I went to the Assembly (AHHH!) to hear the "Beware of the Voice of Strangers" Talk.
Well, I went on Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon.
Here are some interesting things from the Friday and Saturday Assembly Talks:
The Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be "Christians". But, the whole Friday afternoon, I only heard them mention Jesus 5 times. FIVE TIMES! Sheesh.
On Friday, they were discussing Amos' prophecies. This got very interesting.
The speakers kept saying several times that BETHEL WAS THE CENTER OF FALSE RELIGION FOR ISRAEL! The speakers said that about 5 times during the Talks about Amos.
They went on to talk about how golden calves were worshiped at BETHEL!
Then, the speakers said, about 5 times, that Jehovah condemned the Israelites in Amos' time because fathers and sons were having sex with the same GIRL, and the Judges of Israel were being bribed to cover this up.
Also, on Friday afternoon, they said about 3 or 4 times, that Jehovah's Witnesses should be "cheerful givers" and share their money with the Watchtower Society.
Then they released the "See the Good Land" Map Book (which is probably the best Book the Society has ever put out, because it is only a Book of Maps!)
On Saturday afternoon, they said about 5 times that JW's should be "cheerful givers" and share their money with the Watchtower Society.
I thought the Watchtower Society has always bragged about not requesting donations during Meetings like other churches do?
Then came the "Beware of the Voice of Strangers" Talk, given by a local Circuit Overseer:
I really did like the Scriptures that were used in this Talk:
Hebrews 13:9: Do not be carried away with various and strange teachings ...
1st John 4:1: Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Galatians 1:8: However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed.
Proverbs 14:15: Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps.
Colossians 2:8: Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;
Unfortunately, they were twisted to fit the Watchtower Society's doctrines.
First, the speaker started talking about APOSTATES!
The speaker said that JW's should not even listen to anyone who tries to tell them something that does not agree with what the Watchtower Society teaches.
He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's do not need the Watchtower Organization to worship God.
He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's can understand the Bible without the Watchtower Society.
He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's can receive Holy Spirit without the Watchtower Society.
He then said some good statements:
He said that JW's should not believe anyone who teaches something that contradicts what the Bible says.
He said that JW's must listen to Jesus Christ's voice ONLY!
He then said that every JW should have a good Bible knowledge so they can compare everything against the Bible.
He then said that even if an angel came down from Heaven, or if the Apostles were to say something that contradicts the Bible, that Christians SHOULD NOT believe it!
But, then he said, that even if JW's cannot understand something that the Faithful and Discreet Slave teaches, that you must believe it and go along with it, because the Faithful and Discreet Slave speaks for Jesus Christ!
The speaker also commented a lot on the Media and the Internet:
He said "BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE INTERNET!"
He said that pedophiles, and other perverts and apostates are on the Internet trying to hurt and mislead people.
He then talked about pornography being on the Internet.
He said "We have seen that the Media has recently been running some stories about the Jehovah's Witnesses".
Then, he said that the Media does not always tell the truth.
He then started talking about the recent New York Times fraud scandal, with the New York Times making up fake news stories.
He said that you MUST NOT believe all the stories you hear. He said that it would be unreasonable to believe that all news stories are false, however.
He then went on to say the following things about the News Media:
"The Media uses half-truths".
"The Media withholds certain facts".
"The Media is lying in the power of the Wicked One".
"Be very careful about what you believe from the Media".
______________________________________________
Then, the next Talk was interesting also:
The speaker kept saying over and over and over that the Jehovah's Witnesses are the TRUE RELIGION BECAUSE every JW will give out the same answers when people ask questions, and there are no different beliefs about the Bible.
They said that some people have become JW's because of the unity and harmony of the answers that were given by different JW's, and that there are NO CONTRADICTIONS in the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings, like Babylon the Great has.
Well, that speaker is obviously overlooking some major flip-flops and contradictions:
Sodom & Gomorroh
Rape/Screaming Policy
Blood Transfusion Confusion
And more flip-flops.
Then, they released the "Learn from the Great Teacher" Book.
I highly recommend that everyone read Chapter 32 of that Book!
For more information about this new Book, please visit http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/55121/1.ashx