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Posts posted by John 12.24to28
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55 minutes ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
Making the Apostate Church untrue.
- A deductive argument is a logic construct with two or more premises and a conclusion where if the premises are true then the conclusion must also be true. In philosophy, if the truth of the conclusion is fully established by the premises, then the argument is called valid.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.The GB cannot understand the things of the Christ. That is why they keep lopping people off from the congregation. The GB does not understand the "sacred secret" which has been hidden from them because they are "worldly" in the sense Jesus warned about. The GB rules like the world in Satan's control, with hypocrisy, desire for prominence, competition, pride, self-glorification and desire for physical things. The GB is apostate. Jesus is coming to remove them from his "church". Hopefully they repent when they are cast out where the weeping and gnashing of their teeth will be.
"So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with extravagant speech or wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to you. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him executed on the stake. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling; and my speech and what I preached were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might be, not in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power. Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this system of things nor that of the rulers of this system of things, who are to come to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. It is this wisdom that none of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known it, they would not have executed the glorious Lord. But just as it is written: “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God. Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we explain spiritual matters with spiritual words. But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines all things, but he himself is not examined by any man. For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ."
(1 Corinthians 2)
The GB are among those rulers in this system of things, just like the Pharisees were rulers among God's people. The GB is physical, that's why they don't understand Jehovah's purpose the right way.
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(This is a fun game...😆)
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51 minutes ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:
If you accept the chart, then you have not done enough research. It seems that conducting the window test by a single person can provide more accurate results, and it is a preferable method. Not one with many in one mind.
If I accept a deck of cards from you, I can arrange them by suit, or by number, or I can attempt to build a house of cards with them. The cards don't change, just how I organize them changes. How Matt wants to organize certain Christian groups is his prerogative. The research I referred to was researching that those groups exist or existed. You can prefer whatever method of organizing them pleases you, mi' lord.
51 minutes ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:It's not about the groups. They do exist. It's about the formation of those groups that truth fails. Yes, he can organize what makes sense to him. That doesn't make it accurate unless you are willing to prove it, not by words but through actual research.
What "truth" are you talking about? What "accurate" are you talking about? Maybe you would be willing to 'splane it. It's a chart with the names of some religious groups written on it. While the chart shows some basic generalized branches, the only truly accurate completely detailed chart would show each individual in each group and what religious persuasion they originated from, how their views changed over time and where they are at present. Only Jehovah knows all that. And what good would all that info be to anyone anyway? The real information we need is free anyway...
"Buy truth and never sell it."
(Proverbs 23:23)
"...let anyone who wishes take life’s water free..."
(Revelation 22:17)
"You received free, give free."
(Matthew 10:7)
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17 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
1 Peter 5:8 English Standard Version
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Corinthians 14:33 English Standard Version
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
2 Timothy 2:7 English Standard Version
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B181015/the-pathology-of-an-apostate-church
They might succumb to mysticism, feminism, worldliness, works righteousness, or any of the myriad corrupting threats poised against the church.
17 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Here is a quote from that website you linked @redHarmonioussparrow: "Worse still, the same kinds of rampant corruption and immorality the Roman Church once worked to conceal are now celebrated and encouraged by many Protestant congregations. Far from being known for their purity, many churches today go out of their way to embrace or imitate the debauchery of secular culture. Pastors exegete Hollywood movies rather than Scripture. Seeker-sensitive megachurch gatherings often look and feel more like a rock concert or a burlesque show than a worship service. Celebrity-minded church leaders seem more interested in what’s stylish and marketable than they are in what’s sound and solidly biblical. Shockingly, there are even some ostensibly evangelical churches whose leaders are proud that their membership is open, welcoming, über-tolerant, or even affirming toward serial adulterers, hard-hearted fornicators, impenitent homosexuals, immoral idol worshipers, and even to forms of paganism. They’re proud of it."
I have seen such things tolerated in the local Kingdom Halls and the circuit. I have seen faithful sheep report such dangers and get "disfellowshipped" for it.
"Beloved ones, do not be surprised about the fiery trials that you are experiencing, as though something strange were happening to you. On the contrary, go on rejoicing over the extent to which you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, so that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, yes, the spirit of God, is resting upon you."
