Posts by Lois

11

Rapture

by Lois in

the pretribulation rapture : what if it isn't true?

- c. h. fisher

christian articles on: eschatology.

I don't believe true Christians will be on earth during the tribulation except those chosen to stay who will need to lead non-believers to Christ. Those left behind will have many questions about what is happening on earth and they will need guidence from someone with knowledge of scripture. It will be their last chance for salvation...however it will cost them their life once they accept Christ. This is where the mark of the beast plays its role because most likely this mark will come into effect during the 7 year tribulation when the anti-Christ comes forth. Those not accepting the 666 mark in their forehead or right hand be slain...probably beheaded like John the Baptist.
The Mark Of The Beast ... accept the Mark of the Beast will experience the full measure of ... 16 that the mark is to be placed in the foreheads ... Where does Yahweh place his Seal & Signature ... atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/ prophecy/mob.html - 35k - Cached - More from this site

There will be a 7 year peace treaty with Isreal, however it will be broken in 3 1/2 years...then there will be torment on earth such as never before and the anti-Christ will show his true colors. The two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah (most likely) http://www.prophecyforum.com/witnesses.html, shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days...Revelation 11:3-13.

Some view Enoch as a likely candidate for one of the two witnesses in that he never died before he was translated to be with God. This would, of course, be in line with the general rule of Hebrews 9:27: ?And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.? But we must remember that this is a general rule of Scripture and not necessarily binding to all of God?s Word. Many were resuscitated in the Old and New Testament only to die again (1 Kgs. 17:17-22; 2 Kgs. 4:32-35; 2 Kgs. 13:20, 21; Matt. 9:23-25; Luke 7:11-15; John 11:43, 44; Acts 9:36-40). In fact, there will be one generation of believers that will not experience death. They will be raptured out before the Antichrist arises and the tribulation hour begins (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

Elijah is the most likely of those so far as being one of the two witnesses. He was translated without dying (2 Kgs. 2:1-11), although we found that this wasn?t necessarily a criterion for being one of the two witnesses. He commanded the rain to be withheld for three and one-half years (1 Kgs. 17:1; Luke 4:25; James 5:17-18). He performed many miracles and was predicted to return before the day of the Lord to prepare the way for the Messiah?s coming (Mal. 3:1-3; 4:5-6).

11

Rapture

by Lois in

the pretribulation rapture : what if it isn't true?

- c. h. fisher

christian articles on: eschatology.

Lois

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise (anistemi; to stand up) first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo; to seize) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4:15-17 (NKJV)

So...if the rapture isn't true then how does one explain this scripture?

11

Rapture

by Lois in

the pretribulation rapture : what if it isn't true?

- c. h. fisher

christian articles on: eschatology.

Lois

The Pretribulation Rapture : What if it isn't true? - C. H. Fisher Christian Articles On: Eschatology. The Pretribulation Rapture : What if it isn't true? by C. H. Fisher. Chapter 6 - Two Resurrections and Two Judgements twtministries.com/articles/ 4_eschatology/chapter6.html - 52k - Cached - More from this site

21

WTBTS and the Cross

by Honesty in

.

does anyone have any idea why the cross is such a stumbling block to the wtbs and the jehovah's witnesses?

1 corinthians 1:18 describes their belief system to a "t".

Lois

Did Jesus Die on a Cross? ... reprinted from the book, Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses see catalog. The Cross ... to death on a cross; consisting of a stake ... Thomas could see and believe (John 20:26,27 ...

www.freeminds.org/doctrine/ cross.htm - 35k - Cached - More from this site

The Greek word translated as "boast" is kauchomai, which is translated to boast or glory over something. Paul plainly gloried in the symbol of the cross; it was a sign of victory, not defeat. In 1 Cor. 1:17,18 he tells us that Christ sent him to preach the message of the cross, and that people would stand or fall according to their response to such a simple message! He goes on to say that some (like the Jews and the JWs) would stumble over the cross (because of its shameful significance in their minds), while others would consider it foolishness (verses 21-23). But to Christians the cross meant the power and the wisdom of God! He says that this is because God deliberately chose the weak, foolish and despised things of the world to make his point, so that his children could glory in what others consider despised!

Paul tells the Corinthians that he had decided to use the message of the cross of Christ as his main emphasis (1 Cor. 2:2); even to the point of avoiding more scholarly arguments or fine points. Why? Because of God's ability to weed out those with wrong motives by using a humble message as his calling card! He does not want to attract people to Christianity by giving them material or intellectual hopes, but he desires to reach those who realize the degree of sin in the world and who would appreciate Jesus' having died for their sins.

This has been the message of the church throughout the centuries--that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and that he is alive and lives through us (1 Cor. 15:13; Luke 24:45-47). This message only appeals to certain people; most often the lowly and simple (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

Paul also uses the cross as a symbol for the cause of Christianity, as well as the death of the old nature. He speaks of the cross in various contexts. He tells us that some have become "enemies of the cross" (Phil. 3:18). He talks about the old nature and the Law as being "nailed to the cross" (Col. 2:14). He picks up on the theme of Jesus regarding the cross (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Luke 9:23; 14:27) and talks about "crucifying the old nature" (Gal. 2:20; 5:24). Over and over, Paul considers the cross a sign of victory, not defeat! He boasted in the cross!

Christians are not afraid of the cross nor are they to worship it. It is rather a symbol of the greatest act of love ever!

21

WTBTS and the Cross

by Honesty in

.

does anyone have any idea why the cross is such a stumbling block to the wtbs and the jehovah's witnesses?

1 corinthians 1:18 describes their belief system to a "t".

