Queen Esther

@Abel Castro Thank you ?

https://www.jw.org/es/enseñanzas-bíblicas/preguntas/arca-del-pacto/ La respuesta que da la Biblia El arca del pacto era un cofre sagrado que hicieron unos israelitas de la antigüedad por mandato de Jehová y siguiendo sus instrucciones. En ella se guardaban las dos tablas de piedra del “Testimonio”, es decir, los Diez Mandamientos (Éxodo 25:8-10, 16; 31:18). Cómo era. El cofre en sí mismo medía 2,5 codos de largo, 1,5 de ancho y 1,5 de alto (111 x 67 x 67 cm; 44 x 26 x 26 in). Era de madera de acacia y estaba revestido de oro puro tanto por dentro como por fuera. Además, lo coronaba un borde decorado. Su cubierta era de oro macizo y tenía un querubín de oro en cada extremo. Los querubines estaban uno frente al otro, con los rostros inclinados hacia la cubierta y las alas extendidas cubriendo el Arca. En cada una de las esquinas inferiores, sobre las patas, el cofre tenía un anillo de oro fundido. Y en estos anillos se insertaron dos largas varas de madera de acacia revestidas de oro a fin de transportarlo (Éxodo 25:10-21; 37:6-9). Dónde estaba. El Arca se guardó en un compartimiento del tabernáculo, una enorme tienda desmontable que se usaba para adorar a Jehová y que se hizo en la misma época. Dicho compartimiento se llamaba el Santísimo y estaba separado por una cortina a fin de impedir que los sacerdotes y el pueblo vieran lo que había adentro (Éxodo 40:3, 21). Únicamente el sumo sacerdote podía entrar al Santísimo y ver el Arca, pero solo una vez al año, en el Día de Expiación (Levítico 16:2; Hebreos 9:7). Tiempo después se colocó en el Santísimo del templo de Salomón (1 Reyes 6:14, 19). El arca del pacto en el Santísimo del tabernáculo Para qué se utilizaba. El Arca servía para conservar ciertos artículos sagrados que recordaban a los israelitas el pacto que Dios había hecho con ellos en el monte Sinaí. También cumplía una función importante en la ceremonia del Día de Expiación (Levítico 16:3, 13-17). Qué contenía. Los primeros objetos que se pusieron en el Arca fueron las dos tablas de piedra con los Diez Mandamientos (Éxodo 40:20). También se guardó en ella una jarra de oro con maná y la vara de Aarón que había florecido (Hebreos 9:4; Éxodo 16:33, 34; Números 17:10). Por lo visto, alguien quitó la jarra y la vara en algún momento, pues no estaban allí cuando el Arca se llevó al templo (1 Reyes 8:9). Cómo se transportaba. Eran los levitas quienes debían llevar el Arca colocando las varas de acacia sobre sus hombros (Números 7:9; 1 Crónicas 15:15). Como las varas nunca se quitaban de los anillos, los levitas jamás tocaban el Arca (Éxodo 25:12-16). La cortina que separaba el Santísimo del próximo compartimiento, el Santo, se usaba para cubrir el Arca durante el transporte (Números 4:5, 6). * Qué simbolizaba. El Arca era un símbolo de la presencia de Dios. Por ejemplo, la nube que aparecía sobre el Arca y sobre el campamento de Israel indicaba que Jehová estaba con el pueblo y que contaba con su bendición (Levítico 16:2; Números 10:33-36). Por eso, cuando el Arca se trasladó a Sión, el rey David pudo decir que Jehová moraba allí (Salmo 9:11). Además, la Biblia dice que el trono de Jehová descansaba “sobre los querubines” del Arca (1 Samuel 4:4; Salmo 80:1). Estos querubines eran en realidad una “representación del carro” de Jehová (1 Crónicas 28:18). Qué nombres recibía. La Biblia da a este cofre sagrado varios nombres, entre ellos “el arca del testimonio”, “el arca del pacto”, “el arca de Jehová” y “el Arca de tu fuerza [la de Jehová]” (Números 7:89; Josué 3:6, 13; 2 Crónicas 6:41). Por su parte, a la cubierta se la llamaba “cubierta propiciatoria” o “lugar del Perdón” (1 Crónicas 28:11; La Biblia Latinoamérica). Recibía este nombre debido a la función especial que cumplía en el Día de Expiación, cuando el sumo sacerdote de Israel salpicaba sangre de los animales sacrificados “hacia la cubierta y delante de la cubierta”. Esta ceremonia tenía una función propiciatoria, es decir, servía para perdonar los pecados del sumo sacerdote y “su casa” y “de la entera congregación de Israel” (Levítico 16:14-17). ¿Todavía existe el arca del pacto? No hay prueba de que aún exista. La Biblia muestra que el Arca ya no es necesaria, pues el pacto que representaba fue sustituido por “un nuevo pacto” basado en el sacrificio de Jesús (Jeremías 31:31-33; Hebreos 8:13; 12:24). También predijo que llegaría el momento en que el Arca no se hallaría en ninguna parte y ni siquiera se echaría de menos (Jeremías 3:16). En una visión que recibió después de que se estableciera el nuevo pacto, el apóstol Juan vio el Arca en el cielo (Revelación [Apocalipsis] 11:15, 19). En esta visión, el Arca representaba la presencia de Dios e indicaba que el nuevo pacto cuenta con su bendición. ¿Tenía el Arca poderes sobrenaturales? No, y tampoco confería ningún poder a quien la tuviera. Por ejemplo, los israelitas tenían el Arca en su campamento cuando lucharon contra la ciudad de Hai, y aun así perdieron porque uno de ellos no había sido fiel (Josué 7:1-6). Más adelante fueron derrotados por los filisteos a pesar de haber llevado el Arca a la batalla. En esta ocasión la derrota se debió a que dos sacerdotes —Hofní y Finehás— estaban desobedeciendo a Jehová (1 Samuel 2:12; 4:1-11). En esa batalla, los filisteos se llevaron el Arca, pero Dios los ❤ ❤ ❤ .•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥¸.•*¨`*•. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ .•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥¸.•*¨`*•. ❤ ❤ ❤

Servants in the Past.... ( our loyal Brothers❤ ) Jehovah Cared for His Servants in the Past Servants of God know that Jehovah rewards his faithful ones by supplying their needs and by giving them strength to cope with difficult conditions. Such confidence in God’s ability to provide is, in fact, an essential part of their faith. The apostle Paul wrote: “He that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.”—Hebrews 11:6. Jehovah has always cared for his faithful servants. During a three-and-a-half-year drought, Jehovah provided food for the prophet Elijah. Initially, God commanded ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat. (1 Kings 17:2-6) Later, Jehovah miraculously sustained the flour and oil supply of a widow who provided food for Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16) During the same famine, despite intense religious persecution brought upon them by wicked Queen Jezebel, Jehovah also saw to it that his prophets were provided with bread and water.—1 Kings 18:13. Later, when the king of Babylon laid siege to apostate Jerusalem, people had to “eat bread by weight and in anxious care.” (Ezekiel 4:16) The situation became so desperate that some women ate the flesh of their own children. (Lamentations 2:20) Yet, even though the prophet Jeremiah was in custody because of his preaching, Jehovah saw to it that “there was a giving of a round loaf of bread to [Jeremiah] daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread was exhausted from the city.”—Jeremiah 37:21. Did Jehovah forget Jeremiah when the supply of bread became exhausted? Apparently not, for when the city fell to the Babylonians, Jeremiah was given ‘a food allowance and a present and let go.’—Jeremiah 40:5, 6; see also Psalm 37:25.

