Srecko Sostar

Your statement is beautifully uttered, but it cannot confirm that your knowledge and belief, in the form you practice, is true or false. It is your personal experience, personal conclusion and personal opinion. As such, it can be tested and verified and accepted or rejected, not only by people (in general) but also by the God you believe in.

Yes, especially men who, without so much as a blink, tell you that God and Jesus trust them, so you must trust them also.  Who, in their right mind would make such an arrogant stand before the Almighty God, unless they were narcissistic, without one humble bone in their body?  They defy God and His principles of righteousness.  They believe their sins are glossed over by God and Jesus, that they will not be held accountable for their record of false teachings. But then, I don't believe they feel they do sin. They have convinced JW's that these men have already been found acceptable to rule in the kingdom of God.  Those on the elder body who display the same narcissism, believe they will rule over JW's on the earth. None of this, is God's plan.  
 
 
 

The simple answer is that the JW Org is not guided by or watched over by Almighty God or Jesus Christ. 
Many men in many congregations would not have been given appointments of 'power' over others, if God and/or Christ had any part of it. I will hold back from mentioning a serious problem in the Org, which obviously proves my point. 
My own brother is an Elder in a congregation and he admits that many Elders are not fit for purpose, and that they were never fit for purpose. One very big problem here in the UK seems to be, the lack of voluteers to take on responsibilty. Hence my brother, who is now 80 years old, has to keep doing his 'duty'.  He is losing his memory, suffers with anxiety and sleeplessness, but he has to keep on serving the Org, because no one wants to do the job he does. (I think the virus problem has actually been good for him, with KH closed, he can relax a bit ). 
So, in my opinion, men that are appointed to positions of 'responsibiity' in the Org would be men that want a bit of 'power' and would be friends of other elders. A sort of 'boys club' where only certain types of men would want to be part of it.  Once again there seems to be proof of that, which has given the Org a bad reputation. 
The one thing that has been made clear ( Luke 8 : 17)  is that Nothing in the Watchtower / JW Org is inspired of God's Holy Spirit. The GB finally admitted that they are NOT INSPIRED, and they call themselves the Faithful and Discreet Slave. So if the GB are not inspired, but they take the lead, then it would follow that the rest of the Watchtower / JW Org is not inspired. 
Isabella, you need to know that you cannot trust 'men'. That is, you cannot trust Elders or Ministerial Servants.  Remember that you want to serve God through Christ. You do not want to serve men.  You cannot even trust the GB.
Many JWs do not trust the GB. Even JWs on this forum do not believe everything that the GB writes or says.
It is your choice to remain in the JW Org or to leave it. But even if you remain in it, do not trust it. 

GB requests and expects, from the members, that unconditional trust and obedience be given to them and to JW elders. Despite the fact that TTH has stated that everything can be corrupted (tainted by human).
It is theoretically beautiful and poetically enchanting. And only that, nothing else.
So the question is, do you TTH and every other JW, allow an ordinary JW to have a critical appraisal of GB and elders and their ideas and decisions?

All appointments to various positions and services in the WTJWorg organization are made by people. Every appointment and every removal from the appointment is done by people. I hope this "clarification" will answer your questions about topic.

Your statement is beautifully uttered, but it cannot confirm that your knowledge and belief, in the form you practice, is true or false. It is your personal experience, personal conclusion and personal opinion. As such, it can be tested and verified and accepted or rejected, not only by people (in general) but also by the God you believe in.

GB requests and expects, from the members, that unconditional trust and obedience be given to them and to JW elders. Despite the fact that TTH has stated that everything can be corrupted (tainted by human).
It is theoretically beautiful and poetically enchanting. And only that, nothing else.
So the question is, do you TTH and every other JW, allow an ordinary JW to have a critical appraisal of GB and elders and their ideas and decisions?

All appointments to various positions and services in the WTJWorg organization are made by people. Every appointment and every removal from the appointment is done by people. I hope this "clarification" will answer your questions about topic.

…. I remember my Guardian telling me about his growing up during the Civil Rights protests during the early 1960’s where the white people sat in the front of the bus, and the black people sat in the back of the bus, and Senator Kennedy of Massachusette’s made an empassioned plea that All People be considered as “green”.
After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the front of the bus was reserved for light-green people.
 

Or, perhaps not a savior, but it seems to be a symbol of judgment.  1 Cor 10 :6-10
I think you've got it a little backwards.   Jesus described the Pharisees, the leaders of his people, as a "brood of vipers". Matt 3:7   So, it is true that you are walking about in a den of snakes (no less), but the snakes, who "deceive the elect/chosen" and all JWs,  are your leaders.  Matt 24:24,25

Freedom is like a Salami ... you would go to war if they stole the whole Salami at once ... but they steal it from you slice, by slice, by slice ... none of which people are willing to go to war over.
But over time ....
Freedom .... like the Salami, has disappeared.

