Bobcat

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Posts by Bobcat

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  17

  Another one that Jdubs miss

  by HawayMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

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  Bobcat

  Hi John,

  I'm glad you brought this up. I have a post (here - off site) devoted to the word parousia. But the focus of the post is on whether the NT ever associates Jesus' parousia with his enthronement (as the WT does).

  When I get a chance I am going to have to add a post discussing the differences between erchomai and parousia.

  The first difference between these two words is that erchomai is a verb; parousia is a noun. Erchomai expresses movement, parousia is an event. And thus, the two words can be used in the same context, such as at Mt 24:36-44. The verbs in the context describing Jesus' "coming" (vss. 37, 42, 44) are all part of the event, his parousia. (vs. 39)

  Parousia means "presence," but the way it is used in the NT and anciently gives it an added flavor that, to me, "presence" does not convey. It is more like an official state visit, with all that such a visit would include.

  In the NT (as my link shows), parousia is associated with Jesus rewarding his faithful servants and punishing the others. Mt 24:27 associates it with sudden and widespread effects. And with death, such as one might find on a large battlefield. (Mt 24:28 - for which, see footnote # 38 in the NET Bible here.)

  To me, "advent" much better encapsulates how the NT uses parousia. "Presence" doesn't carry any of those overtones. But I would say that "presence" much better encapsulates what the WT teaches about Jesus' parousia, that is, an invisible presence that only a few know about, something much different from how the NT presents it.
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  17

  Another one that Jdubs miss

  by HawayMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

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  Bobcat

  who do you think Jesus Christ (whether he was a real being or only a literary character) meant by the term "faithful and discreet slave"?

  At this link (off site) I have a number of links and references to research into various aspects of the F&DS parable. I posted this also for the sake of lurkers.
  
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  51

  PIMO elder

  by Reservations in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i’m reservations, pimo elder.

  i’m in no position to leave the organisation, maybe some people will see that as weak or whatever, but we have to all go down our own path in life.. i would like to be able to wake people up in my congregation, how do you think best to do this?

  any ideas?.

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  Bobcat

  Hi Reservations,

  This is just my opinion, but as an elder, you won't be able to help anyone to wake up. In my experience, people wake up when they are ready to, often for personal reasons rather than anything doctrinal or organizational.

  I think what is more likely is that, as an elder trying to wake people up, you will be outed in some way and end up out of the organization - the very thing you were wanting to avoid. The WT has built in just too many layers of mind control. Someone will see that your thinking is out of line with the WT and will expose you.

  For peace of mind (and again, my opinion) your best bet would be to resign as an elder, get off the school, and stop commenting at the meetings. And give them no reason whatsoever. NONE. This will catch people's attention. Will it wake them up? In my experience, only when they themselves are ready. But you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are no longer supporting something you no longer believe in.

  If you give your real reason for stopping everything that I just mentioned above, that in itself may become their reason to put you out. The mind control is just that pervasive. But you may get some satisfaction in withholding your reasons, just like the WT withholds information from the R&F. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

  Well, that's my opinion.
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  16

  2700 years ago Jews ate pigs

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  from haaretz newspaper:.

  what does a pig skeleton discovered in jerusalem say about first temple era jews?.

  the argument here is that sanctions on eating pork were only introduced in the 2nd temple era.. so what does that tell you bout biblical accuracy.. .

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  Bobcat

  I have a thread on the topic (of the swine, with related links): Here.

  One of the things I have wondered about is the demons requesting Jesus to send them into the swine, and then they immediately drown the swine. What was their logic?

  My speculation: The promised land was set apart for the descendants of Abraham. The rest of the world was given to the nations (at the tower of Babel). (De 32:7-8) As such, (I'm thinking) the demons could only trespass when they had a legitimate reason (such as some idolatrous practice, etc).

  In the case of the demoniac, Jesus was about to take away their reason for trespassing. So they ask to be sent into the swine, something they think Jesus might agree to (considering the Law), but from their standpoint allows them to stay in the area.

  From Jesus' standpoint, he knows the Law Covenant is about to be superceded and that the barriers differentiating the Jews from the nations are soon to be removed. (Eph 2:14-16) So it makes no matter regarding sending the demons out of the country. (Mk 5:9-10) From Jesus' standpoint, a source of Jewish disobedience to the Law is removed.

  But like I said, "my speculation."
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  46

  Please how do someone become an Anointed Christian in Watchtower Organization.

  by bola in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please how do someone become an anointed christian in watchtower organization.

  i informed my elders in my congo that i am an anointed christian..

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  Bobcat

  If you are interested, here is a collection of research I posted regarding the use of the term "anoint" in the NT. It is surprising how the NT usage differs from WT usage.

