Posts by pcop

24

Watchtower buys apt complex in Fishkill, NY

by lostinthought in

jw
friends

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/12/22/jehovahs-witnesses-buy-fishkill-rivercrest-apartments/20788311/.

jehovah's witnesses now owns a major apartment complex in the town of fishkill.. tenants say they've been told their leases will not be renewed.. the sale of the 250-unit rivercrest luxury apartments closed dec. 3, the deed on file at the dutchess county clerk's office shows.

while sale price is not stated, the transfer tax indicates a transaction for $57 million.. rivercrest is a modern development west of route 9d just north of beacon and was a project of avr realty, which also developed other housing and commercial spaces in that area as well as projects in eight states.. the sale deed is between rivercrest development llc, based in yonkers, and watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. as the buyer.

pcop

I have always had a problem with ANY religious organization who looks more like a business (real estate purchases) than "humanitarian." It simply does not fit in with what Christ taught about "selling all you have and give to the poor and THEN follow me."

This is a conscience thing folks! And, something deep down tells me that there is something not quite right with any of it.

The Apostle Paul was absolutely on target when he said at 1 Tim 6:10:

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things."

It pains me to hear persons claiming to follow Christ justify and rationalize this. Tell the hungry and destitute in the world that real estate is more valuable than they are!

I truly believe that Christ would question why the vast monetary resources are not being used to feed and care for the less fortunate.

The excuse made today is to build Kingdom Halls and print publications for the futherance of the "Preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom."

This is one of the biggest scams being perpetrated by the Watch Tower organization. I will tell you why?

Because neither God or Christ has commissioned humans to preach or declare any Good News of the Kingdom. This is explicitly stated in Scripture.

If one reads from "The Revelation By Jesus Christ That God Gave him" (Rev 1:1) one will read at Revelation 14:6 EXACTLY who will be entrusted with declaring the Good News of the Kingdom. Read for yourself:

"And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people."

It is an angel. On solitary angel. Not any human.

No one here or anywhere can lift out of Scripture a Good News message. Why? Because it does not exist. When it is given, it will not be given to any human to declare.

What the Watch Tower organization has done is play the angle of creating the idea that it has been entrusted in preaching a Good News of the Kingdom message. It has gotten away with not showing where this message is in Scripture and has duped persons into believing that placing publications and making Bible studies is that Good News of the Kingdom message. Sadly, many have fallen for it.

Once it has convinced persons that what it is doing is preaching "The Good News of the Kingdom" message, it can then justify and rationalize use of its vast resources for printing more publications and building Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls. (Attaining more material wealth under the guise of preaching a Good News of the Kingdom).

They have cleverly taken what is clearly stated in Revelation 14:6 and misinterpreted it to mean that this solitary angel in midheaven is DIRECTING humans in the Good News of the Kingdom preaching. That IS NOT what Revelation 14:6 says. It is clear: One angel will be given and will declare the Good News about God's Kingdom. I believe that angel will be Michael (Christ). As he is the "Faithful Witness" and will declare the Good News as a witness to all of the inhabited earth. (Matthew 24:14 and Rev 1:5)

If times are so urgent as the WT claims, why is it buying up real estate? These material things will be destroyed along with the world.

The focus should be on the human element: Feeding the poor and caring for the sick and elderly.

Jesus was NEVER engaged in commercialism like this.

What is wrong with "Christianity" and all of its elements? (Including the Watch Tower)

I will tell you: It is not from God and Christ. It's mindset is debased and of the world. Money and material wealth is more important than people.

I would rather give a hungry person a piece of bread and some cool water to drink than a Bible.

It is very easy for those who live in the West who live in "relative" luxury to those who live in places such as Africa and India who push Bibles and Bible studies. You would whistle a different tune if you were in the shoes of the poor, sick and destitute in the world. Yet, you prefer to give them a Bible and offer a Bible study than give them something to eat or medicine or warm clothing. THIS IS WHAT JESUS TAUGHT !!!

