(Please feel free to share your comments on the subject of this week’s study.)
As my contribution, something came to mind that ties in with my last post on the “last days”. It comes from the first paragraph of the study.
(Romans 13:12) The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore put off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light.
By this point, Paul’s metaphorical night was some 4,000 years old, and it was still not over, but was “well along”. “The day has drawn near”, he say; yet we are still awaiting the day. One night. One day. A time of darkness, and a time of light.
From the same paragraph we have Peter’s words:
(1 Peter 4:7) But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers.
Some might argue that Peter was only referring to the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. Perhaps, but I wonder…. His letters were not directed to the Jews, but to all Christians. Most of the gentile Christians living in Corinth, Ephesus, or Africa would never have even visited Jerusalem and while feeling for their Jewish brethren undergoing hardships, would otherwise experience very little impact in their lives as a consequence of Jerusalem’s destruction. This inspired scripture seems to apply to all Christians down through time. It is as relevant today as it was back then.
I would suggest, in all humility, that our problem with these scriptures stems from our looking at them from the viewpoint of children. Now don’t jump down my throat just yet. I will explain.
When I was in grade school, the school year just dragged. Months dragged by. Days dragged by. Time moved like a snail plowing through molasses. Things speeded up when I hit high school. Then more when I was in my middle years. Now in my seventh decade, years zip by like weeks used to. Perhaps at some point, they’ll fly by like days do now.
How would I view time if I were in my ten thousandth year, or my one hundred thousandth? What would 2,000 years seem like to a human who was one million years old? A staggering thought, what?
The entire 6,000+ years of night and darkness that Paul refers to will be but a blip to us.
“But we aren’t eternal”, you say. Sure we are. That was Paul’s point to Timothy. Let us “get a firm hold on everlasting life” and stop thinking like children when it comes to viewing time. (1 Timothy 6:12) It will make things a whole lot easier when trying to comprehend prophecy.
Okay, you can beat on me now.
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Comment by on 2014-01-06 00:46:32
It is a shame that this site is not in Spanish.
Greetings from SpainReply by Meleti Vivlon on 2014-01-07 15:39:41
It is a hope of mine to do a Spanish version. The only thing keeping me from doing that now is the need to put food on the table. :)
Es deseo mío hacer una versión en español. Lo único que me lo impide es la necesidad de poner comida en la mesa.Reply by on 2014-01-07 16:27:27
Estimado hermano(a?)
Necessitamos su ayuda en este obra de compartir verdades Biblicas con la hermandad!Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2014-01-07 17:05:45
Sí, soy un hermano, y si Dios quiere, pronto estaré capaz de hacerlo.
Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2014-01-07 18:47:47
Mientras que mi español es deficiente severamente, podría ayudar con la traducción. :)
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2014-01-07 20:17:33
Hey, another Spanglophile. That sounds like a plan. We need to set up a sister site and plan, but it is worth exploring. I need to clear my plate of a few other responsibilities first, but we'll talk for sure.
Comment by Joel on 2014-01-06 08:03:56
All good points. First, about the night being well along and the relationship of time perception to age. Also, the detail that brothers elsewhere may not have found the events in Jerusalem as profound as we might suppose. That is an interesting perspective.
I'm finding it is interesting that you also felt specifically of this article that there was nothing wrong, because I felt exactly the same way. Honestly, I do not comment anymore at meetings and for years have tuned myself out of the watchtower study more and more over time for various reasons. A meeting is now largely spent reading the bible to myself, while I find it is there in my hand and I try to flick through what questions are in my mind. I am still listening to the meeting of course, but not fully engaged let's say until the material permits. But this material being about prayer, I found encouraging and went on to read through the other subsequent articles as well. It makes me feel like less of a heathen to know I wasn't alone and I didn't just happen to be in a randomly very good mood! :)
Comment by anderestimme on 2014-01-06 09:31:14
Aside from a couple of end-mongering comments, especially in paragraph 17, it was quite enjoyable. We wouldn't have much to complain about if all the articles were this good.
Comment by Sargon on 2014-01-06 13:26:28
In the article we are told that Christ did not judge Peter harshly so neither should we. Makes me wonder why Jesus didn't put Peter on 6th months of judicial restrictions until he proved his repentance. And yet we criticize Catholics for penance.
Reply by hezekiah1 on 2014-01-07 13:08:00
Amen Sargon
It would seem we have a higher standard than even Jesus himself
Comment by smolderingwick1 on 2014-01-06 15:13:49
The WT wasn't the problem for me. It was the public talk that was ANYTHING but public! Last week I actually thanked the visiting speaker for making his public talk public instead of pummeling us to live up to our dedications. When this week's speaker did it again, it took several paragraphs before I got my head into the WT.
Paragraph 15 got me thinking: "‘Do I pray hard for my brothers around the world? How often do my prayers include fellow believers who have suffered because of a natural disaster? When did I last exert myself in prayer for those shouldering heavy responsibility in Jehovah’s organization? Have I recently prayed for individuals in the congregation who are facing hard ships?’"
As comments flew around reiterating just about every situation and circumstance we all knew our brothers have encountered, I found myself increasingly irritated that nothing was said about those we always miss praying for, the lost sheep and lambs Jesus told Peter to care for and how so many today are either lost or disfellowshipped (and thus without prayers). So my hand shot up as though pushed:
"Of course we must remember that if our prayers are not coming from the heart as Jesus said to the scribe who asked 'Who is my neighbour that I should love,' our prayers could very well become Pharisaical if not motivated by that same love."
