Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-26-2013 WT Study (DWELLING)

This article opens once again with an OT scripture with a discussion of non-Christians as examples for Christians. Are there no Christians in the NT for examples: Not Paul, not Martha, not Cornelius, not Jesus?

1, 2. How have God’s servants felt toward the present system

of things, and in what sense do they have a home?

DO YOU feel at home in the present world? If not,

you are in good company! Throughout the ages, all

who have truly loved Jehovah have felt like strangers,

or aliens, in this system of things. For example,

while moving from encampment to encampment in

the land of Canaan, faithful worshippers of God

“publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary

residents.”—Heb. 11:13.

COMMENTS

Don’t feel at home—a safe home, food, clothing, a job, friends, family….what else is there to feel at home?

But remember that God told Abraham that he would not be settling down, that his descendants would inherit the land. Did that mean that Abraham “rented” space or “squatted” wherever he was and grazed his flock?

What if they don’t feel like strangers or aliens, are they not loving God enough?

2 Likewise, Christ’s anointed followers, whose

“citizenship exists in the heavens,” view themselves

as “aliens and temporary residents” in the present

system of things. (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:11) Christ’s

“other sheep” are also “no part of the world, just

as [Jesus was] no part of the world.” (John 10:16;

17:16) Nevertheless, God’s people are not without a

“home.” In fact, we enjoy the protection of the most

secure and loving home imaginable, one that is discerned

through eyes of faith. Moses wrote: “O Jehovah,

you yourself have proved to be a real dwelling for

us during generation after generation.”* (Ps. 90:1)

How did Jehovah prove to be “a real dwelling” for his

loyal servants in ancient times? How is he “a real

dwelling” for his name people today? And how will

he prove to be the only secure dwelling in the future?

*The Contemporary English Version renders Psalm 90:1: “Our Lord,

in all generations you have been our home.”

COMMENTS

The WTS teaches that the anointed jws are only on earth temporarily and will eventually live forever in heaven. Is that true of WTS teaching regarding the vast majority of non-anointed jws? Isn’t life forever on a paradise “earth” their future? By “world” it means people not a place or location.

So while Abraham dwelt in tents, does that mean jws must never buy a house or land, must move around in tents? Must not get to know their neighbors as people but only as potential converts and if they refuse, bad association?

God’s people=only jws

JEHOVAH—“A REAL DWELLING”

FOR HIS SERVANTS OF OLD

3. What topic, image, and point of similarity do we find at

Psalm 90:1?

3 Like many word pictures in the Bible, Psalm 90:1

has a topic, an image, and a point of similarity. The

topic is Jehovah. The image is that of a

dwelling, or place of habitation. Jehovah

has much in common with such a place.

For example, Jehovah provides protection

for his people. This is in harmony

with the fact that he is the very personification

of love. (1 John 4:8) He is also a

God of peace, who makes his loyal ones

“dwell in security.” (Ps. 4:8) Consider, for

instance, his dealings with faithful patriarchs,

beginning with Abraham.

COMMENTS

Does God (or the WTS) promise protection for an individual in the WT organization? Are you an ancestor of Jesus?

*** w10 4/15 p. 8 par. 5 Holy Spirit’s Role in the Outworking of Jehovah’s Purpose ***

Jehovah used his spirit to protect individuals in the line of descent leading up to the Seed.

*** w11 5/15 p. 19 par. 16 Who Is the Most Important Person in Your Life? ***

As we draw ever closer to the end of this wicked world, more and more of Jehovah’s people are being affected by disasters and tragedies. We do not expect miraculous protection at this time. Even so, like Job, we may find that our hearts are weighed down when we lose loved ones or suffer personal difficulties.