(1 Peter 4:12-14)
"If you see any oppression of the poor and a violation of justice and righteousness in your district, do not be surprised about the matter. For that high official is being watched by one who is higher than he is, and there are others who are still higher than they are."
(Ecclesiastes 5:8)
Jesus will remedy the situation when he gets here.
"“‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezʹe·bel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. Look! I am about to throw her into a sickbed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds."
(Revelation 2:20-23)
The plagues of Revelation are when Jesus permits the nations to attack religious institutions.
In the meantime, we just have to keep holding fast to the truth we have.
"However, I say to the rest of you who are in Thy·a·tiʹra, all those who do not follow this teaching, those who did not get to know the so-called “deep things of Satan”: I am not putting on you any other burden. Just the same, hold fast to what you have until I come."
(Revelation 2:24,25)
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2 hours ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:
How do you know he's telling the truth?
6 hours ago, AudreyAnnaNana said:He's telling the truth as he sees it.
Maybe it's similar to people who use puppets to communicate, or who type stuff into Chat GPT to get a scripted response...when "Gonzo" speaks, it's truth from "Gonzo's" point of view. When "Alexa" speaks, it's truth from "Alexa's" point of view. 😉
(I suppose only the puppet master and the programmer really know if they're "telling the truth" from their point of view or not. And Jehovah, of course, who knows All Things.☺️)
Matt doesn't seem like a puppet, but I don't really know, I've never met him. His words could be put to the "Window Test"...we could go to the library and read up on the topics mentioned in his chart, and do deeper research. (Or maybe we already have researched those topics before?)
"Does not the ear test out words
As the tongue tastes food?"
(Job 12:11)
"For the ear tests words
Just as the tongue tastes food."
(Job 34:3)
2 hours ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:I think people try too hard to make an inaccurate point.
I agree with you. Some people do try too hard to make an inaccurate point. Here are a couple of examples...
https://escholarship.org/content/qt0jb324tq/qt0jb324tq_noSplash_2d90f6ae587973457d6cbe5e6241a24f.pdf
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aar5954
The anthropologists and archaeologists in the above two "studies" made up a lot of stuff that can't be verified. They use fancy words but it doesn't make it verifiable.
Matt's chart is just organized based on what makes sense to him. But the groups he is talking about are real. He can organize them on a chart how he wants, it doesn't change the "truth" that those groups exist or existed.
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On 5/22/2023 at 12:54 PM, Space Merchant said:
@AudreyAnnaNana Speaking of Elephants, have you ever questioned why Jehovah's Witnesses, Bible Students and or other Minorites in this paradigm of faith and religion that exist today, let alone why is it that Babylon is targeting all minorities, mainly if being it's focus since the day the Great Awakening took place?
36 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:@AudreyAnnaNana But then you have the question addressed. Surely if it was coined about problems in some faiths, the question should be noted. There was reason why I equated it to elephants, lambs works too, granted the follow up to it.
Hi, @Space Merchant I apologize, I am not trying to evade your question, I just don't think I understand exactly what you are asking. I am sorry my comprehension isn't perfect. 🙂 Please, would you mind restating what you are asking and I will try to understand better so that I can respond? I am interested in the topic and what you have to say. I just don't think I am understanding the question you are asking well enough to give an answer. Are you asking "why will the nations target all religions" or "why would the nations target some specific sects in a more intense way" or something like that or something different? I do apologize for not understanding the question you asked. Can you help me understand better what you mean?
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Prehistorical theories are based largely on guesses by people who weren't there telling stories about things for which there is no written record by any witnesses (except for what Jehovah as a witness inspired to be written in the Bible).
Historical analyses such as this video have a basis in recorded history, documents with absolute dates on them, photographs, etc. Matt analyzed the documents and organized the religious traditions in a way that makes sense to him. Whether or not a person has a degree makes no difference in their ability to tell truth. He's telling the truth as he sees it.
Matt didn't seem to be preaching to anybody about his personal religious persuasion, it seemed like he was just mentioning his personal beliefs in passing.
