In the Second Book of Samuel, it is written that King David captured Jerusalem, then under Jebusite control, using a water shaft to penetrate the city’s defenses.

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Now, an Israeli archaeologist believes he has uncovered the water tunnel as well as King David’s legendary citadel, the Associated Press reported.

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In this Thursday, May 1, 2014, photo, Eli Shukron, an archeologist formerly with Israel’s Antiquities Authority, walks in the City of David archaeological site near Jerusalem’s Old City. Shukron, who excavated at the site for nearly two decades, says he believes there is strong evidence that it is the legendary citadel captured by King David in his conquest of Jerusalem, rekindling a longstanding academic and political debate about using the Bible as a field guide to identifying ancient ruins. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Biblical archaeologist Eli Shukron, formerly with the Israel Antiquities Authority, told the AP that his dig uncovered a narrow shaft where water flowed and where those living in Jerusalem came to draw water. The path of the tunnel led to the wall surrounding the city, the point where he believes David’s forces gained access to Jerusalem.

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Shukron told the AP that in his estimation no other structure in the area matches the citadel that David captured in his conquest.

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The AP reported:
Shukron’s dig, which began in 1995, uncovered a massive fortification of five-ton stones stacked 21 feet (6 meters) wide. Pottery shards helped date the fortification walls to be 3,800 years old. They are the largest walls found in the region from before the time of King Herod, the ambitious builder who expanded the Second Jewish Temple complex in Jerusalem almost 2,100 years ago.

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The fortification – built 800 years before King David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites – was believed to have protected the city’s access to water.

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Archaeologist Eli Shukron walks in the City of David archaeological site. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
Shukron said that his findings match clues in the biblical narrative about David’s conquest of the city from that particular location.

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“This is the citadel of King David, this is the Citadel of Zion, and this is what King David took from the Jebusites,” Shukron said. “The whole site we can compare to the Bible perfectly.”

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AP/Sebastian Scheiner
But another archaeologist who used to work with Shukron said that more pottery shards from the era of King David’s reign during the 10th century BC should have been found at the site in order to place the find more definitively during that era.

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“The connection between archaeology and the Bible has become very, very problematic in recent years,” archaeologist Ronny Reich said.

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Shukron said he found two pottery pieces dating close to that time which he believes is due to the continuous use of the area and that old pottery pieces would have been cleared out in the interim years.

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“I know every little thing in the City of David. I didn’t see in any other place such a huge fortification as this,” said Shukron.

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Archaeologist Eli Shukron believes this chisel was used during construction of the Second Temple. The ruler below shows its length in centimeters. (Photo: Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority via Tazpit News Agency)
Doron Spielman, vice president of the nonprofit Elad Foundation which oversees the archaeological park in the City of David told the AP, “We open the Bible and we see how the archaeology and the Bible actually come together in this place.”

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Shukron has been excavating in the City of David – which is located in east Jerusalem – for two decades. While Israel views Jerusalem as a united city that is its capital, 

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Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital. Virtually all of the holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall and Temple Mount, are located in the Old City which is in the eastern part of the city.

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Shukron was in the news last month after reporting that he believed he found a chisel used in the construction of the Second Temple, a discovery the Israeli media described as “extraordinary” and “astonishing.”

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http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/06/israeli-archaeologist-believes-hes-found-a-biblical-site-linked-to-king-david/

HOW CAN WE SHOW LOVE LIKE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN? ???

"God is Love." (1John 4:8) (Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.) “Love is patient and kind.” Just as God has shown patience and kindness in dealing with imperfect humans, we need to be patient and kind when others make mistakes and are thoughtless, or even rude. “Love is not jealous,” so true love will not allow us to covet another person’s possessions or privileges in the congregation. Moreover, if we have love, we will not brag or get puffed up with pride. After all, “haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—the lamp that guides the wicked is sin.”—Prov. 21:4.

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Love will cause us to behave in a decent way toward our neighbor. We will not lie to him, steal from him, or do anything else that would violate Jehovah’s laws and principles. Love will also prevent us from looking out only for our own interests instead of showing concern for those of others.—Phil. 2:4.

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Genuine love is not easily provoked and “does not keep account of the injury,” as though we were making entries in a ledger when others do something unloving. (1 Thess. 5:15) 

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Were we to hold a grudge, we would not be pleasing God and would, in effect, be tending a smoldering fire that could flare up, harming us and others. (Lev. 19:18) 

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Love makes us rejoice with the truth, but it will not allow us to “rejoice over unrighteousness,” even if a person who hates us is mistreated or suffers some injustice.—Read Proverbs 24:17, 18.

