Posts by nibbled

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

nibbled

Hi @vintage I'm in technology design. That's just a "feature" of the GoFundMe.com website design. You cannot designate a different person than whose account the funds are going into for transparency.

I don't know who I would be willing to donate any money to besides Raymond Franz, or Barbara Anderson, post-JW. So I'm glad it says it'll benefit the person I trust, who is still alive and active.

@DerekMoors Barbara Anderson is a lady. She doesn't disagree, as you can see if you Google the definition of "shenanigans" ... I think she just leaves it to our community to handle the shenanigans while she focuses on how might we support, socially, and now even through funding, people who are changing the world, like Yergali at the OSCE, who is going broke spending his own money to fund others for justice himself.

Thankfully we all know who he is now—name and YouTube likeness, but Lloyd Evans, formerly John Cedars, can always show up as a new alias online and keep collecting funds from exJWs. In fact, I don't see why non-JWs aren't doing the same faking out being JW—isn't it all the same end result? A fool and their money are soon parted—let people identify who they are based on their donations, I guess?

There is greater joy in giving, than receiving—unless you're giving to the wrong people.

P.S. How much money does Lloyd Evans bring in so he can do this fulltime? I should quit my dayjob.

6

Michael's story, shunning suicide funeral this past weekend

by nibbled in

wow.

this story is so stunningly sad.

the good guy finishes last, as he has a crisis of conscience and ends up leaving behind four kids.

nibbled

Wow. This story is so stunningly sad. The good guy finishes last, as he has a crisis of conscience and ends up leaving behind four kids. He worked at the local school, well-loved. But he walked out and took his life, having been shunned for the past six months. His interview was for being disfellowshipped.

I can't believe this good guy is no longer alive. It's beyond belief they would pursue disfellowshipping him for that reason! Can you imagine getting df'ed for telling people to check the sexual predator registry?

https://watchtowerdocuments.org/michaels-story/

RIP Michael, I'll share your story.

16

The glaring inequity between the 144,000 & the Great Crowd

by deegee in

there is a glaring inequity between the 144,000 & the great crowd (gc):.

the gc will experience:.

1. the great tribulation - a gruelling/horrifying time which has never occurred before.. 2. armageddon.. 3. a thousand years of “loving” molding and refinement.. 4. a second armageddon at the end of the thousand years.. the 144,000 will experience none of these things.. isn't it strange that the gc has to prove themself so much but the 144,000 don't???!!!

nibbled

Smiddy, regarding Satan and demons vs. humans:

the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the abyss.—Luke 8:31

God didn't spare the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness until judgment—2 Peter 2:4

[Christ] was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.—1 Peter 3:18-20

and [God] has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, the angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling.—Jude 1:6

And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time. ... And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.—Rev 20:3,10

You must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.—2 Peter 3:3-10

Meanwhile, I agree with Bobcat, the problem is in the WT's interpretation.

God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.—1 Thessalonians 5:9

Regarding what the bible says about the 144,000 vs. the Great Crowd, I believe...

The 144,000 are sealed and die, thus the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4,5)
Whereas the Great Crowd is saved out of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:10)
The Great Tribulation happens before Armageddon, thus
The Great Crowd is saved before Armageddon
The 144,000 are kings reigning on earth (Revelation 5:10, Matthew 6:10)
The Great Crowd are priests serving in the temple (Rev 7:15)

You have made them—those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation—to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.—Rev 5:9,10

The Kingdom is the Great Crowd and the 144,000.

We live in temporary suffering, chosen to have a chance to choose.

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world for us to be holy and blameless before Him, in love having predestined us for divine adoption as sons to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will... — Eph 1:4,5

The inequity I see is the unbelievable chances of being chosen—not to have faith and believe—but to be present.

"Things into which angels longed to look" () we may experience.

After it's one thing to receive eternal life and salvation—all who believe—and a whole other thing to actually live through the experience—the Great Crowd.

There will be a Great Crowd who will never die.

I want to be one.

