Posts by Vanderhoven7

18

Meeting attendance

by Farmer Jim1 in

jw
friends

for those still in the organization what is your meeting attendance like these days?.

when i left in 2017 there were around 80 publishers and the average meeting attendance was 70..

Vanderhoven7

Just picked this up about the decreasing number of new publishers. See the chart below.

The last report by the coward organization was 70,000 are disfellowshipped a year, with 2/3 NEVER returning after freeing themselves from the cult and its false doctrine. Also, 65% of those born into the cult will leave, never to return, after educating themselves on the evil practices of the cult, many being victims of the abusive cult. Their controlling practices through FEAR and HATE only work on the weak minded they prey upon, leading the cult to be three times more likely to suffer from mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, as shown in many medical studies. This high volume of mental illness has lead many mental health professionals to specialize in helping cult victims gain mental clarity and freedom of their fear and hate towards their fellow humans as well as help them adjust to a life in the real world.

33

Historian and former JW Jim Penton dies

by slimboyfat in

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.

Vanderhoven7

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. 😎

33

Historian and former JW Jim Penton dies

by slimboyfat in

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.

Vanderhoven7

Nathan,

Are you feeling OK?

66

Trump wins

by gavindlt in

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!

Vanderhoven7

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

75

WATCHTOWER JAN 2025: WHY IS THE WATCHTOWER OBSESSED WITH THE RANSOM?

by raymond frantz in

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.

Vanderhoven7

The new creation (Christ in you) does not sin. The old man (nature) is dead (Romans 6)....but unfortunately resurrects itself if left uncrucified.

29

WT vs Norway - WT sends letter to the goverment saying they have now changed their practice on DF. Asks for their funding back

by liam in

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.

Vanderhoven7

Are they willing to change their doctrine, dogma, and policies to get free cash?

51

Searching

by Striker in

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.....

Vanderhoven7

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.

31

Loss of a Jehovah’s Witness who I considered a friend

by Fallen_Winter in

jw
friends

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.

Vanderhoven7

Belated welcome to the Forum Fallen-Winter!! I'm glad you found our diverse group for information and support.

8

Was Hell Consistently Taught from Genesis to Revelation?

by Sea Breeze in

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?

Vanderhoven7

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)

8

Was Hell Consistently Taught from Genesis to Revelation?

by Sea Breeze in

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?

Vanderhoven7

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.