by JH 19 Replies latest jw friends
It would seem if prophecy was important to be understood it would say something like, "In the year 2006 the nations will have a great war and ten years later the end will come." Why would all the important stuff be so shrouded with mystery? If prophecy has no definite meaning or time what good is it?
Ken P.
NO....
Sure do. I just don't belive the WTBTS has the keys of understanding to those prophecies. In fact, I don't know who does!
Forscher
I still believe in:
Santa Claus
Easter Bunny
Tooth Fairy
Gremlins
Leprechauns
Spontaneous Human Combustion
Nessie
Bigfoot
The Fountain of Youth
Miracles
Prophecy
Sure do. I just don't belive the WTBTS has the keys of understanding to those prophecies. In fact, I don't know who does!
thats the way I feel too
I believe in them but don't know how or when they (the unfulfilled ones) will be fulfilled. It is sad that that so many people lose faith in the Bible because a religion (any religion) is repeatedly proven wrong. This doesn't disprove the Bible, only disproves the presumptious religion.
Reluctant Buddha you missed out the Holy Grail!
Reclacitrant Crumpet no longer has the mark of Daniel on her forehead - ie the one that reads STUPID and does not believe in bible prophecy.
(editted to add: does believe in some prophecy - ie the one that comes after the news and prophecies the weather)
It doesn't take much investigating to discover that any prophecies in the Bible that appear to have been clearly and unambiguously fulfilled were written after their fulfillment. The Bible's record is so poor that there is no rational reason for putting any faith in it's predictions.
Absolutely NOT!!!!!!
Even more so, I don't believe in prophets, especially the prophets of the WTBTS.
This is was on the first things I struggled with. I kept thinking, but WHAT DOES this prophecy really mean?
I've started to read other Bible commentaries on the matter, simply to compare points of view. I'm amazed to see how logical and interesting the explanations can be. You have to remember the Watchtowers motives. They try to understand everything as if they are the center of Gods amazing plan. Their interpretations become very weak and far fetched because they try to make organizational history fit with Bible Prophecy.
For example, traditionally there have been four different ways to interpret the book of revelation. The Watchtower only presents its own opinion in its book, but there are so many others. This pick and choose method doesn't allow someone who really wants to study the books see what has been the interpretation historically. Most JWs are simply impressed that people could even come up with an explanation for this stuff and don't give it a second thought.
Personally I've enjoyed Albert Barnes commentary when it comes to prophecy. It has its failings like all commentaries, but he makes a good point here and there. Bible commentaries can at the very least, much more logical than a Watchtower book.
And to answer the question, I do feel that Bible prophecy is important but in a different way from what the Watchtower suggests. NT Bible prophecy gives me the sense of glorious things to come, things that are beyond any of us to fully understand. To use such glorious promises and announcements as a way to build faith in a man made organization i feel is absurd.
