Oh, yes, paragraphs 9 & 10 really resonated with me. How grateful I am that our loving heavenly Father and His Son led me away from the Watchtower... And "no one can take that conviction away from [me]."
bennyk
JoinedPosts by bennyk
-
19
Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear At the 08-31-08 WT Study (FIRST LOVE)
by blondie inq 1, 2. how did you feel when you became convinced that what you were learning about jehovah was the .
truth?.
what convinced you of the truth?
-
-
-
17
Challenges of apostasy: Attacking the Watchtower Beast
by easyreader1970 ini am an "active" jehovah's witness in that i go to the meetings, smile and nod, and pretend to go along with everything happening around me.
this is not because i believe that the wbts has any redeeming value but because i am trying to keep my family from being shred to pieces.
because of my "independent thinking" and use of rational thought, i would clearly be labeled "apostate" and ousted from my current congregation.
-
-
bennyk
(Y knot): The others stay due to the mixture of belief in the core 3, and family.
(Insearchoftruth): What are you referring to when you say the "Core Three?"
(Answer): The disbelief in trinity, Immortality of soul, and hellfire.That isn't much reason to stay -- atheists don't believe in the Trinity, immortality of the soul, and hellfire...
-
47
Do JW's reveal all their doctrines to those they study the Bible with?
by BonaFide inyes, the fairly new bible teach book contains some info in the appendix, but do witnesses include that in the study?.
-
-
bennyk
Rosalee writes:
Point (1). When young children are baptized it is their decision. They come from families who are already serving Jehovah.
When young children are baptized, it is often because of pressure from their parents, as well as their peers. The children come from families who are already serving the Watch Tower Society, not neccessarily Jehovah.
Point (2) The screaming during rape is a Biblical mandate ... not made up by man.
Rosalee seems to forget that such screaming was mandated in the Mosaic Law, and is thus not binding on Christians. Also, that the Watch Tower Society has changed their teachings on this subject repeatedly.
Point (4) There is no recruitment. The Good News of the Kingdom is being preached worldwide as Scripturally foretold.
If you honestly believe there is no intent to recruit, you aren't much of a Witness. The "Good News of the Kingdom" is indeed being preached worldwide, but not by Jehovah's Witnesses, who are preaching 'another Gospel' -- one condemned in the Scriptures. (Gal. 1:8,9)
Everyone has the freedom to choose to accept or reject the message.
Of course, if you use your freedom to reject the Society's unscriptural teachings and blasphemous claims after baptism, you will be shunned by those still under mind control -- which may include many of your relatives and conditional friends...
-
33
If Jesus Has Been Ruling In Heaven Since 1914, What The Hell Is He Doing???
by minimus incan anyone please tell me?
-
-
bennyk
According to the Society:
Jesus waited almost 1900 years to begin His rule, finally taking the throne in October, 1914.
Four and one-half years later, He turned everything over to the "Faithful Slave" (although He didn't let them in on it until 1928).
-
37
The Loyalty Question
by choosing life inhow many here have been asked the loyalty question by an elder.
i am referring to, "do you believe that jehovah is using the faithful and discreet slave class to accomplish his work?
" or something along this line?.
-
-
bennyk
Two Elders met with me because they were concerned about the fact that I had entirely (and abruptly) ceased meeting attendance. Using WTS literature, I had just discussed with them a number of discrepancies [read: "lies"] in the Society's historical claims. I asked how these things could be so -- how the Society could publish such things...
They asked: "But you still believe that the WatchTower Society is God's Organisation, right?"
I answered: "I can not unequivocally state that it is. That is the significance of my concerns regarding the Society's claims. It devolves on you Brothers to provide me with a reasonable answer."
They have not announced me as DF'd/DA'd. They also have not given an answer (reasonable or otherwise).
-
27
Generation change & Michael/Jesus - wife's bible study
by insearchoftruth insat in on my wife's bible study tonight, next week the husband of her study sister is coming with her, he is actually the presiding overseer of the congregation.
tried to get me to talk about trinity next week, but the topics will be either generation or michael.. .
the sister pointed to the statement in matthew on generation, i believe it was matthew 24:14 and said that since jesus was talking to his disciples, that equates to the anointed.
-
-
bennyk
The sister pointed to the statement in Matthew on generation, I believe it was Matthew 24:14 and said that since Jesus was talking to his disciples, that equates to the anointed.
And just how does "disciples" equate to "anointed" (?) -- the "Anointed" were not in existence when the words were spoken (pre-Pentecost), and thus could scarcely be the "this generation" about which Jesus spoke... And, in fact, the WatchTower Society specifically precluded their current understanding in the "Question from Readers" back in November 1995:
*** w95 11/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers
At 1 Peter 2:9, the “King James Version” calls anointed Christians “a chosen generation.” Should this affect our view of Jesus’ use of “generation” recorded at Matthew 24:34?
[...]As those footnotes indicate, ge´nos is appropriately translated by the English word “race,” as commonly found in English versions.
At 1 Peter 2:9, Peter applied the prophecy found at Isaiah 61:6 to anointed Christians with the heavenly hope. These are drawn from many nations and tribes, but natural backgrounds are put behind them as they become part of the nation of spiritual Israel. (Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28, 29; 6:16; Revelation 5:9, 10)
Peter identified them as becoming, in a spiritual sense, a distinct group—“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession.”But in the Greek text of Jesus’ words found at Matthew 24:34, we find the word ge·ne·a´. It is widely recognized that Jesus was referring, not to any “race” of people, but to the people living at a certain period of time.
