EdenOne

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Posts by EdenOne

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  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

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  EdenOne

  Hello Christ Alone.

  In the "Basic Beliefs" of my site you surely didn't miss that part about "true religion". And there you find that to me, christianity - the teachings of Jesus Christ - is the true religion. The Jehovah's Witnesses are one among many religious groups that make an effort to stay close to Jesus' teachings. The implication of this is: As long as you practice christianism, you are practicing the true religion. HOWEVER - this is important - it is not completely indifferent what sort of christian fellowship / organization you associate with, because, as shown in Matthew 7.21-23, it takes more than aknowleging Jesus as our Lord and Savior to get his approval. But how relevant is that association it will depend on how it will impact on your personal relationship with Jehovah.

  You may also want to have a look at the "Our Heritage" section on the "Mission Statement" page.

  As for the website, it's a calculated risk. One thing I can say to you: No one can disfellowship me from being a christian and a worshipper of Jehovah God, except themselves. Perhaps a man can throw me out of the congregation, like Diotrephes usually did (3 John 9, 10) But even then, i would still define myself as a Jehovah's Witness. In the sense that, every worshipper of the true God must also bear witness in his favor (Isaiah 43:10)

  Also, note that believing that God intended that Earth was forever inhabited by perfect humans isn't the same as saying that God wants that every individual (minus 144.000) to live forever on Earth. There IS a difference, one that I will elaborate further sometime, because the implications of it are enormous.

  Edit: Thanks for the heads up. I understand that for the next 22 hours I will have to keep my mouth shut :P

  Edit 2 (sorry to be extending this ad eternum): I don't know if the 144.000 is a literal number or not. It surely is symbolic. But I don't know the answer to that. I lean on towards being non-literal. But there are good arguments against and for it. As for the statement "I follow the GB" (as a quote) have you seen me writing that? As for "spamming for a competing site" ... i didn't know there was a competition and that we would be mutually exclusive. Are we?

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Happy@last,

  If I were involved as an Elder, it might be a terrible time for me nowadays (I was in the past and resigned). In that sense, not being involved at that level is a sort of "ignorance is bliss" status for me. At the same time, I've been many times urged to seek reinstatement as an Elder and I've carefully avoided it, because nowadays I don't want to be put in a position where I must teach others what i know for a fact that is an error. On the other hand, honestly, for the time being, I find it in my best spiritual interest to be part of the congregation than to be out of the congregation. Time will tell how things will evolve.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Pterist, you mentioned Jeremiah 25:29?

  NWT - "For, look! it is upon the city upon which my name is called that I am starting off in bringing calamity,and should YOU yourselves in any way go free of punishment?”’ “‘Y OU will not go free of punishment, for there is a sword that I am calling against all the inhabitants of the earth,’ is the utterance of Jehovah of armies.

  NIV - "See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.'"

  NASB - "For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth," declares the LORD of hosts.'

  ISV - Look, I'm beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and do you actually think you will avoid punishment? You won't avoid punishment because I'm summoning the sword against all those who live in the land," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.'"

  AKJV - For, see, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, said the LORD of hosts. D-R - For behold I begin to bring evil on the city wherein my name is called upon: and shall you be as innocent and escape free? you shall not escape free: for I will call for the sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts. WEB - For, behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says Yahweh of Armies. Can you please enlighten me how the WTS uses this passage as proof that the '70 years' have begun...? I remember reading some discussion if this sword over the inhabitants of the land applies to just the Jews or also the surrounding nations and how that would change the dates ...but can you explain? I'm a bit at loss here. Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  cofty, thank you for the tip. I'll look into that.

  Pterist, I'll have a look at that text and see if I can come up with an answer for you. Btw, I've read "The Gentile Times Reconsidered" and found it a brilliant piece of research. If I had any shred of trust in 1914 as a "reliable" date, that book shattered it all. Yep, in case you were curious, I don't believe in 1914.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  ...and thank you all for the warm welcome :)

  But...hmmm....how can I change this terrible avatar? :P

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  tornapart,

  I also came to realization that the NWT is a competent translation on the Hebrew Scriptures, but on the Greek Scriptures is definetly very biased and "interpretative". That's why these days, when I make a research, I try to look at other translations as well, just in case. And sometimes it really pays off.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  tornapart,

  that is the drama of many of us who have a different opinion than that of the GB but the implications of leaving the congregation are too serious to ignore. I can relate to your situation as well. Nevertheless, all things considered, and even if family weren't a factor, I would still consider myself a christian Witness.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  cofty,

  I would recommend you reading it, nevertheless, at least if you have interest in history. It'll be worth your while.

  The big difference in that article is that, while the GB is convinced that Daniel 11 still has a fulfillment in the future (see the book Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy for the official theology on it) I think I demonstrate competently that its fulfillment is already complete in the distant past and we shouldn't be looking for a fulfillment of that prophecy in the future.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Hello Pterist and cofty.

  My allegiance is to Jehovah, not to the Governing Body. However, I still feel comfortable being a Witness. And despite common belief among JW's, my vow of baptism doesn't bind me to an earthly organization. In my view, it only binds me to a heavenly organization.

  cofty,

  Yes I agree with the GB in many things, that's why I'm still a Witness ;) However, there are MANY things I disagree, and that's why I'm here. If you take a look beyond the "basic beliefs" section, and look at the article "Two kings at War" you see an example of how much I differ from the GB. And I intend to publish many other examples. Btw, where do you see that I believe that 144.000 is a literal number? What you see there is simply a quote. I may or may not believe it's literal.

  Eden
• 
  110

  Greetings from a new member

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone.. just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from western europe.. some may know me from another forum (eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.. male, in my early 40's.

  still an active member in good standing of a jehovah's witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs.

  sometime i will elaborate the reason why i don't feel i must leave.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Greetings everyone.

  Just wanted to say hello to everyone, being a new member from Western Europe.

  Some may know me from another forum (Eden, from e-jehovas-witnesses.com), but most don't, so this is my little intro.

  Male, in my early 40's. Still an active member in good standing of a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation in my country, and honestly not planning to change that status, despite my unorthodox beliefs. Sometime I will elaborate the reason why i don't feel I must leave.

  I also run a website (www.cfjp.weebly.com) where I publish the results of some Bible research.

  I've followed some of the work of some of you who have an intervention here (Cedars, for example), and so I thought it was time to come out and play.

  Thank you for accepting my membership. I tried to sign up as "Eden" but apparently that name was taken, so I used EdenOne. But I will always sign my posts as Eden, unless someone objects to that.

  Best regards to all,

  Eden