tfjw

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Posts by tfjw

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  28

  dawn bible students

  by jehovahsheep in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many ex-jws have become bible students-in essence students of charles russells writings.i have also started to study his writings and find them interesting.what are some your thoughts on these groups?

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  tfjw

  The early Bible Students in Russell's era did not believe that "truth" was only in one "organization" or that God worked with only one denomination.
  
  There are many examples of where Russell said that God's people are in various denominations. In the Photodrama of Creation, as one example, Russell said the "members of the Body of Christ are not confined to one denomination, but constitute the saintly ones of every church and outside of every human system." (page 88). By the way, this book is still available in a very nice format.
  
  From my discussions with Bible Students and personal examination of the literature from the early days of Russell to the present, the teachings of Russell, except for some of the more minor issues, are nothing like what JWs teach today. Rutherford took the Society in a completely different direction. Russell and the early Bible Students were very open to fellowshipping with other Christians in different churches. That would be unheard of today in the JWs and would be a cause for disfellowshipping. I know some modern day Bible Students feel that Christians can only be Christians if they are Bible Students but I think that is a minority thought perpetuated by individual personalities over individual Bible Student classes (churches).
  
  Just my 2 cents.
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  60

  To ex-JW's who became real "Christians"

  by startingover in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have a question.. what is your belief now regarding hell?

  a place of torment?

  the grave?

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  tfjw

  There seem to be more logical explanations or interpretations, at least in my opinion, for such a doctrine of an eternally burning hell. As a former long-time JW it is difficult to accept such a doctrine even in the face of such logical explanations. But then Revelation speaks of the smoke that continually goes up.
  
  The Society tells her sheep that this means in the new world the memory of all those who died is being signified by this language of a smoke going up or rising eternally. But then I'm hit with the passage in Isaiah that says God is making all things new and the former things will NOT be called to mind. I wrote a brief paper/article on this subject but came to no conclusion, thus never published it. :(
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  5

  Judicial committee: practices of the Dark Ages

  by tfjw in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  concerning "court of elders" (a.k.a.

  judicial committee), c.t.

  russell had an interesting comment.

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  tfjw

  Possible to get a scan? Where could I get a copy of that book?

  Ehhh, I have a cdrom of the book and I might have a hard copy of the book back at my home in Georgia, but it's probably a reprinted edition of the old one.

  Sometimes it's called the "Question Book". This site has a CD with it on the CD along with several other publications.

  Here's another site with a cdrom.

  If you wanted an original, and if it could be found, you would probably have to pay dearly for it from a collector.

  Some of the Bible Students on the site, such as RR or others might be able to point you in the right direction as to where you can get a copy (but it will probably be a reprint). It's good for research. I would also suggest "Expanded Biblical Comments" and "Pastor Russell's Sermons" as well as the old Watch Tower Reprints and six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.
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  35

  Notes from Losch's talk during "zone visit" to Hawaii (from my mother)

  by Lady Zombie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my mother forwarded me this e-mail yesterday.

  i've copied and pasted it exactly as i got it.. -------------------------------.

  notes from bro.

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  tfjw

  Some new teeth and hair would be nice.
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  5

  Judicial committee: practices of the Dark Ages

  by tfjw in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  concerning "court of elders" (a.k.a.

  judicial committee), c.t.

  russell had an interesting comment.

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  tfjw

  Concerning "court of elders" (a.k.a. Judicial Committee), C.T. Russell had an interesting comment.
  
  QUESTION: Is it proper for the elders to sit at a court of inquiry and cite any supposed to be walking in a disorderly manner to appear before them and explain their conduct? Or should the Lord's advice at Matt 18:15-18 be followed?
  
  C.T. RUSSELL: The Lord's word does not authorize any court of the Elders, or anyone else, to become busybodies. This would be going back to the practices of the Dark Ages during the inquisition; and we would be showing the same spirit as did the inquisitors... Let us be careful not to become like Babylon and hold inquisition and mix ourselves up. The Word of God is our sufficiency and we should follow it closely and thereby avoid confusion.
  
  (What Pastor Russell Said, page 479)
  
  "learn not to go beyond that which is written, that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against another." (1 Corinthians 4:6, The Amplified Bible)
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  6

  The New Testament - An Improved Version 1808 - PDF Download

  by RR in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  here is the new testament- an improved version for download as a pdf.

  this is a copy, not the best consition, but readble if you squint (just kidding).. this was originally on microfilm and it was transfered to a laptop harddrive and converted to pdf.. it was published in 1808, and john 1:1 reads:.

  "the word was in the beginning, and the word was with god, and the word was a god...".

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  tfjw

  Thank you RR.
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  24

  Have you ever caught Elders in compromising situations?

  by Cheetos in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i ran into two of them at a (r) rated violent movie during a very boring assembly once, i knew them and they knew me i didn't give a dam and they knew it, they seen me go out and i seen them go out of the theate so we were all even and grinning all the way back to events center.

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  tfjw

  Back in the late 60's I saw a fellow elder in the grocery store with his sister in law shopping together. His wife was sick and they were getting groceries for her. I was behind them in the isle when he took his hand and "rubbed" her arse (Rated R style). I kept following, being the goody twoshoes elder and all that I was, and finally when he turned around he turned red as a tomato. He was fumbling for words and said something to the effect that he was trying to help her with her skirt because it had gotten caught in her backside. Nothing happened of course and he always tried to avoid me after that.
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  14

  "Sister," (or Brother) "May I have a word.....?"

  by Lady Zombie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since i'm still getting to know all of you, tell me about an incident when you were pulled aside and counseled.

  not having a formal jc meeting, but just an instance when some elder took it upon himself to "adjust" your thinking (or behavior).. here's one of mine.

  it still is infuriating to me two years later.. there was a sister who had three young daughters (4 to 9 years) and a husband, all in the org.

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  tfjw

  I think the first time for me was when my wife and I were "counseled" for using the old green 1961 New World Translation in the 1970's when there was a revised one available (still green). We purchased several of these when they came out because we had a large extended family living in two houses side by side and everyone including the children had a copy. We would use those in "Bible" studies too in the "ministry". We were told that we were rebelling if we didn't make sure we had the latest copy. I guess even the New World Translation prior to the 1970s and again in the 1980's (?) was considerd "faded/old light".

  When I explained that we couldn't afford to buy new ones the elder said we weren't being patient in waiting for God's provisions. I remember buying one copy after that but I still "rebelled" and used the old one. You know - that's the one that says Jesus is worshipped by the angels. They hated it when I quoted from it.
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  6

  Our Kingdom Ministry July 2008

  by RR in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  okay, i'm looking at the announcements section of the july our kingdom ministry (yes, that's right july, i got people).

  literature offer for july: keep on the watch!

  if the congregation does not have this brochure in stock, please check if nearby congregations have a surplus on hand that you can use.

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  tfjw

  How about, we don't have any in stock and you send us some!???? Sounds like a "Hey, let's get rid of what we have, and if you don't have any to get rid of, get rid of youre neighbors down the street, and if he does have any, get rid of what you have, we don't care what it is, just get rid of it!

  Bro. RR, that's exactly what it is. Got to make room for some new stuff coming. Clean out that book room, dust off the shelves! Be ready for the "faithful and discreet slave" to be regurgitating some new light in the near future. It's just around the corner. It could be next week. And don't forget to donate to the worldwide ministry work. It costs to make this kind of food for the sheep. Appreciate what the Mother Organization does for her children!
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  17

  July 15, 2008 Watchtower study edition PDF

  by song19 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

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  http://www.sendspace.com/file/ho0hje.

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  tfjw

  Thank you.