I love your comment, Sister Martha... shows me, many of us making really silly mistakes - not needful. Thank you !

Oh yes I agree ! Thats made by our God Jehovah... so beautiful nature colors ❤ The only and BEST Creator !

Thank you so much my dear Sister

INGLATERRA..... VISITANDO A UNA HERMANA DE 102 AÑOS Y COMPARTIENDO UN POCO DE INFORMACIÓN EDIFICANTE - Que Jehová la bendiga ❤

Очень красиво ;-) Свидетели Иеговы Кто лучший друг... НАСЛАЖДАТЬСЯ !

JEHOVAH'S HEAVENLY STUNNING COLORS - ALL NORTH - LIGHT COLORS IN ONE MOMENT ❤

WHAT an originally, creative photo ! Holding the moon up

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2258 17 February 2017 KAZAKHSTAN: Atheist writer faces more criminal charges By Felix Corley, Forum 18 Atheist writer Aleksandr Kharlamov faces new criminal charges for a 2014 book. Police searched his home, confiscated books, and brought charges after he sought closure of the 2013 case. "They decided to protect themselves and take new action against me," he told Forum 18. Kazakhstan continues to target people who exercise their freedom of religion and belief by writing about religious or belief topics, sharing or importing such publications, or meeting to discuss such publications. The 66-year-old human rights defender and atheist writer Aleksandr Kharlamov is again facing a criminal case for his writings on religion and beliefs, this time for a book he published in 2014. Investigators in East Kazakhstan Region claim the book incites "religious discord and hatred". They confiscated 78 copies of it in a 2 February 2017 raid on his home in Ridder. If eventually convicted, Kharlamov faces two to seven years' imprisonment. Kharlamov remains under travel restrictions after a previous criminal case on the same charges which has never been closed. As part of that case he spent from March to September 2013 in pre-trial detention, including a month in a psychiatric hospital (see below). In 2016 a Muslim in Atyrau narrowly avoided a similar criminal case after trying to send Arabic-language Muslim books by train to Almaty, three of which were subsequently banned as "extremist". He was fined instead. Court bailiffs would have destroyed the three banned books, an official told Forum 18 (see below). A Turkish citizen married to a Kazakh citizen and with three Kazakh citizen children narrowly avoided deportation for participating in a home meal with friends in Oral (Uralsk). Officials accused them of meeting to study the writings of a Muslim theologian. On 6 February 2017 Aktobe Regional Court overturned the deportation order and the fine (see below). Complete religious literature censorship The authorities impose compulsory prior state censorship of all literature and items related to religion and beliefs, and publishing, distributing and importing them requires state permission (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). The import of religious literature for personal use was restricted even more by January 2017 alleged "anti-terrorism" legal changes. Among other things, the changes restrict individuals to importing only one copy of any publication for personal use (see F18News 5 January 2017 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2243). Kazakhstan's censorship regime also imposes "expert analyses", including to help decide whether an item, text, or webpage should be banned. The process is often closed to public scrutiny and without any grounds of appeal. Among the items subject to such "expert analysis" have been Orthodox icons (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). "Incitement of hatred or discord" Criminal Code Article 174 punishes: "Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord, insult to the national honour and dignity or religious feelings of citizens, as well as propaganda of exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of citizens on grounds of their religion, class, national, generic or racial identity, committed publicly or with the use of mass media or information and communication networks, as well as by production or distribution of literature or other information media, promoting social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord". Article 174, Part 1, which atheist writer Kharlamov is being investigated again under, punishes these actions committed by individuals. If convicted, he faces two to seven years' imprisonment, or two to seven years' restricted freedom. Typically, during sentences of restricted freedom individuals live at home, but are not able to leave their town or city without seeking permission. They are often also banned from visiting restaurants, cafes or places of public entertainment. Criminal Code Article 174 has been strongly criticised by Kazakh and international human rights defenders, including the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and the UN Human Rights Committee (see F18News 2 February 2017 http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2252). As well as the broadly-framed Criminal Code Article 174, which Kharlamov is being investigated under, individuals can also be punished under Administrative Code Article 453, Part 4. This bans production, storage, import, transfer and distribution of literature containing, among other things, "social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord". The punishment for individuals is a fine of 100 Monthly Financial Indicators (MFIs) and confiscation of the offending publications. Ridder: Kharlamov case Ridder-based atheist writer Kharlamov has faced a long-running investigation from March 2013 under the then-Criminal Code Article 164 (the equivalent of Article 174 in the current Criminal Code) for his writings related to religion (see F18News 18 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1826). Kharlamov was from March to September 2013 forcibly held in a psychiatric hospital, where he was subjected to repeated forcible psychiatric examinations (see F18News 4 September 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1871). Officials have repeatedly refused to explain why he has been detained and investigated, or why he was without any medical evidence repeatedly psychiatrically examined and sent to a psychiatric hospital. This also happened to retired Presbyterian Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev (see F18News 26 July 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1860). One doctor told Kharlamov that he had been sent to the psychiatric hospital "because you are an inconvenient person for the authorities" (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Although Kharlamov was released from detention in 2013, prosecutors neither closed nor presented to court any criminal case. Yet he remains under travel restrictions, being unable to leave his home town without written state permission (see F18News 10 June 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2072). When the case was started in 2013, atheist journalist, human rights defender, and former prisoner of conscience Sergei Duvanov commented to Forum 18: "People in Kazakhstan are not free to preach or promote their religious faith. Now it is even dangerous to promote atheism, as the case of Aleksandr Kharlamov demonstrates" (see F18News 26 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1828). Ridder: 2014 book Following Kharlamov's 2013 release from detention, in the first half of 2014 he wrote a Russian-language book "Samaya genialnaya kniga" (The Most Brilliant Book). This contains "conclusions based on the brilliant scientific discoveries by scholars, inventors and philosophers", Kharlamov told Forum 18 on 6 February 2017. "All I did was bring everything together. Therefore the book cannot contain information directed at inciting religious hatred or discord, as I am not at all a religious person." Kharlamov paid a local printing firm in his home town of Ridder to produce 400 copies. On 6 July 2014, he held a book launch in a local cafe. As well as friends and journalists, he invited the head of the town police, Oralbek Bilimbayev, Judge Mukhtar Tokzhanov of Ridder City Court and the head of the Akimat (Administration) Internal Policy Department Anar Dukenbayeva. "I gave a copy of the book to all those invited," Kharlamov noted, "as well as to Ridder's Prosecutor and his deputy, the head of the KNB [secret police] in Ridder, the head and specialists of the education department in Ridder, the heads of educational establishments, the local head of the [ruling] Nur Otan political party and other townspeople." Ridder: Complaint sparks revenge criminal investigation? Police launched the new case against Kharlamov in autumn 2016, soon after he lodged a complaint over the police failure to close the earlier criminal case against him and lift the travel restrictions on him. "They decided to protect themselves and take new action against me," Kharlamov told Forum 18. "If the case was closed they would have to give me compensation because they violated all procedural norms." Police made an "operational purchase" of a copy of Kharlamov's book "Samaya genialnaya kniga", according to case documents seen by Forum 18. The Deputy Head of Ridder Police, Nurzhan Beldeubayev, then opened a criminal investigation into Kharlamov on 16 November 2016. Ridder: "Expert analysis" The Deputy Head of the Operational/criminological Department, Kairat Yuvashev, commissioned an "expert analysis" of Kharlamov's book from Serik Omargazin and Gulnar Kudaibergenova of East Kazakhstan Regional Institute of Judicial Expert Analysis in the regional capital Oskemen. Yuvashev asked them to determine whether the book incites hatred, calls for the violent seizure of power, or a change to the political system or the territorial integrity of Kazakhstan. He also asked them to specify which religion the book relates to and what views the author has of other nations and religions. The authors of so-called "expert analyses" normally only provide their philological or religious views, Yevgeny Zhovtis of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law observed to Forum 18 on 28 January. He noted that these "experts" are often unable to professionally comment on whether there are any grounds in international law for any action relating to the texts. Zhovtis also commented that Kazakh law does not use concepts relevant to such analyses which can be found within international human rights law. Before Kharlamov was detained in a psychiatric hospital, Kudaibergenova in 2013 produced for Ridder Police a "psychological/philological expert analysis" of his writings. It claimed that they "contain negative information aimed at inciting religious hatred and discord". But she refused to tell Forum 18 whether anyone has suffered from his writings (see F18News 18 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1826). On 22 November 2016, within days of being appointed to conduct the "psychological/philological expert analysis", Omargazin and Kudaibergenova claimed according to case documents that Kharlamov's book: "contains