Posts by abbagail

6

The End of the World

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

i got this off a blog i suscribe to.

notice he mentions jw's.

the end of the world.

abbagail

"And, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Mat. 28:20)

There is an "end of the age," and it is the end of the "age of the Gentiles" (WT muddles that fact by translating Gentiles as "nations" in the NWT, so it's definitely not as "crystal clear" in the minds of JWs).

"25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel **Until** the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel [they are] enemies for your sake, but concerning the election [they are] beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all." - Romans 11

That is basically the total summation of the "last age" which began when Israel was disobedient to the gospel, which then opened the way for the Gentiles. And when the fullness of the Gentiles have come in, God then turns His attention back to Israel as a nation. Therein lies the beginning of the final end times events.

When might that be? We cannot pinpoint the exact date, but "exact events" give us a clue as to the closeness, one big one being that Israel became a nation again (while still "blinded" as Romans 11 says) for the first time in approx. 2,500 years in 1948.

Israel is also compared to a fig tree several times throughout the OT and NT, so when Jesus said that when we see the "fig tree blossom we know summer is near," and that it would be that particular generation who will not pass away until all things occur. (Matt. 24:32-35).

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As a side note, I've always wondered how many "lunar years" have elapsed since Jesus died/Paul's conversion/missionary tours to the Gentiles, etc. So for my own curiosity, I'm going to play with some numbers in a very very very unsophisticated way (since a mathematician I am not):

2009 solar years since A.D. began

But Jesus died in/around 29 AD (?)

So subtract 29 solar years from our current 2009 = 1,980 years x 365 days per year in a solar year = 722,700 days.

A lunar year has 354 days approx., or approx. 11 days less than a solar year. So take 1,980 years x 11 days = 21,780 lunar days.

So subtract 21,780 lunar days from 722,700 solar days = 700,920 solar days, and divide that by 365 solar days for a solar year = 1,920 lunar years since Jesus died.

For my little "experiment," that means (very loosely) that God has allotted, to date, approx. 1,920 lunar years (so far) for the fullness of the Gentiles to come in.

Since most of us always round it off to an even 2,000 years since Jesus was born (A.D. began), it is more like 1,920 LUNAR years since He died (using God's time cycle/lunar years). And if we add another 12 years or so until Paul was converted (approx. 37-38 AD after which he spent 3 years in Arabia), that brings us up to 1,932 lunar years that the way has been held wide upon for the Gentiles to come in by Faith Alone (gospel of Grace and not by works as Israel was expected to do).

The reason I wondered this in the first place is because I think the Lord devoted approx. 1,500 years solely to Israel as a nation (?), so I wondered how long He might have in mind for allowing the Gentiles to come in. And if my very loose-as-a-goose lunar-year calculations are anywhere near reality, that means He has given the "mostly-Gentile Church Age" more time than He did Israel...

...Except Israel does get seven more years (one more week) of His sole "devotion" during their "Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7), ie, the Tribulation.

Don't mind me, I'm just talking and figuring out loud to myself.

Even so, He IS coming again...

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so,] I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also." - John 14:2,3

"You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming [back] to you. ' " - John 14:28

9

Genesis chapters 1-4 ?

by cluless in

throughout genesis chapter 1 to chapter 2 v 4 the term "god "is used.

from chapter 2 v 4 untill chapter 4 the term "lord god "is used.

i was wondering therefore if the title "god "refers to a different being than the term "lord god" ?

abbagail

Hi cluless... You are on the right track and are asking the right questions! ;-)

"God" in Genesis 1 thru 2:4 is the title for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together in their "composite-nesss" as they are taking part together in creation of the earth. "God" as in a composite God, three persons in One God, working in unity together. Together they are "nameless," so to speak. But in Genesis 2, one of them steps forward out of the INvisible realm and into the VISIBLE realm to not only create man but to begin a personal two-way communication/relationship with him (later her/them, etc.) Not only did He talk with them but he daily walked with them in the garden in the cool of the day ("breezy" part of the day per WT, who always said that meant it was in the late afternoon; yet many many other Christians say that the "cool" part of the day is early morning. ;-)

Anyway, This ONE who came forward into the Visible realm revealed His name (Lord God, or YHWH-God) and he's the only one of the three whose name is ever revealed in all of scripture. We also know him as The Word (Communicator) who was from the beginning and who was not only "with God" but also Himself was "God" (as in part of the Godhead). John 1.1. He is the "IMAGE of the INvisible God," like Him in every way (Col. 1:15).

I'm too sleepy to explain it very well right now, but here's one article http://www.havefaith.org/new_page_6a.htm , which is actually the transcript from a daily Bible study program which touched on this subject: http://www.lesfeldick.org/ which I understand that program is also available in Europe via satellite: http://www.lesfeldick.org/les-tv.html . It's a great Bible study.

And here's an article discussing this very thing you described in Gen.1-2:4: The title of the article is: JEHOVAH-JESUS: http://siefkerbiblestudies.com/jehovah_jesus.htm

And here's a recent thread here at JWD on the subject where I posted about the same info but with a wee-bit more clarity: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/169136/3134246/post.ashx#3134246.

And don't miss this graphic/chart by another person on the above same forum - Excellent: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dTSEBZ7tOe0/SKaeSl1fouI/AAAAAAAAARU/-ivAk8BAnwM/s1600-h/CetnarWheel.JPG
Here's another list from another source: http://www.carm.org/doctrine/Jehovah_is_Jesus.htm

And lastly, another quick google showed this comment from a Christian Forum discussion:
"God rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3), so we see the "Lord God" (Christ) coming onto the scene on the 'seventh day' (Gen. 2:4 = Lord of the Sabbath) to then form Adam." http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?t=7287308

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Another thought is to get any book re: The NAMES of GOD... there are several out there, but here's one I had and liked:
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=7441190&matches=21&author=Arthur%2C+Kay&browse=1&cm_sp=works*listing*cover .

heehee, google showed this from Rose Christian Publishers: Free 10-Names of God eChart: http://www.rose-publishing.com/client/client_pages/premiums/namesofgod_landing.cfm?gclid=CMjVm5ub9ZcCFQGbnAodOBbSDQ

Names and Titles of God: http://www.jesuswalk.com/ebooks/pu_names-god_toc.htm

etc. etc. Lots of info out there as I'm sure you know. It just takes some time to narrow down and filter through...
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HYH!

77

Why do you have to pray to God to beable to understand the Bible?

by Number1Anarchist in

if you read any book on the planet as long as you have some kind of education you can read it and clearly understand it and not argue this means this and that means that.

18 now i say to you that you are peter (which means rock),[a] and upon this rock i will build my church, and all the powers of hell[b] will not conquer it.

18"i also say to you that you are (a)peter, and upon this rock i will build my church; and the gates of (b)hades will not overpower it.

abbagail

[...] The way i look at this scripture is Peter is the rock that Jesus is establishing his church on we both agree on that but he is telling me that the powers of hell will not conquer it? (the church) while i think the powers of hell will not overpower what Peter is assigned to do?What do you see it as. Let me know even if you don't beleive in the bible. How would you interpret the (IT) in this scripture. [...]

(NKJV) Matthew 16:18 -- "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Since you asked for opinions, here's how I see it...

You = Peter.

This Rock = Jesus referring to Himself.*

My Church = is the "IT" which the gates of Hell cannot prevail against.**

* Jesus has always been referred to in scripture as THE FOUNDATION -- or "Chief" -- CORNERSTONE (Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16), and THE ROCK that the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1st Cor. 10:4; 1st Peter 2:6,7) . So it's pretty much "standard fare" that Jesus was referring to Himself as The Rock (or The Stone as some translations say it). And for all we know, the Lord could have been pointing or gesturing to Peter when he said, "YOU are Peter," and then pointed back to Himself when He said, "and on THIS ROCK I will build MY church" - referring to Himself.

** Hell and death will not PREVAIL over/against the Body of Believers (which is "the church").

Web definition for "PREVAIL" is "predominate: be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance." Hence, Death and Hell will never predominate or overpower the Body of Believers, since we have the resurrection as a guarantee. The bad guys/wolves, etc. can come and go all they want in and out of churches or assemblies of believers, and do all the "earthly damage" they want, but they cannot take away or destroy the resurrection of the believers.

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And yes, I believe in the Bible. ;-) And I hope this helps you to not be in such a hurry to throw yours out the window. ;-)

And no, I didn't pray about this, merely used a scripture search engine to find the verses I was thinking of.

/ag

51

Florida woman fired for saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy holidays!

by Witness 007 in

foxnews reports that a florida woman was fired for refusing to say: "happy holidays" she insisted that as a christian she use the term christmas.

i have found others with the same view.

though one witness sister was fired from a smallgoods company for refusing to say "merry christmas.

abbagail

"NEUTRAL GREETING"

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit our best wishes for
an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress,
non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice
holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious
persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with
respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others,
or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all...

...and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically
uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar
year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of
other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America
great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other
country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without
regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith,
or choice of computer platform of the wishee.