*** w75 6/15 p. 377 par. 10 Looking to the Future with Confidence ***

10 Should we expect, moreover, that because Jehovah is on our side he will miraculously intervene to protect each one of us personally from death or injury during the “great tribulation”? Both Psalm 91:7-12 and Proverbs 3:25, 26 have been mistakenly cited by some as supporting this view. The psalm says: “A thousand will fall at your very side and ten thousand at your right hand; to you it will not come near.” Lest we read into this text more than it states, we must ask ourselves if Moses is here talking about the coming “great tribulation” and is declaring a blanket protection for individual servants of God then. This would hardly be so when we remember that centuries later Paul showed that up to his time the devoted followers of Jehovah had undergone mockings, scourgings, prisons, tribulations and many other persecutions, even violent death. However, we can be assured that, as a group, Jehovah will protect them from being exterminated by their enemies during the “great tribulation,” and He, himself, will not touch them during his executing of adverse judgments.—Heb. 11:36-38.

4, 5. How did God prove to be “a real dwelling”

for Abraham?

4 We can only imagine how Abraham,

then Abram, felt when Jehovah told him:

“Go your way out of your country and

from your relatives . . . to the country

that I shall show you.” If Abraham felt

any anxiety, it no doubt melted away

with Jehovah’s next words: “I shall make

a great nation out of you and I shall bless

you and I will make your name great . . .

And I will bless those who bless you, and

him that calls down evil upon you I shall

curse.”—Gen. 12:1-3.

COMMENTS

Imagine = and the WTS is not beyond inventing things that never happened in the bible to use in their “bible” dramas.

So God promise to make a nation out of you, make your name great if you moved? Are Gilead jws and “need greaters” getting a greater blessing that jws that stay around their family and home community?

5 With those words, Jehovah took it

upon himself to become a secure dwelling

for Abraham and for his descendants.

(Gen. 26:1-6) Jehovah fulfilled

his promise. For example, he prevented

Pharaoh of Egypt and King Abimelech

of Gerar from violating Sarah and

doing away with Abraham. He protected

Isaac and Rebekah in a similar manner.

(Gen. 12:14-20; 20:1-14; 26:6-11) We

read: “[Jehovah] did not allow any human

to defraud them, but on their account

he reproved kings, saying: ‘Do not

you men touch my anointed ones, and to

my prophets do nothing bad.’ ”—Ps. 105:

14, 15.

COMMENTS

Is God more a secure dwelling for those who leave friends, family, and homes behind that those who stay?

Abimelech thought that Sarah was a woman without a husband but Abraham said she was his sister (half-sister) rather than tell Abimelech that she was his wife. Abraham lied because he was afraid he would be killed and not get the promise God had given. Didn’t he trust in God’s desire and ability to protect them? And neither did Isaac: Isaac also lied and said Rebekah was his sister, not his wife.

6. What did Isaac tell Jacob to do, and how

may Jacob have felt?

6 Those prophets included Abraham’s

grandson Jacob. When the time came for

Jacob to take a wife for himself, Isaac, his

father, said to him: “You must not take a

wife from the daughters of Canaan. Get

up, go to Paddan-aram to the house of

Bethuel the father of your mother and

from there take yourself a wife from the

daughters of Laban.” (Gen. 28:1, 2) Jacob

promptly obeyed Isaac. Jacob left the security

of his immediate family, who

were living in Canaan, to travel, evidently

alone, hundreds of miles to the area

of Haran. (Gen. 28:10) Perhaps he wondered:

‘How long will I be away? Will my

uncle warmly welcome me and grant me

a God-fearing wife?’ If Jacob had such

anxieties, these no doubt melted away

when he reached Luz, some 60 miles

(100 km) from Beer-sheba. What happened

at Luz?

COMMENTS

Did Isaac tell Esau the same, remember Jacob and Esau were twins?

So does this mean jws have to travel far to find a “god-fearing” mates? Is that why sisters go to more than one convention/assembly; visit Bethel every year and go to other countries to up the odds?

PICTURE: “I am not going to leave you”

7. By means of a dream, how did God reassure

Jacob?

