wt 6/15 1962 p.380-383.
"likewise it is possible to spend valuable time speculating on matters concerning the future.
one might ask, in what year will armageddon begin?...jehovah has not provided answers at this time.
but man CANNOT hide the TRUTH...the Bible cannon may have some issues, certain things may have been lost in translation
-
30,000 Christian sects and denominations. To say "certain things may have been lost in translation" is an epic understatement at best.
.
I felt better just being able to speak about Christ Jesus. He is in charge, after all
Hmmmm.....
a few official instructions jw delegates are being told leading up to the international conventions.
congregation secretaries are holding conference calls and then relating the instructions to the congregation.. atlanta - do not drive to convention, parking will not be available.
take public transportation; attendants will be on all public transit and able to assist.. dallas - attendants will be on site at all hotels to make sure delegates leave the hotel at their assigned times and take their assigned route.
WT International Conventions 2015 schedule: Fallujah, Iraq.
Instructions:
"Please bring two gas masks in case the first one fails during a chemical attack. An extra flak jacket is also recommended".
.
wt 6/15 1962 p.380-383.
"likewise it is possible to spend valuable time speculating on matters concerning the future.
one might ask, in what year will armageddon begin?...jehovah has not provided answers at this time.
Speculating about dates is not really speculating...if god tells you the dates. The great thing is, when things go south, WT can blame god for the failure:
.
1922 "We have no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of 1874, 1914, 1918, and 1925. It was on this line of reckoning that the dates 1874, 1914, and 1918 were located; and the Lord has placed the stamp of his seal upon 1914 and 1918 beyond any possibility of erasure. What further evidence do we need? Using this same measuring line.... it is an easy matter to locate 1925, probably in the fall, for the beginning of the antitypical jubilee. There can be no more question about 1925 than there was about 1914." (Watchtower, p. 150, May 15, 1922)
.
"This chronology is not of man but of God . . . of divine origin . . . absolutely and unqualifiedly correct." --Watchtower 7/15/1922, p.217
.
"We see no reason for changing the figures - nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God's dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble." (Watchtower July 15, 1894, p 266; p 1677 reprints)
.
***
jv chap. 10 p. 136 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth ***
Did the Lord tell us that we would be taken [to heaven] there? No. What did He say? His Word and the fulfil[l]ments of prophecy seemed to point unmistakably that this date marked the end of the Gentile Times. We inferredfrom this that the Church’s ‘change’ would take place on or before that date. But God did not tell us that it would be so. He permitted us to draw that inference; and we believe that it has proven to be a necessary test upon God’s dear saints everywhere."
.
In the November 15, 1955
Watchtower President Knorr went so far as to say that God was the One who was responsible for the preaching of Rutherford’s message ! Under the heading, "Jehovah Is In His Holy Temple" it says …
Stirring up increasing interest in them, Jehovah caused to be preached from 1918 the startling public message, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die."
a few official instructions jw delegates are being told leading up to the international conventions.
congregation secretaries are holding conference calls and then relating the instructions to the congregation.. atlanta - do not drive to convention, parking will not be available.
take public transportation; attendants will be on all public transit and able to assist.. dallas - attendants will be on site at all hotels to make sure delegates leave the hotel at their assigned times and take their assigned route.
New Orleans - Carry two wallets in case you are robbed
.
Realistically, JWs need to carry three wallets- because they are definitely going to get mugged by WT at the convention too.
DATA-DOG: "Look for more shit-hole conventions in the future."
I wonder where the convention will be next year?? Flint, Michigan?
i went to a small non-denominational church yesterday - first time in a church since i left the borg 4 years ago - and this is how i observed several of the members singing.. .
boy... do those people love to sing.. .
i try not to judge the sincerity of others but i was a little put off by the experience because it looked fake, showy display-ish.
Why are most of the people in that picture white/caucasian?
-
Because until recently the GB has been exclusively white/caucasian.
Now they are racially diverse since adding a gratuitous black person to the group.
hey all,.
i need help finding articles please!.
discussions have arisen where a bro has firmly stated that "the society has never stated 1975" , and that "we" never said the system would be over in a specific time.. i know there was also the article re education in 1968 ish?.
A few years after the complete collapse of everything C. T. Russell had predicted, J. F. Rutherford began a process of replacing Russell's unfulfilled predictions with a series of invisible and spiritual events associated with the years 1914 and 1918. By the early 1930s the process was complete.
Carl Sagan, in his book Broca's Brain (New York: Ballantine Books, 1979, pp. 332-333), said about Watchtower/Jehovah's Witnesses:
"Doctrines that make no predictions are less compelling than those which make correct predictions; they are in turn more successful than doctrines that make false predictions.
