@ Island Man
I liked what you wrote so much that I just had to put something together with it that I want to print out and leave on car windshields in kingdom hall parking lots, etc... :)
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JWs don't know what bible study is. JWs study Watchtowerpublications which selectively quote and cite individual bible verses out ofcontext to support Watchtower teachings. The bible is not the focus of theirstudy. The publications are. They merely use (and abuse) the bible to validatethe teachings of their organization.
JWs have a finite collection of bible versesthat they are familiar with and that they cite and quote over and over again tosupport key Watchtower teachings. The rest of the bible is largely unknown tothem. They are familiar with just enough of the bible to support Watchtower'steachings.
Once Watchtower has gotten hold of their minds,any reading of the bible by JWs is then done, not with an honest, open mind,but with a closed mind having Watchtower blinders on. JWs profess to regard thebible as the final authority on doctrine. But the reality of their actionsreveal that it is actually Watchtower - "the Society" or "theOrganization".
Show a JW any clear passage of scripture that contradictsa Watchtower teaching and see what the JW will do. He will not accept what thescripture is plainly saying and acknowledge that Watchtower is wrong. No.Instead he will say to himself: "What does the society say about thisscripture? Let me check the Watchtower Library and see..." And the JW willaccept whatever explanation Watchtower gives, however twisted, howeverdisingenuous, however illogical as being the truth about what the scriptureactually means, and he will ignore what the scripture actually very plainlysays.
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If you are an active JW that just read theabove, I am sure that you do not accept what is said there, but I ask you toHONESTLY answer the following questions and test for your self if it is true ornot… at least as it applies to you.
[Jeremiah 25:12 “‘And it must occur that whenseventy years have been fulfilled I shall call to account against the king ofBabylon and against that nation,’ is the utterance of Jehovah,]
1) When did Jehovah say he was going to call toaccount Babylon???
2) When did Jehovah call Babylon to account???
[IP1 p.253- Isaiah goes on to prophesy: “It mustoccur in that day that Tyre must be forgotten seventy years, the same as thedays of one king.” (Isaiah 23:15a) Following the destruction of the mainlandcity by the Babylonians, the island-city of Tyre will “be forgotten.” True tothe prophecy, for the duration of “one king”—the Babylonian Empire—theisland-city of Tyre will not be an important financial power. Jehovah, throughJeremiah, includes Tyre among the nations that will be singled out to drink thewine of His rage. He says: “These nations will have to serve the king ofBabylon seventy years.” (Jeremiah 25:8-17, 22, 27) True, the island-city ofTyre is not subject to Babylon for a full 70 years, since the Babylonian Empirefalls in 539 B.C.E. Evidently, the 70 years represents the period ofBabylonia’s greatest domination—when the Babylonian royal dynasty boasts ofhaving lifted its throne even above “the stars of God.” (Isaiah 14:13)Different nations come under that domination at different times. But at the endof 70 years, that domination will crumble.]
3) In the context of that IsaiahProphecy book excerpt (WTS publication), what time frame arethey referring to when saying; “Babylonia’s greatestdomination”???
[Revelation 8:7And the first one blew his trumpet.
Revelation 8:8And the second angel blew his trumpet
Revelation 8:10And the third angel blew his trumpet
Revelation 8:12And the fourth angel blew his trumpet
Revelation 8:13And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven say with a loud voice:“Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling on the earth because of the rest of thetrumpet blasts of the three angels who are about to blow their trumpets!”
Revelation 9:1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet.
Revelation 9:12The one woe is past. Look! Two more woes are coming after these things.
Revelation 9:13And the sixth angel blew his trumpet.
Revelation 11:14The second woe is past. Look! The third woe is coming quickly.
Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel blew his trumpet.]
4) Would it becorrect to conclude that the 7 trumpets blow in chronological order???
5) In regards toRevelation 8:13, would it be correct to conclude that by that time frame,trumpets 1- 4 had already blown and that the 3 woes mentioned were in referenceto the 3 remaining trumpets that were yet to blow, namely trumpets 5, 6, &7???
6) In regards toRevelation 9:12, would it be correct to conclude that by that time frame, the 1stwoe that had past was in reference to the 5th trumpet, and that the2 woes that were still yet to come were in reference trumpets 6 &7???
7) In regards toRevelation 11:14, would it be correct to conclude that by that time frame, the2nd woe that had past was in reference to the 6th trumpetand that the 3rd woe that was still yet to come (“coming quickly”)was referring to trumpet 7???
