Dear anonymous,
I did not seek permission to address you by name here hence, you will remain anonymous in this post. Thank you for your email asking I respond to your post written to me on Facebook (FB) in response to the letter on Armageddon you received in the mail [https://inthenightaflyingscroll.blogspot.com/2022/05/armageddon-what-type-of-warfare.html?m=0]. I was able to search for you on FB and read your post however we are not FB “friends” and so I am unable to make reply under your post directed to me. While there is much to respond to in your comment, I will keep it brief, for now - note your 2/23/2023 FB post copied and pasted below in italics, and my reply afterwards:
For Rachal [sic]: My neighbor has a Japanese plum tree. So full of fruit this year. We also have a bird this year we do not see. A Gray Viero. In just two today's they cleaned that tree of all its fruit. Left the seeds on the ground.
Is Armageddon a spiritual or physical warfare? If spiritual these scriptures would never have had to be written. Now, this may sound harsh but war is war. We watch it every night on TV. After WW II it took years to clean up the mess and rebuild. After Armageddon, the earth will need to be rebuilt and cleaned up. Jehovah knows that. He arranged in advance how to do it, I have Abrveated [sic] some what, you might want to read the whole chapter. Rev. Ch. 19:16 On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. It continues in verse 17.I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: “Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God,
Yes, any battle after it is over requires the dead bodies to be picked up removed, and buried. That is a harsh reality. God already has a universal sanitation system at work. Called Turkey Vultures or buzzards. All the birds will join. In Rev 19:19 we see who the war is against.19 And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. The last sentence in the chapter is this. "And all the birds were filled with their flesh."
After the flood, I would imagine the birds and the fish cleaning up the earth. Not Noah and his family. It doesn't say who cleaned up Pharoah and his army. Sodom and Gomorrah were completely burned with Fire and Brimstone. No clean-up
The bright spot in this is in Chapter 21:3,4.
*** Bible Citations ***
(Revelation 21:3, 4) With that, I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
And here (John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
My reply:
Jesus spoke in parables, explaining spiritual things using elements of the natural world, but why? What is to train his disciples to understand his words from a fleshly, sensory, natural man’s perspective (Psalm 78:1-8; Matt.13:34-36,3,10-17; 22:1; Mark 4:10-13; 1 Cor.2:9-11; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor.2:14; Ezek.17:1-2; 24:3; 20:49)? Your comment above is filled with literal interpretations of scripture taught you by Watchtower. Yet we must realize that teachings are how you will recognize whether they are of Spirit or idle words…man-made interpretations (Matt.24:4; Col.2:8; Eph.5:6-11; 1 John 4:1; Matt.24:24; John 14:15-17; 15:26,1-8; Luke 6:43-45; Matt.12:33-37; 7:15-23). Spirit-anointed are taught by the Spirit spiritual things contained in Jesus’ words, and are not afraid but invite others to “test all things” using the Word of God (Luke 8:10; 2 Cor.1:21; 1 Cor.3:16; 2:10-14; Psalm 146:3-6; Acts 17:11; 1 Thess.5:21; John 8:32; Isa.44:9-11,14,17-18; Jer.10:8; 1 John 4:1; 1 Cor.11:19).
You quoted Rev.21:3-4, a beautiful passage, but notice what the tent of God is in verse 2, “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” New Jerusalem. When the Pharisees interrogated Jesus, asking when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus said, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21). Jesus was saying the coming of the kingdom of God will not be observed by visible signs, by ocular evidence, because it is one of Spirit, not a location in the physical sky, but in your midst, midst meaning within, God and Jesus dwelling in Spirit within hearts (John 14:6,17; 6:63-65; Eph.3:14-17; 2:18; 2 Cor.1:22; Rom.8:9-11,14; 2 Cor.4:6; Rom.5:5; 15:6; 1 Cor.6:19-20; 3:16-17; Gal.3:26; 1 John 4:12-16,8; Rom.14:17; Gal.4:6,19; 2 Cor.5:17; John 15:1,4-6,10; 14:15; 1 John 3:21-24; 2 John 1:1-6; Acts 7:48-51). When anointed, a “token” of God’s Holy Spirit is poured in their heart, which is an unmistakeable, unforgettable experience of overwhelming pure love and joy (1 John 2:20,27; Rom.5:5; 8:9; Acts 13:52; 2 Cor.1:21; Gal.4:6; 1 Cor.6:19; 3:16). Spirit-anointed priests are “living stones,” the Kingdom and priests, the bride of Jesus who is their King, head, savior, teacher, and “the cornerstone” of God’s spiritual temple/building which is complete when the final living stone is set in place (Deut.14:2; Exod.19:5-6; Ezek.36:24-28; Mal.2:7; 1 Pet.2:5-6,9; Rev. 5:10; 1:5-6; Matt.23:1-10; Eph.2:19-22; 1 Cor.12:12-14,27; Psalm 135:4; 105:6-10,42-45; Gal.3:27-29; Heb.11:8-10,16; 12:22; Eph.5:23,30-32; Jer.51:24; Zech.4:6-10; Rev.21:2-4; 21:9-10).