My God! Christianity and indeed all religion is shameful.

We have lost it.

R.Jerome Harris
e-Prophetic.com

15

An email from a Jw "friend" to me (accusing me of apostasy) a few months back.

by objectivetruth in

jw
friends

i was going through old email and i came across the below email from a former acquaintance of mine who is a jw.

when we were both jw's, we were both pretty liberal in our beliefs.

its quite interesting how cognitive dissonance kicks in, for many & not too much for others.

pcop

Why would you let someone place their own label upon you? Unless you subscribe to the Watch Tower organizations program of placing a foul stench upon persons who question and challenge their teachings or who have doubts about them.

As a former-JW of 30 years (disassociated) I have awaken and realize that if I am worried about being called an Apostate, then I am still in fear of the organization.

I reject such labelings upon myself.

Think: Who has given the Watch Tower or any other religious organization to place such a label upon you. That is outright arrogant! No human entity or agency is your judge.

When the Watch Tower and its members - JWs - call persons "worldly" and "apostates" they have made a "conclusion" and "judgment" upon those persons. This is not for them to do. God and Christ are our judges.

So what I am saying is place yourself in the mindset that you are not an Aposate because someone else says you are.

I am an African American. Do you think I subscribe to the N-Word upon myself because that is what someone wants me to be? No!

If ANY religious organization and its members feels that it has to label others in such a way, then it shows that they are in fear. It shows that they have placed themselves as above others as Judges.

It also implies concealment and containment of "the truth."

Overall, it shows an un-Christlike attitude and mindset as the Master did not treat anyone in this way; not even his enemies.

Remember, you are to follow Christ and worship the One True God.

Don't worry about the labels men LOVE to place on others to cover their own fears and insecurities.

Additionally, when you are labeled as such, know that Christ was called far worse and even thought to be demon-possessed. Count it as a blessing that persons label you as such. It does not mean that the label is true, but that you suffer as Christ did.

75

New forum 'parousia' is upon us! (software version)

by Simon in

the time has nearly come to switch over to the new forum software.

of course it's not completely finished yet (and never will be) but i think it's good enough to go live with and probably already better than the current one.

i'll give you a quick overview of what to expect and post more detail about the changeover process later.. cloud platform.

pcop

No Parousia is upon us. The world of mankind will go on for many hundreds of years before the figs on the tree turns ripe. The fig tree has not even sprout a bud yet.

Jesus cautioned that we "be watchful" because we will not know when he is coming.

This watchfulness involves looking at the events of the world. We are not even close.

Many take the bad things happening in "their world" (from their perspective) and then cry out "the end is near" or "Jesus is about to return."

I tell you, from the perspective of a starving Somalian over the decades or to the recipients of the two atomic bombs - for example - these were terrible events and occurences.

Yet, it is usually one-sided Westerners (I am an American) always view things from their perspective thus attempting to speed up the process.

One must look at the proverbial fruit on the fig trees. They are not budding yet. Meaning many many things must occur before that sign is seen in heaven (by those who reside in heaven [angels] and Christ is given his kingdom over the earth.

Obey Christ and keep your senses! We watchful! This is not it.

It is humans and religious organizations that are making people think in this manner.

Only by obeying Christ and listening to HIM will you know when the fruit on the fig tree is ripe.

No religious organization or human can tell you that. In fact, they will tell and teach you wrongly as they have been.

15

What Are changes reflected in New Bible teach book?

by Joshua.r in

except picture changes, what are the content changed in new bible teach book?

which pages?.

pcop

Once again "a book" is made "The Teacher"

People do you not realize that no book by any name (man gave the book the Bible its name) can be our teacher! No book teaches! Christ teaches!

Why would an organization NOT create and entitle a book, "The What Does CHRIST Teach"

Matthew 23:8

But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers.

John 13:13

YOU address me, ‘Teacher,’ and, ‘Lord,’ and YOU speak rightly, for I am such.

Many of you have become students (disciples) of the Bible rather than students (disciples) of Christ.

