blondie’s first thoughts wt study 2-10-2019 (DECEMBER 2018, pages (3-7)
EXCELLENT GENERAL WEBSITE: www.jwfacts.com
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications http://www.a2z.org/wtarchive/archive.htm (old)
www.jw.org (new) see WT Online tab
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
Discussion board www.jehovahs-witness.net
OVERALL: “SEE YOU IN PARADISE!”
The first thing that popped into my mind does the phrase “paradise earth” even appear in the bible. A check of the phrase in WOL does not show that it does.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=paradise%2Bearth&p=sen&r=occ&fc%5B%5D=bi
The same is true of the phrase “governing body.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=governing%2Bbody&p=par&r=occ&fc%5B%5D=bi
But because the WTS/GB uses these phrases in close proximity of so-called supporting scriptures, very few jws notice that neither of these phrases have quote marks around them, indicating that it is not a snippet drawn from the scriptures. I showed this to a long-time inactive jw who still tries to promote some of the WT doctrines as true (he cherry picks them), he was stunned, an avid student of WT publications in his day, he missed it.
Check the WT Online and see.
Paragraph 1: Does the WTS/GB use the word “paradise” as literal and/or figurative, both ways as it suits them? (see pp 3) Paradise = 50 feet of snow yearly, is that a good illustration? How many people do you think define that term that way?
Paragraph 2: See paragraph 1.
Paragraph 3: Why use the quote of Genesis 2:8 from the Catholic Douay Version of the bible? Wasn’t the Revised NWT enough?
8 Further, Jehovah God planted a garden in Eʹden,+ toward the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.+ (side point, the font the WTS uses in the NWT is called Roboto)
Oh, I see the word Paradise is not used in Genesis in the study version of the NWT.
Paragraph 4: Why does the WTS/GB quote from the Cyclopedia by M’Clintock and Strong? Why not the Insight book? Is the Cyclopedia accepted by the WTS/GB as a reliable source for jws to use?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002443#h=20:0-21:727
“During your study, avoid the approach common to many so-called Bible scholars. They focus excessively on analyzing texts as if the Bible were of human origin. Some of them try to fix a distinct audience for each book or to conjure up an objective and supposed viewpoint that a human author of each book had in mind. The effect of such human reasoning may be that of relegating Bible books to mere history or viewing them as reflecting evolutionary approaches to religion. Other scholars give themselves over to word studies, like the philology of Bible literature. They get more involved in studying word origins and citing Hebrew and Greek meanings than in the import of God’s message. Do you think that such approaches are likely to impart deep and motivating faith?—1 Thessalonians 2:13.”
Since no human has seen the literal paradise since Adam and Eve left it, how could any one know what it looked like; from the testimony of condemned sinners?
Paragraph 5: The WTS/GB evidently has insight:
“Though without human occupants, that garden apparently remained until the Deluge of Noah’s day.”
That statement makes me wonder what they use to support this statement.
But the Look brochure is more emphatic:
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101986021?q=paradise+flood&p=sen
“This original Paradise no longer exists, having been destroyed in the Flood of Noah’s day.” (but still no scriptural support)
Paragraph 6: “Some may wonder” Who are some? Are the facts like the ones the WTS/GB uses to support the statement in paragraph 5? “valid basis” based on what? What is a “basic promise”?
Paragraph 7: “logical place to find answers is in the book” the bible supposedly unless there is not one as in paragraph 5 and then the WTS/GB can put their spin on it; and you must accept it even if they are wrong.
Paragraph 8: “There is no indication in the Bible that Abraham thought that humans would get a final reward in a heavenly paradise.” But then how can the WTS/GB make the statement in paragraph 5 without anything in the bible?” “reasonably think”; “suggested”; “further developments” words/phrases designed to make the reader think if they think otherwise, they aren’t in harmony with “god’s organization.”
Paragraph 9: Is David a reliable source, a man who committed adultery, arranged for a man to be put to death to cover up that capital crime under the Law, and later conducted a census despite god’s direction not to and then chose to have 70,000 Israelites to die for his disobedience. Were David’s predictions before or after these crimes? Who are righteous people per the WTS/GB, only jws.
Paragraph 10: Have the WTS/GB turned their back on god by giving their own viewpoint not supported by scripture? Seventy years (that is another discussion, many on JWN)
Paragraph 11: What does the whole earth mean, only jws evidently since all non-jws will be destroyed at Armageddon.
Paragraph 12: “There is no evidence that those returning from exile were miraculous cured.” Did the Israelites read Isaiah 11:6-9 and make a spiritual application?
