eby

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Posts by eby

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  10

  Need scan of AK Graysons' book pg. 100........

  by ellderwho in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  im putting the final nail in the coffin.

  with this information from graysons' book " assyrian and babylonian chronicles" grayson 1975. i will be able to show my step father (elder) the contradictions and misquotings of the wt.. btw during my 2.5 years of studying with him(stepdad) i really held his feet to the fire on 607 so much so that he actually went on line and ordered graysons' book that the insight book quotes.. and during one of our studies he opened it and was disapointed to say the least.. so i would love to have this information on hand for a little chit-chat about the wt misuse of graysons work.

  the specific scan would be from graysons' assyrian and babylonian chronicles 1975 page 100 and 102.. any help is appreciated.. ew

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  eby

  You might try the interlibrary loan system at your local public library.

  eby
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  42

  What are the first things you notice when you enter a JW home?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a) you'll find no ash trays.

  b) no lottery tickets laying on the counter.

  c) a jw calendar in sight for everyone to see.

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  eby

  One family had framed 8x10 pictures of Fred Franz and J F. Rutherford on the living room piano.

  eby
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  23

  just found out....

  by donald in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  guys and gals try this one on....i just found out that our local congertion...sold the old hall...with all its acrege...to the local catholic church to become a school.for preist.....i had thought the wtbs was to have no dealings with babylon the great....donald

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  eby

  For Blondie,

  Is it all right to buy a church building for use as a Kingdom Hall or, when a new Kingdom Hall is built, to sell the former hall for use as a church?

  This is a matter for the brothers locally to decide. There does not appear to be any direct Scriptural objection to doing so. It is not a matter of cooperating in a religious way with representatives of false religion, but is simply a business transaction. It is a one-time real estate deal.

  Of course, if some in the congregation are bothered in conscience because of such buying or selling, then this can be taken into consideration so as not to stumble anyone.

  Renting a Kingdom Hall from a religious organization, however, requires close, constant relationship with representatives of false religion. There is a month-to-month contact in paying the rent and in the discussions regarding repairs and upkeep. Also, renting from a false religious organization might indicate to onlookers that there is not the distinct difference between the truth and false religion that we claim there is. It is best to avoid such rental arrangements.

  It is up to the brothers locally to decide if they should rent a pool from a false religious organization on a one-time basis for an assembly baptism. The same is true of renting an auditorium for an assembly. It is best to make other arrangements, if possible.

  Question Box KM 7/69 4

  Oldtimer, Eby
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  7

  Holiday headship

  by mkr32208 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if i tell my wife she has to help with the holidays and participate even if it's under duress she has to right?

  anybody got any idea where i can find that in writing?.

  i thought i remembered seeing something about it but i can't find it now and i've been looking for hours!

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  eby

  December 15, 2001 Question from Readers

  How

  can a Christian wife balance loyalty to God with submission to her unbelieving husband if he shares in religious holiday activities?

  Her doing so will require wisdom and tact. But she is doing the right thing in striving to balance her two obligations. Jesus gave counsel about a parallel situation: "Pay back, therefore, Caesar?s things to Caesar, but God?s things to God." (Matthew 22:21) Granted, he was dealing with obligations to governments, to which Christians were later told to be in submission. (Romans 13:1) Yet, his counsel finds a parallel in a wife?s balancing her obligations to God with her Scriptural submission to her husband, even if he is an unbeliever.

  No one familiar with the Bible would deny that it stresses that a Christian?s first obligation is to Almighty God, to be loyal to him at all times. (Acts 5:29) Still, in many situations a true worshiper can accommodate the requests or demands of an unbeliever in authority while not sharing in a violation of God?s elevated laws.

  We find an instructive example in the three Hebrews, as related in Daniel chapter 3. Their governmental superior, Nebuchadnezzar, decreed that they and others present themselves on the plain of Dura. Realizing that false worship was scheduled, the three Hebrews would likely have preferred to avoid being there. Perhaps Daniel was able to excuse himself, but these three could not. So they complied to the extent of appearing, but they would not?and did not?share in any wrong act.?Daniel 3:1-18.

