The amateur speculations of Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses

by logansrun 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Nathan Natas

  Ezekiel3 said,

  Prediction:

  By 2010 the anointed count will diminish to be almost nil.

  Actually, unless there is some kind of "extinction event", I expect that the number of anointed will remain flat in the years ahead, just as it has in the previous couple of decades. It has hovered around 8,000 for a long long time, in defiance of actuarial science. but they explain it as "replacements."

  I'll bet a nickle right now that in 2010 there will be more than 5,000 official partakers at the Nisan 14th wine tasting party.

  Are you a betting man, Eze 3?
• 

  mrs rocky2

  Rank and file JWs will always speculate about the big A. WT leadership will make printed statements that indirectly encouarge speculation. Leadership will not admit to setting dates, they have been too burned on that in the past with unfulfilled dates. Rank and file JWs are so anxious for the "system of things" to be over (they are so tired of putting up with evil and chaos and ill prepared for accepting aging and death) that they will easily speculate on possible dates. They would completely lose their sanity if they didn't have some kind of tangible hope (ie date of delivery) to reach for. Even when I was a loyal door-knocking faithful JW, I was saddened by how many people served WT for the reward, and not because it was the right thing to do. (I no longer believe that serving WT is the right thing to do, and no longer worry about dates and prophetic events.) Just my two-cents worth!
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  ezekiel3

  Nathan,

  I'll see your bet and raise it. The FDS has been pushing hard to eliminate psuedo-anointed in the last year. Elders are authorized to not count partakers who they think are mentally ill (and of course newbies). I predict 2004 will show a great drop from previous figures. It is my theory they are selling this to legitimize the number itself (8000+ has become a laughing stock) and to push the expectancy factor that the end is coming soon - a neo-sign created by the WTBS.
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  Country Girl

  Even as a child, I was confused about this date stuff, since you could read right in the Bible that it would come as a thief in the night, and you wouldn't know the day or hour.

  CG
• 

  Nathan Natas

  Eze 3 -

  Have the figures for 2004 been released yet?

  If the non-anointed elders get into the business of evaluating the "spiritual status" of others, that will probably open a whole 'nuther can of worms for them.

  "Amazing" Jim W. recounts his experience with a Circuit Servant who questioned Jim W's anointed status.

  Amazing ate his liver with some fava beans and a fine chianti (fuguratively speaking).
• 

  proplog2

  There won't be any more date setting for Armageddon until New York City is nuked. When that happens the Watchtower voice will be just one of many end predictors.

  The Watchtower is in the same critical situation as the first century christians. Christ didn't come. Too many generations came and went. So the Church quit talking about the end. That's why mainstream religions don't talk about the end.