Anna

I think True Tom was just being "poetic" not realistic. He is a writer you know, they can't help themselves . No offense @TrueTomHarley it was a good read

I think True Tom was just being "poetic" not realistic. He is a writer you know, they can't help themselves . No offense @TrueTomHarley it was a good read

Or you could just say that it was taken from here:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402011526

Good explanation. When in our publications "The word of God" is used in an extended sense referring to the Bible (as a book which contains promises of God and other information in written form) Word has a capital "W." But when quoting the actual passage referring to God's promises themselves, it has a small "w" - it may be confusing to some to see the difference. 

It's not necessary to bash other religions here, it's not a subject I'm trying to focus attention on or wish to continue.
BUT
As is usual, especially with the evangelicals, they are letting Jehovah's Witnesses do their heavy lifting for them, because they fear perhaps they will be the next group to be accosted. Read around and you will see that this is (once again) true.
They hold back. Whatever support they offer is very tepid, because Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult that does not believe in the Trinity. If we win, they will latch on for the ride. Will they be grateful? Not for a second. We will continue to be maligned as a cult that fully deserves whatever bad comes upon it.

Sometimes we have to be careful that we don't single ourselves out as being the only religion that is persecuted, because that simply is not true (I know you are not saying that). Even the Orthodox Church in Russia has as its fair share of persecution during the Bolsheviks. However, your Bible study is quite right, at present it seems that the only ones that are due to be banned are Jehovah's Witnesses. Interesting indeed
Here is an interesting article (I apologize if someone has already posted this). I like this comment: " “No one else is in a comparable position to that of the Jehovah’s Witness community,” Alexander Verkhovsky of the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis told Forum 18 last month".
http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2017/march/russia-liquidate-jehovahs-witnesses-evangelicals.html
 

Yes Tom that is true and it is also in the public press here :
Enormous attention to Jehovah's Witnesses case
PETITION FILED FOR SPACIOUS COURTROOM AND VIDEOTAPING IN HEARINGS IN SUPREME COURT OF RUSSIA
Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 23 March 2017
 
On 21 March 2017 the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia sent to the Supreme Court of Russia a petition that for the hearing on the lawsuit of the Russian Ministry of Justice a courtroom for the sessions capable of accommodating 200 and more persons be provided and also that there be provided the possibility for persons present in the courtroom to make video recordings of the judicial session.
 
"In and of itself the submission of such an unprecedented petition to the court is for Russia an extraordinary event, attention to which is riveted not only in all of Russia but throughout the world also, since Jehovah's Witnesses are not only a well known and recognized religion in Russia but also a famous Christian religion worldwide, that is professed in an overwhelming majority of countries and territories of the world. After the posting of the aforementioned information on the website of the Supreme Court of the RF, the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia received numerous requests for clarification of the date and time of the hearing from representatives of local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses, state bodies, news media, rights advocacy organizations, representatives of embassies of various countries, believers, and other persons," one of the petitions says. "Orally they express their desire to be immediately present for the consideration of this case."
 
The hearings will begin on 5 April 2017 at 10:00 in the Supreme Court of Russia, located at the address: Moscow, ul. Povarskaia, 13. The closest metro stations are Barrikadnaia and Arbatskaia. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 March 2017)

Russia Religion News Current News Items

ONE OF MY BIBLE STUDIES YESTERDAY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE THE TRUE RELIGION BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RUSSIA. HE NOTICED THAT ONLY THE WITNESSES AND NO OTHER RELIGION IS TARGETED TO BE BANNED ON APRIL 5. HE SAID "THERE ARE OVER 2,000 RELIGIONS IN RUSSIA AND THEY ARE PICKING ON A SMALL PEACEFUL RELIGION THAT CANNOT FIGHT BACK AS MOST WOULD DO. WHY ONLY THE WITNESSES?" HE SAID IT IS NOW OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE THE TRUTH. MANY RELIGIONS ARE BEING RESTRICTED IN RUSSIA BUT ONLY ONE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE SUPREME COURT TO BE ABOLISHED !!!

