I used to believe everything JWs teach. I still believe some things. It can truthfully be said that all religions teach SOME truth, but no religion teachs TOTAL truth. If that were the case, the JW version of truth would not change. Yet, it does. Often.
leaving_quietly
JoinedPosts by leaving_quietly
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83
Is the WT the only true religion?
by Christ Alone injehovah's witnesses do not do that!
again: jehovah's witnesses do!
jehovah's witnesses!.
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Apostates and the Holy Spirit
by iamwhoiam ini've heard elders say more than once that if the congregation isn't productive, there is probably an apostate in the midst; since the holy spirit doesn't seem to be upon the congregation.
anyone ever hear similar claims before?.
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leaving_quietly
Proof that I am not apostate, regardless of whether I agree with official teachings of the men in Brooklyn or not. The cong. I attend is doing very well on almost all fronts.
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New Light - FDS not appointed over Jesus' belonging just yet
by leaving_quietly infrom http://www.jw.org/en/news/events-activities/annual-meeting-report-2012/.
when does jesus appoint the slave over all his belongings?.
in those verses, jesus is referring to his coming as judge during the great tribulation.matthew 24:30; 25:31, 32.. jesus appointment of the slave over his belongings, then, must also be a future event.
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leaving_quietly
w07 4/1 pp. 22 par. 5-9:
In line with Malachi’s prophecy, the composite sign that Jesus gave his disciples to enable them to recognize the time of his “presence and of the conclusion of the system of things” included the identification of a collective “slave.” Jesus stated: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:3, 45-47) “On arriving” to inspect the “slave” in 1918, Christ found a spirit-anointed remnant of faithful disciples who since 1879 had been using this journal and other Bible-based publications to provide spiritual “food at the proper time.” He acknowledged them as his collective instrument, or “slave,” and in 1919 entrusted them with the management of all his earthly belongings.
Managing Christ’s Earthly Belongings
6 A few months before Jesus gave his prophecy on the sign of his presence, including the existence of a “slave” representing him on earth, he spoke of this “slave” in slightly different terms that shed light on the slave’s responsibilities. Jesus stated: “Who really is the faithful steward, the discreet one, whom his master will appoint over his body of attendants to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time? I tell you truthfully, He will appoint him over all his belongings.”—Luke 12:42, 44.
7 Here the slave is called a steward, a word translated from a Greek term denoting “the manager of a household or estate.” The collective steward would not simply be a group of intellectuals who explain interesting points from the Bible. In addition to providing nourishing spiritual food “at the proper time,” “the faithful steward” would be appointed over the entire body of Christ’s attendants and assigned to manage all of Christ’s interests on earth, “all his belongings.” What would this entail?
8 The slave’s responsibilities include the supervision of the material facilities used by Christ’s followers to carry out their Christian activities, such as the world headquarters and branch offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as their places of worship—Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls—throughout the world. More important, the slave also oversees spiritually upbuilding programs of Bible study at weekly meetings and periodic assemblies and conventions. At these gatherings, information on the fulfillment of Bible prophecies is dispensed, and timely direction on how to apply Bible principles in daily life is given.
9 The steward’s responsibilities also include the supervision of the all-important work of preaching “this good news of the kingdom” and making “disciples of people of all the nations.” This involves teaching people to observe all the things that Christ, the Head of the congregation, commands to be done during this time of the end. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20; Revelation 12:17) The preaching and teaching work has produced “a great crowd” of loyal companions of the anointed remnant. These “desirable things of all the nations” are undoubtedly to be counted among the precious “belongings” of Christ administered by the faithful slave.—Revelation 7:9; Haggai 2:7.
What they may not realize is that they have also just changed the doctrine such that Jesus has NOT APPOINTED THEM YET. Therefore, they cannot rightfully claim to be God's organization overseeing all these things. They cannot do anything except set the plate of spiritual food in front of us. That's it. That's all they have the authority for, by their own admission.
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New Light - FDS not appointed over Jesus' belonging just yet
by leaving_quietly infrom http://www.jw.org/en/news/events-activities/annual-meeting-report-2012/.
when does jesus appoint the slave over all his belongings?.
in those verses, jesus is referring to his coming as judge during the great tribulation.matthew 24:30; 25:31, 32.. jesus appointment of the slave over his belongings, then, must also be a future event.
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leaving_quietly
From http://www.jw.org/en/news/events-activities/annual-meeting-report-2012/
When Does Jesus Appoint the Slave “Over All His Belongings”?
Jesus said that the “master on arriving” (literally, “having come”) will appoint the slave “over all his belongings.” When does the Master, Jesus, arrive?
The expression translated “on arriving” is a form of the Greek word er′kho·mai. Verses 42 and 44 of chapter 24 translate a form of er′kho·mai as “coming.” In those verses, Jesus is referring to his coming as Judge during the great tribulation.—Matthew 24:30; 25:31, 32.
Jesus’ appointment of the “slave” over his “belongings,” then, must also be a future event. He will make that appointment during the great tribulation.
Makes me think they have NO AUTHORITY now other than to provide food.
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leaving_quietly
Stumble
1. a. To miss one's step in walking or running; trip and almost fall. b. To proceed unsteadily or falteringly; flounder. See Synonyms at blunder. c. To act or speak falteringly or clumsily.
