Yes it is true that many of the attendees are not Forum members but do read, reread and read again the articles on Bible Truths! There are some that I have seen at every Conference I have attended (4) since Nov. '05. They dissect the papers with bible in hand searching both (as the Bereans) for the treasures contained within, in my own experience I have found many more gold nuggets as I earnestly verify (scripturally) what Ray has written and the Lord has opened my eyes to scriptures I never understood before. I have found this can only happen when we actively search and seek His Wisdom, it does not happen while we sit on our hands as we wait for some new "profound" thing to satisfy our itching ears (for a few days).
To be honest here there are many members within the Forum who place less of an emphasis on the wonderful spiritual meat the Spirit has provided us through Ray and more emphasis on feelings, intuition or a desire for some "new thing." I have seen some who act as if this has all become rather stale and so "yesterday."
Please forgive me if I sound a bit harsh or even judgmental but a patient study of the incredible body of work available for free on Bible Truths will unlock many sacred secrets and leads to an inderstanding in how we should study the scriptures.
It said from time to time that too many of us "follow" Ray Smith, I would like to say that is not the least bit true, this statement can (and is) a subtle yet effective way to plant doubt in a guest's or new member's mind before they had the chance to study and verify for themselves the treasure contained in Bible Truths. This may be something some will have to answer to at the White Throne Judgment.
I have been reading these articles for well over 2 years now and can truthfully tell you that I still learn alot on every reread, how can someone who once read a few or skimmed over the articles judge the merit of what is there? I have yet to see the challenge (to refute with 2 or 3 scriptural witnesses) successfully met, that in itself is quite a feat when you consider the volume of work available.
For most of my life I have been a rebel, rejecting out of hand any submission to authority, this has landed me within a jail cell more than once and almost got me killed a few times as well, I do not subject myself to Ray but I do submit to the Spirit who guides his writing.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe