Hi - I am an exJW, elder, Behelite, congregation servant, etc. etc. We as JW's believed that the soul has no separate existence after death. Call this "soul sleep". (Some Christians also believe this) We had no idea of what is resurrected or what is sleeping. Resurrection is always about the body, not the soul. And it is this body that 'sleeps' in the grave until Christ returns. At death, our soul goes immediatley to be 'witn the Lord' as Stephen's sould did, as he understood when he said, "Lord Jesus, recieve my SPIRIT" in Acts 7:59. So, when we understand that resurrection is speaking about the body, yes, we all will wait until Christ returns for Him to raise our courruptable bodies into incorruptable bodies as 1 Corinthians 15 teaches. But our soul does not wait! At death Christians immediatley go to be with the Lord. As Jesus said to the thief on the cross: "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paraduse" (Luke 23:43) Actually, this idea of 'soul sleep' is very pagan! The Greek ideas affected some Christians even in the days of the apostles! As Paul asked the Corinthianss: "how say some of you that there is no resurrection of the dead" -1 Corinthians 15:13. Amazing isn't it? We as JW's were appaled at anything that was pagan, and here JW's believe a most pagan idea about the body!! So, can I make any boast here? No, I would still be blind and believing in all this junk as a JW, unless my Lord Jesus saved me and opened my eyes to know Him and believe the Scriptures. No pride. Only thanfulness and prayers always that the Lord would show the same mercy He showed to me for JW's! I pray for their salvation always. This is our starting point! PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF JW'S! Amen!
Posts by [email protected]
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47Did Stephen believe he would have to wait 2000 years for a resurrection?
by Socrateswannabe inin acts 7:59, the jews were casting stones at stephen and his last words were, "lord jesus, receive my spirit.".
the wts has contended that all of the ancients who died after jesus were in a sleep-like condition, awaiting a resurrection that eventually happened in 1918-1919 (depending upon which wt reference you are looking at).
and in fact, v. 60 says stephen "fell asleep in death".
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Is this the Ciro I knew when I was at Bethel (1958-61)? It doesn't look like him, but it's been a long time. As far as I know he is still with the headquarter's staff of Bethel. I have prayed for his salvation for many years. I have a list of Bethelites I remember that I pray for each week. Hey, any of you that knew me, don't be afraid! So, if any are 'secretly' looking at this, send a message! My story is at www.watchtowerworld.org
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Knowing the Real Truth about the "truth" when you're stuck inside...
by OneDayillBeFree in...sucks.
(warning: this could get lengthy but i have to vent and i could really use some advice).
i know ttatt and have known about it for almost 2 years, yet i'm still stuck inside.
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ex bethelite experiences
by escape-artist inhello i used to serve at wallkill bethel.
i lived in the c building, i remember doing my watchman asignments with the little divice that you use to scan the areas you are supposed to reach.
at this time the construction was not complete in the printery and areas next to the main lobby.
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New to this site....
by TanCatLuvr ini am so thrilled to find this forum.
it is such a relief to know that all of us 'apostates' are normal people who had the nerve to question what has been crammed down our throats.. i am 4th generation ex-jw with family members at bethel, doing missionary work, and pioneering.
even though i have been out for almost 20+ years, i still had guilt admitting to myself that this was a cult-like organization until just recently.
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I'm glad you could find a way to at least start telling about yourself. I know it's painful. I was at Bethel and was a JW for 24 years, pironeer, congregation servatn, etc. I left in 1979. I just resigned as I couldn't take any more of how the elders were treating people. I was very depressed after leaving as thee was no one to talk to and my dear wife remained an active JW, to this day. Then our middle son, Michael, killed himself. He was only 16. As with you, when I think about that, I start crying. It happens at any time andwhere, when I think of him. So, I know how hard these things are. I had to get this out for you to understand why I can say that I understand how you feel.
