erik

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Posts by erik

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  15

  pat me on the back, 1 year JW free

  by jayhawk1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well, this is my first anniversary and i am feeling good about it.

  i wanted to take some time to thank everyone for helping me with my freedom.

  there are too many people to thank them personally, but i wanted to leave a small note to say thanks all the same.. "hand me that whiskey, i need to consult the spirit."-j.f.

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  erik

  wishiwere1

  why can't you go back?
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  20

  wild beast

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have another view or interpretation of the 7 headed 10 horned wild beast and the one that gives it power that beast having one head and 2 horns.

  i believe current wt informs the 7 headed wild beast to be the un and the beast that gives it power the 2 honed wild beast to be the american-anglo power.

  please give any other alternative views to this prophecy.

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  erik

  Why the papacy and the roman government, I do not see the correlation.
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  20

  wild beast

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone have another view or interpretation of the 7 headed 10 horned wild beast and the one that gives it power that beast having one head and 2 horns.

  i believe current wt informs the 7 headed wild beast to be the un and the beast that gives it power the 2 honed wild beast to be the american-anglo power.

  please give any other alternative views to this prophecy.

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  erik

  Does anyone have another view or interpretation of the 7 headed 10 horned wild beast and the one that gives it power that beast having one head and 2 horns. I believe current WT informs the 7 headed wild beast to be the UN and the beast that gives it power the 2 honed wild beast to be the American-Anglo power. Please give any other alternative views to this prophecy. As it seems to me to make a bit of sense to me. Thank you for you help.
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  4

  drifted off and concerned

  by HyTech in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everyone, i've been reading a lot of posts here over the last week or so and decided it was time to introduce myself.

  i'm from pittsburgh, pa and was not brought up in the "truth", so to speak.

  i only became interested when i met a girl at work (who was a witness) and we started a friendship that eventually grew into a strong relationship.

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  erik

  Why do some people on this posting site have to fit Satan into their names. Not very reassuring...
• 
  15

  pat me on the back, 1 year JW free

  by jayhawk1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well, this is my first anniversary and i am feeling good about it.

  i wanted to take some time to thank everyone for helping me with my freedom.

  there are too many people to thank them personally, but i wanted to leave a small note to say thanks all the same.. "hand me that whiskey, i need to consult the spirit."-j.f.

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  erik

  Mr. Jayhawk

  I am going through a personal struggle right now with my beliefs. I recently posted my story on the main post board here. With the recent events on 9/11 I am even more concerned about life, beliefs, etc... WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND? I have already read Ray Franzs book and I still feel a strong connection pulling me back to the Witnesses.
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  64

  A few things I don't understand about the bible

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there have always been things about the bible that never really made much sense to me.

  not to say that i disagree with whats in the bible but i have wondered about the fairness of certain things.. 1. for example i've always even as a child thought that it was odd that so many people would die during armageddon.

  now as an adult and i understand people better than i did years ago i really do feel puzzled about the fact that according to the scriptures the majority of mankind will perish.

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  erik

  3. "And this news of the kingdom will be preached throughout the entire inhabited earth and then the end will come"

  Could this possibly be the reason why witnesses feel the need to preach?
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  46

  LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH - I AM NEW HERE

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, my name is erik.

  this is my first posting.

  i was a witness from the age of 2-18. i was baptized in 1990 as a jehovah's witness.

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  erik

  Sirona,

  Can you please give me your email address as I would like to chat with you further.

  Erik
• 
  46

  LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH - I AM NEW HERE

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, my name is erik.

  this is my first posting.

  i was a witness from the age of 2-18. i was baptized in 1990 as a jehovah's witness.

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  erik

  wannahelp,
  you can reach me at [email protected] and leave me your phone number. I will call you back, I would like to chat.
• 
  46

  LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH - I AM NEW HERE

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, my name is erik.

  this is my first posting.

  i was a witness from the age of 2-18. i was baptized in 1990 as a jehovah's witness.

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  erik

  To AlanF:
  The definition of Generation has changed for the witnesses has changed. But it is a correct defintion Generation according to Websters...Group of people w same experiences beliefs and attitude in common

  When I said times I meant 9/11 bringing all these countries together for a common goal of peace and security for the world.

  True organization of people not used ie. Abraham, Noah etc... however a group of people were used. After Jesus came a new group of people were used to carry on with Gods word-Congregations.

  TO Yerusalyim:

  3. The only ones present with Jesus at that time were his apostles.
• 
  46

  LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH - I AM NEW HERE

  by erik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, my name is erik.

  this is my first posting.

  i was a witness from the age of 2-18. i was baptized in 1990 as a jehovah's witness.

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  erik

  Hi, my name is Erik. This is my first posting. I was a witness from the age of 2-18. I was baptized in 1990 as a Jehovah's Witness. In 1992, there were many things going on in my parents' lives and for whatever reason they stopped going to the meetings. Since they stopped going, I stopped going, partly because I was raised in the religion by my parents, and now they were no longer going. Also, I had never experienced the "world" so to speak, no dating, no parties, no football team, etc. We were to be no part of this world.

  Now to present day...
  Nine years later, I am now engaged. Happy times, right?....WRONG! September 11th came and rocked both my fiance's and my own life as well as the rest of the world. I remember being at work and watching those towers crumble and horrible aftermath that occurred. As I watched, I asked myself..is this Armaggedon or related to it! FEAR. Immediately, I called home and of course, my mom and dad were also scared. They were thinking the same thing. This was a cataylst for my mom and dad going back to the kingdom hall, and me too. I was thinking immediately, this is it! I need to go back to the true religion. Even when I was not going to the meetings, I felt as though they were the one religion that really stuck to the Bible. They are truly no part of this wicked world that Satan is in control of according to the Bible.

