Posts by richgirl

41

A Tug on the Leash (The Authority Which the GB Wields Over the R&F)

by Oubliette in

recently, several comments have been made in various threads in reference to some of the recent changes to a few of the rules by which jehovah's witnesses must live their lives in unquestioning compliance.

the assertion has been made that these rules are a "relaxing" of previous restrictions.

the suggestion has been made that this somehow indicates a corresponding relaxing or loosening or lessening of the authority which the governing body (gb) holds over the rank and file (r&f) members of the religion.

richgirl

Back in the year 2012 I was in the throes of my "crisis of conscience", but still "waiting on Jehovah"...for ...something....anything, that would restore my withering faith in the Governing Body. Then an elder pointed out to me the insert in the KM about the JW website, which I had yet to visit. I guess he thought it would encourage me. Well.....that's when everything really started unravelling!!! There was a video of highlights from the 2012 AGM. The "new light" about the FDS was briefly discussed. I cried when I saw it. I thought "This is what I've been waiting for!! The GB are humbling themselves by admitting they do not yet have authority over "all the Master's belongings!!" It seemed they were relinqusihing power. I thought that because they had admitted having not been rewarded yet with Kingdom power, then they could no longer judge as rejected, all the members of Christendom, (previously understood to be at the same time, in 1918/9). I wrote to the GB to express my appreciation and how I was glad that we did not "blanket condemn" all those in Christendom anymore (well...obviously, in my eyes!). I held my breath while waiting for a response. It came. They "rejoiced" with me over the new understanding, but then went on to slam Christendom, though they stated that they "make no attempt to judge or condemn the members of the churches of Christendom". Then some months later the July 15th 2013 WT appeared. It clearly stated that from 1914, Jesus "rejected all false Christians in the congregation and those in the churches of Christendom" (page 12, par 8). According to the article, these were the weeds that started to be collected, from 1914, and were 'bundled up", destined for the "furnace". Clearly this means that individuals are being judged. Logically, if such ones died before Armageddon, they could not expect to be resurrected (just as with the pre-1995 understanding regarding the 'goats") . I wrote back to the GB for clarification. They (the writing dept I suppose) said that though "we" do not judge people, "Jehovah and Jesus do", and clearly, "some people will not be resurrected". Then they went on to say that "many who are considered unrighteous will be resurrected because there is a chance that they will decide to serve Jehovah if they are taught the truth in an environment free from the negative influences we experience in Satan's system.." How can this include those in the churches if they have figuratively been "bundled for the fire"? It just makes no sense. Are they "rejected' or aren't they? Of course, that entire July 2013 WT was a desperate attempt by them to find some kind of scriptural back-up for their claim of STILL being "chosen" by Jesus in 1919. It was very pathetic: Insisting that the wheat and weeds parable finds fulfillment since 1914, rather than when Jesus returns in the future (when they have moved the fulfillments of Jesus' other parables to the future), and using the "pattern" of Jesus literally feeding the many through the hands of the few, when his disciples distributed the "food" miraculously provided.. (ie. FDS now a few, seven men) So lame!!!

Getting back to 2012. When I attended the 2012 DC I expected the "new light" about the FDS to be at least mentioned. I was shocked and disappointed that such a MAJOR doctrinal change wasn't addressed in the programme! (I had to wait a few months for the July 2013 WT.) At this point I wasn't ready to give up hope for the GB entirely, but I knew that DC would be a turning point, one way or the other, depending on what I heard. I didn't even make it through the first day before my decision was made. I walked out taking my daughter with me. When the July 15th WT eventually arrived, it was confirmed that I had made the right decision! I was disfellowshipped for apostasy in June 2013 after making a stand for my conscience. It was the bravest thing I have ever done!!

22

1919 Doctrine no longer exists? (Today's Watchtower Study)

by FusionTheism in

quote from today's watchtower study article that's being studied at the halls (march 15, 2015, page 24):.

"understanding the illustration of the talents".

