Posts by Juan Viejo2

37

Who is Gog of Magog? - Watchtower May 2015

by jwleaks in

here we go again... let's study... news report... comment.... who is gog of magog mentioned in the book of ezekiel?.

for a number of years, our publications have explained that gog of magog is the name given to satan the devil after his ouster from heaven.

this explanation was based on the fact that the book of revelation identifies satan the devil as the leader of the worldwide attack on gods people.

Juan Viejo2

So Gog and Magog are not robots?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx961KlJcww

50

Look at this fear mongering graphic from latest WT

by cappytan in

.

Didn't the Watchtower teach for the past 100 years that Jesus came to his throne in 1914 and his reign began then? Or have I been out so long that sometime after the 1960s they decided that didn't happen?

I'm so confused...

JV

9

"Escape from Paradise"

by zeb in

i have just finished reading brock talons second book (see above).

well worth the read.

terribly honest and humbling to read.

Juan Viejo2

Brock, I like the promo very much. Love the way you show the contents and flip the book around. On the other hand, it seems incomplete somehow - like it should have had some pull quotes or a voice over.

Hope to read it and review it very soon.

JV

13

Hypocrisy@Bethel

by scary21 in

jw
friends

don't know how to do a link but................ video just posted on you-tube called hypocrisy@ bethel by jwfairytail.

he calls bethel several times about the happy@ bethel.

it last like an hour and a half.

Juan Viejo2

I have to say that the caller is way over the top. I'm sure his intent was good and goal was to expose the hypocrisy of the Watchtower Society, but in my opinion (for whatever that is worth) does more harm to the reputation of legitimate critics. This just comes off as terrorizing the volunteers who answer the help lines at Bethel.

While the caller has every right to make his point in any way that he feels will be effective, at the same time anyone that makes me feel sorry for anyone in the Service Department has failed to move WT criticism forward in a positive way.

At the same time I give jwFairyTale credit for his courage and perseverance. On the other hand, any JW or supporter will be turned off by the anger expressed and drawn to support the organization. I just feel that this could have been handled in a more tactful and effective way.

JV

54

Mom says, "CO says there's only 15 years left!"

by Separation of Powers in

i don't typically hear from my mom often, but i tell you, over the past couple of weeks, i have heard from her several times.

you heard the comment about "our way of worship will be altered" and thank you for your posts by the way....but yesterday, she calls and is asking about the kids and then, in typical jw fashion mind you, says:.

"you know, you should really get back to meetings.

Juan Viejo2

My family attended the 1953 New York International Convention in Yankee Stadium. We got there by traveling in our 1941 Chevrolet 2-door sedan (on its third engine). Fortunately my father was a Chevy dealer mechanic so he was able to keep it running during our 5 day trip from southern California to New York City. There were 5 of us in the car, including my sister who sang "How much is that doggie in the window?" almost constantly the entire trip.

What I remember most (besides my sister's singing) was the fact that my mom and dad spoke about Armageddon being just around the corner. They both expected to hear Brother Knorr make a big announcement during the main talk on the last day of the 8-freaking day convention in the summer heat in Yankee Stadium.

We became a very active JW family upon our return and that's pretty much it. I was 10 years old.

Five years later we drove to New York again for the 1958 International Convention. This time we went in our 1955 Chevy sedan with a real V-8 engine. But no air conditioning. At least we had four doors and roll down windows in the back seat. That was the car that my father announced would be our last one before Armageddon came.

Oh boy! We just knew that this time we were really going to get the word. In fact, it was either Brother Knorr or maybe Fred Franz who made a point that we would never again be able to meet in one city because our growth had exploded and Armageddon was so very, very close. When we got back home my parents began making plans to move "where the need was greater" - which they did right after the 1963 Convention.

By then I began to make my move away from the organization - although I was still active, on the public speaker rotation, and was serving as a Book Study Conductor. I let a university scholarship opportunity get away from me and instead was working menial jobs. My parents frequently pressured me to bring my wife and kids and come join them in central Nebraska, hoping that if I would join them in the pioneer service there that I would get my head straight and become a more active JW. Almost every phone call during that era was laced with their suggestions that Armageddon was just a year or two away. And this was before the 1975 debacle.

Each time that I was able to talk to or visit my parents, I was reminded that I needed to repent and get back into the organization because Armageddon was "literally just months away."

So here we are, 40 years after the 1975 failed prophecy - and the Watchtower (and rank and file JWs as well) are still pushing the idea that Armageddon is just over the proverbial hill. And yet everything the Watchtower does goes in the opposite direction. New building and expansion plans? The old windowless Kingdom Halls that would provide protection for the JWs during the beginning of Armageddon are now being replaced by building with thin walls and massive amounts of glass???

But reason is not involved in anything that JWs believe. The Watchtower can change its teachings, its policies, and its financial dealings 180 degrees - and the JWs will just follow along as if they had hooks in their jaws. I know because my own family was like that and some of them still are. Sadly, I guess, for them Armageddon did not come in their generation as they had been promised.

