Posts by Sea Breeze

29

No Reporting of Time, Tithing is OK, Now WT Teaches a "Rapture" - What's Next?

by Sea Breeze in

those who will be taken to heaven will first need to be “changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.” therefore, while we do not use the term “rapture” here because of its wrong connotation, the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time.

- the watchtower—study edition | july 2015. ok so they refuse to use the word "rapture".

kinda like they refuse to use the word church and clergy (except when it suits their purposes in court cases).

Sea Breeze

I agree Biahi. I think that the WT war on the Pinata may be a good next step.

g71 6/22 pp. 23-24 The Piñata and Its Use

"We want to know more about the piñata. What is its origin? Why is it used in Mexico and other Latin-American countries? Is there any significance to breaking it? The origin of piñatas is not definitely known"....

The WT astutely recognizes that the origins of the pinata are not really known. But, what is known is that it has been used on festive occasions, sometimes in connection with Christmas and a nine-day Joseph & Mary Christmas tradition in some countries named Posada.

WT noted:

"Nowadays the Posada in Mexico features disorder, drunkenness and criminal activity. The celebrations are used as an excuse for wild and immoral living. Persons frequently are killed, and others are robbed and injured.".

There was no mention in the article about the hundreds of millions of children who benefitted from its use during fun-filled family get-togethers, nor of the millions of JW children made to needlessly suffer while they look out their windows watching "worldly" kids having fun with their family and friends.

Pinatas are the new children's birthday party staple | Daily Telegraph

29

No Reporting of Time, Tithing is OK, Now WT Teaches a "Rapture" - What's Next?

by Sea Breeze in

those who will be taken to heaven will first need to be “changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.” therefore, while we do not use the term “rapture” here because of its wrong connotation, the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time.

- the watchtower—study edition | july 2015. ok so they refuse to use the word "rapture".

kinda like they refuse to use the word church and clergy (except when it suits their purposes in court cases).

Sea Breeze

those who will be taken to heaven will first need to be “changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.” Therefore, while we do not use the term “rapture” here because of its wrong connotation, the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time. - The Watchtower—Study Edition | July 2015

Ok so they refuse to use the word "rapture". Kinda like they refuse to use the word church and clergy (except when it suits their purposes in court cases). But, it's the same thing.

Where is the clean, spot-free organization I grew up in? Do regular R&F JW's see the vast difference between the org of 25 years ago and the one we see today?

Could Christmas or birthdays ever be recovered? Previously, I would have said "no way". Now, the recent changes make me wonder what else is possible.

What will be the next main-streaming of the organization?

46

What do you think?

by Tahoe in

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Sea Breeze

If You Are Struggling In Your Business You Need To Read This

JW's are just tired of working for their salvation in my opinion. I think a lot of people are starting to see the simplicity of Christ.

2 Cor. 11: 3 - I fear... as the serpent deceived Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It is also a far superior offer than what the WT requires:

"In effect, Jesus also conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) We need to take this guidance and direction seriously, for our everlasting life depends on our obedience." Watchtower 2014 Aug 15 p.21

But God's word says the opposite of the WT:

to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4: 4-5).

It is your singular belief that saves you. Why does God require belief instead of obedience in order to be saved? Simple, While I cannot always be obedient, I can always believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In Acts 16:31, a man asked the apostle Paul how to be saved. Paul’s simple response was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” The way to follow God’s plan of salvation is to believe. That is the only requirement (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). God has provided for our salvation through Jesus Christ, not an organization. All we must do is receive it, by faith, fully trusting in Jesus alone as Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

That is God’s simple plan of salvation. When we reject it, there will always be someone willing to accomodate our disbelief and provide a hampster wheel for us to sweat on for them instead. The WT is not the only hampster wheel to choose from ya know.

5

WT and Deathbed Salvation?

by Vanderhoven7 in

eight million jehovah's witnesses do not believe they are saved, so how can they in short order tell you how to get saved on your deathbed?.

instead, they might tell you, “look you are about to die and the great tribulation has not started yet, so you don't need to repent and believe anything really.

just die and your death will pay for your sins and unless you have sinned against the holy spirit, you will be raised along with most everybody else and learn from others such as abraham, isaac and jacob, how to live for the kingdom during the 1000 year reign of christ.

Sea Breeze

Sadly, JWs would rather you trust the words of men instead of the words of Jesus Christ.

I think about that all the time. Heretics were around while the apostles were still alive. Imagine that! In utter disregard for their own life, they were convinced they had the truth.

Some people just have a natural contrarian personality. Psychologists call this ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). These are the kinds of people that say black when you say white. Or, they say "down" if you say "up". Or, if they hear a story, they turn it into a story about themselves.

While this cannot explain all of the reasons people put their trust into men instead of Jesus, I think it explains a lot of JW's.

People also use the mental device known as "suppression". Others, are just straight up gullible and proud of it. They interpret their gullibility as good-heartedness, and being righteous. These are the people who will say, without any investigation, "it has the ring of truth". That's what my dad told me when I asked him why he joined the WT.

The bible just calls them fools.

Pr. 28: 26 - He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” - Gal. 1: 8

33

Museum Pic

by peacefulpete in

a lot of ink has been spilled on the topic of the cross.

the wt felt it had uncovered some deep conspiracy when they found a number of words were used to describe how jesus was understood to have been killed.

there was an extensive thread many years ago that in short strongly supports the conclusion that at least some nt writers envisioned a cross, while others had a tree in mind.

Sea Breeze

@ peacefulpete

We all due respect, I believe your mind is broken.

