Nightmares about Armageddonᴴᴰ | Lydia Finch [Ex Jehovah's Witness]

Lydia Finch talks about 'going out with a bang' rather than fading from the Jehovah's Witness.
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[@selfsustainableokanagan4142]

This was lovely to watch. My fellow ex jw friend sent me a comedy skit, which then got the ball rolling to find this video. First time in 16 years I've watched apostate stuff, and never felt more understood in my life. Thank you.

[@oohlala650]

I nightmares too. I was raised in the cult and got out when I was 18. Best decision I have ever made. Im 51 now and never looked back!

[@juliak8189]

I really identify with Lydia's comment about how people still just see JWs as quirky Christians, which can make it difficult to find effective therapy. But I recently read that the trauma caused by being raised a JW (or in a cult) is called complex trauma - it is similar to PTSD except that where PTSD is caused by events over a shorter period of time, complex trauma is caused by events over a longer period. The info I read said to look for a cognitive therapist who treats people with complex trauma and who has experience treating people who were formerly members of cults and high-control groups. Hope that helps someone out there!

[@voiceofwisdom3408]

This might be the best comment I have ever read on youtube.

[@ruthylopez1575]

No longer being affiliated with jw's I still have nightmares of Armageddon! I wake up shaking. The fear they put in these people especially the kids, its traumatizing. It stays with you all your life. Its so sad....

[@guylaurent8138]

My son was isolated in primary school he had to stay outside the classroom door whenever they would talk about holidays, and now my wife who is a witness does the same thing to my grandchildren. The world may not be perfect, but why make the children pay for your own faith, It's your choice to be a witness, God gave you free will he didn't say except for the children, yes you can teach them right from wrong, but their brain is not yet developed to make a choice when it comes to faith...

[@pinkfuschia8140]

My husband was being shunned 1996 until his death in 1997. His parents who lived abroad were told by the elders in their congregation not to speak to him and not to even pray for him in his depression. It was strict 20 years ago. He was terrified of Armageddon. It was so bad that it triggered an extreme reaction one night. Our neighbour had pointed out to me that the stars appeared to be moving in the sky. I thought it must be planes, but there seemed to be a lot of them. I called my husband to take a look, thinking there must be an explanation, like shooting stars or meteors or something. He said "It's a celestial phenomenon! Get inside quick!" He pulled me and the baby in and double locked our back door and told me to get in the kitchen cupboard with the baby as it was Armageddon and the angels were coming with Jesus. I was not a JW and he was in the process of being shunned while going to meetings so he thought they'd kill me. My reaction was to go and unlock the back door and go back outside with the baby to take a look, saying "There has to be some explanation for this, and if it is Armageddon and the angels are coming, then I've got some questions to ask them." He got in a sweat and was saying "Oh its all my fault for marrying an unbeliever! When Lots wife looked back she turned to a pillar of salt! Do as your told for once and hide in there." I remember saying "I think they'd know exactly where to find us if they wanted to if they're angels and they'd get through that door, but why be scared of them if they're from God? Surely they're good?" I went outside and he was scared so much that the baby slept in our room that night and he didn't sleep. The next morning it was announced on the radio that the Civil Aviation Authority had been inundated with calls about the lights in the sky last night. It was caused by a laser show from a local strip club that I had been campaigning against and been in dispute with the owner through the newspapers. My husband was in hysterics laughing at himself. It was as though the club owner had had the last laugh on us as he'd had us running for cover. But the fear was very serious and real.

[@oneerone]

Sounds like he had been really brain-washed by their scary stories. Very sad to hear. Sorry you all went through this. x

[@MuscleMaxZ1]

+Pink Fuschia I am sorry that you and your husband were put through all this mental anguish. Unhappily this is what happens in many cases when people fall victim to supernatural belief systems (WT's in this case). It's worse when one is brainwashed by a high control org. like the WT. Just like the "church" of Scientology, the WT's application of shunning is immoral and the cause of untold pain across the decades. Remember, one can leave the org. and remain loyal to Jehovah. If one says negative things about the org. and the gb's incorrect doctrine, they are not bringing reproach on J. they are disagreeing with mere men who constantly speculate on scripture and speculate they do. The ordinary witness is not allowed to speculate, they must shut up and follow follow follow. In the end, "No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family. - Awake! July 2009 p.28, 29"

[@johnw5584]

See what happens when you oppose a strip club. I try to support the young, single, nubile, flexible, friendly, beautiful ladies a few Dollars are a time. I know I had a good time if I have glitter on my face. Lol.

