give military training to every refugee male of fighting age and send them to fight ISIS.
They did that for years for the people of Iran. When the US troops left, their US trained/supplied army fled like girls when faced with battle.
Posts by Perry
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38Hysterically tragic - the west stuffs up in Syria
by fulltimestudent ina former lebanese (christian) terrorist once told me a story (meant to be funny) about west asian politics.. a turtle was swimming past the shoreline of the red sea.
on the shore a scorpion calls out,"hey!
give me a lift over to the other side.
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Perry
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Angola BANS ISLAM and MUSLIMS. Calls it a sect.
by PaintedToeNail inangola has banned islam and closed the mosques, saying that it is a sect and counter to the culture of the country.. http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/163865/angola-bans-islam-shuts-down-mosques .
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Perry
The truly faithful to Mohammed are targeting and slaughtering Christians:
Boko Haram Kills 'Too Many to Count' in Nigeria
According to Amnesty International, the group's assault on a Nigerian border town may be its "deadliest act" yet.
it also looks like they are positioned to kill 200,000 Christians in this city according to U S Intelligence.
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9
Historical Meanings of Sheol & Hades
by Perry infor those of you interested in getting to the bottom of the watchtower's teaching on sheol, hades, condition of the dead etc.
; this information is about as good as it gets.
the idea of consciousness after death was widely accepted from israel's earliest times, contrary to what the watchtower would have its members believe.. the lexicographical evidence is so clear that the great princeton scholar, b. b. warfield; stated that with modern hebrew scholars, there is no hesitation to allow with all heartiness that israel from the beginning of its recorded history cherished the most settled conviction of the persistence of the soul in life after death.
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Perry
This is one area where the JWs actually made sense to me. I cannot reconcile a God of love torturing someone for eternity because they picked the wrong religion.
Lisa,
You have to consider that hades and sheol NEVER meant the "grave" or non existence. People, all people will never be able to cease being conscious ... whether they are in the body or not.
JW's go so far as to claim that when we die, we get a clean slate and will never face a personal judgment. Hebrews 9: 27 claims the opposite. God promises that he will judge righteously and correctly. JW's worship a false God, one that doesn't judge us personally. Being unconscious after death and never having to face a personal judgment are ideas that are certainly easier to accept to beings like ourselves who are guilty of violating many of our own standards, not to mention Gods'. The gift of morality carries great responsibility.
From the scriptures a person can certainly learn that hades is temporary and is not emptied until after the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus on earth is completed. That is when the "unrighteous" will be resurrected, their souls and bodies are reunited so that the whole person can stand before God and receive judgment.
The idea of a personal judgment is lacking in Watchtower theology. This is the reason that I was so totally bewildered at the doors when I would sometimes get asked if Jesus was my "personal" savior. I didn't understand the seeming obsession with Christians using that term.
Of course in makes perfect sense when a person understands that there will be a "personal" judgment.
Lots of things are incorrectly understood by our limited perception, until the correct standard is applied.
We perceive that squares A & B are different shades. However, when the correct standard is applied it is easy to see how unbeliveably IDENTICAL they really are. -
9
"The Ipcress Schizophrenia"
by The Searcher in8m + are undeniably being systematically instructed via talks & publications on how to speak out of both sides of their mouths!
i'm going to designate this practice as "the ipcress schizophrenia.
" (induction of psycho-neuroses by conditioned reflex under stress".
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Perry
They learn to speak out of both sides of their mouth because this how the Watchtower has always been. It is craziness. Speaking out of both sides of their mouth is nothing new.
I have been approaching JW's for years with this question:
Is it true that JW's are not part of the new covenant? Categorically, they answer that is NOT true. Only when pressed as to whether they partake of the bread and the wine do they come clean about not being a member of the New Covenant.
When they first answer this question no, and then later answer the same question yes, they appear as if I am the one with some sort of problem and raining on their parade.
....Which of course is true, but that's besides the point.