33

Museum Pic

by peacefulpete in

a lot of ink has been spilled on the topic of the cross.

the wt felt it had uncovered some deep conspiracy when they found a number of words were used to describe how jesus was understood to have been killed.

there was an extensive thread many years ago that in short strongly supports the conclusion that at least some nt writers envisioned a cross, while others had a tree in mind.

Sea Breeze

@peacefulpete

Religious "truth" is not measured by eye witnesses, but by the elevating of people's value and love.

This is a self defeating statement. How do ytou know if your statement is true?

You use a lot sophistry in describing Christianity.

The simple facts are that a man who was prophesied to be god, did a bunch of miracles healing people and claimed that he would resurrect himself from the dead after he was murdered. Then, he did it. He was viewed as the Creator in the flesh from the earliest believers, especially after showing himself to hundreds of people after he came back from the dead, therefore leaving behind a huge group of eye-witnesses. People liked what he taught about freedom and unending life and were inclined to put their ultimate trust in him instead of themselves, religious leaders, inadequet philosophies, or really anything else.

There is a lot to like about all that, especially since there is sound historical documentation that supports it. Why would anyone place their ultimate trust in someone, or something with no power to defeat death? Kinda, gets Jesus out in front of all the competetion doesn't it?

For instance, these miracles of Jesus are far more believable than the miracles that secular materialists believe in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krBhwImfPnU&ab_channel=CreationMinistriesInternational

6

The Power Beyond What Is Normal

by IWant2Know in

Sea Breeze

Mind over matter? That's a pretty good description of the JW mindset. The good people are "strong" in the truth. Bad people are "weak" in the truth.

Scripture simply describes this as a fake humility and "will worship".

Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility - Col. 2:23 KJV

They put on a good show, but in reality only worship their will power and callousness.

Because thinking that I could or should fulfill what those verses and other similar verses were saying, was one of the most painful things for me when I was a JW.

Me too. It was unbearable. That's why Jesus said you must be born again.

33

Museum Pic

by peacefulpete in

a lot of ink has been spilled on the topic of the cross.

the wt felt it had uncovered some deep conspiracy when they found a number of words were used to describe how jesus was understood to have been killed.

there was an extensive thread many years ago that in short strongly supports the conclusion that at least some nt writers envisioned a cross, while others had a tree in mind.

Sea Breeze

Alexamenos graffito

In the Palatine museum in Rome there is a collection of ancient graffiti etched on slabs of marble and limestone that once defaced the walls of palaces and public buildings across the Roman Empire. Among these is one that historians call “Alexamenos graffito”. It depicts a roughly drawn figure of a man with the head of an ass crucified on a cross. Next to the crucified figure is a smaller figure with one arm extended towards the former. Underneath the figures is a caption, written in equally crude letters, that reads “ΑΛΕ ξΑΜΕΝΟϹ ϹΕΒΕΤΕ ϑΕΟΝ”, meaning “Alexamenos worshipping his God.”

Carved sometime between the first and the third centuries... The graffiti was discovered on a building complex that was unearthed in 1857 on the Palatine Hill in Rome.

Case Closed as far as I'm concerned.

Christians have been mocked since the beginning.

Post Script: Crosses carved in Pompeii date to before the eruption in 79AD which buired everything in a time capsule.

- Sea Breeze

74

Doctrines and Bible Interpretations

by IWant2Know in

i would like to know if ex's and formers who are not church christians, believe that many of jws' doctrines and bible interpretations are correct, or do you feel that they aren't?

.

Sea Breeze

but doesn't reading those promises incorrectly result in...everlasting destruction

@Iwant2know

I don't think that it is possible to read God's promises incorectly. They are clear enough. The problem is that for whatever reason, some choose not to receive them.

Do you receive the promises of God?

74

Doctrines and Bible Interpretations

by IWant2Know in

i would like to know if ex's and formers who are not church christians, believe that many of jws' doctrines and bible interpretations are correct, or do you feel that they aren't?

.

Sea Breeze

@IWant2Know

Well, I'm just wondering if that is a valid Hebrew scripture Messianic prophecy,

The nice thing about freedom is that you get to read the promises of God for yourself and choose whether or not to receive them. You don't need anyone's permission.

Jesus is quoting Ps. 118: 26. Here it is in context.

A stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This came about from the LORD;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

Please, O LORD, do save us;

Please, O LORD, do send prosperity!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;

We have blessed you [Jesus] from the house of the LORD.

Jesus knew that his first coming would be a curse for him - "cursed is every man that hangeth upon a tree"... (Gal. 3: 13; 2 Cor 5: 21)) Israel pronounced a curse upon their King and in so doing liberated all believing mankind from the authority of Hell. Because that verse also says he became a curse "for us" not just Adam..... thus satisfying the harsh demands of the LAW which is the death penalty for all who receive it.

When Jesus comes a second time, it will not to be to become a curse - but a blessing as he destroys the Anti-Christ and his human armies and demon hordes that gang up on the nation of Israel and squeeze them until they are literally begging Jesus to show up. As a nation they will have come all the way to their end. This is the time of Jacobs trouble. Not many Jews will be left, perhaps less than a third. But, enough will be left to welcome their Savior.

Roman 9: 27 - And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,

Christianity is just a parenthesis in the over-all plan of God. And what a marvellous parentheis it is. But, the main theme of the bible centers around the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as the replacement for King Adam who gave away his kingdom for little more than a whim from his wife.

Instead of a prison planet, the Milleniuim Reign will be a time of ubelievable freedom and peace as King Jesus shepards the nations with a rod of iron.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. - Ps. 86: 9