Hallo!

[Phoebes Daughter]

Hi everyone,
I registered here awhile ago....my first post.
I'm a little battle worn and weary....was a Jehovah's Witness for over 20 years, stopped attending meetings back in 2012 approx.
It's been a painful time.
Had a complete breakdown and struggled with opposing realities.
I lost friends, close wonderful friends, and it's been very lonely.

But, all the time...I keep and kept near to our Heavenly Father, however I do struggle with episodes of depression and anxiety. I keep the anxiety under control, but the physical manifestations are worse than the worst bout of flu. Ha!

This all sounds quite sad, but inbetween all that I have periods of happiness, joy and peaceful faith.
Coming to universal salvation gave me a reason to live. I've read many books, followed the scriptures.
It seems like true clean light. And the deeper comprehension of aionian opens up our spiritual minds and hearts to think outside of linear time and space etc from man's perspective.

And I can't quite remember when I first became aware of the biblical reasoning, but I think at a gut level, I hoped for it in my heart, even when I was a Jehovah's Witness.
Hence the mind mess their teachings provoked...as everyone who is not a fully active JW will die at 'Jehovah's hand' at Armageddon. That's quite a blanket statement don't you think. I could never reconcile that with a loving God and billions of humans who are often just the product of their culture, family and environment. So, many years living in a spiritually stressful environment.

Anyway, I do need support and interaction - and hope in the future to share in the comfort here.

I'm hoping to spend time with my 'tribe' - people who hope like me.
It's a lonely place out here...I wish there was a true Good News Church!

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful love-filled posts....and for everything, the academic work, the links...life saving.

And thank you for letting me join.
X

[Ross]

Welcome :friendstu:

I could never reconcile that with a loving God and billions of humans who are often just the product of their culture, family and environment.

Amen!
Amazing how many people define love, say God is love, then totally wipe out that by claiming God will cast us into eternal gloom.
Romans 8;38,39 highlight that NOTHING can keep us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You seem to be being nurtured as you come deeper into His love- He strips away all the fears one by one.
Perfect love casts out ALL fears- and He is perfect in every way.

[rosered]

Welcome sister  :dsunny:    Phoebes Daughter  :HeartThrob:

  Glad to see you here and posting .   

True Epiphany   realizing   every last one of   us , the  billions and billions were enemies  once  . :eek:

  and will ALL be reconciled to God each in their own order ...

Col 1 The Supremacy of Christ
(Hebrews 1:1-14)

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.


16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,

20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds.


22But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—


23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard,

which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

[sheila]

Hi PD,I was a jehovah's wittness too for ten years. Called out in spring of 1996.Welcome to the forum..... :welcome: :newb:

                                     

[Dandelion]

We are all travelers, through this often harsh land.

Welcome! Come to the River!

D.

[marie glen]

Welcome Phoebes Daughter! :hiya:

Just yesterday I found myself thinking in terms of christian universalists being a tribe! Early on I learned a couple things from Jehovah Witnesses.. but like most groups they stumble somewhere and put yokes hard to bear on believer's shoulders.

This is a great place to be! Site and forum..  :welcome: I hope we see alot of you around here!
God bless!! :HeartThrob:

[Phoebes Daughter]

Thank you for your warm welcomes 🙂

I mentioned that the comprehension of universal reconciliation was a life-saver to me....I should add, that the understanding and revealing of Jesus Christ was the real 'life-saver' many, many years ago, but until I understood the full hope and Good News, my security in him was somewhat insular it seems to me.

It's a difficult journey to extract oneself from a high control religious group, psychologically and physically.
The ongoing issues are of reinventing ones daily life outside of a secure ( yet fragile) Group environnent, and learning to live without the friends and family that makes up one's sense of life on this planet 🙂
Damage has been done. I know this in myself.
But, He is faithful. I know this too.

Please, anyone reading here who is drawn to a high control sect which is exclusive in its formula.....watch out, use your senses, don't be blinded, only to ultimately find yourself captive and unable to exercise your own tender conscience.

Very grateful for all the hours of care that goes into building a true picture of hope, the articles and beautifully researched biblical truths... thank you again fellow believers ❤️

[marie glen]

 :friendstu: bless you dear! And what encouraging words about the forum :banana: It's comforting to know, too, that ultimately, all will fully know what utter 100% success His "great plan of salvation" is/was! And old friends who once didn't see it, will see it.. and will rejoice to see it! Will welcome the first to be shown UR back into the family like fold! What an awesome universe and family He is creating!

More and more I think Christian Universalists are the spiritual virgins of Revelation chapter seven. Or that is, that the 144,000 will be Christian Universalists.. Whatever the 144,000 is - as there's 144,000 and also is a "great crowd too many to number from every nation and tribe". His seal on the forehead.. On the heart, it's the Holy Spirit.. So on the forehead..?

I didn't mean to bring up the 144,000.. I just sort of drifted into it. I hope you don't mind.. I know the Witnesses have their thoughts about those verses. I never got involved (with any group) but I read some of their publications.. agreed with some things, not with others, but I have always really appreciated what I think of as a very earthy and down to earth spirit their teaching seems to inspire. To me anyway! I love nature! What God has created.. So very awesome! And so some of their illustrations I really liked! The paradise pictures.. Really nice. No one sees enough pictures like that.

