Posts by Ultimate Reality

42

They "Keep Following the Lamb" - February Study Article (Praise for the GB)

by Ultimate Reality in

the article is not yet in print, however on jw.org you will find the audio recording for the february 15, 2009 study edition.. this article sums up some of the talks given over the past year or so.

it makes clear that we should trust the faithful and discreet slave because jehovah and jesus trust the "slave".

the slave has been faithfully providing spiritual food for 130 years.

Ultimate Reality

Some concluding highlights from this article:

As individual Christians, how do we view the timely spiritual food that the faithful slave dispenses by means of bible-based publications and through Christian gatherings? Do we gratefully partake of it and readily apply what we learn? What is our response to organizational decisions made by the slave? Our willing obedience to the direction provided gives evidence of our faith in Jehovah’s arrangement.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. -- John 10:27. That is true of the anointed Christians. What about those who go with them? Such ones must listen to Jesus; they must also listen to his brothers. After all, the chief responsibly for caring for the spiritual welfare of god’s people has been entrusted to them. What does listening to the voice of Christ’s brother’s involve?

…listening to the slave class means giving our full cooperation to its Governing Body. Those who listen to the slave are blessed.

By all means then, let us listen to the Christ and his trustworthy spirit anointed brothers.

42

They "Keep Following the Lamb" - February Study Article (Praise for the GB)

by Ultimate Reality in

the article is not yet in print, however on jw.org you will find the audio recording for the february 15, 2009 study edition.. this article sums up some of the talks given over the past year or so.

it makes clear that we should trust the faithful and discreet slave because jehovah and jesus trust the "slave".

the slave has been faithfully providing spiritual food for 130 years.

Ultimate Reality

Mary:

Thank you for posting the link to your excellent review.

We'll have to wait for a print copy to "tear apart" their arguments. However, what sticks out to me the most with these new study articles is that a scriptural reason (twisted or not) is no longer provided or really needed.

When the latest Generation change was made, one brother commented at the WT study that "it may not make sense, but we just have to accept it becase they [the GB] are the ones that have God's spirit."

Everyone has been dumbed down to the point where complex circular reasoning and weaving of scriptural fragments is no longer required to establish their point.

Just trust whatever we say. If you don't, that means you don't trust God because God trusts us. He trusts us because we say so, and that is the evidence that you should trust whatever we say.

And the congregation follows...

42

They "Keep Following the Lamb" - February Study Article (Praise for the GB)

by Ultimate Reality in

the article is not yet in print, however on jw.org you will find the audio recording for the february 15, 2009 study edition.. this article sums up some of the talks given over the past year or so.

it makes clear that we should trust the faithful and discreet slave because jehovah and jesus trust the "slave".

the slave has been faithfully providing spiritual food for 130 years.

Ultimate Reality

The article is not yet in print, however on jw.org you will find the audio recording for the February 15, 2009 Study Edition.

This article sums up some of the talks given over the past year or so. It makes clear that we should trust the Faithful and Discreet Slave because Jehovah and Jesus trust the "Slave". The Slave has been faithfully providing spiritual food for 130 years. As proof that Jesus and God are blessing the slave, the article points to the numerical increase in congregations.

It also encourages that we fully cooperate with the Slave's representative: The Governing Body. We do this primarily by going out in "service".

What is amazing is the role of the slave and GB seems to becoming more important than ever. It is if Jehovah and Jesus have submitted themselves to the Slave! They have put their complete trust in 9 men in Brooklyn, so our trust is now to be placed--not in God--but in earthing man.

I hope that some in the organization will see this article for what it is--as Brooklyn tightens their grip on critical thinking.

The Parousia by James S. Russell and a different view of Revelation

by Ultimate Reality in

many who hear about the "preterist" point of view become confused since thoughts often run to the idea that all bible prophecy has been fulfilled--for many this cannot be reconciled.

for the average witness, we have never even been exposed to a different view on bible interpretation.

indeed, the watchtower view of revelation and bible prophecy is that most everything in the bible applies now, to our special time since 1914, with the end of the system of things and the great tribulation right around the corner.. however, where does the concept originate that matthew the 24th chapter has a secondary fulfillment beyond 70ce?

Ultimate Reality

Many who hear about the "preterist" point of view become confused since thoughts often run to the idea that all bible prophecy has been fulfilled--for many this cannot be reconciled. For the average Witness, we have never even been exposed to a different view on bible interpretation. Indeed, the Watchtower view of Revelation and bible prophecy is that most everything in the bible applies now, to our special time since 1914, with the end of the system of things and the Great Tribulation right around the corner.

However, where does the concept originate that Matthew the 24th chapter has a secondary fulfillment beyond 70CE? Indeed, the Christians of the First Century were expecting the fulfillment of Christ's Parousia in the 1st Century. Were they fooled? Was Jesus speaking in complex riddles on the Mount of Olives?

But what about Revelation? That proves there was much more to happen after the 1st Century and in "the Lord's Day". Right?

But a question that needs to be asked is: What if Revelation was written BEFORE 70CE? What research has led the Watchtower and other organized religions to the 96CE date? Research Irenaeus and his FULL quote about the dating of Revelation to see if it is conclusive.

If Revelation was written before 70CE, that would change everything. And it would take away the Watchtower's claim that the end is always just around the corner, not to mention all the other details of Revelation they apply to themselves.

While C.T. Russell was still a young man, another Russell wrote an examination of the Parousia and how, in his estimation, the scriptures clearly mark Jesus 2nd Coming as happening in the 1st Century. His examination of Revelation is also compelling, with the end of a figurative 1000 year reign and resurrection yet to be fulfilled.