"when the master rewards the slaves.".

richgirl

FusionTheism, I would recommend you read the July 15th 2013 Watchtower to get the current understanding of the FDS. Make sure you have paracetemol on stand-by!!

23

Why BOGUS PREDICTIONS and CHANGEABLE TEACHINGS only strengthen JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

by TerryWalstrom in

today's jw knows less about the history of the watchtower religion than ever before.. there is no need to know.

only the present moment of new light has meaning.. there are too many enemies surrounding jw's to risk learning something faith-weakening.. such as facts.

the watchtower religion (jehovah's witnesses) has been 'getting away with it' since 1874.. setting dates built on false chronology, pyramidology, slanted quotations about world events, and misrepresenting their own authority, (channel of jehovah) is a profitable enterprise for the watchtower org.. how do we know they 'get away with it'?.

richgirl

Spot on Magnum!! It seems to me that any admissions of error by the Governing Body are "pre-emptive" only, not genuinely "humble" admissions. They are aware of JWs coming across negative material, such as the pyramidology, and have probably received numerous letters and phonecalls to the service/writing departments about them....so they have to get in before the majority of JWs become aware of them. Sort of like extingusishing a fuse before the bomb detonates. If an "apostate" was to try to inform a JW about pyramidology, he will likely answer, "Oh, I know about that!".........when we know he doesn't really...He only "knows" the GBs sanitised and half-truth explanation, but that will be good enough for the typical JW.

42

I asked where is the proof?

by disillusioned 2 in

arguing with my husband again, i asked where is the proof that jesus looked down on earth in 1919 and chose a small group of bible students in america apart from them saying it in their magazines.

also where is the proof that satan and his demons were cast down in 1914 just because first world war started.

neither of these things are in the bible only in their magazines.

richgirl

Hi disillusioned! Maybe you could discreetly (or not so discreetly!) leave the Awake June 2013 out for your non-communicating husband. Here's part of the article called "How to End the Silent Treatment":

WHY IT HAPPENS

Retaliation. Some spouses use silence as a form of revenge. For example, suppose a husband makes weekend plans without consulting his wife. When she finds out, she is angry and calls him inconsiderate. He responds by calling her oversensitive. The wife storms off and stews in silence. In effect, she is saying, “You hurt me, so I am going to hurt you back.”

Manipulation. Some use the silent treatment as a means to get what they want. For example, imagine that a husband and wife plan a trip and the wife would like to take her parents along. The husband objects. “You’re married to me, not to your parents,” he says. He then gives his wife the silent treatment, shunning her in the hope that she will break down and concede to his wishes.

Of course, a temporary time-out can give a couple the opportunity to let emotions cool when an argument is getting out of hand. That type of silence can be beneficial. The Bible says that there is “a time to keep quiet.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) But when it is used as a means to retaliate or manipulate, the silent treatment not only prolongs conflict but also erodes the respect the couple have for each other. How can you prevent that from happening to you?

26

At the RC now part 2

by All for show in

jw
friends

ok... my other thread i cant respond.

we went to shut up our family... but myhusband is seething and said his brain has shut off.. the stupid is amazing.. they are playing videos that are lame and pointless for the first symposium.. for the first symposium... they asked why the bible has no pictures.

because it was before photography...jesus used word pictures!!

richgirl

What grandpa said makes my day!! The convention programmes have really become dumbed down over the last few years. The symposiums especially. It is not possible to get into any depth, or anything "meaty", in 10 minutes parts. Sure, it makes the time seem to go faster, but otherwise it's just a rehash of baby food!

2

The Heavenly Hope -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

the bible says there is just "one hope" for christians (ephesians 4:4).. revelation says god will come down and bring heaven down to earth.

