Posts by Vidqun

32

Who are the 144,000? Considering the immediate context of Revelation chapter 7

by raymond frantz in

who are the 144,000?

a critical examination of the teaching of the 144,000 from the perspective of an ex jx considering context and other references .this is from a series of videos called new light where i scrutinise all the major teachings of the watchtower.. https://youtu.be/aaseuzr-sxs.

Vidqun

Raymond, I enjoyed your explanation. Like you, I have done a reconstruction of JW Theology. I agree with you, this passage is literal. The number is also important, because John "saw" the number and "heard" the number (Rev. 7:4; 14:1).

Here's something that you will find interesting. If this is the case and the chapters follow each other in chronological order, then the sealing is to be a future event and the interpretation of JWs is wrong.

"The transition between aforementioned chapters of Revelation [6 & 7] is introduced by the Greek phrase Καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο (Rev. 7:1 Tischendorf’s New Testament, 8th edition; cf. NA28 footnote), “and after this,” “this” referring to the breaking of the sixth seal, specifically the kings of the earth and their followers, finding refuge in their underground shelters (Rev. 6:15-17)."

And as you remarked, the Israel of God must come first. The 144000 is taken out of the Israel of God (Gal. 6:15, 16). That means the Israel of God must come together before the great tribulation, or am I wrong to assume that?

22

Saving "mark" on forehead: A CROSS?

by Terry in

ezekiel 9:4.

“go throughout the city of jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

in the script used during old testament times it was either in x shape or a + shape.

Vidqun

Hi Blondie, good to hear from you. According to context, first and foremost application should belong to those earmarked to survive the Babylonian occupation, especially the destruction of Jerusalem. The chapter before discusses the disgusting things being done in the temple. The chapter after describes how God and throne accompaniment abandon Jerusalem. To add to this, there is no reference of this occurrence in the NT. So, to apply this to the individual's survival of this system is a long shot. In my mind it's a case of going beyond the things that were written (cf. 1 Cor. 4:6b). Peter did connect the survival of a person with baptism though, but connecting it to the survival of Noah and family (1 Pet. 3:20, 21).

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

In the past, as today, few engage in critical thinking. The majority prefer to be sheeples, following their leaders, usually to their detriment. However, somebody remarked that those without a strong spiritual grounding (whatever that means) are more liable to follow their leaders for guidance (instead of their conscience). I think if you are born in a situation, it is difficult rising out from it and following a different course in life. One just doesn't know what motivates people, and I'm glad I'm not the judge, deciding a person's fate. I will not know where to start. Most ex-JWs do exercise critical thinking, so we are "more experienced" in it, but we are the exception to the rule and a very small percentage of the whole. That's why I believe Jesus is a good choice as judge, because he has experience being human and will be able to sympathize with our plight.

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

That's what the quest for truth is all about. Unfortunately we are far removed from the actual events, so one has to rely on the written records. To assess a persons true motive from those is next to impossible. What I do know from Early Church history is that many Christians lost their lives, especially during the rule of Nero, Domitian and Diocletian.

A great deal of our vocabulary comes from Latin and Greek, so feel free to include them. I believe in the value of word studies and make frequent use of Dictionaries and Lexicons.

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

Yes, well, it's called politics. Pity that it infiltrated the church. However, this was predicted by Paul (2 Thes. 2:1-12). Till this day the Catholic Church claims the succession of the Popes, from Peter to the current Pope. So each must decide to what extent current teachings and traditions influenced historians, writers and commentators, where to draw the line and what to believe. Opinions will differ, from those that are total sceptics (modern scholarship) to those that believe all the handed down traditions (e.g., Catholics). I find myself in the middle, leaning towards the conservative side. I believe two sayings: 1) "Where there is smoke there is fire." 2) Allow for the benefit of the doubt if at all possible. This is closer to history, so scientific method will not necessarily work. Nevertheless, some of the principles could be applied. In my mind one could elevate one's beliefs up to the "theory" stage.

Scientific method starts with the postulation of a theory (the word theorem; theory being derived from Greek theoureou ‘I look at, behold.’ See also Greek ‘’ide ‘See! Behold!’ and Latin video ‘I see’) or hypothesis (from Greek hypotithenai to put under, suppose). The process would include astute observation and careful accumulation of available evidence. From these a theory or hypothesis could either be proved or rejected. [To the contrary, preconceived ideas would pose a threat to scientific method. These could prevent objective reasoning to take place, entice one to tamper with the evidence, cause one to adapt one’s data to suit the occasion or to ignore that which contradicts.]

hypothesis, theory, law mean a formula derived by inference from scientific data that explains a principle operating in nature. hypothesis implies insufficient evidence to provide more than a tentative explanation (a hypothesis explaining the extinction of the dinosaurs). theory implies a greater range of evidence and greater likelihood of truth (the theory of evolution). law implies a statement of order and relation in nature that has been found to be invariable under the same conditions (the law of gravitation). See Webster.

