Melinda Mills

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.  John 12:4-6
Do you really believe it took Jesus that long to find out that Judas was corrupt?  Jesus, who knew the hearts of men?
Here's another example:
"Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven".  At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?"    Matt 9:2-4
 
Firstly, they state it as fact that Judas was faithful to God and Jesus, then make the supposition that John "must have meant" that Jesus didn't recognize Judas as "bad" until almost a year after he chose him, and that this is what is meant by "from the beginning".  Judas belonged to Satan "from the beginning" as his spawn,  right along with the Pharisees.
 Watchtower’s leaders are so adept at lessening  and hiding the power of Christ; yet, he predicted Peter’s denial of the Christ before Peter fulfilled his words. Luke 22:34    He was a prophet AND the Son of God;  have JWs forgotten this?
I hope you can reason on this through the scriptures, Melinda.  
 
 

God gave his intelligent creation freedom of choice. Jehovah made a beautiful angel in heaven along with myriads of others, he decided to become a resister of Jehovah's purpose later on and is called Satan. Jesus picked Judas, Judas changed afterwards. Governing body picked Raymond Franz, etc etc  Everyone intelligent creation can change.

God gave his intelligent creation freedom of choice. Jehovah made a beautiful angel in heaven along with myriads of others, he decided to become a resister of Jehovah's purpose later on and is called Satan. Jesus picked Judas, Judas changed afterwards. Governing body picked Raymond Franz, etc etc  Everyone intelligent creation can change.

Jesus at some point knew it was Judas.  It was prophesied that someone close would do it. Jesus would have discerned that it was Judas as he showed up his deviousness surrounding greed for money, among other things written and not written. However, Jesus prayed all night  before choosing Judas and the others.  He was a good person at that point.

Yes indeed...., but not wisely (unless I am mistaken)...."But Peter, in response, said to him: “Although all the others are stumbled in connection with you, I will never be stumbled!”" Matt.26:33

Well, it looks like something is going to be brewing on the horizon soon, either by mans hand or by Gods....whichever comes first.

The problem I see you have with this kind of information is that you are only reinforcing the perception that we are approaching the end of "the last days"
You really need to be more specific about why you think this has any other significance.  🤔???

If a publisher does not report time for 6 consecutive months, he falls into the category of "inactive". If he misses reporting his service time less than 6 consecutive months, he or she is considered "irregular".
There is a provision for elderly ones to report increments of 15 min a month.

Yes, we have the technology to use, FaceTime, skype, email messaging. We disabled can get creative.

Looks more like a Crisis of Parking!! 

Wishful Thinking ..... ONLY

It is surely horses for courses?
I know of pioneers who did it whilst at Uni, (the grant paid more than a part time job). JW college lecturers etc.
" Avoid dogmatic viewpoints or quick decisions based on personal preferences" is the counsel..... and jealousy I would add.

THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  CHRISTMAS......
The year was 1928, when Jehovah's people came to understand the God-dishonoring roots of Christmas. Since then, the pagan roots of Christmas customs have become general public knowledge..... but few people have made changes in their way of life as a result. But, Jehovah's Witnesses are always willing to make the needed changes in order to become more acceptable as servants of Jehovah God.
When shown that celebrating the birth of Jesus had actually become of greater interest to people than the ransom provided by his death; that the revelry of the holiday and the spirit in which many gifts were given did not honor God;  that the magi whose gift-giving was being imitated were actually demon-inspired astrologers;  that parents set an example for their children in lying by what they told them about Santa Claus;  that  "St. Nicholas"
(Santa Claus) was admittedly another name for Satan the Devil himself;  and that such festivals were, as acknowledged  by Cardinal Newman in his "Essay on the development of Christian Doctrine" were "the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship"  the church had adopted....  When made aware of these things, Jehovah's Witnesses promptly and permanently ceased having any part in  Christmas  celebrations.
Jehovah's Witnesses do have good times with their family and friends. But, they do not participate in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods (as is true of such holidays as Easter, New Year's Day,  May Day and Mother's day).  Read, 2.Cor. 6:14-17.  Like the early Christians,  Jehovah's Witnesses do not even celebrate birthdays. They also respectfully refrain from sharing in national holidays, that memorialize political or military events and also refrain from giving worshipful honor to national heroes.
WHY ?
BECAUSE  JEHOVAH'S  WITNESSES  ARE  NO  PART  OF  THE  WORLD !
Reference, Proclaims Book,  pages  198-200....
( by  Brother  Roger B. Elder )     Thank  you  Brother  Elder !

