Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Persecution Examples

What follows is a correspondence between me and a reader. Since it is reflective of the Christian experience, I thought that the ideas and scriptures expressed, may help others as well.
The readers questions are in response to the teachings contained at this blog post:
http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-thousand-years-image-of-beast.html

QUESTION:
Dear Pearl,
You said on your blog:
"Despite the opening of the scrolls (in which "True knowledge will become abundant" -Rev.20:12; Dan.12:1,3,4; Rev.22:10; 10:7) by the final prophet "two witnesses" (Rev.11:3,4; Zech.4:14,2,3,6,8,9,11,12,13,14; Matt.25:4,10,13); (few will recognize or accept it as the revelation of truth that it is Dan.12:4,9,10; Amos8:12; Matt.13:11; 2Thess.2:11,12).
Satan will be able to gather together the Nations like the sands of the sea, Gog and Magog, against the exiled camp of the Holy Ones (Luke21:24,20; Rev.20:9; Jer.5:14; Rev.11:5)."
My questions are these...
If anointed have already left the org or have been DFed, how can there be a gathering against them once they are out? When they are out, the beast has no power over them anymore. This would have to mean in some other way Satan is able "to gather together" all those who don't accept the final witness.
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MY FIRST REPLY:
Here's your questions in italics...

If anointed have already left the org or have been DFed, how can there be a gathering against them once they are out? 

The Org. and all witnesses (including family members of expelled anointed) do not stop being against them after they are out. That's when the adversity really starts. When we are part of the world, it is fond of us. When we refuse to remain a part of it, that's when the trouble starts (John15:19,20,18). Not only are we still spurned and slandered after we are out, the opposition to our work escalates within the Society's doctrines and teaching. The more we work for truth, the more they find ways to oppose it.
Satan can bring the Nations against the anointed both before and after they are expelled from the Org. They are dominated while inside, and after they are expelled they are still hindered (Rev.9:3-11; 13:7; 11:7; 12:17).
Remember too, that while some are out and preaching, some unsealed are still inside. As more truth comes out (scrolls opened), the harder the anointed inside are treated and stripped of power. This is a direct response to the truth coming out about the importance of the chosen, and the lies which are holding them down, being exposed, corrected, and publicized by those faithfully bearing witness to truth.
Being "surrounded" by the Nations is not physical, but is, a spiritual hindrance (Rev.20:7,8,9; Luke21:20).

When they are out, the beast has no power over them anymore.

Perhaps the slavery and mental chains have been removed (Rev.13:10; Isa.61:1; 49:24,25), but think about how they are kept as outcasts, and how the Org. makes them unable to witness to those they know. The Org. constantly restrains, opposes, and attacks their work, forbids all from visiting their sites, reading their writings, or listening to their admonishment (2Thess.2:6,8). That's not all...I know of those outside who are experiencing attacks on their property and personal public records, as well as those who have mysteriously died or disappeared. Who knows how bad this is, or will get? We have spiritual freedom now (John8:32; 2Thess.2:13,14,15; 1Thess.5:4,5,6,9,11), but the persecution has not lifted at all. Loss of children, marriage mates, homes, friends, and jobs, does not improve once we are out. In fact, things get worse. The power to persecute begins in earnest once we lose the Beast's approval.

Remember...these parables are not literal, but symbolic, like a simplified child's story with a lesson.
The people in the Org. are already gathered together against the faithful anointed now. Satan's misleading deceptions and his "operation of error" have accomplished this (2Thess.2:11; Mark13:14). Those who are not open to accepting the message of Truth, are the same people who share in the Harlot's sins (Rev.18:4; 17:6; 11:8,9,10). They are condoning the faithful being attacked by the elders/Beast; agreeing with it ("those evil apostates") and working with it, by rejecting them also. They take pleasure in unrighteousness (2Thess.2:12; Jer.5:31). All this begins only after the faithful are thrown out.

Does this answer what you were wondering about?
i hope so.
-------------------------

His reply:
Thanks for the explanation. It has made me realize that I myself have been persecuted via my JW family. "How could you leave Jehovah?" has been said many times. The presumption that I might as well go out and commit fornication because i don't count, I'm already disapproved and dead, and I might as well live it up to it. The presumption by one family member, that i must be a sexual deviate towards my brother's children...or that I'm a drunk now because "He left Jehovah". These were like a sword through the heart. But it now makes sense. I'm not there because of lies, that's why i left! The beast has trained anyone there that if you leave the beast Org, you are to be treated as bad as Satan.
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My reply:
I'm so sorry for the hatred you are facing. Even those who love us, hate us when we do not worship their god, and join in with the idolatry. Remember this scripture?
"In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you." (1Pet.4:4) Remember in the previous context, that the "drunkenness" being referred to, is spiritual (Jer.51:7; Rev.14:8; 1Pet.4:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,12,13,14).

Yes, we are treated as bad as Satan (Matt.10:25,26; Eze.2:6). This was really highlighted in the previous District Convention, where those who disagree with current false doctrines, were called "human apostates" who "cook up lies in Satan's kitchen" (in the company of spiritual apostates).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sVUrnVR6zE
This deception is an amazing accomplishment for Satan, and a testimony to his power to deceive (1John5:19; John8:23,13; Rev.12:9; 16:13; 12:15). Humans are helpless before that power, without Holy Spirit's saving power and God's mercy (Isa.49:24,25; Mark3:27; Rev.20:2). We are not to be dismayed by the success of this power of Satan, since it was all prophesied about beforehand (2Thess.2:9,10; Rev.13:11,4,7,14,16; Matt.24:24,25; 2Pet.3:17).

I also know what it's like to be treated like the worst. It ripped my heart as well, to have my own daughter disdain and disrespect me, totally dismissing who she knew me to be for all her life, previously (Matt.10:34,35,36,39; Luke 17:28,29,30,32,33).
Yet Jesus told us "Rejoice, and leap for joy" that we are counted worthy to share in his sufferings 
(John 16:2; Matt.5:11,12; Mark 3:7,21,31,32,33,34,35; 13:13; Matt.10:34,35)(Matt.25:5-6; Heb.13:13).

This is a hard road for all of us to stay on. But what else do we expect? We have to keep hearing Jesus' words, telling us...
"He that endures to the end is the one that will be saved." (Matt.24:13; Rev.2:25,26; 3:11,12).

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