Posts by pirata

Pastor Russell, Judge Rutherford, and Nathan Knorr/Fred Franz, took the spiritual lead in the organization up until the reorganization in the power structure in the 1970s. In the 1970's the board of directors or "governing body" took control of spiritual matters. Since then the term "governing body" is perceived by JWs to be the religious leaders. The modern day governing body uses the term "governing body" to refer to the board of directors since Rutherford's time, giving the impression that the governing body has always taken the spiritual lead. A most recent example of this is at the 2010 District Convention where Rutherford was referred to as a "prominent member of the governing body" instead of the Watchtower Society President.

35

Beth-sarim, my dear

by jambon1 in

what an absolute scandal.. does some recent wt publication not have some half arsed explanation of this glorified drinking den?.

discuss..

pirata

The current owners are really going to be shocked when Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob show up and evict them!

LOL!!!

13

I realized today that I am one of the "other sheep" (John 10:16)

by Wrong Way in

and i have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also i must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.. .

i am not jewish.

i am gentile.. so, i am "other sheep".. thanks for reading!.

pirata

Titus (WW) you may also find this interesting:

(NWT) Romans 8 Therefore those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation. 2 For the law of that spirit which gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For, there being an incapability on the part of the Law, while it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not in accord with the flesh, but in accord with the spirit. 5 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit. 6 For the minding of the flesh means death, but the minding of the spirit means life and peace; 7 because the minding of the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not under subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. 8 So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, YOU are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in YOU. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in union with YOU, the body indeed is dead on account of sin, but the spirit is life on account of righteousness. 11 If, now, the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in YOU, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make YOUR mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in YOU.
12 So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live in accord with the flesh; 13 for if YOU live in accord with the flesh YOU are sure to die; but if YOU put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, YOU will live. 14 For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons. 15 For YOU did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but YOU received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together.

35

Beth-sarim, my dear

by jambon1 in

what an absolute scandal.. does some recent wt publication not have some half arsed explanation of this glorified drinking den?.

discuss..

pirata

*** jv chap. 7 p. 76 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941) ***
[Box/Picture on page 76]
“House of the Princes”
Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920’s, under a doctor’s treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. From 1929 on, Brother Rutherford spent the winters working at a San Diego residence he had named Beth-Sarim. Beth-Sarim was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. The deed, which was published in full in “The Golden Age” of March 19, 1930, conveyed this property to J. F. Rutherford and thereafter to the Watch Tower Society.
Concerning Beth-Sarim, the book “Salvation,” published in 1939, explains: “The Hebrew words ‘Beth Sarim’ mean ‘House of the Princes’; and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth.”
A few years after Brother Rutherford’s death, the board of directors of the Watch Tower Society decided to sell Beth-Sarim. Why? “The Watchtower” of December 15, 1947, explained: “It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God’s Word of promise.”
[Footnote]
At the time, it was believed that faithful men of old times, such as Abraham, Joseph, and David, would be resurrected before the end of this system of things and would serve as “princes in all the earth,” in fulfillment of Psalm 45:16. This view was adjusted in 1950, when further study of the Scriptures indicated that those earthly forefathers of Jesus Christ would be resurrected after Armageddon.—See “The Watchtower,” November 1, 1950, pages 414-17.

