My brother's gonna die at Armageddon.

by be wise 7 Replies latest jw experiences

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  be wise

  At the moment I don’t feel great about JW’s.

  I say this because I just had a call from my sister who’s a JW- She lives in another country. Anyhows, we get talking about my brother who lives abroad in the same country as her.

  He has just moved in with his girlfriend (who isn’t a JW), he hasn’t been to the meetings for a long time but has never questioned it either. Anyway we were talking about this on the phone and my sisters little daughter was listening and getting very upset. My sister says she’s very sensitive, so I ask what’s wrong. She says she’s upset cos she knows he’s going to die at Armageddon. (Gasp!) She obviously must not know how I feel about it – I thought my mum would have told her or my other JW brother (Yeah, there’s quite a few of us). I was taken back completely but didn’t let it show cos I’ve learnt there’s no use getting into an argument, so we talked and left on good terms.

  I really feel sorry for my niece and want to help her. I’ve been left with that very uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It kills me thinking she’s got the same very corrupt way out thinking that I had and a lot of us here used to have and I know how she must feel inside, poor girl. I was thinking of writing to her when she gets older, nothing drastic, just a mention - what do u reckon? I’m not one to let problems just sit there – lifes just to short for that in my opinion.

  Anyway, it made me realise some people are stuck right at the beginning and even before that with the JW thing. I know this, but it’s different when you get a real taste of it first hand. I really admire people who have to deal with this with family day in day out and I wish you all the patience and understanding you can afford.

  be wise
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  RAYZORBLADE

  Be Wise, yes it's very troublesome to hear these statements from believing family members.

  The good thing, despite the perpetual doom & gloom that many JWs anticipate, is not ours.

  We know your brother, will not die at Armageddon.

  There is no Armageddon.

  Aren't you glad you are free of all that mindset ?

  Impart what you can when you can. It's dicey, as you simply want to blurt out so much to help these people to see what's really going on. Perhaps, you will have that opportunity.

  Best wishes be wise,
  Rayzorblade
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  be wise

  Yes I am Razor, but It's sad when I know exactly how she's feeling. I know how not to jump the gun now though!

  I hope I do get the opportunity, someday.

  Thanks mate!

  (getting a bit wiser)
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  Nathan Natas

  Hi BeWise,

  I was a JW for about 20 years, more than a quarter century ago. I thought I knew what JWs believed.

  In the past year I've had some on-line discussions with JWs and former JWs, and when I offered direct quotes from Watchtower publications that said in effect that only JWs would survive Armageddon, I was very (VERY!) surprised to learn that in recent years the "official" JW position has changed, if only on the surface.

  JWs will now tell you that only Jehovah can read the hearts of men, and so it is not for them to say who will survive Armageddon.

  I suggest that you exploit this "new-ish light" with your niece. Ask her if she believes that Jehovah is a God of love. She does. Ask her if she believes that only God can read what a person's heart condition is. She does. Tell her that even though SOME PEOPLE may not like the way your brother is living his life, it is not up to those people to say what Jehovah will do, is it?

  Work with the kid, using the kid's current beliefs to show them a larger and more loving world.

  Personally, I believe there will be no Armageddon, and that Jehovah is a sock puppet that speaks only when an old man in Brooklyn has his hand up Jah's ass. But that's me. I hope you find this helpful.
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  dedalus

  Fu[edited]ing Witnesses.

  Dedalus
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  rocketman

  It would be nice if the average jw actually believed that God would simply read hearts and do the judging. Fact is, the prevailing view is that those who don't do what they are doing will die at the Big A. They must buy into that in order to be compelled to keep up the stuff they do, all the meetings, service, etc.

  I'm not taking any isue at all with what Nathan Natas just posted, and in fact there are some statements they make, at their web site, which do hint at that or say it outright. But when one looks at the KM articles and other writings in the WT, the prevailing view is different. What they say when asked directly is often at variance with what they actually teach on a range of issues.
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  Wolfgirl

  I was the same way when I was little. When I was 2 or 3, I told my grandparents they were bad and were going to die because they celebrated Christmas. (They are not and never have been JWs.) Now I celebrate Christmas. :) There's hope. :)
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  lovinglife

  It would be nice if the average jw actually believed that God would simply read hearts and do the judging. Fact is, the prevailing view is that those who don't do what they are doing will die at the Big A.

  You are correct...

  I just got back visiting my mother (30+ yrs a JW) and had a 5 hr discussion with her on various topics. When bringing up this subject, in which only JW's would survive Armageddon and the rest would be slaughtered; she wouldn't give me a direct yes or no answer; but that you had to be part of God's only organization, JW's. They are the only ones doing God's work. No exceptions. Everything revolves around the organization. Thats the way it is. I never would get a direct answer to any of my questions..just a question or example back or that it was new light. There's nothing like JW doublespeak. Ugh!