Posts by Jeffro

Recent news about the amount of information being tracked and stored by the NSA, is an indicator that they can not only track and store your personal communications, but also use the microphone and camera on your device, at will.

No. Whilst it's true that security officials would be able to get access to communications and position information from telecommunications companies, such as by triangulating positions from mobile phone towers, there is zero evidence that they can remotely enable the GPS, microphone or camera on the device. Even if they could (such as through a backdoor specifically co-ordinated between the security agencies and the creators of the devices), there is no reason at all why standard app creators (such as Watch Tower) would be able to circumvent the standard security options on the mobile devices to prevent uncontrolled access to such functions.

Companies such as Watch Tower have no right at all to request information from the telcos regarding communications or location.

49

My highlights from the AGM

by Apognophos in

some of this will not be new to those of you who read other people's notes, but i bet there are a few new bits for you here, so i've provided a user-friendly table of contents, as an homage to the contents that appear before each book of the bible in the new nwt.

i might remember more highlights later, as i'm rather tired right now, but this is what i can recall off the top of my head.. contents (use of quote marks in this section is facetious; these are not actual quotes).

"say, did you notice that 2014 is the 100th anniversary, people?".

Jeffro

Apognophos:

I'm surprised that more people haven't commented on #13 (the removal of "impale"; what are we supposed to say now instead of "crucify"?!)

Impale was always wrong, but it's a weird change because "to the stake with him" isn't even the same grammatical structure as "impale him", i.e. "to the stake with" isn't usable as a verb on its own. The correct word in English - even if a single upright stake - is crucify.

49

My highlights from the AGM

by Apognophos in

some of this will not be new to those of you who read other people's notes, but i bet there are a few new bits for you here, so i've provided a user-friendly table of contents, as an homage to the contents that appear before each book of the bible in the new nwt.

i might remember more highlights later, as i'm rather tired right now, but this is what i can recall off the top of my head.. contents (use of quote marks in this section is facetious; these are not actual quotes).

"say, did you notice that 2014 is the 100th anniversary, people?".

Jeffro

Apognophos:

Hmm, interesting, I didn't know about the "in accord with" point. But it seems like both versions are saying that the 70 years end before God turns his attention to his people, so I'm not sure I fully grasp your point about the 70 years ending before the return of the Jews. Didn't it always end before they returned?

Nope (well, not in JW belief anyway). Even though (as you've correctly noted) the Bible indicates that the 70 years definitely end before the Jews got back to Jerusalem, that's not what JWs actually believe.

*** kc chap. 14 p. 137 par. 26 The King Reigns! ***
By our calendar that would be October, 537 B.C.E., which date therefore marks the completion of the foretold 70 years of desolation.

*** it-1 p. 463 Chronology ***
Hence the count of the 70 years of desolation must have begun about October 1, 607 B.C.E., ending in 537 B.C.E. It was in the seventh month of this latter year that the first repatriated Jews arrived back in Judah, exactly 70 years from the start of the full desolation of the land.

*** w68 8/15 p. 494 par. 24 The Book of Truthful Historical Dates ***
Here, then, very definitely established, is another milestone—the time when the seventy years of desolation of the land of Judah came to an end—about October 1, 537.

*** si p. 85 par. 3 Bible Book Number 15—Ezra ***
A faithful remnant journeyed back to Jerusalem in time to set up the altar and offer the first sacrifices in “the seventh month” (Tishri, corresponding to September-October) of the year 537 B.C.E.—70 years to the month after Judah and Jerusalem’s desolation by Nebuchadnezzar.

The 70 years of nations serving Babylon actually ended with the fall of Babylon in 539 BCE, but JWs falsely claim there were 70 years of exile, which is invalidated by the context of Jeremiah chapter 29 anyway.

29

Internet VS WTS

by joe134cd in

jw
friends

ok here is another spin on the wt verses the internet argument, and this time i'm going to be pro-wt.

i have read articles and seen graphs that show in countries that have high internet penetration, growth rates diminish.

this is used to support the idea that the information age is killing the wt.

Jeffro

Faithful Witness:

Apostasy can be swiftly identified, with their tracking features that are certainly included in this JW Mobile app.