*** yb75 pp. 193-194 Part 3—United States of America ***
CLOSING DAYS AT BETH-SARIM
By November Brother Rutherford’s critical illness had gained ground and he was compelled to have an operation at Elkhart, Indiana. Thereafter he expressed a desire to go to California. So he was taken to a San Diego residence known as “Beth-Sarim.” For some time it was apparent to his associates and the best medical experts that he could not recover.
Briefly it may be said that Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment during 1918-1919 because of his faithfulness to Jehovah. Thereafter he had only one good lung. It was virtually impossible for him to remain in Brooklyn, New York, during the winter and still carry out his duties as the Society’s president. In the 1920’s he went to San Diego under a doctor’s treatment. The climate there was exceptionally good and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible in San Diego. That is what Rutherford did ultimately.
In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for Brother Rutherford’s use. It was not built at the expense of the Watch Tower Society. Concerning this property, the 1939 book Salvation stated: “At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929, there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth-Sarim.”
Sister Hazel Burford was one of the nurses who cared for Brother Rutherford during his final illness at Beth-Sarim, where he was taken in November 1941. She tells us: “We had the interesting times, for he got to where he would sleep all day and then all night long he was busy with the Society’s business and kept us on the move.” One morning about the middle of December three brothers, including Brother Knorr, arrived from Brooklyn. Sister Burford recalls: “They spent several days with him going over the annual report for the Yearbook and other organizational matters. After their departure, Brother Rutherford continued to weaken and, about three weeks later, on Thursday, January 8, 1942, he faithfully finished his earthly course and graduated into fuller service privileges in the courts of his heavenly Father.” Later that day the news was sent to the Brooklyn headquarters by long-distance telephone at 5:15 p.m.
How was news of J. F. Rutherford’s death received at Brooklyn Bethel? “I will never forget the day we learned of Brother Rutherford’s passing,” comments William A. Elrod. “The announcement was brief. There were no speeches.”

49

time=360 days 7-times=2520 days 2520 days=2520(365 day per year)years?

by still_in74 in

i have to give credit to sleepy for alerting me to this little discrepancy.

i cant believe i have never clued into the duality of freddies logic.

nevermind the jumping all over the bible between ot & nt to get his math together..... *** pe chap.

pirata

No, because the Jewish lunisolar calendar was not a true lunar system like the Islamic calendar (in which the festival of Ramadan wanders over the whole year). Just as in the Babylonian calendar, there would be intercalary months thrown in to harmonize the lunar count with the solar cycle. So 70 Jewish years = 70 "solar" years.

I see. Thanks for your input Leolaia. That is also what is stated in w51 6/15 pg. 383 Questions for readers.

49

time=360 days 7-times=2520 days 2520 days=2520(365 day per year)years?

by still_in74 in

i have to give credit to sleepy for alerting me to this little discrepancy.

i cant believe i have never clued into the duality of freddies logic.

nevermind the jumping all over the bible between ot & nt to get his math together..... *** pe chap.

pirata

btt. Great thread here!

Let's see if I have this straight.

It sounds like a Jewish year was 354 days, so to map the Jewish Calender to the Solar Calender, we need to jewish lunar years by 0.97 (354/365) to get the equivalent Solar years.

So if we apply this to the WT calculation starting at 537 BCE we get:

70 Jewish years = 67.9 solar years.

537 BCE - 67.9 solar years= 604 BCE

7 years @ a day for a year = 2478 (3*254) Jewish years = 2403.7 Solar years

604 BCE + 2403.7 solar years = 1800.7 (I added one to account for the year zero)

Does that sound about right (in terms of doing the same "1914" calculation with the correct Jewish year)?

47

How does your congregation feel about the new song book?

by stuckinamovement in

jw
friends

i stopped trying to sing the songs last meeting.

it felt like a combination of chanting and stepping on a cat.

it is terrible.

pirata

Some background on the making of the new songbook: http://www.freeminds.org/life-stories/leaders/when-the-kingdom-melody-went-off-key.html

62

What silly things have you been counselled on or simply been told off for?

by 3Mozzies in

so what silly things have you been counselled on or simply been told off for?.

back in my early 20's, i had a pair of comfy old jeans that started to tear in about 3 places on the leg.

it was the fashion at the time so not only did they feel great to wear, they also looked 'in', not that i cared for that, but it was a bonus .

pirata

I got taken off microphone duty because my hair was....TOO SHORT!!! I also got counselled for wearing white socks while giving a talk on stage. A buddy of mine got counselled for wearing a colored shirt while giving a talk.

You should have been in my hall. A fair number of the brothers, elders and ministerial servants included, had really short hair and wore colored shirts on the platform. I like how regional God's requirements are...

20

Why are alot of witnesses very interested in watching Sports but they are against playing organized sports?

by asilentone in

.

pirata

Why are people interested in watching Murders but they are against murdering others?