if you don't already know this; the latest revision of the insight book has no mention of the "overlapping generation" bs online library, insight book .
obviously that change will not bee seen by the vast majority of people, so when will this "brighter light" shine through in a wt or assembly talk?
predictions?.
Cofty,
I first noticed the 2015 Print Insight Book about 4-5 weeks ago when I downloaded an update to my iPhone JW App.
A curious fact is that the Copyright says "June 2015," but I'm assuming that will be because they are planning to release it at the Conventions around June.
if you don't already know this; the latest revision of the insight book has no mention of the "overlapping generation" bs online library, insight book .
obviously that change will not bee seen by the vast majority of people, so when will this "brighter light" shine through in a wt or assembly talk?
predictions?.
Ways that I see the Governing Body can update their interpretation of "This Generation:"
have you noticed the article entitled "watch your associations in these last days" in the new august 2015 study watchtower?.
unless i'm reading it wrong, or somehow misinterpreting it, it is saying that we should be kind to intentional breakers of god's laws inside and outside the congregation, including fornicators, but that we must not be close associates with them.. are they already preparing for a shift in their disfellowshipping practices?.
here are the relevant paragraphs:.
Have you noticed the article entitled "Watch Your Associations In These Last Days" in the new August 2015 Study Watchtower?
Unless I'm reading it wrong, or somehow misinterpreting it, it is saying that we should be kind to intentional breakers of God's Laws inside and outside the Congregation, including fornicators, but that we must not be close associates with them.
Are they already preparing for a shift in their Disfellowshipping practices?
Here are the relevant paragraphs:
5 To avoid spoiling our useful habits, we must not have as close associates those who practice bad things. This applies not only to associating with unbelieving wrongdoers but also to associating with those who claim to worship Jehovah but who deliberately violate his laws. If such professing Christians engage in serious wrongdoing and do not repent, we do not continue to associate with them.—Rom. 16:17, 18.
6 If we were to associate with those who do not obey God’s laws, we might have the tendency to do what they do in order to be accepted by them. For example, if we were to have close association with sexually immoral people, we might be tempted to practice immorality. That has happened to some dedicated Christians, and some of them were disfellowshipped because they were not repentant. (1 Cor. 5:11-13) Unless they repent, their condition can become like that described by Peter.—Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.
7 Although we want to be kind even to those who do not follow God’s laws, we should not become their intimate associates or close friends.
for decades, i remember the society, publications, and elders saying that once the great tribulation begins, it is too late to repent or be saved.
they said the "door of the ark will have been closed.".
now, however, look at the brand-new clarified understanding / new light on this from jw.org, below.. they are still saying that the majority of worldly people will not be saved, but they are now saying it is possible.. the simplified july study watchtower says this:.
I just wanted to share another Watchtower quote from last year showing the "Old Light" on this topic:
This quote shows the Old Light that the "Window of Opportunity" to be saved is closed at the outbreak of the Great Tribulation:
**Watchtower, December 15, 2014:**
12 Does this mean that those who have left the truth will never be allowed to return to the congregation? Or if someone fails to dedicate his life to Jehovah, will he be forever classified as someone “unsuitable”? No. There is still a window of opportunity for such ones before the outbreak of the great tribulation. It is as if Jehovah calls out to them: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” (Mal. 3:7) This fact is emphasized by another illustration given by Jesus, that of the prodigal son.—Read Luke 15:11-32.
i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.
Yeah, the thing is, the Governing Body has already given up the information control by fully embracing and recommending and promoting the Internet now.
In addition, they've pretty much eliminated another "leg" which was the sense of urgency and panic about having Armageddon coming immediately.
Their new publications are basically saying it could still be a long ways off from our perspective, but it won't be late in Jehovah's view.
i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.
Menrov,
Thank you for posting that info!
But I still wonder about the talks entitled Follow Jesus, Not the Pharisees.
