Posts by Konagirl

50

Are the teachings of JW—consistent?

by Fisherman in

i would belief so but if you can point something out, it can be discussed.. i don’t mean what jw taught in the past that they later realized was not correct and amended.

—unless you think and can show something like that is relevant.. i’ve spoken to a lot of believers from different religions.

i don’t want to bash any religion here under this topic but their beliefs are inconsistent and their reasons are sophistry and made up and grounded on circular reasoning.

Konagirl

The JW teachings are supported by scripture, add up, are consistent, and” jive” like the 4 gospels, logical, reasonable, plausible and just make sense and appeal to the mind and heart.

If you disagree, please show how so.

Will a chart do?

16

Can you answer my questions, please?

by Sandie in

i have three questions.

i would be most grateful if someone could respond for me, please.

thank you.. 1. can jehovah's witnesses practice faith with the bible as a guide, or is it crucial to include the teachings of the watchtower society?

Konagirl

"Remember, one path will distance you from Jehovah, while the other path will lead to the best life ever" w 13/1/15 p. 12-16

To explain my use of this quote, now that I've left the organization I have distanced myself from their version of God - their "Jehovah" that required dedication to the organization. That's the path I took. The JW "Jehovah" I associate fully with their organization and its logo/image as "the best life ever", conjoined with its website logo.

16

Can you answer my questions, please?

by Sandie in

i have three questions.

i would be most grateful if someone could respond for me, please.

thank you.. 1. can jehovah's witnesses practice faith with the bible as a guide, or is it crucial to include the teachings of the watchtower society?

Konagirl

Hi Sandy,

I’ll comment on #3 –

"Do Jehovah's Witnesses have assurance of salvation?

Is there any way to achieve that? "

I’ll let their own forked tongue speak:

"As Christians, we face up to similar challenges today. We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry—be it worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol or the imputing of salvation to a person or an organization."

Notice the date of this statement made in the Watchtower magazine: 1990/11/1 p. 26

Now notice this quote from their “Kingdom Ministry” made in the same month of the same year:

"Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the “one flock” Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev 7:9,10,15) Therefore, we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established."

So, you ask do they have assurance of salvation? Yes, through their modern version of idolatry.

Is there any way to achieve that? If you mean according to them, yes, through “worshipful gestures” toward the organization and its "image" upon water immersion; and by their actions as a JW in every day life. The organization is said to survive their bloody Armageddon. (Rev 13:16,4)

Their second question that must be answered before baptism is -

“Do you understand that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with Jehovah’s organization?”

As they say,

"Remember, one path will distance you from Jehovah, while the other path will lead you to the best life ever" w 13/1/15 p. 12-16

1 John 5:21 - "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." NLT

(I had a photo for you of their logo with the words, "best life ever" on it, but it wouldn't take)

25

Did YOU have 'princes' in YOUR congregation?

by BoogerMan in

lol .

w54 5/1 p. 277 par.

17 - some of the “great crowd” are now serving in position of “princes,” .

Konagirl

w64 12/1 p. 723 par. 28 - Psalm 45 talks prophetically about the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, and about his marriage to the bride class, the 144,000 joint heirs of him in the heavenly kingdom. Then, in addressing the King Jesus Christ, Psalm 45:16 prophetically says: “In place of your forefathers there will come to be your sons, whom you will appoint as princes in all the earth.”

That same Hebrew word for “prince” is found in Isa 43:28 and is used for the priests in the sanctuary, being “disgraced”. It also is the exact same word in Isa 9:6 when referring to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”. Of course, he is the “high priest” of God’s spiritual Temple. (Heb 4:14; 9:11)

By all rights, this word refers to the anointed priesthood, not to the elder body. But in the wt. where the anointed sit in silence, the elder body is said to “represent the royal priesthood”, a position that cannot be “challenged” (w 02/8/1) , which truly has brought disgrace to the spiritual temple built on the body of Christ. (Isa 43:10;1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; 2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 11:1,2; 2 Chron 23:6; Ezek 44:6-9)

All anointed inside the organization are in subjection to the GB, AND the elder body. (Matt 24:48-51; Rev 13:5-7)

