Good morning Shelby,
Thank you for your thoughts on this thread but I think you may have misunderstood the focus of my initial post. I wasn't necessarily wondering why the end hasn't come yet, what JWs describe as Armageddon preceded by a great tribulation of undetermined length. My primary focus is the glaring and unmistakable lack of action on the part of god toward humankind, god, who for more than 2,000 years following the completion of the bible, has been pretty much speechless and without undisputed witness in the known world.
In your post I find you to say that, "god allowed Israel 1,500 years... to get their act together"
Let's say that's a true statement. Didn't god act several times during this time period, performing even earth-shattering miracles that are well known even today, and otherwise making his presence and personal interest known by way of spoken words and written communication? In comparison, if his level of activity since 1 A.D. were to indicate his existence or lack thereof, it would seem to most that god has certainly come up missing.
After considering a series of time frames, you say that if "that 'day' had occurred 200 or a 2,000 years ago" you would not have been alive to reap the benefits.
Whenever god chooses to act, there will be generations of people who will be cut out of god's benefit program since their forebears will have had their lives cut short by god years earlier. You DO understand this truth, yes? So, that cannot be a consideration of why god has been so silent till now.
Finally, you said that your life has never been so bad that you ever wished to accept your heavenly reward (something you say is true up to this very moment). You said, "I'm not so sure I am all that ready right this minute... in all honesty, I have not completely severed my heart from HERE." You asked, "for those of you who are 'craving the day of JAH', who want all this 'madness and chaos' to end... I have to ask you... ARE YOU SURE?"
Again, this is a moot point. God -- correct me if I'm wrong -- isn't waiting until the greatest number of people decide that, "ok, NOW is a good time, Lord, because NOW I'm ready. Bring it on." As far as I'm aware, god is supposedly working on his own timetable, and the readiness of humans as a determinant to his action (or inaction) has never been a factor.
Btw, I've always been extremely leery of religious, spiritual, god-oriented (how ever you want to say it) people who were out-spoken about their status as "chosen," had "heard god's voice," or otherwise were sure of a heavenly "calling" who were, at the same time, hesitant to accept its coming. Heaven has to be better than life on earth in every conceivable way, and if I believed it, if I were ever a JW anointed or a Baptist holy roller, I'd be ready all the time, at any time. I have always been highly suspicious, and your admission does nothing to allay that deep suspicion, that those who claim what the claim do so out of an emotional sentiment rather than a thinking, rational one.
Restating my current position:
If I have to base my belief in god on something other than faith but look instead at the historical record along with current events, the tangible record does not speak very forcefully for a living, loving, omnipotent being.
peace,
todd
p.s. your note to Shelby, Danny? Well said. Shelby is smart enough and respected enough that she doesn't need god to cosign everything she says. Inferring his input has an overall negative effect on her posts, imo.