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Consider Paul’s further definition of love. He said that love “bears all things.” If someone offends us but asks for forgiveness, love moves us to forgive him. Love “believes all things” in God’s Word and makes us grateful for the spiritual food we receive. Love “hopes all things” recorded in the Bible and prompts us to give others reasons for our hope. (1 Pet. 3:15) 

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We also pray and hope for the best outcome in trying circumstances. Love “endures all things,” whether these are sins committed against us, persecution, or other trials. Moreover, “love never fails.” It will be displayed by obedient humans throughout all eternity.

IS YOUR HUT ON FIRE ? The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Jehovah to rescue him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. 

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions. 

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames ????? with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened! 

Everything was lost! He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. “Jehovah, how could you do this to me?” he cried. 

Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied. 

Moral of the story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because Jehovah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering. 

Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the undeserved kindness of Jehovah. - Contributed 

An Aniversary of a Faithful Man of God and Survivor, Leopold Engleitner

One of the oldest known survivors of the holocaust who refused to renounce his faith has died aged 107. 

Leopold Engleitner died on April 21, 2013, according to the Mauthausen Committee, an Austrian organization that tracks the fate of Nazi concentration camp inmates.

After refusing to give up his faith as a Jehovah's Witness, he survived three concentration camps and forced labor between 1939 and 1945. 

Engleitner was born in Aigen-Voglhub, Austria, in 1905 but grew up in the city of Bad Ischl.

He became a Jehovah's Witness in 1932 after studying the bible for many years and faced religious intolerance even before the war began.

He was arrested in April 1939 with other Witnesses during a religious celebration, and four months later was transferred to Buchenwald concentration camp.

Two years later, Engleitner was held at Niederhagen concentration camp in Wewelsburg, Germany.

He was offered release if he agreed to renounce his beliefs, but he refused saying he lived by God's word. 

Instead, he was transferred to Ravensbruek.

He weighed just 28 kilograms - about 60 pounds - on release from the Ravensbrueck camp in 1943 after he agreed to work as farm slave laborer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2318402/Oldest-known-Holocaust-survivor-refused-Jehovahs-Witness-faith-dies-aged-107.html

@b4ucuhear  guess the short of it is, that I don't make lists and rules I think everyone else should be doing according to my personal conscience. I try to lead by example and show how well it works out in the hope that others may imitate my faith, to their personal benefit. (I was consciously trying to avoid the use the word "I" so much here because "I" didn't want my personal opinion to be the focus. But there was no other way to convey these thoughts without it's use)."  

Why Did I Say That? ?❓❓❓

WHY you occasionally say the wrong thing ?

WHAT to do when you slip ?

HOW to tame your tongue “I’m usually good at controlling my tongue, but sometimes I slip and afterward wish I could just disappear!”—Chase “At times I say things that everyone is probably thinking but that shouldn’t be said out loud . . . Oops!”—Allie

WHY IT HAPPENS ?

Key scripture: “If a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect.” (James 3:2, Good News Translation) 

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SLIP ?

Key scripture: “Pursue the things making for peace.” (Romans 14:19) One way to follow that advice is to apologize.

True story: “My mom died when I was ten months old and my dad was never in the picture, so I was raised by my aunt and uncle. One day when I was about 10 or 11, I was feeling really lonely and angry that my mom had died, and I felt like blaming someone. So when my aunt asked me to help her out with something, I began ranting; and by the end of it, the words ‘I hate you’ and ‘You aren’t my real mom’ came out. My aunt had this shocked look on her face. Then she walked into her bedroom and shut the door, and I could hear her crying. I felt awful. She had taken care of me and had done everything for me, and I had treated her like dirt. My uncle talked to me about what had happened, and he showed me scriptures about controlling the tongue. Afterward, I sincerely apologized to my aunt. I had to realize that I was in the wrong.”—Karen.

Below, write one reason why it might be difficult for you to apologize.

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Why might apologizing make you feel better?

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Clue: Consider the principles found at Proverbs 11:2 and Matthew 5:23, 24.

Of course, it’s good to prevent a situation in the first place so that you won’t need to apologize. How can you do that?

HOW TO TAME YOUR TONGUE ? 

Key scripture: “Be swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath.” (James 1:19) Here are some tips that will help you put that advice into practice.

Read the following scriptures, and match each one to a tip. ?

Proverbs 12:16 ✅

Proverbs 17:14 ✅

Proverbs 26:20 ✅

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ✅

Philippians 2:3 ✅

#WarwickBethel2017? #JehovahGod #JesusChrist #GodsKingdom #GoodNews #GodsAppointedKing? #LoveOneAnother? #LiveForever? #PureLanguage? #PrayForOneAnother? 

