Thursday, December 8
Take your stand against him, firm in the faith.
To do that, we need to prepare our mind and heart, to train ourselves now to do what is right. We do not know what our spiritual warfare may involve in the future. Therefore, would it not be wise to do some significant training during a time of relative peace? Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Keep testing whether you are in the faith; keep proving what you yourselves are.” One way that we can heed Paul’s inspired advice is by making a serious self-examination. Ask yourself such questions as: ‘Do I persevere in prayer? When faced with peer pressure, do I obey God as ruler rather than men? Do I attend Christian meetings regularly? Am I bold in speaking about my beliefs? Do I really try to put up with my fellow believers’ shortcomings—just as they put up with mine? Am I submissive to those taking the lead in the local congregation and to those responsible for doing so in the worldwide congregation?’
COMMENTARY
Sadly, the Watchtower is right: “We do not know what our spiritual warfare may involve in the future. Therefore, would it not be wise to do some significant training during a time of relative peace?”
On the face of it Jehovah’s Witnesses may assume that the Watchtower is implying that we may expect the “relative peace” we now enjoy to end at some point, which, of course, it will. Ironically, though, the reason “we do not know what our spiritual warfare may involve in the future” is because the Watchtower has misled Jehovah’s Witnesses —and not just on some controversial issue like their secret involvement with the United Nations or the extent of the Watchtower’s child abuse problem —but in a very fundamental way involving the very core of the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
As Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, the teaching that Christ became king in 1914 is considered to be a truth beyond dispute. Over and over again the Watchtower claims as a matter-of-fact that Satan and his angels were hurled down from Heaven over a century ago and they have been on a frenzied rampage ever since.
But how does that square with the notion that we ought to take advantage of this period of “relative peace”? If Satan went off to wage war against those who have the work of bearing witnesses to Jesus back in 1914, are we to assume that his maddened rage has subsided over the recent decades of his “short period of time”?
The truth is, the wily old Devil has feigned his own demise. By every lying sign and deceptive wonder the demons have deluded Jehovah’s Witnesses into believing that the First World War was the sign of their ouster from Heaven. It is a page from Sun Tzu’s Art of War: “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” As regards the Devil’s ploy, he has made himself appear weak with his phony attack that sent eight Watchtower officers to prison for a few months in order to disarm us from expecting his full-frontal assault in the future.
In reality, Christ has not gone on the offensive yet. Satan has not been cast down. The wicked angels have not disgorged a demonic flood of persecution against the offspring of God. But it is coming.
THE SCENE OF THIS WORLD IS CHANGING
The political scene of this world is changing in rather significant ways. Over the course of the past few years a new bloc of nations has emerged in the form of the so-called BRICS. Led by China and Russia, more and more nations are opting to join the development initiative centered on the New Silk Road, officially called the One Belt-One Road. For example, long a colony of America, the Philippines have shifted to ally with both Russia and China. (Must see Bloomberg news video)
This new bloc of nations is posed to become an economic powerhouse and is a direct challenge to the Anglo-American scheme of full spectrum dominance. The seemingly isolated wars in Iraq, Libya and Syria, ostensibly against terrorists, along with the coup in Ukraine, are in reality the outworking of a plan years in the making to destabilize Asia with the ultimate goal of attacking Iran, Russia and China, all of which are aware of the scheme. War between the nuclear powers is virtually inevitable.
Of note, the emerging Asian power is totally opposed to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses are virtually non-existent in Iran, China, India and the various “stans” nations of the former USSR. So, basically Christendom is facing off with a very formidable, anti-Christian alliance of nations.
The Governing Body of the Watchtower, who boast of being seers of the future, are apparently totally oblivious to world developments. They have assured Jehovah’s Witnesses that there cannot be another world war. They have presumed to imply that they will be there to guide the flock with “life-saving direction” at the critical time. They could not be more wrong.
Indeed, it is wise that Jehovah’s Witnesses take advantage of this time of relative peace to fortify their faith in God and Christ, before Satan is cast down; before the great war breaks out; before the great apostasy erupts; before the Watchtower crashes; before Europe and America are plunged into financial collapse, martial law and dictatorship; before many are stumbled; before brothers hate and betray one another; before the day of Jehovah comes upon us.
Already the Watchtower stands at the ready to betray Jehovah’s Witnesses to the enemy. Evidently the Governing Body is trying to prevent the branch in Saint Petersburg from being shut down by authorities who seem intent on banning the work there. According to an unconfirmed report from Russia the branch there has instructed the brothers and sisters to deny their affiliation with the Watchtower —to deny they are Jehovah’s Witnesses!
Will you deny that you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if the Watchtower so instructs?
“Although the fig tree may not blossom,
And there may be no fruit on the vines;
Although the olive crop may fail,
And the fields may produce no food;
Although the flock may disappear from the pen,
And there may be no cattle in the stalls;
Yet, as for me, I will exult in Jehovah;
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.
The Sovereign Lord Jehovah is my strength;
He will make my feet like those of a deer
And cause me to tread on high places.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
