Vidqun

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Posts by Vidqun

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  90

  Can this logic be refuted?

  by notsurewheretogo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was an elder until march 2012 until i resigned.

  i then stopped going to meetings in october 2012 and have enjoyed 9 months of freedom that i have found to be jouful!

  i loved learning ttatt and sites like this and jwfacts.com have been excellent.. i told the elders that i needed a break and that they should not contact me unless it was a social visit and true to their word they have done that.

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  Vidqun

  Notsurewheretogo, welcome! I agree with Nugget. They're not interested in logic. You either toe the line or you're out.
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  25

  NEW ARTICLE - Commentary on Daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4.

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ive just published on my website a commentary on daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4, concerning nebuchadnezzars dreams of the statue and the great tree.

  its titled: the most high rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

  (click the title for link).

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  Vidqun

  Eden, I agree with your view of `olam. I have researched its development, and you're right. The root of the word means "hidden." But it would be unwise to build your arguments on this word, because its meaning would change over time (I removed the Hebrew fonts, they don't transfer well).

  Times indefinite. Hidden or remote time. Aram. (sing.) or (plur.); 2 44b ; Heb. sometimes m., pl.—what is hidden; specially hidden time, long; the beginning or end of which is either uncertain or else not defined. 2 44a never. According to context, it could point to: 1) Of time long past, antiquity, e.g., Deut. 32:7; Am. 9:11; Mic. 7:14; Is. 63:9. 2) Mostly it refers to future time, in such a manner, that what is called the terminus ad quem, is always defined from the nature of the thing itself.

  Its etymology has been and remains disputed or at best uncertain, and the various studies suggest that no real progress has been made. Following E. Jenni, most scholars translate `oulam as “long time” or “farthest, remotest time.” Various nuances of this translation must then also be distinguished contextually. See TDOT, vol. X, p. 531. [1]

  [1]

  The book of Daniel contains 5 occurrences in Hebrew (9:24; 12:2[bis]; 3, 7), 18 in Aramaic (2:4, 20[bis], 44[bis]; 3:9; 4:3; 4:34[bis]; 5:10; 6:6, 21, 26; 7:14, 18[ter], 27) of which 9:24 (Hebrew) and 2:4, 44; 3:9; 5:10; 6:6, 21, 26 (Aramaic) as well as one of the occurrences in 7:18 are plural. Dnl. 2:4; 3:9; 5:10; 6:21 belong to the royal greeting (cf. also 6:6). Dnl. 2:44; 4:3; 4:34, and 6:26 also make clear that the concern (as in the book of Daniel in a larger sense) is not only with the coming divine rule “forever,” but also with extolling the present and the future rule as being perpetual.

  The assertion that “everlasting righteousness” (9:24) will be brought to the people and the city (cf. 11QPs a 16) then focuses more unequivocally on the new future, and Dnl. 2:44; 7:14, 18; 12:2f. make clear that, and how, the present “age of the world” will end and the new age (this age too, as the final one!) will commence. At that time “many” will be raised to “everlasting life” (12:2), others to everlasting shame and contempt.

  Resurrection thus functions here as a solution to the problem of theodicy [2] [2] and as instrument for balancing things out between the good and the wicked, neither of whom will or may be permitted to end with death only. Here `oulam/`alam acquires the meaning of “world/age of the world” (cf. already Ps. 104:5; 148:6; Is. 40:28), something that then developed further in early Jewish literature. See TDOT, vol. X, pp. 542, 543, and TDNT, vol. I, pp. 202-206 under aioun, aiouvios.

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  [1]

  According to TDOT, vol. XI, p. 149, an etymological relationship between `lm and `oulam seems unlikely.However, I believe that the word is indeed semantically related to the verb `alam and the noun ta`älumâ belonging to the semantic field “to hide.”

  [2] Theodicy (= God + justice): “A justification of the existence, justice, and goodness of God in the light of the existence of evil” (cf. Webster).

  Yes, Nabonidus (iron) and Belshazzar (clay) fit the picture. Belshazzar's knees turned to jelly (clay) when he saw the hand writing on the wall.

  But coming back to Dan. 2: First of all, the stone striking the image, pulverized it. Even though the Babylonians were subjugated, as a nation they continued to exist (cf. Dan. 7:12). Secondly, the phrase "mixed with the seed of mankind," (Dn. 2:43) in connection with the iron and clay, point to people not mixing (because of different ideologies?). Some of the seeds (or offspring) were of iron variety, and some were of clay variety. Not sure about your application here. Nabonidus would share his kingdom with Belshazzar willingly.

  That brings me to the different metals. Nebuchadnezzar was the supreme autocrat. His word was law. He decided whether you lived or died. But in connection with the Medes and Persians, Darius could not save his friend Daniel because the order was promulgated into law, and not even the king could change that (same happened in Esther’s case). Now what about Alexander the Great? He surrounded him with his generals and they would decide on strategy together. Certainly the autocracy became watered down over the years. Law, generals and advisors began to have more and more say.
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  25

  NEW ARTICLE - Commentary on Daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4.

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ive just published on my website a commentary on daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4, concerning nebuchadnezzars dreams of the statue and the great tree.

  its titled: the most high rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

  (click the title for link).