You may not agree with all points, but I am sure you will find James Stewart Russell's book a worthwhile read (which can be purchsed on Amazon and you may find some free PDF's floating around).

What frustrates me is that, growing up as a Witness, these alternative views of the scriptures were not even acknowledged or discussed. As so-called "bible students" you would think that the Society would want us to understand such points of view. But then again, some of us might start using our minds...

Anyway, if you have read The Parousia, I would love to read your thoughts...

12

1984 Survival Into a New Earth--PDF!

by Atlantis in

1984 survival into a new earth--pdf!

bookmarked searchable reduced front cover?

click here: http://www.imagger.com/view/664586_scan-10001.jpg.html click the link at the bottom of the next page.

Ultimate Reality

I am not the first to point this out. However, the best "spiritual gems" of this book are found on pages 184 and 185. Note that the Society is clear that the Anointed of 1914 and the Great Crowd of 1935 will live to see Armageddon.

We know they have twice since 1984 dealt with the 1914 Generation issue by going in doctrinal circles.

But this 1935 Great Crowd deal is a problem for them. For those of us that have seen Parents, Grand Parents, and Great Grand Parents die with an "earthly hope" it is clear that the call for the Great Crowd went out too soon after all!

70

Let's predict the next 10 years of "noolite"

by Awakened at Gilead in

the past 15 years or so have seen incredible "advances" in the new light agenda of the wts.. there have been changes in the generation (twice!

), sheep and goats, celestial phenomena, opening up the way to heaven (closed since 1935), the "composite sign", "blood fractions", along with major organizational changes, such as paperbacks, once monthly awake!

's, cult edition of the wt, along with the reduction of the meeting nights and change to the po nomenclature becoming the coboe (ssdd).... some of these changes have been foreseen by posters here on jwd, or were suggested by information in apostates recomended reading lists (i.e.

Ultimate Reality

With the need to maintain unquestioned authority that is concentrated at the top, I expect to see that the Governing Body itself will be declared the Faithful and Discreet Slave.

The "domestics" that the Slave serves food to will be all those others in the household, including those with a heavenly hope and an earthly hope.

This way, those claiming to be anointed cannot claim to be part of the slave-class and, therefore, are not qualified to be part of the channel of communication. Really, this definition makes more sense than saying "the slave is a composite that serves itself", which is how their current "understanding" interprets Matthew 24:45.

2

Searching for Yearbook Quote 1939

by Ultimate Reality in

i am searching for a scanned page from the 1939 yearbook.

i think it is on or around page 32. the paragraph mentions how they are not seeking to gather men into an organization, and it discredits the concept of salvation by means of a religious organization.

if any one has this, your posting would be greatly appreciated.. .

Ultimate Reality

Thank you for your time and effort in gathering the scan.

My how the organization's goals have changed.

For those of us the are 3rd and 4th generation, we can see how our grandparents came into this...and then things began to change. I guess they fell victim to one of Satan's crafty acts: Gradualism.

2

Searching for Yearbook Quote 1939

by Ultimate Reality in

i am searching for a scanned page from the 1939 yearbook.

i think it is on or around page 32. the paragraph mentions how they are not seeking to gather men into an organization, and it discredits the concept of salvation by means of a religious organization.

if any one has this, your posting would be greatly appreciated.. .

Ultimate Reality

I am searching for a scanned page from the 1939 yearbook.

I think it is on or around page 32. The paragraph mentions how they are not seeking to gather men into an organization, and it discredits the concept of salvation by means of a religious organization. if any one has this, your posting would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

13

WTS Kingdom Hall Asset Grab

by Ultimate Reality in

many here are familiar with the wts request to "hold" the cash funds of congregations so that a higher rate of interest can be earned, not for the local congregation benefit, but for the society to use in the worldwide work.

in particular, the funds are loaned, with interest, to other congregations that need to build or remodel halls.. .

however, a new opportunity has presented itself to the wts.. .

Ultimate Reality

I think watson is on to something. The public talks were reduced by 15 minutes in 2008 and the BS is no more in 2009.

With the reduction of talk times, more additional congregation meetings could fit into the Sunday schedule. With the elimination of the BS, 4 or 5 congregations would fit per auditorium.

This would be in line with all the other penny-pinching that is happening.

The Society's review of the dissolution is part of a process (with a special reporting form) that is being done in the US and am I sure wherever else it is approppriate.

Many halls in expensive urban areas have been around for some time and have zero debt. By 2010 we can expect to see the wholesale destruction of many individual halls...sorry, I got my thoughts mixed up in a Finished Mystery prophecy. I mean, the loving Governing Body bringing the worldwide congregation closer together for the benefit and protection of the flock as the end draws near.

13

WTS Kingdom Hall Asset Grab

by Ultimate Reality in

many here are familiar with the wts request to "hold" the cash funds of congregations so that a higher rate of interest can be earned, not for the local congregation benefit, but for the society to use in the worldwide work.

in particular, the funds are loaned, with interest, to other congregations that need to build or remodel halls.. .

however, a new opportunity has presented itself to the wts.. .

Ultimate Reality

Many here are familiar with the WTS request to "hold" the cash funds of congregations so that a higher rate of interest can be earned, not for the local congregation benefit, but for the Society to use in the Worldwide Work. In particular, the funds are loaned, with interest, to other congregations that need to build or remodel halls.

However, a new opportunity has presented itself to the WTS.

Our Hall recently passed a resolution based on the Society's review of the Congregation's articles of incorporation. It was resolved to change the dissolution clause so that if the Congregation is ever liquidated, the proceeds for the sale of the property automatically goes to the WTS.

This "suggestion" was based on the WTS legal department's review. Of course, the local congregation did not retain their own counsel for legal advice in this matter.