Patiently waiting for Truth

https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/ron-rhodes-christian-author-offers-views-on-bible-prophecy-end-times/2021/08/01
Pyramid theology foldout “Chart of the Ages” from the 1908 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society publication Studies in the Scriptures Vol I “The Divine Plan of the Ages.” (credit Anthony C. Hayes)
 
In his discourse on the Mount of Olives, Jesus speaks about His Second Coming and the signs of the last days and warns his disciples, “See to it that no one deceives you.” Jesus then lists a series of sobering events which would earmark the end of the age. Two thousand years later – with relentless wars, earthquakes and famines in various places, political upheaval, alarming hatred of “the other”, and a world-wide pandemic – many wonder if we are finally on this long-predicted precipice.
Author Ron Rhodes has been considering the signs of the end times since he was a teen. Rhodes has written over 85 books, which have sold in the millions and are translated into numerous languages. But unlike some sensationalists who have seized upon one “sign” or another to captivate a credulous crowd, Rhodes has always championed a reasonable approach to understanding the Word of God. We recently spoke with Rhodes about his life and conversion to Christianity; his views on cataclysmic cults, Israel, and the malevolent Antichrist; happenings he believes are clear signs of a coming apocalypse; and about his latest books, Basic Bible Prophecy and Spiritual Warfare in the End Times.
This is the first part of a three-part interview.
 
Rhodes: Well, it’s important to draw a distinction between some of the groups you just mentioned.
A seven-foot tall pyramid, at the Rosemont, Mt. Hope, & Evergreen United Cemeteries in Ross Township, PA., was erected in 1921 to honor the legacy of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society founder Charles Taze Russell. Shortly after Russell’s death, the Society changed its name to Jehovah’s Witnesses and disavowed Russell’s Great Pyramid theology. (credit Anthony C. Hayes)
It is true that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have set forth prophecies. But a lot of those later prophecies are based upon a particular version of the Bible called the New World Translation. That’s a Watchtower Society translation that supports their theology. So they don’t derive their theology from a standard Bible, rather, they took their theology and made a new version of the Bible to support their views.  (This is partly true of course )
What the Watchtower Society has done for many, many years is that they have used prophecy as a means of growth. You see, if people think that the end of the world is right around the corner, well, then you better hook up with the true group on earth. And for decades, that’s exactly what they have done.
But a great many of those “prophecies” have actually come from the governing body of the Watchtower.
The governing body is just a few men at the top, who determine the things that will be taught to Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s mostly the governing body that has put together all those teaching books they publish, and a lot of their end times prophecies are found in those books.
 
Mormons, on the other hand, believe that the President of the Mormon church can make prophetic statements that are just as authoritative as the Bible. So for example, you had Joseph Smith saying in the 1830s that the New Jerusalem was about to be built right here in the United States.
Of course, those things never happened.
The test of a true biblical prophet is 100% accuracy. But these groups, like Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons, have prophecies that never came to pass.
That should tell you something.
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I actually had @Space Merchant in mind here.  He talks about facts and scripture and proof. And he talks about 'misinformation' 
So what about the Great Pyramid theology. ???  Because the Watchtower was Russell's 'baby'. And the lies are told that the JW Org was just a follow on from that. 
It's not that I'm interested in Ron Rhodes. But the article proves a point or two. Misinformation indeed.  Maybe even the article is of such. 

Wow, How to make a simple thing more complicated. 

Very deep stuff going on here between the two of you.
BUT, how much of this is a Christian supposed to know and understand to be able to serve God through Christ properly ?
@Pudgy have a chew on this lot above, see if it makes sense to you. You can add it to your 4 horsemen comment  
 

When that was written only the Hebrew scriptures were known, and some of the Greek scriptures hadn't even been written. I think that scripture is misused, unless it was a prophesy.  But once again I say that the scriptures were written for the Anointed,  so I do wonder how much the 'little dogs' need to understand.

If you’re totally lost, try Hari Krishna.

