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.
It’s to make rank-and-file members (yes I’m still gonna call them that, deal with it) feel more obligated…
…“Jesus paid the toll to buy you back from the death you personally deserve (because Adam fucked up), so you’re duty-bound to listen, obey, and (maybe some day in the future, but not right now) be blessed.”
https://youtu.be/uxqqyrrffow?si=wo0jotyvjg76oljk.
well that's sort of related to the next talk on our program brother jeffrey jackson will discuss the theme don't be surprised by sudden changes, brother jeff you have our.
attention well i'm sure we all agree with this fact in recent years there have been a lot of changes even since the last annual meeting there have been many changes some of them perhaps are a little surprising or may seem to be sudden but you know brothers and sisters when we look back on how these changes have come we can see that jehovah has gradually prepared us for each of these adjustments and changes let's review some of the recent changes we've had what changes have we seen with regard to our understand understanding of bible teachings at the 2021 annual meeting we received an adjusted understanding of john 529 it was explained that the resurrection of judgment will not be a judgment of condemnation rather it will be more like a period of probation the unrighteous mentioned at acts 24:15 will have an opportunity to gain everlasting life but their names will not be written wr in the book of life at the time of their resurrection to have their names eventually written in that book these ones will need to respond positively to the great educational work that will take place during the thousand-year reign then at the annual meeting in 2023 we gained enhanced insight into what we do know and what we don't know concerning jehovah's judgments we learned that the door of opportunity for people to take a stand for the kingdom does not shut when the great tribulation starts with the destruction of false religion at that time perhaps some will be like the egyptians in moses day who took a last minute stand and joined the exodus of god's people at the same annual meeting we adjusted our views with regard to jehovah's judgments of those who died in the flood and those who were destroyed in sodom and gomorrah also at that annual meeting an adjustment was made regarding the reporting of our time and activity in our preaching work instead of focusing on reports we try to make good use of every opportunity to witness then we receive the 2024 governing body update number two in that update we saw the need to adjust how we interact with those who have committed serious sins and have been removed from the congregation what other major adjustments have we recently seen in our preaching work the emphasis now is on studing bible studies and making disciples not on distributing literature to that end the focus is on studying meaningful conversations not just on using memorized presentations were you surprised by these adjustments perhaps so but as we look back we see how one adjustment in understanding gradually helped us with the next adjustment isn't it true that gradually jehovah has prepared us and when we look back on it we see how logical this training has been to refine our understanding but events in the world likewise have changed it's true sometimes in the world you have sudden changes for example the pandemic but often times change in the world is gradual isn't it true with regard to the view of morality homosexuality abortion even what's acceptable and not acceptable with regard to conduct all of that has happened gradually in the world and it's not until you look back and see how different the world is today with regard to those matters that we see that there have been a lot of changes but this can be dangerous because as things gradually change we may get used to gradual change and forget that there are some sudden changes about to occur uh let's take our bibles please and if you turn with me to the book of luke chap 21 now this is an example of sudden change in luke chap 21 uh notice there in verse 34 the words of our lord jesus are recorded and he said in verse 34 but pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with oving and heavy drinking and anxieties of life and suddenly suddenly that they be instantly instantly upon you it's interesting to note that jesus had already said that this day he was referring to would occur at a time that we don't think is likely so what lesson do we learn from what jesus said it's a warning isn't it that we can't just sit back and think well things are gradually going to develop we know which way it's going and maybe it's not going to happen yet you know got a little bit more wiggle room there with regard to the schedule but you see that's dangerous thinking now what we're going to do is consider two examples of areas where perhaps we could be a little guilty with regard to that for example our view as with regard to the number of anointed ones remaining on the earth now for many years what did we think we thought well that number would go down and down and down and down now i don't know about you but me i you when that report came out just how many how many partakers and and what were we thinking we probably you maybe we didn't say it but we were thinking you know the number will go down down down down and there'll be just a couple of old guys in a wheelchair who will get their reward well i'm exaggerating but that was sort of the feeling wasn't it but now what have we seen in recent years those numbers have gone up and up and not only that younger brothers have been appointed on the governing body now i know what you're all thinking two new ones how old are they we know you're not googling now but you will be but you see we need to be careful about what we're thinking with regard to the number of anointed ones left on earth you see 19 years ago i was appointed on the governing body even i thought i was too young now they tell me i'm not so young anymore but do we see the point what does the bible actually tell us with regard to this well it doesn't say the number would just dwindle down to just having a few uh older ones left no the great crowd of other sheep will be judged on the basis of how they deal with
Beth - “…do old school JWs who regularly subject themselves… deserve it?”
A little, yeah.