information aimed at inciting religious hatred or discord, statements on the exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of individuals on grounds of their attitude to religion, as well as statements of an insulting nature in relation to the honour, worth and religious feelings of individuals". Omargazin refused to discuss his analysis. "I have no right to give any information about it," he told Forum 18 from Oskemen on 13 February. "I am not an interested party." Asked whether he believes Kharlamov should be imprisoned for his book, Omargazin responded: "Whether he should be imprisoned or not is not a decision for me. I work on a text." He declined to say if he believes Kharlamov is a dangerous person. Asked whether he believes that writing on religion is an issue of state danger, he refused to respond. Ridder: Search, confiscations Ridder Police Deputy Head Beldeubayev then asked Ridder City Court to approve a search of Kharlamov's flat/office and confiscation of any relevant materials they might find. On 2 February 2017 Judge Galiya Saiduldinova approved the search, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. "In this case, religious literature, objects and materials of analogous content having significance as proof in the criminal case are subject to seizure," the Judge noted. That same day, police Investigator Denis Simonov, Operational/criminological Department Deputy Head Yuvashev, three unidentified police officers, and the legally-required two witnesses came to Kharlamov's flat, which he also uses as an office. Kharlamov refused to let them search it without a lawyer being present. Police then summoned duty lawyer Bolatzhan Uskembayev. The search lasted from about 5 pm to after 8 pm, Kharlamov noted. Officers confiscated a computer, three memory sticks, 60 hand-written pages, and 78 copies of Kharlamov's book. Ridder: Suspect, attempt to introduce state lawyer Officers handed Kharlamov a summons to an interrogation the following day with Investigator Simonov. He handed Kharlamov a declaration identifying him as a suspect under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 ("Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). He was then allocated a lawyer Irina Serova at state expense, who was present as he was interrogated. "I said I didn't agree with the expert analysis," Kharlamov told Forum 18. "I renounced the use of the lawyer Serova, as I hadn't chosen her." Kharlamov then chose his own lawyer, Manshuk Medikhanova. He also asked for a new "expert analysis" from people in Almaty he thinks will be more objective, as well as independent of the police. Investigator Simonov refused to discuss why Police are again seeking to have Kharlamov punished for his writings about religion. "I'm not connected to the case," he claimed to Forum 18 from RIdder on 13 February. "All I did was go on the house search." He said the case is being led by Ridder Police Deputy Head Beldeubayev. Beldeubayev's phone went unanswered between 13 and 17 February. The duty officer refused to put Forum 18 through to him. Oral: Raid on Muslim meeting Meanwhile in Oral (Uralsk) in West Kazakhstan Region close to Kazakhstan's northern border with Russia, police and religious affairs officials raided a home in the evening of 2 December 2016. Local police officer A. Mendybekov claimed – in a report seen by Forum 18 – to have received an anonymous call that "10-15 men with beards with books in their hands had entered a flat". The alleged caller requested that they be investigated. About half an hour later, police accompanied by Adil Nurmukhanov of the Regional Religious Affairs Department and one of his colleagues, arrived after the 14 men had gathered for a meal. "None of the men had beards!!!" journalist Tokbergen Abiyev noted on his website on 18 January. Officers confiscated four books, one by the late Turkish Sunni Muslim theologian Said Nursi, as well as two prayer books and a Koran. They forced those present to write statements. All said that no religious discussions nor teaching based on Nursi's writings had taken place. Police identified Habib Akkus, a visitor from Aktobe, as the leader of the group. The state-controlled Muslim Board invited Akkus, a Turkish citizen, to Kazakhstan in 1992. Against international human rights law, the state has given the Muslim Board a monopoly of all public expressions of Islam. The Board insists that all mosques should be under its control, and the only form of Islam allowed is Sunni Hanafi (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). In 1994 Akkus married a Kazakh citizen, and the couple live in Aktobe with their three children. Oral: "Carrying out missionary activity without state registration" On 5 December 2016, Adil Nurmukhanov of the Regional Religious Affairs Department drew up a record of an offence against Akkus. It accused him of having "conducted missionary activity without appropriate documents and preached the ideology of Said Nursi, which is not registered in Kazakhstan". Regional Religious Affairs Department official Nurmukhanov claimed Akkus had violated Administrative Code Article 490, Part 3. This bans: "Carrying out missionary activity without state registration (or re-registration), as well as the use by missionaries of religious literature, information materials with religious content or religious items without a positive assessment from a religious studies expert analysis, and spreading the teachings of a religious group which is not registered in Kazakhstan". The punishment is a fine of 100 MFIs, with deportation if the individual is a foreign citizen (see F18News 21 July 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1979). "Spreading a religious faith without registration is illegal," Nurmukhanov told Forum 18 from Oral on 7 February (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Asked why people cannot meet in a home to discuss religion, he responded: "It's not people's internal life. Only the [state-backed] Muslim Board has the right to interpret Islam in Kazakhstan." Asked if people can gather in homes to read and discuss Pushkin or other writers, he responded: "That's not religious literature. He [Akkus] conducted propaganda of a religious faith." Nurmakhanov claimed that neither his Religious Affairs Department nor the police know who made the call asking them to investigate the people meeting in a rented flat. "The police called us and asked us to accompany them." He did not explain how the raid was allegedly organised within 30 minutes of the meeting starting. All religious communities are thought to be under surveillance by the ordinary police and KNB secret police (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Aktobe: Deportation, fine, then both annulled Akkus was brought to court in his home city of Aktobe. On 6 January 2017, Judge Nurlan Baktygaliyev of Aktobe's Specialised Administrative Code found him guilty under Administrative Code Article 490, Part 3. The Judge fined him the prescribed 100 MFIs, 212,100 Tenge. He also ordered him deported by 25 January, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. The four seized books were ordered returned to him. In his 12 January appeal, seen by Forum 18, Akkus argued that he had committed no "offence" as he had not discussed religious themes with those present for the meal. He pointed out that all those present had confirmed this in their statements, including the eight who had testified to this in court. Akkus added that those present who had copies of works by Nursi had bought them freely in Kazakhstan, where they are not banned. On 6 February, Judge Bagatai Iztai of Aktobe Regional Court upheld Akkus' appeal. The Judge cancelled both the fine and the deportation, noting that no offence had taken place, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. Atyrau: Arabic Muslim books confiscated On 14 May 2016, Transport Police at the train station in the Caspian Port city of Atyau confiscated Muslim books which local Muslim Tamirlan Kamitov was planning to send to Almaty by train, according to case documents seen by Forum 18. The 68 different Arabic-language books, some in multiple copies, had been published in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Transport Police Senior Investigator A. Dzholdybayeva sent the books for "expert analysis" to the Central Institute for Judicial Expert Analysis in the capital Astana. This found that three of the books contained "extremist" statements, according to the 4 July 2016 analysis seen by Forum 18. Police then launched a case against Kamitov under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 ("Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). However, on 15 July 2016 the case was closed "for lack of the elements of a crime", according to case documents. Instead Prosecutors brought a case against Kamitov under Administrative Code Article 453, Part 4 ("Production, storage, import, transfer and distribution of literature containing .. social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). On 8 August 2016 Judge Zamira Bainazarova of Atyrau's Specialised Administrative Court found Kamitov guilty, and handed down the prescribed fine of 100 MFIs, 212,100 Tenge, according to court records. He did not appeal against the punishment. Exactly a month later, on 8 September 2016 (Kamitov's 21st birthday), court bailiffs began action to recover the unpaid fine. Atyrau: Court bans 3 Muslim books On 4 November 2016, Atyrau's Transport Prosecutor Berik Kulmagambet lodged a suit to Atyrau City Court for three of the Arabic-language books confiscated from Kamitov in May 2016 to be banned. Two of the three books had been published in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the other in Cairo, Egypt. The suit – seen by Forum 18 – was copied to the Transport Police and Atyrau Region's Religious Affairs Department as "interested parties". On 22 December 2016, in a decision seen by Forum 18, Judge Zukhra Typylova of Atyrau City Court declared the three books "extremist". She banned their import into, publication in, or distribution within Kazakhstan. Nurlan Sarsenov, deputy head of Atyrau Transport Prosecutor's Office, who was present in court, said that following such a banning decision such materials are destroyed. "They are destroyed by court bailiffs," he told Forum 18 from Atyrau on 15 February. "I didn't take part in this." Sarsenov insisted that the Muslim books confiscated from Kamitov that had not been found "extremist" should have been returned to him. However, he said that was not a matter for him. He was similarly unable to say how the Transport Police would have decided to search the items he was sending on by train to Almaty. "No doubt this was part of operational measures," Sarsenov told Forum 18. The KNB secret police uses the phrase "operational/investigative measures" to describe its activities against people exercising freedom of religion and belief (see eg. F18News 2 February 2017 http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2252). (END)

