(00:38): Hello everyone. Thank you for listening. Like the guy said, I’m Robert King. Boy, I wish I had his voice and I’m a little bit nasally right now, allergy congestion and all of that, so you’ll have to excuse me, but you’re listening to Jehovah’s Watchman for the second week of October in the year 2024. We’re about a month out from the presidential election in the United States, and things are so crazy it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen. A few months ago, I was wondering if there would even be an election, but there still may not be. I don’t know. Back a month ago, the United States was expected to give the go ahead for Ukraine to fire rockets deep into Russia. I’ve spoken about that quite a bit, so I don’t want to go over that again, but Russia responded and said that that would be a situation that could cause them to respond with nuclear weapons. Well, some very foolish people in high places in Europe have said that Putin is bluffing, we should go ahead and let him have it. Today, the new head of NATO revealed that they’re doing a military exercise beginning Monday to simulate nuclear war. (02:32): Well, why would they do that if they think Putin is bluffing? Why would they need to have a nuclear deterrent, something really, really not right about all of that? As most of you probably know, I’ve been talking about World War III for a long time. I mean 20 years, basically. And the reason I’ve been talking about it is because I realized that the Watchtower’s 1914 thing wasn’t true. But because I believe the Bible, I believe that at some point in the near future, there will be a World War: nation will rise against nation, kingdom will rise against kingdom; as stated in Revelation, peace will be taken from the earth, and they will slaughter one another with a great sword. Revelation indicates that the sword, famine and pestilence will lay low a quarter of mankind. Well, that didn’t happen in 1914. I mean, if you add up and even generously pad the numbers, it is not even 10%, and that includes the Spanish flu. But here they are, talking about and preparing for nuclear war, and strangely enough, most of the world leaders seem to be oblivious to this impending danger. It’s not just Ukraine and Russia. The Middle East has blown up in the last few weeks, actually a year ago, but now Israel is expanding the war into Lebanon. Gaza’s in complete ruins. The Yemenis are ready to fight. I mean, they’ve been sinking ships in the Red Sea, but now their soldiers want passage through Saudi Arabia, I suppose, to go fight Israel in Israel. (04:56): And Iran is ready to launch. They’ve got half a million missiles, and apparently, they just tested a nuclear device underground that registered on the Richter scale in a pattern that indicates that it was not a real earthquake but a nuclear device. Well, I have been talking about these things for a long time, and now I’m kind of focused on these developments, but I think it’s time to consider some other things that Jesus said when his disciples…. they were somewhat taken aback that Jesus told them that not a stone would be left upon a stone in the temple. And he told the Jews that their house had been abandoned to them. Well, they wanted some clarification on those remarks. And so a few days later, they approached Jesus privately, and they said, tell us when these things will be? And Jesus gave an extensive answer to their question because, in reality, he was speaking to us Christians who would be living immediately before Jesus returned. And so he said to them, look out that you are not misled. And he said “many will come on the basis of my name saying I am he, and the due time is near. Do not go after them. Furthermore, when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified for these things must take place first, but the end will not occur immediately.” (07:07): So do not be terrified. Terror is an extreme form of fear. Fear is a proper emotion, a feeling that can safeguard us. I mean, if you see a big black funnel cloud coming down the highway you take cover, that’s a fearful thing. But what Jesus is talking about is not a natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado, but a manmade disaster—wars. I suppose that you can have a manmade natural disaster. We’re hearing reports that these hurricanes are being juiced up by artificial means, and yes, they can control the weather to an extent. They can create droughts contributing to forest fires such as is raging through Wyoming right now, and they can create extreme weather events, floods; they can’t create a hurricane, but they can make it more powerful, anyway. Do not be terrified. And then Jesus went on to say, “nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom and there will be great earthquakes and in one place after another food shortages and pestilence, and then notice there will be fearful sight and from heaven.” Great signs, I had to laugh a few months ago. I checked jw.org and oftentimes comment on some of their banners. I call it clickbait, topical news items, and they try to give it a scriptural twist, and that’s fine, but some of it is rather artificial. Anyway, they were saying that these fearful sites were global warming, as a fearful sight. If it rains a lot, that’s a fearful sight from heaven, even a hurricane I suppose. But there’s always been hurricanes. every year there are hurricanes. (09:48): No, we have not seen these fearful sites from heaven, but I submit to you that if you see a cruise missile streaking overhead at treetop level, I think that would be a fearful sight. Or if you see a hypersonic missile flash by, I believe that would be a very fearful sight; or a nuclear mushroom cloud would be a terrifying sight. So we haven’t really seen these terrifying things and even the Watchtower will be forced to admit that, on the rare occasion that they’re honest because Jesus went on to say, and that I’m reading from the 21st chapter of Luke, he said “also there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars and on earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. And then notice this, people will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth for the powers of the heavens will be shaken and then they will see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (11:26): Well, Jesus goes on to tell his disciples, but