Just wanted to update you on the second, most recent "Open House" for the local Warwick area residents. There were an additional 400+ attendees. In total over 800 non witnesses showed up to see Jehovah's new house! Town officials, those in the construction/engineering field, bible students - all showed up for the event. What an incredible witness. #jw #jworg #bethel #warwickbethel #jwfamily #bestlifeever

Jehovah will repay! 

With regard to Christ’s coming, the Bible says: “Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him.” (Revelation 1:7) People will not see him with their literal eyes. Since his ascension to heaven, Jesus is a spirit person “who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see.”—1 Timothy 6:16.

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Jesus does not need to take on a human form to be “seen” by the inhabitants of the earth any more than Jehovah needed to do so when he brought the Ten Plagues on the Egyptians in the days of Moses. The people of that time had no doubt that Jehovah was causing the plagues, and they were forced to recognize his power. (Exodus 12:31) In a similar way, when Christ takes action as God’s Executioner, the wicked will be forced to “see,” or perceive, that Jesus is being used by God to judge them. They will know this because mankind will have been warned in advance. Yes, “every eye will see [Jesus], and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him.”—Revelation 1:7.

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The destruction of the wicked and the removal of wicked rulership are essential before true peace and prosperity can be restored to the earth. Christ will accomplish that. Then he will take full control of all affairs on the earth, and momentous changes will follow.

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https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2007201#h=8:0-9:692

1 Moving Picture 

IMG_1554.mov

@Kurt Thank you I will share! 

In Bible History Museum in Warwick Bethel , NY

Found more pictures! Enjoy the Beauty, is brings honor to Jehovah God.

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@Carol Ann Torres Thank you! Appreciate your support! Jehovah Bless! 

Bible Speaks 

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20 hours ago, Queen Esther said:

@Bible Speaks  And  you  also  reaching  us  all  here,  NO  doubt !  Thank  you  SO  much  for  your  hard  work  -  despite  your  sicknesses....  Take  some  resting  on  and  off  -  we  not  want  lose  you,  okay ?  Be  right - minded  with  your  health,  bec.  too  much  postings...  We  want,  you  are  feeling  well ❤  And  think  about,  what  our  Librarian  said,  its  NOT  a  competition  here !  Not  the  counts  are  importend,  only  the  good  postings !  Enjoying  and  posting  with  LOVE  for  our  Brothers  &  Sisters ;-))  THANKS  AGAIN  and  Greetings  from  Germany,  AGAPE ❤  May  Jehovah  bless  you  daily,  my  dear  Sister !

 

@Queen Esther Your love and kindness to me is very much appreciated! Jehovah continues to make me strong and I am greaful for His Loyal Love. I keep busy working for Jehovah as it keeps me focused and walking in Truth! My new motto is: "I have no fear, Jehovah is near!" Keep strong we are United in thought and actions. Agape,

Bible Speaks ?????

19 hours ago, Blanchie DeGrate said:

Beautifully done! I have been moved to tears with a smile. Thank you so much my dear Sister.  Agape!  ?❤️?

@Blanchie DeGrate Yes we learn so much from Jehovah! When we rely on Him and not ourselves we are so much stronger! He loves us so, sees our weaknesses but still shows Loyal Love! Does that not "touch" our hearts? Thank you for your encouragement ???we do our best to help others as we have been made strong! Agape,

Bible Speaks

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GROUP SEARCHES FOR TRUTH. In a small village in Madagascar, 80 people decided to leave the National Protestant Church. They built a church for themselves and began to search for the true religion, examining each of the local religions in turn. They concluded that the Catholics did not study the Bible and that within the Lutheran Church there were dissensions. The Pentecostals, they felt, did not teach the truth, and the Seventh-Day Adventists had too many taboos. Then they approached one of our brothers and asked him if he could teach them the Bible. The brother readily agreed.

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A few publishers arranged to visit these interested people. The brothers met 26 of them gathered in the church that they had built, and they were ready to listen to Bible information. Using chapter 15 of the Bible Teach book, the brothers explained how to find the religion approved by God. The people were satisfied with the explanation. When the brothers returned, 73 met with them. And on the third visit, 142 were in attendance!

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https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/302011017

“God” and “Father” not distinctive. The title “God” is neither personal nor distinctive (one can even make a god of his belly; Php 3:19). 

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In the Hebrew Scriptures the same word (ʼElo·himʹ) is applied to Jehovah, the true God, and also to false gods, such as the Philistine god Dagon (Jg 16:23, 24; 1Sa 5:7) and the Assyrian god Nisroch. (2Ki 19:37) 

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For a Hebrew to tell a Philistine or an Assyrian that he worshiped “God [ʼElo·himʹ]” would obviously not have sufficed to identify the Person to whom his worship went.