The same information could be presented in other ways and still be the truth. Instead of making branches based on time of changed doctrine, the various groups could be organized by similar beliefs (example hellfire or Trinity or congregation hierarchy or shunning etc.) or by geographical growth or by socioeconomic factors or something else.
The chart helps to identify some interesting parallels between the modern-day organization of Jehovah's Witnesses and the ancient nation of Israel. The Bible says Israel was the smallest of nations when Jehovah chose to deliver them from Egypt and give them a place, making them a people for His name. Jehovah's Witnesses are tiny compared to many other religions. Additionally, the Israelites were supposed to represent Jehovah, but they ended up doing things worse than the peoples whose land they dispossessed. Today, Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization claim to represent the God of the Bible whose name is identified by the tetragrammaton, and they claim to obey the law of the Christ sent by Jehovah, yet the degree of disobedience to that law is appalling. Organization wide, traditions of men supersede adherence to the Word of God.
Just as Jehovah disciplined His ancient Name People when they refused to turn around from reproaching His Holy Name, so it will be the same again today. The Bible shows all religious institutions will be given attention by the nations per God's command, but specifically the one that claims to represent God using His Name will be given extra disciplinary attention for the sake of cleansing God's Name of reproach.
"Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him, and the one who was put in charge of much will have more than usual demanded of him."
(Luke 12:48)
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On 5/19/2023 at 8:48 PM, The Librarian said:
This Youtuber has Phd in Theological Studies and offers his personal opinions throughout.
I thought it interesting to see how others view us....
I think he did an awesome job with this video.
Just like organizing closets, there are a lot of ways you can do it, organize and categorize a topic. Matt accomplished his purpose. The chart is organized by time and doctrinal differences and similarities. I think he did a great job making an educational tool for people to assess the history of religious traditions.
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2 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
Exodus 15:26 New International Version
26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
The "diseases brought on the Egyptians" refers to the plagues on Egypt during the test between Jehovah and the Egyptian pantheon. The Egyptians were plagued when Jehovah was showing those false gods were useless. Jehovah was a refuge from the plagues for anyone who chose to take shelter in Him. Jehovah rescued those people from horrid slavery conditions. Some of the Hebrews who came out of Egypt foolishly continued to worship idols even while they were in the wilderness. That's why they kept getting plagued. They had made a covenant with Jehovah to throw away those false gods, but some of them broke their covenant and continued to do false worship all those years, and even when they got to the promised land some of them disobeyed Jehovah and did child sacrifice. Jehovah hates false worship for a good reason.
Jehovah is the source of life. That's how we're designed - to live we have to stay connected to Him. To disconnect from Him leads to decay, physically and spiritually. Jehovah can undo the decay, but we have to connect to Him through Jesus. It's not complicated.
2 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:I like how he explained it...the Bible is a cohesive unit. Sometimes people misunderstand one verse or one situation in the Bible, but rather than turn everything upside down, just think about Jehovah's personality and realize either there is more information needed on a verse or somebody took it out of context. "Keep on asking, and you will receive." God is Love, and that simple truth helps us wait for more information when there is a verse that seems difficult to understand at first.
2 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:Mule
"They would each bring a gift—articles of silver, articles of gold, garments, armor, balsam oil, horses, and mules—"
(2 Chronicles 9:24)
Mules were highly valued in Bible times.
"The Bible mentions mules many times. Even kings rode on them and people gave them as gifts to Solomon. They are about the size of an average horse, but have larger heads, much longer ears, tufted tails and smaller hooves. They are more surefooted and work more slowly than horses. In fact, they are very stubborn and can't be hurried.
Mules are common throughout the world, especially in Asia and parts of Europe, starting with light work when they are three years old and handling heavier burdens two years later. They make excellent pack animals over mountain trails. Thousands were used by the United States Army before modern machinery was developed." (from https://bibletruthpublishers.com/is-it-a-mule-or-ass-or-a-donkey/sidney-r-gill/wonders-of-gods-creation-volume-3/s-r-gill/print-friendly/lxpf-la-90578)
Mules and donkeys are not the same. Both have their place for the appointed time. When it comes to bearing heavy loads, climbing treacherous terrain, and stubbornly clinging to the right way, a lowly mule might just be the beast of burden of choice for the job.