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Historical Meanings of Sheol & Hades
by Perry infor those of you interested in getting to the bottom of the watchtower's teaching on sheol, hades, condition of the dead etc.
; this information is about as good as it gets.
the idea of consciousness after death was widely accepted from israel's earliest times, contrary to what the watchtower would have its members believe.. the lexicographical evidence is so clear that the great princeton scholar, b. b. warfield; stated that with modern hebrew scholars, there is no hesitation to allow with all heartiness that israel from the beginning of its recorded history cherished the most settled conviction of the persistence of the soul in life after death.
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Perry
For those of you interested in getting to the bottom of the Watchtower's teaching on Sheol, Hades, condition of the dead etc.; this information is about as good as it gets.
The idea of consciousness after death was widely accepted from Israel's earliest times, contrary to what the Watchtower would have its members believe.
The lexicographical evidence is so clear that the great Princeton scholar, B. B. Warfield; stated that with modern Hebrew scholars, there is no “hesitation to allow with all heartiness that Israel from the beginning of its recorded history cherished the most settled conviction of the persistence of the soul in life after death. The body is laid in the grave and the soul departs to Sheol.”2 George Eldon Ladd in The New Bible Dictionary (p. 380), comments: In the Old Testament, man does not cease to exist at death, but his soul descends to Sheol.
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EXACTLY Why JW's Are NOT Christian
by Perry ina lot of people, ex-jws, believers and unbelievers alike, think that jw's are just a somewhat kooky brand of christianity.
is it possible to "try and follow jesus" and not be christian?
what exactly makes someone a christian?
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Perry
I think little_socretes is correct:
The Bible is VERY clear Christians eat the bread and wine in remembrance to him. It IS the new convenient. It takes the place of Passover for Christians.
If you partake you are Christian.... if you don't you aren't.Jesus himself, the actual MEDIATOR of the New Covenant states the ONE requirement for acceptance into the New Covenant (for forgiveness of sins) :
John 11: 25 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 6: 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (present tense)
John 7 : 37 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Romans 10: 9 -13 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I guess for the sake of argument there is such a thing as unsaved Christians. However, I think for all practical purposes that only a saved Christian could be called a Christian.
The requirement for being a saved Christian or a real Christian if you like, is whether or not a person believes Jesus. This seems really simple. But, where people get into trouble is when they believe someone else over Jesus, or alongside Jesus.
For instance, when a person believes their religious teachers over what Jesus taught.... like participation in the Lord's Supper for example, they are really proving that their belief is primarily in someone else. Or, for example if they believe Mary or the Pope or their Church can provide Salvation ....then, in any of these kinds of instances they are proving that their belief is not on, or in Jesus, but some other.
That therefore nullifies the contract since the ONE requirement for Salvation is lacking.
When I used to go out in filed service, I used to mock Christians for saying that all you had to do was believe in Jesus to be saved. It turns out they were correct. However, they were not talking about the easy believism I had imagined.
It is not quite as easy as it sounds to believe in Jesus to the exclusion of all others, and irregardless of its cost.
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63
EXACTLY Why JW's Are NOT Christian
by Perry ina lot of people, ex-jws, believers and unbelievers alike, think that jw's are just a somewhat kooky brand of christianity.
is it possible to "try and follow jesus" and not be christian?
what exactly makes someone a christian?
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Perry
Jesus Christ has always had people since the time of the apostles who experienced Salvation through faith in Christ alone. The heresy that we must be attached to the Watchtower to have friendship and salvation is an old false teaching, and one that has been unable to extinguish the light of truth, even if was only a dim flicker at times.
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63
EXACTLY Why JW's Are NOT Christian
by Perry ina lot of people, ex-jws, believers and unbelievers alike, think that jw's are just a somewhat kooky brand of christianity.
is it possible to "try and follow jesus" and not be christian?
what exactly makes someone a christian?
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Perry
paradise beauty,
You may be taking about 1 John 5: 7. I was taught as a JW that this was added by some unnamed monk in the 16th century. No one ever challenged me on this at the doors.
