Posts by dmouse

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

I don't think that the "new date" was a thing the average Witness would pick up on

I find that difficult to believe Minimus. Your mum must have smelled a rat. I know if I try and talk to my wife about such things she denies any change automatically. She denied for a long time, as did many elders I spoke to, that there had been any change in the generation teaching. And we all know that there WAS a change. Apostates knew it before the 'average' JW did.

I admit that I may be overstating things from just one occurance but I just feel it in my bones that this is important, my WBTS spider sense is tingling like mad!

Anyway, I thought it might be a good idea to post the whole article, it might give folks a different perspective.

Here is the start of the study article on page 14:

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

Reading the quotes from the article does not appear to me to show any inference of dates / time periods etc

1. The average JW is keenly interested in F&DS hints about times when Armageddon might come.

2. The F&DS know this and use it to their advantage.

3.The article spells out that Noah's day is a foreshadow of our day. It speaks of parallels between how God acted then and how he will act now.

4. Definite dates are compared - 2490 and 1914; both stated as beginning the countdown to the end.

5. The Society drop in the figure of 120 years from the date 2490 to the flood. They also mention that 90 years have passed since 1914. There is a subliminal link established.

6. The average JW makes the expected speculative leap and adds 120 years from 1914.

7. BUT 2034 is 30 years away so the article makes sure you know that Armageddon is imminent actually.

8. 2034 is a 'sell by' date. A limit to the length of the end period. NOT the date of Armageddon itself.

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

Yes, the whole tone of the article is that the end could come at any moment. It is imminent. I agree that to suggest that Armageddon is 30 years away would be counterproductive.

The purpose of this article, IMHO, is to put an absolute limit on the length of the end time ? sort of how they did with the end of the Millennium briefly.

Just think about the current ?generation? teaching ? that it applies to all those that ?see the signs but fail to mend their ways? How does THAT instil a sense of urgency? It just doesn?t ? the generation by those criteria could go on forever; every new child will grow up, see the signs, fail to mend their way and produce a new child that sees the sign?etc etc.

THE WBTS HAD TO ANSWER THIS PROBLEM!

So, in the minds of the rank and file, they have put a cap on the length of the generation ? 120 years. This is new.

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

Minimus, this is a study article in a high profile Watchtower issue ? the article introduces the year text for 2004. This information is in this issue for a reason.

I believe it is introducing a definite new thought. That this is done subtlety does not detract from its reality. Of course the WBTS isn?t going to headline ?Armageddon in 2034!? They just don't work like that, they rely on JW conditioning to fill in the gaps. If you read my post again you will see that I think the message is that they suggest it will come sometime before then.

What I think happened is that JWs were upset about the 1914 generation change but it took a while to filter through. The new generation teaching gave the impression that the generation could conceivably renew itself ad infinitum.

I think the WBTS are plugging that gap by making a prophetic link between Noah?s day and our day. In other words the ?generation? is given definite parameters.

In effect this means that JWs minds are focused on the immediate future because the Faithful and Discrete Slave (who speak for God himself) have said in their ?food at the proper time? that Noah?s account ?clearly provides a warning that we must not ignore? What is that warning? In the days of Noah the end time started in 2490 B.C.E. and lasted 120 years. How is that linked to our day? That the current end time started in 1914 and we have already used up 90 years. JWs will almost certainly jump to the conclusion that the F&DS are indicating that Armageddon should come before the 120 years that are foreshadowed in Noah?s day are up.

As far as I know this is the first incidence of this kind of connection, and I bet it won?t be the last.

I believe that this issue of the Watchtower marks an important step in WBTS chronology.

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

And how does this all fit with the generation then born would be alive to witness it? Does anyone by any stretch of the imagination believe that a person old enough in 1914 to comprehend the meaning of the year would still be alive 120 years after 1914? Or have they admitted that reasoning was wrong?

Yes, they have admitted that that reasoning was wrong .

The human lifetime link with 1914 was cut in 1995.

Watchtower for November 1st, 1995:

"Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah's people have at times speculated about the time when the "great tribulation" would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we bring a heart of wisdom in," not by speculating about how many years or days makeup a generation, but by thinking about how we "count our days" in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah."

"Therefore, in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy today, "this generation" apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways." (ibid, page 19; bold added)

47

Watchtower covers - competition.

by dmouse in

this is in the jokes and humour section, so if you are easily offended by jokes and humour please leave now.

ok all you clever jwd computer bods, how about a competition to create the most amusing or thought provoking watchtower cover?.

here is the original cover:.

dmouse

LOL @ Stephanus - good one!

208

THEY'VE DONE IT!!!! The WBTS set a new date!

by dmouse in

the latest watchtower, dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually.

ok, so armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died.

but does that mean that the big a isn't near?

dmouse

The latest Watchtower, Dec 15th 2003, is an out and out attack on the rank and file for dropping into a drowsy state spiritually. OK, so Armageddon didn't come before the generation of 1914 grew old and died. But does that mean that the big A isn't near?

The Society have realized that a vague 'anytime soon just isn't going to motivate the troops. Many on this board have said that the WBTS have learned from their mistakes and won't tie themselves down to a date again.

They may have a point because the latest date set by the Org (sometime before 2034) is not stated categorically (aka 1975) but the brothers will definitely make the correct inference that the WBTS want them to make. And when THIS prophecy fails then they will say (again) that it was 'some' reading too much into things.

Here is the quote from the latest mag:

Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency

Warned of ?Things Not Yet Beheld?

6 In Noah?s day, Jehovah declared: ?My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.? (Genesis 6:3) The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then living! Only 120 years more and Jehovah would bring ?the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens.? - Genesis 6:17

7 Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. ?After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld.? Says the apostle Paul, ?[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the salvation of his household.? (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in ?the time of the end.? (Daniel 12:4) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? ?He that does the will of God remains forever,? states the Bible. (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah?s will with a keen sense of urgency.

9 Jehovah has kept these warnings in front of his people by means of timely reminders through the spiritual food provided by ?the faithful and discrete slave.? ?

21Although the Flood seems remote from our day, it clearly provides a warning that we must not ignore?.

47

Watchtower covers - competition.

by dmouse in

this is in the jokes and humour section, so if you are easily offended by jokes and humour please leave now.

ok all you clever jwd computer bods, how about a competition to create the most amusing or thought provoking watchtower cover?.

here is the original cover:.

dmouse

This is in the Jokes and humour section, so if you are easily offended by jokes and humour please leave now.

OK all you clever JWD computer bods, how about a competition to create the most amusing or thought provoking Watchtower cover?

Here is the original cover:

Here is a blank version to use if you wish:

And here is my entry:

I'm sure you folks can do a LOT better!

36

Most witness's don't even look at the pictures in their books.

by Singing Man in

like the one of the little girl falling into a big crack in the earth, a picture of amagedon from the paradise book.

few witness's stop and ponder just how sick that really is to show kids that at a young age.

if anyone has that post it to this thread for others to see just how hurtful that could be for children of a tender age.

dmouse

Here you go:

It has an almost dreamlike quality about it, as if it's happening in slow motion. Strangely, as a kid, I was more traumatised by the dog being killed than the humans!

The modern images of destruction are far more graphic and disturbing, especially the one in the new children's book. The old pictures don't really get you to emphasise with the people, but the new ones show all the agony and confusion and terror in blinding full-colour glory. The JW artists are so full of hate it's unbelievable. I think it's frustration at Armageddon's delay that's making them get more violent in thought each year.