Yes, the mistakes cause all JW's to stumble. Note the definitions. JWs do not proceed steadily or unfalteringly. JWs do not speak unfalteringly. And 'anyone with half a logical mind' can see the clumsiness of many of the changes over the years. We have built our lives around these mistakes. Promises were made and broken. If indeed the writings in the publications are just surmises, as claimed, then why should anyone's life be so completely ruined when they do not agree. Luke 17:1,2: " Then he said to his disciples: “It is unavoidable that causes for stumbling should come. Nevertheless, woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be of more advantage to him if a millstone were suspended from his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to stumble one of these little ones." -
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How Soon is Soon?
by Sour Grapes inthe witchtower is being more careful now about putting a date.
out there for the beginning of the great tribulation.
they have learned their lesson from 1975. however they sure.
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leaving_quietly
Amos 5:18 - "Woe to those who are craving the day of Jehovah !"
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When ignorance leads to tragedy
by designs inon the news this morning was the almost unbelievable news that a pakistani husband and wife killed their daughter for 'looking at a boy'.
her manner of being killed is even more shocking as the parents poured acid on this girl.. there were 943 'honor killings' reported in pakistan this year with only 20 of the women being given any medical care before they died.. looking at the opposite sex.
one of the most natural responses we have as humans is construed as 'sin' and with it all of the religious and social prejudices that can and do lead to tragedy.. some day these cultures, bound by religious myths and superstitions, will change with education and understanding but it seems a long way off, to distant to have saved this young girl.. as the father of a daughter who i would protect at all costs this just leaves me shaken and i wonder how to reach those young people so they don't grow up to be like their parents..
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leaving_quietly
Disfellowshipping / excommunication just because someone disagrees with a particular belief is a form of honor killing. Just sayin'.
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A couple of real wild statements made at the meeting Sunday
by Sour Grapes infrom time to time there are things said by the brother giving the public talk or conducting the watchtower that just make my jaw drop.
here are two from sunday.
"we are 98 years into the last days"
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leaving_quietly
We kinda get an idea of how Jehovah feels about statements like #2, which even makes me thing prayers to the same effect are NOT something Jehovah approves of.
Amos 5:18-21
18 “‘Woe to those who are craving the day of Jehovah! What, then, will the day of Jehovah mean to YOU people? It will be darkness, and no light, 19 just as when a man flees because of the lion, and the bear actually meets him; and [as when] he went into the house and supported his hand against the wall, and the serpent bit him. 20 Will not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light; and will it not have gloom, and not brightness? 21 I have hated, I have rejected YOUR festivals,+and I shall not enjoy the smell of YOUR solemn assemblies.
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Ezekiel's Temple Vision
by leaving_quietly injws understand the temple vision in ezekiel to represent the anointed today and the "spiritual temple" both earthly and heavenly.. w00 3/15 pp.
14 in 1971 an explanation of ezekiels prophecy was published in the book the nations shall know that i am jehovahhow?
a chapter of that book briefly discussed ezekiels vision of a temple.
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leaving_quietly
@Leolaia: yes, my thoughts as well . . . why would Jehovah describe a yet thousands year off structure when he still had plans to return the Jews from exile?
@Nambo: " Also bare in mind Isaiah 65 talks about people still dying though 100 years old." Yes, I caught that last week in my personal Bible reading. Same thought.
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Ezekiel's Temple Vision
by leaving_quietly injws understand the temple vision in ezekiel to represent the anointed today and the "spiritual temple" both earthly and heavenly.. w00 3/15 pp.
14 in 1971 an explanation of ezekiels prophecy was published in the book the nations shall know that i am jehovahhow?
a chapter of that book briefly discussed ezekiels vision of a temple.
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leaving_quietly
JWs understand the temple vision in Ezekiel to represent the anointed today and the "spiritual temple" both earthly and heavenly.
w00 3/15 pp. 10-15
14 In 1971 an explanation of Ezekiel’s prophecy was published in the book “The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How? A chapter of that book briefly discussed Ezekiel’s vision of a temple. (Ezekiel, chapters 40-48) At the time, the focus was on how Ezekiel’s temple vision would be fulfilled in the new world.—2 Peter 3:13.
15 However, two articles published in The Watchtower of December 1, 1972, affected our understanding of Ezekiel’s vision. They discussed the great spiritual temple described by the apostle Paul in Hebrews chapter 10. The Watchtower explained that the Holy compartment and the inner courtyard of the spiritual temple relate to the condition of the anointed while they are on the earth. When Ezekiel chapters 40 to 48 were reviewed years later, it was discerned that just as the spiritual temple is operating today, so the temple that Ezekiel saw in vision must also be functioning today. How so?
16 In Ezekiel’s vision, priests are seen moving about in the courtyards of the temple as they serve the nonpriestly tribes. These priests clearly represent the “royal priesthood,” Jehovah’s anointed servants. (1 Peter 2:9) However, they will not be serving in the temple’s earthly courtyard throughout the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. (Revelation 20:4) During most of that period, if not all of it, the anointed will be serving God in the spiritual temple’s Most Holy, “heaven itself.” (Hebrews 9:24) Since priests are seen going to and fro in the courtyards of Ezekiel’s temple, that vision must be undergoing fulfillment today, while some of the anointed are still on the earth. Accordingly, the March 1, 1999, issue of this magazine reflected an adjusted view on this subject. Thus, clear down to the end of the 20th century, spiritual light was shed upon Ezekiel’s prophecy.However, this cannot be. Ezekiel chapters 44 and 45 describe priestly duties, such that were understood to be done while under the Mosaic Law, such as keeping the Sabbath and sacrificing various offerings. It also describes how the priests could not touch someone dead. No one would be dying during the Thousand Years, or so JWs believe.
Ez. 44:25 "And to a dead person of mankind he should not come in so as to become unclean, but for father or for mother or for son or for daughter [or] for brother or for a sister that has not become a husband’s they may make themselves unclean."
Thoughts?