FWFranz

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Posts by FWFranz

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  24

  Under the New Light, Where is the Continuity?

  by Ding in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  under the old light, from 33 ce onward, there was always an anointed remnant on earth, and these constituted the faithful and discreet slave class whom jesus had appointed over his domestics to give them spiritual meat in due season.. but the new light is that the "anointed" were not the faithful and discreet slave after all.. in fact, according to the new light, jesus did not appoint anyone as faithful and discreet slave over his domestics until 1919 (not even the apostles or russell).. so according to the new light, who or what was jehovah's visible organization from the death of the apostles until 1919?.

  who was authorized to provide spiritual food in due season?.

  where is the continuity?.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Ding

  This line of thinking is quite close to that of Herbert W. Armstrong and the "World Wide Church of God". Armstrong believed that Christ's church had fallen into apostacy by adopting many pagan traditions and beliefs and wasn't liberated from their spiritual darkness until he came on the scene as God's chosen vessel to restore the truth to Christianity. This is more or less what the WTS is now teaching. Especially as they now think that there was no one in particular who was appointed to feed the flock from the death of the apostles right up until CT.Russell came on the scene.

  FWFranz
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  8

  Do you really think Jesus is in this room? No----I KNOW Jesus is in this room"

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cormac mccarthy wrote no country for old men, the road, the border trilogy (all the pretty horses...etc.).

  and he wrote this play: sunset ltd.. .

  it is a 2 man play.. the 2 men are samuel l. jackson and tommy lee jones.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Terry

  Thanks for posting that. I watched the entire movie. Very powerful indeed. Made me think of Samuel Beckett. Not sure why.

  FWFranz
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  15

  What is the role of the rest of the Anointed,please ?

  by Phizzy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am a little confused, i have to admit it is laziness/nausea, i cannot make myself read the latest rag that spews out the new shite, but my question is, what is the future role of the rest of the anointed ?.

  if the fds, which now consists of a handful of men, is going to be "appointed over all jesus' belongings" are the rest of the anointed not only redundant now, but into eternity too ?.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Dismissing Servant

  How many overcomers there will be in the end is unknown to us at this time, but they will rule over all who will return in the ressurection. I firmly believe that there will be many who never heard the gospel message who will be ressurected to earth to learn of God's plan for mankind. Both those who are made spirits to rule with Christ and those who return in the ressurection could number in the millions/billions.

  FWFranz
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  15

  What is the role of the rest of the Anointed,please ?

  by Phizzy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am a little confused, i have to admit it is laziness/nausea, i cannot make myself read the latest rag that spews out the new shite, but my question is, what is the future role of the rest of the anointed ?.

  if the fds, which now consists of a handful of men, is going to be "appointed over all jesus' belongings" are the rest of the anointed not only redundant now, but into eternity too ?.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Phizzy

  The bible is clear that all who are "overcomers" will rule as kings and priests with Jesus. The bible teaches no alterate scenario or detailed hierarchy. JW's need only ask themselves one question. Did first century Christians believe and teach that a handful of men at the end of the age would be appointed over ALL of Christ's belonging. Of course they didn't!

  For the millionth time, the parable about the faithful and wise servant is merely a parable, not a prophecy. The WTS chooses not to wake up to this simple fact because it would srtip away their unique power structure and hold over the lives of millions of JW's Its that simple.

  FWFranz
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  40

  Your own mortality, how do you cope with it?

  by CookieMonster in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been a lurker here and an inactive jw for a number of years.

  i've always had some annoying doubts but brushed it aside but over the last few years i've had time to "think" away from the wt.

  perhaps there is no paradise, maybe no god and this life is all there is.

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  FWFranz

  Hi CookieMonster

  I sympathize with your present awakening to realities of life and death. Even the bible tells us plainly in Hebrews 9:27, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," If JW's just read the scriptures they would realize that all men, including themselves, will die one day. This is why Paul stressed the resurrection as the only hope that a Christian had to live again. Somehow the WTS has exempted themselves from the plain words of scripture. Unfortunately the wages of sin are death. The WTS has made a promise that they can not keep.

  FWFranz

  Romans 6:23 provides some comfort in my opinion.

  23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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  27

  The totally BOGUS idea of CERTAINTY inside the Watchtower religion

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm going to ask a question and it is a very simple question.

  think about it before you answer.

  are you ready?.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Terry

  That was well said. The complete absence of humility on the part of virtually every phase of leadership in the WTS, from the days of Russell to the present day is truly mind blowing. It is incomprehensible that a God who demands humility from his servants would put up with the WTS for a week, let alone a 100 plus years. To my knowledge they have never published a heart felt apology about anything. Even when their errors have led to the death of fellow believers.