Judge Oleg Golovashko of the Prohladniy District Court in Russia announced the verdict in the case against Brother Arkadya Akopyan on Thursday, December 27. The court sentenced Brother Akopyan, a 70-year-old retired tailor, to 120 hours of community service based on the absurd accusation that he allegedly commissioned non-Witnesses to distribute extremist literature.
While Brother Akopyan was not sentenced to prison, this conviction is a gross violation of human rights. Therefore, the ruling will be appealed to a higher court.
In the coming weeks, we anticipate a judgment on the case involving Dennis Christensen. We pray that Jehovah continues to support and comfort our brothers and sisters in Russia who are facing imprisonment for their faith.—2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17.

https://www.jw.org/es/noticias/testigos-de-jehova/region/rusia/tribunal-ruso-condena-hombre-70-20181227/?fbclid=IwAR3wASMoAS_30_Q0C1pMmiE6u5pgt-KwKPjccloODTJHG6GBiX2tdQlwpk0

No, TTH, it probably does NOT amount to the same thing.  The two words have nuances that make them completely different ... which is what this WHOLE CONVERSATION has been about.
Words have intonation, flavor, nuance, and emotional indexes, depending on culture, context, and time and circumstance of usage.
Soft words in one language are hard words in another.  The same word used in street slang, an Elder's meeting, and in a court of law will be quite different, due to "environmental" factors, and common usage.
Once again, you are trying to soften and justify that you are wrong.
.... And as to your question ... if you don't understand the answer intuitively, an explanation is beyond the amount of work I want to devote to an answer.

Just a little more longwinded opinion here.
I think his tone and most of his words were intended to portray himself as someone who recognizes that there were and are human rights issues to take care of now and to avoid in the future. He also is is to be seen as a source of wise advice, giving the impression that if he had just known some of these issues in advance that he would have known better ways to handle these things. But he also recognizes that some issues are too complex to make snap decisions about on the spot. He gives the impression that he is generally knowledgeable, perhaps had an idea about some of these issues, but was really just now learning the specifics, either on the spot or from reading the papers provided in preparation for the meeting.
Otherwise he would be portraying himself and therefore the Russian nation as knowingly culpable in any of the errors that had been made in the name of the state. That's the big difference in using the term to mean "prosecute" vs "persecute." If he had intentionally used the term to mean "persecute" this would have been very much at odds with that tenor -- it admits national culpability -- and that he KNOWS there is national culpability. That's why it is very different from "prosecute" which admits only procedural error at most, e.g., too strict a definition being put on the word "extremist," and therefore something that could potentially be redressed merely through a change or adjustment in judicial procedure, if deemed necessary.
To me, his words indicate that he would not be averse to a positive change in the procedure against "extremist" groups, especially when these are generally seen as "Christian" groups. It seems he would be more forgiving of first time offenses of trying to proselytize. I don't get the impression that he, on his own, will want to make a big deal of what happened with the Witnesses. But he will no doubt be informed again of the JW status and will be more knowledgeable each time he is re-informed, and this could easily lead to a situation very soon where he asks for a change to the procedure against JWs. The JWs may have to "compromise" in the sense of being more of an autonomous religious group in Russia that doesn't give the impression that it merely takes all marching orders from outside of Russia (New York). To work well in Russia, the state wants to know that tens of thousands of people are not going to suddenly begin carrying "Religion is a Snare and a Racket" signs in the streets, or drink Kool-Aid, or collect money for a corporation in Wallkill, New York where instruction will trickle down through other branches to update rules about where new Halls will be built, what to do about national anthems, military service, blood transfusion policy, or look to an internal judicial system that could be seen as competing with or overriding that of the state. 
When he is advised again about the JWs, he will be concerned about how it looks to his own nation, outside international organizations, how it reflects on himself, and therefore, if making a change is useful or worth the effort. I don't get the impression he is anxious to make a big deal about it. I see it very possible that his own advisors on these issues could talk him out of doing something, even if he thinks it is advisable. I see right now as a good time for the WTS HQ to help orchestrate the leverage of human rights organizations.
Getting 8 million people to write the same set of letters is not as impressive to him as it seems to us, because it only proves that the very thing he doesn't want in a Russian religion, exists to the nth degree in our religion: that everyone follows orders from the same HQ outside of Russia.