If they were assholes about it.
it appears the perp got the victims disfellowshiped!
the state attorney general has re-opened the botched case.. "the trial for a jehovah’s witness elder accused of molesting three girls in 1999 began in a lancaster county court monday with lawyers giving opening statements to the jury.. norman aviles-garriga, 45, was charged by the pennsylvania attorney general with two counts of aggravated indecent assault and 16 related offenses in connection with assaults alleged by three women who say the abuse happened when they were girls.. aviles-garriga is one of five pennsylvania jehovah's witnesses charged by a statewide grand jury with using their positions within their churches to sexually abuse children.
the attorney general’s office brought charges against the men in october 2022 and february 2023.. .
So, is he still in “good standing”, or has he been disfellowshipped removed in an embarrassed attempt at damage control? 🤨
if you are an ex-witness, regardless of the reasons that you left, did you also rebel against your creator as well as the wtbts?
or did you just feel that jw`s didn`t have the truth, but that you were quite happy to go on believing in god, albeit accepting that your idea of god was now somewhat different?.
according to the watchtower, by leaving the jw`s, you have rebeled directly against god.
Don’t waste your breath.
Like a shit-ton of other words, the WTS defines “apostate” differently that any “worldly” dictionary.
think about it: they had to go out and buy halloween paraphernalia, then apply makeup & costumes to dress the 'brothers & sisters' up as vampires, witches, mummies etc.
and you know they were probably joking around the whole time.
what a bunch of hypocrites, the last gen gb would be turning in their graves to see such a photoshoot at the 'house of god' 😆.
I remember in the 80s, some JWs had issues with Dragonslayer and Willow, but not with Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
I’d call ‘em out on it, and they could never really give an adequate explanation why.
🙄
wally, a youtuber from jw thoughts highlighted something that was said by kenneth cook jnr in the annual meeting.
he thinks it may be removed before they publish the agm.
i doubt we would see it in writing either.. part of kenneth's talk was about the changes regarding disfellowshipping and the clip from jw thoughts youtube shows him saying -.
Riley - “I don't know how these people even take themselves seriously.”
Self-delusion is an easy habit to fall into when you surround yourself solely with people who are never allowed to disagree with you.
he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.
generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..
DisgruntledFool - “…some women have a higher and stronger sex drive than they do and if given the chance she could 'wring her husband out like a washtowel' and come right back for more...”
Thank God for women like that. 😏
i was listening to a podcast about the current geopolitical situation, apparently the un has gone so far off the reservation being controlled by and trying to align themselves with anti-west values, a number of countries is attempting to kick israel out of the un because it is defending itself against iran.. off course, many african nations, some middle eastern, china and russia and a few european nations are all in some amalgamated economic league.
if the vote happens while biden is still president, it’s unlikely, given the election, the party is willing to throw their anti-semitic base under the bus and wouldn’t veto it, hence why these people are considering doing this now and china/russia would go along just to create some mayhem.
the un weeks ago voted to hand over a significant part of jerusalem to an unspecified state of palestine, this likewise went unopposed by the biden-harris administration.. if this happens, given the outcome of the next election, the us will almost certainly have to abandon and disband the un.
TonusOH - “…I would expect the WTS to provide ‘new light’ indicating that this is a clear sign that the end is near…”
“Everything is proof we’re in the Last Days! Even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!!!”
the watch tower society of pennsylvania filed a lawsuit on september 3, 2024, naming as defendants the russian federation, the russian ministry of health, and the almazov national medical research center.
unfortunately, i can't access the case documents, including the complaint.
i would appreciate if someone with an active pacer account could make them available.. anyway, it is enough to know the almazov center is one of the entities sued by the wts to say what this case is about.
Meaningless plastic saber-rattling that’s just going to get more people hurt.
https://youtu.be/6ga9v7ffrwk?si=0lor5qquapmq8ck4.
what you are about to watch is another leaked instalment from the recent annual meeting delivered by kenneth cook with the theme "help to tear down and build up" and highlights tge new take o disfellowshipping that will from now concentrate on major wrongdoing whereas minor wrongdoing will be dealt with kind and love.so the watchtower's at it again, rewriting the narrative like an old tv show that conveniently forgets a character's past.
for decades, the organization has been the ultimate gatekeeper, quick to kick out members for even minor missteps—let's not forget how jehovah's witnesses have had to grovel and practically beg to be reinstated.
Vanderhoven7 - “…JWs need to stop humming and hawing, deferring to the website, pretending and speaking out of both sides of their mouths and start boldly proclaiming their beliefs that even they feel uncomfortable holding and explaining.”
Yeah, shit or get off the pot.
