Watchtower 15/3/12 "Do Not Look At The Things Behind"

by BluesBrother 22 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Ucantnome

  "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years."

  "Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and think about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" (Awake May 22 1969 Pg 15)

  In the Watchtower January 15th 1983 page 27 under the subheading "Fight Against Independent Thinking" it says.

  "If we get to thinking that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves "Where did we learn Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for guidance from the organization? Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization?" No, we cannot!"

  Two elders came to my house one summer to discuss a letter I had written and the points it contained in the conversation they told me that it was nothing to do with the organization that I had little education and had left school early to pioneer 40 years ago . The decision was solely my parents and mine I was told and nothing to do with the organization.

  Now you say that the Watchtower says this,

  "Sad to say, some look back on sacrifices they made in the past and view them as missed opportunities. Perhaps you had opportunities for higher education,for prominence, or for financial security, but you decided not to pursue them. Many of our brothers and sisters have left behind lucrative positions in the fields of business, entertainment, education, or sports. Now time has passed, and the end has not yet arrived. Do you fantasize about what could have happened had you not made those sacrifices?

  At the time of the elders visiting me it really bothered me, a few years ago, now it just makes me laugh.
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  Ucantnome

  I'm sorry the last line,

  "At the time of the elders visiting me it really bothered me, a few years ago, now it just makes me laugh"

  wasn't supposed to be in bold in my last post as it wasn't part of the quote from the magazine,
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  Morbidzbaby

  I know of a brother who gave up a career with Disney as an artist... I wonder how long it will be until he looks back with regret, if he doesn't already. Sure he works as an artist now, but not anything near being a Disney artist...

  I didn't just "decide" not to go to college...I fopped in school because there was no point in getting good grades...because the end was so close! I wasn't going to college, I was going to pioneer! Well...I did pioneer after high school. And it sucked. I went to pioneer school. And it sucked. Now that I'm free, I'm stuck wondering what I SHOULD do, since I know what I SHOULD HAVE done but didn't do it when I had a better chance.
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  Quendi

  The WTS hit rock bottom long ago with respect to its mendacity and hypocrisy, but this passage from the latest issue of The Watchtower proves that the organization is now burrowing deep into the bedrock. The leaders of the WTS have no shame. As others have pointed out, they have consistently and persistently condemned and denounced any and all who wanted a career and good life for themselves and loved ones, telling them that such thinking was selfish and Satan-inspired. Now the years are running out on many of them and they see that their lives, their abilities, and their talents have been wasted and squandered because they were chasing rainbows and mirages rather than real hopes and dreams. Meanwhile, the men who spoke these falsehoods are either dead or looking forward to a quiet and peaceful retirement in their cocoons back in New York.

  And despite the utter failure of any of their predictions to come true, they continue making them! The same stale and false message they preached more than forty years ago still has currency and relevancy for the rank and file. "The End is Near!" "Armageddon is Nigh!" "The New World is in Sight!" and other mantras are constantly repeated. I look back on my life now and marvel that I believed and propagated those lies for more than thirty years. I'm glad I woke up and made good my escape while I was still capable of doing so. But what is even more amazing to me is that this religion is still a going concern, that there has been no "Watchtower Spring" that would sweep its corrupt leaders into the gutter where they belong. The words of the cited article remind me of what Isaiah said to his people long ago: "Woe to those who are saying that good is bad adn bad is good, thos who are putting edarkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isiah 5:20) I can only hope that another biblical sentiment will soon be fulfilled upon them and they will reap what they have sown.

  Quendi
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  diamondiiz

  It shows that more and more people are realizing they've been conned so wts has to do a spin on how missed opportunities aren't that bad because the end will come and they will get their lame duck after all...

  This and the spin on 607 shows that there are growing problems within the cult and the top knows it.
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  Quendi

  I think diamondiiz is right and the WTS leadership is running scared. The articles on 607 BC and now this latest assertion that those who have blindly followed the WTS life-program have not suffered any real loss are indicative of the fact that the Governing Body are feeling the heat being put on them by many Witnesses who have seen their lives shriveling and fading away as the years run out. What do they now have to show for all their years of blood, tears, toil and sweat? Nothng substantial. But even though their hopes have proved unfounded, empty and barren, the WTS insists they are as vailid as ever.

  The Governing Body look out of the windows of their Brooklyn ivory tower and see themselves encircled and under siege. They must believe that somehow they will survive this crisis of faith and "new light" will shine upon them. I sincerely hope they are mistaken and that instead of a sunrise, they are witnessing a sunset; and that the lengthening shadows stretch toward an east that will not see another dawn. All this talk about looking to the future is only a ruse to divert Witnesses from examining reality and holding their leadership accountable. If the rank-and-file ever summon the courage to do so, then I may yet live to see this damned religion's just demise.

  Quendi
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  Godsendconspirator

  The only thing I will miss from this organization is the view from where Brookyln Bethel is.
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  PaintedToeNail

  Welcome Godsendconspirator! Nice to have you hear.
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  Jeffro

  Do Not Look At The Things Behind [The Curtain]
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  LongHairGal

  Quendi,

  You hit the nail on the head and I am glad you got out of the religion when you did. I have been a "fader" for eleven years and I still rankle at the thought of how damaged I would have been if I were more gullible. I was on the fringes because I work full time and I resisted their attempts to get me to quit my job and pursue poverty so I would be "acceptable" to certain people there who wanted to abase me for some reason.

  Meanwhile, some hypocrites there would never be caught dead doing the menial work they suggested that others do. So, the poverty they are pushing isn't for them - just somebody else! I also rankle at the thought of how many times they tried to intrude themselves into my personal business. They think they can overstep boundaries with single women. I would like to see them do this to some married couple. I resisted their attempts at control and nosiness and they hated me for it. I had no intention of being like other pathetic single women there who are needy and are targeted left and right. This is their "role" or position for single women and I wasn't having any of it.

  The attitudes and mentality in the religion is simply detestible. I had a conversation with a JW man this morning (retired/married) placing magazines and he simply does not have a clue about a single woman who has to work to support herself in the world. I might mention that this man and certain others already had their job or career established before they came into the religion 35-40 years ago. So, the pronouncements of "do not go to college" did not effect them because they didn't need college for their jobs. This fact should be considered when looking at the people who presently make up who is left in the congregations. A lot of these people are retirees who already made their living and they cannot be compared to those who have to still go out and work now. Everybody is not equally damaged by this religion.

  Yes, the religion is still a going concern but I am not still sitting there listening to them!