The Bible gets far more mention and prominence than our one TRUE Teacher and "Word of God!"

Does not anyone find this strange?

3

When you Create your own Bible, it is Much easier to convince of your Lies.

by objectivetruth in

the word in question is the hebrew word mishneh meaning "a double, copy, second" (http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/4932.htm) this word is a very specific word, which implies a double portion, or twice as much.. it is numerical and precise.. the new world translation translates this word as double in the below 2 scriptures :.

isaiah 61:7 "instead of shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout joyfully over their share.yes, they will possess a double (mishneh) portion in their land.

everlasting rejoicing will be theirs.

pcop

Unfortunately, all Bibles are "created" by men and thus, riddled with error and human prejudice.

One cannot honestly and fairly make statements such as the WT creating its own Bible without understanding that they were all created by men.

If persons realize that no book is of any consequence. Rather, it is Christ Jesus "The Son of God" who is.

In the scrolls (The Bible verses at Luke 9:35) who is it that God commands us to listen to? A book or a person?

44

Looking for Truth with a capital "T"?

by Terry in

jw
friends

stop begging for crumbs like a pigeon in the park!.

nobody anywhere has truth tied up with a red ribbon to hand to you so you.

can go skipping down the road with a smile!.

pcop

Christ has the truth!

It is unwise to look for the truth in anything or anyone else.

Only if people would listen to The Most High at Luke 9:25 and to His Son at John 14:6.

We are told who "is" the truth.

This person - who is the truth - has told us how to access the source of wealth of endless knowledge, wisdom and understanding - The Father - via prayer "through" him. It is a simple matter of asking for it.

Yet, so many revert to consulting books (yes, that includes the Bible) and other humans and their agencies.

What a faithless world not to have confidence that God is able to provide us with his wisdom, knowledge and understanding just by asking for it through the "only way possible:" His Son.

But no! Confidence is in religious organizations and a book called the Bible as being the way.

The world has forgotten - yes those who claim that are followers of Christ - that God did not send us a book (He could have); he did not send us religious organizations (He could have); He did not send us any of the Prophets of old (He could have). No! He sent us his Son and He commanded that we "Listen to" that Son. (Luke 9:35)

Yet, many of you defend the human and human agency and listen to them.

If they do not listen to the Master, why are you listening to them?

Put this to the test: Ask the Father for His wisdom, understanding and knowledge through His Son (who is not king yet) and have full confidence that He will get these things to you.

The moment you start relying on a book called the Bible and other publications and relying on religious organizations for answers, you will have failed and have not placed faith and confidence in God that He can provide you with those things.

You become like Peter when he stepped out on the sea to walk on it to go to Jesus. He lost confidence and faith and failed to walk on the water.

Our faith and confidence MUST be in The Son of God and no human or human agency or doctrines out of them.

Test it !!!

12

Elder Tells Study to stop using google for research ???

by raymond frantz in

elder tells study internet is bad for research.

(watch the video here...).

it might be that the watchtower has embraced the internet in recent years as never before but in private things are the same .watch this video as an elder strongly discourages a study from using the internet to get answers.shameless mind control from the same people who promote in any kind shape and form their version of online truth ,jw.org.. not many years ago they used to demonise the internet as the following quote from july 2007 kingdom ministry shows:.

pcop

Here is another example of the WTBTS quarantining information. It is also an insult to individuals who are no longer children.

It always bothered me during my more than 30 years as a JW why the WT felt the need to conduct research for me, conclude for me and tell me what to think and believe as if I am incapable of it.

Parents of children should protect their children from information that would be harmful to young and impressionable minds. But as those children mature, they no longer need mommy to "breast-feed" them. On their own they can eat solid food, digest it, and expel the waste.

The WT practice of information control is no different from what Nazi Germany did in its book burning practice. It is a preventing individuals from finding out information on their own and determining for themselves if it is good or bad; from God or not from God.

