Posts by The Searcher

23

Hey everyone

by coffee_black in

jw
friends

popping in to say hi.... been away from the forum for a long time.... had some serious health issues starting at the beginning of this year.

on the mend now, and getting back into the swing of things.... great to be alive!.

The Searcher

Nice to hear good news from our friends. Hope your joy of life keeps increasing!

24

Been witnessing today - first time in over 2 years!!

by The Searcher in

and it felt wonderful!!.

i went into the city to where i knew there was a "cosmopolitan witnessing" trolley, because i wanted to ask a simple bible-based question.

the trolley was attended by an elder and a sister who was another elder's wife.

I went into the city to where I knew there was a "Cosmopolitan witnessing" trolley, because I wanted to ask a simple Bible-based question. The trolley was attended by an elder and a sister who was another elder's wife. (Her elder husband was standing idly by leaning against a wall, about 20 feet away)

I was immediately offered literature by the elder - but I politely declined. I asked if he would answer a question for me, and he said that that was what he was there for.

Question: Your organization teaches that Christ will reign over the earth for 1000 years - how different will life be on earth?

Answer: Very different. No more crime, violence, or wars.

I then said that his organization's literature said differently - that people would be practicing vile things during Christ's reign.

He said that was nonsense, and that he'd never read anything like that in the publications! (in 40 years) I informed him that numerous WTBTS references regarding John 5:29 clearly stated that fact, and asked him to look at his WT Library. Sadly, he only had the online library on his gadget. I told him to check it on his CD ROM library at home.

After a lengthy discussion (going in circles) about the org's interpretation of John 5:29, he agreed that some people would practice vile deeds during the 1000 years. 1st U-turn!

The female J.W. tossed in Romans 6:7 and said that dead people were acquitted of their sins. I thanked her for quoting that verse, and said that if she read verses 2,4,6,8, & 11, she'd see the context showed that Paul was speaking about a figurative death - dying to a former sinful way of life!

I eventually got the elder to read verse 2 of Romans 6. After he read it, I asked him if he could now see that the "death" referred to in verse 7 was figurative, and he said "Yes, I can see it in the context." 2nd U-turn!

As the discussion was drawing to a close, his voice changed and he said, "Searcher, the tone of the conversation has changed, and you're having a go at our organization. You are free to write to our organization and ask them any of your questions."

Putting the spotlight on the Brooklyn golden calf was starting to get to him, so I thanked him for his time and walked away.

For my own benefit, I used a concealed voice recorder for the discussion.

Bottom line - He thought he understood 2 of his org's dogmas which I asked about, and tried his best to defend the org.

Witnessing for the org was never this good!

13

New Dead Sea Scrolls revealed -never before seen Nehemiah - 586 BCE Destruction of Jerusalem

by RetiredLE in

25 new dead sea scrolls revealed including never before seen nehemiah - 586 b.c.e.

destruction of jerusalem... oops.... http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/10/11/25-new-dead-sea-scrolls-revealed.html.

nehemiah.

The Searcher

Sadly, it's FOX news who is ascribing the date of 586 B.C., and not the scrolls themselves.

Interesting article, though.

29

Beth Sarim

by HereIgo in

how many of you know about this san diego mansion?

i just found out about it recently.

apparently it was built for old testament faithful men to live in upon resurrection in 1925 such as abraham, moses etc.

The Searcher

p.s. Edmond C. Gruss (1970). Apostles of Denial (PDF). Presbyterian & Reformed. p. 226. [Beth-Sarim was built] to give sagging hopes for the princes' return a boost.

29

Beth Sarim

by HereIgo in

how many of you know about this san diego mansion?

i just found out about it recently.

apparently it was built for old testament faithful men to live in upon resurrection in 1925 such as abraham, moses etc.

The Searcher

So if Rutherford had been correct about the resurrection taking place in 1925, where were Abraham and the others to live for the next 4 years? According to Wiki, Beth Sarim wasn't built until 1929.

WIKIPEDIA - Beth Sarim (Hebrew בית שרים "House of the Princes") is a ten-bedroom mansion in San Diego, California, constructed in 1929 in anticipation of various resurrected Old Testament biblical patriarchs or prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and Samuel.

16

The Org is Growing???? Really???????

by The Searcher in

watchtower january 2017 - par.

15 - "we live in exciting times.

the earthly part of jehovah’s organization is growing in many ways, but growth necessitates change.".

The Searcher

Watchtower January 2017 - Par. 15 - "We live in exciting times. The earthly part of Jehovah’s organization is growing in many ways, but growth necessitates change."

Apart from the org's bank balance, where is the growth? Every aspect of the WTBTS has contracted - Branch offices, full time J.W.'s, Kingdom Halls, meetings, assemblies, magazine production, literature production, talking to people about the Bible. (trolley-zombies rarely talk!)

The org's sense of reason has also contracted!

