Posts by Cold Steel

60

Now I'm Convinced There Probably Is No God

by pale.emperor in

yesterday i made a visit to the museum in my city.

the top floor is the planetarium, which has a connecting room with a huge dome ceiling where they project lessons and lectures and you have a 360 view of the night sky etc.. this particular lecture explained about our galaxy, and how it's only one of billions in the universe.

and then we learned about each planet, some of their moons and the sun.

Cold Steel

I see just the opposite in the heavens. I don't for a moment see this earth being just a pale dot in the cosmic scheme of things. In fact, I've always been a big believer in multiverses. I also don't see this world being destroyed by the sun in consequence of entropy. Former JWs are beset by seeing things in light of their former beliefs. It becomes Carl Sagan versus Joseph Rutherford and that's it. But if the earth is graced by the return of the Savior, it will not be left to suffer death any more than we human beings will. Rather, if we humans can be redeemed, why not the world?

Presently we suffer death in our fallen states. Through baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit we're redeemed from the fall. Even as animal sacrifice represented the sacrifice of the Savior, the flood and the ultimate destruction of the wicked by fire represent the Earth's baptism, first by water, then by fire. And as we're redeemed, so Earth is redeemed. As we escape death, so Earth will be glorified, redeemed and sanctified.

It's Christianity versus Sagan, not JW versus Sagan. As I see the prophesies being fulfilled in the Middle East to the letter, I can't believe it's by chance. I see the moon set so exactly in the heavens that it stabilizes Earth, gives it seasons and sustains life and I think it has to be more than chance. Once the combined forces of the Antichrist come down upon Jerusalem, it will either be destroyed or Christ will return. But here's a sign many of you will see in your lifetimes, and that will be the destruction of Damascus as a city. It's prophesied in the scriptures (Isaiah 17) and I believe it will happen in the near future. When you see it, you'll know God is alive and well.

If it fails, boy will I have a red face! But I'll bet my everlasting bippy it will happen. JWs have been given a revisionist version of prophecy, but if you take it literally, you can see it happening. Only time will tell.

18

Who is Gog/Magog?

by Cold Steel in

ezekiel spends two chapters (38-39) describing a war that either will never take place, or which has yet to take place.

according to the prophecy, the warlord gog, of magog, will 1) sweep down on israel, covering the land like a cloud.

this will happen in 2) the latter years when israel will 3) be a people “gathered out of many nations” and peoples.

Cold Steel

The Gog/Magog prophecies center largely in Jewish, Christian and Muslim eschatology, with the Muslims taking the Jews out and replacing them with Muslims. Based on what Blondie found, the JWs are following what the Muslims have done and are putting themselves front and center. So far, no nations have converged on the JWs, especially in the Middle East.

BTW, I just finished watching the JW's videos on Christ. When are they going to give up on the torture stake garbage? They're spitting into the wind of history, just as they've done with the 607 B.C. destruction of Jerusalem. After awhile it should be embarrassing. No one but the JWs but into the torture stake thing.

Also, who does the casting for these videos? Why does Jesus have short hair and a beard? Was this intentional or was it something the actor wanted? It makes the production look foolish. I also noticed these videos are playing it a bit heavy handed on speaking to members today. All the stuff on doubts and the helpful advice given by the overseer narrator. What is an ovseer, exactly? Is it a bishop? Why do they change the words from the original?

Was Jesus having short hair meant to send a message on grooming?

18

Who is Gog/Magog?

by Cold Steel in

ezekiel spends two chapters (38-39) describing a war that either will never take place, or which has yet to take place.

according to the prophecy, the warlord gog, of magog, will 1) sweep down on israel, covering the land like a cloud.

this will happen in 2) the latter years when israel will 3) be a people “gathered out of many nations” and peoples.

Cold Steel

Ezekiel spends two chapters (38-39) describing a war that either will never take place, or which has yet to take place. According to the prophecy, the warlord Gog, of Magog, will 1) sweep down on Israel, covering the land like a cloud. This will happen in 2) the latter years when Israel will 3) be a people “gathered out of many nations” and peoples. The attackers will be 4) from the land of Magog (Turkey and part of Russia), Iran, Iraq, Syria Libya and other neighboring peoples, all Muslims today. When all looks the bleakest, Yahweh will 5) unleash fire from heaven, pestilences and other destructions. After this epic battle, 6) only a sixth part of Gog's army would be left. And 7) the people of Israel would no longer pollute the name of their God in perpetuity.

