Posts by cyberguy

3

What do you think about the new "Knocking" video?

by cyberguy in

what do you think about the new "knocking" video?

it is supposed to be shown on pbs in may.. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=knockingdocumentary.

cyberguy

What do you think about the new "Knocking" video? It is supposed to be shown on PBS in May.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=knockingdocumentary

21

to make a long story short i work with one of my old friends who happens to be a ms. we often get in discussions about witnesses and i have got him too admit that i am right about somethings in the past.

i think he has looked into some of the things we have talked about and found that i am right but he just kinda dismisses them.

anyway here is the deal.

cyberguy

Here's some interesting stuff from Alan F.

http://corior.blogspot.com/

28

First Piano Lesson Tomorrow!! Need a littel advice.

by BlackPearl in

jw
friends

for most of my life i've wanted to learn to play the piano and learn to write music.

my wife got me a yamaha keyboard for christmas.

i am finally happy to report that i have my first lesson tomorrow morning.

cyberguy

For music theory the 3 books Contemporarary Music Theory (level 1, 2, 3) by Mark Harrison are simply wonderful! See if your teacher uses them. Also, Harrision's book The Pop Piano Book is great too!

93

Society's claim of Matt. 24:14 being fulfilled - What it could really mean

by Jourles in

i've had this thought for quite a while and wonder if fits with the recent talk about the wts claiming that matt.

24:14 has been fulfilled.

my thought was this --- in the wake of the recent cutbacks at bethel, scaling back of literature, and other cost cutting measures, could the wts be preparing the r&f for the complete or massive reduction of literature that would normally be placed with "householders?

cyberguy

Jourles,

It means absolutely nothing really, except to whip-up emotions among those that push the literature, including books, magazines, and DVD’s! Of course, those in the media-corporation are laughing all the way to the bank! They may be in red ink now, but wait until they sell all the condos they built in Brooklyn Heights, along the Hudson River! I’m sure the Awake! Magazine will be merged with WT at some point. It’s only a matter of time.

Regards,

Cyber!

32

Last days, great tribulation and the return of Christ

by S EIGHT in

my journey out began when i came across a google news report highlighting the "quotes" legal case.

although i had "questions" prior.

so that's where i am at the moment although still very "in".

cyberguy

Hi S Eight! Welcome to the board!

As you know the WT teaches multiple returns of Christ (a recent thread quoted a GB member that said there were 7 returns of Christ), and that some of these returns are associated with dates such as 1914, 1918, 1919, and that these dates can somehow be calculated via encrypted prophecies in the Bible. They also teach that the other returns are future and are not associated with dates, but are “just around the corner,” “very soon now!” WT made an adjustment (“new light”) some years ago whereby the return described in 24:30 is future (previously they tied it to 1914) and that it would include some kind of visible manifestation. Finally, by claiming multiple returns of Christ, they get around a nagging issue with Jesus’ statement that “nobody knows” the “day and hour” (Matt 24:36). That is, his return in 1914 they know, somehow, but future returns that don’t know. Anyway, let me briefly comment on an invisible return of Christ.

The NWT at Matt. 28:20 says: “And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” How is Jesus “with” his disciples, visibly or invisibly? I guess it must be invisibly. And if he is “with” his disciples, he’d be present, no? Therefore, if he has been invisibly present with his disciples since those words were uttered, why would he give a “composite sign” to help them discern in the future that he is “invisibly present?” Furthermore, Jesus warned his disciples to not be misled by those who say “Look! He is in the inner chambers” (Matt 24:25), that is hidden; this also would rule out an “invisible” return.

Actually, if you look at all the illustrations that Jesus gave, you would be hard pressed to conclude that there are multiple returns of Christ. In their simplicity is a common thread of his going away then returning at a later time. When he returns he judges and separates, rewarding the faithful and condemning the unfaithful. That said, the simple answer is that the scriptures imply only one return of Christ with some kind of visible manifestation by those coming under adverse judgment as well as the faithful, “they will see the Son of man coming” (Mark 13:24-227, Luke 21:26-28).

Regarding a “composite sign” (WT terminology), WT is not alone in their beliefs since many charismatic Christian groups also believe that the end-time prophesies are being fulfilled at this time; they are expecting the return of Christ must be very near! However, let me present an alternate view which you may want to reflect on.