This practice keeps its membership "kindergarten-level" and forever "dependent" upon mother to feed them milk. (The same milk, I might add).

It also sheds light on the idea of a WTBTS "fear of discovery" by its members if they were allowed to use any and all resources available to them.

What is really hypocritical is that when the Brothers conducted research to compile the "Aid To Bible Understanding" and the later "Insight To the Scriptures" volumes, those Brothers used so-called "worldly" resources to do so. The Watch Tower library of books at the headquarters is full of works one would find in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and many others. Most JWs are not aware of this and are steered away from thinking about it.

I find it strange that the many writings of the founder of the WT - Charles Taze Russell - are not made public to other JWs and they do not appear on the WT Library CD. Why? I will tell you why?

Because if one reads the writings of the WT founder C.T. Russell and compare them to what is being taught today, there are vast differences. Yet, Russell is hailed as a "Faithful and Discreet Slave."

No only that, a study of Russells writings against the backdrop of Watch Tower teachings today; C.T. Russell would sound like an Apostate.

I have said many times before, one is ALWAY safe and on the right track if they obey God's command concerning his son at Luke 9:35. "Listen to him."

We are not to listen to men and their human agencies no matter what lofty claims they make.

Listen to Christ: The person. (He is not an organization and not in any organization)

45

Many Member Just Want to Believe

by OnTheWayOut in

if you are/were an active jw, you are now here on jwn so, for whatever your reasons, you woke up to some degree- hopefully a great degree.

so what i am saying may not apply to you.. i know that if i had not already left, i would have stormed out on the day they studied "overlapping generation.

" i am quite confident i couldn't have stayed for such an obvious switcharoo just to make the end seem imminent and try to explain how wts was wrong, but not entirely wrong in the past.. but i had to wonder how that change (or others) didn't cause most jw's to walk out.

pcop

I see a combination of factors that keep many glued to the WTBTS:

Indoctrination over the years that there is no place else to go and being outside "the organization" results in loss of eternal life. The belief that being cutoff from the organization where salvation can only be found. A fear factor.
Stigmatization of being labeled a "worldly person."
Ostracization by friends and family. (Many cannot deal with the mental aspect of this).
Becoming accustomed to the "going along" with everything and shielding and protecting ones inner feelings from anything that might disturb them. (In other word, not wanting ones world rocked).
The powerful "group dynamic" that exists and the "virtual arms" that embrace the WT membership. A family atmosphere is created and many do not want to upset or disappont "the family."
Time vested. Many simply feel that they have been associated with the organization for many years and do not want to count those years as a bad investment.
Many believe that "the organization" is the truth as Phizzy believes. Yet, they are in error because it is not an organization that is "the truth" it is Christ Jesus who is "the truth." Therein, lies the subtle deception: Other things are being ascribed only what Christ Jesus is. For example, the Bible is being called "The Word of God." The WTBTS is being called "The Truth" and also "The Way" and "The Life" if one really thinks about it.

Sadly, many JW - while claiming to be in the business of the truth - are repelled by the truth. (I know I was).

When questioned about the origins of 1914 (Second Adventist Movement and not the Watch Tower) many simply do not want to deal with it. When asked to reconcile such a date with what Christ stated at Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:42, and Acts 1:7, many hem and haw or run away or make such statements as " Well, I believe it is the Truth, and that's good enough for me" which is a "I-don't-care-and-I-don't-want-to-know" mechanism. There is a mental block that keeps JWs (and others) from confronting TRUTH.

This repulsion to the truth (which is Christ and his teachings) reminds me of how demons reacted in Christs presence. They were repelled by him.

I am well qualified to write what I write here as I was a faithful JW for more than thirty years. I left the organization quietly by disassociation. I did not leave angry or disgruntled. I left as a very concerned person that something was very very wrong.

The "friends" did not want to deal with the hard questions such as 1914 and failed prophetic utterances within the WT organization. I saw a subtle shift and deviations from what Christ taught to what "the organization" taught and still teaches.