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1 hour ago, Pudgy said:
You can teach a parrot to swear, but you can't make it say 'I love you' to your mother-in-law
😆 I guess you're right, I don't think this was her mother-in-law...
1 hour ago, Pudgy said:You can give a squirrel a piano, but you can't make it play anything other than 'Chopsticks
Yes, and this squirrel didn't even get that far...
Pass the jelly donuts, please!😬😁☺️
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49 minutes ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
"The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea are made of the same water. It flows down, clean and cool, from the heights of Herman and the roots of the cedars of Lebanon. the Sea of Galilee makes beauty of it, the Sea of Galilee has an outlet. It gets to give. It gathers in its riches that it may pour them out again to fertilize the Jordan plain. But the Dead Sea with the same water makes horror. For the Dead Sea has no outlet. It gets to keep." ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick
"He cried out to Jehovah, and Jehovah directed him to a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became sweet."
(Exodus 15:25)
"In time the men of the city said to E·liʹsha: “My master can see that the city is well-situated; but the water is bad, and the land is barren.” At that he said: “Bring me a small new bowl and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water and threw salt into it and said: “This is what Jehovah says, ‘I have healed this water. No more will it cause death or barrenness.’” And the water has been healed down to this day, according to the word spoken by E·liʹsha."
(2 Kings 2:19-22)
"Let justice flow down like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
(Amos 5:24)
"The seawater will be healed, and everything will live wherever the stream goes."
(Ezekiel 47:9)
"Jesus stood up and he called out: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever puts faith in me, just as the scripture has said: ‘From deep within him streams of living water will flow.’"
(John 7:37,38)
"And the spirit and the bride keep on saying, “Come!” and let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free."
(Revelation 22:17)
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On 5/20/2023 at 4:38 PM, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:
Sir, perhaps you should start a new topic if you want to make your point a debate. This topic is about someone's perception of religion through history.
23 hours ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:Once again. If you wish to debate your understanding of a false application of a chart, why not start a new topic? Then we can debate your opinion. This was just a mere illustration of the librarian showing another perceptive.
17 minutes ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:The topic of discussion is distinguishing between authentic religion and counterfeit religion.
12 minutes ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:This would be a good discussion on how you don't know anything about elephants while you post there is an elephant in the room that no one seems to see because they are blindfolded.
What if a person is really blind, is the blindfold necessary? Many questions can be answered if you start a new topic and leave this one as just an illustration, nothing more.
10 minutes ago, MankeptforRacialsecretratters said:How about starting a new topic to find out.
You seem to know a lot about what is and isn't appropriate for a thread. Are you close to @The Librarian, then? Please, if it is good in the eyes of @The Librarian, I am sure someone would start a new thread on whatever topic title you think is appropriate, @MankeptforRacialsecretratters, but if @The Librarian doesn't object, maybe we could keep conversing here if it is appropriate?
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1 hour ago, Srecko Sostar said:
(By the way, greetings and warm Christian affection 🥰 to you, my brother @Srecko Sostar, I think this is the first time we've had the pleasure of conversing on a thread in this forum...)
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Elephant tusk
Elephant skin
Elephant hair
Elephant mama
(It's just the perspective.)
59 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:It is not always possible to find the right diopter on the first try.
Amen! ☺️ What seems to be unusual and unpredictable may actually be something familiar and constant, when viewed in context with the right diopter.
Jehovah was dealing with a stubborn, physical-minded people. They lived around people who sacrificed children and had multiple immoral relations and slaves. Jehovah permitted them to have animal sacrifices for awhile, but that changed when Jesus came. Jehovah permitted them to have slaves with regulations, but that began to change when Jesus came. Jehovah permitted them to have multiple wives, but that changed when Jesus came.
The people were warlike. (Think of what Simeon and Levi did in Shechem.) They lived among nations who were bloodthirsty. Jehovah regulated their warfare so it wouldn't be worse, but that changed when Jesus came.
Jehovah hasn't changed. Jehovah is reasonable, and He knows how stubborn people are. He doesn't expect more than they can give. He is patient. He has been so patient.
