Posts by Konagirl

31

A year since I have been back

by Lee Marsh in

jw
friends

a year ago i came back to jwd.

the 2 years before that.

when covid stated, i was diagnosed with colon cancer.

I failed to hold back tears when reading your account. I don’t know you, but I just want to say that you are stronger and braver than any of us can imagine, although I feel I have a small inkling of what you went through. My husband died in the summer of 2020 of the same cancer. In those days he would tell me, and any whom he spoke to on the phone, that he couldn’t go through each excruciating step if I wasn’t there for him. Thankfully, even in the time of the virus, the doctors made special circumstances for me to be with him, but on a limited basis. Radiation, surgery, extended chemotherapy; all for naught, since the cancer ultimately consumed his entire body.

So your story is one of extraordinary stamina and success, and it does all of us good to hear it. Thank you for sharing it.

76

Scriptures That Don’t Fit WT Theology

by Sea Breeze in

here’s a couple good ones: a. jesus said, “come to me and i will give you rest”.. why did jesus command us to go to him and not jehovah?.

why does the bible say that the name of jesus is above every name?

.

Konagirl

@Sea Breeze - Jesus said, “Come to Me and I will give you rest”.

John 14:14 – “If you ask me anything I will do it.”

WT. Kingdom Interlinear Translation - “if ever anything you should ask me in the name of me this I shall do”

NWT - If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Well, that changed the meaning. Obviously, a JW will not ask Jesus for anything in prayer, not even the “144,000”. But if he is their mediator, why can they not ask him “anything”? And we know he is speaking of wisdom, which is sorely lacking in the organization. (John 14:26)

The story unfolds…

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

He is the mediator for all of us who desire to follow his and obey his teachings.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in to enter. Matt 23:13

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:7-9

This surely points to the leaders of the Wt as today’s “thief” of John 10:10

15

Organization is God

by Longlivetherenegades in

the belief was jehovah/god is not the organisation when you are a member of the organisation .

when you disassociate or leave the organisation, the belief becomes jehovah/god is the organisation.

someone somewhere will tell you return to jehovah or hand you a publication that has the title return to jehovah.. .

Konagirl

@enoughisenough,

My friend found the picture online and used photoshop to remove the statue and insert the logo!

15

Organization is God

by Longlivetherenegades in

the belief was jehovah/god is not the organisation when you are a member of the organisation .

when you disassociate or leave the organisation, the belief becomes jehovah/god is the organisation.

someone somewhere will tell you return to jehovah or hand you a publication that has the title return to jehovah.. .

Konagirl

@enoughisenough - "Then there are photos of people standing around the JWorg sign with uplifted hands and faces. ( I remember not liking or really understanding why that blue sign ended up on the Kingdom Hall and the street side signs."

Or, bowing down in fear of facing the elder judicial committee!

15

Organization is God

by Longlivetherenegades in

the belief was jehovah/god is not the organisation when you are a member of the organisation .

when you disassociate or leave the organisation, the belief becomes jehovah/god is the organisation.

someone somewhere will tell you return to jehovah or hand you a publication that has the title return to jehovah.. .

Konagirl

@Longlivetherenegades

Thank you for Ray Franz's quote. Here's a segment - "Or it can refer to those who form the authority structure that directs and controls that community."

Each fully indoctrinated elder, represents the image of the “spirit-directed organization”. They must uphold this image, representing its divine power of authority. It is a crafted idol supported on a pedestal that cannot be questioned. Sadly, they, the elder body and all JWs, serve a “created thing”, and live a life of futility.

21 For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Romans 1:21-15

15

Organization is God

by Longlivetherenegades in

the belief was jehovah/god is not the organisation when you are a member of the organisation .

when you disassociate or leave the organisation, the belief becomes jehovah/god is the organisation.

someone somewhere will tell you return to jehovah or hand you a publication that has the title return to jehovah.. .

Konagirl

@Longlivetherenegades: ORGANIZATION = JEHOVAH

"What does Exodus 20: 4,5 states You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me,

You cannot serve Jehovah and the organisation because in reality Jehovah does not have an organisation."