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2258 17 February 2017 KAZAKHSTAN: Atheist writer faces more criminal charges By Felix Corley, Forum 18 Atheist writer Aleksandr Kharlamov faces new criminal charges for a 2014 book. Police searched his home, confiscated books, and brought charges after he sought closure of the 2013 case. "They decided to protect themselves and take new action against me," he told Forum 18. Kazakhstan continues to target people who exercise their freedom of religion and belief by writing about religious or belief topics, sharing or importing such publications, or meeting to discuss such publications. The 66-year-old human rights defender and atheist writer Aleksandr Kharlamov is again facing a criminal case for his writings on religion and beliefs, this time for a book he published in 2014. Investigators in East Kazakhstan Region claim the book incites "religious discord and hatred". They confiscated 78 copies of it in a 2 February 2017 raid on his home in Ridder. If eventually convicted, Kharlamov faces two to seven years' imprisonment. Kharlamov remains under travel restrictions after a previous criminal case on the same charges which has never been closed. As part of that case he spent from March to September 2013 in pre-trial detention, including a month in a psychiatric hospital (see below). In 2016 a Muslim in Atyrau narrowly avoided a similar criminal case after trying to send Arabic-language Muslim books by train to Almaty, three of which were subsequently banned as "extremist". He was fined instead. Court bailiffs would have destroyed the three banned books, an official told Forum 18 (see below). A Turkish citizen married to a Kazakh citizen and with three Kazakh citizen children narrowly avoided deportation for participating in a home meal with friends in Oral (Uralsk). Officials accused them of meeting to study the writings of a Muslim theologian. On 6 February 2017 Aktobe Regional Court overturned the deportation order and the fine (see below). Complete religious literature censorship The authorities impose compulsory prior state censorship of all literature and items related to religion and beliefs, and publishing, distributing and importing them requires state permission (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). The import of religious literature for personal use was restricted even more by January 2017 alleged "anti-terrorism" legal changes. Among other things, the changes restrict individuals to importing only one copy of any publication for personal use (see F18News 5 January 2017 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2243). Kazakhstan's censorship regime also imposes "expert analyses", including to help decide whether an item, text, or webpage should be banned. The process is often closed to public scrutiny and without any grounds of appeal. Among the items subject to such "expert analysis" have been Orthodox icons (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). "Incitement of hatred or discord" Criminal Code Article 174 punishes: "Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord, insult to the national honour and dignity or religious feelings of citizens, as well as propaganda of exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of citizens on grounds of their religion, class, national, generic or racial identity, committed publicly or with the use of mass media or information and communication networks, as well as by production or distribution of literature or other information media, promoting social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord". Article 174, Part 1, which atheist writer Kharlamov is being investigated again under, punishes these actions committed by individuals. If convicted, he faces two to seven years' imprisonment, or two to seven years' restricted freedom. Typically, during sentences of restricted freedom individuals live at home, but are not able to leave their town or city without seeking permission. They are often also banned from visiting restaurants, cafes or places of public entertainment. Criminal Code Article 174 has been strongly criticised by Kazakh and international human rights defenders, including the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and the UN Human Rights Committee (see F18News 2 February 2017 http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2252). As well as the broadly-framed Criminal Code Article 174, which Kharlamov is being investigated under, individuals can also be punished under Administrative Code Article 453, Part 4. This bans production, storage, import, transfer and distribution of literature containing, among other things, "social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord". The punishment for individuals is a fine of 100 Monthly Financial Indicators (MFIs) and confiscation of the offending publications. Ridder: Kharlamov case Ridder-based atheist writer Kharlamov has faced a long-running investigation from March 2013 under the then-Criminal Code Article 164 (the equivalent of Article 174 in the current Criminal Code) for his writings related to religion (see F18News 18 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1826). Kharlamov was from March to September 2013 forcibly held in a psychiatric hospital, where he was subjected to repeated forcible psychiatric examinations (see F18News 4 September 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1871). Officials have repeatedly refused to explain why he has been detained and investigated, or why he was without any medical evidence repeatedly psychiatrically examined and sent to a psychiatric hospital. This also happened to retired Presbyterian Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev (see F18News 26 July 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1860). One doctor told Kharlamov that he had been sent to the psychiatric hospital "because you are an inconvenient person for the authorities" (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Although Kharlamov was released from detention in 2013, prosecutors neither closed nor presented to court any criminal case. Yet he remains under travel restrictions, being unable to leave his home town without written state permission (see F18News 10 June 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2072). When the case was started in 2013, atheist journalist, human rights defender, and former prisoner of conscience Sergei Duvanov commented to Forum 18: "People in Kazakhstan are not free to preach or promote their religious faith. Now it is even dangerous to promote atheism, as the case of Aleksandr Kharlamov demonstrates" (see F18News 26 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1828). Ridder: 2014 book Following Kharlamov's 2013 release from detention, in the first half of 2014 he wrote a Russian-language book "Samaya genialnaya kniga" (The Most Brilliant Book). This contains "conclusions based on the brilliant scientific discoveries by scholars, inventors and philosophers", Kharlamov told Forum 18 on 6 February 2017. "All I did was bring everything together. Therefore the book cannot contain information directed at inciting religious hatred or discord, as I am not at all a religious person." Kharlamov paid a local printing firm in his home town of Ridder to produce 400 copies. On 6 July 2014, he held a book launch in a local cafe. As well as friends and journalists, he invited the head of the town police, Oralbek Bilimbayev, Judge Mukhtar Tokzhanov of Ridder City Court and the head of the Akimat (Administration) Internal Policy Department Anar Dukenbayeva. "I gave a copy of the book to all those invited," Kharlamov noted, "as well as to Ridder's Prosecutor and his deputy, the head of the KNB [secret police] in Ridder, the head and specialists of the education department in Ridder, the heads of educational establishments, the local head of the [ruling] Nur Otan political party and other townspeople." Ridder: Complaint sparks revenge criminal investigation? Police launched the new case against Kharlamov in autumn 2016, soon after he lodged a complaint over the police failure to close the earlier criminal case against him and lift the travel restrictions on him. "They decided to protect themselves and take new action against me," Kharlamov told Forum 18. "If the case was closed they would have to give me compensation because they violated all procedural norms." Police made an "operational purchase" of a copy of Kharlamov's book "Samaya genialnaya kniga", according to case documents seen by Forum 18. The Deputy Head of Ridder Police, Nurzhan Beldeubayev, then opened a criminal investigation into Kharlamov on 16 November 2016. Ridder: "Expert analysis" The Deputy Head of the Operational/criminological Department, Kairat Yuvashev, commissioned an "expert analysis" of Kharlamov's book from Serik Omargazin and Gulnar Kudaibergenova of East Kazakhstan Regional Institute of Judicial Expert Analysis in the regional capital Oskemen. Yuvashev asked them to determine whether the book incites hatred, calls for the violent seizure of power, or a change to the political system or the territorial integrity of Kazakhstan. He also asked them to specify which religion the book relates to and what views the author has of other nations and religions. The authors of so-called "expert analyses" normally only provide their philological or religious views, Yevgeny Zhovtis of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law observed to Forum 18 on 28 January. He noted that these "experts" are often unable to professionally comment on whether there are any grounds in international law for any action relating to the texts. Zhovtis also commented that Kazakh law does not use concepts relevant to such analyses which can be found within international human rights law. Before Kharlamov was detained in a psychiatric hospital, Kudaibergenova in 2013 produced for Ridder Police a "psychological/philological expert analysis" of his writings. It claimed that they "contain negative information aimed at inciting religious hatred and discord". But she refused to tell Forum 18 whether anyone has suffered from his writings (see F18News 18 April 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1826). On 22 November 2016, within days of being appointed to conduct the "psychological/philological expert analysis", Omargazin and Kudaibergenova claimed according to case documents that Kharlamov's book: "contains information aimed at inciting religious hatred or discord, statements on the exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of individuals on grounds of their attitude to religion, as well as statements of an insulting nature in relation to the honour, worth and religious feelings of