[From ws17/6 p. 27 – August 21-27]
“You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things.”
(Occurrences: Jehovah=72; Jesus=0; Slave, aka Governing Body=8)
In last week’s review, we learned that the following statement has no basis in Scripture:
“AS DISCUSSED in the preceding article, the Devil contends that Jehovah exercises his sovereignty in an unworthy way and that mankind would be better off ruling themselves.” – par. 1
This raised a few questions, such as: Is the Organization’s continued emphasis on the belief that Jehovah’s Sovereignty has yet to be vindicated the result of simple misguided interpretation, or is there a deeper motive behind all this? It is hard, and dangerous, to try to judge motive. Nevertheless, actions speak louder than words, as the saying goes, and it is by their actions that men’s intentions are revealed. In fact, Jesus tells us that we will be able to recognize a particular type of person—specifically, a false prophet—by his actions.[i]
“Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? 17 Likewise, every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. 19 Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men.” (Mt 7:15-20)
With those words in mind, let us consider the following commandments from our Lord, Jesus Christ:
“But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ.” (Mt 23:8-10)
What do we see here? What relationship is Jesus telling us to bear in mind? We should not exalt ourselves over others, because we are all brothers. No one is to be a teacher of the rest. No one is to be a father of the rest. No one is to be a leader of the rest. As brothers, we all have one Father, the heavenly One.
Does the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses follow these commandments? Or does the emphasis placed on God’s sovereignty support another view?
Before answering, let us consider what Jesus said just a few verses farther on.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in.” (Mt 23:13)
The kingdom of the heavens refers to the upward calling that was made possible by Jesus. (Php 3:14)
The scribes and Pharisees were doing everything they could to “shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before men.” Today, we are taught that the way to the kingdom is all but shut. That the numbers are filled and that we have another hope, the hope to be subjects of that kingdom under our Sovereign, Jehovah God. Jehovah is therefore not our Father, but our friend.[ii] So when Jesus said, “all of you are brothers”, he wasn’t talking about the Other Sheep as JWs see them, because they have no heavenly Father, only a heavenly friend. The Other Sheep therefore should refer to one another as friends, but not brothers.
We can see how this false teaching seeks to invalid Jesus’ words. By telling millions that they have no calling (Hebrews 3:1) has the Governing Body imitated the scribes and Pharisees by seeking to “shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men”?
This will seems like a radical view to a died-in-the-wool JW, but what should matter to us if whether it is valid according to Scripture.
So far we’ve quoted from chapter 23 of Matthew. These words were the last ones Jesus spoke in the temple before the people prior to being arrested, falsely tried, and murdered. As such, they contain his final condemnation of the religious leaders of the day, but their influenced has reached like tentacles down through the centuries right to our day.
Chapter 23 of Matthew opens with these chilling words:
“The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses.” (Mt 23:2)
What did that mean back then? According to the Organization, “God’s prophet and channel of communication to the nation of Israel was Moses.” (w93 2/1 p. 15 par. 6)
And today, who sits in the seat of Moses? Peter preached that Jesus was a greater prophet than Moses, one whom Moses himself foretold would come. (Acts 3:11, 22, 23) Jesus was and is the Word of God, so he continues to be God’s prophet and channel of communication.
So based on the organization’s own criteria, anyone claiming to be God’s channel of communication, like Moses was, would be sitting in the seat of Moses and as such would be usurping the authority of the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ. Such ones would qualify for comparison with Korah who rebelled against the authority of Moses, trying to insinuate himself into that role of God’s channel of communication.
Is anyone doing that today, claiming to be both prophet and channel of communicate between God and men in the manner of Moses?
“Most appropriately, that faithful and discreet slave has also been called God’s channel of communication” (w91 9/1 p. 19 par. 15)
"Those who do not read can hear, for God has on earth today a prophetlike organization, just as he did in the days of the early Christian congregation." Watchtower 1964 Oct 1 p.601
Today, Jehovah provides instruction by means of "the faithful steward." Pay Attention to Yourself and to All The Flock p.13
"...commissioned to serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah...commission to speak as a prophet in the name of Jehovah…" The Nations Shall Know that I am Jehovah" - How? pp.58, 62
"...commission to speak as a "prophet" in His name…" Watchtower 1972 Mar 15 p.189
And who now claims to be the “faithful and discreet slave”? As of 2012, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has laid claim to that title retroactively. So while the above quotes initially applied to all anointed Jehovah's Witnesses, "new light" flashed forth in 2012 to reveal that from 1919 the faithful and discreet slave had been selected brothers at headquarters who today are known as the Governing Body. So by their own words, they’ve seated themselves in the seat of Moses just as the ancient scribes and Pharisees did. And like their ancient counterparts, they have sought to shut up the kingdom of the heavens.
