jews. Yet Jews began returning after fifty years, state all of Jewish documents.
That means 70 years is like 120-year lifespan foretold for humans. (Genesis 6:3) Some will live less or more than 120 years.
the real preaching work:.
2 timothy 4:2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.. matthew 10:8.
“heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
we all know the now famous quote, "all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.
" well, this point is regurgitated in the latest wt, along with yet another new bunker scene:.
"during the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical .
Jesus never intended his followers to grow into a religious establishment made up of hierarchy because he described such growth as the characteristics of gentiles. (Luke 22:24-26) Now JWs have already made themselves into such establishment. To safeguard their position, they have to say things like this.
Sign of God’s people or sign of God’s blessing is that "God will make even their enemies to be at peace with them." (Proverbs 16:7) If JWs had dealt with those who had serious doubts, they would have continued to be JWs, and would not have gone out exposing them.
"through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;.
through the fear of the lord evil is avoided.” (proverb 16:6, niv).
sin can be cancelled [yə·ḵup·par] by acts of goodness such as kindness [bə·ḥe·seḏ] and faithfulness, and sin can be avoided in loving remembrance [ū·ḇə·yir·’aṯ] of god.
Thank you for the good wishes. Have a great day.
"through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;.
through the fear of the lord evil is avoided.” (proverb 16:6, niv).
sin can be cancelled [yə·ḵup·par] by acts of goodness such as kindness [bə·ḥe·seḏ] and faithfulness, and sin can be avoided in loving remembrance [ū·ḇə·yir·’aṯ] of god.
I am using the same reasoning for many years and also helped some to come out of JWs.
"through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;.
through the fear of the lord evil is avoided.” (proverb 16:6, niv).
sin can be cancelled [yə·ḵup·par] by acts of goodness such as kindness [bə·ḥe·seḏ] and faithfulness, and sin can be avoided in loving remembrance [ū·ḇə·yir·’aṯ] of god.
Punkofnice,
My focus is not people like you who already left JWs, but those who are doubtful, and not yet left JWs. It would be a help to such ones. You people are already free, and do not need anything of this sort.
key scripture 2 timothy 3:16 should have been translated as “every scripture inspired of god is also profitable for teaching” like many other serious translations (such as american standard version ; douay-rheims bible etc) as it is what the greek text says.. this is in harmony with the contents of bible and also with the writer paul himself who knew after his departure ‘even from his own number men will arise and distort the truth.’ (acts 20:29-30) for example, verses such as romans 7:19 is such distortion.
such verses cannot originate from real paul who was “holy, righteous and blameless.” (1 thessalonians 2:10) hence paul had the freeness of speech to tell others to be “blameless” like him (1 thessalonians 5:19-23; ephesians 5:24) there are many things in the scriptures which are not inspired such as words of satan, words of job’s wife and his false friends, words of judas, lot’s daughters …etc.
apostle peter never disowned jesus because if he had done so, his contemporaries would have interrupted him when he rebuked jews, saying: “you disowned the holy and righteous one and asked that a murderer be released to you.“ (acts 3:14) his listeners would have asked him “what right do you have to reprove us for ‘disowning jesus” when you yourself have done it first?” all such verses or accounts were later adoptions.
Another problem with New World Translation of JWs:
Jesus’ opening verse on the Sermon on the Mount was: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (matthew/5-3) Greek Test doesn’t allow it to be put it differently.
But JWs translated it as “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.” (Mathew 5:3, https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/matthew/5/)
This lacks the meaning because in Mathew 5:3 Jesus used Greek word pneuma (spirit) the same word He used to define God our Father. (John 4:24, https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_4151.htm) Spirit has no need to be conscious of as its very nature is to overflow with good qualities such as “love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness …etc”—just like nature of Father the spirit is. (Galatians 5.22-23). It can be contrasted with its opposite—flesh—person focused on flesh doesn’t have to be conscious of such qualities as “anger, envy” etc which are naturally flowing from flesh and which are spoken as the disqualification for God’s Kingdom. (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 John 2:15-17) Poor in spirit and being pure in spirit are one and the same as its fruits are same--being submissive to laws of God (James 3.17; Psalm/119:1). It's all has to do with quality, not quantity. (Mathew 16:24)
