James Thomas Rook Jr.

Yes, as I thought the whole thing was ridiculous, and drew many satirical cartoons on the inside covers of theocratic books, reacting to what the speakers from the platforms were saying, as they expounded with MANY words  .... making fun of the whole idea ..... from about 1970 to 1974 ... ( I may still have them here somewhere in a box ... I am like a pack-rat ...) but after being bombasted  by  "1975-1975-1975 !" at every angle for three years, I concluded that it was VERY IMPROBABLE ....  that every  JW I knew, from Virginia to California would know something as a fact that I was not aware of .... so, in late 1974, I "caved in", and quit my job in Zaire, the Congo, and flew back home to Virginia to be with my parents when the "end came". 
It still made no sense to me ... I suppose I had faith in the Brotherhood from top to bottom to have more "faith" than I had, and SUPPOSED my mind was clouded ... as I am basically a Barbarian in nature.
If my parents were going to die, I wanted to be at home in Virginia to die with them ... because I STILL did not believe it.
It was a kind of "just-in-case" thing.

JWI:
  I checked your math, as I do not believe anybody on the face of it .. and you are right ... a fairly standard rifle bullet travels at approximately 1100 feet per second(fps), which if it were in space with no air resistance and gravitational centers far away that would be about 750 miles per hour.  I picked the 1100 fps as a generalization.
The theme  music from the 1951 "Superman" TV show is on this link.
Your browser does not support the HTML5 audio tag.


Where this ties into the conversation is that (notice his yellow belt with the plain belt buckle...) some times when flying at supersonic speed in the atmosphere, the wind catches in his leotards, and he .... *koff* .... "MOONS" the Earth.
... and now you know the REST of the story ... of why Superman wears a long red cape.
 
 

JWI:
  I checked your math, as I do not believe anybody on the face of it .. and you are right ... a fairly standard rifle bullet travels at approximately 1100 feet per second(fps), which if it were in space with no air resistance and gravitational centers far away that would be about 750 miles per hour.  I picked the 1100 fps as a generalization.
The theme  music from the 1951 "Superman" TV show is on this link.
Your browser does not support the HTML5 audio tag.


Where this ties into the conversation is that (notice his yellow belt with the plain belt buckle...) some times when flying at supersonic speed in the atmosphere, the wind catches in his leotards, and he .... *koff* .... "MOONS" the Earth.
... and now you know the REST of the story ... of why Superman wears a long red cape.
 
 

Thanks for the setup . . . 
The Moon orbits Earth at a speed of 2,288 miles per hour (3,683 kilometers per hour). During this time it travels a distance of 1,423,000 miles (2,290,000 kilometers).   Some guns shoot bullets at only 800 miles per hour. So the moon is also "faster than a speeding bullet" and of course it's more powerful than a locomotive. It's odd to think that when NASA sent men to the moon, they were landing on a very fast "bullet."

In 1969 I lived in Hollywood, California, and they were going to have a "Parade of Virgins" marching down Hollywood Blvd. for some reason or another ... but one got sick, and the other would not march by herself.

This is not unlike the 'Six Stages of a Project' that used to be cynically posted at the workplace:
1) Enthusiasm
2) Disillusionment
3) Panic
4) Hunt for the Guilty
5) Punishment of the Innocent
6) Praise and Honors for the Nonparticipants.

I personally see no need for an ostentatious expensive wedding unless you come down the aisle on a steam locomotive, with laborers building train tracks ahead of you, and an army of  robed choir blowing trumpets and throwing handfulls of rose petals along the way!
Sacrificing virgins is out, as nowadays virgins are as scarce as volcanoes to throw them into.

AllenSmith:
I followed your link.
If I had not actually been there and seen what happened from Virginia to California, it would ALMOST be believable. The Frenzy was EVERYWHERE. It was consistent on both coasts, at Kingdom Halls and Assemblies, and I made many cartoons making fun of the ludicrousness of the 1975 frenzy. 
Unfortunately, year after year it wore me down and I began to reason "How could I be right, and everybody I know in the Truth be wrong?", and I quit a terrific job in the African Congo to be home in Virginia with my family when the end was to come.
This proves that youth is wasted on the young ... and the fact that I "caved" is an everlasting embarrassment that I have tried never to duplicate, even if it means telling some Brother much more theoretically inclined than I am to "go to hell".
That's where Liberty and Integrity begin.
However noble the goal, or how well intentioned ... It is evil to try and defend Truth ... with lies.

AllenSmith:
I followed your link.
If I had not actually been there and seen what happened from Virginia to California, it would ALMOST be believable. The Frenzy was EVERYWHERE. It was consistent on both coasts, at Kingdom Halls and Assemblies, and I made many cartoons making fun of the ludicrousness of the 1975 frenzy. 
Unfortunately, year after year it wore me down and I began to reason "How could I be right, and everybody I know in the Truth be wrong?", and I quit a terrific job in the African Congo to be home in Virginia with my family when the end was to come.
This proves that youth is wasted on the young ... and the fact that I "caved" is an everlasting embarrassment that I have tried never to duplicate, even if it means telling some Brother much more theoretically inclined than I am to "go to hell".
That's where Liberty and Integrity begin.
However noble the goal, or how well intentioned ... It is evil to try and defend Truth ... with lies.

