#7 - Beware the Bird Catcher, Psalm 91;1-3.

How did the congregations of peoples over the centuries, and on this occasion fall?

Psalm 91:1-3 explains, “Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most high Will procure himself lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty one. I will say to Jehovah “[you are] my refuge and my stronghold, My God in whom I will trust.” For he himself will deliver you from the trap of the bird catcher, From the pestilence causing adversities”.

Using the cross references in the original N.W. translation, let’s see who or what this “Birdcatcher” is.

What does God’s word tell us?

Ps 91:3 takes us to Job 22:10 which is similar but not a lot of help in answering the question. And Ps124:7 Then takes us to Prov 6:5 which warns us to defend ourselves from the bird catcher; also it points to Jer 5:26 – 31.

Aha, it says; “From among my people there have been found wicked men. They keep peering, as when Birdcatcher’s crouch down. They have set a ruinous trap. It is men that they catch. – Should I not hold an accounting? An astonishing situation, even a horrible thing has been brought about – prophesying in falsehood- And my own people have loved it that way; and what will you men do in the finale of it? That’s just fragments, look up the entire account yourself. Who are these men? “From among my people”.

Among the many cross references for this section of scripture are a multitude of prophesies.

All pointing to the same thing, Apostasy. Jer 9:9, 2:12, 14:14, 32:32. Ez 22:6, 13;6. Hab 1:15. Ho 12:7, 6:10. Am 8:5, is 30:10, 10:3. Mt 27: 20, John 3:19.

All indicating how Detestable such men and such behaviour is, and in turn how bad Satan is in using them to corrupt the works of Gods fingers. Isaiah 64:8, He is "the potter, we are the clay".

But the ones I will pinpoint are, 2 Tim 4:3, 4. Which reads, “For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires , they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they “WILL” be turned aside to false stories.” Obviously a threat still to be taken seriously.

Then it calls attention to 2 Thes 2:12. Which is where it talks again about those who “take pleasure in unrighteousness”. Which is part of the section in 2 Thessalonians from verse of chapter 2- verse 1 - verse 16 of chapter 3. Which I had previously pointed to as identifying “the Apostasy” and, “The Man of Lawlessness”. And interestingly it points to the one behind it all.

Verse 9 of chapter 2. Satan “with every powerful work and lying sign and portents and with every unrighteous deception.”

That’s just one reason why I love the original New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Not only does it glorify The Father and The Son, but it has tools similar to other translations which can help get to the feelings and facts behind even one word, one thought, and the feelings God has in his heart. Giving clearer understanding to the miner.

What do we glean from this overview of 1 text? There are traps set.

Satan the Devil, will behave like any crafty hunter. He uses the desires of wicked men to infiltrate and subdue, even the strongest of fortresses. With success. How? He does this just like a fisherman uses lures or flies, to get a reaction from his prey or target.

James 1:14, 15, “But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it becomes fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it becomes accomplished, brings forth death.”

To illustrate, I was on coach vacation with my wife, a tour guide was leading us on our journey.

He was pleasant and helpful, and to all the other tourists, perfectly fine. He, however, had ulterior motives than to just doing a job.

We quickly began to notice, he wasn’t giving away much about his personal life and holding back details. He was creating “curiosity” a desire to know more.

The first restaurant we stopped at he suggested, “such and such is a good place to eat, the others are fine, but that one’s good, you can eat wherever you want, but I recommend that one”, Subtly he tested his prey.

The result; that’s where most ate. But not him! He ate at another restaurant. By keeping a distance he was creating ever more, mystery and curiosity.

A couple of days later we went to another restaurant, then on with the tour. The next day, our daily schedule was off, he changed our route and planned activities, we went a different way than was expected, he literally robbed us of our planned activities. Why? well look, we ended up at the same restaurant as the day before.

He just brush off questions about it, like it was nothing. So, everyone went along with it, he had gained their trust. He was able to fully manipulated the situation, and us. What was his motive?

I saw him receiving a wad of cash from the restaurateur. That is, the restaurant owner gave him a "kickback" of cash for bringing the group to eat there.

He had been herding the tourists to venues that would pay him, to get us there. Even changing our holiday for his own benefit. Nobody noticed! “They took no note”!

They trusted him, and why shoulndn't they, he was in charge, he knew how things were to go. The tourists were just enjoying things as best they could. Oblivious.

His motive? He was using others to satisfy his desires for money and probably other things.