individuals". Omargazin refused to discuss his analysis. "I have no right to give any information about it," he told Forum 18 from Oskemen on 13 February. "I am not an interested party." Asked whether he believes Kharlamov should be imprisoned for his book, Omargazin responded: "Whether he should be imprisoned or not is not a decision for me. I work on a text." He declined to say if he believes Kharlamov is a dangerous person. Asked whether he believes that writing on religion is an issue of state danger, he refused to respond. Ridder: Search, confiscations Ridder Police Deputy Head Beldeubayev then asked Ridder City Court to approve a search of Kharlamov's flat/office and confiscation of any relevant materials they might find. On 2 February 2017 Judge Galiya Saiduldinova approved the search, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. "In this case, religious literature, objects and materials of analogous content having significance as proof in the criminal case are subject to seizure," the Judge noted. That same day, police Investigator Denis Simonov, Operational/criminological Department Deputy Head Yuvashev, three unidentified police officers, and the legally-required two witnesses came to Kharlamov's flat, which he also uses as an office. Kharlamov refused to let them search it without a lawyer being present. Police then summoned duty lawyer Bolatzhan Uskembayev. The search lasted from about 5 pm to after 8 pm, Kharlamov noted. Officers confiscated a computer, three memory sticks, 60 hand-written pages, and 78 copies of Kharlamov's book. Ridder: Suspect, attempt to introduce state lawyer Officers handed Kharlamov a summons to an interrogation the following day with Investigator Simonov. He handed Kharlamov a declaration identifying him as a suspect under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 ("Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). He was then allocated a lawyer Irina Serova at state expense, who was present as he was interrogated. "I said I didn't agree with the expert analysis," Kharlamov told Forum 18. "I renounced the use of the lawyer Serova, as I hadn't chosen her." Kharlamov then chose his own lawyer, Manshuk Medikhanova. He also asked for a new "expert analysis" from people in Almaty he thinks will be more objective, as well as independent of the police. Investigator Simonov refused to discuss why Police are again seeking to have Kharlamov punished for his writings about religion. "I'm not connected to the case," he claimed to Forum 18 from RIdder on 13 February. "All I did was go on the house search." He said the case is being led by Ridder Police Deputy Head Beldeubayev. Beldeubayev's phone went unanswered between 13 and 17 February. The duty officer refused to put Forum 18 through to him. Oral: Raid on Muslim meeting Meanwhile in Oral (Uralsk) in West Kazakhstan Region close to Kazakhstan's northern border with Russia, police and religious affairs officials raided a home in the evening of 2 December 2016. Local police officer A. Mendybekov claimed – in a report seen by Forum 18 – to have received an anonymous call that "10-15 men with beards with books in their hands had entered a flat". The alleged caller requested that they be investigated. About half an hour later, police accompanied by Adil Nurmukhanov of the Regional Religious Affairs Department and one of his colleagues, arrived after the 14 men had gathered for a meal. "None of the men had beards!!!" journalist Tokbergen Abiyev noted on his website on 18 January. Officers confiscated four books, one by the late Turkish Sunni Muslim theologian Said Nursi, as well as two prayer books and a Koran. They forced those present to write statements. All said that no religious discussions nor teaching based on Nursi's writings had taken place. Police identified Habib Akkus, a visitor from Aktobe, as the leader of the group. The state-controlled Muslim Board invited Akkus, a Turkish citizen, to Kazakhstan in 1992. Against international human rights law, the state has given the Muslim Board a monopoly of all public expressions of Islam. The Board insists that all mosques should be under its control, and the only form of Islam allowed is Sunni Hanafi (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). In 1994 Akkus married a Kazakh citizen, and the couple live in Aktobe with their three children. Oral: "Carrying out missionary activity without state registration" On 5 December 2016, Adil Nurmukhanov of the Regional Religious Affairs Department drew up a record of an offence against Akkus. It accused him of having "conducted missionary activity without appropriate documents and preached the ideology of Said Nursi, which is not registered in Kazakhstan". Regional Religious Affairs Department official Nurmukhanov claimed Akkus had violated Administrative Code Article 490, Part 3. This bans: "Carrying out missionary activity without state registration (or re-registration), as well as the use by missionaries of religious literature, information materials with religious content or religious items without a positive assessment from a religious studies expert analysis, and spreading the teachings of a religious group which is not registered in Kazakhstan". The punishment is a fine of 100 MFIs, with deportation if the individual is a foreign citizen (see F18News 21 July 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1979). "Spreading a religious faith without registration is illegal," Nurmukhanov told Forum 18 from Oral on 7 February (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Asked why people cannot meet in a home to discuss religion, he responded: "It's not people's internal life. Only the [state-backed] Muslim Board has the right to interpret Islam in Kazakhstan." Asked if people can gather in homes to read and discuss Pushkin or other writers, he responded: "That's not religious literature. He [Akkus] conducted propaganda of a religious faith." Nurmakhanov claimed that neither his Religious Affairs Department nor the police know who made the call asking them to investigate the people meeting in a rented flat. "The police called us and asked us to accompany them." He did not explain how the raid was allegedly organised within 30 minutes of the meeting starting. All religious communities are thought to be under surveillance by the ordinary police and KNB secret police (see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1939). Aktobe: Deportation, fine, then both annulled Akkus was brought to court in his home city of Aktobe. On 6 January 2017, Judge Nurlan Baktygaliyev of Aktobe's Specialised Administrative Code found him guilty under Administrative Code Article 490, Part 3. The Judge fined him the prescribed 100 MFIs, 212,100 Tenge. He also ordered him deported by 25 January, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. The four seized books were ordered returned to him. In his 12 January appeal, seen by Forum 18, Akkus argued that he had committed no "offence" as he had not discussed religious themes with those present for the meal. He pointed out that all those present had confirmed this in their statements, including the eight who had testified to this in court. Akkus added that those present who had copies of works by Nursi had bought them freely in Kazakhstan, where they are not banned. On 6 February, Judge Bagatai Iztai of Aktobe Regional Court upheld Akkus' appeal. The Judge cancelled both the fine and the deportation, noting that no offence had taken place, according to the decision seen by Forum 18. Atyrau: Arabic Muslim books confiscated On 14 May 2016, Transport Police at the train station in the Caspian Port city of Atyau confiscated Muslim books which local Muslim Tamirlan Kamitov was planning to send to Almaty by train, according to case documents seen by Forum 18. The 68 different Arabic-language books, some in multiple copies, had been published in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Transport Police Senior Investigator A. Dzholdybayeva sent the books for "expert analysis" to the Central Institute for Judicial Expert Analysis in the capital Astana. This found that three of the books contained "extremist" statements, according to the 4 July 2016 analysis seen by Forum 18. Police then launched a case against Kamitov under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 ("Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). However, on 15 July 2016 the case was closed "for lack of the elements of a crime", according to case documents. Instead Prosecutors brought a case against Kamitov under Administrative Code Article 453, Part 4 ("Production, storage, import, transfer and distribution of literature containing .. social, national, clan, racial, or religious hatred or discord"). On 8 August 2016 Judge Zamira Bainazarova of Atyrau's Specialised Administrative Court found Kamitov guilty, and handed down the prescribed fine of 100 MFIs, 212,100 Tenge, according to court records. He did not appeal against the punishment. Exactly a month later, on 8 September 2016 (Kamitov's 21st birthday), court bailiffs began action to recover the unpaid fine. Atyrau: Court bans 3 Muslim books On 4 November 2016, Atyrau's Transport Prosecutor Berik Kulmagambet lodged a suit to Atyrau City Court for three of the Arabic-language books confiscated from Kamitov in May 2016 to be banned. Two of the three books had been published in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the other in Cairo, Egypt. The suit – seen by Forum 18 – was copied to the Transport Police and Atyrau Region's Religious Affairs Department as "interested parties". On 22 December 2016, in a decision seen by Forum 18, Judge Zukhra Typylova of Atyrau City Court declared the three books "extremist". She banned their import into, publication in, or distribution within Kazakhstan. Nurlan Sarsenov, deputy head of Atyrau Transport Prosecutor's Office, who was present in court, said that following such a banning decision such materials are destroyed. "They are destroyed by court bailiffs," he told Forum 18 from Atyrau on 15 February. "I didn't take part in this." Sarsenov insisted that the Muslim books confiscated from Kamitov that had not been found "extremist" should have been returned to him. However, he said that was not a matter for him. He was similarly unable to say how the Transport Police would have decided to search the items he was sending on by train to Almaty. "No doubt this was part of operational measures," Sarsenov told Forum 18. The KNB secret police uses the phrase "operational/investigative measures" to describe its activities against people exercising freedom of religion and belief (see eg. F18News 2 February 2017 http://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2252). (END)

