Posts by bennyk

24

you can't count to infinity...

by return visitor in

jw
friends

because you can always add another number.

well, the bible says god had no begining, if this is true than an infinite number if events would have to take place before he created the heavens and the earth.

you couldn't say that it was the first thing he did because if you went back to that point in time god would have still been there infinitely before that.

bennyk

Didn't J. S. Bell say something along the lines of: "Time is just God's way of keeping everything from happening at once..." (?)

72

The "Seventy Years" explained

by Doug Mason in

here is a picture-based explanation of the "seventy years" prophesied by jeremiah.. http://au.geocities.com/doug_mason1940/70_years_of_servitude.pdf.

please note that there are several pages and that you should set your pdf reader to full page.. as i said before, i have a red-green color vision deficiency, but this time i have taken the plunge and used color.

please tell me where i need to make corrections with the colors.. as always, i appreciate your suggestions for improvements, corrections and additions.. doug.

bennyk

And none of this matters because the "Gentile Times" have not ended.

None of the Watch Tower Society's prophecies regarding the "End of the Gentile Times" were fulfilled.

Here is an excerpt of "The Time is at Hand" (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. II), pp.76-78 in the pre-1915 editions:

In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed, that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove: [B77]
Firstly, That at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom come," will obtain full universal control, and that it will then shortly be "set up," or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions.
Secondly, It will prove that he whose right it is thus to take the dominion will then be present as earth's new Ruler; and not only so, but it will also prove that he will be present for a considerable period before that date; because the overthrow of these Gentile governments is directly caused by his dashing them to pieces as a potter's vessel (Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2:27), and establishing in their stead his own righteous government.
Thirdly, It will prove that some time before the end of A. D. 1914 the last member of the divinely recognized Church of Christ, the "royal priesthood," "the body of Christ," will be glorified with the Head; because every member is to reign with Christ, being a joint-heir with him of the Kingdom, and it cannot be fully "set up" without every member.
Fourthly, It will prove that from that time forward Jerusalem shall no longer be trodden down of the Gentiles, but shall arise from the dust of divine disfavor, to honor; because the "Times of the Gentiles" will be fulfilled or completed.
Fifthly, It will prove that by that date, or sooner, Israel's blindness will begin to be turned away; because their "blindness in part" was to continue only "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11:25), or, in other words, until the full number from among the Gentiles, who are to be members of the body or bride of Christ, would be fully selected.
Sixthly, It will prove that the great "time of trouble such [B78] as never was since there was a nation," will reach its culmination in a world-wide reign of anarchy; and then men will learn to be still, and to know that Jehovah is God and that he will be exalted in the earth. (Psa. 46:10) The condition of things spoken of in symbolic language as raging waves of the sea, melting earth, falling mountains and burning heavens will then pass away, and the "new heavens and new earth" with their peaceful blessings will begin to be recognized by trouble-tossed humanity. But the Lord's Anointed and his rightful and righteous authority will first be recognized by a company of God's children while passing through the great tribulation--the class represented by m and t on the Chart of the Ages (see also pages 235 to 239, Vol. I); afterward, just at its close, by fleshly Israel; and ultimately by mankind in general.
Seventhly, It will prove that before that date God's Kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile image (Dan. 2:34)--and fully consume the power of these kings. Its own power and dominion will be established as fast as by its varied influences and agencies it crushes and scatters the "powers that be"-- civil and ecclesiastical--iron and clay.

Prefer to use the post-1914 edition of the book? Here are listed the changes made in the post-1914 editions, as noted in the Watch Tower Reprints, p. 5649:

CHANGES IN "SCRIPTURE STUDIES"
We call attention to a few slight changes which have been
made in four pages of Vol. II. and six pages of Vol. IIl.,
"STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES." These are all trivial and do
not alter the real sense and lesson, but conform to the facts
as we have them today. The pages containing these corrections
are as follows:
Vol. II., page 77. line 1, "will be the farthest limit," reads will
see the disintegration."
Vol. II., page 77, line 6, "will obtain full universal control,"
reads "will begin to assume control.’ ’
Vol. II., page 77, linesl6,17, "end of A. D. 1914," reads "end
of the overthrow."
Vol. II., page 81, line 9, "can date only from A. D. 1914," reads
"could not precede A. D. 1915."
VoI. II., page 170, line 16, "at that time they will all be overturned.’
’*
Vol. II., page 221, line 25, "full favor until A. D. 1914," reads
"full favor until after 1915."

71

Becoming officially recognized as Annointed

by B_Deserter in

i've heard there is a very secretive process the wts uses to determine whether or not they'll consider someone "of the annointed.