  Immediately I started trying to preach to my fiance about the witnesses and their beliefs. I wanted to convince her that this was the true religion. Needless to say, this past month has been the most difficult period of my entire life. We were supposed to planning for a joyous wedding. Instead, we are arguing back and forth about religion. I was scared about her's and my eternal salvation. Every day since that day, we have been through every gut-wrenching emotion you can imagine. We were supposed to be married in three months and now have been talking about possible breaking up. I have never been so emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. I cannot eat, sleep, or concentrate on anything but this. The pain is unexplainable.

  But, something happened and my fiance asked me to question my religion. And, I agreed. Everyone knows that it is not good for a witness to read apostate literature. They are speaking against God's organization here on earth. Needless to say, my conscience really bothered me and it still does. But, if one does not challenge his beliefs, how can one truly believe? I informed my brother, who is a JW and has never left, of what I was doing. He said, that was fine. He did say not to believe everything I read on the internet. He was right, not everything on the internet is true about the witnesses, this I know. For example, I personally have challenged some of the beliefs, when I was going to the meetings, and I was not treated with any ill will from elders and I was not disfellowshipped. Also, when I stopped going to the meetings, those witnesses that I knew who were still going to the meetings, continued to treat me in a nice manner.

  This search of mine led me to some interesting finds. One in particular is the book of Ray Franz, Crisis of Conscience. First of all, I have questions as to whether he was ever really one of the annointed. In it he points out a lot of things that have happened in the religion since its inception in the 1870s by Charles T. Russell. Things such as the prophesying of the end of the system of things in 1914 and 1918, and the coming of the prophets in 1925, and the building of a home in San Diego to house these prophets upon their return. Alright, so I have found some questionable things about the witnesses such as the NGO thing, and some changes as far as blood fractions. The witnesses will tell you that they have made mistakes, but will point to Proverbs 4:18, "but the path of the righteous one is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established."

  For as many questions as I have found about the religion, I still have many thoughts that make me feel as though the Jehovah Witnesses have the right religion. For example, unlike many of Christendom's religions, they do not celebrate Pagan holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter. They remain no part of Satan's world. This brings me to a quote that I read recently of a post by Leander. He mentioned that he cannot ignore the fact that the organization is growing while others are declining. I have seen that there has not really been a growth. In the time of the end, Satan will be trying harder than ever to pull God's people away. I get worried when I see something like what recently happened on September 11th. I see countries pulling together for a common goal of "peace and security" - reference President Bush's speech following the attacks. Everyone saw what happened to the economy, ie stock market, etc... So, obviously, I see these things and I get scared. I think that I need to go back.

  I have talked to many people who have left the religion and started their own websites giving information against the Jehovah Witness religion. And, I have talked to a baptist minister, born-again minister, etc...Someone pointed out that you don’t need an organization, they pointed to Acts 2:38-41 where Peter pointed out that all that is needed is to repent and be baptized I the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. However, if you keep reading, in verse 44, it says all those who become believers were together in having all things in common. This is unlike most every other religion, where you see today that there are various sects that separate from the core belief of the religion. You do not see this with the witnesses. The Bible also mentions that broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, cramped and narrow is the road leading to eternal life and few are the ones finding it. It is difficult to remain the follower of Jehovah, it is a strict religion, perhaps that’s why many leave…

  I ask for any replies that can help me. As I am an emotional wreck right now, please help.

  1. Why was there a change in definition of “generation”? Is it new light or is it that those who were alive in 1914 are passing away fast, so there is a necessity to change the view?

  2. In Revelations, it says that 144,000 are Jewish, Men, perfect, and virgins. Are the apostles included in the 144,000? Who is really part of this number? Because I don’t think all the apostles were jewish, or maybe they were...but they all went to heaven…

  3. The issue of the annointed. They know they are going to heaven, no question in their minds, they are Jehovah Witnesses.

  4. The witnesses will point out they are no part of this world. You see churches throughout America hanging the flag throughout the churches…are they aligning themselves with the wild beast?

  5. Are these times the beginning of a worldwide quest for “peace and security.”

  6. Act 2:44 “that those who became believers were together in having all things in common.” I believe there are no changing of beliefs when you go from congregation to congregation within the Jehovah Witnesses vs other religions.

  7. 607 B.C.E. vs 586/587 B.C.E.: Bible history vs. secular history? I have received a copy of Gentile Times Reconsidered, but as of yet I have not had time to read it.

  8. Watchtower teaching on Revelation’s wild beast. It seems to make sense to me, but are there any other interpretations of what this wild beast stands for?

  9. As far as people going to heaven or people being resurrected on paradise earth, some will say that the 144,000 and the Great Crowd both go to heaven. However, Jesus resurrected Lazarus (John 11) back here to Earth. If when you die you go to heaven, why would Jesus resurrect back Lazarus back here on Earth?

  10. I have heard some arguments that organization is not necessary to find salvation. But, throughout the Bible, in particular, Acts 2:46, “day after day they were in constant attendance at the temple with one accord”, it seems as though there was an organization among those first century christians.

  11. When does a fraction of a fraction of a fraction become blood?

  12. Finally, holidays. This is a big question. If Christendom knows that Christmas as well as other holidays are pagan, why are they celebrating them? If there are any other religions other than Jehovah’s Witnesses that are Christian that do not celebrate the pagan holidays, what are they?