You was right too... YES ! Jehovah knows it better - and by our jw.org all takes little longer. But many Brother's / Sister's like it, to get new things little earlier Thats it !

@ARchiv@L our Governing Body Brothers NOT on the social network ! Be sure, these are Fake News, hahaha I saw this week "Goffrey Jackson" on Twitter... hahahahahahaaa Very clear signs, thats not HE !! But I think, we all know that... thats my opinion ! On the social network many Fake accounts of Celebrities !

I know a similar video... but yours is still more wunderful? A beautiful Temple Tour. Thank you Kurt !

hahaha sweet

“Tienes que amar a tu prójimo como a ti mismo” http://wol.jw.org/es/wol/dt/r4/lp-s/2017/2/17 Que su habla siempre sea con gracia, sazonada con sal (Col. 4:6). Cuando salimos a predicar, encontramos respuestas muy variadas: algunas favorables, otras no tanto. Sin embargo, independientemente de cómo responda la gente a nuestro mensaje, la Biblia nos dice cómo debemos actuar nosotros. Al defender nuestras creencias ante todo el que nos pide una explicación, lo hacemos con apacibilidad y profundo respeto, pues nos gobierna el amor al prójimo (1 Ped. 3:15). Este amor se nota hasta cuando una persona nos rechaza con agresividad o nos insulta, ya que nos esforzamos por seguir el ejemplo de Jesús. Cuando lo insultaron, no contestó con insultos, y “cuando estaba sufriendo, no se puso a amenazar, sino que siguió encomendándose [a Jehová,] que juzga con justicia” (1 Ped. 2:23). Sea que estemos con nuestros hermanos o con personas que no compartan nuestra fe, seamos humildes y obedezcamos el consejo de 1 Pedro 3:8, 9: no paguemos mal con mal ni insultemos a los que nos insultan; más bien, pidámosle a Dios que los bendiga. w15 15/11 4:17, 18

Thank you, my dear Brother ARchi@L I am happy you was coming again to us !! We need you

Do You “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”? Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt.—Col. 4:6. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2017/2/17 In our preaching work, we meet with varied responses—some favorable, some hostile. Regardless of how people react, however, God’s Word shows the standard that his servants must maintain. When we make a defense before everyone who demands of us a reason for our hope, we do so “with a mild temper and deep respect” because we are motivated by neighbor love. (1 Pet. 3:15) We show love of neighbor even if our message is rejected by an angry householder who berates us. We imitate Jesus: “When he was being insulted, he did not insult in return. When he was suffering, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the One [Jehovah] who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:23) Whether we are with fellow believers or others, we show humility and apply the counsel: “Do not pay back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead, repay with a blessing.”—1 Pet. 3:8, 9. w15 11/15 4:17, 18

More easy, I copied it by the Watchtower Library of 2014 SO, all can learn it again.... thank you !

I like your pictures, yes ! Now I like all pictures, But the Bible more describes your picture....