The Bible record of the Old Testament records many things that people did. Just because Jehovah had it recorded doesn't mean He approved of some of the things the people did. Just because He regulated it doesn't mean it was the ideal way He wanted things to be.
Some things that appear "harsh" at first glance are better understood with more details. 🙂
Jesus said if we don't understand at first, to keep asking for details, and we will get them.
59 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:That Jewish God is unusual and unpredictable at times.
..., Jewish people too.
I have heard people say that too. Why do you think some people say "that Jewish God is unusual and unpredictable"? What specific situations in the Old Testament do you think most people misunderstand, @Srecko Sostar ?
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32 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:
@AudreyAnnaNana Speaking of Elephants, have you ever questioned why Jehovah's Witnesses, Bible Students and or other Minorites in this paradigm of faith and religion that exist today, let alone why is it that Babylon is targeting all minorities, mainly if being it's focus since the day the Great Awakening took place?
I really don't know much about elephants, @Space Merchant, so I couldn't say, but I have read up a little about lambs...
"The wolf and the lamb will feed together, The lion will eat straw just like the bull, And the serpent’s food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” says Jehovah."
(Isaiah 65:25)
"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said: “See, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
(John 1:29)
"...keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes."
(Revelation 14:4)
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41 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:
One thing I do admire is throughout history of Christendom is that throughout the centuries, you can see the echo of that you have the difference within the faith come to light, thus sparking the whole Non-Trinitarian vs Trinitarian battle up to present day.
Not all blind ones have come close to "the elephant in the room", but some of them have. Sometimes it's just a slightly different perspective of the same thing.
At the end of the day, when the blindfolds are removed, they'll all see "the elephant in the room" for what it really is.
"Who is blind except my servant,
So deaf as the messenger I send?
Who is so blind as the one rewarded,
So blind as the servant of Jehovah?"
(Isaiah 42:19)
"And he took the blind man by the hand...he laid his hands on him and asked him: “Do you see anything?” The man looked up and said: “I see people, but they look like trees walking about.” Again he laid his hands on the man’s eyes, and the man saw clearly. His sight was restored, and he could see everything distinctly."
(Mark 8:23-25)
"Jehovah will go out like a mighty man.
He will awaken his zeal like a warrior.
He will shout, yes, he will let out a war cry;
He will show himself mightier than his enemies.
“I have kept quiet for a long time.
I remained silent and restrained myself.
Like a woman giving birth, I will groan, pant, and gasp all at once.
I will devastate mountains and hills
And dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into islands
And dry up reedy pools of water.
I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know
And cause them to tread on unfamiliar paths.
I will turn the darkness before them into light
And turn the rugged terrain into level land.
This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them.”"
(Isaiah 32:13-16)
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9 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
John 15 English Standard Version
I Am the True Vine15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
"In reply he said to him, ‘Master, leave it alone for one more year until I dig around it and put on manure. If it produces fruit in the future, well and good..."
(Luke 13:8,9)
"Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand."
(Romans 14:4)
"...the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control..."
(Galatians 5:22)
"...there is no man who does not sin..."
(2 Chronicles 6:36)
"If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. All unrighteousness is sin, and yet there is a sin that does not incur death."
(1 John 5:16,17)
"pray for one another...A righteous man’s supplication has a powerful effect."
(James 5:16)
"...be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."
(1 Peter 4:7,8)
"“O Jehovah my God, please, let this child’s life come back into him.” Jehovah listened to E·liʹjah’s request, and the life of the child came back into him, and he revived."
(1 Kings 17:21,22)
"This was in the sight of God, in whom he had faith, who makes the dead alive and calls the things that are not as though they are. Although beyond hope, yet based on hope, he had faith...because of the promise of God, he did not waver in a lack of faith; but he became powerful by his faith, giving God glory and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to do."
(Romans 4:17-21)
"Just as you do not know how the spirit operates in the bones of the child inside a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of the true God, who does all things."
