I'm doing fine thank you.
I hope you are right because I am used to seeing more positive well thought out comments being expressed in your posts. I actually thought for a second that someone might have stolen your identity. 😎
i don’t know a lot about james penton but i think he deserves a better thread than the one currently on offer.
james penton, who died recently, grew up in a jw family in canada and served as an elder.
unusually for a jw, he studied liberal arts at university and became a history professor.
I'm doing fine thank you.
I hope you are right because I am used to seeing more positive well thought out comments being expressed in your posts. I actually thought for a second that someone might have stolen your identity. 😎
i don’t know a lot about james penton but i think he deserves a better thread than the one currently on offer.
james penton, who died recently, grew up in a jw family in canada and served as an elder.
unusually for a jw, he studied liberal arts at university and became a history professor.
Nathan,
Are you feeling OK?
i am non political and have never voted but nonetheless i have been keenly watching to see how the trump presidential race unfolds.
i believe that his involvement in propelling or influencing a leaning toward bible prophecy will unfold.
how, i can’t say but something tells me that this anomaly and outlier being trump is highly signifiant!
Absolutely nothing about the UN, Trump or the US elections in Bible prophecy!
What is in Bible prophecy:
No Christ, No Peace
Know Christ, Know Peace
https://youtu.be/ocufvpm3t04?si=75zmussxknhlsrs7.
the first watchtower for 2025 is out, and immediately, articles 4 and 5 drew my attention.
these will be studied near the memorial season, a time the witnesses prepare for their yearly commemoration of jesus’ death, i will be returning on this articles near at the time.
The new creation (Christ in you) does not sin. The old man (nature) is dead (Romans 6)....but unfortunately resurrects itself if left uncrucified.
disfellowshipping is slowly fading into the night.. last efforts to survive.. https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/1gh3ilq/wt_vs_norway_wt_sends_letter_to_the_goverment/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button.
Are they willing to change their doctrine, dogma, and policies to get free cash?
jude 1:9 (kjv) yet michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the lord rebuke thee.. matthew 4:10 (kjv) then saith jesus unto him, get thee hence, satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the lord thy god, and him only shalt thou serve.
.
.....my understanding is that you all believe jesus is michael the archangel....... the two verses above describe two different personalities..... the archangel in jude rebuked satan in the name of the father, because he knew it was not his place to rebuke him, he knew that he didn't have the authority to do so, that the only person who possesses this authority is god himself.... while jesus, in matthew 4:10, does not need to invoke the name of the father to rebuke satan, because the father and jesus are one, not michael and jesus..... .... because michael the archangel is not jesus christ our savior.....
16 because Jehovah himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. 17 Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord.
Yes, then every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Jehovah.
i have known a jehovah’s witness for approximately 15 years and i have considered her a friend although i know that jehovah’s witnesses cannot have friends who are not jehovah’s witnesses.
approximately two years ago, i was going through a very difficult time and i asked my friend if we could have bible study.
she said yes and we have been studying the bible since.
Belated welcome to the Forum Fallen-Winter!! I'm glad you found our diverse group for information and support.
some sources cite that the word or concept of hell appears 167 times in the old and new testament.
jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else.
how can such consistent warnings by many different writers over 1600 years all be parables?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTS THAT BECOME APPARENT ABOUT SHEOL?
Sheol is located downward in the dust of the earth. (Job 17:13-16)
Both the good and the bad go to Sheol.
Jacob and his sons go to Sheol. (Gen.42:38)
David planned to rest in Sheol. (Ps.16:9-10)
David desired his enemies also go down to Sheol, not in peace, but in blood. (I Kings 2:6,9)
By going to Sheol, Job misses God's wrath.
Job actually asks to be hidden in Sheol to escape God's anger. (Job 14:13)
The terms death, the grave, and destruction are so closely bound
as to be often interchangeable in the text (Pr.15:11, 24; 27:20).
Not too much goes on in Sheol.
There is no wisdom or knowledge there and no activity or work for those who go down to silence. (Eccl.9:10 Ps.6:5 Ps. 31:17)
No person praises God from Sheol (Ps.6:5; 88:10-12)
Figurative language is often associated with Sheol.
Beds are made In Sheol. Maggots are spread beneath the dead and worms cover them like a blanket. (Is.14:11)
Sheol is even personified. It is pictured as snatching sinners and robbing people of their remaining years. (Job 24:19);
Sheol has an appetite. It opens its mouth without limit.
It is never satisfied. (Pr.27:20) Sheol is naked before God. (Job.26:6)
Not only is Sheol personified, but it is also presented in satire, while incorporating some of the mythological views of Babylon and Egypt, to ridicule special visitors. Sheol, for example, is said to stir up dead kings, and have them rise from their thrones and welcome Israel's enemies. (Is.14:9,11,15; Ez.32: 21,24,27) These same leaders are also personified for dramatic purposes and pictured as carrying on a conversation in Sheol while still engaged in their lifetime pursuits, i.e., ruling.
MOST IMPORTANT: God will redeem souls from Sheol's power. (Ps.49:15)
Sheol will not have the last word. Sheol is going to be plagued and death is going to be destroyed! (Hos.13:14 KJV) Sheol is not eternal therefore, but temporary. God is with the righteous in Sheol and His promise is not to abandon them there forever. (Ps.16:10; 139:8)
some sources cite that the word or concept of hell appears 167 times in the old and new testament.
jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else.
how can such consistent warnings by many different writers over 1600 years all be parables?
There is one word in the Old Testament (OT) that is translated as hell. That word is the Hebrew word "Sheol". Sheol appears 65 times in the OT.
In the King James Version (KJV), Sheol is translated 31 times as hell; 31 times as grave and 3 times as pit.
In the New International Version (NIV) Sheol was translated 57 times as grave; 7 times as death and once as depths.
witnesses do not give to charities.
mm writes:.
"they are specifically told to only donate to the watchtower organization to let the organization handle disaster relief.
Witnesses do not give to charities. MM writes:
"They are specifically told to ONLY donate to the watchtower organization to let the organization handle disaster relief. The only money that goes toward disaster relief is to repair buildings owned by the watchtower corporation. But they get it returned with extra when the insurance pays out because they used volunteer labor and some donated supplies. The same goes for jehovah witness homes. Note how they brag about the money they use for such things, then compare that amount to a comparably sized charity, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and also to a very small charity, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The difference should make jehovah witnesses feel ashamed, but jehovah witnesses are actually proud of it, sad to say.