In all end-time prophesies, Jesus first words to his disciples’ questions were “Look out that nobody misleads YOU; for…” (see Matt. 24:3-4, Mark 13:4-5, Luke 21:7-8). Therefore, the long list of events and troubles that follow were given NOT to tell them the nearness of his return (or in the case of WT, the multiple returns of Christ starting in 1914), but as a warning not to be mislead into thinking that he is about to return! In other words, they comprise a NOT SIGN, and a warning not to be mislead. The events listed “must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6). Hence, Jesus urges his disciples to “keep on the watch,” “prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming” (Matt. 24:42, 44, see also 25:13). Finally, the only sign given for his return is the “sign of the Son of man” (Matt 24:30), which is evidently some kind of visible manifestation.

I’ll comment more as I have time. Do keep up your “independent thinking!”

20

Does Bethel have a library? Is it open to you?

by Fatfreek in

let's say you're a jw, you're curious about some quote you found on the internet -- some newer book slyly changes mention of a date prediction from 1874 to 1914 -- and you'd like to see the original pages of those books.

are any of these publications available to: .

1. anyone from off the street .

cyberguy

When I was in Brooklyn Bethel, 1978-1980, most of the books the Writing Department had access to were readily accessible to all Bethelites. There was just about every Bible Commentary and a huge number of different Bible translations. However, I understand that shortly after the big blowup in 1980 all the non-JW, Bible reference works were removed and placed in an area only accessible to the Writing Department.

73

Why do apostates lie about where they get their information?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

it does no good.

i don't understant it - who do they think they're foolin'?.

i have just been listening to the judicual committee that disfellowshipped rick and laverne townsend and it is cringeworthy, to say the least, to listen to them cover-up, distort and outright lie about the sources of their information and the real background to their dissent.

cyberguy

Slimboyfat,

I assume you are a young person, and never lived through the 1960’s and early 1970’s in the WT. If you had been you’d never make the ridiculous remarks you are now making. I grew up in the Tower, and in the late 1960’s I was in my early teen years. Regarding the 1975 expectation, it was played-up big-time! I mean, big-time! It was on everyone’s mind! I don’t recall the KM bringing it out in those years (I doubt it did), but the FALSE teaching about 1975 was brought out in books, brochures, and conventions of the time. And yes, everyone was in expectation that “something” was about to happen before 1975. That’s why there was such a huge influx of baptisms just prior to 1975! (I got baptized then!)

I think you’re probably a good person, just with a little head-spin right now, and I’d suggest to cool-off and contemplate your words before posting. You’re going through denial and it takes time to reflect on information you’ve heard and to sort everything out! And have your read Carl Johnson’s book? I know that when the original manuscript that circulated Bethel Writing Department, there was NOT ONE REPONSE. At the time they had nearly 100 people working in that department. A good friend of mine circulated the original manuscript, with a signing sheet. He said there was absolutely no response. Of course not! The 1914 teaching is a bogus farce.

Please research this subject more carefully before pontificating your brain-farts!

11

40 years!

by Blueblades in

jw
friends

it is our 40th wedding anniversary!

we are invited to a nice family dinner tonight.

merry christmas and happy new year to you all.. blueblades.

cyberguy

VERY COOL!

6

The Society's mum on this book, "THE TETRAGRAMMATON and ... Greek ....

by Fatfreek in

here's a strange one.

i found this book online, a free to download pdf copy of .

"the tetragrammaton.

cyberguy

If I recall correctly, the guy initially studied with the JW’s but went in a different direction after he saw some glaring problems with JW teachings. He was never a JW. He has a Trinitarian bent, but his arguments are not convincing enough for me in his treatise. On the other hand, he highlights many good reasons for not replacing LORD with Jehovah as the NWT does.

15

Revelation book study. A look at Watchtower changes to prophetic meanings

by jwfacts in

with the upcoming study of the old-new revelation book i thought it would be good to expand an article i had done on the watchtower's ability to understand bible prophecy.

it appears at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/revelation.htm i can not understand how anyone that knows of the number of changes the watchtower has made can believe jehovah's holy spirit directs the watchtower.

particularly interesting is the changes that have been made to the understanding of the 1260, 1290, 1335, 2300 and 2520 days that appears towards the end of this article.the current explanation of these are an embarrasment.

cyberguy

Thanks! I made a copy of this! Priceless--hehe!