I researched it a few years ago and found plenty of early evidence for this scripture, not only in early biblical manuscripts, but also evidence of 2nd century Christians.
Early manuscript evidence that exists for I John 5: 7,8
Early church writers that used it:
Cyprian 200 - 258 AD. "The Lord says, 'I and the Father are one;' and again it is written of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 'And these three are one'." If Cyprian quotes I John 5:7 from his Bible in 200• 258 AD, it must be a valid reading. His Bible was copied from an older manuscript containing this verse.
Cyprian lived only 100 years after John wrote the book of I John. Cyprian would have had access to the original manuscript to check.
• Priscillian 350 AD, a Spanish bishop quotes I John 5:7,8.
• Idacius Clarus 360 AD, who opposed Priscillian quotes it.
• Varimadum 380 AD.
• Cassiodorus 485 AD.
• Cassian 435 AD.
• Victor Vita 489 AD.
• Jerome 450 AD.
• Fulgentius 533 AD.
• Ps. Vigilius 484 AD.
• Ansbert 660 AD.Early bible versions that include it:
Old Syriac 170 AD.
Old Latin 200 AD, in North Africa and Italy.
Italic 4th and 5th century. – Italic • Monacensis 7th century.
Italic • Speculum 9th century.
Latin Vulgate 4th, 5th century.Greek miniscule manuscripts that include it:
• 221 in the 10th century.(variant).
• 88 in the 12th century.(margin).
• 629 in the 14th century.(Ottobanianus)
• 429 in the 14th century (margin).
• 636 in the 15th century. (margin).
• 61 in the 16th century.(Codex Montfortianus)
• 918 in the 16th century. (an Escorial ms).
• 231 (a Bucharest manuscript).Opusdei Says:
many Christian sects that existed in the first and second century. Christianity is a salad of theologies.
It is pretty easy to determine sound doctrine from the bible by reading what the early Christians wrote about. There will always be miniscule differences on minor issues between people. But, all of the major doctrines were firmly established in the 1st century and passed on to future generations of disciples. When doctrinal threats did occur, it is easy to find out where they came from, and who was the culprit; because Christians wrote a lot against herisies.
I highly recommend this book to determine what was "sound doctrine" in the early centuries and who were the "Jehovah's Witnesses" of that period.
The Searcher Says:
"There is of course some truth in these kinds of statements."
Only some? I'd have thought it was 100% truth.We have to use common sense. While we are told not to judge others, 1 Timothy 5: 1 tells us
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 2 Tim. 4: 3 says - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.
Proving things and determining sound doctrine involves using judgment.
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: 8Again, judgment and discernment is needed.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2: 1-3Since God wanted us to be on the look out for "damnable heresies", it is reasonable to exercise our abilities to judge our teachers so as to determine sound doctrine. Making a habit of judging others, for small vain reasons, like to pump up our estimation of ourselves, is clearly wrong, and will actually bring a like judgment upon ourselves.
The bottom line is that, even today, sound doctrine is relatively easily determined.
I also recommend this book as it chronicles several groups from the Apostles down through the dark ages.
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63
EXACTLY Why JW's Are NOT Christian
by Perry ina lot of people, ex-jws, believers and unbelievers alike, think that jw's are just a somewhat kooky brand of christianity.
is it possible to "try and follow jesus" and not be christian?
what exactly makes someone a christian?
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Perry
paradisebeauty,
I find the King James to be the most doctrinally consistent, and hardest to misconstrue. For example: While all men are appointed to judgment (Hebrews 9: 27), only some men are condemned.
That is a pretty big distinction that can be confusing in modern translations that use judgment and condemnation totally interchangeably.