So; why was he being coy regarding his personal life? He was setting up a sting. By creating a desire to know more, the people were prime targets for his final, greedy act.

He waited for his pre-thought out moment! We were winding our way through lush mountains, rocky areas with a lot of foliage, Very pleasant. There were train tracks meandering along the roadside, tunnels here and there, lovely scenery.

He began to say, “Alight, I will tell you a bit about my family”. Putting on a false front of reluctance. He told a few stories about his brother, “Setting the hook”.

He then, timing it perfectly, as we were meandering through the hills, past a train tunnels, related how his “elderly” father, who was now retired. Pulling on the heart strings he then added, “He was only able to earn a little money, by being a sketch artist”.

What did he sketch? Lol, Trains in tunnels on mountain sides, surrounded by lush foliage. Surprise, surprise!

My wife and I just looked at each other..........“I happen to have some with me”, he said.

$40 each, I think was the going price. “They even have his picture on the back and signed”.

“That’s him there, I will pass them around, there are a few to choose from if anyone is interested".

He caught many birds that day!

Many purchased one or two. Maybe feeling obligated.

It wouldn’t surprise me; if, in fact, he was the artist and the photo wasn’t even of his dad and he was making $35 profit on each one. Likely sketching at night while hiding out in his motel room.

The entire trip was a sting, he created a desire and a need.

Used his authority, and position, to benefit himself, and those who helped him.

And the ironic beauty of it all is. “They took no note”, we don’t think anybody knew.

We said after the tour to another couple, “you know he just conned everyone”? They, realising what had happened said, “Oh, Yeah, We didn’t buy any anyway”! A little embarrassed maybe.

And so it has been now among those called by God’s own name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, for more than a decade. "The Birdcatcher" has been using “Willing” though more than likely unaware compatriots to do his dirty work. Just like Judas who didn’t realise what he was doing till it was too late; till Satan was finished with him.

He is the one who makes lawless men to do his will. Not the true God Jehovah. I'm sure in their own minds they are doing pretty well as leaders with such responsibility.

The same as many of other faiths, caught up in the current, they just keep paddling, oblivious to weather or not their actions are truly righteous. Having God's approval.

He (Satan) created a need and desire. Or at least used one that already existed. That is, the desire that all ones with faith have, to love and serve God or Jesus or whoever.

All he had to do was wait till those in authority fulfilled their earthly course and went to heaven, leaving a vacuum. Vacuums must be filled, right? And the sheep will follow! That’s what sheep do!

I don’t know when these men took their places as part of the Governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. But a Sister once explained to me that “the faithful anointed were joined by younger”, “Brothers”, who “suddenly and all at the same time had felt the “heavenly calling”. (Something not all J.W.s have.) For most; we hope to live forever on a paradise earth, as was promised to the one nailed up next to our Lord Jesus, Luke 23:43. Similar to the home Adam and eves pre-prepared for them. These “brothers” all were supposedly to “replace ones”, who for whatever reason, “did not proved faithful till death or had gone to heaven". Sounds plausible, right, also very convenient for Satan. I suspect that they would all have been in positions that made transition onto the Governing Body easy. It all sounds very much like the plot for a movie or a covert operation to infiltrate and overthrow a government to me.

[I raised a point in a later Blog; This theory of needing to replace others not successful in reaching the Heavenly reward is really blasphemy. Why?

This reasoning suggests that The Living God, The Great One, made a mistake! Yes! Think about it. This cannot be, why, Jesus said, prior to Judas betraying him, that he knew which of the 12 would.

This being the case, do they think that God got it wrong?]

These men, not Borne by Holy Spirit, Satan has used to turn God’s organisation into a business, and began to dismantle the former structure and bring in new teachings and to slander God’s name. Even while Faithfull Brothers were still on the outskirts. Jude 4.

In the long run, who benefits? Not man, we are here today and gone tomorrow (For now).

Of course it’s only Satan and his angels, the demons. All led by desires of power, greed and ego.

This was a tract formerly offered to interested ones explaining scripturally Satan's control.

We can change the future

Lovingly, Our Father, God and Creator has told us how to proceed. “Quit touching the unclean thing and I will take you in”, 2 Corinthians 6:17. This goes for anyone wanting a close relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The proceeding verses explain why we need to separate ourselves from anything he deems unclean, unholy. Verses 14 of Chapter 6 states; “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteous people and lawless have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be’li-al? Or what portion does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of the living God; Just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be there God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, and quit touching the unclean thing’” “and I will take you in.’ “’And I will be a father to you, and you WILL be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”

If we are to have what Adam lost, “to walk with God,” to be his children. It’s vital that we get it right. We cannot leave this cycle of life, suffering, and death, unless we, the human race and as individuals, become reconciled to God. That is to have our relationship repaired, for all men of all backgrounds.