Spirit-anointed priests conform to the image of Jesus, acting as his representatives instructing in his teachings and offering sacrifices of thanksgiving, because this is the responsibility of the spiritual priesthood (1 Pet.2:5,9; Rom.8:29; Col.1:15; 2 Cor.3:17-18; 5:20; Gal.4:6; Mal.2:7; Rom.12:1; Heb.13:15; Psalm 50:14; 145:10-13,17:21; 1 Pet.1:15-16; Lev.19:2; 2 Pet.1:3-4,10-11,20-21; Heb.3:12; 1 Cor.3:16; John 6:63; 14:6; 15:7-8,4; Rom.8:1,5-11; 1 John 3:24; 4:24; 1 Cor.2:4; 2 Cor.10:4-5; Matt.5:48; 2 Sam.22:31; Prov.30:5; Psalm 146:3). Conforming to the image of Jesus, they are “gods,” sons, children of the Most High and have the mind of Christ (1 Pet.2:5,9; Rom.8:29; Col.1:15; Eph.5:1-2; 2 Cor.3:17-18; 1 Cor.2:10-16; Gal.4:6; Mal.2:7; John 10:34-38; Psalm 82:6,1; Job 21:22). However, the spiritual priesthood must remain attached to Jesus in order to produce “good fruit,” teaching by the Spirit that dwells in their heart, not speaking from the futility of their own mind, corrupt words, doctrines of men, “bad fruit” (John 15:1-10; 8:12; Matt.5:14-16,13; 1 John 1:5; 5:1-3; John 14:15-17,20-24,6; 16:13; 1 John 2:20-21,24-27; 2 Cor.1:21-22; Rom.5:5; 1 Cor.6:19-20; 2 Cor.6:16; Jer.10:8; 1 Cor.10:21; 1 Tim.4:1-2; 2 Pet.2:1,21; 2 Cor.11:13-15; Mark 7:6-7; Eph.4:18).
Teaching man-made ideas as truth is a lie. Lies are spoken by a false prophet from the deceit of their own heart and glossed over with the shiny excuse that they are “just imperfect men” without any culpability - do not fear them (Num.23:19; Deut.29:10-29; 22:18-20; Lev.26:1-5,14-20,33,38; 2 Kings 17:7-18; Ezek.11:21; Jer.16:9-13; 14:14; Jer.23:21-22,25-26,30-40; 1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7; Heb.13:15; John 16:13-15; 14:17,26; 1 Cor.2:10-14; Matt.7:15; 24:11,24; 1 Tim.4:1; 1 John 4:1). Do you think it is a trivial matter for anointed to instruct on the Word of God according to their own thinking, human interpretation? Claiming to be led by Spirit but following their own spirit, it is as if they instruct and counsel God Himself, expecting Him to fulfill their words (Rom.11:34; Isa.40:13; Job 36:22; Ezek.13:1-9)! Review the history of God’s people in scripture. When the prophets of Israel said, “Hear the word of the LORD!” but followed the spirit of their own heart, they were false prophets who spoke nonsense, “saw” nothing, envisioned lies, and were not in the assembly of God’s people “nor written in the record of the house of Israel” (Ezek.13:1-9; Jer.23:2,9-11,14,16-17,21-22,25-26,30-32). The Kingdom of God is one of righteousness - deceitful speech is not righteous, it is evil, and the Lord cuts off the remembrance of those who practice evil (Rom.14:17; 1 John 2:29; Eph.4:17-18,24-25; Psalm 11:4-7; 12:2-8; 1 Pet.2:10-15; 1 John 3:4-10; Psalm 52:1-7; Rev.21:8).
The actions and behaviors of false prophets were described by Jesus as a warning for us so we would know how to identify them, a warning the apostles repeated (Matt.24:5,11,24; 7:15; Mark 13:22; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 1 John 4:1).
Spiritual priests and any who teach according to human understanding will be blinded to the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ words, and will consider spiritual things foolish (1 Cor.2:12-16; Rom.8:4-10). Human interpretations are sensory-related: Earth is the literal planet and people who live on it. Land is the literal soil on the earth. Country, nations, and Kingdoms are physical/political groups of people, associated with a physical territory of land. Famine is lack of literal food. Earthquakes are literal instances of ground shaking. Pestilence and plague are literal physical diseases. A flood is a physical deluge of water. Wars are literal physical battles. Adultery and fornication is just carnal sexual immorality. Idolatry is manifest physically e.g., wearing a necklace with cross pendant, hanging a country’s flag, accumulation of literal money, etc. Destruction is a physical action of annihilation by literal fire, sulphur, hail, burning coals, swords, arrows, floods, earthquakes, etc. (We can talk about the spiritual meaning of these words, Jesus’ words, in future correspondence if you would like).
