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Srecko Sostar reacted to JW Insider in Biblical King-of-the-North (KON) and King-of-the-South (KOS), and GOG and MAGOG, too!
I was hoping to avoid the typical sarcasm (I'm guilty of it too) against the organizations of Christendom and our own WTS, too, who have had a lot of untenable explanations and interpretations over the years for these things. I don't want to impute bad motives when I don't know the motives. I understand the circumstances that the WTS and GB have sort of boxed themselves into by believing that there must be a specific "last days" interpretation. I know some of the reasons for this interpretation, especially the identification of the KON with Russia now, and Germany in the 1940's, for example.
But I see some issues with the explanation, and hoped to deal specifically with the issues about the explanations, not the motives.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to JW Insider in Biblical King-of-the-North (KON) and King-of-the-South (KOS), and GOG and MAGOG, too!
But that's a bit beside the point, which is that Daniel 11 clearly has a very specific set of kings in mind. I have not yet figured out exactly why so many Bible commentators have decided that they should apply new and different kings to these kings of the north and south.
Why do we do this for the KON and KOS, but not for any of the predecessor kings like Alexander the Great. If Daniel 11 referred to the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empire/kingdoms which were two of the four generals split from Alexander's empire when he died, then why do we say that it has changed its meaning over the years?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
Sorry no, I didn't say that. Because YHVH did not write anywhere that Russia and the United States are in question. This was stated by interpreters several centuries later after the Bible was already completed in writing.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
It was 10 I think. But two points here.
I have never wanted to lead an organisation, and I've never pretended that I'm inspired of God's Holy Spirit.
BUT your Leaders pretend to know. However as can be seen by many Watchtower articles, it's all HYPE.
There is as much propaganda from the Watchtower / JW Org as there is from main stream media
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Arauna in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
Sorry no, I didn't say that. Because YHVH did not write anywhere that Russia and the United States are in question. This was stated by interpreters several centuries later after the Bible was already completed in writing.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Dmitar in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
LOL!! 😂 That's why I recommend you have your eyes checked. Now look closer, draw a line from the USA to Russia, and tell me again. Who's on the upper northern quadrant, Russia or the USA?
Have I said, anyone here truly understands the Books of Daniel and Revelation? Now, I don't know about the rest of the brotherhood, but the Watchtower has gone from explaining it through complexities, to simplifying it. So, whoever doesn't get it, it's on them.
If someone doesn't get it, and tries to explain it by their own conclusions, then it's sheer speculation in their part.
I'll give you an example, and you can twist it anyway you wish.
11:2-20
11:2-20 A chronology of godless kings. The angel then explained Daniel's terrifying vision: Persia's day of glory would climax with a king who would challenge the rising Greek Empire (11:2). Then would come a "mighty king" whose empire would be divided and given to four kings unrelated to him (11:3-4), evidently another reference to Alexander (see 7:6; 8:5-8,21-22). 11:5-20 describes prolonged warfare between Alexander's generals Ptolemy of Egypt ("king of the south," 11:5) and Seleucus of Syria ("king of the north," 11:6). Antiochus III, a descendant of Seleucus, lost a great battle with Egypt but eventually defeated it (11:10-20). Both he and his successor oppressed Israel, the "glorious land" (11:16,20).
I love this one the best. As you can see, there are notable scholars referenced. I believe even an ignorant person from the past will find this counterproductive to their false narrative when they promote "absolute" as an argument.
ANTIOCHUS
2. The favorite name of the Seleucid kings, whose history with reference to Jewish affairs is contained particularly in the books of Maccabees, and is predicted with remarkable minuteness in Dan 11. The name was first borne by one of the generals of Philip, whose son SELEUCUS , by the hold of the first Ptolemy, established himself as ruler of Babylon. In the Macedonian calendar the Seleucid era began with Dios 1 (Oct. 7), 321 B.C.; in the Babylonian it began with Nisanu 1 (Apr. 3), 311 B.C. Parker and Dubberstein cautioned: "The beginnings and ends of their reigns cannot always be determined with exactitude" (Babylonian Chronology [1956], p. 20). When Ptolemy, son of Lagus, became master of Southern Syria, the line dividing Seleucus and his successors from the Ptolemies (cf. "king of the north" and "king of the south" in Dan 11) was drawn somewhat to the north of Damascus, the capital of Coele-Syria.