8) Would it becorrect to conclude that there are at least 42 months, if not longer that areassociated with the 2nd woe/6th trumpet before it is overand the 3rd woe/7th trumpet can come blow??? PLEASE READ:Revelation 9:13-21,10:1-10,11:1-14; Revelation 11:14,15
ANSWERS
1) When 70 yearshave been fulfilled.
2) 539 B.C.E.
3) The 70 yearsmentioned in Jeremiah 25:11,12.
4) YES
5) YES
6) YES
7) YES
8) YES
REASONING ON THEANSWERS
If Jehovahcalled Babylon to account in 539 and he said that he was going to do that whenthe 70 years were fulfilled then that means that they began in 609. So the 70years in Jeremiah 25:11,12 of Babylonia’s greatest domination are from 609-539and not 607-537.
Since the trumpets are blown in chronological order and since there are 42 months associatedwith the 6th trumpet, then that means that whatever time frame theWTS states the 42 months took place that are associated with the 6thtrumpet, then that means that the 7th trumpet could only possiblyblow at the very earliest, just AFTER the 42 months are said to have ended.(Also to note, that trumpets 1-5 would have to have blown in reverse orderprior to the beginning of the 6th trumpet blowing.)
Likewise,whatever time frame the WTS states the 7th trumpet blew, then the 42months that are associated with the 6th trumpet would have to haveoccurred just prior to the time the 7th trumpet is said to haveblown.
Example, if itis said that the 7th trumpet blew in October of 1914, then the 6thtrumpet would have to have blown no later then April of 1911. This would allow42 months to past so the 7th trumpet could blow at the said time ofOctober of 1914. (Note that trumpets 1-5 would have to have blown in reverseorder in/prior to April 1911.)
If it is saidthat the 42 months associated with the 6th trumpet occurred fromOctober 1914 to April 1918, then this would have to mean that the 6thtrumpet blew at that time (Oct 1914) and 7th trumpet could onlypossibly blow at the very earliest in April 1918 just AFTER the 42 months justended. (Note that trumpets 1-5 would have to have blown in reverse ordersometime in October 1914 just prior to the 6th trumpet blowing.)
[10-15-90 WT- In October 1914, Jehovah God sethis beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on the throne in the heavenly Kingdom.At last, the Revelation vision of the Christian apostle John started to becomea reality, and the announcement could be made: And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voicesoccurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become thekingdom of our Lord [Jehovah] and of his Christ, and he [Jehovah] will rule asking forever and ever.” (Revelation 1:10; 4:1; 11:15)]
[11-1-02 WT- In 1914 the prophetic words ofRevelation 11:15 were fulfilled: “The kingdom of the world did become thekingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever andever.”]
↑The above states that the 7thtrumpet blew in October of 1914. Then that would have to mean that the 6thtrumpet would have to have blown in April of 1911 at the latest. This wouldmean that the 42 months did not take place in October 1914 to April 1918.
[Revelation Climax- The wily Satan had plans formanipulating the wild beast to his own ends. John explains this: “And a mouthspeaking great things and blasphemies was given it [the seven-headed beast],and authority to act forty-two months was given it. —Revelation 13:5. The 42months mentioned here appear to be the same as the three and a half yearsduring which the holy ones are harassed by a horn arising from one of thebeasts in Daniel’s prophecy. (Daniel 7:23-25; see also Revelation 11:1-4.)Thus, from the latter part of 1914 on into 1918, while the warring nations wereliterally tearing at one another like wild beasts, citizens of those nationswere pressured to worship the wild beast, to indulge in the religion ofnationalism, even to be ready to die for their country.]
[Revelation Climax- Why was John forbidden tomeasure the courtyard? He tells us in these words: “But as for the courtyardthat is outside the temple sanctuary, cast it clear out and do not measure it,because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy cityunderfoot for forty-two months.” (Revelation 11:2) We have noted that the innercourtyard pictures the righteous standing on earth of spirit-begottenChristians. As we shall see, the reference here is to the literal 42 monthsextending from October 1914 into 1918, when all professing Christians were putto a severe test.]
[7-15-51 WT- At this eventful time the seventhangel blows his trumpet, that is, after the 1,260 days ended in 1918. Then itis that these wonders can come to pass. “And the seventh angel blew histrumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven saying: ‘The kingdom of the worldhas become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as kingfor ever and ever.’]
↑The above shows that the 6th trumpetblew and the 42 months took place in October 1914 to April 1918 and the 7thtrumpet blew in April 1918, just AFTER the 42 months are said to have ended.This means that the 7th trumpet did not blow in 1914.