Beautiful pictures??? ( I found that...) ARK OF THE COVENANT The sacred chest located in the Most Holy of the tabernacle and, later, in the temple built by Solomon. The Ark was made at Jehovah’s command and according to his design. Bible writers designate the ark of the covenant in more than 20 different ways. The more common of these expressions, “the ark of the covenant [Heb., ʼarohnʹ hab·berithʹ; Gr., ki·bo·tosʹ tes di·a·theʹkes]” (Jos 3:6; Heb 9:4) and “the ark of the testimony” (Ex 25:22), are not peculiar to any certain writer and are used interchangeably. Pattern and Design. The first thing Jehovah gave Moses, when instructing him to build the tabernacle, was the pattern and design of the Ark, for indeed it was the central and paramount object of the tabernacle and the whole camp of Israel. The chest itself measured 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, and 1.5 cubits high (c. 111 × 67 × 67 cm; 44 × 26 × 26 in.). It was made of acacia wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold. An artistic “border of gold” served as a crowning wreath “round about upon it.” The second section of the Ark, its cover, was made of solid gold, not just wood overlaid with gold, and was the full length and breadth of the chest. Mounted on this cover were two golden cherubs of hammered workmanship, one at each end of the cover facing each other, with heads bowed and wings extending upward and overspreading the Ark. (Ex 25:10, 11, 17-22; 37:6-9) This cover was also known as the “mercy seat” or “propitiatory cover.”—Ex 25:17; Heb 9:5, ftn; see PROPITIATORY COVER. Long poles were provided for carrying the Ark. They were also made of acacia wood covered with gold and were inserted through two rings of gold on each side of the chest. These poles were not to be removed from their rings; hence there was never a necessity for bearers of the Ark to touch it. There were four feet, “walking feet, feet bent as if for walking,” located at the corners to raise the Ark off the floor, but how high is not disclosed. (Commentary on the Old Testament, by C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, 1973, Vol. 1, The Second Book of Moses, p. 167) The rings may have been mounted immediately above the feet, if not on the feet themselves.—Ex 25:12-16; Nu 4:5, 15; 1Ki 8:8; 1Ch 15:15. Inauguration and Use. Bezalel and the wisehearted ones assisting him followed the plans explicitly, constructing the Ark from the materials contributed by the people. (Ex 35:5, 7, 10, 12; 37:1-9) When the tabernacle was completed and set up a year after the Exodus, Moses took the two stone tablets of the Law and put them into the Ark. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5 indicates that a temporary ark made of acacia wood housed the tablets during only the few months’ interval from the time Moses received them in the mountain until they were transferred to the Ark made by Bezalel.) Next, Moses inserted the poles in the rings of the Ark, laid the cover on, brought it into the tent, and put up the screen that was to separate the Holy from the Most Holy. Then, as part of the inauguration ceremony, Moses anointed the Ark and all other furnishings with oil. From then on, when the priests disassembled the tabernacle to move camp, the same dividing screen, together with additional sealskins and blue cloth, was used to cover the Ark to prevent the people from looking upon it ‘for the least moment of time, lest they die.’—Ex 40:3, 9, 20, 21; Nu 3:30, 31; 4:5, 6, 19, 20; 7:9; De 10:8; 31:9; see TABERNACLE. The Ark served as a holy archive for the safekeeping of sacred reminders or testimony, the principal contents being the two tablets of the testimony, or the Ten Commandments. (Ex 25:16) A “golden jar having the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded” were added to the Ark but were later removed sometime before the building of Solomon’s temple. (Heb 9:4; Ex 16:32-34; Nu 17:10; 1Ki 8:9; 2Ch 5:10) Just before Moses died, he gave a copy of the “book of the law” to the Levitical priests with instructions that it should be kept, not within, but “at the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, . . . as a witness there against you.”—De 31:24-26. Associated with God’s presence. The Ark was associated with God’s presence throughout its history. Jehovah promised: “I will present myself to you there and speak with you from above the cover, from between the two cherubs that are upon the ark of the testimony.” “In a cloud I shall appear over the cover.” (Ex 25:22; Le 16:2) Samuel wrote that Jehovah “is sitting upon the cherubs” (1Sa 4:4); hence the cherubs served as “the representation of the chariot” of Jehovah. (1Ch 28:18) Accordingly, “whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with [Jehovah], then he would hear the voice conversing with him from above the cover that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and he would speak to him.” (Nu 7:89) Later, Joshua and High Priest Phinehas also inquired of Jehovah before the Ark. (Jos 7:6-10; Jg 20:27, 28) However, only the high priest actually entered the Most Holy and saw the Ark, one day a year, not to communicate with Jehovah, but in carrying out the Atonement Day ceremony.—Le 16:2, 3, 13, 15, 17; Heb 9:7. In other ways the presence of Jehovah as represented by the Ark brought blessings to Israel. It was customary when Israel moved camp for the Ark with its overhead cloud to lead the way. (Nu 10:33, 34) So, at the crossing of the Jordan, when the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the river’s water, Jehovah stopped its flow, allowing them to pass. (Jos 3:1–4:18) In the line of march around Jericho, the war-equipped forces were followed by seven priests blowing horns, then the Ark, and behind was the rear guard. (Jos 6:3-13) In contrast to the victory at Jericho was the defeat suffered when certain rebels presumptuously pushed ahead in an attempt to take the Promised Land contrary to divine instructions, and when “the ark of Jehovah’s covenant and Moses did not move away from the midst of the camp.” (Nu 14:44, 45) Even the enemy Philistines recognized the presence of Jehovah when the Ark appeared on the battlefield. In their fright they cried out: “God has come into the camp [of Israel]!” “Woe to us, for such a thing as this never occurred before! Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of this majestic God? This is the God that was the smiter of Egypt with every sort of slaughter in the wilderness.”