Traditions of men. Or just dictatorship by the GB ? 
Well silly things come to mind such as the Beard problem. Some brothers were not even allowed on the platform if they had a beard.
The Suit and Tie thing, a must for all brothers. And ladies not being allowed to wear trousers even though they are designed and made for ladies. 
And having to go through an 'examination' of 100 questions before being allowed to be baptised. And then being baptised into the Organisation, not baptised as Jesus gave instruction. 
Having to put in report sheets to prove you have done ministry each month, then being counted as 'inactive' if you haven't put a report in.   
Being almost forced to join their Ministry school which mean you have to go up onto the platform to give small talks to the whole congregation (over 100 people). Something which gave me no pleasure at all. 
The being told what you can and cannot do, instead of it being left to your own conscience. 
Yes it's all been on here before but you did ask. 
 
 

Agree.  If Jesus was in all sense, the Almighty God, he wouldn't have said...
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."  John 5:19
"I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."  John 5:30
 

Says who?
I am not advocating for or against a thesis on the subject. But it’s always interesting to see how WTJWorg’s daily politics infiltrate where it doesn’t belong, because WTJWorg scholars have no way of knowing where Russell belongs.
WTJWorg claims that there was always a Witnesses for YHVH between the First Century and the Nineteenth Century. If there were any in any form, they may have existed as some individuals or smaller groups, for example.
But again, WTJWorg has the constant thesis that YHVH has always had an Organization on Earth. If this claim is true, then YHVH had one or more Organizations (19) 20 centuries apart (in a span of (19) 20 centuries). So what were the names of those organizations that existed before the WT? If you do not know of any such Organization, then you cannot claim that YHVH has always had an Organization on Earth. If you cannot prove any of these theses, then you cannot prove either who was and who was not a member of the YHVH recognized Organization, nor whether he belonged to a "large or small flock".
According to GB teaching, the task of the “slave” is to share spiritual food. Well, how dare you say that between the 1st and 19th century no one shared the “spiritual food” and teachings of Jesus Christ? :))
Your statement is funny :)) because Russell did exactly same thing as GB today. He shared and they share interpretations on Bible text.

Wow, How to make a simple thing more complicated. 

Everybody knows Lava is not a bath soap, it is  a hand soap.

What you do not seem to know is that Russel was NOT part of the slave. His group of bible students were like John the Baptist - they prepared the way. So there your argument flies out of the window even before we start to talk about the subject if he was "inspired' or not.
.

Christ Divinity Explained in John 1:1c John 1:1 is the Beginning of Creation that supersedes Genesis 1:1. For example, we read, "When the morning stars joyfully cried out together, And all the sons of God began shouting in applause?" (Job 38:7)    Morning stars are among the first angels or the beginning angels of creation. Morning Stars and all the sons of God are the angels that existed before Abraham was and before the earth itself. After all, it was the newly created earth that they were applauding.   Jesus even admitted of coming from the gods whom the word of God came! Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’?  If he called ‘gods’ those against whom the word of God came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? (John 10:34-36)       The Hebrew and Greek languages often use feminine nouns to point to a creation. According to the strong concordance theos can be rendered two ways. One way, is in the Masculine sense as in the first instance of (John 1:1) But what about in the second instance as in John 1:1c? Isn't that scripture describing his qualitative sense? His divinity in being divine?   Strong's Concordance    theos: God, a god  Original Word: θεός, οῦ, ὁ  Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine  Transliteration: theos  Phonetic Spelling: (theh'-os)  Short Definition: God, a god  Definition: (a) God, (b) a god, generally.       Many Scholars know this, but withhold the fact that theos can be rendered (a god) as it was with Paul and Moses. Other variations of rendering John 1:1 also exist:   1808: "and the Word was a god" – Thomas Belsham The New Testament 1822: "and the Word was a god" – The New Testament in Greek and English 1829: "and the Word was a god" – The Gospel History According to the Four Evangelists 1863: "and the Word was a god" – A Literal Translation (Herman Heinfetter) 1879: "and the Word was a god" – Das Evangelium nach Johannes (J. Becker, 1979) 1885: "and the Word was a god" – Concise Commentary on The Holy Bible (R. Young, 1885) 1911: "and the Word was a god" – The Coptic Version of the N.T. (G. W. Horner, 1911) 1935: "and the Word was divine" – An American Translation, John M. P. Smith & Edgar J. Goodspeed, Chicago 1955: "so the Word was divine" – The Authentic New Testament, by Hugh J. Schonfield, Aberdeen. 1958: "and the Word was a god" – The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Anointed" (J. L. Tomanec, 1958); 1975 "and a god (or, of a divine kind) was the Word" – Das Evangelium nach Johnnes, by Siegfried Schulz, Göttingen, Germany 1975: "and the Word was a god" – Das Evangelium nach Johannes (S. Schulz, 1975); 1978: "and godlike sort was the Logos" – Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Johannes Schneider, Berlin   The use of a feminine nouns emphasis the fact that the Word was created.   When? “In beginning was the Word . . . ”
(en    arche      en  ho  logos)  Words such as arche', godlike, wisdom, grace, divinity, or deity are all in the feminine sense.   Many religions teach that God has a beginning but if the truth be known, God is eternal.    Read more...