The same is true if the tensions with North Korea start a thermonuclear World War III.
 
There is NOTHING we can do about it.
 
If EITHER ONE happens, I am going to put a lawn chair in the middle of the street, with a cooler full of beer, and watch the show !
 

If people want to make it a grand party, and can afford it, and want to do it ... fine.  There is nothing to judge them for.
I had a wedding in a Kingdom Hall many years ago also  ... My eldest son had a Wedding at a Kingdom Hall and a Reception that staggered my perception, but then again, I think an oath between a man and a woman is enough.  I was born in an entirely wrong epoch, and am a Barbarian by nature.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.          Marcus Aurelius
 

It helps a great deal if you do not eat the UGLY ones .....

I believe it's already been calculated, and refers to a time that the Bible has already clarified. And if I'm wrong, which is both possible and likely -- me being human and all -- then it can refer to a time period that will be recognized when it happens. Nothing to calculate from it, and no chronology necessary.
Nowhere does the Bible say we have to calculate any of this. There was no mistake. In fact, if we read both Daniel and Revelation carefully we can see why there is nothing for us to calculate. But this, at this point, is just an interpretation which is not necessary to defend here. What I'm stating is just an opinion. I can try to defend it elsewhere under a topic about Daniel and Revelation.
I doubt that any JWs really wholeheartedly believe what is currently taught about these time periods, otherwise we would be interested in what exactly was said in those books and assemblies. As it is, we are typically ashamed of the actual contents of those books and assembly speeches, and are forced to only pick and choose sentences out of context. If we really believed that Jesus Christ saw something in the content of those particular assemblies, we would be clamoring to look at whatever Jesus looked at to see if we could better understand the "mind of Christ." Instead, we are satisfied with the idea that, even if most of what was said in the key speeches of those assemblies was false doctrine, or even false prophecies, Jesus still saw their heart condition and was able to ignore the specific things they were saying and focus on the fact that we had been promoting a fairly unique set of core doctrines that were important and true. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the core doctrines that had been true both before and after these assemblies and publications of the time. But our core doctrines were not relevant to the reasons we identify these specific periods in history.
Sorry to skip much of your own presentation about the need to calculate other points of reference. I don't see the need to calculate any of these time periods in advance, or be overly concerned over what they might have meant in the past. I keep commenting on my own view of these periods and then erasing it. I'll be happy to do this under another topic, however.

I  remember  the  movie...  @James Thomas Rook Jr.   only  ONE  word  -  UGH !!

Really Good New York Style Pizza is in fact a secret recipe, especially if you are having a friend for dinner ....
It goes well with Fava Beans, and a nice Chianti wine.

.... this makes me SO TIRED ....
I have heard it said many times from the platform at the Kingdom Hall, and at least once at an Assembly, that getting Baptized is the most important decision a person could ever make .... and I agree with that whole heartedly.
It takes insight, dedication, a love for Jehovah, experience, maturity and since 1985, total alignment and obedience to the  .ORG  to make that decision that will govern one's whole life.
So the young Brothers, having exhibited maturity and responsibility and commitment FAR GREATER than what is required as a practical matter in marriage, have shown by actual recognized and approved example that they are ready for that really cute Sister whose head almost comes to the top of the seat, in front of him at the Kingdom Hall.
To the best of my knowledge, the only place in the world that it is legal to get married at that age  ( a much LESSER important decision ... ) is in Saudi Arabia.
The fact that he is eight years old and she is only six years old should not be a problem, what with the age difference and all ... as in 2009 the Saudi  courts ruled to NOT nullify the marriage of an eight year old girl to a man 50 years her senior.
They have several expressions there (translated from from the Arabic) ; "Sharing is caring", which refers to their practice of polygamy under Islamic Law, and; " You know what is so great about twenty eight year old girls?  (wait for it...)
"There are TWENTY of them!"
However, both  bride and grooms parents will need to escort them in the Saudi Kingdom, until they get married, presumably as they cannot see over the car's dashboard.
Besides ... now that the Governing Body has begun blessing the baptism of small children ... perhaps some GB helpers (assuming the parents have as much money as Prince...) could set up a temporary Saudi Kinder Hall, and have a GB member perform the wedding !!
OR ... now that each of the three small brothers are now legally Ordained Ministers ... one could register with the Saudi government and get a license, as it is done in every State in the United States, to perform Weddings !
THAT way, since the three of them would be about the same height ...  the photographer could get better photo compositions, than if the bride and groom were about 1/2 the height of the GB Member officiating.
( ...pause for reflection ....)
I wonder why Jesus waited until he was about 30  years old to get baptized as a dedication to Jehovah. (?)
I suppose he was just not blessed by the Governing Body in Jerusalem at that time, and didn't know what was a proper thing to do.
 