AMAZING - THE MOST READ NEWS ITEM IN RUSSIA AT THE TASS RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY IS ON JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES !!!
Most read Now Today This week 1 Russia designates myriad of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ materials as extremist 2 Press review: Russia cools down tensions with NATO and Turkey exits Syria 3 The might of Russia's advanced nuclear submarine 4 Moscow puzzled by Tillerson's statements about ‘Russian aggression’ in Ukraine 5 ‘Secret spy room’ uncovered in Moscow during renovation work 6 Ukraine’s top diplomat says there will be no concessions for Russian singer at Eurovision 7 Free Syrian Army and Turkey may be planning new operation in Syria

More:
http://tass.com/russia/759625
NOT ONLY ARE THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES THE MOST READ ITEM FOR "TODAY" BUT IF YOU CLICK ON THE "WEEK"  IT IS THE MOST READ ITEM FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK ON THE RUSSIAN NEWS  - TASS
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia suspended over extremism

More:
http://tass.com/society/937146

This rumour of GB morning worship instruction is passing round everywhere.
This is just like the emails pretending to be from banks, phishing for personal details. 
Our Governing Body does not communicate worldwide on serious matters by third party source via email, social media, or any other random channel.
We have our instruction on how to conduct this campaign here: 
https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/russia/jw-mobilize-global-response-to-threat-of-ban/
This is also the source for information on progress with this vital campaign.
ANYTHING else, including the postings on this site, is unauthorised at best. I will leave you to decide what it is at worst. 
Compare the Apostle Paul's words at 2 Thess 2:1-2 where he says
"we ask you  not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be alarmed either by an inspired statement or by a spoken message or by a letter appearing to be from us"
 
 
 
 
 

This is nothing but a big lie. Jehova wants this case to be known all over the world. But SATAN wants us to stop this campain and say nothing!
" Okay, let's see if we can clear this up: We are engaged in a PUBLIC campaign to bring to the PUBLIC's attention the threat against the freedom of the brothers in Russia. The instructions for this letter-writing campaign are on jw.org, the most widely translated website in the world. And the instructions were quite clear: don't send your letters via email; don't name Russian publishers if you happen to know any. That's all that was said regarding the internet.
Some might feel that the cartoons of Russian mail carriers or Boris and Natasha are unnecessarily antagonizing the Russian government. That is certainly a valid opinion, and we don't want disagreements about those conscience matters to divide us, but neither do we want to make rules where none exist.
Why on earth would there be an instruction to keep references to the letter-writing campaign off social media? That would be counter-productive. Who could possibly want the campaign to NOT be talked about? Could it be, SATAN?
Several friends have called Bethel and confirmed, there was NO 'instruction at morning worship' to keep it off social media. That is a lie. Do NOT spread it! In any event, that is not how communication gets to us.
Here's something else to think about: Friends of those in Russia have reported that the Russian brothers and sisters have access to their brothers and sisters ONLY via social media, and they are greatly encouraged to read the reports and see the pictures related to the letter-writing campaign. Now: who could possibly be trying to keep the joy of the campaign from those Russian friends?
Please Share this with everyone. Please SQUASH the rumor about keeping the campaign off social media." - Quote

Circuit Overseer told the congregation tonight to listen only to the GB on this issue. Go to j.w.org we can find out what is true there.

I never disputed any of that. I just said no one important will read them . I mean it's logical, would you read over a million letters? (perhaps 8 million). Would you even want to OPEN that amount of  letters? I worked as a secretary for a government official, and I can tell you, if I got over a million letters every day for several days, I know what my employer would have said. I don't want to be rude on here. In any case, what would have happened, because they are pretty identifiable (they follow a particular address format), my employer  would have probably employed a few college students to sort through them and put all the ones that look like they are regarding the same subject into a big bag to deal with "later" . I wouldn't be surprised if similar instructions might be given at post office level in Moscow, where they are all going to bottleneck, and never even reach their destination. In which case the post office will be livid too. The funny thing is, they will have to sort through them in case they miss an important letter. Or it's possible they might have ways around that..... close the post office for a few days, and have in going and out going official and presidential letters mailed privately.... 

Thanks for the pics!
I hate being a spoil sport, but most of us know no one important will read these, and if Russia has already made their mind up (which it probably has) then these letters won't budge them. However, they will know what they are about and who sent them, they will clog up the Moscow post office, they will bring worldwide attention, and most importantly, they will strengthen and encourage our friends in Russia. So I just mailed ours.

Thanks for the pics!
I hate being a spoil sport, but most of us know no one important will read these, and if Russia has already made their mind up (which it probably has) then these letters won't budge them. However, they will know what they are about and who sent them, they will clog up the Moscow post office, they will bring worldwide attention, and most importantly, they will strengthen and encourage our friends in Russia. So I just mailed ours.

