Posts by Saintbertholdt

22

How to Read Financial Statements

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just put an entry on my blog.

thought it might be useful in all the discussions about money.

feel free to post questions or comments either here or on my blog.. http://pathologicallyintellectual.blogspot.com/.

Saintbertholdt

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. - The medical accountant Luke

TALES OF FUTURES PAST, PART I: WHY IS THE YEAR 1934 SO IMPORTANT?

by Saintbertholdt in

hi there forum,.

its sunday.

and even as an atheist i'm having flights of religious fancy.

Saintbertholdt

Hi there forum,

Its Sunday. And even as an atheist I'm having flights of religious fancy. Whaaaat? Why?

Yesterday I went through the new book for prospective Jehovah's Witness novitiates: 'What can the Bible Teach us?'. I chuckled when I saw the funky commercialized jw.org (tm) logo which received a whole page dedication (page two). I was also struck (as others here on the forum are) by the dumbed down language that was used within the new book. It really does feel as if the organizations target audience is now as young as eleven years old. I then considered how the organization is seemingly having serious financial troubles and so I was doing different projections about possible Watchtower futures.

One scenario that keeps on haunting me is that there exists a very slim chance that the current Governing Body could blow the whole game. How? By claiming that Armageddon is (date setting) imminent. If one looks at the current political situation in Syria where the US and Russia are now embroiled on two sides of a very morally ambiguous fence, the Governing Body might perceive these developments and their own financial troubles as clear indications that 'the end' is nigh. So what would happen if in the midst of their financial woes they did a 1975 type of prediction and it backfired? Coincide this with a 'what if' where their financial chicanery was simultaneously fully exposed in the worlds press? In short a mass exodus would ensue, but what then?

In one possible variation of that unknown country which we call the future, a new sect is born: The Millennial Bible Student Movement (MBSM). In this possible future or alternate time-line of many 'what ifs', I project that as a response to and sudden trauma of losing their beloved organization, many ex-members would immediately try to fill the void. New tenets and doctrines would have to be invented. As a public service to this possible future, I have developed (I did this yesterday) a new religion with its own set of tenets and doctrines, which to your horror I will now begin to share with you.

So to all you forum ex-Witnesses, think of this as an old time Sunday radio horror show, with your deepest fears realized and the Watchtower madness continuing in religiously fevered perpetuity. Mwua hahahahahahahaha... Awe at the fecal splendor as I confabulate one part dumbed down and plagiarized 'What can the Bible Teach us?', one part Charles Taze Russell prophesy and one part which I pulled straight out of my ass. But before you think this is just harmless fun, let the reader take heed and beware: This is some potent cool-aid. No effort has been spared and this is a viable cult. The first part discusses when the gentile times ended and develops the theme to the 'New System' with PART II. It then gets downright weird with part III. Are you ready? You have been warned...

Camel cigarettes, Pabst Blue Ribbon in association with Quaker Oats presents! Master B's theater:

TALES OF FUTURES PAST, PART I: WHY IS THE YEAR 1934 SO IMPORTANT?

Queue effects: Creaking door, cold wind and echoing footsteps...

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WHY IS THE YEAR 1934 SO IMPORTANT?

The prophecy in Daniel chapter 4 indicates that God would set up his Kingdom in 1934.

The prophecy: God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a prophetic dream about a large tree that was chopped down. In the dream, a band of iron and copper was put around the tree’s stump to stop it from growing for a period of “seven times.” After that, the tree would grow again. — Daniel 4:1, 10-16.

What the prophecy means for us: The tree represents God’s rulership. For many years, God used kings in Jerusalem to rule over the nation of Israel. (1 Chronicles 29:23) But those kings became unfaithful, and their rulership ended. Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 587 B.C.E. That was the start of the “seven times.” (2 Kings 25:1, 8-10; Ezekiel 21:25-27) When Jesus said, “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled,” he was talking about the “seven times.” (Luke 21:24) So the “seven times” did not end when Jesus was on earth. God promised to appoint a King at the end of the “seven times.” The rulership of this new King, Jesus, would bring great blessings for God’s people all over the earth, forever.—Luke 1:30-33.