Paragraph 13: How many jws do you think actually look up the scriptures they are “encouraged” to read, let alone the cited ones or snippets? “build houses” but first for the elders and their families.
Paragraph 14: “important detail” because some trees live for thousands of years, is that comparable to living and never dying?
Paragraph 15: No danger from beastlike humans, including those in the congregations of jws?
Paragraph 16,17: As to Luke 25:39-42, there are different views but only the WTS/GB has the right view since god has selected only them explain the scriptures, or even have a viewpoint that has no scriptural support. If a comma was so important to get the right viewpoint, couldn’t god make sure it was there and not lend to ambiguity? Even god’s name disappeared from the bible manuscripts.
Paragraph 18: “Jesus did not go to any Paradise on the day he…died” Did he go to a paradise when he went to heaven? Is heaven described in the bible as being the paradise the WTS/GB is talking about?
Paragraph 19: So why does the WTS/GB have to go back to Moses to explain this? Where is god’s hand in making sure there did have to be a convoluted way to explain this?
Paragraph 20: Who is the Bible translator of the Middle East mentioned here? What is the source of the statement in the 5th century Syriac version?
Paragraph 21: Criminal not baptized; does that imply that if a jw has not been able to go through the formal act of baptism when the great tribulation begins or Armageddon, that he/she will die? Why use italics; does not count more than actually using scriptures?
Paragraph 22: “Live according to God’s righteous ways” as interpreted by the WTS/GB. Isaiah 65:22 implies that people will for thousands of years, but not necessarily forever?
Paragraph 23: The WTS/GB concludes that it should be clear to all. When has the WTS/GB said that literal paradise coming? 1925 or 1975, as well as “very soon now”?
1925: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php
1975: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1975.php
VERY SOON NOW:
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=very+soon+now&p=sen&r=newest
Final comments: Evidently or apparently, the WTS/GB sees that the literal paradise on earth is becoming dim in the sight of many jws. That jws are not satisfied with the so-called spiritual paradise they see or don’t see in the organization. They are seeing that they will die and that the promise given to them for so long that they will never die and live right into the paradise is not something that they can grasp. Like the carrot and the stick.
Love (philia), Blondie
blondie’s first thoughts wt study 2-10-2019 (DECEMBER 2018, pages (3-7)
EXCELLENT GENERAL WEBSITE: www.jwfacts.com
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications http://www.a2z.org/wtarchive/archive.htm (old)
www.jw.org (new) see WT Online tab
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
Discussion board www.jehovahs-witness.net
OVERALL: “SEE YOU IN PARADISE!”
The first thing that popped into my mind does the phrase “paradise earth” even appear in the bible. A check of the phrase in WOL does not show that it does.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=paradise%2Bearth&p=sen&r=occ&fc%5B%5D=bi
The same is true of the phrase “governing body.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=governing%2Bbody&p=par&r=occ&fc%5B%5D=bi
But because the WTS/GB uses these phrases in close proximity of so-called supporting scriptures, very few jws notice that neither of these phrases have quote marks around them, indicating that it is not a snippet drawn from the scriptures. I showed this to a long-time inactive jw who still tries to promote some of the WT doctrines as true (he cherry picks them), he was stunned, an avid student of WT publications in his day, he missed it.
Check the WT Online and see.
Paragraph 1: Does the WTS/GB use the word “paradise” as literal and/or figurative, both ways as it suits them? (see pp 3) Paradise = 50 feet of snow yearly, is that a good illustration? How many people do you think define that term that way?
Paragraph 2: See paragraph 1.
Paragraph 3: Why use the quote of Genesis 2:8 from the Catholic Douay Version of the bible? Wasn’t the Revised NWT enough?
8 Further, Jehovah God planted a garden in Eʹden,+ toward the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.+ (side point, the font the WTS uses in the NWT is called Roboto)
Oh, I see the word Paradise is not used in Genesis in the study version of the NWT.
Paragraph 4: Why does the WTS/GB quote from the Cyclopedia by M’Clintock and Strong? Why not the Insight book? Is the Cyclopedia accepted by the WTS/GB as a reliable source for jws to use?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002443#h=20:0-21:727
“During your study, avoid the approach common to many so-called Bible scholars. They focus excessively on analyzing texts as if the Bible were of human origin. Some of them try to fix a distinct audience for each book or to conjure up an objective and supposed viewpoint that a human author of each book had in mind. The effect of such human reasoning may be that of relegating Bible books to mere history or viewing them as reflecting evolutionary approaches to religion. Other scholars give themselves over to word studies, like the philology of Bible literature. They get more involved in studying word origins and citing Hebrew and Greek meanings than in the import of God’s message. Do you think that such approaches are likely to impart deep and motivating faith?—1 Thessalonians 2:13.”
