THE ALTERNATIVE DAILY TEXT by The Witchtower editor

by processor 176 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/you-must-not-desire-your-fellow-mans-house/

  Alternative Daily Text for Monday, November 18, 2013

  “You must not desire your fellow man’s house.” (Exodus 20:17)

  As the Watchtower has been telling for years, “millions the world over live in unbelievably wretched, heartbreaking conditions. Each day, they wake up to poverty, disease, senseless violence, and oppression.” (The Watchtower, July 1, 2011, page 3) But there are not only poor people: “Tens of millions of people die of hunger … each year, while a small number have vast riches.” (Does God Really Care About Us?, page 15) What should be the attitude of the poor towards the rich?

  God specifically commanded his worshippers: “You must not desire your fellow man’s house … nor anything that belongs to your fellow man.” (Exodus 20:17) Hence it would be wrong if a poor man facing starvation would desire the food available to others. A homeless person must not desire someone else’s house. Anyone who is poor should rather rejoice for having a share in fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy: “The one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” – Matthew 25:29.

  Who carefully avoids desiring anything belonging to the rich will eventually be “freed from poverty” by God’s Kingdom. (The Watchtower, June 15, 2002; October 1, 1986, page 24) But those going hungry and desiring others’ food will receive their “punishment on the day of judgment.” – 2 Peter 2:9, NIV.
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  processor

  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/work-not-for-the-food-that-perishes-but-for-the-food-that-remains/

  http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=648304581880963&id=114394598605300

  Alternative Daily Text for Wednesday, November 20, 2013

  “Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains.” (John 6:27)

  Over the decades, “The Watchtower endeavored to provide timely spiritual food.” (The Watchtower, July 1, 1979, page 8) Was it successful? From 1950 to 1999 there have been more than 20 articles on the “generation” of Matthew 24:34, and all of these are no longer valid since 2010. From 1950 to 2012 the Watchtower mentioned more than 1000 times “the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ [as] made up of all anointed Christians on earth,” but since 2012 we know that it’s the Governing Body – The Watchtower, May 1, 1969, page 272; July 15, 2013, page 22.

  There is no doubt – “the spiritual food contained in The Watchtower” is “food that perishes.” (John 6:27;1986 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 137) Instead of wasting our time on such inferior nourishment we should rather “keep eating physical food in order to sustain our lives.” (The Watchtower, April 1, 2004, page 21) This is “food that remains” as anyone who once tried a diet can attest.
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  cantleave

  I am loving these - thank you processor.
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  processor

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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/go-to-the-ant-observe-its-ways/

  Alternative Daily Text for Thursday, November 21, 2013

  “Go to the ant … observe its ways.” (Proverbs 6:6)

  Did wise King Solomon really mean that we should learn from literal ants? No, because “there are … many symbolic and pictorial statements” in the Bible and it “often uses animals … to represent governments.” (The Watchtower, October 15, 1977, page 618; Awake!, February 8, 1975, page 8) Which government is symbolized by “the ant?”

  World history provides a clear answer, since “outstanding in any typical [ant] colony is the queen [but] she is not a ruler.” (Awake!, May 8, 1976, page 22) Hence the greater ant is Great Britain – like in an ant colony, “the Queen’s role is purely formal; she reigns, but she does not rule.” (Awake!, August 22, 1982, page 4) How should we be interested in the “ways” of Great Britain?

  When a foreign visitor observes the “ways” or streets of Great Britain, the first thing he notices is that the cars are driving on the left side. Interestingly, archaeologists found that “the Romans drove on the left” and “travelers on horseback generally rode on the left side” in Jesus’ day. (Awake!, March 22, 2005, page 12) Hence the advice in Proverbs 6:6 means that we should observe the British traffic rules. As true Christians, we should always drive on the left side, regardless of where we live.
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  processor

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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/today-you-will-be-with-me-in-paradise/

  Alternative Daily Text for Friday, November 22, 2013

  “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NIV)

  How would Jesus and the criminal executed alongside with him be “in paradise” together? Few hours after Jesus spoke these words, they both were dead. And granted, “few persons would think of any connection between a cemetery and a … paradise.” (Awake!, August 8, 1979, page 3) But according to the reference work Insight on the Scriptures, a “paradise” is “a beautiful park, or a parklike garden. The Greek word pa·ra′dei·sos … [and] the Hebrew word par·des′ … all convey the basic idea of a beautiful park or parklike garden.” (volume II, page 574) And walking in some cemeteries is indeed “like being in a beautiful park, in a paradise.” (Awake!, August 8, 1979, page 3) Hence Jesus promised the criminal that he would “inherit the soil” and get buried in a parklike cemetery together with him. – Matthew 5:5,Luther.
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  processor

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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/beware-of-kings-that-drink-wine/

  Alternative Daily Text for Saturday, November 23, 2013

  “Beware … of Kings that drink wine.” (Proverbs 31:4, ABPE)

  The Bible contains the wise words of the mother of King Lemuel (maybe another name for Solomon). She advised her son and all other kings: “It is not for kings to drink wine … so that they do not drink and forget what is decreed.” (Proverbs 31:4, 5) A religious magazine explained on that verse: “How is a king to render sound and clear-headed judgment … if he is … intoxicated? … On the contrary, by remaining free from such vices, the king will be able to ‘judge righteously.’” (The Watchtower, February 1, 2000, page 30) Definitely “it is not for kings … to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.” – Proverbs 31:4, NLT.

