Tribulation Survival

Please note that this question is NOT about people being RESURRECTED. On that point I agree with the Watchtower (and, more importantly, the Bible) that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous. But this question deals exclusively with SURVIVAL through the great tribulation and Battle of Armageddon, which the Watchtower teaches is "right around the corner."

In this thread http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index; _ylt=AueC.Dha0BzFyaeK.DrsaCvty6IX;_ylv=3 ?qid=20081203153732AATeKnC& one of JWs passionately argued that the Watchtower does not teach that only JWs will survive the great tribulation / battle of Armageddon.

But, from my research, the Watchtower has never taught that others have a chance at survival. A few examples of what I found:

9/1/1989 Watchtower p. 19, para. 7: "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil."

10/01/1993 WT, p. 19: "There are BILLIONS of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in IGNORANCE practice things that God's Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who PERISH during the great tribulation."

02/01/1968 WT pp.83-84: "Parents and children who fail to gain the "mark on their foreheads," that is, an adequate appreciation of God's moral standard, are sure to suffer. Parents will be held accountable for their children, and CHILDREN will suffer for the failure of their parents."

02/15/1983 WT, p. 12: "Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it."

Can any one of Jehovah's Witnesses point to a Watchtower publication that states that non-JWs have an opportunity to survive the Great Tribulation and Battle of Armageddon? It seems to me that any such statement would be very significant "new light" because it would directly contradict the clear statements above.

Interesting, but inconsistent, answers from the Witnesses. Mr. Winkleman appears to agree that only JWs have a chance for salvation.

But RutchJW and RussJW have a kinder, gentler interpretation. But they neglect to explain that the "mark on their foreheads," mentioned in the '68 WT article and described as essential for survival, includes (1) a dedication to Jehovah and (2) baptism as a JW. Explain to me how an honest hearted Chinese person who has never seen a Bible will acquire this mark?

Also I've read the recent 11/1/08 article. It does not provide a straight answer, but does identify 3 "requirements for salvation." The 2nd of these includes preaching to others about the name "Jehovah."

So, if your magazine says that preaching to others about the name Jehovah is required for salvation, then isn't that the same as saying you must be a JW to be saved?

I understand why you guys don't want to believe that only JWs will survive...but it looks like that's what the WT says

Obviously, Jehovah is going to safeguard only those who are faithful, zealous worshipers of his. Catholics don't worship Jehovah as the Universal Sovereign......nor do Jews, Baptists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc...etc. So there wouldn't be a logical basis for thinking that anyone other than those Jehovah deems as his true servants to be those surviving the Great Tribulation and Armageddon.

Noone on earth can make the definite claim that they WILL be spared. Christ Jesus can read our hearts and when he takes direct intervention in human affairs in our near future, on behalf of Jehovah, he will determine the ones that are truly worshiping Jehovah acceptably and will protect them.

2008-12-04 06:41:13 by Curious Jorge

#39;tribulation period survival guidequot;, quot;surviving the tribulation periodquot;, quot;how to survive the tribulation periodquot; A ...

As a believer in the risen Savior, I trust biblical prophecy and have survival gear, lights, radios, water, etc... (things are going to get rocky)

How many of you believers have a "tribulation kit"? or "zombie plan"?

How many non believers have one?
Im nuts for storing food? You think history doesnt repeat itself? you ever hear of famine in a war torn country? ... the world aint ending, but it will end as we know it...wake up....or go back to sleep
JC4 dont do it
...(i dont believe in anything written in any of the 'left behind series') thank you

probably a good idea if you're in america. If china and japan ever come to collect the money old George Dubya's borrowed in your name you're gonna need that stuff.

2008-04-27 22:57:09 by 2009 time to shine

Price: $13.99

Expats, do you think that living outside South Africa, you are able to form a more unbiased opinion of the goings-on in the country? Do you have the impression that South Africans living IN the country, experiencing the daily trials and tribulations, have become slightly irrational, insensitive to others´ opinions, their judgement of the harshness of crime somewhat "blunt"?