7 At Luz, Jehovah appeared to Jacob

in a dream, saying: “Here I am with you

and I will keep you in all the way you

are going and I will return you to this

ground, because I am not going to leave

you until I have actually done what I have

spoken to you.” (Gen. 28:15) How those

kind words must have reassured and

comforted Jacob! Can you picture him

thereafter striding along, eager to see

how God would fulfill His word? If you

have left home, perhaps to serve in a foreign

land, you likely understand Jacob’s

range of emotions. No doubt, though,

you have seen evidence of Jehovah’s care

for you.

COMMENTS

Does God appear to jws in dreams today? What is more direct, that or try to understand the ever-changing doctrine and policy of the WTS?

Picture him=imagine

So God’s care is yours only if you go to a foreign land?

8, 9. In what ways did Jehovah prove to be “a

real dwelling” for Jacob, and what can we learn

from this?

8 When Jacob reached Haran, his uncle

Laban extended a warm welcome to

him and later gave him Leah and Rachel

as wives. In time, though, Laban

tried to exploit Jacob, changing his wages

ten times! (Gen. 31:41, 42) Yet, Jacob

endured these injustices, confident that

Jehovah would continue to care for him

—and He did! Indeed, by the time God

told Jacob to return to Canaan, the patriarch

possessed “great flocks and maidservants

and menservants and camels

and asses.” (Gen. 30:43) Deeply appreciative,

Jacob prayed: “I am unworthy of

all the loving-kindnesses and of all the

faithfulness that you have exercised toward

your servant, for with but my staff

I crossed this Jordan and now I have become

two camps.”—Gen. 32:10.

COMMENTS

Oh, so does God promise 2 god-fearing wives for male jws?

Is material wealth proof of God’s blessing?

9 Yes, how true was Moses’ prayer of

reflection: “O Jehovah, you yourself have

proved to be a real dwelling for us during

generation after generation”! (Ps. 90:1)

Those words apply equally today, for

Jehovah, with whom “there is not a variation

of the turning of the shadow,” continues

to be a warm and secure dwelling

for his loyal ones. (Jas. 1:17) Let us consider

how.

COMMENTS

Do you feel warm and secure among jws, did you, if not, why not?

JEHOVAH—OUR “REAL DWELLING” TODAY

10. Why can we be certain that Jehovah continues

to be a secure dwelling for his servants?

10 Imagine this: You are testifying in

court against a global criminal organization.

Its leader is a very intelligent, powerful,

and ruthless liar and murderer.

How would you feel when you stepped

outside the court at day’s end? Safe?

Hardly! Indeed, you would have good

reason for requesting protection. This

scenario illustrates the situation of Jehovah’s

servants, who boldly testify for Jehovah

and fearlessly expose his vicious

archenemy, Satan! (Read Revelation 12:

17.) But has Satan been able to silence

God’s people? No! In fact, we continue

to thrive spiritually—a reality that can

have only one explanation: Jehovah is

still our refuge, “a real dwelling” for us,

especially during these last days. (Read

Isaiah 54:14, 17.) That said, however, Jehovah

cannot be a secure dwelling for us

if we allow Satan to lure us away from

our dwelling place.

COMMENTS

Imagine: So why would any jw testify about a serious crime? Do individual jws and the WTS never appeal to law enforcement, the legal system, or even the government for justice and protection? Based on the court cases the WTS is so proud of, they admit they do.

11. What lesson can we learn from the patriarchs?

11 Once again, let us learn a lesson

from the patriarchs. Although they lived

in the land of Canaan, they remained

separate from the people of the land,

whose wicked, immoral ways they hated.

(Gen. 27:46) They were men of principle

who did not depend on a long list

of dos and don’ts to guide them. What

they knew about Jehovah and his personality was

sufficient for them. Because

he was their dwelling, they did not want

to get as close to the world as they could.

