Posts by Bobcat

16

Preaching the "good news"

by truth doubter in

just wondering.

what do those who left wt, and still believe the bible, feel about matt.24:14?

Contextually, Mt 24:14 was referring to events that were to take place leading up to the end of Jerusalem and the temple (that actually occurred in the 66-70 AD time). (Compare what was to happen afterwards: Mt 24:15-20.)

"Inhabited earth" (oikoumenē) in the NT generally refers to the area occupied by the Roman Empire or the then known world. (Compare e.g. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28) And Paul indicated that he understood this to have already happened before the Roman-Jewish War of 66-70. (Rom 16:25, 26; Col 1:23)

That's not to say that Jesus' disciples weren't commanded to preach to the literal ends of the earth (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). But Mt 24:14 itself is not saying that, if you go strictly by the context. Although, I think a JW and others also, would argue for a dual fulfillment.

(Expanding out in the context, Mt 24:14 would also be limited in time to "this generation" in Mt 24:34.)

Bobcat

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Bobcat

It's because that is a description of religious leaders everywhere and in every time period.

Touche'

Bobcat

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Bobcat

Isn't there some scripture about not being overly burdened or something along those lines?

(Matthew 23:1-7 NWT) . . .Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore, all the things they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but they do not practice what they say. 4 They bind up heavy loads and put them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. 5 All the works they do, they do to be seen by men, for they broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards and lengthen the fringes of their garments. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men.

It is sort of amazing how much of this actually does describe them.

Bobcat

38

You Are All Pieces of Garbage

by berrygerry in

although tomo's human hotdogs was as low as an alleged human could verbally go, tomo's fear-mongering was not an official video.. i'm wagering that the feb 2016 video will be pulled or adjusted.. what do you think, trash?.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m68pcx7ztac.

Bobcat

berrygerry:

Why do you say it isn't an official video? (I see the standard "broadcast" trappings around him, like the background world-at-night scene.) Maybe I'm missing something (I haven't watched it).

Bobcat

55

Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

Bobcat

Tech49:

Now let's follow along with our "Bible Study" from the Faithful book, about things that might have, could have, probably did, and evidently took place.

My wife and I went over this book together at home. I thought it was a fairly 'safe' one. But the plethora of weasel words was just overwhelming. It has more of the writing format of a newspaper opinion page.

By the way, Tech49, I think of you every time the FX channel plays the movie Oblivion, which they've been doing recently.

Bobcat

34

"There will be earthquakes...."

by Fisherman in

given: the prophecy is true.. what did jesus mean?

i have an app that alerts me of any earthquake all over the world.

since i got the app, it is one earthquake after another all over the world.

Bobcat

The problem is the WT interpretation of Matthew:4-7 -

(Matthew 24:4-8 rNWT) . . .In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.

Jesus is telling his disciples in this passage that they shouldn't take these events as an indication that the "end" was near. Wars, famines, epidemics and natural disturbances, like earthquakes and bad storms, were often taken as indications that God (or the gods) were upset and about to exercise their wrath. Jesus is saying not to let these events sway them in that way - the opposite of what the WT has been saying.

Compare this also with the horseman of the apocalypse in Rev 6:1-8 (war, famine and pestilence). In Rev 6:9-11 the martyrs ask when divine justice will be executed. Instead of being pointed to the wars, famines, and pestilences just foretold, they are pointed to the need for additional martyrs. In this instance also, the wars, famines, and pestilences did not indicate how near they were to a divine reckoning.

I might also mention that the events of Matthew 24:4-35 were promised to take place within "this generation," the generation of Jews referred to in Mt 23:36. So any attempt to apply these words to some future generation would be arguing against the context. (And notice that there is no mention of earthquakes as a result of the ride of the horseman in Rev 6:1-8.)

Bobcat

43

when you went to an "assembly" did you wear a badge?

by greenhornet in

jw
friends

it embarrassed me.

when i was young my folks made me wear one and i opened it up and took the paper out making it look like it fell out.

after my folks ask what happen i said i dont know.

Bobcat

Yes, travel to a distant city and put a sign on oneself announcing that you are from out of town. Wouldn't want the muggers and pickpockets to have to wonder around confused. That wouldn't be very Christian. :)

Bobcat

35

S.A.D. Observations from the assembly.

by Darkknight757 in

so we had brother losch visiting our special assembly day which was weird in itself.

he's not a very good speaker and seemed like he was in dire need of a nap or something.. anyways just a few observations from the assembly program.

theme: imitate their faith.

Bobcat

But expenses for this one day were almost $24,000

I was curious, how many were in attendance? Was this a rented facility or a WT owned one? And how in the world does a one day assembly rack up $24,000 in expenses? And why aren't the brothers in charge of these things being 'fired' for their incompetence? (Actually, the only ones who would be 'fired' would be the conscientious ones who complained about this.)

The money-grubbing nature of the WT just keeps being exposed.

Bobcat

11

Does the WT still use Zech.8:23 as a last days prophecy ? In veiw of the fact (evidently) the numbers of converts are decreasing worldwide ?

by smiddy in

jw
friends

this is a scripture that was used a lot during the 70`s & 80`s proving that the end was so close,and it was to culminate in a grand influx before the great tribulation.

" it will be in those days that ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold,yes ,they will actually take hold of the skirt of a man who is a jew,saying,"we will go with you people for we have heard that god is with you people.".

when you look at the reality of the situation in this day....,their seems to be a marked decline in worldly converts in christendoms lands.....,mainly baptisms coming from young born ins,..... and certainly no marked increases from either asian, oriental, or other non christian lands,that would seem to indicate another failed prediction/prophecy we can credit to the f&ds class.

Bobcat

Smiddy:

Here is some research I did on Zech 8:23 and Isa 45:14. This link is to another board. I have the same reference material posted here, but ever since the new format I haven't been able to locate it via the search function.

The gist of it is this: Paul alludes to Zech 8:23 and Isa 45:14 at I Cor 14:25. His alluding to it indicates that he understood those verses to having a fulfillment with the influx of Gentiles into the Christian congregation, with the congregation being in the place of the Jew in the prophecy of Zechariah.

Curiously enough, the NWT places Zech 8:23 and Isa 45:14 in the reference column at 1 Cor 14:25. But I could never find any WT commentary that makes any application of those verses to 1Cor 14:25.

In WT theology, Zech 8:23 is applied to the great crowd which survives the still future great tribulation, and thus, from the WT viewpoint, Zech 8:23 and Isa 45:14 could never have fulfillment in the 1st century.

Bobcat

51

New NWT deception at Genesis 8:22 to indicate earth remains forever.

by jwfacts in

i could not find mention of this before.

i was reading genesis 8:22 in the niv and was surprised i had never noticed that this verse gives the impression that the earth will not remain forever.

genesis 8:22 stated by god after the flood, when promising to never again destroy all living creatures.. as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.

Bobcat

Interesting. The old NWT has the more literal rendering. The new one is more interpretive.

Bobcat