(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting
is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with
no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the
wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others,
and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole
discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected
within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or
until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes
first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of
a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)

----------------------------------------

Is that what all the crybabies want the world to come to?

A "legal document greeting"?

That was from a Mac group email list back in 2002... year updated to 2009 for those poor lost souls who have been duped by the elitist propaganda of "diversity" and "tolerance" and are succumbing to "Global Group Think" and the Thought Police.

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Anyone who is "offended" by a simple sincere greeting from WHOEVER, whether they say Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever, need to simply grow up and get over themselves.

Just say Thank You and move on.

If anyone is really "offended," it's probably because you have been "TAUGHT" to be "offended" by the same Group Think propagandists.

-----------------------------

Now go get a big kiss under the mistletoe, lol, and have a Vwery Mwerry CHRISTIAN Holiday!

46

Feb. 17, 2009 Significant?

by cameo-d in

is there some connection between the digital tv mandate and freeing up the airwaves in preparation for rfid?.

doesn't scripture say that satan is the prince of the power of the air?.

anyone else think there could be a connection here?.

abbagail

From what I recall, the WT interpreted the MOB in allegorical or "spiritualized" terms, ie, not literal. They used to say the mark on the forehead meant "how you think" (are you loyal to Jehovah with your mind, etc.) and the mark on the right hand meant "to what causes do you work with your hands" (working for Jehovah, or something like that). So... if that's what they still teach, then I would say the WT would have no problem telling JWs to simply "follow the law of the land."

As for USA DL's and chips, I think the date was pushed forward to 2017 as the final end date for all states to have their act together in that regard. (Or was it 2011? I think was the 2017 date because I was surprised they extended it so far into the future).

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I don't think rabbit ears will work once the local main broadcast channels go digital (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc). But there may be other secondary channels in any town that are not required to go digital, so those may still be available via rabbit ears.

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I don't think there's any connection between flipping the switch for digital TV on 2/17/09 and RFIDs... at least not that I've heard...

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As for Satan being the prince of the air and digital clearing out the airwaves... guess that'll mean more demons can come CLOSER to earth with less "interference." lol. j/k

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I already have a DTV box on one TV for months already since there are no cable lines in this area, and it works great -- most of the time! So if they are "watching me" through that box, lol, then HELLO! (Waving!!!) ha!

16

Light Without Heat

by cameo-d in

rev 21:.

23the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of god gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp.

no sun?

abbagail

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Masons are such copy cats!

Difference is who their "Grand Master" is who they get "Illumination from" (false light) vs. Jesus as the Light of the World. (too tired to look up verses).

28

Joel Osteen on Larry KIng

by Scarred for life in

jw
friends

i just saw joel osteen on larry king on cnn.

i don't know a lot about joel osteen.

i've never read his books or watched him on tv but i was struck with how positive he is and how upbeat and encouraging his message is.

abbagail

I always say if you're in the dumps and need a temporary lift, Joel can be a boost.

But an endless diet of Joel would be like eating too much honey. Nauseating.

I don't mind being able to watch him on the tube if I feel in the mood, but I would not want a steady dose of him as in being a constant/committed member of his mega church.

That mindless "mantra" he has his congregation repeat at the beginning of every single show would drive me insane... it's not even a prayer to the Lord, but a "feel good" childish mantra: "This is My Bible. I Can Have what it Says I Can have. I can Do what it says I can Do..." etc. etc. Puh-leeze. I would rather hear a sincere prayer anyday.

Also Joel has totally dropped the ball on prior TV interviews, Larry King and elsewhere. Check youtube or a google search. His interviews have been written up en masse. He has joined the likes of Billy Graham and other "antiChrist spirits" who have gone "ecumenical" and say Jesus is NOT NECESSARILY the only way to salvation. They don't have the backbone -- when being interviewed by media -- to take a stand for Biblical salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

That's why I say he's good for a temporary "psychological pep talk" if direly needed, but I wouldn't get too sucked in by his youthful charm, because you sure won't LEARN very much, only the "feel good" aspect is about all he's good for.

(Another term for too much psychology and too little Gospel is "Psycho-Heresy." Look it up. A lot of it going around.)

But since you're on a journey, check them ALL out on TV (depending on how many Christian channels you can get, there might be a wider variety than just the TBN types). Ask the Lord to lead you... If you are short on Christian channels, check out Sky Angel IPTV.

When I first starting watching Christian TV I checked them all out slowly, one at a time, over time.. it was a great help at the time, but over the years I have backed off from some, others I really like and make a point to watch, and others I'll check in on from time to time just to see what they are up to, what they are teaching these days, or who is on their show...