I completely agree. They say -

“Loyal Submission to Jehovah and his organization”

“Maintain a warm personal relationship with Jehovah in association with his organization”

They have certainly glued “Jehovah” and “organization” together. Going further in Exodus 20 that you quoted, God says in verse 23 – “Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.”

“alongside” – usage; with, near, together with. “Nearness and vicinity”. I don’t know of any other religion that has attached God to an organization so tightly, that no matter what is spoken of – “organization” or “Jehovah” - they are one in the same; which, according to the Bible, makes JWs idolaters. And you’re right, we don’t really envision it, until we detach ourselves from the Wt. This concept has transformed the organization into salvation.

“To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.” Isa 40:25

Isa 44 - “How foolish are those who manufacture idols.
These prized objects are really worthless.
The people who worship idols don’t know this,
so they are all put to shame.
10 Who but a fool would make his own god—
an idol that cannot help him one bit?
11 All who worship idols will be disgraced
along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—
who claim they can make a god.
They may all stand together,
but they will stand in terror and shame.

12 The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool,
pounding and shaping it with all his might.
His work makes him hungry and weak.
It makes him thirsty and faint.
13 Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood
and draws a pattern on it.
He works with chisel and plane
and carves it into a human figure.
He gives it human beauty
and puts it in a little shrine. (the JW heart, maybe?)
14 He cuts down cedars;
he selects the cypress and the oak;
he plants the pine in the forest
to be nourished by the rain.
15 Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire.
With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.
Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it
and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol
and bows down in front of it! ("Remain Loyal to Jehovah and his Organization)
16 He burns part of the tree to roast his meat
and to keep himself warm.
He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.”
17 Then he takes what’s left"
and makes his god: a carved idol!
He falls down in front of it,
worshiping and praying to it.
“Rescue me!” he says.
“You are my god!” (“…identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation”)

18 Such stupidity and ignorance!
Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see.
Their minds are shut, and they cannot think.
19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,
“Why, it’s just a block of wood!
I burned half of it for heat
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat.
How can the rest of it be a god?
Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”
20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.
He trusts something that can’t help him at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,
“Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” ("They demonstrate their full trust in Jehovah's organization")

32

Scriptures That Bothered You as a JW Kid.

by Sea Breeze in

my big one was: .

rev.

20: 5 "but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

Konagirl

@Sea Breeze, Thank you! Ill be sure to read it.

32

Scriptures That Bothered You as a JW Kid.

by Sea Breeze in

my big one was: .

rev.

20: 5 "but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

Konagirl

@Sea Breeze - My big one was:

Rev. 20: 5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."

I never could understand how the bible couldn't get this right since everyone (righteous and unrighteous) were supposed to be resurrected during the Thousand Year Reign according to WT publications.

I couldn't understand it either when I was in the Wt. But how many times did we hear 2 Pet 3:8 “…one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day”? But Wt. decides that in the most symbolic book of the Bible, it is necessary to apply the “thousand years” literally, as if God’s timetable is the same as ours on earth?

If I look closely at the scriptures, the bulk of the symbolic number of anointed (144,000), sealed in heaven and who are the “first resurrection”, never “worshiped the beast or its image” which is the “spirit-breathed” (spirit-directed) beast of Revelation 13:1,2,15. They never wore its symbolic “mark” of identity, that guided their mind and actions (Rev 20:4; Rev 13:16,17)

This group “came to life (through their testimony about the Christ and dying as he did - 1 John 5:12) over their lifetime, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years”. (Rev 20:4,5; Ps 110:1,2; 14:1; Heb 12:22-24) A symbolic “thousand years”.

After that time period is over, Satan is set free from “not perceiving” (meaning of Hades/abyss), to DECEIVE the “remaining ones of the woman’s seed” – the last group of anointed. (Rev 12: 1-4,15,17; 20:7-10) These anointed DO worship the beast that is directed by a composite false prophet. (Rev 13:11-15) They are taken “captive”, and conquered by it. (Col 2:8; Rev 13:10,7) The Beast “makes war” with them, blaspheming who they are, and mocking them, which we clearly see happening to the anointed, especially recently in the Wt magazines.