  And regarding the following of Jesus' instructions on the Lord's Evening Meal, this post (and thread) shows that there is quite a difference between NT practice and WT practice. Some have seen some similarities between WT practice and a black mass. There are a growing number of JWs who hold the Memorial privately because of what they see as heavy handed WT efforts to prevent JWs from following Jesus' simple command about partaking.
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  46

  Please how do someone become an Anointed Christian in Watchtower Organization.

  by bola in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please how do someone become an anointed christian in watchtower organization.

  i informed my elders in my congo that i am an anointed christian..

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  Bobcat

  Hi Bola,

  I suggest being careful about what you tell your elders about this.

  Jesus indicated that being "born from above" was a basic concept of being one of his disciples. (Jn 3:3-5) Jesus chided Nicodemus for not understanding this. (Jn 3:9-10) The reason he chided him was that the giving of the spirit was foretold to be a part of a new covenant. (Ezek 36:26-27) Nicodemus, as a teacher in Israel, should have expected this turn of events.

  The WT teaches that only the 144,000 are anointed with spirit. But the two passages about the 144,000 (Rev 7:1-8 & 14:1-5) say nothing about this. WT teaching on this matter is a contradiction to basic Christian teaching as presented in the NT. And as one of the posters above pointed out, WT teaching on this is more related to WT's authority over its followers. Silencing you might be the easiest way for them to solve the possible problem you present to them. (Compare Jn 11:47-48)

  So the problem you may face is that your new found realization might contradict current WT teaching. Depending on your elders and CO, putting you out may be the easiest way for them to solve the possible problems your view presents.

  Since you can't prove you have been "born from above" (other than scripturally - Acts 2:38-39), and they can't disprove it, it might be best to leave your understanding to yourself. They will assume that you are claiming to be anointed when you partake at the Memorial. They will even say that YOU are claiming that when you partake. But they are assuming that you accept all their teachings about the topic. If you don't want to become controversial to them you might want to leave the matter as something you understand, but something they can take it or leave it if they question you about it.
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  16

  2700 years ago Jews ate pigs

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  from haaretz newspaper:.

  what does a pig skeleton discovered in jerusalem say about first temple era jews?.

  the argument here is that sanctions on eating pork were only introduced in the 2nd temple era.. so what does that tell you bout biblical accuracy.. .

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  Bobcat

  Isa 65:2-4 & 66:17 seem to confirm that pork was on the menu for some Jews under the Law prior to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. So finding bones in that time frame is not surprising.
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  9

  Just another failed prophecy ...

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so, i was going through some consolation magazines of 1939, and found this absolute prediction by rutherford:.

  only 8 years later .....

  oooooopssss......!!.

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  Bobcat

  What can be counted on, in any WT interpretation, is the phrase, "the Scriptures conclusively prove ..." or something similar. Always!

  But that's what happens when you set yourself up as God's only channel of communication. You can't allow yourself to be tentative. And the irony is, over the long haul people would appreciate the honesty involved in being tentative.
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  4

  wt is wrong, the "generation" must be the wicked.

  by waton in

  1. social
  2. humour

  wt wants the generation of 1914 to end soon.

  but making the generation anointed contradicts jesus.

  jesus said that the end generation would pass away after all these things, including armageddon has occurred so, when will the wicked ( non wt believers) pass away?

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  Bobcat

  If you look at how Jesus (and by extension, the writer of Matthew used "generation" throughout the book, then, "this generation" has long ago passed away. This (off site) post has a number of links to research I posted on this issue. It includes links to how Matthew uses "generation" in the whole book of Matthew, in the more immediate context of the Olivet Discourse, in the illustration that summarizes that portion of the Olivet Discourse, and in a comparison with Rev 16:16-21.

  I have no doubt that it can only refer to the contemporaneous Jews of Jesus' time. So that all the verbose WT waffling about who and when it refers to is worth less than the ink used to print it.
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  14

  Eye-Opener

  by ElderStuckin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  each eye-opener in my awakening had nothing to do with apostates.

  it was always by looking directly at the so-called spiritual food that helped me awaken.. in 2019 they changed the wording of the second of two baptismal questions which are answered aloud before the audience.

  now i realize that these questions have been adjusted over the years.

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  Bobcat

  If the questions changed then the dedication is no longer valid. My baptism therefor is now null and void, thus meaning I no longer subject to disfellowshipping.

  What's interesting is how they will tell you that your dedication cannot be revoked or voided. Yet, they will dedicate buildings to God and then later sell them to whomever wants to buy them. Dedication only matters when they want it to matter.