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

No,Jeffro, not circular reasoning. It's called personal opinion, showing respect to the departed.

Peacefulpete, actually it has to do with us, and not with God. How often do you read: "Let the reader use discernment," "this is where wisdom comes in" or "here is where intelligence that has wisdom comes in ["This requires a mind that has wisdom," NET], etc. (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; Rev. 13:18; 17:9 NW). Must admit, God doesn't make it easy. A miner has to dig to find hidden gems (cf. Prov. 2:3, 4). These are just two of many examples that I found when I started digging:

Dan. 12:11, 12 mentions a timeline. 1290 days +1335 days = 2625 days (2520 days + 105 days). This covers a period of 7 years + 3 1/2 months. Dan. 12:1 indicates the context, "the time of distress," later referred to as the "great tribulation." Only at the end of that period will one be happy.

"Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city that is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified." (Rev. 11:8 NET)

What "great city" is he referring to? Many commentators believe he is here talking about Jerusalem "where their Lord was also crucified." But actually it's more than that. Here he mentioned a symbolic city, called Sodom an Egypt, code for a world alienated from God. This city is mentioned later, where it is completely destroyed (cf. Rev. 16:19). So now when you read about the judgments against Egypt, these are very revealing when applying them to conditions in the world (cf. Is. 19; Ezek. 31, 32).

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

Polycarp was tortured and burnt at the stake. I can respect a person that takes a stand for what he believes and willing to pay with his life for the privilege. Of course those that came after him, for different reasons, might have added their own tail/tale to the story. There is enough evidence there for me to believe the kernel. For the rest, I have to allow for the "benefit of the doubt," because I was not there to verify such statements.

May I remind you, that is exactly the type of accusations that the Jews and now modern scholarship sling against Jesus and Christianity as a whole. Jesus was a prophet. His followers concocted the stories of the NT in order to deify him and rally the troops. If you follow that type of reasoning, then not much will remain of your faith.

I read through the Bible multiple times and can vouch for its veracity. Through study and prophecy I could confirm my findings. As a scientist, I had a problem with the theory of evolution. This forum helped me to work it out. I now know where I stand and what I believe. A appreciate reasonable and constructive criticism. What others say or do beyond that does not concern me in the least.

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

No, in my view MS and factual evidence would be wholly unrelated to interpretation. What I read today and my interpretation would be far removed from the interpretation of, for example, the Church Fathers. Each interprets the Bible in his/her own way, depending on personality, background, schooling and internal/external influences. Polycarp was killed for his faith, one of many. I would never dishonor a martyr by questioning his existence. This according to one of my sources:

The martyrdom of Polycarp, in 155 or 156, was an example of mob violence, to which Hadrian had been opposed. The occasion was the festival of the Commune Asiae, a notable anniversary of Caesar - worship of which Smyrna was a chief centre. There is good reason to suppose that the crowd, stirred by the ceremonies turned against the Christians as known opponents of the imperial cult, and the Asiarch, Philip, having tried in vain to induce the bishop to acknowledge Caesar as Lord, condoned the action of the mob by ordering Polycarp's execution.

The account according to Eusebius, a solid and reliable Church historian: The Early Christian Church by J. G. Davies. A lot of information there to write off as mere legend. In a court of law that would have gone down as a "reliable witness," with time, place and an accurate description of events.

50

WT May 2022: The Seven Headed Beast

by raymond frantz in

.

https://youtu.be/wg9-pvxsoqm.

this is my take on may 2022 watchtower on the seven headed beast and its connection to the 4 beasts of daniel 7. what do you think?.

Vidqun

As I said, I go with the first set of witness, closest to the discussed event. The further away from the event, the more embellishment of the facts. Same goes for the MSS. Oldest MSS usually the most reliable.

25

Vid obsession

by punkofnice in

i'm interested in your thoughts.. the media tells us a lot of agenda driven propaganda.

you're hard pressed to spot truth these days.. however, i'm told that the rona is now just a rotten flu and not the plague we were originally terrified in to believing.

last time i heard it was down in the hit parade to 16th nasty health thing.. all the people and family i know that have had the rona, have been complaining it's a very crappy flu.

Vidqun

Punkofnice, what you now see is herd immunity. That's how nature works. All come in contact with the virus and build up antibodies. And, unfortunately, like any epidemic, the old, frail and immuno-compromised die. As normal person, you have a 99.98 chance of not dying from the COVID virus. Even Bill Gates admitted that the new Omicron variant did a much better job at immunizing the people than their vaccines ever could. This miracle is known as "natural immunity," something that we and the animals are born with.