I saw more and more a book (The Bible) getting more props and mention as "The Word of God" rather than the one who IS The Word of God: Christ Jesus.

I saw "The Organization" and the men who sit on top of it being elevated to lofty and holy positions to such an extent THEY became objects of reverence rather than Christ himself.

I saw "The Organization" literally usurp the titles of "The Truth, The Way and The Life."

As Phizzy stated, he/she believes that the WTBTS is "The Truth" rather than recognizing that Christ is "The Truth." Any who were and are JWs will acknowledge the use of the expressions "In the truth" or "Are you in the truth?" All JWs know what they mean. They mean "Are you in the organization?"

The organization hails itself as The Way. How so? Because it says that no one can approach the Father unless they do so via the organization and in association with it. (Read the baptismal vow). Yet, Jesus said that "he" is The Way to the Father.

The organization hails itself as The Life. It teaches that all within it are in a "spiritual paradise." In other words, within a particular lifestyle that leads one to eternal life as long as they remain it.

The Jews who The Most High sent His Son to rejected the Messiah. Do not be fooled or deceived, the Son of God is being rejected by those claiming to follow him.

I have awaken and would NEVER NEVER ascribe to any human or human agency that which belongs to my Master: The Way, The Truth and The Life.

Yet, that is exactly what JWs and members of ALL of the religious system called "by men" Christianity has done.

I am intelligent to know that many of them "do not know" and are unware that is what they are doing.

Thanks to my Master Christ Jesus and his teaching and example I can say as he did: "Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

This teaching is vastly important to all who claim to follow Christ. It keeps us humble and it reminds us that we were once in that state of slumber and denial.

77

Just quit quietly - the law is on your side!

by Ajax in

jw
friends

freedon of religion guarantees any individual the legal right to abandon any religion at any time for any reason.. if you are a citizen of a country which champions human rights, then your government doesn t care what religion you join, but they will uphold your freedom to join it, without interference, coercion or persecution.

your countries human rights legislation will conversely uphold your rights when it comes time to abandon any religion you so choose.

those (elders) who incite others interfere, coerce or persecute those who have left will be in transgression of the human rights statutes.. a person is only obligated to ecclesiastic law if he exposes himself to it or transgressed it while still a member of a religious community.. when your time comes to abandon the jw-wt cult, do it while still in good standing, be proactive - be decisive -put it in writing!..and do it before the hounders set sights on you.. write a card or letter with as much or as little explanation as you one day might wish to share with pharisees and lawyers.. take this card to a notary public to have your signature witnessed and have the writing overstamped in several places with the date.

pcop

Everyones circumstances are different. Some have close family and friends that they are "emotionally" attached to and this makes it difficult (even if one no longer feels and believes as they do).

Then there are those who have been told that there is no other place to go "outside" of "the organization" and there is a modicum of belief within the individual that they might lose out of the prospect of eternal life if they severe ties with "the organization." Sadly, many these individuals have not come to understand that Christ is "the way, the truth and THE LIFE" not a religious organization as they have no power of granting eternal destruction and eternal life. Religious organization has "stolen" and "usurped" a role not given to them.

There is a certain fear of leaving the organization. Many who leave (whether by disfellowshipment or disassociation) eventually go back because of this "certain fear" that there is no place to go and that they will lose their lives if they are out of the organization.

After more than 30 years as a baptized JW, I left quitely by disassociation. This came as a complete and utter shock to those who knew me. No one was expecting it as I would have been counted as the last person to leave the organization. I remember the last meeting I attended (the Service Meeting) and I knew on the evening I walked out of the Kingdom Hall, I would not return. I kindly said "good night" to the "friends" as I usually did but would not return.

No law on earth can keep you bound to a religious organization. When one became a JW you did not sign any legal documents, you just uttered a baptismal vow.

A close look at the wording of the baptismal vow shows that it is a vow to "the organization" and not to God and Christ. The wording of the vow says that it is "the organization" who decides whether one is a worshiper of God. It says as long as one is associated with the organization one is then a "Jehovah's Witness."