That's funny because the Leaders of the JWs used to say that the Org was the new Ark 

Because SM and the Truthers have some special 'media' which is not main stream and they keep it secret amongst themselves  

The symbolism used by the Bible with the animal world is interesting. The same species of animal has two opposite characteristics.
Eg. Satan is referred to as the "roaring lion," but the positive characters in the biblical text are also compared to the "lion."
The “serpent” is a symbol for Satan, but the “serpent” was the savior for all those Israelites who looked at the bronze serpent idol that Moses placed at God’s command.

The symbolism used by the Bible with the animal world is interesting. The same species of animal has two opposite characteristics.
Eg. Satan is referred to as the "roaring lion," but the positive characters in the biblical text are also compared to the "lion."
The “serpent” is a symbol for Satan, but the “serpent” was the savior for all those Israelites who looked at the bronze serpent idol that Moses placed at God’s command.

Some people here will say the history of the organization and its failed teachings, matters not.  But, obviously, the present GB select tidbits from it, to support its present mission. More than tidbits actually, they have developed their history museum at Bethel.  I hope you peel back the layers of Wt's history, to see conclusive evidence that Jesus has never "inspired" an organization or its people, who rely on earthly currency, fleshly pursuits, and the physical labor of men...nor has God. (Matt 6:19; Phil 3:18,19; James 3:14,15; 2 Cor 11:20; Gal 1:10)   Its inspiration comes from another spirit. (Matt 24:24; 1 Tim 4:1) Paul said, as did Stephen who was stoned, that God does not live in temples made with hands".  (Acts 7:48-50; 17:24)  
Despite A. Morris' desire and determined positive stance that the "mountain-like organization" will sail through Armageddon in one piece, it will not happen.  (Zech 4:6,7; Rev 8:8,9; 18:4-8)
 
 
 

The statement from the quoted WT article is very clear and specific. But still it is not strong enough to refute reality. And not just the reality of 1919 and the years after. This article from WT was written, as far as I can see, in 2019. Despite the fact that the entire past of WTJWorg is better seen from 2019, the author unfortunately maintains that Jesus purified WTJWorg in those 5 years, and that he left a pure organization for the future. That future encompasses the present. And what is the present? The present argues that most of WTJWorg’s doctrine and theology, as well as the practice that results from the theoretical teaching of members, has been affected, and still is, by tremendous changes in “knowledge and truth”.
Several things can be concluded from this:
- that Jesus was not visiting WTJWorg in 1914-1919
-that Jesus did a bad job or had bad disciples
-that WTJWorg subsequently ignored the changes that Jesus made
-that WTJWorg considered the changes of 1914-1919 obsolete and inaccurate and changed them on its own in the coming decades 
If “The testing and refinement of God’s people, foretold at Malachi 3: 1-4, was complete.” in the 1914-1919 period, then the mantra that WTJWorg has been trading for decades (the light is shining more and more clearly) is completely wrong. The light shone, supposedly 1914-1919, from Jesus himself. So what more improvements and clarifications should there be after Jesus ’personal conclusion ??
Lies and only more lies comes from WTJWorg.
 

The statement from the quoted WT article is very clear and specific. But still it is not strong enough to refute reality. And not just the reality of 1919 and the years after. This article from WT was written, as far as I can see, in 2019. Despite the fact that the entire past of WTJWorg is better seen from 2019, the author unfortunately maintains that Jesus purified WTJWorg in those 5 years, and that he left a pure organization for the future. That future encompasses the present. And what is the present? The present argues that most of WTJWorg’s doctrine and theology, as well as the practice that results from the theoretical teaching of members, has been affected, and still is, by tremendous changes in “knowledge and truth”.
Several things can be concluded from this:
- that Jesus was not visiting WTJWorg in 1914-1919
-that Jesus did a bad job or had bad disciples
-that WTJWorg subsequently ignored the changes that Jesus made
-that WTJWorg considered the changes of 1914-1919 obsolete and inaccurate and changed them on its own in the coming decades 
If “The testing and refinement of God’s people, foretold at Malachi 3: 1-4, was complete.” in the 1914-1919 period, then the mantra that WTJWorg has been trading for decades (the light is shining more and more clearly) is completely wrong. The light shone, supposedly 1914-1919, from Jesus himself. So what more improvements and clarifications should there be after Jesus ’personal conclusion ??
Lies and only more lies comes from WTJWorg.
 

