Hi, Gladys!
I’m so sorry this is escalating in such a tumultuous and dangerous way.
I’m not a professional, yet, I fear that without intervention your situation will not end well. Be careful that the object of his frustration does not become you. Ease your way into the hands of professionals; don’t attempt to handle this alone.
While it sounds very constructive and positive (his claim that Scriptures and God alone suffices) it is the same trappings/ploy: only when you surrender to the Jehovah Witnesses’ way of life would you have, in his mind, worked for that utopia he offers (‘even if you don’t love me, we can work it out–remain a family for the sake of the children…’).
Again, not a betting man, yet, I bet that the solution will never lead to he leaving the Jehovah Witnesses; and that ‘Yahweh and Scriptures alone’ simply means Yahweh and Scriptures according to what ‘JW elders say.’
Here’s one thing I learned from my older brother–there was an issue with some guy, on account of a girl, and my brother found out about the incident… he told me to never reveal my intentions or my purpose to the opponent–if I reveal my moves he would be expecting them and prepare a counter attack; I think that some of his military experience kicked in on that advice… which I now offer you; do not use threats nor explain to him that you are leaving (if it comes to that particular determination).
I cannot emphasize how telling his actions with the knife is… nor how he continues to hold you accountable (even when refusing to relinquish the knife or come down he seeks you out, not to apologize or to show you that he has in deed calmed down… but only to burden you with the responsibility of his welfare and to blame you for “abandoning” him… [Sorry this is going to be a tangent that you may not appreciate but it came to mind and it helps me place some levity on this reply: this scene reminded of one of Cantinfla’s skids where he is talking about how his mom died when he was just a poor child of thirty something.]
Please, do not be taken in. If your husband is truly at such crossroads the best thing for him to do is stop going to JW services for a while and to go to family counseling with either a Catholic professional or a secular professional–someone that would offer him a different perspective than ‘you’re doing good brother, just get your wife and family in line.’
I wish I had the means to make your world a happy, safe, and Holy one.
May the Holy Spirit Guide and Protect you and your children.
Maran atha!
Angel