Gog will be destroyed against the mountains of Israel and he and his hosts would be feasted on by the beasts of the field and fowl of prey, and that it would take seven years to burn the weapons of war.

How does Gog play into JW eschatology and did you guys hear a lot about it when you were active? Many Christians note that only in the days we're presently in can these events transpire. When else did these particular countries have an enmity with Israel? Only now because of Israel. What other time in history were Jews gathered from the nations of the earth and the isles of the sea?

Many theologians believe this is the same conflict detailed in Zechariah 12 and 14, and many also equate it with Revelation 11. But the topic of Gog has garnered much interest in Jewish, Christian and Muslim discussions.

57

Will Donald Trump Be Impeached Before His Term Ends?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i'm thinking his willful failure to be briefed by the cia about russian election tampering and not understanding diplomatic protocall.

making off handed statements without proper research about the mater.

he's an outsider when it comes to running the government that will make big mistakes at every turn because he seems clueless when it comes to running a government.. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-moore-predicts-trump-impeach-resign_us_58261464e4b0c4b63b0c6dee.

Cold Steel

Brokeback Watchtower » I'm thinking his willful failure to be briefed by the CIA about Russian election tampering and not understanding diplomatic protocol.
Making off handed statements without proper research about the mater. He's an outsider when it comes to running the government that will make big mistakes at every turn because he seems clueless when it comes to running a government.

No, I'm sure the rabid radical Left want to see it that way, but remember, they're not used to having their asses handed to them. They're still going through denial. In fact, I predict once Americans discover they've been snookered by the Left into believing President Trump is a racist, he'll easily win reelection.

There are two extremes. One is the far right, fueled by Alex Jones. The other is Arianna Huffington on the extreme Left. Both have their spin. Jones favors Trump and Huffington backs Obama and Clinton.

Because of their reckless foreign policy, Obama and Clinton had the country on the verge of war with Russia. Only Trump's victory saved us from that war. As for the CIA, Trump would be better off listening to military intelligence. The CIA hopefully will be gutted by Trump and reorganized.

Congress will only impeach a president if there's gross corruption, and since it didn't impeach Obama, impeaching Trump would be nigh unto impossible. (We still have no idea who he is, what his educational background is or even where he was born. (And him posting that forged birth certificate was a crime; so why did no one vett him? Or that fake birth certificate?)

Only time will tell, though!

14

question from readers: with all the animal sacrifices, wouldnt the temple smell worse than a stockyard?

by nowwhat? in

with all the cattle, sheep and others wouldn't they be shitting and peeing all over the place?

along with the gallons and gallons of blood being drained and then the flesh being burned as well.

wouldn't the stench be unbearable?.

Cold Steel

Yes, that's why the Incense Trail existed, which traversed the Arabian Peninsula and ran along the Red Sea to Jerusalem. This trail had watering holes at regular intervals, and these were owned by tribes that also provided protection. Incense also found its way to Greece and Rome. Incense masked the blood and stable smells.

24

The JW governing body are all overweight, creepy looking little men

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

having seen a few of these tv productions and some youtube clips of their assembly parts, how can jehovah's witnesses really take these silly little men seriously?.

you take one look at them; their overweight, fat little bodies.

their entirely shabby, overhanging suits.

Cold Steel

Diogenesister » My husband told me there is one supposed description of Jesus that (contrary to Watchtower's George Clooney looking Jesus types) has him as a four foot something hunchback....I will ask him where this description is found, unless you guys know?

I'm certain he didn't look like George Clooney, but he had to have some appeal, some charisma, to gain the followers he had. Isaiah said he hath "no form or comliness" that we, the Jews, "would desire him."

He was a laborer, working with wood and stone. The New Testament says he was in the "express image of the Father," so I doubt he would be a 4-foot hunchback. If one accepts that he was born of a virgin and that his Father was God, and that he was represented in the Old Testament by a lamb without blemish, I imagine he did not have the frailties we do. Being half divine, his enemies had no power to kill him; however, he was able to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin.

As far as I know, there's no description of what he looked like. But I think when we see him, we'll know him. People who have had near death experiences have seldom described him, but they knew him when they saw him. How much credability you put in those things is a personal matter, though.