  Similarly, around holiday times an unbelieving husband might request or demand that his Christian wife do something she would like to avoid. Consider some examples: He tells her to cook a certain food on the day he and others will celebrate a holiday. Or he demands that the family (including his wife) visit his relatives on that day for a meal or simply as a social call. Or even prior to the holiday, he might say that while his wife is out shopping, she must make some purchases for him?foods unique to the holiday, items to use as presents, or wrapping paper and cards to use with his gifts.

  Again, the Christian wife ought to be determined not to share in false religious acts, but what about such requests? He is the family head, and God?s Word says: "You wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord." (Colossians 3:18) In these cases, can she show wifely subjection while being loyal to God? She must decide how to balance obedience to her husband with her overriding obedience to Jehovah.

  At other times, her husband may ask her to cook a certain food, whether because it is his favorite or because he is used to having that meal in a particular season. She will desire to show love for him and recognition of his headship. Could she do so even if he made the request on the occasion of a holiday? Some Christian wives might be able to do so with a good conscience, simply considering it as a normal task of preparing the daily meal. Certainly, no loyal Christian would attach any holiday significance to it, even if her husband did. Similarly, he might require her to be with him when he visits his relatives at various times each month or year. Could she do so even if it was the day of a holiday? Or would she normally be willing to purchase things at his request, without judging what he intends to do with the items she buys for him while doing her shopping?

  Of course, a Christian wife should think of others?the effect on them. (Philippians 2:4) She would like to avoid giving any impression that she is linked to the holiday, just as the three Hebrews may likely have preferred that others not see them traveling to the plain of Dura. So she might tactfully try to reason with her husband to see if, out of consideration for her feelings, he might do certain holiday-related things for himself to accommodate a wife who loves and respects him. He might see the wisdom of not putting both of them in a potentially embarrassing situation if she would have to refuse to engage in false religious acts. Yes, calm discussion beforehand might lead to a peaceful solution.?Proverbs 22:3.

  In the final analysis, the faithful Christian must weigh the facts and then decide what to do. Obedience to God must come first, as it did with the three Hebrews. (1 Corinthians 10:31) But with that in mind, the individual Christian has to decide what noncompromising things can be done at the request of one having authority in the family or in the community.

  [Footnote]

  See "Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of August 1, 2001.
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  23

  Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-21-04 WT Study

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  comments you will not hear at the 11-21-04 wt study (october 15, 2004 1st article)

  review comments

  will be in black and parentheses ().

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  eby

  In 1952 it was explained that Paul saw by "vertical rapture" a spiritual paradise that existed in his day.

  *** w52 4/15 p. 248 The Field of Bible Prophecy ***

  23 An excellent example of a ?vertical rapture? is the case of the apostle Paul where so realistically in a vision he was carried away in mind to see the highest heavens where God dwells. He vividly saw the paradisaic spiritual prosperity that existed in God?s organization in Paul?s day then and there. He says he saw and heard unutterable words which it is not lawful for him to speak or record. (2 Cor. 12:1-4, NW) What Paul saw was no prophecy but an actual insight into the operations of God?s masterful invisible organization. Doubtless this enabled Paul, not only to be such a stout advocate for strict adherence to principles of theocratic organization in the early congregation, but to introduce additional organizational procedures and counsel based on this experience of vertical rapture.?1 Cor. 7:25, NW.

  "Verticle rapture" was part of the vocabulary of the "Pure Language". I really wonder how many JWs have used or even heard the words "verticle rapture"?

