would someone please explain the current interpretation of the generation.
this topic is one that is causing alot of confussion and turmoil.
jwn, you.
Billy the Ex-Bethelite said,
"I wouldn't be surprised if they redefine generation yet again."
I agree. In less than 20 years Watchtower has had 4 different explanations of what the generation is. One more explanation wouldn't be a surprise at all, especially since the current understanding doesn't appear to be well accepted among many dedicated JWs.
would someone please explain the current interpretation of the generation.
this topic is one that is causing alot of confussion and turmoil.
jwn, you.
@ Djeggnog,
You said to Billy the Ex-Bethelite, after he quoted from the Insight book (published in 1988), using the 2010 Watchtower CD,
"It does occur to me, @BillyEB, that since you have the "2010 WT Lib CD," you could just as well have quoted something more current, such as something from the above-referenced article, which would have been consistent with how Jehovah's Witnesses now understand Matthew 24:34, instead of quoting something that is now useless, obsolete."
If the Society considers information in the Insight volumes to be "something that is now useless, obsolete", then why are these volumes still being published in the Watchtower CD for present day distribution and study? Billy's point was that Watchtower's beliefs are ever changing, and he made that point regarding the past and present meanings of generation; the fact that you now consider the Insight books to be "useless and obsolete" demonstrates that.
Then, Dj, you said to him,
"Are you just trolling me or was there some point you wanted to make? If you are just having fun, that's fine, too, but perhaps you might consider getting yourself a ball."
Honestly Dj, why do you engage in such name calling? Billy is anything but a troll. His counter arguments to your points make a great deal of sense. And your remark that he should get a ball to play with, after admitting he is not a "stupid guy," is just plain insulting. If you are to be taken seriously, why do you make these childish remarks? They are completely off base and suggest you have no better response to a well reasoned post than to fire back with name calling and insults.
I really think you owe Billy an apology, not that I expect you go give him one.
To finish off your remarks to him, you declared yourself to not be a troll. I am a little stunned at some of the things you have said on this site, in this thread and others. I have known Jehovha's Witnesses for over 40 years, and I don't think I have ever met one as insulting as you. You're not a troll? You don't come across as a sincere JW either.
i'm interested to know common phrases jehovah's witnesses use, but don't actually apear in the bible (even the nwt).
especially phrases most jw's would assume are in the bible.
e.g.. "paradise earth".
- Heavenly Class
- Earthly Class
- All the other "Classes" that Watchtower has used over the decades.
would someone please explain the current interpretation of the generation.
this topic is one that is causing alot of confussion and turmoil.
jwn, you.
@ Amelia Ashton,
Very funny using Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.
"...until further notice it is D!"
Considering all the understandings of the 'generation' Watchtower has had, you would think that even adamant Jehovah's Witnesses would be a little timid in defending the overlapping version. If a new edition of the understanding is released, which is not out of the question, some of them will just as adamantly defend it too.
I wish they could all see their past history without the organizational spin.
i've read it twice, and also "in search of christian freedom".
that's probably why i wasn't "afraid" to read it.. my question, which has bothered me for years is...how do you get a j.w.
to read crisis of conscience?
@ Ding,
I like those questions!
i've read it twice, and also "in search of christian freedom".
that's probably why i wasn't "afraid" to read it.. my question, which has bothered me for years is...how do you get a j.w.
to read crisis of conscience?
Hubert said, "...I got a "stearn warning".....back off or lose us. So, I backed off. She knows where I'm coming from, unfortunately."
You have planated seeds. It may take some time for them to grow. Getting someone out of a high control religion like Watchtower isn't quick.
In time they may develop doubts, or see something that isn't right in the organization, or otherwise detect a crack in Watchtower. When that time comes they will remember some of the information that you gave them, and will be ready for more.
Remember that the religion of JWs is a lifestyle. Strong friendships have developed. Rejecting the religion amounts to rejecting everything in their lives, including the only assosiates they have, something people will be reluctant to do.
I believe most JWs who have been in the organization for any length of time have doubts (if they are thinking at all), but the control of the religion is enough to over power them. As they get older they will see things more clearly, and at the same time will be more willing and able to take a stand for what is right.
You never know when the seeds will grow, but as you have seen it's best not to push too hard or you will alienate them. It's a balancing act, and it takes patience.
this book has been out of print for some time, causing used copies to sell for $100 and more.
the price of these new ones is much more reasonable.. hard cover, $30 here.. soft cover, $26 here.. shipping is free, and ray franz' widow, cynthia, is the seller..
Paperback CoC in stock again, here.
Thanks for that web address. How could such a severe result happen because of driving a vehicle into a ditch? It's senseless.
how have the numbers of the anointed been doing - staying steady or finally declining?
that was always a puzzle to me how that could stay so steady..
@00DAD,
I like your list. Much easier to make sense of that way.
how have the numbers of the anointed been doing - staying steady or finally declining?
that was always a puzzle to me how that could stay so steady..
Here are a few references that the sealing of the 144,000 (little flock) was supposed to end in 1935, and that from then on it was the great crowd that was being gathered.
(W 5-15-2001, p15)
Prior to 1935, an increasing number of those who responded to the Bible’s message and showed zeal in preaching the good news manifested an interest in living forever on the Paradise earth. They had no desire to go to heaven, for God had not given them the hope of heavenly life. Their identifying themselves with the great crowd of other sheep indicated that by 1935 the calling of the 144,000 anointed Christians was virtually complete.—Revelation 7:4.
( W 2-15-1995 p19, par6)
Logically, the calling of the little flock would draw to a close when the number was nearing completion, and the evidence is that the general gathering of these specially blessed ones ended in 1935. However, the other sheep in the time of the end were prophesied to grow to be “a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.” Since 1935 the general gathering by Jehovah has been of this great crowd, whose hope is everlasting life on a paradise earth.
(W 3-15-1972 p171, par11)
However, especially since 1935 there has been the gathering of God’s larger family, the “great crowd” having the earthly hope, that John saw after the sealing of the 144,000.
