by ldrnomo 11 Replies latest jw experiences
Just wondering, most members I've talked to over the years including me did not really think Jehovah was going to destroy everyone that was not a JW or even half of everyone who was not a dub. Even a prominent elder in the cong I was in didn't buy that teaching (probabley because his daughter was not in)
So how many do you think believe this teaching? And do you think that in the last 10 years the WT society has down played the belief that only those baptized JW will survive armageddon?
LD
I believe most of them they do...
I was mortified that so many may die when I had known many lovely but non religious people!
The reasoning made some logical sense in solving all the worlds ills but it felt wrond and I never ever resolved these inner conflicts!
And those in the 'world' also have similar views that their god is the true god so it used to screw my head!!
All these people wanting to put each other down!
Anyone who gave me a smile became a friend! Anyone who gave me a stern look became an alien!
All the time I was active and to this day, many of them lament the loss of all but the 3-6 million jw's.
They tend to believe non-jws they don't know will die but make exceptions for non-jw family members and friends. But it is hard to avoid this statement:
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***
Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the "flesh" that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
The WTS also teaches that the mark in Ezekiel 9 that protects people from destruction is baptism as a jw.
*** w96 1/15 p. 17 par. 9 Jehovah’s Sheep Need Tender Care ***
If they agree that the unbaptized publisher has a reasonable understanding of Bible teachings and qualifies in other ways, they will tell him that he may be baptized. As a result of his dedication and baptism, he becomes ‘marked’ for salvation.—Ezekiel 9:4-6.
*** w88 9/15 p. 14 par. 18 Listen—Jehovah’s Watchman Speaks! ***
The antitypical ‘man in linen’ is the class of anointed Christians. They go from house to house to put a symbolic mark on those who become part of the "great crowd" of Christ’s "other sheep." The "mark" is the evidence that such sheep are dedicated, baptized individuals with a Christlike personality. They ‘sigh and groan over detestable things’ done in Christendom, and they have come out of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 18:4, 5) Their "mark" will make it plain to God’s executional forces that they should be spared during the "great tribulation." They can retain that "mark" by sharing with the anointed ones in marking yet others. So, if you have been ‘marked,’ share zealously in the ‘marking’ work.—Ezekiel 9:8-11.
*** w88 11/15 p. 17 par. 10 Helping Others to Worship God ***
An announcement that he is a new unbaptized publisher can be made to the congregation. He should continue studying the Bible, participating in the meetings, applying what he learns, and sharing it with others. Before long, he will want to take the step of Christian baptism, thus becoming approved by God and ‘marked’ for salvation.—Ezekiel 9:4-6.
*** w82 2/15 p. 31 par. 18 "What Prevents Me from Getting Baptized?" ***
Just ahead the separating of the "sheep" from the "goats" will come to a conclusion. None will be left on middle ground when God brings the "great tribulation" to sweep away "those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) Only those ‘marked’ for salvation will survive into his new order. (Revelation 7:3, 4, 9, 14; Ezekiel 9:2-6) How happy will be those who have submitted to this ‘marking’ for survival because of being accepted into a dedicated relationship with Jehovah God, as symbolized by water baptism, and continuing in integrity on the narrow road that leads to life!—Matthew 7:13, 14.
Blondie
I think Blondie nailed it with this comment:
They tend to believe non-jws they don't know will die but make exceptions for non-jw family members and friends.
My wife doesn't believe in the imminent genocide of 6 billion.
The more non-JW relatives and friends a person has, the harder it is to swallow.
Thus the reason to keep oneself without spot from the "World".
OM
Sounds like a cult.
Dubs have the ability to believe two things at the same time. They are positive if they don't keep going on the WT hamster wheel for live they will be destroyed.
However if you question them they will fall back on the old "we don't judge, only jehovah can determine who will live or die".
The Watchtower paints a deliberately fuzzy picture - saying sometimes that only Jehovah can judge, and other times that all those outside the organization are to be slaughtered.
Of the people, if pushed they will all say that many more may survive, but deep down, they believe the hard line version, otherwise, why go out on the ministry? Why live the hard life? Why refuse blood? ...The whole concept is that only the few will be saved - who are active "doers of the word"
If you think about what the Society says about "Scriptural hope for survival", you can see how they leave room for sensitive JWs to reason out of appearing to espouse mass murder.
I.e., someone could think along these lines:
"Well, perhaps there will be some who are not JWs who survive Armageddon, but the odds of survival are far far lower if one is not a JW when it comes. Scripturally, 100% of the JWs (who are "active", "approved", "not hiding secret sins", etc.) will survive, but the scriptures don't definitely say that 0% of non-JWs will survive. But why take a chance? If you were given the choice between flying in 2 airplanes, one with a 99% chance of making it back to earth safely, and another one with a 10% chance, which one would you rather fly in?"
Meantime, the bloodthirstiest JWs can drool over the statements like the ones cited by Blondie above and continue to enjoy their elite feeling.
Weasel-wording at its finest!