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  Vidqun

  Flamegrilled, I agree. Take it a step further:

  Potter’s art work vs. Democratization: At the formation of the feet and toes of the statue, the first stage would call for iron ingredients to be mixed with wet clay, for these to be moulded into shape . The second phase would call for the image to be kiln-baked or sun dried . Now the clay would be become rock hard, i.e., ceramic. As the image would be growing older, the weight of the image would cause the clay component to become brittle. During the initial stages of the democratization process, (government) structures would be soft, malleable and pliable, like wet clay. After a time of experimentation and implementation, these structures would become established, i.e., the ceramic stage. As these grew older, becoming more liberal and top-heavy, i.e., badly balanced or proportioned, or heavily indebted, these would become brittle.
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  25

  NEW ARTICLE - Commentary on Daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4.

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ive just published on my website a commentary on daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4, concerning nebuchadnezzars dreams of the statue and the great tree.

  its titled: the most high rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

  (click the title for link).

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  Vidqun

  This is where Daniel's world view comes in. At that stage the issue was rulership of the "inhabited earth" in the vicinity of "the beautiful land," i.e., Israel (cf. Dan. 4:20). This heathen king would be used by God as an instrument to punish his people. If I read the text correctly, God humored him for some reason. Like you said, he was very proud, and an absolute monarch. He is the head of pure gold, ruling as a pure autocrat. The kingdoms after him were less rigid and less autocratic. They had advisors and laws that greatly influenced the king's decisions. Remember also Cyrus the Persian, a pagan, called God's anointed (Is. 45:1).

  So, I don't find it unusual for God revealing secrets to pagans. After all, the Israelites, prophets included, were disobedient and lost their status as a theocracy. If you go through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel you will see what I mean. Judah and Israel were in God's bad books. I view Amos (3:7) as a statement, not a law. Quite a few Messianic prophecies had been given before Daniel's time. This one would be different because of the detail. Dan. 2:39 makes clear the interpretation. There will be other kingdoms after the Babylonian kingdom.
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  25

  NEW ARTICLE - Commentary on Daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4.

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ive just published on my website a commentary on daniel chapters 2, 3 and 4, concerning nebuchadnezzars dreams of the statue and the great tree.

  its titled: the most high rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

  (click the title for link).

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  Vidqun

  I agree with Flamegrilled. Dan. 2 can only refer to the Messianic kingdom according to the language used in Dan. 2:44, 45. I view the prohecy of Daniel as a unit and interpret it as such. Here also one should keep in mind Daniel's "world view" in connection with God's people. A good example is the formulaic expression be’acharith hayyamim, generally used in the sense “time to come” (e.g., Gen. 49:1), then the “future,” and “the end of time” as we know it (e.g., Dan. 2:28; 10:14; cf. Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1; Hos. 3:5; Ezek. 38:16). In Dan. 8: 17, 19 it is connected to the end time. See TDOT, vol. VI, pp. 19, 20.
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  41

  Hi! I'm new here.

  by abbasgreta in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have so enjoyed all your threads and input this last year!

  i really feel like i know you all.

  very briefly, all four of us left da troof exactly one year ago and dissed ourselves within days.

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  Vidqun

  Welcome Greta. Be ready to fly, after dropping the weights of the WT. The sky is the limit...
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  52

  A Cry for Help

  by Thoughtless in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been lurking here for months now, and i just decided to post here and actually interact with this community.

  i have a very specific/unordinary life, so i will not divulge too much information to protect my privacy.

  i am a baptized publisher who is under the age of 25 who attends college, and i do have responsiblities within the congregation.

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  Vidqun

  Welcome Thoughtless! Good advice all round. Allow me to repeat for emphasis: KEEP YOUR CARDS CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST. DO NOT CONFIDE IN A JWS, ESPECIALLY MS, ELDER OR CO. THEY DO NOT HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. THEIR BLIND LOYALTY TO THEIR ORGANIZATION MAKES THEM DANGEROUS.
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  73

  What on earth happened to the magazines?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for the first time in years today.

  to say that it took me five minutes to read the whole thing would be to flatter the rag.

  it doesn't even seem to contain actual articles any more, just headings and bullet points and pictures.

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  Vidqun

  While I was still in, I wondered about the simple, "meatless" fare they were dishing up. Not long after that, an article came out that explained it. The GB is only responsible to offer newbies basic truths. However, Corinthians remind us that if you build with flammable materials your house is going to go up in flames. Today I have a new WT. It's called Time Magazine. It's much more informative and up-to-date.
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  49

  Hello and my exit story from WTS

  by free2Bme13 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i thought it was fitting for me to share my freedom from the witnesses story on independence day weekend.. i dont have any secret info, just experiences that happened to me and started to open my eyes.. i was a third generation, raised in the truth kid who was never supposed to be born, and then never supposed to graduate high school.

  ive now been out of high school longer than i was in school.. the beginning of the end started a little less than a decade ago.

  i was late 20s at the time.

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  Vidqun

  All idiots of the world unite! That is the call of COs all over the world. I know one shouldn't generalize, but most of them are pathetic. Free2Bme, glad to hear that your family is in tact, after breaking free. I agree, the JW God is not one I'd like to worship. As somebody mentioned, own a gun in case you survive Armageddon into a JW world, so you can commit suicide.
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  41

  Passed my Post Grad with 'Outstanding' grade! Shows it's never too late.

  by Lozhasleft in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just had the official results on my pgce.

  i'm not posting here to boast, but to encourage any who may have abandoned education because of the pressure as a jw, and who may feel that it's too late to return and achieve such goals.

  in the 1980s i stopped halfway through my b.ed honours and accepted a dip.h.e.

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  Vidqun

  Lozhasleft, congratulations. You are an inspiration to those that thinks it is too late to study. It's never too late to study.