Now dig a little deeper into your brain and figure out where is spiritual Israel?
Then you are promoting NW and NE.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to JW Insider in It's called, "You have a right to know"
If you got that from the NWT Glossary, you probably weren't the only one to understand it this way:
*** nwt p. 1707 Glossary of Bible Terms ***
Some were also members of the Sanhedrin. They often opposed Jesus regarding Sabbath observance, traditions, and association with sinners and tax collectors. Some became Christians, including Saul of Tarsus.—Mt 9:11; 12:14; Mr 7:5; Lu 6:2; Ac 26:5.
It's easy to misread this and come to the conclusion that Paul was a tax collector. But it is really referring to the fact that Saul/Paul had been a member of the Pharisees.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Witness in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
Their use of the “king of the north” suits their purpose to fulfill their interpretation of scripture.
GB member Kenneth Cook – It shouldn’t surprise us that this powerful government has been persecuting our peaceful law-abiding brothers and sisters. Why not? Because that government is fulfilling Bible prophesy. Please find Dan. 11. In verse 40 it refers to what the Bible calls the king of the north. Of that king, Dan 11:41 says,
“He will also enter the land of the Decoration and many lands will be made to stumble.”
He continues,
“Today, Russia and its allies are fulfilling the role of the king of the north. As discussed in the May 2020 Watchtower, Russia and its allies are not the first political power to act as the king of the north, but they may well be the last."
His helper, Hermanus Van Selm explains that the names, king of the north and king of the south, are determined by the literal location from early Jerusalem. But, “Over time these thrones have been occupied by various political powers”
In their video they explains how they labeled nations as king of the north over the years. Whatever suits their purpose at the time to attempt Bible fulfillment, they have labeled as the “king of the north”.
https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/StudioMonthlyPrograms/pub-jwb-080_1_VIDEO
Going back to Dan 11:41, he says Daniel foretold that this king would enter the land of the decoration, meaning that he would interfere in a significant way with the activities of God’s people – of JWs.
The “land of the decoration” is also referred to in other Bible translations as the “land of Beauty”, “glorious”, “promised”, “pleasant land”; all referring to Israel. Why didn’t he specify that this refers to a people, not to “activities”?
He really couldn’t point this out, as it would contradict with their teaching that the anointed “Israel” are the locust scorpions of Revelation 9, bringing their stinging message to the world. Locusts devour land. So the contradiction exists in their two doctrines. Since he says the king of the north halts the “activities” of JWs, should it be said that Russia is the locust army of Revelation 9? We've got one entity apparently interfering with JW activity, as well as devouring a literal land - the Ukraine. Then, we have the anointed appearing as locusts, also "devouring" the world with their scorpion-like stinging message. The anointed must not be very successful at "stinging" since their activities have been halted in one part of the world.
Do they know what they are talking about? I believe they purposefully confuse JWs to hide both identities as fulfilled within their own organization. There is an activity and a people that have been “devoured” – the royal priesthood found inside the organization, who must bow down to its leadership and their army, “man of lawlessness”, that “sits” in the Temple of God – over the “living stones” – God’s “special possession”. (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22) The elders have "entered" God's "land" and dwelling of His Spirit. (1 Cor 3:9; Ezek 44:6-9)
"Rather than challenge their authority, we truly appreciate our hardworking elders! " wt 02/8/1 p. 13,14
Every JWs, especially the anointed priests, needs to pay attention to Jesus' words:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Matt 24:15,16
Locusts desolate - devour - land. The king of the north, the locust scorpions, are the elders who will not tolerate any challenge to their rule. (Rev 13:1,2,5-7,15)
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, (John 15:16)
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” (John 15:5)
Says the Lord of hosts;
12 “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts." Mal 3:11,12
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Witness in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
What has been meaningless for decades is calling Russia the King of the North and the United States the King of the South. First of all, Russia is east of America, and America is west of Russia. So much for literal and symbolic geography.
Or do you think that God sees it from heaven, so that the sides of the world are arranged differently for Him?
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
I immediately see two things wrong with your above analysis.
Number one: if all these people in the “great awakening“ were part of a great awakening and they were all wrong it seems to me like a “great going to sleep“.
Number two: Clark Kent was not pretending to be Superman……… Superman was pretending to be Clark Kent.
there is a difference.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
Are you talking about the Anti-War ‘60’s/‘70’s Hippies?