  *** w53 4/15 p. 231 The Language Barrier and the ?Pure Language? ***

  And as the columns of The Watchtower throw ever more light on God?s Word, Jehovah?s witnesses find their vocabulary being enriched, the pure language growing. Thus we note that for his unfaithfulness the covering cherub who became Satan was ?divorced? from God?s organization; compared with Jehovah?s absolute freedom, ours is a ?relative? freedom; ?vertical rapture? refers to supernatural revelation of heavenly things existing at the time; whereas ?horizontal rapture? tells of things far along on the stream of time.?2 Cor. 12:1-4.

  The explanation applying the vision to a future time seems to have been explained in 1959.

  *** w59 2/1 p. 77 Maintaining Our Spiritual Paradise ***

  2 Nineteen hundred years ago, when Jesus spoke those words, no earthly paradise existed. Neither did there then exist the spiritual paradise to which Paul was later caught away to hear unutterable words which it was not lawful for a man to speak then.?2 Cor. 12:4.

  Also

  *** it-2 p. 576 Paradise ***

  Paul?s vision, nevertheless, must logically have applied to some future time, so as to constitute a ?revelation.? (2Co 12:1) An apostasy was due to set in among the Christian congregation and was already working in Paul?s day; it would result in a condition like that of a field oversown with weeds. (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43; Ac 20:29; 2Th 2:3, 7; compare Heb 6:7, 8.) So, Paul?s paradise vision would not reasonably apply while such was the case but would evidently relate to the time of ?the harvest season? when the genuine Christians would be gathered by the angelic reapers and would enjoy rich blessings and spiritual prosperity from God.

  eby
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  37

  Have You Ever Heard This Explanation Why 144,000 is a Literal Number?

  by Had Enough in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the speaker said tonight (yes i went to the memorial to appease my worried family .

  well he said its very simple....the scripture talks about the lamb and the 144,000. it doesn't say lambs as in more than one....no, it says lamb referring to the "literal number of one lamb".. so thats how we know that the 144,000 is a literal number and not symbolic like all the rest of revelation.. ok....now am i going bonkers...or has anyone else every heard that explanation before?

  i know i never have and that doesn't make any sense to me at all.. had enough

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  eby

  Yes, I heard that from the platform years ago. Couldn't believe they would use such a ridiculous argument.

  If 1 Lamb in Rev. 14 makes the number 144,00 literal, does 1 Lamb in Rev. 5:8 make the number 24 literal?

  The 24 elders in Rev. 5:8 are said to be symbolic of the 144,000 according to the WT.

  *** Rbi8 Revelation 5:8-10 *** 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp and golden bowls that were full of incense, and the [incense] means the prayers of the holy ones. 9 And they sing a new song, saying: ?You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.?

  eby
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  5

  Help with a scripture...

  by Sumflower in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  there is a scripture, i think in acts, that specifically says not to go from door to door.

  i wanted to compare the greek words used there to the ones in other parts of acts that probably should be written "in private homes" that they use to "validify" the preaching work.

  i can't for the life of me find where i wrote that scripture down at though... anyone know it off hand?.

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  eby

  From the NWT Reference Bible

  *** Rbi8 Acts 20:20 *** 20 while I did not hold back from telling YOU any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching YOU publicly and from house to house.

  *** Acts 20:20 (ftn) *** Or, ?and in private houses.? Lit., ?and according to houses.? Gr., kai kat´

  *** Rbi8 Acts 2:46 *** 46 And day after day they were in constant attendance at the temple with one accord, and they took their meals in private homes and partook of food with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart

  *** Acts 2:46 (ftn) *** Or, ?from house to house.? Gr., kat´ oi'kon.

  *** Rbi8 Acts 5:42 *** 42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.

  *** Acts 5:42 (ftn) *** Lit., ?according to house.? Gr., kat´ oi'kon. Here ka·ta' is used with the accusative sing. in the distributive sense. R. C. H. Lenski, in his work The Interpretation of The Acts of the Apostles, Minneapolis (1961), made the following comment on Ac 5:42: ?Never for a moment did the apostles cease their blessed work. ?Every day? they continued, and this openly ?in the Temple? where the Sanhedrin and the Temple police could see and hear them, and, of course, also kat ' oÎkon , which is distributive, ?from house to house,? and not merely adverbial, ?at home.? ?

  eby
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  36

  To Partake or Not to Partake THAT IS THE QUESTION!

  by etan 4 U in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to partake or not to partake that is the question!

  i need some questions answered maybe you all can help.

  is it because they wish to be of an earthly resurection?