(Ecclesiastes 11:5)
"He had me pass all around them, and I saw that there were very many bones lying in the valley plain, and they were very dry. He asked me: “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” To that I said: “Sovereign Lord Jehovah, you are the one who knows.” So he said to me: “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, ‘You dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah: “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says to these bones: “I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life. I will put sinews and flesh on you, and I will cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you will come to life; and you will have to know that I am Jehovah.”’” Then I prophesied just as I had been commanded. As soon as I prophesied, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones began to come together, bone to bone. Then I saw sinews and flesh come on them, and skin covered over them. But there was still no breath in them. He then said to me: “Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “From the four winds come in, O wind, and blow upon these people who were killed, so that they may come to life.”’” So I prophesied just as he commanded me, and breath came into them, and they began to live and to stand on their feet, an extremely large army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Here they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ So prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people, and bring you to the land of Israel. And you will have to know that I am Jehovah when I open your graves and when I raise you up out of your graves, O my people.”’ ‘I will put my spirit in you and you will come to life, and I will settle you on your land; and you will have to know that I myself, Jehovah, have spoken and I have done it,’ declares Jehovah.”""
(Ezekiel 37:2-14)
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9 hours ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
- He was facing the many troubles that were to come His way in the next few days, but we know that His love for us has not then nor ever, been Misplaced, for the text says He loved them unto the end. One of the greatest tragedies in Christianity today is that Christians have misplaced their love for God.
https://www.foi.org/2020/09/04/can-we-enjoy-the-work-of-a-believer-turned-apostate/
"He answered: “I was not sent to anyone except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”"
(Matthew 15:24)
"And both the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then he told them this illustration, saying: “What man among you with 100 sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the 99 behind in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he gets home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’"
(Luke 15:2-6)
"This was in the sight of God, in whom he had faith, who makes the dead alive and calls the things that are not as though they are."
(Romans 4:17)
"“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Here I am, and I myself will search for my sheep, and I will care for them. I will care for my sheep like a shepherd who has found his scattered sheep and is feeding them. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered in the day of clouds and thick gloom. I will bring them out from the peoples and collect them together from the lands and bring them into their land and feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and by all the dwelling places of the land. In a good pasture I will feed them, and the land where they graze will be on Israel’s high mountains. They will lie down there in a good grazing land, and they will feed on choice pastures on the mountains of Israel.” “‘“I myself will feed my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. “The lost one I will search for, the stray I will bring back, the injured I will bandage, and the weak I will strengthen; but the fat one and the strong one I will annihilate. I will feed that one with judgment.”""
(Ezekiel 34:11-16)
"For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
(Luke 19:10)
"Still, I now urge you to take courage, for not one of you will be lost..."
(Acts 27:22)
"Looking at them intently, Jesus said to them: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”"
(Matthew 19:26)
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1 hour ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
"May I experience your loyal love, O Jehovah,
Your salvation in harmony with your promise...
I am a friend of all who fear you
And of those who keep your orders."
(Psalm 119:41,63)
People who show love are keeping Jehovah's most important order.💝 Such ones can be found in many places...
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On 3/27/2022 at 1:46 AM, Pudgy said:
With all my heart I believe there really is a “Rainbow Bridge”, without any Scriptural support whatsoever, or basis except the yearning of my heart.….. just the hope that the ones I have loved the most in my life, they have not perished from the Earth.
And perhaps, just maybe, Jehovah will someday let us meet at the Rainbow Bridge.
We won't need a Rainbow Bridge, because He'll just bring them back here.🙂 It says so in the scriptures.
"...truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard grain, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."
(Matthew 17:20)
"...the poor man had nothing but one small female lamb, which he had bought. He cared for it, and it grew up together with him and his sons. It would eat from the little food he had and drink from his cup and sleep in his arms. It became as a daughter to him."
(2 Samuel 12:3)
"Find exquisite delight in Jehovah, And he will grant you the desires of your heart."
(Psalm 37:4)
"Jehovah then said to Moses: “Is the hand of Jehovah too short?""
(Numbers 11:23)
Of course Jehovah will bring back peoples' favorite pets!
(What kind of a dad wouldn't?)