Moses interceded between God and men. Jesus, the Greater Moses, is now our leader and he intercedes for us. He is the head between the Father and men. (Hebrews 11:3) However, these men seek to insert themselves into that role.
“What is our response to divinely authorized headship? By our respectful cooperation, we show our support for Jehovah’s sovereignty. Even if we do not fully understand or agree with a decision, we will still want to support theocratic order. That is quite different from the way of the world, but it is the way of life under Jehovah’s rulership.” – par. 15
What is it talking about here when it says “divinely authorized headship” and “support theocratic order”? Is it talking about the headship of the Christ over the congregation? In this entire article and the previous one, the Sovereignty of Christ is not even mentioned. They speak of the sovereignty of Jehovah, but how is that exercised? Who leads on earth as Moses did under God’s rule over Israel? Jesus? Hardly. It is the Governing Body under the mantel of the faithful and discreet slave that claims that honor. Jesus isn't even mentioned once in this article about sovereignty and rulership, but the slave (aka, the Governing Body) is referenced eight times.
When they speak of ‘supporting theocratic order’ they refer to support for their rules, decrees, and organizational direction. This, they now claim is part of “divinely authorized headship”, even though the Bible makes it clear that the only head of men is Jesus Christ. No cabal of men is named in his place as our head. (1Co 11:3)
Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that they are not brothers of Christ and do not have Jehovah as their Father. As friends of God, they have no claim to the inheritance of children that Jesus referred to at Matthew 17:24-26:
“After they arrived in Ca·perʹna·um, the men collecting the two drachmas tax approached Peter and said: “Does your teacher not pay the two drachmas tax?” 25 He said: “Yes.” However, when he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free.” (Mt 17:24-26)
In this account, Witnesses are the strangers or subjects who pay the tax, not the tax-free children of God. As subjects, they must be ruled or governed. So viewing God as their sovereign is all they have, since they cannot view him as their Father. Eventually, they are told, they will become God’s children, but for this privilege they must wait a thousand years.[iii]
The Governing Body has no basis to be called leaders nor teachers because, as Jesus said at Matthew 23:8-10, all Christians are brothers. However, if millions of Christian Jehovah’s Witnesses are not children of God—ergo, not brothers to one another—then there is a vast company of “friends of God”. Given that, Jesus’ words do not apply. Having created this huge crowd of “other sheep”, there appears to be a way around Jesus’ words; a way to govern or lead as a Governing Body. A way to exercise headship and demand obedience to theocratic order. By exalting themselves to the role of Faithful and Discreet Slave and by redefining that role to allow for more than feeding, but also governing, has the Governing Body ignored the warning at Matthew 23:12?
In the 2012 annual meeting, David Splane likened the Governing Body in their newly appointed role as the Faithful and Discreet Slave to humble waiters. It is a fitting analogy to the slave as portrayed by Jesus, but is that how they act? Imagine a waiter who not only brings you food, but tells you what to eat, what not to eat, when to eat it and with whom, and who punishes you for eating food he has not provided. I don't know about your, but that restaurant would not be on my recommendation list.
Jesus' condemnation of men who lorded it over their fellows fills the 23rd chapter of Matthew. These scribes and Pharisees had an oral law that transcended the written law code, and they imposed their view and conscience onto others. Even in little things—the tenth of the mint, dill, and cumin—they made a showy display of righteousness so as to be seen by men. But in the end, Jesus condemned them as hypocrites. (Mt 23:23, 24)
Are there similarities today?
“We can also show our support of God’s sovereignty by our personal decisions. It is not Jehovah’s way to provide a specific command for every situation. Instead, in guiding us he reveals his thinking. For example, he does not provide a detailed dress code for Christians. Rather, he reveals his desire that we select styles of dress and grooming that show modesty and that befit Christian ministers.” – par. 16
From this, we might come to believe that how we dress and groom ourselves is left up to the individual conscience of each Jehovah’s Witness, but what is said is not what is practiced. (Mt 23:3)
Let a sister try to wear an elegant pantsuit out to a field service group, and she’ll be told she can’t go out in service. Let a brother sport a beard, and he’ll be told he cannot have privileges in the congregation. We are told that this is following “Jehovah’s thinking and concerns” (par. 16) but these are not God’s thoughts and concerns, but those of men.