" from what i've heard it's a very rigorous set of questions.

can anyone here confirm this?

bennyk

Watch for the appearance of a sub heavenly class.

Maybe, Gary. But my guess is the Society will soon be receiving "New (and improved) Light" indicating that the number 144 000 is not to be taken as literal. That way they can keep the two-class/two-destiny system without worrying about the non-declining number of Partakers. The number 144 000 was conspicuous by its absence in the 01. May 2007 QfR. And an increase in the number of partakers won't threaten the current power structure because the Governing Body has already declared that the "genuine" (non-GB) anointed willingly serve under the direction of the Governing Body, have no special insight, and may even be 'spiritually weak.'

71

Becoming officially recognized as Annointed

by B_Deserter in

i've heard there is a very secretive process the wts uses to determine whether or not they'll consider someone "of the annointed.

" from what i've heard it's a very rigorous set of questions.

can anyone here confirm this?

bennyk

The local congregation elders and publishers might not believe you are really of the
anointed, so they might scoff, but they ultimately cannot deny your claim.

Perhaps they cannot deny your claim in principle, but the local (non-anointed) Body of Elders can determine that they will not count you as a partaker, and thus not "officially" recognize you as anointed.

54

September 1st 2007 QFR re FDS

by AlphaOmega in

for your perusal.... .

bennyk

When I first left the organisation, I was not aware of the extreme degree to which their teachings were/are false.

I did NOT leave because they had some things wrong, but because they apparently felt free to use their "authority" to blatantly LIE.

When I discuss the WTS, I don't attack their "Old Light" and false prophecies -- I attack them because they are LIARS.

17

Disgusting comment re: holy spirit from the Tacoma 2007 District Convention

by TJ - iAmCleared2Land in

the thread re: education at the tacoma convention inspired this.

my sister called me this morning, she had the convention in tacoma last weekend.

she said she tried not to listen as much as possible, but the comment that got her steamed was this:.

bennyk

Maybe this is the Governing Body's way of quietly admitting they have no holy spirit (?)

46

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 6-24-07 WT Study (Youths Goals Honor God)

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 06-24-07 wt study (may 1, 2007, pages 24-29)(youths goals honor god)(notepad).

review comments will be in red.

wt material from today's wt will be in black.

bennyk

Most precious of all, you will "get a firm hold on the real life"-eternal life on a paradise earth. -1 Timothy 6:9, 10, 17-19; Acts 20:35. (paragraph 20)

Does it bother no one other than myself that the Watch Tower Society equates this statement regarding the "real life" to their concept of a "paradise earth?" I feel very confident that Timothy and the early Christians had an entirely different understanding than that of the Society.

91

FORGED (!?!?) ORIGINS of the NEW TESTAMENT (!?!?)

by Terry in

iii, p. 712).

vi, p. 137, pp.

cit., pp.

bennyk

Today, the Gospel of Luke is the longest of the canonical Gospels because it now includes "The Great Insertion", an extraordinary 15th-century addition totalling around 8,500 words (Luke 9:51-18:14).

Rubbish. A quick look (or, if you prefer, a long one) at the critical apparatus of any Greek text of the book of Luke will easily belie the ridiculous claim above.

13

No, it's not funny. It's reality....wonder why

by watson in

makin' the friend's email rounds, enjoy!

funny how... not so funny!

funny how we call jehovah our father and jesus our friend, but find it hard to introduce them to our family & friends.

bennyk

Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost, but are hesitant to take God's Direction for our lives.

Yeah. Plenty of JW's will obey unhesitatingly obey directives from the Governing Body, but are entirely unable to "make sure of all things" (1 Thess. 5:21), "test the inspired expressions" (1 John 4:1), or "make it [one's] aim to live quietly and to mind [one's] own business" (1 Thess. 4:11), etc. etc.

24

A Gem from the new book "COME BE MY FOLLOWER"

by bennyk in

i've only skimmed the book, but this is a keeper:.

he [jesus] is certainly angry at all those religious organizations that falsely claim to represent him.

--p. 185, par.

bennyk

I've only skimmed the book, but this is a keeper:

He [Jesus] is certainly angry at all those religious organizations that falsely claim to represent him. --p. 185, par. 10

This one is funny, because they are applying this to themselves:

In contrast, Jesus' genuine followers endeavor to show love to their fellow man. They share the good news with "all sorts of men," just as Jesus did, despite opposition. (1 Tim. 2: 4) And the love they show to one another is outstanding; it is their chief identifying mark. (John 13: 34,35) As they treat their fellow Christians with love, respect, and dignity, they are truly following Jesus -- and making the heart of the Messianic King rejoice! --p.188, par.17