Well Hello,
I've been visiting here for about a year or so, but didn't really feel compelled to participate other than reading the various posts that interested me.
There's been that uncomfortable feeling of being disloyal to God, the organization, many friends and relatives.
I've been associated since birth. After 65 + years of service within this organization and actually enjoying that time, it troubled me to find myself wanting to express feelings that were contrary to all that time of "faithfulness". Those years were filled with progressive "privileges and responsibilities" even at a high level, and there was considerable success in our evangelizing activity. We were in the "inner circle" so to speak. Virtually all my relatives were heavily involved and several can be found in some special activity. I knew nothing else, and was content and happy for having the truth. We literally came to know hundreds of people from the U.S. and other countries. Perhaps some of you are here.
I stumbled on to this site while doing some research. Unaware of the "TTATT" as it's referred to here, something didn't seem right, or rather there must be a more comprehendable understanding to some of the difficult teachings. An explanation that one wouldn't be embarrassed or retisent to express. I began to lack confidence that the understandings were coming from God, and if they were, they weren't satisfying. A troubling feeling. However, who was I to try to come up with something more suitable. Eventually I found myself discussing some things with trusted, level headed and open minded fellow worshippers. No trouble makers here. Sincere, devout, educated (with pedigrees in Service privileges) and most of all desiring a good or perhaps better relationship with God and his Son. This all began to occur sometime after we had studied the "Daniel Prophecy" book and shortly thereafter the "Revelation Climax" book.
There were these incomprehensible explanations of the days in Daniel (not just the 1260) that concluded or were fulfilled in the 1920s and the trumpet blasts that were likewise fulfilled in the past century with some Resolution or convention date. I tried explaning that to some interested folks during that time, but kept it vague so they wouldn't stop with the program. But I thought why..why should this not be just so plain? I continued on however, buying into the "wait on Jehovah" and he will reveal it when it's the right time.
Somewhere along the way we came to discussing the 70 years in Daniel, and to make a long story short, that did it. 607 couldn't be correct. It just isn't supported in scripture or history. This, of course, leaves the leadership of this organization suspect.
Things started to pile up, and my confidence in what I had learned in those 65+ years was now quickly eroding. I needed to take a break from the expected activity, and proceed with filling in the blanks. It' taken years and many volumes of well established commentaries, to give me confidence that there's a better understanding out there, but not one so exact that one has to be arbitrary. There's a lot more to learn.
Fortunately, my wife and a few other family members, saw and accepted it on there own. It certainly has caused some problems, however.
In the overall, we're not bitter or resentful. I don't find that productive nor comforting.
We've lost the intimacy of many of our friends and family. I guess we expected that. Being viewed as weak and corrupted is a hard pill to swallow.
While visiting here, I've read some really good posts and they have helped confirm our decision. Hopefully we'll be able to add some insights along the way.