Constant pressure is placed on all by the Governing Body to do more and more. More field service, more pioneering, more support for the construction of Watchtower edifices, more monetary contributions. Truly, “they bind up heavy loads and put them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger.” (Mt 23:4)
Vindicating God’s Sovereignty!
The point of this and last week’s Watchtower study was to get Witnesses to support God’s sovereignty by obeying the rules and regulations of the Governing Body, the travelling overseers, and the local elders. By doing this, Witnesses are told that they are participating in the vindication of God’s sovereignty.
The sad irony is that they are. They are indeed vindicating the sovereignty of God. They vindicate it just as every other form of organized religion vindicates it. They vindicate it just as every failed political system has vindicated it since Adam first ate of the fruit. They vindicate it by showing that obeying men as rulers rather than God is sure to fail.
Man continues to dominate man to his injury. (Ec 8:9)
What can we do? Nothing. It is not our job to fix this. It is not our job to try to change the Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses nor any other false religious organization or church, for that matter. Our job is to show our submission to God’s appointed king on an individual level. We bend the knee to Jesus Christ, even though this will bring persecution down upon us. (Mt 10:32-39) We can instruct by example even more powerfully than by word of mouth.
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[i] The Bible word for prophet isn’t restricted to a foreteller of future events. Jesus was called a prophet by the Samaritan women though he only told her of her past and present. A prophet is one who speaks in the name of God. Therefore, should men claim to be God’s channel of communication, they are considered as prophets. (John 4:19) This is a view supported by the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. (w72 4/1 pp.197-199)
By this token, the Governing Body can be rightfully considered as prophets, because they claim to be His channel of communication and speak for God.
“Most appropriately, that faithful and discreet slave has also been called God’s channel of communication.” (w91 9/1 p. 19 par. 15 Jehovah and Christ—Foremost Communicators)
[ii] Although Jehovah has declared his anointed ones righteous as sons and the other sheep righteous as friends on the basis of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, personal differences will arise as long as any of us are alive on earth in this system of things. (w12 7/15 p. 28 par. 7)
[iii] “As to those of us who are of the “other sheep,” it is as though Jehovah has drawn up an adoption certificate with our name on it. After we have reached perfection and have passed the final test, Jehovah will be delighted to sign the certificate, as it were, and adopt us as his beloved earthly children.”
(w17 February p. 12 par. 15 “The Ransom—A “Perfect Present” From the Father”)
Archived Comments
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Comment by SeasonsOfGrace on 2017-08-20 20:22:42
Regarding the 'adoption certificate' for the other sheep, I have always been so confused by this. Doesn't the WT teach that the war of Armegeddon is a war to destroy wicked/unrighteous ones? Wouldn't those then, who survive it, be considered righteous? Why, if you're life has been spared from destruction at Armegeddon with the wicked, would you need to undergo another test? At the end of the 1000 year reign? Why do the 'other sheep' need to pass TWO testing periods? This is such a bizarre viewpoint... among many...
Reply by Robert-6512 on 2017-08-20 20:56:52
Just a thought. Perhaps people survive Armageddon, not because they were 'proven righteous' but because they were not explicitly God's enemies, and were not part of the religions, government and military that were His primary enemies. Surviving might only mean a person was unlikely to be a defiant, belligerent troublemaker. It would not have to mean they were perfect or righteous by any means. They would just be people that would reasonably behave themselves as best they could.
Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-21 01:06:04
I personally think about this , that the bible seems to indicate at some point in history there is going to be one almighty stand off, with the advent of the two witnesses , I think god Is going to provide visible proof of his existence and will give mankind a choice , of whom they want to follow , he or the beast ,
Reply by Yehorakam on 2017-08-21 23:47:15
Very rightly you're confused. There is nothing in the Bible that says our Father writes up an adoption certificate to be signed at the end of the 1000 year reign. It's just a nice sounding/feel good illustration to support a false Watchtower teaching. You either receive confirmation of adoption or you don't. You don't get an "adoption with a 1000 yr. rain check." You get adopted on the spot, with an acreditation of being one of the "righteous" based on God forseeing you will be faithful until death and the future event of Christ atoning for all your sins.