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
If your failed predictions need more “wiggle room”, the hole you have dug can be backfilled without “Weasel Room”.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
Quite funny that you like to use my name but you hide behind a 'mask'.
Oh well whatever gives you that little satisfaction SM.
And I'm sure you told me that you are a Unitarian, don't think I dreamt it.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
As a Christian I will keep calm here. BUT That article from a May 1974 Kingdom Ministry IS encouraging people to sell their houses and give up their 'lifestyle' to pioneer BECAUSE of the so called 'short time remaining' before Armageddon.
It was all hype. And if they did not believe that Armageddon would happen in 1975, then why were they encouraging this irresponsible behavior of their congregants. When it didn't happen many people found themselves in a bad position without jobs or money to live on.
"Short time remaining" , "Short time left" "The end of this system is so very near"
Direct quotes from that article. and that was written in 1974.
Truther ? I think not. Denier more like.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Patiently waiting for Truth in It's called, "You have a right to know"
Was he ? I thought it was Matthew.
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Kick_Faceinator in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
WT publications after 1975 and today, also public speeches, (go in the direction of explaining that 1975 is the end of 6000 years of human history and as part of the idea that then could begin the 1000 year of Christ's Kingdom), comes down to "accusing" some individuals who misunderstood the thesis of announcing the 6000th anniversary of the creation of Adam.
I’ve never read in WT publications what kind of individuals that means. What is the structure of these individuals; elders, some GB members, someone from the general population, females or males JW members etc.?
All subsequent interpretations regarding 1975 never include the WTJWorg Administration or any portion thereof. This is important to note, as it shows that religious leadership wants to be free from any error in this regard (despite constant claims that they- GB are imperfect and how spiritual food is imperfect and erroneous).
After such a set scene, the only thing left is to call out unimportant individuals who began to fantasize so deeply about 1975 that they initiated thought processes that prompted them to make extraordinary efforts to witness, resign from work, sell houses and the like. In addition to the "positive effect" of such a spiritual and emotional state (a great increase in preaching, biblical studies and new baptisms), there is also a negative aspect of faith in the coming of Armageddon and hope for the establishment of the Kingdom.
Is the non-recognition of the GB administration (of that time) that they had participated in the 1975 euphoria a form of selective informing of JW members? And is today’s GB deliberately covering up the real past?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Kick_Faceinator in It's called, "You have a right to know"
No mention of "apostates" here.
How you treat pagan or tax collector?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Kick_Faceinator in It's called, "You have a right to know"
This is an interesting view.
When JWs go preaching to other people, we can say that these other people are members of religions that, according to WTJWorg, are called "Babylon the Great", and thus not only fell away from true worship and became apostates, but were doomed to destruction because of their affiliation to "Babylon," right?
Yet, JWs discuss “spiritual truths” with them and argue to convince them of their “truth”. Interesting absurd in light of your question and claim?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Witness in It's called, "You have a right to know"
No mention of "apostates" here.
How you treat pagan or tax collector?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Patiently waiting for Truth in It's called, "You have a right to know"
No mention of "apostates" here.
How you treat pagan or tax collector?
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Srecko Sostar got a reaction from Witness in It's called, "You have a right to know"
This is an interesting view.
When JWs go preaching to other people, we can say that these other people are members of religions that, according to WTJWorg, are called "Babylon the Great", and thus not only fell away from true worship and became apostates, but were doomed to destruction because of their affiliation to "Babylon," right?
Yet, JWs discuss “spiritual truths” with them and argue to convince them of their “truth”. Interesting absurd in light of your question and claim?
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?
You mean, like going back and revising history from “Millions now living will never die.”, to “Millions now living MAY never die.”?
Hmmmmmmm?
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Witness in It's called, "You have a right to know"
Prove to me that I actually said that.
I’m not part of an institution, an earthly organization, or a corporation. You are too use to the ways of the Watchtower. I follow the scriptures, not “bylaws” created by men.
A once JW, I don’t know who, wrote this years ago about your institution and its policies:
The Watchtower Society is clearly an organizational IDOL. Anyone who has been a JW for even a short length of time should have no problem discerning this as we are continually commanded to:
1. Reject ALL information pertaining to the bible and its interpretation if it does not come from the "spirit-anointed organization" exclusively
2. Reject ALL persons that do not fully agree with and adhere to all the "spirit-anointed organization's" doctrines, policies and procedures.
