Blondie's Comments You Will Not Heat at the 12-25-2011 WT Study (COMFORT)

I was given a telephone tie-in to a congregation. I listened to this and realized that things have changed in the last 10 years. The comments are emotionless and are just rearrangements of the paragraphs. Not a single bit of information that is not in the article. Despite years of theocratic schools, there is no feeling put into their words. The only experiences are the canned ones with no way to confirm them by people with false names. No experiences from people in that congregation, that you have seen year after year, experiences that might mean something.

1. What did Jesus do for mourning ones, and why?

JESUS CHRIST said: “My food is for me to

do the will of him that sent me and to finish

his work.” (John 4:34) In carrying out his

God-given assignment, Jesus reflected his Father’s

magnificent qualities. Among these is

Jehovah’s great love for people. (1 John 4:7-10)

The apostle Paul noted one manifestation

of that love when he described Jehovah

as “the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3) Jesus

demonstrated such love when he did what

was foretold in Isaiah’s prophecy. (Read Isaiah 61:1, 2.)

Jesus read from that prophecy in the synagogue

at Nazareth and applied its words to himself. (Luke 4:16-21)

During his entire ministry, Jesus lovingly comforted

mourning ones, bringing them encouragement

and peace of mind.

COMMENTS

Was this sister “comforted”? Telephone hookup:

My mother had this arrangement. What it actually accomplished was isolating her from the Cong. As she was 89 she didn't drive at night. She also had macular degeneration. She would study all week for the meetings. This arrangement released the cong from the responsibility of seeing her, calling her, etc. When she died she felt very forsaken by them. She only served the borg for 59 years. I hate them.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/219958/1/Telephone-hook-up

2, 3. Why do Christ’s followers need to imitate

him in giving comfort?

2 All followers of Jesus need to imitate him

by comforting those who mourn. (1 Cor. 11:1)

Paul said: “Keep comforting one another

and building one another up.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

Especially do we need to comfort others,

since mankind now faces “critical times hard

to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) More and more,

honesthearted people throughout the world

are being confronted by some whose words

and actions cause grief, heartache, and sadness.

COMMENTS

Did jws in your area truly comfort, or was it only words at the meetings? Was it an elder saying “how are you” as he walked past without stopping to hear your response?

3 As Bible prophecy foretold, in these last

days of this wicked system of things, many

are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money,

self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient

to parents, unthankful, disloyal,

having no natural affection, not open to any

agreement, slanderers, without self-control,

fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers,

headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of

pleasures rather than lovers of God.” Such

attitudes are now worse than ever, for ‘wicked

men and impostors have advanced from

bad to worse.’—2 Tim. 3:2-4, 13.

COMMENTS

Does 2 Timothy 3:2-4, 13 apply just to non-jws?

Lovers of themselves (How jws kiss the feet of the GB, Cos, Dos, elders)

Lovers of money (money for publications but not food or medicine)

Haughty (obeying GB = obeying God)

Disloyal (WT traditions above God’s principles)

No natural affection (families and friends not allowed to help each other, even if sick, shunning df’d people)

Jesus healed Gentiles and associated with prostitutes and tax collectors, lepers)

Slanderers (lied about God by saying the end would come in 1914, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, (1984), (1994) and then saying the rank and file lied)

Lovers of pleasure (rank and file pay for their hotel, travel, gifts and they accept)

Wicked (how many died between 1967 and 1980 when organ transplants were forbidden”

Imposters (as the numbers of the so-called anointed increase the GB labels them as not being genuine, who really are the imposters)

4. What has happened to world conditions in our

time?

4 All of this should not surprise us, since

God’s Word makes it clear that “the whole

world is lying in the power of the wicked

one.” (1 John 5:19) “The whole world”

includes political, religious, and commercial

elements, as well as propaganda

channels. Without question, Satan the Devil is

properly called “the ruler of the world” and “the god of

this system of things.” (John 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4) Conditions

throughout the earth continue to deteriorate because

Satan now has great anger, knowing he has only a short

period of time left before Jehovah takes him out of the

way. (Rev. 12:12) How comforting it is to

know that God’s toleration of Satan and his

evil system will soon end, and the issue Satan

raised regarding Jehovah’s sovereignty will

be settled!—Gen., chap. 3; Job, chap. 2.

COMMENTS

Yes, the WTS thinks all non-jws are under Satan’s control not just organizations.

SOON—1914, 1925, 1975….132 years and counting

Evil system – all non-jws, 7 billion men, women, children, babies, even in utero

Yes, how comforting to know that soon all these people will be destroyed, forever, no resurrection for them, all infected by Satan.