Are you not, like many others, waiting for the Kingdom of God? Before you read scripture, ask for Spirit to help you see…the commandments regarding the temple, the warnings against disobedience and forsaking the covenant were directed to the nation of Israel, prophetic accounts recorded as examples for those upon whom the end of the ages have come, who are the spiritual temple and under the new covenant (1 Cor.10:1-11; Jude 5; Heb.3:16-19,7-12; Psalm 102:19-22,16-18; Luke 24:25-27,44-46; 9:22; John 2:19-21). Throughout scripture we are given a complete prophetic record foretelling the beginning to the end, events and conditions of God’s people manifest at the end of the Age (Isa.66:4-8; Rev.1:1; Dan.2:28; 8:17; 10:14; Dan.12:4,9; Matt.24:3; Heb.10:12,14; John 1:17,14; Jer.23:29; Psalm 21:8-9; Dan.7:9-11; Rev. 1:10-16; 4:1-5; 5:11-12; Psalm 18:13; Rev. 19:20; 14:9-11; 20:12; Zech.5:1-4; Malachi 2:1-11; 1 Cor.14:32; Isa. 42:9; 46:9-10; 48:3; 41:4; Jer.8:5-7; Psalm 14:2-4).
When God’s temple of living stones, the spiritual priesthood is completed, the spiritual city, New Jerusalem, arrives and Satan’s rule ends, so then who desires to prevent the Kingdom’s arrival? (1 Pet.2:5,9; Eph.2:19-22; Eph.4:11-13; Heb.12:18-24). How would Satan attempt to delay God’s Kingdom and extend his rule? Destroy the persons who are the Kingdom and priests! And how? By a tried and tested effective tactic…deception…deceive the spiritual priesthood into falling away, rebelling and breaking God’s commands (Col.1:18; 1 Pet.2:5; 1 Cor.3:16-17; John 6:63; Gal.5:25; John 6:68; Psalm 119:93; Heb.4:12; Matt.4:4; 15:11; Prov.18:20-21; Gen.3:1-6; 2 Cor.11:3-4; Matt.7:15-20; John 15:1-8; Can you discern what the fruit in Genesis represents spiritually?). The leaders of Watchtower who call themselves the governing body admit they are not inspired [doublespeak for: not of Spirit] and can err in doctrine. If you feed from their teachings you will, as they, not have life for they teach according to human interpretation, the spirit of their own heart and the work of their own hand, not of Holy Spirit (1 Cor.2:14,12,10; 1:18; Rom.1:16-25; 8:5-8; Matt.13:11-17; Acts 7:41-44,47-53). Rebellion, defecting from Jesus, his truth and teaching a different Jesus, a man-made doctrine is apostasy, an apostasy of the spiritual priesthood foretold to occur before the Lord’s day at the end of the Age, and has occurred…but you will be unable to perceive because you too have been deceived by ministers of Satan who have presented themselves as ministers of righteousness (2 Thess.2:3; Matt. 15:7-8; 24:11,24; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess.5:21; 1 John 1:5-7; 2 Cor.4:3-4; Eph.5:6-14; John 8:31-32,44; 2 Cor.11:13-15).
The entire spiritual temple of “living stones” were overthrown, destroyed - disunited - by rebellion, and many misled by smooth sounding words, deceptive teachings of demons, words as a sword with the power to kill, for without the Spirit, there is no life (1 Pet.2:5,9; Rev.1:5-6; Col.1:16-18; John 2:19-21; 1 Cor.6:19; Matt.24:1-2; Luke 21:5-6; 2 Thess.2:1-3; Isa.3:8-9,13-15; Matt.24:4-5,11,23-25; 7:15; Mark 13:5-6,21-23; Luke 6:26; 1 John 4:1; 2 Pet.2:1-3; 1 Tim.4:1; Psalm 59:7,12; 57:4; 55:21; Prov.30:14; 18:21).
In Revelation 19 we are given many signs about what kind of war is being fought. Can you perceive the type of war Jesus is fighting?
Rev.19:15, “out of his [Jesus’] mouth goes a sharp sword.” The sword is the word of God, and the word of God is Jesus, his words judge as a sharp sword (Eph.6:17; John 1:1,14,17; 12:48; Matt.12:33-37; Rom.2:11,16; Luke 10:16; John 13:20; 2 Thess.1:3-10). Jesus’ words are as a sharp sword, judging thoughts and attitudes of hearts, and this is the sword that is used in war at Armageddon, a spiritual battle between truth and lie, truth prevailing (Prov.18:21; Hos.6:5; Rev.1:16; 2:12,16; Heb.4:12; Luke 2:35; Matt.12:33-37; Rev.19:15; 16:13-14,16; 19:19-20; 20:10).
Rachel