[...]
As discussed on pages 10 to 15, Jesus condemned the generation of Jews of his time, his contemporaries who rejected him. (Luke 9:41; 11:32; 17:25)
He often used qualifiers such as “wicked and adulterous,” “faithless and twisted,” and “adulterous and sinful” in describing that generation. (Matthew 12:39; 17:17; Mark 8:38)
When Jesus used “generation” for the last time, he was on the Mount of Olives with four apostles. (Mark 13:3)
Those men, who were not yet anointed with spirit nor part of a Christian congregation, certainly did not constitute either a “generation” or a race of people.
They were, though, very familiar with Jesus’ use of the term “generation” in referring to his contemporaries.
So they logically would understand what he had in mind when he mentioned “this generation” for the last time. The apostle Peter, who was present, thereafter urged Jews: “Get saved from this crooked generation.”—Acts 2:40.[...]
Yes, in the initial fulfillment, “this generation” evidently meant the same as it did at other times—the contemporaneous generation of unbelieving Jews. That “generation” would not pass away without experiencing what Jesus foretold.
As Williamson commented, this proved true in the decades leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction, as an eyewitness historian, Josephus, described.
In the second or larger fulfillment, “this generation” would logically also be the contemporaneous people.And in 1997:
*** w97 6/1 28 Questions From Readers ***
Many scriptures confirm that Jesus did not use “generation” with regard to some small or distinct group, meaning only the Jewish leaders or only his loyal disciples.
And in 1999:
*** w99 5/1 10-12 "These Things Must Take Place" ***
So when, on the Mount of Olives, he again spoke of “this generation,” he evidently did not mean the entire race of Jews throughout history; nor did he mean his followers, even though they were “a chosen race.” (1 Peter 2:9) Neither was Jesus saying that “this generation ” is a period of time.Perhaps she can give an explanation (?)
*******************************************************************************
I asked about the heavenly calling being reopened and she said that is not the case, she said that all that is going on is replacements for those of the remnant who have gone astray.
The "Sister" needs to keep up with the blinking Light; perhaps she needs to re-read the "Questions from Readers" in the 01. May 2007 Watchtower.
-
21
"by their fruits"....wouldn't this mean their teachings as well???
by oompa ini urge any lurkers, or newbies, or doubter here to read...and study the proclaimers book....and read many old articles in the watchtower.
anybody who can explian to me how we could be sooooo wrong about soooo many things...........you have a willing ear here.
gods holy spirit would not allow for teaching falsehoods....period!
-
-
bennyk
The Society substitutes their supposed "New Light" not for "Old Light", but "Old Darkness." There is no gradually increasing understanding.
Secondly, and perhaps of greater importance (cf. 1 John 2:21), the Watch Tower Society lies about its "Old Light".
-
19
Do all people go to heaven - my wife has started her "Bible Study"
by insearchoftruth inok, just got off the phone with my wife and she has started a new bible study with still another new sister.
she likes this woman, unfortunately.
well my wife's original intention was to learn how to study the bible, well it seems that the sister twisted this to ask her to provide a topic she wants to know more about and then she will show my wife what the bible says about this.
-
-
bennyk
The 01. April 1986 Watchtower states:
“Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? [...] That only 144,000 Christians will receive the heavenly reward. (Revelation 14:1, 3)
The 1995 WT refutes their own WTS doctrine re: only 144 000 going to heaven.
8 When Israel rejected and killed His Son, Jesus Christ, God finally rejected her. So no longer was that Jewish nation a figurative wife to Him, nor was He the Father and Teacher of her wayward sons. (Matt. 23: 37,38) However, Israel was only a typical, or symbolic, wife. The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 54: 1, which speaks of a "barren woman" who is different and distinct from "the woman with the husbandly owner," the nation of natural Israel. Paul reveals that anointed Christians are children of the "barren woman," whom he calls "Jerusalem above." This antitypical figurative woman consists of God's heavenly organization of spirit creatures. -- Galatians 4: 26,27. (wt95 08/01 page 11 paragraph 8)
The scripture thus indicates (using the WTS' own interpretation of the 'women') that the number of anointed Christians exceeds that of fleshly Israel. The cumulative number of natural Israelites between the Exodus and the coming of Christ Jesus was in the many tens of millions; therefore, many more than 144 000 are spirit-anointed Christians.
I hope this helps.
-
45
Judicial Committee formed, can they do that with only one "witness"?
by BonaFide ini have started to read about cults with the book by steve hassan.
i look over my shoulder at the library, no way in the world i will check it out or buy it and take it home.
thank you all for your recommendations.
-
-
bennyk
And you can't form a judicial commitee to have a fishing expedition. You can have 2 elders ask questions so as to investigate a matter but that is not a JC. If a person admits to wrongdoing without any witnesses, a JC can be formed but not only by means of 1 witness or even hearsay.
These things would violate official policy. But such things occasionally do happen nonetheless, particularly if the victim is unaware of proper procedure.
-
9
September 1, 08 Watchtower --- PDF! (100 years ago)
by cabasilas inwell, actually, this is a pdf of the september 1, 1908 watchtower.
this is the "spiritual food" the people in the organization were receiving a hundred years ago!
at that time, the magazine was called zion's watch tower and herald of christ's presence and was still being distributed from allegheny, pennsylvania.
-
-
bennyk
I remember the letter from the Reprints, and have always wondered if it were legitimate or written in house; the name "I. N. Cognito" struck me as tongue-in-cheek...