As regards surviving Armageddon, there will be no one walking alive and unscathed into a new world like the nice pictures show in the publications. Just another nice sounding/feel-good illustration. The organisation points the finger at teachers who tickle people's ears, but in these 2 examples they are guilty of tickling people's ears too.
Sadly, the GB has said: stick with us and you'll be saved...you and your loved ones will survive Armageddon. The only ones truly "saved" this side of Armageddon are the spirit anointed, and all of them will have to end their physical lives to be made alive spiritually. At that point they can then help the "dead" come to life spiritually. Salvation has to do with escaping a spiritual death, the second death which results from God's judgment on a person. A physical death means very little. It's only a brief pause. Unfortunately, people make a lot of it because when someone close dies, their absence inevitably causes pain, and pain hurts. But it really boils down to a short absence to be followed by a long joyful reunion.
I think Witnesses in particular have a hard time accepting that they will all die a physical death because it has been ingrained in them that they stand a good chance of being among 'millions that will never die.' That lie has caused serious depression among those in the org that got old and frail and facing the end of their life. They spent their whole life thinking they would not die...but the system lasted longer than anyone expected and now they are gonna die. What a disappointment! How much better if they had been told they would die just like all the other billions before them. How about if everyone from Adam onward had been taught they would die one way or another. Actually, it sounds much like what every faithful servant of God believed for 1000's of years! No one escaped death, not even the most righteous Noah, Job, Daniel or John the Baptist. Jesus teaches us all that we must be faithful until death, no matter what form death comes. Then the WT stands up in the early 1900's and teaches that if you happen to be alive when Armageddon comes, you will never die!
Tell an atheist he's going to die, and he has no problem with that. Tell the Witnesses they will all have to die before Armageddon and they flatly refuse to accept it. They insist they are the "righteous" so they MUST survive. But actually, Christ taught only those spirit anointed are the righteous (the parabol of the sheep and the goats). He said there will be a ressurection of the righteous (the anointed - the first resurrection) and a ressurrection of the unrighteous (those that didn't heed Jesus' words). Jesus never spoke of a group surviving Armageddon. Instead, he said there will be a ressurection of the righteous and the unrighteous. That means that all the righteous will have died, and also all the unrighteous will have died.
Read the wheat and weed parabol. The timing of its culmination is extremely important. It is the "conclusion" or "end," When Christ arrives with his angels. The great tribulation and associated plagues that kill most of the population has passed (trumpets 1-6). The 7th (last) trumpet sounds. It's time to gather the wheat and destroy the wicked at Armageddon. Who does Jesus mention are present at that point in time? Only the sons of the Kingdom and the sons of the wicked one. The former inherit the Kingdom and the latter are destroyed eternally. Where is everybody else? The Witnesses teach that when Christ arrives, he ressurrects a few thousand anointed, destroys billions of wicked, and while all this is going on, there's a group of millions of people that just breeze on by, happy they are going to be saved. Why, in Jesus' illustration did he not mention a third group of millions that would be saved? That's a really big, fat, ugly elephant in the room. The reality is that at THAT point in time, the "unrighteous" are all asleep in death, waiting a ressurrection. The only ones on the scene are spirit anointed Christians and the wicked. That's why when you look at the timing of the sheep-goat parabol, when Christ arrives with the angels there are ONLY sheep (anointed) and ONLY goats (wicked). At that time there are only two groups, and ONLY TWO outcomes for those present: eternal life and eternal destruction. Once again our Lord fails to mention a third group. If there was a third group that were "sheep-like" but not really SHEEP that get everlasting life, and that they were somehow going to receive some other type of judgement and pass alive into a paradise, he would not have left out a detail of such high importance. The great teacher does leave out important details. If he failed to mention a third group at Armageddon it's because they are not around. It's that simple.
So, truth is, no one, and definitely no imaginary third group is going to pass alive through Armageddon. Only 2 groups present, and we know what end/beginning each group has!
Much love,Reply by eve04 on 2017-08-24 14:50:46
Hi Yehorakam
I always enjoy what you write but I am greatly confused by what you wrote. (Doesn’t take much these days )
1. Are you saying that that the great tribulation has passed? What about the cry for peace and security and in Revelation where it says many would come out of it and have washed their robes and made them white?