It was as though I wasn't the one speaking. But that's the way it is now with my comments so few and far between and totally unprepared.Reply by GodsWordIsTruth on 2014-01-06 16:00:10
Smolderingwick, I haven't commented in close to 2 years. I actually love expressing my faith. It's a challenge for me now. In the last few years, I find myself skimming the material to find things to comment on that doesn't bother my conscience. Just reading scriptures aloud bothers me if afterward it will directly lead to comments that reinforce the doctrines of 1914, the anointed, great crowd etc.
Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2014-01-07 12:26:55
As I think back I now recall what was whirling through my mind just before my comment. I was irritated....feeling anger toward those who dare call themselves faithful and discreet and who think their appointment is by Christ when I know now that Christ would never have approved this structure of authority.
And so I was calming myself, remembering, when I too had followed organizational rules and cast off the lowly and sincere due to my once Pharisaical attitude at the time. Oh yes I was a party to the crimes of a false shepherd which is why I will never allow myself to serve again (as I recall telling someone who asked, "I will when holy spirit appoints me") .... and then I found myself praying for a true heart even as I sat there thinking of Jesus' command to 'love my enemy and pray for him,' that my own love be genuine, and that's when my hand went up. But then it seems to be how I always pray these days.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2014-01-07 16:13:32
My thoughts and experiences parallel yours. How encouraging it is to see our brothers and sisters waking up. I hope I'm not being presumptuous in saying that it appears that we are now in a special time, and the spirit is calling us out.
Reply by GodsWordIsTruth on 2014-01-07 17:06:16
I have felt the same way Meleti! Especially over these last few months..... so if you are being presumptuous so am I and we both stand to be corrected .
Reply by Jamaican JW on 2014-01-07 19:51:58
Hi Meleti & GWIT! :)
As you both have eloquently said, yes, the "spirit" is calling us out...the "Spirit of Truth," that is. (See John 16:13.)
And its a "special time," too, as you both admit.
Its exactly, right on time I might add, just like Jesus promised us when he said:
"However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into ALL THE TRUTH, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you THE THINGS COMING [the future, like the book of Revelation, for instance]."
So you are right Meleti & GWIT, the "spirit" is very active doing a special time like this...and is calling persons out, no doubt to become part of His "kingdom" established on earth, his everlasting "kingdom that will never be brought to ruin," in fact. (See Daniel 2:44; Matt. 6:10; Rev. 12:5)
JJW
Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2014-01-07 18:32:20
If you are feeling the guilt of presumption Meleti, you are not alone. It is a well crafted attitude of insidious intent. We (and I include myself for being a part of it) built our religion upon exposing the flaws of all others to give ourselves the exclusivity of truth....the truth that we alone know while the rest dwell in error!
Maybe we suffer from a form of Stockholm Syndrome from subliminal abuse. Is that why some make it their religion to hate us all after their departure? How can we with any sincerity pray for those we hate, which is why we secretly and smugly even hate those who in their sincerity try to save us from an apparent apostasy or cult thinking, whatever stance they take.
In my present state of mind, I guard everything I say because I know there are many in different stages of awakening with the turning of each page while gently pouring out the bathwater to keep the baby safe. Yes I get angry but mostly I get perplexed while grasping every ounce of patience and long-suffering to bear up and let the awakening process unfold the minds of all the sincere ones that surround me. Why should I demand of others something I could not bear to do?
After reading a few of our blacklisted books written by the banished, I cannot help but think how it was that the Vatican that once blacklisted Bible reading and how stunned I was when Catholics would reject a Bible study for such similar reasons of fear and guilt. Perhaps after the death of Ray Franz we are all entering a crisis of our own conscience.
Comment by GodsWordIsTruth on 2014-01-06 15:51:53
My meeting was canceled due to the heavy snowfall. However I enjoyed paragraph 4 and the following scripture:“Seven times in the day I have praised you because of your righteous judicial decisions.” (Ps. 119:164) How many times throughout the day do I praise Jehovah? I need to take the time out of my day, just for brief moments at a time, just to praise him like the psalmist in chapter 150. I'm definitely go to start today and make it a habit.
Comment by Samaritan Woman on 2014-01-07 11:18:37
When I studied this article one of the things I did was locate the meaning in Vines Expository Dictionary to help me get a better idea of what was involved in prayer and the different kinds there are. Prayer has been a very difficult thing for me of late so I really was encouraged by the research I did.
One of the definitons of the word prayer was " a wish". This affected me because it makes me think of a kid who really wants something from their parents and if they just "wish" hard enough it would happen. Jehovah is my father and as a child I have always wished (to myself anyway) for more faith so the meaning of prayer in conjunction with supplication ( begging for something earnestly or humbly) really was eye opening for me.
If I ask for more faith to help me through my crisis of conscience ( to steal a phrase) he will give it. Faith is sometimes defined as " strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp. without proof or evidence" that is blind faith and not the kind that I want to have but it is what the WTBS is demanding as far as I am concerned.
Having been a baptized JW for over 20 years had warped my understanding of what faith really is because it was misplaced. I am starting from scratch in understanding what I really believe and to develop real faith in God so I think its kind of ironic that this weeks bible reading is Genesis, also a book of beginnings.Reply by GodsWordIsTruth on 2014-01-07 14:18:55
Excellent comment! We raced through the Greek scriptures last go around. I am looking forward to starting the Bible from the beginning with a fresh view.
The GB is asking for blind faith. We apparently have to be ready to obey instructions from them even if from a human's standpoint it doesn't make sense.
Jehovah is asking that we build faith and is offering to help us out where we need more.