[@rhodahumphreys6141]

Nightmares about Armageddon? So it would be better if it was hell fire was believed? This I dont understand.

[@luna-p]

@@rhodahumphreys6141 I never feared Armageddon. I figured either I'd end up in paradise or just be dead. I have nightmares about lots of things but never that, I'm surprised when I hear them say that. Hell would probably leave them in constant hysterics

[@TalkBeliefs]

Lydia is always interesting and succinct - thank you for speaking out Lydia!

[@robertbest843]

I was raised in the company as well my mother was baptized while pregnant with me and when I said at 15 years I didn't believe by 16 I was kicked out of the house people who I grew up with houses I spent the night at and they wouldn't acknowledge me when they seen me. To hell with them

[@waynecurtis8909]

Thank you so much for this .I've been out 25 years and feel I'm waking up now .cheers

[@restlessnameless85]

This is so fucking awesome all these people coming together and forming a new community, free from the assholes who shun them.

[@StevenBenDeNoon]

All of you here - be blessed. Wonderful ladies and men. I hope,to meet Cora and Mark I hope for that one day and speak more. You people are heros , keep up your good work, you are making a difference, . We love you ! Steve and Jana from USA and Czech Republic

[@itsaykay]

So courageous of you, Lydia!!!

[@phoenixredstone1873]

I'm so glad I found this! I left the JWorg 22 years ago. I have not regretted it accept for the loss of connection with family. I have a 14 year old son some of my family have never met because I'm not in the "truth."

[@johnnyruins9025]

thank you lydia keep up the good work

[@MrGetonyourbike]

Very good vid many thanks for making this hopefully it will help many people who are trapped in Watchtower cult or be a warning to those who are considering getting involved with them

[@MatthewShute]

Humanity created religious dogma and God(s). Humanity can transcend and overcome them. Great video, I look forward to seeing more.

[@nickyallinger8364]

I remember having nightmares as a child all of the leah remini hub bub has brought all of this back up in my life. I left when I was 13 because my mom divorced my alcoholic father and I was happy she left him. I had known for a few years at that point it wasnt for me. I was very confused about religion for a long time I actually still to this day do not believe in organized religion. I believe there is a God and there is Angel's and if you have a good soul you will go to heaven. I actually confronted my dad a few years ago and told him I would never be a JW and the path I have found sounds alot better than his. I'm happy they are finally being exposed for all of the hurt they cause people and families.

[@abdulabdullah3679]

Poor Lydia ,she is still affected.

[@franchescaceleste2154]

Oh my gosh the Royal Commission and my own adult son actually woke ME up also. Sooo Sad.

[@kaylamartin523]

I used to be a Jehovah's witnesses. it's a religion that tears family's apart and isolates them from any "wordly" contact meaning you are to have no friends that aren't also in the religion leaving you utterly alone of you leave making it feel like a life ending decision weather to leave or stay, disfellowshiping a person leaving them without any friends or family leaving them exposed to a world that they make seem terrifying and is out to get you is so unbelievably wrong it takes a person years to recover from the trauma, I know because my family hasn't spoken to me in three years, because I had sex before marriage now even if that something you believe is wrong should i have to be shunned by my entire family and all of my friends? I am lucky that I had other ex Jehovah's witnesses to help guide me and the man o had sex with before marriage is now my husband and I can't begin to describe our love and how happy I am and how incredibly free i feel now

[@bryanbond3886]

keep up your good work

[@carlatroke4780]

39 years ago they were I say we're very strict on shunning as it happened to me. My family did not associate or acknowledge me except when I got pregnant with my twins and my sister in law gave me maternity clothes. My gave me baby clothes . I did get to see my sister because my dad lived in her home but that was the only time I saw her

[@aliradmard8990]

On the time of inauguration ceremony the selected king " jesus christ" sits on the throne of Jehovah in the midst of his enemies to proclaim the good news of God's kingdom. This government will bring the sanctification upon Jehovah name and vindicate the holiness of his great name.