Worshipers of God and Servants of Christ are not to be determined by any human agency. No religious organization paid the price for the purchase of mankind. Only Christ paid that price and is thus mankinds Head and Owner. (1Cor 11:3)

It is Christ who will determine who his true servants are, not any religious organization. (Matthew 7:21-23)

If possible, I would advise one to "get out" of ALL religious organizations. Count it as a blessing and rejoice AS LONG AS you go to "The Person" of Christ.

There does not exist anywhere on earth for Christs true disciples to go "into." In other words, there are no religious systems or organizations established by him that we are to go "into."

Christ did not go "into" anything. In fact, he "went out" into a wilderness and was there tempted by the Devil. Christ called his first 12 disciples "out of" a religious system "to himself."

The Apostle Paul knew this very well. He knew that Christ did not establish a religious system (but a Brotherhood) and Paul cautioned that Christs disciples were not to "go into" systems of organization (camps and cities) to worship the Father and serve Christ BECAUSE none existed.

Rather, Paul taught that true disciples of Christ were to "GO OUTSIDE" those established things. It was "OUTSIDE" the camp that Christ was. So rather than join and "go into" these camps, we leave them and "go outside the camp" to the person of Christ.

Notice at Hebrews 13:13-14 that disciples of Christ have not city (place of organization) to go into, it is yet to come.

"Let us, then, go forth to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach he bore, for we do not have here a city that continues, but we are earnestly seeking the one to come."

Do not confuse this with meeting together. Meeting places today under the banners of Catholicism, Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism, Jehovah's Witnesses (WTBTS), etc are "cities" where people are organized and divided.

This is not what God and Christ intended as discipleship is to the "religious organization" and not "to Christ."

Neither did God or Christ command anyone to be called by such titles. To accept such titles upon oneself make one an adulterer as the title/name Christ told us to be called by is simply, Disciples.

To take another name other than the one he told us to be called is like being married to another person (religious organization or system).

The world is in an adulterous state at present.

81

Lets list everything that has pagan origins!!

by song19 in

i have a feeling i am going to have to explain to my jw folks why i have decided to allow my children to participate in holidays at school.

theyll probably be wondering too why i will get together with our non jw family for the holidays.. .

we know jws avoid holidays because of their pagan origins.

pcop

To be quite honest, what men call and named - Christianity - is of pagan origin. Paganism is always defined from the viewpoint of certain people; namely, those of European descent.

The Most High God did not send His son to into the world of mankind to establish a religious system called Christianity. Neither did he authorize men to fashion a book called the Bible.

Neither did Jesus or any of his disciples who were with him and after him used the expression "Christian" or "Christianity." If we are to be in the business of the truth, lets be truthful about all of this.

How many times does one see the expressions Christianity, Christians and Christians in the book men themselves authorized and call "The Bible?" Let's be truthful?

When you find all instances of the above expressions (one of them you will not find), take note of WHO is using the expression. Is it disciples of Christ or person(s) who were NOT his disciples.

The Most High God sent His son into the world of mankind to establish a "Brotherhood" not divisive relgious systems ALL who teach Christ differently yet ALL say they have the truth.

The Most High can care less about religion and religious systems or entire nations. He looks at "the individuals" - though different from one another by language, race, etc - who belong to the various nations who "come out" of them and bound themselves to Christ himself. This is what Christ meant when he said that we are to be "his disciples" and that we were to go "make disciples" to him. (Matthew 28:19-20)

God is not a respecter of any religious system or religious organization no matter what lofty claims they make for themselves.

The Apostle Peter at Acts 10:34-35 said in this regard:

"For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."

Notice that joining religious organizations and systems are not mentioned here; rather, it is the man in "every nation" that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

It is foolish to think becoming a member of one of the more than 41000 contending so-called Christian religious denominations is what makes one acceptable to God.

Christ never taught that. Then again ... few actually REALLY listen to Christ as God commanded us to. (Luke 9:35)