2. At Armageddon, everybody is dead except the Anointed Sheep and the Goats. So wouldn’t that consist of everybody living at that time and since most Witness’ do not believe they are of the anointed would they be classified as goats?
Just need a little clarification?
Much love!Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-24 17:16:58
I think we need to get out of this mindset that the jehovahs witnesses are major players on the world seen of religion I don't think they are , they are just another sect , cult , man made religion the same as thousands of others on this planet , the bibles message is much bigger than that ! When Christ judgement arrives on mankind all of us are either a sheep or a goat , does it make any difference what religion we profess to be part of , we are judged as to what type of person we are as an individual , Wether we have shown love or ignored he needs of others , questions we could ask about the witnesses is , do they love others are they hospitable , so sorry to comment here , I'm sure yerhorakam will have a better answer ,
Reply by eve04 on 2017-08-24 22:04:19
Hey ifonlyhadabrain,
No worries, about answering. I enjoy the input. However, the reason in asking the question is not in defense of JWs, but that is a lot of people going to die because they do not profess an anointing even though many many are” good/ following the Gold Rule so to speak” people (not just JWs). That’s why I was getting clarification. Does that make sense?Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2017-08-25 07:30:06
I'm hoping to finally get around to the next article in the Salvation series in which I tackle this controversial subject. I hope to have it out by midweek next.
Reply by eve04 on 2017-08-25 14:12:49
Thanks Meleti
Reply by Robert-6512 on 2017-08-25 09:55:23
It is inconsistencies like that which make me believe the entire JW concept of anointing and heavenly hope is incorrect. In the first century, the new Christian congregation received gifts of the spirit, which helped identify it as having God's blessing instead of Israel. They could also use the gifts of the spirit to perform powerful works. But after a time the "gifts" of the spirit were no more. Today, many more JWs claim to be anointed. Are they, really? I wonder if they are merely people that recognize they are God's children, and maybe not necessarily anointed.
If all true Christians are God's children, then having the gift of the spirit is not necessary to have His approval, much less to survive Armageddon. WT has this all wrong.
As for who survives, consider that they would all be imperfect people, some more than others. How could the relative degree of imperfection be the deciding factor over living and dying? It doesn't make sense.Reply by eve04 on 2017-08-25 14:26:04
Ok, so if the whole concept of anointing and heavenly hope is incorrect, here is a question I have been thinking about. Since the gentiles were never under the Old Covenant is the New Covenant even for us. Was the New Covenant for the Jews to show they wanted to be under that new arrangement. For us, is it we are to be considered as Gods Children and benefit from it?
Reply by Robert-6512 on 2017-08-25 15:30:05
Eve,
You asked, "Since the gentiles were never under the Old Covenant is the New Covenant even for us"? Here is what I believe.
Consider Galatians 3:26-29: "YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise."
By using "us" in your question, I assume you meant all of mankind in general that has not descended from Abraham. I believe this verse shows the answer is Yes. All true Christians exercising faith in Christ are God's children. The Jews rejected the old covenant, because they failed to uphold it and rejected God's son. At least at the point Christ died, and surely no later than the point at which the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, being a fleshly descendant of Abraham was no longer of value or merit in the eyes of God. (And, with the destruction of the temple, all the records were lost, so no one could know or prove if their ancestors were in the old covenant anyway.) Thus, the new covenant was open to all Christians, regardless of whether they or their ancestors had been part of the old covenant.
The assertion I have often made on this forum is that all true Christians are God's children, all are worthy to partake, and all are destined to live on the earth, because no one is going to heaven for any reason. What has been called "anointing" is actually the selection of a person to be a king/priest in the future kingdom.
Consider what "anointing" meant in the past. Only two things: being designated as a king, or being designated as a priest. It was NEVER used to designate someone as being a "son" of someone else - as though a person got 'adopted' as a son and then was 'anointed' to make some sort of public statement about that adoption. The Bible contains no such account of that happening to anyone.