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

Welcome to reality.

[@clementmabunda3131]

Thank you, Lydia. You've been out longer than I have, but our "activism" started in close proximity, around the Australian Royal Commission. thinkingwitnesses.org

[@mthokozisilanga4497]

Most therapists do not understand JW. Years back I went to one, after having sex with a sister in the org. Guilt, fear was ripping me apart. Fear of the God and which was less than the fear of elders, as I have seen what were capable of. Then there was fear which was worse than the fear of elders, been disfellowshipped and shunned by my only friends I have, then my family and relatives. Since we happened to have had almost every relative in the JW. When I explained to the psychologist that I had to confess, however, I cannot know how the results will be. She said to me confess if that will relieve your burden but if they excommunicate you, you can just find yourself another Christian denomination, maybe similar or different to the one you are in🤣🤣🤣

[@doug814]

I had geddonmares for about a year

[@nicosyiallouris1103]

The days of the cult are Numbered

[@sarahthomas8670]

Really

[@swinnburn]

Who else gives you information,go to your vicar,hello can you tell me somthing about the dead??????!!!He would say would you like some of my jam,I picked the fruit from the cemetery just today.!

[@kikianasahmad2328]

She looks like Jodie Foster.

[@bryanbond3886]

prince my ass they enjoyed his money. that man was so immoral come on. so funny.

[@rebeccagutierrez1401]

Although I truly appreciate this panel and what they have to say. It's very enlightening. I am wondering though if we throw the baby out with the bathwater? I am not a JW and have never been one I am a Christian. In my faith and background we are respected and my walk in the Lord has been a beautiful one for almost 48 years now. Although I've had my trials. It saddens me to know that the members of this panel have become become faithless. All because charlatans of a false cult mess them up. God help them the members of this panel

[@lugiferakuma9949]

guys can some one help an ex-muslim.pleas

[@johnstewart3244]

Hi. if you are still here , reply to this thread please

[@matthewscott1091]

“A Serena Williams type” 😂 It’s funny but also so very true. Think about it. Just being a celebrity whether you’re a famous athlete (Venus & Serena Williams), musician (The Jackson’s, Prince, Ginger Spice aka Geri), model (Naomi Campbell) actor (Damon Wayons, Terrence Howard of Empire) all of these are very worldly professions & against everything the JW’s stand for. Some of those people I listed are ex-JW (Geri of the Spice Girls etc), others don’t talk about it & others still loosely claim the faith (Serena Williams). According to their own doctrine though they’re too “worldly” to survive Armageddon. Even Prince (May he Rest In Peace) couldn’t directly donate to charity (that’s against their beliefs) so he’d give $100k or whatever amount to a friend & have them donate it for him. Isn’t that sad? Having to hide charity. This cult needs its Scientology moment where it’s “sins” are laid bare for the whole world to see! 😉

[@jaimesustaita285]

read 2 Timothy 3: 2 - 5 and Jude 17,18

[@pinkfuschia8140]

Jaime Sustaita I quoted Jude 3-13 to the elders regarding their talks in which they condoned degradation of women as 'a matter of conscience for the family heads to decide on'. I like the book of Jude, it talks about what real apostasy is. These apostates indulge in 'love feasts', telling god fearing women they have no rights and that they do not have love if they don't submit to these unbiblical teachings, while also taking away God's mercy and grace towards repentant sinners.

[@danielarredondo421]

I was born into this fake mediator org. I 17 and plane to pursue drafting career,but an older sister jw discouraged me said the world was doomed going into destruction ,this was 1971.got married at18 divorced in 1981 .I was trown out in to steets like a bag of trash.wife left me for a younger man.i was suicidal,left the org. but never abonden my Holy creator and only mediator,Jesus Christ.Bless all of u and dont ever give up,pray n stay strong

[@willchacon5888]

Where os the 🎻?

