Posts by menrov

4

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob are IN the Kingdom of Heaven?

by FusionTheism in

the new jesus book ("the way, the truth, the life"), page 92 says this:.

"once jesus has performed that healing, he uses the occasion to confirm that non-jews of faith will be favored with blessings, saying: many from east and west will come and recline at the table with abraham and isaac and jacob in the kingdom of the heavens.

what about faithless jews?

menrov

without adding any kind of exception or explanation

That is not uncommon for the society. As such, most JW's will not notice they ave changed their mind/views/doctrine again........

10

Type and Anti-Type, the killing of the Faithful and Discreet Slave. Whats thier angle and how do they spin out of this one?

by Crazyguy in

it would seam that the changing of the type anti-type teaching kills their claim as the faithful and discreet slave class as it is only a parable according to peter at luke 12:41. obviously i don't think they will ever come out and actually say that the f&ds is just a parable, so when one asks what will the answer be, to spin out of this obvious problem?.

also what do you think is the reason for the change in this teaching?

is it more to do with getting rid of doctrine that can be criticized or could it be that they are trying to make it as though they are really not in control of the congregations so as to say we aren't responsible when the prosecution comes knocking over future pedophile case?

menrov

True, they (WBTS) admit it is a parable, like the 10 virgins and talents and sheep/goat but apply them as a prophecy. In the study article, they ask "When will this illustration be fulfilled" or " when this illustration will have its climax".

So, as usual the play with words, create their own definition and play mindgames.

17

The real issue is long term solvency.

by joe134cd in

ok every one raves on at how miserable and tight wt is, while they are literally swimming in money and assets.

although this may be true this isn't the real issue or the problem to begin with.

the problem is having a long term survivable business plan.

menrov

If an organisation believes it has a scriptural reason to exist (although the scriptures do not support a global religious master organisation over all believers), then their purpose is to spiritually support the congregations it oversees. The only 'food' they should consider is the bible. And they can 'recruit' people to provide that 'food' and those people can be supplied just enough money to have a regular life as an evangelist (also not as Paul did because he worked to support himself). In such a setup, the organisation would never run out of money as there is hardly any money involved in the first place.

But the WBTS has built an religious empire. Always used "size of the organisation" as proof of heavenly support. But such a setup is no longer sustainable by voluntary donations. It needs heavy income streams in order to maintain, renew and grow their portfolio. They have to cover for losses, unexpected damages and costs and at the same time, generate funds to support future expenses.
In other words, it is no longers a religious organisation, but a commercial enterprise with religion as their main product.

Not unique in the world though. I guess all so-called religious organisation are or have become commercial enterprises. The hypocrisy in here is that the WBTS always marketed themselves as being different,

Well, as Jesus said (my wording): you recognize the sanity of a tree through its fruits.

I just hope that one day, governments and tax authorities will review the Charity rules and make a policy that all profits (the difference between original purchase price and current sales price) is returned to a dedicated charity fund from which other charities can be funded or supported. Charities or relgious organisation should not be allowed to undertake commercial activities, in any form, not via real estate, shares etc.

In my view, when someone is exempt from tax, he should also not be able to make profits.

35

Official List of Helpers to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

official current list as published by watchtower >>> here.

official list of governing body of jehovahs witnesses helpers.

list of governing body of jehovahs witnesses helpers.

menrov

I just wonder what the reason is to publish these names. Are they part of the so-called anointed group who the rank and file are supposed to support and follow?

I cannot find a real good reason to mention all these helpers. Any idea?

15

Any good answers at this Sunday's WT?

by Lemonp in

obviously this weeks' wt has been part 3 of big changes in the doctrine.

at the end i answered up saying along the lines of: "as we can see from the illustration box, when it comes to the reward being given to the slaves, divine appointment was not given in 1919. this will happen in future when the anointed get taken before armageddon".

i couldn't bring myself to say "raptured at armageddon" as i think people might have taken a closer look at me...but it felt good to call out publicly the bull sh#t date of 1919 .

menrov

I have not gone for months. However, I had a chat / discussion with my wife on the meaning of illustrations (definition, purpose) and if a parable / illustration is equal to a prophecy....

