This is the article which quotes Jesus' words at Matt. 7:15 ("Beware of false prophets...)
The Society has quite the stones, hasn't it?
my wife encountered a jw today at the uptown laundry where she goes to dry blankets and large items from time to time.. i had just asked her an hour earlier to look around and see if any mags were laying around there - i don't know why.
i just wanted to see if any major layout changes were taking place with the watchliar and asleep lately.. i have not opened them.
i am looking though at the cover of the tower - cover title 'how can you choose a good religion?
This is the article which quotes Jesus' words at Matt. 7:15 ("Beware of false prophets...)
The Society has quite the stones, hasn't it?
well, here's my latest "thing"...i plan on speaking with my siblings & their mates in the near future.
i have told them that i have questions regarding some doctrines, mainly stuff like birthdays, mother's day, father's day, etc.
my hubby has some questions for them regarding their wacky blood doctrine (but i wont cover that in this thread).
If the celebration of birthdays is wrong BECAUSE in the scriptural accounts ONE person died at each of two such celebrations, would it not be forbidden to give (wedding) presents???
(1 Kings 9:16NWT: "(Pharaoh the king of Egypt himself had come up and then captured Ge'zer and burned it with fire, and the Ca'naanites dwelling in the city he had killed. So he gave it as a parting gift to his daughter, the wife of Solomon.)")
you gotta love good old russell.. http://pastorrussell.blogspot.com/2009/03/beware-of-apostates.htmlpastor russell said (in 1908).
all who cut loose from the society and its work, instead of prospering themselves or upbuilding others in the faith and in the graces of the spirit, seemingly do the reverseattempt injury to the cause they once served, and, with more or less noise, gradually sink into oblivion, harming only themselves and others possessed of a similarly contentious spirit.
if some think that they can get as good or better provender at other tables, or that they can produce as good or better themselveslet these take their course.
The quote comes from the 01. October 1909 Watch Tower, reprints pages 4482-4.
I believe the controversy came about because Russell had begun to deny that the New Covenant is for the Church, and because of the curious incident of the "Vow".
"apostates can only criticize , tear down and destroy " say the active dubs, "where is their hope of something better?
what is their message to mankind ?
if they have nothing better to offer, how can they attack our faith, which at least offers a hope of a better world?".
[Recycled old post (2/26/2009)]
"’Are we at the End of the World?’ was the subject of
Mr. Rutherford’s address. This was his first public appearance
in Brooklyn since the death of Pastor Russell.
"’Criticism of a man is hardly the proper course for a
Christian,’ he said, ’but criticism of a man’s teachings is always
proper. " (Watch Tower, 15. June 1917 [Reprints page 6104])
70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
"scholar" writes:
When you have a prophecy or when you begin to prophecy then you can start talking about what others have done.
Actually, Deut. 18:20-22 requires no such thing.
Neither does Jesus at Matt. 7:15-20.
Neither does the Apostle John at 1 John 4:1.
70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
"scholar" writes:
Ann O Maly
Post 944
But those predicted events did come about with the outbreak of World War 1 and the ending of the Gentile Times as corroborated by the media of the day and several clergyman some years later. Thus, those Bible Students were forever vindicated for their integrity.
So "scholar" is now claiming that the media of the day and several clergymen (some years later) corroborated Russell's claims by stating that the 'very elect had all been changed by 1915' and that 'natural Israel was restored to divine favour under the New Covenant'. Very interesting. And -- of course -- he also feels the Bible Students were forever vindicated for their integrity because they promulgated false prophecies in millions of copies for decades, and then lied about it. That is "scholar's" definition of 'acting with integrity.' Apparently, "scholar" has found it too challenging to be 'modest, honest, and sincere.'
70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
"scholar" writes:
Your mischevious misuse of the quote from a 1913 WT does you no credit but at least simply proves that those early Bible Students acted with integrity and that is something lacking with apostates and a a quality that you would do well to imitate.
It may be "mischevious", but I fail to understand how it was a "misuse." I simply took Russell at his word... Please explain how promulgating false prophecies in millions of copies for decades, and then lying about it is 'acting with integrity.'
70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
"scholar" writes:
The clincher for such an approved methodology is the fact that the Gentile Times expired in 1914 CE based upon the scholarly determined 607-537 BCE scenario.
The "Gentile Times" did not expire in 1914.
The non-fulfillment of Russell's "expectations" "prove[d] [Russell's] chronology wrong.
The non-fulfillment of Russell's "expectations" "work[ed] irreparable wreck to ... the epoch called 'Gentile Times'...
But let us suppose a case far from our expectations: Suppose that A.D. 1915 should pass with the world's affairs all serene and with evidence that the "very elect" had not all been "changed" and without the restoration of natural Israel to favor under the New Covenant.(Rom. 11:12,15.) What then? Would not that prove our chronology wrong? Yes, surely! And would not that prove a keen disappointment? Indeed it would! It would work irreparable wreck tothe Parallel dispensations and Israel's Double, and to the Jubilee calculations, and to the prophecy of the 2300 days of Daniel, and to the epoch called "Gentile Times," and to the 1260, 1290 and 1335 days, the latter of which marking the beginning of the Harvest so well fulfilled its prediction, "Oh, the blessedness of him that waiteth and cometh unto the 1335 days!" None of these would be available longer. What a blow that would be! One of the strings of our "harp" would be quite broken! Watch Tower Reprints, p.5368 (December, 1913)
i have had an ongoing discussion with a friend on the validity of 1914, as well as the chronology leading to it...i roundly refuted the wt drivel quoted and got this response....notice the changing of topics...as well as admission he can not refute.... .
i am so sorry that i have used the wrong term when talking about the scriptures in num.
and eze.
Your friend writes:
I will not deny that the Bible students of the time had incorrect expectations of what Christ's coming really entailed, but they were aware that something special would take place then nonetheless. Let's not forget that the apostasy has been in full swing for so many centuries and the light of truth was obscured for so long. It would take time to get the correct understanding on things and adjustments would have to be made and humbly accept the discipline.
Or, rather than 'humbly accepting the discipline', the Watch Tower Society could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by lying about their insight. "The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to honesthearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus' presence in heavenly kingdom power began in 1914." ( Watchtower, 15. Jan. 1993, p. 5) Not true. "Based on what [Jesus] said, along with the words of Daniel and John, Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance,* as marking the start of 'the conclusion of the system of things.' " ( Awake! 22. January 1973) Likewise, not true.
What can we conclude from these statements? Why not take the Watch Tower Society at their own words --
"A religion that teaches lies cannot be true." (Watchtower, 01. December 1991, p.7)
70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
But let us suppose a case far from our expectations: Suppose that A.D. 1915 should pass with the world's affairs all serene and with evidence that the "very elect" had not all been "changed" and without the restoration of natural Israel to favor under the New Covenant.(Rom. 11:12,15.) What then? Would not that prove our chronology wrong? Yes, surely! And would not that prove a keen disappointment? Indeed it would! It would work irreparable wreck tothe Parallel dispensations and Israel's Double, and to the Jubilee calculations, and to the prophecy of the 2300 days of Daniel, and to the epoch called "Gentile Times," and to the 1260, 1290 and 1335 days, the latter of which marking the beginning of the Harvest so well fulfilled its prediction, "Oh, the blessedness of him that waiteth and cometh unto the 1335 days!" None of these would be available longer. What a blow that would be! One of the strings of our "harp" would be quite broken! Watch Tower Reprints, p.5368 (December, 1913)