The statement from the quoted WT article is very clear and specific. But still it is not strong enough to refute reality. And not just the reality of 1919 and the years after. This article from WT was written, as far as I can see, in 2019. Despite the fact that the entire past of WTJWorg is better seen from 2019, the author unfortunately maintains that Jesus purified WTJWorg in those 5 years, and that he left a pure organization for the future. That future encompasses the present. And what is the present? The present argues that most of WTJWorg’s doctrine and theology, as well as the practice that results from the theoretical teaching of members, has been affected, and still is, by tremendous changes in “knowledge and truth”.
Several things can be concluded from this:
- that Jesus was not visiting WTJWorg in 1914-1919
-that Jesus did a bad job or had bad disciples
-that WTJWorg subsequently ignored the changes that Jesus made
-that WTJWorg considered the changes of 1914-1919 obsolete and inaccurate and changed them on its own in the coming decades 
If “The testing and refinement of God’s people, foretold at Malachi 3: 1-4, was complete.” in the 1914-1919 period, then the mantra that WTJWorg has been trading for decades (the light is shining more and more clearly) is completely wrong. The light shone, supposedly 1914-1919, from Jesus himself. So what more improvements and clarifications should there be after Jesus ’personal conclusion ??
Lies and only more lies comes from WTJWorg.
 

Wt 2019/10/5 page 5 – “By the end of 1919, Jehovah’s people were reorganized and energized. Additionally, several important prophecies involving the last days had been fulfilled. The testing and refinement of God’s people, foretold at Malachi 3:1-4, was complete.”
What were those prophecies fulfilled?
"Jehovah’s people had been released from their symbolic captivity to 'Babylon the Great,' and Jesus had appointed  'the faithful and discreet slave.'
This slave, which I understand was Russel, would have been “faithful” to the doctrines of Jesus only, and not to those of men. (Mark 7:6,7)  He would have been “discreet” (meaning “intelligent, wise”) about what was taught, don’t you think? 
Gal 1:6-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal+1%3A6-9&version=NASB
Yet, Russell’s self-motivated works are not taught world-wide today; whereas the apostles' teachings, are. His books are not used by your own organization.  You know what is rather amazing about this?  Your leadership says, there was no “faithful and discreet slave” in the first century!  What did Jesus call those then, who were “faithful” until death, preaching his word throughout the area of the world they knew?  If they were faithful to the word of God, they were found “intelligent, wise” in God’s truth, before their Master.  (Luke 19:11-27; Rev 17:14)
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:13
That is also interesting, isn’t it?  Your past and present leadership keep getting “what is to come”, wrong! Jesus said that is a sign that they are not part of him, not part of the vine of Christ and recipients of the Spirit of truth.  Their “fruit” does not prove they are Christ’s disciples.  (John 15:1-8,16)
What were the many “prophecies” after that, that Rutherford made which weren’t fulfilled?  Any JW can research this online; and they should ,without fear.
Mal 3:3 (from the quote above) – “And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”
From 1914 to 1919, Jesus apparently came to his Temple - to his anointed living stones (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16) which included Rutherford, if he was anointed. The Wt is saying that from among all of the anointed, he cleaned out, removed, those who would create stumbling blocks against the truth -  his truth, God's truth. This would be anything spoken by an anointed one,  that defiled his teachings. The stumbling blocks would be created by men, who call them, truth. Their hearts and desires were analyzed - measured, according to scriptures - according to the word of God. (Zech 4:8-10; Amos 7:7,8; Rev 11:1,2) (Isa 43:21; 1 Pet 2:9; 1 Cor 3:10)  They would have been refined from all false teachings as Mal 3:1-4 states.  
 In 1921, Rutherford published the book, “Harp of God” which the GB member David Splane spoke about at the annual meeting. He built that book up, practically putting it on a pedestal.  How? Not by what was stated inside its cover, but by saying over 6 million of copies had been circulated.  This book was to “make it easier for people to come into the truth”, a “simple” book.     If this book was so wonderful, truthful, and easy to learn from, why is it not on your website?   Have you read this book? Have you noticed its lies that are discarded by the organization today?  This book was a spiritual plague that did not bring people into the truth, but brought people into captivity to men, and their selfish motives to produce what their hearts desired.  (Jer 23:16; Luke 6:45; Matt 7:15-20; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Cor 11:13-15)
If Christ came and cleansed his living Temple ( 2 Cor 6:16) of all defilement between 1914-1919, does that not include lies that contradict his word?  Have you considered how these men came to the conclusion that it took Jesus 5 years to cleanse the temple? Where is the scriptural proof?   And did he overlook the heart of Rutherford, by allowing him to teach lies? (John 2:25; 1:1; Heb 4:12) Are Rutherford's lies excused, yet Christendom’s lies condemned?
The Harp of God, along with many others, is far from an ‘offering in righteousness”. 
Do JWs understand what “truth” is, and what “righteousness” in the sight of God, is?  (2 Thess 2:9-12)
Is this “truth”…?
“ In 1831 the first locomotive steam engine was invented. Such wonderful progress has been made in this regard that now one can travel through almost any part of the earth at a rapid rate upon a railway train. Later came the electric engines and electric motor cars and gas engines; and now there is a tremendous amount of travel in every part of the earth. It is no uncommon thing for one to travel at the rate of 75 and 100 miles per hour; and particularly is this true by means of a flying machine, which is a very modern invention.  God’s Prophet designates this same time as “the day of God’s preparation”. In Nahum 2:1-6 the Prophet records his vision of a railway train traveling at a high rate of speed, as another evidence of the day of preparation for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom.” P. 124  Harp of God
We either strive to understand and come to love the word of God in Christ, or we prefer the empty, worthless words of men, such as found in publications continually discarded by your leadership.   Although the organization judges an individual as worthy or unworthy of God's Spirit based on man's word - doctrine, Jesus said, "The one who rejects me and does not accept my teachings has one who judges him: the word which I spoke. That will judge him on the last day."   John 12:48
 
