by Overseer 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I'm going to a district assembly fri, sat and sun in Leeds, UK in hope to understand some of this stuff-my girlfriend is a JW but i am not.
I don't get this 144,000 people thingy-why would only some people get to go to heaven and some stay on earth? Which is better? How are these people selected?
Walk on the left my brother as people walk on the right that come in the opposite direction-you will get knocked down my brother!!!
Overseer!
Better stock up on the Pro+ my friend...
Hehehe-thanks for the tip!
Not quite sure what to expect.
Give these a read...
http://www.freeminds.org/history/critical.htm
http://www.watchman.org/jw/expart.htm
Sincerely,
District Overbeer
My question--hehe;)-- is are you going JUST to understand your girlfriend or because you think the jws may be christians and you want to be one? Just curious.
As for the 144000, jws believe there are 2 classes of 'christians'- and I use that term loosley in reference to them! The special, ultra chosen holy JWs that number 144000 and rule from heaven over the ordinary jws who are destined to earth. This is not Biblical at all but a misinterpretation of numbers and their desire to have authority over everyone else. The 144000 in Revelation are said to be ALL Jewish, All virgin, and ALL males. They are from a special point in future history. Jws do not take this literally aparently :( The multitude they speak of in truth is all believers. Rev. also says that both these are in the same place but Jws twist the words to make it ambiguos. The fact is ALL true Believers are children of God and there is no special class or ruling class.
If you are really interested in info on this and other jw doctrines compared to the Bible please feel free to email me and you & your girlfriend are in my prayers Angie <><
Take with a portable music player and prepare to be bored to tears, seriously. You are going to waste a beautiful day, but that's your decision to make. I personally would go to the beach or something, at least you can get a tan, which is far more constructive than sitting in a brain-washing session. Maybe I'm a little bit harsh, but having been forced to sit through one too many Conventions myself, I feel I have every right to be a bit pessimistic!
I'm also curious why you're doing this like others. Care to tell us?
PS. If your girlfriend is a JW, you're 1) not going to be with her very long unless you are assimilated into the (B)Organization, and 2) you will only ever be able to do the missionary position. Prepare for a life of spectacularly boring luvin'.
Here is a quote from the 8/15/81 Pg 28-29 Watchtower (as referenced by the watchman link above)
13
In serving Jehovah "shoulder to shoulder," we need, as Zephaniah so often emphasizes, to cultivate the quality of meekness. When we make mistakes, as all imperfect humans do, let us be ready to acknowledge them, even as the "faithful and discreet slave," made up of imperfect fleshly men, has had to make corrections. However, let us never be critical of the grand body of truth that Jehovah has built up among his united people over the past 100 years, and which, by correction and adjustment, has come to shine ever more brightly on "the path of the righteous ones."Prov. 4:18.14
From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovahs people those who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude. They do not want to serve "shoulder to shoulder" with the worldwide brotherhood. (Compare Ephesians 2:19-22.) Rather, they present a "stubborn shoulder" to Jehovahs words. (Zech. 7:11, 12) Reviling the pattern of the "pure language" that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the "sheep" away from the one international "flock" that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16) They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous "table" of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovahs Witnesses, where truly there is nothing lacking. (Ps. 23:1-6) They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such Bible reading, they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendoms clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendoms festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones.Matt. 24:11-13; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Pet. 2:1, 22The BOLDing is mine, but as you can see, although they will tell you that you should 'read' the bible, what they do not tell you is that you should interpret the bible ONLY their way, and you NEED their literature to interpret it correctly!!!!.. You CANNOT let the bible speak for itself, as if you do, you will be an apostate. And trust me, some of their doctrines are a far stretch from what the bible actually says.
In the example you gave above, the 144,000; They believe that the # is literal, however, they throw out that the 144,000 are made up of Virgin Male Jews. I.E. Anyone can be an annointed.
Good luck on your quest for truth.. Remember the scripture that says to test everything, and to hold on to what is good and true.. Test what they tell you.. Ask questions, research, etc...
: I don't get this 144,000 people thingy
It's quite easy, actually. Everthing in Jehovah's WitnessWorld has to fit in some "class" or another. You are in the "interested persons" Class(TM). If you are really interested, you are in the "People of Goodwill Class." When you get baptized, you will be in the "Other Sheep" Class. The 144,000 are the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" Class. Those of the 144,000 still alive are further sub-divided in the the "Remnant" Class, which is still further subdivided into the "Is of the Anointed" Class and "Professes to be of the Anointed Class." Those of the 144,000 who disagree with Watchtower bullshit are in the "Evil Slave" Class.
The "Other Sheep" Class is further sub-divided into the "Spiritually Strong" Class, "Spiritually Weak" Class, the "Glorious Ones" Class and a lot more.
People like me are in the "Apostate" Class which is further sub-divided into the "Demonized Apostate" Class and the "Vile Viper" Class.
Watchtower people sure have an unhealthy interest in "Class." Watchtower leaders have quite a bit of class, themselves. It's mostly of the "lower" variety.
Farkel
That was classic, Farkel! You can't be a Dub unless you're in a class! Hell, the Dubs even put non-Dubs into classes, such as the goat class!
Also, Farkel, you left out the SmurfOwning Apostate Class! Apparently from what I hear from the GB, they're even WORSE than the "Vile Viper" or "Demonized" Apostate Class!
*SHUDDER* Hope I don't meet one of THEM in the streetwork!
