Official GB spin on decreases. (serious)

by yesidid 53 Replies latest jw friends

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  dmouse

  This is possibly preparing the troops for the shock of the first year when stats show an actual decline, rather than an increase, in the number of JWs worldwide - which will come. eventually.

  However, I'm still baffled by the comment, and think it unlikely to be given as an official statement, since it would present JWs with an excuse not to go out in field service anymore.

  Watchtower July 1, 2002, p.13, paragraph 17-19:

  Now is the time for Jehovah to express mercy to his anointed servants and their other sheep companions.

  The evidence that this is so is the extraordinary increase with which he has blessed them…

  18. Each year, hundreds of thousands of additional "foreigners" associate with Jehovah's organisation, and the way will remain open for many more to follow them. Jehovah says to Zion: "Your gates will actually be kept open constantly; they will not be closed even by day or by night, in order to bring to you the resources of the nations, and their kings will be taking the lead" (Isaiah 60:11) Some opposers try to close those 'gates,' but we know that they cannot succeed.

  Jehovah himself has said that one way or another, the gates will stay open. The increase will continue.
• 

  DaCheech

  Down: persecution, end

  Up: we are being blessed "shows we are Jeh's people"
• 

  blondie

  I remember the "some" (COs and DOs) were saying that the more JWs preached the fast the end would come. Well, the WTS got quite a few "questioning" that (a family member of mine did for sure) and responded this way. The WTS speaks out of both sides of its mouth, in print and through its traveling representatives, some times testing the waters of the rank and file.

  ***

  w62 7/1 p. 415 Questions from Readers ***

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  The opinion has been expressed by some that the coming of Armageddon can be hastened by Jehovah’s people engaging more zealously in the witness work, since all the "other sheep" are to be gathered before it begins. Is this the correct understanding?—W. S., United States.

  With reference to the beginning of Armageddon Jesus said: "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be." From this we may gather that Jehovah has set a definite time for Armageddon to begin and that it waits upon no human activity.—Matt. 24:36, 37.

  Today Jehovah’s people are in a similar position to that occupied by Ezekiel. Even as Jehovah warned Ezekiel that he would be held responsible for the destruction of the wicked if he failed to warn them, so Jehovah’s people today will not be free from the blood of all men if they neglect to warn the wicked. But if Armageddon were to wait until all had been warned, then failure to assume responsibility by Jehovah’s people would merely make it necessary to postpone Armageddon.—Ezek. 3:16-21.

  In times past some have construed the words at 2 Peter 3:12 (AV, margin), "Looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God," to mean that the day of God, here referring to Armageddon, could be hastened. But not so. The New World Translation gives the correct thought: "Awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved and the elements being intensely hot will melt!" There is, however, a sense in which God’s people may be said to hasten the day of God and that is by preaching its urgency, getting people to realize that it is nearer than they think!
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  mkr32208

  I want to see them completely stop and see if the rocks start going door to door selling distributing watchtowers!