You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your anointed.
You struck the head of the house of the evil
To lay him open from thigh to neck.
Selah. —Hab 3:13

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

nibbled

DT, a few edits—

Nicole in the room with Thomas and triptych. “He” instead of “her"
End of Chap 8 “Las Angeles”
End of chapter twenty a paragraph is missing close quote about Korah being destroyed
reference to Greek kosmos in italics and quotes for definition?
end c 24 closing paragraph “
missing period ch 34 “over a year"
month that never was — skipping the month for the 360 year to equate to 365.25 literal days —> leads to Israel 1948/1967 from proper 2520 calc??
ch 48 first word after title of book is still italicized

Great job. I have to admit I stopped reading just after the portals. I groaned, made it a few pages further, and will attempt to pick it up again.

35

Where did Jesus get the Idea of an After-life in Heaven?

by John Aquila in

the ancient jews did not believe in an after-life as far as i can tell, correct me if i'm wrong.

the watchtower says yes.

they say all the prophets believed in a paradise earth..

nibbled

Thanks Villiage Idiot, it was a New Yorker cover.

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

nibbled

Silly me, buy it free. Duh. Thanks!

I'll definitely send you my thoughts! Thanks again DT.

35

Where did Jesus get the Idea of an After-life in Heaven?

by John Aquila in

the ancient jews did not believe in an after-life as far as i can tell, correct me if i'm wrong.

the watchtower says yes.

they say all the prophets believed in a paradise earth..

nibbled

I believe the hope for the Jews and Israelites was that of resurrection—see Ezekiel 37's vision of the valley of dry bones. The vision is explained, leaving nothing to question. Israelites coming back to life and being brought back into their own land.

And the righteous ones inherit the Earth and dwell upon it for eternity.

Long before The Watchtower's "great crowd" and even before Christianity, paradise was simply a promise God made to righteous Israel.

Meanwhile Solomon wondered,

19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same.z
As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath.
People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.
20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.aa
21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?

Where Solomon wondered, Christ responded.

Christianity introduced heaven—the one hope to which we were called—as the destination for those who follow Christ, while resurrection and paradise were the Hebrew hope.

9

The Great Apocalypse (Sparlock Book One) hit #1 on Amazon UK (Metaphysical Category)

by DT in

jw
friends

i realise that the metaphysical category for free ebooks isn't a huge category, but, as a new author, i'm still excited about it.

it also hit #7 in the free psychological thriller category (amazon uk) and it is appearing on other amazon bestselling lists in the united states and other english speaking countries.. .

this book is partially a satire of sparlock the warrior wizard.

nibbled

Doh. I'm only seeing free for "Kindle Unlimited". I'd love to read it, is there a link I'm missing on the page? I'm Amazon US. Thanks, and congrats on publishing a book! I'm thinking of doing something of a similar vein and am thrilled to see you ahead of the game! :)

36

Need best info on why Jesus could never have chosen org in 1918?

by GodZoo in

hi folks... i was playing a tiny online ipad multiplayer war game last night and one started a dialogue with a another player i was attacking.

in it he quoted a scripture.. and it turns out he he is a 25 year serving jw.

possibly an elder... well.. i spent 6 hours tapping away with one finger in the chat box until 8am this morning with him about all the issues on sex abuse, the money grab and most importantly the subject of jesus turning his attention to the earth and selecting the then bibles students as his one and only people based on what they were teaching (spiritual food) back then.. he knows nothing about any of the current and historic child sex abuse cases (never heard of candice conti etc) and even less about the insane early teachings or russell etc.. i completely blew his mind in our 6 hour text chat not to mention my index finger nearly falling off!.

nibbled

Splash, I agree with you. The WT uses Daniel's 7 times, but my understanding is not based on appropriating another chapter of Daniel—it's based on Leviticus 26 where God warned:

"If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve."

