WT JUNE 2025 MODESTLY accept what YOU do not know

by blondie 9 Replies latest jw friends

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  blondie

  pp. 14-19 Just some quote and a few comments from me, very, very repetitious. The GB seems to think that the rank and file came up the years 1914, 1925, 1975, generation (70-80 years from 1914=1994), overlapping generations. The WTS is trying to rewrite their history.

  WT JUNE 2025 MODESTLY ACCEPT WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW

  Although we have the capacity to learn, we have limitations in what we do know. (Read Job 37:23,24) Consider Job’s example. He was confronted with a series of questions that revealed just how much he did not know. That experience humbled him and helped to correct his thinking. (Job 42:3-6) We too benefit when we modestly recognize that we do not know everything. Such modesty moves us (including GB) to trust that Jehovah will reveal to us what we really need to know so that we can make wise choices.​

  Matthew 24:36, what about Matthew 24:45 more to the point. “On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

  Jehovah has scheduled the time for the end of this system, but we are not in a position to figure out precisely when that will be. (1975?)

  Actually, by not revealing the date for the end, Jehovah gives us the opportunity to show that we serve him because we love him and trust in him. We are not serving Jehovah with a deadline in mind, as if our faith in him had an expiration date.

  We do well to focus on what we do know​—that the last days began in 1914.

  Really? “1914 : Failed Watchtower Prophecy

  One of the most misleading statements in Watchtower publications is that they accurately foretold 1914 to be the “start” of the conclusion of this system of things. Rather, Watchtower falsely predicted 1914 to be the “end” of the system of things, the conclusion of Armageddon and the start of the earthly paradise.

  It is important to know what Watchtower preached would happen in the years leading up to and including 1914, and compare this with what it now claims was said.

  What Watchtower said prior to 1914	What Watchtower claims it said prior to 1914
  "The year A.D. 1878 … clearly marks the time for the actual assuming of power as King of kings, by our present, spiritual, invisible Lord - …" The Time is At Hand (1911 ed) p.239	"The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to honesthearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus’ presence in heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914." Watchtower 1993 Jan 15 p.5
  "But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. Zion's Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p.226	"Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8

  https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/failed-1914-predictions.php

  We cannot know for certain why Jehovah might permit something to occur or exactly how he will act in our behalf.

  If matters do not turn out as we expected (includes the GB who set the datre) we need to remember that Jehovah is still in full control. We are confident that he will provide us with the direction we need, even if not in the same miraculous way that he sometimes did in the past

  (But only through the GB) (WT February 2022 p. 2-7) (During the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak to us personally. He will likely provide direction through his appointed representatives. That will hardly be the time to second-guess the direction or to view it with skepticism,”)

  Watchtower 2013 Nov 15 p.20
  "At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not."

  Most what the WTS says, hang them with their own words.

  https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/trust-governing-body.php

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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  Touchofgrey

  https://anchoredcounsellingservices.com.au/i-dont-know-what-to-believe-anymore-the-impact-of-spiritual-gaslighting/

  Governing body masters of spiritual gaslighting always have been and always will be.
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  NotFormer

  1914 should ultimately be jettisoned as a pivotal point. As we get further forward from that date, it just seems sillier to hold on to it. The SDA church wiggled out of the failed 1844 date by framing it as being the beginning of "investigating judgement". The WT will have to try something similar if they want to hold on to that date (1914) and for it to make at least a modicum of sense.
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  Gorb

  Take your medication guys, it's all bogus, sect stuff.

  Good day!

  G.
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  NotFormer

  Of course it's all bogus sect 🎎 stuff. And this is a discussion board, ostensibly to discuss stuff from that particular sect. So we're discussing it. 🎤
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  Longlivetherenegades

  Can any one of Jehovah's witnesses of note on this platform find a particular scripture that states clearly that one particular year, day or time will be the start of the last days.

  More like the Bible stated clearly that one particular year or day or month when we do our calculations right will be the start of the last days.

  I remember Ray Franz raising a question regarding the last days as it applies to the scriptures below.....

  Acts 2: 14...Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ''‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

  and

  2 Timothy 3: 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy

  Ray Franz said.....

  That the “last days” began in 1914, and that when the apostle Peter (at Acts 2:17) spoke of the last days as applying from Pentecost on, he did not mean the same “last days” that Paul did (at 2 Timothy 3:1)? Where?