They’ve used a phrase or two in common, that’s all. 
It would be a remarkable change of m.o. if he was BroRando. Changes from CC to BtK to Allen to whoever—the “new” persona is instantly recognizable. BroRando is significantly different.
For one thing, CC was seldom very interested in offering anything. He just was here to shoot people and their ideas down. Say what you will about BroRando, he certainly is interested in offering stuff.

But by writing that you are saying that Russell was not inspired by God's Holy Spirit. Nor was he guided by it. 
You are basically saying that Russell 'jumped on the bandwagon' with the many Christian denominations. 
Being wrong as an individual is one thing, but putting it in print to 'guide' the people toward God is surely wrong.  
Part of the world then. A long way from serving God properly. It's quite strange as I've always thought that Russell was very much an 'individual' and that he turned his back on most teachings of other Christian denominations.  But here it seems he followed the crowd. 

I must ask you to consider who would have such authority given to them?  Men who create their own doctrine, their own set of dates by using literal numbers to signify a symbolic coming and end of Armageddon? (Matt24:44; 25:13; Acts 1:7)  Men who could not be inspired by Holy Spirit, since they run ahead with their personal goals?  (Deut 18:20; 2 Tim 4:3,4)
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’"
These disciples remained attached to the vine of Christ - to TRUTH, receptive to the  spiritual sap that flows from Jesus, to the faithful members of his Body. (Eph 4:4; 4:25) This means, that any fruit/teachings they would produce would be "good" and only support the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Did any of them set a date as you have? Are they not the example to follow as leaders in truth? (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4)  Should we wait until your date has come to prove you wrong?  No.  Assuming that you are anointed, it seems apparent that you dismiss the teachings and warnings of the Bible, and since you are not doing this, you could be labeled a renegade - an apostate against God's word in Christ.  Any renegade or "branch" not in harmony with Christ's teachings is cut off from the vine.  John 15:1-8
"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them."  2 John 1:9,10
Do not the scriptures move your heart whatsoever, to consider your folly?
It's not too late to repent.  (Matt 3:8; 2 Tim 2:5)

As I have mentioned on this forum before - during the 18th century there was a new craze in Europe regarding pyramids and papyri from Egypt.  many Christian denominations tried to see something prophetic in the pyramids. 
The founder of the Mormon religion bought a papyri and pretended it was a letter from Abraham when it was a portion of a Book of the Dead which came with a mummy.. He pretended to translate the papyrus and the 'Book of Abraham' was born. many people were fascinated and listened to him. it has now been proven to be a fabrication and yet many people still believe it.
Why?  because the science of Egyptology only opened up when Napoleon went to Egypt - so the craze for anything Egyptian was the craze of the age. It was the new science.  The Egyptian script was translated by Champollion.
So if you know this history - you will see all of the above history in its historical context.......... but alas!  there is a short-sightedness that no-one will be able to cure! 

Somebody is scorned and gnashing their teeth as they make the trip to the lava bath.