I am now a member of a church and have made some very good friends. I thought I'd never be able to trust anyone again, let alone God, but, He has healed me of many painful wounds. And being in a church where I can encourage others is healing in itself. I always tell people who are depressed that one of the best things you can do to get away from that is to go find someone you can encourage. It' what has helped me so much. But it took some time before I could do that. Also, My dear wife remains very active as a JW, and this has been very hard to deal with. Yet, we do love each other. In fact, this is not supposed to be! JW's will do all they can to destroy a marriage like mine. They tried. But, they couldn't take my wife from me! I love her dearly and she knows it. We have been married for 47 years now! I could say much more, but, let this be it for now.
I hope I can encourage you in some way. At least knowing what I have been trhough may. I joined this forum recently, so look my name up:
Ernest Zenone, Sr.
Ernie Zenone
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Anyone Interested in a Bible Study - ex JW
by [email protected] ini was a jehovah's witness for 24 years and left in 1979. you can read about my life in free minds ex jw web site.
i have been a member of an orthodox presbyterian church since 2001.
(reformed) .
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I was a Jehovah's Witness for 24 years and left in 1979. You can read about my life in Free Minds ex JW web site. I have been a member of an Orthodox Presbyterian Church since 2001. (Reformed)
If anyone would like to have a Bible study, I'd be glad to do this. Suggested topics: salvation, forgiveness of sins. eternal life, Jesus Christ, etc.
Sincerely,
Ernie Zenone, Sr.
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Why Christains make no sense to me, an example from Haiti...
by HappyGuy ini have some in laws who recently went to haiti to do "missionary" work at one of the churches there.
this "missionary" work basically consisted of singing and dancing and entertaining the church goers.
my relatives stayed at some houses owned by the church on the church property.
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I am a Christian. Let me ask you: what does make any sense to you? How do you decide what is good or evil or what makes sense or not?
Why would Jesus Christ die as he did? Or did he really exist at all? Did he rise from the dead? These are questions that have no end. One question leads to another. But by what standard can we judge anything? If we were to start from scratch, what kind of laws would we have to govern life? I ask questions because I think they help point to how we can find any sense in this world.
Most people, even many Christians, have not read the Bible. I often hear some tell me of their problems in believing what the Bible says about anything. So, I ask them: "Have you ever read the Bible?" I mean the entire Bible, even once? It's very difficult to criticize a book that one has not even read! But, this is what I meet all the time when I talk about God or the Bible. I believe it is the Word of God. We can have our ideas of what is right and wrong, and this makes sense for us. But it makes no sense, for many, that God knows anything about this!
Christians do many good things for people besides preaching the gospel to them. Do you realize how many hospitals, doctors, nurses, and so that Christians provide in times of disaster? They give their money and personal help. It's not just about singing hymns and preahing. We believe that we are to help people with what we have in our talents and gifts as doctors, teachers, carpenters, etc. The idea that Christians are only about one thing is simply not true. Have you ever heard of Voice of The Martyrs? Check it out on line. This Christian ministry helps persecuted Christians by providing free medicine, doctors help, operations, jobs, clothing, you name it. We don't hear about this side of Christianity because this is not what interests most newspapers or media. So, we are often steriotyped as bigoted, uncaring and out of touch with reality. This is how most people viewed Jesus Christ! "And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he decieveth the people" John 7:35 The religious leaders hated Jesus. Why?
What is our purpose in life? Is this all there is? Do we just die, and that's it? Or could it be true that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins so that we can have eternal life and when we die we are resurrected ot a life that Revelation 21: 1-4 describes. There was a reason Jesus died on a cross.
Either the Bible is the Word of God, or we have to come up with our own ideas. We have to conclude that Jesus never even existed! That there is no such thing as truth. And that no one can know what is truth. Pilate, the Roman governor who aressted Jesus asked him, "What is truth?" -John 18:38 Truth was standing right in front of Pilate!
So, I suggest you read the Bible and then you can have some idea of what it says about truth, law, salvation, redemption, hope, love and every good thing that God gives to His creatures. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" -Romans 8:28
Ernie Zenone, Sr.