To retain the notion that the 7th trumpet blew in1914 you can’t still apply that the 42 months occurred from 1914 to 1918… toretain the notion that the 42 months occurred from 1914 to 1918 you can’t stillapply that the 7th trumpet blew in 1914. Likewise, given the factthat Jehovah called Babylon to account in 539, at such time that he himselfsaid he would do when 70 years HAVE BEEN FUFILLED, then that would logicallymean that the 70 years began in 609, which means that those same 70 years can’tbe said to be from 607-537. Current JWs should take note of and apply thefollowing WTS counsel.
[6-1-86 WT- To acquire a complete heart,we must be prepared emotionally to set aside preconceived opinions, willing tolet God be found true even if it does demolish some of our pet ideas orcherished doctrinal views. (Romans 3:4)]
[12-1-00 WT- Whatever authority peoplemay arrogate to themselves, you do not have to accept their conclusions if theycontradict God, ignore his Word, and violate common sense. In the finalanalysis, the wise course is always to “let God be found true, though every manbe found a liar.” —Romans 3:4.]
[11-1-11 Awake-A fundamental requirement for faith is “an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)Only “the truth,” says the Bible, “will set you free,” free from misleadingbeliefs, whether they are scientific or religious. (John 8:32) The Biblewarns you not to put faith “in every word.” (Proverbs 14:15)Rather, it says that you should “make sure of all things”—or test out thethings you hear before believing them. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)Why should you do research and test out your beliefs? Because faith based onfalsehood is only a delusion. Some noble-minded people from the ancient city ofBeroea set a fine example in acquiring proper faith. Even though theseindividuals really wanted to believe what Christian missionaries taught them,they made a point of “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”—Acts 17:11. What,though, if what you learn seems to contradict some of your deeply held beliefs?Should you just ignore it? Of course not. There may well be times when it iseminently reasonable to consider powerful evidence that appears to contradictwhat you believe. In the Bible, God promises to reward sincere individuals whosearch for truth by granting them knowledge, discernment, and thinkingability.—Proverbs 2:1-12. The kind of faith builton what the Bible teaches is compatible with reason. What kind of faith do youhave? Many people have “inherited” their religious beliefs and have neverseriously examined them in the light of reason. Yet, it is not a sign ofdisrespect to examine what you believe so as to ‘prove to yourself’ that yourthinking is in harmony with God’s Word. (Romans 12:2) The Bibleadmonishes us to “test the inspired expressions to see whether they originatewith God.” (1 John 4:1)]
[9-1-10 WT- To deceive, says one dictionary, means, “to cause to accept as true orvalid what is false or invalid.” It also implies “imposing a false idea orbelief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.” The basic idea ofthe word, along with such other words as “mislead” and “delude,” is to leadsomeone astray by underhanded means. Surely, a person who is not aware that heor she is being kept in a state of “ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness”by deliberate misinformation is in serious danger. The really sad fact is thatvery often theperson who is deceived or deluded tends to hold on to his belief in spite ofstrong evidence proving otherwise. Perhaps he gets so emotionally attached tohis belief that he simply shuts his eyes and closes his ears to any evidencethat might challenge it…Use what Jehovah God has given you. First of all, hehas given you intellectual capacity so that you can distinguish truth fromfalsehood. (1 John 5:20)…Mostimportant, God has provided you with an infallible means with which to protectyourself. What is that? The same one that the apostle Paul encouraged hiscompanion Timothy to rely on when it came to matters of religious faith. Aftergiving the warning about “wicked men and impostors,” the apostle Paul toldTimothy to resist them by basing everything he believed on “the holywritings”—that is, on God’s holy Word, the Bible.—2 Timothy 3:15. Rather than being deceived by what is “falselycalled ‘knowledge,’” use God’s Word to establish the truth. (1 Timothy 6:20,21) Be like the noble-minded men and women whom the apostle Paul preached to inBeroea. They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefullyexamining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. —Acts17:11.You have nothing to fear from examining your beliefs in this way.” The bible encourages youto "make sure of all things" before accepting them as true. (1 Thess5:21) Toward the end of the first century C.E., the apostle John urged hisfellow christians: " Beloved ones, do not believe every inspiredexpression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originatewith God." (1 John 4:1) Yes, even though a certain religious teachingseems to be "inspired" - or to come from God- it is still the courseof wisdom to examine the Scriptures to make sure before accepting it as true-John 8:31,32. "]