Rather, they stayed as far away from it as

possible. What a fine example they set

for us! Do you strive to imitate the faithful

patriarchs as to your choice of associates

and entertainment? Sadly, some

within the Christian congregation give

evidence that, at least to a degree, they

feel comfortable in Satan’s world. If you

feel that way even a little, pray about the

matter. Remember, this world is Satan’s.

It reflects his cold, self-serving spirit.

—2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1, 2.

COMMENTS

Do jws stay separate? They work for and with non-jws. They live among non-jws like Lot did. They do business with non-jws. Do they stop all association with non-jw relatives?

How far must jws go in not being around non-jws? No association with non-jw relatives? No conversation with workmates except what revolves around work? A cold presentation unannounced at a non-jw’s door and no conversation that is not directly about the bible?

So all non-jws are cold and self-serving?

12. (a) How does Jehovah provide for his spiritual

household? (b) How do you feel about

these provisions?

12 In order to resist Satan’s machinations,

we need to take full advantage

of the spiritual provisions that Jehovah

makes for his household of faith,

for those who make him their dwelling.

These provisions include Christian

meetings, family worship, and “gifts in

men”—shepherds appointed by God to

comfort and support us as we struggle

with life’s challenges. (Eph. 4:8-12)

Brother George Gangas, who was

a member of the Governing Body for a

number of years, wrote: “When I am

among [God’s people] I feel at home

with my family, in a spiritual paradise.”

Do you feel the same way?

COMMENTS

Full advantage = more than 10 hours preaching a month; 30 hours meetings and travel time; 4 hours “family worship”

Standard elder comfort: Hi Sister Rarely Here, how are you….as he keeps walking to talk to someone more important to him

Gangas was never married, had no children, did he have non-jw family?

13. What important lesson can we draw from

Hebrews 11:13?

13 Another quality of the patriarchs

that is worthy of imitation is their willingness

to stand out as different from

the people around them. As noted in

paragraph 1, they “publicly declared that

they were strangers and temporary residents

in the land.” (Heb. 11:13) Are you

resolved to stand out as being different?

Granted, doing so is not always easy. But

with God’s help and with support from

your fellow Christians, you can succeed.

Remember, you are not alone. All who

want to serve Jehovah have a fight on

their hands! (Eph. 6:12) Still, it is a fight

we can win if we trust in Jehovah and

make him our secure dwelling.

COMMENTS

So how did the patriarchs stand out as different? Remember that the patriarchs had no mandate to preach to those “in the world” and bring them to worship their god.

They lived in tents and moved around, not living in cities. Should jws do the same?

Should jws announce to all non-jws that they are jws and can’t associate with them except extremely controlled situations? How do jws “reject” the world, non-jws, and show Christlike love and hope that they have something good in them?

(1 Corinthians 5:9, 10) 9 In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, 10 not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world.

(John 17:15) 15 “I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one.

14. Jehovah’s servants awaited what “city”?

14 Also important is this: Imitate

Abraham by keeping your eyes on the

prize. (2 Cor. 4:18) The apostle Paul

wrote that Abraham “was awaiting the

city having real foundations, the builder

and maker of which city is God.” (Heb.

11:10) That “city” proved to be the Messianic

Kingdom. Abraham, of course,

had to await that “city.” In a sense, we do

not. It is now ruling in heaven. What is

more, mounting evidence indicates that

it will soon take full control of the earth.

Is that Kingdom real to you? Does it influence

your outlook on life, your view

of the present world, and your priorities?—

Read 2 Peter 3:11, 12.

PICTURE: God’s angels support and protect his servants (but not individually)

COMMENTS

What does 2 Cor. 4:18 really say, anything about Abraham? Who was Paul talking to, Christians with a hope of going to heaven to rule with Christ…did Abraham hope that?

(2 Corinthians 4:18) 18 while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.

SOON = since 1914 ruling in the midst of his enemies= 99 years = soon?

Full control = not yet, but soon

WTS view of the present world = all 7 billion non-jws, men, women and children will soon die eternally unless they become jws

OUR “REAL DWELLING”

AS THE END APPROACHES

15. What future awaits those who trust in the

present world?