A united effort.

Of course we have free will, it’s our choice. I quoted Deuteronomy 30: 19, previously, it's the plea from our Father, “choose life”, “keep alive”, “love Jehovah”, “listen to his voice”, “stick to him”, “for he is your life and the length of your days”, “for you and your little ones”, so he can give you the land he “swore to your forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give to them,” Deuteronomy 30: 20.

Whatever sacrifices we make today, he will more than make up for. Matthew 19: 29 assures us, from the mouth of the Lord himself. “And ‘everyone’ that has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive many times more and will inherit everlasting life.”

John 17:3 said, “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge (accurate knowledge) of you the only true God and of the one you sent forth Jesus Christ.” WE MUST find out the truth and stick to it.

Not the teachings and traditions of men and teachings of Demons, which has permeated religions for millennium. And these, by adopting teachings from Pagan origins, have deviated from the path and created a false truth. A lie, of customs and traditions which do not have Gods approval.

Even Faiths or religions who have stuck to the traditions of old, are missing out on the reality, the truth, by holding onto unreality.

Doing that, can not and does not bring us any closer to the reward that awaits us. Whereas the reality is the Christ, the prophets foretold him, but still many won’t accept him? Why? Tradition?

He is the chief agent, by means of Gods Kingdom, through which “all things will be fulfilled”. Through him and for him. We were a gift to him by the living God, his Father, We, are his inheritance, he loves us. “We are his Sheep, he is our Shepheard”. All to God’s glory and praise that in time “He (the father) will be all things to us, and us to him.” All Islam can tell you, "God is great", he deserves nothing but the best we can give.

Returning to the prophecy regarding the “Birdcatcher”, Jehovah himself assures us that if we personally take steps to separate ourselves from the trap set before us, “he will deliver you from the “HAND” the trap of the “Birdcatcher”.

WE are all already IN his hand, he IS “the god of this system of things”. Being in his hand, from which we need to be delivered.

If we are complaisant about our relationship with our God, the verse about the “Birdcatcher” continues. “From the pestilence causing adversities”. This Pestilence or pandemic, is referred to by cross reference at 2 Samuel 24:15, “Then Jehovah gave a pestilence in Israel from morning until evening until the time appointed, so that out of the people 70,000 perished from Dan to Beersheba”.

If this scripture is to be applied to our day, it will get worse before it gets better, either physically or spiritually.

We can’t do it alone, Jesus, however can, by using Gods powerful Holy Spirit, He, can and will, “break up the works of the devil”. 1 John 3:8. Just as he demonstrated during his time as the teacher, Messiah and Christ. Satan had no hold on him. John14: 30, “the ruler of this world is coming. And he has no hold on me.” Said The Lord Jesus.

Our Lord Jesus will remove Satan and His Demon associates from the Earthly scene. We must use this window of opportunity to undo the damage, He, and They, have done. And "Listen" to the voice of God's chosen one, so as to benefit ourselves as adjust our steps, as we take a hold of everlasting life.

The Bible book of Revelation or Apocalypse assures us that if you can do this! 'Your name' is already written in the "book of life".

What a beautiful thought. God holds out the hope and future of everlasting life to all.

If in your lifetime the day comes though and we are doing Satan's will in opposition to the Holy Spirit and you do not take action to cement your future as a righteous adopted Son or Daughter of the Living God, it can and will be removed when the time of judgement comes.

We all have free will, He wants us to search for him, to come to know him personally, we can succeed. He never asks more than we can do.

If there is breath in your lungs, search for him with truth and faith, He will let himself be found by you.

Next time I will walk you through the lawless attitudes and behaviours within the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not to judge but to demonstrate our own potential failings, as a warning for the future and our offspring.

Thanks again for your time and attention, man in expectation :)

The mash-up! "You must love Jehovah your God, with your whole Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and keep His Commandments. If you do, you will be wise enough to bypass any trial with ease, and have an indefinitely lasting name with The Living One. Those who fail to take these things to heart, will suffer shame and fall short in a large way, all that is his, will be destroyed and cease to exist.

You who love Him, however, will flourish with joy, under the tent cloths of Jehovah, always." Ecc 12:13, Mark 12:30 and Ps 37:18-20.