as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads because your deliverance is getting near. Now, if Jesus came in 1914, if that’s when these things started, and I know Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that, and of course, the Bible students believe that something happened then and they stood up straight and they lifted up their heads and the years have gone by and that generation has passed away and their deliverance is still not here. Well, maybe theirs is, they’re in the grave and so they’ll hear the voice of the Son of man and come out, but here we are 110 years and we’re still waiting. No, my point of view is that we’re going to see these things happen in the future and in rapid succession over the course of a very few years, but this point here, about people becoming faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the earth —Are people fearful now? I don’t think so, unless you live in a war zone; if you live in Lebanon, if you live in Gaza under the constant threat of death, yeah, you’re living in a fearful state. But in the United States people are fearful??? They’re going about their business partying, going to concerts and baseball games and entertaining themselves. And food shortages??? I don’t think so. Isn’t obesity considered one of the main health problems in the United States? Where’s the food shortage? (13:44): But we are going to see these things and what will prevent us from becoming fate out of fear? I mean, why would Jesus tell us not to be terrified if terrifying things were not going to come upon us? We can’t just shrug it off and say, ‘oh, I can handle it.’ Well, I’d like to read to you and consider some of the things Jesus told his disciples when he sent them out to preach and he warned them that they were going to be persecuted, and not just persecuted. He warned them that they were going to be killed. Of course, none of them were killed before Jesus was. But after Jesus died, many Christians were killed. Some of the apostles were killed. Peter, James, John, Paul —they were all put to death, but Jesus told them a student is not above his teacher. This is Matthew 10 24. (15:01): He says, “A slave is not above his master, and he goes on to say, if people have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household? Verse 26. “Now. So do not fear them for there’s nothing covered over that will not become uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I tell you in darkness, say in the light and what you hear whispered preach from the housetops and do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in Ghenna.” And then he gives them an illustration: “two sparrows self or a coin of small value, do they not? But even the hairs of your head are all numbered, so have no fear. You’re worth more than many sparrows.” (16:11): Well, it’s interesting the King James Bible says that fear him that can destroy the soul in hell, right? Well, fortunately, we know that Ghenna was a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem, and they threw carcasses of dead animals there and the bodies of criminals that they thought were unworthy of a decent burial. And so we know that Jesus used Ghenna as a symbol and he was comparing those who can kill us and cannot control what happens to us after we die, contrasted with God, who can not only cause our death but ensure that our death is permanent. If we do not fear God, then the alternative is we are going to fear men. And if we fear men, then we’re going to compromise. We will do what Satan said. All men will do skin on behalf of skin. A man will give everything on behalf of his soul. A man will do anything to save his neck, turn his back on God even. Jesus was preparing those who were called into the Kingdom because they have to give up their human life at some point if they want to inherit the reward. If we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, where did he go? He went into the grave, right? And then he came out. (18:01): So it takes faith. Jesus is telling us that people are going to kill us, not to fear them, to trust God and really consider it a privilege to die in behalf of Christ. Of course, I realize that most Christians do not have a heavenly calling. Most of Jehovah’s Witnesses have faith and hope that they will survive the end of this world. They hope to be the great crowd that comes out of the great tribulation. So they’re not going to be put to death, as will those of the remnant who are on earth after Satan comes down. (19:03): But it will be important for us no matter if we have a heavenly calling or hope to live on the earth, we’re going to be subjected to terror. And I’ve quoted the scripture many times in Isaiah that Jehovah is speaking to the leaders of his people who are stubborn and stiff-necked and he says, “only terror will make them understand.” So the terror is going to come and it’s how we respond to it. If we have our trust completely in Jehovah, he will infuse courage and faith into us. Do you believe that? Well, I do. And Jehovah’s going to provide a special place of refuge, a secret place that only those with faith will be able to access, and this is going to be during the tribulation. That is why the great crowd will come out of the tribulation —they will be in a secret place that Jehovah will provide. (20:20): I’d like to read to you a portion of the 91st Psalm and it talks about this secret place. It says, “Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the most high will lodge under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to Jehovah, you are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust.” Well, that’s what Jesus basically said, didn’t he trust in God? One of the last things Jesus said on the stake “into your hands, I entrust my spirit.” And his trust was not misplaced because Jehovah brought him back from the dead. It says “he will rescue you from the trap of the bird catcher, from the destructive pestilence.” Well, we didn’t need any divine protection from COVID-19, did we? In fact, the remedy that we were told was a provision from Jehovah turned out to be unsafe and ineffective, and totally unnecessary. (21:45): By the way my cat’s meowing. ‘Jones! Shut up!’ This bird catcher…it mentions in Jeremiah that there are men who are crouching down among Jehovah’s people like bird catchers, but it says that God will rescue us from these treacherous men who are among us. And it says “With his pinions, he will cover you and under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness will be a large shield and a protective wall.” What’s interesting, the Watchtower has what they think is a covenant with death and they’ve built up this protective wall and Jehovah’s going to knock it down. The Watchtower has convinced Jehovah’s Witnesses that it is the place of refuge that it’s going to issue life-saving instructions during the great tribulation. Well, I have news for you. The Watchtower’s credibility is going to be ruined. They’ve said that there can’t be a World War 3. World War I was it. That was it. It was like all the signs have been fulfilled and it’s going to become apparent that that is a falsehood. So they’ve concealed themselves in a falsehood and Jehovah’s going to bring a flood to wash away this false place of refuge and knock down their protective wall. So that’ll be terrifying enough, won’t it, for Jehovah’s Witnesses? But returning to the 91st Psalm, he says, “You will not fear the terrors of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” (23:57): Well, they don’t use bow and arrow in warfare anymore, but I’m sure most of you probably saw some of the missiles that streaked across the night sky and from Iran into Israel. They targeted some military installations and they have hundreds of thousands more, as I have mentioned earlier. Wouldn’t those be considered terrors of the night? And the arrow that flies by day verse six goes on to say, “Nor the pestilence that stalks in the gloom nor the destruction that ravages at midday day a thousand will fall at your side and 10,000 at your right hand. But to you it will not come near. You will only see it with your eyes.” (24:57): Have you seen thousands of people die? Have you seen tens of thousands of people die? Hopefully, you haven’t. It would be a horrible sight, but it’s unavoidable. It’s coming. The day of Jehovah is coming, it says there’s going to be dead bodies strewn from one end of the earth to the other end. So we’re going to see it. “You will see it with your eyes as you witness the punishment of the wicked because you said, Jehovah is my refuge. You have made the most high. Your dwelling, no disaster will befall you and no plague will come near to your tent.” (25:51): See, we don’t need to be vaccinated, do we? Well, maybe now, but this is talking about during that judgment phase. I’m not an anti-vaxxer and we can’t depend on God to protect us from disease now, but the pestilence that is coming then will be manmade. The British Empire has had a longstanding policy that the earth is overpopulated. Before there were even a billion people on this planet, the British Empire said the Earth was overpopulated. They’ve been wringing their hands about overpopulation ever since, and now they’re implementing a policy of population reduction. That’s what all this business about global warming is about. We’ve got to get rid of fossil fuels. We have to get rid of the means that this system has developed and invented to sustain a population of many billions. We got to get rid of that. We got to get rid of farming, we got to get rid of people, is what they are saying. (27:03): And Jehovah’s going to let them do it, but I believe that Jehovah will protect us from these murderous genocidalists who are going to kill billions of people. Verse 11, “For he will give his angels a command concerning you to guard you in all of your ways. They will carry you on their hands so that you may not strike your foot against its stone on the young lion in the Cobra. You will tread and you will trample underfoot the main lion and the big snake. God said, because he has set affection for me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he knows my name.” (27:58): Don’t let anyone tell you Jehovah is not God’s name or that’s not how it’s pronounced —none of that nonsense. Of course, we know that there’s a lot to the name of Jehovah, and we’re just reading about how he is a refuge and he takes note of those who recognize him, who know his name. “He will call on me and I will answer him and I will be with him in distress and I will rescue him and glorify him and I will satisfy him with long life and I will cause him to see my acts of salvation.” (28:35): No one has seen Jehovah’s act of salvation, not on this large stage because we’re really not threatened right now, but we can see that this beast is like clawing and snorting and it wants to get after us…Satan does, and Jehovah is going to allow it. As I say, there has to be a final confrontation. It’s really a war, my friends, between the gods. And Jesus is a God and so is Satan the devil and the demons are gods too. So there is going to be this colossal war in the invisible and we’re just going to be seeing the effects of it here on the earth. (29:33): Jehovah, of course, is the God of gods. Jesus recognized that didn’t he? He called Jehovah, “my God.” And hopefully, Jehovah is our God too, and we need to every day strengthen our confidence in him and wait for his salvation. And my friends, it can’t be that far off because we’re heading for a big explosion. Nobody knows the day or the hour, but we’re right there. Well, that’s going to do it for me. Thank you for listening to this episode. I do want to thank you for your generous donations through Patreon. I’m taking in about $800 a month now and I can tell you almost 300 of that goes for monthly website expenses and I’m spending about $500 a month on paper clicks on Microsoft, although I’m not sure if that’s working. I don’t see a big increase in traffic and Microsoft might be clipping me somehow. (30:58): I don’t know. I’m going to rethink that. I might move some of that Pay-per-click stuff over to YouTube and promote some of my videos, which I don’t know if I’m being shadow banned or people just aren’t interested. But my videos, maybe I’m just not that interesting. I don’t know. But I’ve been at this a long time and I dunno, it’s kind of discouraging. But we’re going to forge ahead here. Again, I thank you for your contributions. I thank those who are translating e-watchmen into various languages, Spanish and German, and Dutch and Slovak. I thank you for your dedication and again, I thank you all for listening and may Jehovah bless short search for the truth.