Jehovah is the Best Dad💖. Of course He'll bring them back. He didn't have everything written down in the Bible because it's already a big enough book. There is enough information there about His personality to let us know that of course He will bring back favorite pets for His children. (Jesus said we would understand it if we read it with the heart of a kid.)
If scientists can clone critters, how much more so Jehovah can bring back the originals. If Jehovah can resurrect Jesus into a spirit creature, how much more so He can resurrect your little kitty cat or doggy. Don't you think Jesus would? Of course he would. Can you imagine Jesus saying "no"? He'll be there in the Paradise. He's not going to say "no". He's going to give every good desire of your heart. You know Jehovah. He is the One who does "more than superabundantly beyond all you can ask or conceive."
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, And your ways are not my ways,” declares Jehovah. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So my ways are higher than your ways And my thoughts than your thoughts."
(Isaiah 55:8,9)
It's a total no-brainer. God is Love. If the little kid in your heart wants your puppy back, it's already as good as done. Jehovah will do it. He Causes To Become. Praise Jehovah.💖
💖
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17 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:
Russell rebelled against the established religious system. But this does not mean that all the roots of "false religion" have been cut off.
By the same or a similar method, Rutherford made changes after Russell, but just like his predecessor he created new "false truths". How would Rutherford's successors be different?The thesis that YHVH allows darkness, even over WTJWorg, is still valid, right?
Jesus has his work cut out for him when he gets here! 🙂 There are a lot of "false truths" and more "roots of false religion" all over the place in the organization! Just like there are truths to be found outside the organization. Lots of cleaning and gathering for Jesus to do. Thank God he's qualified.☺️
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5 minutes ago, redHarmonioussparrow said:
Written Hebrew looks so lovely, doesn't it, almost like musical notes on a page! The essence of the message is even more lovely.🥰
2 hours ago, Pudgy said:SpongeBob: (Excitedly) Oh, I was on a mission to spread joy and laughter! I heard there were some gloomy Romans who needed a pick-me-up, and who better to bring smiles than SpongeBob SquarePants?
Paul: (Smiling) Well, SpongeBob, I believe you've certainly achieved your goal. I'm surrounded by darkness, but your positive energy radiates through it all.
Didn't Paul say "learn from watching me" or was that Gideon? Yeah, I think what Paul said was more "become imitators of me."
(I've seen the comic strips...Somebody's been in the dungeon spreading joy and laughter and singing a lot longer than I have...)
🙂🌷
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1 hour ago, Pudgy said:
Dilbert rises from his on set director’s chair and hands scripts to both boyle, and Audrey with a scowl. If they can pull this off they will BOTH get Acadamy Awards ….
Paul: (Sighs) Well, SpongeBob, here we are, chained to this wall in a Roman dungeon. I never thought my missionary journeys would lead to this.
SpongeBob: (Cheerfully) Oh, don't worry, Paul! We'll find a way out of this, I'm sure of it! Plus, being chained to a wall isn't so bad. It's like a really extreme game of "Musical Chairs"!
Paul: (Chuckles) I suppose you have a point, SpongeBob. You always see the bright side of things, even in the darkest situations. But how did you end up here, anyway?
SpongeBob: (Pauses) Well, you know how I love jellyfishing, right? I accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up in the Roman Colosseum. I thought it was a new jellyfish convention! Next thing I knew, I was captured and brought here.
Paul: (Laughs) Oh, SpongeBob, you never cease to amaze me. Your enthusiasm is truly infectious, even in the face of danger. So, tell me, what brings you to Rome?
SpongeBob: (Excitedly) Oh, I was on a mission to spread joy and laughter! I heard there were some gloomy Romans who needed a pick-me-up, and who better to bring smiles than SpongeBob SquarePants?
Paul: (Smiling) Well, SpongeBob, I believe you've certainly achieved your goal. I'm surrounded by darkness, but your positive energy radiates through it all. It's like having a little piece of Bikini Bottom, your underwater home, here in this dungeon.
Paul: (Thoughtful) Absolutely, SpongeBob! Laughter and forgiveness are universal languages that can break down walls, both figuratively and literally. Together, we can show them a different way, even from this dimly lit cell.
SpongeBob: (Nods) We'll be a dynamic duo, Paul! The Apostle of Joy and the Porous Proclaimer!