The Good News Is Being Preached Earth Wide

5. How is the prophecy about the preaching work

being fulfilled in these last days?

5 During this difficult period of human

history, what Jesus foretold is being fulfilled.

He said: “This good news of the kingdom

will be preached in all the inhabited

earth for a witness to all the nations;

and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:

14) This earth-wide witness work regarding

God’s Kingdom is being done on an ever-increasing

scale. Today, over 7,500,000 Witnesses

of Jehovah, associated with more

than 107,000 congregations throughout the

earth, are preaching about God’s Kingdom,

even as Jesus made it the theme of his

preaching and teaching. (Matt. 4:17) As a

result of our present-day preaching work,

great comfort is being given to mourning

ones. Why, in two recent years, a total of

570,601 individuals were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses!

COMMENTS

Are jws preaching the good news of the kingdom. Every month the WTS provides 4 presentations in the KM….never a mention of Jehovah or the kingdom, and only Jesus about 5 times..

Do non-jws count as individuals?

*** w00 1/15 p.13 par.17***

Fifth,we see a global preaching work being accomplished, which Jesus said would take place just before the end of this system . Jesus stated: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Today, that prophecy is in the course of fulfillment on an unprecedented scale. True, untouched territories still exist, and it may be that in Jehovah’s due time, a large door leading to greater activity will open. (1 Corinthians 16:9) Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23.

Do you share in comforting mourning ones?

6. What do you think about the scope of our

preaching activity?

6 The great scope of this preaching work

can best be appreciated by noting that Jehovah’s

Witnesses now translate and distribute

Bible literature in over 500 languages.

Nothing like this has ever been seen in all

human history! The existence, work, and

growth of the earthly part of Jehovah’s organization

are truly extraordinary. Without

the direction and help of God’s powerful

holy spirit, it would be impossible for such a

thing to take place in this world that is under

Satan’s control. Because the good news

is being preached throughout the inhabited

earth, comfort from the Scriptures is now

being enjoyed not only by our fellow believers

but also by mourning ones who accept

the Kingdom message.

COMMENTS

Does the WTS even keep up with the birth rate each year? Has it made advancement in China, India, or Muslim countries?

Fellow believers = only jws

Mourning ones who accept the WTS message……..

Comforting Fellow Worshippers

7. (a) Why can we not expect Jehovah to remove all

distressing situations now? (b) How do we know

that it is possible for us to endure persecution and

tribulation?

7 In this world full of wickedness and suffering,

we are sure to encounter some situations

that cause distress. We cannot expect

God to remove all sources of unhappiness or

grief until he destroys this system of things.

Meanwhile, as we face foretold persecution,

our integrity to Jehovah is at stake as supporters

of his universal sovereignty. (2 Tim.

3:12) Helped and comforted by our heavenly

Father, however, we can be like anointed

Christians of ancient Thessalonica, who

bore persecutions and tribulations with endurance

and faith.—Read 2 Thessalonians

1:3-5.

COMMENTS

So are all 7 billion non-jws wicked? As to providing physical help to non-jws and jws the WTS applies this improperly.

(Mark 14:6-7) . . .For YOU always have the poor with YOU, and whenever YOU want to YOU can always do them good, but me YOU do not have always.

8. What Scriptural evidence is there that Jehovah

comforts his servants?

8 There is no doubt that Jehovah provides

needed comfort for his servants. For instance,

when the prophet Elijah’s life was

threatened by wicked Queen Jezebel, that

prophet lost courage and fled, even saying

that he wanted to die. But instead of rebuking

Elijah, Jehovah comforted him and gave

him the courage to carry out his work as a

prophet. (1 Ki. 19:1-21) That Jehovah comforts

his people can also be seen in the experience

of the first-century Christian congregation.

For instance, we read of a period

when “the congregation throughout the

whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered

into a period of peace, being built up.”

Moreover, “as it walked in the fear of Jehovah

and in the comfort of the holy spirit it

kept on multiplying.” (Acts 9:31) How grateful

we are that we too have “the comfort of

the holy spirit”!

COMMENTS

OT—Elijah was protected but Isaiah died

NT—did God interfere directly with the history of that time?

9. Why can learning about Jesus be comforting to us?

9 As Christians, we have been comforted

by learning about Jesus Christ and by walking

in his footsteps. Jesus said: “Come to me,

all you who are toiling and loaded down,

and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon

you and learn from me, for I am mild tempered

and lowly in heart, and you will

find refreshment for your souls. For my

yoke is kindly and my load is light.” (Matt.