It's not hard once you get used to it. I even now prefer it because of its unique sentence construction and seemingly poetic phrases.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Indicator KJV
Grade
LevelNIV
Grade
LevelNASB
Grade
LevelTEV
Grade
LevelNKJV
Grade
LevelGen. 1 4.4 5.1 4.7 5.1 5.2 Mal. 1 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.4 4.6 Matt. 1 6.7 16.4 6.8 11.8 10.3 Rev. 1 7.5 7.1 7.7 6.4 7.7 Grade
Level
Average5.8 8.4 6.1 7.2 6.9 (table from New Age Bible Versions, p. 196, highlight added) Mrs. Riplinger writes:
"Why is the KJV easier to read? The KJV uses one or two syllable words while new versions substitute complex multi-syllable words and phrases." (Ibid, p. 196) She lists over 270 examples in the New Testament. Mrs. Riplinger also attributes the King James’s ease of understanding to "Simple sentence structure. . .." (Ibid, p. 204) She again lists many examples.
In her book, The Language of the King James Bible, Mrs Riplinger continues her research in the readability of the King James Bible. Mrs. Riplinger documents under the subtitle "Statistical Verification of Readability":
"Readability statistics generated from Grammatik and Word for Windows show why the KJV is 5th grade reading level, while the NKJV and NASB are 6th grade, and the NIV is 8th grade reading level! The KJV averages:
- less syllables per word
- less letters per word
- less words per sentence
- smaller percentage of long words
- greater percentage of short words than the NKJV, NIV, NASB and NRSV
According to readability statistics generated by Pro-Scribe, the KJV is easier to read than USA Today, People Magazine and most children’s books."
(Riplinger, The Language of the King James Bible, p. 159 - less syllables per word
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63
EXACTLY Why JW's Are NOT Christian
by Perry ina lot of people, ex-jws, believers and unbelievers alike, think that jw's are just a somewhat kooky brand of christianity.
is it possible to "try and follow jesus" and not be christian?
what exactly makes someone a christian?
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Perry
The Searcher Says:
Nine Scriptures reveal that Christ Jesus will do the judging; John 5:28,29, Acts 10:42, Acts 17:31, Romans 14:9, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:5, Rev. 11:18 & 20:12. I'll leave it in his hands.
bellasmile says:
Since it is for Christ to judge I will leave it in his hands. He is far more capable than I.
There is of course some truth in these kinds of statements. They can be taken too far though, even to the point of condoning blatant rebellion against God; like when the WT blasphemously positions themselves as mankind's Savior". "There is only one name given under heaven whereby we are saved, Jesus".
God does not leave us to wonder IF we will personally be saved or not.
In the same chapter where Jesus said not to judge others, he was also careful to warn EVERYONE the following:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Notice that they were not once children of God and then got booted out of the family. Jesus never knew them.
John 3: 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already.
Notice, how people can avoid condemnation simply by believing Jesus. However, it is entirely possible that people can believe Jesus was / is a real person, but not believe his words.
In Matthew 26: 27 & 28 Jesus offers his covenant (guarantee) ....."for the forgiveness of sins". Accepting the agreement and believing Jesus is essential to avoiding being condemned, personally.
But, if someone comes along and says,"hey wait a minute...Jesus wasn't talking to you. He was only talking to a small group mentioned in Revelation called the 144K". Then, it is entirely appropriate, even necessary to make a personal choice on whom believe. Your personal condemnation is what is at stake here.
We can choose to believe something different than what was preached by the apostles and come under condemnation:
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
Or, we can believe Jesus: "the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. - John 10
Mormons position their Mormon priesthood alongside Jesus so that members hear another voice - for Salvation. Catholicism positions the pope, mary, and the church itself alongside Jesus - for Salvation.
The singular identifying characteristic of a cult is that they provide another voice one must listen to - for Salvation.
It makes no difference whether it is Mary, the pope, the mormon priesthood, the faithful & discreet slave, Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, etc.... makes no difference at all.Salvation is ONLY through the blood covenant as is made clear in Eph 1: 8
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace"
None of us needs to wonder whether or not we will be condemned after we die. God tells us beforehand what the outcome will be.