9

Still Contaminated After All These Years

by new boy in

jw
friends

the contaminantion of years of being a jehovah witness.. it's interesting to see in myself and in many others here how no matter how much we want it or wish it, we will never be able to erase all of the mental contamination.

in one way or another it will always be a part of us.. i've had many friends that have been out for many years say "well i can't do that it just wouldn't be right.

" yes they are still judging themselves and others.

Cold Steel

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oL7tYyBSzTo&sns=em

14

The ends of empires

by Half banana in

i’ve been reading up on the last days of the roman empire.

the rule became a tetrarchy; by four regional emperors or caesars.

the emperors had these necessary concerns; they always gave first consideration to the security of their own positions followed by the annual extraction of taxes and their territorial authority.

Cold Steel

Rome had its great leaders, its half-assed leaders and its degenerate leaders. Augustus, despite the fact that he killed Cicero (when he really didn't need to, an act he later deeply regretted), was the father of the Empire. He gave the Empire stability, prosperity and sanity. His two successors, Tiberius and Caligula, destroyed that. They also popularized the worship of emperors.

I've never thought of Russell as the main bad guy in the Society. I see him as misguided, but sincere. It's Rutherford who I've always seen as the real scoundrel of the organization.

Initially the anointed class was the faithful and discreet slave. Anyone should have predicted that wouldn't last, as power tends to consolidate downward, not upward. The Society's legitimacy also has never been established. All the authority has been assumed and has never even been addressed in any of its publications. When Jesus began his ministry, the first thing the Jews wanted to know is where he got his authority. He called and ordained his apostles and established a chain of command. His lineage was such that had the Davidic dynasty continued, he would have been the rightful king.

But the Society has never shown anyone its birth certificate. Where did it come from? What part did God play in its formation. From whence were it's leaders ordained and how did they receive the keys of the kingdom to bind and release in Heaven and on Earth? It's not a matter of anyone disagreeing with it; it's a matter of the organization never bothering to make a case because, as far as I know, no one has ever had even the slightest contact or communication with God within the Society. We're being offered a car without registration, a house without a deed, and the interesting thing is, no one has even asked for one.

As a republic, Rome created one of the most astounding governments of all time. But all republics eventually fall into despotism and become burdens to the people. The power the Society exerts over its people is astounding, and it's devised a system of controlling it's people that is brilliant and effective. But it can't survive a loss in credibility. That's what I see is the greatest threat to it in the coming decade.

13

Is the Dubbers cult going to more digital than printed?

by dogon in

i know they have slave labor free but it costs a lot to print, ship ect and then you have waste.

digital would cut costs.

i was thinking about this because my wife visited her mother an father who are still cult members.

Cold Steel

Speaking as a nonmember, I can say that if read a Watchtower in print, but would be less inclined to read it online (unless I was looking for something specific). And the religion is a publishing company, and it's supposed to reach people like me. It could get out of publishing, but how would they reach the people they preach to?

As a Mormon, we'll never stop printing the Book of Mormon, despite it being online. We have cut back on the number of pamplets we publish, though.

The WTBTS uses cheap paper, it prints in color and it sells its products. Why change? You have to have something to hand the potential convert, so I predict printed products for people like me and online materials for people like you.

30

New member

by NinaCee in

jw
friends

i did not see a newbs thread to introduce myself, so my apologies if i'm in the wrong place.

i was a 3rd generation born in witness for 30 years until i was disfellowshipped back in 2007 for making a mistake.

my entire life up until that point was based on and circled around the society, and even though at first i really enjoyed my freedom (i still do), the fact is that i'm still struggling with cognitive dissonance, resentment, and loneliness.. i miss my family all the time.

Cold Steel

NeverEndingJourney » Not everyone who voted for Trump is a racist, but everyone who voted for Trump decided racism wasn't a dealbreaker, and that's horrifying.

With all due respect, you're delusional. We voted for Trump because of the sanctity of the Constitution, and because of the gross evil of Mrs. Clinton. Obama never showed us a legitimate birth certificate. No one knows who he is, where he was born, where he went to school overseas. All his records were sealed and his father and mother were communists. But Hillary was the real real reason Trump was elected. She's creepy, corrupt, can't tell the truth and is involved with witchcraft and pedophilia (and you'll be getting more about this soon).

Racism had nothing to do with it. I was for Ben Carson and Herman Cain before I was for Trump.