question, can someone with the heavenly hope lose their position?
I'm still just having a problem believing there is a separate anointed class, and then the great crowd. I think the 144,000 is a symbolic number. Why would it be literal if the rest of the book of Revelation is symbolic?
I'm looking for answers to this, not trying to sound like a jerk, hehe!
i posted my first topic a few months ago, asking people for advice because my boyfriend is a jw, and will not understand why i will not convert.. we are currently not together, but friends.
he still insists on me staring another bible study.
i have asked him questions about 1914, and the 144,000, but he keeps avoiding them.. anyways, he continues to say only his faith has "the truth".. so finally, i asked him, "if you have the truth, why does the organization continue to update their beliefs (for example, the new revelation book coming out has something like over 50 'updated' things in it), yet claim each time, their new beliefs are definite, and the truth/light?".
I know about the new Revelation Book, because my friend (ex boyfriend) keeps talking about it. He is so excited about the "new light" of that book, and he knows that I have questions about the book of Revelation, due to the 144,000.
I have yet to get my hands on the book, however it won't be any use to me, except for providing me with further proof that this organization does not have "The Truth".
I'm not sure if it was you who also asked how I seem to know a lot...it's just research, and I still am in contact with my ex (we were together for a very long time, so I have had time to research), and some of his friends! Don't worry..I will never be one of them.
-Stephanie
i posted my first topic a few months ago, asking people for advice because my boyfriend is a jw, and will not understand why i will not convert.. we are currently not together, but friends.
he still insists on me staring another bible study.
i have asked him questions about 1914, and the 144,000, but he keeps avoiding them.. anyways, he continues to say only his faith has "the truth".. so finally, i asked him, "if you have the truth, why does the organization continue to update their beliefs (for example, the new revelation book coming out has something like over 50 'updated' things in it), yet claim each time, their new beliefs are definite, and the truth/light?".
Sorry, yes I accidentally posted this twice. I'm on a very bad internet connection right now, so things arent all showing up right!
i posted my first topic a few months ago, asking people for advice because my boyfriend is a jw, and will not understand why i will not convert.. we are currently not together, but friends.
he still insists on me staring another bible study.
i have asked him questions about 1914, and the 144,000, but he keeps avoiding them.. anyways, he continues to say only his faith has "the truth".. so finally, i asked him, "if you have the truth, why does the organization continue to update their beliefs (for example, the new revelation book coming out has something like over 50 'updated' things in it), yet claim each time, their new beliefs are definite, and the truth/light?".
Thank you for all of the replies! I know people on here have different views on the Witnesses, and that is perfectly fine, I like getting different opinions, because everyone on here has the ability to think, unlike another group of people we know a lot about!
Anyways, just to clarify, there is no way I could ever live a life with a JW as my partner. I just care very much about my ex-boyfriend because he has been through so much in his life, and is the most mature man I have ever known. He is obviously lacking in the being-able-to-speak-for-himself department, but other than that, it's just so sad to see such a good person waste their life on false teachings.
Perhaps it is a waste of time talking to him, but I love him unconditionally as a person, and although he only loves me conditionally (which seems to be one of the rules in the organization), I want to be able to help him. I have realized, however, perhaps the best way to go about it, is acting happy in my own faith in God, and hoping he will become interested. Because, yes, JW's do get hostile when you challenge them.
I also find it funny, because JW's get sooo upset with "apostate" teachings, but don't they ever wonder why so many people are against them? Oh yeah..I forgot, it's Satan's doing...*sigh*.
i posted a few months ago, explaining how my long-time boyfriend, who is a jw, was not willing to compromise with my beliefs and lifestyle.. anyways, we have since broken up, but are still good friends.
he continues to insist that i start another bible study, but i tell him, i won't because he hasn't answered many of my questions, which include 1914, the 144,000, etc.
i also said i want these questions answered from outside sources besides the wt.. i've tried to come up with ways to get him to understand his religion isn't the truth, but i don't think it is possible, as i'm sure many of you understand.. anyways, i asked him this question the other day:.
I posted a few months ago, explaining how my long-time boyfriend, who is a JW, was not willing to compromise with my beliefs and lifestyle.
Anyways, we have since broken up, but are still good friends. He continues to insist that I start another bible study, but I tell him, I won't because he hasn't answered many of my questions, which include 1914, the 144,000, etc. (which I definitely don't believe). I also said I want these questions answered from outside sources besides the WT.
I've tried to come up with ways to get him to understand his religion isn't the truth, but I don't think it is possible, as I'm sure many of you understand.
Anyways, I asked him this question the other day:
"If your faith is the truth, why do you constantly update your faith (ie: with things such as the new Revelation book), meaning things that you claim are the definite truth now, may be completely different in 5 years? How could I ever believe anything in your faith was true, if it's constantly changing?"
He had a hard time answering this, and maybe I shed some "new light" on to him. I hope I typed the question in a way that made sense!
i posted my first topic a few months ago, asking people for advice because my boyfriend is a jw, and will not understand why i will not convert.. we are currently not together, but friends.
he still insists on me staring another bible study.
i have asked him questions about 1914, and the 144,000, but he keeps avoiding them.. anyways, he continues to say only his faith has "the truth".. so finally, i asked him, "if you have the truth, why does the organization continue to update their beliefs (for example, the new revelation book coming out has something like over 50 'updated' things in it), yet claim each time, their new beliefs are definite, and the truth/light?".
