aren`t these two scriptures talking about the one and same god ?.
2 cor.4:4 speaks about the god of this system of things blinding the minds of unbelievers .. this scripture has always been attributed as to applying to satan the devil.
he is not blinding the minds of believers but unbelievers and i think that is a critical point about 2cor.4:4. rom.13:1-7 states that christians should be in subjection to the superior authorities under the arrangement of god and whoever opposers the authority has taken a stand against god.
And then you have scriptures like this where a voice came down from the heavens and told the King of Babylon "..seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants.” - Dan 4:32
This seems to indicate that "Jehovah" was ruling the earth in the time of Daniel - so when did he "grant it" to Satan?
Apparently sometime after that but before Jesus words about the ruler of this world being judged (Jn 16:11)
my library has volunteers who run the local history department.
they put up an exhibition last month called women at war and they asked for photos of people in uniform who aided the war effort in wwll.
i offered a photo of my mother in her red cross nurse's uniform but then i couldn't find it so i had to write to my sister asking if she had it.. i addressed it to her and her husband explaining why i wanted it and just wrote as if this is family property and i needed it.
Can't go into details here but I've noticed a similar thought process as well. They don't want to push you further from "the truth" and don't want to be partially responsible for you not wanting to "return to jehovah" later on.
As they awaken more (if that happens) they may start letting their real thoughts slip through now and then, especially if they know how you feel (or have a strong inkling)
so i was reading the book of daniel, starting with chapter 4 (nebuchadnezzar's famous tree chopping/banding dream where the 7 times is introduced) but i noticed that when you don't cherry pick verses and just read straight thru - it really seems like some children's book that was poorly written.
even though the borg says that this book as written by daniel, chapter 4 is clearly written by "king nebuchad·nezzar to all the peoples, nations, and language groups dwelling in all the earth" after the tree chopping business.
) of the rest of the chapters seem to be written in 3rd person (odd, if you are writing about your experiences).
So I was reading the book of Daniel, starting with chapter 4 (Nebuchadnezzar's famous tree chopping/banding dream where the 7 times is introduced) but I noticed that when you don't cherry pick verses and just read straight thru - it really seems like some children's book that was poorly written. Even though the bORG says that this book as written by Daniel, chapter 4 is clearly written by "King Nebuchad·nezzar to all the peoples, nations, and language groups dwelling in all the earth" after the tree chopping business. Many (all?) of the rest of the chapters seem to be written in 3rd person (odd, if you are writing about your experiences)
Also in the table of bible books at the back of the NWT (gray one at least) it makes note that [Names of writers of some books and of places where written are uncertain. Many dates are only approximate....]
it seems to me that before you claim divine authorship/inspiration for a particular work (and we are talking about at least 66 individual works, but probably more) that you ought to know who wrote it and when.
Add to this that the accounts of Jesus' resurrection (particularly the grave visiting scene) have vastly different and opposing narratives (number of angels, where they were, what they said, whether or not the women told noone out of fear or told the disciples etc etc etc) and one cannot help but ask the question:
Is the Bible truly inspired?
I'm not trying to be antagonistic - I so wanted to believe but I'm finding it harder and harder to justify any "Yes" answer to the above question. Any believers up to explaining some of the above issues?
my library has volunteers who run the local history department.
they put up an exhibition last month called women at war and they asked for photos of people in uniform who aided the war effort in wwll.
i offered a photo of my mother in her red cross nurse's uniform but then i couldn't find it so i had to write to my sister asking if she had it.. i addressed it to her and her husband explaining why i wanted it and just wrote as if this is family property and i needed it.
2 possibilities
1. he likes you
2. he doesn't care for the shunning thing (partially awake?)
Ah if only there were some sort of test that we could use on others to assess their level of being awake, without potentially sending them running for the hills
Wake me up, thanks for sharing! Think there would be any takers for this new "book" at a KH?
Maybe if there was a JW .org logo at the top..
ive asked my jw friends that 3 times and never got an answer.. and can someone explain the jw class system?
and or point me to info on it..
Counter,
In JW land, the faithful & discreet slave is now taught to be 7 guys at worldwide HQ who are the Guardians Of Doctrine for the entire religion. (their words, not mine, although they don't teach that at the meetings)
The "lay people" as you said it, are what many here call the R&F or rank and file - that's your everyday JW person, male or female. Sometimes just referred to as Publishers
From the Publishers, though, come the pioneers (preaching hour quotas for these people), elders (men who need not be elderly nor older, nor mature - from my experience), ministerial servants (men who help the elders)
As for the Class system, locally, the elders are at the top, followed by their wives, then the ministerial servants and pioneers. Organizationally, the 7 guys at HQ (aka Governing Body) are on top.