@James Thomas Rook Jr. The only obstacle is the Duma and the Russian Orthodox Church. The RoC are like children, if they cry about something, Putin will take action directly and or indirectly. You play Pokemon Go in a Church, the Kremlin will somehow get involved. You like poetry and the FSB don't like it, well, they'll come for you. Like the Bible or like to crack jokes? In Russia, jokes crack you, and your Bible will be taken and or used as a means to take you down. Want to save your home? The Duma will prevent you from doing that and will get the RU police involved and most likely push you and your sign to the ground and then arrest you. We need not start with singing. And yin Chechnya, you have to be vigilant - or else.
 
The jokes may be something to laugh at, but when the Russians triad are serious, they'll do something to you.

I upvote when arguments are sound and well reasoned.
I upvote ideas that are often  in direct conflict with each other, as I can see the viewpoint of both (or more) sides.
SOMETIMES I even upvote because I agree with what is being said.
Be sure to save all your upvotes because they are worth $37 dollars EACH.
Let's say you have 16 upvotes a month. (16 x $37 = $592).
That's $592.00 a MONTH!
Please make the checks out to me, personally.

Whoa there buddy. Even Paul appealed to Caesar when he had the opportunity. Millions of Christians accept social security and other government benefits. Are you suggesting they should forego these things because they are supposed to be no part of the world? 
What about fire and police protection? Should we also forego assistance from these brave folks because we proclaim we are no part of the world? Of course not. After the same scripture you quoted above also states that governments are God's servants. They frequently do a measure of good and we all benefit when governments exercise their authority in a fine way. 
 

The point the critics are missing is that the superior authorities have the right to demand taxes as well as to waive taxes.  If you say they have to demand taxes on every occasion you are saying they can't use their discretion. It is like saying a pensioner should pay taxes although the government prescribes the income bands wherein a pensioner can be tax free.  What pensioner would go tell the government that they don't appreciate that reprieve from paying taxes on a small income. It would be tantamount to showing lack of appreciation for the government's consideration and sympathy for the person now earning one-third to one-fifth of what they used to work for. Governments are not run by robots that can only think one way.  Decisions are made by people who are themselves workers and would look forward to that same treatment when they can no longer receive full salary.
It is the same with religious organizations.  These organizations did not ask the government for this consideration.  It was a gift  or a concession to them because of the nature of their work.  All religious organizations avail themselves of that right, and are viewed equally,  just like all pensioners have the privilege of being tax-free where their income fall below a certain threshold.  So saying that they must still pay taxes is showing lack of appreciation for this concession and is also saying that the government is a one-way thinking robot and cannot use discretion.  It is simple-mindedness.
Jesus once said that the "sons are really tax-free" and that taxes should really be collected from foreigners *  But he said because of conscience we should be willing and ready to pay. JWs would be willing and ready to pay if the government changed its mind and started to tax all religious organizations - but if it told JWs that only they had to pay, they would fight it for sure, as that would not be fair. There are  secular organizations where their employees and premises and income are tax-exempt - because the governments say they do not want them to pay taxes for various reasons, especially international organizations with employees from various countries.  People should educate themselves on these matters.   Any person or entity can demand payment or can waive payment for various reasons.  It is like saying that if a business decides to give a customer a free product, the customer has to give it back or insist that he pays for it.  The government needs taxes, but the government can decide to forego payment in areas where it wishes to do so.
______________
*(Matthew 17:24-27) 24 After they arrived in Ca·perʹna·um, the men collecting the two drachmas tax approached Peter and said: “Does your teacher not pay the two drachmas tax?” 25 He said: “Yes.” However, when he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free. 27 But that we do not cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a fishhook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”
 