JV

11

First brand new Kingdom Hall built

by Kanon in

jw
friends

well if you check the new pay attention at the meeting video their hall is one of the 1st.

flat roof, lots of glass and a jw.org logo.

lucky them

Juan Viejo2

cappytan - I'm pretty sure that the exterior walls and the interiors could be standardized. The roofs, however, would have to be pitched based on local building codes. Areas with a lot of snow would require roofs that are pitched at around 30 degrees on two or four sides. In deserts, flat metal roofs are quite often acceptable and the norm and will use downspouts to drain off what rain or precipitation might fall.

The bottom line is that the Watchtower will certainly build them as cheaply as they can, and, as they have always tried to do, make sure they don't look like Christendom's churches.

JV

30

I just had a thought about the new KH design

by JeffT in

i've been trying to figure out the purpose of the new (bland, commercial style) building that the gb is pushing.

it is not a design that attracts attention, nor does it offer a lot in future resale value.

it will be more difficult to build than the wood residential style buildings, meaning they can't use their cheap unskilled labor force for a lot of the work.

Juan Viejo2

JeffT - I would say you are on to something. In many small towns, the local clubs like the Elks, Moose, and Knights of Columbus rent out their meeting halls for sales meetings, weddings, and other affairs. It would make sense to have the KHs set up for that type of rental since they sit vacant nearly 90% of the time.

I am sure that the "business" side of Jehovah's holy spirit has noticed this underuse of properties that are set up for such meetings. With audio-visual equipment now being installed in almost every hall and WiFi services being made available, they could easily accommodate almost any secular organization - yes, even Amway type rah-rah meetings in smaller towns.

JV

109

Happy at Bethel. Can't believe what I'm seeing.

by Pubsinger in

apologies if this has already been posted but i am speechless.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnbmyudrwgs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260#t=72.

Juan Viejo2

A lot of us are saving this and all of the crazy WT videos for posterity. We'll all be watching them with our grandkids in 20 years.

Also, I want to see "Joe Bethelite" prove that he made that video.

As far as the song itself - Pharrell has acknowledged it and seems OK with it. He complains that he hasn't made much in residual payments in spite of its popularity, but he is a very smart businessman. He would probably not be nearly as well known if it wasn't for all the "happy dance" videos that have been made from this song. This falls in the same category as the "mob dances" that became very popular for a while. In many cases songs that had fallen off the charts got new life and thousands of new sales and a new fan base. Michael Jackson (once a JW himself) will live as long as there are mob dances around the world.

So, how do they explain this occasion of having a "Happy Dance" in a Kingdom Hall? Were they worried about copyright issues then? [starts at 30:30]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcj1-XFqBiE

JV

44

Is the Watchtower "Be Happy@Bethel" music video a United Nations promotion?

by OUTLAW in

pharrell partners with un for 'international day of happiness'.

still riding the success of his global hit "happy," is partnering with the united nations foundation to celebrate international day of happiness on march 20th.

established in 2012 by the united nations general assembly, the day acknowledges that "the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal" and recognizes "the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples," according to the resolution.. pharrell williams gets 'happy' on 'despicable me 2' soundtrack - song premiere.

Juan Viejo2

That video has been downloaded and will live forever. I guarantee that it will pop up from time to time no matter if the Watchtower or Josh Chang or whoever wants it to disappear. It is saved for posterity and promises to play right next to Charles Russell's "Photodrama of Creation" and the Charles Sinutko "Stay Alive 'til '75" speech.

Some things from the past will never die. More things from the future will never die. I promise...

JV

31

HOW EXACTLY does god communicate with or direct the GB?

by stuckinarut2 in

we're all familiar with the organisations claims (and have seen the flow diagrams in books and mags) that the gb is "directed by god".

in turn, the local elders are "directed by god".

so, how exactly do they suppose this happens?

Juan Viejo2

In an article that I was privileged to publish based on a letter written to me by an active and serving JW elder, this subject came up. I think his commentary (from an insider looking out) says a lot about the credibility of the Governing Body's claimed attachment to "holy spirit."

"It makes no sense that honest debate about the truth of certain beliefs can be treated as a sin against the Holy Spirit, while the final version of the “truth” is still being fine tuned. After all, the Governing Body VOTES on what new teachings will be published or presented at our assemblies. Does that mean that their debates and votes are also a sin against the Holy Spirit? If the Governing Body is acting under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t all their votes be unanimous? Are those who voted against the majority being influenced by Satan? After the vote is taken, why should that particular teaching ever be changed due to “new light”? Does not the Holy Spirit know what is true and what is not? Or does the Holy Spirit inspire the Governing Body to purposely publish incorrect information from time to time – just to keep us off-kilter? This entire concept of the Governing Body being guided by Holy Spirit is frankly ridiculous and inconceivable.

"I feel that the Watchtower Society is totally wrong by holding this unsupported position. After all, very few of the teachings of Russell and Rutherford are still held to be “truth.” Where was the Holy Spirit prior to Rutherford’s death in 1942, back when almost every Witness was considered to be a member of the Anointed remnant? Who was guiding the leadership of the Watchtower Society back then?"

http://ex-jw.com/elder-shares-honest-opinions

JV