@PudgyThe little fish said "Stay awake" 😉 - The thing about extreme musical chairs in detention centers...we can start the music and singing whenever we want no matter how dark it appears at present. The light comes from the inside where no chains can reach - our hearts 💖 reflecting Jehovah's love cannot be bound, and we all have a heart made in God's image capable of reflecting His light...Jehovah has a way of breaking the outside chains at His appointed time. The "earthquake" is coming, the bonds will be broken, we're just waiting for it and we "keep on
swimmingsinging"☺️..."Well, when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers. Leading them up to the civil magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city very much. They are Jews, and they are proclaiming customs that it is not lawful for us to adopt or practice, seeing that we are Romans.” And the crowd rose up together against them, and the civil magistrates, after tearing the garments off them, gave the command to beat them with rods. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely."
"Because he got such an order, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the jail were shaken. Moreover, all the doors were instantly opened, and everyone’s bonds came loose."
"When the jailer woke up and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice: “Do not hurt yourself, for we are all here!” So he asked for lights and rushed in, and seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house. And he took them along in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay. He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God."
"When it became day, the civil magistrates sent the constables to say: “Release those men.” The jailer reported their words to Paul: “The civil magistrates have sent men to have you two released. So come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them: “They flogged us publicly, uncondemned, though we are Romans, and threw us into prison. Are they now throwing us out secretly? No, indeed! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The constables reported these words to the civil magistrates. These grew fearful when they heard that the men were Romans. So they came and pleaded with them, and after escorting them out, they requested them to depart from the city. But they came out of the prison and went to the home of Lydʹi·a; and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and departed."
(Acts chapter 16)
Disfellowshipping's Modern Origins
in Topics
Posted
Here are two videos that were part of the Jehovah's Witnesses 2023 "Exercise Patience!" convention. These two videos initially aired during the Saturday afternoon symposium with the part "Imitate Abel, Not Adam". After the first two weekends of convention, the branch sent out a letter that the videos must not be shown at any further conventions, and the talk as shown on JW Stream was edited to remove certain information.
After watching the videos, here are some scriptures and comments that come to mind regarding the young lady in the video...
"Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith."
(1 Timothy 5:8)
The Bible shows she should provide love and affection for her mother.
"But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother: “Whatever I have that could benefit you is corban (that is, a gift dedicated to God),”’ you no longer let him do a single thing for his father or his mother. Thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”"
(Mark 7:11-13)
The governing body is just like the Pharisees who made up bad rules that negated the worship of the people who followed them.
"“Who really is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jerʹi·cho and fell victim to robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went off, leaving him half-dead. Now by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the opposite side. But a certain Sa·marʹi·tan traveling the road came upon him, and at seeing him, he was moved with pity. So he approached him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he mounted him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two de·narʹi·i, gave them to the innkeeper, and said: ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I return.’ Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man who fell victim to the robbers?” He said: “The one who acted mercifully toward him.” Jesus then said to him: “Go and do the same yourself.""
(Luke 10:29-37)
Disfellowshipping doctrine is against what Christ taught about taking care of people's needs and being a neighbor.
"All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them. This, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean."
(Matthew 7:12)
Talk to disfellowshipped people.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude toward others as toward yourselves; do not set your mind on lofty things, but be led along with the lowly things. Do not become wise in your own eyes. Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men."
(Romans 12:15-18)
"All men" includes disfellowshipped people.
"But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good."
(Romans 12:20-21)
Feeding someone can include eating with them.
"Let your reasonableness become known to all men. The Lord is near."
(Philippians 4:5)
It is reasonable to talk to your family. Disfellowshipping is not reasonable.
"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men..."
(1 Timothy 2:1)
"All sorts of men" includes those the GB says are disfellowshipped.
"“Honor your father and your mother” is the first command with a promise."
(Ephesians 6:2)
It's a command. It's not honoring them if you ignore them.
Jehovah is so mad at the GB. They have reproached His Name so badly. When Jesus comes, everybody will know how Jehovah really feels about all those lies the GB has told about Jehovah and His Name.
"‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come."