Blueblades

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Posts by Blueblades

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  9

  The "Times Of The Gentiles"

  by rocketman in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  luke 21:24 reads, in the american standard version: "and jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled".

  the nwt refers to this period, as we all know, as the "appointed times of the nations".. i've always wondered about the application of this verse, even when i was a jw elder.

  the society applies the beginning these "times" to the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonians in 607 bce (according to jw understanding, of course).

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  Blueblades

  Forgive the above post I dont know what happened to my paragraphs?
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  9

  The "Times Of The Gentiles"

  by rocketman in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  luke 21:24 reads, in the american standard version: "and jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled".

  the nwt refers to this period, as we all know, as the "appointed times of the nations".. i've always wondered about the application of this verse, even when i was a jw elder.

  the society applies the beginning these "times" to the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonians in 607 bce (according to jw understanding, of course).

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  Blueblades

  Hi Rocket! I suggest that you read Carl Olof JONSSON"S book."The Gentile Times Reconsidered".Chapter One is entitled "The History of an Interpretation".page 23. Here is an excerpt from it."All ideas have a beginning.People who believe in an idea,however,are often completely unaware of it's background,origin and development. Ignorance of that history may strengthen the conviction that the idea is true,even when it is not,As happens in other cases,this ignorance may provide fertile soil for fanaticism. True knowledge of the historical development of an idea does not necessarily disprove it,but such knowledge does enable us to improve our judgment of its validity. A clear example of an idea--in this case,an interpretation--that is obscured by ignorance is a widely-held concept concerning the "Gentiles Times" Referred To by Christ at LUKE 21:24. Millions of persons internationally have come to accept the belief that this prophetic statement definitely points to and is linked with a specific date in the twentieth century and they even build their present plans and future hopes on that belief.What is its history?" Blueblades
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  2

  EASTER SUNDAY:Eternal Life:For Christians only,everyone or no one?

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  billions of humans have lived and died on this earth since the beginning of time.must all profess jesus as their personal savior if they are to attain the reward of eternal life?.

  there are many religious belief which are held with just as much fervor and faith as those of catholicism and protestantism.. can anyone prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that their religious philosophy is the only one?.

  in order to do so,some "holy"book is usually the main source of any religious "proof".. have you found a legitimate,outside verification that any belief system is the ultimate?

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  Blueblades

  Billions of humans have lived and died on this earth since the beginning of time.Must all profess Jesus as their personal savior if they are to attain the reward of eternal life?

  There are many religious belief which are held with just as much fervor and faith as those of Catholicism and Protestantism.

  Can anyone prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that their religious philosophy is the only one?

  In order to do so,some "holy"book is usually the main source of any religious "Proof".

  Have you found a legitimate,outside verification that any belief system is the ultimate?
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  2

  Where is Satan the Devil on Easter Sunday?

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  according to the bible,down through the centuries the devil has demonstrated that he is the arch-opposer of both god and man.

  easter sunday celebrates the resurrection of jesus and he is now able to bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death,satan the devil.. the resurrection happened 2,000 yrs.

  ago.was satan brought to nothing then,or is he still around?where is satan the devil on easter sunday?.

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  Blueblades

  According to the Bible,down through the centuries the Devil has demonstrated that he is the arch-opposer of both God and Man

  Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus and he is now able to bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death,Satan the Devil.

  The Resurrection happened 2,000 yrs. ago.Was Satan brought to nothing then,or is he still around?Where is Satan the Devil on Easter Sunday?

  If he was brought to nothing 2,000 yrs. ago,why does death still continue?If he was not brought to death 2,000.yrs.ago why not and where is he now?

  It is obvious that death is still continuing,why then celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus who conquered death,yet death still continues for all mankind,which is evidence that Jesus has not yet brought to nothing the one having the means to cause death ,Satan the Devil?

  Should not all mankind by now be celebrating the resurrection of eternal life in the flesh and the end of both Satan and death itself?

  The punishment for sin back in the garden was immeadiate,should not the reward be equally immeadiate, some 2,000yrs.ago?

  So again I asked, where is Satan the Devil on Easter Sunday? All comments are appreciated.

  Blueblades
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  8

  What does it feel like when leaving belief in God?

  by peacefulpete in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm providing this letter sent to the editors of skeptic magazine for any who may be troubled by a new awareness that their faith was/is shattered by disillusionment.

  this is a profoundly difficult realization for nearly all who have had this experience.

  yet lie does go on, in fact with time and reflection life for many is much improved after discarding belief in god.

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  Blueblades

  Hi PEACEFUL PETE,I am at an impasse and I feel awful.Here is why.I so much want to believe in the existence of God for selfish reasons.I want life and I want it forever in the best of conditions.

  That belief in the existence of God used to be based on the belief that the Bible is his inspired word.Now after reading other sources,ie.the errancy of the Bible etc.I have my doubts.

