Doug Mason

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Posts by Doug Mason

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  50

  The United Nations will attack Christendom

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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.. .

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  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

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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.. .

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• 

  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

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  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

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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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

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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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

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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..

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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
• 

  eva luna, did you find pages from John Aquila Brown?

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  eva luna,.

  are you still looking for pages from john aquila brown?.

  if so, i have sent you a pm.. doug.

• 

  Doug Mason

  Eva Luna,

  Are you still looking for pages from John Aquila Brown?

  If so, I have sent you a pm.

  Doug
• 
  21

  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 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  andover townsman, andover, ma.

  july 26, 2012. dalton column: lawsuit concerns one of town's most interesting yet forgotten.

  bill dalton.

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  Doug Mason
• 
  21

  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 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  andover townsman, andover, ma.

  july 26, 2012. dalton column: lawsuit concerns one of town's most interesting yet forgotten.

  bill dalton.

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  Doug Mason
• 
  20

  Did Israel's Leader come from Bethlehem?

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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?.

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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