Posts by Doug Mason

56

The Truth Changes: Watchtower of July 15, 2013

by Doug Mason in

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Doug Mason

I guess I won't be the most popular person with certain people. I have to admit that I haven't been on their Christmas card list.

How will they implement these changes? How do they implement any changes?

Will Witnesses have to change their words on July 15? How will Witnesses (generally speaking) react when they are told to goose-step differently? How much leniency is shown if someone hangs on to the previous eschatology?

As you all say, this is very confusing for people, especially when the GB's words do not reflect people's memories. It is said that he who writes history controls history. But that cannot erase people's memories.

Let's hope that some Witnesses will examine the Study and see the inconsistencies when they are force-fed the latest ideas.

I hope you all noticed that Russell expected the "great time of trouble" would END in 1914. The Great War started in August while Russell expected the unprecedented peace under the Zionists to come on October 1. So you can imagine what they thought when hostilities opened up - the great tribulation had reached its final climax, no doubt.

Pick out the eyes from what I have written and use what is useful to you.

Doug

56

The Truth Changes: Watchtower of July 15, 2013

by Doug Mason in

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Doug Mason

Wilfried,

If you do translate it into French, could I please have a copy?

If you email me I might be able to give you a little assistance. I provide my email address in the Study.

All the best,

Doug

56

The Truth Changes: Watchtower of July 15, 2013

by Doug Mason in

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Doug Mason

The Watchtower magazine of July 15, 2013 introduces significant changes for the Governing Body, the organisation, and for all Jehovah’s Witnesses. In recasting its eschatology (study of the “Last Days”), the GB has cut away from its past, distancing itself from previously held applications – which up to now had to be vigorously defended by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

With this magazine, the GB completely changes several key positions, and in the process remodels its past, its attitude towards Russell, the Bible Students, and to 1914. In the process, the GB is moving its focus from past dates to an anticipated future – without making commitments to dates. The centenary of October 1914 looms, and the events of those times slip ever further away.

This Study provides an analysis of the changes the GB is imposing through this magazine:

http://www.jwstudies.com/The_Truth_Changes.pdf

50

The United Nations will attack Christendom

by Doug Mason in

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.. .

Doug Mason

Thank you for clearing my old befuddled mind. As you would guess, I am analysing the July 15, 2013 Watchtower magazine.

Slimboy and EdenOne - do you object to my including your responses, suitably acknowledged, in my Study?

Thanks,

Doug

50

The United Nations will attack Christendom

by Doug Mason in

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.. .

Doug Mason

Thanks all.

Other thoughts are most welcome!

With your help I therefore understand that the WTS says this Great Tribulation begins with the UN acting politically to end all religions. This political interference is then paused to protect the JWs. The sun darkens (etc). during that pause. After that the Great Tribulation reaches its climax with Armageddon, at which time Jesus comes/appears as Judge. And the GB floats off to take their seats in the government in heaven.

I am not saying I agree with any of this fanciful picture. I purely want to understand - otherwise how can one intelligently reason against it?

Thanks,

Doug

50

The United Nations will attack Christendom

by Doug Mason in

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.. .

Doug Mason

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

28

"Apostasy took root and flourished" (WT, July 15, 2013, page 18)

by Doug Mason in

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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

28

"Apostasy took root and flourished" (WT, July 15, 2013, page 18)

by Doug Mason in

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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)

-----

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

12

Has The Governing Body Ever Explained Why They View The Faithful Slave Parable As A Prophecy? What Justification Do They Give?

by frankiespeakin in

i 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..