Hi,
This is a serious question and I hope to receive intelligent explanations.
The WTS says that the Great Tribulation lies in the future. They write that it will start when the United Nations attacks Christendom.
Exactly what are they expecting JWs to see happen?
What exactly does the WTS mean by "Christendom"? Are these the nations where Christianity is the dominant or national religion? But aren't these nations members of the UN?
As examples, let's imagine three countries where Christianity is the dominant religion: USA, England and France. They are also leading members of the UN. Does this mean that in the UN they would vote for and implement tanks rolling out on themselves, for bombs to be dropped on their own countries, to sink their own ships and so on?
Or is there something that I have completely missed?
So what do JWs expect to happen, and how?
Thanks,
Doug
Doug Mason
JoinedPosts by Doug Mason
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The United Nations will attack Christendom
by Doug Mason inthis is a serious question and i hope to receive intelligent explanations.. .
the wts says that the great tribulation lies in the future.
they write that it will start when the united nations attacks christendom.. .
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Doug Mason
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"Apostasy took root and flourished" (WT, July 15, 2013, page 18)
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Doug Mason
Books to read (for starters):
"Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years", Philip Jenkins, HarperOne 2010
"AD 381: Heretics, Pagans and The Christian State", Charles Freeman, Pimlico 2009
"A New History of Early Christianity", Charles Freeman, Yale University Press 2009
Doug
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"Apostasy took root and flourished" (WT, July 15, 2013, page 18)
by Doug Mason in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><![endif].
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Doug Mason
“However, once the last of the apostles died, the apostasy took root and flourished during a long growing season that lasted for many centuries. Additionally, during that time, the weeds became many and the blades of wheat were few. There was no consistent, organized channel for dispensing spiritual food.” (The Watchtower, July 15, 2013, page 18)
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The decision about which writings would make up the Christian Scriptures was not agreed on until the 4th century CE. The decisions were made by the majority of the fathers of the Western Church, driven by the emperors of Rome at the time.
The WTS accepts the list of books that this majority Church and the Roman Emperors decided on. Does the WT say that these religious Councils of the 4th century and their Roman emperors were anointed by the spirit when they made their decision, or do they go by their dictum that: “once the last of the apostles died, the apostasy took root and flourished”?
What does the WTS say of those Jews who decided on the list of writings that would be considered to be their Scripture? That process took many centuries as well, possibly not finishing earlier than the first century CE but most likely centuries later. Were these Jews also spirit-anointed members of a “consistent, organized channel for dispensing spiritual food”? If not, why then does the WTS accept the outcomes of their centuries of deliberations?
It is now known that these 4th century Christian Church Fathers made mistakes, as several of theNT writings were prepared long after the supposed Apostle had died. Will the WTS be consistent and resurrect all writings from that period and make their own decisions on which writings to accept as Scripture (including those not currently part of the NT Canon) and which to reject, such as those falsely attributed to an Apostle, including 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, the Pastorals, 1 and 2 Peter?
It would be most interesting if the WTS recognised the historical unreliability of the book of Acts, since the WTS relies on the mythical Council at Jerusalem of Acts 15 and on their interpretation on “blood” that was supposedly made by that Council.
Doug
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Has The Governing Body Ever Explained Why They View The Faithful Slave Parable As A Prophecy? What Justification Do They Give?
by frankiespeakin ini don't know of any do you.
i would think it a major leap in logic to not concider this first before expounding on it prophetically, why go thru the bother if we are missing this important link..
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Doug Mason
They know their interpretation of the parable is correct because they are the FDS.
They know Jesus anointed/appointed them in 1919 because Jesus anointed/appointed them.
What more evidence does anyone need?
They know that a parable is a prophecy because it fits their conclusion.
Doug
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eva luna, did you find pages from John Aquila Brown?
by Doug Mason ineva luna,.
are you still looking for pages from john aquila brown?.
if so, i have sent you a pm.. doug.
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Doug Mason
Eva Luna,
Are you still looking for pages from John Aquila Brown?
If so, I have sent you a pm.
Doug
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Why did Jehovah's Witnesses release the Byington and New Jerusalem Bibles in the early 70s , and forget about them in the 80s?
by Balaamsass inandover townsman, andover, ma.
july 26, 2012. dalton column: lawsuit concerns one of town's most interesting yet forgotten.
bill dalton.
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Why did Jehovah's Witnesses release the Byington and New Jerusalem Bibles in the early 70s , and forget about them in the 80s?
by Balaamsass inandover townsman, andover, ma.
july 26, 2012. dalton column: lawsuit concerns one of town's most interesting yet forgotten.
bill dalton.
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Did Israel's Leader come from Bethlehem?
by Doug Mason inthe july 2012 issue of awake!
states that the narratives of jesus birth show that the bible is a book of accurate prophecy.. the aim of this study is to find out what the birth narratives do reveal about the nature of the bible.. what does investigation of the writings of micah, matthew, and luke reveal about the way that the bible should be read and applied?.
does this investigation open the door to a better comprehension of the nature of scripture?.
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Doug Mason
The July 2012 issue of Awake! states that the narratives of Jesus’ birth show that the Bible is “A Book of Accurate Prophecy.”
The aim of this Study is to find out what the birth narratives do reveal about the nature of the Bible.
What does investigation of the writings of Micah, Matthew, and Luke reveal about the way that the Bible should be read and applied?
Does this investigation open the door to a better comprehension of the nature of Scripture?
My Study is available at:
http://www.jwstudies.com/Did_Israel_s_ruler_come_from_Bethlehem.pdf
Doug
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Gospel of Barnabas (bible) discovery will.....collapse? Christianity
by Terry inhttp://www.wnd.com/2012/05/iran-discovery-will-collapse-christianity/.
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an interesting study in mind fantasy and eager absolute belief!.
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Doug Mason
The power of belief, indeed.
There was any number of writings produced during the 1st and 2nd centuries, but I cannot see the Gospel of Barnabas listed among them.
The dominant sector of the 4th century Church decided which writings it agreed with (aided by the Roman Emperors) and their actions determined orthodoxy. They made mistakes with their selections, incorrectly ascribing several texts to Paul, and taking in 2nd century creative writings such as Luke-Acts.
Following Paul's death, the first Gospel written was by his friend Mark (not Jesus' disciple). This was followed by one of the opposite camp, Matthew. It is thought that Matthew's gospel was placed first since it provides the best bridge from the Hebrew texts to those of Jesus' followers. Paul's followers triumphed and his Christian religion became the orthodox model.
Doug
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What do you think of this email?
by allyouneedislove inso, i contacted this place: http://www.sdbiblicalstudies.com/.
and i got the following email (actually the second email to me):.
i appreciate you getting back to me.
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Doug Mason
Watch out for anyone who wants to massage your mind. Watch out for anyone who wants to tell you how to think and what to think.
Keep yourself as the focus of your life. Enjoy fresh air, birds, clouds, colours, trees, freedom.
Doug