[@jaimesustaita285]

she is fine though

[@claudetteearle3052]

It’s interesting how people who had totally imbibed the bible teachings, as being ‘the word of God’ and have been completely over cloaked by a particular religion such as JW, feel that when they ‘woke up’ and immediately tell themselves that they’ve now got the truth and as a result discard everything about God, don’t seem to continue with critical analysis of their current beliefs. Some even take to Atheism as their ‘new truth.’ Very rarely do they wonder whether their new found beliefs aren’t just as flawed, or just less flawed than where they were a week ago, and continue in the search for meaning. Science is still searching and they’ve come up with some wonderful discoveries, some of which are beneficial to humanity and the environment, but on their own trajectory, ignoring other pathways and that in itself is still very limiting. I just find it fascinating that having come through all that brainwashing, they cease to be curious and lose that passion for knowledge.

[@michaelboyd6631]

Did jackp have 2 wife's name Rachael rebacka and rebacka had moer kides the Rachael did and Rachael give the mad to jacup to have and she had 3 son

[@carolwright4970]

1 Timothy 6:20 proves shunning is biblical. Having said that, It is IRRELEVANT how many Ex JW's there are, Jehovah's PURPOSE will continue with or without you. "FEW ARE THE ONES FINDING IT"

[@BrentRF]

A man who pleaded guilty to raping two underage girls he met through the Jehovah's Witness congregation they all belonged to has been sentenced to five years in prison - a "relief" to his victims. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-who-raped-jehovah-s-witness-girls-sentenced-5-years-n1082136

[@BrentRF]

ELENA, Mont. - The Jehovah’s Witnesses must pay $35 million to a woman who says the church’s national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to report her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a congregation member, a jury ruled in a verdict. nypost.com/2018/09/29/jehovahs-witnesses-must-pay-35m-to-sex-abuse-survivor/

[@BrentRF]

"Thus did the Jehovah’s Witnesses build what might be the world’s largest database of undocumented child molesters: at least two decades’ worth of names and addresses-likely numbering in the tens of thousands-and detailed acts of alleged abuse, most of which have never been shared with law enforcement, all scanned and searchable in a Microsoft SharePoint file". www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/the-secret-jehovahs-witness-database-of-child-molesters/584311/

[@longbeachwoman]

“O Timothy, guard what is laid up in trust with you, turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called “knowledge.”- No it doesn’t. You’re thinking of another scripture.

[@raysalmon6566]

Well ok but These people left the wt but they did not find the real Jesus. John 10 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.

[@willchacon5888]

So the clown in the middle has all the answers..mmm...who needs the Bible when you have wonder women and her jokes.

[@AllieBee00]

will chacon you seem pretty bitter.

[@BrentRF]

Thanks for showing the whole world how hateful and snotty jehovahs witnesses are. You make our job so much easier exposing your satanic cult of pedophiles and liars. Keep on judging people and see how that serves you in life.

[@Godisgood173]

Please stop sucking on the water bottle Deborah, it's really annoying and distracting.

[@jaimesustaita285]

that's your guilty conscience letting u know u made the wrong decision.

[@BrentRF]

Who gave you the mandate and right to judge your fellow humans???? Do you think that is a behavior that will attract any followers???? The only people that should have a guilty conscience are JW's for the massive pedophile cover up. That is the real wrong direction.

[@jaimesustaita285]

all I can is say is if I had to choose, out of all the religions out there who r God people, I would have still day jws, and soon we will find out, y'all apostates make it seem that they claim to be perfect human beings, but far from it they never say that ZX anyways ,pretty soon we we'll find who God's people r.

[@BrentRF]

Ya...... all that pedophilia cover up really helps people discern your "true religion". Nothing screams god's people like putting out 10 false prophesies in a single century. I'm sure people are beating down your doors to be in a cult that changes doctrines as often as the seasons change. Truth never changes, it's self evident so JW's have no concept of truth.

[@Jeron_Benton]

6 years later and still waiting …..