Lois

There is a great mis-understanding on the subject of the cross.

21

WTBTS and the Cross

by Honesty in

.

does anyone have any idea why the cross is such a stumbling block to the wtbs and the jehovah's witnesses?

1 corinthians 1:18 describes their belief system to a "t".

Lois

Someone asked Jesus...''How much do you love me"? It was at this point he stretched out his arms and died.

22

Witness parents choose to tranfuse baby to save life

by Ticker in

just wanted to share some exciting info on a recent experience of a witness couple.

their young baby very unfortunatly was struck with leukiemia and requiered a blood transfusion to save its life.

fortunatly the parents had enough sence and logical reasoning to save their babys life by listening to the medical staff and proceeded with the transfusions.

Lois

I hope other witnesses will use this couple's example of 'reasoning' and realize the life of this child is precious in the eyes of our Lord and the parents took a stand to think beyond Watchtower rules and regulations...therefore allowing themselves freedom...free will to make an intelligent decision on their own.

If they are shunned or treated differently then this would be the eye opener proving true love is not in this organization.

22

Everyone deserves a funeral....surely!!!!

by Gill in

i haven't posted much recently on the site but wanted to tell you about something bad that has happened.. some of you will remember me posting about my husbands very elderly grandfather.

we wanted to take him in to live with us when he was diagnosed with mild dementia but my husbands parents insisted that he go into a care home and conned him into signing an epa.

there reason for not allowing this lovely old man to live out his days with us was that their responsibility was to consider his 'spiritual needs' and since we no longer went to meetings we could never look after him ...so they stuck him, against his will, into the home.

Lois

I'm so sorry about your grandfather and the way he was treated in the hospital. Was an autopsy performed on him? If it was then you may be able to get a report and get legal advice concerning the severe neglect he received in the hospital. To honor his memory I would see that this hospital answered questions in a court of law concerning his 'treatment', illnesses, etc.and how he became in such a state to have gangrene from bed sores. This is completely inexcusable and a violation of your grandfather's rights. Since he was cremated it would be impossible to obtain any evidence of his neglect, therefore you need legal aid to help you with some form of resolution and restitution. Any persons who saw the bedsores would be of great assistance if you decide to fight for your grandfather even though he is no longer here. Please don't let this treatment he received slip through the cracks because then you never know who will be a victim next.

40

Would the W.T. be open for massive lawsuits if they changed blood policy?

by hubert in

i was just thinking of this, because of my last post topic.

if the watchtower changed their no blood policy to accepting whole blood, would and could that .

open the flood gates for law suits from jdubs that sacrificed their children for the tower, or would .

Lois

More than likely there would be a mass Exodus of members from the congregation because all these years they have been taught to abstain from blood. This is the reason I believe they won't change their policy. Imagine all the countless members who could have been saved if only they could have received the precious gift of blood.

Take a man and woman having the same height and weight. The woman has less blood volume than a man. My sister was a J.W. and died 1998 at the age of 49 .She was diabetic and had a heart problem. Her elders in the congreation found a doctor who would perform bloodless surgery on her heart. Even though she had average blood loss during the operation....the day afterward she went in cardiogenic arrest, lapsed into a coma and died. There wasn't enough blood flow to sustain her vital organs. I will believe till the day I die that if she had a blood transfusion it would have boosted her system enough for her to survive. I heard he doctor say that the fillers that J.W.'s use in place of blood is like running kool-aid through the veins. In other words...it doesn't have the nutritional value of a normal blood transfusion.

Not one elder was there at the hospital where she was operated on...before, during or after her surgery to be there for her, her husband and children to pray for them or give moral support. Of course she was about 3 hours from her hometown, however they could have contacted any congregation in the state...near the hospital she was in...to be there for them during this traumatic event.I watched my sister take her last breath of life and feeling this didn't have to happen if only she would have been given a transfusion.

I later informed her pastor vie a letter; "She may have been baptized a J.W....but blood is thicker than water and she knew where the true love was and that was with her (flesh and blood) family (brothers and sisters...none of us were J.W.).

There is suppose to be separation of church and state, however when it comes to life endangerment whether in a physical or mental act...then for humanitarian reasons the state should have the right to intervention (for children not of the aged to decide)and religious beliefs shouln't have any weight to support unrealistic beliefs. After all...life is precious in the eyes of our Lord.

42

A letter to the Parents

by SixofNine in

jw
friends

a friend gave me permission to post this.

i think it's a good letter, it might help others formulate their thoughts; she understands it may not be read or considered deeply, but things can't get much worse with her family at this point anyway.

no contact is not that much different than contact once per year or less, and sometimes it's just really important to have the people who should know you, at least know you a little.

Lois

Her letter is truely heart breaking and I hope her parents will find the truth, however they never will until they have the courage the break the bondage of what they have been taught through the organization. If they truely desire the truth then they will find the faith in Jehovah to seek information outside of Jehovah Witness beliefs. Only then will they be set free.

Religion has caused more diversity in families than one can count the stars in heaven. I can only imagine the tears our Lord has shed over issues of ones beliefs causing siblings, parents and friends to be seperated . All he asks is for us to love one another and to seek him with all your heart and soul. One can't seek him with all their heart and soul if they confine their studies to one belief system.

One of my sisters died in 1998 and was a Jehovah Witness. I believe she began seeing the truth just before she died because she wasn't involved with the J.W.'s nearly as much toward the end of her life. I could tell you a heartbreaking story about how she was treated by her congregation, but it would be futal because until the elders and/or higher ups in the organization realize how the fate of their beliefs have impacted the organization they will continue in darkness. Until the elders and members really open their eyes....then their hearts will be closed to the truth.