15 As Satan’s world nears its end, its

“pangs of distress” will get worse. (Matt.

24:7, 8) Things will definitely get worse

during the great tribulation. Infrastructures

will collapse, and people will fear

for their very lives. (Hab. 3:16, 17) Out of

sheer desperation, they will, as it were,

seek refuge “in the caves and in the rockmasses

of the mountains.” (Rev. 6:15-17)

But neither literal caves nor mountainlike

political and commercial organizations

will afford any protection.

COMMENTS

Satan’s world = all non-jws will soon end eternally

What is the great tribulation according to the WTS.

Where do jws go in disasters, do they depend on the police, firefighters, etc. Do the brothers come and put out house fires, arrest criminals? Does the WTS buy them food, clothing?

16. How should we view the Christian congregation,

and why?

16 Jehovah’s people, however, will

continue to enjoy the safety of their

“real dwelling,” Jehovah God. Like the

prophet Habakkuk, they “will exult in

Jehovah himself.” They “will be joyful

in the God of [their] salvation.” (Hab. 3:

18) In what ways will Jehovah prove to

be “a real dwelling” during that tumultuous

time? We will have to wait and see.

But of this we can be sure: Like the Israelites

at the time of the Exodus, the

“great crowd” will remain organized,

ever alert to divine direction. (Rev. 7:9;

read Exodus 13:18.) That direction will

come theocratically, probably by means

of the congregation arrangement. Indeed,

the many thousands of congregations

around the world appear to be

linked to the protective “interior rooms”

foretold at Isaiah 26:20. (Read.) Do you

value the congregation meetings? Do

you act promptly on the direction Jehovah

provides through the congregation

arrangement?—Heb. 13:17.

COMMENTS

Jehovah’s people = only baptized jws and minor children

Does the WTS offer individual jws the promise of not dying during the great tribulation?

PROBABLY by means of the congregation arrangement = Isaiah 26:20 “interior rooms”

So does that mean safety is at a building, like the KH?

Will the end come when all are in a KH?

17. In what way is Jehovah “a real dwelling”

even for his loyal servants who have died?

17 Even those who might die faithful

before the great tribulation begins remain

secure with Jehovah, their “real

dwelling.” How so? Long after the faithful

patriarchs had died, Jehovah said to

Moses: “I am the God of . . . Abraham,

the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

(Ex. 3:6) After quoting these words, Jesus

added: “He is a God, not of the dead,

but of the living, for they are all living to

him.” (Luke 20:38) Yes, to Jehovah, his

loyal ones who have died faithful to him

are as good as alive; their resurrection is

a certainty.—Eccl. 7:1.

COMMENTS

There was a time the WTS taught that between 1914 and the start of the great tribulation was a judgment period (separating of the sheep and goats) and non-jws who died during that time would not be resurrected. When the WTS changed to separation of the sheep and goats to shortly after the start of the GT, non-jws could have a resurrection then. The WTS also teaches that those who died in the flood and at Sodom and Gomorrah, died eternally. Did you realize that they taught that those who died in 70 A.D. had the same fate?

*** w08 7/15 p. 20 par. 17 You Do Not Know Where It Will Have Success! ***

Does this separating refer to the final judgment of the sheep and the goats that Jesus said would occur when he arrived in his glory? (Matt. 25:31-33) No. That final judgment will occur at Jesus’ coming during the great tribulation

*** w52 6/1 p. 340 par. 22 “Get Out of Her, My People” ***

Major and complete fulfillment comes in our day, is now in progress. Satan’s world entered its “time of the end” A.D. 1914. There its license and authority to rule ended as far as Jehovah was concerned, though it remains for a time, until its accomplished end, just as did the Jewish system of things. This present satanic system is in its judgment period, and execution will come in this generation, at Armageddon. That execution of judgment against nations and individuals will be just as final as were the executions at the end of the typical judgment periods of times past, such as the Noachian flood, the rain of fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, and the destruction wrought on natural Israel A.D. 70.