 
 
 
 

Wt 13/7/2015 p. 11 – “Jesus began to inspect the spiritual temple in 1914. Jesus’ work to inspect and cleanse that temple lasted from 1914 to the early part of 1919.
Since 1919, anointed ones have been gathered into the cleansed Christian congregation.”
The anointed are the spiritual Temple of God, even though recent “new light” revealed by GB member G. Losch, is saying otherwise; said, without the use of any scriptural application to support his uninspired teaching.   (1 Pet 2:5;1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22) 
What are the anointed cleansed of, when entering the organization?  Are they cleansed of the weeds, as this article suggests are the people who left the organization during Rutherford’s tyrannical rule - this man, who continually set dates for Armageddon that proved false?  Obviously, the anointed were not cleansed of false predictions which they preached at one time as truth.  (Deut 18:20-22)  They were not cleansed of doctrine proven to be false. (Matt 15:9)  Are they cleansed of extolling an earthly organization, instead of extolling and praising only God and Christ?  (2 Pet 1:16,17; Heb 1:1-4)
Are they cleansed of idolatry?  (Exod 20:4,5; 23:13; 2 Cor 6:16; Acts 17:24; Rom 1:25; Rev 13:4)
Are they cleansed of following the dictates of men not inspired but who compare themselves to the apostles, and who expect dedication and allegiance to this earthy organization, over and above devotion to the Father and the Son, as the example set by the early inspired apostles?  (2 Cor 11:13; Col 2:8-10,20-22)
 People who give full devotion to the Father and the Son are disfellowshipped.  This seems to indicate that the organization cleanses itself from the faithful ones, that Jesus calls out of Wt. darkness!  (Matt 5:11; 10:22; John 16:2; Rev 13:15; 11:1-3,7; 6:9-11; 2:2-5; 3:8-12)
What sort of sacrifices of praise do the anointed priests give to God and their Head, Jesus Christ?  They give what false prophets put in their mouth – lies.  (1 Tim 4:1; Rev 16:13-16) 
They allow “Gentile” elders to take their place as priests and teachers of God’s laws in Christ.  (Exod 40:15;Num 18:7; Mal 2:7,8; 1 Pet 2:5,9) They allow elders to judge them based on accepting or rejecting the lies of a wicked slave.  (Matt 24:48-51; 5,16; 2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 13:11,12,5-7)  They've allowed God's sanctuary to be defiled by the "abomination"/elder body standing where it does not belong.  (Mark 13:14)
Have they followed in the footsteps of Christ by rejecting ALL falsehoods, doctrine and obedience to men as Jesus’ example while on earth shows us? 
Have the anointed died for the sake of Christ and his teachings?  Or, do they harbor the fear of losing the life they have built while in the organization, which falsely promises “peace and security”, if one remains inside?  (Jer 23:16,17; 1 Thess 5:3)  Or, do they love what this life provides them, instead of reaching out to Jesus Christ who advises them to “buy” from him, wisdom and truth?  (Prov 23:23;John 14:6; Rev 3:18)
They are held captive to false teachers/prophets and their elder troops.  (Matt 24:24,25; 2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev  9:3-5; 11:1,2; 20:7-9)
The harvest is ongoing inside the organization.  The “weeds” are those “sons” who bend their backs to the deceptive power of men over them, and adopt a new father to lead them.   (Matt 8:11,12; John 8:42-44; Gal 1:10) The “wheat” are the “sons” who reject this power, and subject themselves to their King, Jesus Christ.  (Matt 13:37-40)
No one is “wheat” in God’s eyes, when they tolerate false teachers who produce rotten fruit!  (Matt 7:15-23)
“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matt 5:20
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom (from among the anointed members of his Body)…
 all things that offend, (“stumbling”) and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”  Matt 13:41-43
 