(revelation 21:2-3).

the old testament focuses more on the hope of the earth being a paradise and the new testament focuses more on going to heaven.. but as we can see revelation and ephesians, there is only "one hope," and we will get to experience both the paradise earth and heaven.. i see no reason in the bible why we would need to take the number 144,000 literally in revelation, where almost all the other numbers mentioned are symbolic..

richgirl

I have noted that over the years WT has taught that New Jerusalem comes down to earth (spiritually/figuratively speaking) and that blessings flow out of it into the earth. See for example the illustrations in the "Rev..Grand Climax" book (page 308,309). But when you read the description in Rev, it seems not that things flow out of it, but that people of all nations are invited into it. The water and the trees of life are in the city, not outside it. To partake of these, one would have to enter the city, wouldn't they? The gates are always open. I have also noticed how the GB still applies many things that have reference to the New Jerusalem, to themselves, as of 1918/9. The wording of Isaiah 60 and Revelation 21 have so many similarities. They even cross reference to each other in the NWT. However, the GB consistently applies the words in Isaiah to themselves (and the org) in the present, but the words in Rev, to the future.

22

New Light! The Evil Slave Class no longer exists!

by FusionTheism in

quote from the watchtower, march 15, 2015, page 23:.

in the illustration of the faithful and discreet slave, jesus spoke of an evil slave who beat his fellow slaves.

jesus was not there foretelling that an evil slave class would arise.

richgirl

I don't believe in this class stuff. However, when the GB discounts an "evil slave class" they are basically saying "We can't fail!". How presumptuous is that!! I remember Anthony Morris saying, in an almost ridiculing tone, "There is no wicked slave class that has arisen in these last days". (2014 AGM) This makes Jesus warning about an evil slave redundant....just hot air. I would love to see them explain the illustration from Luke's gospel, which describes the differing degrees of punishment for the unfaithful slave.

FusionTheism, you make some interesting points about the use of the word "illustration" and "classes" in the March WT. I will have to re-read it!! Do you think they will drop the term FDS "class"?

86

Updated Chronological Timeline of the Great Tribulation -- after the New Light from July Watchtower

by FusionTheism in

the july 15, 2015 study watchtower article entitled "your deliverance is getting near", along with the jw broadcasting video entitled "gerrit losch: fortified by "the prophetic word," and chapter 21 of the god's kingdom rules!

book presented a large amount of new light or clarified understanding of the events of the great tribulation.. here i am presenting it in chronological order -- this is the governing body's updated chronological order of events for the time right before the great tribulation through armageddon:.

the final sealing of the anointed occurs just prior to the outbreak of the tribulation.

richgirl

I really don't think the article in the July WT is saying that there will be an opportunity for members of Christendom to repent after the start of the great tribulation. The wording in the simplified edition is pretty ambiguous though, and could be read to mean that. The July 15th 2013 study edition, in the article, "Tell Us, When Will These Things Be?" (page 7, par 13) it is clearly stated that before the great tribulation starts people will have time to change their thinking. Some found that article ambiguous as well, eg. I had an elder phone me excitedly saying that people would have an opportunity to come over to Jehovah's side after the start of the trib. But that was not what the article was saying at all. I think the timeline chart on pages 4 and 5 confused some because it said that the "judging of sheep and goats" occurs after the trib, but really they are judged based on what they did before the trib starts.

22

It's My Turn

by OneFingerSalute in

well i finally got the, "we would like to stop by with the circus oversneer and have an encouraging visit.

would ---------day be good, at say -----------?".

it'll probably be a pretty dull visit with the entire conversation being only one way.

richgirl

I was once asked if I would like a visit from the CO. I said, "No thanks. He can't tell me anything beyond what 's in the publications, and I can read those for myself".

12

The New 2015 Insight Book

by FusionTheism in

what changes and new light have you found so far in the new 2015 insight book?.

here's a short list so far of the articles i noticed which have been changed:.

* generation.

richgirl

They have changed (and shortened) the entry under "Faithful and Discreet slave". It omits what "commentators" have said about the parable at Mt 24:45-47. I suspect they removed it because, since the new light about the FDS in 2012, it undermines the whole basis for the GB claiming that the "slave" is a composite one (ie. a basis for organisation) rather than just referring to individuals.