I also am thankful that I learned from them originally, the idea that there is no 'hell' and we do not have inherent immortality.

I also think they get a bad rap! It's said they don't believe in Jesus as savior. But I know that's not true. I'm not sure how they think of Jesus, as to whether He was pre-existant with God before being born on Earth or not. I remember searching it out (what they think) but I don't remember what I found out about it! :doh:

I have some cousins who are (dedicated) Seven Day Adventists.. I have a book I'm going to finish one of these days, written by Ellen G? White.. It too was very earthly oriented. At least the first chapter! Painting a picture of God's finished product.. Paradise.

That's what I like about those two groups! But I only see them from a distance. For now! In the Kingdom, all will be one.. like Father and Son are one..

Bless you sister!
:gsmile:

[Ross]

I mentioned that the comprehension of universal reconciliation was a life-saver to me....I should add, that the understanding and revealing of Jesus Christ was the real 'life-saver' many, many years ago, but until I understood the full hope and Good News, my security in him was somewhat insular it seems to me.

Sounds just like me. Grew up in a Baptist church and thought I had given my life to Jesus. 30 Years later was stiff missing some real life, even though I thought I was devoted and walking in faith.
Coming to the truth of Christ has set me free from my failures to appreciate His works and His salvation and literal gift of life.
Seems coming to the "full hope" is part of the plan so as to know the glorious truth.
Have a beautiful day - I.M.O you are on the right path now and as you walk you will feel more and more burden lifted from your shoulders- His love never fails.

[Phoebes Daughter]

Hi Ross,

It seems to me that we get nudgings throughout our lives, although I'm cautious to check that 'intuitions' are sound in bliblical reasoning and sit firmly within the greater biblical picture.
Once I'd fully understood that this is all about Him, and not about us, I found absolute clarity in His many declarations regarding ALL ultimately coming to Him.
Whilst we focus on what we do or don't deserve, we lose sight of our Lord's own power and own due.
Anyway, that realisation was a turning point in my journey!
Thanks again, hope to join in with forum discussions at some point.

And, I probably sounded quite wretched when I wrote my first post, but I guess I was just giving a snap shot of the pain that high control religion can bring....there have been huge losses and distresses, but also great gains.
Thanks for your supportive reply,
Phoebe.

[Phoebes Daughter]

Hi Marie Glen

I had a little smile when you brought up the 144000!
I really don't know what I understand about who or what this 144000 group represents 🙂 You are right that JWs have a strong explanation, but it doesn't make sense to me.

We learn as we go along don't we? 🙂

Sounds like you have some interesting reading ahead of you!

Clearly you have a deep faith in Him.
Thank you for listening and responding, I'll look forward to reading your posts on the forum
💐💐💐 and indeed, everyone else here.

[sheila]

the'organization'is expierencing problems with that topic/understanding..memorial partaker  numbers increasing instead of

decreasing.Last I heard they are saying old ones that thought they were anointed were wrong. :dontknow:


  Inthe last days Iwill pour out My Spirit on ALL flesh..drink my blood..eat mybody..or you have no life in ye.


  the 144,000 are the redeemed spirits that were given Jesus by Father as His wave breast offering[High Priest portion/Breast]

He is girded about the paps with them[goldvesture] symbol is dove[a dove is mostly breast] We must be 'born again"ofthese

Holy spirits from ABOVE. Psalms 45 reveals some of their'glory" these have power to make "princesof the sanctuary" ofmen

v 16 your'sons'will take the place ofyour fathers,you will make them princes throughout the land. the Lamb's wife and her virgin

companions.. InSOS  ch 8;1-4 their work with men onearth as the 'only daughter of theirMother[Jerusalem Above] the

kiss is the holy kiss of the lips like a  scarlet thread[Jesus redletter words in scripture]

    they are very anxious tobe 'helpers' unto Christ..but are told to hold back until God shows that men are ready. ..hunger and

thirst as of their own will.  They can not make you come..but they callCome! Takelife's water free. Rev 22;17 :2c:

[Ross]

Hi again Phoebe

Once I'd fully understood that this is all about Him, and not about us, I found absolute clarity in His many declarations regarding ALL ultimately coming to Him.
Whilst we focus on what we do or don't deserve, we lose sight of our Lord's own power and own due.

Amen!
When reflecting on the past this, for me, confirms the changes that Christ has implemented, not me.
The helmet of salvation I.M.O is the confident knowledge  of Christ's work, not mine.
The shield of faith being His faith.
The belt of truth- knowing that He was 100% successful in paying the price for my sins.
The sword being the word of truth which rightly divides the soul and the spirit.
Standing firm in Christ is life.
The glorious truth that sets us free from the law of sin and death.

I guess I was just giving a snap shot of the pain that high control religion can bring....there have been huge losses and distresses, but also great gains.

I.M.O this is how we come to appreciate just what Christ did for us, and to see right from wrong. Wisdom comes from experience- ergo no experience no wisdom. Add in that He disciplines whom He loves, and, for me, there is a divine purpose in everything.

C.U and K.S.G.L,Y   [Keep smiling, God loves you]