My fav is Charles Stanley for solid Biblical sermons... In Touch.org.

And for verse by verse "Through The Bible" study I loved Les Feldick, but I can't get him where I am now. LesFeldick.org.

I'f I'm down in the dumps, believe or it not, TD Jakes does it for me. He never fails to say something that hits home. (But I wouldn't want to be a full-time member of his mega-church either... or ANY mega church for that matter).

For Bible prophecy....
Ed Hindson's "The King is Coming" is great Short outlines, half-hour show.
Perry Stone's "MannaFest" I also like - mostly prophecy.
Joe Van Koevering's "God's News Behind The News" is pretty good.
David Reagan's "Christ In Prophecy" also pretty good.
Jack Van Impe is OK "sometimes"... until he begins lauding the Pope and the RCC. Then I get nauseous!

Ditto for Hal Lindsey, he's OK most of the time, mostly for world news. Same for Christian World News - CBN.

Then there's the "Messianic Jewish" guys:
Sid Roth - he's OK but way too obsessed with "signs and wonders" though he has interesting guests sometimes.
Jonathan Bernis - he sometimes has interesting guests.
Kirt Schneider - This guy tickles me, he talks so fast. I don't agree with everything he says as I have "moved on" from the heavy doses of "Hebrew Roots Movement" (which is NOT required as some will lead you to believe). But he's sincere.

I take them all "with a grain of salt" since I've learned a lot over the years. It's OK not to agree with everything. But you CAN learn from all of them a little here, a little there. Just learn how to weed out the chaff-comments.

Good Music and Great Testimonies are always a spiritual boost. That's one of the best thing, the frequent Testimonies.

I'm always on the lookout for good solid Biblical info or interesting testimonies to tape and share w/others. And fortunately, I've had the time and opportunity to watch a lot of these folks and get to "know" most of who's who on Christian TV.

Like I said, ask the Lord to lead you... He'll do it faster if you ask often! ;-) And enjoy the journey! Learning is FUN. But when you hit those snags of "I don't know WHAT to believe!" that's when it's time to PRAY AND ASK for HELP! Don't forget to do that and you'll come out in the right place! (place not meaning LOCATION, but you know what I mean).

PS: I meant to add: Thumbs Up to HappyDad and BrotherApostate.

16

Light Without Heat

by cameo-d in

rev 21:.

23the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of god gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp.

no sun?

abbagail

ha, no sparklers, imho, fun as they are... God is Light... never ending light... as it says: "... for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp..." so THEY will be our light. It won't be a problem (as in too much sunburn, lol) because we will be in our immortal incorruptible bodies like the Lamb's body.

40

Watch Tower Roots:

by blackguard in

jw
friends

fascist and the church of.

corporate mammon .

"by their fruits shall ye recognize them": this paleo-semitic thinking, is as every bit an axiomatic statement about evidence collection as the hellenic system so pervasive in western society today.

abbagail

...only in Russell's mind!

40

Watch Tower Roots:

by blackguard in

jw
friends

fascist and the church of.

corporate mammon .

"by their fruits shall ye recognize them": this paleo-semitic thinking, is as every bit an axiomatic statement about evidence collection as the hellenic system so pervasive in western society today.

abbagail

Blackguard got the name wrong, above. The author was Jack BERNSTEIN, not RUBENSTEIN. He wrote two short books circa 1984-1985, and copies were later re-published...

http://books.google.com/books?q=%22Jack+Bernstein%22+Israel&btnG=Search+Books

Book: "The Life of an American Jew in Racist Marxist Israel" - Copyright 1984 by Jack Bernstein and Leonard (Len) Martin.

Book: "My Farewell To Israel The Thorn in the Mideast" - By Jack Bernstein.

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The various editions/publishers from google books, link above:

In Racist Marxist Israel: The Life of an American Jew
By Jack Bernstein
Published by G S G & Associates, Incorporated, 1984
ISBN 0945001967, 9780945001966
56 pages

The Life of an American Jew in Racist Marxist Israel
By Jack Bernstein
Published by The Noontide Press, 1984

The Life of an American Jew in Racist Marxist Israel
By Jack Bernstein, Len Martin
Published by The Noontide Press, 1991
61 pages

My Farewell to Israel: The Thorn in the Mideast
By Jack Bernstein
Published by G S G & Associates, Incorporated, 1984
ISBN 0945001975, 9780945001973

My Farewell to Israel: The Thorn in the Mideast
By Jack Bernstein, Len Martin
Published by Pro-American Press, 1985
41 pages