In its articles on Jehovah, The Imperial Bible-Dictionary nicely illustrates the difference between ʼElo·himʹ (God) and Jehovah. Of the name Jehovah, it says: “It is everywhere a proper name, denoting the personal God and him only; whereas Elohim partakes more of the character of a common noun, denoting usually, indeed, but not necessarily nor uniformly, the Supreme. . . . The Hebrew may say the Elohim, the true God, in opposition to all false gods; but he never says the Jehovah, for Jehovah is the name of the true God only. He says again and again my God . . . ; but never my Jehovah, for when he says my God, he means Jehovah. He speaks of the God of Israel, but never of the Jehovah of Israel, for there is no other Jehovah. He speaks of the living God, but never of the living Jehovah, for he cannot conceive of Jehovah as other than living.”—Edited by P. Fairbairn, London, 1874, Vol. I, p. 856.

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The same is true of the Greek term for God, The·osʹ. It was applied alike to the true God and to such pagan gods as Zeus and Hermes (Roman Jupiter and Mercury). (Compare Ac 14:11-15.) Presenting the true situation are Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 8:4-6: “For even though there are those who are called ‘gods,’ whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords,’ there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him.” The belief in numerous gods, which makes essential that the true God be distinguished from such, has continued even into this 21st century.

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Silver piece using the divine name; found at Jerusalem and evidently dating to the seventh or sixth century B.C.E.

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Excerpts from the Psalms, Dead Sea Scroll. The Tetragrammaton appears repeatedly in distinctive ancient Hebrew characters

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A few of the many translations of the Christian Greek Scriptures that have included the divine name:

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Novum Testamentum Domini Nostri Iesu Christi, translated by Elias Hutter (Hebrew section); published in Nuremburg; 1599; Ephesians 5:17

The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, translated by John Eliot (Massachuset language); published in Cambridge, Mass.; 1661; Matthew 21:9

A Literal Translation of the New Testament . . . From the Text of the Vatican Manuscript, by Herman Heinfetter; published in London; 1863; Mark 12:29, 30

Sämtliche Schriften des Neuen Testaments, translated by Johann Jakob Stolz (German); published in Zurich; 1781-1782; Romans 15:11

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The psalmist sang: “I will sing to Jehovah throughout my life; I will make melody to my God as long as I am. Let my musing about him be pleasurable. I, for my part, shall rejoice in Jehovah. The sinners will be finished off from the earth; and as for the wicked, they will be no longer. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise Jah, you people!”—Ps 104:33-35.

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https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002391?q=pagan+gods&p=par

"The Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."—Matt. 25:1.

@bruceq Thank you! They will learn the Name of Jehovah! His Name is unreachably High! 

"Who is Jehovah,  that I should obey his voice to send Israel away?  I do not know Jehovah at all" Ex. 5:2

"Get out of her my people." ??☄️

(Revelation 18:4) 

THE TRIUMPHANT KING RULES

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(Rev. 17:1–22:21)

“Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, is a disgusting segment of Satan’s wicked world. The 11th vision portrays her as a “great harlot”—an immoral woman—“sitting upon a scarlet-colored wild beast.” She is to be completely destroyed by “the ten horns” of the very beast that is carrying her. (Rev. 17:1, 3, 5, 16) 

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Likening the harlot to a “great city,” the subsequent vision announces her fall and issues an urgent call to God’s people to “get out of her.” The demise of the great city is mourned by many. There is rejoicing in heaven, however, because of “the marriage of the Lamb.” (Rev. 18:4, 9, 10, 15-19; 19:7) In the 13th vision, the rider of “a white horse” goes to war with the nations. He brings Satan’s wicked world to its end.—Rev. 19:11-16.

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https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009124?q=the+triumphant+king+rules&p=par

How Will Jehovah Remember You?

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“DO REMEMBER me, O my God.” A number of times Nehemiah petitioned God in those words. (Nehemiah 5:19; 13:14, 31) 

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It is quite natural that when people are in dire straits, they turn to God with expressions of entreaty like that.

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What, though, do people have in mind when they ask God to remember them? Clearly, they hope for God to do more than simply recall their names.

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Consistently, the Bible shows that with God, “remembering” means taking positive action. 

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Can you remember what he has done for you? Do you give him exclusive devotion and love? How can you do more for him? What has he done for you?

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Learn more, have a free Bible Study today it will impress you!
https://www.jw.org/en/free-bible-study/

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