But not always. One prominent American religion confidently predicted that the world would end in 1914. Well, 1914 has come and gone, and -- while the events of that year were certainly of some importance -- the world does not, at least so far as I can see, seem to have ended. There are at least three responses that an organized religion can make in the face of such a failed and fundamental prophecy. They could have said, "Oh, did we say '1914'? So sorry, we meant '2014.' A slight error in calculation. Hope you weren't inconvenienced in any way." But they did not. They could have said, "Well, the world would have ended, except we prayed very hard and interceded with God so He spared the Earth." But they did not. Instead, they did something much more ingenious.
They announced that the world had in fact ended in 1914, and if the rest of us hadn't noticed, that was our lookout. It is astonishing in the face of such transparent evasions that this religion has any adherents at all. But religions are tough. Either they make no contentions which are subject to disproof or they quickly redesign doctrine after disproof. The fact that religions can be so shamelessly dishonest, so contemptuous of the intelligence of their adherents, and still flourish does not speak very well for the tough-mindedness of the believers. But it does indicate, if a demonstration were needed, that near the core of the religious experience is something remarkably resistant to rational inquiry."
.
http://corior.blogspot.com/2006/02/carl-sagans-remarks-about-jehovahs.html
hey all,.
i need help finding articles please!.
discussions have arisen where a bro has firmly stated that "the society has never stated 1975" , and that "we" never said the system would be over in a specific time.. i know there was also the article re education in 1968 ish?.
"Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time." Awake! 1974 Nov 8 p.11
.
Even external news sources understood the message that the Watchtower was indicating. The July 18th 1969 issue of Time contained an article "Witnessing the End" that stated;
"In fact, they fully expect the cataclysm of Armageddon within the next few years. The latest calculations of this energetic, eschatology-minded sect date the end of the world in autumn, 1975. Fearful as it may be to other religious believers, the end is a prospect that rejoices the hearts of the 323,688 U.S. members of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, as the Witnesses are..."
Proclaimers of God's Kingdom 1993 Pg. 633: "Following 1925, meeting attendance dropped dramatically in some congregations... Again, in 1975, there was disappointment when expectations regarding the start of the Millennium failed to materialize. Again, some withdrew from the organization."
(question: if 1925 and 1975 were not highly promoted, official teachings of the WT, why did so many leave the Organization?? If these dates were the incorrect speculations of just some JWs, as WT claimed, then very few would have left after WT's failed prophecies. WT tried to excuse its false dates by saying they never said it....but only after the failure, not before).
.
Ironically, despite its admission made above, WT has the audacity to claim this:
In the Watchtower (2011-07-15) it says "This organization has NEVER disappointed us and ALWAYS gives us an abundance of pure water of truth from God´s Word".
hey all,.
i need help finding articles please!.
discussions have arisen where a bro has firmly stated that "the society has never stated 1975" , and that "we" never said the system would be over in a specific time.. i know there was also the article re education in 1968 ish?.
1966 "Discussion of 1975 overshadowed about everything else. 'The new book compels us to realise that Armageddon is, in fact, very close indeed,' said a conventioneer." (Watchtower 10/15/1966, p 629)
1966 "In this twentieth century an independent study has been carried on that does not blindly follow some traditional chronological calculations of Christendom, and the published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 B.C.E. So six thousand years of man's existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation." (Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, p29, 1966 [Note: 4026 BC to 1975 AD = 6000 years])
1953 "After almost six thousand years of human sorrow, suffering and death, at last permanent relief is near at hand and will be realized within this generation." (New Heavens And A New Earth; 1953; p. 7)
1995 Bible Students, known since 1931 as Jehovah's Witnesses, also expected that the year 1925 would see the fulfillment of marvelous Bible prophecies. ... More recently, many Witnesses conjectured that events associated with the beginning of Christ's Millennial Reign might start to take place in 1975. Their anticipation was based on the understanding that the seventh millennium of human history would begin then. (Awake, June 22, 1995 p. 9)
1968 "The immediate future is certain to be filled with climatic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these last days will undergo fulfilment resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ's glorious 1000 year reign!" (Watchtower, 1/5/1968)
1968 Eight years from the Autumn of 1967 would bring us to the Autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God's seventh day, his rest day. (Watchtower May 1, 1968 p. 271)
1968 "Why Are You Looking Forward To 1975?" … "What about all this talk concerning the year 1975? Lively discussions, some based on speculation, have burst into flame during recent months among serious students of the Bible. Their interest has been kindled by the belief that 1975 will mark the end of 6,000 years of human history since Adam's creation. The nearness of such an important date indeed fires the imagination and presents unlimited possibilities for discussion." (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494)
1968 "'Adam Created At Close Of 'Sixth Day' Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then ? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man's existence coincides with the Sabbath-like thousand-year reign of Christ....It may involve only a difference of weeks or months, not years.' (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p499)
1968 "I know enough of what is going on to assure you that, in fifteen years from today, this world is going to be too dangerous to live in." (Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, p 9, 1968 edition, Quoting USA Secretary of State Dean Acheson in 1960, [1981 edition deleted "in fifteen years from today" ie. in 1975])
1968 "More recently, the book entitled "Famine-1975!" [by W. & P. Paddock, 1967, pp. 52,55,61.] said concerning today's food shortages: "Hunger is rampant throughout country after country, continent after continent around the undeveloped belt of the tropics and subtropics. Today's crisis can move in only one direction -toward catastrophe. Today hungry nations; tomorrow starving nations." … "By 1975 civil disorder, anarchy, military dictatorships, runaway inflation, transportation breakdowns and chaotic unrest will be the order of the day in many of the hungry nations." (The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, p 88-89, 1968)
1968 "Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of mans existence on earth is completed... The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are destroyed then. So, now more than ever, it is vital not to ignore that spirit of wanting to do more." (Kingdom Ministry, March 1968, p. 4 [note: 1968 + 90 months = 1975])
Awake May 22, 1969 p.15 - "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ...
Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this
system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education,
it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more yearsto graduate into a
specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It
will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!"
---
and, WT now completely contradicts its own earlier, bold statements regarding 1975/6,000 years of man's existence-
1975 "Does this mean, then, that mankind has now reached 6,000 years into the 7,000 year period that God blessed and made sacred as his rest day? ... No, It does not mean that." (Watchtower 10/1/1975 p. 579)
--
1974 "Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?...Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remainingbefore the wicked world's end." (Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p. 3)
compare this statement to one made 58 years earlier:
1916: "We see no reason for doubting, therefore, that the Times of the Gentiles ended in October, 1914; and that a few more years will witness their utter collapse and the full establishment of God's kingdom in the hands of Messiah." (Watchtower Reprints, VI, Sept 1, 1916, p. 5950)
--
WT....condemned by its own words:
"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end" to the world, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that He was using and guiding them.'' (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968)
the wts is begging poor relatives of mine for money, more money, and more money.
but, the wts has to be awash in money!.
1. does anyone know what the wts has sold?
Brooklyn alone is at +/- $1.2 BILLION
The list, organized chronologically according to actual sales, reads as follows...
2004 – 360 Furman Street – sold for $205 million
2006 – 67 Livingston Street – sold for $18.6 million
2006 – 89 Hicks Street – sold for $14 million
2007 – 169 Columbia Heights – sold for $50 million
2011 – 50 Orange Street – sold for $7.1 million
2012 – 165 Columbia Heights – sold for $4.1 million
2012 – 161 Columbia Heights – sold for $3 million
2012 – 183 Columbia Heights – sold for $6.6 million
2012 – 105 Willow Street – sold for $3.3 million
2012 – 34 Orange Street – sold for $2.825 million
2012 – Bossert Hotel – sold for $81 million
2012 – 67 Remsen Street – sold for $3.25 million
2013 – 173 Front Street, 177 Front Street & 200 Water Street – sold for $30.6 million
2013 – 55 Prospect Street, 81 Prospect Street, 117 Adams Street, 77 Sands Street, 90 Sands Street & 175 Pearl Street – sold for $375 million
TOTAL (so far)
– $804,375,000
----
Plus:
Last Updated: 12:09 PM, July 8, 2013
Posted: 11:09 PM, July 7, 2013
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/witnesses_knocking_on_bldg_sale_DGtqYWmeP5QQBENSqrcoCN
In what may be the largest real estate deal this year in Brooklyn, Jared Kushner’s Kushner Cos., Aby Rosen’s RFR Holdings and a third company are in contract to purchase a portfolio of Dumbo properties from the Jehovah’s Witnesses for $375 million, The Post has learned.
Kushner, Rosen and LIVWRK, recently founded by former Two Trees executive Asher Abehsera, signed the deal on Friday, sources tell The Post.
The six buildings being sold total 1.25 million square feet. They are 90 Sands St., a 30-story hotel with 505 rooms, andindustrial buildings at 55 Prospect St., 81 Prospect St., 175 Pearl St., 77 Sands St. and 117 Adams St., each distinguished by their sand-colored brick, green-painted windows and interconnected sky-bridges.
put yourself in the org's position - distasteful as that is - and come up with a solution to solve the problems of not only recovering their stock market losses, but also, ensuring an increase in their dwindling revenue stream.. the major problem is, donations are voluntary (with no future guarantees) whereas pledges are compulsory - in the heart and mind of the giver!.
however, far too many will probably forget/refuse to keep up their monthly tax - with no way of knowing who is 'paying the man', and who is not.
master stroke - make plan a 100% certainty to fail in the first year, based on the 'anonymity' of the setup.
The sheep are being prepared - some for fleecing, others for slaughter!
--
"Sheep are interesting creatures — docile, timid, and often plain stupid." --- Awake- March 8, 1993
