"He who seeks to save his life, will lose it."

A comment which was left after (who-really-can-be-saved)
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
Dear Pearl and others,
I thought about the idea that ones in jw.org who do not allow themselves to be killed by it in d/f. Surely we can compare to 1st century and Christ said his followers would be persecuted and killed but not every Christian was put to death but generally speaking none escaped some form of persecution. So these ones may not be of the number who are killed does not mean they subject to the beast? 

-  -  -  -  -  -

My Reply:

In the first century... every "Christian" who did not flee Jerusalem (Matt.24:15,16), likely died under God's disfavor for their disobedience, when Jerusalem was destroyed.

The destruction of the Beast and false prophet, is also certain (Rev.20:10) as is the destruction of all who remain under their influence (Rev.13:8; 20:15; Eze.14:10) or do not get out 
(Rev.18:4; Luke 21:21,22; Isa.52:11; 48:20; Jer.51:6; Ps.26:4;  1Cor. 10:21;  2Cor. 6:16,17).

For what reason, would any Christian remain in first century Jerusalem, despite Christ's warning?

Would it not be because his words at Matt.23:38 and Matt.21:43 were not taken to heart?

Jesus made plain, that the Jewish system was about to end (Matt.24:2), and that God's favor and spirit was no longer with it.

That is the stark reality today, regarding the "Watchtower" (WT-crumble). 

So,

for what reason would someone stay inside?

Those "not perceiving" the "Watchtower's" standing with God, are still in darkness (What-is-Hades?).

Why would anyone have a reason to remain inside an organization condemned by God, and about to be destroyed,

unless they were still under it's deluding influence?...not taking seriously the warnings of Christ? 
(Rev.13:8,14,15; Matt.24:4,5,24,25; Rev.14:9,10,11; 18:4; Luke 21:21,22)

The influence of the Beast upon one's heart, is made evident and manifest, by the symbolic mark of "666", on your forehead and hand.

(mark-of-beast) (666)

Those who were still swayed by the physical appearance of Jerusalem in the first century (previous to it's destruction), could also have that influence made evident, by their reluctance to leave.

Jesus warned his disciples, to "Flee"... comparing that exodus to Lot fleeing "Sodom" (Luke 17:26,27,28,29,30,31,32; Rev.11:8).

Was it enough that Lot did not agree with the corruption he saw around him? (2Pet. 2:7,8)

Would that have saved his life from God's fire and sulfur that turned Sodom to ashes?

Or, did Lot need to "get out"? 

(Gen.19:12-13,15,17,24,25,26,27,28,29; Jer.51:6; Rev.18:4)

(hide-or-herald/stay-or-flee?)

Jesus also made clear, when to flee, at Matt.24:15,16 and Mark 13:14.

If we are capable of perceiving that the abomination (man of lawlessness 2Thess. 2:4) is over the Holy Place (God's Temple 1Cor. 3:16) (Disgstg-thing);

then what are we waiting for ?... 

...if not under the spell of a deceptive aura, 

      a veneer of divinity leading the unwary to destruction (Luke 21:36), 

      a lethal facade, 

      a demonic guise and hoax, 

...convincing it's victims that they should remain inside the abomination for some reason?

  Would you remain inside a Catholic Church, a mosque, or some other temple, if you knew God commanded you to get out? 
Do you view the "Watchtower" as  somehow different from those? If so, why?

Of all places, it is most deserving of God's wrath (WTs-end) (winepress) because it is lead by those who were in, but broke, a covenant with God (Rev.21:9,10; Isa.1:21; Rev.17:6; Matt.23:37,35; Rev.18:24; 13:15; 11:7; 6:9,10,11; 19:2). 

Please examine your heart carefully, as to why, like Lot's wife, one should look back to Sodom (Rev.11:8).

Lot's wife's heart, was subject to that abhorrent city. She was not whole-souled in her willingness to leave it all behind.

Was she attached to something good?

We cannot serve two masters (1King 18:21). 
We either cherish the lifesaving truth of Christ, who mercifully extends his saving guidance;

or we diminish that truth, as secondary to false reasoning 

(Jer.51:7; Col.2:8; Rev.13:10,7; Luke 21:24).

Though you say that not all Christians lost their lives in the first century...

every single one of them did lose their lives (symbolically) within the corrupt Jewish system. They were condemned by the religious leaders as heretics, apostates, and blasphemers who were deserving of death. Those condemned and cast off, were then treated as dead, by all followers. Their previous life was over.
(John 9:22; 12:42; 16:2; Luke 12:8,9; Mark 8:35; 13:13; Heb.13:13).
(symbolic+death+for+truth)

The requirement for faithfulness before Christ, is the same today 
(2Cor. 11:2,3,4; Rev.2:20; 6:9,10,11; 12:10,11;  1John 2:14; Rev.2:7; 3:12,21) (1Pet. 4:12,13,14;  2Cor. 1:5; Phil.3:10,11).

Please meditate on Christ and God's words, about the reality and necessity of our sacrifice:

[John 12:24,25; Rev.6:9,11; (Eze.33:6; Rev.19:15); Phil.3:10; Rom.6:5; 8:17; (Matt.16:24; Gal.3:13; Heb.13:13); Mark 8:35].

Of course we know that thus far, this death today, is not literal.

If we shrink back 

       (Heb.10:38) from declaring truth and the 

       "death" which naturally must follow (Rev.13:15); 

what are we gaining? (Matt.16:25,26,27; Mark 8:36,37,38).

If we belong to Christ, we will confess his saving truths before men, and die for it (Luke 22:28; Rev.14:4,5;  1Pet. 2:21). If we remain silent, then we are still in subjection to the law of the Beast... which decrees and enforces, that no doctrine but the Beast's, may be exchanged (Rev.13:16,17)(buying-and-selling). If we cower before that law, we disobey Christ's counsel (Rev.3:18; Matt.25:14; 13:52; 25:25,28,30;  2Tim. 1:7,8;  2Cor. 4:1,2; 10:5; Eph.4:25; Matt.5:14) ("Lukewarm"), and are still marked by the laws of the Beast.

So when you ask;
"These ones may not be of the number who are killed does not mean they subject to the beast?"...
How can anyone obey Christ by sharing the truth, and not be "killed" within the organization?
How can any avoid organizational "death", unless they are, "subject to the Beast"? (John 9:22; 12:42; 16:2; Luke 12:8,9; Mark 8:35).
(symbolic+death+for+truth)
I hope you can perceive that in our time, escaping death for truth is not possible for those faithful, 
just as Jesus foretold (Mark 8:35).
(keep-awake) (hide-or-herald/stay-or-flee) (fear-of-men-lays-snare)

What was Lot's wife willing to give up, "in exchange for her soul"?

(Mark 8:36,37,38)

Not enough, and so, she lost it.

Are we willing to give up an abomination causing desolation to God's children,

   and fully obey Christ's warning to flee,

or not?

Regardless of our own reasoning (Prov.3:5,6;  1Tim. 6:20;  1Cor. 3:18; James 1:22,23,24,25; Prov.28:26; Matt.4:4);

...If we remain inside the "city" (Rev.17:18; 11:8) (kings-of-earth); 

our mark of citizenship to it, is made manifest before God and men (Mal.3:18; Joel 3:14; James 1:12; Rev.3:11). 
If you have been chosen as a priest, to serve in God's Holy place, you have an obligation...
(TEACH THE DISTINCTION)
(you-will-indeed-drink-my-cup)

LINK TO DIRECTORY OF BLOGS
LINK TO MAIN HOME-PAGE
LINK TO FORUM