I posted my first topic a few months ago, asking people for advice because my boyfriend is a JW, and will not understand why I will not convert.
We are currently not together, but friends. He still insists on me staring another bible study. I have asked him questions about 1914, and the 144,000, but he keeps avoiding them.
Anyways, he continues to say only his faith has "The Truth".
So finally, I asked him, "If you have the truth, why does the organization continue to update their beliefs (for example, the new Revelation book coming out has something like over 50 'updated' things in it), yet claim each time, their new beliefs are definite, and the truth/light?"
I continued to say, "So what I believe of the society now may be different in five years. The new "truth" may be completely different than the previous, how can I put my faith into that?"
I hope I'm explaining this good enough, but he had a hard time answering this.
my hubby, our grandson, our son, and me.... took a trip down to syracuse to see the "lights on the lake" display.
it is two miles of road through a park along onondaga lake, and it is crammed with all kinds of lighted exhibits with every imaginable christmas creature and every possible theme (and then some) included!
there were even menorahs and displays for hannukkah!
Oh that sounds really nice! I live about an hour from syracuse, maybe I'll check that out!
If you're interested in more stuff, Skaneatles (spelling?) has really good Christmas events all month!
i'm new here, and have read a lot of topics here.
this site has been very helpful to me in the short time i have been here.. what has drawn me here is the fact that i have been dating an active jw guy for about 9 months now (i was raised catholic, but am currently searching for a faith that i feel is right..i have yet to find it).
we are very much in love, but our differences in beliefs have caused a lot of problems.
I just want to thank everyone again! This has really reinforced my free-minded beliefs that this relationship could never work out. I know if I show him information, he will most likely dismiss it. It is just very sad to see that such good people get trapped in this organization. I'm happy there is some outreach (such as this forum), that has real people who have gone through real issues within the organization. You all are very strong people, and it's nice to see that many did have a chance to get out, although I can't imagine the hardships you guys had to endure. Thanks again for all of the advice!
i'm new here, and have read a lot of topics here.
this site has been very helpful to me in the short time i have been here.. what has drawn me here is the fact that i have been dating an active jw guy for about 9 months now (i was raised catholic, but am currently searching for a faith that i feel is right..i have yet to find it).
we are very much in love, but our differences in beliefs have caused a lot of problems.
Haha, yes I realize what I am up against! And I appreciate everyones replys!
I know my boyfriend and I have no future, and I just need to get out.
I guess I just want one final attempt at trying to shed some light on him, because he really is a good person, he has just been filled with so many lies, and it's hard for me to see this, because I really do love him.
i'm new here, and have read a lot of topics here.
this site has been very helpful to me in the short time i have been here.. what has drawn me here is the fact that i have been dating an active jw guy for about 9 months now (i was raised catholic, but am currently searching for a faith that i feel is right..i have yet to find it).
we are very much in love, but our differences in beliefs have caused a lot of problems.
Hello everyone! I'm new here, and have read a lot of topics here. This site has been very helpful to me in the short time I have been here.
What has drawn me here is the fact that I have been dating an active JW guy for about 9 months now (I was raised Catholic, but am currently searching for a faith that I feel is right..I have yet to find it). We are very much in love, but our differences in beliefs have caused a lot of problems. When we first started dating, he quickly introduced me to his friends mother who started a bible study with me. Before I started going to her, he told me not to mention to anyone that he and I were dating. I found this kind of strange since I have never had this issue in a relationship before. Looking back, I realized one of the reasons he set me up with a study so quick was so that when his friends asked who I was, he could quickly say, "I'm studying" (aka: I'm okay to hangout with).
As time went on, I noticed a lot of quirky things happening. Such as, my bible study 'teacher' becomming upset that my boyfriend and I arrived in the same car to her home (Note: she still did not know we were dating), when her son was hosting a 'Witness' party. She became upset, and she ended up driving me home, and not allowing my boyfriend to do so. On the ride home she said, "So you know why I'm driving you home right?" I wanted to say, "No, actually I don't, as I am a very open minded adult who can maturely have my BOYFRIEND drive me home"...but instead I just said "Yes." My boyfriend was upset, as I have noticed he is much more open minded than many of the older JW's. This incident was one of many of the quirky/old-fashioned events I have noticed.
My boyfriend has basically told me (in a nice way, however), that the only way we can remain together in the future, is if I eventually convert to his faith. This tears me apart, as we are very much in love, and I don't seem to be the top priority in his life, as he is in mine. I realize it has been drilled into his head that Jehovah is the priority in his life.
I have decided to write him a final letter, explaining my issues with his faith. He can keep me, or leave me, but I can't keep feeling like I'm in limbo about our relationship. It's going to tear me apart if we break up, but I guess it will be better in the end. And sadly, I know in my heart, he will never leave the religion.
What I am looking for on this board is everyones knowledge! I need a little help with certain topics I have chosen to write to him about. I am interested in finding scholarly evidence (or lack thereof) on the 1914 date of Christ's 'invisible' return, the 144,000, their false prophecies (and how the Bible says to ignore religions who promote they have the truth, but then give false prophecies), the 607 BC date, and how the writers of the NWT only barel knew basic hebrew. I am doing research of my own as well, but any information would be very very very greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much!