—1Sa 4:6-8. Jehovah’s presence continued to be demonstrated when the Philistines captured the Ark and took it to Ashdod to sit alongside the image of Dagon. That night, Dagon fell on his face; the next night he again toppled before the ark of Jehovah and his head and the palms of both of his hands were cut off. During the next seven months, as the Ark circulated among the Philistine cities, the people were plagued with piles, and the city of Ekron was plunged into “a death-dealing confusion,” until finally the Ark was returned to Israel with proper offering.—1Sa 5:1–6:12. The fact that the Ark was associated with the presence of Jehovah demanded that due respect and high regard be given the Ark. Hence, when the Ark set out on the move and when it came to rest, Moses proclaimed words of praise to Jehovah. (Nu 10:35, 36) High Priest Eli was so shocked to hear that the Philistines had captured the Ark that he lost his balance and fell over backward, breaking his neck; also his daughter-in-law in the throes of death lamented, “Glory has gone away from Israel into exile, because the ark of the true God has been captured.” (1Sa 4:18-22) King Solomon acknowledged that “the places to which the ark of Jehovah has come are something holy.”—2Ch 8:11. Not a magic charm. However, the Ark was not a magic charm. Its presence alone did not guarantee success; Jehovah’s blessings depended on the spiritual standing and faithful obedience of those possessing the Ark. Hence, the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua suffered defeat at Ai because of unfaithfulness, despite the presence of the Ark in their camp. (Jos 7:1-6) Similarly, Israel’s trusting in the presence of the Ark among the very fighting forces did not prevent the Philistines from killing 30,000 Israelites and capturing the Ark. (1Sa 4:1-11) The return of the Ark from the Philistines was an occasion for great rejoicing, offering of sacrifices, and thanksgiving, yet Jehovah “struck down the people with a great slaughter.” Why? “Because they had looked upon the ark of Jehovah” in violation of his command. (1Sa 6:11-21; Nu 4:6, 20) Exactly how many died on that occasion is not certain. The Masoretic text reads: “So he struck down among the people seventy men—fifty thousand men.” This ambiguous construction might suggest that “fifty thousand men” is an interpolation. The Syriac Peshitta and the Arabic say that “five thousand and seventy men” were struck down. The Targum Jonathan reads: “And he struck down seventy men among the older men of the people, and fifty thousand among the congregation.” The Greek Septuagint says that “seventy men among them, and fifty thousand of the men” were struck down. Josephus mentions only seventy men as being killed.—Jewish Antiquities, VI, 16 (i, 4). Locations Where the Ark Was Kept. The Ark had no permanent resting-place until the erection of Solomon’s temple. With the major conquest of the land completed (c. 1467 B.C.E.), it was moved to Shiloh, where it apparently remained (with the exception of a time when it was at Bethel) until captured by the Philistines. (Jos 18:1; Jg 20:26, 27; 1Sa 3:3; 6:1) Upon its return to Israelite territory it rested successively at Beth-shemesh and Kiriath-jearim, at this latter place for about 70 years.—1Sa 6:11-14; 7:1, 2; 1Ch 13:5, 6. According to the Masoretic text, 1 Samuel 14:18 indicates that, during a conflict with the Philistines, King Saul had Ahijah the high priest bring the Ark to his campsite. However, the Greek Septuagint states that Saul said to Ahijah: “‘Bring the ephod near!’ (For he carried the ephod in that day before Israel.).” David’s desire to have the Ark brought to Jerusalem was a good one, but the method he first used led to disaster. Instead of having it carried by the poles on the shoulders of the Kohathite Levites as instructed, David let it be placed on a wagon. The bulls caused a near upset, and Uzzah was struck down because he reached out to grab hold of the Ark, contrary to God’s law.—2Sa 6:2-11; 1Ch 13:1-11; 15:13; Nu 4:15. The Ark was finally brought to Jerusalem, properly carried by the Levites (1Ch 15:2, 15), and there it remained in a tent during the remainder of David’s reign. (2Sa 6:12-19; 11:11) The priests attempted to take the Ark along when they fled Absalom’s rebellion, but David insisted that it remain in Jerusalem, trusting that Jehovah would bring them all back safely to it. (2Sa 15:24, 25, 29; 1Ki 2:26) David desired to build a permanent house for the Ark, but Jehovah postponed such construction until Solomon’s reign. (2Sa 7:2-13; 1Ki 8:20, 21; 1Ch 28:2, 6; 2Ch 1:4) On the occasion of the dedication of the temple, the Ark was moved from the tent on Zion into the Most Holy of the temple up on Mount Moriah, where it was placed under the overshadowing wings of two large cherubs. It was the only piece of furniture from the original tabernacle that became part of Solomon’s temple.—1Ki 6:19; 8:1-11; 1Ch 22:19; 2Ch 5:2-10; 6:10, 11; see TEMPLE (Solomon’s Temple); CHERUB No. 1. The only post-Solomonic historical reference to the ark of the covenant, nearly 900 years after it was made, is at 2 Chronicles 35:3 where King Josiah, in 642 B.C.E., commanded that it be returned to the temple. How it had come to be removed is not stated. Josiah came to the throne following some very apostate kings, one of whom had put an image in the house of Jehovah, and possibly one of these wicked kings removed the Ark. (2Ch 33:1, 2, 7) On the other hand, Josiah sponsored extensive repairs of the temple, during which time the Ark might have been kept elsewhere for its own protection against damage. (2Ch 34:8–35:19) There is no mention of the Ark’s being taken to Babylon. The Ark is not enumerated among the temple articles carried off. Likewise, there is no mention of its being returned and placed in Zerubbabel’s rebuilt temple; neither was a replacement made for it. When and under what circumstances the Ark disappeared is unknown.—2Ki 25:13-17; 2Ch 36:18; Ezr 1:7-11; 7:12-19. Jeremiah foretold a time when the ark of the covenant would be no more, but that it would not be missed and Jehovah’s worshipers would experience no hardship because of not having it. Instead ‘Jerusalem itself will be called the throne of Jehovah.’—Jer 3:16, 17. In the symbolic book of Revelation, John says that “the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary” in heaven. This ark of the covenant has to do with the new covenant of God with men and the appearing of the Ark was an indication that Jehovah was again ruling by means of his Anointed One.—Re 11:15, 19.

I love this

@Arauna Thats similar my thinking too... Soon we shall see it !

@Ann O'Maly All things, which really importend for us, we can read in the Bible And many others things, which coming later to us, for these we've to use our conscience ! And now lets stop the 'never ending' discuss under the post a photo category ! We've special area's for that, Thank you very much. Agape