So, by Wt. relating “princes” to the elders, it shows they are both a counterfeit priesthood, as well as counterfeit “princes” wearing “something like crowns of gold”. (Eccl 10:5-7; 2 Chron 13:9; Dan 8:23-25; Rev 9:1-4,7)

I've come to realize that NO teaching by the organization can be trusted. Including where the faithful sealed anointed, symbolic "144,000"/Bride of Christ, will be serving as "princes"/"priests in the Kingdom. Jesus showed us by appearing to the disciples after he was resurrected, that he can and will, be ruling from both heaven and on the earth, with his messengers/angels/priests/princes/Bride of "New Jerusalem", who will be serving the Father, the Son and the people of the Kingdom. (Gen 28:10-16; John 1:50,51; Heb 1:6; Rev 21:1-3; 22:17; Mal 2:7; Psalm 37:29-31)

Rev 5:10 - "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth".

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Konagirl

@Rattagan 350 - "It does not matter. You don't build a religion based on one scripture."

I agree to a point. Each scripture, matters. 2 Tim 3:16 But who is man that he should build a religion anyway? Shouldn't that be left to the Father and the Son? (John 2:19-21; Matt 16:18; 1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22)

However, it seems apparent that man can build a religion, on just three dates.

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Konagirl

"Sadly the above dates cannot be considered to be eschatological in nature for eschatology proper can only be realized with the advent of 1914 CE with the birth of God's Kingdom.

@scholar,

Matt 24:7-8 NWT - “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. NWT

Okay, so God’s Kingdom was “born” in heaven in 1914, followed by “pangs of distress”? You do know how the Kingdom Interlinear translates this phrase? “Pangs of birth”.

So, no, God’s Kingdom was not born in 1914. It doesn’t take a higher education to realize that labor pains, precede birth.

Matt 24:3 - While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”

Do you think Jesus knew that an organization of false prophets would try to defy the laws of nature and convince millions that birth pangs follow birth?

I do believe this is why he said the following:

4 In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ, (“anointed”) ’ and will mislead many.”

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Konagirl

@Godlyman - "If anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?"

Hello,

Okay, based on scripture. In Matt 21:18-21, the point is made that Jesus is hungry and walks up to a fig tree with no fruit on it. As a sign to his disciples, he said to a fig tree, “’Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’” Immediately the fig tree withered away.”

Fruit is signified as spiritual food that those whom Jesus chooses, are to produce. He said in Matthew 7:15-20 to be aware of false prophets, and likened them to a tree that produces bad fruit. Again, fruit signifies teachings/food. No good fruit, no good teachings are found on a tree that has produced bad fruit. Bad fruit rots and withers, just as the fruit produced by the heads of the organization have rotted and withered away, since the beginning of the organization. “Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” – that is, we can recognize false prophets/teachers, as well as those “faithful slaves”/prophets/teachers that Jesus sends.

John 15:16 –“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

So, what happens to the trees that produce rotten fruit? “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matt 7:19

In Matt 3:8-10, John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees the same thing. And “fire” signifies the word of God. Jer 23:29 That is, the measuring line of a “faithful slave”; whether that person follows and teaches the word of Christ.

Another important point, is that among Jesus’ faithful slaves that he sends to provide “food at the proper time” (Matt 24:45) – or, shall we say, the correct understanding of the scriptures and in the last days, primarily the book of Revelation; this one would never announce himself or herself as the faithful slave Jesus had chosen. That declaration is up to Jesus when he returns. Matt 25:14-30

“It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” Matt 24:46

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:18

Jesus will comparatively judge his servants by the acceptance or rejection of his words, and the exultation of their own words. Luke 19:22; John 12:48

Since it apparent that you feel you are the faithful and discreet slave whom Jesus sends, then do you believe you are the messenger of the covenant that restores/refines the holy priesthood in the last days – the “Elijah” that Jesus said will arrive to “restore all things”? Or, are you solely set on dates and literal signs that you see happening in the world? I hope not, since that is the failure of the GB, and we see how they grapple to hold on to a date (1914) that they have built their organization around.