They probably won't try to track actual location, but if the JW app requests access to your device's location services function (i.e. GPS), just say NO.

More likely, certain information (maybe eventually all information) will probably only be accessible through the app by registering an account to identify members.

293

AGM 5 OCTOBER 2013 (UNOFFICIAL RUMORS)

by WatchTower87 in

- 23 day to go .. annual meeting unofficial rumors.

- new bible.

- new nwt (revision).

Jeffro

Apognophos:

The truth is, I haven't heard the rank and file calling it the AGM at all, only the "annual meeting". "AGM" seems to be a shibboleth on the forum here. I've been careful to avoid saying "AGM" to Witnesses so I don't get funny looks and give away my JWN reading habits.

Of course rank-and-file JWs won't call it the AGM. They probably don't even realise. However:

*** w12 8/15 p. 16 A Meeting Marked by Unity and Thrilling Plans ***
ANNUAL meetings of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania always generate excitement.

*** w01 1/15 p. 28 How the Governing Body Differs From a Legal Corporation ***
ANNUAL meetings of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania have been held since January of 1885.

Though they've provided a video link to other locations this year (for the first time ever as far as I'm aware), in reality it's the yearly meeting that is actually attended by the members of the Watch Tower Society corporation. Corporations have annual general meetings.

You also won't hear rank-and-file JWs say that the baptism questions are intended as a contract, or that their meetings for worship are actually indoctrination. JWs love their own special semantics.

Back in reality, it was part of the Watch Tower Society's AGM. But yes, if you're dealing with JWs incognito, you'll want to call it Jehovah's Witnesses' annual meeting™ (even though it's the first most JWs have ever seen) and not the AGM (and certainly not the AGM of a corporation).

49

My highlights from the AGM

by Apognophos in

some of this will not be new to those of you who read other people's notes, but i bet there are a few new bits for you here, so i've provided a user-friendly table of contents, as an homage to the contents that appear before each book of the bible in the new nwt.

i might remember more highlights later, as i'm rather tired right now, but this is what i can recall off the top of my head.. contents (use of quote marks in this section is facetious; these are not actual quotes).

"say, did you notice that 2014 is the 100th anniversary, people?".

Jeffro

Apognophos:

Yes; [Jer 29:10] now reads, "For this is what Jehovah says, 'When 70 years at Babylon are fulfilled, I will turn my attention to you, and I will make good my promise by bringing you back to this place.'"

Seriously? That isn't even consistent with their own teaching!! The reason why the 'old' NWT said "in accord with" instead of "after" is because their version of the '70 years' isn't actually supposed to end until the Jews were home (in the 'magical' month of Tishri [October], for the same reason that Armageddon was supposed to begin in October of 1914). But now they've changed the verse so that whilst it's still wrongly using "at" (in reference to 'exile') instead of "for" (in reference to Babylon's dominance), it more correctly indicates that the 70 years ended before the Jews returned to Jerusalem. They really don't seem to know what they're doing!

3

Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled by Wikipedia, not Watchtower

by processor in

according to matthew 24:24, the good news must be preached "to all the nations", and "in order to give a witness to 'all the nations,' we must present ... truth in different languages.

" (our kingdom ministry, 12/12, page 3).

so, which publication is available in most languages today?.

Jeffro

Global Recordings Network provides religious content in over 6000 languages.

29

Internet VS WTS

by joe134cd in

jw
friends

ok here is another spin on the wt verses the internet argument, and this time i'm going to be pro-wt.

i have read articles and seen graphs that show in countries that have high internet penetration, growth rates diminish.

this is used to support the idea that the information age is killing the wt.

Jeffro

(posted in wrong window)

293

AGM 5 OCTOBER 2013 (UNOFFICIAL RUMORS)

by WatchTower87 in

- 23 day to go .. annual meeting unofficial rumors.

- new bible.

- new nwt (revision).

Jeffro

love2Bworldly:

what the heck is AGM

It just stands for annual general meeting. It's really just a corporation thing for the Watch Tower Society, but of course they like to dress it up as a 'special provision from Jehovah'.