  “God’s appointed King, Jesus Christ,” is said to assume power over the earth soon (Awake!, July 2011, page 8) Will he follow the wise counsel of his prophetic type? No. Like in many other matters, he will flout God’s will regarding alcohol. He told his disciples: “I won’t drink … wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29, GWT) Hence in short time, when “Jesus and his fellow kings rule from heaven,” they will be drunk obviously. (The Watchtower, April 1, 2009, page 8) Under the influence of alcohol, the “true vine” Jesus Christ and the anointed kings will “forget what is decreed.” – John 15:1.
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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/every-morning-i-will-silence-all-the-wicked-of-the-earth/

  Alternative Daily Text for Sunday, November 24, 2013

  “Every morning I will silence all the wicked of the earth.” (Psalm 101:8)

  Who are “the wicked of the earth” that are silenced “every morning” by God? Granted, “Jehovah’s Witnesses … refuse to keep silent” and rather “go in field service all day long.” (The Watchtower, January 1, 1985, page 7; 1997 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 213) But they “read … the daily text every morning.” (The Watchtower, October 15, 2012, page 20) While they are “reading and thinking on the day’s text” they keep silent, and thus they fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 101:8. – Our Kingdom Ministry, February 1985, page 2.
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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/let-there-be-luminaries-in-the-expanse-of-the-heavens-and-they-will-serve-as-signs/

  Alternative Daily Text for Monday, November 25, 2013

  “Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens … and they will serve as signs.” - (Genesis 1:14)

  What did God mean in making the stars to “serve as signs?” He obviously was referring to the zodiac “signs” that serve as basis for astrologic predictions. Both, the stars as well as the animals which the zodiac signs are based upon, were created by God. And since “God is not the source of what is bad,” there is nothing to be said against using the zodiac. (The Watchtower, April 15, 2004, page 3) Once the apostle Peter considered certain animals “defiled and unclean” and had to be severely rebuked by God. – Acts 10:14, 15.

  God himself defined that the stars should “serve as signs,” hence it would be appropriate to make use of them. When we want to know, for example, what would be the best time for a return visit or to prepare for an assignment in the Theocratic Ministry School, we could consult a Christian astrologer. No doubt, “the heavens are declaring the glory of God, and … their message goes out into all the world.” – Psalm 19:1, 4, ISV.
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  tiki

  omg - i LOVE some of these - the ant - lets all drive on the left......too funny!!! and the parklike cemetery. keep 'em coming!!
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  processor

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  http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/drink-and-get-drunk/

  Alternative Daily Text for Tuesday, November 26, 2013

  “Drink and get drunk!” (Jeremiah 25:27)

  “Wine that makes God and men rejoice” is “a gift from God.” (Judges 9:13; The Watchtower, February 2011, page 29) Hence it is beyond dispute that Christians are allowed to drink alcohol – it is even a direct Biblical command. (1 Timothy 5:23) Certain persons, however, say that Christians must be moderate in drinking; they even claim that it would be “against God’s law to get drunk.” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, page 130) There are even magazines saying that “Christians … must avoid getting drunk.” (The Watchtower, April 15, 1985, page 19) Does the Bible support such an attitude?

  Obviously not. “Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.” (Genesis 1:9) Later “Noah … planted a vineyard. When he drank of the wine, he became intoxicated.” (Genesis 9:20, 21) God did not reproach him for getting drunk; rather he cursed those who had mocked Noah. – Genesis 9:24.

  After this, the prophet Jeremiah became “like a man who is drunk … because of Jehovah and because of his holy words,” and he prompted all nations: “Drink and get drunk!” (Jeremiah 23:9; 25:27) Later the prophet Haggai told the Israelites in the name of Jehovah: “There is a drinking, but not to the point of getting intoxicated” – this was not a compliment but should illustrate their miserable condition. (Haggai 1:6, NWT 1984) “Getting intoxicated” would have been a proof of Jehovah’s blessing.

  Getting intoxicated was common in the early Christian congregation. The apostle Paul said regarding the evening meal: “Some go hungry while others get drunk.” (1 Corinthians 11:21, NLT) True Christians of our day must follow this example and also get drunk. But “one may [drink and still] not be getting drunk … and here is the big danger for Christians.” – The Watchtower, February 1, 1973, page 71.