Who are you? (I am taken aback by your anonymity) What is your name and do the elders in your congregation know you have this site running?

(Question taken from a guest book entry) I love Jehovah my God and He has been with me since I was a little kid. I love musing about Him. I would like your opinion on what could have been God's first thought besides "In the Beginning..." There is a first for everything, so could you do some of your cool musing on this?

You speak a lot about the US economic collapse and it makes sense. We have had WT articles in the past about not storing food. However, your reasoning on the scriptures make me think that it would be wise and discreet to store up some food in anticipation of severe food shortages. What do you think?

As the saying goes, it is not a question of if—only "when?" The Bible assures us that in the last days money will become worthless. Jesus himself referred to the inevitable day when our so-called "unrighteous riches" will fail us. Also, James 5:3 says: "Your gold and silver are rusted away, and their rust will be as a witness against you and will eat your fleshy parts. Something like fire is what you have stored up in the last days."

Of course, we no longer use physical gold and silver as a medium of exchange today. We use something far more fragile and combustible—paper and plastic!

Actually, most of what passes for money is just so many digits on mainframe computers. But, whatever, suffice it to say that the life and continued existence of the modern world has become increasingly dependent upon a very complex yet inherently fragile system. Ironically, people in the so-called Third World are much less dependent upon the system and will be less affected when it inevitably crashes.

But, as a reminder of just how dependent we are on the system, consider what happened a few months ago during the blackout that affected a large part of Canada and the United States, also more recently in Italy. Within a few seconds virtually every bank and automated money machine shut down. All supermarket transaction terminals shut down. Most telephone and internet systems were overloaded and shut down. All food storage freezers shut down along with refrigeration systems. Petrol pumping stations were down—except those that had emergency back up generators. Those with electric cook stoves could not even make so much as a pot of tea. Some cities even lost clean drinking water. The worse part was that there was no way of knowing when power might be restored.

Under such circumstances it makes sense to have emergency supplies in place, doesn't it? Not necessarily back-up generators and all of that, because after a few days even fuel becomes an issue. But, certainly having extra basic food supplies on hand that do not need to be refrigerated or even cooked is a good idea. If you are of limited means, just having a few jars of peanut butter and canned tuna is better than nothing; at least enough supplies on hand for a few weeks could help alleviate feelings of panic and desperation.

Back a few generations ago, before refrigerators, before supermarkets and convenience stores sprung up on every corner, people kept pantries stocked with food that would last them weeks or even months. It was just considered prudent. Now, though, we have this false sense of security that all we have to do is drive down to the corner store and swipe our little plastic card on the machine and walk out with a bag of groceries. Most people cannot imagine the system ever failing—even though, as the recent blackouts demonstrated, the system can fail in the twinkling of an eye.

But, aside from a blackout or even a slow-grinding depression, what happens in the event of a terrorist's attack in the heart of the financial district of London or New York, for example? President Bush just reiterated this past week while visiting London that a WMD terror attack on Britain or America is likely—actually some have said it is inevitable. Not only that, a leading US military officer, Tommy Franks, is reported to have stated that if the US gets hit with WMD, more than likely, the American constitution will get trashed and the leading nation of the so-called Free World would become a police state overnight. Interestingly, apparently no mainstream media covered the general's remarks, which they usually do.

So, what happens if the unthinkable becomes a nightmarish reality? More than likely the entire financial system would simply seize up. In fact, it would have to be shut down in order to prevent chaos from what is called a cascading cross default, which is basically a domino chain-reaction collapse of all interdependent financial institutions. Panic would ensue not only in the financial markets, but at the local food markets as well. No doubt, mobs of terror-crazed people would descend on grocery stores like locusts and strip the shelves clean in a matter of moments. It could take weeks or months to restore order.

The Watchtower advises not storing up food on the basis that it could be dangerous from the standpoint of others wanting it. But, that is for each family head to decide.

The Bible says the "money is for a protection the same as wisdom is for a protection." So, the question: How do we protect ourselves when money fails? Well, the Bible also says: "Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself, but the inexperienced have passed along and must suffer the penalty." That would seem to answer your question.

As readers of e-watchman may know, I personally do not believe the evidence supports our belief that Satan and his demons were cast down from heaven to earth in 1914. It seems that when they are cast down, they are going to create a much bigger thud than the First World War. It seems inevitable to this watcher that they are going to leave the impressions of their fall in the form of nuclear craters. After all, it is the Devil's world. When it is time for him to go, it is his right to pull the plug on his world. That being the case, it doesn't seem possible to exaggerate the terror the demons will induce down here when Christ terrorizes them from above.

While it is not possible or advisable to prepare for the years of deprivation the tribulation may bring upon us, certainly having a few things stored up may ease us through the initial phase of the mind-jarring shock of this system's collapse. Ultimately, though, our faith in Jehovah is the storehouse upon which we must draw. But Jehovah also teaches his children to use shrewdness and foresight as well, does he not? Especially if you have dependent children and babies, it is a good idea to give thought to these things. Didn't Joseph save his family by storing up during the times of plenty in preparation for the lean times? It is no lack of faith to prepare for calamity, whether that may be the calamity of an unexpected earthquake or some other natural disaster, or the catastrophe brought on by human folly and demon-induced terror.

Could you please explain the NWT's rendering of Deut. 6:4? If 'Jehovah' is a proper name, this rendering is extremely awkward. Has it always been this way?

Does not 2 Timothy 4:1 support Matthew 25:32 that says when Jesus arrives in his kingdom, he will sit down to judge? The WT has admitted that the judging is future, so isn't it obvious that the arriving of his kingdom is also future as these two scriptures make it clear that the arriving and the judging go hand in hand?