Since no human has seen the literal paradise since Adam and Eve left it, how could any one know what it looked like; from the testimony of condemned sinners?
Paragraph 5: The WTS/GB evidently has insight:
“Though without human occupants, that garden apparently remained until the Deluge of Noah’s day.”
That statement makes me wonder what they use to support this statement.
But the Look brochure is more emphatic:
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101986021?q=paradise+flood&p=sen
“This original Paradise no longer exists, having been destroyed in the Flood of Noah’s day.” (but still no scriptural support)
Paragraph 6: “Some may wonder” Who are some? Are the facts like the ones the WTS/GB uses to support the statement in paragraph 5? “valid basis” based on what? What is a “basic promise”?
Paragraph 7: “logical place to find answers is in the book” the bible supposedly unless there is not one as in paragraph 5 and then the WTS/GB can put their spin on it; and you must accept it even if they are wrong.
Paragraph 8: “There is no indication in the Bible that Abraham thought that humans would get a final reward in a heavenly paradise.” But then how can the WTS/GB make the statement in paragraph 5 without anything in the bible?” “reasonably think”; “suggested”; “further developments” words/phrases designed to make the reader think if they think otherwise, they aren’t in harmony with “god’s organization.”
Paragraph 9: Is David a reliable source, a man who committed adultery, arranged for a man to be put to death to cover up that capital crime under the Law, and later conducted a census despite god’s direction not to and then chose to have 70,000 Israelites to die for his disobedience. Were David’s predictions before or after these crimes? Who are righteous people per the WTS/GB, only jws.
Paragraph 10: Have the WTS/GB turned their back on god by giving their own viewpoint not supported by scripture? Seventy years (that is another discussion, many on JWN)
Paragraph 11: What does the whole earth mean, only jws evidently since all non-jws will be destroyed at Armageddon.
Paragraph 12: “There is no evidence that those returning from exile were miraculous cured.” Did the Israelites read Isaiah 11:6-9 and make a spiritual application?
Paragraph 13: How many jws do you think actually look up the scriptures they are “encouraged” to read, let alone the cited ones or snippets? “build houses” but first for the elders and their families.
Paragraph 14: “important detail” because some trees live for thousands of years, is that comparable to living and never dying?
Paragraph 15: No danger from beastlike humans, including those in the congregations of jws?
Paragraph 16,17: As to Luke 25:39-42, there are different views but only the WTS/GB has the right view since god has selected only them explain the scriptures, or even have a viewpoint that has no scriptural support. If a comma was so important to get the right viewpoint, couldn’t god make sure it was there and not lend to ambiguity? Even god’s name disappeared from the bible manuscripts.
Paragraph 18: “Jesus did not go to any Paradise on the day he…died” Did he go to a paradise when he went to heaven? Is heaven described in the bible as being the paradise the WTS/GB is talking about?
Paragraph 19: So why does the WTS/GB have to go back to Moses to explain this? Where is god’s hand in making sure there did have to be a convoluted way to explain this?
Paragraph 20: Who is the Bible translator of the Middle East mentioned here? What is the source of the statement in the 5th century Syriac version?
Paragraph 21: Criminal not baptized; does that imply that if a jw has not been able to go through the formal act of baptism when the great tribulation begins or Armageddon, that he/she will die? Why use italics; does not count more than actually using scriptures?
Paragraph 22: “Live according to God’s righteous ways” as interpreted by the WTS/GB. Isaiah 65:22 implies that people will for thousands of years, but not necessarily forever?
Paragraph 23: The WTS/GB concludes that it should be clear to all. When has the WTS/GB said that literal paradise coming? 1925 or 1975, as well as “very soon now”?
1925: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php
1975: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1975.php
VERY SOON NOW:
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=very+soon+now&p=sen&r=newest
Final comments: Evidently or apparently, the WTS/GB sees that the literal paradise on earth is becoming dim in the sight of many jws. That jws are not satisfied with the so-called spiritual paradise they see or don’t see in the organization. They are seeing that they will die and that the promise given to them for so long that they will never die and live right into the paradise is not something that they can grasp. Like the carrot and the stick.
Love (philia), Blondie