I do not mean to offend anyone with this question, please. But, does the daily stress of survival "change" our "human-ness" ??
Thanks Cat for answering the question and not attacking the questioner!

Being away you are the frog that is out of the boiling water. Being out of SA you get to see the other side. The grass is greener on the other side. Not saying that it is all perfect outside but your day to day "life" stress is out. You don't need to "fear" for your life. You can walk around much more freely and feel more free.

I agree that the survival stress does change you. You become more offensive and blunt. They don't know any better because they are not out of the situation. Only when you leave do you see the bigger picture.

2008-07-06 03:47:42 by cakesalso

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This is what the Bible really Says ,But would you please share your thoughts and use Scripture to verify your reasoning.....?

Who?....Co-Rulers Kings & Priests.To rule over the Earth for a Thousnd Years..(Please Ask yourself ; If we all go to heaven ,who are they going to rule over?) The book of Revelation shows that the total number of spiritual Israel is 144,000 (Research this), all of whom are depicted with the Lamb, Jesus Christ, on heavenly Mount Zion. Along with Christ, they would be kings and priests in heaven. (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-4; 20:6)

When and How?.....In writing to Christians in Corinth, Paul stated: “This I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52) Upon dying in faithfulness during Christ’s presence, each one of the remnant of spiritual Israel instantaneously receives his heavenly reward. “In the twinkling of an eye,” he is resurrected as a spirit creature and “caught away” to meet Jesus and to serve as a coruler in the Kingdom of the heavens.
What about those who are not Kings and Priests?... The cry “Peace and security!” is a precursor of the period Jesus called the “great tribulation.” Describing “a great crowd” of faithful ones who have the hope of living eternally in an earthly paradise, the book of Revelation says: “These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9, 14; Luke 23:43) No, theirs is not the prospect of a rapture. Rather, they have the hope of survival right here on the earth. To prepare for it, they must remain spiritually awake.

Matt. 24:21, 22: “Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.” (This does not say that “the chosen ones” will all have been taken to heaven before the great tribulation, does it? Rather, it holds out the prospect to them, along with associates in the flesh, of surviving that great tribulation on earth.)

2009-01-07 04:34:58 by seemorebetter

Here are some of my favorite books, so if you like the same kinds of books, what haven't I mentioned that you liked?

Eragon, Eldest, Harry Potter 1-7, Wicked, Timeline, The Edge Chronicles, A Series of Unfortunate Events, 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010: Odyssey Two, 2061: Odyssey Three, From the Corner of his Eye, Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Desecration, The Remnant, Amageddon, The Glorious Appearing, The Da Vinci Code, The Among the ____ Series, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Water For Elephants, 3001: The Final Odyssey, WarDay, The Alex Rider Series, I am Legend, The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, Kingdom Come, By the Light Of the Moon, Swiss Family Robinson, Anything by Eoin Colfer, or Anthony Horowitz,

Since you mentioned a couple of classics, I'd recommend the Dune series highly...they're science fiction classics and I think you'd really like them- only the first few are good though, they kind of start going downhill after the first three or four I think. Let's see...I'm assuming you've read Lord of the Rings since you seem to be well-read, if not though, you need to. Ray Bradbury is also good. Oh, and since you liked Left Behind series, you should really like Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti- they're both Christian authors and write thriller type books, sometimes with epic battles between angels and demons and whatnot; they're both two of my favs.

I don't know if you like science fiction or fantasy better, but if you like fantasy, The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind are awesome- they've got magic, wizards, sorcery, romance, and can be funny too. George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series is also excellent!! I'm avidly awaiting the latest one to come out- it's taking forever.

-- And I'm serious about Dekker and Peretti- I didn't like House that much, but they wrote that together, and aren't such a good team...individually though, I loved their books.

2008-04-20 00:18:07 by BeefHarbor