Posts by bennyk

7

Why was the Watchtower named as such? CT Russell explains.

by biblexaminer in

if you look at the cover of the original 'the watch tower' it says;.

the watch tower .

and herald of christ's presence.

bennyk

You appear to be confused. CTR claimed since 1876 that the invisible parousia had begun Oktober 1874.

CTR made the claim on 02. Oktober that the Gentile Times had ended. (Yeah; he was still wrong...)

9

Suggestions for books to read

by Truthexplorer in

i am just about finished 'out of the cocoon' (great book) and am looking for ex jw books to read.. so far i have read:.

crisis of conscience (brilliant/amazing).

in search of christian freedom (interesting).

bennyk

Jehovah's Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation. What Does the Record Show? by Edmond C. Gruss. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Doctrinal-Prophetic-Speculation/dp/193123230X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473972071&sr=8-2&keywords=gruss+witnesses

Very little commentary; the book is chiefly quotes from Watch Tower literature, arranged in (largely) chronological order (from 1870's forward). By the time you get to the 1940's, you will be tired of hearing how 'Armageddon is at hand!!! The time is short!!! Don't buy green bananas!!!'.

21

See the new Dutch assembly hall

by Anders Andersen in

jw
friends

...it looks like a generic, easy to sell barn hall.. https://youtu.be/eqwrfhbbqwy.

nothing like the old hall it's built next to.. the small room in the video is the indoctrination education center.. the building is completed one year ahead of schedule.

my guess: it's either much simpler than they originally planned, and/or they had more volunteers because nothing else is being built.. video is dutch, but nothing interesting is said anyway..

bennyk

Bedankt.

39

Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?

by Zana in

jw
friends

playing devil's advocate here.... what's the difference between the gb changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?

although the us constitution (=bible) remains untouched, congress passes i don't know how many new laws every year.

and of course people are expected to follow them.

bennyk

From the "Faithful and Wise Servant":

All truth is in harmony, whether old or new. What was true at any time in the past must be true yet.... and if it is not true now, instead of being advanced light then it was terrible darkness. [...] We have sometimes been accused by unbelievers for teaching that the true way to advance was to displace the truth we learned yesterday by new truth learned today; but we utterly repudiate the absurd charge. To grow in knowledge is to retain the truth we have and add to our stock.

(Zion’s Watch Tower July 1880 WTR p. 119)

If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New light" never extinguishes older "light," but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another.

(Zion's Watch Tower February 1881 WTR p. 188)

24

If An Organization Really Believed It Had the Truth...

by xjwsrock in

....it would not be scared of critics.

actually they would naturally take an offensive stance, wouldn't they?

they would welcome debate... even encourage it.

bennyk

"We need to examine, not only what we personally

believe, but also what is taught by any religious

organization with which we may be associated. Are its

teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they

based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the

truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination."

(THE TRUTH that leads to ETERNAL LIFE, p.13)

15

'Kingdom of God's birth in heaven in 1914' - first reference?

by EdenOne in

can someone tell me please when was the first time that the wts published something to the effect that the kingdom of god was born in heavens in 1914 / jesus enthroned invisibly in 1914 ?

i see an obscure reference to an article in a golden age magazine in 1930 but i can't find the actual quote,.

not looking for quotes that talk about the "coming" or "presence" since 1914. i'm looking for actual mention that the kingdom started in heavens in 1914. when was the first ever time this was clearly said in the publications?

bennyk

The Society had previously taught that Jesus was enthroned in 1878.

The article "Birth of the Nation" in the 01. March 1925 Watch Tower may have been the first such reference to the Birth of the Messianic Kingdom and Jesus' enthronement in 1914. The WTS continued to teach that the Second Presence began in 1874 until the early Thirties.

146

Maybe I'm Just Ignorant About the New "Anti-Gay" Video

by turtleturtle in

jw
friends

homophobia (m-w.com):.

: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.

can someone tell me, specifically, was homophobic about the new "anti-gay" wt video.

bennyk

The Watch Tower Society has violated no one's civil rights with this video.

No one is obligated to become a Jehovah's Witness.

21

Question about baptism around 1973- can anyone answer for me?

by Virgochik in

i am hoping someone will take a look at this and be able to help me with my question.. i was baptized in 1973, you know, because i was a teenager and old enough to stand on my own when armageddon descended in 1975. .

perhaps elders, or any former elders especially, but anyone who was around then could help me with this question, because i honestly don't recall, and really need to know.. what were the baptismal questions the candidates responded to back then?

were we still asked if we repented of our sins, turned around, and were being baptized in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit?.

bennyk

The questions were changed in 1985:

"The first question is: On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will? The second is: Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?"