Thanks for the pics!
I hate being a spoil sport, but most of us know no one important will read these, and if Russia has already made their mind up (which it probably has) then these letters won't budge them. However, they will know what they are about and who sent them, they will clog up the Moscow post office, they will bring worldwide attention, and most importantly, they will strengthen and encourage our friends in Russia. So I just mailed ours.

Thanks for the pics!
I hate being a spoil sport, but most of us know no one important will read these, and if Russia has already made their mind up (which it probably has) then these letters won't budge them. However, they will know what they are about and who sent them, they will clog up the Moscow post office, they will bring worldwide attention, and most importantly, they will strengthen and encourage our friends in Russia. So I just mailed ours.

It would be hard to underestimate the value, relevance and importance of Romans 15:4, 5 as we advance farther into the time of the end. None of us should be taken by surprise or blindsided. We have been warned and prepared. Jehovah hasn't left us unequipped to deal with hardships and tests of faith from both the "outside" and from within his organization. These are real examples from real people and were preserved for our benefit today for a reason - (despite serious opposition to stop it). While most Israelites in general didn't experience the individual hardships and tests of faith that have been highlighted iand preserved in God's Word, some did back then and some do today - at least in a spiritual sense. Whatever our situation,these faithful examples provide us with the comfort and hope that with similar reliance and trust in Jehovah we also can endure to the end for salvation. 

I disagree. In most countries, if you taunt the king too much you risk your neck. But if you make it your aim to live quietly, as Christians do, won't they leave you alone?
It is a different form of government, that's all. "What, you think we're so righteous here?" Trump said. If they tolerate interference less than is done here, there is yet no reason to think they are not genuine in their desire to provide stability and good government. At the drop of a pin, Western media and politicians will describe them in the most insulting terms. We need not play that game. Our perception of the king there need not be formed by the king here.
Having said that, I've not been there. But most of those saying vile things have not been there, either.

The horrible expression "brown nose" is reserved for those who are described as "obsequious". Equally horrible, that word is defined in part as servile, ingratiating, unctuous, sycophantic, fawning. I agree that we do not have to demonstrate that level of behaviour in dealing with political leaders, Russian or otherwise.
But we are advised by the apostles (who had dealings with men alongside whom Russian politicians wilt) to show respect for those who currently excercise power. With the example of Saul, later Paul, we can appreciate the Bible's counsel to avoid judging others.
Not a suitable subject for a letter to the Russian authorities regarding our brothers, BUT...................
It puts me in mind of what occurred in Nazi Germany. I believe officers in prison camps would allow Jehovah's Witness prisoners to wet shave them....because they knew they could trust the brothers not to harm them, such was the brothers respect for Jehovah's requirements at that time.  Well, can you imagine any "Guatanamo Bay" type military officer  allowing an ISIS militant to shave them with a cut-throat razor today without at least a qualm of misgiving????     Who really are the extremists?

I doubt anybody is even going to read the letters, but the fact that the Russian postal service is suddenly going to be inundated with millions of letters to Moscow will speak volumes. There IS strength in numbers, and Moscow will know who these letters are from and why they are being sent, and that's the important part. The whole world is going to notice.
I don't think I could stomach showing concern for Russia's leaders. We don't have to "brown nose" to put our point across. We would surely be hypocritical if we did that...

Pity that a hand with a nail hadn't been found also

Threatened with an imminent ban on their worship in Russia, Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide support their fellow worshippers in Russia by means of a global letter-writing campaign. Instructions are provided for those who would like to participate.
Source

When you are writing to the Russians about their proposal to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses, there may be a temptation to speak of legal and constitutional issues, for their recent conduct flies in the face of many of them. There may be temptation to observe that, surely, ISIS provides the template of what extremism is. But I suspect leaders there are aware of these things and, for whatever reason, have chosen to ignore them.
Tell them something they don’t know. Tell them about eight million people, from every nation, who don’t know their Russian brothers personally, but care about them anyway. Let them ponder the significance of what if the whole world was like that. When they look to the outside world of international relations, all they see is bickering, bitching and bellyaching. Let them see another world.
Convey that we are ordinary, decent people, the sort who appreciates government’s role to preserve social order and improve the moral fabric of persons within its borders, and that we everywhere cooperate with governments as they pursue such goals. I like the suggestion at jw.org to relate some practical way in which the truth has helped us personally.
Imagine! An invitation from Bethel to write to high Russian officials about the proposed ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a fine way for individual Christians, most of whom feel quite helpless, to ‘bring their gift to the altar.’

Why do people keep abdicating responsibility for their own decisions? 
Probably needs a new thread on this one.