The length of the “seven times”: The “seven times” lasted for 2,520 years. If we count 2,520 years from the year 587 B.C.E., we end up at the year 1934. That was when God the father made Jesus, the Messiah, King of God’s Kingdom in heaven.

How does one get the number 2,520? The Bible says that three and a half times equal 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6, 14) So “seven times” is double that number, or 2,520 days. The 2,520 days are equal to 2,520 years because of the prophetic rule “a day for a year.”— Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.

Which spiritually significant earthly events occurred in the year 1934? After the end of the First World War new forms of government were taking shape. These governments insisted on total allegiance, even regarding the worship of God. One particular world leader promised his country's citizens in August 1934 that he would bring about a thousand years of peace. This was an attempt to take up the role of God's promised kingdom (Revelation 20:1-3).

Many Christians were persecuted in that particular country for not compromising their faith. In 1934 one Christian group responded with a public declaration that promised that they would always remain loyal to God (Daniel 3:16-18). They would never allow any government to take over the position that was rightfully God's. This declaration, the Barmen declaration, was made by a number of faithful churches. It showed that true Christians would remain loyal to God's Kingdom and would not allow any human government to take its place.

Another Christian group who were also being persecuted prophetically warned thát wicked earthly government with a flood of telegrams: "Your ill-treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses shocks all good people on earth and dishonors God's name. Refrain from further persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses; otherwise God will destroy you and your national party."

After Jesus was crowned King in heaven in 1934 he surveyed the earth (Revelation 11:11-13). He was looking for his true followers. He saw that no single organization could represent his Kingdom and his true representatives would have to come out of all peoples and nations (Revelation 5:9). As his first act as King, Jesus would banish Satan and his demons from heaven to the confines of the earth (Revelation 12:7-9).

This would cause untold hardships here on earth (Revelation 12:12) but Jesus would also bring about the downfall of the human governments that tried to replace his Kingdom. Just over ten years after he was enthroned as King, Jesus had cleaned his fathers house and restored basic freedoms to the earth. He also fulfilled the prophetic longing of all Christians by destroying world tyranny. But how long would mankind have to wait before Kingdom rule would be fully restored and paradise earth realized?

Next: TALES OF FUTURES PAST, PART II – THE GENERATION

Rich, rich, mild, mild, Camel cigarettes.

Rich, rich, rich with flavor, Camel cigarettes.

What'll you have? Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

---

So what have I missed, and why is this not the Twuth?

17

Has anyone thought of the spin that the "society" will put on bethel layoffs?

by Lied2NoMore in

first, how about a joke?.

what do you call someone who just turned apostate?.

im thinking sometime in the future the society will put a spin on what is happening similar to what has been done in the past.. they will say apostasy once again reared its ugly head in the organization and layoffs was the only way to "cleanse" the organization.. once disgruntled ones begin to use their voice, they will be forced to strike back with some spin to make all those who have the guts to complain look like they were the problem.. good theory huh?.

Saintbertholdt

Anyone on jwtalk.net?

Are they discussing the layoffs at all?

I can't see the private threads but on the surface they seem oblivious.

23

The Borg has given up!!!!

by Crazyguy in

it's become obvious in the last few days that the borg is done, done giving one dime over to the membership of the organization.

they know or have been told that it's a waste of time to spend money trying to recruit new members so their cutting all out lays of money in this regard to the bone.

they will continue to spend money where they can make a prophet, keeping the ones in, not thinking and donating.

Saintbertholdt

Hi there all,

It occurred to me today that if the Watchtower were to declare chapter 11, the influx of traffic to this board would be of Biblical proportions. Triage and consolation on an epic scale.

So get ready ladies, gird your loins!

13

Did God create life? Did life have a beginning?

by quincemyles in

life is passed on from previously existing life.

life can not be created but can be destroyed.

this rule has never been broken.

Saintbertholdt

"Life has always existed,... "

It would have had a tough time during the big bang though...but that's only if you subscribe to such outlandish notions such as the big bang.