(Watchtower, 01. June 1985, p. 30)

174

Awake #4/2016: Homosexuality

by Designer Stubble in

the new awake is up on jw.orgwith the legalization of gay marriage in many countries, they decided it was time to show: "what does thebible say about homosexuality?

"does the bible promote prejudice?still, some people would say that the bible promotes prejudice against homosexuals and that those who adhere to itsmoral code are intolerant.

‘the bible was written at a time when people were narrow-minded,’ they claim.

bennyk

I find it difficult to believe that anyone considering the Watch Tower Society's views on fornication and adultery would declare the WTS to be "heterophobic".

17

Bible Reading Assignment This Week is About THE LEVIATHAN

by xjwsrock in

a brother went on stage and read .

job 41:1-26. jehovah is straight up talking to job about a fire-breathing dragon in this passage.

it was surreal to hear this read without as much as a raised eyebrow in the audience.. here it is: (mind you this is almighty god talking one-on-one with job).

bennyk

Re: Leviathan as Locomotive and /or Marine Steam Engine (from the Watch Tower Society):

"The following is a corrected translation of Job 40:15 to 41:34, with comments thereon from the pen of one of Pastor Russell's followers: [...]

"Thou wilt lengthen out leviathan [the locomotive] with a hook [automatic coupler] or with a snare [coupling-pin] which thou wilt cause his tongue [coupling-link] to drop down.Wilt thou not place a ring [piston] in his nostrils [cylinders] or pierce through his cheeks [pistonends] with a staff [piston-rod]? Will be make repeated supplication unto thee [to get off the track]? Or will he utter soft tones unto thee [when he screeches with the whistle]? Will he make a covenant with thee, that thou mayest take him for a servant forever [without repairs]? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird [make him whistle at will]? Or wilt thou bind [enslave] him for thy maidens [so that you can take them to a picnic or convention]? Companies [of stockholders] will feast upon him [his earnings]; they will share him among speculators. [Psa.74:14.] Thou wilt fill his skin with pointed irons [bolts], and his head with a cabin of fishermen [a cab similar to the cabins on fishing vessels]. Place thy hand upon him, be mindful of the conflict [raging within the boiler] and thou wilt add no further questions. Behold, his confidence [boiler] being deceived [not properly supplied with water], shall not at once his mighty form be spread asunder [by an explosion]? There is none so bold that he will stir him up [to run at his very highest possible speed], and none who will then place himself before him [to be run over]. Who will compete with this one and endure [pass him on the track]? Under the whole heaven, none, unless [one like] himself.

"I will not pass in silence his members, nor the cause of his mighty forces, nor the beauty of his equipment. Who can strip off the facings of his jacket? Who can penetrate between the double lap of his shield [the overlapping sections of the boiler plates]? Who can force open the doors of his shield [the boiler ends]? The circuits of his teeth [rows or rivets] are formidable. His strength depends on courses of shields [sections of plates] closed up tightly with a seal [calked]. They shall join one upon another so that a hiss of air [steam] shall not escape from between them. One to the other shall adhere. They will be welded together that they cannot be sundered. In his sneezing [when he puffs from the cylinders] light will shine, a flood of light prevading the mass of vapors: and his eyes [headlights] will be as the eyelashes of the morning [as rays of light from the rising sun]. Out of his mouth [fire-door] will leap forth flaming torches, and [from the smoke stack] glowing sparks will slip themselves away. From his nostrils [cylinders] will issue forth vapor as from a boiling pot or caldron. His inhaling [forced draft] will vivify burning coals, and a flame will leap forth from his mouth. Within his neck abideth strength, and a desolation will dance with joy [become a prosperous community] at his presence. The separable parts of his body are connected together; all will be made fast upon him; nothing will be shaky. His heart will be indurated similar to a stone, and will be firm as a piece of the lower [rocks]. When at his full speed the most courageous will fear [lest]. from accidents. they lose themselves. When dryness exalteth him [or renders him furious], he will not have power to withhold; the curved vault [fire box] being caused to tear away, and also the armor. He will esteem iron as straw, and brass as rotted wood. The archer cannot make him flee; missiles [of war] will be turned unto him as chaff. The [strokes of a] hammer will be esteemed as chaff; he will rejoice at the poking of the fireman. Hewed [or notched] timbers of the craftsman [ties] are under him; he will spread an embankment [or trench] upon the mire. He will [as a marine engine] cause deep [places] to become as a boiling pot [about his propellers]; he will make the sea to appear like boiling ointment. He will make a path to shine after him; one will think the deep to be growing gray. [Psa. 104:26; Isa. 27:1.] Upon the earth there is not his like— he that is [so]constructed that he can fear nothing. He can oversee [control by his work] all that which is great; he is indeed king over all conceptions of power."

(The Finished Mystery, pp. 84-86 [brackets in original])