  FWFranz
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  6

  Jehovah's Witnesses v Scientologists - 36 min. YouTube

  by Gayle in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?nr=1&feature=endscreen&v=ie3e-ox3nmi.

  these two organizations are "cult" cousins!

  (though perhaps scientology is a bit worse - but they're both horrific).

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  FWFranz

  Wow.... That was fascinating and revealing. The likeness to the JW experience is quite incredible. Almost everything they said had a parallel to the WTS world.

  FWFranz
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  21

  A bit of a rant... the selfishness of older generations

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was talking to mrs cedars earlier about one of the things that really frustrates me about our situation as "faders" - namely the fact that we are looked down on by our respective parents, not to mention other older generations of our family.

  it strikes me that the incessant attempts to drag us back into unquestioned loyalty to the organization is actually extremely selfish, even though (in their minds) they have only our best interests at heart.. i think of it this way.

  they made a decision when they were younger to follow in the footsteps of their own parents' faith - without doing objective research into the beliefs or history of the organization.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Cedars

  I do sympathize with your family predicament. Unfortunately, I am sure your parents will never fully let you off the hook. Time will eventually create the great divide that breaks up families. Its a WT specialty. Personally I think the best advice is to come clean with a full admission of all your doubts, new discoveries and reasons for being unable to return to the life of a JW. We know that the facts speak for themselves. If your parents refuse to listen or even consider your present evaluation then so be it. There really is no way to escape this reality, no matter how painful this will be. The WTS does not provide an easy exit. A gradual fade will only cause people to talk behind your back, inventing all kinds of false reasoning for why you left. I think its best to put ALL your cards on the table now. I recall a conversation that I had with Ray Franz and he had to laugh at all the things that people said about him and what motivated him to leave. Ray had a very dry sense of humour and sometimes I wasn't quite sure when he was being funny.

  Years later I was talking with an old annointed brother who began to tell me why Ray Franz had left "the truth". I informed him that I knew Ray personally and had spoken with him at length about these matters. I also informed him that I had purchased both his books and had read them thoroughly. That silenced him pretty quickly. To his credit he sat there and listened while I gave him the facts.

  If you share everything with your family it might provoke a reaction in them. They will immediately realize that your present mindset will necessitate them cutting you off. That will be upsetting for them and maybe, just maybe, they might bend an ear to some of your new found discoveries. I wouldn't challenge faith issues. That will shut them down completely. I realize that your faith has been shattered by your new found knowledge. As you already know there are countless inconsistencies within WT teachings and piles of failed predictions. I would work with those. My stock question to any JW is this. How do you explain the one true end time prophet of God, having all their predictions fail? Not a single prediction came true! Is that the mark of God's end time prophet. To say this is blasphemy!

  Anyway, I wish you strength in this tough predicament. I will remember you in my prayers. I have been in these shoes for quite some time now.

  FWFranz
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  85

  Leolaia: Where is your story?

  by pirata in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i looked through your posts but couldn't find your life story.

  have you written it?.

  i would love to read your progression from/through jw to avid scholar :).

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  FWFranz

  Hi Leolaia

  Thanks for sharing your story. I have a question for you. After such intense study of the bible, would you say that its increased your faith?

  FWFranz
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  77

  Distrust and paranoia among faders

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys.

  i'm interested in knowing whether any other faders out there ever find themselves feeling a little paranoid about establishing contact with other faders or former jws, just in case the unthinkable happens and things turn sour.. personally, i'm now fairly comfortable with the idea that i will be disfellowshipped or disassociated within the next year or so.

  i see it as inevitable, and an essential transition in order to do what i want to do with my life.

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  FWFranz

  Hi Cedars

  I walked away from the WTS in the late 1970's. Absolutely burned out from full time pioneer work and related duties. I didn't even have the luxury of contemplating my departure. It just happened one day. When I reflect on it now it must have appeared very strange to those who knew me. I was an uber zealous witness who one day just stopped going to meetings and ceased contact with any in my congregation. No one from the KH ever called or inquired about me from that day forward. Not a single call. Hard to believe but true. My family have been JW's since the late 1930's. Most of my relatives are in fact JW's. What I wasn't prepared for was the fact that from that day onward, none of them would speak to me again. 34 years ago was the last time I spoke to many of my relatives.

  So, leaving is not the tough part. One must be mentally prepared for the isolation that will likely follow. It matters little to even my own mother that I never lost my Christian faith. Its the only thing that keeps me strong through all this madness. As Jesus said, we must count the cost of discipleship, and we must also count the cost of leaving the WTS. I hope your transition will be better than mine has been.

  FWFranz