I believe the same is true here. You do not get 'anointed' to become a child of God. Adoption is a matter of faith in Christ. In the first century, there were temporary "gifts of the spirit" to identify Christians as the religion having God's favor. Those gifts of the spirit were NOT given out as an anointing to be future king/priests; that is a separate, unrelated matter. So, all of the future rulers are God's children, but not all of God's children will be rulers.Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-25 16:12:51
Is the new covenant for the jews only or for the gentiles also , there's some interesting thoughts on this at ephesians 2 v 12 to 19 , infact the whole of chapter 2 , as for the partaking of the bread and wine it's worthy of note what Paul wrote to the corinthians many of whom were obviously gentiles 1 corinthians 11 v 25 ,26 and 33 are interesting where the new covenant is mentioned again ,as for gentiles being anointed with holy spirit acts 10 verses 44 to 48 is quite plain that they were also acts 11
Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-25 16:26:45
I can understand roberts point of view as well about heaven , in actual fact , jesus spoke of the kingdom of the heavens , and it could mean that it originates in heaven or its from heaven , this would seem to tie in with daniel 2 here the kingdom of heaven is seen as a rock which ends up on earth , also revelation 21 speaks of the kingdom , the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven to the earth to rule, however I also think it's possible that there are some that may be Able to morph between heaven and earth as well , just like the angels can and have ,
Reply by Robert-6512 on 2017-08-25 17:09:17
Hada,
Here is a good exercise for you: Go through the entire Bible, looking up every single reference to the word "Heaven". There are not all that many, so if you use the WT CD it can be done in about an hour.
Now, the question is, how many times does the Bible say anything like this: "When you die as a person in God's favor, you will be resurrected to life as a spirit person like the angels are, to live in heaven in the very presence of God himself".
Verses that you THINK say this but don't, or verses that WT thinks say this but don't - don't count. Only verses that REALLY say this count.
Answer: Zero.
That's a big reason why I don't believe anyone is going there.Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-26 02:17:43
Ok thanks Robert
Reply by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-25 16:47:07
Yeah of course eve , thanks for your input as well , I did realise what you were thinking actually , I just wanted to make what I felt was quite an important point that's all , christian love ,
Comment by Lone Survivor on 2017-08-20 21:49:52
Yeah Robert a good citizen how
one man treats another Mathew 7:12 all through the Scriptures we can see that that is important to Jehovah
Comment by Christian on 2017-08-20 22:46:51
I wonder how many more times will we need to emphasise this topic? I suppose as often as the organization keeps on cramming down our throats the falsehood that Jehovah needs an organization to help him vindicate his name But here we are, some of us have been attending JW meetings for over 60 years and yet we managed to survive being gobbled up by this religion. So how is it we have survived thus far? Is it luck or good management on our part? None of these really, but our love of real Truth, a close relationship with our Heavenly Father and his Son Christ Jesus. and a good heart condition. We came to realize the real importance of Christ in our salvation. As Acts 4:12, states: "Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved." And each of us here knowing we can't leave our salvation to a group of men, who have no real tenderness for us, are engaged with the process of working out our own salvation with fear and trmblibg as Phillipians 2:12 exhorts us to do. May we keep on building each other up, especially towards those who are suffering for the rightness of their belief. And thankyou Meleti for all of your efforts along with your co-workers in fully exposing the House of Sham.
Comment by MarthaMartha on 2017-08-21 01:25:52
Thanks Meleti. I love this bit....
"The sad irony is that they are. They are indeed vindicating the sovereignty of God. They vindicate it just as every other form of organized religion vindicates it. They vindicate it just as every failed political system has vindicated it since Adam first ate of the fruit. They vindicate it by showing that obeying men as rulers rather than God is sure to fail.
Man continues to dominate man to his injury. (Ec 8:9)"
So true, Meleti, well said.
Christian, thank you for your insight and encouragement. I would have given you 2 thumbs up if I could have.
Love to all. Keep up the good work.
X Martha
Comment by Ifionlyhadabrain on 2017-08-25 14:49:47
I was thinking of the illustrations of matthew 25, in the one about the 10 virgins v 5 says they all slept , till the bridegroom arrived , could this be a reference to death and resurrection, verse 10 says they then went into the wedding banquet , shortly after , the virgins are also mentioned at revelation 14 , standing on mount zion, could this be a reference to the natural children of Israel , the same group are mentioned in revelation 7 where it says they are from Israels 12 tribes, Paul also mentioned to the hebrews they were approaching a heavenly mount zion , hebrews 12 v22 here's one when the bible speaks of the first fruits in Christ Could it be referring to the natural jewish christians who accept jesus as thier messiah , ephesians 1 v12 and 13