Great article! I found it online at:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20060901/VALLEYNEWS/109010040/-1/ARCHIVES01
Not sure how long it'll be available, however.
here's an excellent article about a third-generation exjw family that survived after losing the father to the blood transfusion prohibition, and then leaving the borg and being shunned by friends and family.
folks should email and thank this reporter and editor for writing and publishing this story.
life's new beginnings .
Great article! I found it online at:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20060901/VALLEYNEWS/109010040/-1/ARCHIVES01
Not sure how long it'll be available, however.
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i understand someone had a transfusion to cure skin cancer.. would a jw be allowed to such a transfusion?
As I understand, this has already been ruled permissable by the Governing Body:
Left to conscience are procedures where a "quantity of blood is withdrawn in order to tag it or to mix it with medicine, whereupon it is put back into the patient."--October 15, 2000 Watchtower, p. 31.
Not sure how they can explain this as consistent but at least it's a loophole that will help a lot of people.
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
thirdwitness: Steve, I would love to see a 1992 brochure. ; Do you have one or have access to one?
The UN representative is the one quoting it. Are you saying he's not a credible source?
are there some here who knew various bethelites who were from oregon in the early and mid-70s?
i was from eastern oregon and was in brooklyn and wt farm from 73 to 76 and knew several from the portland area.
i don't want to mention names but if you knew some from that era (or are one of them yourself), i'd like to talk to you.
Are there some here who knew various Bethelites who were from Oregon in the early and mid-70s? I was from Eastern Oregon and was in Brooklyn and WT Farm from 73 to 76 and knew several from the Portland area. I don't want to mention names but if you knew some from that era (or are one of them yourself), I'd like to talk to you. I just want an idea of what happened to some of these people. If they're still in...if they're still alive? Drop me a private message! Thanks!
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
Wasn't this just a prophecy about Nebuchadnezzar? No, this I clearly showed to over and over again. Must I repeat Ezek 17, 19, 21 , Isa 6 etc and even what is said in Daniel 4. There connection is there if you want to look at it without preconceived ideas against JWs.
All you have showed us is that the Old Testament uses "tree" as a metaphor for rulers. There is NOTHING in the other Scriptures you've cited that explicitly says the tree dream of Daniel 4 had any other application.
Question for thirdwitness: Has the Watchtower Society ever used these other verses to as proof like you are doing? They use words like "it would be fitting" or "it is reasonable," etc. Can you cite where the Society uses these verses?
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
For those who want it on a silver platter. Sorry. Thats not how Jehovah works. The Bible was written in such a way to discern to intentions of the heart. For those not truely wanting to know. They give up and quit. For those wanting to know the truth, they dig into God's word. That is why Jesus spoke in illustrations. He could have plainly told everything so that everyone today could understand but it was his intention to cull out those not really interested, those who did not care to dig deep and learn more.
In other words, the interpretation you're proposing cannot be plainly extrapolated from the Bible. You have still not come up with ONE verse that plainly says the tree dream had any other application than to Nebuchadnezzar. Your interpretation is not based on the Bible but is read into the Bible.
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
Yes, God's everlasting rulership toward the earth and his choosing of whomever he sees fit to place in the position of rulership is the centralized theme of Daniel 4.Now if you don't want to look at other parts of the Bible and dig deeply so that you can understand the rest of the Bible then no you will not find any answers.
Thank you for your reply.
I had asked for specific application made in either Daniel chapter 4 or the other passages you've cited from the Old Testament that explicitly state the tree dream has another application other than what happened to Nebuchadnezzar. You apparently realize the problem because you claim these do explicitly apply the dream to God's kingdom. I've read and re-read these passages and they do not so state. Show me one verse that explicitly says something like this: "Jehovah's kingdom will be laid low for seven times." It isn't there. You are not interpreting from the text but reading into it something that is not there. Do you really believe the Bible to be your final authority? Then show us Scriptures which clearly state that the tree dream of Daniel chapter 4 applies to God's kingdom. All you've done so far is to demonstrate that a tree is used metaphorically in the Old Testament to refer to rulers. So far, so good. Where is the verse which explicitly states the seven times applies to God's kingdom?
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
I guess I could instead answer and say that if you are unwilling to look into the other scriptures that I cite that clearly helps understand and connects Daniel 4 with God's rulership then what can I tell you other than copying and pasting the whole essay again for you.
So, I think you've basically said that if we look at Daniel chapter 4 alone there is no specific application to anything other than what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.
How do the "other scriptures" you cited "connect Daniel 4" to the interpretation you are proposing? Do any of them specifically connect Daniel 4? Yes, they use the same metaphor of trees but do they specifically connect Daniel 4?
Are you interpreting from the text or reading into the text?
think about this: if seven times mean only 7 years then daniel could have simply said 7 years.
why does daniel specifically use the word 'times' rather than years?
as we have already shown daniel used the word for 7 times instead of 7 years.
Cabasilas and alwayshere made similar point. I replied on that as follows: That Daniel 4 said that Neb was the head and that was it. Well if you don't want to search the scriptures of course you want find any answers or any truth. Daniel outrightly tells us that it is about God's kingdom and whoever he wants he will make rule. That is the theme of Daniel 4 as I showed in the first post I made. And the connections are clear to Ezek 17, 19, and 21.
But, does Daniel specifically say there is any other application to the tree dream?
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i read an interesting question on one of my threadshow many people at bethel were anointed?
how many of those were on the gb?can you estimate the percentage of people at bethel who were anointed vs non-anointed?
I was an attendant for the Memorial celebration at the Brooklyn Heights Congregation in 1974 and we had 25 partakers. We were given instructions on how to get refills for the wine and bread, if needed. There were, of course, other congregations in the NYC area which had Bethelites who claimed to be anointed. Brooklyn Heights Congregation met inside the Bethel home so it had a lot of very elderly members who did not travel outside very much.