Repeat a myth often enough and some people might believe it.

13

The Writing Committee Needs Higher Education!!!

by The Searcher in

watchtower january 2017 - how was fire transported in ancient times?.

"the biblical account found at genesis 22:6 states that, in order to prepare to offer a sacrifice at a distant location, abraham "took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son isaac.

then he took in his hands the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.

The Searcher

Watchtower January 2017 - How was fire transported in ancient times?

"THE Biblical account found at Genesis 22:6 states that, in order to prepare to offer a sacrifice at a distant location, Abraham "took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took in his hands the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together." No mention is made in the Scriptures of the method used to light fires in ancient times. Regarding the account in question, at least one commentator believes that a flame could "scarcely have been kept going throughout the long journey" that Abraham and Isaac made. Thus, it may be that what is referred to is the equipment needed for producing fire. Others point out, however, that it was not a simple thing to kindle a fire in ancient times. People would have found it easier, where possible, to get a hot ember from their neighbors rather than try to start a fire on their own. A number of scholars thus believe that what Abraham carried was a vessel - perhaps a pot suspended from a chain - that contained live coals or charcoal embers raked from the preceding night’s fire. (Isa. 30:14) Glowing embers transported in such a way could readily be used with tinder wood to rekindle a fire at any point along a journey."

6

FOLLOWING/WALKING BEHIND

by somebody in

jw
friends

according to this publication published by none other than those who want to gain followers of themselves, christ assigned the preaching work to themselves and not jehovah's witnesses.. *** w07 4/1 pp.

24-25 loyal to christ and his faithful slave ***.

giving loyal support.

The Searcher

Sticking with the habit of a lifetime, the org perverts scriptures and speaks out of both sides of its mouth when "explaining" verses..

Case in point: When discussing 2 Corinthians 5:20 - "Therefore, we are ambassadors substituting for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us. As substitutes for Christ, we beg: "Become reconciled to God," they claim that the ambassadors are only the elite "anointed" J.W.'s.

Logically, can the work assigned to such "ambassadors" only be carried out by them?

Nope. The org invents a subservient title for non-anointed and introduces the title of "envoys" into the J.W. psyche, in order to convince the rank & file that they must share in the unique ambassadorial work!

Note to lurkers: The org loves to take the high ground when pointing out some of Christendom's unscriptural vocabulary, such as "immortal soul," "hell-fire," "immortality of the soul", and "trinity."

Guess what? Not only are "governing body," "new scrolls", and "judicial committee" not found in the Bible, but neither is the word "envoy" used in the Bible to describe a Christian.

If they claim that only they are the ambassadors, let them do it all. It's their job, not yours!

21

Hypothetical: If WTS Reformed...?

by Cold Steel in

as i said in the subject line, this is purely hypothetical.

what do you think would happen if the wtbts leaders decided to reboot some of the organization's more controversial practices.

not that they would deny their claims to be jehovah's earthly representatives, nor the key elements of their eschatology; but in administrative outlooks.

The Searcher

I firmly believe that the org's major doctrinal reversals in recent years - especially those in the Watchtower July 15 2013 - not only provides cast iron proof to faders (if needed!) that these charlatans never represented any god but themselves, but also drives a wedge of doubt into many J.W.'s minds, as testified by the growing numbers on sites like this.

Keep it up WTBTS!

15

WOW - 18 Elders in ONE congregation!!!

by The Searcher in

hazel grove congregation in stockport, cheshire, u.k.. not only is the congregation saturated with elders, it is/was pretty well saturated with cash - according to its 2014 financial statement to the charities commission.

http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/accounts/ends82/0001066282_ac_20140331_e_c.pdf.

its elders are listed as frank broadhurst, nick ashton, nigel bailey, noel crossley, peter davies.

The Searcher

Hazel Grove congregation in Stockport, Cheshire, U.K.

Not only is the congregation saturated with Elders, it is/was pretty well saturated with cash - according to its 2014 financial statement to the Charities Commission. http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends82/0001066282_AC_20140331_E_C.pdf

Its Elders are listed as Frank Broadhurst, Nick Ashton, Nigel Bailey, Noel Crossley, Peter Davies. Nick Gould, Jack Hallard, Jack Lewty, RoyLoxton, Rob MacCrea, Mark Meredith, Jeremy Richmond, Alan Rowbotham, Carl Rowbotham, Paul Sidebotham, Dave Simpkin, Pom Srisuthikul, & Dave Torkington.

Its financial statement also included this info:

" A legacy of £42,075.58, a gift aid tax refund of £1,244.75, a congregation donation to WTBTS for new bibles and witnessing stands of £750, kitchen refurbishment of £1500 and finally, we have £264,000 in trust with the WTBTS."

I wonder how much of this cash has now been "donated" to the org - thanks to an Elders' recommendation to the flock?

Anyone know of a congregation with more Elders than this?