11:28-30) Learning about Jesus’ upbuilding

way of treating people and then following

his positive example is in itself a great help

in relieving the stress that we may experience.

COMMENTS

Christians = only jws are TRUE Christians all others are PROFESSED or SO-CALLED

Do all jws feel like Christ is the one treating them will love in the WTS?

10, 11. In the congregation, who may be able to

give comfort?

10 We can also be comforted by fellow

Christians. For example, consider how

the elders in the congregation help those

facing distressing situations. The disciple

James wrote: “Is there anyone [spiritually]

sick among you? Let him call the older

men of the congregation to

him, and let them pray over

him. ”With what result? “The

prayer of faith will make the

indisposed one well, and Jehovah will

raise him up. Also,

if he has committed sins, it

will be forgiven him.” (Jas. 5:

14, 15) Other members of

the congregation can provide

comfort as well.

COMMENTS

Fellow Christians = only jws are true Christians, the rest are only so-called or professed

Yes, the elders will help the spiritually sick but not clean up your vomit, that’s for the women to do.

“If he has committed sins” I remember an account in the publications where a depressed sister was “helped” by the elders telling her she must have some hidden sin she needed to confess; she finally said, “if I make one up” will you help me.

11 Women often find it easier

to talk to other women

about various problems. Especially

can older, more experienced sisters

give much fine advice to younger sisters.

These older, mature Christian women may

already have gone through similar situations

in their lives. Their sympathy and feminine

qualities can be of much help. (Read

Titus 2:3-5.) Of course, elders and others

can and should “speak consolingly to the

depressed souls” among us. (1 Thess. 5:14,

15) And it is good to bear in mind that God

“comforts us in all our tribulation, that we

may be able to comfort those in any sort of

tribulation.”—2 Cor.1:4.

COMMENTS

So is the WTS saying that women are qualified to be shepherds? What happens when a sister is found possibly guilty of a serious sin? Women then are no longer qualified and does that mean that men are less qualified to be empathetic? Did Jesus assign women to handle the situation of the Syrian woman, the Samaritan woman, the woman who had lost her only son?

12. Why is it vital that we attend Christian meetings?

12 A very important means of being comforted

is to be present at Christian meetings,

where Bible discussions encourage

us. We read that Judas and Silas “encouraged

the brothers with many a discourse

and strengthened them.” (Acts 15:32) Before

and after our meetings, there is upbuilding

conversation between members of

the congregation. So even if we are suffering

because of some distressing situation, let us

not isolate ourselves, for doing so will not

improve matters. (Prov. 18:1) Instead, we do

well to follow the apostle Paul’s inspired

counsel: “Let us consider one another to incite

to love and fireworks, not forsaking the

gathering of ourselves together, as some

have the custom, but encouraging one another,

and all the more so as you behold the

day drawing near.”—Heb.10:24, 25.

COMMENTS

Christian meetings = only meetings of jws

How many elders ever talked to you before or after a meeting unless to point out some flaw you had….OF COURSE, commending you first…a false commending.

Isolate ourselves = actually shunned and isolated by so-called FELLOW believers who find you spiritually dangerous and a downer.

Draw Comfort From God’s Word

13, 14. Show how the Scriptures can comfort us.

13 Whether we are baptized Christians

or are individuals just beginning to learn

about God and his purposes, we can find

great comfort in the written Word of God.

Paul wrote: “All the things that were written

aforetime were written for our instruction,

that through our endurance and through

the comfort from the Scriptures we might

have hope.” (Rom. 15:4) The Holy Scriptures

can comfort us and make us “fully

competent, completely equipped for every

good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Knowing the

truth about God’s purposes and having a

genuine hope for the future will certainly

provide great comfort. Let us, therefore,

make full use of God’s Word and Bible based

publications that can comfort us and

benefit us in many ways.

COMMENTS

Baptized Christians = only jws

Find comfort in the written Word of God ***which can only be understood by going through the WTS (quote)

*** w94 10/ p.8 The Bible—A Book Meant to BeUnderstood***

CHANNEL TO UNDERSTANDING T HE BIBLE

JESUS assured us that after his death and resurrection, he would raise up a “faithful and discreet slave” that would serve as his channel of communication. (Matthew 24:45-47) The apostle Paul identified this channel to the Ephesian Christians when he wrote that “there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10, 11) It was the congregation of anointed Christians, born at Pentecost 33 C.E., that was entrusted with the “things revealed.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) As a group, anointed Christians serve as the faithful and discreet slave. (Luke 12:42-44) Their appointed assignment from God is to provide spiritual understanding of the “things revealed.”