The thief is the one that "comes in through another way" (John10:1; Joel2:9-10).   https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John10%3A1%3B+Joel2%3A9-10&version=NIV 
At John 10:10, Jesus said, "10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. But I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
Jesus said he comes by way of the gate, which the gatekeeper opens for him (Mark13:33-34; John10:2-3). Not so with the thief. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark13%3A33-34%3B+John10%3A2-3&version=NIV 
He "sneaks in a different way" (John10:1).
The first thief is not Jesus Christ, but the Sneak who is thought to be Christ.
The thief is really a false christ, and all are misled into THINKING it is Jesus Christ's return. In that way, Jesus comes as a thief. The thief is presented, as Christ.
That false, premature arrival of Christ by the imposter, was referred to by Paul, at 2Thess.2:1-3.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Thess.2%3A1-3&version=NIV
The first arrival of Christ as the thief, is a thief arriving AS Christ, who robs the crown of the elect (Rev.3:11; Mark13:34-37), through that great deception.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.3%3A11%3B+Mark13%3A34-37&version=NIV 
Those who put faith in that thief/impostor, believe in the false Christ that Jesus foretold, at Matt.24:4-5,24-25 and Rev.13:11; 16:13-14; 1Tim.4:1.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.24%3A4-5%2C24-25%3B+Rev.13%3A11%3B+16%3A13-14%3B+1Tim.4%3A1.&version=NIV
The second arrival of Christ as a thief, is when he really, genuinely arrives. Those who had put faith in the false arrival of the impostor/antiChrist; are not ready to recognize Christ's genuine arrival to inspect his servants. For them, Christ's real arrival is as a stealth thief they did not expect, nor were they prepared for. They are found "naked" by Jesus... unclothed with the necessary garment of righteousness and love (Rev.19:8; 6:9-11; Gal.3:27; John13:34; Col.3:14). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.19%3A8%3B+6%3A9-11%3B+Gal.3%3A27%3B+John13%3A34%3B+Col.3%3A14&version=NIV 
Those fooled by the arrival of the murdering robber, have not sacrificed their lives for the truths and example of Jesus, but instead, they believed in a false peace and security with God... drowzy and drunk on the harlot's wine (the doctrine of the false Christ/thief)
Pearl Doxsey
 
 
 
 

Refinement periods .... finishing periods .... periods of training. Who and what needs those periods?
As the title of the topic itself clearly indicates, alleged “improvements” are something that needs, an organization, that is established by people.
Terms like “God’s Word is truth” are often associated with a literal book, and that is the Bible. But it goes on, so the idea is promoted that everything published by WTJWorg is also “God’s Word” or “the truth”.
The “Word of God” is not something that can only be tied to a book, the Bible. First of all, the reason why one should be careful with the Bible itself is the large amount of translations of the Bible that are often a source of misunderstanding for today's man. Not to mention that some translations are often times contradictory to each other and promote a particular ideology of a religious community. It follows that "the truth" is not seen or recognized from the book we calls too as "the Word of God."
So we have two parallel journeys in “refinement”. One embraces the Bible itself as the Word of God, and the other embraces the doctrines and theology of a particular church, in this case WTJWorg.
The questions logically arises: Who claims that "the truth" must undergo "refinement" ??? Why is the "truth" not in itself pure, unquestionable, without a doubt ???
If “truth” needs improvements from people in the 20th and 21st centuries, specifically, from people in WTJWorg, has that kind of “truth” ever been true in the past? Is it today?
WTJWorg connects the term “knowledge of the truth” with the Bible obtained by learning according to WTJWorg theology. Such "knowledge of the truth," they say, leads believers to "eternal life." We see that the WTJWorg “truth” needs to be reworked and modified and re-modeled. But not to make their “truth” become true, but to continue the illusion that this organization is the only one on Earth that knows how to come to a “new truth” and a “new light”. At the same time, the organization counts on the loyalty of the members, because only in that way can it continue with the "wandering in the desert", which is only possible if it continues to be financed with financial contributions from naive and deceived members.