this was prompted by another thread where it was revealed that the gb were referred to as "our future kings" in a wt video.
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4911685446402048/fun-moment.
if i've got it right, the 144,000 are (or were until recently) the fds.
So if you read about the account of Sarah & Hagar in the Bible - both in Genesis & in Galatians.
Sarah a free woman- would represent Kingdom subjects ( Jerusalem above is free) & Hagar is a slave woman - she represents our current condition as a slave to sin & death.
this was prompted by another thread where it was revealed that the gb were referred to as "our future kings" in a wt video.
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4911685446402048/fun-moment.
if i've got it right, the 144,000 are (or were until recently) the fds.
Future subjects, not future slaves. There is a difference between those words.
the watchtower characterizes christians not affiliated with the watchtower corporation as vomit eaters and filthy whores: .
“how well they pictured the spiritual drunkards of christendom at the present time!
besides actual wine and intoxicating liquors, there are other things to intoxicate the priests and preachers in christendom so as to induce drowsiness in them, to make them reel, to confuse things before their religious vision, to induce them to belch out the vomit of spiritually filthy things” - w59 3/1 pp.
Seabreeze: That passage is from the Bible ( Ezekiel 23). So why are you blaming the WT for using the Bible? That's their purpose.
i was listening to a youtube where a pastor relates his experience of attending a jw memorial.
he said something that was profound to me.. "how do you have a memorial for someone alive?".
they use this phrase all the time, even printing thousands and thousands of invitations to invite everyone to join them in doing this.. i googled that phrase to see what other christian church's use this phrase and was astounded to see that at least the first two pages of results are in relation to jw's only..
You have a memorial for someone alive because they did die & you are commemorating their life/passing. In the case of Jesus - he was only in earthly form ( in the flesh) so he could fulfill his destiny ( Randsom sacrifice). After his sacrificial death - he left the earth and returned to heaven in his rightful form. The memorial is a reminder of his sacrifice.
Also Jesus himself commanded it to be observed.
how many of you bought a nice sedan, suv, or even a minivan back in the days that you described as your "armageddon car" that you would care for and it would last until the end arrived?.
i was driving a 1974 plymouth volare wagon in 1992 when i managed to get an 8-year old buick century.
it was low mileage and had a very luxurious interior.
Blondie:
It's here ( scroll to paragraph 35)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1968602?q=Looking+forward+to+1975&p=doc
governing body's ridiculous viewpoint of higher education.
to see this video, please click this link: https://jehovahstruth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=186#p186.
g4a.
I feel like they should be more forthcoming & honest about the subject instead of just outright discouraging it. They should clearly explain WHY it's not the best choice & provide better alternatives to be able to balance making a living with Spiritual things. They DO need to acknowledge that people need to make an honest living BUT not to make that their whole life focus. They DO need to acknowledge that the 50's are over & that most women ( married or not) will also need to contribute financially. The world has become such a place that it's very difficult to live on a single income if you have a family.
why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?
if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?
what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?
TonusOH
I agree, this is pretty much what I've been saying on this thread. The big A will come when it comes whether I'm dead or alive.
God is in control, not us. And humans have plenty of distractions in this life to forget spiritual things. If a sense of urgency is needed for people to wake up from their sleep & stay awake so that they shift their focus from this temporary life to everlasting life - then it serves it's purpose. Not to mention it provides a better life now.
God is proving that he is just - in front of the angels & demons & humans by being patient and giving ample warning to focus on the Kingdom. People prove who they are by their actions. We all know we have free will. God will know the hearts of men & will judge justly.
why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?
if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?
what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?
Tonus OH:
You mentioned something along the lines of it matters because people will change their behavior & be more active etc.
That's part of the question I'm asking. So the sense of urgency make people give more, change their behavior etc-- that's all true. Yes, in addition the WT will have more members & donors. What I'm saying is no person or organization is going to outsmart God & escape judgment. God reads not only thoughts, hearts & intentions, He also knows individual and big picture circumstances. No one is going to buy their way to the new world with extra activity or donations. It also doesn't matter whether or not the WT grows & collects $$. At any time God could take them out of commission & judge the organization. None of these things have an expiration date except your lifespan.
When A comes doesn't really have any affect on the final outcome.
The Bible knowledge & wisdom that WT teaches ( without even considering any dogma) is valuable enough to change people's life for the better & give them hope so they can endure their struggles. The knowledge that there is a God who loves us & provided a savior for us changes lives. This is the core or it - everything else is semantics.
why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?
if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?
what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?
Exactly everybody dies. So what difference does it make if they have money & a retirement or not?
We are all going to suffer & be uncomfortable and have losses in this life. And we're all going to die. Except maybe some who happened to still be alive during the big A ( whenever that is). But it doesn't matter if you're dead or if you make it through A - only Jehovah knows who he is going to choose.
why does it matter whether or not the end of the world ( (armageddon) is near?
if it was next week, next year, next decade, next century?
what is to be gained by knowing how close or far it is?
If you're so glad that you have your retirement money, then why are you still miserable then? Enjoy it, eat your heart out. Then afterwards you die. The end. It's always been your choice.