Mal 3:1-5; Matt 17:11; Rev 11:1-3

8

Jesus's bread illustration, JW Broadcasting silly bread illustration

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

jw broadcasting.

'' this is garlic powder.

the son of adam tainted our pure relationship with jehovah.

Konagirl

waton - "In this week's wt study "Trust the brothers" in paragraph 16 is another possible food poisoning illustration. Evidently referring to the F&DS dispensations, it asked: Would you stop eating just because it gave you food poisoning before? or words to that effect. Good that wt writers unwittingly admitted that their product can be sickening and has possibly been lethal. like advising not to eat of the bread of life of John 6 refereed to above."

I checked out the study article….#37

“Have you ever lost a privilege? That can be a painful experience.”

(The experience involving “brothers” removing a “privilege” a sister once held is related. )

“If you have had a similar disheartening experience, work to rebuild your trust. You may need time, but your efforts will be worth it. To illustrate, if we have ever experienced food poisoning, we may be more cautious about what we eat. However, one bad meal will not make us stop eating.”

Oh my, that is so the case with the spiritual food processed for JW consumption. They throw caution to the wind and will not stop eating “wormwood”.

A friend of mine, who is now shunned for speaking about Christ’s teachings, (“bread of life”) had a dream of JWs gathered for a feast. This is translated from Portuguese:

“I dreamed today about JWs. They were in a long line, very well dressed for a wedding party and there were 4 of them sitting faraway eating a plant. I came out of the house to get food for these and JWs didn’t look at me. They were very hungry and the people were commenting on the plant. I brought them bread and when I passed them, they didn’t look at me and didn’t want to touch me. I arrived to give food to those people and they were full of eating the plants. I remember what the plant was, it was poisonous, and the people were dressed elegantly.

Deut 29:16-19; Jer 9:13-15; Heb 12:14,15; Rev 8:10,11; 17:1,2,18; (Rev 1:5) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut+29%3A16-19%3B+Jer+9%3A13-15%3B+Heb+12%3A14%2C15%3B+Rev+8%3A10%2C11%3B+17%3A1%2C2%2C18%3B+Rev+1%3A5&version=CSB

Here’s an interesting report on the essential oil, wormwood. If you take enough of it, you’ll die. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199709183371205

31

How do Witnesses reconcile Isaiah 43:10 with John 1:1

by Vanderhoven7 in

something does not compute.

you are my witnesses,”declares jehovah, yes, my servant whom i have chosen, so that you may know and have faith in me and understand that i am the same one.before me no god was formed, and after me there has been none.

isaiah 43:10. in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god and the word was god.

Konagirl

“You are my witnesses, declares the Lord.
You are my servant, whom I have chosen,
so that you may know me and believe in me,
so that you will understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
and after me there will not be another.”

This use to be confusing to me too. Then I realized it’s not talking about Jesus, but about the typical idols that drove people away from worshiping God. And looking at the meaning, this could be a person as well.

Isa 43:11,12

I, yes I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I myself declared it.
I brought salvation, and I announced it.
It was not some strange god among you.
You are my witnesses, declares the Lord,
and I am God.

Interlinear – “I tell and I save and I announce and there is no in you alien one…”

“I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when [there was] no strange [god] among you: therefore ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I [am] God.”

The Hebrew word rendered “strange” means hence to be a foreigner, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery” “To turn aside, to depart, especially from God.” This is called spiritual adultery. (Ezek 16:15,20,21)

Hmm. “gods” in men, such as the governing body and the elder body they direct. The elders are the embodiment of the organization, that claims to bring salvation. Strange, indeed.

23

"The Truth"

by Ding in

we all know that jws consider the wt religion to be "the truth" and refer to it as such.. granted, that phrase is used repeatedly in the literature and from the platform.. but it's obvious that much of what the organization used to require jws to teach house-to-house as important truths--even within our own lifetimes--has been abandoned.

it's been replaced by "new light" and "refined understanding.

what's meant by "the 1914 generation" is a prime example.. in fact, i think it would be hard to find another religion that has changed so many of its teachings, especially in such a short period of time.. so why do jws still believe their religion to be "the truth"?.

Konagirl

@punkofnice - Perfect! Two pictures are worth two thousand words.