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  eby

  Thought you might like to be aware of the Watchtower explanation of John 6:53-55:

  *** w90 2/15 12 From Seder to Salvation *** When ?the passover, the festival of the Jews, was near? in 32 C.E., Jesus told a large audience: ?He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.? (John 6:4, 54, 55) All his Jewish listeners would have in mind the impending Passover and that a lamb?s blood was used in Egypt.

  14 Jesus was not then discussing the emblems used in the Lord?s Evening Meal. That new celebration for Christians was not instituted until a year later, so even the apostles who heard Jesus in 32 C.E. knew nothing of it. Still, Jesus was showing that his blood was essential for everlasting salvation. Paul explained: ?By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.? (Ephesians 1:7) Only through forgiveness on the basis of Jesus? blood can we live forever.

  *** w86 2/15 31 Questions From Readers *** When Jesus said what is recorded in John 6:53, his institution of the Lord?s Evening Meal was yet a year away. None who heard Jesus had any idea about an annual celebration with literal emblems standing for Christ?s flesh and blood. Rather, Jesus? theme, or line of argument, in John chapter 6 had to do with his flesh being comparable to manna. There was a difference, though. His flesh (and, he added, his blood) was greater than literal manna in that his flesh was given for the life of the world, making everlasting life possible.?John 6:48-51.

  Consequently, added research has recently highlighted that there was a time difference of a year between Jesus? words in John 5:26 and his comments in John chapter 6; then it was another year before he instituted the Lord?s Evening Meal. Greater weight has also been given to the immediate context of John 6:53. Thus, the article on pages 15-20 offers a broadened application of John 6:53, including both those who are taken into the new covenant for heavenly life and those who have the prospect of endless life on a paradise earth.

  *** w86 2/15 18 "Bread of Life" Available for All *** ?anyone? of the world of mankind who eats symbolically of that ?bread,? by showing faith in the redeeming power of Jesus? sacrifice, may enter onto the way to everlasting life. Here, the ?vast mixed company? that shared with the Israelites in eating the manna in the wilderness foreshadow the great crowd of Jesus? ?other sheep? who, along with the anointed remnant of ?the Israel of God,? are now eating Jesus? flesh in a figurative sense. This they do by exercising faith in his sacrifice.?Galatians 6:16; Romans 10:9, 10.

  eby
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  Georgian ex-priest held

  by eby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ** radical georgian ex-priest held ** .

  a defrocked priest known for his attacks on evangelical christian groups .

  is held after a police raid on his church.

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  eby

  ** Radical Georgian ex-priest held ** A defrocked priest known for his attacks on evangelical Christian groups is held after a police raid on his church. < http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/europe/3505600.stm > eby
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  30

  How YOU Humiliate the Watchtower (4/1/04)

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  take a good look at the april 1, '04 watchtower, with its garish 'wild beast' on the cover.. now, wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to show a picture of the un building being .

  destroyed at armageddon?

  wouldn't be a good idea to blast the churches of christendom.

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  eby

  There are a lot of beasties in Revelation. The 4/1/04 WT. article seems to be talking only about the beast of Revelation 13 not to be confused with the beast of Revelation 17 which is said to represent the UN.

  Sorry I don't have a scanner.

  Here is an interesting quote showing how they explained the number 666 in the past.

  *** w57 2/1 75 Faith Conquers the World *** The wild beast and its image is Satan?s modern brute-force system of rulership, and the number of its name (666, or 600 + 60 + 6) symbolizes the threefold basis of that system, namely, false religion, commercialism and politics.?Rev. 13:16-18, NW

  eby