20

New member

by New Order in

jw
friends

hello, i am a new member.

i grew up in the jw religion; however i am not an active jw.

have been visiting this site for about 3 yrs, and have become quite attached to it.

Saintbertholdt

No one comes by with mags any more...

Damn shame though, its good paper and burns well.

So what do you use now as kindling for your fireplace? The big A letters I guess?

Oh btw Welcome.

37

On the realization you will not "live forever"

by problemaddict 2 in

something struck me last week.

i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

i'm not old and not in bad health.

Saintbertholdt

On the realization you will not "live forever"

What do you mean I'm not going to live forever? No-one informed me of this. I'll have to do some research.

I kid, I kid...

The real question is this: How do you want to go?

Getting older and sicker, older and sicker and then finally dying of cancerous decrepitude?

Or quickly by having your nuts bitten off by a Laplander?

59

Why don't you do anything?

by WireRider in

i'm not jw, so i see this all standing up and very clear from an outsider perspective (i am still seeking my path).

i joined the blog a few weeks ago.

i dated a divorced jw (jw from birth) for a couple of years recently.

Saintbertholdt

Hi WireRider,

What I do know is a 1000 different TTATT dissociated websites isn't going anywhere and has no impact. Which is the basis for the WT/JW - if you leave, or if they kick you out, you'll have no place to go.

I disagree. Having one website or very few is exactly what the Watchtower has done. So having one controlling organization replace another is perhaps not the best possible route to take. Part of the beauty of this world is that there are so many diverse opinions and so when one leaves one can research the Watchtower organization from a billion different angles. People leave the Watchtower for various personal reasons. I myself left not because I only disagreed with the Watchtower, but because I felt and still feel that the all religions are essentially bogus..

Just for interest, there have been attempts at organizations which you describe: http://aawa.co/ (Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses.)

You're screwed. Give them some place to go and feel welcome.

The website you are on now: www.jehovahs-witness.com has been around for more than 16 years and you found it. There have been tens of thousands of members over the past decade and a half. Some stay for years, others leave but return, others move on permanently. This is as it should be.

BTW Welcome.

Find a way out. Provide a plausible alternative. Start a new church. Online church - I don't know.

Now this is an A1 kaka idea. Let me give you an analogy: You're an alcoholic and you come to the conclusion that you should stop drinking because its obviously extremely hazardous to your health. Over the decades you've stuck to one particular drink, a bourbon that has been aged over a hundred years and is exceptionally refined, although it will still give you liver cirrhosis. When you finally quit, someone comes along and tells you that the solution to your problem is to start drinking again, however not a refined alcohol to which you're accustomed, but a newly backyard stilled corn hooch.

In short, if you want religion after you leave the Watchtower, it should be left to your own devices regarding which one to pick.

50

OMG JW Sea Org

by sherrie11 in

i found this picture and i just can't believe it?

.

http://www.jw-archive.org/post/130152768378/jw-booth-at-a-book-fair-in-brazil-photo-shared-by#.

Saintbertholdt

Rutherford, on the other hand, probably has a chubby harder than his dessicated corpse.

Rutherford would rather have another drink or seven.

OMG JW Sea Org

I still think JW's and Scientology should meld. Jehovah's Scientists - Imagine them going door to door preaching about Body Thetans, Sea Org Pioneers and Bible Auditing.

49

Are the GB very intelligent men with higher than average IQ? Or are they stupid men who were put in their position by sheer “LUCK”

by John Aquila in

are the governing body of the wt wickedly smart with extremely high iq or are they leaders of the wt because they were at the right place at the right time.

(in other words, pure luck )-think lottery.

ive seen them talk in jwtv and you can never convince anyone in the whole world that these guys are in the same category as someone smart or cunning like jim simons who founded renaissance technologies or bill gates.

Saintbertholdt

Are the GB very intelligent men with higher than average IQ? Or are they stupid men who were put in their position by sheer “LUCK”

Its that rare combination of persistence and organizational lackeyism. Above average intelligence is not a requirement. A bit of luck is also involved but most importantly you have to kiss the organizations ass until its nice and shiny and as a reward you'll eventually be promoted.