3. Reject/dismiss ALL our inner doubts/concerns and even our God-given conscience when these bring into question any of the teachings of the "spirit-anointed organization".
Further, just as in the case of King Nebuchadnezzar and the three Hebrews, bowing down to this imposing, shiny image-- the "spirit-anointed organization"--is required by all who do not wish to be thrown into the Governing Body's fiery furnace by their attendants --the elders and others in the congregation! Those that refuse to bow down to, or worship (i.e., loyally obey) this image/idol/god are either marked, shunned or disfellowshipped and also told that they are rejecting Jah; spearing His slave; mentally diseased; awaiting death at Armageddon, etc. (I was marked and shunned [an old WT teaching that's still practiced by some] though never disfellowshipped.)
Any who may be shaking their heads in disbelief can prove this to themselves by simply commenting at their meeting that the "faithful and discreet slave" as mentioned in Matthew and Luke has not been appointed by Jesus yet (this is an accurate statement scripturally [Luke 12:39-46], but not organizationally). It may take more than one attempt before the elders and others decide to act, but they will without fail nonetheless. (Try it –I dare you! Lol)
Anyone with even a negligible amount of bible knowledge should be able to see that these man-made commandments and policies in themselves directly violate Jah's command to "have no other gods/images against my face...nor be induced to serve them" (Exodus 20:3-5). Contrary to the frequent admonition by the Gov. Body to resist "independent thinking", God's word also tells us to use the thinking ability He gave us to distinguish false prophets from true (Matthew 7:15; 24:23-25; 1 John 4:1) by appraising or scrutinizing them and their teachings (1 Corinthians 4:1; Acts 17:11; Romans 3:4); to not put our trust in earthling man (Psalm 146:3,4); and to obey Him (Jah) as ruler rather than men in ALL things and at ALL times, regardless of how insignificant it may seem (Acts 5:29; Luke 16:10). Most JW's can recite many of these verses in their sleep; yet they unwittingly disobey them by blindly and hypocritically clinging to the unscriptural teachings of their own religious leaders (the men of the Governing Body)while at the same time zealously exhorting others to do just the opposite (Romans 2:21-24; 12:9; Matt 15:8). This interesting dichotomy is clearly due to highly-effective cognitive programming by the GB, not God's word which tells us that Jah is NOT partial (Acts 10:34a).
I will never forget one particular meeting where a well-respected elder of many years made the comment to all in the congregation that "whatever comes out of the mouth of the Governing Body should be considered as coming out of the mouth of Jehovah." That in a nut-shell truly sums it up, leaving no doubt as to the real identity of the so-called "spirit-anointed organization". These men are not inspired by God and even admit to this yet put themselves on equal footing with Him (2 Thessalonians 2:4), even going so far as to enforce exclusive devotion to their so called “spirit-anointed organization”.
Why JW’s even possess bibles is beyond me; they are of no real use to them anymore than they are to the Mormons. As one individual stated recently, JW’s should change their official name to “Watchtowerites” as this would accurately describe who they really worship/serve.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Witness in It's called, "You have a right to know"
Do you think they have not received letters from many anointed, including those whom I associate with? Most definitely.
Have they received an invitation to meet? Yes
Did these anointed receive a response? No.
Do you believe that GB would even allow them into their secure compound to talk with them in person? No.
They know who we are and they know what is written about them.
Have you read the parable of the wise and foolish virgins? Matt 25 The foolish virgins "buy" their oil for their lamps from those who sell it. The wise virgins join Christ. Who "sells" regulated spiritual food in exchange for devotion to them, and to their organization? Rev 13:11,12,15-17
Rev 18:4-8
I do meet with anointed ones and those not anointed. The eight have their ways that you could not imagine, of attempting to stop whatever is written about them.
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Srecko Sostar reacted to Patiently waiting for Truth in It's called, "You have a right to know"
The same as it doesn't bother you a bit about all the CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE done by Elders, MS and others in the JW Org.
And it doesn't bother you a bit to deliver LIES to people in the form of w/t magazines and tracts.
And it doesn't bother you a bit that your GB tells the Anointed NOT TO MEET TOGETHER, AS IT WOULD BE WORKING AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT.
You hypocrite