The witnesses have the right to fight for their rights. I would be very disappointed if witnesses decided not to put up a fight if any government try to make them pay for taxes when other religious group are not. We call that discrimination.
You are saying because witnesses claimed to be God’s people it is ok for them to let others treat them unfairly in the name of Jesus and Jehovah. 
It is the law in many western countries religious organizations are exempt from taxes.
it is like you are saying, the government is giving families a tax break because you are a witness you will not take it for whatever your reasons are. This is a nonsensical subject. 
They are other things you can criticize the watchtower organization for, this is not one of them. This is an an idiotic subject, you are telling a group of people to let themselves be treated unfairly and be discriminated just in the name of God. What kind of God will be ok with that?

The point the critics are missing is that the superior authorities have the right to demand taxes as well as to waive taxes.  If you say they have to demand taxes on every occasion you are saying they can't use their discretion. It is like saying a pensioner should pay taxes although the government prescribes the income bands wherein a pensioner can be tax free.  What pensioner would go tell the government that they don't appreciate that reprieve from paying taxes on a small income. It would be tantamount to showing lack of appreciation for the government's consideration and sympathy for the person now earning one-third to one-fifth of what they used to work for. Governments are not run by robots that can only think one way.  Decisions are made by people who are themselves workers and would look forward to that same treatment when they can no longer receive full salary.
It is the same with religious organizations.  These organizations did not ask the government for this consideration.  It was a gift  or a concession to them because of the nature of their work.  All religious organizations avail themselves of that right, and are viewed equally,  just like all pensioners have the privilege of being tax-free where their income fall below a certain threshold.  So saying that they must still pay taxes is showing lack of appreciation for this concession and is also saying that the government is a one-way thinking robot and cannot use discretion.  It is simple-mindedness.
Jesus once said that the "sons are really tax-free" and that taxes should really be collected from foreigners *  But he said because of conscience we should be willing and ready to pay. JWs would be willing and ready to pay if the government changed its mind and started to tax all religious organizations - but if it told JWs that only they had to pay, they would fight it for sure, as that would not be fair. There are  secular organizations where their employees and premises and income are tax-exempt - because the governments say they do not want them to pay taxes for various reasons, especially international organizations with employees from various countries.  People should educate themselves on these matters.   Any person or entity can demand payment or can waive payment for various reasons.  It is like saying that if a business decides to give a customer a free product, the customer has to give it back or insist that he pays for it.  The government needs taxes, but the government can decide to forego payment in areas where it wishes to do so.
______________
*(Matthew 17:24-27) 24 After they arrived in Ca·perʹna·um, the men collecting the two drachmas tax approached Peter and said: “Does your teacher not pay the two drachmas tax?” 25 He said: “Yes.” However, when he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free. 27 But that we do not cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a fishhook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a silver coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”
 

Didn’t @JW Insider say he’d take care of this? Behold: 
From The Week, December 14/ 2018

One moment he’s fixing the toilets at Bethel. The next minute he’s fixing the computers for all humankind.

I scratched that, and it made my left foot jump up and down!

Every time I go to Chipotle's they have an announcement that something is no longer being served. The guacamole for a while, then last week when they put up a sign saying they would not be serving lettuce in their burritos/bowls until further notice . . .
. . . and now I heard that they've pulled pork again.
Oh wait, scratch that . . . [JWI holds an earpiece a little tighter to his ear]. . . I'm just now being told that "pulled pork" is an actual thing. Who knew? So, actually, it's an announcement: Chipotle's: they have "pulled pork" again!