https://youtu.be/rsbfa_7lqv4?si=muuxmgtll1n1ifad.
the watchtower’s babylon the great: a shrinking reality?.
so this latest annual meeting introduced a new idea about babylon the great, and here is the part from geoffrey jackson's talk we real need to dig in and consider it's ramifications..... so you’ve got to hand it to them; they know how to keep things interesting with their ever-evolving interpretations and, of course, those classic "adjustments" in understanding.
Thanks Jeffro
"The change introduced at the annual meeting was that the 'one thought' (Revelation 17:13) is now considered to refer to the 'nations' giving their authority to the UN rather than to destroy 'false religion'.
But the JW position that the UN, once it has been given authority in the imaginary scenario, will then 'turn against false religion' has not actually changed."
An example of more current missing jws:
Before 1975 and after
| Year | Ave. Publishers | Growth | % Growth | 5 Year Growth |
| 1970 | 1,384,782 | 127,998 | 10% | |
| 1971 | 1,510,245 | 125,463 | 9% | |
| 1972 | 1,596,442 | 86,197 | 6% | |
| 1973 | 1,656,673 | 60,231 | 4% | |
| 1974 | 1,880,713 | 224.040 | 14% | |
| 1975 | 2,062,449 | 181,736 | 10% | 37% |
| 1976 | 2,138,537 | 76,088 | 4% | . |
| 1977 | 2,117,194 | -21,343 | -1% | |
| 1978 | 2,086,698 | -30,496 | -1% | |
| 1979 | 2,097,070 | 10,372 | 0% | |
| 1980 | 2,175,403 | 78,333 | 4% | 2% |
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I always viewed as a "suggestion" not a command; but many jws were really serving men, an organization, and did not look at the scriptures.
curious.
what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?
Duran, I know non-jws believe differently, and the WTS always has its own interpretation to fit its doctrines.
https://www.thereflector.com/stories/washington-legislature-passes-bill-to-make-clergy-mandatory-reporters-of-child-abuse,378913 .
As to the privileged communication, that is similar to the clergy-penitent practice of the Catholic church where there is a one-on-one with confessor and priest privately, no other one involved, no report to headquarters. The WTS has tried to say they qualify under this exception, except it is 3 elders that meet with the person, a file is kept by the body of elders in the congregation, and a report sent to headquarters. "Clergy-penitent privilege, also known as priest-penitent privilege, protects confidential communications between a member of the clergy and a penitent, preventing disclosure to third parties in legal proceedings. This privilege applies when the communication is made to a clergy member in their professional capacity as a spiritual advisor" On top of this the WTS has claimed they have no clergy class: 1951 "Christians maintain no Levitical priesthood. No “clergy class” exists among them" Switching to a legalistic approach in WT 1971 p. 507, the WTS starts using this distinction "Likewise among Jehovah’s witnesses today there is no paid clergy class
the july 2025 watchtower has a paragraph that claims that it was the superior power and wisdom of jehovah that guided the gb into allowing jws to grow beards.. the study article is ‘can you still learn from basic bible teachings?’ under the subheading ‘jehovah is the creator’ paragraph 7 states-.
“ 7. what did rahela do to accept a change in direction?.
your answer.
Up until 1968 the WTS did not picture Jesus with a beard. WT 1968 p. 288 Questions from Readers "Nevertheless, as already shown, it is apparent that Jesus did wear a beard, and so artistic representations of him in future Watch Tower publications will harmonize with the Scriptural evidence to that effect." But added this "In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God’s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth." and at the end "In paradise restored on earth it would not be out of order if men returned to wearing beards, in perfect fashion, like Adam in Eden." Picture of Adam without beard by WTS: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/73465037648316667/
the only reasons i can remember are smoking, sexual immorality and of course, apostasy.
there must be others but having been out since 1990, i'm drawing a blank.
i was thinking perhaps serious criminal offenses that result in prison, but then i remembered a brother in my congregation in the 1980's who went to prison.
In support of BalaamsAss comment: Also can be df'd for "brazen conduct." WT definition: "
From the Greek a·selʹgei·a, a phrase pertaining to acts that are serious violations of God’s laws and that reflect a brazen or boldly contemptuous attitude; a spirit that betrays disrespect or even contempt for authority, laws, and standards. The expression does not refer to wrong conduct of a minor nature.--Galatians 5:19, 2 Peter 2:7" "When a person is guilty of brazen conduct, a judicial committee will handle the matter. Uncleanness includes various types of wrongdoing. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, some matters involving uncleanness might need to be handled by a judicial committee in the congregation." Remain in God's Love page 249. Basically ignoring the elders.. "loose conduct is grounds for reproof and possible disfellowshipping from the Christian congregation" "When trying to identify loose conduct, elders should look for brazenness, wantonness, filthiness, shamelessness, and what is shocking to public decency." Questions From Readers WT July 2006
"now more than ever, we need to focus on our hope.
because we are living in 'the last days' and we all have problems that are 'hard to deal with.
' (2 tim.
Thanks for the link.
https://www.thereflector.com/stories/washington-legislature-passes-bill-to-make-clergy-mandatory-reporters-of-child-abuse,378913 .
Senate Bill 5375, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, passed the House 64-31 on Friday, April 11. It now heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who must sign it for it to become law.
The bill makes clergy members mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect and does not include an exemption for information shared in a confessional.
curious.
what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?
Ding "When Jesus instituted the meal in the first century, did he invite any non-participants to come and watch? No. So why does the Watchtower do so?"" Good question, originally, all the members of the WTS were self-reported anointed. Then as the numbers of attendees approached 95,000 there seemed to be a problem (144,000 total supposed starting from 33 CE!). But then the end did not come in 1925 and the numbers dropped off dramatically the next year. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php
The Bible is clear that the Great Crowd are in heaven, as was taught by the Watchtower until 1935. (quote of what WTS taught)
"… all the facts and the scriptures bearing upon the matter under consideration show that those who form the great multitude constitute a spirit class, born on the spirit plane." Watchtower 1927 15 Jan pp.19-20 "The Great Multitude," https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/great-crowd-other-sheep.php
"Today, according to authentic records, there is a “great crowd” of dedicated, baptized Christians who actively collaborate with the small remnant of spiritual Israelites. Ever since the spring of 1938 they have been invited to attend the annual memorial celebration of Christ’s death, not to partake of the memorial emblems, the unleavened bread and the red wine, but as respectful observers" WT 1979 November 15, p.27
