Posts by Justitia Themis

Some scholars believe that Timothy's father was deceased by the time he is referenced in the Bible. Also, we have no evidence that Timothy was from a wealthy family; some Greeks were so poor they didn't even own slaves. It is highly unlikely that Timothy would have been from a family wealthy enough to continue his education into his late teens-early 20s, so it is more likely than not that the "fantasy" conversations/situations in the Watchtower and last drama never happened!

Justitia

16

How does 1914 + 31/2 = 1919 ?

by UnConfused in

i know it must but.... satan is cast down in oct 1914. revelation says in 3 1/2 years jesus inspection comes;.

oct 1915 = 1 year.

oct 1916 = 2 years.

Justitia Themis

*** w94 8/1 p.31 Questions From Readers ***

Questions From Readers

We enjoyed studying prophecies of Daniel as treated in "The Watchtower." Why, though, did the dates for the three and a half times of Revelation 11:3 differ from the "Revelation Climax" book?

Yes, The Watchtower of November 1, 1993, did offer a minor adjustment as to the dating of the modern fulfillment of Revelation 11:3. Why?

Let us first look at Revelation 11:2, the end of which mentions "forty-two months." We continue in verse 3: "I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth." When does that apply?

Well, Jehovah’s Witnesses have long recognized that this prophecy found its fulfillment with spirit-anointed Christians after the end of "the appointed times of the nations" (the Gentile Times) in 1914. (Luke 21:24; 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) Commenting on this, Revelation — Its Grand Climax At Hand! (1988) says on page 164: "There was a marked period of three and a half years when the hard experiences of God’s people matched the events prophesied here—starting from the outbreak of the first world war in the latter part of 1914 and continuing to the early part of 1918."

Note that the dating offered was "the outbreak of the first world war in the latter part of 1914 [till] the early part of 1918." This matches the dating often presented, such as in "Then Is Finished the Mystery of God," pages 261-4, (1969).*

However, The Watchtower focused on prophecies in Daniel, a book that twice mentions a period comparable to that mentioned later in Revelation—3 1/2 years, or 42 months. To be specific, Daniel 7:25 says that God’s holy ones would be harassed "for a time, and times and half a time," or 3 1/2 times. Later, Daniel 12:7 foretells "an appointed time, appointed times and a half," or 3 1/2 times, that would be climaxed with "a finishing of the dashing of the power of the holy people."

So we have prophecies dealing with a comparable period at Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, and Revelation 11:2, 3, as well as at Revelation 13:5. Our publications have shown that all of these found fulfillment in the 1914-18 period. But in treating each of these prophecies separately, the dates for the beginning and for the end varied a little.

However, The Watchtower of November 1, 1993, asked: "How were all these parallel prophecies fulfilled?" Yes, the prophecies of 3 1/2 times mentioned at Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, and Revelation 11:3 were recognized as "parallel prophecies." Hence, they would correspond as to their beginning and their end.

As to the ending, the magazine showed how the harassment of God’s anointed ones (Daniel 7:25) climaxed in June 1918 when J. F. Rutherford and other directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were "sentenced on false charges to a long term in prison." That event certainly was "a finishing of the dashing of the power of the holy people," as noted at Daniel 12:7.

Counting back from June 1918 leads us to December 1914 for the beginning of the 3 1/2 times. In that closing month of 1914, God’s anointed ones on earth learned the theme scripture for the coming year: "‘Are ye able to drink of My cup?’—Matthew 20:20-23." The article announcing it warned: "Who knows but that there may be some special trial, cup of suffering or ignominy, for the loyal followers of the Lamb during 1915!" As Daniel 7:25 foretold for this period of 3 1/2 times, ‘harassment arose and continued against the holy ones themselves of the Supreme One.’ Nations were embroiled in World War I, making it easier for them to carry out unjustified harassment. The conclusion is: All three parallel prophecies—Daniel 7:25, 12:7, and Revelation 11:3—found fulfillment in the 3 1/2 years, or 42 months, from December 1914 to June 1918.

This explains the slight refinement in dating the fulfillment of Revelation 11:3. This adjustment is something we can bear in mind as we study and use the Revelation Climax book in the future.

[Footnotes]

Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

110

How many remember the 1969 8 day convention?

by seek2find in

anybody remember the 8 day 1969 international convention.

i was at the braves stadium in atlanta all 8 days with a sunburn and then wet clothes after the rain storms.

if you were there (not necessarily in atlanta) do you remember anything about it?

Justitia Themis

I believe I recall spending most of our days out on the stadium field under an umbrella.

Ah, the sea of umbrellas. Since my family was there so early, we usually sat in the stands, but even there, many were exposed to the sun. People brought these HUGE umbrellas. I remember not being able to see because of all the umbrellas. That meant hours of looking at the people near me and nothing else, and listening to the endless droning of a bodyless man, followed by more endless droning of some other bodyless man. That's probably why I watched that miserable pregnant woman in front of me so much!

I think that convention is when I began to despise conventions and assemblies. I don't think I ever emotionally recovered! Oh, BTW, THAT was our family vacation that year, and since we traveled from Sacramento, CA, my dad had to struggle to get the extra time off work. He had only seven days vacation. To make it "seem" fun, we camped two nights along the Canada side of the coast on the way back, and entered at Washington State.

But, we didn't have much money left because we spent more than expected at the convention. I remember eating oatmeal with no sugar for breakfast, because we didn't have the money to buy sugar. Good times...making fond family memories.