As people would say about me, it seems that you are looking for perfection. I know that you are not, and neither am I.
But S. M. 'the facts' are different to different people. 
You seem to love this word. But once again it means different things to different people. Many of us here could easily quote past teachings of the Watchtower / JW Org, which were misinformation.  You yourself belong to a different 'religion' which may give some 'misinformation' according to JWs.
Because if your religion and the Watchtower/JW religion taught exactly the same then they would be one religion. 
And you will give me some examples ?  You know what I follow do you ? 
S. M. There is a difference with, the idea of agreeing with someone, as opposed to following them. 
Two or more people can agree on a few things, it does not mean they are following each other. 
It's a bit like cars driving along the same road. Maybe they are all going to the same town but for different reasons. They are not just thoughtlessly following each other. 
Doesn't the JW Org do exactly that. They start adding traditions of men as burdens to Christians. 
They have their own form of baptism which is not the way Jesus instructed.  
 
They judge people in secret and they hide certain types of people within the Organisation, hence the immorality in the Org.  

As people would say about me, it seems that you are looking for perfection. I know that you are not, and neither am I.
But S. M. 'the facts' are different to different people. 
You seem to love this word. But once again it means different things to different people. Many of us here could easily quote past teachings of the Watchtower / JW Org, which were misinformation.  You yourself belong to a different 'religion' which may give some 'misinformation' according to JWs.
Because if your religion and the Watchtower/JW religion taught exactly the same then they would be one religion. 
And you will give me some examples ?  You know what I follow do you ? 
S. M. There is a difference with, the idea of agreeing with someone, as opposed to following them. 
Two or more people can agree on a few things, it does not mean they are following each other. 
It's a bit like cars driving along the same road. Maybe they are all going to the same town but for different reasons. They are not just thoughtlessly following each other. 
Doesn't the JW Org do exactly that. They start adding traditions of men as burdens to Christians. 
They have their own form of baptism which is not the way Jesus instructed.  
 
They judge people in secret and they hide certain types of people within the Organisation, hence the immorality in the Org.  

It looks like Arauna, Tom and S M are just wasting space on this blog. Just writing rubbish just to be seen to be participating.  Such a shame they have nothing spiritual to offer. 
At least I write plainly about what I'm hoping will happen in the near future, and I give scriptural reasons for it. 
And I make it clear that I am not 'following' anyone else's interpretations on this forum.  So I stand alone with my head held high to give thanks to Almighty God through Jesus Christ, and I don't need the approval of any human. 

No thank you. Just the look of that page / blog makes me shudder. It would be out of the frying pan and in to the fire. 
I do not believe most things that you write, even though some on here try to link me with you...
We each have our own belief and I know exactly what I'm hoping for.  

You should know exactly what I'm wanting to see. I've made it clear plenty of times .
 Zechariah 8:23
Berean Study Bible
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’
Everyone needs to know exactly who these spiritual Jews are, before Armageddon comes.. 
Acts 2:17 
Berean Study Bible
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
This needs to happen before Armageddon. 
It's not too much to ask  

Now, I am quoting from the New World Translation. This translation is written or approved by the GB of the Watchtower / JW Org.  
John 20 
24  But Thomas, one of the Twelve who was called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25  So the other disciples were telling him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will never believe it.”26  Well, eight days later his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and he stood in their midst and said: “May you have peace.” 27  Next he said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop doubting* but believe.”
The Watchtower / GB / JW Org approve of the use of PLURAL in all of these cases. BUT you now say it should be singular for Nails. However you don't comment on the word 'Hands' that Jesus himself said. 
Tell me, in which case does your GB / Watchtower / Org tell lies. Is it in the written word of the NWT, or is it in that picture created by a W/t artist and approved of by the GB ?  Because both cannot be right. 

It seems that Watchtower writers / artists and the GB, DO NOT KNOW HANDS FROM WRISTS, AND DO NOT KNOW PLURAL FROM SINGULAR. 

Next he said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands,
When Jesus said HANDS he meant hands. 
And do you think Thomas didn't know how Jesus was killed ?
Thomas said HANDS which is plural