Even as Bible prophecy pointed forward to the Messiah, it also directs us to the close-knit body of anointed Christian Witnesses that now serve as the faithful and discreet slave. It helps us to understand the Word of God. All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.—John 6:68.

Both young and old can be encouraging

14 Jesus set us a fine example by using the

Scriptures to instruct and comfort others.

During one of his post resurrection appearances,

for instance, he ‘fully opened up the

Scriptures’ to two of his disciples. As he

spoke to them, their hearts were deeply

touched. (Luke 24:32) In keeping with Jesus’

excellent example, the apostle Paul ‘reasoned

from the Scriptures.’ In Beroea, his

listeners “received the word with the greatest

eagerness of mind, carefully examining

the Scriptures daily.” (Acts 17:2, 10, 11) How

appropriate it is that we read the Bible daily,

benefiting from it and from Christian publications

designed to bring us comfort and

hope in these troublesome times!

COMMENTS

Do jws use the bible or do they reach for a WTS publication, or the Reasoning book because they can’t remember the scriptures to defend the WTS doctrine? Do jws “carefully examine the Scriptures”...as to whether these things were so? Here were 2 anointed men, traveling overseers, and the Beroeans did just trust men’s words. Here though is what the WTS says about this scripture applying to the GB (QUOTE***)

This is the only place I can find where the WTS applies this this way…in the midst of the so-called Great Apostasy. Do no question us is the message.

Acts 17:10,11

10 Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roe´a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.

*** w81 2/15 p.18Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?***

How shall we view the spiritual food provided by this “faithful and discreet slave”? Should it be viewed critically—‘Oh, well, it might be true but then again it might not be and so we have to scrutinize it very critically’? Some apparently have felt that way about it. To support their way of thinking they have quoted Acts 17:11, which says of newly interested persons at Beroea: “Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”

But does this mean that those Beroeans were looking for flaws in the message they were hearing, or that their attitude was one of doubting? Does this set a precedent for regarding critically the publications brought forth by the “faithful and discreet slave,” with a view to finding fault? Not at all!

First of all, let us note the setting of the statement about the noble-minded Beroeans. Paul, accompanied by Silas, was on his second missionary tour. Due to persecution that arose, the brothers at Thessalonica sent them on to Beroea. In Beroea they met sincere Jews who had strong faith in God’s Word. These were not Christians yet. They were simply interested persons who had to satisfy themselves that what Paul was telling them had the support of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Up to this time, these devout Jews in Beroea may never have heard of Jesus Christ. What Paul was telling them was entirely new. So those noble-minded Jews in Beroea searched the Scriptures daily to make certain that the references that Paul gave were really part of God’s Word. And with what mental attitude did they pursue their studies? With a skeptical attitude, trying to prove Paul wrong? No, they were altogether unlike Paul’s critics on Mars Hill, for we read that they heard Paul’s testimony with “the greatest eagerness of mind.”—Acts 17:11, 32.

Additional Ways to Comfort Others

15, 16. What are some things we can do to help

and comfort fellow Christians?

15 We can help and thus comfort fellow

Christians in various practical ways. For instance,

we might do some grocery shopping

for elderly or sick fellow believers. We might

help others with their chores, thus showing

personal interest in them. (Phil. 2:4) Perhaps

we can compliment fellow worshippers

on their good qualities, such as their

love, resourcefulness, courage, and faith.

COMMENTS

Fellow Christians = only jws

Can you imagine an elder doing grocery shopping for the elderly or sick? How often was it the women in the congregation? Who would mow their lawn – some teenage male jw or some older brother who had no other value in the congregation.

When was the last time anyone complimented you sincerely….I had some compliment me on my comments or talks but had not idea what it had been about…their minds were elsewhere.

16 In an effort to comfort the elderly, we

can visit them and listen carefully to what

they tell us about their past experiences

and obvious blessings in Jehovah’s service.

Why, this may actually encourage and comfort

us! We might read the Bible or our

Bible-based publications with those we visit.

Perhaps we could consider the current article

for the weekly Watchtower Study or the

material that will be covered during the

Congregation Bible Study for the week. We

might join them in watching a DVD on

a Scriptural theme. Then, too, we might

read or relate some encouraging experiences

found in our publications.

COMMENTS

Who visits the elderly…the elders arrange for others to do, mostly the women, after all they don’t have many important duties anyway. When a sister tries to give her experience at the WT study, the conductor cuts her off.

17, 18. As Jehovah’s loyal servants, why can we be

sure that he will support and comfort us?