That would be the area where anything new on Disfellowshipping would be announced, most likely.
for decades, i remember the society, publications, and elders saying that once the great tribulation begins, it is too late to repent or be saved.
they said the "door of the ark will have been closed.".
now, however, look at the brand-new clarified understanding / new light on this from jw.org, below.. they are still saying that the majority of worldly people will not be saved, but they are now saying it is possible.. the simplified july study watchtower says this:.
For decades, I remember the Society, publications, and Elders saying that once the Great Tribulation begins, it is too late to repent or be saved. They said the "Door of the Ark will have been closed."
Now, however, look at the brand-new Clarified Understanding / New Light on this from JW.org, below.
They are still saying that the majority of worldly people will not be saved, but they are now saying it is possible.
The Simplified July Study Watchtower says this:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ws20150715/rapture-anointed-great-tribulation/
In a similar way in the future, when the attack against Babylon the Great is “cut short,” we cannot expect that many people will suddenly convert to true Christianity.
The non-Simplified July Study Watchtower says this:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20150715/rapture-anointed-great-tribulation/
Should we conclude, though, that the destruction of the religions of Babylon the Great results in the death of all the former members of those religions? Apparently not. The prophet Zechariah was inspired to write about that time. Speaking of someone who was previously part of false religion, the account states: “He will say, ‘I am no prophet. I am a man cultivating the soil, because a man bought me when I was young.’ And if someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds between your shoulders?’ he will answer, ‘Wounds I received in the house of my friends.’” (Zech. 13:4-6) So, apparently, even some of the clergy will abandon their religious course and deny that they were ever part of those false religions.
[...] What will happen after the destruction of false religious organizations? It will be a time to reveal what is really in our heart. The majority of mankind will seek refuge in human organizations that are likened to “the rocks of the mountains.” (Rev. 6:15-17) Figuratively speaking, however, God’s people will flee to the refuge that Jehovah provides. In the first century, the interval was not a time for a mass conversion of Jews to Christianity. It was a time for action and obedience on the part of those who were already Christians. Similarly, we cannot expect that the future interruption in the great tribulation will result in an influx of new believers. Rather, it will be an opportunity for all true believers to prove their love for Jehovah and give their support to Christ’s brothers.
[...] Although we do not fully understand all that will happen during that time of test, we can expect that it will involve some measure of sacrifice.
i remember this making the rounds and people swearing by it.
knew someone at the concern and whatnot.
how does this crap come up?.
Yes, I was told this story many times growing up.
Other stories I was told:
* The angel appearing next to the woman going door-to-door, which spooked the murderer/rapist and prevented him from hurting her.
* 8-Balls and Ouija Boards causing demon-possession, levitation, and suicide.
* Demons possessing Africans and snapping their necks.
* Special Elders in New York who were exorcists, and could go around casting demons out.
* Batman's eyes in the 1989 movie showed signs of demon possession, and watching the Joker could lead to demonic activity in your home.
* Smurfs and Teletubbies and He-Man were demonic.
* Playing Pac-Man (because of the ghosts) could cause demonic activity in your home, or playing Super Mario because of the magic flying bricks.
i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.
The Society may view it this way:
If the number one complaint and cause of apostasy to begin with is the shunning practices, why not remove more of the shunning practices, thus (in their minds) removing the main source that's causing people to be upset with the Society?
If they do stop the shunning of family members, why would "apostates" even try to get their family members to leave the Organization anymore, if it makes them happy?
After all, every church asks for money and has its own issues.
The blood issue would be the only major thing remaining that separates them from the other churches.
i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.
I just looked at the Imitate Jesus Convention Program on JW.org, and on the Saturday of the Convention, there will be a Symposium entitled: "Follow Jesus, Not the Pharisees."
I can't wait to see what is said in that Symposium.
My thoughts are that they will loosen their shunning of those who "slip up" and commit sexual sins or smoke or gamble, etc. But not those who openly oppose the Governing Body.