The descriptions in prophecy align to what takes place:

Ezekiel 4:4-6 = 430 years as the "Servitude of the Nation" (Loss of Israel's independence) Fulfilled on May 14,1948.
Daniel 9:2 = 70 years as the "Desolation of Jerusalem" (Destruction of Jerusalem and loss of Jewish Rule in Jerusalem) 587 B.C. Fulfilled on June 7,1967

They served the 70 years of the 430 years of punishment, but were not found repentant. The remaining balance of years — the remaining 360 years is then hit by the 7 X of clearly spelled out in Leviticus 26.

360 * 7x punishment = 2,520 = Same number the WT uses but derived in an entirely different way—from following the story in scripture with the prophecies. The WT uses Daniel's 7 times, and doesn't use consistent means of measurement trying to make 360 = 365.25 = 1914 (instead of 1948).

All this detail is of interest to me as I am still Christian and believe.

I personally couldn't believe that the prophecy about the Servitude of the Nation would come true to the date the nation of Israel came into existence on the planet again. Suddenly I woke up to having been taught all these "spiritual" fulfillments applied to "spiritual Israel" being poppycock while REAL and LITERAL fulfillment was being missed.

Sir Isaac Newton who was keenly interested in Daniel and bible prophecy once said,

"About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition."

The WT seems to put out more atheists than any other religion. My hope is that this brother runs from 1914 and the WT, but not from faith and belief.

For me, finding out 1914 was supposed to be 1948 if calculated correctly and then finding out that was the actual birth of the nation of Israel once again on planet Earth, well, it was mindblowing. It's the first time literal interpretation became possible again.

Kids can grasp 360 != 365.

Crush the date 1914 and everything crumbles.

Much easier to get someone to do a math problem (or reason through it) than to read Don's Captive's if they are 'loyal'.

36

Need best info on why Jesus could never have chosen org in 1918?

by GodZoo in

hi folks... i was playing a tiny online ipad multiplayer war game last night and one started a dialogue with a another player i was attacking.

in it he quoted a scripture.. and it turns out he he is a 25 year serving jw.

possibly an elder... well.. i spent 6 hours tapping away with one finger in the chat box until 8am this morning with him about all the issues on sex abuse, the money grab and most importantly the subject of jesus turning his attention to the earth and selecting the then bibles students as his one and only people based on what they were teaching (spiritual food) back then.. he knows nothing about any of the current and historic child sex abuse cases (never heard of candice conti etc) and even less about the insane early teachings or russell etc.. i completely blew his mind in our 6 hour text chat not to mention my index finger nearly falling off!.

nibbled

Share this with him, get him thinking on his own...

The "appointment" is based off the date 1914 which is based off a calculation (below).

The calculation is wrong and actually doesn't end on 1914.

CALCULATING THE “SEVEN TIMES”
“Seven times” = 7 X 360 = 2,520 years
A Biblical “time,” or year = 12 X 30 days = 360. (Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14)
In the fulfillment of the “seven times” each day equals one year. (Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34)
Early October, 607 B.C.E., to December 31, 607 B.C.E.= 1/4 year
January 1, 606 B.C.E., to December 31, 1 B.C.E. = 606 years
January 1, 1 C.E., to December 31, 1913 = 1,913 years
January 1, 1914, to early October, 1914 = 3/4 year
Total: 2,520 years

The WT above applies the 2,520 years of 360 days to 365 day calendar.

What's the difference?

2,520 * 360 = 907,200 whereas 2,520 * 365.24219 = 920,410.3188

Those extra 5.24219 days each year add up to a whooping difference of 13,210 days or 36 years!

Can we just ignore 36 years? I hope not, I'm only 35 years old!

Taking the "lowest common denominator" between a biblical year and a calendar year—a day is just a day either way—you can start to apply the prophecy to a calendar.

Do that (including the changes made to our calendar in between) and you land at the date May 14, 1948.

Imagine that!—a prophecy about the nation of Israel starts and ends with... the nation of Israel!

So yeah something big happened at the end of that proper calculation of days based on scriptures, but it wasn't what we were taught... the "end of the gentile times" apparently applies to literal Israel, not "spiritual Israel". Yeah, imagine that.

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. — Isaiah 66:8