Me, too!!!!!!!! :flyup: <p style="text-align: left;">No doubt, I’d give up the next second to be outta here brothers and sisters! But if the days or hours are tarried, let’s not forsake our fellowship and let us keep encouraging each other, that we are of the same mind and watching with one heart and spirit and mind. But ready, oh boy, am I ever so ready!</p> I was primarily a lurker on the Old Ritan, agree with someone else that it’s where I got my news, and now I read more on FB because it’s convenient But even there things have more so dried up. I don’t have time to watch YouTube videos, and that seems to be what’s posted mostly. Honestly, I’m just waiting for his return. The current events and feasts aren’t surprising or exciting any more. I’m not holding my breath with watch dates. It’s any day now - and I just can’t wait to hear our trumpet and go home. Thats why I posted recently, asking what other main things could happen? Like a new temple actually built, not just the plans. A peace plan actually put into place, not just talked about. Things like that might make me look up and take notice. Oh Maranatha!! My point was not geared to trying to calculate the day of our departure. Staying informed is great, revealing the love of God and the Rapture in our hearts is also wonderful! But I speak to the issue of participating and enjoying fellowship as well as we follow various Rapture websites. IMHO, it is not only about the destination, but enjoying the trip we take to get there! TR Hello all! Thank you TR for starting the thread. I know that we all felt the difference but didn't quite know how or if we should mention it. The fellowship was wonderful then and still is- but I think the reason that it has seemed "cooled off" may be different than what it looks like on the surface. I would like to add my 0.02 cents in as well as why the site is a bit different then it was back when it ended in 2015. At that time, there were so many things happening that were pointing us to Ezekiel 38 and Isaiah 17; and many things happening in the sky...blood moons and such. We were all on fire starting to recognize the signs that were and are pointing towards the Tribulation. At that time, Russia was newly moving into Syria and Iran hadn't yet become so chummy with Russia. We have seen their alliance become much stronger and the friction between us become more frequent. Since then we have also seen the whole Saudi thing start to happen where they want peace with Israel. We have seen Christian persecution ramp up exponentially. We have seen evil on full display in the world and they call it "good", at the same time they also call us, the Word and the church evil. The whole "middle east peace deal" which has been in the headlines is now finally being put on the table. The weather has literally gone insane....floods, mudslides, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, sink holes, hail in the summer???, massive animal die offs as well as pestilence like oh my gosh....seen Vegas lately?? What has changed, IMHO...is that back then we were looking, discerning and investigating very hard to see if indeed this actually is the time nearing the Lord's return....and now... there is no doubt, not in my mind and I am pretty confident many of yours as well. The birth pangs are not stopping, they are coming on more frequent and more complex, incorporating all of the signs simultaneously. There is so much in the news daily that we can't even comment on it all. We are all also weary to some extent as well; we all have been waiting and watching for a long time, many of us several years, some of us decades and seen many a high watch day come and go... to us it seems as though the Lord tarries...when in truth so many others in the world have just woken up to the facts. We are all trying to finish strong, the Lord has put us to work witnessing in these last days, we have had persecution, health issues, job demands and grief and loss as well. I truly believe all of our hearts are still here....but strangely there really is not that much left to speculate on... it is like we are all just sitting together at an event right outside the door, waiting for the doors to open and for it to begin....we are all present, dressed and ready....there is nothing else that needs to happen to convince us of our impending appointment. We are all watching as the Temple is being planned, we expect to hear more about the "peace deal" which may morph into The covenant afterwards. To see Damascus get destroyed or the armies of Russia, Iran and Turkey gather at the gates of the Golan heights would not surprise any of us.....it is just that close....we are all waiting for the sound of the trumpet, and thank Jesus... I think we all know and feel in our hearts...it really is not that much longer....see you all soon :heart: Thanks, appreciate the evenhanded and wisdom filled response. Indeed, we are all seemingly holding our collective breath. Again, it is with the utmost love and respect that I try to engage on this site, and try to be obedient to the Lord's leading. I will never claim any special gifting from the Lord, but rather try and be an encouragement however I can. As stated before, I believe that through our interactions we are indeed forging eternal friendships here in this realm. That will give us blessed memories in the next realm! TR Hello All; Big time, very long-time lurker here. I've lurked many years on the old site and was so excited when this site was re-birthed. This is a great thread and so many comments that resonate with me; I'm driven to participate in this topic. I am not a Facebook fan so although I glance at the Ritan FB page, the format is not my thing. There have been many recent events that caused me to rush to this site, only to find no posting on the topic, when at one time, (as was previously mentioned), I would have learned about it here first. With that said, I'm old enough to realize that if everyone (I'm talking to myself here) waits for "someone else" to initiate or respond to a post, there wouldn't be a site. "Build it, and they will come" comes to mind. I think this site will thrive again! I think the momentum was lost after the original RITAN site closed. The people who enjoy Facebook gravitated to the new FB site; but there were lots of people who don't do facebook. I felt like I was hanging in the balance. Prophetic things were happening and I felt so frustrated not having an outlet of like-minded thinkers to tap into for their perspectives/opinions. I LOVE bible prophecy and bible archaeology. I have no one in my circle of friends or family who share these interests.........except you. I have learned so much from this site; more than I could have ever imagined. So, I will make an effort to step out of from behind the curtain and participate. I'm up for adoption! I'm no scholar; I'm not a minister; I'm just a God- fearing women with an insatiable desire to learn and grow in all things GOD, in these very difficult and incredible times in which we live. Seeking Illumination, that is exactly how forums like this one grow to be the way the old Rita/Ritan was. Members just like you and me and all those who are active here, who are not professed experts but professed lovers of Jesus Christ, wanting to participate in a community of like-minded thinkers. The beauty of a community like this is the ability to share our thoughts and events without having to be an expert or feeling like there will be some blowback if we didn't say something just right. So many people in this community have gentle spirits and kindness dwelling in their hearts. Those of us who moderate this site try to do so with gentleness and kindness always remembering that we are serving Jesus in what we do. While I have not seen this new iteration of Ritan meet the level of the older sites I also know it takes time to get enough people to critical mass and we just haven't reached that point yet, so I am very, VERY happy when people like you are coming out of lurking and into participation. It truly is people just like you who make this forum work. Thanks for joining. Love your heart! TR Tender Reed- just wanted to add- and I speak for the others also I believe- that we so appreciate your commitment, energy and enthusiasm to this site- and if the site gets a fire burning with lots of new and engaging threads- I am sure you will be the happy instigator!! :heart:
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