17 If we notice that a fellow worshipper of

Jehovah is in need of comfort, we can mention him or her

in our private prayers. (Rom. 15:30; Col. 4:12)

As we personally cope with

life’s problems and diligently seek to comfort

others, we can have the same faith and

conviction as did the psalmist who sang:

“Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself,

and he himself will sustain you. Never will

he allow the righteous one to totter.” (Ps. 55:

22) Indeed, Jehovah will always be there to

comfort and support us as his loyal servants.

COMMENTS

Fellow worshipper of Jehovah = not Christians…..although it was “divine providence” that Jesus followers came to be known as Christians not jws. At Acts 1:8 Jesus himself said his followers would be witness of him (Jesus) not Jehovah.

No comfort from Jesus? Where is Jesus in the WTS hierarchy?

18 God told his worshippers of ancient

times: “I—I myself am the One that is comforting

you people.” (Isa. 51:12) Jehovah

will do the same for us and will bless

our good deeds and words as we comfort

mourning ones. Whether our hope is heavenly

or earthly, each of us can be comforted

by Paul’s words to his spirit-anointed fellow

Christians: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself

and God our Father, who loved us and

gave everlasting comfort and good hope

by means of undeserved kindness, comfort

your hearts and make you firm in every

good deed and word.”—2 Thess. 2:16,17.

COMMENTS

Finally Jesus is mentioned.

Do You Recall?

How widespread is our work of comforting mourning ones?

What are some things we can do to comfort others?

What Scriptural proof is there that Jehovah comforts his people? (his people = only jws)

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Sorry to be so late; have had a health issue lately. No comfort from the jws though even when I was a faithful jw. Those who helped were the weak, the poor, the looked down upon.

Love, Blondie

www.jw.org ( to find WT pubs online)

Ding

The Bereoans had a healthy skepticism.

They checked out everything Paul said by the scriptures.

Paul didn't call them rebellious or untheocratic for doing so.

Nor did he tell them that they were unable to understand the scriptures without reading additional publications by "God's organization" that explained them.

WTWizard

The whole article is rubbish. Comfort? After they waste the first 6 paragraphs describing the witlesses' activity, I run into this:

7 In this world full of wickedness and suffering,

we are sure to encounter some situations

that cause distress. We cannot expect

God to remove all sources of unhappiness or

grief until he destroys this system of things.

I know why we cannot expect God to remove all sources of unhappiness or grief--because he hates us. The whole "until he destroys this system of things" is just another scam designed to get people to wait for something that isn't going to happen. Then they waste the remainder of the article with more rubbish that it is OK that Jehovah will not remove our problems. Using the scriptures to "comfort" someone in lieu of removing the source of the problem is my biggest no-no. Just because Jehovah cared about those people in the Bible does not mean he cares about you, or anyone else around you. I do not derive comfort in someone else getting their problems removed when I have yet to ever have anything go right. Just another way for that Almighty Lowlife Scumbag Jehovah to welsh on his obligation.

As for comments at the Kingdumb Hell being more canned than before, I remember when I was in, it was trending that way. Through the 1990s, I could give experiences and illustrations not in the paragraph without too much trouble. In fact, I always regarded it as cheating if I was asked to illustrate and used the illustration already in the article. I felt the obligation to come up with a different illustration that would go along with the article, not use the one already given. These days, "Illustrate" simply means use the illustration you are supplied with. And, half the time their illustrations are complete rubbish. I never had trouble coming up with a better illustration, while still supporting the article, than the one supplied. And now those better illustrations are going to be lost forever.

And they wonder why so many people are missing boasting sessions. Canned comments along with fake comfort--no value.

therevealer

I love how they have to print stuff like paragraph 15 and 16. And yes they have to print stuff like that because it doesn't typically happen spontaneously. Bin there.

therevealer

And paragraph 12. Before
and after our meetings, there is upbuilding
conversation between members of
the congregation.

Oh yes. that always happens.

JW GoneBad

Blondie says:

"Sorry to be so late; have had a health issue lately."

No need to apologize. Just get better. Like others on this forum, you're an excellent researcher and damn good at putting the WTBTS in their place, you're a gem, hard to replace!

Appreciated your input and research on this lesson, thank you.

PaintedToeNail

I sat through this study-it made me ill to listen to.

therevealer

Regarding Jehovah's Witnesses, the New
Catholic Encyclopedia states: "They regard
the Bible as their only source of belief and
rule of conduct."

this is from the latest public watchtower. Notice how they use the statement that the bible is their "ONLY" source and then look at paragraph 13 and14. Let us, therefore, make full use of God's Wordand Bible based
publications that can comfort us and benefit us in many ways. And they use this language far more than just saying God's word or the bible.

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Heat at the 12-25-2011 WT Study (COMFORT)

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