Justitia

110

How many remember the 1969 8 day convention?

by seek2find in

anybody remember the 8 day 1969 international convention.

i was at the braves stadium in atlanta all 8 days with a sunburn and then wet clothes after the rain storms.

if you were there (not necessarily in atlanta) do you remember anything about it?

Justitia Themis

Unless you had parents like mine that went "to the field" every morning! I remember them speaking of how "shamful" it was that some were "sparing themselves" and participating only in the afternoon sessions.

Mulan, I remember this poor sister who sat in front of us for several days of the session. She must have been 9 months pregnant and overdue. There were times when I thought she was just going to start crying she was so miserable. It was so hot...and all that sitting in one spot!

Justitia

110

How many remember the 1969 8 day convention?

by seek2find in

anybody remember the 8 day 1969 international convention.

i was at the braves stadium in atlanta all 8 days with a sunburn and then wet clothes after the rain storms.

if you were there (not necessarily in atlanta) do you remember anything about it?

Justitia Themis

I hope this doesn't double post. I received an error message on the last one.

Here is the convention program:

http://tvgonline.bravepages.com/ConventionPrograms/1969.htm

110

How many remember the 1969 8 day convention?

by seek2find in

anybody remember the 8 day 1969 international convention.

i was at the braves stadium in atlanta all 8 days with a sunburn and then wet clothes after the rain storms.

if you were there (not necessarily in atlanta) do you remember anything about it?

Justitia Themis

Perhaps you are wondering what actually takes place at one of these larger assemblies. Let’s take a look at the activities of one day as noted in a typical program. At nine o’clock in the morning the first brief session opens with song,

Mulan:

I don't remember it starting in the afternoon! I remember we stayed in a campground about an hour from the assembly site, and we had to get up while it was still dark in order to get to the assembly on time. And, by the time we returned, everyone else had taken their showers, and there was no hot water left. Ugh.

Justitia

15

Timothy And His Secular Education

by Justitia Themis in

the following quote appears in a may 1 watchtower study article.

does anyone have any information on the greek educational system?

when did education begin?

Justitia Themis

google to learn what Greek educational systems were really like in the 1st century (

BTW, I did that, and emailed myself a bunch of documents for review later. However, I am at work, and can't review the information until tonight...didn't want anyone to think I was just being lazy.

Justitia

15

Timothy And His Secular Education

by Justitia Themis in

the following quote appears in a may 1 watchtower study article.

does anyone have any information on the greek educational system?

when did education begin?

Justitia Themis

The following quote appears in a May 1 Watchtower study article. Does anyone have any information on the Greek educational system? When did education begin? When did it end?

Regards,

Justitia

The Watchtower
May 1, 2007
Youths – Pursue Goals That Honor God

“Fight the Fine Fight” (Page 27 – pp14-16)

14 Giving priority to goals that honor Jehovah is the wisest course but by no means the easiest. When it comes to choosing a career, for example, you may come under a great deal of pressure from relatives, peers, and well-meaning educators who believe that a higher education and a lucrative career are the keys to true success and happiness. (Romans 12:2) Like Timothy, you will need to “fight the fine fight of the faith” in order to “get a firm hold on the everlasting life” that Jehovah holds out to you. – 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 3:12.

15 When unbelieving family members disapprove of your choices, the test can be especially severe. Possibly, Timothy had to overcome such opposition. According to one reference work, Timothy’s family probably “belonged to the educated and upper income bracket.” His father may well have expected him to seek higher education and to continue a family business.* Imagine how Timothy’s father may have reacted on discovering that Timothy preferred the dangers and financial uncertainties of missionary work with Paul!

16 Young Christians today face similar challenges. Matthew, who serves at a branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses, recalls: “When I began serving as a pioneer, my father was extremely disappointed. He felt that I had ‘wasted’ my education by taking a job as a cleaner to support me in my ministry. He would taunt me, reminding me of how much I could earn if I took a full-time job.” How did Matthew deal with that opposition? “I kept up a solid Bible-reading schedule and constantly prayed, especially at moments when it would have been easy for me to lose my temper.” Mathew’s determination had been rewarded. Over time, his relationship with his father improved. Matthew had also drawn closer to Jehovah. “I have seen Jehovah provide for me, encourage me, and protect me from bad decisions,” says Matthew. “I would not have experienced any of these things if I had not reached out for spiritual goals.”

*Greek society placed a high value on education. Plutarch, a contemporary of Timothy, wrote: “To receive a proper education is the source and root of all goodness…It is this, I say, which leads on and helps towards moral excellence and towards happiness…All other advantages are human, and trivial, and not worth our serious concern.”
– Moralia 1, “The Education of Children.”

13

Scriptures about apostates/Christendom that ACTUALLY apply to the WT?

by ithinkisee in

jw
friends

i personally like:.

(matthew 23:13-15 nwt) 13 woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!

because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in.

Justitia Themis

(Amos 5:18-24) 18 "‘Woe to those who are craving the day of Jehovah! What, then, will the day of Jehovah mean to YOU people? It will be darkness, and no light, 19 just as when a man flees because of the lion, and the bear actually meets him; and [as when] he went into the house and supported his hand against the wall, and the serpent bit him. 20 Will not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light; and will it not have gloom, and not brightness? 21 I have hated, I have rejected YOUR festivals, and I shall not enjoy the smell of YOUR solemn assemblies. 22 But if YOU people offer up to me whole burnt offerings, even in YOUR gift offerings I shall find no pleasure, and on YOUR communion sacrifices of fatlings I shall not look. 23 Remove from me the turmoil of your songs; and the melodious sound of your stringed instruments may I not hear. 24 And let justice roll forth just like waters, and righteousness like a constantly flowing torrent.