The anointed either remain conquered in the organization, cowering under the rulership of the elder body and governing body, or they remain because they love the organization (2 Thess 2:9-10; Rev 13:4). But there are those who speak up and expose the lies, even if it means they are disfellowshipped – spiritually “killed”. (Rev 11:1-3,7; 13:15; 6:9-11)

THESE are the ones who gain victory over the beast. (Rev 11:7-8,11-12)

“I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.” Rev. 15:2

They are who comprise the “great crowd” that come out of the great tribulation/Armageddon, which is caused by the two Beasts to begin with. (Rev 16:13-16)

So, two groups – the main group of “144,000” never fell prey to the beasts of Revelation 13. (Rev 7:4-8) But the last group, a remnant, face deception and either conquer it (Rev 7:9-15), or remain right where they are.

The victorious ones join into the symbolic number of “144,000”.

Revelation 20:5 – “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.”

They complete the Bride of Christ united with her husband. From there, the New Covenant/promise of life, brings forth the rest of God’s children in the Kingdom. (Gal 4:26; Rom 8:19,21; Rev 5:10; 21:1-4;22:1-2; Isa 66:7-8)

Matt 24:24,25 - For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. Behold, I have told you beforehand.”

The ”thousand years” began in the first century. (Ps 110:1-3;2:2-3,9) It ended when the Watchtower was born. If Jesus tells us that our words will be our judge in the last day, why would we face another judgment a thousand literal years into the Kingdom of God? All the promises of eternal life that Jesus had made for those believing in him, obeying his teachings, and who are persecuted for his name’s sake, are wiped out, nullified, by the Watchtower’s lie of a thousand years of peace after a bloody Armageddon, only to have another Armageddon based on deceit. (Matt 12:33-37; John 5:24; 6:46; 11:25)

For those of us coming out of the organization, and hopefully more will, haven’t we already had enough deception to conquer, family to lose, persecution and shunning from those whom we thought loved us? (Matt 10:16-23)

Besides, it will be literally impossible for a "Gog and Magog" to "surround the camp of the saints/anointed" in the Kingdom when all will be ruling with Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:9-10

39

GB Update - Meet the new GB members

by eyeslice in

jw
friends

i overheard my wife listening to '2023 governing body update #2, presented by kenneth cook jnr.

a few points i got from it.. new hour requirements.

quote "with the new hour requirements for pioneers, many us us can share in the pioneer work.

Konagirl

@punkofnice - "We thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know. The Governing Body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones." Wt. quote

@Beth Sarim - Yes. And there you have it. The Borg will paint that ''anointed are nuts" & or ''mentally diseased'' brush to everyone who has disagreements or questions the Borg.

They can maintain a global network of every elder throughout the world. In proportion to the entire elder body, the anointed are a very small group. Is that why we don’t need to know who they are? Or, is it to keep the competition muzzled? Obviously, to the GB, the anointed are a threat to their rule and false doctrine, we saw that with Ray Franz. The anointed are a far greater threat in their mind, than the massive elder body that they have installed.

But that could very well change. (Rev 2:20; Jer 4:30; Ezek 16:35-37; Rev 17:1-6,15-18; 2 Kings 9:30-33; Rev 18:4-8) (“kings of the earth” - Rev 1:5,6; 5:9,10)

8

A Rare Response to being Disfellowshipped

by Vanderhoven7 in

to most, being disfellowshiped is a terrible loss of friends family and god's perceived approval.

but not to mark jones.

in his words..... the best way i can describe it, is like when you leave highschool for the last time.

Konagirl

I love what you wrote, @RULES & REGULATIONS. Not only do the words of Christ contain eternal life, but they contain love. Watchtower doctrine is cold, calculating, and based on the organization's needs, which makes it easy for them to enforce disfellowshipping. Since they follow their decrees and twist the scripture, they practice lawlessness.

Rom 13:8 - "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."

Gal. 5:14 - "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matt 24:10-12 - At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, ("lawlessness") the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.