With so many men "on top" its a bit hard to not get a bit screwed.
If you're studying or considering studying, my personal recommendation is to RUN - fast.
The truth is supposed to set you free, not enslave you.
does any one think the wt is going to go out this way?i know its dark but i can see it going down that way but i dont see it being the way there would go down..
Considering the possible subliminal message intention back in the Sergei video series of a glass of some colored liquid being full in one scene then empty seconds later - I would be highly suspicious if there was ever 'New Light' on who partakes of the wine and bread - especially if they change it to be everyone. Even more so if all the wine and/or bread comes from a central source.
It would be doable, just have it all done at the same time worldwide or even 1/2 world at a time. This would minimize the potential that the news would spread far/wide before the rest of the 'sheep' get 'fed.'
Could make up some nonsense about doing it at the same time worldwide and spiritual unity and how it's all symbolic anyways and Jesus didn't specify a time or date so we are free to adjust if we wish. Now that we will have the memorial talks beamed in from HQ, they could all have already eaten/drank the unkool-aid by the time they encourage everyone else to do the same - perhaps one last joke on the masses - the dead speaking to you!
"thou shalt spy on and report your brothers and sisters to hq.".
https://www.tv6tnt.com/news/local/industrial-court-finds-there-are-limits-to-freedom-of-religion/article_5a485b94-a327-11e7-9c32-57b15184bc6a.html.
editor's note: due to the nature of this story we've changed the names of the parties involved.
After quoting Leviticus 5:1, the article mentions: This command from the Highest Level of authority in the universe put the responsibility upon each Israelite to report to the judges any serious wrongdoing that he observed so that the matter might be handled. While Christians are not strictly under the Mosaic Law, its principles still apply in the Christian congregation. Hence, there may be times when a Christian is obligated to bring a matter to the attention of the elders. True, it is illegal in many countries to disclose to unauthorized ones what is found in private records. But if a Christian feels, after prayerful consideration, that he is facing a situation where the law of God required him to report what he knew despite the demands of lesser authorities, then that is a responsibility he accepts before Jehovah. There are times when a Christian "must obey God as ruler rather than men."
Lev 5:1 states: “‘If someone sins because he has heard a public call to testify and he is a witness or has seen or learned about it and he does not report it, then he will answer for his error.
Now I don't know about you, but I don't consider there to have been any public call to testify against the female colleague and frankly the JW guy (the John, in this case) was probably specifically searching for goodies, not just stumbling upon this info/pics. How the *bleep* can you use the scripture above, which is clearly a call for witnesses to a crime, to say that being a tell-all John is a command from the highest level of authority? If someone accused her and asked for anyone with more info to come forward, at least that would make more sense. (but not leave him guiltless for the crimes he committed)
P.S. also note the double-speak in the WT quote above: "While Christians are not strictly under the Mosaic Law... a Christian "must obey God as ruler rather than men." considering they are talking about Lev 5:1 on both parts here.. wait is it law or not? only when MEN say so, it turns out. So obey these men rather than those men.
Some sick sick ppl in that org, esp at the top.
"thou shalt spy on and report your brothers and sisters to hq.".
https://www.tv6tnt.com/news/local/industrial-court-finds-there-are-limits-to-freedom-of-religion/article_5a485b94-a327-11e7-9c32-57b15184bc6a.html.
editor's note: due to the nature of this story we've changed the names of the parties involved.
If you want to be serious about the cleanliness of the cong. then you have to burn every org bldg to the ground and free the captives.
I am not advocating destruction or violence here but if the WT god wants to clean things up, that would be a great start.
Jesus essentially called Paul a liar @ John 5:31 "If I alone bear witness about myself, my witness is not true" since there is no witness given for Paul's claims except Paul himself. There is a reference to some Paul (suppose it could be the same one? Maybe? or not..? No one bears witness to that fact)
And given that Paul teaches some contrary things to Jesus words, I would have to say that Paul is grade-A apostate. Not like folks here, like actually trying to get followers after himself, away from Jesus. Unless the whole Book is made up as a way to control the masses - in which case none of the above matters.
As a side note, how many books in the Bible? Compare to the WT explanation of 666 - I guess the Bible is only corrupt/wicked to an incomplete degree? or maybe there's 11 more books to come, in which case - "Yay"