Anyway, at some point paragraph 8 in the study Will You Keep Awake came up, I believe a study article from 2 weeks ago, It reads:

8 They have indeed! Throughout the last days, anointed Christians have acted like those discreet virgins, prepared to carry out their assignment faithfully until the end. They count the cost of faithful service, realizing from the outset that their assignment will mean giving up many of the material advantages available in Satan’s world. They devote themselves exclusively to Jehovah and serve him, not with some date or deadline in mind, but out of love and loyalty to him and to his Son. They maintain their integrity, refusing to adopt the spirit of this wicked world and its materialistic, immoral, and selfish attitudes. They thus remain ready, steadily shining as illuminators, undaunted by any apparent delay in the arrival of the Bridegroom.

I asked who the THEY are and she said the anointed. OK I said, so that means that all things mentioned here in this paragraph (and actually all parables discussed) are about the remaining anointed on earth, say some 14.000? Or in other words, these words do not apply to all other say 8 million JWs ? And why are about 8 million JW;s gathering to discuss parables that are only meant for the remaining 14.000? Isn't that weird, to say the least??

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

menrov

More people that they believe want to return means more $$$$$

In their view it is always a win.

21

RC 2015 Book "Jesus—The Way, the Truth, the Life"

by wifibandit in

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/jesus/.

.

non jw download - all formats & audio.

menrov

of all the over 300 pages, there is one 1,5 page about Jesus today. And from that, only a few sentences that Jesus is now King. But it totally misses what that should mean to Christians today......

Peculiar as all the book is about say 3,5 years of His life on earth and about nothing about His much much much longer life in heaven.....

As such, it is indeed much like he former Greatest Man book. In my view, a window dressing exercise to please those in the R&F that like to see this.....

16

List of Convention releases

by paulmolark in

day 1 release - return to jehovah .

day 2 release - jesus - the way, the truth, the life .

day 2 release - become jehovah's friend - .

menrov

Day 2 release (Jesus) PDF is same is as day 1 (Jehovah) PDF.....

22

New light on more parables

by Deltawave in

well after a full watchtower study last week about how we should not read to much into bible account as types and antitypes, we had a whole study article on what the 10 wise virgins now means.

interesting though is the fact that only in 2007/8 they taught that the discreet virgins were the annointed ones who waited for christ's return in 1914 and the foolish ones were the ones who fell away in 1914 because the end didn't come.

now though, we have new light!

menrov

The article "forgets" to mention that 1) all ten virgins fell asleep (matt. 25:5), and all become awake when there is an announcement (who gives that announcement??) that the bridegroom is here (not arriving invisibly but has arrived, visibly). Only then the amount of oil becomes an issue.

So, all virgins feel asleep......

Only when it is announced the bridegroom is here, they all wake up. The parable (that is what it is, not a prophecy) is to warn all believers to be ready to be joined with Jesus. How? Well, throughout the NT we read that FAITH is the critical element of believers. I guess the oil represents the amount of faith. So, in my view, Jesus is warning His followers that a lack of faith is dangerous as in will jeopardize your access to the kingdom.

For Jesus, all parables were meant to say about things that save you and allow access to the kingdom / eternal life or the things things that will prevent that.

11

Wife just went to circuit meeting

by menrov in

hi, for a couple of months now.

i stopped (after some 17 years) visiting meetings etc.

my intellect and conscience could not longer stand the lectures from the platform and in the magazines.

menrov

Thanks all. I do feel though that I seem to have given the impression I want to enforce my view on her. That is not the case. I was sharing an observation, a situation likely others are in as well.

My point is, that for someone (JW in general) who claims to do all that is written, it seems that the council in Eph. is not really considered. At least it seems not in situations like I am in now.

To consider: there is no scriptural support in NT to justify the obligation to visit annual conventions or assemblies. That was a practice with the Jews under the Law. But the council by Paul is I guess relevant to all Christians. (even to situations where husband is an unbeliever).

In my situation. it was presented as a given fact that she would go to attend the circuit meeting. If I would say I would go on Sunday to an all day event, I am sure she would expect me to discus and come to a sort of a mutual agreement that I would go alone and leave her because she does not want to go. I guess she would not have liked me to just tell her I'd be away for the day and because I know she would not want to join me, I'd leave her alone on Sunday. And she would be absolutely right that a couple discusses this. So, why not when there is a JW circuit meeting?

That was just my point.