  Jehovah's witnesses love ensuring things are divided into two. Are we having two set of last days in the Bible?
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  Balaamsass2

  Good reminder thread, Blonde.
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  finishedmystery

  It is the title that is strange to me. If they had said "cannot know" instead of "do not know" it would make sense. For example, if I don't know calculus, but want to know calculus, what does modesty have to do with it? All I need to do is go to my local college and take a calculus class. Now if Jesus says that only the Father knows the day and the hour, then I modestly accept the fact that I cannot know that. They are conflating modesty with ignorance, i.e. not knowing something is virtuous because you are modest and humble. With Watchtower's new doctrine of "willful ignorance", which psychologists will tell you is done to avoid taking responsibility, now it is virtuous to be irresponsible because you are modest. Humility is conflated with ignorance.

  In John 16:13 NIV Jesus said "the Spirit of truth... will guide you into all the truth". My emphasis on the word "all". So what's all this 'don't know' business? Then there is Jeremiah 33:3 "Call out to me and I will show you great and unsearchable things you have not known."

  Their new "willful ignorance" theology is out of sync with scripture. There is no question in my mind that this WT article is part of a bigger plan to keep the rank and file dumbed down and ignorant so that the rank and file can be made to think they are immodest if they were to look behind the curtain and see that the wizard has no clothes.
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  LongHairGal

  FINISHED MYSTERY:

  Very good points you make and I do believe they want to keep that old R&F dumbed-down and thinking they are ‘immodest’ for even wanting answers.

  I also think articles like this are put out in response to all the complaints the religion is getting lately from sick & tired older Witnesses who feel they should be ‘in the new system by now’ instead of this ‘old system’ where they are growing older and having to worry about money.

  The religion has to quiet everybody down by saying ‘modestly accept what you do not know’. .Meanwhile, it is they who gave all this false hope in the first place - and caused their members to be in the bad shape they are now in (arrogantly saying don’t get careers or plan for retirement which they are still saying..).. What a mess. I am so Glad I never listened to a thing they said years ago.
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  Journeyman

  It is the title that is strange to me. If they had said "cannot know" instead of "do not know" it would make sense. For example, if I don't know calculus, but want to know calculus, what does modesty have to do with it? All I need to do is go to my local college and take a calculus class. Now if Jesus says that only the Father knows the day and the hour, then I modestly accept the fact that I cannot know that. They are conflating modesty with ignorance, i.e. not knowing something is virtuous because you are modest and humble. With Watchtower's new doctrine of "willful ignorance", which psychologists will tell you is done to avoid taking responsibility, now it is virtuous to be irresponsible because you are modest. Humility is conflated with ignorance.

  finishedmystery - you make a great point there. I also noticed that distinction.

  Having skimmed through the article though, in fairness there is nothing I can see that is a "bait and switch" between "cannot know" and "do not know", except para 7 where there's the line blondie quoted and analysed: "We do well to focus on what we do know​ — that the last days began in 1914", and some JW-specific figures about their ministry.

  One of the footnotes does also say: "Jesus will take the lead in the war against Satan’s wicked world, so it is reasonable to conclude that he now knows the date for Armageddon and for when he will “complete his conquest.”​—Rev. 6:2; 19:11-16." but I don't think that's quite so presumptuous.

  Perhaps surprisingly, there is not even a mention in the article about obeying the direction of the organisation, even though in at least 3-4 paragraphs, there is an opportunity to slip it in. They don't even add it to the pictures and captions, which is usually a good place to insert chest-thumping for the Org if they can't include it in the text.
  
  Almost the entire article is genuinely about the things we cannot know right now - when "the end" will come, what God will choose to do, and what will happen to us tomorrow - and surprisingly, nowhere in the text does it recommend turning to an "organisation" for the answers. However, it's worth noting that the opening song for the study is "SONG 123: Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order", which DOES of course go on about obeying direction, so there is a not-so-subtle message laid down there, which seems suspiciously out of sync with the overall content of the article otherwise.

  So I think for this one, I'll put it down to the (increasingly common) poor use of language in WT articles of late - the article should really be called "Modestly accept what you CANNOT know", or perhaps "Modestly accept what you do not YET know".