 

Perhaps the sound of their own voices is driving them craaaazeee................

Really Good New York Style Pizza is in fact a secret recipe, especially if you are having a friend for dinner ....
It goes well with Fava Beans, and a nice Chianti wine.

.... this makes me SO TIRED ....
I have heard it said many times from the platform at the Kingdom Hall, and at least once at an Assembly, that getting Baptized is the most important decision a person could ever make .... and I agree with that whole heartedly.
It takes insight, dedication, a love for Jehovah, experience, maturity and since 1985, total alignment and obedience to the  .ORG  to make that decision that will govern one's whole life.
So the young Brothers, having exhibited maturity and responsibility and commitment FAR GREATER than what is required as a practical matter in marriage, have shown by actual recognized and approved example that they are ready for that really cute Sister whose head almost comes to the top of the seat, in front of him at the Kingdom Hall.
To the best of my knowledge, the only place in the world that it is legal to get married at that age  ( a much LESSER important decision ... ) is in Saudi Arabia.
The fact that he is eight years old and she is only six years old should not be a problem, what with the age difference and all ... as in 2009 the Saudi  courts ruled to NOT nullify the marriage of an eight year old girl to a man 50 years her senior.
They have several expressions there (translated from from the Arabic) ; "Sharing is caring", which refers to their practice of polygamy under Islamic Law, and; " You know what is so great about twenty eight year old girls?  (wait for it...)
"There are TWENTY of them!"
However, both  bride and grooms parents will need to escort them in the Saudi Kingdom, until they get married, presumably as they cannot see over the car's dashboard.
Besides ... now that the Governing Body has begun blessing the baptism of small children ... perhaps some GB helpers (assuming the parents have as much money as Prince...) could set up a temporary Saudi Kinder Hall, and have a GB member perform the wedding !!
OR ... now that each of the three small brothers are now legally Ordained Ministers ... one could register with the Saudi government and get a license, as it is done in every State in the United States, to perform Weddings !
THAT way, since the three of them would be about the same height ...  the photographer could get better photo compositions, than if the bride and groom were about 1/2 the height of the GB Member officiating.
( ...pause for reflection ....)
I wonder why Jesus waited until he was about 30  years old to get baptized as a dedication to Jehovah. (?)
I suppose he was just not blessed by the Governing Body in Jerusalem at that time, and didn't know what was a proper thing to do.
 
 

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.          Marcus Aurelius
 

.... this makes me SO TIRED ....
I have heard it said many times from the platform at the Kingdom Hall, and at least once at an Assembly, that getting Baptized is the most important decision a person could ever make .... and I agree with that whole heartedly.
It takes insight, dedication, a love for Jehovah, experience, maturity and since 1985, total alignment and obedience to the  .ORG  to make that decision that will govern one's whole life.
So the young Brothers, having exhibited maturity and responsibility and commitment FAR GREATER than what is required as a practical matter in marriage, have shown by actual recognized and approved example that they are ready for that really cute Sister whose head almost comes to the top of the seat, in front of him at the Kingdom Hall.
To the best of my knowledge, the only place in the world that it is legal to get married at that age  ( a much LESSER important decision ... ) is in Saudi Arabia.
The fact that he is eight years old and she is only six years old should not be a problem, what with the age difference and all ... as in 2009 the Saudi  courts ruled to NOT nullify the marriage of an eight year old girl to a man 50 years her senior.
They have several expressions there (translated from from the Arabic) ; "Sharing is caring", which refers to their practice of polygamy under Islamic Law, and; " You know what is so great about twenty eight year old girls?  (wait for it...)
"There are TWENTY of them!"
However, both  bride and grooms parents will need to escort them in the Saudi Kingdom, until they get married, presumably as they cannot see over the car's dashboard.
Besides ... now that the Governing Body has begun blessing the baptism of small children ... perhaps some GB helpers (assuming the parents have as much money as Prince...) could set up a temporary Saudi Kinder Hall, and have a GB member perform the wedding !!
OR ... now that each of the three small brothers are now legally Ordained Ministers ... one could register with the Saudi government and get a license, as it is done in every State in the United States, to perform Weddings !
THAT way, since the three of them would be about the same height ...  the photographer could get better photo compositions, than if the bride and groom were about 1/2 the height of the GB Member officiating.
( ...pause for reflection ....)
I wonder why Jesus waited until he was about 30  years old to get baptized as a dedication to Jehovah. (?)
I suppose he was just not blessed by the Governing Body in Jerusalem at that time, and didn't know what was a proper thing to do.
 
 

3 very  young brothers baptized ?   Their smiles say it all
Or  perhaps  they're  happy  about  the  new  booklets, before?
*ORGANIZED  TO  DO  JEHOVAH'S  WILL*
Whatever  for  the  next  time...  Congratulations!  and Jehovah's  blessing

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow.
Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever; and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow. 
Smile like you’ve never cried, fight like you’ve never lost, love like you’ve never been hurt, and live like you’ll die tomorrow.