  Deductive reasoning for me at least says God exists even though I can't prove such.I have never experienced any personal awareness of his existence.

  So too, with the identity crises of Jesus,is he or isn't he God,Man etc.Was he even real,historical etc.

  As in all life and death decisions there are usually two camps or opposing views when it comes to discussing these issues.Some have been able to resolve these matters and are at peace with themselves either way.

  I am still at an impasse and I think it's because I want God to be there,but have a need to confirm it without basing it on a belief system.

  After many years in the Catholic faith and many more in the JW"S adding up to some 60 odd years you would think I would be able to make a decision about all this .I read and read and read all sorts of information and my mind is spinning.

  I am restless all the time for my dead loved ones,my living loved ones and my own demise in the near future.It's a feeling of being on death row all the time,not only for me ,but the human family too.

  How can a God let us live like this,not knowing for sure?????

  Blueblades
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  32

  Do humans have free will?

  by Realist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  hello everyone,.

  i would like to know who of you thinks that humans have a free will and who thinks humans do rather work like a very complex computer.. in my opinion free will is an illusion generated by our brain....what do you think?.

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  Blueblades

  NO! There is always a catch.There is no free lunch.Blueblades
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  47

  Are Jehovah's Witnesses A Stupid People???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jw's are supposed to be the cleanest, the happiest and the most honest people on earth.

  in reality, do you think that they are amongst the most stupid people on earth??

  ?

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  Blueblades

  Hi Minimus, The answer to your question is no!

  Here is why.JW'S are in a destructive mind control cult.How many people really understand the principles of destructive mind control and how it actually works?

  I don't,because I have never studied the tactics of a mind control cult.

  I don't think that I was ever stupid when I dedicated myself to do the will of God as I understood it to be a long time ago.

  The phenomenon of destructive mind control indoctrination can turn an intelligent,educated person with a strong family background into a stranger.

  Many of us at one time suffered a negative radical personality transformation because of becoming a victim of some destructive mind control indoctrinating cult.

  I have been helped to realize this from Steven Hassan's book,"Releasing The Bonds,EMPOWERING People to Think for Themselves".

  I feel very hurt for those JW'S that are still unknowingly suffering the ill effects of this cult.Most of us still have family and friends who are victimsof this cult and are not stupid,they are suffering from the phenomenon of destructive mind control indoctrination that you and I and others on this forum have been released from.

  Blueblades
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  14

  Faith Requires a lot of Disbelief

  by Satanus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  while people w faith generally feel superior to people without, their faith requires them to disbelieve much, as well.

  for instance: .

  1. the total lack of provable existence of a bible god leads to the conclusion that there is not a bible god.

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  Blueblades

  Hi Saint Satan,The Jan.1/15/1991 has six pages,pg.10 to 15 which quotes from 15 sources in support of it's argument and position.

  All 15 sources are from "Christendom".

  One of the many methods that the Society uses to discredit a source of information is to "Poison the Well".

  A tactic in which an effort is made to discredit the source so as to make it appear that any evidence or argument from that source is not worthy of serious consideration.

  Having used "Poisoning the Well"against "Christendom"so many times in their literature, it would take a "Faith that Requires a Lot of Disbelief" to comprehend their methods of argumentations.When they then turn around and quote from sources in "Christendom"to support their position from the Well that they themselves say is "POISON".

  Blueblades
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  29

  Bill Bowen's visit to the Kingdom Hall Sunday

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bill bowen's visit to the kingdom hall:.

  i went to the meeting on sunday because i wanted to.

  hear the comments on the watchtower study, i knew that someone would say something about dateline or the silentlambs, because the watchtower article being studied is the march first issue that talked about the "slanderous media reports".. .

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  Blueblades

  That Elder who asked the question during his public talk:"What if you knew that the end was not coming for 500 yrs. more,would you slow down in preaching and coming to meetings"

  There would be no preaching,or meetings if the end was to come 500 yrs. from now.Because,the Society teaches that the basis for the preaching and meetings is that we are in the time of the end.

  So, the Elder is asking a question that is not relevant to the time at hand.OOPS! Did I say,the time is at hand,sounds like a nice title for a book.

  Blueblades
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  64

  JWs At My Door This Morning

  by Francois in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was standing on my front porch talking on my cell phone when three car loads of them pulled up down the street.

  by the time i finished my conversation, one of the jws was standing on my sidewalk waiting for me to get off the phone.

  i eventually did.

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  Blueblades

  I agree with francois.Here is why.The quick comeback for the brother was a strawman type of response.tag lining francois by asking if he was or wasn't a catholic.

  Instead of doing that,he could of asked francois what did he mean,could he explain himself further.The comeback question indicated at least to me that he was aware of this issue and tried to compare it to the catholic church,hence evading the issue.

  Francois I know that you don't need anyone to defend your actions,you do quite well for yourself.This is just my observation on what you posted.

  Blueblades