*** w05 5/1 p. 22 par. 18 The Resurrection Hope—What Does It Mean for You? ***

If tempted to commit immorality, we will firmly resist. We realize that should we die before Armageddon, a continued course of conduct displeasing to Jehovah could put us in the same position as those who have no prospect of a resurrection.

18. In the new world, how will Jehovah prove

to be “a real dwelling” for his people in a special

way?

18 In the new world just ahead, Jehovah

will become “a real dwelling” for his

people in yet another sense. Says Revelation

21:3: “Look! The tent of God is

with mankind, and he will reside with

them.” Initially, Jehovah will reside with

his earthly subjects representatively by

means of Christ Jesus. At the end of

the thousand years, Jesus will hand the

Kingdom over to his Father, having fully

accomplished God’s purpose for the

earth. (1 Cor. 15:28) Thereafter, perfected

mankind will no longer need Jesus

as an intercessor; Jehovah will be with

them. What a wonderful prospect lies

before us! In the meantime, then, let

us strive to imitate the faithful generations

of old by making Jehovah our “real

dwelling.”

COMMENTS

So will be as it is today a group of imperfect non-anointed men between the survivors and Jesus or God? And when the end of the 1,000 years dawn, will perfect humans need men as an intercessor with God or will they have a relationship like Adam and Eve are said to have had? Will the rules and reminders be gone because everyone will be perfect?

(Jesus is already out of the picture; I remember how often blessing on the GB were a prominent part and the obligatory, “in Jesus’ name” was tacked on at the end.)

CLOSING COMMENTS

Another article with nothing more than “obey the GB” as its theme.

NEXT WEEK, HONOR JEHOVAH’S GREAT NAME (another OT scripture)

What about Jesus’ name?

(Matthew 24:9) 9 “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.

(1 Corinthians 1:2) . . .to the congregation of God that is in Corinth, to YOU who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones, together with all who everywhere are calling upon the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

(Philippians 2:9-11) . . .For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

(Acts 2:38) 38 Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. . .

Love Blondie

prologos

thank you blondie, I hope comments like yours show the WT writers how inapropriate, farfetched these misapplications of bible stories/fables are for our modern times, or to put it biblically,--for those in the new covenant who have their "sins" forgiven and have god's law( read conscience) IN THEIR HEARTS.

Calebs Airplane

They are really running out of nonsense to write about...

cult classic

Are they still babbling on about nothing?

Comatose

Blondie I don't know how you do this. I can't even ever read all of this even with your comments. It's barf worthy to have to read their thoughts. You have an amazing constitution to stomach the study required to do this. My hat is off to you.

Ding

The WTS also teaches that those who died in the flood and at Sodom and Gomorrah, died eternally. Did you realize that they taught that those who died in 70 A.D. had the same fate?

They have flipflopped on things like this that I've lost track.

Given that it's all pure speculation on their part, you'd think they would just take a position and stick to it.

Instead of the light getting brighter and brighter, it's more like a strobe light...

5go

This was the hardest one in a ong time to sit through I kept wanting to yell.

LoisLane looking for Superman

Thank you Blondie for all your hard work for us.

Just Los

ÁrbolesdeArabia

Blondie, thank you for another fine article. In your opinion, why does the Organization use Jesus Christ name so little and focus on the ancient Jewish Religion and Old Testament figures? Are the stories about the Early Christians too scary because they were focused on good deeds, minging with men of all nations and religions to share the Good News? Titus had to preach in Crete and we both know how scary that place was, the Jews were said to have shown up and taught the Creteans how to be really wicked. What is it with the Old Testament focus and avoidance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Thank you, peace and love!

fedup

New Light: Satan=Don Corleone "The Godfather"

Thanks Blondie, I enjoy our family worship session every week. Keep it up!!

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-26-2013 WT Study (DWELLING)

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